The Ultimate Guide to Haitian Dining Around Boston

Conversations about Haiti typically center the island’s political collapse, asylum-seeking people, and generational loss of knowledge. However, by shifting the context, space is created for nuance and agency.

Thousands of Haitians are establishing homes in Greater Boston, making up nearly six percent of the city’s immigrant population in 2021; Haitians are the fifth-largest immigrant group. As the community continues to flourish, the country’s cuisine offers familiarity, healing, and the opportunity to reclaim a rich culture.

Haitian restaurants began taking root in Boston in the 1980s, with one of the first being Le Foyer Bakery. Moments like this in Mattapan and across the country demonstrated necessary milestones that helped dismantle the idea of Caribbean cuisine as a monolith, making it easier for immigrants to find culturally relevant food from their respective islands.

Now, Haitian food can be found in practically every neighborhood, representing different generations and parts of the country’s culture. These spots build camaraderie, supply arguably some of the best meals in Boston, and carry on legacies. Scroll below to find a list of restaurants that exemplify the spirit of Ayiti (the native name of the island) in Greater Boston.

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