According to the Pew Research Center’s 2023 data, the number of minority-owned businesses has grown significantly in recent years but still only makes up about 3.4% of all U.S. businesses. In Pennsylvania, the percentage is even lower than the national average, with only between 1.1% and 3% of businesses being minority-owned.

Recently, Pittsburgh has garnered a reputation as a foodie town, with many new and exciting restaurants opening their doors. It is also becoming a destination for restaurants featuring singular world cuisines. In years past, you’d be hard-pressed to find more than a few Latin American restaurants, for example, or an ethnic food restaurant other than Italian, Mexican, Chinese, or Indian. But that is changing, and today, more options than ever abound, originating from many points on the globe.

The last year has seen an influx of new businesses crop up all throughout the region. Although the businesses highlighted below could not be more different from each other, what connects them is their owners’ passion for creating a comfortable and inviting space for customers.