14 Destination Restaurants in Bayview and Hunter’s Point
San Francisco’s east side is slept on, full stop. The Bayview and Hunter’s Point sometimes don’t get their shine. The neighborhoods were once known as Butchertown, and during World War II the Navy’s use of the area’s shipyards contaminated the ground with radiation. That history is honored today by many of the businesses working to keep the Bayview lively and vibrant. Old Skool Cafe has held it down for a decade, fixing locals up with jobs in a swanky jazz club. Gumbo Social is a newcomer to the neighborhood, bringing a second-line band down Third Street upon moving in. There’s something for everyone in this historic area, so long as one is willing to peel back the layers and get to the neighborhood’s delicious core.
Chef Dontaye Ball, better known as Mr. Gumbo, couldn’t tell you exactly how old he was the first time he tasted gumbo at his grandmother’s house in the Fillmore District. His grandmother always said eight years old. His mom believes it was more like four. But either way, to him, gumbo tastes like Christmas. Ball remembers the whole family elbowing into the kitchen and arguing about exactly what goes into the pot.
For a long time, good gumbo was hard to find in San Francisco. But thankfully, as we slog through this wet winter, San Francisco seems to be approaching peak gumbo. Brenda’s always made a serious bowl brimming with chicken, andouille, and okra. Boug Cali will be coming to the Ferry Building this year, bringing jars of seafood gumbo ready to grab and go. Meanwhile Gumbo Social opened in the Bayview last summer, where Ball dives deep into the iconic dish.
For almost seven years, Lilia Vizcaino handled janitor duty at a coffee shop near UC Berkeley, cleaning up at closing time. But Vizcaino, who came to the U.S. from Mexico and now lives in Albany, wanted something better for her family.
“I wanted stability, and I needed to do something else for the future,” she said.
Today Vizcaino no longer mops floors at a coffee shop. She owns her own, El Tiny Cafe in Berkeley. It’s a cute neighborhood joint that offers Americanos and iced horchata lattes, made with coffee beans sourced from women-owned farms in Mexico. The kitchen serves sandwiches, overnight oats and avocado toast with eggs and salsa macha — and boasts five stars on Yelp.
Entrepreneurship is often portrayed as a journey through uncharted territory. For minority entrepreneurs, this path can sometimes feel like navigating a maze, with each turn presenting unique challenges and opportunities. Understanding this ecosystem, with its intricacies and nuances, is crucial to not only surviving but thriving within it. Let’s explore some key strategies that can empower minority entrepreneurs to turn their visions into vibrant, successful businesses.
Embracing Your Unique Story
Embracing your unique story is a powerful business strategy. Your background, with its individual experiences and perspectives, serves as a rich source of innovation and differentiation in a competitive marketplace. By drawing upon your personal journey, you can identify gaps in the market that others may not see, offering solutions that resonate deeply with consumers’ diverse needs and desires.
This personal narrative becomes the soul of your brand, a unique selling proposition that cannot be replicated by others. In our interconnected global economy, a brand story that is authentic and relatable has the power to cross cultural and geographical boundaries, forging a connection with a wide array of customers.
Accessing Funding Accessing funding is a challenge for any startup. For minority entrepreneurs, this process can be particularly daunting, often compounded by historical inequities and systemic barriers that have long impeded equitable access to venture capital and traditional lending sources. Despite these obstacles, there is a silver lining as the financial landscape begins to evolve. A growing number of resources and programs are now being designed with the intention to specifically support businesses led by minority entrepreneurs. These opportunities span from targeted funding programs and grants to investors who prioritize diversity and inclusion within their investment portfolios. Furthermore, non-traditional funding avenues, like crowdfunding and community-driven financing, have started to demonstrate their effectiveness, particularly for businesses that are deeply intertwined with their local communities.
Keith Richardson, Owner of Keith’s Chicken -N -Waffles
Leveraging Technology and Social Media In today’s digital landscape, mastering technology and social media is crucial for any entrepreneur, especially those in minority groups striving to establish a strong market presence. Effective use of these tools transcends consistent posting; it’s about strategically engaging your audience, creating meaningful content that fosters community, and utilizing analytics to turn clicks into customers. By understanding audience behaviors and preferences and connecting through storytelling that resonates, entrepreneurs can leverage these platforms not just for visibility but for sustainable growth and customer engagement.
Educating Yourself Continuously The business world is ever-evolving, and staying updated with the latest trends and skills is crucial. This doesn’t necessarily mean formal education. Online courses, In-person training classes, webinars, podcasts, and books can provide valuable knowledge and insights. Don’t underestimate the power of learning from other entrepreneurs’ stories and experiences.
Prioritizing Wellness and Resilience For entrepreneurs, harmonizing the rigors of business with personal well-being is essential. This harmony involves embracing practices like mindfulness to support mental health and ensuring adequate rest to rejuvenate the body and mind. Equally important is establishing a healthy work-life balance carving out time for relaxation and personal interests. A robust support network is invaluable for discussing challenges and celebrating successes, enhancing personal resilience and business efficacy. Adapting flexibly to business challenges also remains crucial. Remember, taking care of your overall well-being isn’t just a personal indulgence; it’s a fundamental component of successful entrepreneurs.
Remember This You are not just a trailblazer in business but also a beacon of hope and inspiration for others who might follow in your footsteps. By leveraging your unique strengths, building a supportive network, accessing the right resources, and caring for your well-being, you can navigate the startup ecosystem more effectively and carve out your path to success.
As we’ve explored the various facets of navigating the startup world, the Renaissance Entrepreneurship Center stands ready to be a part of your entrepreneurial journey. We offer a comprehensive suite of classes and programs to guide you through every topic discussed in this blog — from leveraging technology and digital marketing to building resilience and a supportive network. Our resources are tailored to empower you with the knowledge, skills, and support needed for your business to flourish. We invite you to join our community of driven and innovative entrepreneurs. Discover how our programs can illuminate your path to success and help you transform your entrepreneurial dreams into reality.
Unlike most closely guarded fried chicken recipes, you can actually get your hands on the secret recipe at Brenda’s French Soul Food. While the crispy chicken is always served with the famous cream biscuit and collard greens, sister spot Brenda’s Meat & Three sets itself apart with a choice of three glorious sides. Whichever location you choose, you’ll be getting legit Southern buttermilk fried chicken that tastes exactly like what you’re imagining right now.
Sweat tea brined fried chicken is always a good choice at chef Rusty Olson’s clean, cozy, dependable Southern joint. Don’t bother telling the folks waiting in line for the (really great!) brunch at Brenda’s down the block a ways — just head over to Rusty’s Southern and get a chicken biscuit brunch for yourself.
If there’s something wrong about eating fried chicken and waffles on a loading dock in an alleyway, then you don’t want to be right. Just follow the smell of sweet waffles to the small window at Little Skillet where there’s bound to be a line of fried chicken fanatics waiting to get their fix.
The motto of this Bayview Hunter’s Point soul food joint is “fried with pride” and once you bite into their mouthwatering fried chicken, you’ll taste that it’s true. Every piece at Frisco Fried is fried to order, so if you’re in a rush, call ahead. Get ’em by the piece (up to 20 pieces) or make it a dinner pack with sides and muffins.
21. Auntie April’s Chicken & Waffles
Open every day of the week, Auntie April’s is dedicated to serving up some of SF’s best fried chicken. The chicken and waffles is a signature move, offering choice of original, cinnamon or buckwheat waffles, and chicken (leg, thigh, wing, breast). Also available sans waffle, and in sandwich form, don’t forget to snag a side.
