The Haitian flag flies over Bon Appetit at the Dorchester Center. | Ashia Aubourg/Eater Boston
Conversations about Haiti usually focus on the island’s political collapse, people seeking asylum, and the loss of knowledge across generations. However, shifting the context creates room for nuance and agency.
Thousands of Haitians are settling in the Greater Boston area, 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 thrive, the country’s cuisine offers familiarity, healing and the opportunity to reclaim a rich culture.
Haitian restaurants began to take hold in Boston in the 1980s, one of the first being Le Foyer Bakery. Moments like this in Mattapan and across the country marked necessary milestones that helped shatter the idea of Caribbean cuisine as a monolith and make it easier for immigrants to find culturally relevant foods from their respective islands.
Haitian food can now be found in virtually every neighborhood, representing different generations and parts of the country’s culture. These places build camaraderie, provide arguably some of the best meals in Boston, and carry on legacy. Scroll down to find a list of Greater Boston restaurants that embody the spirit of Ayiti (the island’s native name).
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