alImEntando la comunidad.
Nourishing community.
Blaxicocina –or BLX– comes from the joining of these three words: Black, Mexican, and Cocina, which means “kitchen” in Spanish.
Blaxicocina is Mexico City, Mexico’s first and only Black American Soul Food restuarant.
At Blaxicocina, it’s not just about what you eat, but who you eat with and the love and intention motivating the hands that prepare each dish.
More than a restaurant, Blaxicocina is a home for Blackness. A destination community space for people who are of or appreciate the culinary and cultural contributions of Black Americans from the United States. Blaxicocina exists to foster a sense of community and unity while highlighting the historic and little-known cultural ties between Black Americans and the Mexican people.
Before there was Blaxicocina, there was Soul Food Sundays, a pop-up series, hosted by Chef/Owner, Tiara Darnell, on the roof of her tiny apartment in the Narvarte neighborhood. What began as a pivot into restaurant entrepreneurship after being laid off from her corporate audio production job at a global music streaming company, paved the way for what came next:
Established in February 2023–Black History Month–Blaxicocina is a first-and-only-of-its-kind cultural and culinary landmark in the heart of Mexico City, the largest city in North America. For nearly two years BLX has delighted in welcoming customers locally and from afar to chill, vibe, and eat well from dishes rooted in the Black American kitchen but unapologetically inspired and highly flavored by the culture and ingredients of México.
TIARA DARNELL
CHEF/OWNER
Originally from P.G. County, Maryland, Tiara is an ancestrally-trained chef and entrepreneur who grew up cooking alongside the matriarchs of her family. Tiara had no previous experience in restaurants when she started Blaxicocina, but it didn’t stop her.
Cheers to betting on yourself and acting intentionally on your dreams and goals!
Soul Food Chingona
Soul Food Chingona
Blaxicocina stands tall as the first Black, queer, and woman-owned soul food restaurant in Mexico City, and is a testament to the power of vision, agency, and love for bringing people together through food.
From the team to our vendor partnerships to our relationships with local farmers and the ingredients used in each dish, the abundance of Mexico’s culinary heritage is reflected throughout the Blaxicocina experience and in our dishes both classic and Mexican fusion alike.
