Gussie's Chicken and Waffles, San Francisco

Gussie's Chicken & Waffles focuses on the flavors of the American South, not the Caribbean, but owner Michele Wilson and manager Pia Harris have a deep love for Jamaican culture and music. In 2011, they gathered a group of their neighbors in the Fillmore to kick off the first San Francisco Reggae Festival, a free afternoon of locally and internationally sourced concerts, booths showcasing local food vendors and artists, and children’s activities such as games and advanced relaxing lessons. While the pulse of classic reggae carries through the fest, lineups nod to modern developments in Jamaica and the Bay Area alike by also booking DJs and hip-hop-influenced performers.