Haiti's independence soup — pumpkin, beef, free January 1
Every January 1st, Haitian families across Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx gather around steaming bowls of soup joumou — that golden, soul-warming pumpkin soup that tells the story of freedom itself. Back in colonial Haiti, enslaved people were forbidden from eating this "master's soup," so when independence came in 1804, soup joumou became the taste of liberation served every New Year's Day since.
We've rounded up the spots across the five boroughs where you can get authentic soup joumou, from longtime family joints like Kombit Restaurant to newer spots keeping the tradition alive. Hours can be different around the holidays, so give them a ring before you roll up — and remember, some places only serve it during soup joumou season. We keep this list fresh with weekly updates because good soup waits for no one.
One of Brooklyn's premier Haitian restaurants. Kombit serves traditional griot, tasso, legume, and diri ak djon djon in a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Their weekend specials featuring soup joumou draw crowds…
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