20 African Restaurants to Try for Takeout or Delivery Around D.C. during the Covid Shutdown.

Much of African’s amazing culture can be experienced through its diverse cuisine. Influenced by 54 countries, thousands of local languages, tribes, and colonization, there’s more to African cuisine than Jollof (although that is amazing poster child for West African Cuisine). The D.C. Metropolitan area has the highest population of African immigrants, from diverse regions of Africa, these 20 restaurants (in random order) showcase a well rounded list of African food for takeout and delivery during the COVID Stay at home orders.

1. Rahama African Restaurant

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The Rahama African Restaurant is a family owned and operated restaurant in D.C. area. They serve Ghanaian and other West African dishes daily. “Rahama” is derived from Arabic “rahmah” which is, according to the owner, translated as mercy (more like ever-forgiving motherly love). With 3 locations serving the DMV, their top sellers include Waakye Rice and beans served with meat and fish, Jollof Rice with Salad, and Fufu Fufu with a choice of soup and protein.

2. Queensway Restaurant

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Queensway, is an award winning Nigerian restaurant founded by Atinuke Ogunsalu; a professional chef with a passion for cooking and baking cakes, especially delicious African styled meals. At Queensway, their goal is to be quick service African restaurant. They are also the 2017 winners of the Jollof Festival Competition.

3. Spectrum Lounge

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Spectrum lounge is a an upscale Restaurant and Lounge that serves a variety of West African. Favorites include Smoked Beef (SUYA) Grilled Chicken, Baked Fish and mixed drinks. The claim to fame ? They make the best Suya in Town.

4. Monikay’s Kitchen

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Monikay’s seems to be favorite food spot among the local African DJs. This is what Andy’s Facebook review said “We went there randomly a couple of Saturdays ago and had a great time! Everyone was very welcoming, they explained all the dishes and warned us about the spicy things. Use caution with the shito as it is REALLY spicy! Just amazing flavors. Unbelievably delicious! I think they were surprised we liked it, and one of the guys from the kitchen even came out and took a video of us enjoying everything. We’d go there more often if we lived closer, that’s for sure. 5 stars guys.”

5. Miya Lounge

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Miya Lounge lets you discover a taste of West African cuisine. They serve a blended menu with the finest West African dishes (Cameroon, and Nigerian food with a dash of Cassava leaf).

6. Quilox Restaurant and Lounge

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Located in D.C, Samson launched Quilox Restaurant & Lounge to offer an intercontinental menu that features faves from Africa. Favorites include Chicken Suya, Goat Meat Stew and Fried overly ripe plantains.

7. Sheger Spring Cafe

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8. Hakuna Matata Grill

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This location was founded by a mix of relatives and friends who became family decades ago, who loved to eat and spend time together. Hakuna Matata Grill was born out of a hunger to share more of the rich East African culture through food!

9. Appio African Bar and Grill 

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Located near the corner of U St. NW and 9th St. NW in the heart of Washington, and D.C’s historic Black Broadway / Shaw neighborhood; Appioo African Bar & Grill offers Chef Prince Matey’s famous home-cooked Ghanaian cuisine and African drinks.

10. Roger Milla Restaurant

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Take a trip to West Africa without leaving the DMV. Roger Miller West African Restaurant was voted ‘Best Ethnic Food’ by Washington Magazine and was ranked #26 Most Delicious restaurant of over 500 restaurants in the D.C. metro area!

11. Swahili Village

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Swahili Village, is one of the most acclaimed restaurants serving authentic East African cuisine. It’s a true Kenyan Taste to anyone in the Washington Metro Area. Enough said!

12. Bukom Cafe

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Bukom Cafe was the first West African eatery to appear in town. Named after a popular bar-restaurant district in Accra, the capital of Ghana, Bukom embodies the West African spirit. It is located in the heart of Adams Morgan.

13. Jolloff Etcetera

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Jollof Etcetera is an offspring of Quizine Africana, a Nigerian restaurant in Lagos. It represents a bold attempt to refine and present the rich delicacies of Nigeria / Africa to the American public, in a decent environment. Their claim to fame? Health consciousness ! They serve hot, yummy and finger-licking dishes.

14. 5 Sisters Restaurant

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5 Sisters serves cuisine from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and Sierra Leone. Their top sellers are Roasted Tilapia, Jollof Rice and Beef Suya.

15. PRIME Restaurant

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PRIME Restaurant offers West African cuisine and according to Grubhub, their top menu items are Grilled Tilapia Fish with plantains and bobolo, Soya and plantains and Brisket Soya.

16. Twins Jazz

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Twins Jazz has an amazing history. For over twenty-three years, Twins Jazz Club and Twins Lounge created a friendly environment wherein Music and Food lovers could congregate in geniality and ambiance sharing their love and celebration of Jazz Music. Twins has attracted the likes of Stevie Wonder (2007) and significant national media recognition from The Washington Post, Washington Times, Boston Globe, New York Times, USA Today and Essence Magazine.

17. Serengeti Restaurant and Lounge

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Meet Chef Shaaban, the Chef at the helm of Serengeti, an expert in making delicious Eastern African cuisines notably charcoaL-grilled goat and lamb (aka Goat/lamb Choma) and many other African and international dishes.

18. Deset Ethiopian

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Deset Ethiopia Restaurant is known for it’s exotic Ethiopian flavors. Favorites include a vegan combo special, Tibs, kornis and kitfo daily.

19. Enebla restaurant

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Enebla Market & Carryout specializes in reasonably priced cuisine, including Kitfo their house specialty. They also happen to be a one-stop Ethiopian grocery store.

20. Zion Kitchen West African Restaurant

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Founded by Oyindamola Akinkugbe (Oyin to her friends) in 2002, Zion Kitchen has been a favorite for locals and native Africans. They prepare fresh and authentic West African cuisine daily using classic recipes handed down through the generations. With cooking skills straight from the chef who is a native of Nigeria, Oyin has brought the unique and authentic tastes of traditional West African cooking to the DC area.