As the country slowly reopens its economies, it might feel like you are coming out of a long hibernation season. Especially if you had followed all the COVID-19 containment measures to the letter. All that stay-at-home and social distancing measures might make one long for social events bringing families and friends together. A brunch at a restaurant might be a good break from the monotony of confining yourself within your house. If you are in the ‘Big Apple’ below are some of the best African restaurants in New York City.
These are restaurant establishments that serve some of the best dishes native to the motherland. This list of African restaurants is meant for the African diaspora feeling homesick, and foodies with curious taste bud looking to try new exotic cuisines from Africa.
The Best African Restaurants in New York City:
Green Garden Buffet
The Green Garden Buffet typically tops a Google Search for ‘African restaurants near me’ in New York. Perhaps that has to do with the fact that it was the first establishment in the city to serve food some of the most delicious food native to Chad. Its menu also features a wide variety of choices of dishes from other African countries. They also have quite an extensive vegetable dish list for vegans. Not to mention, the good review former customers keep leaving across various restaurant review sites.
One of the popular orders on the Green Garden Buffet is the boule (fufu). A common national dish in Chad served as a porridge-like serving. Boule is typically made out of millet in the southern parts of Chad, and maize in the northern parts. The ‘porridge’ shaped like a ball, is served alongside various sauces. The sauce might be made out of dried fish, meat, spices, and vegetables such as okra.
Other popular Chadian cuisines served at this establishment include Marrara; goal offals served with vegetables. There are also salads soups, bean dishes, rice, stews, and kebabs (brochettes) with some Arab influence.
Voilà Afrique
Located in the heart of the Midtown East (UN) area of NYC, Voilà Afrique serves some of the delicious food from Africa you can find in being sold on a food truck. Especially if you are a fan of the spicy national dish from Nigeria and Ghana like jollof rice, . Some of the best dishes in their menu include jollof rice (of course), beef suya/kebab, vegan beef suya, egusi, fufu, pounded yam, oxtail stew, peanut sauce and jerk chicken.
‘Voilà Afrique’ is French for ‘here in Africa.’ The restaurant has done an impeccable job in representing amazing food from the African continent right in the midst of other international New York City restaurants from across the globe. The establishment does not disappoint whether you are a vegan or a meat-person (carnist).
Although the restaurant has made a name for itself as one of the leading African restaurants in New York. It is quite a new establishment, having opened up in March 2020. Right in the heart of the COVID-19 global pandemic. However, the establishment has taken the necessary measures including setting up outdoor seating. They also only admit customers wearing masks and provide them with free hand sanitizers. Their staff also wear masks and are constantly sanitizing their hands, tables, chairs, and utensils.
