African Restaurants near Alexandria, VA

“This place was such a delightful discovery! The attentive care by the owner and staff made us feel welcomed and at home. And the food was so good! Truly fantastic. We had the grilled tilapia with bantu and okra soup with fufu. We were super grateful for water and bowl at our table to wash our hands before and after the meal, too. We'll definitely be back.“

“I came to this location for the first time and it was my first time trying Nigerian food! The lady who works there, was helping me order and is very kind and patient. I had it to go and enjoyed my meal with full satisfaction! Very delicious and will be coming again with some friends.“

“Most unique gelato I ever had. But it wasn’t bad! 👍🏻“

“My favorite is the waakye ( Rice & beans). I’ve tried waakye in Ghana and most of the big cities in the states but this one is a must try. Lately moved out of Va and my only ask from anyone visiting me is just that. Adding to my experience is auntie Rose, who prepares and serves with joy. Thank you auntie Rose.“

“Great store and staff! Visited earlier to get someone some traditional Ghana 🇬🇭 food. The guy in the line in front of me was super nice and explained some food items to me like: corn 🌽 mixed with peanut 🥜 butter 🧈 and ginger. 🫚 If you don’t like ginger 🫚 you probably won’t like some of the items. The wife wasn’t a fan. I thought it was delicious and much better than the lemonade we made at Deliver Lean; that was the most ginger thing I have ever had 😂 it burned to drink that stuff. Anyway, great staff, great food, smelled amazing!!! Wish I had tried more stuff cause the meats smelled amazing. Muslim friendly as it had a sign praising Allah. I’m a barefoot 🦶 servant of Lord Jesus and know that The Holy Spirit watches over all the children of God Almighty no matter what name. Also, the cops posted outside made it feel more safe and secure. Wish I’d take more photos. The music was awesome!! Wife had to made me stop snapping 😂“

“This place was probably one of my favorite dining experiences in DC. One of the reviews I read mentioned you’ll probably end up ordering 40-50% of the menu, and they were definitely right. For two people, we ordered 1 snack, 2 appetizers, 1 item from the “with bread” section, and 1 large share. We also got the rum cake (which was so good!) for dessert and we each had a drink. We left very full and with some leftovers from the large share.

All that aside, this place absolutely lived up to the hype! Each food item was packed with flavor and had beautiful presentation. The servers were kind and quick to help. Food comes out quickly which was nice! The music was on the louder side, but the playlist was great. We could still hear each other.

One thing to note is the menu changes slightly, so what you see in other reviews will more or less be what is available (with slight changes). For instance, we saw reviews about the chargrilled oysters but when we saw the menu it was (raw) oysters escovitch.

This place is definitely on my list to go back to!“

“Delicious food! Shared the Beef Tips and the Veggie Platter between 2 people. It came on one platter and was the perfect amount of food. Had the Ethiopian hot tea, spicy and delicious! Atmosphere is casual, lots of locals, TVs on the walls, but they're muted!“

“Elmina is such a fun dining experience. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels warm, lively, and beautifully curated, and the food delivers just as much personality. They bring the vibrant flavors of Ghana to life with a playful, modern twist while still allowing the unique ingredients and flavors to shine.

Everything we tried was delicious and wonderfully distinctive. The waakye paired with flavorful shito and oxtail was an absolute standout. The combination of rich, savory flavors was beyond delicious. The grilled prawns were beautifully cooked and packed with flavor, especially with the bright green sauce and fresh herbs. We also enjoyed the crispy, deeply seasoned plantains and the other flavorful bites we sampled.

What really impressed me was how layered and unique the flavors were. There was something familiar yet completely new in every bite, and the beautiful presentation made the experience even more enjoyable.

If you are looking for exceptional Ghanaian food, creative flavors, and a vibrant atmosphere, Elmina is absolutely worth a visit. We had a fantastic experience and cannot wait to come back and try more of the menu!“

“It’s my pleasure to ordering food from Kulan restaurant for my kids and I. I had requested a rice dish with lamb, but to my delight, the portion was more than generous. The lamb itself from Kulan was incredibly delicious, with a tender and succulent texture that melted in my mouth. The flavors were well-balanced, and the combination of the rice and salad complemented the dish perfectly. It was evident that Kulan put great care and attention into preparing the meal. I highly recommend Kulan for anyone looking for exceptional food and service. My kids love Somali food no more burger or fries.“

“I went during the late afternoon. Parking was ok. I was able to find street parking. I walked in as a first time customer and was greeting with a warm welcome. The staff talked to me about the different areas of the restaurant and upcoming events. I was waited on almost immediately. My drink came first; which was really good and priced well. I ordered wings and salad. Everything came out hot and tasted really good. The vibes during this time I day was chill with good music. I was told they have DJs later on in the evening. Overall I had a great experience. I would definitely go again.“

“The food was really good and the waiter was very attentive. I forgot the name of the appetizer but it was a shrimp, avocado combo that was served with bread. DELICIOUS. We also had yam chips served with a mayonnaise based sauce. They were seasoned differently than what I am used to (which is just salt) but it tasted amazing! The main meal was snapper with jollof rice and fried plantain. 10s across the board would highly recommend.“

“Thanks to Tracye McQuirter of By Any Greens Necessary for recommending this Ethiopian Cafe to me. The sign on the store says Bethel Cafe. I ordered the Vegetarian Platter. THEE VERY BEST! Friendly staff and accommodating. I will be venturing out to Arlington, VA on occasion just to come here.“

“Saw an amazing story about the food and owners of this restaurant- what a great story - thank you for being such a great role model and giving back to the community“

“Best place to have a good evening after a hard weekend work. Music is amazing“

“We tried 4 different dishes and EVERYTHING was AMAZING! The decor is beautiful. I enjoyed the music and the entire vibe of this restaurant. We got a chance to meet the chef and he was so nice and down to earth.“

“Good food, music, ambiance, and customer service. I will definitely be returning.“

“How in heavens name do you rate delicious? I recommend Disbe for all grilled meat loving fans.“

“Great Late-Night Find with Excellent Service!
I ordered from Beyond Suya at their kiosk, and I was genuinely impressed. The staff was so nice, patient, and super communicative throughout the entire process. Even though it wasn’t a dine-in experience, they made sure everything went smoothly and made me feel like a valued customer.

The food was absolutely delicious – full of flavor and clearly made with care. What really stood out, aside from the amazing service, is that they’re open late! If you’re looking for something tasty and satisfying to eat late at night, Beyond Suya is a perfect go-to. I’ll definitely be back again soon. Highly recommend!“

“Food was so good I ordered curry goat and chicken rice and FuFu 👍“

“So much great and yummy cuisines to savor....Varieties of exotic drinks. Wines, spirits, etl.👌“

“Fantastic food and atmosphere, highly recommended“

“Delicious meal. This woman Joan can cook. Everything was cooked to perfection, tender tasty. I ordered Egusi soup!!! She was kind and had great service too. It’s also one of the less expensive places I’ve seen. I’ll be gone my back today.“

“Awesome food, great service & awesome energy!!!“

“This is a nearby spot and couldn't be happier if it were any closer I'd be there everyday. Mama is the sweetest woman so hard working and very kind. The food is made with love and is worth every cent it's not expensive but it's worth every dollar. My favorite dish is jerk chicken, white rice, cabbage, and plantains with a side of coco bread?“