African Restaurants near Arlington, VA

“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.“

“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!“

“Candace is Superstar! I’m visiting in town with friends from all over, and my Ugandan friend after one taste, “this reminds me of home”. If you looking for quick bite, and/or dine in. This is the spot to go to for authentic African food and genuine connection. We definitely will be back while in town!“

“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.“

“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!“

“Today was my first time visiting. I came from WV. I follow the page and have been wanting to try this amazing looking food!!! April helped me pick my order and she did an awesome job!! The food was 10/10!!! My taste buds are happy ❤️“

“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.“

“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.“

“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.“

“The food is absolutely delicious! 🤤😋 Everything was grilled to perfection and packed with flavor. The portion sizes are pretty generous too, so the pricing is somewhat reasonable for the amount of food you get.

My only complaint is that I wish there were more variety in what’s included with the meals. The “bowl,” for example, is literally your choice of meat with shredded onions—no rice or other side—which I found a little misleading.

I ordered the chicken wings and suya combo for $38, and it came with exactly that: chicken wings, beef suya, and shredded onions. The amount of meat was definitely generous, but quite a few pieces of the beef suya were fatty. So I’m still going back and forth on whether I feel like $38 was worth it. 😂

That being said, the flavor was REALLY good, and I enjoyed the food overall. There’s limited street parking, but I didn’t have much trouble finding a spot.

I would definitely go back and would recommend giving them a try—just know that when they say meat and onions, they mean meat and onions. 😂“

“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.“

“Great Saturday party lit!!!!!“

“So authentic and tasty. yummy and feels like herby spicy. thank you“

“Love this place. Walk in the door and immediately to the right is Lawd Shawarma! A wonderfully warm meal of fish & eggs with vegan bread and Christmas-spiced Sorrel / Hibiscus drink. No matter what they call the next respiratory illness, no matter if you need to starve a flu or feed a cold. Problem solved for me. Lawd! I thank you.“

“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“

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

“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!“

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

“friendly staff, great location and good parking“

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

“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.“

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

“Roger happened to the Chef working tonight 😍😍😍😍😍 Worth the wait, always glad to have great food when I’m in town ❤️“

“This place is absolutely amazing! The food is incredibly delicious. I visited for the first time today and was welcomed with warm, friendly service. Everyone was in great spirits, and the atmosphere felt really positive.

When I mentioned it was my first time, they kindly offered me a sample of curry chicken, brown stew, and oxtail over rice. Each one was full of flavor — so good that I had a hard time choosing!

I ended up ordering the brown stew chicken with rice, cabbage, and a side of plantains. Everything was cooked to perfection. The chicken was juicy, tender, and full of flavor. The plantains were fresh off the stove — perfectly sweet and soft.

I absolutely loved my experience here and will definitely be coming back. Highly recommend giving them a try!“

“I went to brunch on Sunday, and it was all-you-can-eat with unlimited mimosas, lemon drops, and margaritas. Let me just say—this was some of the best food I’ve ever had in my life! Every single thing I tried was amazing. Not one dish missed.

The bartender was incredible! My glass was literally never empty. Every time I took a few sips, she was right there with a refill. The service was top-notch, and everyone was so friendly and attentive. They cleared our dirty plates quickly, the food was always fresh, hot, and seasoned to perfection, and the whole atmosphere was a vibe. The music, the people, the energy—everything was perfect.

This is officially my new favorite brunch spot! 100/10. I’ll definitely be back!“

“My first time coming here. When I say the vibe is vibing, IT'S A WHOLE VIBE! When you walk in immediately you're greeted and seated. Services were great, and music was danceable. Prices are a bit over priced but still overall, wonderful time with my love and will be coming back. Bringing my girls next time.“

“Fantastic food and atmosphere, highly recommended“

“Good food, I love the Awaakye and fried yellow plantains
Very delicious
Wide TV , always playing music from the TV and the wonderful speakers and easy to talk.
Beautiful table and Chairs, clean environment
I will definitely go there all the time“