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.“

“Love this place! Like many have already mentioned, it’s a casual spot so don’t expect anything super fancy. That being said,
it was a very welcoming environment and the food was top notch! My server did a great job and came to check in on me, would love to visit here again.“

“Money well spent, waiters and staff were courteous. Food was delicious!“

“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.“

“We were really excited to eat here to celebrate my wife’s birthday and it was one of the best dinner experiences we’ve had in DC. Not exaggerating, it’s the best sauce work on dishes we have ever tasted. The sauces for the piri salad, branzino, and shrimp were the highlights while the oysters were the standout. Our server (Cesar) was phenomenal and gave us great recommendations. We are excited to come back here with our friends in the near future!“

“So many folks have been drawn to the new kid on the block, Koma Café, but don’t forget about the welcoming, delicious and expansive Mansa Kunda at the corner of Flower and Erie Aves. There is plenty of interesting space to enjoy a meal, a quiet afternoon coffee or a friendly drink. You can even sit on a chair made from a traditional West African drum. There couldn’t be a more gracious host than Hatib who serves brunch in addition to lunch and dinner. This morning he welcomed five of us for a 10:00am feast, first asking if there was anything we didn’t eat (meat for the most part) but yes to eggs. We trusted him to surprise us and indeed he did. The veggie omelets were tender, whole wheat rolls still warm, the home fries crunchy and rich and the Brussel sprouts delicious. There were small coconut fritters, lightly fried and dusted with powdered sugar. So tasty! The brunch menu at Mansa Kunda includes familiar favorites like blueberry pancakes in addition to traditional West African dishes. Peanut butter chu anyone? It’s open from 10:00am to 9:00pm every day with Happy Hour from 4:00 to 7:00. Hatib is also an excellent baker so the sweets are a treat. We’re very lucky to have Mansa Kunda in the neighborhood. If you haven’t been there already, you’ll find something special to enjoy.“

“Delicious African food and a fantastic dining experience at Elmina. I did the chef’s tasting menu and it was amazing—each course was creative, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. The dishes highlighted a variety of African ingredients and spices, and everything tasted incredibly fresh and well balanced. The staff also did a great job explaining each course, which made the experience even better. If you’re looking to try something unique and delicious in DC, the tasting menu here is definitely worth it. Highly recommend!“

“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 ❤️“

“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.“

“Excellent quality, very authentic food. If you love spicy this is the spot for sure to check out. You can build your own bowl and have plenty of options to choose from, also the beverages are authentic as well. Definitely not expensive yet fairly priced yet still excellent in qualitu. Highly recommend!“

“Really delicious Ivorian food -- grilled red snapper, stews, and jollof. I love the little curries that came with our dishes. But honestly the fresh ginger juice was seriously the best ginger drink I've had anywhere. We're going back to just pick that stuff up and sip and restore life to our eyes. Friendly folks too :)“

“Project Suya was the best decision I made all week!! So juicy and tender and the spice is on point! It's been awhile since I've been and Grace help me pick what I wanted. It's hard to choose when you're hungry..lol. She was sweet and very professional. Highly recommend Project Suya“

“I came here with some friends for a fun Friday night and thoroughly enjoyed my time! The vibes are great, the music was great, and the food was great too! I tried the beef skewers and the jollof rice. The service could be improved upon. We were left waiting for our waiter for very long periods of time and when my food came, I wasn’t given any silverware or napkins. Overall, I will definitely be back!“

“Great Saturday party lit!!!!!“

“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!“

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

“I am also from Guinea, West Africa. However, I have observed a significant difference in our culinary preparation methods. I recently ordered a fish pepper soup, and it did not meet my expectations. The dish primarily consisted of fish, and the soup's consistency was thick, similar to what is typically served with rice, rather than the expected pepper soup.“

“Excellent good and a lot of it!! I loved the food truck! Now I love the new restaurant in Potomac Mills! Come out and support Ghana Jollof!“

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

“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“

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

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

“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.“

“friendly staff, great location and good parking“

“My experience was good, just that I look like it gets better at night. The fish is good, just a little salty. The Achu was good, too abd the soya. For next time I will recommend coming at night for a better experience cause the evening looks cold that is not too lively.“

“I thoroughly enjoyed the all-day Sunday brunch. The servers and manager were super attentive and welcoming. The food and drinks were delicious and the chef was very personable. Additionally, they allowed an older unhoused gentleman to sit in from the frigid temperatures and have a complimentary hot tea. Would totally recommend.“

“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.“

“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!“

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

“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“