The choice of African restaurants in Brooklyn isn't huge, though, if its strictly African cuisine — that is, excluding Afro-Caribbean, African-American, and North African fare, say from Moroccan or Egypt. Brooklyn probably has hundreds of pizzerias and Italian restaurants; in contrast, the borough's African eateries number fewer than a few dozen.
Still, there's a range of tasty food experiences in Brooklyn to be had in Brooklyn. They run the gamut in terms of ambiance, price, and of course cuisine. The spectrum includes: tiny take-out joints; well-regarded, decade-old African restaurants such as South African Madiba and Senegalese Joloff (both as much Brooklyn mainstay establishments as Juniors, if younger), and trendy newcomers such as Ethiopian Ghenet and Nigerian Buka.
The list below includes only restaurants that received an "A" rating from the NYC Dept. of Health in 2011.
When to Go
Go anytime, for lunch or dinner! These restaurants are especially fun, however, during such festivals as Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, and African American History month.African Restaurants in FORT GREENE/CLINTON HILL
1. JOLOFF and JOLOFF 2 (2 locations)- 1168 Bedford Avenue off Madison, in Bedford-Stuyvesant 930 Fulton Street near St. James in Clinton Hill
- Tel: (718) 636-4011
Opened in 1995, this is more than a Senegalese restaurant; it’s a mainstay of the neighborhood, the kind of place that celebrated President Obama’s first inauguration with a $20 dinner and dancing gala. They’re open daily from noon until 11 P.M. and have two locations, one in Bed Stuy and one in Clinton Hill.
Joloff's website invites patrons to enjoy their "famous thiebu jeun, yassa ganar, mafe tofu, bissap, ginger, thiakri, and numerous other meat or vegetarian specialties, drinks, deserts, and the pleasant company of the owner, known as "Papa" K. Diagne." Twice a month, on Fridays, there's music and artistic performances in their Joloff Lounge Series.
2. BUKA
- 946 Fulton Street
- tel: 347-763-0619
Nigerian Buka, like Madiba or Ghenet, is more of a destination restaurant than many of the West African take-out places further out in Brooklyn's immigrant-rich neighborhoods, say in Flatbush. They’ve gotten some good press, too: The Village Voice praised Buka's Nigerian goat, fish and chicken pepper soups. And, the 2010 The NY Times $25 and Under column lauded Buka's “hearty goat stew," ”ground ogbono pods,”and ”grilled beef dusted with suya.” The staff are welcoming. Come get a taste of Nigerian food.
3. MADIBA
- 195 DeKalb Avenue
- Tel: (718) 855-9190
The first South African restaurant in the US, Madiba has been in business for well over a decade. On the downside, some people complain that it's tad pricey, and the music can be loud, and if you've got a lumberjack's appetite, go elsewhere. On the upside, the menu is interesting, with offerings such as Bushman’s Vegetable Platter, and Bobtie, a "traditional Cape curried beef with egg custard topping." There aren't many places in Brooklyn where one can order oxtail stew and pumpkin fritters. And, don't be shy about ordering the Monkey Gland Sauce, actually a meat condiment made not of monkey's glands, apricots, red wine,tomato and raisins.
The food, with its exotic names, is also interestingly prepared. The wood-tabled décor is unusual, with everything from a silly chandelier made of coke bottles to a huge map of South Africa. The South African wine list is extensive.
The entire experience feels like an homage to the journey to biracial harmony and freedom undertaken in South Africa. And who can resist this restaurant's nod to Nelson Mandela?
4. BATI
- 747 Fulton Street near Portland Avenue
- Tel: (718) 797-9696
NY Magazine gave this Ethiopian restaurant a thumbs up, noting the restaurants’ popularity with locals (always a good sign) and the “fiery-hot food” at this 24-seat Ethiopian restaurant.” Open 27/7.
5. ABDOUL' S BISTRO
- 154 Carlton Avenue,
- Tel: (718) 855-9455
Come for brunch of Senegalese food. Try the fried frog legs, and traditional akara. Closed Monday and Tuesday, open for dinner; lunch on weekends until 3:30 P.M.
6. AFRICA CUISINE
- 1139 Fulton Street, corner of St. James Place ,
- Tel: (718) 636-7422
This Clinton Hill African eatery is an inexpensive, hole- in-the-wall, eat-in or take-out restaurant serving West African cuisine. Go for the stewed or baked chicken. Look for the green awning with “African Cuisine”. Open daily lunch and dinner.
ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT IN PARK SLOPE/GOWANUS
7. GHENET- 348 Douglass Street
- Tel: (718) 230-4475
Ethiopian food makes a debut in the Park Slope/Gowanus area, with the well-received Ghenet. Go for the stews, and be prepared of course to mop up the deliciousness with a fistful of sourdough-like bread. There are vegetarian options as well, and also seafood. For more Ethiopian food in Brooklyn, also see Bati.
CROWN HEIGHTS
8. FATIMA AFRICAN RESTAURANT- 789 Franklin Avenue
- Tel: (718) 221-8681
Crown Heights is famously multi-cultural, and this Guinean-owned little restaurant wins repeat customers with their traditional acheke, baked fish, peanut butter stew and West African fare.
9. FESTAC GRILL
- 263 Hendrix Street
- Tel: 347-627-5151
This restaurant was named after a Lagos housing development that was itself named after the Second World African Festival of Arts and Culture, held in Nigeria back in the late 1970s. It’s got a least one huge fan. Located a block off of Atlantic Avenue in East New York. Note: This is generally a rougher neighborhood than most in Brooklyn.
BED-STUY, BUSHWICK
10. RESTAURANT ABIDJAN- 1136 Broadway between DeKalb Avenue & Kosciuszko Street
- Tel: 347-787-4320
Abidjan is the name of the urbane, cultural hub and former capital of the Côte d'Ivoire,or Ivory Coast — and one of the largest French-speaking cities in the world. So you can guess the origin of the recipes that inform this little restaurant that straddles the border of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Bushwick, Brooklyn. It’s the kind of place that has the menu in the window, not on a piece of paper, but large photos of the dishes, with each one named. Take a look before you head in, unless you know this cuisine, so you know what to order. It’s a small place. Recommended: meat served in palm oil.
Others
MIRAGE RESTAURANT
- 2143 Cortelyou Road in Flatbush
- Tel: (718) 941-4452
MONIKY KITCHEN AFRIQUE
- 2016 NOSTRAND Avenue
- Tel: (718) 856-4228
NEW COMBINATION RESTAURANT
- (Nigerian) 568 Utical Avenue
- Tel: (718) 604-0964
Note: Le Grand Dakar on Clinton is, unfortunately, now closed.
