This small restaurant in a food court sandwiched between others was a place I've been meaning to…read moretry, but I waited until I had another stop nearby. The indoor mini mall it's inside looks fairly new, with a nice upbeat atmosphere. I wasn't expecting to find authentic African food in Lenexa. African Dream features Nigerian specialties like fufu, and that also looked tempting, but one good meal was my objective. My server Ria was gracious and helpful. She helped me select a meal for takeout, and I had a 20-minute-plus drive to reach home, where I devoured this memorable meal (had at a reasonable price) in less time than it took to drive home. I had the brisket platter with sides (served in a takeout container). The brisket was, in a word, delicious! I'll be back for sure. The cabbage and rice dish sides were nice, too, and they complemented the brisket just fine. I'm glad that I arrived in time for the last small portion of their brisket. It looks like it usually sells out at lunch, but it's Monday and the entire food court wasn't busy. It was tender and smoky, with a light au jus style sauce. Yum. Parking was just okay on the street, and most spots were taken around my near-5 p.m. arrival, but I lucked into a parallel spot very close. My only tip would be if you're a brisket hound like me, park and arrive earlier! I shall return! (5 stars!)

I was hopeful. And then I saw the signs that said NOT SPICY. I got the smoked chicken. The chicken…read morewas really good. However, the potatoes and the other side dishes were bland. I was very disappointed. I had such high hopes make it spicy!!!!!! we can handle it. The chicken portions were very small also. Meat portion with three sides was $13 plus tip. Also is the cuisine Ethiopian? There were no descriptors.

A friend and I went in for lunch during winter break and it was really good and quaint for the most…read morepart. We were both not very familiar with African cuisine at allllllll so we asked our young waitress for some help. She said her favorite was the peanut butter soup, so my friend got that, and I got the spicy soup, both with Fufu because we wanted to try that. My soup (it was like a stew) was really good, spicy, flavorful, and the goat meat so sooo tender and delicious. I'm always leary of goat because sometimes it's gamey and this was not! The peanut butter soup had a wonderful savory flavor as well and was so good. The fufu is a side of dough looking thing, where you eat with your fingers and dip it in the soup, is my understanding. It just reminded me of a dumpling. This restaurant was really good, and it felt like a mom and pop type shop. I want to go back and try more menu items

Had to refresh my old review, which was criminally underrated. Fannie's has consistently been a…read moregood experience for the last 7-8yrs. Jollof is the star of the show and is great paired with any entree. This last visit I came for the red snapper but got the tilapia instead.

This is my second time here and I can say that whoever owns this business is highly unprofessional…read moreand disrespectful of time as they always open late! You have to call them and wait outside for several minutes before they let you in! More like you are begging to eat! Disgusting behaviour! To top it up, you eventually get in and it looks like they just started cooking! Nothing special about the food, even overpriced for what you get! I can never come back here!

Being told to "get out and there's no public restrooms" when the restaurant was empty. Even when I…read moremade it clear I was going to order a meal. Solid customer service to someone who was trying to buy their first meal and would purchase more if it was good! PSA don't come to this place if your white

We hit up this little joint after a day hike when our whole group was completely famished, and it…read moredid not disappoint! It's tucked away in a bit of an unexpected location, but that's exactly where you find the best hidden gems. ​The restaurant was busy, which is always a great sign, and the staff behind the counter were fantastic--super warm and genuinely caring. You could just tell the food was going to be incredible. ​I ordered the fried plantains and the Nigerian chicken stew, which is a killer combo of Jamaican jerk chicken topped with a traditional stew, served with their special rice and cabbage. The chicken had just the right amount of kick and those incredibly deep, slow-cooked flavors. Truly one badass bird, and the sides held their own, too. ​Of course, I couldn't run away without trying dessert. I brought home a piece of raspberry lemon butter cake and a piece of chocolate butter cake. Even out of a to-go box later on, they were phenomenal. This place is warm, inviting, and serves up serious comfort food. Highly recommend going out of your way to give them a try!

Between a sweaty day of drinking and my inaugural World Cup game, something needed to give. Wah…read moreGwan was my answer to fill that caloric void and set the table for hours more of saturated celebration. Entering this cove of Caribbean meets Nigerian, I was pressed by the woman behind the counter. According to her, I would only get plantains. In response I mustered my best antagonist energy to match. Sure enough the menu opened up before me! Remember kids, it's press or get pressed... While she offered the last oxtail, I couldn't muster yet another slab of meat in KC that day. Instead, it'd be a mackable Rasta Pasta for this white boy. After a serving of P's and Q's, my dish arrived in kind. Lucky enough to dine alone I employed my best ravenous dog impersonation, breathing all of three times in the next ten minutes. It was as if world peace actualized, even for just a moment, in that bliss of now. Four big WAHGWANS from me!

I just can't say enough about the food here at this unpretentious little gem, in the middle of the…read moreonce bustling Independence Center food court. This is the first time I'd visited this shopping mall in years. The mall itself was quiet, and busy with shoppers. We worked our way down to the food court to our intended destination... The "African Dream Cuisine" restaurant... and oh, where to start‽ We arrived there around 3pm. There were a few customers ahead of us. We had no idea what to expect, except for the previously posted reviews for this place we'd read. They were all positive, so I was excited to see for myself. I'd been wanting to try the food here for literally 2 years. Today, my husband and I celebrated our 41st wedding anniversary; and chose to eat here, since it's something different and special. After purusing the menu board, we settled on the Beef Brisket & Roasted Chicken combo meal with Fufu and Egusi; and the Roasted Chicken, Rice, & Cabbage platter. The meals were accompanied by both their Dream, and Peanut Butter sauces... so delicious. I must say though, the Fufu was THE BEST Fufu we'd ever eaten - BY A MILE!!! The taste and texture were perfect! Even the proteins were cooked perfectly... They were fall apart tender, and super moist. The flavor of the spices they were cooked in was really incredible! Truly, this was the one of the most delicious and delightful meals we'd had in a long time. As a matter of fact, EVERYTHING we'd ordered was not only fresh, but in generous portions. The proprietor, Stella, was gracious and kind... A very sweet person. She was there by herself preparing orders and serving them. She saw to our every need, making sure we wanted for nothing - another added benefit to eating there. We will most assuredly be going back soon, and frequently!

When I tell you the woman that owns this place deserves nothing but kind things! She was so nice to…read moretalk to! And when I got home with my food... I ate it so fast. I have been craving something nourishing that I can really feel full from. The meat is so perfectly tender and you can taste the love that goes into this food. Take the leap, try the food. You will most definitely want to come back.

Angie is such a sweetheart, and the food is wonderfull! Spicy, savory and hearty, I was full by the…read moretime I was halfway through my meal. The crabs were delicious, but I took them to go and I don't have crab crackers at my house so I recommend getting them there!

Came back to try some other items on the menu, I wasn't sure what to order and Angie gave me a…read moresample of each item I wanted to try. They were all a 10/10. She let me sample, CASSAVA LEAF, TORBORGEE and Egusi Soup. All were AMAZING! But I choose to go with Egusi soup. Highly recommend

Thanks to the World Cup and I got to visit the City Market at Kansas City and tried out my first…read moreever Ethiopian cuisine! It is a great experience as I was wondering if I would like it and it turned out better than I expected. The server was very polite and asked us if we need help with the menu. He recommended the sampler combo which consists of different meats and veggies options. I am glad that we listened to him as one sampler combo was very filing for two men. It is kind of like Indian food so if you are not sure why to try, go with the sample combo. I also ordered the Ethiopian iced coffee which is like a light roast flavor iced coffee and easy to take in. I would recommend you to try out this restaurant if you want something different than bbq or pasta at the Kansas City Market!

I was amazed at how much Ethiopian and Indian cuisine have in common…read more Yellow dal - Yekik Watt Shimbera Watt - Channa Masala Misir Watt - Rajma Sambusa - Samosa with cabbage and lentil filling That sort, some spices differ but basically its the same. Order included mango juice, which the girl said is made with real fruits. I didn't believe it. Then there was the ginger root juice- costing exactly same- it didn't make sense to me. Update: Received a msg from Daniel F- Owner, he reconfirmed that all their juices are made with actual fruit. Updating rating as well. For the main course got the 4 vegetable plate- the 4 sides we chose were collard greens, yellow dal, potato and cabbage, and beans and carrot, all this comes with the Ethiopian bread supposedly made with wheat and barley. Its located in the City Market , one of the popular destinations for farmers market on a weekend- today is Saturday Deal breaker - there was a long strand of hair on one of the plates. It was on top and was easily removed from the food but it still bothered me :(

J&K is truly a hidden gem, hidden behind a small gas station in North Kansas City. From the moment…read morewe walked in, we felt welcomed and felt cozy inside. The restaurant was clean and had plenty of seating. The walls were simply and beautifully decorated with hats, Ethiopian artifacts, and other cultural pieces, which added a warm and authentic cultural touch. They offer an extensive menu with many rich and comforting dishes. We started with Macroni soup which was a part of our main orders - included a very comforting overcooked pasta with lentils and minimal spices. For appetizers, we ordered the lentil sambusa since the chicken ones were sold out. For our main course, we chose the all meat combo platter with two sides. It included beef tibbs, lamb, and chicken, along with red and yellow lentils. Our friends ordered the all veggie combo platter, which came with red and yellow lentils, greens, cabbage, and beetroot. All the veggies, lentils and meats were served on super soft, tangy, and very flavorful injera. The beef tibbs was the clear winner among the meats. It was hearty, rich, and had a nice spicy depth. The other meats were also cooked well, with mild spices and comforting flavors that felt light and healthy. The vegetables were mostly chopped into small pieces and lightly steamed/ blanched, then tossed with salt, pepper, or minimal seasoning. The lentils balanced the plate perfectly with their mild taste and buttery, smooth texture. Overall, the food felt very wholesome, healthy and well balanced and colorful with a generous spread on the platter. The service did not feel rushed and our server was very sweet and attentive. That said, it did take about 30 minutes for the food to arrive after ordering, as everything was being prepared fresh. If they improve the wait times then it can be a win win situation for everyone. Take out can be faster option for you if you do not prefer to wait or are short of time. Overall, J & K offers an authentic and traditional Ethiopian Cuisine taste and thats why this is a must visit restaurant.

The good: Most of the dishes were tasty…read more The not so good: The menu is full of typos, the chicken tibs was dry, service is very slow (we were the only people dining in on a Tuesday night and it look a long time for somebody to bring a menu and then take our order). The server did not check in on us mid-meal. Also the one screen on the wall showed Ethiopian singers (love it!) and then switched to a slideshow of bible verses (that's cool if that's your thing, but it was a turn-off to me). There is better Ethiopian food in the metro. This just felt run down and like they didn't really care how our experience was.