Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    AKWAABA RESTAURANT

    4.2 (49 reviews)
    ModerateAfrican
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    AKWAABA RESTAURANT Photos

    Business Info

    AKWAABA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - AKWAABA RESTAURANT

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Menu (as of January 2024)
    Jessica C.

    For the last 6-ish years, Akwaaba Restaurant has been my favorite Ghanaian spot in Brooklyn. I only get one dish but I have never ever EVER been let down after ordering it: fried beef, Jollof, plantain, and a mixture of sautéed peppers, onions, and carrots. It's about $20 for this but the portion of Jollof and beef is large enough for me to split into 2 meals (once I add my own greens to it, because broccoli goes with everything lol). The food is spicy but so full of flavor that I don't mind. As far as the service, I am always happy to see that the chef / owner(?) is there and well. He's cool and really takes pride in the food, which is beautiful to see. The orders usually take a long time to be ready but it's worth the wait. So I recommend placing your order over the phone ahead of time because it's not really a dine-in type of spot. I love the food at Akwaaba Restaurant dearly and look forward to visiting whenever I'm in the area and have a craving for Jollof. I'd highly recommend ordering from here if you're craving it too.

    Okra Stew w/ goat meat and fufu
    Renate H.

    Okra Stew w/goat meat and fufu: words can't describe how delicious this was! I've been craving this for over 20 years!! Mission Complete!! Definitely fulfilled my craving! Service: Excellent / above and beyond! Angel sent!! **Dated a guy from W.Africa in h.s.(parents cooked) and fell in love with the food (aka love potion). Been on a mission for this exact taste for 20 years (no joke) due to Seattle not having any W.African restaurants. My friend and I specifically went on a mission (yes we got lost and took an hour sub to get to this place) to find out they were closed. The owners (I wish I caught their names) felt for us and made sure we didn't leave empty handed. If I ever go back to NY this will be one of my first stops!!

    menu

    I called ahead so it wasn't too long of a wait. You have to ring the doorbell for them to come to the door. I got fufu and okra with goat meat soup. The food was amazing, with great spices and the goat meat was so rich and flavorful, the meat was tough though, wish it was more tender and wish there was more meat and less skin. The fufu was stretchy and warm. Everything was a good experience overall 8/10.

    A menu!
    Charles K.

    Everything about my previous review is still accurate but bruh Akwaaba's food is SO GOOD I had to make sure to give it 5 stars.

    Fufu and Okra soup with goat meat (first option on the menu)
    Crystal G.

    This was my first time trying fufu and West African food in general, and I was not disappointed. The owner was the sweetest man who chatted with my friends and I. While the wait for the food was around 20 minutes, the soup was well worth it. The goat is gamey, but the okra was so well cooked I forgot how much I disliked okra on its own. The seasoning was so flavorful and paired perfectly with the soft fufu. Everything came to us hot and steaming, even after thirty minutes. We had ordered the fufu and okra soup with goat meat which was $25. The price was a bit steep, BUT this meal fed four people so it was very much worth it. The store itself was quite small, with little to no seating except for a couple of bar stools. However, this is no problem since the restaurant is so close to prospect park. Overall, the food was very good and I would recommend it to anyone who wants some authentic dishes in Brooklyn

    Waakye
    Busayo A.

    This place and meal was recommended to me and there is not a single complaint to be made. The food was so flavorful, portion generous and price decent. I highly suggest you try the Waakye with fried fish because that was the highlight of the dish for me. This cost me $16 and lasted me two days . The lady I met when I picked it up was really nice and recommended I try the fufu and okro next time I order. I can't wait to try it! Tip: Call ahead of time and bring cash with you

    Not sure what it is but they recommended it
    Michelle T.

    We wanted to support as much as we could during these hard times. So we went to different restaurants around the neighborhood to give it a try. Definitely was an experience to walk into this really dark restaurant that was covered up and didn't have a light on. The light was through a crack in the curtain, what an experience. There's no menu, you're greeted by the friendly person in the front asking what do you like ? We were like surprise us, then there were different cooking style. He can tell it was our first time, so we let him surprise is. I really enjoyed the experience and love the jollof rice.

    Banku and Okro Stew

    See all

    Photo of Lili M.
    111
    1
    0

    5 years ago

    I love this restaurant!!! I wish they can deliver but the Banku & Okro soup is top tier!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rocks A.
    21
    25
    37

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    I'm from Ghana and the food tasted so authentic! Not to mention the great service!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - AKWAABA RESTAURANT

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for African 6,978 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Akara House

    Akara House

    4.8
    (39 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    I came on a rainy day right at 11:30am when they open, and the owner was still getting things ready…read morebut kindly offered to rush my veggie sandwich order. Unfortunately that meant the bread got the microwave treatment instead of proper defrosting and toasting. If you've ever tried microwaved frozen bread, you know the texture I'm describing. The crispy honey bean (akara) burger itself was quite tasty. The patty had a crispy exterior and creamy bean paste interior, dressed up with vegan cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. It's a nice alternative for vegetarians who dislike fake meat substitutes. They don't purport the beans taste like anything but beans. The jollof rice completed the meal. It had a rich tomato base with great depth of flavor that made everything feel more substantial. The owner was genuinely sweet about the whole rushed situation, and based on reviews, I know this is the kind of place that shines under normal circumstances. This is primarily a takeout spot with a few high-top tables by the window if you want to eat in. I'd definitely give it another shot during regular operating hours when they're not scrambling to accommodate early birds.

    STEPH JUDGEMENT: A unique vegan fast food experience…read more I'd read about them in the New Yorker and was intrigued. A vegan Nigerian fast food joint in Brooklyn? Why not! We'd never had Nigerian food but were game to try. We took a bus to a decidedly unglamorous part of town, to a humble storefront with a couple of small outdoor tables. Inside was very small, with just some bar seating by the window and a bench. We were a bit early for the lunch rush, so had the place to ourselves. The nice owner came out to greet us and take our order. The hubby ordered the Classic Akara Burger, which was their signature deep fried honey bean fritter patty on a bun with tomato, lettuce, cucumbers and vegan mayo. It was good but a bit bland. My Oyster Mushroom Wrap with bean fritter pieces and veggies had more zip, courtesy of their Nigerian red sauce, and was quite sizable--I really enjoyed it. It was a very hot day and they had no AC inside (just fans) so we opted to eat at one the outside tables, which turned out to be much cooler and quite pleasant. If you're vegan/vegetarian or just curious about what Nigerian flavors are like, I'd say it's very much worth a try.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Akara veggie burger
    Akara veggie burger
    More of that interior

    See all

    More of that interior
    Ghenet Brooklyn

    Ghenet Brooklyn

    4.0
    (571 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    It's been awhile since I've tried Ghenet. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity…read morethis past week. The injera bread was very fresh and delicious. I always get a combination dinner. This time I tried the Siga Wett beef stew with Ethiopian spices - very delicious! Spicy but not too spicy. Ethiopian food can be addictive, years ago I was definitely into eating a lot of Ethiopian. New York City has some great Ethiopian. If I were a tourist here, it would be on my list under "things to try." Or at least to try once ! I also had 2 vegetarian dishes - the Shiro Wett and the Messir Wett. The Shiro was made with beans. The Mesir was made with lentils. I've had the Shiro and Mesir Watt many times before - both at Ghenet as well as other Ethiopian restaurants (Awash Ethiopian on the upper west side). I think Ghenet has some of the most flavorful dishes in the city. They don't overdo it - just the right amount of spicy hotness. Overall, my favorite dish from the combination platter was the Shiro Wett. It had a light touch of smokiness that went really well with the beans. Very filling and delicious with the injera. I wish they offered fitfit salad - the menu has Ethiopian tomato salad but there are no photos of it on the online menu. There are photos of some of the other menu items but not all. I think they'd sell more stuff if there were photos since not everyone is familiar with all of the various dishes. Just a thought.

    they serve ethiopian beer & have happy hours! ask about the specials!…read more great spot, HUGE portions. keep that in mind, please share with your guests. everything is reasonably priced too. good service. for an app we got the chicken Sambusa. this was good, but i wanted more! spice level - be careful. they also give plenty of Injera for the table to share, besides what your food is served on. end or begin your meal with one of the teas. they will not disaapoint.

    Photos
    Ghenet Brooklyn
    Ghenet Brooklyn
    Veggie platter for 3. More than enough and amazingly delcicious.  Outstanding injera.

    See all

    Veggie platter for 3. More than enough and amazingly delcicious. Outstanding injera.
    Cafe Rue Dix

    Cafe Rue Dix

    4.0
    (483 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    The good: - food is INCREDIBLY delicious, like out of this…read moreworld good. We tried the beef empanadas and mushroom croquettes for apps, dibi senegal (grilled lamb chops with rice and plantains) and the mafe (peanut stew with beef)-- nothing was left on our plates at the end. The things that can be improved: - the service was quite chaotic- we had made this reservation days in advance and were seated and had already placed our order for appetizers (or so we thought) when the waiter regretted to inform us that we'd have to be moved to a different table. The table we were moved to was right in the middle of the restaurant but by the door and it felt like we were being bumped into all night - as it turns out, the waiter moved us but never did place our appetizer order. So we waited, and waited, and no food came. They even served a table who came in after us! We did find it super strange but figured maybe our food was taking longer? Anyway eventually the waiter realized what happened and came over to take our order for the apps and also our entree (as at this point we had been seated closer to 45 mins). He also offered us each a free drink "on the house" if we wanted as an apology for the wait. Two of the three of us took him up on the offer and ordered two mocktails. As it turns out, at the end of the night when we got the bill, both of these mocktails were added on to our bill, despite what we were told that they'd be "on the house" - my friend ordered a dish to go - which she wanted to take for her mom- and they forgot to add it to the bill or place the order so at the end of the night my friend had to leave empty handed and disappoint her mom who was very excited to try the dish. Overall: The food is phenomenal. The service can be significantly improved.

    My friend and I had gone to a creole restaurant for dinner and disappointed that they didn't have…read moreany beignets. Instead, we came to Cafe Rue Dix and placed a pick up order since they were closing soon. Upon our arrival, the beignets were ready and the staff was kind enough to let us eat them there. The beignets didn't quite hit the mark for me because they ideally would have been softer and the chocolate sauce was kind of hard to dip into. Outside of that, I thought the restaurant was cozy and the bartender we were talking to that night was really informative. We learned a few new discoveries that night about different types of gin. I would probably return and try out a different dish.

    Photos
    Cafe Rue Dix
    Cafe Rue Dix
    Cafe Rue Dix

    See all

    Native

    Native

    3.4
    (103 reviews)
    3.0 mi

    Long overdue review, but this spot has become one of my go-to places in Brooklyn. Whether I just…read morewant to vibe, have a celebration dinner of some sort, or do a cute date night, it's always a vibe. The food is really good, especially if you like spice. The drinks always hit, and the hookah is 10/10. The manager, Princess, who I met the last time I was there, was extremelyyy warm and welcoming. Meeting her was such a delight and made the space even more memorable. 10/10 would recommend to anyone and everyone!

    I've heard a lot about this spot, and i came for brunch with one of my friends. We went around 330…read morepm on a Saturday, and i was pleasantly surprised to see how empty the spot was. There was a dj playing, and maybe 2 other tables besides ours. The place was gorgeous. The ambiance gave very instagram / tik tok cutesy with the neon signs and beautiful decor. Now to the food... the steak and eggs were good. We decided to keep it simple since neither of us have had African food to decide on anything that wasn't American lol. So we played it safe and went with the steak and eggs brunch option. With the brunch special it's $55 for an entree and unlimited mimosas for 90 mins. They gave us two towers. It was just two of us and we made sure to finish them both. We left feeling good and cute. All in all , I'd definitely return and try some of the African food. See pics below

    Photos
    Beautiful entryway
    Beautiful entryway
    Cake slice for the bday girl.
    Cake slice for the bday girl.
    Native

    See all

    Joloff

    Joloff

    3.9
    (250 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    We happened to be in this part of Brooklyn for the concert in a small park by my son's band, and…read morehappened to notice that there was a Senegalese restaurant nearby. Since we've never had Senegalese food, the decision to go there was no brainer. The interior of the restaurant looked like an art gallery, with paintings, carvings, handicrafts and photos from Western Africa. An old man (the owner?) received us. He recommended several vegetarian options for me, but I already had my heart set on the Okra stew. He then asked if I wanted Okra Tofu? I asked him if people in Senegal consumed Tofu? He said no, but customers had requested it, so they put it on the menu. (Who comes to a Senegalese restaurant and asks for Tofu?) I told him to not give me anything outside an authentic Senegalese diet. A few minutes later he came out of the kitchen to tell me that there was not enough okra stew left to form a main dish, but he'd offer whatever was there as a free side dish for me. So I went with his suggestion of Mafe Legumes (vegetables stewed in peanut butter sauce), while husband asked for the Senegalese national dish of Tiebou Jeun (baked fish). For the accompanying starch, I chose Funio, the Western African staple grain (again introduced by this wise old man). We also ordered Nem Legumes - vegetable spring rolls (I'd call them samosas :-)). Husband asked for a ginger drink. The ginger drink tasted like pure ginger juice (sweetened a bit of course) - it would certainly cleanse one's palate and warm one's stomach. The Nem Legumes were nice, but the winner was the stewed tomato dipping sauce that came with them. Our main dishes were served on large dinner plates. The portions were so substantial that I ended up packing half of my stew home, after stuffing myself unusually full already. There were chunks of yam, carrots and cabbage on my plate, flavored in a creamy and well-seasoned peanut butter sauce. But the winner was still the Okra stew - spicy, tangy, tasty. I also stole some Joloff rice off my husband's plate. It was another surprisingly delicious treat! His fish looked like a portion of a big carp, with quite a bit of bones to pick out (we don't mind fish bones, having been well trained in certain Asian cuisines :-)) Our bill, presented by a young waitress, came in a little basked covered by the broad hem of an African lady in a beautiful dress. The old man passed out table and said "oh yes she collects for us." For a meal of one appetizer, two mains, and a drink, the price was super reasonable!

    You must visit if you're in the area…read more Enjoyed the okra stew with Joloff rice. For appetizer, small fish pastries. Everything was lovely. The space inside is warm and inviting. They already appear to host community events as well. I noticed a small stage and projector.

    Photos
    The bill collector
    The bill collector
    Okra stewed in tomato sauce
    Okra stewed in tomato sauce
    Joloff

    See all

    AKWAABA RESTAURANT - african - Updated June 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...