The person running the shop thought that I had been in before. This was not the case, mainly because the hours here are quite limited. It has been on my list for a while. I wish I'd been in sooner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The menu left me with the impression that it would be a little bit more of a fast, casual vibe, but the atmosphere is more personalized in the food is higher and quality and better in presentation than you would get from most of those random build a bowl places.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The bowl is constructed by default for a balanced meal with a grain, some greens, vegetables, and a couple of delicious plantains. It is vegan by default and I was happy to keep it that way, selecting options for a bit of protein in the mix. My Black Eyed Peas and rice, kale, and a stew based on ground melon seeds were robust in flavor. I added a hot sauce, which was strong in both bite and flavor. Getting water resulted in me, getting charged for a bottled water, which is the main thing I have against them. I would be happy to come back. read more

Hedzole - Plant Based (No Protein Selection) bowl - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Yummy bowls just on the pricier end! The oxtail yummy hit or miss on quantity but when It's good... oh it's GOOD! Oxtail with coconut rice and cabbage is my fave. There's better jollof rice around but as a West African theirs is OKAY. Still need to go try in person!! read more

Our food was delicious!! The customer service was great! The ladies were warm and greeted us with smiles. The lady that took our order was very sweet and informative. I have a lot of allergies so she explained everything that I was able to eat so I went for the salmon bowl and it did NOT disappoint! My sister had the oxtail bowl and she loved her food as well. Everything was cooked to perfection! All I have to say is I really wish I was going to be in town lover because I would definitely visit again! Chef's kiss!! read more

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[[HIGHLIGHT]]Food and ambience was excellent!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My go to place for enjoying the food and the culture. read more

Hedzole - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Everything was terrible and most importantly NOT GHANIAN food. "Ghanaian American, American Ghanaian " however stated, no Ghana was found. The oxtail smelled bad and one bite was all that I needed to taste the unsavory flavor. The chicken is basically flavorless shredded chicken. Shito, egusi, all horrible. Customer service was also bad, nothing to rave about, just bad attitude . The wait was also very long and not worth my time. The entire experience was a waste of money since everything went into the trash except for the 2 pieces of plantain. read more

Hedzole - Oxtail and Waakaye - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

What an unexpected find but oh so good! Food/drinks: The food was so good I have no photos. Oxtail was fall off the bone and flavorful. Jollof rice was goood (and as someone who grew up on West African food, I don't say that lightly). Even the appetizer of plantain chips was better than normal. And the sobo (hibiscus juice) - excellent way to crown the meal. Service: Friendly. Personal. Candace was lovely to talk to throughout our meal. Ambiance: [[HIGHLIGHT]]Intimate. Casual. It just works. There's seating for 3 parties (2 groups of 2, maybe 3, and a larger party).[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I think most people order to go but it was fun to go with the family. Kid friendly: [[HIGHLIGHT]]We made it work. No high chair but there are window benches that worked for our toddler.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] It's a new favorite. read more

Absolutely will be coming back. I ordered the chicken with tomato gravy on the rice and beans. Everything was full of flavor and had a perfect spice level. Side salad was a 10/10 and so were the plantains. Person running the was kind and gracious. Great service. It really was a great meal! read more

Flavors are on point! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Adorable setting in Upper 16th area of NW.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Vegan options. Did I mention them flavors. It might not be close to many of us but thanks to Food delivery Apps, this can be a delicious lunch or dinner option for anyone. Them flavors tho !! read more

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This is a Black Woman Owned West African restaurant. When it comes to service the women here are welcoming! it was refreshing, to say the least. It was my first time patronizing this establishment and the woman taking the order was very patient with me and explained everything, especially the stews and her recommendations on which stew to pair with which dish. I ended up ordering the oxtail without a stew because it comes with its gravy. When I got my order, I didn't get much gravy, I let one of the workers know, and she provided me with a cup of gravy and extra oxtail. The oxtail was nice and tender and seasoned well. The coconut rice was delicious and flavorful. The establishment is really small with not enough seating to accommodate guests who want to stay in and eat, and customers who are placing orders to go, to sit in and wait for their orders. Also, the restroom area is awkwardly located in the back of the restaurant and it seems as if you're trespassing into the forbidden area. However, all in all, this restaurant is awesome and I highly recommend it. I pray that they move into a bigger establishment to accommodate all their customers. They were pretty busy when I went. read more

Hedzole - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

There are many reasons to visit Hedzole- the food, the drinks, the atmosphere, the owner's story, the neighborhood. Stopping in for plantains on a Saturday afternoon, here's my experience. 1) Food: Serving Ghanaian American food, the main concept is building your own bowls using foods like coconut rive, jollof rice, plantains, and more. They have plant-based options. Or you can order one of their bowls- salmon or stewed oxtail. They sell sides like cabbage, plantains, "red red," and groundnut soup with fufu. 2) Drinks: They sell bottled water, soda, and a hibiscus-based drink. 3) Service: When I walked in, the owner was there serving the food herself. Leaving a career in corporate America, she started with pop-ups, farmer markets, and a residency before opening this spot in April 2023. She's kind and happy to walk you through the menu. 4) Space: It's small, but cozy. There are several tables in a brightly-decorated space on the bottom floor of a 1935 brick apartment building. 5) Area: It's along a commercial area in Sixteenth Street Heights. Moreland's Tavern, a local bar, is across the street. Rock Creek Park is within walking distance. There's free street parking close. read more

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This place was great and lived up to the hype I got an oxtail jalof rice, and cabbage. It was super flavorful and rich. The oxtails were tender and perfectly cooked. Not over cooked so still held its form but was tender and juicy. Jalof rice had great flavor tomato flavor and rich. Played perfectly with spicy flavor of the ox tail. The cabbage was perfectly seasoned added some freshness and texture to the meal. Inside is small but can sit and is pretty cool homy vibe which I liked. We got it to go. Service is very friendly and nice. Will definitely be back. read more

Hedzole - Ox Tail - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Whenever you are in the DC area make sure you stop by Hedzole the food is amazing! If you never have tried Ghanaian food please try it you will not be disappointed!! The owner Candice is phenomenal such a beautiful soul. I had the fufu with groundnut soup the soup consisted of a tomato based savory soup made with peanut butter and served with a cassava and plantain fufu dumpling. It was delicious!!! My friend had the oxtail with jollof and waakye rice, steamed cabbage and kale salad she said it was bomb!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]Everything was so fresh and the vibe was as if you were sitting in your mom kitchen eating a good home cooked meal!!!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The sorrel drink was delicious you have to try you will not be disappointed at all! Definitely will be back to visit!!! Thank you Candice for your extreme hospitality we greatly appreciate it!!! read more

Hedzole - Fufu Groundnut (Peanut) Soup with Fufu (vegan) - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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After traveling through several countries in Africa from the tip of South Africa to the Sub-Saharan and the Eastern coast of Ethiopia and Kenya and eating lots of Nigerian food, I'm familiar with the flavor of West African food but honestly I couldn't tell you what makes Ghanaian food Ghanaian. However, I do know flavor and no matter what you order at Hedzole, there is so much flavor. Candice is an incredible chef who single-handedly runs the place. I ordered jollof rice with oxtail and the spicy shito sauce (it's got some heat!) with a kale salad which includes pickled onions and a homemade pineapple vinaigrette. The jollof rice was tasty and the oxtail was fall-off-the-bone delicious. The pickled onions in the kale salad cut some of the fattiness in the oxtail and ended up being such a good combination. I also got a waaakye (rice with black eyed peas), egushi stew, and sauteed cabbage. Both plates came with fried plantains. I also tried their sobolo drink which is a hibiscus clove citrusy drink (i forget what else went in it) but everything was delicious. I can't wait to come back. I'm either getting the oxtail again or trying the groundnut soup with fufu. read more

Hedzole - Look at those vibrant colors! Very tasty too!! - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I've bookmarked Hedzole to try for at least two months now. My friend frequently sends me restaurants to check out in the DMV area, and as soon as I saw the post for them, I knew I wanted to make a visit. It's across the city from me, so it was quite the drive, but it was so worth it! I got to the restaurant within minutes of them closing, but the owner was very accommodating and made sure to warm up food for me as I had called ahead to be sure I'd have my order ready. I ordered two bowls to go, although I would have preferred to dine in. I just got there too late. The inside is very cute and cozy. It would be a nice spot to sit in for lunch, and lounge for a bit, but definitely not ideal for a larger group. One of the bowls I got was jollof rice, with oxtails and cabbage salad. I had a side of shito sauce. I've been craving home cooked African food for awhile, and for me, this was it!! The jollof had a smoky taste and it soaked up the flavors from the salad and the oxtails. I added the shito to the rice and that added a bit of heat to the dish. The cabbage had a pickled taste, and was very flavorful. I thought the oxtails were tender and succulent, but I would have preferred a bit more seasoning on them. The second bowl I got will be my lunch for next week. I got coconut rice, chicken, and spinach/egusi stew and kale salad. I tried a bit of this and I preferred this plate over the jollof. It's been awhile since I had egusi and the Ghanaian version is very similar to the Nigerian one I grew up eating. It was so tasty, and I never thought to pair it with rice, but it was a great combination. I also liked the kale salad over the cabbage salad. The kale salad was crisp, but also had a bit of sweetness to it. Each bowl also came with sweet plantains that were soft in the middle, but crisp on the outside. The portion sizes are great and will definitely fill you up. I really wish I lived closer to here because I could definitely see myself coming here at least twice a month, but thank God for Uber eats. I highly recommend! read more

Hedzole - Coconut rice, chicken, kale salad, and spinach with egusi stew - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I had high expectations for this place and maybe it's what I ordered but unfortunately nothing to rave about. I got the rice and black eyed peas with egusi and chicken. The rice had a weird after taste which hurt my stomach. The chicken was a bit salty but I ended up cooking some pasta at home and adding it to it. The plantains were thick and hard and not crispy like how they should be. The service was great though but I Won't be returning. read more

Hedzole - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The salmon was cooked to perfection, jollof rice and tomato stew were super flavorful, and the kale salad had a very nice taste as well. The entire bowl was delicious. Plus the owner, Candace, was very kind, welcoming, and friendly. I will definitely be back! read more

Hedzole - Jollof rice, salmon, tomato stew, kale salad, and plantains - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Owner was so nice and patient when explaining the menu. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Small and cozy atmosphere.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Will definitely come back read more

Hedzole - Oxtails!!!!! So good - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I got the jollaf rice and the plantains and the chicken and the spinach dressing and wow it was so good! It was nice and spicy and very flavorful! I sware to god it's the next CAVA! Same concept as cava and chipotle! The service was good! The owner was there and it was so nice meeting you. This was my first time having ghana food and it was so good!! [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a cute little small shop in petwoth!![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Hedzole - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Amazing food. Amazing service! Definitely will be back. And try everything on their menu. The oxtail is delicious. read more

Came here because my buddy kept talking about it, and I was very pleased we did! Super friendly staff, amazing food, and a tiny location. I didn't really know what to expect but everything was fantastic. We tried the chicken and oxtail bowls that come with different options. Similar to Chipotle but with Ghanian flavors. Both proteins were seasoned beautifully, and the different rices were both great. I really liked the rice with beans, but my wife and buddy say the jolloh rice is the best. I recommend getting the tomato sauce and spicy sauce. Both add some heat and complex flavors that really complement the dishes. The oxtail is a lot of work since it's on the bone, as a heads up. Lastly I really enjoyed the hibiscus drink. I loved it so much I got a second one. Come here and try the food!! The place is tiny! So be aware that seating is very limited. read more

The owner Candice Mensah of Hedzole Afroeats, is a DMV native of Ghanaian descent & has been welcoming customers since summer 2019. She (along with the support of her mother), cooks up some phenomenal menu. ​ ​ ​The menu allows you to customize your meal: ​ First, choose your base ​ Second, choose a sauce ​ Third, decide a protein or keep it #vegan ​In my first experience, I arrived too late to take advantage of most of the meat options. They sell out often, especially during the summer months. I do remember what I had the first time even though months later: I did a mixture of all the bases with grilled chicken and stewed oxtail sauce/gravy. ​ ​ ​Everything was delicious, and it took me about two more months to visit again (my weekends were packed!) ​ ​ ​The second time, I arrived earlier because I had my eyes on the prize: oxtail! I ordered the oxtail with Jollof and cassava/yuca bases with some sauteed veggies and plantains! This time around, I tried shito, which is a Ghanaian hot pepper sauce. ​ ​Oooh, the oxtails were amazingly tender and flavorful! The sweet plantains added balance to the richness of all the other foods. The star of the show ( the whole meal is A-list quality), better yet, the breakout star- was the shito sauce. It offered a deep, smoky, spicy, sweet heat. I couldn't pick up on all the flavors, but the one I did pick out was ginger. You all definitely need to pop in to try this sauce and if you can't take the heat (see what I did there?), get the sauce on the side. ​ ​ ​ read more

This food is so good and comforting, I could sit in front of the restaurant on Sunday and wait until it opens on Wednesday. Seriously, it delicious and the owner always makes you feel appreciated for patronizing her business. read more

Stopped in on a whim since we eat a ton of Ethiopian food but hadn't really experienced any West African cuisine. The space was clean and welcoming, and we were greeted by a very friendly owner who seemed genuinely excited for us to experience her food. She was super helpful in explaining the different options and making suggestions based on our preferences. We loved that the food was vegan by default, but ended up nabbing two chicken dishes since it looked so good and the price difference was negligible. When we asked questions about the oxtail, the owner was even nice enough to let us each try a bite (it was delicious and tender and we immediately regretted not getting it instead). Despite our oxtail woes, we were relieved to find that the chicken dish was also AMAZING. The chicken was moist and perfectly seasoned, and plantains added a lovely sweet balance to the dish. Between our dishes, the jollaf rice and agushie stew were definitely the heroes of the meal. Don't sleep on the shito sauce, which added an extra little kick but brought a whole other layer of flavor that helped to further elevate the rest of the dish. The portions were also sizable and we both ended up with leftovers. You can tell that this food is made with real passion and everything we ate tasted like a love letter from Ghana. We'll be back for the oxtail! read more

Hedzole - Coconut rice, chicken, spinach & agushie stew, sautéed cabbage, & plantains. - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've passed by this place while walking the dog and kept rereading the posted menu. Attracted by all of the options! Stopped by today to have lunch with my daughter and grandson and was impressed. Lots of options, and all so tasty. The spinach stew along with the chicken and hot sauce was fabulous. Hosts were so nice and friendly and made it a wonderful local outing for us. Happy to have Hedzole in our neighborhood! We'll be back! read more

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This place has been on my list to try for some months. Glad I finally got to stop in on a random Saturday while I was in the area. I went for a late lunch closer probably to dinner but the timing was perfect because [[HIGHLIGHT]]the inside is very small and there were already a few people sitting in eating and any more there may be a wait because it's limited.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered the jollof with salmon and kale salad. The flavors with the stew, seared salmon, and kale were on point. I love shito in general and thought that their shito was fresh and nicely spiced. Next time I go I'll ask if they actually make it themselves. Also next time I go I want to try the jollof before I mix in the stew just curious about the flavor alone. I was pretty hungry and eager so I mixed the stew and shito in before getting a taste of the rice without sauce. The presentation of the food is nice and service is good. They even have me a bowl plantain chips to start. read more

Hedzole - Jollof, salmon and kale salad - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The salmon and food quality is amazing. Great portion sizes and amazing customer service. Highly recommend

I was drawn in by the bright patterned booths on my way back from rock creek park and had to give it a try. The restaurant is cozy and intimate, and the owner was really friendly and explained the menu to us. I was super excited by all of the vegan options, so I went for the jollof rice base, with tomato stew and cabbage! It looks like this spot does a high volume of to-go orders as the kitchen was cranking out deliveries, but the presentation of the food for dine in was really nice and cute so it's worth stopping in. The food was very flavorful and well seasoned. There aren't many vegan friendly west african spots around, so I thoroughly enjoyed this little treat and definitely recommend trying it out read more

Hedzole - Jollof rice with tomato stew, cabbage, plaintain and spicy sauce. - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food was AMAZING. My kids are really picky eaters and ate every bite. Hedzole will be on our weekly rotation for sure.

Food was really good. Service was good, the girls are nice and efficient. I liked the ambiance, it is a small place but it feels authentic. read more

Hedzole - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Muy rico. Had the jollof and waakye rices. The agushie also a standout. Everything was perfect. Candice was helpful and walked us through the whole menu. Can't say enough about this restaurant. read more

Great food, [[HIGHLIGHT]]clean/nice atmosphere[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] and the chef serves with a big heart. She is very helpful. read more

Hedzole - Salmon, coconut rice and pickled cabbage with the jerk sauce - African Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

first time here yesterday had the oxtail and jalap rice stamp of approval.. hell it's Friday. I think I'm going back again.

I got the oxtail bowl with rice/blackeyed peas and kale. It came with plantain which I wasn't expecting. Every bite of my food was good and the portion size was appropriate. If I had to critique anything I would just say the oxtail could have been a little more tender. Overall, it was a very satisfying meal and just wouldn't hesitate to order again and try other things on the menu. read more

This food was not it. The rice had no flavor, not even remotely close to the real flavor of jollof rice that you can get at another African restaurant. The rice was overcooked and dry, making it even a bit hard to eat. Everything was just so flavorless and they messed up my takeout order by giving me kale salad instead of cabbage. The chicken is chopped into bites and doesn't have flavor. The Shito is the smallest amount and does not taste like shito you get in Ghana. Everything was just mid. There's better African spots out there. read more

Decided to give this place a shot after they showed up in a "new restaurants to try" list in Washingtonian Mag. Everything was great. We went on a Saturday late in the afternoon so it wasn't busy. We told the owner that it was our first time trying Ghanaian food and she let us try things before ordering. My husband and I both got chicken, jollof rice, tomato stew, and then got different sides. Everything was great. We got our order to go and the food traveled really well. The spice in the tomato stew builds as you keep eating, but it was delicious so we didn't want to stop. The only thing we didn't like is that we only got two plantains with each meal, but next time we'll just order more! We will definitely be back to try more food. You should all give this place a try! read more

I love the oxtail. At the end of our experience, Candace came out and talked to us about how she started from a food truck that turned restaurant. Great food and great experience. read more

Hedzole has phenomenal flavors in their various Ghana dishes. The owner, Candace, shares fascinating stories about culture, history, food and the African diaspora. The conversation prompts everyone in this cozy restaurant to share their own experiences and connect with others. Our family adores this unique and vibrant place and we are grateful that such a satisfying neighborhood space is in our wonderful Washington, DC. Every month, we travel from Capitol Hill to enjoy a feast for the heart, soul and belly!!! Joyfully, Nancy & family read more

Just had their food from Mosaic District Farmers Market - Their oxtail and jollof rice is very flavorful. Probably one of the best seasoned dishes Ive had since coming to the DMV. read more

Food is impeccable with a warm personal touch that makes you want to keep coming back for more

Good portions and excellent flavors - great selection of food choices. But let me say the oxtails had me in a chokehold. I could have eaten another helping. Delicious abs well preserved. read more