I now understand why this place had no customers. 1. The food is overpriced. 2. The rice tasted old--its texture made that obvious. (Came back to add the rice tastes like the pan was dirty). 3. The plantains had a strange taste and texture. They were dry and completely flavorless. 4. The beef--oh my. It was tough, bland, and served in a ridiculously small portion. I need to emphasize the portion size again--it was tiny. When I cut the beef in half and took a bite, I immediately realized it wasn't good. I went to the counter and politely asked if I could swap the beef for fish instead. I was told "No."--unless I paid for an entirely new plate. The reason? Because I had already taken a bite. Well, yes, I had--how else would I know it was bad? Overall, this place deserves zero stars. They didn't have any drinks available either. The customer service was poor--they simply didn't care whether I was satisfied or not. They got their $35, and that was the end of it. We won't be back, and we'll make sure our friends and family know this place is not worth their time or money. As for the ambiance--it was clean, but it was clear they don't get many customers. Now I understand why. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - The lunch special. - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

Food was nasty and when I called to return they tried to tell me it was a smoky flavor I've had all types of hollow rice I know the difference it was burnt bottom of the pan tasting rice couldn't eat two bites and they offered a discount next time. Do not go to this spot. As soon as I walked in I should've cancelled a customer called in and I heard on speaker phone of him complaining and they disregarded him. Stay far away from this spot. read more

My neighbor/friend and I picked up food after an appointment on the way back home. She warned me that the food would be spicy. I like spicy. This was spicy spicy! When I got home and looked at my chicken I knew that it was going hurt my mouth. The plantains were tasty. The rice was good and there were tiny shrimp in it along with something else that I can't describe (an organ meat). I would go back and try something else just because of the young man who gave me my food. He gave me a warm welcome when I entered and we opened each container before bagging everything to make sure I had everything. The restaurant was small but nice. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - Fried rice and chicken - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

Above everything from the minute, I stepped into the restaurant.The guy was super nice. Help me decide on what I want because I wasn't very familiar with the types of food only one or two types then I went to the car best food ever. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

Great service, staff was very personable. Unfortunately the food was not good, we. Ordered cassava leaves and pounded yam, the stew was watery and the meat was extremely dry and tough. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - Cassava leaves with chicken, fish, and beef. - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

I wanted to order from here last Friday. I viewed the website and there are multiple lunch specials listed. I decided what I wanted and called in to order. I was told the only lunch special was Jollof rice. So unfortunately I didn't get to order because I didn't want rice. I also did not want a full entree size. Too bad they don't honor their website advertised specials. read more

Consider more portions before charging $20 for rice, I could go to spice kitchen and get more portions and be more flavorful for the same price. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - Paid $20 for one piece of meat and rice lmao yall buggin - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

This restaurant is the worst. I walked in, no other patrons in there. I walked up to the counter to order. After everything I was ordering, this fast talking cashier named Michael tried to add more stuff. I think he thought I didn't know any better. I finally had to tell him just give me what I asked fir and nothing more. He rang up my order and added 40 cents to it. So I asked what the 40 cent was for. He said oh, oh two bags. I said you didn't ask me if I wanted bags, yiu just charged me for two bags which if he had asked, I would have only needed one. I told him that I didn't need bags and give me my 40 cents back. They are real fast talking trying to get you to add more food than you are ordering. To top it off, the food was terrible. The jollaf rice with shrimp and gizzards was burnt tasting. Just bad food besides trying to get you to buy more food. I will never ever go in thar place again. I was told Flora's Restaurant which is right there in the same strip mall has much better food. Plan to try Flora's. ​ read more

I was quite unsure about how many stars to give this establishment. I was eagerly anticipating trying the egusi soup today, but for just the soup and FuFu, it cost $24, including two meat options. I chose goat and beef. Initially, I thought it wasn't too bad, but when my plate arrived, there was no beef in my soup, and the three pieces of goat were extremely tough, making it difficult to eat. Despite the good flavor, I'm disappointed to have spent so much money on a dish that lacked meat. it felt like I was just eating straight vegetables. I feel totally ripped off. read more

As another reviewer stated, they tried to pass off beef as goat meat. As if we would not know the difference, I may not be African, but I grew up eating goat meat. Shame on you all! Just be honest with your patrons and let us make the choice. The Jollof and fried fish was good, but there are a lot of good African restaurants out there. My go to is Jollof etc. I was being a little lazy and didn't feel like driving the extra 10 minutes, in hindsight I wish I did. They were friendly, but I can't deal with dishonesty especially when your preparing my food. read more

Jollof Rice had a burnt smell to it. And the plantains were TERRIBLE not sweet at all. Only good thing was the soya. Definitely not worth $30. -J read more

got jollof rice and suya, was hot and tasted amazin. I recommend it! Had a dj in the time I came and he was really good. Good food and ambience was on 10! read more

Customer service was good...the lady was very warm and welcoming. The food was great. I was a little disappointed with the proportion of egussi and goat which were kinda small. However, there was a nice amount of fu fu. This meal was a little under $20. I will return. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - Egussi and goat. - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

Ordered food from here for a birthday. I was anxious about the time for pick up( you know Nigerian time ..) The gentle man I believe Frank is his name was helpful and told me he would let me know if my order was ready before my appointed time. I said okay, but did not hold my breath. Like magic he called 2 hours before my pick up time. Everything was great, hot and tasty. read more

It takes eternity before you get your order and the prices are way too high, granted things are expensive but this it a ripoff.

I am giving this a 3 because I called in for a order I asked for the spicy green stew (ayamase). I did not know how it was pronounced With fufu and fish. When I picked up the order went to my car and looked at it it's red. I went back and asked is spicy green stew red or green. I was told because I ordered it with fufu. It doesn't come with fufu it comes with rice that's way I did not get it. I said ok l would like to place an order of the spicy green stew with rice . I was then told they don't have any. So I asked why not say that at the beginning instead of making up a bunch of STUFF. I am giving this a 3 because I called in for a order I asked for the spicy green stew (ayamase). I did not know how it was pronounced With fufu and fish. When I picked up the order went to my car and looked at it it's red. I went back and asked is spicy green stew red or green. I was told because I ordered it with fufu. It doesn't come with fufu it comes with rice that's way I did not get it. I said ok l would like to place an order of the spicy green stew with rice . I was then told they don't have any. So I asked why not say that at the beginning instead of making up a bunch of STUFF. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - This is what I received as spicy green stew - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

This is probably not the most noticeable restaurant in the locale. But it's there, just another food shop at a shopping strip along with the others. But what sets this place apart from the others is the delicious slow cooked Jollof rice with goat meat and moi-moi. Be careful thou, those choices are not always available. When you walk-in, you are confronted by a sea of chairs and tables. Perfectly arranged in half-Hazard manner. Somehow you have to walk pass those chairs without bumping into them on your way to the far-away counter. If you lucky, a polite gentleman would greet you. If your not lucky and meet the bewildered lady who would just stare at you for few minutes before dashing to the back room and dispatching the polite gentleman to your aid. The aid to your taste buds are surely well taken care of at this place. The food is all the matters and when it arrives after a short wait, you are more than ready to devour the deliciousness. The Jollof rice is truly well done and the meat portions can be better. Always make sure the meat you requested are not hiding somewhere. Stories abound of such trickery. Don't forget to ask for plantains and some mouth watering moi-moi. Try the Egusi soup with Eba. Spicy level is mild and not that hot. There are not many drink options and they are hardly displayed for customers to see. The food can be pricy compared to others, but you get what you pay for. I didn't hear the dent sound of microwave doors opening and shutting in the back kitchen area, which is an improvement. But I don't trust my ears as much as my eyes. For an authentic African(Nigerian) cuisine, this place has potential, the customer service experience still need improvements. read more

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They are price gouging black americans I ordered goat meat w/egusi and pounded yams the menu price $16 but was told by the lady taking my order that they were updating the menu price $24, when I received my order the portions were so small it was only enough for a small child I stated "is this what I get for $25"she said "goat meat is expensive"!I thought to myself maybe it's worth it,when I got home I noticed that I was given Three bones with a small amount of meat on 1of the bones.I called them about my order and they told me to comeback and I was given a small container which appeared to have two pieces of goat meat which turned out after going back home not to be goat meat but instead BEEF and FAT.I will NEVER EVER go back. I would rate a 0 is I could. read more

I've been coming here for a long time now, but unfortunately in the recent past, each time I buy food from here I tell myself its going to be the last time. The prices have sky rocketed, the quality has gone down, and the portion sizes are disappearing! However, I was there again today to buy some take out, and when I got home: 1/ The white rice and beans had ABSOLUTELY no stew on it. The goat meat turned out to be 2 pieces of skin (most likely cow), and 1 bone covered in fat. STRAIGHT IN THE TRASH. 2/ The pepper soup consisted of a handful of small bones covered in fat, 2 pieces of liver and 2 pieces of round intestine, that looked to have something on the inside! STRAIGHT IN THE TRASH. 3/ The amala and vegetable soup with assorted meat is in the fridge, because by now I had lost my appetite. This order cost me almost $75. Yes, you read that right. Needless to say, this will really be my last time visiting here. Beltway Plaza is a bit of a longer drive for me, but there is an African restaurant in there, that has much better food at half the price. I hope it's obvious that I'm annoyed - because I really am! Stay Blessed. read more

This food was not appetizing at all. Color but absolutely NO flavor. The rice was not good at all and the chicken was hard. Please visit calabash African cuisine in Virginia to taste real jollof rice. This tasted more like Spanish rice. Very disappointed. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - Jollof rice and "fried" chicken - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

I ordered fried fish with jollof. Everything was delicious. I especially enjoyed the spicy sauce on the fish. It was spicy, but not overpowering. I plan to eat here again soon. I give 4 stars only because they were not open on time. If the restaurant is meant to open at a stated time, it should open at that time without making people wait. Overall, great food, clean dinning area. I'll bring a friend next time. read more

Joyful Heart African Cuisine - Fried fish pieces, jollof rice, plantain. Yum! - African Near Me - Lanham, Maryland

I'm giving it 3 stars because I didn't experience their service since I didn't have dinner there. So I was there for a meeting where the group pretty much booked the restaurant. Now the food we consumed came from the restaurant and I can tell you that it was HELLLAAAAAAA TASTY!! We had the joluf (sorry if I misspelled that) rice, the cabbage, chicken and fish. Let me break it down for you: Rice - sooo sooo sooo goood. Loved the level of spiciness. Didn't need anything else could be eaten alone well I definitely ate it alone lolzzz. Now unsure it all of their joluf rice is always that spicy but either way buyer be warn if you eating African food just be ready for some level of spiciness and don't complain about it. Cabbage - hm hm hm good. So great especially when paired with the rice. Honestly the best part of my meal I saw it and automatically knew that I wanted it. Also spicy so NO COMPLAINTS Fish - so well spiced like the flavor was in the skin inside the fish and in every nook and cranny of the bones YUMMMM Chicken - YUM YUM YUM ugh why add anything else? read more

I went into this place and was greeted with a nasty attitude. I ordered something on the menu that was advertised for 10 dollars. The server told me my total would be 15 because of tax. I said ok. She completes taking my order then rings me up. My total then jumps from 15 dollars to 32 dollars.When i asked why the price was so high she blamed on COVID. In my experience Some African restaurants give poor customer service and over charge, when you are a black American and this is one of them . It's disgusting!! Do not visit this restaurant!! read more

I on a whim stopped in to check out the menu didn't see what I wanted so asked for, Moi Moi. Oh my goodness..SO delicious

The food is good. The people are friendly but the portions are ridiculous for the amount you pay. I don't plan to return as I've tried it the spot 3 times and received the same portion. Also, they're often out of items that are on the menu. read more

I usually don't leave reviews but I'm really upset about the portions they give at this restaurant. I ordered jollof rice, stewed chicken and plantains and ended up with too much rice, four thin slices of plantain and what really upset me is how boney the chicken was. Some of the chicken pieces didn't even have meat on them. It was mostly skin and bones! Unfortunately, I feel like it was a waste of money as I wasn't getting food with the intent to eat just rice. Smh at their cheapness... read more

Overall they have really good food, but customer service isn't the best. They can be quite rude at times which deters customers from returning. read more

Good African restaurant! They're very friendly and patient. The food is pretty good, I had the jollof rice with beef and goat stew. The meat was tender and spicy. The food was also fresh, some African restaurants have a bad habit of serving stale or over cooked food, you'll definitely won't have this issue here. I'll definitely swing by whenever I'm in the area. I wish they had a location in the Baltimore area. read more

Honestly the food was very good here service was decent the only reason why I'm not giving it a 4-5 star rating is bc it was brick cold in the restaurant like everyone had coats hats and gloves on. Seem like the heat had been off for a few days. My food was good but I couldn't get comfortable bc I was so cold. I will be back hopefully they have some heat read more

food was great! I would definitely be visiting again tired alot of African restaurants and this was one of the top ones.