What a gem! Lovely Cameroonian restaurant that also has some Caribbean and other African dishes. Very welcoming service. It is a hole in the wall but the food is delicious and flavorful. We tried and really enjoyed the chicken in bitterleaf sauce with gaffi (cassava) fufu, goat stew with stewed cabbage, and a salmon pastie. All were hits for the family, including our toddler. I really liked the bitterleaf sauce and the goat stew. read more

Motherland Kitchen - Chicken Bitter Leaf Ndole Sauce - African Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

See all

I was craving authentic African food, and I found this place that wasn't too far from my house The flavor of the food is amazing. The oxtail was amazingly cooked and the plantains were delicious too. I highly recommend getting FuFu with the oxtail because the combination is the best. I will definitely be coming back here and bringing some friends. Sabina is an amazing woman and so friendly. read more

Motherland Kitchen - Oxtail Stew with FuFu and Plantains - African Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

My friend and I have been dying to try this place for over a year after a previous attempt to visit. I'm happy to say it was worth the wait! We ordered the tofu peanut stew and the chicken egusi. Both were delicious and completely new flavor profiles for us, but the peanut stew was the star of the show! I could eat it every day. The thing to keep in mind for this spot - and the reason that we weren't able to eat the first time - is that it's all run by one lovely woman with no help. The result is that service is understandably very slow and it's difficult to accommodate groups. I definitely want to come back because I loved the food, but it's definitely best to set your expectations accordingly - take-out may be the move if you can. I think both the items we tried are worth ordering and I'm excited to try out more on the menu. We were also pleasantly surprised to see such a huge range of vegan options! read more

Motherland Kitchen - Vegan peanut stew - African Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

See all

A True Taste of Home and Unforgettable Hospitality! Motherland Kitchen is an absolute hidden gem tucked away in Frederick, MD, and it is a must-visit for anyone craving authentic, flavorful African cuisine. From the moment we walked in, the hospitality was absolutely amazing. The staff made us feel instantly welcomed, like stepping into a family home. Their warmth and genuine attentiveness truly elevated the entire dining experience. And then there's the food! The meal was nothing short of delicious, and it genuinely made me feel at home. Every dish was prepared with care, showcasing complex and vibrant flavors that were simply outta this world. The spices were perfectly balanced, the ingredients were fresh, and the portions were generous. If you are looking for a dining experience that combines exceptional service with truly authentic and mouthwatering food, look no further. Motherland Kitchen is a 10/10--a cherished find and a beautiful addition to Frederick's culinary scene. read more

See all

I loved the food here I got the jerk mushroom with yam fufu. My food was soo flavorful! My boyfriend got the lamb and rice and beans which was also delicious. The service was great and the owner is extremely nice and friendly! I loved how they have vegan options here. read more

Motherland Kitchen - Jerk mushroom with yam fufu - African Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

See all

The lady that works there is very rude. I was new coming here and she didnt want to answer any questions. I was trying to order some food and she wasn't helpful speaking very aggressively. I asked her what comes with "oxtail stew" she pointed at the menu like read and walked away. She had other customers coming in and assisted them and was speaking to them very rudely. She told me the price and when I questioned the price on the menu she said if I didn't want to pay I could leave. Her attitude and deliverance was very off putting. I'm leaving this review because I couldn't believe her demeanor and response to a new customer. Unfortunately I was unable to try her food and I don't recommend this location. read more

The food at Motherland Kitchen has excellent flavor, and I would happily eat their food anytime. This is their claim to fame - delicious food! So, if you like this style of Afro-Caribbean food, you are in luck way up there in Frederick, MD. The menu has many options depending on whether you are interested in meat or veggies. Note that most of the items have been stewed or cooked for some time to develop the flavor. That being said, if you are looking for something like a salad, this is not the place. The flavors are fabulous. For something as simple as stewed cabbage, I know that I can't make cabbage taste that good. It is light and easily edible, not heavy and dense. I don't know how they do it, but it is so good, and I love cabbage anyhow. The jollof rice and Koki corn are also absolutely delicious that I just want to eat them all day long. The portions are generous for these items, but I find myself wanting more. Seasoned rice never tasted so good! They have stews with pumpkin seed for extra protein and nutrition - also delicious with some white rice cooked to fluffy perfection. Even the dish of three greens was bursting with flavor. All in all, I have only the best praise for the food here. Hands down, yes, I would eat it anytime someone decided we are eating this food. The only downside (other than being in Frederick far far away) is that the timing of food preparation can be longer than you would like. There is ample parking, and there is sit down space for you to comfortably enjoy your food. It gets a little toasty in the warmer weather inside, so, maybe be ready for it or get it to go on hotter days if you are not a fan of eating in warmer indoor spaces. Great food - check it out! read more

I just tried the new Tofu Patty from Motherland Kitchen and it is sooooo delicious:-)! It is extremely flavorful and very satisfying. I never imagined a Tofu Patty could taste so good -- but it exists "beyond good" at Motherland. I highly recommend it!!! read more

If you are nearby you should come here. Sabina was phenomenal and it was homemade and full of love. Everything on the menu was fresh and you can't go wrong. Options from just meat to vegan with sides that were good enough to stand on their own. We will be back for sure! read more

You have got to try the pumpkinseed patty (it's vegan) and you cannot tell that there is no meat in the patty. It was so delicious that my wife and I ordered two more while we were checking out. Service is top notch as well. If you are looking for some food with soul...come to Motherland Kitchen!! read more

Looked up places to eat while here visiting. When I pulled up to this side of the road restaurant, my expectations went through the roof because that means there would be no fluff. They did not disappoint got the goat stew and follow. Was very tasty and could have been more spicy for me, but meat was cooked to perfection. The lady who was working was sweet, was the server and cook so didn't get alot of attention but wasn't really needed,as the food was there steaming hot.if you in the area give it a try. read more

Motherland Kitchen - Goat stew - African Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

See all

Really enjoyed the food! Try the chicken peanut butter stew, rice and beans, and fufu.

Delicious food and friendly and informative service! Had the goat stew and jollof rice. The goat was so flavorful and tender. Also had the three bean stew, which was even more delicious. Definitely coming back for a cooking class. read more

From the moment we opened the door, Chef Sabina made us feel at home. This was more than a fantastic meal, we had a homey and educational experience with a new friend. We (husband and wife, both vegan) were on a road trip and decided to stop for an early dinner. Although we love a large variety of food from many different cultures, neither of us have previously encountered Motherland Kitchen's African Caribbean style. There are tons of vegan options on the menu, and I can't wait to try all of them. Hubby ordered the Oyster Mushroom Peanut Butter Stew with fonio fufu, and I chose the Spinach-Collards Pumpkin Seed Stew with yam fufu. We ate family style, so we both shared each dish. I can't say enough positive things about both dishes! We are talking about extremely healthy foods that are flavorful, comforting, and filling. I would go back regularly if we lived closer! Motherland Kitchen also offers a meal prep service, and I look forward to giving that a try so I can stock up on several meals at once :-) Can't wait to return!! read more

Motherland kitchen is food that feels like fuel, so tasty and makes you really feel the love. owner is very sweet kind and you can definitely taste the passion for cooking. read more

The food was outstanding, with bold flavors and a great depth of spice throughout every bite. We ordered the oxtail stew and the jerk chicken, and both were incredibly flavorful and perfectly prepared. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable meal! read more

We tried Motherland Kitchen last night for our date night. The food was phenomenal with very rich flavors and a very large menu for vegans. The chef was very kind and helped us to make selections that best aligned with our tastes. She really loves what she does and pouts her heart into the food she serves. We shared the plantains, veggie patties, and the spinach, collard and pumpkin seed stew with the cassava fufu. All of the options were delicious and made to order. We were so full but definitely want to come back soon to try the moi moi and the peanut stew! In addition to wonderful food, she also sells her own spices and is working on a vegan cookbook. I have never experienced someone so happy about feeding others. I highly recommend this restaurant and can't wait to go back! read more

The mushroom peanut butter stew was delicious. Lots of vegan and non-vegan options, by far the best vegan food in Frederick. To reiterate, the vegan items taste great and will fill you up! Excellent hospitality, Sabina is very friendly and so passionate about her food. If you're not familiar with African food she can tell you anything you want to know. Every meal is made with love, making Motherland Kitchen one of the best places to eat in the Frederick area. read more

I been wanting to try for the longest and finally went in and place an order to go. The service was good and fast and food was fresh and hot. The owner and even another worker there greeted myself and my two girls smiling and talking. Ambiance was very welcoming. I almost forgot to take a picture of my food. We started eating already but a good amount of food for sure. All the food super good and fresh. I will be returning and I highly recommend read more

See all

What a great lunch at Motherland Kitchen! I went with our two kids and it was a treat. They had never had African food. We had the goat stew with jollof rice, the chicken peanut butter stew with fufu and the beef patty. The food was fantastic! Nothing disappointed and everyone left full and happy. More than anything else, it was a great experience. Sabina came and sat with us to talk over the menu and when the food was delivered, spent another 20 mins talking about the origins of the food and telling us her story. She is a phenomenal chef with a passion for showing her culture to others through her food. Her smile is infectious and we had one of the best experiences we've had in Frederick! We will definitely be back!! read more

Lunch was delicious! With each bite, we tasted Ms. Sabina's passion and heart that she pours into cooking her dishes. It was fun meeting her and hearing how excited she is to share Afro-Caribbean cuisine in this region, from the location in Washington DC all the way to the northern reaches of Frederick Co. Her smile lights up a room and her joy is infectious. My 16 yr old daughter was beaming as we were leaving and whispered, "Mom, I really like this place!" We had the Goat stew, Fufu, Chicken Peanut Butter Stew, Jerk Chicken, Jollof rice, Plaintains, 3-greens, Salmon and Beef Patties. Yes, we ordered half the menu. Everything was fresh and had the perfect blend of spices. I could have made a meal of the vegan sides alone - no artificial meat substitutes here; just natural and whole foods We will be back soon! Thank you! read more

See all

The owner and the food are wonderful. I had the Jerk Chicken with jollof rice. My wife had the Coco Mushroom Stew with white rice. We both cleaned our plates completely to ensure we got every savory bit of these two marvelous dishes. The Jerk Chicken was probably the best I've ever had - the green sauce was extraordinary and the chicken cooked to perfection. My wife ate every bit of the coco mushroom stew - the flavor was extraordinary and we took some home. Ms. Sabina is the most charming and engaging person. She told us about her food philosophy, her restaurant, and of her passion for cooking African and Caribbean dishes. I cannot recommend this restaurant too highly and will return when in the Frederick/Thurmont area. Please do not be put off by the humble exterior. This is a real "Do not judge a book by its cover" situation. You will be amazed by the food and warmth of the owner. read more

I had the pleasure of of eating delicious food. I had orka stew (vegan), plantain fufu, jollof rice,and fried plantain. Everything was cooked fresh and flavorful. I never thought I would be able to eat vegan African food. Service was nice and polite. I had a great honor with actually talking to the chef. She was very polite and kind. She talked to me about her experience of cooking healthy meals. The passion of learning new techniques. read more

Amazing food. The oxtail is to die for. The plantains are unrivaled. Bring your friends and family.

quite literally one of the top three meals I've eaten in my entire life! Sabina is super friendly, and their vegan options are out of this world! No drive along US-15 is complete without a stop at Motherland Kitchen. read more

I preface this by noting that I am an exceptionally picky eater, and I'm generally not a fan of foreign food other than pizza and burritos. I would never under normal circumstances risk walking into a place like Motherland Kitchen that serves food way, way outside my comfort zone. My wife and I happened to be working for a client in Frederick today, though, and Motherland was the closest restaurant to the client's house. (I'm in Frederick a lot and usually eat downtown.) I held my breath as I ordered a chicken dish and some sides, wondering how close the nearest McDonald's was if this didn't work out. To my enormous shock, the food was absolutely delicious. Kati-Kati, I believe it was called. I don't know what the spices were, but I actually liked them. My wife was stunned. She couldn't believe had even agreed to try it but I was hungry and had no other choice. The toasted potatoes were amazing, and the fufu (like a super thick mashed potato) was ok, too. My wife ordered a seafood dish and loved it. She also bought a couple of bags of some kind of snack nuts at the counter. Kind of a gentle, sweet taste. The best part of the experience, however, was meeting the owner -- Sabina. She is a one-woman dynamo -- owner, chef, food educator, waitress, cashier, and dishwasher. I don't know how she does it but she's clearly going to need help soon. She greeted us as if we were family and quickly made it clear she was going to cook things we really liked -- that we couldn't go wrong. She was right. The food was so good that I might go to Frederick again just to eat there and try a different dish. read more

Motherland Kitchen - My apologies for not taking photos of the food. I'm not a guy who takes pictures of food. Didn't occur to me. - African Near Me - Frederick, Maryland

As soon as you step through the door you will know you came to the right place. The aroma is amazing. We order from the vegan section of the menu, and every single dish we have tried is wonderful. This is comfort food of the highest order, made with heart. When you meet Sabina, well she has a warmth and friendliness to match. She also teaches classes and sells some of the spices needed to try cooking these delicacies at home. read more

I ordered the oxtail with jollof rice and three greens for delivery and it was excellent. The food was so perfectly seasoned, it was well-packaged for delivery and arrived hot. Can't wait to check out the restaurant soon! read more

The service was great, very warm and inviting atmosphere. The food was Sooooo Goooood! Chef Sabrina's Lamb so flavorful. It's the best I've ever had.. Motherland Kitchen, I will be a long term repeat customer. Oren Freeman Frederick Maryland. read more

The flavors were awesome. And Sabina is a charming hostess and cook. She is generous with her time, insights/suggestions and flavor. If you like true heat, don't miss the goat pepper soup (with yam fufu, or I dare you to slurp the bowl if you want lots of heat!!). The peanut butter chicken was a delectable and decadent dish. And the oxtail stew is not to be missed. read more

Usually I order the goat stew, chicken or beef pumpkin seed sauce (egusi) and fufu. It's usually good. Sometimes, it's a hit or miss.

Wow!! I'm not sure how I haven't tried this little gem before. We just sampled a little of everything...okra stew... peanut butter chicken ...chicken curry...fried plantains ...jollof rice and fufu. It's a small spot, kinda tucked away. Everything is cooked fresh after your order, so don't be in a hurry. Owner was very personable and fun to talk with. So delicious 5/5 from all 4 of us! read more

See all

Everything about this place is amazing. I had heard the good reviews for awhile so I decided to check it out. We got the chicken curry stew with yam fufu, the mushroom peanut stew with the plantain fufu and a salmon pattie. Everything was exceptional and truly a meal to cherish and remember. Sabina the owner and chef was extremely kind. Will return here very soon!! read more

I recently got a new job and have been passing Motherland Kitchen and decided today was the day I would stop in to try their food. I must say I wish I stopped forever ago! The food is amazing!!! I had the okra stew with rice and it was delicious. I will definitely be returning and trying other items on the menu. They have an entire vegan menu which I was happy to see. I'm not vegan but I do limit my meat and dairy so I was happy to see there were multiple options to choose from for the vegan diet. Highly recommended for authentic African cuisine! I met the chef personally who was as sweet as can be. I plan to be a regular here for lunch now. read more

I live in MoCo but went up to Frederick with my husband to shop for furniture on our day off on a Monday. I searched vegan in yelp, even though I felt like I knew all the vegan options out there (RIP Glory Donuts) but didn't recognize this one. Was glad to see that while this restaurant wasn't vegan, it had a huge vegan menu with everything labeled. Let's try it! When we got there we were the only ones in the dining room. It was a Monday lunchtime so understandable it wasnt busy. Other folks came in for takeout while we were eating there. Food time: we ordered jollof rice, plantains, and the mushroom peanut stew with fonio fufu. It was SO good we had to order more from the menu to go. The peanut stew was so delicious we were sad when we ate it all and there was no more left to eat! The owner is amazing; she's following her dream and passion of food after many years working in a data job. She taught us about fonio, her work in making vegetables delicious, and her running this restaurant. A truly incredible person. Why should we always give our business to giant corporations when we can eat incredible food, support black women and small businesses, and eat something so much yummier than a lot of food out there. I'm planning errands in Frederick just so I can eat there again soon. The food is incredible: cooked with talent and care. Please go! read more

Delicious food + an incredible caring chef / owner. Don't let the secret of this restaurant's magic get out else I may have wait in a long line of followers.. read more

Service and food was excellent. Had oxtails with greens; meat was tender and full of flavor. My wife doesn't like greens - but she loved these! (And her peanut stew. I'll let her review that herself, but hint, hint: scrumptious.) BTW, they've updated the furniture and added a few outside tables since the last time I ate there. Nice - but the food is still the star read more

Ordered the peanut chicken and it was bland. My guest ordered the chicken c4 and that was bland. We expected more flavor. Portions were small for the price. Dining room was dirty, floors and brakes were dirty. No public restroom. The owner was the only one there working. She took our order and cooked our food. The food took a little longer than expected. I wouldn't say this is the worst place, but I don't think I'd be back again. Seems like a bad location for African food. read more

Crazy delicious. Definitely qualifies as a "hole-in-the-wall" / hidden gem! The owner was the greeter-waitress-chef-dishwasher. Clearly, it's a labor of love and it shows in the cooking. Wide selection of carnivorous and vegan options... and the widest selection of fufu I've seen! We did the pumpkin seed, peanut, cabbage dish with garri fufu (shredded cabbage that's fermented for 2 weeks; so flavorful) and off-menu special coconut mushroom dish with rice. From the photos, you can see that we cleaned our plates--and were so impressed that we ordered the peanut cabbage dish to go. #cleanPlateClub Personally, we dug the vibe / loved the atmosphere: being able to talk with the owner about her passion for bringing her home cooking (Cameroon) to the world (it opened during COVID, which is another impressive feat), waiting while she prepared it, and the eclectic plates and flatware (that had to be from a yard sale or Good Will). I would drive out of my way to stop by Motherland's kitchen again and have recommended it to friends. read more

See all

Food is reasonably priced and delicious. I make sure I frequent it whenever I'm in the area.