I was getting my hair cut at the salon a few doors down in this strip mall and when I finished I…read moredecided to pop into Kasoa to check it out since they're a relatively recent opening. As I perused the small but mighty aisles of the shop it became very clear to me that I know very little about African cuisine. And I'm so glad they've opened so close to me so I can visit and learn along the way. When I stepped inside I first noticed the freezer coolers to my right. They carried a variety of meats and seafood--whole fish, cut pieces, filets and more of grouper, goat, lamb, beef, poultry, snapper, crab and more. as well as frozen veggies like okra and . Not a ton of prepared foods but loads to help you make fresh meals at home. They also have a butcher counter in the back. I didn't interact with that a lot but while I was there I did see a customer get a large piece of some sort of beef cut sectioned off into smaller pieces. They also have a small selection of produce and a cooler of beverages in flavors like banana, tamarind, etc. The majority of their imported selection comes in the form of their shelves of dry goods which include a variety of grains, both in smaller portions and bulk. Rice, beans, corn flour, cassava flour, yam flour, Gari, and more fill one entire shelf. I made note of all of them and immediately looked them up when I got home to learn more. They also have pantry staples like peanut butter, spices like pepper, whole nutmeg, suya seasoning, bay leaves, mango seeds, kuka (baobab tree leaves), plus snacks like plantain chips, kola nuts, kuli kuli, etc. Big jugs of cooking oils and a fairly large selection of powdered milks, ovaltine, cream of wheat, and ground corn mixes. They also had several varieties of chalk, clay, and limestone which I was also not familiar with in an edible context but it's apparently popular amongst pregnant women for managing nausea and digestive issues. I learned so much just checking out their shelves! Of course, Africa is a huge continent with differences between the cuisines found in different countries and regions so I can't speak to if they specialize in one region more than another but it seems like they have, at the very least, many staples that can be found in homes from North to South, East to West. And if you're just learning about it all this is a great starting point.

We had a wonderful experience! The service was kind, welcoming, and incredibly helpful…read more The authentic atmosphere and decor add so much character; and the aroma of the food and spices throughout the restaurant is amazing. The prices are extremely reasonable. The deluxe combo platter came with soup and a drink, and everything was delicious. The spiced tea was warm, comforting, and full of flavor. If you're looking for authentic food, a welcoming environment, and great value, Little Africa is absolutely worth a visit. We'll definitely be back, and next time we're bringing more people with us!

as we sat in our cozy booth, i felt a little sad that we hadn't eaten at little affrica sooner…read more my partner and i shared the group platter which is the best way to experience all of the stews. for those who have not tried ethiopian food, your meal is served on and with injera, a bread used to scoop up the stews. the injera was spongy, tangy, and the perfect utensil. research shows eating with your hands improves digestion and enhances satisfaction. it's such a mindful process and truly makes you feel good. mindfulness aside, the stews were delicious and flavorful. i also ordered the guava juice which was thick and very sweet. i'd love to try the mango next and i know my partner is interested in trying the coffee. at $12.50 per person, the group platter is affordable and filling. And yes they do accept cards (no longer cash only). the owner (i'm assuming) was sweet and attentive. we can't wait to head back to little africa soon.

Shoutout to my friend and fellow foodie Tiffany for always being down to try a new spot together!…read moreWe did a double date at El Harissa recently and it's my favorite kind of spot - welcoming and warm, with delicious food, and kind, patient employees. The cafe is a few tables inside of the market/deli, with a lot of takeout happening but I love that they offer dining in as they heat everything up for you and it's all presented very nicely. We ordered a ton of things: harissa dip, hummus, pita, spice roasted cauliflower, tabbouleh, lasagne verde, chicken tagine, and gelato. I loved that the menu indicates which menu items have a smaller carbon footprint - and we happened to be dining there on Earth Day! The food was all flavorful and the perfect temperature, which I appreciated. My favorites were the harissa dip, tabbouleh, and the lasagne verde. The chicken tagine was very good, and we enjoyed the leftovers the next day. The spice roasted cauliflower left us wanting it to be a bit more crispy, but it was a nice side. The gelato is delicious - it's made by Palazzolo's but El Harissa provides them with the unique ingredients for their specialty flavors. They were out of some but we got to sample several. We ended up with the roasted pistachio gelato and the apricot peach cardamom. The texture of the gelato was perfectly creamy and the flavors were strong. The market has lots of great items to buy: chips, tunisian olive wood pieces, spices, etc. I'm so glad we sought out this spot and can't wait to get more of their food!

Finally got to try El Harissa with Yelper Katy C and our SOs! It's fast casual style - where you…read moreorder at the counter and they bring your food to you. Had the: *Spice Roasted Cauliflower (Crispy cauliflower florets coated and baked in rice and chickpea flour and our North African spice blend. Served with Harissa Dip) Small/1-2 Portion - $11): A little soggier than I'd like but the flavors were good! I also like the harissa dip it came with! *Small Merguez Meatballs (Inspired by the Maghrebi sausage, our spiced lamb and beef meatballs are hand-rolled with onions and herbs and coated with a thick tomato sauce. Served with saffron rice or couscous - small portion came with 3 for $10): For meatballs that included lamb - it wasn't gamey at all and very tasty! I picked cous cous for my side. *Chicken Chermoula (Brined, seared, then baked to capture all of its flavor, our crowd-favorite chicken is juicy and delicious. Served over rice with our herby, garlicky, lemony Chermoula Sauce - Double Portion - $18): Our main entree to share. The lemony chermoula sauce was delish. Chicken was perfectly cooked - not dry at all! Mujadara Rice (A Levantine staple of spiced green lentils and rice. Ours is adorned with carefully caramelized golden onions for a touch of savory-sweetness - small for $8) - SO tasty! I could eat this on its own. Maghrebi Chili (Smoky and spicy. Ground beef seasoned with Harissa spices and slowly cooked with chickpeas, lentils, black beans, peppers, and loads of vegetables - Small/Pint - $9.50) - FIBER CITY! Flavors were really good! We also had SO much gelato - they basically let us sample all of them. ended up with the pistachio and tiramisu. I'll be back - especially for a salad with their wonderful chicken - seems like a great healthy option!

While the food can take a little while to be ready, your patience will be rewarded with…read moremouth-watering food. The egusi stew, made with ground melon seeds, is rich and comforting. The okro, which has okra, is a kind of spicy curry and the owner was kind enough to warn us as we placed the order. We ate both with the pillowy soft fufu. The veggie and chicken bowls were filled to the brim and contained jollof rice, plantains, and tart green leafy veggies with green bell pepper. Additionally the veggie bowl had refried beans and the chicken bowl had shredded chicken. Delicious and hearty bowls. Must try in the East Lansing district.

I love Nigerian food and have tried many restaurants, so I know what I like and what I don't. When…read moreI heard about a new Nigerian restaurant in East Lansing, I was excited to give it a try. When I arrived, I was the only customer. I was greeted with a simple "hello," which gave me a good first impression. The restaurant itself looks very new, with a decent amount of seating, including some lounge seating tucked away in a small hallway. There was a large TV on wheels displaying a slideshow of the menu, which was a bit unconventional but not necessarily a bad thing. At the register, I started asking the cashier a few questions to understand the menu better. The layout was different from other Nigerian restaurants I've been to, and I wasn't seeing the exact dishes I usually order. However, instead of being helpful, the cashier responded with a snarky attitude, making it feel like my questions were an inconvenience. He then suggested the Spartan Bowl, listing the ingredients, and I thought it sounded good. He mentioned needing to check if they had the drumsticks for it, then walked away. I stood there waiting for a while before assuming he had gone to prepare my order, so I sat down. About 10-15 minutes later, he returned with a box in his hand. Without a word, he rang up my order, I paid, he bagged my food, and he simply walked away. No "thank you," no "enjoy your meal," no effort to make me feel welcome--just silence. When I looked at my meal, it didn't look appetizing, but I kept an open mind. Unfortunately, the taste confirmed my concerns. The plantain was overcooked and burnt, the sauce on the chicken was unpleasant, and the chicken itself was tiny and unappealing. The only redeeming part of the meal was the jollof rice, which was just decent. I won't be returning. The poor customer service and disappointing food made for an overall bad experience. I hope they improve both their hospitality and their food quality because first impressions matter. If you're curious, I'd say try it for yourself--but as of now, I can't personally recommend it.

This is a Takeout Place only. The atmosphere was very depressing. You walk in and it looks like a…read moremarket, but with the shelves only a third full. The order counter is across the room, with no signage or menu. They have a QR for menu access on their counter. The photos I saw on Google do not match the reality and food options are different from the pictures shown. Once clicking on the QR menu, they don't serve all the options on that menu either. I ended up ordering the Palm Butter with Chicken ($20) with fufu. Plus a side of Jollof rice ($6). The Palm Butter was like a curry with 2 giant Chicken Kegs in it. The sauce was good, but not great. The Chicken was tender and tasted fine, but the skin has a negative slimy texture. The fufu was like a mux between bread and mashed potatoes, odd sounding, but pretty good. I did not like the Jollof rice at all and ended up not eating it. The service was very friendly and they certainly tried. Overall a 2 star review. Maybe this type of food just isn't for me, but I was trying something new. Would I return? No, however if you enjoy West African food I suggest giving it a try yourself and maybe it will be more to your liking.

First place in GR that I found to offer fufu, had to try it…read more Walk up counter for ordering food. No dining inside. Limited menu posted on the wall (~8 items). Fufu is a plain tasting dough with mashed potato/mochi like texture. I tried it with egusi (melon seed) soup. The soup was more like a sauce and it was on the bitter side with a strong earthy seedy taste and loads of texture from finely minced veggies. If you don't like bitter foods, I'd avoid egusi. What you have to try is the chicken quarter and plantains with chili oil (not pictured). That was heavenly. Phenomenal flavor with a delicious spicy oil to go with. The fried plantains were soft, mushy and ultra sweet. I loved it, though it could be firmer. Excited to come back for other dishes.

We came in around an hour before closing and the solo man working the restaurant served us. We told…read morehim we wanted vegan items and he suggested the veggie combo for us both. It's Ethiopian, so of course it was all wonderfully seasoned. Everything from the greens to the lentils was delicious. I enjoyed a few cups of the traditional Ethiopian tea. This was an affordable and flavorful dining experience.

Great food and kind people. We will be back to try more dishes. We had the Doro Wat and veggie…read morecombo and left the restaurant feeling very full and happy for two people eating.

As a Moroccan I'll say the food definitely felt like home…read more Sandwich prices are great. Inside was small, only improvement could be if they play some music

This is my go to Shawarma spot. I've been going here for years!!!! I love how fresh everything is…read moreand it's consistently delicious. I have never gotten any gristle in my meat, and the flavors are incredible. Casablanca is family owned and operated and they serve true comfort food. The family is kind and always remembers my name and order! I will continue to choose this as my favorite place for Mediterranean food in the Detroit/ann arbor area. The authentic flavors will leaving you wanting more.