I was in the area and wanted to try something different--something I hadn't had before--and I'm so glad I did! I ordered the fried tilapia with jollof rice and plantains, and I was pleasantly surprised... actually, thoroughly impressed. From the moment the food came out, everything looked and smelled incredible. They even brought out complimentary fried bread with a tomato dipping sauce, which was such a nice touch. The tilapia was seasoned perfectly and cooked just right--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and no fishy smell at all. You can tell it was prepared with real care. The jollof rice was flavorful, rich, and moist with a delicious tomato base, and the plantains were the perfect balance of sweet. What really stood out to me was how well-balanced everything was. The sauces paired beautifully with the fish, and every bite just worked. I was so impressed that I asked to meet the chef just to personally thank her. You can truly taste the love in the food. I'll definitely be coming back--and next time, I'm bringing family and friends! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Rose, the owner/chef. - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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Such amazing food, service, and the owner is so friendly!! Stopped by on a Saturday for late lunch. Got the fried red snapper + plantains + Jollof rice. While I was waiting, the owner came out with a complimentary app for me to snack on (fried cassava (??) balls w a tangy sweet/salty sauce). Ooooohweee the fish was so tasty, crispy, and well-seasoned I literally cleaned the fish to the bone (it did not die in vain). Texture was great, very fresh. Red snapper was an up charge, but even though I didn't try the tilapia, I think it was worth. Plantains and Jollof rice were fantastic as well. Owner was so nice, came to check in a couple times, and applauded my appetite. Will be back to try to fufu! And get that delicious snapper again!! read more

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This is sort of hidden in mesa, I found it searching online wanting to try fufu and egusi soup. Got a steak and a fish plate as well. All the food was super flavorful and delicious. The restaurant is very hot inside and a bit over priced 3 meals and spent 175$ read more

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The food here was delicious! I stopped by with a friend and sister on Friday night and we were seated right away. The server was friendly and welcoming. We were the only ones there when we arrived as a party of two was finishing up as we sat down. We ordered two fruit punch soda drinks and a water. We then placed our food orders. We had: One order of puff puffs - complimentary One tasty salmon - potatoes, broccoli, and three shrimp One tilapia - plantains and rice One order of wings (12) One order of plantains - we never got these I had the salmon and it was DELICIOUS. It was seasoned and cooked well. The potatoes were also very flavorful and the steamed broccoli had good slight crunch. This entree is big! The wings were also delicious - seasoned and cooked well - no ranch needed here. My friend enjoyed her tilapia and the salsa that they put on top was really good. This dish was big! The complimentary pastries were also really good! Service was a bit too slow for our liking and it seemed there was only one server working. It got pretty busy as the night went by and there was a lot of waiting around. The food is made fresh so its understanding. The food was great and everything we tried was delicious! read more

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I wanted to try fufu because it was highly recommend to me. Everything we tried was amazing! We had some puff puff, egusi soup with fufu, and fried fish and plantains (red snapper). The waitress Ofelia was super friendly and i believe the owner was too. He came down to our table and talked to us. They will be getting a full bar soon to include international drinks. I am looking forward to this! The ambiance was also great. We were in a cute little booth with a candle. They had soccer playing in the background (which i happen to love). It's a small menu but everything was great! read more

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Wow!!! I will definitely be back and will be recommending this place to everyone! They brought out complimentary puff puffs- lightly fried dough balls with an amazing savory sauce. We order the toasty salmon which was a mountain of food! Seasoned potatoes, seasoned fresh broccoli, perfectly cooked salmon with 3 large prawns on top with the savory sauce. Talapia with jollof rice, savory sauce, and sweet plantains. The fruit soda was very sweet for me as I don't drink sodas but it was very good. I can't stop saying just how good the food here is. The employees are so kind and make you feel like you are at their house for dinner. The food does take a bit as it is all cooked fresh, so don't come on a day you are in a rush. I will be back to try the mixed meat stew with yam ball and the house made strawberry lemonade! I can't wait! read more

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Absolutely one of the best culinary experiences I've ever had in my life. The food is unbelievable, the drinks are incredible, and the service is top notch. I don't think you could possibly be disappointed dining here. read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Fish shrimp steak chicken wings - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Zola Cultural Kitchen - A Curious Introduction to West African Cuisine I visited Zola Cultural Kitchen, a "Hot & New" spot serving bold West African dishes. I've traveled quite a bit globally, but Africa hasn't been on my itinerary yet--so this was a totally new culinary adventure for me. Atmosphere & First Impressions When we arrived, the place was nearly empty--just us at first, and a few other small parties trickled in. It never got particularly busy while we were there, which made the experience feel intimate, but maybe a little too quiet for a Thursday night. Menu Simplicity & Ordering The menu is small, which I usually take as a good sign--it's often better to do a few things well than to spread the kitchen too thin. I told the waitress I needed guidance, and she kindly explained a couple of dishes. I asked if I could substitute chicken wings for the fish on the Jollof Rice with Plantains plate, and she said "of course." She then asked if I wanted 6 or 12 wings--which seemed a bit odd at the time, but I went with 12. There wasn't a printed drink menu, but she offered a few options verbally. No diet sodas, but she did mention an African ginger beer, which I ordered and ended up really enjoying--it was a strong Jamaican-style ginger soda with a solid kick. Food & Service Flow To start, someone--maybe another server or the owner--brought out a complimentary dish of Puff-Puff, small deep-fried dough balls served with a chunky sauce. They were warm, crisp, and delicious--my kids loved them too. After that, our ginger beer arrived, followed by 6 chicken wings. They were cooked perfectly: crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside. They were trimmed a bit unusually, but nothing off-putting. Then came a longer-than-expected wait for the main entrée. When it arrived, it wasn't what I ordered. Instead of Jollof Rice with plantains and chicken, they brought out a goat meat stew. I've never had goat and hadn't requested it, so I politely asked them to take back the stew and just leave the rice and plantains. They complied, and we made the best of it while the kitchen prepared more wings--bringing the total to 12, as originally ordered. Food Quality & Flavors The rice and plantains were solid--cooked well and not greasy. The flavors were unfamiliar to me, so it's hard for me to judge the seasoning authentically, but overall it came off as milder than expected. Perhaps West African food has bolder flavors in other dishes, or maybe this one was toned down a bit--I'm not sure. Service Experience The service was friendly but unpolished. Our water glasses were never refilled, and no one checked to see if we wanted more drinks. When the final plate of wings came, I asked for a box and the check, and no dessert was offered. It feels like the staff may be new to restaurant service--maybe even new to running a restaurant in the U.S.--and could benefit from some hospitality training and smoother communication between front and back of house. Price & Value For 12 wings, rice, plantains, and a soda, the bill came to around $45. That felt a bit steep, especially with the slow pace and service issues. I'm not opposed to paying for quality, but the overall value didn't quite line up with the price this time. Final Thoughts I genuinely hope this place finds its rhythm. The kitchen clearly knows how to cook--the technique was great across the board--but the service and ordering process need refinement. I'd recommend a few changes: clearer menus, more attentive service, and more thoughtful substitutions. I'm also curious to try West African cuisine elsewhere now to compare. This was a mellow introduction--perhaps a little too mellow. I'll give Zola another try down the road, maybe in a year, to see how they've grown. Right now, I'd say they have potential--but they'll need to decide whether they want to cater to a niche audience already familiar with the cuisine or make some adjustments to connect with a broader, local crowd. Either way, I'm rooting for them. read more

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We had the red snapper w/ rice & plantains, it was very meaty delicious. We had the goat stew & fufu. The goat meat was tender and very flavorful. The inside is very pretty and clean. Ofelia the server was very helpful with describing the menu & making suggestions. read more

The service at Zola was amazing! Upon entering the restaurant, the staff were friendly and inviting. We around 4:45 on a Friday evening, which is the perfect time if you are a pregnant new mom like myself lol. The restaurant was extremely clean and well decorated. The best part was that there was only one table there when we arrived since we arrived so early in the evening. Service was promote, and the menu, although simple, was perfect for someone indecisive like myself. We started out with the chicken wings which were delicious. My husband ordered the fried fish, Jollof & plantains. The flavors were incredible and 10/10. I ordered the goat stew, Jollof and plantains, which were 10/10 as well and reminiscent of my Jamaican culture. Overall, I give Zola 10/10 and will be back with my husband very soon! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Chicken Wings - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

I ate Fufu for the first time!!! Delicious! We ordered the Fufu and Egusi soup as well as the Attieke. So so good! You can taste the love and good energy that is put into the food. Highly recommend! Staff was kind and attentive. The ambiance is very calm and the music is the perfect volume not too loud or too quiet. We will be back! Thank you for a wonderful first experience! read more

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This place is a must try. This was my first experience with African cuisine, and certainly not my last. Ophelia provided amazing service and helped me order. I ordered two entrees because I wanted to try the whole menu but decided to be a little more realistic. The portions are huge, so I can enjoy a couple more meals out of it. The chef, Rose, I believe might also be one of the owner, does her thing in that kitchen! I was so impressed. The red snapper was delicious. The rice was moist and packed with flavor. You need to try the hot sauce if you like spicy. It's very hot though. The flavors were like nothing I had ever tried. The restaurant is really nice, the tables looked so elegant and the decor was clean and modern. I loved it all. Thank you to Ophelia and her family, it was very enjoyable and I can't wait to come back. read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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Super good! It was nice to experience something different with my parents and all of the workers were so so kind :) We loved everything! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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We visited Zola Cultural Kitchen for my son's birthday (his choice), and the staff pulled out all the stops in their service. They created amazing memories for him, as they all came by the table to wish him a happy birthday, and they gave us several freebies to help us celebrate. They even made a sign with his name on it! The food was all well made and interesting. We all enjoyed trying something different and shared bites around the table. While the decor wasn't anything special, the staff makes the place feel amazing. We couldn't have created a better birthday experience if we tried! Many, many thanks to everyone on the staff for being so welcoming and making our evening so special! read more

This was a cute little hole in the wall! We walked in and were seated right away by the sweetest waitress. She helped walk us through the menu as we were a little unfamiliar with the cuisine, and she even brought out an appetizer on the house!! The food was plentiful and quite flavorful!! The quality maybe could have been a touch better in some aspects, but I left with a full belly. It wasn't just a good meal...it was a great experience!! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Crazy Dry Rice Supreme, Vietnamese Fried Rice in the background - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

My friend found this wonderful spot so we decided to drive out and experience it, the food and the service were amazing. Such a welcoming environment and the food is delicious and I love the Puff! The staff were very welcoming and engaging. read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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Wow what flavor!! This place was fantastic. My wife and I were looking for something different and delicious and we certainly found it here! We started off with with the roasted meat appetizer, which was kind of like a a kebab with big cubed steak (flavorful, tender, juicy) onion and peppers, but it was laid on a leaf of romaine and topped with the absolutely incredible sauce. We were too excited and ripped in to it too quickly to get a picture. I definitely recommend trying that. We split the Attieke which had a stunning presentation! It is a whole fried fish (either red snapper or tilapia, they ran out of snapper so we got tilapia), with couscous, fried plantains, and either broccoli or asparagus. He told us this tilapia would be better than any tilapia we've tasted before and he was not joking! It was fried perfectly, so juicy and crispy. It looks a little intimidating but by keeping it whole you get so much more juiciness and flavor, and it was masterfully cleaned. They also paired it with incredible sauces, one savory with vegetables and one refreshing with cucumber and yogurt I think. The fried plantains were easily the best I've ever had and are a perfect representation of good fried plantains. You could taste the freshness and green quality on the plantain even after it was fried it was incredible. So good we ordered another side of them! The asparagus and couscous were also good :) They didn't have alcohol yet but had a tap ready to go for their liquor license which I think he said should be coming in like 2 months. One of my favorite parts of the meal was nicely it sits in your tum-tum. High-quality and healthy food Overall it was excellent and will definitely return. read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Attieke (Fried Tilapia) - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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From the very start, our experience was doomed. Yelp, Google, FB, IG, and the restaurant [unfinished] website all showed different hours. We took a chance, the they were open. Upon stepping inside out of the blistering cold...nothing. No staff, no greeting, no being seated...nothing. A patron told us to just sit anywhere, so we obliged. The temperature inside was not comfortable. The seating was not comfortable. The decor was non-existent. I had hoped to see some great West African art or at least some ambiance. There was some African music dispersed with US dance rap stuff (obviously not my genre, because I can't even name it) playing, and it was so very loud. The restaurant remained unchanged since it replaced Saigon Vietnamese. 6:30pm: Our server Andrea (nay, the only server) eventually came over and dropped menus. Well, the encasement was a menu, but the actual menu was a printed paper with only a few items on it. 6:50: Our server returns to take our drink order. Mr P does his normal DC. I give Andrea carte blanche, and she brings a Vimto. This is a fruity, crisp soda from England that is huge in The Gambias and Senegal. I compared it to a Mexican Sangría Señorial. Our canned drinks come 20 minutes after we order them. 7:15: Andrea takes our order. From the limited selections, we both choose the jollof rice with red snapper and plantains. Sorry, out of Snapper. Ok, tilapia. Perfect. 7:30: Sorry, out of tilapia, but do we want chicken. I do not, because it is Lent. Can we do the appetizer shrimp skewers on the plate? Sure. I have to say, Andrea was very kind, and was so embarrassed to have to tell us about the 86. I get it. Not her fault. She brings us a fried dough called Puff Puff, originating as a Nigerian street food. Delicious. Like a sweet fritter or donut. Mr P also got the chicken wings, with the absence of other appetizer items that were Lent-friendly. I'm not one for bones and the whole shebang. He said that they were great. 8:30: No food. A gentleman, whom I can only surmise was the owner, comes with Andrea to our table to apologize. They had a large online order, which took up all the kitchen's resources. He told us that our food would be out shortly, and if we wanted, they now had the snapper (Insert head slap). We ask for some additional beverages, since our cans were long since empty. Out of Vimto. I again told Andrea to surprise me. 10 minutes later, a DC and a homemade strawberry lemonade appear. Very fresh. VERY sweet 8:55: Food arrives. It was absolutely delicious. I was just unfortunately not even hungry anymore by that time. I consumed as much of that delicate, perfectly flavored fish as I could, and took the rice and plantain home. The plantains were good, though lukewarm. The rice tasty and plentiful. This place has real promise. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are trying to gain their footing in a predominant snowbird area, where cultural menus are not a normal find. Andrea was delightful, and a really super sweet girl. I think she was unprepared for the hand she was dealt by management and the kitchen. It was also pricy. Not that I would ever ask, but we weren't discounted at all for our experience. We will likely return to try again. The food was that good. But be warned if you do not have the patience. Mr P, being much more patient than I, smooth talked me into waiting it out. Choose your adventure. read more

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We had the Attieke and Egusi soup. It was amazing! It was all plated so beautifully and the flavors were so warm and comforting. We loved it! read more

This was an amazing experience. I had a great meal our server was attentive and made excellent recommendations for dishes to try. My wife does not like to try new foods but in the end she was impressed with several dishes she tried. I intend to go back with my son and treat him to some very tasty dishes. read more

I love this place and I love small businesses like this. We went in with a group of 4 not k owing what to expect. What we got was some of the most flavorful food we have ever eaten. Our server Andrew was so kind and helpful in explaining the menu. He said trust him, which we did and he did not let us down. They brought out some complimentary doughnuts with a great dipping sauce for us. Then we had some wings. Then we had the steak and one of the platters that had an entire red snapper, more wings, a meat kabobs, shrimp and some rice. That plate was enough for 2 or 3 people. They also had homemade lemonade and it was fantastic! We will be back and bring other friends. read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Strawberry lemonade...homemade - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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Service was amazing! Everyone there was so sweet. My friends and I wanted to try fufu and egusi soup and they were so helpful teaching us how to eat it correctly. Food was also delicious! The environment was welcoming and I would definitely come back! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Fufu & Egusi Soup - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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I brought a few of my college friends here to enjoy a cultural food experience that we were not so familiar with. Let me tell you, we truly enjoyed the food and service! The menu itself is very unique, it stays true to African cuisine while still incorporating other cultural influences, making the blend of flavors very flavorful, deep, and rich. The restaurant space itself is well-kept and clean as well. The owner and workers are very kind, welcoming, and always ensuring their customers are content. I do recommend Zola Cultural Kitchen for those who are new to or desire to learn more about African cuisine, their menu options are various and inclusive for all. read more

We really wanted to like this place, sadly it was an epic fail. Placed an order for pick up, Goat Soup & Fufu, 2 order Puff Puff, an entre of Jollaf Rices and Fried Sweet Plantains. I was told 30 minutes which was fine I live 20 minutes away. When I arrived everyone was friendly, said my order was being prepared, waited an extra 20 minutes no harm we were hungry and really wanted to try this food. I paid $41.00 for our food, arrived home in gleeful anticipation .. To our surprise we got a piping hot soup filled with boiled fish with skin on, a huge knuckle bone of some kind of animal, a crawfish with feet, more boiled skin no hint of Goat. The Plantains were anything but sweet, they were dry and tasteless possibly baked or air fried? The rice was one scoop of rice tasted okay but the photo on menu said it was served with asparagus or broccoli and a special sauce we got neither. $41.00 scoop of dry rice, 4 puff puff balls no sauce, dry tasteless plantains and some boiled fish skin soup. The only thing we ate were to Puff Puff balls, a bit bland but good, and some of the dry rice bland but nice flavor. Nigerian food I was expecting it to have a bit more flavor overall very bland. I called the man about the missing goat soup and he knew right away they didnt get the order right. We threw out everything except the scoop of rice and the puff puff with no dipping sauce. A Waste of my time, money and food. read more

Absolutely excellent African cuisine. The fufu and egusi soup was so flavorful. Their pepper wings, OMG. THE BEST. The pepper sauce they make is the best I've had in AZ. The food is pure quality and very flavor. The place is new and you have to park in the back. read more

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Really nice place for African food right here in Mesa. The service was exceptional. The atmosphere was relaxed, clean and upbeat with African music in the background. read more

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Customer service!!! Based on customer service alone I WILL be back. The vibe was authentic, the food was hot and really flavorful. If you aren't used to seasonings in your food then I'd stay away from the Egusi because it's super flavorful and rich in spices but not spicy, it's oil based so keep that in mind if you spill it most likely will stain but it's oh so good!! I need to brag on the pepper soup! Not a flaw in sight! The meat was so tender and genuinely cooked to perfection! The flavor of the broth was really good by itself and was just complimented very well by the meat and veggies in here. The fufu was interesting, I've never had anything like it. Kind of reminds me of an uncooked dumpling or something, it was good but I am a texture person and had to eat a limited amount of this. read more

Food is delicious. Had the chicken wings and the goat stew. They were out of what we ordered so they offered us the chicken wings and added extra wings for free. Chicken wings were so juicy and flavorful, the best wings Ive ever had. The goat stew was tender and seasoned to perfection. Delicious! read more

Great service. Good was so good. A very unique flavor that we loved. They started with giving us puff puff. A sweet ball of bread with a savory sauce to dip it in. It was amazing. read more

The food was great and the staff were very friendly and attentive!! Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu in the near future! Shastan read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Crazy dry rice supreme! - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

The food and service was amazing! The fufu and egusi soup was delicious! We will be back and definitely recommend! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Fufu & Egusi Soup - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Great service and deliciously authentic West African food. We enjoyed the jollof rice, plantains, crispy chicken, goat stew and fufu. Yum! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Jollof rice, plantains, asparagus and chicken wings - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

We came in on a whim and are so glad we did! The service was so friendly and helpful! This was our first experience with African cuisine and everything was astounding. The prices may seem a little high but these are SHARING portions. We both had enough for another full dinner to take home. The food took a while yo come out, but everything was made fresh from scratch! An amazing experience, we will definitely be bringing everyone we know here! read more

If you are looking for some flavorful plates served by some amazing people, this is the place for you. Ambiance is super cool.. first class service, Zola has it all. My wife and I always look for hidden gems and this place is a new favorite! You will not be disappointed. I am yet to order something I didn't love. 5 stars for sure read more

The food was amazing! We ordered the pepper soup with fufu, egusi soup with fufu (which is vegan), and the Jola rice with red snapper fish and asparagus. Everything was made to order and fresh! The soup was the perfect temperature. Great food and great service! read more

food here was absolutely fantastic! the service here is amazing and everyone was so kind. i can't wait to come back! this will definitely be a frequent visit! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Fried Fish (Red Snapper) & Plantains - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

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First time at this amazing place. The food was authentic and savory with high quality ingredients! The owner Zola was very friendly along with everyone who worked there. It was definitely a trip worth taking. We will return! read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Red snapper, Shrimp, Wings. Skewers, Jollof, Plantains, with mango salsa!! - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

Stumbled upon this new family owned restaurant and it did not disappointed! Everything was authentic with lots of flavor and good portions, so well definitely will be back. Our server Andrea was a delight, and Zola the owner was happy to share details about the origin of the food and plans to expand the menu and bring in live music. read more

Zola Cultural Kitchen - Dry rice supreme w/red snapper, plantains, steak skewer, chicken wings, jollof rice, fufu and egusi soup. - African Near Me - Mesa, Arizona

First time visiting and I absolutely love this place! The staff was so nice and the food was on point. Try the wings & shrimp and don't leave without trying the rice! We had a group of 6 and all of our food came out in a timely manner & hot!! This will be one of my favorite resturant to visit! read more

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Came in tonight with my wife we got the supreme plate that comes with fried fish, shrimp, rice, fried plantain, a beef stick, and chicken wings. We got the pepper chicken which were so spicy but delicious I had 6 of them in one sitting. Also got the goat soup with Fufu All delicious! Excellent Service everyone was very friendly and tentative. We will be back and its so close read more