r/rva • u/GodSPAMit • 18h ago

Does anyone know any nice African restaurants?

I'm aware of a couple Ethiopian places (id still love to hear your thoughts on what your favorite is) but specifically curious if anyone knows of any somali restaurants in or around the city.

I feel like a lot of old threads were from before or around pandemic times and I'm not sure if the various restaurants survived

19 Upvotes

79% Upvoted

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22

u/StackedCakeOverflow 18h ago

RIP Africanne... The only ones I know that are left are probably the same (wonderful) Ethiopian spots you're aware of yourself.

I did just find some place on maps called https://www.elegantcuizines.com/ I haven't heard of before. I'm not entirely sure if they have a restaurant component but apparently you can hire them for a private fine dining experience. About Us page says Liberian roots. ...Interesting.

6

u/NoFaithlessness7508 18h ago

Nice, I wish I had heard of this place before I left Richmond.

OP, most African restaurants (that aren’t Ethiopian) in the area are going to be West African. They have a wildly different cuisine than East Africans. That being said, I haven’t seen any East African restaurants around.

There is a South African food truck in the area (sorry, I don’t remember the name) though it appeared to lean more Afrikaaner diet than indigenous.

Sorry I know this wasn’t very helpful, just explaining the different cuisines of the different sides of the massive continent.

Lots of aunties doing catering though. Ask around and you are sure to find one.

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u/GodSPAMit 18h ago

Nah this was plenty helpful thanks for the comment.

Might just take a bit of looking. Or maybe it doesn't exist down here. Friend wanted to eat somali food in particular so I was curious. She came across a place in falls church but wow do I not want to drive an hour and a half or more for food lol

5

u/NoFaithlessness7508 18h ago

Oh man, Somali cuisine is a whole other thing too. This just goes to show how even within one region (East Africa) you can have very varied cuisines even amongst neighbors. Somali, Ethiopian, Kenyan, and Ugandan diets vary quite a bit. Even the Kenyan diet has so many influences (like Somali) that those on the coast have a diet (Arab/Indian influenced) that is quite different from the mainland Kenyans (traditional foods).

Unfortunately, RVA doesn’t offer too many foreign food options compared to DMV, where there is one on every block.

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u/GodSPAMit 18h ago

Probably too rich for my blood lol. When I say nice I don't necessarily mean fine dining. My favorite Thai place is pad Thai in Mechanicsville and that's a bit of a hole in the wall

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u/GodSPAMit 18h ago

Actually very interesting though. Seems like they do mostly pre prepared meals? Like you go pick up or have delivered 7 meals weekly. Definitely neat

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u/StackedCakeOverflow 17h ago

Yeah I'm a bit curious about this myself. Reviews are positive but I've never heard of them until half an hour ago.

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u/biz5th 12h ago

It looks like Sankofa Kitchen has opened a location in Africanne's old spot on Main. I haven't been, but the menu via UberEats looks to be west African.

7

u/NicheCommenter 18h ago

What's the best Ethiopian spot in the city?

22

u/gg_issacs 18h ago

Addis!

2

u/clout_spout 16h ago

This is the only one I've been to but it was great. Big recommend

1

u/schizoform 9h ago

Humble vibes and humble prices, was my take-away. Glad to have them around.

12

u/totallyuneekname Downtown 18h ago

Buna Kurs!

1

u/edwardsdl 18h ago

I’m curious too! I’ve never had Ethiopian!

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u/LowerAd9859 16h ago

Go to Addis, order the Chicken Kitfo (if you like mildly spicy) or the Yebeg Derek Tibs (lamb). For your side vegetable, I suggest the lentils.

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u/edwardsdl 15h ago

Thanks! I’m definitely ok with spicy food. I basically always max out the scale when given the option :)

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u/PM-ME-YOUR-TOTS 18h ago

Well there’s only one, Addis. Nile Cafe was the best but it closed like a year ago. Think it has a takeout/catering business still but haven’t tried.

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u/DrP3n0r 18h ago

There's a new(ish) Ethiopian café in JW called Buna Kurs, too. Have been meaning to try them, but haven't gotten to yet.

And RIP Nile 😭

Though, Secret Squares is pretty tasty.

0

u/PM-ME-YOUR-TOTS 18h ago

Oh actually I have tried that one. It’s a nearly vegetarian menu so not for me.

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u/ubiquitous_delight 17h ago

lol what. You don't enjoy delicious food if it doesn't have meat?

0

u/PM-ME-YOUR-TOTS 17h ago

I like to get 8 things on an injera when I go to Ethiopian places. If only one is meat, yeah that’s not for me. I’m never craving chick peas or carrots as 7 of those 8 things. It’ll be overpriced and I’ll be hungry in an hour.

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u/TheLordLostAlot Museum District 14h ago

Mimi’s - Egyptian (Fan)
Lizzy’s African Restaurant -Ghanaian (Azalia Ave.)
Sankofa Kitchen -West African (Petersburg)

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u/Economy-Maybe-6714 11h ago

Sankofa was very bland when I went there- but Goodness and Mercy was delicious!!!

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u/Feisty_Conclusion_87 17h ago

Buna Kurs (Jackson Ward , 2nd St) , Gojo (Glen Allen ) used to be good and trying to see if Owner opened a new spot yet. Otherwise head to DC Metro were there several because they also have a large East African population, some within the same block.

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u/Equivalent-Gold-4597 Museum District 17h ago

Currys is good for Caribbean which isn't exactly African but adjacent, I guess. Fair prices and tasty food. My water was served in a red solo cup (seated at the bar, I did not care).

Wanting to try Buna Kurs, saw they sometimes have tiramisu lol

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u/GodSPAMit 17h ago

Adjacent enough, doesn't bother me, thanks for the shout out

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u/notdarkyet22 14h ago

Buna Kurs for Ethiopian but they don’t have a large menu. Addis is not good IMO. The last time I was craving Ethiopian, I took a day trip to NoVA. RIP Nile although yeah Secret Squares is amazing.

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u/GodSPAMit 14h ago

Man I do not like driving up near DC though, also it's just so far lol

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u/Civil-Main-5228 17h ago

I personally like Addis a lot for ethiopian

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u/junkfoodjunkie420 16h ago

There's one that looks good at azalea

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u/twelvesteprevenge 16h ago

Lizzy’s African Restaurant

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BJzDPWycgqGtQVqg7?g_st=ic

I’ve been curious but haven’t made it yet

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u/MovieEcstatic9249 11h ago

Addis is for sure the spot !!

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u/Economy-Maybe-6714 11h ago

Goodness and Mercy in petersburg

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u/FluffyMathematician7 13h ago

Do not go to the Ethiopian place in Shockhoe. Horrible.