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    Amala Joint

    4.6 (26 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated a few days ago

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    Amala Joint - A True Taste of Naija If you've been craving authentic Nigerian flavors that hit your soul, Amala Joint is the spot. From the moment I walked in, the aroma of rich spices and slow-cooked stews told me I was in for something special. I ordered the amala with gbegiri, ewedu, and assorted meat, and let me just say: PERFECTION. The amala was soft, warm, and just the right amount of stretchy. The gbegiri was silky, the ewedu had that traditional slippery texture that hugged the amala beautifully, and the stew? Whew deep, peppery, and packed with flavor. Each bite was a throwback to home-cooked meals in Nigeria. The assorted meat was generous and well-seasoned tender cow foot, spicy tripe, juicy beef everything cooked to perfection and soaked in rich, red stew. They don't skimp on flavor or portion size. Customer service was friendly, and the atmosphere felt like a neighborhood kitchen with Naija pride. Whether you're Nigerian or just love African cuisine, Amala Joint will transport your taste buds straight to Lagos. Highly recommend for lovers of bold, traditional West African flavors. Don't walk RUN for that amala!

    Fufu
    Ritodhi C.

    I've been dipping my toes into the underrated cuisine of the African diaspora lately, so decided to make the drive to this unpretentious cafeteria-style Nigerian spot outside the loop. I think it's mostly frequented by regulars because the young lady behind the counter seemed a little surprised to see us walk in. There are no prices on the in-house menu, but the main plates range from $15-$20. Some of the flavors are certainly acquired tastes that will challenge unaccustomed palates, but overall I would give my experience a 3.5/5. Jollof Rice w/ Chicken - the prototypical West African rice dish which consists chewy granules stewed in a slightly spicy and sweet tomato broth. It was fragrant and mellow in taste. The chicken itself was well-cooked and juicy which some beautifully crispy skin. Egusi - a traditional soup made from ground melon seeds, stock, leafy vegetables, and meat. The taste of this dish was more challenging for me and featured funky, nutty, and earthy notes. There were off-cuts of meat and offal mixed in; the cow skin was chewy but didn't add much flavor and I'm just not a fan of tripe in general. I have had versions of egusi that I really liked, but this one wasn't my favorite. Goat Stew - this was probably my least favorite dish. The meat was overcooked to the point of being leathery, and the bone-to-meat ratio was less than ideal. The flavor itself was decent. Our "swallow" of choice with the above was fufu, or pounded fermented cassava, which was like a bouncier and milder form of mashed potatoes that clings to all the spicy sauces and stews. The staff took good care of us and I would definitely come back to try some of their other recommendations.

    Okra Stew
    Gerald T.

    This was my first time eating Nigerian food from a restaurant and it was delicious. The dishes are made to order so don't be turned off by the wait. Will definitely return to try other items on the menu.

    Egusi Soup (goat) and Fufu (pounded yam)
    Chanel J.

    Ayyye my first try of Nigerian food and I'm thinking why did I wait so long?!?!??! The Egusi soup and fufu was dancing on my taste buds! It's quite delicious and spicy. I added goat which was an up charge, but the options were beef, tripe and fish(I believe). The restaurant was clean and they had a picture menu but no prices. My Egusi with goat meat and fufu was $24 I am not sure if that's market price but it was steep to me. However with that taste and the added health benefits (Egusi is high in fiber). I'm not mad at it and I will continue to explore the menu and cuisine.

    Eugsi with goat meat and fish with FuFu
    Dutchess C.

    My first time here and first time trying Eugsi with fufu. One with goat meat and fish. First I was greeted so warmly!!! I was absolutely shy ordering because I didn't want to mispronounce the name but she knew what I wanted and helped me out making a choice. Racing home to try it, and goodness! I love it! I don't know what I was scared of but this is absolutely delicious! I will come back to try another dish, but I'm for sure getting Eugsi with Fufu to goooo! A must try! Thank you!!!!

    Eforiro, pounded yam, and Tilapia Fish
    Maria B.

    The restaurant is located in a little shopping plaza which looks a little sketch at first glance, but I'm giving 5 stars because Amala's joint was the perfect experience. I'm a fan of Nigerian food and have eaten at about 6 different Naija spots in the Houston area, but their service was by far the best. The first thing I noticed when I walked in was how clean and tidy everything was. Sanitizer and hand soap at every table and they bring a bowl of water with your meal so you can clean your hands. Also, the dining room didn't smell heavily like food, which was nice since I had somewhere to be afterward. I had Efo with pounded yam and tilapia. Y'all!!! It was soooo good. Perfect level of spice for those that can't handle too much heat, but enough for those of us that really enjoy the kick of peppers. The tilapia was perfectly cooked. A little crisp on the outside, soft & flaky fish on the inside. The ladies that took care of us were absolutely sweet. If you're still reading stop and go to Amala's Joint for some bomb food!!

    Joyce G.

    The food here is superb, the new recipe egusi is to die for mmmmmm yummy in my tummy . Unfortunately I finished the food before taking pictures

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    26 days ago

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    2 months ago

    Amazing food and the owner is extremely nice. They sell Jolly Jolly Bread too, Ambiance is very homey and comfortable

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    2 years ago

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    Adeline M.

    Thank you so much for patronizing us . Be blessed

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    9 months ago

    Amazing food, better service. I will sleep happily after coming as the portions were very filling.

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    10 months ago

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    Adeline M.

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    3 years ago

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    Adeline M.

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    4 years ago

    Love their food and their jollof rice is always bussing or their egusi soup. I love going there to eat.

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    ChopnBlok - POST Market

    ChopnBlok - POST Market

    4.7
    (339 reviews)
    17.1 mi
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    I love this place. Everytime I come to the Post I try to make myself try a different eating spot…read morebut it never works! They always have a sample of the Golden Bowl for anyone to taste & it's absolutely my go to dish. All the ingredients work well together in this Golden Bowl. The chicken, jollof rice, veggies, the sweet of the plantain with the spice in the curry makes for a delightfully seasoned bowl. I will admit the spice made my nose run but yet I would only describe it as a "subtle" spicy dish. One day I'll try another dish but for now. That golden bowl speaks to me everytime. I had leftovers & even the next day my taste buds got happy all over again! Never had Nigerian West African food or had it somewhere else, try it here, it's delightful!! Don't forget, they have a brick & mortar restaurant in Montrose. I have been... YET!

    Popped by after grabbing my FIFA volunteer gear. There was an employee out front providing samples…read moreof the golden bowl and hibiscus tea. That little taste had me sold. Takeout order of Golden Bowl (added shrimp along with the chicken) and small Hibiscus tea (40$ish). Packed neatly for your home/office enjoying pleasure. The motherland curry is placed in a separate plastic container and the jollof jambalaya, curry, plantains, chicken & shrimp packed tightly like a little gift. Dish was enough for two meals; super flavorful. I'd definitely like to try them again not on a go.

    Photos
    The line moves-use the time to make your final selections or enjoy a sample.
    The line moves-use the time to make your final selections or enjoy a sample.
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    Omalicha Kitchen

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    4.2
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    We were in the area as I was dropping bae off at the airport and we were looking for something to…read moreeat before his flight. We stumbled upon this place and boy am I glad we did because the food was absolutely divine! I had the garnished tilapia with jollof rice and vegetables. Not sure what vegetables I was eating perhaps spinach but they were cooked to perfection. Bae had the garnished goat meat which was so tender and I appreciate the bite sized cuts instead of the chunky portions. I low key wished I had gotten the goat. We ended up getting a side of jollof rice because the goat meat plate did not come with any sides. I will definitely be back if I am on that side of town again. The four stars are because I wish they adjusted the spice levels. I like my food spicy and Bae who is Yoruba's spice level is not for this world! so the food wasn't as spicy to both of us as we would've liked. Service was a little bit slow, but I think it's because they do make the food fresh. Nice clean restaurant great customer service and cannot wait to be back next time I'm in humble

    I ordered ahead on 2 different occasions and had to wait 40 minutes both times after being told 20…read moreminutes. I don't think they start working on the food until you get there and pay which I get if they don't want no shows but at least communicate it? I'd come again for the food if the service wasn't slow. Sadly won't be coming here again bc of the long wait times. Btw they weren't busy either time

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    Storefront
    Storefront
    Jollof rice and goat
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    Fabaceae African Cuisine

    4.2
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    I placed a pickup order through DoorDash yesterday at 5:31pm and never received any food. When we…read moregot there at 6:00pm the owner said they were closed due to a catering order and that he canceled the order on DoorDash even though it said on the app that it wasn't, we went back and showed him and he assured us it wasn't canceled and then drove off. When I woke up this morning and checked DoorDash it said that the order was picked up at 7:37pm and my card was charged $60, which is honestly too much for 2 soups and 2 appetizers. Also on top of that the location was sketchy, had no visible signage, and was dirty. Would not recommend this place at all if I could give negative stars I would.

    Went for dinner and it was everything I expected and more! The owners are a sweet couple who…read moreprovided great service and were very helpful with the menu. I shared the fufu with egusi soup with stewed goat added, the Stewed Hen, Moin Moin, & Jollof Rice, and the meat pie with a friend and it was plenty for both of us. The fufu with egusi soup was super delicious with a spicy kick that I loved (7/10) . The plate was the star of the meal. Everything from the stewed hen, to the rice, to the greens were all so well seasoned and I truly enjoyed every bite (8.5/10). The meat pie was also delicious with a savory filling and the pastry was thick and buttery but surprisingly not overbearing considering the pastry to filling ratio (8/10). Overall the food was awesome and seemed quite authentic. Would definitely come back to support this small local business!

    Photos
    Entry to their new location
    Entry to their new location
    Egusi with goat meat
    Egusi with goat meat
    Faba location Behind the Greater Texas building at the read of the plaza

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    Faba location Behind the Greater Texas building at the read of the plaza
    Bantu House

    Bantu House

    4.6
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    15.6 mi

    I have been wanting to try West African food for quite a while and just never found anywhere near…read morewhere I was so when Bantu House showed up on my IG i was like let me try it since it's so close. I canNOT believe what I have been missing!!! I tried the egusi soup with pounded yam and was literally floored by how good it was. I brought some home for my wife and kids and they all loved it. I've been back several times since. Unfortunately I NEVER see anyone in there so I hope they are getting enough service to stick around. I've had their jerk wings as well as their jollif rice and all of it is amazing. The restaurant itself is simple and the staff friendly.

    I recently had dinner at Bantu House with my daughter. I am not very experienced with African…read morecuisine outside of South African restaurants and a few Ethiopian-style places, so this was a very new experience for me. Overall, I found the food to be very flavorful, well seasoned, and unique. My daughter and I actually ended up liking each other's meals more than our own, so we switched plates, which worked out well. We also ordered a few extra items, including wings and yams. The pounded yam was interesting and very different from anything I usually eat. It is probably not something I would go out of my way to order again, but I am glad I tried it and now understand a little better how it is eaten. The one disappointing part of the visit was the ordering experience. The young man who rang us up was polite, but he was unable to make any recommendations. He said he had been working there for about three months and still could not really suggest what to order. For someone like me, who is unfamiliar with this type of food, recommendations would have been very helpful. I would have appreciated some guidance on the most popular dishes, common choices, or what first-time customers usually enjoy. That said, the owner was extremely kind. She came out to our table, spoke with us, and helped explain how to eat some of the food we had ordered. I really appreciated that. She came across as a very sweet person, and based on her hospitality alone, I would come back to support the business. This style of food may not personally be my cup of tea or something I will crave often, but I respect the flavor, the care, and the local business behind it. I would give Bantu House four stars. It could have been closer to 3.5 for me personally, mostly because of the lack of ordering guidance, but the owner's kindness and the quality of the food pushed it to four.

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    HIGH QUALITY FOOD!! Hot, Fresh, Authentic African Dishes…read more EGusi is full of flavor!! Top in Houston. The Peppered chicken takes it to another level. The sauce on the chicken Super Rich in flavor... this is Fresh Chicken nothing leftover. I could tell everything was freshly peppered. The Jollof is Exactly what it should be. Truly Well Prepared it's Perfect!! I uber eats and food was smoking hot with 35-40 min delivery !!

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    Jollof Rice Egusi Stew with Poundo
    Jollof Rice Egusi Stew with Poundo
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    I've eaten African food all over the U.S., and Hunan Cafe has some of the most flavorful West…read moreAfrican food I've ever had. Everything tastes absolutely incredible. I usually order the jollof rice, efo riro, and egusi soup, and every single dish is rich, bold, and deeply satisfying. It was so good the first time that I came back again the very next week. Every visit I spend no less than $50 because I can't help but order all my favorites. The flavors are that good. There's a lovely woman in the kitchen preparing these dishes with so much care and authenticity, and you can truly taste it in every bite. If you're looking for a genuinely, expertly prepared West African meal, this is the place. I say this as someone who lives between Houston and New York, has traveled all over the world, and has eaten at many Michelin-rated restaurants. I know good food, and this food is amazing.

    This is my second time eating here owner does have favorites, and you will not be served as her…read moreregular and the food always need salt and my whole meal had 2 pieces of dried beef as I'm waiting you can see me waiting also no greeting nothing just get your feet off my seats I just know I won't be eating here again the vibe is off putting and the owner had this you owe me attitude will spend the extra at princess famous for a peace of mind

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    I got the Oxtail, goat, Egusi Soup and he got jollof rice and Oxtails... Felt like Home. Great service.
    I got the Oxtail, goat, Egusi Soup and he got jollof rice and Oxtails... Felt like Home. Great service.
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    ChopnBlok - Montrose

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    4.5
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    15.5 mi
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    Why 5 stars? Because it's elevated and unique cuisine…read more --- --- --- There is no shortage of restaurants you can enjoy in Houston, but a massive percentage of them are Tex-Mex and BBQ. Then there's the stuff you get plenty of in any city: pizza, chinese, sandwiches, chicken places, etc. But a real rare gem is ChopnBlok. It's West African cuisine, which is not exactly something you see on every street corner. But more importantly, this food is clearly made with love. It's not cheap: a couple of bowls and a tea comes out to nearly $100 after tip, but you're paying for real quality here. My dad and I both ordered a Golden Bowl and added steak. The steak was the best part. It had this amazing smokey flavor that made me wish I just ordered double steak instead of steak as an add on. I initially visited the ChopnBlok in POST, and was blown away with the flavors, so I've always wanted to come back and try their stand alone spot. If you're a person greatly adverse to spice, just be aware that there are some subtle hints of a kick in this dish, but I found it to be just the right amount: it let you know that it was there, but stayed in its lane.

    Even though we went to the smaller location at The Post, we were still expecting the same level of…read morequality and experience associated with this establishment. I have to say that my dish was tasty, but there were several things that disappointed me. First, the prices were outrageous for what was offered. Second, the use of flimsy plastic utensils and cheap napkins felt out of place. You would think that a place with such a prestigious reputation would provide higher-quality disposable items, at the very least. Overall, while the food was good, the experience did not justify the cost. This will probably be a one-and-done visit for me.

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    Amala Joint - african - Updated July 2026

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