I wandered into this restaurant because I had some time to kill before heading to the airport. What an amazing find. This West African restaurant is pristine inside. The food was a culinary treat to all of my senses and beautifully presented. As an extra bonus it was relatively inexpensive by NY standards. I highly recommend Azara Kitchen the next time you are looking to sample a something different. read more

Whewwww this food was SLAMMING! & for the price... You can't beat the price! I was also able to BYOB so I got a bottle of champagne for the table. The customer service was great. There was a young lady that was so attentive & kind. Wish I knew her name. I'm definitely Coming back! read more

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I need to try more African food. This was my second time trying African food and everything here was yummy! There were so many dishes that I have never heard of before..so we were ordered and tried so many dishes. We ordered: FUFU - pounded cassova with okra stew (it's an acquired taste and it's such an African staple you have to try it at least once) CASSANDRA'S POISSON - Grilled whole Branzino marinated Azara's seasoning asparagus DIBI LAMB CHICKEN WINGS VEGAN JOLLOF RICE - Jasmine rice in tomato stew, topped with yuca, carrot, cabbage. PLANTAINS Please keep in mind it can be a little spicy for some. So to be cautious we went for light / mild spicy. read more

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Come here if you want to wait an eternity to get your order and be lied to about how much longer it will be. Staff kept saying, "it'll be a few more minutes." Spoiler alert: it wasn't. Eventually they said they don't know how much longer it will be. They're a small kitchen. What? They seem to know how to give out menus. Every table has menus. I have to give them that. But actually getting the food that's on the menu is a task they are not up to. Good lighting. read more

Came with my friends to try West African cuisine for the first time and we had a great experience. We walked in not knowing what to order, but our server was patient and helpful, answering our questions and offering recommendations. Interior design was warm and inviting. We started with the vegetable nem, which came with a tangy tamarind dipping sauce and was okay. The Brussels sprouts were also just okay, but the sauces that came with the appetizers definitely elevated the dishes. For mains, we tried Azara's cassava and plantain fufu with a peanut butter lamb stew, which was delicious and tasted exactly as I expected. I liked the plantain fufu more than the cassava. We also ordered the jollof rice, with chicken on the side (chicken was kind of dry). My friend found the rice a bit dry, but I thought it was savory and fragrant. Overall, a memorable experience. read more

Azara Kitchen - vegan jollof rice - African Near Me - New York, New York

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Ambiance great. Food great. Although the waitress did not bring my sauce over that I asked for and never came back and I asked another server to bring it I still won't mark them off. She dropped drinks on a table full of women shortly there after so maybe she was just having a tough day. I highly recommend if you want some great food to stop here. I hope to be back in the future read more

Azara Kitchen - Fried snapper - African Near Me - New York, New York

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Absolutely delicious West African food! Wow! The chef here - from Burkina Faso - really knows what he is doing. Stunning find. Highly recommended! Maffe lamb - so tender with the tastiest sauce. Jollof w/ fish - so delicious! Best I've had outside of Senegal. Service was friendly and accommodating. read more

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I arrived at 3:45 and the food did not come to the table until 5 pm. Prior to the long wait, which reminded me of my culinary experience in Ghana two years ago. Every time my friend and I went out to eat in Ghana, at different restaurants this was the scenario: we ordered food from the menu, and after an eternal wait the waiter or waitress would come and say "we don't have the item and would you like something else". Is this a West African food custom? Sure enough, after a 20 minute wait, surprise the kitchen had trouble preparing the dish and would I like something else. Had I visited the twilight zone and stepped back in time to Ghana without knowing? After an half hour and three small spring rolls later and I was famished, I ordered the grill lamb chops and jollaf rice. I am not the greatest cook, in fact my ex said everything that I would make a great Cajun chef because everything I cooked was blackened. These four tiny lamb chops were not grilled or blackened they were BURNT. This came plated with the Jollaf rice that even Uncle Ben would have been ashamed about of, if he still had a job. Oh did I mention that on that large white lonely plate was supposed to have a vegetable? Alongside the burnt lamb chops and the jollaf rice from hell was supposed to be a vegetable, spinach I believe. Finally, not everyone is a soccer fan. The television was playing one of the games so loud that when my friend called she thought I was at the game because the cheering from the spectators could be heard throughout our conversation. If you decide to take a trip to Azara Kitchen order the Bbq chicken wings, which everyone seemed to be ordering, they looked delicious and smelled terrific, but be prepared as you wait for them to kill, clean and cook the chicken before it comes to the table. read more

This place was super clean and pretty inside. Great for lunch or dinner with friends family or even a date. The server was super knowledgeable and friendly. The fufu was delicious I would recommend it 10/10. read more

Azara Kitchen - African Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was tasty rather small portion but I ordered pick up instead of dining in. Ordered online & it was ready quickly. read more

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Came here on a Thursday around 3pm. Slow time of the day and got sat immediately. Food took 40 mins for our party of 4 but came out smoking hot. Carrots tasted so fresh like it came out the garden. That branzino is elite, definitely better than my lamb which was also pretty good. Wouldve loved a little more lamb but not complaining. Would've swapped it out if i knew beforehand Plantains very good, tasted authentic. The jollof rice might've been the worst thing but that's like picking what stood out least from everything being great Ok just had another bite of that fish The Brussels sprouts smell u can feel in your mouth. Bacon bits and sauce on the side added to it. The whole table enjoyed them My friends who live here say they going to be coming back early and often read more

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These awesome folks were kind enough to take a late night Galentine's reservation for myself and 5 friends. We ordered the Branzino (2), jollof rice, spinach, sticky wings, quinoa salad, Alfredo chicken, and plantains. My goodness. Everything was stellar! Service was friendly and timely. The owner was kind enough to gift of three desserts: the tiramisu, carrot cake, and the creme brûlée. So good! And what a sweet gesture. Proud to have spots like this in my neighborhood. read more

Azara Kitchen - Dessert - African Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is cozy and special. Like walking into a gourmet kitchen. The vegan jollof was the choice this trip! Along with their house made hot ginger tea! I love the density and texture of the rice! Super appreciate that perfection! Service is attentive and quick. Winter is gonna be great here! They have soup!! read more

Azara Kitchen - Vwgan Jollof rice - African Near Me - New York, New York

Joloff rice! Yum! Nice vibes Great spot to visit and support Easy going and pleasant atmosphere read more

Azara kitchen was great in some aspects but average and others. My sister, a friend and I went on a random weekday so it was not crowded. We ordered way too much food, but don't eat West African food often and were enticed by all the options. First and foremost, the ginger juice is easily some of the best that I've had and is super tasty. Now, as for the food- both the cassava and plantain fufu were absolutely delicious. Please use your hands when you eat this, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you don't. The jollof was also super tasty and I could honestly just order this with a side of plantains and be satisfied- it's just that good. However, the mains fell short. The maffe lamb's stew was very tasty but the actual lamb was very scarce. For the price point and location this was disappointing. We also had Cassandra's poisson which is supposed to be one of their signature main dishes but was very lackluster at best. The fish was super dry and not tasty. All in all, aforementioned, the food here is very hit or miss but it definitely seems like a trend that the mains are subpar to the appetizers, so if I were to visit again I'd just order a bunch of appetizers instead. read more

Azara Kitchen - African Near Me - New York, New York

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A must try. We had chicken Alfredo and jollof rice in lamb. The service was amazing. The people are friendly. The chef and owner greeted us. You won't be disappointed. read more

Azara Kitchen - Lamb and Jollof rice. It was delicious but I forgot to take a picture before I started. - African Near Me - New York, New York

The food is absolutely delicious here. I had cassava fufu with sauce Clair and fish and took some jollof rice with fish to go. Everything was beyond flavorful. My server Bocar was great - genuinely funny and personable guy. The whole place was clean and beautifully decorated with art depicting African culture. If you want to try Burkina Faso's take on west African food - definitely come here. read more

Azara is a very nice spot in Harlem for African fusion. They have fresh juices, along with a barista bar and a few couple staple sodas. The restaurant is nicely decorated, with 2 tops along one side and a few 4 tops in the back. The cafe was super clean and had a large mirror in the back for a selfie! Everything we ordered was fresh and cooked to order. Our table ate a little of this, a little of that...and we enjoyed all of it. The plantains were crisp and hot, the rice was flavorful and seasoned well. I had the fried fish dish. It was dusted in flour and cooked perfectly, the spices were on point and the presentation was beautiful. Our table was large and it was a Saturday, so food took a bit to prepare, and so the waiter was communicative and very polite. They took time to remember each guests order, give us separate checks and was interested in our group outing. It was a nice experience to try something new. read more

Azara Kitchen - Photo opp! Enjoying lunch in Harlem - African Near Me - New York, New York

This is one of a very few nice sit down restaurants for West African food. I wouldn't be ashamed to bring a date here. High recommend the lamb dish- I think it was call Dibi. It's a bone in fried lamb dish paired with sweet plantain. The savory of the meat with the balance of the sweet plantain is amazing. read more

Azara Kitchen - sweet Fried Plantains - African Near Me - New York, New York

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Hands down one of my favorite places in the neighborhood. The food is fantastic (especially, of course, the jollof) and the staff is always kind, attentive, and with the right recommendations. read more

Azara Kitchen - Their avocado toast is spectacular. - African Near Me - New York, New York

SLAMMED. I've been walking past Azara for a few months as it made its debut on Lenox Ave., admiring its simple but elegant fast casual decor, always planning to stop in and never getting around to it. Finally, after moving into a new apartment on my block and having to order takeout every day while we're living out of boxes, we ordered dinner from here. My daughter and I both got the jollof rice with lamb. And we both expressed our delight out loud upon the first bite! This is some of the best tasting food I have had in a while..just delicious, every morsel! And they do not lie when they say that lamb is tender and it falls right off the bone. They don't give you a lot of it, but there is a ton of well seasoned rice and just enough vegetables on the side...well worth it. Thumbs up thumbs up thumbs up! read more

Azara Kitchen - Jollof rice with lamb - African Near Me - New York, New York

This place serves such authentic Ghanaian cuisine. It definitely deserves more hype! I love the stews- so comforting. And the fufu is a great staple. Highly recommend! read more

Azara Kitchen - Maffe Lamb- Peanut butter stew - African Near Me - New York, New York

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I wish I'd taken more photos because my first time trying African food was incredible! I came here to meet my friend Darlene who lives in the area - at her suggestion - and I just wasn't sure what I was getting myself into. The Maffee Lamb was beautifully cooked - I love love love the peanut butter flavor - and I also tried the Brussels Sprouts (not pictured - but MY FIRST TIME EVER TRYING BRUSSELS SPROUTS - and they were incredible.) Darlene tried another dish, but the Maffe Lamb portion was so large there was enough for her to sample AND enough for her to take home for dinner. The owner stopped by the table to chat and he was very hospitable and welcoming. There is plenty of seating available - and it wasn't too busy on a Monday at lunch time. I realize there are hundreds (thousands?) of restaurant options in the New York City area but I've been thinking about this Maffee Lamb since leaving there and I can't wait to come back. Thank you for making my first experience with African food a success! read more

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Waited about 45 mins for our food. Felt like an hour. Service was mid. Food was decent but not worth going back. I never leave food reviews but they need to step it up. read more

Enjoyed Azara Kitchen! Headed up Malcolm X looking for a place to eat brunch and saw their sandwich board inviting people Into their bright new restaurant. The friendly staff mentioned that they're having a soft opening, and I checked out the menu. Azara offers a blend of West African and Mediterranean cuisine, with the owner originally being from Burkina Faso. The Sauce Claire with Fish, i.e., Branzino in a tomato-based stew, sounded appealing, and they were able to swap out fried plantain for the rice for me. First, the presentation of the food was as beautiful as the elegant interior with a flower centered in the Sauce Claire. (See pic. The flower was edible, but not really intended to be eaten as it's relatively flavorless.) Azara's Special Spice and mayonnaise seasoned with this spice accompanied the fried plantain. The flavorful stew, with vegetables and bay leaf, reminded me of bouillabaisse. Be aware, it included bones, skin and tail, so I had to be careful to remove them. The plantains actually paired well with the Sauce Claire. It may have been a little pricey for the size given the inedible amount from the fish needed to be removed, however it tasted great. Looking forward to trying next time, once it opens more fully, some of Azara's lamb dishes and their sandwiches or bowls. read more

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Found this charming little place in Harlem and I have wanted to try fufu. Our server was wonderful explaining everything. It was absolutely delicious and far exceeded my expectations! read more

Azara Kitchen - Beef fataya - African Near Me - New York, New York

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Very clean and bright space with yummy food and drinks! Also our server was so nice! Will definitely come back again sometime soon read more

Azara Kitchen - Maffe Lamb - African Near Me - New York, New York

We ordered jollof rice with stewed lamb 10/10, grilled branzino (fish) 8/10with plantains 10/10, bbq chicken wings 10/10, and ginger drink 10/10, which was VERY spicy (loved it). Everyone was happy with the food. Be sure the try the spicy sauce served on the side with the lamb. The decor was beautiful and service was also good. Will definitely go back next time I visit NYC. read more

Terrible service we made a reservation about a hour before when we arrived they got us seated right away but took them about 30 min to get our order and 5 min after that they baught us water and a hour and a half later they came out with our fries and then they spent another ten minutes before getting us our main menu meals mind you only baught me my rice no chicken I told them like 8 times I would rather have chicken then there vegan rice and never brought my chicken anyway food was mid not worth that wait definitely better places don't go here read more

I have been following this place since my first taste of food I received from them at The Bronx Night market. I'm so happy to see that they have finally been blessed with a location all their own that I can frequently visit. Congratulations to them! The food is still tasting. The restaurant itself is a real beauty. I think it's the perfect size for having a good number of people, and the ambiance is giving real low-key elegance. Perfect spot to get a quick bite with friends or a spot for date night. The service is amazing because the people who work here have always been pleasant. I'm giving four stars for now because I brought my food to go, and although it was good when I got home, I think it would have been better to enjoy on the spot. So I'm gonna hold back on that last star for now because I'm sure to make a return to dine in, but yes, I would definitely recommend this place. Thumbs up for me! Happy Yelping! read more

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Went with my partner; great service from staff, the place feels a little dim although it didn't take away the joy from eating the food. We went with the popular choices; the vegan Jollof rice was perfect, but the Fufu with Okra was a bit insipid, we enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll definitely come back for more. read more

Everything we had was delicious, the food, and the coffee. The waiter was also very kind. Would highly recommend! read more

Azara Kitchen - Azara Omelette - African Near Me - New York, New York

FUFU SO YUMMY. really kind and talented service. restaurant and bathroom was clean and overall good vibes. food was lovely and i wish i could have eaten everything on the menu read more

Azara Kitchen - African Near Me - New York, New York

Dining at Azara Kitchen was an absolute delight. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere felt warm, welcoming, and effortlessly stylish. The staff were incredibly friendly and attentive, creating a vibe that made me feel comfortable. Every bite was tender and flavorful, cooked to perfection. It's rare to find a place where the dishes feel both comforting and elevated, but Azara nails it. I genuinely had some of the best food I've ever tasted here. Whether you're looking for a cozy night out or a memorable meal with friends, Azara Kitchen is a must-visit. I'll definitely be coming back! read more

Run, don't walk!! The food here is incredible. The jollof rice was tasty, the fried branzino was delectable, the creamy and oily peanut curry with lamb was delectable. We also loved the fufu and okra stew, and the variety of fruit juices! It was my first time having baobab and I'd love to try the tamarind, hibiscus, and ginger too. Oh, and the asparagus was the best asparagus I've ever had. Come in a group to try as many dishes as possible. The restaurant has a moderately low amount of seating but has a bright, airy, clean ambiance with African decor with both modern and traditional vibes. Chairs are comfy. Menu is not super vegetarian friendly, but there is a vegan jollof rice which is already a pretty great and uncommon option! I don't think they take reservations at the moment, and when I called them their phone didn't appear to be connected (which was a bit frustrating!). I arrived in a group of six around 6pm on a Saturday and there was space for us. read more

Azara Kitchen - Maffe Lamb, Fufu - African Near Me - New York, New York

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The authentic tase of the food made it so much better. I have never had dibi lamb before so I gave it a try, magnificent!!!! The gentleman that serviced me was pleasant when I ordered. Place was very clean, and cozy. I had enough to pack for lunch at work the next day. read more

Azara Kitchen - Dibi lamb, white rice, and vegetables - African Near Me - New York, New York

I ordered my food in advance for delivery and the restaurant called me to inform me the mafe was not cooked so they cancelled it and asked me to reorder as it would be ready in 30mins. I did what they suggested and the food was still not ready so my order was canceled again because they had the delivery driver waiting for over 30mins. I waited for over an hour, and wasted my time. The restaurant didn't even offer me anything for their lateness, despite my patience and understanding. Never again. read more

Azara Kitchen - The calls received from the restaurant to cancel order. Over an hour and food wasn't ready - African Near Me - New York, New York

Azara Kitchen delivered an amazing night out for our group of 4. We started with the sticky wings and spring rolls -- both packed with flavor and perfectly cooked. I had the Dibi Poulet with plantains, and the chicken was tender, well‑seasoned, and beautifully balanced by the sweet plantains. We ended with the Harlem carrot cake, which was moist, warm, and the perfect finish. Great food, great vibe -- I'd absolutely come back. read more

Excellent food--definitely coming back! The Maffe lamb was delicious and the Atiekke Poisson was wonderful. (I had no idea what the Baobab drink was when I ordered it, but I finished the bottle almost immediately.) The ambiance is very informal, but the food was amazing. Service was a little slow but the food was very clearly prepared to order rather than sitting under a heat lamp. Welcome addition to the neighborhood. read more

The food is great with very interesting dishes you won't find at most restaurants in nyc. Beautiful space with great staff. If you are not adventurous they have salmon and mashed potatoes. Worth trying everything if you are unfamiliar with the menu. read more