I Just had another fantastic meal at Bennachin Restaurant on 1212 Royal Street in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter, and as a local from the area, it's hands-down one of my all-time favorites for authentic West African cuisine. If you're craving bold flavors and a cozy spot that feels like a hidden gem, this place never disappoints--highly recommend for locals and visitors alike! The vibe here is warm and inviting, with simple, colorful decor that transports you straight to Cameroon or Gambia without leaving NOLA. It's a small, intimate space, perfect for a casual dinner or even a quick lunch amid the Quarter's hustle. Parking can be tricky on Royal Street, but it's worth the walk--plus, the location puts you right in the mix of historic charm and lively energy. Service is always spot-on: friendly, knowledgeable staff who make you feel like family. Our server chatted about the menu's inspirations and helped customize spice levels, which is great for anyone new to African dishes. Everything came out promptly, even on a busy evening, and they were attentive without hovering. Now, the food--oh man, where to start? It's all about that delicious, authentic goodness. My absolute go-to is the shrimp rice and spinach dish; the jollof rice is perfectly spiced with a rich tomato base, tender shrimp, and just the right kick, paired with sautéed spinach that's garlicky and fresh. It's hearty, flavorful, and reminds me of home-cooked comfort with an exotic twist. We also tried the plantains--crispy on the outside, soft inside--and the akara (black-eyed pea fritters) as starters, which were crispy, savory perfection. Portions are generous, and everything's made with fresh ingredients that shine through in every bite. If you're vegetarian, they've got plenty of options like the vegetable curry that pack the same punch. Prices are reasonable for the quality--entrees around $15-20--and it's BYOB, which keeps things affordable and fun. No frills, just straight-up deliciousness. As someone who's been coming here for years, Bennachin captures the essence of authentic African flavors in a way few places do. Whether you're a NOLA native like me or just passing through, do yourself a favor and stop in--you'll leave planning your next visit! read more

Bennachin Restaurant - This is a beautiful delicious meal! - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

First time trying food from Gambia and Cameroon, and Bennachin absolutely blew me away. We ordered the Bennachin (African jambalaya/jollof rice) with sautéed spinach and got it spicy--super flavorful, comforting, and very reasonably priced. We also had the Naouki-Ngond (Egusi Soup) with beef, garlic, ginger, and spinach in a rich ground melon seed sauce, with fufu on the side. The flavors were bold but balanced, and everything tasted fresh and homemade. On top of the amazing food, the service was outstanding. Our waiter, Mason, was incredibly kind and gave us great advice on things to do while we were visiting, which made the experience feel even more special. Highly recommend Bennachin if you're curious about Gambian and Cameroonian cuisine or just want a delicious, cozy meal. read more

Bennachin Restaurant - Bennachin (African jambalaya/jollof rice) with sautéed spinach and goit spicy-- Naouki-Ngond (Egusi Soup) with fufu - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Nice quaint place, so many vegan options. And it is right in the middle of French quarter. Tasted yummy! read more

Bennachin Restaurant - Veggie Cuscous - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

African food in the French Quarter of New Orleans? Ordered the $20 Kembel and the $19 Jamaican chicken at 5:47 on a Friday night. Service leisurely when the place as half empty. Food arrived at 6:11pm, a 24 minute wait. The Jamaican chicken was a baked chicken with bones in a mild caribbean sauce sauce with cabbage over white rice. Messy eating white chicken meat off the bones with your hand soaked in a sweet sauce. Wife thought it would be like jerk chicken and was disappointed. $20 kembel was boneless strips of lamb in a mild ginger sauce with a very few bell peppers over white rice. Could have used more vegetables, but the dish was a very large portion of tender flavorful lamb without the game taste. One of the largest portions of lamb that I've seen in a restaurant, and for only $20. Great value for the price, if you can be patient with the wait. Located in the farthest part of the French Quarter a good mile from Canal street. read more

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We went to Bennachin after the Halloween parade and really enjoyed it. The wait for the table was only about 10 minutes, which was great considering how busy it was that night. Service was on the slow side. It took about 30 minutes to get drinks and for the server to take our order. But he seemed to be working solo and doing his best. It was a hectic night so we didn't mind. It actually gave us time to relax and catch up with our friend. I ordered the Sisay Dourang, a boneless chicken dish with peanuts and brown gravy over rice -- so flavorful and comforting. My daughter got the Naouki Ngond with fufu, which she was thrilled about since she's been wanting to try a fufu dish for a while, and it did not disappoint. My husband ordered the Jamaican Chicken and said it was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. Despite the slow service, the food was fantastic and well worth the wait. We'll definitely be back to try more dishes. read more

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Such a cute hole in the wall that our Uber driver suggested to us. The Sisay Singho was our favorite dish. The chicken in both dishes were so tender and flavorful. You can get your food mild, medium, or spicy. The waiter was super friendly and sweet. read more

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Cozy restaurant with super friendly service. The food is simply amazing! It feels home cooked and authentic. We got a variety of dishes with jollof rice, coconut rice, chicken, curry, plantains, and veggies and everything was so thoroughly spiced and well flavored! Loved every bite. And the plantain with yogurt dessert was the perfect ending. Best meal I've had in New Orleans!!! read more

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Stepping into this restaurant was akin to stepping into West Africa. The chefs and owners are honoring their African cultural roots within this restaurant, by way of the cuisine and surrounding elements. The black eyed pea fritters (akara) were so tasty and appetizing! On the plate there was a light side of tomato sauce which added some great warm and lively touches to the dish! I took my time with this appetizer, in an effort to savor the flavors. The main dish (Ndolè) was out of this world!!!The beef was seasoned so well, and it was honestly nice and juicy!/ It was cooked in ginger sauce and the spinach added a nice touch and balance, as it is a healthy green vegetable. The coconut rice was like nothing i've ever tried before, so light and fluffy, fragrant and altogether tasty! The sweet bread helped cool my mouth down with the tasty spiciness of the dish. The service was on point too! What a treat and New Orleans gem! I am thankful for this restaurant and experience! Cheers! read more

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The food was delicious. The wait staff was courteous. I will come back for lunch. Food wait was appropriate for an authentic and whole food dinner. read more

Bennachin Restaurant - Food was delicious. Low key dinner on a Friday before 7 pm. Lots of flavor, courteous staff. Will come again for lunch. - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Delicious African food and a cute & clean environment. It's the best jollif rice I've ever had in NOLA. The Sauci Maganga was a hit with us. Also, the Jamaican jerk chicken was perfectly spiced with the appropriate spice level. Our waiter helped us choose a few items as we couldn't decide as it all sounded and looked so good. read more

A lot of intriguing options on this menu. I chose the sisay singho, baked chicken leg and thigh served with fried ripe plantains, sauteed spinach, and coconut rice. Very tasty. The plantains were exactly as advertised and the way I like them. The sauteed spinach was rich and delicious, and the rice was flavorful. I don't know how to describe the seasoning on the chicken but it was a good complement for the rest of the meal. The restaurant is small, the service good. Overall, a solid experience. I'd like to return to try additional food on the menu! read more

Bennachin Restaurant - Sisay Singho - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Good took a little while but you can tell it was made fresh. Restaurants id smaller and bathroom situation is interesting but otherwise good. read more

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I ordered the egusi soup with black-eyed pea puffs. My mom was terrified to try the soup, and she despises black-eyed peas! Now every time she visits, I get her soup and puffs before she leaves. I Im glad to see they also hired more help. read more

2 Hours.... 2 Hours I will never get back.... Geez.... NOLA... so many great places, the competition that exists... all vying for the attention of this town's well curated pallets... and then we have this place.... That seems to exist solely on the overflow from Mona Lisa.... Which is a great place and when the wait is too long.... People just say screw it... we'll eat here.... And I believe the good reviews are the direct result of the starving human condition.... Ie... make one wait long enough for food.... Allow starvation to set in.... And when pile of dog crap on a plate is finally served up..... will create a delightful and elating experience as if Chef Susan Spicer prepared it table side. To summarize.... This is a restaurant of last resort.... Gross read more

This is my first time eating here, definitely good food the staff here is amazing. Really enjoyed the fufu with egusi!!

Really delicious food at a cute hole in the wall. Service was great. Someone (presumably the owner?) had some recommendations for the vegetarian dishes that were very tasty. read more

Bennachin Restaurant - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Stopped at this unassuming African restaurant for a snack. It was a small place with just a few tables; my waiter Aki (sp?) was full of a generous spirit and very attentive and helpful. I had the black eye pea fritters and their smoked Turkey gumbo. The fritters were impressively fluffy for being 100% black eyed peas. The red dipping sauce was fresh and just a little bland, but the Gumbo is some of the best I've had in the city. Many assume that New Orleans would be great at gumbo and crawfish, but I haven't found this to be the case; even Revolution's 'death by gumbo' (supposedly a standard) tries a bit too hard. I have no doubt that the chefs at Revolution have the ability to make a great gumbo, it's as if they tried a bit too hard though. However, Bennachin's gumbo was different with a deep smoke flavor from the smoked Turkey wings and an okra taste that only be recognized as such if you are familiar with boiling down Okra until it disintegrates. When you do this it thickens the gumbo and imparts an unmistakable flavor that should be essential for every gumbo base. It wasn't overly dark where you start to get a burnt taste, and not too thick. It had a wonderful aroma and a perfect amount of spice. A true comfort food. I requested to enter the kitchen and chat briefly about the gumbo preparations and compliment the chefs which I found to be extremely welcoming and I trust that I conveyed properly how much I enjoyed the gumbo. I look forward to returning to try some other items. read more

Bennachin Restaurant - Menu Cover - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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So this is a hidden gem in New orleans- we were visiting city for a long weekend and was tired of eating all the fried food- This place has the most yummy healthy options right in middle of Bourbon street. Great food and best service- Portions are always very generous. One of the best african food ,i've ever had. MUST try in New Orleans. read more

Bennachin Restaurant - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

They have some vegan options, so we decided to try them out for dinner after our other choice for the night proved infeasible. First time trying Gambian and Cameroonian cuisine, so that was somewhat exciting. We were seated right away, but it took about 15 minutes to have our order taken, despite being reassured that he'd come to us soon. We were about to leave when he finally took our order. We got: -Black-eyed pea fritters ($8). These seemed like donuts but without the sweetness, or much saltiness or much seasoning in general. What saves this is the tomatoey dipping sauce served with it. Decent appy, but not terribly exciting. 3/5 -Lentil soup ($9). The picture looks bland, but this was anything but: salty, with a nice sort of gingery, crunchy character to it. Really liked this soup. 4/5 For our mains, we split: -Jama Jama ni Makondo / Sauteed spinach, fried ripe plantains, and coconut rice ($18). -Kone ni Makondo / Black-eyed peas in onion and tomato stew served with coconut rice and fried ripe plantains ($18) The sauteed spinach was like creamed spinach, and you get a lot of it to accompany the coconut rice. The black-eyed peas were much more flavourful than I've had them in soul/creole food, being cooked in a lightly spicy, tomatoey sauce. Quite tasty. The fried plantains on each plate went with the rice really well, adding a light sweetness and different textural element to the plates. Quite nice. 3.5/5 Other than the slow service, this was a nice experience. Worth a visit if you're curious about this kind of cuisine. read more

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I only discovered this restaurant when searching for African and Ethiopian restaurants on google. Bennachin was in the top restaurants on google reviews and google maps in New Orleans. I have never had African food before coming here from Mississippi. It is easy to miss when youre driving by but when you walk around the corner onto Royal St., that smell hits you. Upon walking in, they have the menu displayed by the front door. It has a very homey atmosphere. Its almost nostalgic. I dont know his name, but the gentlemen that serviced us welcomed us. I brought my parents and younger brother. We did wait about 20-30min to get our food, but we did have a bit of a large order. He apologized for the wait but there was no rush. Just excitement. The food was hot and delicious. I FINALLY tried Spicy Beef Egusi Soup w/ Fufu and I was not disappointed. My brother ate all the plantains before leaving Royal St. My parents enjoyed the Red Beans and Jamaica Chicken. The price is well worth it! It may seem a bit much before actually looking at the serving size but the Egusi Soup w/ Fufu could easily feed 2 people. If youre looking for something different, flavorful, with soul and great service, Bennachin is it! I will definitely be recommending this restaurant to others. read more

We went to Bennachin on March 13th the waiter was so sweet and the style of the restaurant was very in keeping with the theme of the food. We had the Cope Ni Cone, the Fufu, Apricot Lamb and the Cope Ni Makondo. Everything was so good. But I really enjoyed the spices of the Cope Ni Makondo. read more

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From walking in the door I just knew the food was gonna be amazing. The service and atmosphere were great. The food was fresh, seasoned, and it came out steaming! I love when you can see the steam coming off the plate. Def will be back, I ordered have my order picked out. And yes I got the Fufu; loved it!!! read more

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It was a terrible experience, service, food, atmosphere. The place needs attention. The owner tried to make the experience better but it was past saving! read more

Bennachin offers African style food inspired by Gambia and Cameroon with offerings that include vegan and carnivore options. Bennachin opened up back in 1992 and has grown a dedicated local following along with being discovered by tourists looking for something a bit different in the French Quarter. Bennachin has definitely been among New Orleans favorite ethnic food options and when you're in the mood for something a little bit different from the typical offerings in the New Orleans area Bennachin can offer some good options to satisfy your cravings. Overall this is an interesting place with many good options for some food you don't typically find in the area. My video review of Bennachin Restaurant is here: https://youtu.be/t9LJFg7LQbE read more

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Was in the mood for African food and came across this restaurant. A small cozy place with roughly 10 tables tucked within Royal Street. I ordered Nigerian Egusi Soup, akara, fufu and wonjo zinger. Roughly $30 for everything. The wait time was about 10 minutes from ordering to delivery of food which was dine in. The akara was hot and fresh simply delicious. The egusi soup was a first for me and it was just okay. Spicy but not overpowering but the beef was really tough and strong as was the spinach/dandelion greens. It gave off a strong earthy aroma that I did not care for. The wonjo zinger was a nice refreshing drink not too sweet or thick as soon of the others I've tried. Overall, I enjoyed the visit and food. I'll definitely try them again and give it a second try. read more

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Has it really been nearly 5 years since I've been here? I hope not! (Perhaps I just didn't post a review last time) In any case, of 5 restaurants I suggested for dinner, my cousin & his gf (visiting NOLA for the first time) chose this one and I'm glad they did. We started with the Akara/Black-eyed pea fritters--tasty as always--and then I had the Apricot Lamb (Baked lamb in ginger/garlic sauce served with broccoli and cous cous)--absolutely delicious and I cleaned my plate! The dishes the others had (Ndole and Sisay Singho) had so much food on them that cousin & gf couldn't finish all (tho they said they thoroughly enjoyed everything they had) and so I took home their leftover fried plantains--wasn't gonna let something that good go to waste! Hope to return again soon! read more

Food and service were good. Only complaint is that they were out of several of the items that we tried to order. Overall would return!

Some of the most incredible food in new orleans. I inhaled my plate in literally 3 minutes. Will be back tomorrow for more.

I came here and got fufu and egusi its not the best but the place was a lil small .But the food got to me fast it took about 10 minutes. Although I found a hair in my food !! read more

I walk by Bennachin on the reg but never gave it a try but yesterday decided it was time. It's a small local place so I'm not thrilled to give a less than stellar review but the food just wasn't interesting and dare I say bad. My vegetarian entree wasn't cheap about $18 which was a lot for some cous cous cauliflower and broccoli. I only ate about 5 bites and had enough, I ordered medium spicy and while it was spicy it had no flavor almost like they used frozen vegetables, and maybe they did. The shrimp dish ordered wasn't much to talk about either. While the man taking order was nice he wasn't efficient forgetting my drink and one of the sides we ordered (and at the time we were the only ones in the establishment). I won't be back. read more

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i love the food here! the staff is always so polite it's a real hole in the wall spot but always worth the trip to the quarter. the food comes out just like the picture. the food is very authentic even the spicy is not so over bearing you can't taste the food. we had an over all good time and will be back. read more

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Very informal casual place. Food took a while to be served but tasty. We ordered the African jambalaya with tilapia, it was good! The Jamaican jerk chicken was very yummy too. The vegetarian dish was ok. Good service and ambiance! read more

One of my favorite meals we had in NOLA. A smallish, no frills spot with a cozy inside, TV playing, a kitchen u walk past to get to the bathroom. Perfect vibes. It was my first time trying gambian/cameroonian food and i really enjoyed. The kone ni makondo black eyed peas and the bikai ni curry were so good together. My personal fav was the curry, it had such a nice flavor and i recommend it w the cous cous and spicy!!! Lovely with cayenne pepper sprinkled. The entrees come with small rolls, incredibly soft, that u can soak up the sauce with. And if ur meal doesnt come w fried plantains, why not order them!! The type of meal you are just deeply satisfied w after. read more

Bennachin Restaurant - Kone ni makondo, bikai ni curry - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Great food! Couldn't ask for better service or ambiance. I had the fish and it was the best in the area.

For the best most authentic West African/New Orleans food with the best experience, in a non-FQ party tourist scene go to Bennachin. I think the lack of alcohol makes it the best atmosphere in New Orleans and I like wine with dinner. Check the courtyard on the way to the restrooms. Classic French Quarter. I can't wait to return. A great getaway from the crowds at French Quarter Fest. . read more

A good choice at the calmer end of the French Quarter. With multiple good vegetarian/vegan options we enjoyed our well seasoned, reasonably priced dinner. In the background of this smaller comfortable restaurant we also enjoyed the music of West Africa. Everything we ordered was good; starting with the Akara (black eyed pea fritters). For the Baham, the ginger sauce was ordered spicy and it was perfect; neither overly hot or timid..perfectly complementing the vegetables. My partner ordered the Bikai curry mild and again, it perfectly complemented the vegetables. The meals did not need alcoholic beverages to complement them; although I believe you can bring your own if that is important to you. Call first to make sure I'm right about this. Especially for vegetarians, definitely try to enjoy a meal at Bennachin while in New Orleans. read more

Came here because I really wanted to try fufu and it didn't disappoint! I got the egusi soup with fufu and it was delicious. The server was very kind, and the atmosphere was great. Everything felt very authentic read more

Bennachin Restaurant - Egusi soup and fufu - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Ok sooooo we went back and this time I tried the fufu with the mild okra soup and when I say I'm inlove I'd eat it everyday (if they was open), of course the service is A1/Top tier. This is me and my fiancé's favorite restaurant read more

Service and food were great! This is a small little restaurant in New Orleans. Several dishes are able to be made vegan. read more

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Unfortunately the food was poorly seasoned and tasted very bland. I wouldn't recommend if you're looking for authentic African food. The service was great but unfortunately the food was not worth it. read more

Bennachin Restaurant - Janga Janga - African Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana