If you want to try some authentic Nigerian, Ghanaian food, this is a great place for it. Since coming back from my African trip, I have been craving fufu and egusi. Finally found the right time and place to try out African food in DC. They have various types of fufu which was awesome. I tried pounded yam and fufu with egusi and oxtail. Either Egusi you can either get the vegetarian option or with any meat. I love meat so I ordered egusi with goat. Goat was nicely cooked and very tender as it should be. Egusi had nice balance of heat and very flavorful with lots of green veggies. Goes so well with fufu. Oxtail was great. It's cooked in their hot tomato sauce. I wish it wasn't as oily as it was. That's the only negative. But I drained the oil and mixed it with the kibbles and gave it to my pup. She loved it. Now she expects something to be mixed with her kibbles every time. Serivice and ambiance were great. Great value for money. read more

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I've been meaning to check out Bukom Cafe for at least a year now, and I finally made my way over yesterday evening after a work event. I heard it was reggae Thursdays where they'd have a live band playing reggae music so I was hoping to check it out. When I entered, the restaurant was practically empty and the server was no where to be found. Eventually, she came out and I seated myself at a table. I had previewed the menu ahead of time, so knew what I wanted. I ordered a side of jollof, side of greens, and their version of pepper soup. Jollof-- (I thought this was pretty good. It wasn't the best I've eaten, but it was decent. I wish it was hotter. It was more on the warm side, and I also wish it had a bit more seasoning /spice) Greens- (These were just OK. They were just boiled with water so no flavor or broth in it. I drizzled some of my pepper soup on the greens just to flavor them up. They are definitely a healthy option, though!) Pepper soup- (This was delicious but very very spicy! I had to drink multiple glasses of water, and even though I was struggling to eat it, I had to finish because it was very good! The goat meat was tender and the soup was very flavorful. My only gripe is it was more of a a stew consistency to me than a soup. I wished it was more of a broth) Unfortunately, didn't get to see the band perform because I guess it was still early, but they were setting up. They started putting up the speakers really loud so that was a bit distracting. The service was decent, but I had wanted an order of beignets and they were out of that and all their desserts evidently. There was also a lot of random noise coming from the back of the restaurant. Sounded like a bunch of young kids. I think this is a pretty good spot for African food, but not sure I'd return. read more

Bukom Cafe - BUKOM GREENS, LIGHT SPICY SOUP, and JOLLOF RICE - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

NEW OWNER ALERT I'm gonna say that although things have changed, the newest owner has gotten back to the foundations as far as Bukom being a community atmosphere where you can hear live music playing, multiple times a week. I stopped in fairly late on a Sunday night and the new owner was playing bass with a reggae band that included a saxophone. It was nice and chill. A change is that I have not noticed food being served, at least not at the times when the band is performing, nor do I notice the servers/cooks/old employees. I think that the new owner is Habesha, potentially Ethiopian so there is a bit of change as far as it being having previously been known as a West African restaurant, but I am happy they seem to be focusing on the one thing that they have done well and trying to improve the entertainment side of the experience. There is no longer cover charge! Recently there have sometimes been larger crowds, bringing back something unique about Bukom: incredible diversity (Pacific Islanders, Africans from various regions, Caribbean folks of all ages, deaf people, people in wheelchairs, European folks of various racial backgrounds, Latinos, Americans, etc). A few weeks ago, a top elected official of the Virgin Islands and a huge entourage stayed for a long time and kept the vibes high. Near the end of the night, the lead singer invites talented singers and musicians guest sing or play intruments on a song or two. It's really a treat sometimes (at least one I've seen is Grammy nominated, as is one of the main drummers). Anyways, there's no reason not to come here anymore, but you may have to get food elsewhere. :) read more

For homesick Africans, this place is your you! Bukom is a homey restaurant/cafe in DC, with food, drinks, and music that will make you feel like you're back in the village. At least, that's my experience. Food: 5/5 They don't have pepper soup the night I went, which was disappointing, but they always have soups, stews, and other customary west African dishes. I ended up getting a tomato based spicy soup and plantain, as I'm sitting. Usually however, I will order the egusi soup with Iyan(pounded yam). All of their soups and stews are top notch, but I suggest the egusi for first timers. Service: 5/5 I think the servers have changed. Sometimes it can take time for the food to get to you or for the servers to come to your table, but because of this, I knew the food was going to be amazing. All the restaurant staff are extremely nice as well. Ambiance: 5/5 Bukom is a simple cafe with the basics with great music selections. You'll be thoroughly entertained if you go in person. All in all, I give this establishment a 5/5 would recommend read more

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We were not sure what to expect when we walked into Bukom. It's a bit dark inside and more of a bar with a few tables. We came for dinner and enjoyed ourselves. The service was a bit spotty. Not bad, they just seemed a little understaffed but everyone was nice. Our first round of drinks were not made correctly but the owner noticed they did not look right and had them remade. The food was great, with lots of spice. Then there was live music. We enjoyed this little place and I would definitely go back. read more

Bukom Cafe - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Update: New owner alert! I've only ever ordered food from here, which is usually very good. However, I've been in the area for months and haven't been able to reach the cafe, and they have stated they would open in a couple of weeks. There is no word on when the kitchen will reopen, and the lack of transparency is quite disappointing. read more

I have not eaten there in a long time. But, I enjoyed the food, especially, the egusi soup.

There's nothing better than consistently delicious food. Bukom is a laid-back West African spot in Adams Morgan with fun cocktails and classics like suya, pepper soup and egusi. Enjoy reggae and afrobeats as you eat, too. They also host live performances with popular local artists (check their Instagram @bukomdc). The wait is always worth it -- you'll look forward to the next time you come. read more

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I'm vegetarian so I was pretty limited but the moin moin saved the day! It was sooooo good and full of flavor. It had a nice little spice kick at the end too! Kojo was was the server and he was super personable and nice. I'll come back. read more

Bukom Cafe - MOIN MOIN - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

It was . . . incredible. In the EGUSI, I've never had goat meat like this - better than any shredded beef could be; and their signature, NKATENKWAN, this "fufu" is wild stuff. All served with great service. We appreciate Joe (not me, Joe at Bukom) and his insight into this new-to-us cuisine. read more

Soooo good. I've driven or walked past this place so many times, and only just stopped in this past weekend. To prevent the spread or COVID, all foods and beverages are currently being served in and on plasticware. I ordered the suya, Nigerian pepper soup, and jollof rice. The soup is traditional in that it features tendon/fat and tripe, along with a few pieces of meat. The jollof was excellent-- I ate every grain lol. Lastly, the suya was flavorful, though I wish it had been served with slices of onion, rather than diced onion. Will be returning! read more

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I was craving Egusi so my friends, and I went to this restaurant for the first time, and we were extremely pleased! There were three waiters working, and they were all very attentive and kind. To start off, my friends purchased the mule drink, and I purchased the Bokum Bomb (I think that's the name of the drink). They were good and strong! As an appetizer, we ordered the Suya, beef and chicken which were extremely spicy and delicious. I ordered Egusi (w/ goat), Fufu & jollof rice. The meal definitely satisfied my craving though I wouldn't have minded a pinch of more salt in my Egusi. This restaurant had good music and a diverse crowd. We went on a Thursday evening and they had a live band playing. The crowd is very diverse and you can tell that there are quite a few regulars. I will definitely be back because the food in the service was great. My pics aren't that great so pardon the quality lol.... I just wanted to eat my food. read more

Bukom Cafe - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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So I've never ate this kind of food before so I'm not going to leave a bad review. I gave it a 4 star cause the food really wasn't for me but the service and everything else was good. I got egusi with goat and fufu, I did not like yhe taste at all. I tried this place cause my daughter wanted to try it so we did and I won't be eating this type of food again. So don't take this review to heart if YOU like this type of food. I tried it and now I know I don't like it! No harm no foul. I'm sure this is a great restaurant read more

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I've been here a few times prior to covid. Recently ordered Uber eats 12/06/2024 & can say without a doubt this place is not 5 stars at all. Barely 3. For the price they charged I would expect the food to be spectacular but it was not. Egusi 2 stars jollof 2 stars light soup 3 stars, the fufu 1 star given its boxed and sticky. The plantain were also burnt and dry. $25 for 12 oz soup is crazy to me. I got the goat light soup for $10 so it makes no sense that the egusi was that price. If you're looking for authentic west African food do not go here!!!! read more

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Bukoms is an absolute staple My dad goes here me and my friends all love the good food- if you love any west african or caribbean food you'll love bukoms the service is fast and quality the chicken suya is fantastic the ambiance is great it's very live (it's also in Adam's Morgan) the live music and sports games keep the party going! read more

Great live music and delicious egusi . The fufu and egusi is a staple . Kind staff and well priced drinks

The best egusi I've tasted in a dmv restaurant. I'm very finicky about egusi. As a Sierra Leonean/Nigerian, I've literally spent months searching for egusi that tastes like home. This one does it. I've ordered from them twice now and quality is consistent. Is the absolute best I've ever had? No. Does it hit that spot when you miss home--yes. Their suya is also very good. If you want food like you could eat at home, this is it. read more

It was my first time ever eating Nigerian food and I honestly didn't know what to expect but was it delicious! We got the Egusi & Beef stew with fufu & pounded yam. I couldn't quite distinguish between fufu & pounded yam, they both tasted pretty much the same dipped in our stew. We also got Bukom wings which is a MUST!! The only reason why I took a star off is because the braised beef was a bit on the tough/dry side so it was hard to chew through. Both stews had amazing flavor though. Warning: parking and driving there on the weekend is a nightmare! read more

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The vibe is nice for sure, very laid back but I can tell it gets packed at night especially when the music gets going. This was my first time having this type of food and honestly it exceeded my expectations. Everything was bursting with flavor. The portion size was big and enough to take some home. read more

Maaan this place has so much potential! BUT....they need HELP with staffing. There was 1 cook & 1 waiter that acted as bartender, host, cleaning tables, taking phone orders, & DJ. With that being said it took close to an hour to get my food and even longer to get my tab. It was painful. My food: I ordered the stewed beef and jollof rice. The flavoring was good but my beef was hard as rocks whew! literally. It was almost like it was cooked the day before then put in the microwave. They may need to go under new management or close & re-evaluate this for a minute. read more

Bukom Cafe - Stewed Beef Jollof Rice - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The food is so good that it makes you want to stuff yourself after you're full. Definitely worth the drive from New York to try this out read more

Bukom Cafe - Aflao Salmon - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Bukom been holding it down for the diaspora since I was in college. The pepper soup is delicious and the jollof is fire. Not kidding, I've never had a bad meal here. And the reggae is just a topper. It tastes like home. All hits no misses. read more

Bukom Cafe has 5/5 stars for packaging! I ordered the okra soup with fufu and they (1) plastic wrapped the fufu in the contain to keep it intact and also (2) wrapped the soup container to ensure there'd be no leakage! I enjoyed the okra soup (with fish) with fufu but wish it had more flavor. It was my first time trying fufu. I wasn't too obsessed - the okra soup has a very gooey consistency that makes it messy to eat (with both spoon and/or with the fufu). The fufu itself doesn't have any flavor but the doughy consistency pairs well with the soup. My boyfriend got the Mama's platter which had Jollof rice and your choice of 2: wings, fish or beef. The rice was flavorful, the fish was deliciously crispy and easy to eat despite the bones, and the wings were decent! read more

Bukom Cafe - Ecowas Okra Soup with fufu & Mama 's Platter - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

In July 2022, we as a party of three had the ecowas okra soup, the egusi, chicken yassa with jollof rice, and kumasi nkatikwan. It was my second time visiting Bukom, after the first time going in September 2019. In comparison to back in 2019, depending on the specific dishes, the nkatikwan was lacking spices while the rest of the dishes were filled with spices. Not sure if it was a one-time thing, but it was still pretty good. Atmospherically, it was evident that the place was full of rich cultural elements, including paintings, music, and the overall style. We did not manage to have any fufu since they were out, so we had pounded yam instead. But in 2019 we have had fufu and it was simply amazing. I think for lots of people, this place could be a hit or miss. But when it hits, it definitely hits, so I would recommend going multiple times to ensure you have your good experience, because this place is very authentic from every aspect and is worth going multiple times. read more

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Last night we tried Bukom with family and it was great! The chicken suya was spicy and delicious! The stewed beef was good too! My toddler loved it especially the plantains, rice and cake! For dessert we had the rum cake which was delicious! A fun vibe and evening for all! We will be back! read more

Food on the night of March 16th I experienced was unappealing as fuck. Returned asap. read more

Bukom Cafe - Jollof rice and burnt chicken app - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

The vibe here is nice. Live music-a little too loud- but great nonetheless. Can't really speak now the food as I only tried the plantains and they weren't that great. Not really sweet/ripe. My cousin tried one and said it was cold but all the ones I tried were hot so idk what that was about. read more

Bukom Cafe - Fried Plantains - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

DC is a town lousy with East African joints specializing in Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. I love me some chicken doro wat on top of fresh spongy injera. Or better yet, a steaming bowl of fuul and mini baguettes for breakfast. I was so excited to try West African cuisine, but oh did Bukom let me down. As other reviewers noted, this place is used to large crowds as the dining room is large and cavernous. There is an upstairs dining section, a lower section with a separate small bar, in addition to main dining room which comes outfitted with a full bar. Apparently this place is known for their live music, since there is a small stage for acts to play. I ordered the Kumasi Nkatikwan, based upon the exotic description of the dish which was comprised of fresh paste of grounded peanut cooked with chicken into a scrumptious dish, served with steamed white rice. Well, this was clearly a case of my expectations not matching reality. The overall flavor profile was bland, bland, and bland. While the sauce had a vibrant burnt orange color, there was scarcely a hint of peanut flavor. The chicken was cooked well and retained moistness, but again, it was under seasoned and needed salt as well as other spices. Sadly, the best thing on my plate was the fried plantains, which had good caramelization and actually provided contrast to the otherwise one note flavor of the chicken. I guess the kicker for me was when I went to settle the bill and I noticed there was a mandatory 15% gratuity charge. Say whaat? Having worked in retail and food service in my youth (including a stint as a server), I usually tip at least 15% but usually more. After the food arrived, I didn't see my server for the remainder of the meal to check up my satisfaction or to refill my water glass (which went empty mid-way through dinner). I get it. Some people don't tip appropriately...or at all. But what level of gratuity to give at the end of a meal should be MY choice. Bukom Cafe has been a mainstay in AdamsMo for a while, and I suspect for their live music and weekend business. But as a restaurant and purveyor of West African food, my recommendation is to skip it. There are much better places in the neighborhood to spend your hard earned dining dollars. read more

Bukom Cafe - Chicken with peanut sauce and rice - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I can't believe this place doesn't have higher reviews! As a Nigerian, I'm naturally biased when I try other West African cuisines. I was pleasantly surprised when I received my food. Yeah, the actual setting could be more updated and thematic as a previous user said, but I think this place definitely makes up for its lack of aesthetics in food and service. I came here yesterday evening for the happy hour and live music. I sat at the bar and Kojo was bartending. We ordered: fish and plantains, pepper soup, jollof rice and fish, and suya. The fish was fried but flaky, very good consistency and overall delicious! The rice was flavorful -- and personally I hate when people add too many herbs to their jollof and I was pleased to see they did not do that here. The suya was SURPRISINGLY good! It was very tender (just like suya is SUPPOSED to be). I don't eat a lot of meat these days but I had to test it out. The drinks are really strong and you can't go wrong if you're going during happy hour. I will definitely be coming back and recommend to a friend. The live music started a little after 9pm - the bassist was a bit late but we're a forgiving crowd! Honestly, it was a really cool vibe. Can't wait to go back. read more

This was my first visit to this restaurant. I tried the Egusi soup with goat meat. It was quite pricey for what you get-- a few bits of meat and of course bones. The sauce was good however but the fufu was lacking and didn't work as well with the soup. Service itself was pretty meh. read more

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Started off with some pepper soup to clear our sinuses. After the first couple of bites our palates adjusted and we found ourselves cleaning the bowl. We ordered a few Sexy Gingers- one of their signature cocktails. I ordered chicken yassa- I've had it before with lemons and onions- this preparation with mustard was very tasty. We also ordered nkatenkwan a peanut stew with chicken and fufu. There are so many dishes on the menu that we'd like to try - can't wait to go back! read more

Bukom is a classic western African spot at Adams's Morgan. Walking in, you get a welcoming vibe from the waiters. There is also a corner for a live band, although I've never been present to hear them (i believe they play after 10pm) It has a good amount of seating, plus extra seating at the back of the restaurant. I've seen them pull out more seating when it gets a little more populated on a busy evening. Now I'm from Nigeria, so I can attest to the authenticity of the food in its preparation, quality, and similarity to what we have back home ;) I've ordered a variety of meals, ranging from suya to jollof rice, plantains, egusi and okra soups with fufu. I have nothing but good things to say about the good quality and portion size. They also serve local western African beer. I've spotted star on the hands of other customers several times. The food takes about 15-20 minutes to prepare after you order it, sometimes small appetizers come out earlier. Overall, I recommend this place to anyone like me who gets occasional cravings for western African dishes, or just anyone willing to try good food with great seasoning. read more

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I got takeout from Bukom to day and a few day ago. Today, I ordered the egusi soup with pounded yam, and a side of fufu (case the yam wasn't enough). I received a side of pounded yam instead of fufu since there wasn't any, which was okay with me. When I arrived at home and settled down to eat oh, I found that the egusi soup was oily, watery, and lacked a bit of salt. I was disappointed because the other day that I had to take out, just the prior weekend, I was delightfully surprised by how good their Jollof rice was. I had seen other reviews with people complaining about it, so I thought it might be bad, but it seems they might have improved their recipe since those reviews. This is the third time that I have ever eaten at Bukom. The first time I ate there, ironically enough, I believe I ordered the egusi soup and pounded yam. That was several years ago in maybe 2013, 2014 or 2015, or sometime back then. My experience back then was that the egusi was bitter and lacked salt. Unfortunately, the egusi has not improved as much as I had hoped. I hope someone will read this and consider improving the recipe. If this happens I might like to try it again. The Jollof rice was good when I had it last weekend. The goat meat I had with that meal and in the meal I had just tonight was great. Tonight's was especially tenderly cooked. Last weekend when I had the suya with my Jollof rice (in the Mama's Platter), I noticed the suya tasted a bit off in seasoning. It wasn't as spicy as I think it should've been, but had a slight, slight sweetness to it, which I found a bit strange. Would I go to Bukom again? Yes, for certain dishes like the Mama's Platter and other things that include Jollof rice. Outside of that, I would have to explore other dishes to see how I like them. read more

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I came here with a friend and ordered okra stew (fish) and lots of suya. He ordered the wings and some suya. I enjoyed the okra stew so much, I wish they gave more stew, because I had poundes yam left over. The suya was just okay. It tasted like it wasn't grilled but maybe made in the oven? My friend loved his wings so much so, he did not share. I hope they open up again soon! read more

Bukom Cafe - Okra stew fish - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The food was great. It had the potential to ignite your taste buds and make your brain store this information in the "pleasant experience folder" read more

Bukom Cafe - Egudu soup with goat meat and pounded yam - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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The people who are leaving high reviews for this restaurant must not be Nigerian or they don't know what authentic West African food should taste like. In town for a conference, I brought my peers here hoping to give them a really good experience. As soon as we sat down, I had a feeling the food wasn't going to hit. Now mind you I'm 100% Nigerian so I wasn't expecting thorough customer service, it just is what it is with my people. We started ordering and I asked if the jollof was Nigerian or Ghanaian. He said Nigerian. I asked again and he confirmed. I was very particular about this because I don't eat Ghanaian jollof. Everyone else orders and it took about 30 minutes for our food to come. Half the table's food was cold, the other half didn't taste good. The jollof looked like the Goya rice they sell in the box in the grocery store. I was livid. The only good thing was the fried plantain & fried yam. Can't say I'll ever be returning here but it's an African business so they get two stars as support. read more

This place loses one star for basic Jollof rice. It taste like Yoruba rice and I need it to taste Igbo. Lol. The pepper soup with goat is 10/10. The rice with oxtail is 9/10. I was very pleased with my meal. My apologies*** it is Ghanaian Jollof rice read more

The food was stunningly delicious. We tried a number of tasty entrees, however, the Aflao Salmon was my personal favorite. And I do not like salmon! The side rice complimented wonderfully. Beverages were diverse, with my wife enjoying an African Mule. The service was impeccable, and the ambiance and vibe was palpable. Easily the best dining experience we had on our trip from Minnesota, to and through North Carolina, including the Outer Banks. Would definitely recommend to anyone. read more

I have been to Bukom Cafe at least a 1/2 dozen times. Yesterday had to be up there with one of the worst dining experiences I've had. Ordered: suya, pepper soup, jollof rice + a glass of water. I NEVER go the glass of water I asked for at least 3 times. Took over an hour to get the soup, which came out with fish and not the goat I asked for. The lukewarm temperature of soup and rice (that seemed to not be cooked). Everybody seated in the area (downstairs) where I was had an issue with their food. Folks couldn't get hot sauce, drinks weren't what they ordered, complaints about food, long waits to pay their bill. How do I know this, I watched as I sat for a long time waiting for my food. I got so tired and frustrated I grabbed my jacket to leave and my food finally came as I started to walk away from the table. To make matters most, when I asked for bill that had the nerve to come with a service charge on the bill for a party of one, server seemed annoyed I did not tip. The hassle of making this place a destination visit with the limited parking on the streets, further makes it not worth it. I gave two stars because other meals I have had were solid, but service is not their orientation. You're not going there for even decent service, because you won't get it. I'd reluctantly visit again. read more

The food was truly amazing! The stew was so sweet, one of the best I've tasted! The suya and moi moi was delicious as well. I will definitely be back to try more items next time I visit DC! read more

Bukom Cafe - The platter! Jollof rice with plantain, stewed beef and chicken wings. - Bars Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia