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    Bukom Cafe

    3.8 (386 reviews)
    ModerateBars, African
    Closed Closed
    Updated 1 month ago

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    BUKOM CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Live music
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for dancing

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    Ememabasi I.

    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

    Shawn G.

    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.

    Bar (for live music) and bar
    Kiara H.

    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.

    MOIN MOIN
    Stedmond P.

    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.

    Jollof Rice
    Justine B.

    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!

    Monet H.

    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.

    Noel J.

    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

    Egusi
    Alexsa P.

    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!!!!

    Bukom Mama Wings (6)
    Sabrina P.

    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!

    Stewed Beef Jollof Rice
    Chell H.

    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.

    Aflao Salmon
    Rosemond S.

    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

    Ecowas Okra Soup with fufu & Mama 's Platter

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    6 months ago

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

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

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    Swahili Village - The Consulate DC - Beef Stew Nyama Mchuzi

    Swahili Village - The Consulate DC

    (403 reviews)

    $$$

    Downtown

    Finally got an opportunity to dine here. Ive had the food catered before and this time I was able…read moreto try in house. The establishment itself is quite dated. The awning outside needs refurbishment and inside furniture is not updated. It's dark inside, almost like a night club. Perhaps it is sometimes. I did not like the decor, it was a little run down and honestly did not match up to the prices. The service was also disappointing. I felt that staff lacked a bit of professionalism and they rarely checked on us. The plates are huge. That is a plus. My partner ordered the goat and I tried the red snapper. I think one plate is big enough to share. I like the spinach, but everything needed a bit of salt. While the red snapper was coated in a lovely tomato and red pepper gravy, I felt it made the crispyness of the fried fish disappear and it was kind of soggy. Maybe you can ask for the gravy on the side. The food is not bad, but given the physical establishment and the service I wouldn't return.

    First time trying this spot and the food was really good. The suya was tender and you could tell it…read morewas grilled, though I wish it had a bit more seasoning. I ordered the "Mother Land" cocktail--it was very strong but still sweet and enjoyable. Unfortunately, the service was a big letdown. Our server wasn't attentive, barely checked on us, and put our order in incorrectly. I ended up waiting a long time for my partner's food, and by the time it arrived, mine was cold. The space itself is super cute, I loved the afrobeats music and the overall vibe is great. While the food was good, I just wish the service had matched it for a better overall experience.

    Elmina - Shrimp & Grits

    Elmina

    (158 reviews)

    I've heard of Elmina prior to my visit several times and this nigjt was as good as any to visit…read more Never having Ghanaian food before, I knew I was in for a treat based off of those reviews. We were warmly greeted upon entry and were initially going to be shown to a table upstairs, but considering I am having severe knee issues, the staff was very flexible and coordinating a table for us, without hesitation. There are quite a few items to choose from, but considering this was our first time we decided to go with the tasting menu, which did not disappoint! We started with the hamachi first which was super fresh and the zaalouk dip - could've licked the plate it was so good! Without question, the second course was my standout. The nkatenkwan served with goat and fufu. Ive always know that would be a dish I would enjoy and boy, was I right! Fufu was so good, we ordered another one! Thinking about it now makes my mouth water! Now, even though the goat was my favorite, the braised lamb shoulder is nothing to shake a stick at. The lamb fell apart on the fork, it was so tender, and the crispy cassava with the pickled onions cave. It's such a beautiful flavor mashup. By the time we got to the third course, we were definitely feeling pretty full up, but we got the Bronzino, which was so incredibly delicious. It is served with three side sauces and the fried jam so very good. I'm also really enjoyed the pallet cleanser, which was a sorrow sorbet and the Malva pudding cake - just the right amount of sweet to him the night. Lastly, the service was absolutely phenomenal! I am a sucker for good service. An hour attendant was super attentive, gave us great suggestions and even offered us wine tasting before we settled on the bottle of our choice. TOP TIER SERVICE. Now, truth be told, with us ordering a bottle of wine and gratuity, our bill was just under $500 so I don't know if I can make this place a regular spot to visit, but I do plan on returning once (or twice) before the year ends.

    Elimina is a Ghanian restaurant that either has a Michelin star or is on the Michelin guide…read more We decided to try it out at first because it was one of the handful of restaurants we could use our chase open door credit for! I'm glad we came and tried it. Although I don't think it blew us away unfortunately. Overall the food was good and the flavor profile was different - a good different - it just missed that extra - subjective - umph in a Michelin recommended place. We tried their multi-course menu and also ordered a few things a la carte and our favorite dishes octopus skewers and the lamb. The courses that let us down were mainly two: the plantain in our opinion needed to be softer, it was between sweet and savory and maybe that is the point, but we didn't enjoy it that much. The crudo was bland and lacked flavor. I think for $500 (we ordered a lot and had leftovers!) we didn't leave feeling as WOW as we expected. Still happy to have tried it!

    Dōgon - Smoked collard greens and cornbread

    Dōgon

    (318 reviews)

    $$$$

    Dogon gave my wife and me one of the best dining experiences we've ever had in our lives, and we've…read morebeen to a lot of restaurants. We came yesterday for our anniversary, and from start to finish, everything was exceptional. First, our waiter Rafael was superb. He truly made the entire experience feel top tier. Every recommendation he gave us -- from the dishes to the drinks -- was absolutely on point. His service, attention, and energy took an already amazing meal to another level. We've been to their sister restaurant, Tatiana, and really enjoyed it, but I have to say Dogon completely blew us away. The flavors, the spices, and the textures were all perfect. We had the charbroiled oysters, Benne's Bowl, Mom Dukes Shrimp, the coconut curry branzino, and finished with the rum cake. Every single dish was outstanding. The food tasted so rich, soulful, and layered -- it honestly felt like I was eating in a friend's Caribbean grandmother's home. A huge thank you to Kwame, Michael, and Rafael for making our anniversary dinner so special. We are not DMV locals, but we will absolutely be back this summer.

    Celebrated my birthday here earlier this year. The food, service, and music were all fantastic…read more Additionally there was a delay with our oxtail dish in the kitchen, after our greens dish had already been brought out and got cold because we wanted to enjoy the dishes together. I say this to say our server was very attentive and made sure to have the kitchen bring us out another hot greens dish at the same time as our oxtail dish, WITHOUT us asking. Top notch customer service and attention to detail. Definitely a great experience with the ambiance to match.

    Appioo African Bar & Grill - Egusi Pounded Yam and Malta

    Appioo African Bar & Grill

    (220 reviews)

    $$

    U Street Corridor

    (This review is for a delivery order so does not include any detail on service / ambiance)…read more Delicious Ghanaian food in the heart of U Street! I've been wanting to try Ghanian food for the longest time, so when I saw Appioo on UberEats, I just knew I had to put in an order. I got their grilled red snapper with a side of fufu and banku (two traditional paste-like Ghanian dishes; fufu is a starchy dough made with cassava and plantains, while banku is a slightly sour fermented version made with cornmeal and cassava). The red snapper was perfectly grilled, with a delightful char on the outside and super crispy skin, but flaky, tender flesh. It was served with a light, refreshing tomato sauce, and shito / black pepper sauce. The shito was incredibly rich, with a great spicy, smoky, and umami flavor. The tender fish and flavorful sauces went wonderfully with the two sides, with the fufu serving as more of a blank canvas (and therefore a great way to let the natural flavors of the fish -- or the deep, smoky, spicy flavors of the shito -- shine). The banku was perfectly tangy and just the right amount of funky, and it was great with the fish on its own. Everything from Appioo was incredible! I can't wait to sample a few more of their dishes, hopefully from inside the actual restaurant.

    With classic Ghanian dishes included and the vibe friendly enough for a good conversation, this…read moreestablishment had many options for every dish on the menu such as vegan, beef, chicken, fish, goat, and oxtail, ranging from $22 to $25 as standard price points. The food here is very authentic and has been approved by many of my West African friends living in the DMV area. My friends and I decided to order one kind of each dish along with one kind of each side so we can try a bit of each. The okra soup was a bit too spicy for my taste, but it contained a lot of flavor, which could be neutralized a bit by the fufu that I ordered. The peanut butter soup was very creamy and flavorful. The jollof was a bit plain, but since the spinach stew was flavorful, it was all good. The wings seemed like an outlier amongst everything else we had ordered, and they were a bit dry, but with two types of dipping sauces, they worked out just fine. Even though there are so many West African restaurants within the DMV area, I find this establishment to be one of the most authentic ones. Since Ghanian food itself is already fire in general, one can't go wrong with coming here.

    Spice Kitchen West African Grill - Spice Wing Plate

    Spice Kitchen West African Grill

    (238 reviews)

    $$

    UberEats review…read more Service: given the distance of the restaurant, the order took a bit long but it was packaged well so nothing spilled and the food was still still fresh and warm. Dish: I ordered the spice wings with a side of jollof rice and spinach Efo-Riro. OMG! So let's start with the wings, the flavor on these wings were the right balance between rich spices and touch of sweetness. There was a hint of honey lingering on my tongue after it was greeted by a strong spicy flavor. Adding to this, the wings were fried to perfection with crispy skin resting on the top and smooth white meat down to the bone. AMAZING! The jollof rice was stellar! And while I do not know much about the perfect preparation for this dish to review if this is the best, I've had a few from various West African countries and can say that this one had that grainy texture with just the right spices mixed in. The spinach efo-riro was SO good. I honestly could have had a plate of this by itself and my taste buds would still be pleased. Overall, this place is very generous with their serving sizes. Well portioned, beautifully prepared, seasoned to perfection, and a sure trip down culture lane! I enjoyed it so much.

    I tried the salmon with jollof rice and spinach. I'd always wanted to try it, but I'm not sure I…read moreliked it. The spinach tasted frozen, and the seasoning was way too overpowering. I probably wouldn't go back. Customer service was good. when I called the woman that answered was very nice and attentive to my questions .

    Keren Restaurant

    Keren Restaurant

    (1.3k reviews)

    $$

    I recently went back to Keren for the first time for a weeknight dinner since the fire there a…read morecouple years ago and was pleased to find that the experience, the affordable prices, and food were as good as I remembered. I got the chicken tibs and ended up also getting the veggie combo, both of which were perfectly prepared, extremely flavorful, and a fantastic portion size. I look forward to my next visit! From October 2022: I have been to Keren several times for dine-in and takeout and the food is always outstanding. I ordered ful with a side-order of injera to-go, and the ful was creamy and appropriately salted. Keren's use of tomatoes, jalapenos, and herbs complemented the dish and the accompanying baguettes well and provided freshness. I have ordered the veggie combo and meat dishes on several previous visits and always enjoyed them. Because Keren's food is so good and the physical space is small, Keren is always crowded and you should prepare to wait 15-20 minutes for a table and 20-30 minute waits for your food once you order. Nonetheless, the wait is worth it. I order from Keren regularly and look forward to my next visit!

    A friend and I made Keren Restaurant our first stop when we arrived in DC this weekend. I was…read morereally hungry and thrilled to finally be checking out this Eritrean restaurant that has been open in DC since 1987. 1987, y'all. That's almost 40 years, and that says a lot. The restaurant is casual and comfortable, with big front windows that keep the small but long restaurant light and bright. And the service was friendly throughout. But the food is why we were there. We each started with a cappuccino, which was great after our drive and with our brunch meal. And then - shockingly - we both ordered the same thing: Ful with eggs. Ful is a dish popular across parts of the Middle East and North Africa made from stewed fava beans. It's often eaten for breakfast. When I had Ful for the first time many years ago, I fell in love. And whenever I see it on a menu, I'm done with research and options - that's it, that's where I'm going, that's what I'm ordering. Keren's Ful is topped with fresh tomatoes, raw onion, raw jalapeno, creamy yogurt, and olive oil, and then you can choose to top the dish with eggs, tuna, or sardines, or served alongside a salad. The beans (made with Berbere spice) are the obvious star of the dish, and Keren's version of one of my favorite breakfasts was delicious, warm, comforting, filling... I loved it. It's a big bowl (and served with some great French rolls), so we weren't able to finish every last bite, which made me a little sad, because it was delicious. They have a full menu for breakfast (which they serve all day, every day) and then a full menu of other items (including combo platters). I loved my Ful, and I'd go back for that alone. But I'd also love to return to try more of their menu. Maybe with more than one friend next time so we can share and enjoy more of their Eritrean food and hospitality.

    Lydia On H - "Mbuzi" goat stew, jollof rice, sauteed kale

    Lydia On H

    (144 reviews)

    $$

    THIRD TIMES THE CHARM!…read more This is my second time dining at Lydia's on H (third visit). My first time was Valentine's Day, and the restaurant, while calm, was chaotic, AKA the full menu was not available. The second attempt to dine there, the staff member (whose name I forgot, please charge it to my head and not my heart!) informed us before we sat down that the evening service was a limited menu. To entice us to return and ensure consistent customer-centric service, the bar manager invited us to return on the first night and asked the staff to inform us when we arrived. Sure enough, the next day, when we arrived, there was a note for the staff informing them that they should be expecting us. The vibe in Lydia's is always chill! The music is always good and at a volume where you and others can still enjoy each other's company with conversation if desired. Overall, the food, service, and ambiance at this establishment should be the standard for many others. Well done, Lydia's. We are excited to come back and try the steak-and-cheese egg rolls next time.

    Food looks better than it tastes...just hear me out!…read more We decided to close out Black History Month by supporting a Black-owned establishment, very intentional, very on brand for us. It was also my first time trying Malawian cuisine, so I was genuinely excited to experience something different. I went with a group of friends after an event, which worked out perfectly because we were able to taste a little bit of everything. I ordered the Brussels sprouts as my starter; they were good, nicely seasoned. My only issue? Timing. They didn't come out first. Everyone else had their food, and my "starter" came right before my entrée, which kind of defeated the purpose. For my main, I had the shrimp and salmon rasta pasta. It was good...creamy, flavorful, but definitely spicy. Not unbearable, just be prepared if heat isn't your thing. My mocktail was refreshing and good too... just small. A couple real sips and it was gone. Overall, the service was good. They were accommodating and made sure our group was seated comfortably, even moving tables around so we had a better setup. I appreciated that. The ambiance was very Black eclectic: cool R&B vibes, nice energy, a solid spot to gather and vibe. Checl out my pics! I'll be rating each dish I tried on a 10 point scale. Would I return? Probably not. It wasn't bad; it just didn't wow me. And in the DMV, there are way too many other spots on my list to try.

    Bukom Cafe - bars - Updated May 2026

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