I've been here several times and ordered delivery. Customer service has always been friendly and the food is delicious. The goat meat I ordered was tender. Parking is directly in front of restaurant. Easy to find with Google maps. read more

Drelyse African Restaurant - Jollof rice and oxtail - African Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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So excited to eat Nigerian food after being back from Nigeria. Delicious! Eat with your hands! Go for it!

This is the best restaurant I have been to since arriving to Columbus. It has been tough finding really good food and one of the recommendations I was given were African restaurants. My girlfriend and I went to Drelyse to try something fresh, but authentic. We met Saeed, who explained the menu with the descriptions of different meat and vegetarian dishes. As an appetizer, we got the Chicken Gizzards and . I was skeptical of the Chicken Gizzards, however, they were amazing! They are very spicy so beware. The onions, peppers, and tomatoes on top provided the pickled, crispy flavor. For our main dishes, we had the Jollof Rice with Chicken and the Peanut Butter Soup with Fufu. This was our first time eating Fufu which required us to use our hands to dip the mashed potato into the soup. The soup was a little less spicier than the Gizzards, but had a nice kick! The Jollof Rice was a hit and the sauce to put on top was good. The Chicken was cooked perfectly! I will definitely be back for more and to try new things! read more

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Food sampler extravaganza: if you have friends from Kenya, this is a fun place to try some of their native foods. Very fun sampling each of the different cuisines of another country while still in your own country and state. Unfortunately there are no paper menus, and you have to download the app which took a significant amount of time. Once you download the app some phones don't allow you to read the entire menu but you can see the picture. Found out that a man next to me at a table had been here many times and he just uses the website which allows you to read the whole description of the food item so I would just say go to the website and don't download the app. Recommendation: peanut butter soup with goat for entrée. Appetizer get the triangle things, and the SAMSUA which appeared to be brisket with spices, and add the chili sauce on the side for a little heat to dip it in. read more

Very very good restaurant ! They turn up their flavors to another level ! Very elegant mix of seasonings and spices ! Anything on their menu will really impress your pallets ! Been coming to this restaurant for over 5 years. Columbus finest spot for West African food :-) read more

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The banku and Tilapia are good, but the service is not where it needs to be at all. The pricing of the food compared to the service received is a false balance. read more

Incredibly flavorful and filling! Fresh coconut water was so refreshing. Coming again for the DJ music and lobster on saturdays read more

Drelyse African Restaurant - Fufu and Goat Light Soup with Fufu - African Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I'm not an expert on African food, but my friend who I went with considers it one of his local favorites - and it was delicious. Goat stew and fufu are a must, although be careful - fufu fills you up! They were sadly out of jollof on my visit. We did take-out, but inside is what you might expect from a smaller low-rise strip mall. You go for the food, not the ambiance! read more

The owner is awesome and the food is fantastic! They even had coconuts! The service is not quick, so plan a good chunk of time for dining in. read more

Drelyse African Restaurant - Fresh coconut - African Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Sambusas, gizzards, grilled tilapia, jollof with stew, plantains Go eat it all. This place is bangin IF YOU WANT THE GRILLED TILAPIA KNOW THIS: IT TAKES AN HOUR. this isn't your basic American in and out. The owner pours her heart into the food, and that takes time. You want fast? CALL AHEAD. The husband is the nicest man you'll ever meet. This kind man will explain the entire menu to you, and help you make a decision that you will most certainly enjoy. There's one more thing you need to know. All the owner has ever wanted was to meet Guy Fieri and for him to eat her fish. Go eat here, and if you're big with social media, take a picture of the fish and tag Guy fieri. It would be super cool if we can make this awesome ladies dream come true. And I promise you she is awesome. If she's not slaving away in the kitchen and you get a chance to talk to her, you'll be in love. So quit going to those overpriced, overrated places on high Street and go try some good food that's in the cut read more

Drelyse African Restaurant - Amazing grilled tilapia - African Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Good food and clean space And very good people I love it there I'll be more than happy to refer it to my friends read more

This food reminds me of home, the best Ghanian food in Ohio hands down. The service is extremely amazing, they cook the food authentic and very tasteful, and the vibes are amazing. Will definitely be back! read more

This restaurant is so dirty. The tables are clean, but the floors and bathrooms are filthy. Standards are low. Chaotic environment-not conducive to a fine dining experience. Owner, Drelyse is very rude to staff in front of customers. Food is so-so-there are better Ghanian restaurants in Columbus. Not an enjoyable experience at all. They will charge you for food not received and try to keep your money. I will never, ever patronize this restaurant. Consumer beware. read more

I've gotten the grilled tilapia and jollof, grilled chicken and Jollof and the goat stew with rice before. Every time the food has been phenomenal. The portions are INSANELY filling and flavorful. I definitely recommend getting everything there at some point but it will take either multiple trips or multiple people to share everything with. read more

Awesome West African gem tucked in the middle of strip mall next to the corner store in tamarack circle. This restaurant has been here for over 10 years and it's still just as good as the first time I had it! If you want the full experience, dine in. Prepare to spend Atleast an hour as food is not prepared ahead of time, it's made fresh! For two meals prepare to pay Atleast $30 and if you are planning to add appetizers or drinks it will of course be more. It's authentic food that's good...would you expect anything less? This is by far the BEST African food I have found in Columbus. If you're a first time visitor and are new to African , I definitely suggest the Jollof Chicken and Rice. The chicken is amazing. The rice is cooked with African spices in a tomato base and the stew you put on top of it is wow! One plate of Jollof chicken and rice at $13.99 will have you leaving in a food coma and ready for a nap. If you want fish, it will take longer to cook. If you don't feel like waiting super long call ahead and order before you arrive...I've done that before and it cuts down the time. read more

Drelyse African Restaurant - Jollaf rice - African Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Maaaaaannnnnn!!!! Came from NYC to Cali and found the yummiest most succulent, delicious African food I've had in years !!! Big ups to Lisa and the staff because they killed the game !!! 100 stars !!!! read more

What a great place to eat! This was our first time trying African food and it was wonderful. The place was super busy which was a good indication of how good the food is. Our server Nanna (sp?) was so kind and answered any questions we had. She was also very attentive even though she was running the front of the house alone since they were short staffed. The owner was there too and what a great personality this woman has!! It was a pleasure to meet her. We did not try the fresh coconut but got to see her open several as she talked laughed and joked with everyone. Thank you for wonderful experience. We will be back!! read more

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Tilapia was seasoned well and cooked perfectly. The Jollof was soooo good. Plantains were sweet, crispy and fresh.

The food was excellent and delicious. I got the red snapper extra spicy and it was spicy. The drinks are good and fair price. Best African restaurant in columbus Ohio. The service was fast, I recommend if dining in to preorder your food before you come so that it's ready when u walk in. The owner is really nice and polite the best ever. read more

I love the owner she is about her business and her customers and she has every right to be because the food is the best! I am ready to take a nap, the portions are great I was so satisfied. The chicken and plantain and the fried Turkey tail wit jollof has so much flavor, I will definitely be back this is my new spot! read more

Good African food and beer. Service was superior. The owner was friendly, suggested the right dishes and got us food to taste. Service like this makes the difference! Highly recommend. read more

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What a great find in a very unassuming spot North of Columbus! This restaurant is family owned and operated, named after two family members (Dre and Lyse). My buddy and I started off with a couple of African beers (called Tusker) while we waited for our appetizers. We shared an order of fried / candied plantains and also sambosas (similar to an Indian samosa). The plantains were sweet, warm and a great opening to the meal. Our sambosas were filled with meat and potatoes surrounded by a flaky pastry puff shell. Both were delicious. For my dinner meal, I chose the spicy peanut butter soup with beef and tofu. I came with a side of fufu. How to explain fufu...it is often made with cassava and green plantain flour and is a doughy like substance traditionally served with soups where you break off a hunk and dip it in the soup for texture and to stretch a meal. This bowl was super-spicy (at least for my palate), but the flavor combinations were really unique and calling it peanut butter soup (by American's definition of that term) does not do justice to what it really is. Somewhat creamy, full of spice and flavor with big chunks of beef (bone in at times). The owner helped serve our meal and was friendly and talkative throughout. A wonderful experience I'd love to have again. read more

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If you have not tried Drelyse yet, you are really missing out. The food here is so flavorful, the staff are friendly and the vibe is laid back. The star of the show for me at Drelyse is the peanut butter soup w/ goat and rice balls - I have had the pleasure of eating at some of the top restaurants in Chicago, LA, NYC, New Orleans, Houston, SF, etc. and I would put the peanut butter soup at Drelyse on the same level as the best dishes I've had in some of our nation's top food cities. I'm so glad to have Drelyse here in Columbus and I will definitely be back very soon to try more of their menu. read more

Great food. Had several times and quality and packaging was very consistent. Only ordered on DoorDash, never been to the actual location.

It's Thursday night and no one felt like cooking dinner, so we decided to dine out. We wanted to try something different, but satisfying. I've been to a few other African restaurants around town, and wanted to give this one a go. First...if you haven't checked, it's a bit pricey. I know what you'll probably say, but I don't care if it's a mom and pop, or a chain (which I rarely go to), if it's pricey, I'll point it out. We each got something different. I got the red beans and rice and the goat. I was disappointed with the portion of meat, considering the price. Like, I got maybe 3 decent chunks of meat and 3 small bone pieces. My husband got the Jolloff rice and tilapia. The fish was a very nice portion. The rice had a bit of a kick, with a slow burn. The fish is full sized, and not fillet, so be careful. My daughter got a vegetarian meal, the fufu and the okra stew, oddly had meat. We ordered plantains on the side, they were a bit different than the Caribbean version that I'm used to...a little dry for my taste. So for close to $100 ($85 without tip) we pretty much got cheap fish, a couple of goat pieces, and a ton of rice and veggies. My meal was just okay. But hey, it's a Thursday night and I was being lazy. I wouldn't tell you to pass this spot up, but be prepared to pay a bit more than a typical mom and pop. Support local businesses, please and thank you. read more

The food here is BANGIN'! Full of flavor, the best African restaurant in town, & you WILL crave it and come back. Repeat customer here! The waakye is my favorite dish! read more

The taste is amazing and the food is always hot! Love it! Definitely a must try restaurant in Ohio! read more

Hidden gem here. The spice in every dish was spot on, not too overpowering and doesn't hide other flavors. The Goat and spinach stew was a good introduction to goat. The jollof rice and chicken wad amazing. The staff explained everything we had questions about and some things she thought we would like to know. They were thoughtful, very polite, and attentive. The only issue was that we didnt save room to try the peanut butter soup. read more

Drelyse African Restaurant - Goat Stew might be one of my new favorite comfort foods! - African Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

The food and atmosphere is incredible. A hit just about every time I go there. The only thing that stops me from going much more often is the wait. If you keep this in mind when trying to experience, you won't be disappointed read more

Great authentic African food made to order! Nice staff, clean and friendly environment love it!

Not sure if 3 stars is too generous... The food was four stars, assuredly. Unfortunately the extremely slow, unattentive service snatched the fourth star right off the table. Heck, some of that third star even... :( Marlena and I picked this spot - we both like African food, and I had never been here before. Marlena has. She knows the owner from her few previous visits. She was a nice gal. She knew her stuff (obviously), and was pleasant. She had to leave for a bit, but took our orders first, making sure the kitchen knew exactly what we asked for. Marlena got the fried tilapia fish plate (which never came with a side!). Me, I pointed to a Yelp pic and it was chicken with sweet plantains. I asked to sub in goat, sure no problem! Not spicy for me, so they nixed the hot peppers. We also got a few of their sambusa and each a vitumbua (rice cake). The food was delicious! The rice balls have a hint of sweetness. I'd describe them as a mush consistency. They were VERY good! My goat was nice and tender. There was only a few bones throughout, which made it easier to enjoy, less worry. Marlena's fish was great, too. We waited close to 45 minutes to pay and leave. We loved the subtle sweet taste of the vitumbua, so ordered two more apiece. It took way too long to get the second order. We had gotten, and eaten, our main entrees, talked a while longer, and FINALLY they brought out the cakes. We were already full, so asked for to-go containers. Waited. Talked some more. Waited. Waited. You get the gist. I finally went up to the counter, and the lady tells me to sit, she'll bring the containers. More time goes by. She finally brings them out. The totals were off - both Marlena and I were overcharged. Forget it! Pay and LEAVE. We were tired of waiting for the staff to bring our checks, so we went to the counter. They totaled us up very fast (why couldn't they have been this diligence during our meal?!). My total was $21 and some change. Hold up! They charged me for their Goat Stew with Rice - $12.99 (I guess the plantains subbed for the rice...?), 3 vitumbua and 1 sambusa. $21! Both of our totals where outrageous. In the end, we just wanted to get the heck out, so repressed our disputes and headed out. Like was said, the food was very tasty and full of spices and flavor! Unfortunately, the service was not up to par. read more

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Had the most delicious meal here! The plantains are amazing, and the chicken and jollof rice was excellent. Service was great, too. Can't wait to eat here again! read more

Love it! My sister served in the peace corps in The Gambia, so we had to try it out! Super authentic! So tasty!

Friendly, community minded owner, amazing food and the takeout line is always ridiculous!

Incredibly delicious and flavorful! Great portion sizes. As soon as you get the food you are blissfully overwhelmed by the aromatics, and will dive in immediately! The food was so good I couldn't even take a picture. Must try!! read more

Looking for a new place to try, and this was One of the best meals I've had in a long time. Lamb shank was bomb. Friendly staff who helped me through a new experience read more

The food was AMAZING, I got the waakye and turkey tail with plantain and everything was 10/10. It was plated beautifully, and the workers and owner are so kind. They made sure we were very comfortable the whole time. Make sure you ask about their patio when you come, very beautiful space! read more

Great food and great service! Staff were very polite and courteous! The Beef and Spinach with fufu comes highly recommend! I will be eating here more frequently it's that great! read more

Had lunch here while in Columbus due to the uniqueness of the cuisine...Ghanaian? Where else can you even find that in the Midwest? This place is tucked away in an unassuming area in the middle of a group of residential neighborhoods, next to a little African market and a hair shop. We came in for a pretty late lunch, so there weren't many other people dining in. However, they were getting call after call for take out. It was hopping with people coming and in and out for to-go food. This seems to be where they get most of their business. The owner was the only person working out front and he apologized for being understaffed (his wife is normally there too). It was a pretty slow experience overall because he was always having to tend to to-go customers. Be prepared to be treated like part of the family here. This guy was a little too all up in our beeswax if anything. But he was very nice. It was just a little much when he wanted my mom to eat her food with her hands and made her wash and sanitize her hands in his little cauldrony thing...LOL. My dad ordered the waakye with turkey tails. I didn't know turkey tails were a thing people ate, but in Ghana they are a delicacy. My dad liked them, but the piece I had was pretty fatty. The waakye itself is a rice and bean mixture. My dad liked it, I didn't care for it all that much but it was alright. This dish is kind of weird because it also comes with some spaghetti (no sauce) on the side. Overall okay, 3.5/5. I had the jollof rice with chicken. This was the best thing we ordered, 4/5. The chicken was juicy, the vegetables on top were really good. The rice itself was pretty good, not as good as I might expect for it being a main dish here, but good. It had a very distinct flavor, maybe seasoned with saffron or something like that. My mom had the peanut butter soup with fufu. Fufu is sort of like a very sticky mashed potato/dumpling dough ball that you theoretically use to scoop up things. She thought it was okay but the soup was pretty spicy. Disclaimer, it doesn't taste like peanut butter. 3/5. This place is slightly pricy, be prepared to spend $12.99 per person (most of the dishes are this price). Overall it's a low 4 star from me. It was not as spectacular as I was hoping, but it was good. read more

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Great service and food. Drelyse was amazing to meet and very hospitable. We sat outside, and it was nice to sit under the umbrellas.