This is one of many different food shops inside Kern's Bakery Food Court. We arrived after the lunch rush when it was not crowded. We had wanted to try this as we had Ghanian food previously and really enjoyed it. The menu is on the wall behind the counter, and another smaller menu is on the counter. We were waited on right away. We decided on the sampler of chicken breast and steak with plantains and Ghanaian noodles. The food was ready in about five minutes. It was well-packaged and we walked to one of the central tables to share the meal. While we had high hopes, the food did not meet expectations. The main issue was it all had been sitting for some time. It was most likely let over from lunch, so it may have been sitting in the warmer for up to two hours. Everything was dried out. The chicken breast was very flavorful, as we had anticipated, but dry and chewy. The seasoned steak was tough, most likely from sitting rather than a poor cut of meat. The plantains had obviously been sitting a while and were mushy but still had good flavor. The noodles were spicy as expected but so dry they were almost crunchy. This was very unfortunate because the flavors are really, really good. I would anticipate if this was freshly made, it would have been outstanding. As served, however, it was an unfortunate representation of the wonderful cuisine from Ghana. read more

Kandilige - It was apparently made for the lunch rush and didn't sell. Everything had dried out and should not have been served. - African Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

It was my first time eating here and my first time eating Ghanaian food and man, it hit the spot. I got the chicken legs and steak with white rice and puff puff. Everything was so flavorful! The portions are huge. The girl at the counter was very nice and personable and it's amazing that they are in Kerns Food Hall. The atmosphere is so laid back! Would recommend! read more

Finally got to try it. Very nice owners/operators. Note, the board hanging behind the register does not hold all the items they offer....there is a printed menu with more. (I wanted peanut butter soup, which was not on the board but on the menu). I've had this soup before; I found this to be a little less spicy but still tasty. I had it with fufu (tuber paste, basically) which was tasty; a bit of that and a bit of soup made a great combo on each bite. (You can have rice or fufu.) I had drinks elsewhere, which is the beauty of it being in a food court. I also added some appetizer type items from the middle Eastern place, where you pay by the weight so you can get just a few grape leaves, olives, etc. for a low cost. If I had one suggestion, I'd suggest that they offer items like the soup in a smaller size at a smaller cost. The soup I had was $15- it was a lot and I took home about half of the soup and the fufu. I would have loved to get $8 sizes of 2 or 3 items to sample more of the offerings. In fact, I'd suggest something similar to many of the places here....offer some things in "sampler" sizes for a few dollars each, and I think overall you'd get more business. read more

I have been here 3 times and never been disappointed. Out of all the food choices, somehow I'm always drawn to Kandilige. The service takes a little time, because it's family business and they cook from scratch. They're friendly and kind. Food is perfectly seasoned, meat is so tender. We love the jollof rice, chicken, vegetables, and African noodles. Somehow it's different noodle every time- sometimes it's pasta, other times ramen, with tasty African flavors... a fun surprise lol. Can't wait to go back and try other things from the menu! read more

When the chef walked by with the sizzling pan of lamb, steak, and chicken. Doused with spices that beckon the adventurous consumer and the pride in the Chef's eyes I had to try it. Never having food from Ghana this was a great meal, served graciously in heaping portions, quick service, casual dining ambiance, and I'm already planning on coming back for the Peanut Soup! read more

See all

I love the chicken and rice This is dining for a cause. The owner has a story that will inspire as good as the food. You can purchase as takeout or dine in the food court at the Kern's. read more

We walked around the food hall to find what sounded tastiest when we came across this Ghanaian restaurant. When we order the man was extremely nice and gave us his recommendations. We got the sampler and everything was incredible like the chicken and rice. The lamb and puff puff's were hands down our favorites! We loved it and we will be back read more

Food made with love, cook was dancing the entire time, music worth listening to the first time, and a serving size of lamb that could leave a starving man full without finishing. read more

Food tasted great, tried the lamb, chicken legs, and beef. Large portions and the plantains were excellent. Fast friendly service; I will be back and recommend you try. read more

The chicken is a bit bland so make sure to get sauce. The sauce is great. I recommend the "puff puffs" as well.

Avoid the mackerel if it is the fish of the week. I thought I would be getting a fillet as was on the menu picture. However, I got a mackerel with all bones still in and skin on. The flavor was not to my liking and thus I did not eat it. The rice was not bad, but I am guessing the vegetables may be better. Live and learn. Nice/friendly staff. read more

This place is horrible I got the fufu and okra soup which I thought it would look like the second picture but instead I got this it has NO FLAVOR,NO OKRA, only a little bit of collard greens,onions and ground beef...THIS IS NOT WHAT I ASKED FOR DO NOT EVER GO HEREEE! read more

Kandilige - THIS IS WHAT I GOT ‍ - African Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

I loved the warmth and atmosphere I received when I ordered from them. I was excited to try the jollof rice with chicken legs and thighs, but I just got the rice for takeout since they had sold out of those proteins. Sadly, the jollof rice was practically inedible because it was soggy. Jollof rice grains are supposed to be al dente and not soggy. The portion was huge for the price, but I couldn't even keep the leftovers because of how soggy the rice was. The carrot that was used to garnish the meal was also overcooked. Sigh. I really wanted to love this because of the overwhelming number of 5 star ratings they have. My quest for good jollof rice in Knoxville continues. read more

Kandilige - jollof rice - African Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

First of all, the chef gave me some kinda of egg wrap thing for free which was genuinely so yummy, but also the fried plantains were ridiculously good and the chicken was like... it just came right off the bone and whatever spices they use are SO good. For some reason it tasted like home even though I've never been to Ghana delicious! read more

We ordered the chicken plate and the ribs plate. Only one of the 3 small ribs had more than 2 bites and so tough I had to spit it out. The chicken was dry with absolutely no flavor. We asked for some hot sauce to go and they handed over a small container with no lid. Never again. Never again. read more

Their chicken and jollof is absolutely incredible. The meat slides off the bone, is incredibly juicy and flavorful. The rice is incredible alone and paired with other things. The fried plantains are wonderful. The service is kind and will explain flavors if it is your first time having Ghanan food. I highly recommend giving it a try. By far my favorite food in Kern's Food Hall! read more

Kandilige - African Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

We were very excited to see Ghanaian foods in Knoxville and went to the restaurant w enthusiastic appetites. We ordered the beef ribs, lamb and peanut butter soup. The soup had decent flavor, but it was like eating salt out of a salt shaker! We added all their extremely hard and dry white rice in the soup but couldn't eat it because it was still too salty. The lamb was a bone-in leg, looked big in size but not much meat, and it was so very tough hard to get the meat off the bone. The beef ribs were short ribs with good seasonings. But it was nothing but bone, hardly any red meat on gristle. Perhaps they might have cooked it for 10min or so bc the meat and gristle was completely intact on the bone, same size as the bones. Now anyone who knows how to cook beef short ribs knows that you slow cook it for hours where the gristle and meat just fall off the bones. Not the way this restaurant prepares. The best thing we ate was the jollof rice. I gave 1-star on service because the two women taking our orders and cooking were finger licking their hands eating while taking our orders and preparing for our foods. read more

Kandilige - Lamb & beef short ribs - African Near Me - Knoxville, Tennessee

See all

Well, I was so looking forward to eating here today but unfortunately I had to say maybe next time. I tried to ask the cashier what a dish was that I was describing that I had seen several people eating a few weeks earlier. She didn't know because there menu has changed, so I decided to order the meal with two proteins - beef ribs, nope can't have that because they aren't cooked yet (1:30 Saturday afternoon). Ok, lamb and .... Oh that's not available either. The only proteins they had: steak, chicken breast and chicken leg. Very disappointing. I chose Kern's Food Hall specifically to eat here. Not even sure where or if they'll be on my list when I return. read more

Loved the food made by nice people ! Curry noodles were perfect and the chicken wrap was huge!

Super friendly owner convinced me to give them a try. I was pleasantly surprised by how many vegan and vegetarian options they have - don't be misled by the prominence of meat on the menu. I had the blackeyed pea stew - hearty, tasty, and satisfying, especially with the hot sauce. read more

Kandilige's Ghanaian food is really really good. I will definitely be back for more! This was my first experience with any food from the African continent, and they really represented that food culture well! I had the small plate of Jollah rice and chicken leg and thigh. My friends had the noodles with chicken leg and thigh and a soup. they both had some amazingly fresh looking vegetables in there dishes. I am REALLY looking forward to trying their soups and stews when it gets cooler. Their small plate is enough for 1 person and their large plate is enough for 2. read more

If anyone would have said my dinner would have been Black-eyed Pea Stew, I would call them crazy. It was and it was amazing! The owner was a super nice guy who gave us samples of this and many other exotic delights. Such a great experience. Give them a try! read more

The beef and tomato stew and Jollof rice were incredible! There was a lot of depth in their flavors. I had never eaten there before, and they took time to explain the menu and make suggestions. I cannot wait to try more menu items. read more