We chose Moi Moi because we wanted to try something different. Its cuisine is derived from Chef Howsoon Cham's homeland, Gambia, West Africa. It somehow gets even better though when Southern American sensibilities creep in to congeal into a fusion of flavors and aromas that is nothing short of intoxicating. Walking into the unassuming dining room that contains about 12 tables and four lounging areas with coffee tables one is immediately transported by the languid and delicious aromas that land somewhere between curry and five spice with some smokey hints thrown in for good measure. The menu is filled with tempting descriptions and observing the tables next to us it was difficult to choose from so many temptations. We settled on the Moi Moi Mussel Pot (Lobster curry sauce, scallions, toasted coconut, lime cilantro, bean sprouts, grilled sourdough) and an arugula salad with blue cheese, walnuts, pears and shallot basil dressing. One taste of the Mussel Pot had me requesting a spoon so I could get every drop of that lustrous broth. We filled shell after shell with the broth, corn, cilantro and bean sprouts and wolfed them down. Delicious doesn't go far enough, more like transformative. The arugula salad is a common enough combination but the thing that made it sing more than others was the unique dressing - just slightly sweet to balance the acid and peppery notes. Next up were the lamb chops. Two oversized double bone chops are perfectly seasoned and charred. They are served with some down south mac & cheese and roasted Brussels sprouts. One was a bit under the ordered medium rare. It was quickly fixed and two came back perfectly to our taste. The family-operated restaurant is inviting and cordial. The clientele at the closely spaced tables was also wonderful. Highly recommended! Will return as often as we can. read more

This restaurant has super great vibes. So many of the guests there were dressed up - on dates or having a girls night out and were glammed up. There's also a lounge area with couches further inside the restaurant if you're looking for a more chill, cocktail hour time. But also there is no dress code necessarily. The prices here are what you'd expect for a Downtown DC restaurant. I appreciated the hostess who was super friendly and checked in on us throughout the night, especially after hearing my friend had not tried Western African food before. We ordered: Thieboudienne (Jollof Rice) - really good Beef Short Rib - the best dish we had! Crispy Fried Whole Alabama Porgy (Fish) - It wasn't as flavorful as I expected, however I will say I'm used to having sauces with dishes and this fish came as is without any sauce (unlike the beef short rib). Side dishes included yuca and other veggies, which were cooked really well, and mac and cheese (also VERY yum). Some of the dishes showed off the African cuisine side and others the Southern cuisine. We also had a super delicious dessert. I had never been to a restaurant like this. I loved and appreciated the unique menu and experience. read more

My husband and I stopped in off a search for soul food. This place did not disappoint. The service was impeccable. The food was hot and delicious and the drinks were strong. We would definitely come back. read more

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10/10 So I chose Moi Moi because I wanted to add a new restaurant to my list. I was referred to this place by one of the team members, and lets just say I simple fell in love with the place. The ambiance of the place felt very soothing, the staff made me feel welcomed. The decorations was simply amazing, very clean restaurant with nice furniture, light fixtures, and beautiful West African paintings surrounding. I started with a sidecar prepared by the famous Chef Howsoon. I'd like to share this sidecar was remarkable 10/10 . Chef Howsoon even allowed me to assist with the Hibiscus Sidecar ( a new drink I hope he adds to the menu LOL). For my main, I had the crab cakes. I'm a huge crab cake person so this main option was right up my alley. The crab cakes were complimented by an amazing under sauce. Also I got Jerk Chicken and Cat Fish Bites. Now with the Jerk Chicken I'm going to say 9/10 only because I had a different vision of the entree in my head. The Cat Fish Bites were a 10/10 next time I will had a spicy sauce to use for the dipping. I even added a dessert which was the highlight of the night This is a restaurant to visit multiple times! I cannot wait to try everything else on the menu. P.S follow me on TikTok I even made a cool video @Buzzo1813 read more

Food: 9/10 - everything we ordered was flavorful and delicious! West African dishes with a slightly southern twist. Service: 3/10 - It was really packed this night and service was terrible. We waited for over an hour for food and only ordered one round of drinks because the server was never at the table long enough. Ambiance 8/10 - the indoor decor is really nice! And the music is a vibe. Great place for a date night or girls night. read more

Went to Moi Moi yesterday and the experience was lackluster. I'm going to list the things my best friend and I ordered from our favorite to least favorite. 1. Lamb chops w/ Brussels sprouts 2. Jerk Chicken 3. Baby Arugula Salad (my best friend and I love arugula, so this being #3 is extremely bias on our end.) 4. Short Rib w/ collard greens (Poor greens ain't have no soul in the them and the short ribs was giving pot roast.) 5. Mac & Cheese (once again, no soul...) I was expecting more with the ambiance but as long as the food is good, I'm happy. I left underwhelmed but I'll probably be back to try something else! read more

This restaurant gets better and better every time I go! My favorites are the lamb chops, mac and cheese, and brussel sprouts. The servers and managers are always attentive and make you feel at home. The decor is nice and love walk to the bathroom lol. Such a fun restaurant with just really great food. Perfect for special occasions, date night, or dinner with friends! read more

Some dishes were delicious others not so much. The crab cakes and rock fish were flavorful with its dressings and sauces. The lamb chops were over cooked and not flavorful at all. The drink however, were a 10- 10. I recommend the Nkrumah Circle Margarita. Also the music and ambience is perfect for either a date with a love interest or friends! read more

So the inside vibes are cozy and simple, and the DJ was playing some great afrobeats. They had their liquor license and full menu when we were there, and most of the growing pains were worked out. I had the vegetarian domodo, I found the sauce to be very rich and with a good taste. I think they brought me the wrong drink, what I got looked nice but tasted like cough syrup. I liked the experience and look forward to seeing where they take the place. read more

Moi Moi was good food that, on the day we were there, could perhaps have used a little more organization in the front of the house.  First, and most importantly, the food:   We ordered a mix of drinks, appetizers and entrees which were all great.  I especially really liked the mussels which had a truly yummy broth.  Thank you to Moi Moi for offering bread to dunk along with the dish and for providing additional pieces when we could not bear to leave any broth still in the pot!  The other appetizer, the namesake moi moi, was good, but, nothing compared to those mussels - mmmmm!  For entrees we had the beef short rib which was huge and really tasty and the accompanying greens were super! The thieboudienne (jollof rice) was also really good.  The fish was just right and the vegetables were a perfect tender with a bit of a bite.  Moi Moi gives you two sauces to choose from so you can set your own level of spicy (we like spicy!)  Lastly, we enjoyed the vegetarian domoda peanut stew. Now the small service issues:  to be fair, Mother's Day is a busy day for any restaurant, which may explain why no tables were available at the time of our reservation and why our arrival was not checked in to Open Table.   A family couch, which is seating around a low round metal table was open, but I have a lot of trouble eating this way with my food that far below the rest of me.  If I spill on myself on a regular basis, eating like this will mean more food on the floor and on my lap than successfully makes it to my mouth...  When we did get a seat, the server forgot to bring our drinks.  This happened upon re order later in the meal as well.  I'm not sure why this was so.  I'm also not sure why he asked if we were ready for dessert before we had even gotten our entrees either but ... Aside from these small hiccups, the only disappointment was the pecan pie which tasted over baked and even a little burnt.  As a side note, the décor is a mix of white table sophistication with chandeliers, colorful wallpaper and mural and industrial exposed ceiling.  The food will definitely bring us back to Moi Moi when we are sure that the service hiccups will be ironed out. read more

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This restaurant was a surprise find! Always great to hear about new African fusion restaurants! Drinks were good and strong and wait staff was all very pleasant! Starting with the apps....the catfish fingers came out and there was grease all over the plate and the fish had little flavor! The jerk wings on the other hand were amazing! Next time I will ask for the slaw on the side, but all very tasty! For entrees the Moi Moi was delicious, I would highly recommend and the tastes were very authentic along with the ginger lemonade! The rest of the meal was okay, fufu did disappoint, but had an enjoyable experience. read more

10/10 hands down! We came in for Sunday brunch and were immediately greeted by the lovely hostess (or perhaps the maî·tre d' or manager) and were seated at a table in the middle of the dining room. They have lounge couches and smaller tables on one side and then more regular standard tables on the other side. The decor is FABULOUS. Very clean restaurant with nice furniture, light fixtures, and beautiful West African paintings surrounding. We started out with the ginger lemonade and bissap drink (some may know this as sorrel) which were 10/10 especially the ginger lemonade. For our mains, we ordered the challah french toast, eggs benedict, and shrimp and grits. Also got fresh fruit (which was fresh) and a side of scrambled eggs which per my request were cooked exactly how I like. As a West African, flavor is everything and this restaurant gets it! Everything was filled with flavor, cooked to perfection and presented beautifully. The french toast makes my list for best french toast for brunches in DC, and these shrimp and grits were probably the best I have ever had in the area as I have had some of the best shrimp in grits in the South. The flavor was so familiar to my Gambian roots and really showcased how food recipes throughout the African diaspora keep our culture and heritage alive. This is a restaurant to visit multiple times! I cannot wait to try everything else on the menu. The cocktail menu is soo cute, they have really creative names and the entire FOH staff and the servers were attentive and very nice. read more

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This is one of the best West African restaurants in DC. The chef is truly inspired and he has created an amazing menu. There is an impressive section for vegetarians and the main section has a nice variety of delicious options too. If this was not enough, ALL of the desserts are potentially life changing. We had the mango cobbler and it was unreal. The service was top notch and the decor is clean blend of classic and contemporary West African. Give this place a try and you will not be sorry. read more

Love, love, love the place and the food. Been twice in a couple of weeks and both meals were awesome. The owner/host and servers are friendly and helpful. I had the shrimp and grits which I rarely order, wow!!! I'm so glad I did, it was amazing and unlike any other order of shrimp and grits. A must have are the lamb chops! Tdf delicious and favor full. Moi moi is a must, must. read more

The food here was good, but as any black owned business, very pricey. However, the service was god-awful. I think the bad service overshadowed the good experience and so I would not return here on my dime read more

We were headed here, but the music was so loud we could hear it from a block away. We walked right on by and chose another place.

Friendly & delicious. The Old Fashion was not good, but the meal was on point. I will return. Probably just order wine with the meal.

Girls night...which occured during DC's black restaurant week and included for an additional cost a musical performance by Acute Inflections out of "New York City"...dont talk during their performance. I went with the Restaurant week special. The food was amazing!!! Added a lobster bisque(not included in the restaurant week menu)...chunks of lobster and very filling and perhaps shareable for two. The arugula salad with pear...amazing...kisses to the chef followed by grilled lamb chops in berbere spices, charred brussels and baked mac an cheese...and this the menu for restaurant week WOW! Everything was delicious with the exception of the casava leaf puree...I don't like casava leave dishes. On that note the meal ended with a creamy vanilla ice cream and bread pudding with mint and whipped cream to end. Our waitress and staff were very attentive and while we may have had to stay quiet during our dinner...it was another great experience filled with laughs. Looking forward to the next Moi Moi experience. read more

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Love love LOVE this place! This was my first time coming and we had a little bit of everything! Their suya steak exceptional. To top everything off my go to dessert is always sorrel sorbet ice cream and that sealed the deal! This place is a great place to come for a date night for the happy hour but do stay for dinner! our server are behind my rating. She was as beautiful as she was professional, informative and attentive. The food, drink and dessert suggestions were spot on! she made our date feel like a celebration. read more

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Such good food! Service was okay. It was a nice dining experience and the food came out quick.

Food and service was decent. Overall, the food was overpriced. Nice ambiance, but you can tell that the restaurant is slightly unorganized. They were moving patio furniture indoors during the dining experience. This left stacked furniture nearly barricading the door area. I wouldn't come again! read more

The venue is cute, quaint and nicely decorated. The outdoor sign isn't illuminated so it's easy to pass. I do however feel the items are way over priced for what you received. $19 for 2 wings ‍‍ come on now. That's highway robbery. But they were good. The staff is not really that friendly .. the guy at the bar literally tried to change the price right in front of our face lol like we can't read. Then tried to pass off Riesling as Moscato. Then claimed it was a blend. How about just be honest and state something is out and offer an alternative. The lady bartending was nice but seemed a bit novice or overwhelmed. The owner was the overseer and just watching everything with a stone face. Didn't walk around and greet customers with a friendly face, nothing. Oh my. I just stuck with my Kolijo drink, which was good. My friends ordered the southern fried chicken, yams and mac and cheese. Another ordered the Suya sample, which was good but the jollof was dry and they use basmati rice. Ummm would I come back .... I don't know maybe one day. One it's downtown and parking isn't the best. I'm also very big on customer service especially if your food is overly priced. I know I'm paying for the experience but this experience didn't match the bill for me. read more

I went to this restaurant on a Monday where they had a live band playing. I love that! The service was great. We were greeted upon arrival and seated quickly. The food was amazing. If you don't like spicy food check with the server, because most items have a little kick to them. However the food was tasty. Flavorful! Plated well! Options are a little on the pricey side. They add a gratuity fee to every bill so don't be shocked if you're only a two persons party and see that Lol! Overall experience was great. read more

Amazingly good food and great service. Everything we had was on oar with some of the best restaurants I've been to .... Ever. So that is saying a lot. I would absolutely head back here again. read more

What can I say about this restaurant except you must try it. This is an African cuisine based spot that offers lots of variety and delicious drinks. I've been on 3 separate occasions and have yet to be disappointed. The prices of the entrees are typical DC prices ($30+ depending on what you order), however you get very nice portion sizes for your money. The dress code is classy but if you came in wearing sneakers and jeans, they wouldn't turn you away. Tables are spaced out enough to where you're not sitting on top of your neighbor. The wait staff are very friendly and quick to greet, take your order and bring your food to the table. I've tried the lamb chops, oxtails, and the French toast during brunch and every meal has been amazingly seasoned. They also hold reservation only events from time to time and entree specials during holidays. This has become my favorite place to eat in the city and I will return. A must if you are looking for a date night, friends outing or solo dinner or brunch. read more

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Met with two of my friends here for dinner on a Friday evening. Moi Moi is described as "WEST AFRICAN RESTAURANT WITH A SOUTHERN AMERICAN ACCENT" so i was hoping for some flavorful food. The location is in a pretty busy area but once you are at the restaurant it's a very relaxed atmosphere. They even have a little patio out front with couches and tables to enjoy the weather when it's nice. We got there right before the dinner rush and the restaurant quickly filled up. Our waitress was very friendly and let us know about the menu and gave us time to order our drinks and appetizers (which are mixed in with entree items on the paper menu). The menu is in categories based on the type of food item. For appetizers we ordered the jerk chicken (it was spicy, tender and delicious), catfish fingers (good) and mussels pot (i don't eat mussels but my friend enjoyed them). For drinks I had the Victoria Island Mule and several Bubbly Fatimah and whew. They were strong but tasty. For our main dishes I ordered the crab cake and Mac & cheese. The one crab cake was good and just the right amount because I was kinda full from the round of appetizers. The mac & cheese was a little underwhelming but on par for most restaurant mac & cheese tbh. My friends ordered the the shorts ribs and more jerk chicken and there were no complaints. We clean the plates. Overall the atmosphere and the food and drinks are enough reason for me to battle evening traffic and parking again. I will report back on their brunch soon. read more

The food was good, the atmosphere was so so with plastic carafe and minimal decorations, but the service was cafeteria style. It was like it was an inconvenience to ask for water or the check or anything in between. I though I offended someone some how, but when the bill came I saw that they have an automatic 20% service charge for parties 0 or more and it all became clear. Since they have mandatory tip they don't have to earn good service. They have a prefixed menu that you can order à la carte cart at individual prices, but they charged the entire menu price instead of the item ordered. Rather than have an ugly discussion with the staff about money and how wonderful they think they are I just decided to pay the price and leave this review. We go to a restaurant for a nice experience. Discussions about the check are never nice experience. This restaurant believes their service is much better than it is. Their confidence in service doesn't match their performance. It a word they are arrogant. read more

Nah. Another restaurant that you can tell is managed poorly. Things out of stock on menu. Liquor license was suspended. Unprofessional staff. This is a take out spot at best. The food was good but inconsistent. I hope they get it together. We're rooting for them. But I won't be back. read more

What a find on K street ! The food was unique and plentiful... the staff is fun and engaging ! Kadesha is a hoot, Raven is attentive and the chef is creative and willing to share his experiences... Will definitely go back ! caveat.... The menu on Mondays is limited because of the weekly, VERY POPULAR, band.... The place gets loud and crowded but worth the experience... read more

We chose moi moi for date night and were incredibly satisfied by the amazing food! The domoda blew us away with its rich and bold flavors, and the seafood pasta was balanced, mellow and bright. Our compliments to the chef!! read more

BEWARE. Visiting DC and excited about eating at Moi Moi. Not super hungry (had snacks at the Howard/Hampton game), but still wanted to stop by and support this place. Ordered a few appetizers, one cocktail and one soft drink. Enjoyable moment, until check time. Bill (which my companion reviewed) included a 20% gratuity. I was paying and gave the server my card. she comes back to the he table with a reader, and asks for ANOTHER gratuity (and I gave her my usual 20%). I was not aware of earlier-included gratuity (my bad) but was surprised that the server did not give me a heads up before asking me to tip, again. I approached her afterward to ask whether I had tipped her twice -- she said that they've had this complaint before, but the first tip goes to other staff (not her) and the second 20% goes to her. She added that the owner knows that people feel swindled when they discover this, but won't change the practice. We left. Outside waiting for our Lyft (and complaining about how dishonest this felt) and someone on their staff -- maybe a manager -- overhears us and proceeds to ARGUE that the charges were not hidden and I could just go get a refund. I told him the refund was not the issue (I can afford the bill and both tips), it's their lack of integrity that is troubling, and for that reason, I will not ever go back. It all just felt like a scam... read more

The food was delicious, the decor was stunning, and the music was on point! We would have been dancing if there had been a floor...and if their liquor license had been active. We attended for a bday celebration. Our waitress was familiar with each dish and had great guidance. Once we ordered, our food came out quickly and it was delicious! I really hope they get their liquor license in place so they can fully serve their guests and stay open at this prime location. read more

Stopped here while traveling to DC. The food was amazing and the staff is wonderful. I ordered the Beef Short Rib, and it fell off the bone. It was very flavorful and cooked wonderfully. My sister had the lamb chop and it was phenomenal, perfect amount of spice. Ordered the catfish for my son, perfect plate for him. Will be coming back! read more

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Drink was bomb! Hookah was hitting! However when we went it was to support a bomb band in the DMV ans they had a special item which was Amala on the menu In short- stick to the menu The whole amala plate was disgusting and it was way too overpriced Im contemplating if i even should try them again because yuck But drinks & hookah yay read more

Food: Honestly I was expecting so much more flavor. Things that were supposed to be spicy like the pepper soup had no heat to it. The Suya dish had no Suya spice. It just tasted like unseasoned filet mignon. The Moi Moi was dry. Honestly, the best way I can describe it is gentrified African food because it's clear they watered down a lot a lot of the flavor profiles to suit a particular audience. Service: Our hostess was great. Gave good insight to the menu and offered suggestions based on honest feedback. read more

Food was mediocre and management was extremely unprofessional. Hired restaurant for a private event of over 30 guests in which we rented the venue prior to opening. Most guests ordered food and drinks and management rushed us out of establishment due to them "opening" even though they were no guests waiting to enter nor dine in. Management proceeded to argue with guests, turned music over guests speaking in attempts to rush us out, and was extremely disrespectful. I would not dine nor do business with this company again. Go to Swahili Village instead. read more

Delicious food and great ambiance. We sat at the bar and had friendly attentive service. I ordered the beef tagine which came out cold but they gave me a new order pretty quickly. Flavorful food and large portions. Plantains were delicious. I'll definitely come back and sit outside read more

We had dinner here on 7/26/23. The service was great and the food was really flavorful and cooked well. We purchased 4 3-course meals (the more economical way to go), ordered all different things and then shared them. The person with the most sensitive palate (she doesn't like spicy food) enjoyed the Catfish fingers, Mac-n-cheese, collard greens and the slaw the most. We all felt like the Jerk Chicken Tacos were the best (they have a kick), followed closely by the catfish strips. The fried Cornish hen is like chicken strips, so another good choice for those who don't like spicy or for the kids. The Combination Suya platter (steak, shrimp and chicken with plantains) was also a hit. The Lamb chop and Oxtails dinners were okay, but not the best we ever had. The Okra stew was good, but we didn't care so much for the fufu. For sides, everyone loved the Mac-n-cheese, collard greens, jullof, and plantains. While we were there early in the evening, we were told they do stay open till 5am. Great to know if you are touring the city in the cool of the night rather than day. read more

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I haven't experienced this level of food and service in a long time. Moi moi gives you soul food with and African style. Mamimah hands down the definition of service with a smile. Extremely knowledgeable and verse on the menu. The food was served quick and perfect temperature and the flavors are amazing. Definitely wait till the end to order your drinks because you will won't to fully taste everything. Great price lots of flavor and comforting service. read more

Yesterday I went for brunch. I had a great experience. It was a large party and the service was pretty on point. I got the chicken and donut with greens, side order or grits and Brussel sprouts. At first I was thinking it wasn't enough food. But it was fulfilling. A great hearty meal. I wouldn't like more than 1/4 cup of greens though. They need to replace the donut with another pastry. It was a bland Kristy Kreme replica. The grits however were horrible. It has the consistency of porridge and no flavor. I sent them back and got the brussel sprouts. Def a winner. I also ordered side of yams which I was too full to eat but tasted them and was pleased. Con- The drinks are greatly over priced. Spot is small but quaint size. Need to add coat racks. I've been in summer for dinner. Loved the gogo band. Wasn't too impressed with the food. Nevertheless brunch redeemed them. I would suggest adding cornbread to their menu. Oh and it is black owned which is always a plus. Love supporting us. read more