Saw another review saying they tried to come twice during opening hours and it was always closed. I thought it couldn't happen to me... until I tried twice over the span of several weeks as well and found the restaurant closed both times during normal hours (between 6-8pm), with zero explanation or paper saying why it was closed. 2 stars, because I'm sure the food is good... if you're lucky and ever get to see them open. read more

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet!!!!! I still remember the day my partner RAN BACK home from Nneji to tell me he found this amazing west African food place that I need to get food from, and he took my "order" and ran back out to bring me food from Nneji. We always have a nice time talking with the lady there. She is very nice and personable. She will show you the food they have and how they're good for your health and will answer all your questions!! The food is just SO GOOD. I really don't know what to compare it to. It feels like home. Bunch of flavors just working perfectly together. I also love the textures you get from each dish. The food used to be pretty spicy and even though I don't do spices, they were so good I still kept eating while sweating like Niagara. But I had them yesterday and I feel like the hotness of the spice was toned down. They also have some soaps and other west African products that intrigues me all the time. They don't have indoor seating so I always take out to bring home to eat or eat outside at a park somewhere. Just go check them out I promise you won't regret it! read more

Nneji - Yassa with chicken , Okra and Spinach with Salmon, Pounded Yam (Fufu), Sweet Potato Porridge - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

Second time I've tried to come during their business hours and it's closed. As a customer I did my due diligence by checking yelp, google, and even their instagram. The least they can do is post on their instagram story that they will be closed. Don't see myself trying a third time to come back. Mind you when you walk here there isn't much around so after passing by many places I could've eaten at, I was stuck just going back home read more

Cute, small African restaurant with food on steam trays. It is also halal. The owner is very sweet and friendly. She offered me samples. I ended up getting the beef stew, jollof, and a chicken dish that I didn't remember the name of. Might have been yassa. The food wasn't that spicy although the flavor of the chicken with onions has a really strong mustard flavor. The pounded yam helps mellow out the flavor. The jollof was grainy. I enjoyed the beef stew. The food was ok, but I had better. read more

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The restaurant earned its customer volume. The environment adds to your meal. The staff members are terrific and create a welcoming atmosphere. The dishes feature unexpected flavor profiles that delight. The complete dinner experience was wonderful. read more

The flavors speak to culinary understanding matched by customer understanding. Customers maintain this spot's popularity. These employees really listen and respond well. The dishes showcase recent ingredients arranged artistically. I'm now a committed patron of this place. read more

Ate here today for dinner by myself after work. This was definitely my first time eating West African food feeling curious about what to choose and eat for the first time. I had brought and tried the egusi soup and had a side of garri (mashed cassava) that it tasted quite good and had a strong spice taste to make it tasty. The service was also phenomenal and extremely friendly that the person who was working in the store name was Beatrice. She was also super nice, welcoming and chill to explain to me what each dishes taste and look like and how it's cooked from scratch. I couldn't agree more and I would definitely eat and come back again next time! :) read more

Nneji - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Excellent place! Employees are consistently friendly. The serving sizes impress and the costs stay fair. Their meals and staff performance earn recognition. Check out this spot and you'll enjoy the food. read more

I stumbled into a place that clearly takes food seriously. The menu satisfies. The setting enhances everything. His upbeat demeanor helped make our first Nneji visit memorable. The dishes are consistently excellent. The employees are friendly, the dishes wonderful, and the surroundings enjoyable. read more

Genuinely enjoyable. Their food comes in quantities that satisfy two easily. Their staff delivered fast, pleasant attention that my family would enjoy. The food here stands out for quality. Our visit was thoroughly enjoyable. read more

Six people in our group ordered different meals. Their food tastes homemade but better! The workers are outstanding; greeting customers warmly and handling requests with smiles. The dishes here outclass everything else available. This restaurant provides exceptional meals. read more

I'd been on the hunt for a legit West African/Nigerian and stumbled upon Nneji a while ago. This restaurant was a 2-person operation. There are also some small provisions such a shea butters, yam powder, Suya powder etc. that they had in stock. Staff was very kind and patiently explained what everything was to us. My bf and I settled on the egusi (melon seed stew in palm oil), jollof and mixed meat stew (beef, lamb, chicken). They threw in a bit of yassa, which I had never tried before (onion, mustard). Everything was tasty, well seasoned with a pleasant level of spice. I'm also super picky about the type of egusi I eat and this was probably one of the few times I scraped my container clean. My bf who wasn't as familiar with these dishes is now an egusi fan. Just as a heads up, there wasn't any seating in the restaurant, which we didn't realize when we were coming. That said, just plan ahead for where you'll be eating this fantastic meal. Super glad I came and I cannot wait to come back! read more

The ladies at the store were busy cooking in 90 degree weather and I was so impressed with the flavors. The chef made me a sampler of what she was cooking and everything we so good. I figure if they can stand the heat and make it, the least I can do is have stew during the NYC heatwave. well worth it. I will be back to try other things. read more

Nneji - Joloff rice, egusi stew with chicken. About half the portion saving rest for tomorrow. - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

This recent newly opened restaurant is worth a try. Delicious African food. It is a very small take-out store. The food is prepped and ready to order. They have a few main options, about 4 daily, and a few sides, about 3 or can choose a bread. I tried the red stew with chicken. This is my fav. Very flavorful and a bit spicy. Great with the jollof rice side, also my fav. Also had the okra dish. It is good if you like okra. The melon seed dish is good also. It is a bit more mild than the flavors of the red stew. Good with rice or garri. Garri has an interesting chewy texture, more so than a potato. I tried a bit of everything to learn about the foods also. There are a bunch of baked goods to choose from. These are from an Italian bakery in Astoria and very tasty. My fav is the apple turnover. Crust is baked well. The elephant ears cookie is very good - crispy and flaky. It is about $2-3/ea for the baked goods. The owner is very nice and friendly. She took the time to explain the different dishes and answer quite a few questions about the foods. Price is very reasonable. About $8/ea for the mains. Would definitely go back. Also good to help small businesses especially at this time. read more

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Did not like the food one bit. Rice was dry, chicken was dry, lamb was hard as a rock. Red stew was all fat, one little piece of meat. Disappointed. Will never eat here again. read more

I've been here 3 times in the past year and been really appreciating a cuisine I've never really explored before. It's strange how an unfamiliar food could feel so comfort food-like. My favorites here have been the lamb shank (super tender and well seasoned, comes with some yassa which is a mustard/black pepper seasoned onion dish), egusi (melon seed soup that is so distinctive), and jollop rice (a bit saltier than normal base rice, very flavorful). I've also had the harissa chicken and okra, which were both okay. The other two grain bases (fonio and garra I think) were relatively flavorless to me although the texture was interesting. The only reasons for a star deduction are for logistica. The prices are so confusing - think they've been updated since the menu they have but I never know how much I'll pay (still reasonable). Also, the hours tend to be inconsistent - I've stopped by a couple of times only for it to still be closed. I do love that the owner will allow you to bring your own Tupperware, but the last time I did, it was a different person and he seemed new and didn't know what to do with them. All in all, the business has some operational details to iron out I think, but loving the food! read more

The lady behind the counter was INCREDIBLY nice, a very rare trait for almost any eatery. She shows interest the things you talk about with her. I was allowed to sample a few of the items on the steam table before making my order which was great. All of the food that I ordered had amazing texture, nice flavor, and paired well together. The place itself does not have anywhere to sit, but one can easily walk to a nearby park or bench to eat the food as I did. There is a variety of things to buy that are not hot foods waiting to be eaten along the walls inside. Will definitely be coming here again the next time I am craving west African food! read more

Nneji - Yassa, Curry Thyme Oxtail, Jollof Rice - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

How wonderful to have this take-out only spot in Astoria/Dutch Kills. I recently went on a rainy night for a meal that would give me energy. I eat soups/stews year-round. The portion for the price and quality is great. We ordered egusi with salmon and yassa. We ordered garri and fonio for the sides and what you order is based on preference. There are vegetarian options as you can see from the attached menu. It's a small menu for now and I hope they can find a way to add some seasonal variety so I can try more soups/stews. They also have coffee and baked goods (from a bakery in Ditmars) if you find yourself in the area and need breakfast. read more

Nneji - Baked goods if you need breakfast - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Went to Nneji for pick up. Liked the menu and the food. The packaging of the food was incredible as well. Very good prices and portions. I had Yassa with Fonio and also the classic Garri with Egusi soup (Ofe Egusi in Igbo). It was a solid mix of West African dishes and there more on the menu to get/try. Cannot wait to go back again for some more. read more

Nneji - Outdoor /store front - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

Great egusi soup. Friendly owner. Very helpful in selecting dishes that work well together. Everything was spiced well and delicious. read more

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Incredible. Woman that runs it is badass, a visit is a lesson in West African history, culture, and amazing food. Reasonable prices too, for some of the most flavorful fare in NYC. read more

One of my new favorite spot in Astoria. I'm so happy they decided to open in the midst of this pandemic. The food is a amazing, the welcome always warm and she doesn't try to peddle plastic containers to you as many of the other spot do (spoiler: plastic is not safer re: covid, and in the long run it's just killing us). Anyhow, bring your container and your appetite, you won't regret it. read more

Delicious flavors! This is our second time ordering from Nneji. It is on a burgeoning food block in Astoria, with our perennial favorite Tea + Milk as well Best Pizza Shop. The vibe inside Nneji is warm and cosmopolitan - they have a small market of specialty foods from the diaspora (the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Continent). The chef is lovely and her food is incredible. My husband enjoys their pastries, which are Mediterranean. There are also African bags for sale, which would make a good holiday gift. During this difficult year, it is wonderful to see a new business open in the neighborhood - it makes you optimistic. read more

Nneji - Our take out dinner, two spinach dishes, a West African Red Stew and Jollof rice. Everything was incredible! - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

Wow! My first time having west African food. I can't stop raving. The owner is so warm and welcoming just as everyone had mentioned. She allowed me to try some of the stews. Honestly I can't pick a favorite. It's also just so comforting and the very definition of soul food if you're near Astoria you need to go try Nnejis food. Seriously 100/10. Also, the owner is just a great person to talk to making the experience that much more enjoyable. We spoke about other cultures and foods we wanted to try. The place is cozy and she sells other items besides food. read more

Omgee my little sister was visiting and we got some soup from here. Wowww the flavors are so complex... really good soul food.. I got a red soup and a green goal herby soup. Both just so flavorful and made with love will come back for sure!!! The lady (owner?) Was so much fun to chat with about korean and nigerian culture. So sweet and funny!! read more

Delicious food! I live around the corner and have been waiting for this place to open. The menu is small and perfect. They have vegan friendly options as well. I ordered yassa with chicken, a spinach and okra dish along with fonio and garri (made out of cassava). They also have a section in the front where they sell sweets and breads as well. I can't wait to go back and order everything else. Great addition to the neighborhood :) read more

Nneji - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

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Wow! Sooooo good. I ordered almost everything as it's so affordable. Very similar to my family recipes. Delivery was truly contact free . Fabulous customer service even better food :) This will be my new go to. read more

Everything we've tried here has been great! The yassa and okra, paired with salmon, would be favorites. The egusi/melon seed soup is also great, can be spicy depending on the day. Garri was also great to try, perfect complement to the texture of the yassa. read more

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I got the okra and spinach dish with garri- super tasty!! The okra dish was really flavorful with the garri as a nice mild compliment. Really filling amount of food for just $8. The woman behind the counter was super friendly too and took the time to explain all the dishes. Definitely a new go-to in the area. Vegan friendly! read more

Nneji - Okra and Spinach and Garri - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement will like to thank Nneji for your contribution to our Spring Into Health event this past Tuesday, May 11, 2021 in New York City Housing Authority Astoria Houses. The residents of Astoria Houses truly enjoyed the taste of West African food. We are so grateful for your participation in making our event even more enjoyable. Vanessa Jones-Hall Program Director T2 Test & Trace Jacob A. Riis Neighborhood Settlement read more

The host/server was so patient with explaining to us the different options. This isn't a place you would go for a sit down but to stop and grab some delicious take out. read more

Really good food -- the egusi and harissa chicken was delicious. Also, very nice owner!

The owner is so cool! I got the yassa with salmon and egusi. He was very good about recommending things to pair with the salmon and really packed the takeout box. The food itself was pretty heavy for me but super flavorful! There is no seating anywhere so takeout only for now. read more

I live a block away and was awaiting the opening of Nneji! The first time I went in the owner gave me tastes of everything on the menu to help me decide and I was blown away by the flavors! I ended up getting the Yassa with fonio and my husband got the west African red stew with rice. What a great meal! Filling and enough for leftovers the next day. What an amazing new addition to the neighborhood. read more

Nneji - Menu - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

Stopped by this place a while ago for pickup because I was intrigued by a West African place in this part of Queens. The owner was super friendly and the food was just what I wanted. read more

It is food for the soul. It is just so good. And the owner is super friendly. Eevrything is just perfect and very good vegetarian options! Try this little gem! read more

This was my first time eating West African food and it was so yummy! My friend and I ordered yassa with salmon and red stew with chicken. We absolutely loved the yassa and highly recommend it. I have low tolerance for spice so the red stew had a kick for me, but my friend could barely taste the spice. The woman we ordered from was super friendly and was kind enough to explain the dishes. One thing we forgot to ask was utensils, so don't forget to ask for some before you leave! We're so glad we tried it out! read more

Nneji - African Near Me - Astoria, New York

First thing I must say is the young lady taking care of us was so welcoming. If it wasn't for covid I would have grabbed a table and some chairs and spent the day chatting. So this all started when my husband took us on another one of his adventures. We ended up in Astoria (let's say far away) @ Nneji's. We are a ravenous bunch so we pretty much ordered everything they offered. I felt bad for the person waiting behind me as I was afraid we leave her with food any food. Lol. Surprisingly my favorite dish was the okra and spinach. I don't like okra but this was so tasty with the garri (which is new to me too.) It felt so home-y and comforting. Really spicy and so nice. My daughter loved the jollof rice and my son really enjoyed the stew goat and jollof rice as well. My husband liked the okra spinach a lot too. The red sauce stew was familiar with hints of so many regions, there's tomato sauce, bay leaf, warm spices and palm oil. Another comforting dish. We all gave it two thumbs up --which has never occurred in any of our gastronomical adventures! read more

I was looking for egusi and fufu from the dish blowing up on TikTok. The lady that owns this place is so sweet! The food was so fresh and delicious! Can't wait to go back and try more dishes. read more

Had the red beef stew and rice jolof. Absolutely delicious and I can't wait to come here again!