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    Radio Kwara

    4.3 (21 reviews)
    Open 5:30 pm - 11:00 PM

    Radio Kwara Photos

    RADIO KWARA ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Radio Kwara

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    Manan D.

    Came here to try the new hyped west African restaurant by Ayo Balogun, the James Beard award winning owner of Dept of Culture. The setting in Radio Kwara is less fancy and feels more homey, like you're in a friend's house. The chef cooks the food right there in the dining room using just a few burners and pans. I'm certainly not an expert on Nigerian food, so I let our very helpful waiter dictate what we ordered, which turned out to be a great choice. I LOVED the Moi Moi and the bread with minced goat the most. Both were super flavorful and had amazing texture. The jollof was also very good but I wish it had some meat in it and was spicier, I've definitely had more spicy jollof before. Also I feel like the usual orange color is so iconic and didn't love the black rice look as much. This is just a minor nitpick though as everything tasted great overall. I highly recommend as I had a fantastic experience. The place is also BYOB so bring some wine or buy it from the place next door, and have a great time with your SO/friends/family .

    Menu May 2025
    MayaBee C.

    I had read some very good reviews and was looking for a last-minute reservation for a saturday night - I was surprised and happy there were lots available at Radio Kwara. I hope to see it booked up soon though! This tiny sliver of a restaurant (about 5 2-tops and maybe 10 spots at the bar) was much more snug than I had imagined. But regardless of size, it has a nice, chic ambience. The server explained the menu thoroughly - bless him because he has to do this over and over for almost every guest, every shift. But that's the burden of serving food that most non-Nigerian New Yorkers don't know (this was indeed my first time eating Nigerian food, after only hearing about it from diasporic friends). I tried 2 dishes (as a solo diner), the suya charrged octopus and the Egusi Stew with swallows (pounded yam). I enjoyed both, though since I'm a newbie, I can't tell you how they compare in actual context. I was happy to try something iconic in terms of egusi and pounded yam - I loved the texture of the swallows and the bitter (but not too bitter) and complex nature of the stew. I would only rate the octopus a 2 out of 5 - it was pretty tough (one big arm, which means the top of the tentacle was quite thick, which would mean a lot of TLC to get tender), but I enjoyed the skinner end and the spice. The prices are prettious serious - $23 for the Agege bread with wara, for example, which looked and smelled great but was just a big appetizer. My octopus was $28 and egusi was $22 (a good deal for a large portion, I thought). They are cooking off of a few hot plates, a tiny prep station, small fridges, and a sink, not a full kitchen! You can watch the 2 chefs work in a tiny 4' x 4' space. That made me sketpical initially, but I've seen this work for another emerging brooklyn restaurant long ago, which led to them eventually getting a space with a full kitchen, so I know it can be done. The sauces and other ingredients had obviously been prepped with care (my guess is at the kitchen of dept of culture), so it's not like they were microwaving things or something. This is place to visit more than once if you can so you can explore the menu. There are delicious mocktails and a wine store next door (if you want to spend $20 on corkage!!). I thought this was a great intro to a cuisine that hasn't caught on enough in NYC, and leads me to be interested in trying out more - particularly in trying to get a seat at the bigger sister resto, Dept of Culture.

    Mushroom Agege

    I had a wonderful time here! I went to New York to visit my girlfriend, and this is one of the restaurants we wanted to try. They have wonderful service and delicious food! I hope they continue to grow in perfect all of their dishes.

    Iyan ati egusi, recognizably traditional yet undeniably creative.

    My favorite meal and my favorite restaurant so far of the 2020s. Ayo Balogun's menu at Radio Kwara is a genuinely inventive take on food from central Nigeria, a patchwork borderland of palm tree groves and wooded savanna that combines snacks, street fare and formal cuisines of west and north Nigeria. Traditional favorites like wara cheese are reinterpreted in a way that is new in flavor profile and presentation, while still being recognizable as a favorite Fulani-inspired cheese snack. Similarly, the pulped yam tubers and egusi mango-seed sauce ubiquitous in southern Nigeria is on the menu as iyan ati egusi. Instantly recognizable as a staple of family meals and buka cafeterias, the fresh spinach reinterpretation and smoothness of the pounded yam is a standout. Dessert (puff-puff, coated in a tart-sweet caramel and apple sauce) is another must-try. The only partial miss on the menu is the large but slightly under-seasoned guinea fowl, perhaps useful as an alternative for those who are new or experimenting with deep and bold West African flavors. This tastes like one of New York's standout restaurants, hopefully destined for a long run as a station on the city's destination map for excellent, elevated African food. It's intimate yet impressive, with relaxed interaction between the kitchen staff, waiters and other diners. I loved it and will be back as soon as possible.

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    1 year ago

    food was fantastic. Try the agege bread and the pepper soup. Service was fast and the ambiance was cool.

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    2 years ago

    Extremely mid and pretentious staff. Nothing like the OG dept. of culture. Should've kept it simple!

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    AKWAABA RESTAURANT

    AKWAABA RESTAURANT

    4.2(49 reviews)
    2.2 miProspect Lefferts Gardens, Flatbush
    $$

    Cash only! I must mention this first. No delivery either and…read morethis place is strictly take out. Saw locals coming and going so I am excited to enjoy this! 1. Waakye and stew with spaghetti with meat 2. Jollof and vegetable with fish 3. Peanut soup/okra soup 4. Fufu and Banku Service was great. I will phone it in next time to shorten the wait time. Quiet ambiance will lots of love and care going on in the kitchen!

    Aunthetic Ghanaian food that's conveniently located in Flatbush, which is lucky for me. It's a bit…read morestrange for the area, since the neighborhood is predominantly Carribean, but thankfully Akwaaba graces us (the name itself means, "Welcome", in Twi). I was told you know it's a legit place since inside, there's hanging one of the most common Ghanaian house decorations, the wall mat with the famous woman smiling from ear to ear, holding a vessel and a large bowl. This place is definitely a hole in the wall, resembling more of a closet on the side of a building than an actual eatery. It's cash only, be prepared, and also you might have to ring the doorbell since the guy isn't always there attentive waiting at the door. Prices were fair for what they were offering. We got the Banku with okra soup and Waakye with goat meat. Both were legit, according to my friend, and reminded him of home so much that he closed his eyes. He said we definitely need to go back.

    Photos
    AKWAABA RESTAURANT
    AKWAABA RESTAURANT - Fufu and Okra soup with goat meat (first option on the menu)

    Fufu and Okra soup with goat meat (first option on the menu)

    AKWAABA RESTAURANT

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    Akara House

    Akara House

    4.8(39 reviews)
    0.9 miCrown Heights

    I came on a rainy day right at 11:30am when they open, and the owner was still getting things ready…read morebut kindly offered to rush my veggie sandwich order. Unfortunately that meant the bread got the microwave treatment instead of proper defrosting and toasting. If you've ever tried microwaved frozen bread, you know the texture I'm describing. The crispy honey bean (akara) burger itself was quite tasty. The patty had a crispy exterior and creamy bean paste interior, dressed up with vegan cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, and pickles. It's a nice alternative for vegetarians who dislike fake meat substitutes. They don't purport the beans taste like anything but beans. The jollof rice completed the meal. It had a rich tomato base with great depth of flavor that made everything feel more substantial. The owner was genuinely sweet about the whole rushed situation, and based on reviews, I know this is the kind of place that shines under normal circumstances. This is primarily a takeout spot with a few high-top tables by the window if you want to eat in. I'd definitely give it another shot during regular operating hours when they're not scrambling to accommodate early birds.

    STEPH JUDGEMENT: A unique vegan fast food experience…read more I'd read about them in the New Yorker and was intrigued. A vegan Nigerian fast food joint in Brooklyn? Why not! We'd never had Nigerian food but were game to try. We took a bus to a decidedly unglamorous part of town, to a humble storefront with a couple of small outdoor tables. Inside was very small, with just some bar seating by the window and a bench. We were a bit early for the lunch rush, so had the place to ourselves. The nice owner came out to greet us and take our order. The hubby ordered the Classic Akara Burger, which was their signature deep fried honey bean fritter patty on a bun with tomato, lettuce, cucumbers and vegan mayo. It was good but a bit bland. My Oyster Mushroom Wrap with bean fritter pieces and veggies had more zip, courtesy of their Nigerian red sauce, and was quite sizable--I really enjoyed it. It was a very hot day and they had no AC inside (just fans) so we opted to eat at one the outside tables, which turned out to be much cooler and quite pleasant. If you're vegan/vegetarian or just curious about what Nigerian flavors are like, I'd say it's very much worth a try.

    Photos
    Akara House - Interior

    Interior

    Akara House - Akara veggie burger

    Akara veggie burger

    Akara House - More of that interior

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    More of that interior

    Ghenet Brooklyn

    Ghenet Brooklyn

    4.0(571 reviews)
    1.3 miGowanus, Park Slope
    $$

    It's been awhile since I've tried Ghenet. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and quantity…read morethis past week. The injera bread was very fresh and delicious. I always get a combination dinner. This time I tried the Siga Wett beef stew with Ethiopian spices - very delicious! Spicy but not too spicy. Ethiopian food can be addictive, years ago I was definitely into eating a lot of Ethiopian. New York City has some great Ethiopian. If I were a tourist here, it would be on my list under "things to try." Or at least to try once ! I also had 2 vegetarian dishes - the Shiro Wett and the Messir Wett. The Shiro was made with beans. The Mesir was made with lentils. I've had the Shiro and Mesir Watt many times before - both at Ghenet as well as other Ethiopian restaurants (Awash Ethiopian on the upper west side). I think Ghenet has some of the most flavorful dishes in the city. They don't overdo it - just the right amount of spicy hotness. Overall, my favorite dish from the combination platter was the Shiro Wett. It had a light touch of smokiness that went really well with the beans. Very filling and delicious with the injera. I wish they offered fitfit salad - the menu has Ethiopian tomato salad but there are no photos of it on the online menu. There are photos of some of the other menu items but not all. I think they'd sell more stuff if there were photos since not everyone is familiar with all of the various dishes. Just a thought.

    they serve ethiopian beer & have happy hours! ask about the specials!…read more great spot, HUGE portions. keep that in mind, please share with your guests. everything is reasonably priced too. good service. for an app we got the chicken Sambusa. this was good, but i wanted more! spice level - be careful. they also give plenty of Injera for the table to share, besides what your food is served on. end or begin your meal with one of the teas. they will not disaapoint.

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    Ghenet Brooklyn
    Ghenet Brooklyn
    Ghenet Brooklyn - Veggie platter for 3. More than enough and amazingly delcicious.  Outstanding injera.

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    Veggie platter for 3. More than enough and amazingly delcicious. Outstanding injera.

    Cafe Rue Dix - I ordered the Mafe and it was so good. Felt like a much needed home cooked meal.

    Cafe Rue Dix

    4.0(483 reviews)
    1.0 miCrown Heights
    $$

    I ordered take out from here and the Senagalese flavors did not disappoint. I ordered the thiebou…read morejen which is my favorite Senegalese fish and it was really good. I also got a side of the onion confit which is typically served with the yassa and it was also really good on the jollof rice. I got it delivered and it was hot and as ordered. I'll definitely make sure to get food from here whenever Im in the area since I cant regularly get Senagalese food at home.

    The good: - food is INCREDIBLY delicious, like out of this…read moreworld good. We tried the beef empanadas and mushroom croquettes for apps, dibi senegal (grilled lamb chops with rice and plantains) and the mafe (peanut stew with beef)-- nothing was left on our plates at the end. The things that can be improved: - the service was quite chaotic- we had made this reservation days in advance and were seated and had already placed our order for appetizers (or so we thought) when the waiter regretted to inform us that we'd have to be moved to a different table. The table we were moved to was right in the middle of the restaurant but by the door and it felt like we were being bumped into all night - as it turns out, the waiter moved us but never did place our appetizer order. So we waited, and waited, and no food came. They even served a table who came in after us! We did find it super strange but figured maybe our food was taking longer? Anyway eventually the waiter realized what happened and came over to take our order for the apps and also our entree (as at this point we had been seated closer to 45 mins). He also offered us each a free drink "on the house" if we wanted as an apology for the wait. Two of the three of us took him up on the offer and ordered two mocktails. As it turns out, at the end of the night when we got the bill, both of these mocktails were added on to our bill, despite what we were told that they'd be "on the house" - my friend ordered a dish to go - which she wanted to take for her mom- and they forgot to add it to the bill or place the order so at the end of the night my friend had to leave empty handed and disappoint her mom who was very excited to try the dish. Overall: The food is phenomenal. The service can be significantly improved.

    Photos
    Cafe Rue Dix
    Cafe Rue Dix
    Cafe Rue Dix

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    Buka - Goat Stew, Egusi, Pounded Yams. Soooooo delicioussssss

    Buka

    3.0(307 reviews)
    0.4 miClinton Hill, Bedford Stuyvesant
    $$

    The food I ordered was ok !! I love the agusi but the mixed meat was a bit under cook for me ..read more

    DO NOT EAT HERE! I wish I could give this place 0 stars! I ordered the ​family deal , Egusi ​and…read moreginger juice. The food is nasty, undercooked and flavorless! First thing- The family deal states that it feeds a family of 4 (which is a complete lie because it feeds 1 person!) and comes with all of these things. My order was missing the jollof rice, suya, puff puff, and the 2 sides of spinach! Second thing- They lied and said that the fish is Tilapia fish but it is NOT!!! The fish that they used is cheap and nasty Swai fish. It has a completely different taste from Tilapia fish as it is fishy tasting with a really soft soft texture. The "Tilapia ​" was disgusting! It was flavorless and barely cooked. Third thing- The ​Egusi was the worst that I ever had in my life! It did not even taste like egusi! There was no maggi, crayfish, or flavors added and it was drenched in palm oil. They also did not cook the Egusi all the way through and it had huge huge chunks in it. Fourth thing- The sauce or "stew" that they put on this fish was also terrible as well! I completely wasted $70 on this restaurant! I would NOT recommend ever buying anything from this restaurant. They lied about the portion size and what came with the meal and the food is gross! I don't know how this restaurant is in operation. I'm not even sure if the people who made this food is Nigerian because none of this food tasted right! DO NOT ORDER FROM HERE! You've been warned!!!! BTW - I threw everything in the trash! Disgusting I made this purchase on Uber

    Photos
    Buka
    Buka - Mixed Meat with Egusi & Pounded yam

    Mixed Meat with Egusi & Pounded yam

    Buka

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    Radio Kwara - african - Updated May 2026

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