This place was delicious!!! I am from the American South, so am intimately familiar with certain…read moreingredients that come from West Africa, but had never had West African food. What a treat. I had the jollof rice with fish (the fish was an excellent choice), and my husband had the chicken afra. Our toddler enjoyed his plantains and vermicelli rice. The service was friendly, it feels like a mom and pop shop with the same person running the front helping prepare your food. Ambiance is very modest, but that was fine for a young family like ours. We will certainly come back for more.

Food safety should be the number one priority for any food business, and Jollof Hub failed to…read moredemonstrate that. Don't get me wrong, the food tasted amazing, the portion sizes are great, and the price was justified. However, the negatives outweigh the positives for this restaurant. Me and 3 other people came in, and the store was empty. We ordered 3 okra soups, 1 with chicken, 2 with lamb, and 1 jollof rice chicken plate. The first plate took about 40 minutes to come out, which was an egusi soup to which we had not ordered. We still had to wait longer for all of our food to come out. Upon my food arriving, I noticed there was a hair in the Saran Wrap of the fufu, making contact with my food. Because we had already waited so long for our food to come out, I didn't bother to mention it to the worker. Comparing Jollof Hub to Pass D Jollof, this place has better portion sizes and better pricing. It was $26 for okra soup that includes protein and 2 portions of fufu whilst PDJ charges $34 for okra soup, you have to pay extra for protein, and 1 portion of fufu. That said, I don't think I'd come back here due to the food safety issue.

Delicious food, has been consistent for YEARS! Highly recommend their sweet plantains!read more

I haven't had much West African food in the past so when we were looking for some new food to try…read moreout over the weekend, we came across Bantaba. As other reviews state, this is kind of a strange restaurant that seems more like it's for regulars rather than new customers. There's no actual printed menu other than hints of a menu on the signboard above the register (and we confirmed this with the cashier). I guess this is to save on cost, which coincidentally also allows them to adjust pricing on the fly? There are photos posted of the menu from 2024, but my guess is those are of an old pre-COVID menu, given that the prices increased over 50% at this point. Per other reviews, dine-in orders are also packaged in takeout boxes and can take a variable amount of time to cook. We don't usually get takeout much, but decided to call in an order for this visit. This was at around 5PM on Saturday and we were promised a 30 minute wait. We arrived 30 minutes later, paid for the order, and it ended up taking about another 10 minutes. Not too bad. Benechin Beef ($18.99) - As I learned, benechin is essentially a different term for the more commonly known (at least in the US) jollof rice. In this case, the rice has a deep tomato and spiced umami that combines a pleasant saltiness with a heat level that builds and builds. It's topped with a small side of cabbage that seems to be stewed in the same spices as the rice. There's then a piece of yucca root, stewed but still rather toothsome with fiber strands all in one direction like muscle grains. For the beef, they include four pieces of thinly sliced barbecued meat. The meat is extremely flavorful with what seems to be a black pepper and allium based spice mixture. In terms of texture, it's quite tough and chewy, almost to the level of beef jerky. (4/5) Afra Lamb ($20.99) - This dish comes with a choice of rice or salad, not both as the older menu states. We went with the rice which comes in a smaller container and is a long grain rice cooked until perfectly fluffy. It's cooked with salt, which is something that I'm not used to. The larger container includes a mound of bone-in lamb meat doused in a savory and tangy mustard based sauce. The meat is a very interesting mixture of off-cuts, a combination of cross-cut ribs, shanks, lamb chops, and some random other cuts. The lamb is mostly bone in and there are tons of small bone shards all over the meat, making it a bit of a pain to eat. The meat isn't very gamey and all and is much more tender as compared to the beef jerky in the benechin. On top of the lamb, they include mustard infused softened onions and whole quick-charred onion rings, resulting in a still crunchy texture. They include some powdered dried chilis is a small pile hidden under the onions. Be careful - it's starts out smoky like paprika to start and the heat only starts to build after a couple of seconds. (4/5) Bantaba is a great place to try some new food. While it's not the most beginner friendly restaurant, it offers some flavors and dishes that are hard to find around Seattle. Bathrooms - Single unisex room

Spontaneous dinner here while heading to Full Tilt next door and decided to try something new since…read morewe've never had Kenyan food before. Really glad we did! It was pretty busy and the food did take a while to come out, but everything tasted super fresh and it was definitely worth the wait. The portions are large and the flavors were incredible. What really stood out was the service. Samantha was amazing! She was so friendly, funny, and welcoming even though the restaurant was packed and there was a line. She took the time to walk us through the menu since it was our first time there, let alone trying Kenyan food. Even with how busy it was, she made sure each customer was taken care of and exuded such positivity. You can tell she really cares about her customers. Great food, even better service. Would definitely come back.

Super friendly service and delicious food. I went for the first time during the Plate of Nations…read moreand so glad I tried it. The food was really delicious, best collard greens--they tasted fresh and bright, not too much vinegar like most places. The rice was so good I even took home the leftovers and they were great the next day. Beef samosa was piping hot, freshly fried when we got it

After spending weeks in Tanzania, we were hooked onto non-curry based goat dishes, especially Mbuzi…read moreChoma! Our search found us at Juba, which is East African cuisine (Somalian, but not Tanzanian) food. Recos: 1) Hilib Ari (Goat with rice): Cooked with onions. It is a dry dish, wth falling of the bone tender meat. It is flavorful, not heavily spiced and not hot (for me). The intrinsic flavor of the meat is what I love. The accompanying rice is nice. Still 5/5 2) Lamb Shank: Very large portion. Delicious.I found it less flavorful than the goat. 4/5 3) Chicken Suqaar: Nice dish but not something I'll order again 2/5 We have gone back three times. The people who serve are quite, nice and generous to help with advice. It is a clean place. Lot of the customers are getting lunch between work.

This was my first time trying Somali cuisine, so I had to ask for suggestions on what to order, and…read morewas recommended the goat and rice plate. No regrets here! The goat was flavorful and tender, and came on a mountain of perfectly cooked and seasoned rice. They also provided hot sauce and a lemon wedge. Others in my party got the chicken suqaar plates, and enjoyed their meals too. We all were obsessed with the bisbaas/basbaas (green hot sauce) that came with our meal, and I really liked the dynamic flavors in the food. Pricing is a little high, but the amount of food you get is generous. I'd definitely come back again and will plan to take leftovers home or share an entree.

Went here to try fufu for the first time. It's a cozy, spacious restaurant. The server was very…read morewelcoming, generous, and happy to share her knowledge on the food. The food came out at a great pace and everything was perfection! The hand pies were incredible. Flaky and flavorful. I would go back for those alone. We ordered fufu, egusi, jollof rice, and goat soup. The flavors were incredible, and the textures were phenomenal. It was our first time trying fufu and I thought I would struggle to swallow the food without chewing, but it was easy to break the habit. The Fufu, paired with the entrees, was incredibly delicious and satisfying to eat. We rounded the night out with some dessert. The puff puffs were a very different flavor than I expected. It was a delightful surprise from the expectation of regular fried dough. Can't wait to come back sometime!

I can only speak to the food because my spouse ordered takeout. West African Cuisine is coming to…read moreits own in the Pacific Northwest. I have eaten at many establishments and had the great experience of spending time in Senegal to get a sense of West African spices and flavor. One thing is notable: heat level. In Senegal, you can get the food with as much or as little spice heat as you like. In fact, some dishes are simply served with spice heat as standard. The Pacific Northwest has a much different spice heat tolerance and it's much milder than one would ever find in various countries in West Africa. Now, take out was simple and easy, but one dish requires a greater prep time (Branzino). I had the Branzino. This grilled fish was well seasoned and the plantains were fried well and the cassava was served in a ball. I have had variations on this same dish from other African places, and was surprised with how dry all the items were. Typically, the juices and flavors are amazing, but this was different. I'm far from an expert on African cuisine, but I know the spices and flavors and I was disappointed. I asked a chef at another African restaurant once about heat and spice and he told me that they prepare the food two ways, the Africans who want spice and heat know to ask, but the establishment has to cater to the local palate. I'm obligated to go back and ask for the spicier version of this dish to see how it differs. For now, I will have to rest with the food being ok but not impressive. This is what I would call the safe zone for those who want to try West African cuisine but are afraid of spice and heat.

Fresh, delicious real food! Service was fast, professional, and polite. Lotsa clean seating…read more Authentic bold flavors.

Great food, decent prices!…read more I was seeking something beyond the typical food offerings while on my way to the airport, and this was my chosen spot. I'm not very familiar with African food, and the menu items were mostly unfamiliar to me. Even so, I'm thoroughly pleased with my take-out order (ugali with beef that also came with a couple sides: a little salad and lentils with cooked greens of some sort)! It was maybe a 15 min wait for my food to be prepared after ordering, but it came out hot and flavorful! I look forward to coming back again.

Dijah's Kitchen in Lynnwood is our fourth West African restaurant. We continue to enjoy this…read moreregion's seasonings and flavors and find tonight's food delicious and enjoyable. By now, we are minor 'pros' and know to bring some patience to West African restaurants. Entrees generally take about 30 minutes. To fill the gap, we order an appetizer. Service was "shy". The server approached cautiously always with a big smile. English was good enough but don't expect deep detail replies. Luckily, we are familiar with the food. The restaurant is modest in décor and narrow in shape. A cluster of tables in the back can sit a large group. The Food: Shrimp Pies, $8.99 - 5 Stars This is the only restaurant out of four that offers a shrimp version of the meat pie. Perfectly fried, these were really good! The server said this is his favorite amongst the pies. Lamb Dibi, $21.99 - 4.5 Stars Well-seasoned lamb pieces are well grilled. It comes with a choice of starch; the plantain was great. A surprising delight is the dressing on the onions. Yummy. Grilled Branzino, $25 - 4.5 Stars Not for the faint of heart, this is a whole fish grilled. Honestly, I think the rest of world eats whole fish while US and Canada eat filets only. They made sure to give us the two inches of tail that had broken off. I have to admit I was amused. Perfectly cooked, hubby picked this fish clean. The sweet potato fries are also very good. Jollof Rice with Chicken, $18 - 5 Stars Ever since I learned jollof rice is every family's own recipe from our first W. African restaurant, I have ordered it from all others to try each variant. The Dijah version has a good chewy rice that is superbly well seasoned. The chicken is also very well prepared and flavored. Theirs might be my new favorite. I ordered it to go and sampled a bit at the restaurant. The 5 Stars overall rating is focused on the food. Don't expect fine dining 'ambiance'.

Just ordered the grilled fish. It was great. I got it with vermicelli. The onion and sauce was…read morequality. Ordered meat pie and the sweet potato fries. Good stuff all around. I'll be back.

Food was ordered off a QR code menu on your phone, not with a waiter. I ordered jollof rice with…read moreboneless chicken thigh and the wait wasn't long at all. This was my first time trying jollof rice or Nigerian food in general and I enjoyed it! The rice was in some kind of tomato sauce with spices. The spice level was perfect for me, not too hot or boring. The chicken thigh was tender and had soo much flavorful sauce. My total was 23 and some change after tax and tip, slightlyyy steep but still worth it. I left a very full and satisfied customer.

Don't even play yourself... it's delicious Every bite hits like it knows exactly what it's doing…read more We pulled up and the owner was right there, warm, welcoming, and real humble. Took great care of my coworker with a poultry allergy without making it a whole thing. That kind of service sticks with you. Everything came out hot and fresh, like it didn't spend a second waiting around. And listen... the flow of Uber Eats pickups had us looking around like, "okay wait... this place is that spot." Busy for a reason. You can feel the love and the community in the room. They've got liquor, plenty of seating, and a coffee bar on the way which is about to take things to a whole new level. Tap in with Pass D Jollof... just come hungry and ready to enjoy.

This Kenyan restaurant is a must. In a cute little downtown like area. This restaurant has some…read morepretty good African cuisine that you don't see typically in the Seattle area. I enjoy the different stews that they have with their ugali. My go to has been the grilled goat or the fried fish. Some of my favorite dishes are the Kenyon sausage and the Kenyon chai. Be prepared to eat with your hands. Service was patient with me, figuring out what I wanted to order.

My family's first time trying East African/Kenyan food, and everyone, including my toddler, enjoyed…read moreit. The server who took my order over the phone is friendly, answered my questions and helped me choose the sides. The establishment is half restaurant and half bar. Turn left after you enter through the door to get to the restaurant part. Food: Rafiki basket (3 appetizer combo) - mandazi (fried bread, slightly sweet) is my favorite, followed by the samosa (beef filling, kind of oily) Samaki WA Nchuzi (fried whole tilapia with sauce) - the sauce is not spicy, bright with lime and tomato. Mbuzi Kaanga (goat stew) - some bones as expected. Goat meat is tender and flavorful, though portion isn't that big. For sides we tried the collard greens, Ugali (white corn mash, very dense, not my favorite) and chapati. Overall a good first experience. We want to come back to try other dishes.

I have had Blackstar Kebabs bookmarked for awhile. I've seen the food truck rig on the road or saw…read morethey were at a festival or brewery. Check FB or IG for up to date info. I finally found Blackstar Kebabs at the Wedgwood Art Festival (7/14/24). My previous exposures to West African cuisine had been at a pop up in Fremont and brick & mortar site in Broadview. I ordered 2 large chicken kebabs ($10 each), 2 large lamb kebabs ($11 each), and a medium jollof rice ($8.50). Payment can be made by card. I took a quick photo of the food order before I headed home, but did not inspect the spice covered skewers closely, my bad. **Pro tip: check your takeout boxes before you leave the food truck location.** I received 4 chicken skewers, not 2 each chicken and lamb as ordered. Overcharged $2. The chicken skewers were also a bit dry and underwhelming. The jollof rice was moist and flavorful, but I did not like the addition of mixed vegies (that filler from frozen mix of carrot, peas, and beans). Long time anticipation led to my current disappointment, especially after spending with tax & 20% tip, nearly $67! It was just okay. Wished I had spent my culinary dollars at the Ballard Seafoodfest instead. Oh well, c'est la vie! Glad I tried it and wish the proprietor well, but will stick with the brick and mortar spot in Broadview, North Seattle - near Shoreline, Jollof Hub West African Cuisines at 15314 Greenwood Ave N. P.S. The owner reached out later tonight and mentioned the error regarding the two large lamb kebabs. I declined the offer and said to consider the $2 on top of the 20% tip and wished him continued success. That's notable customer service!

I used to live in Greenwood and would go to this food truck often. The gentleman working there was…read morealways kind and friendly. Those plantains are deliciously spiced and sweet. Highly recommend their kebabs and follow rice. I had never had Ghanaian food before this and I was hooked. Now I live outside of Seattle and still think of this delicious food!! Please check it out, definitely worth it!