the food and service was great!! definitely would come again for the ox tail and fufuread more

Little small hole in the wall. 2 tables inside…read more If you're looking to try fufu, this is the place. Oxtail wasn't burnt and had good amount of meat on it. The egusi soup has a nutty flavor to it which I enjoyed. Fufu was soft, simple, delicious. *not pictured Jollaf Rice: has a little spice to it but not too bad!

I went to Jollof Kitchen in Oakland during First Fridays, and from the moment we got there, the…read morewhole scene was electric. The music was bumping, people were lined up and genuinely excited to order, and the whole setup felt lively in the best possible way. You could tell right away this was a place people really love. This spot came highly recommended to me by friends, and now I fully understand why. Before heading out, I called ahead to ask whether they could accommodate my girlfriend's seafood allergy, and Kemi, the owner, picked up and immediately made us feel taken care of. When we got there, Victor, the onsite chef, and the rest of the staff were so friendly, thoughtful, and careful about everything. That kind of hospitality means a lot, and they handled it with so much kindness and ease. And the food? Ridiculous. In the best way. I had the egusi, plantains, and fufu, and I finished it in what had to be about seven minutes flat. Honestly, I'm still shocked there weren't bite marks on the container. That food was so good it nearly had me questioning my table manners. Every bite was comforting, rich, and deeply satisfying. What I loved most was that Jollof Kitchen felt like more than just a food stop. It felt like one of those places that reminds you how powerful food can be -- how it brings people together, lifts the energy of a whole block, and turns a night out into something memorable. I'll absolutely be back every chance I get. Safe to say this first time trying Nigerian food, this is now my favorite Nigerian food spot by far. Amazing food, amazing people, amazing energy. So grateful for the care they showed us and very, very excited to come back hungry.

Food is simply amazing, we have enjoyed their food at several events and will drive from San Ramon…read moreto get! It's that good!

Kendejah is a Liberian restaurant serving traditional West African dishes. As someone from West…read moreAfrica, I grew up eating this type of food and still cook and enjoy it at home, so I'm very familiar with the flavors and authenticity. The menu changes daily, which I appreciate because it reflects how we actually cook back home -- different dishes on different days. However, they also keep certain staple items available consistently, which is helpful if you're craving something specific. I did order Togo cassava, leaf, and jollof rice with a box of jar of pepper. I have visited this place over 10 times so the this review is long time coming. I understand that the restaurant may adjust recipes slightly to appeal to a broader demographic, not just Africans, and that can affect the depth of flavor and seasoning. With that being said, while the food is good and represents Liberian cuisine, it doesn't fully capture the richness I'm used to from traditional home cooking. Overall, I appreciate having a Liberian restaurant in the area and respect the effort to share the culture through food.

I'm only giving this place one star because the food itself was fair -- but the experience was…read morehorrible. We were so excited to try this restaurant because of the almost five-star reviews. From the moment we walked in, there was no warm welcome. The young woman at the register barely made eye contact. When I asked for a menu, she said it was on the kiosk. We aren't familiar with this type of food and there were very few pictures, which made it hard to choose. When I asked questions about the food, she seemed annoyed instead of helpful. We weren't offered water, bread, chips -- nothing while we waited. When the food arrived, it was all in to-go boxes with cheap plastic forks even though we were dining in. Yet the kiosk asks for a tip... tip for what? There was absolutely no service. The food was bland. They had no salt and pepper. They had no ketchup for the fries, and when we asked for hot sauce we were given a tiny spoonful of salsa. I'm in the food industry, and when you're paying over $100, you expect at least basic hospitality and a decent experience. This felt careless and unorganized. If this is meant to be a pickup-only spot, then it should be labeled that way. As a restaurant, it completely missed the mark. I rarely leave bad reviews, but this was truly a disappointing experience.

Love this spot the people are super friendly and have little holiday events. Kitfo and Chicken tibs…read morewith veggie platter is our go to. Have been eating here for 7 years and it's consistently tasty. Honey wine and their teas are also great.

Addis Ethiopian Restaurant was such a great experience. The food was rich in flavor, fresh, and…read moresuper comforting you can really taste the quality and seasonings in every bite. Everything paired perfectly with the injera, and the portions were filling and worth it. The service was also friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better. If you're craving Ethiopian food or want to try something new, Addis is definitely a spot I'd recommend. I'll be back fr fr

Alloko Garden is one of many restaurants cooking out of Jingletown Eats, a ghost kitchen and food…read moredelivery distribution center identifiable by the painted bird on the storefront. I had already planned to visit Jingletown Eats to pick up donuts from Mochill for Yelp Elite Week, so of course I had to take advantage of the opportunity to try a new restaurant, Alloko Garden, as well! I ordered the Shoukuya (whole grilled chicken) and Alloko (plaintain fries) for $30. Both were so delicious! The chicken was juicy and well-marinated, and came with a flavorful tomato and onion topping. The plaintain fries were fun to eat and paired perfectly with a spicy, salty dip, which the website describes as a prebiotic sauce. Having no other point of reference, it reminded me of Chinese fermented bean paste. The only issue was that I didn't receive the salad that the whole chicken set should include. Looking back at the different options, only the whole chicken comes with a salad, so I can see how this mistake could happen. After making my own veggie side, the Shoukuya and Alloko ended up being enough for four servings, which is a great deal. I would absolutely recommend Alloko Garden to anyone craving or wanting to try West African cuisine!

Man! This was some yummy food and a blast from the past. As…read morea returned Peace Corps Volunteer who spent 2 years in Ivory Coast back in the 1990's, I was thrilled to see a local restauranteuer surface who could re relate some of the flavors that tickled my taste buds back in the day. Not to hate on its neighboring countries, but after travelling widely in West Africa I concluded that Ivory Coast has a truly rockin' and superior food culture. I'm vegan aspirational but my partner is not, so to increase his buy-in, we ordered Shokouya Cancanan chicken. The half chicken, accompanied by delicious grilled onions and tomatoes, was a generous portion of robustly seasoned, plump, fresh and perfectly cooked chicken. I love that they only use "happy chicken" as I call it--cage free, hormone free & antibiotic free--which assuaged some of my flesh eating hesitancy. The side dishes were just as I recalled: attieke, a marvelous cous-cous-like starch made of ground, fermented, then steamed cassava, was tangy, springy, and performed as expected in hand. (In hand?, you ask? Why yes, the "real" way to enjoy attieke is to scoop up a small handful with your right hand, scrunch it up in a ball, then dip it in a sauce or accompany it in this case with a bit of tender chicken.) It gives a taste and a mouth feel like no other. Then there was the alloko, which is a generous portion of chunks of fried plantain "doux," or sweet plantain. In Côte d'Ivoire you would likely enjoy these as streetfood, in my opinion best consumed after the heat of the day had spent itself and you were walking with your companion to take some fresh air before turning in. A street vendor would hand you a pile of these wrapped in a piece of newspaper, accompanied by a blob of paste composed improbably of fermented dried fish, ground chili pepper, oil and the omnipresent Cube Maggi. The marriage of sweet banana, spicy, umami, salty...made my toes curl just as I did 20 years ago! well, you can experience some of that magic with Alloko Garden's alloko. Each chef has their own recipe for the alloko side sauce and I suspect the proprietor, Monsieur Tohouri, uses less heat and less fish and more natural ingredients than the MSG-fest that is Cube Maggi, for us Oaklanders than he might have grown up with. But this healthy non-volcanic version more than gets the idea across and my partner, new to alloko and its accompaniments, understood that the idea was delicious. We both loved that instead of omnipresent plastic, this alloko (& attieke) came in a biodegradable paper box. Because he was temporarily out of one other dish that I'd hoped to sample, Mr. Tohouri kindly added a dish for me called fonio arancini, which are kind of hush puppy type doodads made of a grain I didn't remember encountering in my village, fonio. Even 20 minutes after picking up from the storefront in Jingletown, the fonio arancini arrived home still delicious in all the ways grain plus a dunk in a deep fryer can be: hot and crispy on the outside, warm and almost pudding-like on the inside, with a warm umami awesomeness from the cheese mixed with the dough, and a yummy dipping sauce alongside. According to the article I read in Berkeleyside, this fonio is part of an interest Monsieur Tohouri has in increasing the economic base in Côte d'Ivoire. First step is creating market demand. I say, bring it on!! Although we were ravenous after a four hour bike ride that day, both BF and I were satisfied after this feast. I know this is the first of many trips to this place. I feel so fortunate to have an authentic source of Ivoirien cuisine in my back yard, and with an emphasis on the health of the food chain, the planet, and the humans both producing and consuming the cuisine. I ordered and picked up directly from the storefront because I'd read somewhere that restaurants lose something like 40% of the price charged, to the delivery company (uber eats, grub hub etc). As the prices were very fair given the generous portions, this means a really tiny profit margin for the person doing all the work. What I didn't realize would be an added benefit was meeting the actual proprietor, the chef himself! Monsieur Tohouri came out to hand me my food, thus completing the awesomeness of the experience. How often in this disseminated and impersonal world do you get to thank the actual person who feeds you? My overall assessment: five thumbs up!! Merci bien Monsieur Tohouri!

New menu has a few tweaks but the same great stuff We…read moreordered Simo veggie mix with double yellow lentils instead of red Lamb crispy Tibsy Still love this place. It has the best Ethiopian food, 100% teff injera, kind staff and a nice patio. Easy parking

I would give 6 stars if I could; this food is incredible!…read more I'm from NYC, I love Ethiopian food; I have eaten it for years in different places and this food is the most flavorful Ethiopian food I have ever had! I truly wanted to lick the plate. Abby, who is the owner and is so lovely and sweet. This is my new Ethiopian spot in the Bay!

the fried fish platter was 10/10 Everything came out in a…read moretimely manner and the food was super good! Definitely a place to come back too

very good and best fufu I've tried no glazing is actually one of the best African food I've triedread more

This place is special. This evening 4 friends who are loved like family and myself sat down to eat…read moreand share our recent experiences/discoveries in this thing we call life. We were quickly seated. Shortly after we were given our water. As we pondered the delectable menu one member of our group brought our attention to the beautiful artwork surrounding those eating. The images are breathtaking portraits of individuals who look to be part of the Eritrean community. Sounds of laughter from the surrounding tables and feelings of safety from the peaceful internal environment embraced us as we looked. Then the food came out. It was full of color and there was clearly intentionality behind the presentation. Upon tasting the dish, flavors of savory seasonings, fresh vegetables, and soft injera filled the mouth. It was more than enough food for us all and we ended up taking left overs. If you are near the area I HIGHLY recommend paying this spot a visit.

One of the best and our favorite Habesha restaurants in Oakland. The food is authentic, injera is…read morealways good and not heavy. The prices are fair and the portion is a lot more than most restaurants. The service, ambiance, everything is great and the art is beautiful. it's a gem and must try! 10/10

I had dinner with my best friend tonight on May 15, 2026. We were seated promptly and offered water…read moreright away. I ordered the veggie sampler, featuring spiced lentils, yellow split peas, kale greens with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots, all paired with a basket of tangy injera bread. The injera was fluffy with a pancake-like texture, perfect for scooping. The service was attentive and kind with our waitstaff continuously refilling our glasses of water without us even having to ask. The atmosphere was relaxed, making it easy to linger and chat. Overall, a positive experience with flavorful dishes, great bread, and prompt service. A lovely spot for a satisfying Ethiopian meal with a friend.

My fav Ethiopian dish?…read more Doro Wat (bone-in). With a side of Kitfo and Misir Wot. Cuz, I can't just choose one dish. I love Ethiopian food - the bold, rich spices AND the heat gets me feeling all types of way....including heartburn. The East Bay is known for their top-tier Ethiopian and Eritrean food so I'm slowly starting to explore the options here. Plan A: Café Colucci's patio was closed. We headed straight to Enssaro where we were warmly welcomed by the family behind the place, including Coco enjoying her golden years on the couch. F O O D - Requested spicy for all dishes * Kifto: Ethiopian Tartare ($24) IMO Ethiopian tartare over French tartare all day, every day! The finely minced raw beef is mixed with clarified butter and spices, creating a rich, savory flavor that's balanced by the sour tang of injera cutting through the meatiness. Served with ayib (crumbly, mild cheese) and gomen (earthy sautéed greens). Despite not being spicy, it was bomb. * Meat Platter for One ($20) - Doro Wot: Spicy Ethiopian Chicken Stew - Mildly spiced, just wish the drumstick was more tender. - Beg Wot: Lamb Stew - Mild earthy flavor, good for those who are sensitive to spice. - Bere Beef Wot: Spicy Minced Beef Stew - Most flavorful of the three meats, savory with a mild heat. Think Ethiopian bolognese. * Misir Wot: Red lentils cooked slowly w/ Ethiopian spices ($20) Deeply savory with a warm, earthy spice (not spicy). The lentils are nicely broken down to a thick, creamy texture with a bite. Seemed kinda pricey for the portion tho. Platters are served with lightly dressed garden salad and a basket of spongey, tangy injera. S E R V I C E Welcoming, gracious, and attentive. Staff kept our water glasses filled and kindly packed our leftovers. A M B I A N C E Casual, low-key. It was a rare 85 degrees in April day so the covered front patio offered welcome relief. Overall, I wished the food had been more boldly spiced and brought more heat, nonetheless, we still enjoyed the meal, especially the kitfo...GET IT!

Wonderful authentic healthy and delicious! My favorite was the mandazi. The chapati was flaky and…read moretasty!

I had a chance to go to Swahili Spit today kind of upon accident while in West Oakland. What a…read morepleasant surprise it was. The ladies working there were so kind and helpful pointing me in the right direction with something yummy to eat, and despite the fact that I've never had "East African" food before, it was amazing. The helpings were plentiful with great, friendly service and I can't wait to visit there again. Soon!!