This feels like a weird review, but GO FOR THE BEANS!! I got the Chios platter which is a sample of vegetarian dishes. The beans are some of the best I've ever had. The sauce for the stewed sweet potatoes was unreal. And I could eat those caramelized plantains probably every day. read more

Stango Cuisine - Chio's platter (vegetarian) and plantains. - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

I love this place! Their food is excellent and I have a penchant for their chicken samosas! The spices are intoxicating and I even dream of eating them. So good! The staff is always welcoming and the owner is an absolute delight to talk to! Do yourself a favor and go. You won't be disappointed! read more

We tried this place on a whim. My son had heard about the place and said, let's give it a try. Great food and it was matched by the friendly lady that runs the place. We will definitely visit again!! read more

I don't know Zambian cuisine, but it's claim to be the only one in the country??? Well, that's worth a try. It's been a few months since I've been there, but it looked like it was transitioning from a different restaurant (BBQ joint?) so maybe the decor was in flux. Very food court look. We tried the Emma's Platter and the goat meat. The flavors were all fine, but I don't know if anything stood out or was strongly seasoned. The ginger drink, on the other hand, was very punchy and well-appreciated. They said it's made on-site. So... not knowing Zambian cuisine, I don't have anything to compare it to. The seasoning and the tastes did not spring forward. The ginger drink was the most memorable of it all. read more

See all

This was my first time having Zambian cuisine. I ordered online and it was ready for pickup within 15 minutes. The meat pie is very flaky and flavorful. It is extremely savory with a very light amount of spice. The chicken is well seasoned and there is plenty of curry to dip your choice of carbs however the meat itself was a bit try. This was my first time having nshima as a staple, it is a pretty neutral taste with a fluffy consistency. It was not bad, but would stick to rice next time. Would recommend if you are interested in trying Zambian cuisine! read more

Stango Cuisine - Chicken Curry and Jamaican Style Beef Pies - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

I feel it's a pity that there's only such a small amount of reviews for this restaurant! It must be underrated! I ordered a delivery of the Beef Stew combo for a try during this restaurant week. Actually, this place has been in my list for a long time, but I just felt too lazy to exactly go there for a meal. The combo included: beef stew, plantain, greens, chicken samosas as the appetizer, and beignets as the dessert. All of them tasted so delicious!!! The flavor was like not extremely strong, but was profound and could stay in my mouth for a long time. I would say this must be one of the best meal that I've ever tried during this restaurant week! read more

See all

Omg this place is a hidden gem! I've been in the C-U area for a while now and finally had a chance to stop by. I regret not having been here before. The greens (mixture of kale, tomatoes, and onions) are soooo good and the chicken in the curry is so soft. The plantains were probably the best I've had in a long time. Prices are not cheap, but the quality of food is really good. Highly recommend!!!! They have plenty of seating and area for dining! read more

Stango Cuisine - Plantain and Chicken Curry - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

well I was surprised that they relocated from the college Mall other than that the hours have changed they serve late lunch I guess in Champaign there was not much business so they had to open it in a different Park I'll have to ask them so I learned they decided to make dining In less formal then in a sit down dine in restaurant. I guess because rent was less expensive next to stop using real plates and silverware? They are now serving the food on plastic container and plastic utensils. The food still has consistency. 4 stars because despite being the only zambian restaurant in Illinois state in the college town of Champaign I would have thought they would still maintain having a semi formal dining in. Otherwise will come back the 3rd time unless someone who is zambian opens up a restaurant in Chicago. It would be less competition compared to other popular African cuisine like Nigerian, Ghanan, Sengeles, Ethiopian, Moroccan, or Somalian which we have plenty of those African restaurants in Chicago. Also wanted to address trying the meat pies it's similar to eating empanadas. It was good but didn't think that was Zambian but learned that's ambia has been a melting pot with Chinese and Indian cooking for an African country that some of their indigenous food that they eat has disappeared except nishimi read more

See all

Stango Cuisine is (supposedly) the only Zambian restaurant in the country. The spot is somewhat difficult to find, but the vibe inside is elegant and comforting. I ordered Emma's platter (a sampler of their most popular entrees, which includes chicken curry, beef stew, and more) and the beignets. This ended up being around 40 bucks, which is quite expensive. Furthermore, it took around 30 minutes for the food to arrive on a not-so-busy Wednesday evening. However, I was absolutely blown away by the food. The rice and beans were unlike any that I've tasted-the rice had a beautiful fluffy texture and the beans were decadent. The greens were also delicious, as was the beef stew. I personally didn't love the chicken curry or the stewed potatoes, but everything else was delicious. The beignets were decent, but nothing to write home about. When I come back, I'll probably get the beef stew, though I'm excited to try the oxtail as well. Overall, this is easily one of the best restaurants in the Champaign area. read more

Stango Cuisine - Emma's plate + beignets - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

We were passing by Champaign while traveling and gave Stango a try. Glad we did. Very good food and friendly service. There are a few tables for dining in. read more

Excellent. The sausage and samosas and the beef pastry and the kale and the sweet potatoes n gizzards are all excellent. read more

See all

I finally made it to Stango for lunch today after a year. The food was really good. I had the Hungarian sausage, greens, nshima, a meat pie, and a side of beef stew. Everything was seasoned perfectly. I didn't even think of reaching for salt and pepper. The waiter described nshima as basically a polenta, which I guess it is. It went well with the stew. It was almost an hour drive to get here and well worth the trip. I hope I'm in the area again soon so I can stop back by to try some of the other menu items. read more

See all

We ordered the hungarian sausage with greens and sweet potatoes. Also we got the samosas, beef patty, and plantains. Everything was crisp, fresh, and delicious. The flavor was amazing and well spiced. I'll definitely be returning soon. read more

See all

Nothing wrong with the food or service, just that it wasn't quite my taste. I had Chio's platter. I liked the stewed sweet potato and greens the best. Nshima just wasn't for me. It was bland and didn't do anything for me. I think if I ate meat and ordered a meat dish it would have been more tasty. The sweet potato had some kind of sauce on it that was very good. If there was more of that on the plate, it would have made for a better meal. I'm glad I tried Zambian cuisine. read more

Stango Cuisine - Chio's Vegetarian Platter - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

Fantastic find! I was passing through town and decided to check it out. I was nervous for a moment because the dining room was empty, but then I noticed take-out orders flying out the door. Things just started opening back up due to covid. Boy, am I glad I stayed. The chicken curry was tender, savory, and had the perfect hint of heat. And the beignets did not disappoint! Very friendly folks in this locally owned gem. Don't hesitate. read more

Stango Cuisine - Beignets - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

I'm so grateful this place exists in Urbana. Their chicken curry is so comforting. It was my first time trying nshima, and I'm obsessed (so fluffy)! We also ordered beignets, which were perfectly fried. They also gave us complimentary chips and salsa at the start of our meal :) I know this is located in a food court, but they had really nice service! read more

See all

Low estimated wait time (30 minutes on GrubHub) and fast delivery ahead of schedule. Chiken Gizzards and Vegetal Samosas were so good. Nshima was tasty but Beef Stew portions were small. read more

My favorite vegan comfort food! You got to try the Chio's platter and extra nshima, it is simply delicious. We also like the beignets, great option for breakfast and dessert. I usually order to go or get delivery and the food is always fresh and hot. Great website, makes ordering a very smooth and straightforward experience! read more

Lived in town our whole life and finally tried this place. I regret not coming sooner. The flavors are out of this world and developed with love and care. The stew will now be my go to comfort food and the sweet potatoes will transport you to a new dimension. I can't wait to try more. We also had the opportunity to meet the chef who is an inspiration and clearly loves sharing their food with the world. Thank you for bringing this restaurant to our community. read more

Food is delicious. As a firsttimer trying African food I liked it in general. 4stars for the food itself. However the portion is just ridiculous. I think I can eat 3 plates in one sitting. (I am not a heavy eater at all. i will be full by just having a 12' subway) 0 stars here.. read more

We found this spot on a road trip and all of the positive reviews are true- food was delicious and felt like it was prepared with love. Super friendly staff- vegan options were delicious. My friend got a side of oxtail and said it was incredible. Huge portions, we had leftovers the next day! read more

We had seen Stango featured for CUs restaurant week and decided to give it a try. And I'm really glad we found this gem. The food was ready right on time to pickup. We got the chicken curry and Chios platter that came with some veggie samosas and beignets (was part of the restaurant week menu). All of it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were well crafted and specifically the rice was phenomenal (which never seems to get much love most places). There are also some sampler platters available to get a feel for all of their entrees. Would highly recommend and we'll definitely be adding this to our regulars list. read more

Got here, ordered 3 meals (two chicken curries, asked for one to be spicy and neither was, and one oxtail curry, the oxtail was overpriced and we were given very few pieces) at 5:37, the total was $70.07, and the oxtail was about $22 dollars of that. and we added beignets and rice as sides. The waitress was nice. We sat down for our food. About 40 minutes later, a worker comes out to our table and tells us that they are currently out of plantains (the whole reason we came) and that we could substitute it, or if we wanted, we could wait 20-25 for her to get them and make them. We really wanted them so we chose to wait, and she gave us ginger juices as compensation. We waited another hour and 10 minutes. We didn't get our food until at least 7pm after ordering at 5:37. This is nothing against the staff themselves, they were nice and really sweet about it, but the wait was ridiculous. The food was good but not good enough to justify the wait. The place itself was clean, but all lights were shut off in the lobby and in the women's bathroom, both the paper towels and the toilet paper were just sitting on top of their respective holders. The lobby was freezing. Overall, I would try again, perhaps it was a one off fluke, as their food truck has always been good, but I had a lackluster experience. read more

Amazing food. We ordered chicken curry (one with stewed sweet potatoes and one with nshima). Highly recommend both of these sides. The curry chicken has so much flavor. We will be getting takeout again very soon. read more

Stango Cuisine - a table with a variety of food items - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

No question, everything was incredibly delicious! We had Emma's platter (sweet potatoes, rice, nshima, chicken curry, beef stew, Hungarian sausage, beans, and greens), beef stew entree (with more greens and potatoes), vegetable samosas, plantains, and beignets. I would order every single thing again. When our meal was over I wanted to rewind time just to get to eat it all again! Beef was tender, sauces and fillings were hearty, well-balanced, and warm, everything was cooked to perfection. The samosa wrapper was flaky, the beignets were supple. Seriously, I could hardly imagine a more perfect meal. Knocked it out of the park on the first at-bat. We will be back! Ate too fast to take pictures. read more

Amazing food and good service. We tried the beef and vegetable samosas (both amazing but we preferred the veg!) the oxtails (unbelievably good), the chicken curry, and the plantains, yucca, and greens. We enjoyed every bite!! We also had the delicious beignets for dessert. The oxtail and plantains stood out as our favorites but I would order everything again and cant wait to come back and try more of the menu. Such a unique and amazing restaurant! read more

Stango Cuisine - Oxtails, plantains, greens, chicken curry, yucca - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

SO good! My partner and I are vegan and finally got around to trying this place after seeing so many good reviews. We got the Chio's Platter, the beignets, and some fresh ginger juice. It was all SO yummy. It's the kind of food that tastes fantastic but also makes you feel good physically. The owner was also so nice and I really enjoyed chatting with her (: This place is an Urbana gem! read more

Ive spent a good bit of time in Africa and this was the closest thing I've had to matching the deliciousness I tasted there, here in the United States Plantain appetizer were among the best I've ever had anywhere. Samosa good. Not great The beef stew with the ugali (or whatever they call it) and the greens were perfect. Soft tender meat, fantastic simple. chicken curry terrific Two criticisms ---location I dont really like that mall very much I would've loved this place is downtown Champaign or downtown Urbana but ill take the good with the bad --Not as many vegetarian options as you would expected. Most African places have a lot of delicious beans and stuff (cabbage, peanut stew, etc) on the menu In summary, very good food reasonable priced nice people I might be a little biased because I tend to love African food and I miss it so much but I don't think anybody would be dissapointed I didn't have any of the regular sort of traditional American cuisine that they have for breakfast but the african stuff was great read more

I ordered the oxtail, beans and greens and it was delicious. Nicely made and packaged well. You won't regret it .

I had never eaten Zambian food before coming here, and now it's my favorite restaurant. Ever. It is the ultimate comfort food, without everything being heavily fried. I've never had something from Stango that I disliked, and that includes the gizzard (good flavor, odd texture). I absolutely live for their plantains. The food is reasonably priced and definitely worth it, and the staff are very sweet and helpful. Strongly recommend! read more

They are serving breakfast and lunch now with a lot of American style food but their African offerings are delicious. I have tried the oxtail with nshima and the chicken curry with rice. Both were delicious, although the oxtail edged out the chicken just a bit. Also, the beignets are to die! They're freshly fried with a bit of crispness on the outside and fluffy goodness on the inside. A must try! read more

Excellent food, affordable prices, and very friendly service. Get the meat pie and the ginger juice. Help keep this place open! Support local food. Try something new, like the nshima. I usually go after the farmers market. They also have a stand at the market. Yum yum eat em up! read more

I was at Lincoln square mall on February 4th at about 4:45. A very nice lady was at the counter. I only had $5 and I ordered fries. I asked for ketchup and she said they don't have ketchup. I thought fries without ketchup... well...they don't need ketchup at all. The best fries Ever. And free refills on pop!!! read more

Love this place! The food was tasty, flavorful, just amazing! I am happy to discover this gem and have informed all my friends when coming to central Illinois to stop by. Friendly environment and staff. read more

Just ordered food from here for the first time. Had the "Urbana vegetarian" and was very pleased! The greens were cooked perfectly so they were not mushy. There was still some crunch to it. They also seasoned it nicely with nothing overpowering its neighbors. The sweet potatoes were wonderful with a nice sauce that was far superior to the way most places serve sweet potato. I had cole slaw that was simple with a delightfully creamy dressing. Looking forward to trying other things on the menu! read more

Really nice food. M glad we tried it. I would definitely recommend it to CU people. We tried chicken curry with nshima.. really a great combination read more

Stango Cuisine - African Near Me - Champaign , Illinois

This place just opened at the Lincoln square in Urbana. Traditional African fresh made food by the owners. I will recommend to try this place. The sweet potatoes that came with the delicious chicken curry were amazing, the meat pies are fantastic , prices are reasonable, give this place a try. read more

Was eagerly wanting to try this new Zambian restaurant that I had been reading and hearing about. With my wife and daughter we finally went on a Saturday mid-afternoon afternoon after the students had left our college town so we had the place all to ourselves. My wife and daughter went vegetarian and ordered Chio's Platter with beans, rice, stewed sweet potatoes, nshima (like polenta), and greens and I ordered the chicken curry. Each dish in Chio's Platter was wonderfully fresh and mildly spiced. The chicken curry was outstanding and came with a side of Nshima and greens. The curry was just enough different from other curries I have had to make it special and have me wondering about the spice mix. One thing I particularly liked is that all the food came out at one time and it was all hot and super fresh. Even the greens which tasted a bit like Swiss Chard/mustard greens were not mushy. For dessert we ordered the Urbana Beignets which were superb. As good as any I have had in New Orleans. So glad to have this great new and exotic cuisine in our little urban paradise. read more

I had the beef stew with nshima, side of beans and side of sweet potatoes. The food was delicious and good sized portions, especially liked their homemade spicy sauce. The cooks were very sweet, highly recommend this restaurant! read more

Really delicious food and beautiful restaurant! We got the plate with nshima, beans, greens, sweet potato, and rice, and each was better than the last. The fresh ginger juice was also delicious. Last time I ate here I got to try some of my friends' oxtail which was extremely flavorful and tender, and the Hungarian sausage too. And don't forget the beignets! She brought out an extra because there were four of us, which was typical of the friendliness we experienced both times. read more