We stopped by Teranga as hubby had been wanting to try this place and so we took a walk uptown as this is close to Mt Sinai and we had appointments nearby. This spot is located inside an African museum. It is a small place when you walk in. The food is all cooked and laid out on trays. I asked the attendant what is the best dish and he asked if I want spicy or not. I said no spicy and he made the chicken bowl recommendation. The bowl was delicious ! Rice was cooked al dente, chicken juicy, beans so tender and topped with plantains! I have not been a fan of plantains but this one was delicious. And flavor profile was strong and hearty. Hubby loved the bowl too. This time we shared one but next time he's getting his own! We will def take a trip up again next time! read more

Teranga Harlem - African Near Me - New York, New York

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My fiancé and I decided to get some take out on a rainy day and have always wanted to try Teranga. They have a very user friendly ordering system in their website which made it easy to place our orders and make them exactly what we wanted. My fiancé ordered a Yassa Yassa Grilled Chicken Bowl and I ordered a custom bowl. The delivery was very quick and it got to where we were faster than I expected which was a plus. Service was very good! I got a call saying one of the sauces I wanted was out unfortunately but they were helpful in providing me with alternatives. The Yassa Yassa bowl was very delicious, full of bold flavors, and a beautiful contrast between the spicy aromatic jollof, the sweet plantains, and the tangy onion sauce. The chicken in this bowl was definitely a little overdone and could have used more flavor. For my custom bowl, I got a chicken suya bowl with jollof as my base, plantains and the kale stew (Efo riro ) as sides and initially wanted the peanut (mafe) sauce which they were out of so I also tried the yassa or onion sauce. My bowl was absolutely delicious! Same bold flavors as the first bowl but the chicken was juicy, tender, and well spiced. Made all the difference! Both came with a nice chimichurri like spicy sauce called rof which I really enjoyed since it added a spicy, herbal, bright kick to the bowl. This place has amazing flavor and is very filling! I love the fast casual nature of it and how nourishing it feels. This is basically a Chipotle but West African inspired. The portion of meat was very generous in each bowl which was nice. The jollof was amazing! Highly recommend trying one of their suya meats since the seasoning is incomparable! Will be going back again for more bowls in the future. read more

Teranga Harlem - Yassa yassa grilled chicken bowl (take out) - African Near Me - New York, New York

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Fantastic African food in NYC. Nearly all the items on the menu were things I was not previously familiar with and enjoyed experiencing! Many vegetarian and vegan options here too! The black eyed pea salad I could have eaten a whole container of alone. Very refreshing and so many flavors that somehow go together perfectly. The soya chicken has a nice spice to it. The drinks, especially the prepackaged ones steal the show here. We tried the Bouye Baobab Juice and the Moringa Limeade Juice (both vegan and gluten free!), sourced from West African ingredients. Conveniently located right next to The Africa Center and right off of NE side of Central Park. They have some outdoor seating facing the park, but the inside seating is much cuter. Deeper into the causal restaurant they have couches and very large tables suitable for groups. They also have a large selection of books and educational materials about African culture that you can use while there. It's a perfect place to hunker down, order a ton of the menu and get some work done. Order via QR code on any numbered table. Free Wi-Fi, just ask for the password and single stall, large, accessible bathrooms all the way in the back. Please clear your own tray near the front before you leave! read more

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Never had West African food before. Simply delicious. Tried both the caramelized onions and peanut sauce - both tasty but would opt for solely the peanut sauce next time. Tried the hottest dipping sauce, and it does burn, but in that satisfying way that makes you want to eat more. But may go for the mild green sauce next time - that stuff is out of this world. Service is seat yourself, which can be good or bad, depending on what you are looking for. Ambience is incredible. Seating is surrounded by an art gallery with cool music in the background. Definitely an experience. Try it! read more

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I love both locations. It's the closest thing I could find to Liberian food and Im happy with the result. Wish they also had stores in FL. Love everything from the plantains, chicken, peanut sauce, jollof and I can go on and on. If anyone is on the fence about trying I say go for it. read more

Teranga Harlem - African Near Me - New York, New York

This place is incredible! Located in the African Center on Central Park East 110th, they have really awesome west African food. I'm not familiar with the cuisine, so I can't vouch for authenticity, but man everything was TASTY! the service was great, the space has a ton of really cool art, history, and killer music. Totally blew me away! read more

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Everything tastes amazing and flavorful. I tried the cassava couscous, okra, chicken, black eyed peas, with the spicy mild sauces. I can't wait to come back here and try more! read more

Teranga Harlem - African Near Me - New York, New York

Beautiful inside bigger than it looks from the outside amazing quality food good service a great place to unwind get away from the crowds I got the jollof rice salmon bowl amazing very good highly recommend with the moringa limeade very good naturally sweet beverage if you like limeade you will like this Inside has wall outlets for chargers read more

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Years ago my last job had Teranga catered one day and it was soo good. I could not remember the name of the restaurant but I did some digging and found out it was Teranga. Fast forward to now I finally went! Making the drive to Harlem was so worth it. The jollof rice was delicious and reminded me a lot of the red rice my family makes. The chicken was so flavorful. The plantains were the star of the show for me, delivering the perfect amount of sweetness and spice. I'm not even really a beans person but the black eye pea salad was also fresh and tasty! I got the medium (green) hot sauce and it was perfect. I tried my husband's hot (hottest) sauce and my mouth was on fire but it was still delicious. This meal was really like a warm hug. Definitely getting this any time I happen to be close enough to this or the Lexington location! read more

Teranga Harlem - Create your own bowl, Chicken, Jollof rice, Plantains, Black Eyed Pea Salad, Peanut sauce, medium hot sauce(parsley based) - African Near Me - New York, New York

So happy to discover Teranga, which serves up African cuisine with plenty of well-labeled vegan options! I got the vegan market plate with jollof rice, plantains, kale salad and black eyed pea okra sweet potato stew. Everything tasted delicious and the platter offered a wide variety of options. The okra sweet potato stew was my favorite! Very flavorful and also healthy. The kale salad was also very tasty & refreshing- it went very well with the rest of the meal that was more starchy/hearty. The market plate consists of 4 dishes- 1 base + 3 sides, and cost $15. With how big the plate was and generous portion sizes, this is very reasonably priced in my opinion. I was completely full after eating my delicious plant-based meal! The restaurant itself is more like a casual cafe style, and located in The Africa Center in East Harlem. The vibe is awesome! Bright and open with great decorations and music. You order from the app, and your food is brought to you. Food came out fairly quickly, and all staff were courteous, friendly and provided great service. There are many tables scattered throughout the space, and does not feel cramped at all. You will be a good distance from the next diner. There are also non-vegan options for proteins such as chicken, steak and salmon. They also have a variety of drinks such as Moringa Limeade, and I also saw some cocktails. Overall, really awesome food paired with a casual fun ambience- will return when the next craving hits! read more

Teranga Harlem - Vegan platter- jollof rice, black eyed pea stew, kale salad, plantains - African Near Me - New York, New York

This restaurant provides a variety of tasty West African food. They have meat and also non-meat options to choose from. Their restaurant is spacious and has things to see regarding their culture. So, it's not just a food establishment. They have the African Center next to them as well in case you want to see more. read more

Teranga Harlem - African Near Me - New York, New York

Teranga is a true gem. The food and drinks are great, the location is directly across from the NE corner of Central Park, and the vibes are impeccable. It's cozy, casual, and family-friendly. There's always lots of seating available. It's accessible and has large single stall, gender neutral restrooms. Teranga is my go to for lunch, afternoon coffee, catch-up with a friend, or dedicated time to read and relax. The service is somewhere in between fast casual and sit-down, and always friendly. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan menu items, which are delicious! read more

This was quite an experience. I don't think I have ever tried West African food. It was quite an amazing experience. Bouye is an interesting drink that was quite tasty. It is an ancient African juice made from baobab fruit and has coconut milk in it. I believe this was considered a super food. I also got the Suya Super Bowl. The bowl consist of suya spiced chicken, Ndambe (black eyed pea, sweet potato, okra stew), plantains, and rice. I wish there had been more plantains but the dish over all was very filling and tasty. read more

Teranga Harlem - Bouye and Suya Super Bowl - African Near Me - New York, New York

Great food, nice atmosphere, and great customer service. Great location as well. Will be coming back!

I have wanted to check this place out for the longest time and finally got the chance to go there last night with my friend. Such a lovely setting, just across the street from the Harlem Meer. We sat at the counter and chatted with the lovely mixologist while we dined on ancient vegan bowls and a rum drink that was almost too pretty to drink. We finished our meal with a banana coffee cake that we shared. This is a wonderful community setting, with wonderful books available to read and comfortable seating throughout the large space. I can hardly wait to return! read more

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Arriving creates momentary bewilderment. This spot combines freshness with financial sensibility. The interior decoration was surprisingly tasteful. Staff members offered excellent service. The high standards here attract both visitors and locals. read more

First time having West African food and it was so good. I did a customized bowl with spicy chicken black eyed peas, spicy rice, okra and spicy sauce and it was delicious. Everything was packed with flavor. read more

Teranga Harlem - Suya Super Bowl (Chicken) - African Near Me - New York, New York

"...my family visited Teranga, a Harlem, New York restaurant. We each ordered a grilled chicken plate that had food from: Ghana, Senegal and Mali... ...A previously unconnected synapse buzzed awake and clicked as the flavors of the dish danced on my tongue." I wrote about it: https://medium.com/six-word-photo-story-challenge/called-to-the-family-dinner-table-524c29b2989c I would recommend this place for a communal style family/friend outing. read more

Teranga Harlem - Chicken Suya Bowl - African Near Me - New York, New York

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Great food great price great service. Like a home cooked meal ...very generous portions

Definitely a fan! Came here for takeout, and ordered the Chicken Bowl with Jollof Rice, Kelewe, Ndambe, and Yassa, and enjoyed every bit. I also got the Rof Medium Hot sauce, which was made with parsley and garlic, and was probably my favorite part of the meal. It wasn't too spicy but had a great flavor. The price is also very reasonable. We also tried some of their juices. My favorite was the Moringa Limeade, which was refreshing, but I probably wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for something on the sweeter side. The service was also very friendly and took the time to explain all dishes. There was some outdoor seating, but Central Park is also right by Teranga, so perfect to grab some food for a picnic if the weather is nice. read more

Teranga Harlem - Jollof Rice, Free-Range Grilled Chicken, Kelewe, Ndambe, with Yassa - African Near Me - New York, New York

I've never been this area and restaurant around upper Central Park east . This Saturday afternoon was right after the news of Biden won. It seemed lots of people were so relieved and peaceful ... then me and my friend were walking deeply in the Central Park and take a break here. There were some outside table with distance and clean. I'm not familiar with African food but always fascinated and impressed。 We ordered Super Bowl, my friend had vegan bowl, I had tender grilled chicken. ( pls see my pictures ) Both so yummy and spiced simmered dish that I wouldn't be able to cook at home ( but I wanna try to cook some day) Spicy roast plantain was also yummy and addictive! We celebrate new president with wine. They serve cocktail too , after sunset, they have some music so I think good for weekend chill and drinks as well. read more

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This place is delicious! We got the make your own chicken bowl, selecting the jollof rice, spicy roasted plantains and casamance salad. We got the yassa sauce and Shito hot sauce on the side. This was a perfect combination. The chicken and jollof rice were both so tender and flavorful. The plantains weren't spicy but still delicious. I normal don't like kale but it went well with the bowl. The shito hot sauce was too fishy and didn't go well with the rest of the bowl. On its own it had a good umami flavor but wasn't a good fit for the chicken. They only have outdoor seating at this time and is self serve. No bathrooms available. read more

Teranga Harlem - Make your own chicken bowl - African Near Me - New York, New York

"Neex na!" I've been waiting for an occasion to use my favorite Wolof phrase, which means "delicious." What better occasion than after a visit to the first vegan-friendly purveyor of excellent Senegalese food in the city. I had the jollof rice, a delicious tomato stock pilaf normally paired with seafood in "thiebou-djien," but here offered with a smattering of tasty vegan stews, including one with black-eyed peas and one with kale. I also added in the melt-in-your-mouth plantains, a perfect last selection. I covered my dish with the yassa, my favorite Senegalese sauce, made of smoky caramelized onions (and more typically paired with fish or meat). The parsley-based hot sauce I was less familiar with, but added a nice kick to the bowl. I biked up and back from Lower Manhattan to get take-out here, and I can say it was well-worth it! read more

Teranga Harlem - Vegan bowl - African Near Me - New York, New York

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This food is so good. Try everything. If I want comfort in a bowl, their market plates make me feel warm and cozy. Drown your chicken or beef plates in peanut sauce. Add some chili paste... just a little. Some of the jollof rice grains may be a bit undercooked, but this tiny stall in The Hugh is wonderful. read more

Cat (yassa grilled chicken bowl + cold brew): delicious red rice sweet and savory toppings great food for the park Khrys (ancient vegan bowl): delicious Harlem plantains, jollof, kale, okra celebrating you read more

Teranga Harlem - ancient vegan bowl (v) (gf) - jollof rice, efo riro, kelewele, ndambe, mafe, Moyo - African Near Me - New York, New York

Excellent, excellent flavor profile. Everything we had here was perfectly balanced. The crowd favorite was the bowl with the grilled chicken. I enjoyed the ancient grain bowl with peanut sauce. It was incredibly satisfying. Watch out for the steak bowl. It is spicy. It's got a dry heat to it that lights your mouth on fire. Have fun! The coconut mango rice was a nice dessert but my kids didn't like it. More for me! We enjoyed all their drinks. They weren't too sweet. The bowls are quite pricey for the portions, expect to pay around $20 a person. Totally worth it for the lovely mix of flavors and high quality ingredients. read more

Teranga is the perfect eatery to be featured at the Africa Center, as this casual cafe offered a variety of African dishes, served in a build-your-own bowl format. The choices for a base included Jollof, or jasmine rice cooked in tomato broth, and the Attieke, or fermented cassava couscous, which had a dry, grainy texture. For a main protein, I tried the Steak Suya, which had a meaty, jerky-like texture and was sprinkled with suya spice, which added a nice kick. I also got to try all the sides including the refreshing Black Eyed Pea Salad made with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, parsley, and a moringa-ginger dressing; the Casamance Salad made of shredded kale, fonio, mango, onion, tomato, and moringa-ginger dressing; the Kelewele, or soft, sweet roasted plantains; the Efo Riro Stew, made of kale and okra cooked in red palm fruit oil; and the Ndambe Stew, made of black-eyed peas, sweet potato, and okra in a tomato-based sauce. All of the elements offered in the bowls were delicious, but they were made even better with the selection of sauces that came on the side. The Yassa was made of soft caramelized onions in a sweet broth; and my favorite was the Mafe, a thick, earthy sauce made of ground peanuts. Finally, to finish it all off, each bowl came with a choice of hot sauce, and I tried the Shito (shrimp, crayfish, chili pepper, garlic); and the mild Moyo and the hot Kani (my favorite), both made with scotch bonnet pepper, onion, and garlic. Overall, the flavors of all the items here were amazing, and the friendly service and casual vibe made this a perfect place for lunch, especially after a visit to the African-American food exhibit run by the MOFAD (Museum of Food and Drink) next door! read more

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I don't want to write this review because I don't want you to discover Teranga. It's never going to win a Michelin star, or be ranked among the World's 50 Best Restaurants, or any of that hoity toity ish--but you know what? It's better that way. Teranga is probably my favorite restaurant in the city right now. You order through an app via a QR code. You choose from a bevy of hearty, flavorful, perfectly cooked West African dishes whose names you've never heard or can't pronounce. Maybe you add a fun African-tinged cocktail or a glass/bottle of wine from South Africa to round out the experience. Your food comes to you in a tray. And you just.....lose yourself in the glory of sweet potatoes, black eyed peas, palm oil, jollof rice, and so much more. Plant-based? Sure, there's a vegan version of every major offering. Meat or not, you'll still get all those glorious spices and herbs in your mouth. They're going to have an orgy in your stomach, and everyone's invited! When I say the seating is ample, I mean AMPLE. You can social distance x 10 between you and the next party, there's so much room. The space is industrial, covered in gorgeous wall art by African artists. Even the bathroom toilet paper holder is a sculpture by a Nigerian artist! And for the kiddos, there are plenty of children's books from Africa along the bookshelves. We wiled away a glorious 6 hours here (and 2 bottles of South African wine), and were never rushed or hurried. This is the kind of local business you should be supporting, so for the love of Ndambe, come here! (Or don't, because I still kinda wanna keep this place a secret.) read more

Yummmm. That's all I gotta say folks. Teranga hit spots I didn't even know I had. I tried the Jollof Vegan Bowl, which had multiple components that combined so well - rice, black eyed peas, peanut sauce, veggies, spicy plantains! The dish was well-sized, satisfying, flavorful and served rapidly. The indoor area is spacious and a block from Central Park. I will most definitely be back next time I'm in the area I returned and brought my partner and a friend - another impeccable experience! We love the quality and consistency read more

Teranga Harlem - Jollof Vegan Bowl! - African Near Me - New York, New York

Got the Vegan bowl which comes with rice, 3 sides, and a sauce. We added an extra side for $3 so that we could try all 4 veggie sides that they have (limited menu due to covid): Jollof rice (4.5/5) - super flavorful and my favorite part of the whole thing! Only downside was that it was really oily, yikes! Efo Riro (3/5) - kale okra stew. Was okay, but kind of lost. Ndambe (4/5) - sweet potato and black eyed pea stew; pretty good Kelewele (4/5) - fried plantains; pretty good Casamance salad (2.5/5) - kale salad with mango, fonio, tomato; really bland and no flavor unfortunately Peanut sauce (4/5) - a bit subtle and didn't like the red oil. The sauce did make the bowl more tasty Overall, really enjoyed trying African food. Wish it was less oily and some sides could use more flavor. Great service, they were really nice during order and pickup. read more

Teranga Harlem - Fried plantains, kale salad, sweet potato+bean stew, peanut sauce - African Near Me - New York, New York

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I had a vegan jollof bowl with a handful of vegetable side options and some hot sauce. I enjoyed the spicy flavors and the variety of vegetable toppings. There isn't too much seating, but it was relatively empty when I went in. read more

Hidden gem! Not only is all the food tasty, there's a huge selection of books and comfy chairs to browse them in. There are also art exhibits. The staff is friendly and helped out my friend who had never had West African food to figure out what she might like to order. Highly recommend stopping by! read more

Highly recommended food spot and creative space. Delicious (and not easily found elsewhere) dishes, affordable, cool space, great service. Came here after hearing about Pierre Thiam. Wasn't sure what to expect but Teranga exceeds expectations. The menu of West African foods is prepared daily. It is fresh, clean, healthy....and TASTY. Came here with friends and we ordered every single one of the side they had available that day for lunch. The house made drinks are also inventive and delicious. Everything is fairly priced / inexpensive for Manhattan. Heads up: lunch isn't served until 12 pm. The restaurant is located in a cool space. Rather spartan and austere, but there were a lot of people working there so I'd imagine it's a productive spot to get things done. Everyone that worked here was super friendly. Explained the different dishes on the menu and answered any questions. I'll be back! read more

Teranga Harlem - Tassa chicken, efo orio, fonio couscous, plantains - African Near Me - New York, New York

Decent experience, but I was not blown away by the dining experience. After reading a few reviews, we figured that we should get this place a go. I went with a chicken bowl, which was about $15 bucks and a kale salad. I will say that you get quite a bit of food for the price. For instance, the bowl could have been split into two separate servings, but I am not complaining about the amount of food (I was starving during our visit). Overall, I thought the bowl was pretty delicious, and the chicken was sooooo juicy. Had I known the chicken was going to be so delicious, I would have ordered an extra side of it for my bowl. However, the jollaf rice was kind of interesting. It was good, but it wasn't the jollaf that I remember having as a kid, which is fine. While the plantains were nice, it think they could have been less spicy. While the food was nice overall, I thought the ordering system was a mess. When dining in, you grab a table and order via an app. I'm not sure if ordering through an app is the "future" of dining in restaurants/cafes or if it was set up because of COVID. *I put future in quotes because we have been ordering through apps/iPads at airports for years.* While most folks order through the app, you may order at the front counter as an option. If ordering at the counter is an option, why not make that the system (eg McDonald's, Chinese American take out restaurants, or even Starbucks)? Since all the food is already prepared, why not set up ordering similar to what Chipotle has? *I'm sure the folks have their reasons for this system.* During our visit, I noticed that quite a few orders were mixed up because the system of ordering seemed to cause unnecessary confusion in the staff and customers. While the food was good, I think I'll just order delivery and eat my meal in the confort of my home. All that said, I am looking forward to trying other things on the menu in the near future. read more

In my efforts to get here before the 7 p.m. closing time, I got stuck in a maddening, almost-pulled-out-my-hair 6 train situation... but the food was good enough to make me forget, at least temporarily. I'd always wanted to try Pierre Thiam's food after hearing about him via MOFAD and Anthony Bourdain, so I was thrilled when I found out about Teranga. By 6:30, a lot of great options were already gone like the kelewele (spicy plantains) and plantain and red palm fufu, two things I'd really been looking forward to, as well as the chicken. I got the jollof seasonal bowl, which came with roasted salmon with Moroccan spices, jollof fonio (fonio, a West African grain, cooked in spiced tomato broth), and black eyed pea salad. The guy substituted the original kelewele side with ndambe (sweet potato and black eyed pea stew). The salmon was so tender, and the spices really made the flavors pop. The fonio, salad, and ndambe weren't that memorable on their own, but they were still tasty and definitely complemented the fish. There were sauces you could use to spice up your protein and sides, and those made the dish even better. I also got the bouye juice, made with baobab fruit and coconut, and sombi, a coconut rice and honey-roasted mango pudding. Both were quite sweet, but I still enjoyed them, and they were full to the brim with great coconut flavor. read more

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The new African palace just opened in the Africa Center serving some delicious fast casual bowls and snacks. It was opening day, so definite benefit of the doubt given on all of the food being cool to lukewarm. The flavor of everything was excellent though, so if it were all hot, I could imagine it being a really hearty, satisfying meal. We tried all 3 of the Seasonal Bowls, each of which packs tons of different flavors in every bite. The vegetarian Fu-Fu definitely needs a lot of the great peanut sauce, but the salmon and chicken on their own are excellent. The snacks are great too, so try some of those for a nice sweet to end the meal. read more

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The most amazing South African food I've had in NYC. The atmosphere is great and the food is breathtaking. I have been going for over a year now, and will be going for a very long time. The food is fresh and very healthy. I felt energized after rather than sluggish. The drinks are good and made daily. Worth the visit! read more

Really delicious food and the staff is very helpful! I loved every bit and the price was fair. Chicken was still moist and so flavorful! The fried plantains were spiced unbelievably well!! Also enjoyed the black eyed pea salad and the grain was good too. I'll definitely come back to try the salmon. read more

Teranga Harlem - African Near Me - New York, New York

As soon as you walk into this place, you'll feel like you're in Africa (that's if you've been there already)! It's almost like taking a journey into Africa-colorful paintings and designs on the wall, tropical plants, homemade smell of African food and the rhythmic sounds of the drums! This new restaurant (2 months old at the time of this review) is located on the first floor of The Africa Center, across from Central Park. It's a warm, welcoming environment and the staff are super friendly and helpful. They don't mind answering any questions and eager for you to try the delicious food. Menu is entirely gluten free. Everything I had was absolutely delicious-it was so good that I stopped by two days in a row and will return for more :) read more

This was really outstanding -- I had been meaning to try this place for a long time and it was even better than I expected. I did takeout and got the yassa chicken bowl with jollof rice, plantains, ndambe, and subbed in their kani sauce, which was extremely hot (and so good). I'd definitely try more of the menu in the future, but this was basically a perfect bowl -- even the chicken was excellent, which is sometimes an uphill battle at other places. read more

Teranga Harlem - Yassa chicken bowl (takeout) - African Near Me - New York, New York