1. Tima African Restaurant

0

Charlotte, NC

Cancel

Open app

Search

Tima African Restaurant

3.6 (17 reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Order Tima African Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

Tima African Restaurant Photos

Business Info

You might also consider

More like Tima African Restaurant

Recommended Reviews - Tima African Restaurant

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

White jollof rice with lamb
Cotrane P.

I'm not very experienced with west African cuisine but I'm an open-minded eater. I'll start with customer service. I ordered online from their website. The website menu shows that there are certain things that are available on the menu every day, and other items, including Jollof rice, that are only available on certain days. However, on the actual online ordering menu, it shows everything. So when ordering you need to be sure that what you want is actually available that day. That said, when I placed an order for a menu item that was not actually available today. My phone rang almost immediately, and when I answered, it was the restaurant telling me that they did not have that item today and suggesting a similar replacement. The woman I spoke to was very kind, courteous, and apologetic, and we were able to update my order quickly and easily. I'm leaving this issue out of my rating, but just be mindful of ordering online. I ordered the white jollof rice with lamb. The rice is not actually white. It's more of a brown color, but a major contrast from the more traditional red jollof rice. It is sort of a broken rice, like you might find in some Asian cuisine and I t's more of a dry rice dish, but not in a bad way. It was very tasty. The lamb was tender and came with a boiled egg, some sautéed onions and a few other vegetables on top. When I picked up my food, I was asked if I wanted spicy. I thought they were asking if I had ordered it with extra spice, so I said it doesn't matter. He went to the back and came back with a small container of what ultimately reminds me of a very spicy, but smooth type chili paste. It was quite hot and also had some deep flavorful smoky notes. While I did not eat in the restaurant. I can say that it was very clean, spacious brightly colored and had a cheery atmosphere. The staff was very nice and offered samples to some people who were at the register trying to figure out what they wanted to eat. I would absolutely recommend trying Tima if you're over in East Charlotte or if you wanted to make a special trip. I think it would be worth your while.

Suya Dibi Plate with Plantain & Attieke
Carmel O.

Excellent food and service. Reminded me of my time in Senegal. The Dibi was absolutely delicious, as was the Ginger Juice. The music playing was great as well. I'll definitely return when I'm back in Charlotte

See all

Reviews are mixed. Many highlight the flavorful authentic food, welcoming atmosphere, and friendly staff. Some also appreciate the unique West African dishes.

Read the full review summary in the app

Photo of Maya F.
13
27
19

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 2
Love this 0
Oh no 1

4 months ago

I had the pepper soup was a good spice the only thing had 3 pieces of tripe 1 lamb chop, which I would've preferred cut up in cubes.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 1
Photo of Nelys'ia B.
112
223
367

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Amazing food only suggestion order your food to go it's always super busy and really really good food!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Very good food and the people are friendly and helpful. Yuca rice and lamb was delicious and the salad was super good.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Aaron K.
356
162
49

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Tima African Restaurant

Review Highlights - Tima African Restaurant

“But Tima's food is also quite different, since Tima serves dishes from Francophone countries like Mali and Senegal.”

Mentioned in 2 reviews

Read more highlights

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for Desserts 2,652 times last month within 10 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Royal African Cuisine - Great food!

Royal African Cuisine

3.2(31 reviews)
2.4 mi

I was craving African food and since I was close to this location at the time and didn't feel like…read moredriving far, Royal was our choice. Let me say that we were not disappointed with our choice. Nothing fancy about the dine in area and it would have been nice if they had some nice Afro beats music playing on the televisions to create a more lively atmosphere. Many restaurants miss the mark when they ignore the atmosphere of their space and people aren't walking into a lifeless environment. Hope they take time to focus more on livening up the place. We sat ourselves as they seemed to be short staffed and after about 5 minutes or so we asked for a menu and after another few minutes we got one. There was no host at the host station and it looked like 3 male staff members were holding down the fort. We ordered fast because we were sooooo hungry. We hadn't eaten since breakfast and it was about 4:30pm and we just kept looking for our food to come out but was reassured it was on the way. Wasn't an unreasonable amount of time but we were so hungry it seemed longer. The food! We ordered egusi soup/stew, okra soup/stew and bitter leaf soup/stew with fufu for each. And then later ordered some suya to take home to hubby. My daughter gave the egusi a 5/5 and I gave it a 3.5/5, the okra stew with chicken and beef was sooo delish, I was trying not to do a happy dance in my chair. And the bitter leaf, as its names states, is bitter but not overwhelmingly so, at least for me, and it had great flavor! The fufu texture and taste was perfect. Many different countries have their take on each of these dishes so don't go in with a specific country in mind and judge it based on how you do it in Cameroon or Ghana, etc.. Go in expecting a version of these dishes that taste good, is served piping hot and loaded with two meats of your choice. I chose tripe and beef in my bitter leaf and chicken and beef in my okra stew. We packed out leftovers and ordered suya to go. The amount of Suya you get for $17.00 is not worth it. It is literally a handful and it could be juicier and a better cut of beef but with the suya spice added followed by some onion it was decent. And since they give such a small amount they should consider not putting it in a full size take out container and maybe consider upping the quantity especially with the cut of beef they use and the price. That's the good, the not so good and the not so ugly. Overall, the food was on point and we enjoyed it very much. Some minor tweaks with service, ambience and portions and this place will be even better. I'll be back. That is all!

So this place is hidden away. It was packed when I arrived, but it is for a reason. I had the…read morefufu and egusi (of course). The Egusi soup was delicious, but I was a little thrown off by the taste of the fufu. Not to say the food wasn't good, but it just threw me off as a new taste since I've had fufu from other African restaurants. I always get the Jolof rice because I am a country girl, and I have to add extra carbs to my vegetables. It was soooooo good. I probably don't eat right since I always have to eat my Egusi or vegetables. The chicken was delicious too, but I think the Southern African American in me was missing something, lol. With all jokes aside, the food was delicious, and I truly enjoyed it all. I need an hour to get some African cuisine where I live now. Oh, I can't forget the service. Even though we had to wait an hour (yes, you may want to call and pick up rather than sit there and eat if you don't have patience), the vibe was friendly. The lady tending to our order was very kind and friendly. She preferred Jolof rice, and we had some jokes when she came by to check on us as we waited. If you are in the area, this is a great place to stop by. Come on a day you aren't in a rush (but don't hold up a table either... you know who you are). That way, you can dine in. You know the experiences are always better when you can dine in.

Photos
Royal African Cuisine - Discolored meat and something uni

Discolored meat and something uni

Royal African Cuisine
Royal African Cuisine

See all

Red Sea Restaurant & Bar - Yellow lentils, lentils with berebere, cabbage, collards and beets

Red Sea Restaurant & Bar

4.3(121 reviews)
3.7 mi•Cotswold
•$$

With apologies to the other Ethiopian restaurants in the area, I picked Red Sea for dinner because…read moretheir Yelp page had the best food pics, and rightly so. Red Sea provided exactly the type of experience I wanted, including decor, atmosphere, friendliness, and of course the food. In the background, behind a door on the side of the restaurant, there was a second area where you could hear people playing snooker. At one point in the evening, the woman who seated and served us also roasted coffee beans at a little station in the corner, then she walked around so that the smell penetrated the entire restaurant like incense. What a cool thing, and something I've never experienced at any other Ethiopian restaurant previously. It's such a simple thing, you'd think it would be more common. The food was, of course, delicious. You could order individual foods or combo platters, and the combo platters were very well explained. This was one of the few Ethiopian restaurants I've visited which included beets on the menu both in the vegetable platter and as a side. Each person gets one gigantic piece of injera, so little worry of running out (there is a charge for extra). Tej is available by the bottle and glass, and several brands of beer are available. I would classify Red Sea as a hidden gem and definitely a place to dine.

Just finished watching an amazing show at Ovens Auditorium.. Mojo was amazing. Getting turned away…read moreat The Red Sea was a buzz kill. We walked in and watched someone eating with a full plate of food. The guy literally had his friend, hands deep in one of dishes that we didn't get a chance to taste. He immediately said, "closed." We hadn't opened our mouths and you were rude.. like the door should have been locked. Clearly, they were open. Just not to us. There was a man club in the back, and more guys were eating. So, I guess we just weren't invited. Now I lived in the Middle East for a few years, so I get it. Totally. But your hours are currently listed that you're open until 2 am. I took pictures of you serving ppl. You just didn't want to serve us. I hope your friends enjoyed your open restaurant. I won't be back... and I'll tell ppl that you're "closed." The restaurant looked a little dank anyways. I'd give a zero, but the app won't allow it.

Photos
Red Sea Restaurant & Bar - Seating area

Seating area

Red Sea Restaurant & Bar - Lamb, chicken, and vegetable combo platter

Lamb, chicken, and vegetable combo platter

Red Sea Restaurant & Bar - Still showing open. Open rooms on the back. Open in the front for some people. Just not inclusive. Everyone can't eat here.

See all

Still showing open. Open rooms on the back. Open in the front for some people. Just not inclusive. Everyone can't eat here.

Tima African Restaurant - desserts - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...