Dishes that are considered real New Orleans food have a lot of
African influence. Red beans & rice is a perfect example of that. It became
a part of the fabric of New Orleans cuisine when people fled from Haiti after
the Haitian Revolution (many of the refugees were enslaved Africans). African
fare still persists in New Orleans today, and it's some of the most flavorful
and unique food that you can get here.
The following restaurants proudly carry on the culinary
traditions of Senegal, Ethiopia, Gambia, Cameroon, Tunisia, and beyond. Check
them out for dinner tonight!
Where To Get African Food in New Orleans
1. Dakar NOLA
3814 Magazine St. (504) 493-9396
dakarnola.com
Dakar NOLA offers an exceptional Senegalese culinary experience in a charming Magazine Street home-turned-bistro. This restaurant exclusively offers a tasting menu. Chef Serigne Mbaye, who grew up in Senegal, crafts dishes that beautifully blend his childhood memories with the vibrant flavors of New Orleans. One of featured dish is the Senegalese-style jollof rice, a flavorful and aromatic rice dish that showcases the fusion of West African and Creole cuisines.
The tasting menu often includes their popular black-eyed pea fritters, known as "accara," which are crispy on the outside and delightfully fluffy on the inside and served with a tangy tamarind sauce. Reservations are required ahead of time.
2. Bennachin
1212 Royal St. (504) 522-1230
bennachinrestaurant.com
Bennachin, a beloved gem in the French Quarter, is a destination for both locals and tourists seeking a taste of West Africa in the heart of New Orleans. Among their diverse menu offerings, the doh doh stands out as a crowd favorite. These perfectly fried plantains showcase the kitchen's ability to balance traditional African flavors with New Orleans' culinary flair.
The restaurant's specialties cater to various dietary preferences, with options thoughtfully categorized by main ingredients. For those craving a taste of the sea, the janga is a must-try dish. This delightful creation features succulent sautéed shrimp and a medley of vegetables, all served atop your choice of fluffy couscous or fragrant rice.
3. Addis NOLA
2514 Bayou Rd., (504) 218-5321
addisnola.com
Addis NOLA is down on Bayou Road and they are happy to serve you every day, except on Tuesdays. The restaurant serves truly authentic Ethiopian cuisine, and you are encouraged to eat the traditional way using injera, a spongy flatbread made from gluten-free teff flour, as your utensil.
The menu consists of small plates and specialty dishes, but most people opt for the family style meals. You can choose from the vegan bayenetu (veggie combo, sweet potato wot, mushroom tibs, Ethiopian salad, and shiro), alemayehu (doro wot, veggie combo, lamb tibs), siga bayenetu (awaze tibs, lamb tibs, ribeye steak), and endi endi (whole snapper, 24K gold tibs, mari shrimp).
4. Cafe Abyssina
3511 Magazine St., (504) 894-6238
cafeabyssinia.com
Under the beautiful twinkling string lights of the patio set off of Magazine Street, enjoy a spicy, belly-filling meal from Ethiopia at Cafe Abyssinia. Vegetarian and vegans will love how meatless dishes are called out on the restaurant's menu, but this is not a meatless restaurant.
Carnivores will love the seafood, chicken, beef, and lamb entrees. Lega tibs is a flavorful dish of beef cooked with onion, garlic, tomatoes, jalapeños, rosemary, and kebbeh (Ethiopian spiced butter). Plant-eaters will want to take a look at the food in the veggie combo. You'll get a plateful of lentils, cabbage, carrot, chickpeas, collard greens, and yellow split peas. Everyone should save room for a flaky baklava for dessert.
5. Jamila's Café
7808 Maple St., (504) 866-4366
jamilascafe.com
If you want a taste of North Africa mixed with a little Mediterranean flavor, Jamila's Café is the best place to get Tunisian in New Orleans. Their large menu can accommodate vegetarians, meat-lovers, seafoodies, and all of those in-between. Start off with some ojja merguez (sautéed lamb sausage, chef's seasoning, tomatoes, bell pepper, spicy sauce, and eggs) for the table.
The grilled filet of amberjack is a fish filet seasoned with roasted garlic and bell pepper chutney and served with steamed vegetables. Jamila's couscous a l'agneau is a heaping plate of couscous with lamp and drizzled with fresh vegetables au jus.
6. Tanjarine Kitchen
3801 Washington Ave., (504) 301-6954
tanjarines.com
Tanjarine Kitchen is the best food truck in the city for African fare, with a brick and mortar at 3801 Washington Ave. currently under renovation. The menu can change as ingredients are available. You'll always find several delicious fully vegan entrees like Ali steamed beans pudding & sautéed mixed vegetables (savory steamed beans pudding and sautéed vegetables flavored with West African spices).
Tanjarine Kitchen is very proud of The
Mandela Burger. It's a 100% soy-free vegan bean burger served with baked
curried potoes. Follow Tanjarine Kitchen's social media or check out their
website to see where they'll be at on the day that you want to pay them a
visit.
7. Ndindy African Cuisine
2600 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., (504) 354-1552
instagram.com/ndindyafricancuisine
Ndindy African Cuisine is a Senegalese
restaurant that is open for lunch and early dinner from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Owner and Chef Ndeye Ndir never knew that life was
going to take her on the path to running a restaurant. It happened naturally as
she and her husband worked in the French Market and cooked traditional African
food for other merchants.
You'll find traditional Senegalese fare, as
well as dishes from other African countries and Jamaica. Try the Ndindy Poisson
Braise, a grilled tilapia filet in a citrus marinade, or the yassa chicken,
Senegalese grilled chicken served over white rice.
African Food Restaurants in NOLA
With rich, earthy spices, chewy beans, and a variety of
breads, these African restaurants in New Orleans have food that you really can't
find for miles and miles. The best part is that you know it's authentic because
some of these chefs have spent parts of their lives in Africa. They are happy
to share the culinary traditions of their upbringing with you and your loved
ones.
Did we miss the best African food in New Orleans? Let us
know where we can find it!
