The Bay Area may be a long distance away from Africa, but it is lucky to have a number of restaurants representing countries all over the continent right here in the Northern California region.
A Taste of Home: Eko Kitchen
Simileoluwa Adebajo makes everything look easy. In reality, Adebajo’s path to opening Eko Kitchen, the city’s first exclusively Nigerian restaurant, is a tale of focus and determination.
When Adebajo tweeted in April: “So I’ve quit my job as a financial analyst to open the first #Nigerian restaurant in the city of San Francisco. Tbh I’m not sure of exactly what I’m doing but I’ll do my best with what I have,” it was retweeted over 15,000 times and stacked up 2,000 replies. That’s how contagious Adebajo’s dreams are.
Now Eko Kitchen shares its location with a casual Mexican restaurant that occupies the space during the week, while Eko opens Friday through Sunday. Every Friday, Adebajo and her team of five swoop in, decorate the walls with Nigerian art, adorn the tables with traditional figurines, and cover the bar in traditional woven cloth. By Monday it’s gone, until next week, hidden in the back of the restaurant.
On the menu, however, dishes make a lasting impression. The menu, different each day of the weekend, reflects the Lagos lifestyle. On Friday night it’s all about spicy and simple “beer parlor food,” like marinated skewered beef and “Nigerian Shawarma.” Saturdays, the menu is “relaxed, like you’re spending time with your Nigerian mother,” with comforting dishes like jollof pasta and chicken gizzards. And on Sunday, rice dishes dominate along with heavier family-style meals.
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The windowless restaurant was filled with Nigerian customers shrieking with joy at the sight of familiar dishes, and other couples and families who were here to try something new. The locust beans-iru in Yoruba-as well as the organic palm oil, are some of the ingredients Adebajo imports personally from Nigeria alongside Nigerian honey beans and yam tubers.
“It’s really exciting that I’m able to make the dishes with authentic ingredients from Nigeria, straight from the farmers,” Adebajo says. Eventually, a Nigerian farmer in Sacramento understood her needs and became a regular supplier.
Since that April tweet, Eko Kitchen continues to scale new heights, with no PR efforts or even a sign to mark its location. “My plan for the future is to continue to share Nigerian food with people in cities where there is a gap in the market for West African flavors,” she says.
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Ruth's Buka: Authentic Flavors and Community
At Ruth’s Buka, they bring the rich flavors and traditions of authentic African cuisine to your table. Their passion is creating delicious meals that celebrate culture, community, and togetherness. Every dish is made with love, spice, and a taste of home.
Located at 5250 Foothill Blvd, Oakland, Ruth’s Buka offers delicious meals for quick pickup or convenient delivery - fresh, flavorful, and ready when you are. It is a place to celebrate with authentic flavor and turn any occasion into something special with dishes that bring everyone together.
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One customer said: "We ordered jellof rice. It was absolutely authentically made by Nigerian grandma's recipe with smoky flavor in it. We couldn't resist to buy a takeout after we had food right there. I just ate here today. I was introduced to this restaurant by a friend. I loved the food. The service was excellent. The restaurant was very clean. Great staff! Emmanuel was very attentive."
Another customer who was looking for a taste of home while in the Bay area said: "Selection and food is fantastic, Ruth's Buka exceed expectations. Call ahead to make sure what you need is ready. The best jollof rice I have had in a minute, very clean and cozy atmosphere and a sweet waitress."
"Buka" refers to an underground kitchen in Nigeria, and owner Ruth Ogbe started cooking out of her garage, before opening her restaurant in 2015. The diners are chatting loudly, and Thiam starts pointing at hot trays on the steam table. Ruth’s daughter Deborah Ogbe fills up boxes with egusi soup made with ground pumpkin seeds, efo riro, or spinach stew, and smoky jollof rice.
“If it’s not smoky, it’s not jollof,” Ruth says.
Jollof Kitchen: A Food Truck with a Mission
Oluwakemi Sumbiat’s Jollof Kitchen, a vibrant Nigerian food truck and catering company, is a great option when you need Halal, gluten-free, vegetarian or pescetarian catering options. The food truck is often spotted at big Bay Area gatherings, especially if there’s music playing, but it can be booked for private events, too.
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Kemi Tijaniqudus is a pioneering entrepreneur who has significantly influenced the Bay Area’s Afro music and culinary scenes. In 2012, Kemi launched Jollof Kitchen, a catering business that has since become a prominent fixture in the Bay Area’s food scene. Kemi has won the Jollof Festival both times she competed, earning a reputation for having the best Jollof. Her win drew the attention of KQED food,who reached out to learn more about the festival victories.
In addition to her work with Jollof Kitchen, Kemi is the Bay Area Festival Director for African Restaurant Week, a role that allows her to further her passion for promoting African cuisine and culture. Although Jollof Kitchen has never owned a restaurant, her commitment to authenticity, sustainability, and community building has made it more than just a business.
Other African Restaurants in the Bay Area
While focusing on Nigerian cuisine, it's worth noting the diverse African culinary landscape in the Bay Area:
- Bissap Baobab (Senegalese): A gathering place in San Francisco’s Mission District with fried plantains, salads, seafood curries, and Ceebu Jen.
- Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant: A longtime staple in Oakland for family-style plates of veggie or meat dishes.
- Jubba (Somali): Located in San Jose, known for Jubba chicken wrapped in flatbread.
- Kendejah (Liberian): Near San Leandro BART station, offering daily specials with vegetarian, seafood, and meat options, including jollof rice.
- New Eritrea Restaurant (Eritrean/Ethiopian): A Sunset District mainstay serving family-style plates and catering to both vegans and omnivores.
- Radio Africa Kitchen: An ever-changing menu that draws from Californian, North African, and Mediterranean flavors and techniques.
- Sheba Piano Lounge (Ethiopian): A festive place on Fillmore Street in San Francisco, known for kitfo.
- Swahili Spot (Tanzanian/East African): In Oakland, offering fresh juices, stews, curry rice bowls, and East African pastries.
- Teranga (Senegalese): Located in Embarcadero Center, known for Pizza Pulaar flatbread, roasted drumsticks, and peanut stew.
West African Food in the East Bay: Pierre Thiam's Recommendations
Chef Pierre Thiam, originally from Senegal, has also shared his favorite West African spots in the East Bay:
- Delightful Foods Bakery: Known for Southern-style sweet potato pie and Muslim-style bean pie.
- Yagere: Ethiopian coffee brewed in traditional jebena clay pots.
- Man Must Wak: An African and Caribbean market with a wide range of ingredients.
- Golden Safari: A Nigerian restaurant with comforting dishes like okra stew and goat stew.
These restaurants and food vendors contribute to the rich and diverse culinary scene of the Bay Area, offering a taste of West Africa and beyond.
| Restaurant | Cuisine | Location | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eko Kitchen | Nigerian | San Francisco | Jollof rice, Nigerian Shawarma |
| Ruth's Buka | Nigerian | Oakland | Egusi soup, Efo riro, Smoky jollof rice |
| Jollof Kitchen | Nigerian | Bay Area (Food Truck) | Jollof rice (catering) |
| Bissap Baobab | Senegalese | San Francisco | Ceebu Jen |
| Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant | Ethiopian | Oakland | Family-style veggie or meat dishes |
