London's flourishing Nigerian community and the diversity of the West African country’s rich, vibrant culture shines through in the city’s dazzling and rapidly evolving food scene. From the edge of the A406 to the heart of central London and all over the city, restaurants, stalls, and takeaways proudly fly the green and white flag. Whether you're after some spicy jollof or a comforting bowl of seafood-loaded soup in a cosy cafe, there’s something for everyone. There’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all Nigerian experience-it’s a vivid mix of tribes, languages, and traditions which shows in the food.
Top Spots to Explore Nigerian Cuisine
Chishuru
Chishuru’s spacious, terracotta-toned space in Fitzrovia is a far cry from its original Brixton location that first made waves. But this spot continues to explore flavours like no other restaurant in London, using owner Joké Bakare’s Nigerian roots as a base for venturing out into the wider West African plains. There are spices and sauces you’ll want to mainline, be it an electric peppersoup broth or an egusi-slathered spiral of cabbage. It’s easy to see where this thoughtfulness comes from when Bakare greets tables upstairs and down, with hugs, kisses, and recommendations from the serious all-French wine list.
Chuku's
Nigerian food, even when ordered in a group, is usually a solo, personal affair. One’s favourite stew and swallow is chosen, and each person stays in the confines of their own plates and bowl of warm water to cleanse their hands. But Chuku's fusion of Nigerian cuisine with small plate-style eating is too good to miss. Be it suya-spiced meatballs, ojojo (yam croquettes), or cassava fries. The vegan section is headlined by the tricoloured egusi bowl that deconstructs the classic Nigerian stew into a shareable, sumptuous dish. The Tottenham spot’s big-hearted hospitality and upbeat playlist will make you feel at home whether you’re rocking up for a group brunch or a casual birthday dinner.
Enish
Head to any of Enish's spacious locations across London, from Brixton to Finchley, if you've got a birthday party on the cards. In the evenings, loud afrobeats plays over the airwaves while plates of Nigerian staples fill tables. Enish serves good versions of dishes like jollof rice, suya, and grilled goat and chicken. But it's worth getting specialties like isiewu, a spiced goat's head stew that is traditional to eastern Nigeria, as well as spicy pomo (cow skin). Like you would a sommelier for wine recommendations, ask the staff for their best swallow pairing-be it pounded yam, eba, amala, or a mix.
805 Restaurant
805 is an institution, as popular in Nigeria and Ghana’s capital as it is in England's. For decades, Nigerian dignitaries and celebrities have headed down the Old Kent Road to visit this pioneer of British West African fine dining. Smartly dressed waitstaff serve Nigerian dishes like edikanikong (a leafy green, pumpkin, and crayfish stew), efo riro (spinach stew), and juicy, fiery grilled prawns on elegant, polished porcelain plates. Our cutlery usually remains spotless, though, as we tear apart house specialty monika-perfectly crispy-skinned, succulent fish with chilli sauce. There’s also a location near Hyde Park, where families taking a break from shopping sit side by side with local financiers seeking a much-needed taste of Nigeria in central London.
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Alhaji Suya
Nigerian food in the UK mostly represents a small part of the incredibly populous and ethnically diverse country. Alhaji Suya is representative of a different Nigeria, one even foreign to most of the UK’s diaspora, which hails from the south of the West African country. An homage to the shop’s Hausa tribe origins, Alhaji’s mainstay dish, suya, is a portal into the northern reaches of the nation. Fresh yaji spice mixes are imported from Kano state, where the owner is from, and the suya is unrivalled. Lamb, chicken, guinea fowl, or crowd-favourite tozo beef is fused with these spices, grilled to perfection, and neatly wrapped up for takeout. There are locations in Peckham, Greenwich, Brixton, and Walworth. The latter has some seating so the sweltering suya comes straight off the grill to your mouth.
Authentic Nigerian 🇳🇬Jollof Rice Recipe | Easy & Delicious🔥🔥🐓
Eko Bar
Eko Bar, in the heart of Homerton, is the epitome of a Nigerian lounge bar-tinted windows, flash cars parked outside, and a vibe that doesn't pick up until the late hours of the night. But when it does pick up, you’re in for a swing. On Friday nights, the weekly live band plays Nigerian funk renditions of old hits and new afrobeats. Waiters bring out piping hot plates of chewy but tender asun goat meat and gizzard. The imported palm wine is also a must-try. Vegans aren't specifically catered for, but between the mammoth plate of delicious spicy jollof rice lined with sweet plantain and soft cassava fries, no one will leave disappointed.
Aso Rock
Aso Rock has been a pillar of east London’s Nigerian community for decades. As other spots have come and gone, Aso Rock stands as firm as the monument it’s named after. It’s a testament to the quality of food that has kept seasoned diners happy and their ability to introduce Nigerian food to Dalston’s ever-changing community. We recommend a satchel-sized box with a rice-based or soup-based meal. The latter, which includes the likes of egusi stew and okra stew, is led by their excellent speciality ayamase. Sides like the soft doughnut-esque puff puff are excellent too. Let the hours slip by, with a cold Guinness in hand, in the jazzy, neon-lit bar and warm, foliage-filled dining space.
The Flygerians
It's impossible not to fall under the spell of Jess and Jo, the affable founders of The Flygerians. After learning to cook from their grandmother, they opened in Peckham Palms. The arcade, with stores and salons run by Black business women, fosters community, and although The Flygerians isn't a huge space, the music and hospitality create a welcoming atmosphere. There’s a simple, short menu, and those who haven't eaten all day should get the 2 Fly Chicks Plate. The two-piece chicken combo comes marinated in their secret Mama’s Forbidden Sauce, a sweet and smoky red marinade with a spicy kick.
Akoko
Akoko’s serene central London restaurant provides a multi-sensory experience and fine dining expedition of West Africa in Fitzrovia, via its tasting menus. Each dish, be it an adaptation of a stew, salad, or baked treat comes with a story. The jollof rice, topped with shredded smoked goat and accompanied with sumptuous, soft goat belly, even comes with a physical printed story. The menu changes with the seasons, but you can always expect vivid flavours that wow. Any thoughts that a tasting menu may mean a stuffy experience are immediately put to ease by the relaxed and calming pastel interiors, and charming staff.
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Akara
Akoko’s sister restaurant Akara, among the hustle and bustle of Borough Market, is similarly sleek, but more casual. The West African food is no less delicious, with a menu that tingles all the senses. Fried chicken bites lathered in a delicate hot sauce paves the way for the restaurant's namesake Nigerian akara. Our go-to filling for these simultaneously crispy and fluffy fritters is BBQ prawn. Ordered alongside a smoky efik rice or plantain, you could call it a day and be more than satisfied. But plates like short rib suya, BBQ chicken or cod, as well as BBQ king oyster mushrooms turn a brief lunch into a feast.
Lekki Restaurant
Kingsland Road is a far cry from the sunny Lekki Peninsula to the south of Lagos state, but this small restaurant delivers a slice of south western Nigerian culture. Like a number of Nigerian restaurants in London on a Friday night, melodious renditions of afrobeat classics are played by a live band while big groups of friends and tables of aunties and uncles tuck into a Nigerian feast, and become more boisterous as the hours tick on. The go-to dishes are Lekki’s Nigerian soups, for good reason. It’s impossible to describe the deliciousness of these stews in so few words, especially the egusi. When you finish the accompanying swallow, such as pounded yam, you might find yourself diving in hands first to finish the rest. For a quick lunchtime snack, the pies, historically derived from and reminiscent of Cornish pasties with a Nigerian seasoned twist, will fill you up for the afternoon.
Lolak Afrique
There isn't an officially designated Little Nigeria or Little Lagos in London, but Peckham’s Choumert Road is high on the list. Among market stalls, hairdressers, and grocery shops, Lolak Afrique and its luminous red banner glow like a beacon. On the way to the counter to order, you’ll pass single diners and whole families, both with a spread of homely dishes that you would find in a Nigerian bukka (local Nigerian eateries). Stews are bolstered with offal such as tripe, and soups come with large fish heads which are wolfed down. Get the abula, a tricolour, trifecta of soups featuring lightly salted, leafy green ewedu; gbegiri with sun-yellow, subtly sweet blended beans; and a rich, red tomato stew with a touch of spice.
Stork
Stork describes itself as a pan-African restaurant and dishes have a Mayfair sheen, but its Nigerian roots are hard to miss and everything has a unique twist. The rib-eye of beef suya and duo of chicken suya will please traditionalists with a slow, creeping but thrilling umami heat. Seafood options are as plentiful as you could imagine from a nation with such a broad coast and rivers flowing through every crevice of it. Stork’s version of egusi is a dream for seafood-lovers as the mellow blended seeds are swimming with mussels, shrimp, and king prawns amidst a sea of shredded mackerel. Just make sure to put on your finest-everyone else does.
Restaurant Ratings
Here are a couple of highly-rated Nigerian restaurants in London:
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- Chishuru: 9.0 - A modern West African restaurant that doles out thrills, comfort, and heat in equal measure, Chishuru isn't just one of Fitzrovia's must-visit restaurants, it's one of London's.
- Alhaji Suya: 9.0 - Alhaji Suya in Peckham is London’s best spot for Nigerian barbecue.
For those with pure food indulgence in mind, step in and satisfy your desires with our Anglo African inspired dishes. We promise an intimate and relaxed dining experience that offers traditional and not so traditional dishes and ensures you enjoy a memorable experience every time.
