Africa Kine is a beloved Harlem gem serving up generous portions of traditional Senegalese dishes, perfect for takeout and picnics in nearby parks.
"Standout Harlem restaurant Afrika Kine continues cooking up its West African fare. Dishes like thiebu djen (stuffed fish and vegetables over rice) and yassa (chicken or fish in a lemon and onion confit) are available, though certain meals are only available for lunch and on certain days of the week. Order online through BeyondMenu or on Doordash." - Carla Vianna, Serena Dai, Tanay Warerkar
"Africa Kine serves most of its meat dishes without a knife, and for good reason. Lamb falls off the bone as you lift it from the pool of slightly spicy mafe sauce, and when you poke the peppery, smoky chicken yassa - our favorite dish here - with a spoon, the meat shreds into the mix of onions, olives, and citrusy sauce. There’s no seating in the small dining room at the moment, so place an order at the takeout window in the hallway, and bring it a short walk away to a bench in St. Nicholas park." - matt tervooren
"Owned by Kine Mar and her husband, Samba Niang, Africa Kine was founded in 1996 on the strip of West 116th Street known as Le Petit Senegal. (The restaurant has since moved north and has less of a nightclub feel.) It’s one of the few places in town you can get the African Vietnamese spring rolls called nems and other starters. Sided with a mountain of rice, the serving of mafe (lamb or chicken in peanut sauce) is voluminous and laced with bright red palm oil." - Robert Sietsema
"The dishes available at this Senegalese spot in Harlem vary from lunch to dinner, and from one day of the week to the next. But no matter what meats you go with, you can leave the knives in the kitchen. Lamb falls off the bone as you lift it from the pool of slightly spicy mafe sauce, and when you poke the peppery, smoky chicken yassa - our favorite dish here - with a spoon, the meat shreds into the mix of onions, olives, and citrusy sauce. No matter what entree you choose, make sure to start with the nems - crispy egg rolls filled with shredded meat and vegetables." - hannah albertine, nikko duren, matt tervooren
"Africa Kine, open since 1994, serves most of its meat dishes without a knife, and for good reason. Lamb falls off the bone as you lift it from the pool of slightly spicy mafe sauce, and when you poke the peppery, smoky chicken yassa—our favorite dish here—with a spoon, the meat shreds into the mix of onions, olives, and citrusy sauce. Grab a table in the little dining room, or pick up a to-go order at the takeout counter to the side. photo credit: Adam Friedlander" - Matt Tervooren
