Asanka Delight African Cuisine

I’m not sure I can explain the delight I had dining here but I’ll do my best. It was an absolute joy being able to eat what chef Micheal cooked up for us. Walking In, the establishment is actually in a good hall with other restaurants so you’ll want to head to the back left most stall. Chef Micheal was happy to explain his menu, dole out recommendations, and listen to preferences with food which is a level of service you don’t see honestly almost anywhere these days. We took a seat and waited a just a bit and the food was brought out. Per Micheal’s recommendation and it being our intro to Ghanaian food, we got Jollof rice with chicken, Egusi, peanut butter soup with chicken and fufu, an extra side of plantains and a ginger juice. The ginger juice (coming from someone who lives a strong ginger juice) was lovely. Very punchy, fresh, and hits you right in the back of the throat. Jollof rice with chicken was excellent. The chicken fell off the bone which was great. It was moist and a little bite of rice, chicken, and plantain all mixed together was perfectly balanced. Egusi was also great, the greens were tender and the meat was a nice textural contrast to the greens. Personally I liked the peanut butter soup and fufu the best. The texture of the fufu was light and springy and perfect which was amazing paired with the soup and chicken. I truly did not have a disappointing bite here and I am happy to recommend this place to anyone who is looking for a good meal. It was a treat to visit and I am looking foreword to my next visit.

Walk straight to the back and you will find Michael. Sweet and courteous service. Food 10/10! Definitely recommend and will return but also cash only.

Michael was really hospitable! Really kind and really great food. We will be coming back to try more! :) We got chicken jolof rice and fufu with goat peanut soup!!

I stopped by to finally try their food and HONESTLY!!! I was not disappointed at all . The owner was amazing and the Waakye was amazing! We also had the ginger drink and that sh*t is strong af lol but it’s healthy and has a nice kick to it . I love their food overall!!! Will definitely come back

First time trying out West African food and Michael was very courteous and very uplifting. The jollof rice was absolutely amazing and the egg rolls were tasty too. Absolutely coming back again. You get a hearty portion for a great price! *NOTE: If you are entering from the front, there will be other restaurants around you. His is all the way near the back entrance and you'll need cash as well!

Egusi soup with beef and pounded yam. Let me just say i drive an extra 25 minutes out of my way for this. The quality and quantity is amazing and delicious, and i never feel bloated after eating it as well. The owner is very kind every time i see him too :) he has told me to try the Jollof Rice but i cant stop ordering this specific meal because its that good 🙏🏼 11/10

Absolutely delicious! The Waakye rice was full of flavor and well prepared. The staff and manager were incredibly warm and welcoming; it felt like I was visiting family. Can’t wait to go back!

I came last week and the food was amazing, one of the best African restaurants in Somerset area. The young man and the lady was very nice and kind amazing hospitality. I brought the jollof rice, fufu, and egusi soup, which was amazing by the way. It was very tasteful and the food was fresh it was definitely made with a lot of love... I will be visiting again soon..Thanks you for sharing your amazing food, it’s worth it!!! 7/26/23 Two years later and I’m back, I just want to start off and thank the owner for his warm and welcoming energy. Me and my cousin came to visit both got the egusi goat soup and fufu… it was bursting with flavor… the owner was also so very kind enough to hook us up with the jollof rice, which was excellent by the way nice and flavorful and not to spicy.. the service is always amazing I would overall give this place a 10/10 … thank you my brother for your generosity and your kind heart, I appreciate the love your share though your food…🥰 August 3, 2023 Ive waited 2hrs for this food and it was well worth every min… The owner is amazing and I always have awesome encounter … pls go show him some love, you deff will not regret it, it’s soo much love you receive from this place I just love the energy !!!

We hadn't been to Desi Galaxy in a while and new to us was Asanka Delight. I love peanut soup and goat, so when I saw it was on the menu, we had to try it. Michael was careful to let us know it had "a bit of a kick." It wasn't spicy per se, but nicely seasoned with a pleasant heat. Goat was the perfect meat choice. We all tried it and I'm greedily hoarding the leftovers for lunch. Highly recommended and will definitely be eating that again!

Great food and great service! The location is tucked in a food court area so make sure to walk all the way back or you will miss it! Was craving peanut stew with fufu and much enjoyed this location! The jollof rice and chicken was also a fantastic recommendation by the business owner!

This was my first time trying this place and went with lots of expectations based on many 5 star reviews. The owner was very nice and gave good recommendations. The Goat light soup was really good and easily the best of everything that we ordered. Fufu is acquired taste and unfortunately we didn't like the texture or the taste of it. Jollof rice was sticky as well and lacked the flavors. Portions are very generous, but it doesn't help when it doesn't taste great.

This place located in a shop that has 2 or 3 other restaurants. The owner is very welcoming both times I visited. He even offered to teach me how to make a certain dish I was interested in. The presentation of the meals look good too however the flavor isn't what I'm used to, seems to be prepared differently than how I have experienced it. I ordered the fufu with light soup and peanut soup. I have also ordered the jollof rice and Waakye in the past. I wasn't a huge fan but I will suggest trying for yourself as it may be the flavor you are used to. He gets a lot of 5 star reviews so obviously may just be me. The customer service is impeccable.

Chef Michael was an absolute delight. I visited from Brooklyn, NY and it was definitely worth the trip. Chef Michael explained the dishes on the menu and made suggestions. He cooked everything fresh and also served us personally. I'm so grateful for finding this gem in Somerset. We will definitely be back!

So so so good and the owner is so sweet loved the food I was stuffed so quick but I'm gonna be eating this for the next couple days straight until it's gonethank u

Michael is very friendly to introduce me to Ghanaian food culture. I hope every restaurant owner is as friendly as he is. The black sauce is interesting with flavors of spicy, acidic, savory elements. It is a good supplement to rice.

One of the joys in life for me is trying a new cuisine that I have never tried before. I still remember my first Japanese, Korean, Greek and Ethiopian meal. They were unforgettable and let me appreciate new tastes and dishes that will be lifelong. So when I happened upon this African place, I was very excited. This is my first time. Finding this place was not easy. You ever set a destination on your navigation and when it says, "you've arrived at your destination" but you're like...where the hell is it? You know you're not stupid so you try again...damn, where is it? It's not easy to find, the signage is TINY! I placed the order via phone. Because my son wanted the stewed goat, the guy said that there would be a 30 minute wait. After 30 minutes, I called back to check and he said the goat is still simmering, another 40 minute wait. Aside from Ms. Bobalicious, my other middle name is "impatient". Upon first taste, one word...flavorful. Spices that I have never tasted before. The rice if I am not mistaken seemed to have been cooked in some sort of broth. It was fluffy and very flavorful. My son loved the goat with the black bean that is mixed in with the rice. There were no meat left on those bones. I will say that the fried fish and chicken was a bit dry. If the chicken was fall off the bone tender, I would have given this place 5 stars. What a treat and I look forward to venturing more into this cuisine. The guy who gave me the order was super friendly. Note: Due to COVID-19, their hours have changed.

My meal was very fresh and delicious. I can tell the food is made with love...It was my first time ordering African food and the person on the phone helped me decide on the items to choose from i had Egusi, jollif rice with chicken, and fufu all we're tasty hot made fresh. Next time im in the sommerset area and in the mood for African cuisine Asanka delight will be my place to order from.

Ghananian food? Senegalese fare? Unless you're used to having them as your dinner, likely these cuisines are typically not in everyone's food radar (including mine), but you should at least try them out here! The amazing food came out of a small kitchen at the farthest corner of the galaxy (Desi Galaxy, that is, in Somerset, NJ). The "galaxy" plaza has a few small sized restaurants in its constellation, and you eat in a common area either indoor, or outdoor under the umbrellas, and on a cool summer afternoon like today with no crowd in sight, outdoor seems to be the logical choice. The friendly young chef explained the food ingredients and even showed how he made the fufu "ball" (which involves mashing plantain and cassava together for an considerably long time and tying it up in a plastic wrap until it's shaped like a ball), to be later doused with a tangy peanut butter soup (with a well-marinated chicken thigh doused in it). We also ordered the richly flavored (even though it's super oily) chicken in tomato grav (a marinara like gravy that has texture so rich I feel like using a magnifying glass to enjoy seeing its ingredients). And also the beef with jolloff rice, which blew me away with its rich, smoky flavors and surprisingly complex tomato salty/sweet, stew topping. The fufu's soft mushy and yet glutenous feel is definitely a delight to explore. My only concern with the food is the oil that drenches the plates, but, I'll take that as part of the appreciation. Overall, it's an amazingly unforgettable culinary experience!

Food is okay. Not great. Really little pieces of meat, not worth the price. Try other African restaurants In the area

This food is cooked with LOVE. It was so delicious!!! I got jollof rice with chicken and goat egusi soup with fufu and it was banging!!!!! No card accepted so just a heads up but this place is amazing but they do receive different types of payments. Located all the way to the back in Desi Food Galaxy. The young man in the front was so helpful with my first time trying this cuisine. Can't wait to go back and try more.

Best jollof rice I've had, and customer service was even better! Definitely coming here again.

This is the best african food i have had by far. The peanut butter soup was soo good. The customer service is was soo great that you just feel at home. The place is soo quite and peaceful. I would always recommend

This was my first time trying African food and I loved it. I ordered the jollof rice with chicken and sweet plantains and the goat peanut butter soup with fufu. All the food was so good I highly recommend going here. The flavors had a perfect mix of sweet, salty, savory, and tangy. I will absolutely be going back for more

This place is such a gem! My husband has been looking for an authentic African food since we have heard such great things about the cuisine and I tell you, this place is sooo GOOD! Being our first time trying the cuisine, the gentleman helped us with the menu and we decided to go with the peanut butter soup and fufu. It was so TASTY and the meat is falling off the bone. So authentic, the flavor is immaculate. The serving portion is pretty big. My husband and I shared. So good, we could definitely have more though haha. Seriously, this hole in a wall is such a gem!!!! For sure, we will be ordering more.

Never ever ever disappoints. They only take cash so do not forget. My top three favorites are the okra, peanut, and egusi soup. Very fast service when you call ahead for pick up. I like to take it home so I'm in the comfort of my home. I will be ordering again soon

Owner, Michael, is so nice. Dinner was beautifully prepared and delicious. Can't wait to return with my son in laws Ghanaian mom and dad! This gem of a spot is a really find!

Walked into asanka right before close and I knew I wanted to try their goat soup because I was feeling under the weather. I'm Jamaican so we love goat soup but I wanted to try asanka's. I paired it with their fufu and it was delicious. The fufu carried the flavor of the soup and the soup was tomato pasty ish with a spicy kick. I enjoyed.

Walked in a bit unsure, but the chef was such a delight as soon as he saw us. His kindness stood out. We got egusi, spinach, and jollof rice. Everything was delicious and a delight. First time having any of those, so can't compare to anything, but really great and would come back.

Honestly freaking amazing, I'm so late with the review but last time I went I had the best most freshest food

Excellent food! Flavorful & fresh! & the chef was so kind and hospitable! Couldn't ask for better service. Anytime I am back in the area I would back for sure.

Good customer service.food is simply amazing. Just one bite takes you back to your roots

Wow. This place is as good as it is tiny. Literally a hole in the wall inside a tiny food court called Galaxy (misnomer if there ever was one), but the food that comes out is glorious. I had the jolloff rice (of course) with some fried plantains, some curried spinach, and a little tomato chutney side and it made my taste buds sing. If you are on Rt 27 and hungry, this is the place to stop.

Delicious Ghana / West African food, snacks, soups, mashes found in the corner of Desi Galaxy, the hawker centre of Somerset.

Between the hospitality and the delicious flavorful food, we were left satiated. Michael made a point to come out and introduce us to the cuisine in a way that complimented the homemade feel. We're sure to go back and try something else from the menu soon!

A colleague from Nigeria recommended this place. Therefore, even though the food court where this is located has many attractive (Indian) food options, I went for their waachi (also called waakye or wache) that includes rice, beans, fried plantains and meat/fish--I ordered the one with goat meat. The owner was very nice and sincere and I was even happier with the food, which tasted great and fresh. Also, my family members acknowledged that my food was the most healthy among all the food that we ordered from the different vendors in the food court. I was very happy with the experience and will eat from there again.

The rice and beans is absolutely delicious and I really enjoyed the fish. The customer service is first class and all their meals are made fresh. I definitely plan on coming back frequently.

On a scale of 1 to 5 I give it a 3 1/2 would get a 4 if they did not give me too much food if that is a ding come get your Wauconda on. As a note it is in a small mall with other restaurants in the back on the left

Very delicious food, great service. Owner was very friendly and welcoming and informed us of what was best to order. The peanut butter soup with beef was absolutely amazing.

I just had a wonderful meal at Michael's Asanka Delight. What a joy to find authentic Ghanaian food here in Central Jersey. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming and the food, out of this world. I just found my new GoTo spot.

Michael and his wife are THE best ! The food was just. . . In fact, I enjoyed it very well. I had banku & tilapia and the tilapia!!!!!!!!!! It was seasoned to perfection! Michael's customer service was superb. He made sure we were good & that we enjoyed the food. And the food is made fresh ! EVERYONE must go there!

Joloff rice, plantains, and chicken drumsticks which were juicy and crispy on outside was a treat. The food is very good and the owner is welcoming and helpful. I'll be back to try more soon!

Excellent service by the chef Micheal, his friendly attitude made us feel welcomed from the start. The kitchen was in full view and you could see how clean it was kept. The food was full of flavor which you could only get with high quality ingredients, the presentation of each dish beautifully done. I had the peanut butter soup and the spinach both of which were delicious! I look forward to trying other dishes at Asanka very soon.

Great African cuisine great taste very spicy great experience loved it full menu conveniently located in Somerset

Thank you Asanka for providing such well deserved meals, to my deceased friend's family. Meals were delicious. People enjoyed every crumb of the meals. You did a marvelous job. Continue the good work.

This has to be my 3rd or 4th time here in a week!! Words can't express how great this place is. Tues night I was stuck at a meeting I knew I wasn't going to get to Asanka restaurant before he closed..Mike(the owner) had uber deliver my food to my house free of charge!! He told me to pay when I had a chance! What? Unreal...lol each time I come he gives me a FREE sample of whatever he's cooking to try AND a bottle of water. Customer service is beyond exceptional! Thank you my friend.

I can't sing the praises of this place enough. The owner is extremely friendly and you can tell he takes great pride in his establishment. The food is amazing and the craftsmanship behind its presentation, in the world of African cuisine is second to none. The jollof or waakye is the go to meals i'd recommend, as they come with a side of fried plantains and the prices here are super cheap compared to any other restaurant in this space. Say hi to the owner when you go!

The food was good portions were good as well. I got the rice with the chicken, only complain is the the chicken was a bit oily

My wife and I decided to try Asanka for lunch on our way home from running errands today and we're glad we did! The restaurant is in a strip mall and is very casual. The owner seems to do everything, and seems to do it very well. He was happy to suggest dishes, and the dishes he selected were tasty! Neither of us know enough about African cuisine to say if the food is authentic, but it's definitely tasty. There is a rice and bean dish that he suggested that is made with what the owner called a 'medicinal' plant. He said it is used instead of artificial colors to give the dish its distinct color. He was telling us about it because sometimes some strands from the plant fibers are left in the dish and may look like hair. He wanted us to know so we didn't mistake the fibers for hair! Very nice of him, we thought! I really wanted to try the deep fried gizzards, but he was out at the time of our visit. I'll have to go back to try those! The owner also suggested the fried turkey tails and peanut soup. SO excited to try all the new flavors!

My first time trying African food and it was a great experience! I went with an African friend so he was able to make suggestions for me and the owner was very helpful as well. I had peanut butter stew with beef and fufu, all hot and spicy and tasty. She offered us a few things to sample with the appetizer as well. We really felt like we were at home here, and will definitely come again!

This was a great dinner. I had a delicious spinach stew with melon seeds, tilapia, and fried plantains. The stew included a very complex, interesting, and satisfying combination of flavors and textures. It was paired nicely with fried plantains. I really enjoyed the fish as well - it was cooked really beautifully. I would definitely return for another dinner! I recommend this place for any adventurous eaters. You're in for a nice surprise!

For #MunchieMonday, I went to this restaurant as I was craving African food. Today was slow, so seating and service wouldn't be a problem. The owner/manager Michael helped me with my order. He sold me on the Jolloff rice and Peanut Soup with goat!! Very DELISH and filing!! The taste was as authentic African cuisine as you can get. Wish this place had delivery, but I'll be coming back for more!! I'd strongly recommend eating here for lunch or dinner. Worth every dollar I spent!! Plus, they have ginger juice!!! :)

Ordered Joloff rice with chicken, food was fresh and delicious!! Would definitely come back for more!

First time trying this place and it's pretty good, the service was good he also gave a quick background on how he got to the food court

Everything is unassuming, but delicious! The owner is incredibly friendly. The menu isn't long, yet there are infinite combinations. It's a really great place for casual dining or if you want to try new things! I personally loved the spinach stew with beef.

The flavor is there, but the problem is the food is not fresh everything I've eaten, it taste like the food has been re heated so many times over over and over. Now if they can have a cook there cooking all the time this would be a great place.

I had been craving Ghanaian food for the longest before I came across Asanka. The kelewele and jollof rice are to die for. The owner Michael is also really nice and makes sure you are completely satisfied before you leave. He is also very accommodating for takeout, catering and deliver order. Great food and outstanding hospitality- just like Ghana!

Great food! I'm a student at Rutgers so it's nice to have a restaurant close by that cooks meals from back home. Lovely owners too!