Calabash African Cuisine & Bar
West African restaurant · Landmark ·

Calabash African Cuisine & Bar

West African restaurant · Landmark ·

Traditional Ghanaian dishes like Waakye, Jollof, and Fufu served

jollof rice
fufu
egusi
peanut soup
waakye
suya
chicken
pepper soup
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar by null

Information

514-c S Van Dorn St, Alexandria, VA 22304 Get directions

$10–20

See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Cozy

Information

Static Map

514-c S Van Dorn St, Alexandria, VA 22304 Get directions

+1 703 823 1333
calabashdmv.com
@calabashafricancuisine

$10–20 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Cozy
•Family friendly
•Good for groups
•Good for solo dining

Last updated

Jan 25, 2026

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D.C. Restaurants With Government Shutdown Specials for Furloughed Employees | Eater DC

"This Shaw tea shop is offering free tonic shots to government employees to help alleviate stress, including the Holy Trinity (with Eleuthero root) and Chill Out (with passion flower herb and Albizia bark)." - Tierney Plumb

https://dc.eater.com/2019/1/7/18172668/shutdown-furlough-specials-dc
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar

Kim P.

Google
Went with my sister since the both of us were itching to try West African cuisine for the first time and this place exceeds our expectations! We arrived a little after opening time and we were promptly seated right away. The restaurant was very warm and inviting (loved the green decor!) and even the tables, chair, and booths were luxurious. Just a heads up, if you’re sitting at the booth, the seats are positioned a little higher than the table—my sister had to practically slouch to eat her food. The server was incredibly kind to us and did an amazing job giving us a great first experience at this restaurant. We ordered the suya, egusi with chicken and fufu, and the jollof rice with fish. The dishes came quickly and the size each dish was decently portioned. The suya and egusi were our favorites. Would definitely come back again just for those two!

RW

Google
This place is a hit or miss because it’s either open or closed, but you never know until you get there and they usually out of plantains. The food is really good though, on the pricy side but that’s African food in the dmv for you 🤷🏾‍♀️

Akua

Google
After hearing rave reviews from a few friends, I decided to visit Calabash African Cuisine and Bar while I was in Alexandra this weekend, eager to see what the hype was all about. I must say, I was truly impressed! The restaurant boasts a unique decor and a welcoming ambiance that immediately made me feel at ease. The staff were professional yet warm, embodying the best of African hospitality. For my meal, I went with a quick take out lunch option: Waakye with assorted meats, accompanied by a side of salad, Red-Red with fried plantain, and topped off with a light soup. Every bite was absolutely delicious. What stood out to me was the restaurant’s creative twist—pairing these traditional dishes with Caribbean flavors. The jerk chicken that accompanied the Waakye was a delightful fusion that I thoroughly enjoyed. Kudos to the team at Calabash for such a fantastic culinary experience! I’ll definitely be returning with friends to explore more of the menu.

Raana B.

Google
This was my first time trying West African cuisine, and it was absolutely divine! We had the jollof rice with chicken and the fufu with beef— both were full of rich, bold flavor. Truly chef’s kiss 🤌. The mocktails were super refreshing (and pretty look at too haha! ) . The staff were incredibly friendly and made us feel so welcome. 10/10- I can’t wait to come back

Joyce A

Google
Lets start off with that they serve Ghanaian African cuisine. The food is truly fulfilling, tasty and well seasoned. There's a bar to sit at also the atmosphere is really nice, cute, and laid back it's perfect for a date, or hanging with friends or to eat solo. The staff is very attentive and polite and you feel like family. You get enough food for the price you pay. I try to frequent this spot whenever im out Alexandria VA. I Love Calabash

Jazlyn K.

Google
I’ve seen this place many times and was always curious to try it out. I finally went and have been hooked! The service is top tier and super hospitable. The hosts are super friendly and even educated me on their different entrees and how to properly prepare/eat meals with fufu. The female host was even nice enough to give me samples of food that I haven’t tried before. The food is very flavorful and came out piping hot, just how I like it. I had the egusi with chicken, okra stew with beef, waakye, and plantains. This place is a must try!

Muhubo S.

Google
I had the stew beef with fufu and my friend had the spinach stew with beef. Amazing! the food was amazing.

Zarin B

Google
Boyfriend and I stopped in to try Ghanaian food for the first time. We ordered the egusi (spinach stew) with beef, jollof with fried fish, and fufu in peanut soup with chicken. It was a bit of a wait for the food because they had to make more fufu (about 30 min) but we had no problem waiting. And boy was it WORTH it. I was a little nervous I wouldn't like the fufu since I'd never had it before but it was SO YUMMY!!!! The peanut soup was flavorful, a bit spicy, and had a richness to it. The egusi was full of tasty vegetables and big chunks of beef. I was torn between if the egusi or the fufu was my favorite. Both were amazing. You can tell the ingredients are fresh, and the food is seasoned expertly. The portions are also really generous. Above all that, the waitress was so so sweet too. Best kind of service (and I don't even prioritize service when I go to restaurants usually).
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Brittney P.

Yelp
The food was absolutely amazing. Me and my daughter ordered the fufu and egusi with chicken, rice and stew, and the red snapper with jollof rice. Highly recommend each dish. The staff was cool and chilled, very laid back. Loved the decor. We'll be back!!!
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Tiffany W.

Yelp
Visited for dinner on a Thursday night. I had no idea this spot was in the shopping center where it is located! Definitely tucked away. Tried suga kebabs and plantains as starters. Both delicious, but I really enjoyed the plantains. They were smoky and chewy and just slightly sweet. And they weee cut into a unique shape, not just sliced like I usually see. For my entree, I had jollof rice with chicken. It was quite tasty! I loved the flavor of the tomato stew that came with it with the rice. The salad had raw onions in it, not my favorite. The chicken was quite spicy, and my mouth was on fire. I'm sensitive to spice, so some others may not think it's spicy. The restaurant was empty when I arrived at 7pm, but by about 8, there were a few other groups dining.
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Allen H.

Yelp
Strictly based on the quality of the food, Calabash would probably get 4 stars on Yelp. However, due to the scammy/misleading menu prices and bad service, I'm only giving them a 3. I got the suya (beef skewers) and jollof rice with beef. The suya came with 3 beef + onion skewers - the flavor was good, as it had a dry, smoky and spicy seasoning. The jollof rice was also good - there was a big pile of rice accompanied by a tomato based sauce which you could pour over the top. The meat portion was average, nothing to write home about. Beef quality was fine, probably a little on the dry side but I'm ok with slightly dry proteins. The major issue was when we got the check - nothing on the receipt matched the given menu prices. My friend got a white rice and stew, which is labeled as $14.99 on the menu. The menu also says you have the choice of protein - chicken, beef, or goat. What both the menu and staff neglect to tell you is that if you want goat, it is a $6 upcharge. The small beer is listed as $7 on the menu, but showed up as $9 on the receipt. Hell, even the water costs money, as they apparently don't serve tap/still water when you ask for water at this restaurant. It was probably 30 minutes of waiting after ordering before we got our entrees. The waiter also never checked in on us after taking our initial order, and we had to work hard to flag someone else down to get our crazily inflated check. Here's the tip: do not dine in here. Get takeout only, so you don't have to pay them an extra 15% for garbage service + slow food. And know that you're probably going to end up paying more than what the menu says, because this place is scammy as hell
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Lauren C.

Yelp
Great authentic food. Servings are very large make sure to come hungry. Decor is very cute and modern.
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Shani L.

Yelp
Good pepper soup and decent egusi. Plenty of parking and amazing remodeling. Try the hot sauce in house chili.
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Kellie S.

Yelp
Great ambience, quick service! Went in on a Sunday evening around 5pm. The food was served hot and was very good. I am looking forward to returning very soon.
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Wilton P.

Yelp
What a great dining experience did my girlfriend and I have at Calabash recently. We've been meaning to try the food here for a while and finally did so last week. We ordered the egusi stew with goat meat and fufu and the jolllof rice with chicken. The egusi stew and fufu was amazing. It was probably the best version of this dish that we've ever had. The stew was perfectly seasoned and the fufu was beautifully soft and seasoned perfectly. The jollof and chicken was delicious as well. The portions are super generous. We loved that our waiter brought a bowl, soap and a pitcher of hot water to the table for us to wash our hands before digging in to our meal. The space was nicely decorated and spacious, although the seating was a bit awkward with cushioned benches against the wall that are slightly elevated from the seats situated across from them. Despite that minor detail, this may be our spot for West African food from now on. We look forward to coming back soon.
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Zarin B.

Yelp
Boyfriend and I stopped in to try Ghanaian food for the first time. We ordered the egusi (spinach stew) with beef, jollof with fried fish, and fufu in peanut soup with chicken. It was a bit of a wait for the food because they had to make more fufu (about 30 min) but we had no problem waiting. And boy was it WORTH it. I was a little nervous I wouldn't like the fufu since I'd never had it before but it was SO YUMMY!!!! The peanut soup was flavorful, a bit spicy, and had a richness to it. The egusi was full of tasty vegetables and big chunks of beef. I was torn between if the egusi or the fufu was my favorite. Both were amazing. You can tell the ingredients are fresh, and the food is seasoned expertly. The portions are also really generous. Above all that, the waitress was so so sweet too. Best kind of service (and I don't even prioritize service when I go to restaurants usually).
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OJ J.

Yelp
The food and presentation were very nice. The only thing I would add is more meat to the jollof meal
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Kathiana L.

Yelp
It's always nice to go to Calabash when I can. The servers are always great. The jollof rice, stewed goat, or grilled chicken is always a hit and I never leave unsatisfied. I've also enjoyed getting their Waakaye with fish. Always 10/10
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Darwin P.

Yelp
Delicious fried and good service. I ordered the grilled fish with jollof rice, because they were out of banku. (It would seem hard to run out of starchy ingredients because there is an international market nearby open late.). The decor is attractive; but the air was very cold inside.
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Janet P.

Yelp
Food was amazing the peanut soup with chicken and white rice was so good i couldn't even take a picture because i ate it all lol
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Adventure E.

Yelp
Love their fufu meal. The soup is sooooo good. Even my 11 year old that doesnt like spicy keeps eating it! I freeze leftover soup so I can have it again days later.
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Rachel K.

Yelp
This was our first Ghanaian cuisine experience and it did not disappoint! We ordered the kelewele, jollof rice with chicken, and the fufu with egusi. Overall experience was fun and unique coming from two Asians who have a very limited african cuisine background. The restaurant seemed very authentic and we could tell that they had a lot of regulars who come in for Ghanaian food. I will say that the food took a little while to come out but it was amazing when it did. Kelewele: we noticed that the plantain pieces were cut super small. Not sure if it's supposed to be this way but it was still very delicious. Seasoning was great and it came out VERY hot. Jollof rice with chicken: also very good. Chicken was tender and juicy. The sauce that it came with was amazing. Fufu with egusi: this was our first time trying fufu. We originally came in to get the pepper soup but they ran out and the waiter suggested egusi. Egusi was a stew-like consistency that was very flavorful and savory. Soooo good. I would get this again! I would recommend this spot to anyone interested in trying African cuisine

Lin B.

Yelp
The experience was just okay. I came with my aunt as a first-time visitor, and while the food itself was good, I didn't feel like I was treated the same as other first-timers. I noticed that another guest, who also mentioned it was their first time, was given extra attention--the chef came over, checked on their meal, and even explained how to enjoy certain dishes. That didn't happen for me, which made the experience feel a bit uneven. Overall, the food was enjoyable, but the lack of personal engagement left me feeling overlooked.

Kelsey R.

Yelp
Loved the food, chicken was a standout. Quick, kind service. I would come back and try more on the menu!

David Z.

Yelp
The food overall is pretty darn good. I'd easily give the food a 4.5. I was hungry and wasn't upset with the food at all. The knock on the score was the egregious borderline deceptive pricing. I had gotten the Rice and Stew which on the menu was $14.99. Then there is the choice of protein (chicken/beef/fish/goat). I selected the goat because I love gamier meat any chance I can get it. The long wait times are ridiculous and when the plate came out my goat was 40% bone and the portion was smaller than my friends beef jollof rice. The real shock was when the bill came and my entree was blasted with an extra six dollar surcharge for the goat. It would be one thing if the goat was marked with upcharge but at the time, the menu didn't mention the surcharge and the servers made no mention of upcharge. I can live with if we are given the pricing up front. They charge for water, which also threw me off because they have glasses set around the table which implies free tap water. My friend also got a surcharge on the small beer he got. On the menu it was 7 doillars and on the bill it was 9. If you eat here, I suggest getting it to go to avoid the wait, and I would avoid getting the goat, and ask for the price of every choice you are interested in because the pricing isn't upfront.
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Laura H.

Yelp
My first time trying African cuisine and it was a overall good experience! The server was nice and gave us time to figure what to order. He gave us a bowl to wash our hands to eat the fufu. The ambiance could be better, it was dark and no music. The Jollof rice with chicken was my favorite dish. The chicken was juicy and came with so much seasoning. It came with a tomato sauce for the rice which is delicious and made the rice spicier. Fufu was delicious as well. The menu however is a little pricey, and depending on the meat you get the price is higher. It's $6 for goat meat for a entree that's already 14-18 dollars and for chicken it was .50
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Ariana M.

Yelp
I came here a couple months ago with my friend. Today I was in the area with a couple more friends touring apartments and I decided to take them here since I had such a great experience last time. We ordered 3 dishes to share -- Fufu with Pepper soup - 5/5 This one was my personal fave. The soup was so flavorful and the fufu was so soft and smooth. The soup was thick enough to coat the fufu and the fufu was so soft it was easy to swallow. I thought the beef was going to be tender and soft but it had a chew to it. It was still all delicious though. Banku with Okra Stew - 4/5 This was my friends personal favorite. The Banku had a sourness to it but it went really well with the okra stew. The chicken was very tender and it made it easy to eat everything together. The okra stews sliminess and the banku's dryness was a perfect match because everything stuck together for the perfect bite. Joll of Rice with Chicken Meat - 4/5 The rice was perfectly cooked, the meat was so good, and the spinach paired really well with the banku. We ended up essentially mixing everything and it was so much food that we left really full. The service was so great that they gave us a pot to wash our hands before the meal. All in all, I recommend this place to anyone wagon wants to try fufu or banku for the first time.
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Just D.

Yelp
Yes yes! The decor, the jollof, fish, chicken, cassava, Fufu, all yum!!!! Customer service is great as well
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Caroline D.

Yelp
I got this food to travel back to NC. My husband is Ghanaian and always seeks the best Ghanaian restaurants across the US. He had a large food order and included things like WaaKye, Jollof rice, grilled fish, Red Red, Fufu, Banku, and extra plantains...the works! The food was smelling so good in my car. The lady who took my order over the phone was kind, and I expect nothing less from Ghanaians. From what I've experienced, they are usually the most hospitable on the West Coast. I am also biased because I am married to a Ghanaian, though, and I've gone to the country to experience the hospitality at its best! As shown in the video, the ambiance has a nice, up-to-date vibe with Afro and Caribbean music. It's beautiful inside, and I would sit down and eat here. They even had what looked like a little bar. The outside does not match the inside, so I was pleasantly surprised.

Joy J.

Yelp
best African restaurant in VA. The food was soo good and service was top tier. thank you for your wonderful service. we will be back again.
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Michelle I.

Yelp
Dry rice, fatty goat meat. I wouldn't recommend the spot. The location of this place is interesting as well.
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Jaimee M.

Yelp
I called ahead of time to place my order for pick up. The transaction was smooth. They are located in a shopping plaza so parking was a breeze. Upon arrival I was greeted by the friendly gentlemen inside. This was my first time trying Ghanaian food so I ordered Jollof rice with fish and peanut butter soup with fufu. First of all the portions are huge! I had a few bites of the rice & fish & was full. It was sooooo good and flavorful. I don't know what it's supposed to taste like but the food I had was delicious & I will be back for more. The peanut butter soup was really good too! I had fish in mine. I really enjoyed everything about this place and will return to try other things on the menu. I was invited to attend their "disco" on Saturday nights. They play Afro beats and turn the place into a lounge type spot. I may check it out one day. If your searching for some good African food check them out.
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Jane A.

Yelp
Just now finding out that they've reopened! I now live at Skyline, and will order delivery. The food is tasty, healthy, authentic. Akwaaba!
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Bria P.

Yelp
I enjoyed the food and great customer service here. We went on a Sunday evening and it wasn't very busy when we arrived. As time went on, the inside filled a bit. The gentleman was very patient and helpful with taking our orders since we were indecisive. We ended up getting jollof rice with chicken and fufu with egusi. The rice was yummy and paired well with the juicy chicken. It came with a red sauce which I'm assuming is a sort of pepper sauce. Have some water nearby if you aren't used to it. The egusi was quite savory and delicious as well. My choice of protein with the egusi was fish. I loved it..so flavorful. Overall it was a satisfactory visit and I would visit again when in the area.
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Jasmine D.

Yelp
Such a great place to visit for authentic Ghanaian cuisine. My friend recently shared her experience of visiting so her excitement overflowed. Entering the newly renovated space we were met with friendly staff, inviting chef, and a beautiful space. We ordered the red snapper, tilapia, jollof, spinach soup, and spicy meatballs. The spicy meatballs were very flavorful with a hint of heat that left a subtle tingle at the lips. Not too much just enough. The red snapper was fried to perfection. The flakiness of the fish coupled with the tomato sauce and shito was nothing short of amazing. The tilapia had a beautiful sear garnished with fresh veggies. Prior to leaving it looked like the DJ was getting set up for an afternoon jam session which I hate to have missed.
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Jahaan T.

Yelp
The chicken was really good and juicy! The jollof took a few bites before I got the heat, still good. The suya was the star for me. So simple paired with onion but a classic combination. The staff are always great when we go in!
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Tyra L.

Yelp
Back open!!!! The food was bomb and the service was great. Very happy they opened again.
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Tifani M.

Yelp
I called Sunday at around 4pm and they didn't have spinach stew or egusi soup which left me with okra stew. The okra I order was ok. Nothing to rave about. I would've probably liked it better if it was fresh okra and they chop it themselves. The frozens kinds always have hard pieces in it because they literally always throw the whole okra in the bag. From the head to the tip. If I'm ever in the area I'll try to go back for the spinach and egusi stew. They do have a seating area which a lot of African restaurants don't. It looks very clean on the inside and definitely get the feeling of being back home.
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Nicki G.

Yelp
The food and service were great! I went with some friends and we had a good time. The server/owner(?) was very welcoming and gave us insight on the menu because we were first timers. It was basically just us in the restaurant but it wasn't awkward. There was no music but it'd be a nice addition. I got fufu with peanut butter soup with beef and chicken and it was very yummy and filling. The food came out fast and they gave us a bowl, soap, and water to wash our hands before eating fufu. I'm glad they didn't check on us too much (they did check on us though) because I was messin it upppp. I will definitely come back some day. My first fufu experience was wonderful.
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Danye' M.

Yelp
Calabash deserves all the attention in my opinion. The location is in a busy shopping center surrounded by other food & grocery stores. As soon as you enter you get a vibe. Its small & quaint but the drinks hit big lol I still remember the drink with no name packing a hard punch whew! The staff were great, funny and of service. The food was amazing! My fiancé is from the Ivory Coast and anyone cooking for him has big shoes to fill. We loved the food so much we took some home. The flavors, presentation and fullness of the food was worth coming back one day soon. The prices were reasonable, and the place gets a lot of business, but it did not bother the dine in customers at all. Basically, the service was so prompt it was crazy. Go check them out you wont be disappointed. Enjoy my friends!!

Ann L.

Yelp
Not a huge menu but everything on it is very authentic. The ground nut and fufu was incredible. Jollof rice delicious. Excellent wait staff. Very friendly and attentive without hovering. Great friendly atmosphere. People chatted across tables and made this old poomuie feel welcome! Highly recommend!

Bri S.

Yelp
Food was delicious, staff were very nice and helpful. i've eaten there and ordered out, both times food was great!
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Kofi M.

Yelp
Waachye is fire This is the best thing on the menu. The black pepper is raw so if you are new to Ghanian food use it sparingly. The rest of the menu is pretty resent I had a group of friends Oder different dishes and they all were pleased. Apioo is local beverage that pairs nice with the meals. Has a dash of alcohol to put a skip in there step. Enjoy.
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Sharon R.

Yelp
So yesterday my husband and I visited Calabash African Restaurant and Bar on Van Dorn Street in Alexandria Virginia. I entered the restaurant alone and immediately felt intimidated with the number of men just sitting around. The atmosphere wasn't very inviting to dine in, it was entirely to dark to even read the menu to which we were ask to download the menu by scanning a QR code to my phone which I refused to do for security reasons. When my husband entered the restaurant he was Immediately ask "How can I help you?" The tone of the offer to assist was someone harsh so when my husband mentioned that he was here to be with his wife the tone calmed down. We all made small conversations while I finally placed an order. The cashier was somewhat impatient in came across as annoyed with me. But later calmly subsided to our happy disposition. My husband can be a funny guy while cutting the tension in the room real quick. Although I didn't get names there was one gentleman in the restaurant whom I'm going to assume was a chef due to the chef jacket he was wearing. He was very welcoming and even offered my husband a drink on the house. My order was: Egusi soup with fish with fufu and jollof rice with beef. - [ ] I must say the food was amazing. The meat was tender to my liking, the egusi soup had two very large cut of tilapia fish which gave me less egusi soup so next time I'm going to request beef instead of fish. Although the taste was incredible. - [ ] The best to me was the texture of the jollof rice. That rice was cleaned to protection, coated just right with the seasoning to taste. Just outrageously delicious. The layout of the to go plate was a large portion for the price. Well worth the money. - [ ] My fufu was a little dark which makes me believe it was pounded too long and May have been scratched by the heat. But I still enjoyed every bit of it. I would recommend this restaurant to other. Go inside and enjoy some delicious food. Be open to trying new things we did and was overwhelmingly impressed. Wishing you continue success and prosperity to come.

Zahra M.

Yelp
Been seeing Fufu and Egusi soup all on tiktok so I searched up on tiktok a place near me. Ordered, picked it up and devoured it. Sooooo good!! Definitely Coming back!!!!

Yun S.

Yelp
My daughter and I tried Calabash for the first time and we absolutely loved it! As soon as we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the staff and seated. The restaurant is elegantly decorated and very welcoming. The food was so flavorful, delicate, and filling. The spices used in the okra stew and egusi complement the richness of the protein and vegetables. The drive was far for us but so well worth it. We look forward to visiting again!
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Sara C.

Yelp
I've tried this place twice. Both times everything was great. The first time I went was my very first time trying African food. I got the Egusi with Fufu and it was really good. Today was my second time having African food. So before I went in, I checked Yelp and saw some people mentioning the fried chicken.. so I got that and Jollof rice. Listen.. I don't know what they season this chicken with but the flavor is amazing. I'm definitely going to order it again!
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Chantal B.

Yelp
If you're into char-broiled chicken with Salty peanut soup, this is your spot! I'm so disappointed right now, all I taste is salt. Tell the guys in the back to relax, it's too early for this!
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Brandee B.

Yelp
wanted to have some flavorful good food so we decided to try this restaurant. it wasn't busy which was good bc we didn't have to wait. now heres the tea on the food it was blah ive had african food multiple times so i knw how things should taste. the spinach stew was jus ok, the wakeye and crocker was just ok. the suya was good tho.we were disappointed there's nothing worse than thinking your about to eat good food and the food is mid

Byron B.

Yelp
The food here is pretty good.....I would definitely recommend it. I love their Waakye. Will be coming back!
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Monet H.

Yelp
I've been to this restaurant multiple times and I love it! I've only gone during the time of Covid so I can't wait until it opens back up fully so I can get the full experience. Everything I have eaten here I have loved: Egusi/spinach stew, peanut butter soup, light soup, goat meat, and chicken. All are the dishes are spicy and flavorful. The chicken is grilled and extremely flavorful. It is definitely my favorite meat of choice. I love the fufu - it is fluffy and stretchy, just the way I like it. Everyone who works here is so kind and they make a point to make you feel welcomed. I swear I crave this place every week! Since fufu has been going viral due to TikTok they tend to be out of some items once in a while so be sure to call first.
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Jade H.

Yelp
Good flavors and good personalities but the prices are inconsistent. I haven't seen an updated menu, but know that what's posted online is incorrect. Unfortunately the receipt they give you doesn't break down the price for each item, but while I was there and the gentleman was ringing everything up, I noticed I was charged around $15.99 for fufu and an additional $6 for the goat. Whats included in the $15.99 then?? They should probably let people know if there's an upcharge. I also ordered the suya (which is delicious by the way) and my total came out to $35.
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Shaniqua R.

Yelp
Never disappointed here! Food is always gooood and flavorful. Great customer service as well!
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Jojuane P.

Yelp
Flavor, flavor and more flavor. Ordered: - Beef suya (I'm use to having it with a side of tomato slices and they don't give those even upon request and wish they would) - Fufu with pepper soup - Jollof rice + fried crocker The jollof rice is probably the best I've had. They're very generous with the portion for the rice. I rarely eat leftovers and was overjoyed to have more rice the next day! Pepper soup was flavorful! The only thing is that the goat should have been cooked longer. It was a bit tough. I won't be going back to some other spots I've been going to that frustrate me with cleaningness and poor service. This was a good find.
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Justine B.

Yelp
The food taste was okay, but the portion sizes and wait time for our takeout order were unacceptable. We ordered jollof rice with beef and fufu + okra stew with goat. We waited over THIRTY MINUTES for take out. I know they aren't making jollof and stews fresh to order as these things take hours, so no idea why our order took so incredibly long. The guy who took our order said the fufu took a while to make, but seeing as this is a staple item, it should be prepared constantly. When we got home, we were disappointed to see that a full order jollof rice was less than 1/2 of the container if was packed it. It's served in one of those styrofoam plates with a rectangular section in the front and two square sections in the back-- only the front rectangular section had rice in it and it wasn't even packed to the fullest. There were also only 3 little cubes of beef included with the rice, an egg, and a side salad that no one wanted. The okra stew had a mere four small pieces of goat, three really as one of the pieces was a bone. I won't be back.
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Steve H.

Yelp
I was in the area and wanted to try something new and exciting and Calabash fit the bill! Walking in it seemed as though there were friendly regulars which is nice to see, especially during these times. One of them recommended the waakye beef with extra red sauce and black sauce. The black sauce definitely has a kick to it but the red sauce is definitely awesome to mix in with the rice or pretty much everything. The beef was really tender and I had a great experience. I definitely would come back and look forward to trying more things!
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Hannah H.

Yelp
Calabash African Cuisine & Bar is a recently-opened African restaurant that opened up in Van Dorn Plaza. The menu offers items such as kelewele, suya, jollof rice, waakye, fish soup, etc. The hubs and I came here for a later dinner, and we ordered the following: Suya (you can opt for either the spicy or mild; we chose the spicy version of these delicious, tender beef kabobs, alternating with white onions; the onions were soft from the grill, and both the onions and the beef were generously coated with the spicy rub; the taste was definitely different, as it was savory and spicy); jollof rice (Ghanaian-style rice cooked in mild tomato sauce and seasonings; I've had jollof rice a bit more savory and more flavorful than this); waakye (brown rice cooked with black eye beans with beef; the stewed beef was tender and almost brisket-like); fried plantains with tsofi (fried turkey tails; these little nubs were crispy and tasted like a chicharron); and, spinach stew (sauteed vegetables and peppers in spinach; this reminded me of soondooboo, a stewed tofu dish). Don't forget to ask for the spicy seafood paste/sauce, as that really adds another dimension of flavors to the entrees! The portions are pretty generous, and you'll definitely have some leftovers for the next day. The manager, who also happened to be our server, was Mr. Kojo - he was super welcoming and super informative, also giving great suggestions and recommendations and the most popular dishes liked by the patrons. The place itself is small but clean, and I loved the music! +Suya (spicy) :D +delicious plantains :D +tsofi :D +spicy seafood paste/sauce :D +ask for Mr. Kojo :D +great music! +plenty of parking in shared plaza lot