Ekhaya

African restaurant · Durham

Ekhaya

African restaurant · Durham

1

406 Blackwell St Suite 100, Durham, NC 27701

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Highlights

Modern African cuisine, tapas-style, with flavorful dishes.  

Featured in Eater
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406 Blackwell St Suite 100, Durham, NC 27701 Get directions

zwelisekhaya.com
@zwelisekhaya

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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406 Blackwell St Suite 100, Durham, NC 27701 Get directions

+1 919 381 4128
zwelisekhaya.com
@zwelisekhaya
𝕏
@ZwelisEkhaya

$50–100 · Menu

Reserve

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Last updated

Aug 7, 2025

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15 Upcoming Restaurants Across the North and South Carolina - Eater Carolinas

"Ekhaya will focus on cuisine from Bantu communities across Africa, served tapas-style in a high-end setting." - Erin Perkins

https://carolinas.eater.com/2022/9/6/23332844/new-restaurants-north-south-carolina-fall-2022
View Postcard for Ekhaya

B Y

Google
Amazing African fusion cuisine in the heart of Downtown Durham. Such a cute little place and within walking distance to DPAC. We loved everything we tried! Started with a delicious mocktail and then the rice bomb and peri peri corn for appetizers. For dinner, we had the Suya chicken kabobs and the Barbere half chicken. Everything was delicious. Cant wait to go back! The only thing that could improve is the service. We had told our waitress we had a show to catch and she seemed to have slowed down even more after hearing that. We waited a really long time for the main course and finally had to remind her before she came rushing out with the items. Service could be a bit better but the food more than makes up for it.

NSA

Google
4.5 In short Delicious food at smaller portions for the price.. 0.5 for the beignets being not fluffy But shout out for the fries for being super fluffy. My favorite was the chicken with peanuts on top for the brunch menú Heads up you can order only from the brunch or dinner menu It was nice to sit outside on the patio Reservations are available Every dish was enjoyable, the cauliflower curry was a highlight however

Kiara Ruth

Google
Zweli's Ehkaya delivered an absolutely amazing brunch experience for my family! From the seamless reservation process to the immediate seating in their stunning, authentically Zimbabwean-inspired space, everything was top-notch. Our server, Nia, was a gem – incredibly knowledgeable and her recommendations were spot on. Here is what we enjoyed: Sweet Magwinyas $10.00 Zimbabwean donut bread with powered sugar French Toast $18.00 Banana’s foster’s with candied pistachios and a honey ricotta cream Fried Catfish $19.00 Stone ground grits with a cajun sauce, and egg your way Each Addition $5.00 Bacon, Two Eggs Banana Mojito $12.00 Banana Rum, garnished with mint sprig and lime wheel Peargingertini $17.00 Pear vodka, pear, and ginger mash topped with cava Beyond the exceptional food and drinks, the restaurant was impeccably clean and well-maintained, and the nearby parking deck was a definite plus. We can't wait for our next visit to Ehkaya's!

Zaneta Reid

Google
Modern take on African cuisine. Tapas-inspired menu. Not a huge menu list, but the offerings are delicious as well as extremely vegetarian/vegan friendly. We enjoyed the Curried Oxtails with plantain in addition to the Seafood Curry. Both dishes were absolutely delicious! Good portion size and well-seasoned. Ekhaya also has a cocktail and wine list to choose from. My husband enjoyed his Tamarind Old-fashioned while their rosé was quite nice as well. All in all, one of the nicer restaurants in American Tobacco with cuisine you don't find everywhere!

Scott Majure

Google
Before heading to an event at DPAC, my wife made us reservations at this restaurant, and I have to say, it was an excellent choice! From the moment we sat down, we were excited to explore the unique and flavorful offerings on the menu—and it did not disappoint. Opting for small plates was the perfect decision, as it allowed us to sample a variety of dishes without feeling overly full. One of the standout dishes for me was the Dovi Cauliflower—tender cauliflower smothered in a rich and velvety peanut and coconut curry sauce. The combination of flavors was both bold and comforting, making every bite an absolute delight. Another intriguing dish we tried was the Bobotie, a South African-inspired minced beef dish topped with a delicate egg soufflé. The interplay of sweet and savory, with hints of cinnamon, curry, and raisins, made for a truly unique and memorable bite. My wife’s favorite was the butternut fritters, which were perfectly crisp on the outside, soft on the inside, and had just the right touch of sweetness. To round out the experience, make sure you try some of the specialty cocktails! The drink menu is just as creative as the food, featuring unique flavor combinations that perfectly complement the dishes. Whether you’re into something fruity, bold, or subtly spiced, there’s something for everyone. Overall, this was an amazing dining experience—one that felt adventurous yet incredibly satisfying. If you're looking to step outside the usual flavors and try something refreshingly different, this is definitely the place to go! Highly recommend.

Kristin McCleave

Google
Had an amazing meal here! Took our kids (15,13,5) after a DPAC show and even those picky eaters loved everything! Everything we tried was truly delicious and will definitely come back for a date night! Highly recommend and such a cool spot to go!

Chanel Bogany

Google
Such a bra intimate space with wonderful food and wonderful service. Some of the item on the menu are so different from my norm but so good and worth stepping outside the box! And a place is only as good as their service and the service was absolutely amazing. Definitely a must try!

Millie Kwan

Google
It's wonderful that there is a non-Ethiopian African restaurant (I do enjoy Ethiopian food!) That is high end and Ekhaya is that restaurant. The interior of the restaurant is small but they utilize the large patio just outside to great effect. We had dinner there on a beautiful bug free evening. The cocktails were OK, but the food is absolutely amazing! Especially the borewors sausage is tasty and it was grilled to perfection as the outside was crispy and the interior was moist. All the vegetable dishes were amazing at the veggie forward restaurant. The large dishes are slow to come out, but they do warn you. Multiply their estimate by 1.5 times. There was a bit of an issue with one of our dishes not coming out but they were so kind and comped this item (Butternut croquettes) which were delicious and worth the wait. Def would recommend this restaurant and the parking is in the deck at the south end of the ATC.
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Scott J.

Yelp
We had a lovely meal at Ekhaya, a new southern African restaurant. The cocktails were innovative, fresh, and tasty. There were share plates, both small and large, with fresh ingredients and interesting preparations. In particular, the Steak Pie and the Rice Ball were my favorites - blends of unique spices, not oversauced. And you won't be making these dishes at home We also were privileged to have a conversation with our own Mayor who stopped by to chat We will be back...
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Tiff T.

Yelp
Tried their vegan menu and was thoroughly impressed. Everything was so flavorful. I don't even eat regular method but this vegan meatloaf was delicious. We also enjoyed vegan crab cakes, vegan lettuce wraps, cassava and mushrooms and a few cocktails (full bar), not many cocktail options. They recently debuted a brunch menu I'd like to try. Prices are decent. Parking is kinda tricky, either street or the deck so arrive early if you have an appointment. The atmosphere was swanky and chill.
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Lauren M.

Yelp
Perfect spot to grab some food downtown before a show at DPAC! They accept reservations which is super helpful and usually needed for our nights out. Food and drinks were tasty. They were out of a few things that we tried to order, however, they really tried to make it right by comping our desserts. I loved all of the decor!
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Marc L.

Yelp
The owner of this spot is our Mayor and a friend. Last time I ate there he and his wife were there. Great food, quality staff and affordable food...Definitely will be making a returning trip soon..
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Jessica L.

Yelp
I love that Ekhaya is diversifying the food scene in Durham. I wanted to really love my experience too, but it just didn't quite hit the mark for me. Our server was fantastic. Really amicable and checked in just the right amount. A little more laid back style of service, but felt like talking to a friend. The restaurant itself is quite small and has a more casual vibe than a date night vibe. Onto food, you start out with some complimentary chickpeas which is a nice touch if you're feeling peckish. The Dovi Rice Bomb was quite good, with fluffy rice and a subtle peanut flavor. The Chicken Skewers were tender, but quite bland and generic. By contrast, the Beef and Mushroom Pie was overly salty to the point that it overwhelmed any other flavors going on. Except the flavor of burnt pastry crust. Cocktails were surprisingly good though. I had the Pomegranate Spritz and my boyfriend enjoyed the Red Ghost with tequila more than the Signature. Perhaps we just ordered poorly this go around (despite following the server's recommendations), but I left feeling quite disappointed. I didn't get the novel culinary experience I was expecting and didn't feel like I got a representative taste of Southern African cuisine.
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Scott J.

Yelp
My wife and I were excited to try this place out for our date night. However we left a little disappointed. We got three small plates and two drinks for about $80. The plates were described as shareable, but wouldn't agree with that. The food was delicious, just not sure it was worth the cost. Everything about the evening was elevated, even the cost!
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Vraj P.

Yelp
I've been to their sister restaurant but this is the first time I tried this place. I got the shakshuka and the dovi cauliflower and overall it was very good. The shakshuka was good but could have been better. The eggs were quite rubbery but the flavors were on point. The cauliflower was delicious and with very unique flavors. We also got a brunch drink which was good but would likely not get again. The service was good and we got seated quickly even without a reservation. The staff was friendly and helped with our choices. The atmosphere was good but very cozy as there is limited space and you are seated very closely to other parties. The prices were also definitely on the higher end but still worth depending on what you get. Overall, I think this place was good and on the way to being great. I am curious about their normal dinner menu and will have to come back to try it.
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Glenn G.

Yelp
We are fans of the original Zwelli's and wanted to try this sister restaurant. We had an offer from a local dining club and made reservations for Sunday brunch. We enjoyed the food and the decor and the staff was very friendly. If there was one tiny glitch, it seemed like they were still setting up and staff were still arriving throughout our meal. Everything was delicious but it seemed to take a bit long, and we had to remind our server about our drink orders. We would be willing to come back and try them for dinner.
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Stephanie J.

Yelp
My husband and I dined in for dinner here before walking over to the DPac for a show. We started off with water but were not able to purchase alcoholic beverages due to a mishap with their license. For food we started off with a complimentary order of the fried chickpeas then split the dovi rice bomb, dovi cauliflower, savory sausage rolls, roasted golden & red beets and suya chicken kabobs. All of the food was really good but my favorites were the cauliflower and sausage rolls. This restaurant does add on a living wage fee for gratuity. It was expensive but is definitely worth checking out.
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Jamie L.

Yelp
Walked in at 6:05pm and didn't get my food till 7:05pm. Yes we ordered right away. 25 min after we ordered dessert they said they haven't started on it so we just cancelled it. Even a check takes 10 min to show at the table. Also, one strip of salmon dipped in a little curry should not cost $55. Oh another thing, 20% mandatory gratuity for a 2-seat table? Nah... never coming back again.
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Heather M.

Yelp
The hub & I visited Ekhaya (the new offering by Zweli's) on a Tuesday night after making a reservation via Resy. We were first impressed by their location on the American Tobacco Campus (pictured); they have both indoor and patio seating. We ordered the Dovi cauliflower, beef kabobs, and Burberry half chicken (pictured), as well as a glass of South African Chenin Blanc and a glass of Pinotage. Everything was wonderful... the food, service, atmosphere, and wine. We will be back!
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Maria G.

Yelp
If I could give more stars I would. From the moment we were greeted at the door to exiting the restaurant, we felt welcomed and taken care of. Friendly staff and high quality food made this place one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had. When the owner greeted us while we were waiting for a table by saying, "Are you prepared to have one of the most amazing meals?", he wasn't kidding. The menu selection was great. Not too much that it was overwhelming but just enough where between the four of us we could sample a lot of their dishes. So we ordered the creamed spinach, Dovi rice bomb, roasted golden and red beets, Dovi cauliflower,Suya chicken kebobs, and the bobotie. Each was uniquely delicious in its own way. We shared everything which I recommend doing cause you don't want to miss experiencing each of these dishes. We all loved every dish. The creamed spinach was the only dish that didn't seem to match its title and description but it was still very tasty. All the dishes were fresh and beautifully presented. If I am lucky enough to return (we are visiting out of town), I would definitely get the cauliflower and Bobotie again. As I am writing this review the day after I am still thinking about these dishes. Since this place is new and not well known yet at the time of this writing, it wasn't too crowded and we didn't make a reservation. We ended up waiting for about 5 minutes on a Thursday evening around 7:30. But I predict this place will be popular one day soon. Unbeatable service and excellent, delicious food make this place a must for locals and visitors.
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José A.

Yelp
This place is the first known Zimbabwean restaurant in the United States, and it offers quite a culinary experience! The menu definitely offers a variety of delicious items for all tastes. The service, professionalism and ambience are exceptional! Refer to the photos for more info about the dishes we had. It also offers a full bar with traditional drinks. This place is located in a beautiful facility in downtown Durham with plenty to do around within walking distance. It also has its own parking garage with affordable rates. 100% recommended.

ambrosia g.

Yelp
Delicious food! Great, attentive service! Ambiance is very pretty Drinks- well made Will visit again , soon!!
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Sneha P.

Yelp
We went in to celebrate our anniversary, I was really excited about this place because I had seen a bunch of local influencers rave about it plus the menu looked very unique. Our reservation was for 8 pm and we made it just in time as It was not very easy to locate, as maps dropped us at the back entrance of the building and we had to find our way to the front of the building and yet entered from their side entrance and not the main. We were received quickly and seated. While making reservations I had mentioned we are celebrating our anniversary as well as dietary restrictions - my partners shellfish allergy (which I later realised they hadn't checked or read) We were starving, yet trying to be conservative with the ordering as I am trying to calorie count and eat healthy so didn't go overboard ordered 2 appetisers, an entree, my partner got a beer and thought we'd probably get a dessert. From the very limited menu which they were out of most of the items that we wanted to try we got the Dovi rice bomb (which was delicious) the crispy rice in a spicy sauce. We also got the suya steak skewers (this was a tad bit chewy and slightly under seasoned as per our liking). We also ordered the half chicken which came with a side slaw/ salad and hot honey (I think) this was very well cooked and tasted amazing! What made our experience horrible was our server, Jeremy (it's been a few weeks, so I may misremember his name) We placed our order for all items within the first 10 mins (limited menu and starving stomachs). He told us couple of the items were out, but the tables beside us ordered it and got the items. The tables are closely placed so invariably we could hear and see. He was also annoyed that we didn't order more items. He asked us if we had any allergies and if we ate pork/ bacon and then said he will bring out the amuse bouche, but got us the apps directly. At around 9.20 while we started getting antsy but were very patient for our mains, as people who came in after us had already eaten and left. Our server kept avoiding us for almost an hour. We didn't even get a water refill, finally when we could get his attention we asked about the amuse and he said they ran out of it and if we want to order anything else, so we declined and said we are just waiting on our chicken! That is when he got the menu and started schooling us on how tapas style kitchen work like we were imbeciles, and told us the chicken takes 30 mins to cook and we were way over the hour mark on that. He also proceeded to complain to the manager Karina who initially was a little stern are rude and came and re-schooled us how their system runs. We were a bit mad at this point, as we just wanted to eat. When we got to her notice that it was 9.30 and over 1.5 hrs of waiting she checked with the kitchen, after which she apologised profusely comped our meal and also gave us a gift card stating we come back in to re-celebrate and I am very skeptical to go back but I will give them a chance to redeem themselves -service wise as their food was pretty good!
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Jordan A.

Yelp
I was really excited to try this place. The ambiance is cool the drinks were really good (shout out to the bartender). The servers were nice but not that attentive at all. Lastly I wasn't a fan of the food. The chicken skewers were okay but could use more seasoning. The dovi ball was super dense like could barely break it open dense I would not recommend. The chapati bread was good but it's served on top of "pepper sauce" so it got soggy. The pepper sauce lacked heat. It tasted more like marinara sauce. The sausage rolls were decent. All in all I was disappointed. I really was hoping I would like this place. Not sure if I would come back here.
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Ashley F.

Yelp
I'm going to be a tough critic here but at the price point of this restaurant you expect an almost perfect experience and after waiting months and being so excited to try this restaurant, the experience was a little disappointing. So I arrived at the restaurant and was greeted and given water. I asked about a cocktail and was told they couldn't serve beer, alcohol, or wine that day due to a permit issue as they just opened a new restaurant. Most tables were empty of alcohol, however two tables outside of me had a bottle of wine that they were sharing. When I asked my server if wine was an option, he stated that it was not but the couple were the first table here and they found out just as they had ordered the wine that they couldn't serve so the owner allowed them to have a bottle. Now this could be the case but the optics of a table sharing a bottle of wine when you were just told that they aren't allowed to sell alcohol but a table can have a whole bottle on the table seems like a bit of favoritism. I'd imagine that if an auditor came in and saw a bottle of wine, that would also get them in trouble despite them being so diligent with other customers. I arrived 10 minutes early but the rest of my part arrived exactly at reservation time, and it took 10 minutes after that for us to be acknowledged. I actually had to wave the waiter down to give him to notice we were ready for some service after 10 minutes of full party arrival. However once he came he was very good. He had a positive and bright personality and was helpful in answering questions. There was a few times we had to catch him to get our waters refilled. So I would say the service is good but lacks a sense of urgency that a high caliber restaurant should have with their guests. So now on to the food. We ordered the Dovi rice bomb and it came out different from all the other pictures on Yelp including the business owners picture. In all the pictures it's a saucy dish served on a plate of sauce, however our dish was served in a small side dish almost like a sauce dish and had little sauce. This dish needs sauce because the rice bomb is on the dry side. It was just okay but the presentation was not good and the lack of sauce was off putting. The next dish was the steak kabobs, these were good not great. Next was the Scottish Egg, I didn't eat this but I was told by my husband that the egg was cooked perfectly but the sausage on the outside seemed over cooked. Next they brought out chickpeas and bacon as compliments from the chef. This was so tasty! It was nice to eat something that excited my taste buds. This was what I have been waiting for! I had the sausage rolls next and they were tasty but a little greasy but I liked them a lot. I also had the Steak and Mushroom pie. This was really good, not amazing but better than a few of the other items. Finally the chicken dish was the star of the show. It was cooked to perfection! The sauce was good with this dish. Some of the other dishes had sauces that didn't elevate the dishes. Finally I had the Maygwinyas and they were dry and there were 3 small balls for 12 dollars and served in a tiny container. I was expecting bolder tastes in some dishes. Some dishes seemed overpriced and if you go to other restaurants and order a $14 dollar appetizer (rice ball) it would be served in a big plate and enough to share. If you go to Ruecler and get the beignets you can get 6 for 9 dollars or so. There is just something off in terms of price to quality ratio for me. But I do have to give it to the chefs because they do cook all the food to order even if it's not all tasty to my palate. Overall I'd rate it as 3.5 stars if it was in regard to the food overall. The service is you place you order all at once and food comes out as it's prepared. I felt like it took a long time for some foods to come out, but it's also freshly prepared so that could be the issue. Definitely leave plenty of time if you are stopping here prior to a show. The restaurants decor is beautiful and has a sophisticated vibe. They add automatic gratuity of 20% to their order tickets. With Durham having so many other great restaurants it would be hard to try this one again. But for the chicken dish I just might.
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Adam B.

Yelp
This is definitely not your same ol' same ol'. I'm pretty sure you won't find a similar menu within a hundred mile radius, maybe more. It's a pretty small space with a riot of woven baskets attached to the ceiling to give atmosphere with the activity of the American Tobacco Campus just outside the wraparound windows. (The website mentioned a communal dining experience, so I sort of expected shared big tables, but it's set up with standard individual smaller two- and four-tops.) The service was friendly, but a bit disorganized. I selected the Bantu Bellini (a passionfruit variation of the classic), which was tasty. The dovi rice ball was recommended as a signature appetizer, so I had that. The mix of rice and peanut butter together is strange to the American palate, but it was quite delicious and the savory sweet pepper sauce served with it was also very satisfying. For my main course, I selected the char-grilled Berbere hen with a Nigerian spice mix. The server was only able to say that it was a newer addition to the menu, but I love poultry so I went ahead. The meat was very good, though there is always the challenge of dealing with lots of little bones with such a dish. the greens and corn base was also very good. The dish was rounded out by roasted tri-color carrots. They were a little al dente for me and I wished they had been cooked a touch longer, but that could be just personal preference. All in all, I liked the feel of the space and the (smallish) menu offers several options I'd be interested in trying. Most of all, this will scratch the itch when you just want something different or adventurous.
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Tammy H.

Yelp
Food is good, the restaurant ambience is nice, but the service is nonexistent and the little bit we got was rude. We sat down for 20 minutes and had to get up to find the bartender ask for some water and for someone to take our order. When I (had to get up and find the waitress) asked for some salt and pepper to put on my breakfast potatoes, the waitress said, "we do not put out salt and pepper because the food is meant to be eaten the way the chef intended." Mind you, I'm talking about adding some salt and pepper to breakfast potatoes.... The shakshuka was otherwise good, although they only gave one piece of toast to use for dipping. I asked for a second piece and never got it, but got the charge on my bill ($2 for a piece of toast). They were also extremely slow in bringing out the food for one member of our dining group and when asked about the food, the response was "All of our food is made fresh to order." At the end of the meal, we also had to get up to find someone to give us our check. On the check: 20% automatic gratituty for our group of 4. The food and ambience were fine, but our multiple terrible interactions just made this a difficult dining experience. If I'd wanted to serve myself, I would've just done take out and not have to pay the 20% auto gratuity. I don't think the price is worth the food, however good the food was.
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Allison Y.

Yelp
My friends and I came to Ekhaya expecting more than what was offered. We had made a reservation several weeks before going and the hostess was threatening to not offer us our table. Once we were seated, the waiter told us that all the dishes were shareable, but the portions were TINY and the taste was subpar. For the portions, the price was unreasonable and even after ordering multiple appetizers and entrees, we were left hungry. We were also rushed to order entrees due to being told that the kitchen was closing but the kitchen continued to serve food for several hours after we had ordered. The servers also continued to come to our table with food that we didn't order and insisted that we had ordered it though all 5 of us said no. If you are coming here for the food, I suggest you dine somewhere else unless you want bad service, a big check, and an empty stomach.
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Britt J.

Yelp
Service was super fast as they accommodated a large group of us. The decor inside and outside were both beautiful and diverse. Would recommend the French toast.
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Jeffrey M.

Yelp
Ehkaya is such a unique and inspired place within the Durham dining scene. I love the ambience. There's nothing quite like this experience and this food here. They really tell an amazing story through these dishes and the environment in the dining room. Every dish packs a huge punch in their seasonings and flavors. We nearly made a whole meal out of ordering the small plates and passing them around in between cocktails. The service is excellent as well. Everyone we encountered wanted to make sure we were having a great time. They are also able to give excellent suggestions if you are unfamiliar with African dishes. As an African myself, I appreciated the authenticity of the dishes we had. For the Small Plates we shared ... 1. Dovi Rice Bites, if you're vegan or GF, it can be available to you. The savoury crispy rice bites, served with their signature mild pepper sauce, homemade peanut butter, and fresh herbs, were delicious! 2. Dovi Cauliflower is also available for those who are vegans, GF. This is roasted cauliflower smothered in creamy peanut and coconut curry sauce. Yes! 3. Suya Chicken Kabobs. To all my Nigerians friends out there, this almost a taste of home. This is Nigerian influenced. Chicken medallions marinated in a Nigerian spice blend (paprika, ginger, scotch bonnet) topped with peanut. Ooh, yes! For the Large Plates selection ... I had the Market Fish. This is fresh whole fish, oven roasted whole with house made plantain tortillas, served over a fennel and dill slaw. You know what, just go and try this place out. I'll be turning. I had the opportunity to speak with the owners, great people. Side Note. Vegetarian options: There are several vegan and gluten-free options available on the menu, and they're all great. Parking: There's a parking deck connected to the Tobacco Campus. The exit of the deck is directly across from Ehkaya.

Andrea T.

Yelp
Nice atmosphere in tobacco campus. The dishes are not like anything else in Durham. Delicious and beautiful presentation. With just enough ethnic flavors, whether you like spice or not as much, it's easy to find something for everyone (even kids). It's a great place to share dishes with a group of 4 or more. Wait staff is helpful and friendly. I highly recommend.
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Joy C.

Yelp
I LOVE this place! The service and food were both amazing. We really enjoyed a lot of the vegan tapas, like the Dovi rice bombs, Dovi cauliflower, roasted beets and the butternut squash croquettes - the croquettes were so delicious that we demolished them before I could get a good video. Our favorite poultry dishes were the seafood curry and berbere hen. Y'all need to add Zweli's to your Durham date night list!
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Jackie O.

Yelp
My partner and I came here before a DPAC evening show. Hot take, but we were expecting more... more flavor, more cultural undertones to decorate the ambiance, more colorful descriptions of the dishes from our waiter, especially for the prices. The plating was absolutely stunning, however. I'm excited to see more ethnic restaurants like Ekhaya pop up in downtown Durham, but I hope they can also be affordable for more frequent nights out rather than merely special occasions.
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Alexandra E.

Yelp
I don't know if the food, or the service was better, but my experience was 10/10. It's beautifully, yet simply decorated, in a great location in Durham. The food is scratch made to order, came out fast, hot and extremely delicious. Was so surprised at all the flavor that was each dish. Even my cocktail was refreshing and delicious. Absolutely recommend everyone to check this place out.
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Brian S.

Yelp
We enjoyed the ambience of dining in a smaller, more intimate setting. Ordered all vegan dishes and appreciate having that option available on the menu of exotic food choices. The menu does change with the seasons and it would be great to see at least one vegan option on the dessert menu. The flavor combinations really made this experience memorable and we look forward to our next visit!

Carhy C.

Yelp
Really enjoyed this restaurant with its focus on South African cuisine So many choices and I'll definitely return Excellent for a group to share many menu ideas Attentive and helpful service Nice urban setting
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Ravi D.

Yelp
The Berbere chicken is amazing! Def a must get. 4-5 dishes between 2 adults and 2 kids was a good amount. Enjoy!
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Carson F.

Yelp
What an amazing meal we had last night. Every dish was packed with layers of flavors. Flavors we had not experienced before. The service was attentive, and the host, or owner or whoever she was told us all about each dish we ordered and how they decided on what would go into the recipe. Pleasant atmosphere and extremely friendly people working there. On the high priced side, and they do add a 20% gratuity to the bill, but to be honest it was worth every penny. Definitely adding this to the list of our favorite restaurants.
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Ciera R.

Yelp
Our server was very attentive and described that we could order all the food we wanted at once note come out one at a time as it was ready. It's really amazing all the flavors were just undeniably good the cauliflower and peanut sauce, the beets and the scotch egg was our favorite, the chicken was the most moist and seasoned chicken we ever had. It was not overly salty at all honestly couldn't even taste of the salt. It was just perfectly seasoned with flavors that you just can't get anywhere anywhere else but here and it just truly added to an amazing experience for a midweek dinner. You know a place is amazing when you can have well-done steak kebab, and it's still have flavor and not be rubbery and have that perfect char and the scotch bonnet pepper sauce was absolutely chefs kiss. Amazing job to the team and cannot wait to come and try again.
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Aaron G.

Yelp
The food is delicious! Our waiter said that he had tried everything on the menu and had enjoyed it and we would too. The food is cooked to order, so it's brought out as they finish, meaning not everything comes out at the same time. We didn't mind it, since it gives you the opportunity to order and try different items, which we did. The plates are setup to be shared. The bread is amazing with the sauce, it's a bit spicy which we enjoyed. Beef skewers and the mahi with scallops was amazing!! Highly recommend this establishment. The service is amazing and we had a great time.
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Richard N.

Yelp
Hostess and I started off on the wrong foot and I guess we never recovered the experience. Good food. I hope we don't meet again Great: dovi cauliflower, dovi rice bomb, cocktails all look really fun Good: plantains, bobotie Didn't bother to explain anything on the menu; left us to our own devices until we drank all the water; brought out the wrong food (we aren't familiar with this cuisine so we just ate); very slowly and emphatically let us know that we did not get the food we ordered and then comp'd the plate. Top 10 bizarre dining experience.
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Ian D.

Yelp
Food: Overall, 2.5/5. The quality of the salmon and scallops (in the seafood curry) and steak kabobs were excellent. The drawback is the curry was served on a plate instead of a bowl and had a minimal amount of rice to absorb and take on the curry flavor. The scotch egg was dry and ligaments in the sausage were too touch to cut. For what was received, the bill was disproportionately priced. Service: (1/5) in the first 60 minutes after ordering, we had only received a cocktail and the steak kabobs. The waitstaff among all tables seemed uncoordinated and many diners were sharing in the frustration of either not receiving food and/or having dirty dishes languishing on their tables. In the 90 minutes we were there, we only saw our waiter four times. Ambiance: (4/5) very stylish and welcoming feel. The music was light and the indoor and outdoor options are perfect for spring time and a relaxing night out.
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Cynthia W.

Yelp
I have been super excited to try this restaurant; however, I must say the experience was truly disappointing. We arrived on a Wednesday evening. The ambiance is nice and quaint. There was a decent crowd, but not overly busy. We had to flag our server down to get his attention to at least order drinks. This is when we were told alcohol could not be served due to a permit issue. We were very confused because there were two tables that had wine bottles. We were told that these tables ordered wine right at 5pm; before the team was notified that alcohol could not be served. Disappointing, but we proceeded to ask about other options for drinks. Most of the party just drank water. Service was very slow and lacked attentiveness. We did not get refills on water. Our bottle and glasses stayed empty. This is even after food was being brought to our table. No one asked if a refill was needed. We eventually asked for a refill. When that got empty, we were once again left without water. There was also no refill offered on the soda a person in our party ordered. On to the food... the dishes we received looked nothing like the pictures posted online by the business. We ordered the Dovi rice bites. It came out in a small bowl with one large ball inside. Looked nothing like we expected. We expected more than one ball based on the pictures. There was no sauce at all. The one ball we had was dry. The scotch egg was okay, but the sausage itself was overcooked. The chicken was decent, but took a long time to come out. Overall, we were not impressed. Service and food quality definitely needs to be improved. For the amount of money we spent on each dish, we do not feel like it was worth it. Maybe it was an off night; however, a restaurant of this caliber shouldn't experience off nights. Especially being so new.

James M.

Yelp
Delicious food! Nice mixture of international flavors. Great personal service from the GM. Everything tastes so fresh. Jason has a good thing going here. Very nice ambiance in an intimate setting. Reservations recommended.
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Cat B.

Yelp
What an amazing experience. My colleagues and I decided to go after work. We were a party of ten people and the staff was beyond helpful. We decided to order everything off the small tapas menu and share within each other, and one large plate (sausage dish), and both desserts. I am a very picky eater, and everything had my mouth watering. My favorite dishes were the steak kabob, caulifower, and the rice bomb. The food was definitely a winner and the service even better. I suggest you taking anyone that you care about :) . I plan on coming back when I visit again. #Travel2taste
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Bryan L.

Yelp
The food was not good. I ordered the the chicken and the beef skewer which are called suya. Both were terribly undercooked. I did not have the heart to tell the waiter because he was so nice and smiling and would ask if I enjoyed it. The drink I ordered was their special and it was nasty. It seemed like the bartender was googling how to make it although it was their signature drink and it took about 30 mins for the drink to come out. Would not go again.
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April J.

Yelp
Perfect atmosphere for a lovely date night! The staff were very helpful and friendly. We enjoyed our dinner and I look forward to returning and trying other dishes.
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Paul W.

Yelp
Staff is skilled in unrivaled hospitality paired with fantastic food, craft cocktails and wine. Via Nothing like it anywhere! Explosive elevated flavors. Great location with something for everyone.

Stephanie G.

Yelp
The whole experience was unique and very tasty. Would totally recommend for a pre show or after show meal. Fun restaurant with a lot of great flavors to offer. Love the lamb shank! My daughter was hunting for the last little pieces of meat between the bone to savor it more. Truly did enjoy our meal and African adventure prior to our dpac show.
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Steve S.

Yelp
Phenomenal food that bests the very best I've known out in New York. The only downside is that I officially have a craving for Zimbabwean cuisine now and will just need to fly back to scratch it. Moreover, the restaurant itself was beautifully-decorated and the owners and staff were as friendly, attentive and kind as they were passionate about the excellent food. Y'all got something really special out here in Durham with Zweli's Ekhaya. Great people, great food, great vibes. Don't hesitate, you need to go there now.
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Tracy B.

Yelp
This place is a GEM! Perfect date night spot for sure! The food is packed with flavor that will blow your mind. Make sure to order the rice bomb, cauliflower, broccolini, beets, croquettes and bobotie. YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT. The drinks are on point too. Craft cocktails did not disappoint. Cannot wait to dine on the patio next. It's looks like a total vibe. What a great addition to ATC.

Bill D.

Yelp
We came here for our one year anniversary. I wanted to take my wife to a really special place for dinner, and the experience we had here tonight met and exceeded our expectations. From the ambience with the beautiful decor, the music was a perfect volume but above and beyond was our server, Jamie, and the food! Even a bartender came over and helped us with our drink selection. Our waiter had a warm smile that set the vibe and tone for our evening, and even provided complementary dishes in celebration of our one year anniversary. We are already recommending this place to our friends and will definitely be back.

B S.

Yelp
Amazing experience and vibe! The bartender/manager made the best top-tier cocktails with the service to match.

David O.

Yelp
Food was amazing! Server was great helping us with the menu. All the suggestions were spot on

Cindy T.

Yelp
Stumbled upon this place while walking around Durham with 4 of my coworkers. We all loved it. The food was amazing. We ordered almost all the small plates, the chicken skewers and meat pie. We had a great time sharing the different plates. The staff were very accommodating and brought out the items quickly. And even with drinks, the bill split 5 ways was within our corporate budget!

Amelia P.

Yelp
The food here is amazing. Highly recommended going. Had the half chicken, steak kabobs, and the bread. Everything was delicious. The only reason for -1 star was poor service. We were never told we had to pay for our meal inside, so we ended up sitting outside after everything was done wondering if they forgot about us. Our server didn't introduce himself nor tell us what the fish of the day was. Overall it was an amazing experience, the restaurant just needs to tighten up how their staff interacts with their customers.

Conya T.

Yelp
Jamie was absolutely one of the best severs I had in my life. He stayed on on top of the tables, made sure we had water, and the drinks were amazing. Definitely coming back and I hope I get Jamie again. P.s. if you want a nice date night or hangout with your friends, this is the place to come. 5 star