Elmina
African restaurant · U Street
2208 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009
Highlights
Modern West African cuisine with fufu, kelewele, and egusi hummus
Modern West African cuisine with fufu, kelewele, and egusi hummus
"Elmina is what happens when Ghanaian food shows up to DC’s fine dining scene in its Sunday best. The $135 four-course tasting menu blends deep tradition with sharp technique: think scallop crudo with citrus and coconut, rich palm nut stew with shrimp and octopus, and a jollof duck pot dripping with smoky, pepper-laced shito. The obvious move at Elmina, from celebrity chef Eric Adjepong, is to come for a birthday, anniversary, or some other occasion that warrants a nice shirt and planning ahead. And while it’s great for that, we also love to come here on a whim and sit at the bar for the more casual a la carte menu, where you can get bites like okra fries, octopus kebabs with a shito glaze, or a hamachi collar with plantain chips." - omnia saed, madeline weinfield, jonathan smith, mekita rivas, allison robicelli, omnia saed, kym backer
"Top Chef star Eric Adjepong debuts Elmina, an upscale West African restaurant on 14th Street. The $105 tasting menu features smoked sweet plantain, goat bone marrow, palm nut and octopus stew, and smoked jollof paella." - omnia saed
"Food Network star Eric Adjepong puts a modern spin on traditional West African food at his first brick-and-mortar restaurant. Open since February, Elmina showcases classic Ghanaian dishes like fufu and kelewele (spicy fried plantains) across a la carte and tasting menus, along with new interpretations like spicy cassava udon noodles and egusi hummus. Situated in Seven Reasons’ former 14th Street NW home, two-story Elmina carves out room for 124 diners. The Top Chef Season 16 finalist also introduces the same roti flatbreads and doubles that were supposed to be featured at On the Double, his fast-casual Union Market stall that fell through during the pandemic. Cocktails turn to regional flavors like mango, hibiscus, soursop, and passionfruit." - Eater Staff
"A striking-blue West African restaurant on 14th Street NW designed by Jimmie Drummond, known for its luxurious interior and African-inspired cuisine." - Tierney Plumb
"A contemporary West African restaurant opened by Chef Eric Adjepong, offering a modern ode to Ghanaian cuisine. The restaurant features both a five-course tasting menu and an a la carte bar menu, with dishes inspired by traditional Ghanaian flavors and techniques." - Evan Caplan
