Ile Bistro

Been coming here since it opened and it has always more than satisfied my appetite! The jollof is the best I’ve ever had! It’s the same as the one that was originally served at Chef Eros’ private dining room in Hollywood. I can absolutely say that the quality has remained exceptional while reducing how much it costs. Don’t sleep on the fried plantains and puff puff as well!

Ile Bistro gives you authentic West African flavor with Chef Eros' special touch. Definitely a must try if you're in Culver City and you want to electrify your taste buds. The menu keeps expanding so plan on going back often. I also love the fact that everything at Île Bistro can be customized to vegan and vegetarian diets.

I decided to give this place a try because there was a long line at BANG BANG, and I regret my decision immensely. They told me they have ran out of their regular rice but still charged me $2 for the only option left which is the African rice, and another extra $4 dollars for steak. So at the end I was left with a 30$ bill for a rice bowl. When you pay this much the least you expect is a decent quality meal and boy I was disappointed. The steak was overcooked and bland, the chickpeas were undercooked and hard. The green beans were like plastic. The only good thing about this bowl was their carrot, just because I like carrots regardless. There are many other options nearby, and I’d not recommend this place even as last resort because you will end up starting at your friends’ plate from the other places and will regret your decision by every bite.

Is the good china only reserved for weekends? I came on a weekday and dined at the counter. For a $20 bowl of soup, you're gonna have to step your presentation game up.

Om nom nom nom 🤤 sooo good. Pay first then find a seat and wait to be in food heaven! Got the rice bowl with the Unity Jollof Rice, roasted chicken, plantains with a side of Suya Chili Oil and all I can say was…. Silence, because I was too busy tearing it up 😋

Not bad ! Would def eat here again if someone suggested it but wasn’t blown away. Bc there are other restaurants in this public market that I also wanna try, next time I might gravitate towards something else.

CHEF EROS WOW YOUR FOOD IS INCREDIBLE!!!! I recently had the pleasure of dining at a remarkable ILE BISTRO, and I must say, it was an extraordinary culinary experience that transported me to a world of vibrant flavors and cultural richness. From the moment I stepped through the door at the market in Culver City the restaurant's warm and welcoming ambiance set the stage for an unforgettable evening. The decor was a tasteful fusion of traditional African elements and modern design, creating an inviting and visually appealing atmosphere. In conclusion, this West African restaurant is a hidden gem that deserves to be celebrated. It not only delivers exceptional food but also offers a cultural immersion that leaves a lasting impression. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a culinary adventure that combines authenticity, warmth, and unforgettable flavors. This restaurant is a testament to the richness and diversity of West African cuisine, and I can't wait to return for another culinary voyage.

As a Nigerian, I was expecting so much but honestly it was giving watered down and I don’t think I’m actually the target audience for the food. The rice was dry and undercooked. And the roasted chicken was lightly seasoned at best, the suya spice saved it. The stew sauce is good and definitely elevates the meal without it the meal is under seasoned and dried. I don’t mind supporting but for the price the meal was a disappointment.

I was intrigued when I walked through Citizen Public Market after a long time, and saw the new ILE Bistro - described as Nigerian food with a California influence. The only African food I've tried is Ethiopian, and it is one of my favorite cuisines! I asked the worker what the most popular option was and followed her lead. I chose the rice bowl which starts at $18.95. For the base, I chose half and half price which includes half unity jollof rice, and half local fried rice (an additional $2). My protein was roasted chicken, and for the two toppings I chose traditional slaw and the spiced roasted carrots. To top it off, I chose Nigerian salad cream, and signature stew, which she said where the most popular. I guess my main issue was how expensive it was for what I got. The total came out to a little over $22 for a rather small bowl of rice with chicken, a little bit of slaw, and the roasted carrots. I did enjoy the flavor of the spices, but there was not enough slaw to provide that crunchy freshness and everything just ate a bit mushy together since it was mostly rice in the bowl. There also wasn't that much chicken included, even though I did like the tender consistency of it. I may return to try the soup, if maybe the prices go down.

10/10 vibes 10/10 food 10/10 service 10/10 experience Chefs kiss! Can't wait to go back

Phenomenal food. I've never had Nigerian food before and I'm in love. I got the rice bowl chicken. The seasoning is nothing like I had. I love the kick. Me and my friend shared and bowl and we were super pleased The owner moved here two years ago and decided to open up his place here when a space opened up. The menu is authentic Nigerian with a California flair. I highly recommend it. Give your taste buds a treat and experience some new flavors

great place to catch a quick bite for lunch. service was efficient and delicious. i tried one of their bowls with jollof rice, oyster mushroom, carrots and fried plantain. i chose the stew and chili oil for my sauces. so yummy and we tried the hibiscus tea also which was so lovely! the restaurant is in citizens public market - this food hall in culver city so it's pretty cozy and they have bar seating that's cool for a little light lunch situation. it might look light but it's heavy though. super filling.

ILE Bistro is located near the back of Citizen Market with a cute L-shaped bar sitting area! Even with the market bustling around, we still felt like we were in a chill restaurant vibe with great viewing access to how they prep our food and drinks! The rice bowls were PACKED with spices and flavor that never felt overpowering and just extremely homey. That chili oil tho made it even more enjoyable. We got one bowl with jollof rice, chicken, traditional slaw (not pictured), roasted carrots, and Suya chili oil (on the side) - the only average thing was the slaw, but that's mainly cause it felt bland compared to everything else. The second bowl had half jollof rice, half curried rice, blackened fish, roasted green beans, plantains and also the Suya chili oil (we love chili oil) - the portion of the fish was pretty small, but delicious! My favorite part goes to the plantains tho!! And the chili oil! For dessert, we got the orange, lemongrass & rosemary cake - definitely wasn't what we expected since it was served in a little paper cup and the cake was cubed, but it was nice and warm and had great orange flavor! The only thing was that the cake had a syrup drizzle that had more of the rosemary/lemongrass flavor that wasn't distributed well cause it was all just stacked in the cup, but definitely got the flavors at the end where the bottom pieces soaked up the syrup! Also gotta say service was really friendly and great where our server recommended certain things and always checked in on us! We even saw the billionaire chef himself serving and chatting with the customers which made the place feel even more welcoming and friendly! I would say this spot is a little on the pricier side, but I guess also pretty standard among it's counterparts in Citizen Market. Definitely would want to try out their soup noodles next time on a nice date night!

10/10 - speaking for their rice bowls! Follow this combo: Jollof rice Seasonal fish Roasted carrots , plantains, and black eyed peas Sauce: suya chili oil. You will leave HAPPY!

So not only do we love Citizen Public Market in general and I'm on record saying there are seldom other oyster places (not better but) comparable to our favorite place in here, we were surprised to see something new... low and behold ILE Bistro located across from GoGo Bird in the Citizen market. Wrapping around the corner, you see a very polished bistro. Kitchen in view and a really simple but amazing menu. As soup didn't sound too appealing for a hot day in Los Angeles (we were wrong about that) we got the jollof half and half local fried rice which has a great kick to it. Added the steak, carrots and green beans. The steak was so flavorful, buttery and tender, the greens were a perfect crunch and flavor. Honestly I'm gonna use flavor a lot or I can just say everything blended so well together and stood tall on their own as well. My mouth is a wee-bit on fire but I'm happy at all the... flavors. Our server Anthony was so helpful and knowledgeable of all the food, spices, sauces and made us feel comfortable as we dined at the beautiful wooden bar top/ counter. He also let us try a tiny bit of the soup we now know we missed out on and WOW. The broth alone was incredible. I'm not one to hype anything for any other reason so you can trust when I say this place is 5 stars. Not one bad thing. Boom!

Hipster Nigerian food but, being in Culver City, that's honestly the point. Nothing is spicy, portions are unexpectedly small for any cuisine from this continent. I have to find this man something to eat... after this. The hostess was really sweet.

Really wanted to like this place. I'd tried other spots in Citizen Public Market, and was excited to try ILE Bistro, but was left disappointed. The menu is overpriced for what it is, I ordered a bowl with steak, mushroom, and plantains, and was told I'd get a text when it was ready (I gave them my name and number). After waiting 25+ minutes, I finally came up and asked about it, and it had been sitting on the pickup shelf for 15 minutes - no text or call out to my name. The food was already cold. On top of that, a few bites in, I realized that they didn't put steak on it. I went back up and asked the chef politely about it and he gave me an affronted look, checked their ticket with my order while looking annoyed, and then took my bowl without saying anything and plopped a half scoop of steak on top and handed it back. No apology, no anything. I didn't end up even finishing it, and gave it to a homeless person outside that was going to enjoy it more than I would. Overpriced, cold, and bad service...stay away. Sidenote - the other spots in CPM are stellar - try any of them and you'll be better off.

Seriously good! This is my first time at Citizen Public Market and I was surprised to find this place here! I'd heard about it but not made the connection. The bowl with the fried rice and tilapia was excellent, the fish perfectly seasoned and cooked. The peppery sauce added the perfect finish to the dish. ILE Bistro understands crave-ability and delivers because I'll be thinking about this dish until my next visit.

My friend and I happened upon this unique restaurant today and we are so glad we did. It was like taking a exotic trip to Nigeria! The ambiance is amazing. The food was authentic and well prepared and so tasty! But it was the warmness of the staff and the customer service of the owner that will keep us coming back. My friend could not tolerate spice so the owner went in the kitchen and prepared her dish himself! I highly recommend this find to everyone.

Ilé Bistró is one of the newest spots in the Citizen Public Market in Downtown Culver City. It's a sister location to Ilé, which is an exclusive Nigerian tasting menu restaurant; I've never been to the more intimate, private tasting but from pictures it appears that a subset of their items are available at this bistro location. With limited Nigerian food options in LA, I'm always excited to try the latest option. Generally I'd give the food a B+ for taste. The buffet setup of their customizable bowls (rice or soup) doesn't allow, in my opinion, the flavors of the protein, rice and various sides to feel cohesive because they don't touch under they're served in a bowl to you. Similar to all spots in the Citizen Public Market, it's a fast casual vibe where you order and then can either eat at their counter or one of the tables in the market. The biggest drawback, which may just be a function of them being a new location, is that I was ordered food 2 hours into their 6 hour day on a Saturday and half of the menu wasn't available. There's tons of potential and I'm excited for how they evolve as the kinks are ironed out. I'd be willing to sacrifice speed for richer blended flavors. Despite the rating, which is subject to change if things improve on my guaranteed next visit, it does make me interested to explore their tasting menu location.

Bad Bad Bad the Jollof is dry!! My food was served room temperature and my serving was small. The meal was $37 plus the hibiscus beverage which was sour. I'm disappointed. I hate to leave a negative review but a spoonful of dry jollof & a cutlet of snapper for a $37 meal. We gotta do better!!!

I got excited to try this spot out, but the food is very mediocre and it is not authentic Nigerian food. I was very disappointed to have paid $18 for a bowl of a half serving of noodles, bean sprouts, and green beans. It definitely tasted okay, but it was very disappointing and very overpriced for what it was. If you are at the Citizen Public Market, and you want a bowl of noodles, go to Bang Bang noodles for a better bang for your buck. I am still hungry and I don't even eat that much.

10/10 from start to finish! I went with a bowl so I could try more items, and the person working there was kind enough to walk me through all the options to help me decide what to get. I got a bowl with jollof rice, chicken, traditional slaw, roasted carrots, green beans, and Suya chili oil (on the side). The bowl was PACKED with flavor! I knew it would taste good because it smelled so good, but I was still impressed. Everything tasted delicious on its own, and together. I recommend getting the plantains. I tried my friend's plantains and really regretted not adding them. It's a bit pricier, like most places in Citizen Market, but it's a lot of food and so worth it! Service was also great. Definitely want to go back and try more soon.

It's so nice to have a casual Nigerian eatery in LA! Glad they started doing lunch too.

I was beyond excited to hear that ILÉ Bistro, a Nigerian dining concept, was coming into Citizen Public Market! It's evident that the teams there are thoughtfully and intentionally curating the vendors to bring diversity into Culver City's food scene. I loved being able to build-my-own bowl filled with their famous Unity Jollof rice, a perfect medley of smoke and spice, topped with roasted carrots, green beans, and oyster mushrooms that were a flavor bomb of Suya spice Chef imports directly from Nigeria. We also got the BYO Pepper Soup bowl with Mei noodles and chicken and loved how flavorful and aromatic it was - I'm still dreaming about that broth! 10/10 would travel to the westside for ILÉ Bistro and that is saying a lot!

Rice bowl's here are solid, good size. Ordered the steak with black eye peas and slaw. Chili oil gave it a nice kick.

I was so excited to try Nigerian food after hearing about this place. The space is cute and it has a very straightforward menu. The people I was with had no idea what type of cuisine it was because they made no reference to it being Nigerian cuisine in any of their signage or marketing material so I had to tell them. (Most people have no idea where Lagos is) The food was overall pretty tasty. Highly seasoned rice and just enough heat to really enhance the warming spices that's used in their dishes. The black eyed peas were delish but a very small portion. The slaw was meh. The chicken was cooked well. My gripe with this place is the price and all of the up charges for what you get. Just to get the jollof rice you're adding an extra 4 bucks to an already $18 bowl. The chicken was delicious but it was such a tiny portion of protein and there is another upcharge for extra protein. What I would expect to be standard sides (plantains) were an additional upcharge plus even some of the sauces had an upcharge!! This place is insane for having folks pay $25 for a small bowl that would barely fill up the average woman and doesn't have much protein. All of the bowl components are sitting in warmers so don't expect to be getting food that's made to order for that price. I want to come back but I absolutely cannot justify feeling completed ripped off like that. I would love if they considered making their food a bit more accessible and on par with some of the other "bowl" type eateries.

Title: Île Bistro: Homely Comfort with Gourmet Appeal Île Bistro is a warm and inviting place, combining a homely atmosphere with exceptional cuisine. The chef's artistry in the kitchen and the service curates a delightful dining experience that feels both comforting and greatly enriched our dining experience. Its an amazing introduction West African food. I look forward to seeing this restaurant grow.

My take-out order: Create a bowl -- $18.95 rice grains protein vegetables 1/2 Jollof Rice + 1/2fried rice +2.00 -- Catch of the day (blackened snapper +1.95 -- vegetables and Plantains +1.95 -- Total (with tax) 27.94 -- Tip 2.00 Total order 29.94 My bowl was lukewarm and only half full (see photo below) $30 for a bowl .... I'm still hungry..... how can this be? ILE Bistro: how can this be?

The food was great! I was surprised this was the first time I had Nigerian food and it was delicious the portions are a good size at first I thought I wouldn't be full hit when I finished I was more than satisfied. The he chicken was juicy and flavorful I think there wooden oven helps a lot in that sense. The service was fine but it's just because they seem to be getting started a bit the wait was around 15 to 20 min for the food but I felt it was worth it. The place was nice the owner seems meticulous in what he bought for the restaurant from the water dispenser to the flowers he picked. I do recommend it is great food even if it is a little pricey. Once people here of this place it will be slammed at all times.

I really wanted to like this spot - new at Citizen Public Market and I abandoned my usual order of oysters for this. Fairly expensive instant noodles - might have been an error in my choice, as the grilled chicken in my soup was pretty delicious

Litty titty. Honestly everything was flavorful, even the tea. We got bowls of soup with noodles, soft eggs, spicy, one steak and one catch of the day. Everything is made fresh to order so there's a little wait, totes worth it. The broth is so richly flavored and spicy, the taste of fresh pepper. Tender meat and noodles cooked perfectly. The hibiscus tea is perfectly sweetened. I love having this in the market.

I had the steak bowl with mixed rice. Everything is crazy good. The rice is some of the best I've had. The location is fun, inside Citizen Public Market. But it feels more upscale than the other restaurants in there with their place settings. Service was excellent, super friendly and helpful. Order ahead if you can because they get busy at dinner time.

I wanted to like this and was enjoying my food until about 2 bites in. There were no major allergens listed on the menu but the steak contains peanuts, which i am allergic too, and almost died. luckily i ate at home and had an epiPen. service wasn't helpful when i told them about the issue

First time here n let me tell you the bomb !! Also service is on point ..., Five stars alll the way!!

Had a memorable meal here - everything from the atmosphere, to the service, and most importantly the food was great! Highlights were the birthday cake puff puff dessert and the unity jollof rice.

I really wanted to like this place, but we paid $20 for a paper bowl of lukewarm soup with what tasted like instant noodles. There were a few pieces of chicken and veggies, but this was absolutely unforgivable. The bowl that we got was better, but again it was $20 for a bowl of jollof rice, dry meat and beans. It wasn't flavorful enough to justify the price.

You know when you find a restaurant to add to your monthly rotation? This would be the spot for me. Was super impressed by the flavor of their jollof rice, cauliflower and roasted carrots - perfectly spiced with a little kick. Just had on Thursday and already craving it again!

I visited for the first time and was very excited to try Nigerian food. The space is well-designed. Unfortunately, once I sat down on the stools, I realized they were better for show and were very uncomfortable. The spices on the chicken and Joloff rice were delicious, but the "mushy blackeye peas" were very undercooked and were way too firm. The carrots were also undercooked and the Joloff rice was dry. Most of the staff seemed very distracted and did not put care into the preparation of the food. We were not the only ones that complained about the preparation while there. I will give them one more try (based on the flavors) and I hope that the preparation improves in the future.

I love this place! We have been here four times in the last four weeks, whenever we are in downtown Culver City this is our go-to. The flavors are fantastic and impossible to find anywhere else. The staff was very helpful with the selections, my favorite is the half and half rice bowl with either roasted chicken or grilled steak. For toppings I suggest the roasted carrots and fried plaintains. For sauces I go with the signature stew and suya chili oil on the side. I wait till I am about half done before I add the chili oil, it is pretty intense. When I add the suyu chili it's like kicking it into another gear. Really, really flavorful. These food here is premium quality and you pay a little more which is to be expected. What a great addition to the Citizen Public Market!

Food was absolutely fantastic. Chef and staff were super friendly! Highly recommend if you're looking for new flavors and spices!

Disappointing. Saw someone eating a soup bowl at the counter. It looked delicious. Unfortunately, the food didn't live up to expectations. The "mild" pepper soup was too spicy. The noodles were few and sort of hard. Steak was good but scarce for the $21 bowl. Hate to leave a negative review as the staff were friendly. Wish the food was better. Also, had to wait almost half an hour for the order. Haven't had that long of a wait at any other place at Citizens Market.

The food is delicious! It was my first time trying food from western Africa and I was impressed. Service was friendly, they gave me food recommendation for the sauces. The portion seems small but it actually is more than enough. Ambiance is fun, it's in Culver city market with some other restaurants next to it.

Upscale Nigerian restaurant that is very much needed in LA! My fave and go to is the Jollof with Steak, beans and plantain! The flavors are out of this world! Spice level is just right, you get a slight kick that doesn't set your mouth on fire! The suya spice on the steak taste like heaven! There's usually lines, but I think that's actually a good thing, because it shows people love the food.. because the staff are very quick at taking orders and getting your food to you once you get to the front of the line! Overall I would definitely recommend ILE BISTRO over and over again! Great food, service and Ambiance.. and happy to have this level of tasteful service from a Nigerian restaurant!

Food was amazing. Service staff was polite and attended to my needs Will definitely go back again. Recommend the Jollof bowl for first timers

I guess this food is a fusion of sorts. I think the chef should be braver and add some traditional dishes besides the jollof rice. Dry rice, flavorless and overpriced. The pepper soup taste like Cup o' noodles! We greeted the chef in Yoruba and he basically ignored us. That surprised me. The bowls say $17.99, but by the time you add other items and sauces you're easily at $30.00 The pictures look great, but if you're looking for authentic Nigerian food try another place... like Veronica's. I think this is mainly catering to western tastebuds. I hope they get a little more creative... I don't wish anyone to fail. I don't think it's necessary to " water down " African food for the western taste buds. I believe they could appreciate an egusi or other tasty dishes. This food is just too dry. It needs some type of sauce.

I went to Ile Bistro to check out the space after having been to one of the chefs private dinners. The decor was beautiful, the best in the market in my opinion, and it was lovely to see some familiar employee faces from the private dinner. You definitely get a sense of loyalty from the staff. The pepper soup was perfectly spicy and the main attraction for me. I actually drank the last bits of soup straight from the bowl and I did not care who saw me! The vegetables and fish were fresh, and I could have drank two more cups of the hibiscus drink. Whatever concoction that is, it's addicting! Each time I go I'll try a different dish. Chef Eros is definitely on to something!

I was so excited to try their food because you can't find African food in this area. When I say, I was impressed. The service was also amazing, they were very attentive and even had a nice dinner set up to add to their aesthetic. I will be back soon!

We stumbled across this place inside Citizen Market and decided to try it. So glad to have found it. It was a flavor explosion in my mouth! Really good. We tried the chicken rice bowl with carrots and slaw. The suya chili oil has a flavor profile that is totally new and so good! Also tried the chicken tacos. Also great! Will be back.

Everything was fantastic from the food to service and ambiance! The flavors in our bowls were super fresh and aromatic and we really loved the vibe in here. Definitely recommend this spot whether its to grab lunch with friends, a date night, or lunch with coworkers.

If you have a craving for the combination of delicious rice and proteins, with the sophisticated flavors of West Africa, Ile Bistro in the Citizen food hall is your place. I ordered the half and half rice, with fish of the day, black eyed beans and plantains with the agoyin and suya sauces, spectacular.

Jollof Rice was amazing and their pepper soup is to die for when you are feeling under the weather or hungover. Looking forward to tasting more of their innovative food.

I've made instant ramen noodles at four in the morning by half microwaving water and pouring it over packaged noodles that tasted better than their soup noodles. Literally one of the worst meals I've ever purchased. The noodles had the texture of half cooked ramen, the baby corn and oyster mushrooms were flavorless and soggy and the best part was that everything was lukewarm. Just horrible

The food is so good! I love the Local Fried Rice! The staff has immaculate energy, the music is good, and the place always looks so sleek! Trust...(Try the half & half with grilled steak! Add fried plantains, roasted carrot, and a soft boiled egg for your toppings. The signature stew and the Agoyin sauce are so yummy in there!) I'll definitely be back!!! Good job y'all *chef's kiss*

The food, ambiance, and overall experience is what's going to have me eat here again. You gotta get the half and half jollof rice, and don't forget the plantains and suya spice.

As a real Igbo boy, let me tell you this one na the one you want chop. If you know what Nigerian food is supposed to taste like, you will not be disappointed. If you have never eaten Nigerian food, you will not be intimidated. Food is ready.

Stepped in after walking the SAG-AFTRA and WGA picket line for a little pick me up. So glad I did! I got the rice bowl with Jollof rice and the catch of the day (snapper) and was not disappointed! I got it with the suya chili oil and the signature stew sauces per Destinee's recommendation. Both sauces had the heat and flavorful kick that I expect with Nigerian food and had a blend of traditional tastes that can't be replicated with your ordinary spices from Walmart. This was the real deal. When you're in Culver City, give them a visit in the Citizen Public Mart, and tell Destinee (a complete sweetheart by the way) that I sent you!