Mansa Kunda Restaurant

I was really looking forward to trying this place, but the experience was uncomfortable from the moment we ordered. I asked the owner for recommendations and was told the peanut stew was the best option. When I said I don’t eat peanut-based dishes, he replied, “If you want me to recommend, then I recommend this—otherwise don’t ask for my recommendation.” Wow. That’s not how restaurant service should be. I was genuinely trying to respect the food culture and be open to trying something new. I then asked what fufu was and was basically told that if I didn’t know what it was, I should just get rice. There was no explanation, no patience—just an unfriendly and unwelcoming attitude. I honestly regret not standing up and leaving at that point. As for the food, it didn’t make up for the service. The beef was dry and tough, the plantain tasted like it had just been reheated in a microwave, and the fish was also quite dry. Overall, it was an incredibly ridiculous ordering experience, leaving me with not just a bad impression of this restaurant, but—quite unfairly—of African food as a whole. Hopefully this isn’t the norm.

While visiting D.C. for a short weekend, I was craving some delicious West African food and found Mansa Kunda Restaurant at the top of my search results. The menu looked amazing, and it definitely lived up to the hype! I ordered the jollof rice. Honestly, I was surprised to see it at a Gambian restaurant, but wow… it was incredible. Saying it was delicious would be an understatement. I enjoyed every last grain of rice! I don’t know why the jollof debate is always between Ghana and Nigeria. Gambia deserves a seat at the table too! But for me (and many others), Ghana jollof will always be la crème de la crème! 🇬🇭✨

I had always wanted to try food from a West African restaurant, and today I finally got that opportunity. It was a completely new and enjoyable experience for me, and I was truly happy. We enjoyed a delicious and satisfying meal. The interior of the restaurant is beautifully decorated with West African elements, giving visitors a chance to see and appreciate valuable aspects of their culture and traditions. There was only one thing I personally felt uncomfortable with. The seating provided included a leather drum used as a chair. As a Sri Lankan, we hold musical instruments in very high respect and would never sit on them. In our culture, doing so is considered disrespectful. However, I understand that this may be acceptable in their culture. That said, the staff were kind, warm, and very friendly, which made the overall experience pleasant. I would definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to experience authentic West African food and culture.

Great food, nice vibes, friendly owner. We tried akara fritters, peanut butter chu, jollof rice, plasas, and fufu. Everything was delicious but the plasas and fufu were my favorites. Great labeling for gluten free options and great vegan options too

My husband was very impressed when the owner personally made our reservation and stated that he was looking forward to serving us! He greeted us and held the front door open and immediately chose the perfect table to seat us. As our first time trying West African Cuisine, he suggested and delivered the most delightful and flavorful food, drink and desert that we completely enjoyed. His African decor, music, service and conversation was amazing and unforgettable. We look forward to dining in again and highly recommend Mansa Kunda African Cuisine.

Went in for takeout, the owner was pleasant enough that we decided to stay for a meal. What an experience! He guided us through the menu and we settled on the lamb and fish. Full flavored and cooked just right. And the (v. hot) pepper sauce brought as a side, with safety instructions. Had to try the desserts as we had never seen most of the flavors put into cake form. All was excellent, and the staff was warm and friendly. Definitely a regular stop from now on.

Delicious food and excellent service. So many items on the menu that pocking was difficult! If you're a fan make sure to try the bissap with ginger.

The food was absolutely fantastic. I’ve heard of peanut butter soup but never tried it. I had no clue what to expect. All I have to say is that I was more than pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be going back.

Always a vibe when I'm here - it just feels like home in Mansa Kunda. The art, the service, the food - it feels like I've transported to West Africa and sitting in my friend or Uncle's living room. I love the Peanut Chu and the Chu - today I got the Chu with fish - I've always gotten it vegetarian but never again. The fish was crispy and perfect with the Chu, seasoned and VERY flavorful. I always love the huge chunks of amazing veggies I also got the Akara Fritters - these are yummy too remind me of Jamaican dumpling. I love supporting Mansa Kunda and know you will too. NOTE: Parking has gotten really challenging over in this area over the last couple years - more shops in that little area so walk, get there early, or plan to get there another way.

The food was delicious! Everything was tasty! The plantains! The akara! the oxtail soup! The jollof rice with beef! This Gambian restaurant really hit the spot! It's not Nigerian food, but it's delicious! Lol

Delicious. I split a fish plate, a tofu plate, and a chicken plate and I was a big fan

What a fantastic find! TLDR: Happiness is a pile of Affra Lamb. We drove all the way from Virginia to visit a friend and wanted to grab lunch before heading home. Yelp said this place was nearby, and the reviews looked good, so we decided to try it. They had just opened, and we were their first in-person customer of the day. The owner was more than happy to chat with us and make recommendations since this was our first time eating West African cuisine. We settled on splitting an appetizer, the Accara Fritters, and a main course, the Affra Lamb. Both were excellent. The fritters were remarkably crisp, with a delicate flavor. The accompanying habanero chili sauce also had a mild flavor that went well with it. The lamb was absolutely delicious (and I'm not usually a lamb fan). It had a rich, smoky flavor and a wonderful texture. At the owner's suggestion, we substituted rice for the potatoes, which made for a nice accompaniment. My only caution is about the "spicy sauce" that comes on the side. Unless you are seriously into drinking ghost pepper juice, you'll want to keep it away from your food. I tried a tiny bit on a fair amount of rice, which was enough to set my mouth on fire. And, it turns out I can't even brag about having tried something that's ghost pepper-relate. The sauce is made in-house from a habanero pepper reduction. The good news is, if you like VERY spicy sauces, they might be kind enough to sell you a bottle of it. There's off-street parking in front and along the side. For a bit of fun, sit where you can see out the front window and watch as people use the repurposed payphone out front.

Enjoyed a meet and greet dinner here. Warm inviting space. The host had pre ordered a variety of dishes for us to try. Fish w jollof rice Plantain Flat bread w fish Chicken yasah and rice Ginger drink It was tasty and savory.

First visit to this place to celebrate my nephew. He had the curry chicken and rice with a beef pie. I enjoyed the veggie pie with jollof couscous and oxtail soup. We were the first to be seated and Mr. Hatib made it feel like a private luncheon until a couple of people arrived to pickup takeout orders. Love the Afro-Caribbean music. The atmosphere was relaxing and the artwork above our table was captivating.

On a visit to DC, we decided to try Mansa Kunda. I'm so glad we did! Food/drinks: Everything we ate was tasty, with very generous portions that could easily be shared between 2 people. Solid thiebu djen (benechin, or Senegal and Gambia's national dish); it was delicious, authentic, and gluten and dairy free with no modifications! An order of plantains was a whole plantain. Bissap and ginger juice topped off our meal. Yum all around! Next time I might need to save room for their very good looking cakes... Service: I typically don't go to African restaurants for the service experience. I enjoyed interacting with the main person (I wish we'd exchanged names), who is from Gambia; he was friendly, helpful, and patient. We did need to flag someone for the check. Ambiance: Cute! The chairs repurposed talking drums. Each table was similar but unique. I enjoyed the atmosphere. Tip: Be prepared for long wait times. I was there with friends and felt like the food was worth it!

I would say 2.5, so those like me who have much much more sophisticated West African palete if you will, the rating will be low. I did order their sandwich which was useless, i ordered their Akara fritters was not good. I ordered jollof to go, not bad at all. Now at the restauraunt it comes smothered with their stew, not a personal preference since that can tend to overwhelm the dish. Jollof in on itself is stew based. Pinneapple ginger drink was not good as well. Glad i swung by, not sure a repeat is in my future.

The drum chair and stools are unique and remarkable. I had the fish pie which was very tasty and flaky. I also ordered the afra with chicken. Unfortunately, I was served couscous instead of potatoes which are listed on the menu. The chicken was DELICIOUS! They weren't serving alcohol during my visit, but we had a great time. The patio space is really nice.

Mansa Kunda was highlighted on TV. So, I went to check out. The African decor, atmosphere, and character of Mansa Kunda segue into a wonderful culinary delight. The Ebbeh stew, "Hmm delicious." Jollof Rice- "yummy." Ginger Hibiscus drink- "WOW." And, to finish such a tasty meal, the desserts: Blueberry Hibiscus Bread Pudding and Coconut Flake cake- "absolutely favorable, moist, and delicious." Service was customer focus!

The food here is good. I am very familiar with this type of cuisine and it meets standards, absolutely! There's a small parking lot directly behind and besides the restaurant, and the portions are VERY filling. We started off with fish/meat/shrimp pies for the table and the sorrel/ginger juices were good!

The first time I was taken to eat here the owner was not the nicest. Subsequent times he got friendlier. The potatoe soup is wonderful and also the salad I had was very tasty. The meat pies are a little on the dry side. The jello rice is a bit strange but my counterparts love it.

Flavorful food and attentive service. The decor is beautiful. I visited on a slow/quiet evening and enjoyed having Ali's quick service. The jollof and fish was not spicy but thr flavor was bold and very tasty. The veggies were tender and could've been its own meal with the onions and sauce. I look forward to trying their vegetarian options. I've fallen in love with Hibiscus Cake. It wasn't overly sweet and the hibiscus flavor wasn't tart - it was a cool, moist slice of perfection. I want to say the buttercrean was made from scratch but I'm not sure. Either was it was delicious and I'd go back for just the slice alone. It was clear that this is a neighborhood favorite as a few regulars dropped in to pick up ginger juice and food while chatting with Ali. This is a cool place for a solo dining session or groups.

My rating = 58 (food 35/75, ambiance 9/10, service 14/15). Lisa's rating = 50. Family-owned place serving west African comfort food in a smartly decorated spot in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Food was unspectacular (could have been spicier - at least except for the red chili sauce), but the hosts were warm and welcoming. We ordered: 1. Akara fritters - black-eyed pea fritters with green chili sauce (tasted like hush puppies, honestly) 2. Benachin - tender beef short rib* with whole carrot, okra, cassava, cabbage and eggplant. Served with jollof rice* (spiced and cooked in tomato sauce) and red chili sauce (very hot!). 3. Peanut butter chu (with chicken) - tomato-based stew with peanut butter, carrots, cabbage, other vegetables Plus, our hosts gave us a complimentary raspberry caramel bar for our "patience" (not sure why, the service was great). Note: their liquor license is still expired, if that's important to you. * = favorite

Wow this restaurant was an amazing find. Super flavorful food with lots of menu options. The restaurant is also beautifully decorated. We came for lunch and will definitely have to come by again for breakfast or dinner. Make sure you try the beignets- they are fantastic

A household favorite for delivery. Herculean proportions. I love: - Jollof rice - I don't know how they infuse so much flavor! It comes with your choice of protein: I love the chicken. - ginger juice - it's very concentrated and puckers up your lips - hibiscus cake - colorful and indulgent

My friend and I came here after our shift in the middle of the day for our "second lunch". I can say that this food was incredible. It looks like small amounts but I swear you just kept digging the spoons into the bowls and it was never ending! It was spiceful but not spicy! I requested their spicy sauce and added that on my own and it was perfect! You don't have to add too much because it packs a punch! The owner was also hilarious! I'm excited to come back.

Absolutely delicious! Almost everything I've tried has been 5/5 with only one single exception. It's difficult not to keep coming back. There is so much to try. Make sure you go directly to the menu on their website, because a lot of the "menu websites" don't have all of the items.

The seating area was gorgeous... very culturally appropriate. The bar was stocked!! The people that worked there were very nice. I'm not sure whether the gentleman at the bar was the owner or not, but he was very knowledgeable and helpful with food recommendations. I got the Shito flatbread pizza with beef and it was spicy and delicious. The jollof and fish presentation was A1. And... they have dessert too!!! I would definitely recommend this establishment.

I can't say enough good things about this place. Everything I have ever eaten here has been delicious, and the cakes are transcendent, but it isn't just the menu that keeps me coming back. So much thought and love has been put into the presentation and ambiance of this place. The owner is very warm and social and makes you feel like a guest, not just a customer. This restaurant has the potential to become a keystone neighborhood hub. Check it out!

My friend suggested we try this West African restaurant in their neighborhood of Takoma Park. Being a Monday night, there were few customers - the decor was beautiful and innovative, the waitress a little subdued in nature, the menu inviting. My friend ordered the whole croaker fish. I was tempted to order the Oxtail but it didn't really come with much, and as I was craving variety, I ordered the Chu - the Traditional Sene-Gambian tomato-based stew with spiced vegetables and served with couscous pilaf - my choice along with some beef. I was a little startled when I quickly chomped on the piece of carrot finding it almost ice cold. The waitress seemed surprised when I asked her to get my dish heated. Back with the dish, now warm, I ate the only other vegetable - a small potato which was nice. The rest of the dish was tasty - the beef cubes in sauce along with the couscous. Only I missed the vegetables I had so wanted. Next time I am going to order an appetizer - just to give the total experience more variety.  See you-all soon. I noticed that this account is "unclaimed" giving me the feeling that the owner does not care.

We Went there for dinner on a Saturday evening. Food was excellent, the gentleman in charge had great customer service skills , however the waitress almost made us leave. She was abrupt, didn't want to answer any menu questions . Her customer service skills were bad. We stayed because we figured we should give them a try and not leave because of the waitresses' awful attitude / customer service. In my opinion the waitress needs customer service training .

Terrible customer service. I ordered the jollof rice with chicken and the chicken tasted horrible/old. I asked manager to switch out food for something else on their menu and they did not want to, even gave a little attitude. So I will not be back and I do not recommend this spot at all. If I could give zero stars, I definitely would. This place needs to go and make space for another restaurant that will have great food and great customer service. I am looking forward to KOMA opening soon.

We enjoyed a catered lunch from Mansa Kunda at my company today. The owner delivered the food and couldn't have been nicer! He explained all the dishes to us and his pride was evident when talking about what he chose for us. The vegetarian options were flavorful, filling, and not boring and that is always appreciated. Can't wait to try them again!

Delicious food, and the owner is vegetarian and made it so easy to order for a diverse group. High recommend.

This evening, I had a chance to have dinner at Mansa Kunda Restaurant, a lovely Gambian restaurant, and I really enjoyed the experience. I never knew it existed, but after googling African restaurants in Maryland this came up. It was on my route home, so I decided to stop by. It's located in a cute little neighborhood in Takoma Park. As soon as I approached the restaurant, I noticed how well decorated it was and how lovely it looked with traditional African pieces and art. The furniture was common pieces redesigned as seating and tables. Very creative!!! There were not many people inside; however, as I walked in shortly after someone came to sit at the bar and another person came in to order takeout. I was immediately greeted as I walked in and was attended to throughout the evening. Also, I noticed how all of the patrons were given attention. I decided to order the Akara Fritters as an appetizer and the Curry Chicken along with couscous with the extra hot sauce on the side...Geez, the heat definitely kicked up once I added that to my food...I started fanning myself, spicy even as an East African, I could only use it sparingly. Let me mention that the spices were perfect. That flavor was worth the heat, though. My friend came after my food was already placed on the table, and she was able to put an order in for the stew in the peanut sauce/Chu...she loved her food as well. Overall, a great experience and wonderful place... The only tip I have is to come much earlier than 8 o'clock because they do close by 9 or possibly before. We are definitely planning to go back and even plan on bringing a group. I was talking to someone and we were discussing how nice it would be for a book club meeting or even a small gathering. I'm sure they'll be happy to accommodate. Visit to enjoy some yummy Gambian dishes with clear influences of Senegal...the cultures and dishes are intertwined. How lovely to experience this in our very neighborhood or close by home.j

With indoor & outdoor seating options, this unique West African restaurant has knowledgeable and helpful staff to help you make selections. Their homemade drinks are delicious and servings generous. Save room or take home some homemade cake for dessert.

The food is on point. We had oxtail soup with a side of plantain, fish and white rice. Amazing!

My daughter did an exhaustive search for a restaurant she wanted to go to for her college graduation. This was her choice. The demeanor of every person we encountered was rude. With a bar showcasing beer and wine, we asked for a beer. We were told they lost their license. No apologies and didn't even make eye contact. Because this was a celebratory event, we all felt like the attitudes and complete lack of any semblance of customer service, we hustled to find someplace that would welcome our party. Thankfully we did and had a glorious meal elsewhere. What's the deal with this place?

Great food. Used a DoorDash discount for 50% off and had it delivered. Very tasty. I was craving African food and this will be a go to.

I visited Mansa Kunda on a Saturday night for dinner, and since we made a reservation were seated almost immediately we came. It seemed like there was about a 15 minute wait for people that showed up without reservations. One thing that immediately stood out to me was the ode to Western Africa exhibited around the restaurant, from the drum chair details, displayed sculptures and pictures, down to the food taste and quality. We started with the Akara as an appetizer, and that was so good! I had this growing up in Nigeria and can say that it was very similar in taste as to what I had back home. Next, I ordered the peanut butter chu, which came with fish, white rice, and some carrot and cabbage mixed in the peanut sauce. This dish was not only delicious, but was also quite generous with the portion size. I was also asked by my waiter if we would like a side of hot sauce and I'm glad I decided to try that because it was very hot and flavorful! I ended up asking if I could get a little more to go. Note that the hot sauce is pretty hot, so I would advice to only try it in small portions. The one thing that could have been better was the wait time to be attended to by staff and have your dishes be served. I thought it could have been more efficient if 1 or 2 more waiters were also working on a busy Saturday night. Other than that, it was so amazing. After our meals the staff stopped by to chat with us a little and made sure we were satisfied with the food. This is a great place to stop by for lunch or dinner, alone or with friends!

Delicious food, great service and cheerful ambiance! We have eaten here twice and enjoyed the Jollof rice, beignets, and had both chicken and fish dishes. Highly recommend trying this place- great corner location and lots of light.

Beautiful decor. The Akara fritters were supposed to be made of black eyed peas but I couldn't taste them. They were still delicious. They come with a habanero dipping sauce that was not too spicy; I think it was mostly onions. I had the jollof rice with tofu. The tofu was a little too salty for me but flavorful. The jollof rice was incredible. The only issue is that the cute chairs made of drums were uncomfortable after a while. I look forward to trying the fufu and sitting outside next time.

Very good. I called for a question about my Yassa. Ali was very nice. Thank you. I will order again. Bissap was amazing. Merci Beaucoup mon frère

The food is amazing and really unique. Lots of vegetarian options as well. The service is really great, too, and they're dog friendly outside. Pretty and welcoming atmosphere.

I thoroughly enjoyed this place. I was a little caught off guard by the 6-car parking lot right out front, but I didn't realize there were more spaces on the side of the building. Anyways, the chairs for this place are African drums!!!! Both the low and high chairs, I was so excited!! As if the music isn't enough, playing these things really gets the vibe for the place going, I couldn't help it. Although, playing on drums where a bunch of butts sit probably isn't the best idea huh? Anyways, it was a big group of us, and lots of food was ordered. It took a pretty long time, but for the time being I'll blame it on the size of the group. And just to be clear, it was the main courses that took a while, the plantain and meat pies were quick (and both quite delicious!). The main dish that I ordered (and shared with everyone) was the peanut chicken & couscous. It was amazing --- I just wish there was more 'peanut' to go with all the chicken... that sauce was really really good. I tried several other dishes which names I cannot remember, so I'll fast forward to the desserts... I got to sample some yummy cakes, and I think the coconut one might've been my favorite. They were all really good. It's a bit far out for me, but I hope to come back to this place eventually.

Very disappointed. Got the oxtail stew for $20 and I got two cubes of beef and two oxtail with hardly no meat that was incredibly tough. In what tasted like canned tomato sauce. Please don't serve that to anyone else like that. Tasted thrown together. I really want my $20 back

Go ahead and call your uber now, it's worth it. THIS FOOD IS AMAZING! This was the best meal I've had in DC in months. The restaurant is tucked away on a tree lined street in Takoma park and has a respectable patio. The restaurant has a stylish and proudly African interior that I'm all the way here for. We came for brunch and were a little skeptical since the restaurant was almost empty, but we are so happy we stayed. I was overwhelmed by all the options, rarely can I order almost everything on the menu as a vegetarian. I settled on the jollof rice with tofu and my friend got the chicken/eggs/pancakes. The mimosas were $4.50 each which was amazing. When the jollof rice came it was way way way better than what I ate when I was working on Abuja. It was so flavorful and perfectly seasoned with perfectly cooked rice. And don't get me started on the vegetable stew that came with it. Wow, I've never been so blissed out while eating potatoes and carrots. The portions were hearty and I ended up taking it home to eat for dinner again the next day. I'm trekking out to Takoma again next week to try something else on the menu. This food was too good.

Love this new spot in Takoma Park! I was meeting a group of nine or so for dinner, but decided to come in a bit earlier to grab some wine during happy hour, get parking, etc...There isn't much parking by the way, but luckily I found a spot to the side of the restaurant. It is easy to miss this place if you're not paying attention. Soon as I entered, I was immediately impressed by the layout and decor! Very modern and chic (drums for chairs - love this). It wasn't super crowded at the time, but I grabbed a seat at the bar and was greeted right away. There were a few patrons dining outside (until the rain started). I inquired about happy hour specials. They offer some select wine and beer options and some appetizers. I just did some wine while I waited for my group. I chatted with the bartender and I asked about the meaning of the name, "Mansa Kunda" and he told me that it means "kingdom." My group arrived and we got seated. Since I was there early, I had time to peruse the menu. We started off with some appetizers (meat pies and plantains). There is also a house made hot sauce that's very very hot (and I like spicy so be careful). The pies were very filling and tasty - reminded me of empanadas. We all picked something different off the menu and we shared our dishes. My entree choice was the yassa (with chicken) and rice. I tried a little bit of everything and I enjoyed it all (the jollof rice, the couscous, curry, peanut butter chu...I could go on). I'll say the oxtail was a bit on the sweet side for me, but still very delicious. Some folks in our group heard about the dessert here and as much as I'm not into sweets, something told me I needed to save room. Boy am I glad I did! We had samples of the different desserts and the hibiscus cake was the favorite. I would literally come back here just for that! Everyone in our group enjoyed ourselves and our meals and needed to go boxes at the end! Service was excellent and I texted a few friends right away to brag about a new place they would love. Please check out this local new hot spot right in the heart of Takoma Park!

I hope the next trend in DC food will be African, because we don't have much (outside of our robust Ethiopian food scene). This West African restaurant popped up outside the city in an anonymous and relatively inaccessible shopping center. It's worth the trip though. They have an impressively decorated interior, and an expansive menu with ample vegetarian options. When arrived during the weekend brunch hour, they oddly offered a different breakfast menu with frankly rather boring food that I could order at lots of restaurants, but they also offered me the more appropriate lunch menu, and I sampled a peanut-based stew. They offer these things with paneer or tofu to suit your dietary needs. It was tasty. The portion size wasn't huge-even given how caloric paneer is I could have done with more than a couple of pieces of okra. But it certainly was different from the paneer curries one gets at Indian restaurants. I'd certainly like to return and venture through the full dinner menu

I had an amazing lunch experience here today. First, it was extremely clean and still following COVID protocols. Nice decor. Second, the owner sat me right away and graciously answered all my questions. He is so friendly and makes the experience even better. Of course the food is the best part! The benachin was absolutely delicious. SO flavorful. Every bite was memorable. It is pricey, but very filling. I have enough leftovers for a second meal. They don't skimp on any items. When you think of it like that, it's definitely worth the cost. They also have cakes by the slice that look amazing. I'll be back to try the bissap cake soon. Convenient parking. Free in the small lot out front.

Mansa Kunda certainly exceeded my expectations. The food is insanely flavorful and generously portioned. My boyfriend and I ordered the Jollof Rice with Beef and Chicken Yassa. Everything from the rice, vegetables, and sauce was extremely savory and well prepared. They both had their unique tastes and slight spice to give it a little kick. The chicken was tender as well! We loved how well everything tied together, although everything was flavorful, it was balanced enough to not be overwhelming. I passed by the kitchen and it was impressive how clean, transparent, and clearly detail-oriented the chefs were at preparing each dish. The interior of the restaurant is beautifully decorated to say the least. It was definitely all the small details that pulled together to make an enjoyable ambience. The bar stools and chairs were made of African drums. The artwork, candles, and bar tied really well together to create a cozy and culturally immersive ambience. Service was super quick, friendly and attentive. Despite arriving at 10:30 PM while they were trying to close, our waitress still showed us great service and hospitality.

This place has been one of my bookmarked places to try for a while now! And it did not disappoint. From the outside, the place looked unassuming, like a hole in the wall - but you walk in and are pleasantly surprised. The decor is absolutely beautiful. I ordered the yassa with chicken. The sauce was flavorful without being too spicy and tasted great with the rice. My husband ordered vegetable soup and some fish. He also thoroughly enjoyed his meal. The service was great and the staff was very friendly. We will definitely be back!

West African goodness; my first time trying this type of regional cuisine, and it did not disappoint. Worth a visit, especially for the hibiscus cake.

When it comes to African cuisine in the dc area a majority of restaurants are Ethiopian (which I love!) but it's nice to have other parts of Africa represented in the food scene as well. I tried it out with my Senegalese friend this past Friday evening and the experience was wonderful! We got to the restaurant just after 6pm and it wasn't crowded. Maybe 10 people max. We decided to sit at the bar which is pretty long and spacious. The bartender Ali was very friendly and we struck up a conversation with him while he put in our orders for drinks and dinner. The bar has a variety or wine and liquor but I ended up just ordering two glasses of the Silver Myn Cabernet Franc Rose, from South Africa which I really enjoyed. For dinner I ordered the Chu which is a " traditional Sene-Gambian tomato-based stew with spiced vegetables. Served with steamed rice or couscous pilaf". It comes with a choice of beef, chicken, or fish. I just went with the fish and white rice. The portions are a nice and hefty (which I love). I couldn't believe I finished my plate. It was sooo good! So full of flavor. Now, if you like you're food really spicy or hot then you'll have to ask for pepper sauce on the side which we did to give it that extra kick. My friend and I ended by staying there till almost 10 o'clock! The ambiance was so nice and welcoming. As the night went on it started to pack up but it was still spacious because the seating area is fairly large. I also have to mention the decor. It is superb. The chairs are my favorite! They are made out of drums. You can even practice your drumming skills as some people did, including myself :). My friend and I were able to sit on them for over 3hrs and we were fine but if you are some one that like some cushion then sitting at the tables with the padded bench would be better for you. Overall, great experience and I would definitely go again

What pleasing, unusual flavors! The food is consistently fabulous and the Gambian brothers who run Mansa Kunda are wonderful. This is Takoma Park's best restaurant!

What a wonderful restaurant! I had fried plantains and the peanut chu. Delicious! The owner/cook is very knowledgeable and interesting. Highly recommend.

glad we stopped here, very unique food compared to what i've tried. The peanut butter chu was very good and i will definitely be coming back

One of my favorite places in the dmv! I especially love their coconut cake. I order a slice every few months when I want something sweet, and I recently bought the round 12-inch version of it for my birthday party. I was very pleased with it! It felt very big-- you get a lot for the price. The man on the phone was also incredibly accommodating and nice when it came to scheduling. Overall: great people, and great flavors!