Radio Kwara
West African restaurant · Clinton Hill ·
Bread ati obe, goat pepper soup, charred octopus suya, pounded yam
Bread ati obe, goat pepper soup, charred octopus suya, pounded yam
"On a Wednesday night, the music flowing out of this tiny Nigerian restaurant on Greene Ave. might inspire you to grab a bottle of red from the wine shop next door and waltz on in. From the people behind Dept. of Culture, a Nigerian restaurant with an always-booked tasting menu, Radio Kwara is a more accessible and affordable (but just as delicious) alternative. Here, servers pour spicy broth onto tender chunks of goat tableside, and friends share the butter-soaked bread ati obe with marinated mushrooms, and charred octopus suya." - willa moore, bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, will hartman, tiffany yannetta, neha talreja
"From Dept. Of Culture—one of our favorite West African restaurants where storytelling and humor punctuate dinner—Radio Kwara is a marginally larger, but still tiny, spot in Clinton Hill. The food is inspired by Nigerian drinking parlors, chef Ayo Balogun’s childhood, and regional cuisines from his home country. The dishes are deeply layered with flavor and the goat pepper soup is a must-try dish. Radio Kwara is open Wednesday through Sunday for a la carte dining, and they do a 10-course tasting menu once every two weeks. You can also BYOB." - neha talreja, will hartman, bryan kim, willa moore
"When Eater named Dept of Culture its best new restaurant of 2022, there was one major concession: It was impossible to get into. Earlier this year, the team corrected course with Radio Kwara, a walk-in restaurant that’s every bit as satisfying. The a la carte menu has goat pepper soup with noodles, a standout mushroom toast, and roasted guinea fowl. BYOB." - Luke Fortney, Eater Staff
"With so much coverage of Dept of Culture, and two years of James Beard nominations, it’s surprising Radio Kwara hasn’t blown up. It’s as good as Dept of Culture and unlike that restaurant, you can get in easily. The format is different: Most days the menu is a la carte, with dishes like goat pepper soup and Nigerian agege bread. The tiny restaurant plays great music, and it’s BYOB with no corkage fee, so stop by next-door Radicle Wine on your way in." - Luke Fortney, Emma Orlow
"I’ve been surprised Radio Kwara hasn’t blown up — it’s as good as Dept of Culture but easier to get into; the menu a la carte feels different without owner Ayo Balogun telling stories, and my favorites were the goat pepper soup ($36) with relentless spice and the Nigerian agege bread ($21) with mushrooms, which I’d happily eat as an entrée." - Eater Staff