Taste Of West Africa

I had a great time at Taste of West Africa. I visited on a particularly busy night, and unfortunately there weren’t enough servers, so we waited over an hour just for a glass of water. Despite the delay, the food was delicious and the wait staff were pleasant and welcoming. The vibe was awesome. I would definitely come back again—just on a less busy night.

I had an amazing first experience at T.O.W.A! The food was absolutely delicious — the egusi, fufu, chicken, and veggies were all cooked perfectly and full of flavor. Everything tasted warm, comforting, and truly like home. I also want to give a special shoutout to Giuliano. His customer service was outstanding! He answered all of our questions with patience, kindness, and real knowledge about the dishes. He made us feel welcomed and taken care of from the moment we walked in. I’ll definitely be returning, and I highly recommend this place to anyone wanting authentic West African food and great service.

We visited today and Taste of Africa is an absolute gem! Every dish was packed with rich, bold flavor, and we could truly taste the love in the food. The atmosphere was so welcoming, our waitress and the staff were super sweet, attentive, and helpful. We left full, satisfied, happy, and are already planning our next visit. If you’re looking for some authentic flavor and amazing service, Taste of Africa is the place!

Its a really pretty place with a cozy REAL feeling. I feels like a loved restaurant, the food is also AMAZING! the seasoned rice jolaf with talapia was to die for with plenty to take home too! The mango passionfruit juice is also delightful! Jazz my server was very nice and patient with me! 40000000/10 food would stay forever.

I really enjoyed coming to this restaurant and getting a new experience trying African food for the first time. My food was delicious! The staff were very kind, and the atmosphere is beautiful. They didn’t have one of the things I ordered to go with my meal, but the chef kindly offered to sub it with something else. I’d highly recommend this spot to anyone! Thank you for the great food and service.

Never disappointed, the food always tastes delicious and the service is always outstanding. Each dish is crafted with care, showcasing a perfect blend of flavors that keep patrons coming back for more. The staff is attentive without being intrusive, ensuring that every need is met promptly. It's a place where the ambiance complements the culinary experience, making every visit feel special. Whether it's a casual lunch or a celebratory dinner, the restaurant consistently exceeds expectations.

We had the Egusi soup (with chicken) and fufu, and what I'm calling the "stew for two" (stew mikata platter): goat and oxtails. The food was PHENOMENAL and the portions are quite large. If you like light meals, get the egusi soup/fufu. It's definitely dinner-sized (perfect size for my date, and still had leftovers). For the stew, we were given the option of a serving of each rice, or a double portion of one. We opted for both, and both were great, but the jollof rice was the stand-out. Our server (the Italian gentleman) was great. He gave us a lot of history on the building, the business, and all of the events they have there which I had no idea of. All of them sell out within a week or two of being posted. This place punches well above its weight and we'll be back. It is not cheap, but I wouldn't call it expensive due to the high quality and portion size. If you're debating driving to raleigh for some quality African food, you can save yourself from a long drive. 100% worth a visit.

The food was delicious! 😋 I love that one of the Chef’s came out to greet me and my friend. Jazz was a great waitress and made me and the birthday gyal feel well taken care of! 🤎

We stopped here for a quick lunch while driving through and what a treat! The food was excellent, service was quick and friendly, and the atmosphere is great! I'll definitely come back next time I'm passing through the area. I'm already dreaming about the hot sauce, it was seriously so good. Highly recommend!!

If you're ever in Fayetteville, NC, and your taste buds are craving a first-class ticket to West Africa--don't walk, two-step your way into "Taste of West Africa." From the moment you step in, it feels like stepping into your cousin's house... if your cousin were a world-class chef with art dealer friends and a killer playlist. The Ambience: Think warm lighting, beautiful African art adorning every wall like a gallery curated with soul, and music that hums in the background just loud enough to make your head nod--but not enough to drown out good conversation. It's the kind of spot where your spirit can relax and your appetite can gear up for greatness. The People: The staff? Like long-lost family--the kind you're happy to see. Friendly, welcoming, and proud to share not just food, but culture. The Food: The jollof rice? A dish worthy of a passport stamp. Rich, spiced just right, and unapologetically authentic. One bite and you're ready to argue on behalf of West African supremacy in the rice game. The Drink: And then... there's "The Ember Whisper" --a smoked old fashioned crowned with a cinnamon stick that crackles like it knows secrets. It's bold, smoky, and smooth--like jazz after dark. One sip, and it'll have you believing in second chances, late-night conversations, and slow sips that turn into long stories. --- If you walk out of there still hungry--it's your own fault. This spot feeds the belly, the eyes, and the soul.

I took my family here excited to sit down and enjoy a real West African meal together. Instead, we ended up waiting almost two full hours (1 hr 45 mins) before anything was ready. That's not a dinner that's an ordeal. In the end, I had to ask them to just make it to-go because my family couldn't wait any longer. When the food finally came, it didn't make up for the wait. The flavors were flat and nothing stood out. Honestly, for the time and money, it was really disappointing. This place is not cheap, and with the higher price point, the service should have been much better. Expensive food should always come with attentive, respectful customer service here, it was the opposite. What made it worse was the service itself. No updates, no apology, no effort to make the wait easier. It felt like our table just didn't matter. I wanted to support this spot, but between the endless wait, the subpar food, and the terrible customer service, I left feeling frustrated and let down. Dining out with family should be enjoyable. This was the opposite. .

This place was closed during the peak Covid era when I lived around here. Probably a good time to get your renovations in. What they've done with the space is quite pleasant with a lot of art on display. The first dish I tried to order, a Ghanaian red red, was not available. I settled on some sautéed spinach and did get the option for Black Eyed Peas and rice. It came with a few chunks of as soy product you usually see in India called Nutrella. It was an interesting warm spice mix. My mango passionfruit juice was a bit small but did bring a desirable tropical flavor. There is not a ton of West African cuisine available in the US but if there is one place, I've lived that needed a restaurant like this, it is Fayetteville, as I knew many Nigerians and Ghanaians here. I'm glad I finally got to try it after all these years.

GAGGG ITTTT ! The ambiance was amazing and amazing food, the flavor was so rich and the service was amazing.

We took a group here from our church June, 2024. Street parking is free after 7p I believe. (Double check that!) We had a nice table in the back. Great for small or large groups. The wait team was proficient and knew the menu. This is a must when trying new food! Everyone ordered a little different stuff, and everyone was very pleased with their meals. I had the Peanut Butter Soup, with Chicken, and FuFu. It was excellent, the flavors were so deep, and the chicken was tender. The flavor of the FuFu was very mild and fresh, which was a great addition to the richness of the soup. Prices are a little high, but to me was worth it. Anytime there is enough leftovers for another meal... Did I pay for 1 or 2 meals? My point is passively made. Happy eating at Taste of West Africa!

The food was excellent. It reminded me of my visit to West Africa some years ago and the food brought me all the way back to my visit 20 years ago The serving size was impressive , the ambience of the restaurant was very authentic

I had the pepper soup with rice and goat. The food was absolutely delicious, a little on the expensive side though. The service was quick and attentive, even though it was a busy karaoke night. I'm looking forward to returning to try more of their offerings!

Food and atmosphere was great. A nice downtown restaurant in Fayetteville located among the shops. Oxtails were tender and delicious. Service was friendly and accommodating. Definitely going back for more!

The service here is so fantastic, the bartender Giuliano was kind inviting and so helpful. The owner and cook Izabella brought out samples of a couple of different things. The food was really great. I was in town on business and went here because it was highly recommended. Taste of west Africa didn't disappoint. The food was great the service amazing and the restaurant was spacious, clean and had good ambiance.

Chef's kiss to the Stewed entree with jollof rice and plantains. I had it with oxtails and it was heaven. The waitstaff was attentive and pleasant.

The food was excellent so is the service, I really felt like I took the airplane back to home

I will not go here again. I visited this restaurant today May 31 25 for the first time. Food was great, however the server brought my receipt and overcharged me for my meal and my drink. I informed her the charges were incorrect according to the menu, she immediately responded to me raising her voice to tell me the prices have increased it's not her fault that their new menus have not arrived. I informed her I am only paying price listed on the menu I was given since they failed to inform me before and during ordering of the alleged changes. She reprinted the receipt and still pushed to overcharge me. I will NEVER visit again and will be taking my complaint a bit further so no one else experiences this.

Food was amazing. Service was great we loved every second of our experience here! Highly recommend to anyone wanting west African food! Thank you for the delicious meal and great service!

So......I was "back at Bragg" and was looking forward to some good African cuisine. Back in 2014 there was a restaurant with almost a similar name and the food was outstanding. I found this spot on Yelp and it did not disappoint. The young lady at the counter patiently explained the menu and I decided on the Jollof rice with chicken, plantains and mixed veggies. The rice was flavorful and just hit the spot. The chicken was tender, flavorful and cooked just right. The plantains were good and so were the vegetables. The service was outstanding and I have rarely come across a restaurant that genuinely cared about their customers. It almost felt like I was getting home food. Next time I gotta try the oxtail and the goat.

Got the ballot rice with beef and it was incredible. Service is kinda slow because they are busy, but the food is great. They're in the Volta Space (yellow facade). I'll be coming back!!

Taste of food was good but not worth the price. Just got rice and meat for $50. No other items on the plate. For 3 of us to eat was 100 bucks that's insane

First time trying African food so I didnt really know what to order. I decided on the stew beef with jolof rice and it was delicious and flavorful. Only wish the temperature of the rice came out a little warmer but overall food was good. Service was friendly. I plan on coming back.

The food was on point!!! Seasoned well and cooked to perfection!! The staff were all incredible!! I can't wait to go back and try more!!

My friends and I went here and the food is absolutely amazing, just some things didn't have much flavor (i.e. the soup). The service did take awhile even though we were 1/3 people inside. If you're wanting to try fufu, by all means go here, it's just one of those places you go once and not again. It was very awkward with how we were interacted with and we were walked through the entire menu for about 30 minutes. Pricing is just contingent on how you go about eating out. If you can't fork up $30 a person, then this isn't the place for you.

Food? AMAZING! Drinks? GREAT ! Vibe? PERFECTION! First date night in a while with the hubby and we will definitely be regulars. Tummy's full spirits lifted feeling good. Thank you

Really phenomenal food to try for us and would highly recommend to anyone. It was very high quality food and service. The staff and owner were all really lovely and friendly! The ambiance was expected for a Sunday and the staff put in their best efforts to make us feel comfortable.

The best food and friendliest staff!!!!! I love this place and am so happy that they are back open. Mrs. Isabella and her mother are so lovely and I am so happy for them. Their restaurant is spacious and they have done a wonderful job.

When you walk in the space is huge which was a little off-putting but grab a table and make yourself comfortable. We ordered the khebab (the waiter recommended goat), a spicy beef pie, and the pepper soup (highly recommend). The khebab was a few pieces of super tender goat not skewered but presented nicely on a plate. Unless you are a chili-head get the mild which was plenty hot for me. My husband loved his empanada (I would probably go with chicken and spinach). The winner was the pepper soup which came with a side of fufu (a starchy side dish). We received a very large bowl of what I would call beef stew with carrots and cabbage. So good. We have enough left over to have another dinner at home. Try fufu--it went so well with the stew. Staff was lovely--the owner?? came around a couple of times to see how we were doing. Fayetteville support this restaurant. You are lucky. We would love to have a place like it back in Durham.

The ambiance and food are both amazing 10/10 I do recommend. More people should come to enjoy these delectable flavors. I have been waiting for them to open up and it was well worth the wait. I plan to come back with friends in the near future.​

NOT enough food for the money, does not taste like authentic West African food, the fufu tasted like it was made with potatoes and not cassava. Also they charged me twice for the same order and refunded my overcharge but did not honor my request to keep a happy customer. I am a huge fan of African food and this was a complete let down. To top it off the food took FOREVER to be prepared.

My husband and I went there the other day and I was extremely impressed. The food was succulent, seasoned to perfection. Mama Brigette is so welcoming and friendly. We are from the Washington DC area and we have been spoiled with the West African cuisine. This restaurant food reminds me of authentic West African food. We ordered the egusi/fufu and it was amazing. I highly recommend this restaurant. Greg and Kim C.

Food was delicious, staff were very friendly and welcoming and the atmosphere was amazing. There is a very large and open dining area with fantastic music playing at a reasonable volume.

The food was delicious and the staff were very kind and friendly. The restaurant was clean and I look forward to eating there again.

Fayetteville has a large variety of food options available, but I haven't spent much time checking out the downtown food. It's a small downtown area, but my boyfriend found this place to try. The food looked great online, but the prices, not so much. When I checked in on Yelp, I was prompted with a 15% off discount and felt more willing to give this place a try. However, when I showed the waiter, he said they don't honor the Yelp discount. He informed me that many places downtown have a similar Yelp deal and do not honor it either, and that the restaurant had tried to inform Yelp to take down the discount. I was so disappointed, especially because the discount was the final push I needed in deciding to try this place over another place. We ordered the Chicken Meat Pie (Empanada) and discovered that it's $5 for only ONE pastry! Crazy! We were expecting at least 2 for that price! The chicken was savory and delicious, and the pastry was perfectly cooked, but that thing was gone in seconds. At the very least, if I'm going to be charged that price, then the empanada should be gigantic or beautifully presented on the dish! It was just one golden empanada sliding around on an over-sized oval dish. We shared the Goat and Oxtail Mikata Platter that was served with Jollof (long grain rice cooked with spices), Waakye (long grain rice cooked with black-eyed peas), baby carrots, broccoli, green bell peppers, and plantains for $24.99. The meat was so tender, especially the oxtail, which fell right off the bone! This dish is good for sharing between two people. Both the Empanada and Mikata Platter had a curry smell and taste to them, and I loved the flavors of both. The decor was very earthy. The waiter was nice, though he often repeated himself one too many times like a broken record, and it was hard not to interrupt him sometimes because it seemed like he constantly spoke in run-on sentences. I am a fan of the food, but not of the prices.

If I could give this place 3.5 stars I would. I have mixed feelings as I went into this with high expectations with all the reviews I have read. However, I was disappointed. The staff was nice and I had no issues with the customer service. I ordered the Jallof rice with stewed oxtails. My husband ordered the Jallof rice with the goat. I can say, the rice was cooked perfectly. I feel like the oxtails were bland and lacking flavor. The goat was tough to me but had more flavor. My husband ordered the beef kabob appetizer which I was not impressed with. Small portions in general for the price. My biggest critique is not having a lunch option on their menu. We spent $50 on lunch.

This was my first time eating African food. I had the oxtails with rice and the meat was so tender and flavorful. The service was okay but for the most part waitstaff were attentive. I like that you could sit outside and the location is very nice area downtown. Decor could be better but in my opinion the food made up for it. I will definitely be going back and recommend this place for someone who loves comfort food and would like to try something different.

I feel terrible 2nd year in a row & your restaurant is closed. We left Maine to reach you by Sunday & it turns out your closed. Major sadness, I was looking forward to your peanut soup, goat & meat pie. We'll try again in April.

If I could give it a 2.5 I would. But it's not good enough for a 3! The mango drink was good. It was served warm with ice put in. I wish it was cold all the way through. The beef itself was very good and tender. The rice was a bit dry. My husband got the goat and oxtail. Very strong tasting so I wouldn't suggest getting it unless you know that you like that type of meat. Out server was not very conversational and seemed like he would rather be somewhere else. Also the prices seem very high! Cool atmosphere though!

Closed and it looked like it was nowhere near "coming soon" either. Please adjust the info if you are moving or temporarily closed (both yelp and google map). We drove a long way for it.

Having had the opportunity to travel to the African continent a few times, this was a delight. It is a very simple place but an experience. The owners and staff are very friendly and welcoming, much like the people of Africa. The food is very authentic and delicious. It brought back memories to have an ice cold Tusker beer. I will come back to the next time I pass through Fayetteville and recommend that if you want to try something unique and delicious...try the taste of West Africa.

I liked it and I'ma put a ring on it. Taste of West Africa: Awo's Cuisine, will you be mine? Here's a tip, skip all the fancy stuff on the menu with the exotic names and complex descriptions and just go with the basics. Basic = Best (like American Apparel). Take it from me because I've only tried that one thing from the menu, twice in 4 days, hahahaha. If I were you, I'd go with the #15, good old Jollo rice (no one care about the rice), ox-tail OBVIOUSLY, and just leave it at that. Done. Happy. It's everything you want in your mouth. Rice, yummy cooked to the bone ox-tail drenched in generous drizzles of gooey meaty sauce, and some unidentifiable cooked spinach-like veggies as the sidekick. The restaurant is owned by a family from Ghana who are friendly and chat up the patrons. I've never been to Ghana and never had West African food but if this is any indication, book me a ticket to Accra. Or maybe just to Fayetteville.

S/O and I were visiting Fayetteville for the weekend, and we were both up to trying some African food. This seemed to be the only place around the area, so we settled upon this restaurant. Upon stepping in, you could really get a sense of the culture and the warmth that the restaurant brings, it was well decorated, and the servers greeted us with enthusiasm, smiles, and overall really made us feel at home. The servers let us take our time, and took time to give us dish recommendations based on our experience with African cuisine. We first ordered the Mikata platter consisting of two types of rice: jollof and waakye served with goat and ox-tail and plantains. I would say this is enough for two, but you may need an appetizer if you or your partner in crime has a big appetite. The goat and ox-tail was so good! The spice was delicious and meat was cooked to perfection. I particularly liked the jollof, but in comparison to jollof I've had before, this was a little bit on the soggy side. My bf later ordered the chicken chili soup. He asked for spicy, but we had no idea there would be THAT much heat. It was unbearable for me (but I do have low tolerance), however he said it gave him a good kick and he really enjoyed it. The chicken was AMAZING, though. Extremely tender! Would absolutely love to come back and try more. I'm interested in their indigenous entrees part of the menu.

Fresh prepared food which comes nicely prepared and well presented. Interesting combination of soups , which when chosen spicy are still full of taste and flavor. Lot of options for vegetarians.

Good food and overall good experience. Suitable pricing for a new restaurant but I did feel a little skimped on the portion. Good choice of decor and colors. The staff was very attentive and helpful. My sister's hot pepper soup was quite hot and she requested an adjustment to the dish. The staff member adding more tomato puree but it was still spicy. I appreciate the effort.

A great surprise, friendly service and nice decor. The food was fantastic, you really taste flavors that you will not have anywhere in the area, the cox with rice taste as a plate I used to have back in South America (seco de chivo)

So legit. Stopped by on a rainy day with some friends from out of town. The restaurant is cozy, well-decorated, and the staff is very friendly. I had the goat curry and loved it. All the spices were familiar to people used to South Asian food, and the rice was cooked just right. One of my friends ordered this oxtail stew that came with a sponge-like bread thing that was fun to eat and very tasty. I regret not ordering the stew, and probably will if I find my way back again.

When are they going to open their new location?! We miss TOWA! I love trying different restaurants across multiple cultures in Fayetteville, and this was one of my favorites!

A hidden gem in Fayetteville...in a nice area. Parking right in front of the store! First time having West African food and was not disappointed. Stewed beef with jollof and sweet fried plantains (especially) was good! Mango-guava cheesecake was amazing! (Beef) meat pie (empanada) was a bit salty, didn't enjoy it.

This place is only OK at best. Very overpriced for what you get. The waiter couldn't even explain the menu correctly. Anybody that rates this up for a five I have obviously has problems with their taste buds. It's getting two stars only because I did not get sick.

I had the goat stew with spinach and sweet potatoes. The waiter did not know the menu plates as well but was very nice and helpful. The chef came out and really welcomed us and explained the food items. She gave us a spicy ginger habanero sauce. This was my first time eating west African food, so i have to try something more unique to give them 5 stars.

I believe that when you eat at a restaurant that specializes in a certain ethnic class culture or dish it should transport you to that dish of origin and believe me A Taste Of West Africa does. From the moment you step thru the doors you enjoy the fruits of their lives and their labors. The food reveals the essence of the people's souls and this soul food has been good for my soul. Pun intended.

This was my first time eating west African food and it was delicious! I highly recommended the Peanut Butter soup with veggies followed by the oxtails over one of their rice dishes. The hosts were so nice and welcoming and the chefs came out and greeted us after our meal! I was very impressed. They gave us a complimentary piece of navy bean pie that was so good! It was sweet and spiced just right. Make sure to taste some when you go.

I decided to eat here based on the Yelp reviews. There were not many people on a Wednesday night but the regulars present suggested I try the "sampler plate". The sampler plate was a little disappointing. There were a couple of pieces of two types of meat (less than an oz each). I expected more. However, my made to order okra soup with my choice of oxtail was one of the best dishes I've ever eaten! I also ordered one of three "meat patties" and decided on the chicken instead of beef or spinach. The shredded chicken was freshly seasoned and made to order as well. The service overall seemed a little rushed for the crowd due to the waiter having dual roles as the cook and cashier at times to support the evening crowd.