Chishuru
West African restaurant · Fitzrovia ·
Modern West African cuisine with bold spices and sauces
Modern West African cuisine with bold spices and sauces
"Chishuru's home is right in the thick of things near Oxford Street, but this modern West African spot is as transportive as London restaurants come. Its cosy two-floor space is all terracotta tones with a set dinner menu featuring spices and sauces you’ll want to mainline. Kick off with a spiced okra martini or a suya and smoke mezcal creation, before settling in for a night of all-round sensational stuff. If love hasn’t already bloomed around the table, just wait until you try the ayamase." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley
"Joké Bakare’s small, two-story central London venue is no secret to anyone interested in restaurants: The chef’s modern recreations of classic dishes from Nigeria and the broader West African region have earned recognition from across the globe, including from the Michelin guide, which awarded Chishuru a star. As well as the chef’s immense presence, inventiveness, and ability to convey her love of food, the brilliance of Chishuru’s menu is rooted in age-old practices of fermentation, which lend many of the dishes a deep and lasting umami. It’s there in dishes like beef sirloin and dawadawa short rib with Tokyo turnip and a bitter leaf sauce, as well as grilled guinea fowl breast with celeriac cake, jalapeño, and egusi sauce. Must-try dishes: Be sure to try Bakare’s jollof rice, and leave room for dessert." - Adam Coghlan
"A relaxed, 'modern West African' restaurant in Fitzrovia from self-taught chef Adejoké 'Joké' Bakare, the UK's first black female chef to earn a MICHELIN Star. Influences span West Africa, and with 'probably 75%' of diners new to the cuisine, the team happily explains ingredients like uda (a smoky-flavoured spice), uziza (West African black pepper), grains of paradise, and sinasir (a fermented rice pancake). An open kitchen lets Joké keep a connection with guests, and the largely fixed set menu—definitely not a 'tasting menu'—removes friction by taking care of starters so the only choice is the main; even drinks follow suit with a 'wine flight' rather than a pairing to avoid any fine-dining pretence. The name means 'the silence that descends when you're enjoying a meal', regulars have followed from Brixton and new ones are appearing around Marylebone, and visitors from New York often say there's nothing like it back home. Expect exciting, interesting dishes that pack a flavoursome punch and the skilled judgement that has Inspectors and diners eager for what comes next." - The MICHELIN Guide UK Editorial Team
"After relocating from Brixton, Chishuru's new home is right in the thick of things in Fitzrovia, and the modern West African restaurant is simply thrilling. Its two-floor spot is spacious and cosy all at once, with terracotta tones and a changing tasting menu featuring spices and sauces you’ll want to mainline. When we visited, moi moi with duck liver and a sour, pungent duck egg sauce stood out." - sinead cranna, rianne shlebak, heidi lauth beasley, jake missing
"Oxford Street is somewhere every first-time tourist will inevitably end up (and sure, the lights are pretty come Christmas). However, there’s a real reason to navigate the crowds here: Chishuru. Off the main drag, it’s brimming with life, West African flavours, and genuine verve. The terracotta tones are warm, the spicy okra martinis lethal, and the peppersoup broth is the drinkable kick up the arse that everyone needs. London is blessed with plenty of West African spots, but none of them are like Chishuru." - jake missing, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, heidi lauth beasley