Suya Joint
African restaurant · Roxbury ·
Traditional West African cooking, spicy beef skewers, jollof rice
Traditional West African cooking, spicy beef skewers, jollof rice
"An award-winning West African restaurant in Nubian Square that has been a Roxbury mainstay since 2016, earning spots on local must-try lists (including Eater Boston’s 38 essential restaurants) and multiple Best of Boston awards; a Providence location opened in early 2025. The kitchen is known for jollof rice, tender beef suya skewers, and egusi stew. The operation has been thrown into crisis after the restaurant manager, Paul Dama — the brother of owner and chef Cecelia Lizotte — was detained by ICE on June 15 while on his way to church; Dama, who joined his sister in 2019 and has a pending asylum application, is being held in Stafford County (Dover, NH) with no local criminal charges on file and a hearing set for June 26. Facing the possibility of a temporary closure as the family focuses on his legal case, the restaurant and community have launched fundraising efforts (including a GoFundMe) and the restaurant is donating 20% of all jollof sales toward his legal expenses, while staff urge keeping the business open amid fears about immigration enforcement." - Tanya Edwards
"Amid Boston’s impressive African restaurant scene, Suya Joint is an exemplary dining experience in the city. Nigerian chef and owner Cecelia Lizotte oversees a menu of rich, flavor-packed West African fare, including an outstanding rendition of egusi stew, a Nigerian staple thickened with ground pumpkin seeds, and suya chicken wings coated in a subtly spicy seasoning blend. Insider tip: Try the $22 Joint Sampler, which comes with suya wings, stew, plantains, and samosas, for a great overview of the restaurant." - Erika Adams
"An acclaimed West African restaurant in Roxbury whose beef patties began appearing in the library cafe’s pastry case as part of the broader effort to rotate in local vendors and increase visibility for neighborhood restaurants." - Erika Adams
"The saucy suya wings at Suya Joint are tender, juicy, and will leave your mouth buzzing thanks to its carefully calculated spice blend. Get them alone or in one of multiple meal combinations: the Joint Sampler includes wings, samosas, moi moi (a steamed bean pudding), and a stew; or order the wings, plantains, and rice or beans. Meanwhile, the dry-rubbed version packs a punch of spice without the stickiness." - Erika Adams
"An excellent West African restaurant in Roxbury, Suya Joint is run by Cecelia Lizotte, who received her first James Beard semifinalist nod this year in the Best Chef: Northeast category." - Erika Adams
