Suya Joint Providence

I may have read significantly on the different cuisines of the world but have yet to try a good portion of them. Out of the cuisines that I’ve tried the least, Nigerian cuisines is the one that has always peaked my curiosity as it plays a significant role in the food of the South. It emphasizes bold flavors and contributed to the creation of what we know as Soul Food in the US, and shows the culinary heritage of the African Diaspora. The diversity in the country is also massive due to not only the land size but also from an insane number of different ethnic groups speaking over 500 languages. This uniquely Nigerian diversity (no other country even comes close to this) contributed to a very unique plethora of flavors and expression of food that one could only begin to comprehend through words and pictures. Comprehension as such can only come with experiencing the different cuisines first hand. So while walking along downtown Providence before heading back to Boston, I came across Suya Joint and was excited to see a traditional West African option here! They weren't opened yet at that moment so I lingered in the immediate vicinity until I had my opportunity to walk through those doors! After all, I’ve been wanting to try more Nigerian food to understand their flavors better. The moment I walked in as their doors opened, I fell in love with their decor. It was clean, artful, and representative of the culture in a unique way. What further enhanced the experience shortly after were the patrons who came in one after the other. I would overhear different tables have conversations with the server detailing their African ancestry. And by the time I was finished eating, there were at least nine African nations represented inside. As for the food, since I was still very new to this cuisine, I came with a very open mind willing to try anything and everything. Our server recommended the African dinner so I could easily sample their most popular dishes. I decided to add their unique meat to it by ordering “Orishirishi” (translates as “variety”), which included tripe and cow feet, to further enhance the experience. All I can say as the food came was this was definitely a culinary experience that finished this weekend beautifully. I’m in love with the cuisine and now want to come back and try more items on their menu. Thankfully, they have a location in Boston as well so I wouldn’t need to drive back there just for the food. The Egusi stew, which is one of their most popular items, was tonguegasmically good. My eyes rolled with each taste. It awoken my soul and made me feel alive again. The Jollof Rice here shamed every other version of it I’ve had in the past…like they were not even good enough to be called copycats. And the Orishirishi? Epically good. It was so rich, so flavorful, so GOOD that I completely plowed through it like my life depended on it. What is this madness? Where have I been my whole life? Whatever it is…I have to come back to Suya Joint again soon - either here or the one in Boston. I just have to have this food again. BEST FIND in 2026 so far! Definitely recommend a visit!

My first time in Providence for the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority conference and I had to try Suya Joint! The décor was warm, welcoming, and beautifully reflected the African-inspired theme. The food was flavorful and well-prepared , the beans had a nice little kick of spice, the sweet plantains were perfectly caramelized, and the white rice balanced everything out nicely. The stew was rich and delicious, and the presentation (complete with the little Nigerian flag!) was a thoughtful touch. A great spot for anyone craving authentic African flavors with a cozy, inviting vibe. I’ll definitely be back!

Food was delicious but quite spicy. When the server checked in and found that I was struggling with the spiciness, they took my stew to the kitchen and added tomato sauce to make it less spicy. Order "mild" if you have low tolerance for spicy food. Drinks were all delicious. They provide water bowl if you want to wash your hands and eat food with hands.

I had the pleasure of dining at Suya Joint. I had been wanting to try the viral fufu and egusi soup. This was the most highly rated place in reasonable driving distance and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT . We were greeted by the sweetest server. She was kind. And helped us find what we wanted. She gave us clear instruction on how to properly eat the entree. And was attentive despite having many other tables to tend to. The food was immaculate. The chicken and fish in the egusi soup was perfectly cooked. Crispy despite being smothered in the soup. I will be dining here and sharing this amazing experience with anyone looking for authentic African cuisine.

Super super super tasty! Tried egusi and possibly all of Nigerian food for the first time and was definitely a fan! The egusi was this delicious stew with the most divine chicken (the skin was perfectly crispy). The service was also exceptional - they were the right balance of attentive without being overbearing. They also anticipated when we would want a box at the end of the meal which just was an example of their attention to detail. While the beef suya wasn’t quite as delicious, it still was solid - think the egusi just shone so brightly.

The African Dinner and dry rub wings were INCREDIBLE. Got the meat lovers option for no extra charge and the flavors were unreal. Definitely coming back to try more of the menu.

I can’t say enough about Suya Joint Providence. Our first time visiting all the way from Dallas Texas. Mmmmm, the African Dinner (Veg Lovers) was good. The Egusi taste yummy. We also had Fried Snapper (Giwan Ruwa) it was taste amazing We chose Spicy, but you can ask for Mild also. It was just right though, not too much to burn your mouth with too much spice. You will enjoy the African dinner, it’s enough to share, it also comes with a dessert. The chocolate on chocolate was rich and soooo good. Sorry I forgot to snap picture ( I ate that later in the evening). I had the hibiscus tea it was bomb, 💣, you must try that! The decor was stunning when you walk in, art work awesome and very clean, even the bathroom was nice and clean! We noticed each table had a fact about the African culture, a nice touch. Our waitress Frieda was awesome! She answered all of my questions, was so nice and friendly. She made us feel welcome and made our first visit to Providence memorable. Thanks Frieda!

Everything was very yummy, I had the African dinner (spicy) this was the best egusi I’ve had in RI so far. The host was so sweet and had great conversation. I will definitely be back.

The sample appetizer included friend chicken wings and beef chicken. We chose a protein of beef, for the simosas, they definitely and crunchy and flavorful~ the chicken wings had a unique flavor that made them juicy and enjoyable~ I can't pinpoint what made them taste delicious but I could tell they added African spices. The sampler is a good place to try some appetizer selections. We ordered African dinner came with fufu and chicken stew, and African rice with fried plantain. We were warned the spicy sauce was dialed down for enjoyment of downtown customer base, so we ordered mild with a medium side cup of I wanted some extra kick. If this is dialed down, the authentic spice level is definitely mind numbing~ very kind of them to give a warning but also providing a side cup for tasting and trying out their spice levels~ portion size is definitely for two individuals and meant to be shared. The servers were very informative on how to eat and providing us with different manners of eating and gave us the utensils and a bowl of water. This was a great introduction to African cuisine and customs. Servers were prompt, attentive and friendly. They add gratitude and have a slip explaining their reasoning and values on fair labor pay. Their set gratitude is fair and fits the kinds of service I was provided which was excellent! This place was so clean and beautifully set up with African inspired decor. I am so interested and want to try more here in the future.

Rating: 4.3 First time trying the place for dinner. It's African restaurant located in providence which is rare. Inside is clean and spacious. We were seated immediately as the place was not busy. The staff were very nice as it was our first time they explained their menu and some recommendations. It was helpful as someone who is not familiar with African dishes. We ended up ordering joint sampler and African dinner to share so we can try out many dishes. Joint sampler came with wings, plantain and samosas. Wings were flavorful and spiced well. Samosas were fresh and hot and had a hint of curry flavor. Plantain was pretty average and i'm usually a not a huge fan. The African dinner came with Jollof rice, plantain, egusi with chicken, and guava cheese cake as desert. Jollof rice was spiced well and flavorful, fufu was interesting but was not my favorite. Egusi had good flavor maybe would have been better with other meat. Guava cheese cake was a delight. My favorite was wings, jollof rice and samosas. The service was excellent and staff members were nice. Overall the place was good. Now that i got to try some of their food I know what i like and I don't. My only gripe was that they do automatically charge 20% tip and 4% fee for using credit card. Aside from that it was a good experience.

Spent a few days in Providence with my wife and found this wonderful African restaurant for dinner one night. We had the Egusi with yucca and the whole snapper. The Egusi was quite flavorful and delicious. The snapper was perfectly cooked and served with plantains and joloff rice. It was a bit spicy but the plantains and side of slaw knocked it down. The service was amazing and the server was patient with us and walked us through the menu since we were unfamiliar. Go on an adventure and give this place a try!

I came here on a calm Thursday night and had a great experience. Tried the Egusi with spicy fish for the first time and loved it. The drinks were tasty, and the decor is chic & it has character. The servers were nice. I'll be back to try more from the menu!

Absolutely delicious traditional African food! I hadn't had jollof rice for a really long time, and I forgot how delicious it is, especially when it's done well. The chicken we had with the jollof rice was also perfectly seasoned and cooked. We also tried one of the traditional stews, which was rich in flavor with well cooked beef. Our waitress was super helpful in helping us pair a swallow with the stew we had chosen too. Service was always prompt, and they were also super helpful in teaching how to eat the stew traditionally with the swallow. I love when restaurants bring delicious food and new things to learn. We will be back soon!

When I tell you this place is a 10/10 that is no exaggeration! I went twice and the food and drinks were amazing! Let's start with the food---everything I ordered was delicious but my favorites would be the oxtail pepper soup, wet spicy suya wings and jollof rice. The flavors of all were just incredible and left me wanting more. The soup over the rice is a an absolute must---the combination of each flavor delicious was a party in my mouth. Br mindful the pepper soups have a nice little kick to them. During each visit, the service was great and the staff was helpful in explaining the dishes and offering suggestions. Such a great cultural experience I can't wait to return!

I have been very excited to visit Suya Joint! I heard they opened a second location in Providence so my partner and I headed over to try African food for the first time. We got there shortly after they opened at 4pm on a Tuesday so it was pretty quiet. The space is beautiful and open. The server was friendly but did assume we knew more about African cuisine than we do. A basic intro might be helpful to new customers - like how best do you eat the swallow with the stew? Are there certain swallows that go best with certain meals? We got some lovely drinks to start - a flavor packed ginger beer and a coconut guava martini. We also got beef samosas to start, which were delicious! The stew you get for dipping is so good! You can buy jars of it to take home at the front!! For our main courses, we got ebusi with chicken and fish and taushe with chicken. Both were very good! My favorite was the taushe. We can't wait to come back and keep exploring all the awesome food and flavors!

I made my second trip to Suya Joint on Friday night, and it didn't disappoint. I had attended the Grand Opening earlier in the month and had been thoroughly charmed by the owner and her friendly staff, as well as the samples of their delicious beef samosas with their West African Stew as a fabulous dipping sauce. The set-up of the restaurant is clean and simple, very easy on the eyes. All attendees were sent home with a generous goodie bag. I wanted to return for their Black History Month special in February and finally made it in on the last night of the month. I'm so glad I did! I thoroughly enjoyed their $20 special - chicken, Jollof rice & plantains - with a Merlot/Shiraz blend ($8). The chicken, two drumsticks in that delicious sauce, was fall off the bone. There was more Jollof rice than I could eat. Everything was perfectly spiced... not too hot but with a pleasingly warm bite. The plantains added a sweet touch to the meal. The servers remembered me and were friendly and attentive. The owner stopped by to welcome me back even though the place was jumping! Every table was full and there was a line of people waiting to be seated the entire 2 hours I was there. FYI, they add a 20% gratuity to every check, regardless of the size of the party. However, there is a card in the bill folder indicating that, so it's not a complete surprise. And I have no problem tipping 20% for the excellent service they provide

New restaurant alert! Suya Joint just opened their second location (the first is in Roxbury, MA) on Westminster Street, right next door to Grace Episcopal Church. Hubby & I went for the Grand Opening a couple of weeks ago. We met chef, owner and James Beard Foundation nominated Cecelia Lizotte. Her personality is as big & generous as the food she serves! The space is airy with great seating & a nice bar area. That evening, there was a DJ who kept the music pumping! We tried the beef samosas which are filled with generous amounts of ground beef, carrots, curry, potatoes, thyme & the right level of African spices in a light & crispy pastry. They also have veggie samosas with the same minus the beef. The West African Stew dipping sauce on the side had a nice kick. Suya Joint is running a special for Black History Month Celebration - $20 per person for dinner. Thank you Chef Cecelia for the fun evening & the goodie bag. Can't wait to go back & try out more items off the menu. Welcome to Providence!

I'm so happy that they opened a location in Providence! I stopped in to get my usual Egusi stew and fufu. It's nicely spice, but not spicy. The new space is bright and warm! Food is delicious as always. I encourage everyone to check out some savory Nigerian cuisine.

Food - great. Service - wonderful. Atmosphere - lovely. We weren't too hungry and decided to stop in to celebrate Juneteenth. Christina greeted us and was very knowledgeable about the menu. We decided to dine in. It's a great atmosphere with a beautiful mural. My only note is that they have a flashing marque in the window and it made sitting by the window not as pleasant (non window seating is just fine) Christina recommended the African Dinner with goat so we went for it. It was yummy! All of it was, but my husband was especially in love with the jollof rice. Hell probably get just that with a meat next time. The chocolate cake at the end was on the rich side, but not overpowering.

I was really excited to hear that Suya Joint had opened up in Providence. I heard that the chef at their Roxbury location was fabulous (James Beard Foundation nominated) and I was eager to try west African food. We were not disappointed. The menu was a little overwhelming but luckily I'd done some Yelp research before arriving. We all started with cocktails. I had a Shuga Daddy Daiquiri made with passionfruit and guava juice -- a bit sweet but yummy. For dinner I had the taushe stew with goat and pounded yam swallow. The stew was a creamy peanut stew with goat pieces that you ate using pieces of the pounded yam swallow (kind of like a sticky bread). Everything was wonderful and full of flavor. The atmosphere was lively and fun but quiet enough to talk and the service was friendly and efficient. Fantastic addition to the downtown Providence restaurant scene.

First time dining and enjoyed it thoroughly! Restaurant was so beautiful and our server was so nice and helpful. My mom and I split the Joint Appetizer Sampler and African dinner. It was a lot of food and excited for leftovers! The wings are 10/10, completely a unique experience in a tomato stew. The egusi stew was delicious.

We are here tonight and the food was *so good*. Split the Appetizer Combo and the African Dinner Plate. It was more food than my companion and I could eat. Wish I took pics but we were so busy enjoying our meal and drinks. Everything was delicious and uniquely flavorful. We got it spicy and it had a decent kick! The ambiance was quite nice and the servers were very friendly. Highly highly recommend.

Suya is a new Nigerian spot on Westminster Street. I picked up the jollof rice with chicken for takeout. I asked for the spice level to be mild. The rice was flavorful and delicious and the portion size was generous. Overall it was a good experience. My only suggestion would be to offer a lunch menu with affordable pricing--$25 felt a bit high for a midday meal.

My god everything I've tried so far has been delicious. I keep coming back for that amazing tofu dish they have. The fact that they have tofu makes me happy because it's hard to find vegetarian protein options a lot of times, but the fact that it's so perfectly seasoned and sliced so thin is even better. I hate giant tofu chunks. The black eyed pea stew with jollof and plantains is wonderful. The peanut stew is also delicious. I keep coming back for these dishes. I need to try the rest of the stuff on the menu. Flavorful and great place for vegetarians, pescatarians, and meat eaters alike. So happy they moved up to a brick and mortar store from 65 bath take out only. The decor and plate ware choices are also on point. Also the service is great. There's one waitress who I always see / hands me my takeout and she's wonderful.

I want to use the power of my words in this review. I'm a writer by trade. I didn't choose Suya Joint today (June 19) of all days at random. But I had not had the pleasure before, and I didn't know what I was in for, though I was excited from the get go. For context, I'm a weak ass, white Ukrainian American, more or less. Other stuff mixed in, too. I'll give the bottom line first. This was a completely transcendent experience. My only regret is that I did not dine in so that I could personally thank the chef for preparing my meal and all the other players who got it to me. I ordered the vegetable samosas for my appetizer and the Ofada-Ayamase-Designer's Stew with mixed meat for my main course. I ordered mild / a "1" stew. I am not at all exaggerating when I tell you the following: Firstly, I have never in my entire life spontaneously teared up from the heat of a meal. This is not the same as crying. It was completely physical. I could not see from the tears leaking out, through my contacts. Secondly, this was not a maybe-slow-down kind of thing. Rather, the best tears that have ever poured out of me. The fish balls in the mixed meat--and I don't know the right word and am guessing that isn't it--were a delectable surprise. Light and saucy. I'm not sure I can do the samosas justice. I ended up needing to eat them as a way to balance out the stew. I one hundred percent plan to eat here again. For as long as I'm able. I am enriched for all the people involved that I will never meet preparing and delivering this meal to me. Quick shout out to my driver, too. My domicile is notoriously hard to find / GPS dumps you at the wrong place.

For starters, this was my first time trying African food!! The staff was so kind and they were incredibly informative! They answered any questions about the food that I had as a first timer. Not to mention, the food came out quickly and was piping hot! I had the pounded yam (fufu), and the egusi stew! I succumbed to the Tiktok for you page!! lol. My expectations were exceeded. I do wish I had gotten the hot rather than spicy because it wasn't spicy enough for me personally! Additionally, the vibes in here are immaculate. It is so beautiful, the music is authentic but not overpowering, and the lighting is slightly dimmed providing great ambiance. I most definitely will be back!!

Good food and very friendly service at Suya Joint! Some of the better naija food I've had! (Not based on extensive experience - have only had it a dozen times or so and have not travelled in Nigeria) Only odd thing was it would have been nice at a place named after suya to have a suya entree option! But we would definitely go back!

This is grand opening weekend. The space is so beautiful and I can tell this is going to be the new "it" spot! The decor is warm and welcoming, and that's only matched by the lovely demeanor of the staff. Melanie is truly a ray of sunshine. Suya Joint's menu we have you craving West African food on a regular basis so get familiar with the menu.

Came here with some friends. My first time in. Really clean & comfortable environment. Staff were super friendly. Food was amazing with plenty of vegetarian options. A bit turned off by the 20% gratuity added to the tab automatically. (We were a party of 4 that each had one drink n dinner) But it won't stop me from coming back. Can't wait to try other menu options.

Food was excellent. Got the appetizer sampler and the wings were out of this world. Falling off the bone and drowned in the most delicious sauce I've ever tasted (which they actually sell in jars). Also got the African dinner, which was a nice sampler for my first visit. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes. The service was top-notch. Super friendly server who was happy to answer any questions.

I really wanna support this place but they are so inconsistent. After giving praises for how great the jollof rice and suya was last time I ordered I'm Disappointed with what I just received. They clearly gave me old stale Rice from The bottom of the pot that was very bland! You can tell the difference in color from my last order compared to now. I asked for only onions and every time They give me cucumbers and now tomatos I didn't request. Please do better and maintain the same level of consistency other successful establishments have. Food quality should remain the same even up until closing.

Excellent service and delicious food. Highly recommend this restaurant. A great introduction to African cuisine.

If you have a large group don't come here. TDLR: the service was disorganized, rude, unprofessional, and all together terrible. We came because the food was good and we left aggravated and disrespected on a day that was supposed to be for celebration. My friend called in advance to make a reservation for a large party (25) for a graduation dinner. She paid over $500 as a deposit for the dinner. They claimed that this deposit would reserve a portion of the restaurant to accommodate the group and that only those with prior reservations would be let in. Upon arrival they claimed that the deposit was not going towards the food and was for the space only, which was never discussed during the reservation. Instead of calling it a deposit they should've said reservation fee if that was the case. It also baffled me that they expected us to pay for a space when nothing was ready when we arrived. We had to arrange tables of different sizes for our group and we were squished because there were not enough chairs and seating for our group. There were not enough cups or cutlery for our group either and we had to ask for it multiple times. Then when they finally got the cups instead of placing the cups on the table they handed one of us a stack of cups for us to distribute. They were rude when discussing the deposit fiasco which ended in them honoring the deposit but took an hour to resolve. During said conversation the manager made an in appropriate comment saying "this is why they don't work with Africans" despite being an African restaurant which out a nasty taste in our mouths. We didn't think it could get worse until one of the waiters dropped the food on one of our heads, served the food so far apart that half of us got our food and finished it before the rest of us got our food, and forgot multiple of our orders (see picture). The entire team was clearly unprepared for such a large group and could not keep their composure. One waiter was very short with us, clearly showing his annoyance and exasperation and at one point he mimicked shooting himself in the head. I can understand being frustrated but express it behind closed doors or ask for a break. Despite all of this we watched as they served another large group (around 10 people) walk in after us and get their food in a timely manner before us. While our group was bigger, our group was also majority Black which that other group was not. The service made for an unpleasant experience for our graduate and instead of celebrating we were begging for basic service to have cups and proper eating utensils. I think when you pay $500 for a large group dinner you'd expect the restaurant to have the table ready, enough chairs, and preparation for the large group. If that was too hard they should have denied the large group reservation in the first place and we could have found a different place. We have photo evidence of all of this but I attached one photo.

I visited this restaurant on Saturday, March 8 while on a Women's History Month bus trip from Brooklyn, NY. I loved it. The food was delicious. Very fresh and flavorful. The decor was very tasteful. The service was excellent. I highly recommend Suya Joint.

The food was amazing and the service was lovely. The dining room was charming and even the bathroom was cute! We told the waitstaff it was our first time and she took the time to explain everything to us and could give recommendations. She was spot on! A great experience all over.

Amazing new spot in Providence! I'm a pescatarian and there were lots of options for me. I got the jollof rice with beans and plantains and it was so delicious. Being able to add fish to any vegetarian dish for free was awesome. Good food and good people! Go check it out.

Where do we even start? Coming here was such a joke, we thought we were being pranked. I'm just gonna make a list of all the things that happened, and who knows maybe someone can use it to write an SNL script. 1. THEY DROPPED A PLATE OF FOOD ON ONE OF OUR HEADS. Yes, read that again. It happened. 2. We had to move our table and seat ourselves. (YES, FIRE HAZARD STYLE SEATING). And then beg for water cups. And cutlery. 3. They charged a deposit to let us eat there. And then tried to say it was to rent the space. We sat with the regular guests. 4. They forgot to ask for some of the guests orders. We had to go up to the CASHIER to order our food. 5. Half the party finished eating before the other half had a plate in front of us. Last dish was handed out TWO HOURS after we sat down... FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THEY CLOSE. 6. One of us ordered a Malt. IT WAS LITERALLY CRACKED. Mind you... it's a bottle... all they have to do is open it and hand it over... 7. THE WAITER MIMICKED BLOWING HIS BRAINS OUT. Yeah I don't even know what else to say about that. 8. Generally, I've never seen service so bad. THEY WERE HANDING OUT THE FOOD AND DIDNT EVEN KNOW WHAT THEY WERE SERVING US. This place is a mess. Honest to God I've never seen anything like this in my life. A COUPLE OF THOSE THINGS I LISTED ARE DANGEROUS. I know it's all hard to believe, but we have photo evidence of everything that happened.

Good was great and customer service was good. Very friendly staff. The wings are delicious.

Was there 2/22/24. Bad service and unpleasant attitude. They ran out of jolif rice and plantains and try to charge me for it.

Today is the first time I have tried African food and I got to say that It was ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. I recommend this every time. The place and the service 12 out of 10. My name is Luis and I work at the park lot down the street.

Food was amazing! Service was stellar. Place was spotless and beautifully decorated with an airy, calming layout. Looking forward to going again!

Amazing food and great service! We had the beef samosas, dry rub suya wings, and the jollof rice with fish. Everything was delicious! The staff were super friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back!

friendly and helpful staff; beautiful space; amazing food. i highly recommend the samosas and jollof rice