Teranga African Restaurant

The food was great! First time trying Senegalese food and fell in love. I can’t wait to get back to Cincinnati just to eat here. The food did take a minute to get hence 4 stars but the flavor was great!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NEGATIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rice and peas crunchy cabbage completely dried out my pea/bean appeared to have sat all day or at the bottom of the pan which made it crunchy where it hurt my teeth. My beans are so dried up they looked like little roaches. They are Not open to feedback to improve service. They forced me to return my food as proof when I made the complaint. When you address them with an issue they come off very dismissive and condescending. In fact the woman who sported locs preceded to make a beat on the table using her hands as I stated my concerns to the manager.It came off as racist which is weird being that I’m African American or maybe because I’m not AFRICAN they don’t appreciate my business. I’ve been a long term customer up until the blatant disrespect on the phone and in person. Even the manager (a man) is rude and supports his staff behavior as it was not corrected when I mentioned as the lady (who I spoke to over the phone) was standing there. The entire staff also never apologized. Will not return and I do not recommend. Plenty of other authentic places in the city I’d be glad to drive the distance to since this horrible experience at Teranga.

Stopped in for some lamb and brown rice. They didn't disappoint my taste buds.

Service was faster than used to for an African restaurant. Meat was cooked perfectly but just lacked some of those west African flavors. Price was set nice. And the menu had a good selection to choose from. Traveled from Louisville Kentucky to try this place out. Clean and friendly staff. The restrooms were clean and tidy which is a plus in my book.

I wish I can give this place 10 stars. The curry goat was amazing. The portions were more than enough to feed one person. The snapper and the oxtail are insanely delicious. Definitely will be back

Tiny restaurant that's always busy! I'd love to try more restaurants in Cincinnati, but this place is so good I just keep going back. I pretty much always get the fish with greens, but have tried just about everything and you simply cannot go wrong.

I used to be a customer who would drive 30 minutes or more to visit daily or every other day, and the minimum I spend is 18$ on EACH visit. When the food is cooked right, it's perfect and worth it! Unfortunately, only one employee who works there has a serious issue with me and my request for two red "spicy sauces." I am dumbfounded by her actions and response, even more concerned that there seems to be no possible way to reach the manager of this establishment. I've even offered to pay extra, but she demonstrated she is only interested in controlling me. However, I've watched her be super friendly to those who relate to her better. Due to her actions, I found a Middle Eastern restaurant with excellent food selections, super duper friendly, and similar dishes that I would always order at Teranga. Should you folks look into your customer service? If you are content with only serving those you relate to better, then it's doubtful you will look into any issues or potential changes. You will not get any more business from me unless there is a significant change.

Had jerk chicken, rice & beans, cabbage. Loved it! My daughter like her vegetarian platter, too. She enjoyed the plantain a lot. Teranga Ginger drink was nice too. When I am this way, I'll eat here again💕

I am rounding up. Though everything is not to my taste, there is something for everyone. I love the samosas and cow foot soup. The maffe and okra are good as well. The oxtails had a slight chew and were slightly sweet. Not bad, but not how I like mine. First time trying the egusi. It had lots of organs. I liked it better the next day and would try it again. I really enjoy the pleasant familial environment.

They give you a large portion. It was so good and so flavorful! Line was out the door and they were busy the entire hour and a half that I was there. The food is definitely worth it! Staff was nice too. The parking lot is small - it's in a shared small shopping center/strip. Good seating and clean place!

Got the greens absolutely delicious . Watch out for slivers of bones please, chew carefully.

The fried tilapia with onions and plantains was so good. We also tried out the bouye and guava drinks. I've never had bouye before and it was delicious. Teranga has a nice little business - people coming in and out the entire hour we were eating. I can't wait to come back and try one of their stews with fufu!

Was looking for restaurants that had jerk chicken, and gave Teranga a try. I ordered the Yassa yap and jerk chicken with greens. The presentation and temperature were good, the jerk chicken and the side of rice were extremely delicious! The chicken was soft and flavorful. The rice was regular white rice but so web cooked, I loved it. I was not a fan of the Yassa yap which is lamb because the meat was chewy and it was mostly fat rather than meat. Also, the greens were not that great because they were mooshy. Overall, it was good to give it a try, I will try their oxtails next time.

Good has been going in the wrong direction cold, hard undercooked beans hard, rice hard. I just will probably not try again.

Love this place, always consistent and amazing. I always get the Egusi and fufu and it is amazing every time

Small place but has tables you can pull together for six. Most people took out, but the staff took our order at our table. I had the lamb peanut butter sauce. Very tasty sauce, but could have used more lamb inside. Go for the "brown rice" which is spices and red beans-- really good. Some of the dishes are very spicy-- ask the staff if you're sensitive, or seeking that.

Had heard some good buzz about this place, so I had to check it out and I'm glad I did. Almost all of their business appears to be carryout, but I decided to dine in. I started with the egg rolls filled with meat. Then 2 entrees--oxtails and something called domada, which was kind of a thick stew with large pieces of meat, potatoes and carrots. Both of the entrees came with large containers of rice--white rice with the domada and fried rice with the oxtails which also had fried plantains and some kind of slaw on top. The quantities were massive--this was enough food for 3 people, so I had to bring a lot home. Counter people were VERY friendly and efficient. My first time eating authentic African food and it was terrific. I had so much food to carry out that I accidentally left my parka sitting in my seat and didn't even realize it until the next day. I called them and they assured me that they had saved it for me knowing that I would probably return. So they get a gold star for outstanding customer service in both regards. One of the quiet gems in Hartwell--check it out for a treat.

food is delicious every time!!! great service, always friendly! and very clean space to eat at.

I was well pleased with the service of the staff here. I like that they have quick service and move the line fairly quickly. The business seems to be owned and operated by families. The food was hot and delicious. There were options for fish and vegetarian plate. The fish included rice, vegetables, and a green spinach sauce. I ordered an extra side of plantains. The vegetarian dish offered cabbage, rice, and peas, red sauce, and plantains. If you enjoy authentic cultural foods, you will not be disappointed. Be prepared for a little spice. Prices are reasonable and it's clean.

This place was recommended to us by friends and I can see why. The food is absolutely flavorful and really amazing! Service was good and thought for. This place is a little whole it the wall but it makes it even better. Excited to bring my South African students and try it out.

So I'm visiting my sons in Cincinnati, Ohio and yes, I'm a food snob. (). We thought about an expensive chain, but my son said, Let's just pick up from Teranga. This place was in an obscure, small plaza, and the parking lot was packed. Great sign! Now I know why it was packed. In short, Teranga was one of the best food experiences I've ever had. Anywhere! We got Egusi & Fufu (look it up-to much to explain here), beed patties, grilled chicken, jerk chicken, oxtails, beans and rice, greens, plantain,and of course, Ting! The portions were HUGE! The food exploded with layered and distinct flavors and the meat wash deftly marinated, super tender and with a smoky, fresh grilled aroma. The oxtail gravy was world class and you can tell they really care about their product. The service was pleasant and engaging even though we were taking out. There's a relatively small eating area and it was very family friendly. The guests were a melting pot of different people clearly enjoying their food and family. We fed 6 people and everyone is very full and there are leftovers. The price was more than fair given the amount and quality of the food. This food made my palate happy! I couldn't more highly recommend this eatery. (Sorry about the pics - we were all devouring the food before I thought to take

Senegalese and Jamaican cuisine are two of my favorite foods and Teramga does both well. Everything I've ordered from here has been legit. They make the BEST Thiebou Djeun this side of the rIver and I've dined at all of Cincys Senegalese joints. Their grilled pouisson is always perfectly grilled served with tasty raw onions in mustard sauce. As a Jamaican, I can attest their oxtails, curry chicken, and rice and peas is the real deal. Make sure to add a ginger beer to your meal. I don't know how they do it but please don't stop!

Ordered online, charged me, sent confirmation, order not prepared, INCREDIBLY rude, slow walked refund.

I've had takeout here three times and never once had a BAD meal, there's always plenty of flavor in the African dishes. I love the whole fish, which is probably one of the strongest smelling things I've ever had, but full of distinct spices, and a massive serving. But the burger, gyro, stuff like that? Skip it. Yes that sounds dumb to give that advice for a place that does West African food well (just order that!), but it's disappointing to grab something so unsatisfying from a place that does the rest well. Why even have that on the menu then?

Food is wonderful overall! Just wish the veggie portions were larger. It's a bit pricey but not much more than similar cuisine at other authentically Jamaican or Africana restaurants. My husband and I sometimes splurge and get the oxtail dinner. He's from the south and knows his oxtails he told me it's a costly dish but worth it! It's usually very good I've come to love it! However, our last oxtail dinners were disappointing. We know oxtails have a lot of bone and some fat but these tails hardly ANY meat they were mostly bone and fat but the sauce and rest of the meal was delicious as usual. Anyone can have an off day so I plan to give the oxtails one more try.

The lunch was very expensive for white rice, onions and an inedible piece of boney fish. Won't go back.

The food and the service was great, but the food was everything I wanted and some. I had the oxtails and the jerk wings And the samosas. Let me say, I'll be back

Oh man, writing this review makes my mouth water again thinking of how good their food is. I was taken to this place after a long flight and it was late. We got there a little after 8pm so it was coming close to their closing time. Yet we were greeted with the warmest smiles by the staff in here. They were very welcoming with bubbly personality, patiently asked if we had any questions. However my eyes were already fixated on the first item on their Jamaican menu and just couldn't help myself but ordered the Jerk Chicken. It comes with rice and peas as well as a side of cabbage. I asked for small but hot damn, the portion was massive! Honestly it would last you at least 2-3 seatings. The chicken was well-cooked and well-seasoned. It was tender and not at all tough. Very tasty. I have no idea what they put in the sauce cause that thing was addicting, bursting flavors of spices that married beautifully. I honestly couldn't stop taking a bite after another, really delicious. My companion got the Curry Chicken and he inhaled his food really fast. He had been there numerous times and told me that you could never go wrong with anything you ordered from here whether from the Senegalese or Jamaican menu. I was kicking myself a little for not taking the time to look at the other dishes as they all sound and look amazing. The restaurant itself was small inside but very well-maintained. From the moment we walked in to the moment we left the restaurant, the foot traffic for takeout was non-stop, the queue stayed long. The parking was easy with the parking lot right in front. I hope to visit here again the next time I'm in town.

I'm Caribbean and Ive tried the Oxtails and the Jerk Chicken. It is not all that great. The Jerk Chicken is not very well seasoned, very dry. The Rice and peas are very dry. The Oxtail lacks the proper burst of flavor. Guess that is what I get for trying Carribean food at an African restaurant. I also tried their onion chicken, it was a 2/10. The wings are terrible and the cabbage is dry and poorly seasoned. If you're going to specialize in a certain cuisine, do it right. I would like to try the Egusi and FuFu whenever I get a chance. But in my humble opinion, this restaurant is very overrated...and the girl behind the vounter has terrible customer service. Very rude and dismissive, she will get on the phone in the middle of taking your order, or she would be texting. The food is edible, but it's not something you go out of your way for.

The best fusion Afro-Caribbean food out there! Loved the Thiebu Djeun and their fresh ginger drink is divine; generous portions too...

We finally got our African food after being refused service up the street from 221 restaurant. At Teranga the food is good and all cultures are welcome.

The flavor of the protein was amazing ... lamb and oxtails were tender. Jerk was dry but flavorful. big problem is the pre cooked rice and peas that were dry from sitting too long and undercooked cabbage

Wanted to check out a new place during Black Restaurant Week and this did not disappoint. It's tucked away in a plaza, but pretty easy to find. Delicious authentic African food right in Cincy, who knew?!? The dibi was cooked to perfection and the red snapper is enough for a family and perfectly grilled. The jerk chicken was so flavorful and spicy! The only miss were the beignets for dessert, but I think it's because I had high expectations based on my previous experiences in New Orleans. Please check this place out, it's a great meal!

Seating area small, counter service, a little bit of a wait, but oh was it worth it. Had the michoui gigot (leg of lamb with onion sauce) was absolutely fantastic. Their jerk wings were the best wings I have ever had.

The staff was kind. The place had a steady stream of customers so we knew the food had to be good, and it was! We had the dibi, chicken yassa, jerk chicken, and maffe. Tasted like authentic Senegalese food.

The food is good and was refreshingly different. If you are looking for something new , I would definitely give this place a try .

The best food I have had in Cincinnati the goat is so tender and the oxtails are amazing I will try everything on her menu before I'm done super nice people

Great African food. Fast service, one of my favorite spots! My favorite is the Chicken brochette!

They are always nice. The food is spicey and delicious. I especially liked the grilled chicken. They're busy but efficient

We settled on this place after doing a search of reviews for various African Restaurants in the Cincinnati area. Man, am I glad we did!! There were 5 of us, and we opted for dine in. Atmosphere was warm and friendly. The server was a bit slow to get to us BUT you must realize that this place is super busy as take out place, and the ones running the counter are also serving tables. There was a steady stream of African people in and out to get food for take out some dressed in authentic African wear. As the only whites in the restaurant, we did get a few stares, but everyone was smiling and very friendly. Any questions we had about the menu were answered. The girl serving, who said she was Senegalese, explained that the name of the restaurant meant "Hospitality". The food was amazing!! I got the Maffe, which is a lamb dish with potatoes, carrots, peanut butter tomato sauce. It was served with rice and paired very well. I also ordered plantains. The others ordered chicken dishes, and my mother said it was the best chicken she had ever tasted. Things were a tad spicy but nothing outrageous, but man was it delicious!!! So glad for the experience!!!

Stumbled into this place a couple days ago while looking for a quick lunch to go. Had the thiebu yap and it was delicious! Will definitely be back.

100 stars for my favorite authentic african foodies!! brown rice /w extra extra boiled eggs & onions /w a order of wings grilled no sauce!! i want some now and its 5am florida time!!i miss cincinnati (home)

My friend had suggested trying a new spot and I'm glad we did! The food was big in portion and super flavorful. I ordered the diba (lamb) and the meat was a little chewy but still very tasty. We also ordered a side of garlic wings and was impressed with the crunch and size of them. The only thing that I wasn't a big fan of was the sauce on the onion but that won't stop me from visiting again!

This place was never on my radar but with limited options open Friday following Thanksgiving day made me check this out and glad it turned out pretty good. The place is pretty vibrant painted with flag colors of Ghana.We were seated as most people were opting for take out. Ordered Fattaya that came in 5 number with fish filling and some in beef filling along with tomato stew and Lamb Peanut curry that came with plate of white rice and my favorite Fried plantains which costed us just $16. Fattaya was decent but the lamb curry was awesome . The meat is so tender that melts in your mouth. Fried plantains were awesome. While we were eating the place started to fill slowly and there is line for take out. Pros: ------- Awesome Food Friendly Staff Quick Service Inexpensive Free Parking Vibrant Ambience Clean Restrooms Huge Portions Lot of Food options in the hood Cons: ------- None to me Try it and you won't be disappointed.

The food is so flavorful, and you usually get a good portion size for the price you pay, however the jerk chicken is soooo extremely spicy! I'm a fan of spicy food but sometimes it's too spicy to even taste, it makes my tongue numb!

As a girl from the Ivory Coast . Everytime I make it to Cincinnati I make sure to stop by. Everything is made exactly how I remember it from my moms kitchen. Though this is Senegalese owned , west Africans share a lot of the same dishes and I am so happy I found this place. If I don't have time to cook no matter I can find exactly what I need here! Please go try it out!!

I used to eat there regularly but one day I went in and waited at the register to order, the lady at the front was taking a phone order. As I was waiting, there is a small window next to the door that they use to walk in the kitchen. I happen to look through the window and saw a man putting something on their cooking surface that had tails on it. Not sure what it was, I asked the lady what is that and she yelled something to the people in back, she wouldn't answer me so I left. Be careful

My in-laws visit this place often and always speak highly of it, so we finally checked it out. The food was flavorful and came out quickly. My husband had the grilled chicken dinner with plantains and mango juice. I had the chicken "burger" which came with fries. Both meals were good and filling. The decor extremely nice and inviting. If anything was wrongwith the experience, it was only a reduction in attention from the staff after we received our food. We would have requested a few things if given the chance. Once we were done, my husband went to the takeout counter to ask to pay and get a to go box. (As a disclaimer, maybe that's how they expect you to pay, but every other part of the experience was conducted as a traditional US restaurant experience). Overall, this was a great experience and I look forward to returning and trying some of the other menu items. My next meal: the beef brochettes.

I get takeout from here often- the flavors are so great- the prices are too good to pass up

I dream about their chicken brochette with a side of plantains and greens. I don't know exactly what mix of spices they use (I can only identify the ginger), but it is mouthwatering. The grilled brochette (pieces of chicken breast threaded on a stick) is served on a bed of sautéed onions that soak up the juices and spices. The greens are perfectly smoky, and studded with small pieces of pork. The plantains are sometimes a little less soft and caramelized than I'd like, but always good for soaking up the juices. I've had the Jamaican patty and it is delish too. I've had the grilled (half) chicken on the bone, and it is covered in the same spices as the brochette but is far more difficult to eat. This place seems to be thriving in the pandemic. There is always a line and kind of a chaotic procedure at the front desk. But I've never walked away with the wrong order. Call and order ahead!

Amazing! Had the chicken kabobs, white rice, cabbage and onions. I ordered what I thought was two "pieces" of French bread and got two full loaves! Lol. The bread was just regular store bought loafs I believe but still. They was good and ya get a whole loaf for 3 bucks!!! The chicken was grilled perfectly. Excellent meal.

Flavorful oxtails and very generous with the portions. I loved that the oxtail meal i ordered was afgordable and tasty at thevsame time. Would definitely recommend

I'm not sure what's going wrong here, but this is likely my last attempt at giving this place a shot. I ordered Egusi and Sakha-Sakha. The Egusi tasted a bit fishy and off, and had a borderline inedible chunk of organ meat that turned me off of the whole order. I'm down for offal, but not when it's awful. The Sakha-Sakha was better??? I guess? This is certainly not the quality I'd experienced in prior years from Teranga. It still had that fishiness to it, and the meat was tough, as if dried or frozen. There were tiny bits of bone in multiple pieces of meat that had me concerned about chipping a tooth (and not the big chunks I come to expect of the cuisine, these were literally inside small pieces of meat). I got a refund from doordash that has me feeling a bit better, but I'm honestly worried about food posioning.

Great food. Yummy I would highly recommend to anyone in the area great food and great hospitality!

Great food! My favorite is the Maffe (which is peanut butter soup with potatoes, carrots and lamb) and the oxtails.

I would give this 10 stars if possible! I thought I reviewed this gem but it somehow escaped me despite ordering takeout like at least five times now. I have a close friend who lives just a short drive away and when I'm in town we get takeout from here. I sort of demand it! They have various African (Senegalese, I believe) and Jamaican dishes. I've only ordered Jerk Chicken and Curry Goat off the Jamaican menu but they are phenomenal. Best Jerk Chicken I've ever had! The large gives you a 1/2 chicken it seems with giant sides of rice & beans as well as a cooked down tender cabbage side. Your to-go styrofoam box feels like the weight of a heavy brick or cinder block because of how much food they give you! The chicken has so much of that nutmeg/clove/thyme flavor and it's spicy. Always moist. The sides are great and they have a habanero paste/sauce you can grab as well. Just ask. The large is $11 or $12 which is a steal. The Curry Goat comes in I believe a quart-sized plastic container with an additional styrofoam box housing the rice, a colorful light slaw, and awesome plantains. Firmer and not mushy plantains which I like. They give you plenty of meaty bone-in pieces of goat as well. Super clean flavor, tender, and the curry is dynamite! The women who take the orders are super nice. I just hope this place stays somewhat under the radar! Til next time...

I recently discovered this restaurant. They have Dine-in and carry-out available. They have a wide variety of menu items from authentic West African food to Jamaican food. The staff was friendly and welcoming I was able to see myself where I was where I wanted to sit. The employee brought over the menus. It took awhile for her to come back since she was the same person doing orders. I ordered the Jamaican jerk chicken with cabbage and I also got the ginger juice which was one of many different uses to select from. When the food came out it was a large portion. My dish had a half chicken As well as rice and cabbage and was really a portion for two meals. The food was really spicy and tasty. The rice was cooked well and the Cabbage was season really well. I had them bring some additional jerk sauce to pour over my rice which really brought out the flavor. Overall I enjoyed this experience. The staff was friendly, which you know customer service is important to me. The food portion was great. The taste of the food was really good and flavorful which is something that I enjoy as well. So I will definitely be back at this location. Definitely check it out.