Foodateria Kenyan & Nigerian Kitchen

This is probably my 100th time coming here with my wife and the food NEVER disappoints. From the samosa, to the chai tea with oat milk (my wife is lactose intolerant) to the efo riro, to the fish, the food is top notch. A 10/10 EVERYTIME. Food is always fresh (made to order and doesn't take too long). Environment is very friendly and clean. The owners are very friendly they've actually become family. They're very accommodating, parking is also very available. Overall I highly recommend coming here. You won't regret it. The pictures should tell you everything you need to know. Tell them Providence sent you.

The only thing better than the food is the staff. I first tried this restaurant through the Too Good too go app, and it was the best decision I made, because now I'm hooked. The beef samosas are made fresh and they are filled to the brim and so flavorful. The staff is super friendly and makes excellent suggestions on food choices and what pairs together. I'll definitely be back VERY soon, definitely recommend trying. The name of the food may seem different but at first bite you're instantly transported somewhere familiar, like my grandma's kitchen.

My husband and I dined at Foodateria this evening with a group from church. I have never before eaten at a traditional African restaurant, and I'm so glad we came. The food was delicious. I highly recommend the samosas and the karanga ngombe (beef stew). The chef and her son are so friendly, hospitable, and hardworking. Highly recommend!

We have traveled to Kenya a few times and were looking for samosas - this place is the real deal! So kind and welcoming, and the samosas tasted just as we remembered them. All the other food was also good, but don’t miss their chai!

This place is AMAZING if you want delicious, flavorful food with wonderful service come here! The menu has something for everyone and the flavors are phenomenal. I didn't even get to photograph all my food I was inhaling it. I got a surpprise bag meal through the too good to go app and i was handed a FEAST. The gave me so much to try! And goat was the main dish! Which is normally an expensive option. The goat was falling off the bone and tasted amazing, the greens were perfect, not soggy and not undercooked. The rice had so much flavor and the bean side dish was simple but delicious. The plantains rounded out the flavors and were cooked wonderfuly. Coming back soon for sure!

This place is AMAZING. It took me over an hour to eat because I kept stopping to send my friends detailed voice messages about how good the food was. The ingredients looked and tasted very fresh, especially the sukuma. This was my first time ever trying Nigerian and Kenyan food, and it was a great first impression! New favorite restaurant!

This food was hands down some of the best I’ve had in a while! I got a mystery bag and the man at the counter was so sweet and kind and told me exactly what was in the bag. I got jollof rice, chicken, cabbage and plantains. Everything was phenomenal and a great portion size!

OMG! The food was so good! Absolutely amazing! Had the goat stew with collard greens and coconut soup! Incredible! And the chef's soon served us and he was so warm and welcoming! Love it!!!

This place was amazing!!! My girlfriend and I visited because we were looking for authentic African food. Least to say, we found all we were looking for and more. The owner was very sweet and walked us through the menu and told us her favorites and recommendations. As indecisive as we are, we ordered everything she mentioned. The chai tea and hibiscus tea were perfectly paired with the meal. The pastry on the samosas was very soft and easily the best samosas I've ever had!! The fried fish had a great crunchy skin but the inside was soft and flavorful. The coconut soup was one of the best soups I've had, i switched back and forth from eating it by itself and dipping the fish in jt. The egunsi was amazing. The melon seeds and chicken were very flavorful and the texture of the pounded yam really brought the entire dish together. The suya and jollof were just as amazing. The jollof was very flavorful and the suya was spicy. A tip from the owners son, the hibiscus tea remedies the spice of the suya. The goat was my girlfriends but her plate was scraped clean soon after the picture was taken!! In all, this place was great with a nice intimate vibe. Between the amazing food and the hospitality of the owner and her son, we had a great experience and recommend everyone to go!

Family Oriented Restaurant with beautiful art and food that feeds the soul! I went here with a group of friends, and let's just say we all left full of delicious food, refreshing drinks, and laughter. If you are looking to try something new in Columbus, and want to expand your taste buds this is definitely a spot to put on your list. It may be a hidden gem now, but I guarantee you this will become a fan favorite. The service was reasonable- given suggestions by server, order our food with confidence, not a bad wait time ( especially for a group of 6), and food was fulfilling!

Amazing family restaurant. 10/10 service and food. Beautiful family beautiful business

OMG! The food was so good! Absolutely amazing! Had the goat stew with collard greens and coconut soup! Incredible! And the chef's soon served us and he was so warm and welcoming! Love it!!!

One of my daughters took me for errands, since my foot is still broken. Late afternoon we got hungry and were headed for mexican when we noticed that Wycliffs was open. We had been wanting to try it for a long time. They food is from Kenya and Nigeria. We had never had these cuisines. Gideon, one of the owners greeted us and as he showed us to our table I told him we would welcome suggestions as we had never eaten this before. His face lit up and as we went over the menu he answered all our questions. We decided to each order an entree, they come with 2 sides and then we could share. I got goat stew(I love goat) and she got Yetty's Suya Meal(beef) I got Chapti(flatbread) and plantains. She got Sukuma(collard greens and Madodo(beans). Before our meals were ready Gideon brought us complimentary Samosas. The outsides were soft, Well seasoned and flaky not hard like Indian samosas. The filling was ground beef that was sooo delicious. Then our food arrived.Large portions and tons of food. Becca fell in love with plantains and got an extra portion to take home. My goat was the tenderest I've ever had. The chapati was soft and rolled up. We also got some cooked cabbage with carrot as an extra side. Gideon's mom is the cook and she wanted us to try as much as she could. Becca's chicken was devine- I have no idea what the spices were but it was tasty. The beans were like nothing I ever tasted-I will have to have them again. We were so full we both took home food. We are already planning to go back! We were the only non-Natives in the restaurant. The cook came out to see us and we told her how much we loved her cooking. There are about 16-20 tables with linen cloths. Clean restroom. and parking in the lot in front.

I found this place on Yelp, checked it out today-SO GLAD I did! The food was delicious. I had the "beef stew" with plantains and greens. Fantastic. My husband had the Jollof meal with chicken, pand plantains. So flavorful. Our server, Gideon suggested the hibiscus tea, his mother's own recipe; it was so good I couldn't stop sipping it! While our food took a bit longer than expected, I make zero complaints as it was well worth every second. We got there at the tail end of lunch so it was still busy. We will definitely go back! If you're looking for authentic food cooked with love, try Wycliff's

Wonderful hospitality greets you at the door of this mother and son run operation. Food is seasoned to perfection. Oh and remember to ask for a zobo, the hibiscus tea. Tastes as if you are drinking the flower. We will be back and we will be bringing friends!

Omg this food is so filling. It was Mt first time there and the service was really nice. He made my drink as the food was coming out so it would be nice and cold. Definitely coming back next time I'm in Columbus.

This has been one of my top favorite restaurants since I moved to Columbus. When I discovered they were closed for a while I was worried, but it turns out they have new owners now. I'm happy to report that the food is just as good with the new ownership! I highly recommend the Mchuzi Wa Kuku with fufu (you might have to ask for the fufu). There are also Nigerian as well as Kenyan dishes now. Service is great also.

I have several friends who I lunch with regularly, and one of our favorite things to do is introduce each other to new restaurants and cuisines. We all like ethnic food and come from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, So it's usually a super great dining experience! This Kenyan restaurant was introduced to me by one of these friends. It has all the magnificent flavors and smells of East Africa and you will notice it as soon as you walk in the door. BUT, you will ALSO find distinctive hints of flavors and aromas from India - but why? One of my friends who is of Indian lineage, but whose family comes from Kenya, explained it to me like this: Kenya, as a former British colony relied heavily upon Indian citizens for factoring, banking and to run various businesses (India, also a former British Colony, is likewise part of the British Commonwealth of Nations). As these British Colonies interchanged citizens, each brought and intermingled cuisines & aspects of their rich & wonderful respective cultures. So you experience part of that intermingling here! It's magnificent, and now that I'm aware of the historic reason, it is so much more abundant of an experience!

This place is legit! The chapati is exactly how I remember, the beef samosas were crispy and delicious, not greasy at all. And the collard greens were deliciously prepared in that special Kenyan way. I will be back soon!!!

New owners are fantastic. Food is good but expensive. Very clean. Every now and then you have to splurge.

Food and service is top tier! Really comforting atmosphere and good selection of Kenyan and Nigerian foods. Really recommend trying the coconut soup!

The food is amazing-especially the samosas!! Just like my Kenyan mother in law makes! So good!

Visited this restaurant while I was visiting family in Ohio. The food was amazing. I ordered the tilapia with the coconut sauce which isn't pictured however it was very good ...what you see pictured is what my friend ordered and it was spinach rice in the goat meat. The meat was so tender and it was freshly cooked. This place would have gotten five stars had the wait not been over an hour.Definitely worth the money if I'm ever back in Columbus I'll definitely come back.

We are trying to be more mindful about supporting local businesses, and BOB in particular. Had a very nice and flavorful meal Wycliffs' Kitchen. The manager came out and was super nice and gave wonderful recommendations. Definitely looking forward to coming back. #eatlocal

The facilities is very clean, include the restroom the food was delicious I recommend everyone to visit and try you will not regret believe me

Have you ever eaten at a restaurant and before you got home you wanted to go back? This is that place! The food at Wycliff's Kitchen is legit. It's conveniently located in a small shopping strip, with a parking lot. Inside you'll find 15-20 tables. Our server was friendly and answered all of our questions. The menu was a little complicated, it's easier to understand online. We were a group of 10 on a Friday evening. Every meal is made to order so we were prepared to sit back and enjoy each other's company while our meals were being prepared. Everything we ate was hot and delicious. Not one person was disappointed. Kenyan food is not spicy like some other cuisines, but it is full of flavor. My favorites were the samosa, goat stew, spinach, cabbage, greens, pilaf rice, and chicken in coconut milk. My friend said the steak is the best he's eaten in years. Tip-they only have the grilled meats on Saturday. Guess you know where I'll be.

Small place tucked into a strip mall. Nothing fancy, but nice enough inside. I think this used to be a Puerto Rican place, but it has been years. Very good service, checking up and making recommendations, etc. I got samosas to start: crispy, big pockets of finely ground spicy beef. Yum. Served with a fairly zippy pepper sauce. Next I had the lunch special of karanga mbuzi, stewed goat. I love goat, but the bones can be a deterrent. Still, try it sometime if you like beef and pork, it has a nice flavor and if done right is super tender. Sided with the collard greens, which as Gwen (I think) said are different from American style- shorter cooking, so crispy and chopped small, with slices of green onions. Very very good. Finally, pilau, rice perfectly cooked in (I think) beef stock. A well balanced plate in terms of tastes and textures, beautifully presented, and gone in a flash. $11 for a wonderful lunch, and there are lots of other things on the menu that I want to try. I skipped the mango moose, but hey, I like deer, so... Oh, and mellow ska playing, very cool.

AMAZING! Absolutely loved the food! The restaurant is a relaxed feel and they have tables set up for big groups as well. The food came out hot and tasted very fresh. Friendly, lovely service.

Wycliff's Kitchen is one of the best African restaurants in Columbus. It specializes in Kenyan food. This is similar to many nearby countries. It has some familiar items. The owner is very invested in customers and service. I had the chapati madodo entree. It's a vegetarian stew made with beans and coconut milk. This comes with two sides. Among the vegetarian sides are spinach, and ugali, which is a corn mush. It's about $9 for the entree. Overall it was pretty great and worth the price. A tip is that the corn mush goes good with the sauce that's left over from the stew so dip it in it. You will probably see Wycliffe the owner. He's always talking to customers. The rest of the staff is also helpful. I recommend Wycliff's Kitchen for anyone interested in African food. It has several items familiar to Ethiopian so it's not all foreign. The owner and staff will help you.

The thing I was most looking forward to about my move to Columbus was the amount of different cultural foods that are offered here. Accordingly, when we arrived, we set out to find a place with unique flavors that would be one of our first dinners in town. My husband and I came to this strip mall restaurant with high expectations (we find that the strip mall places tend to be really good or really bad and usually end up on the good side). My husband does have some food issues, including capsaicin, and so on arrival, we browsed the menu, then asked the waiter about what he could eat. As this is not a common issue, he ended up going in the back and bringing back the very kind chef, who attempted to understand our requests. She made a careful note of what he could have, explained which spices she was using in which foods, and then we placed our order. Being able to have everything, I embraced the flavors of my food with glee when it came and even my husband was able to have a tiny taste. His food was also well seasoned though and he had no complications from our dinner. We felt well sated at the end of the meal and I look forward to coming back to try the goat on a Saturday evening!

thats so unsanitary just holding the mashwd potatoes like play doh?dont even pooks likeeee be foooo fr

Great food. I had been waiting for them to re-open and was glad to know that day had arrived!

WOW!! Everything was AMAZING!! When we asked what the best dish was, the server said E-VA-REE-THING!!! And he was not kidding! Pardon me, because I don't know the proper names of the dish, but we ordered: * Beef tips with kale/greens, spiced rice & house made flat bread as sides * The vegetarian dish (chapati) which includes beans (like pinto) cooked in coconut milk, flat bread, cabbage/carrot side dish & plantains We DEVOURED it all!!! I can't wait to come back and try the fresh fish! All meat is halal and all food is "fresh" per their proclamation on the entrance to the restaurant

How lucky are we in Columbus when you have to think, "gosh, what *is* the best Kenyan restaurant in town?" It's Wycliffs', hands down. If you're looking for a place to branch out, or take someone for their first African food experience, this is a good option. This delicious place is just south of 270 on Cleveland Avenue, the other International Gateway. Tucked into a strip mall with a bunch of other restaurants, it's one of the only African restaurants I've been to with a common dining room. While the decor is modest, the layout maximizes the space. Service was attentive, and our server welcomed back our niece, who had been in for dinner recently. The menu is classic Kenyan, with all the lovely things about African cooking - fresh food, prepared well, delicious samosas, greens, goat and the most amazing chapati I've ever had (okay, now I'm craving it - thick, deliciously chewy bread, perfect for delivering food from plate to palate, mmmmm). Wait, what was I talking about? We ordered one of each samosa - beef, chicken and veggie - big, crispy pastries with lots of minced meat and veggies inside. Three were a great starter for our table of five. ALSO - their ginger tea is awesome. Our table ordered several different dishes to get a feel for the place. I had the chapati madodo, which is pinto beans cooked in coconut milk, served with chapati and two sides. I had spinach, which the server recommended, and it paired well with the creamy, slightly sweet beans. The plantains I ordered were good, sweet and firm. The spouse ordered the goat choma, and found it spicy but not overwhelming. Their hot sauce is soooo good - I'll be ordering a savory-style meal next time (fish? fish.) so I can try it properly. The other diners LOVED their meals - mchiuzi wa kuku (chicken stew) and beef choma. The owner came out and talked to us about the food and was super welcoming. It's obvious he enjoys sharing Kenyan culture and food with others. Definitely on the list of best-African in the city!

I am absolutely floored at this restaurant. I suggest, no, demand, that every person eat here. No joke. Everything, from the service to the relaxed, welcoming vibe, to the food, was unlike most all eateries. I'll start with the friendly, welcoming service. I think it's unique that Wycliffe, the owner, does not hide out in the kitchen. Instead, he serves the customers. And with nothing less than a warm smile and good-hearted attitude. He was helpful with describing the dishes while we narrowed down our choice. He continued to check on us at all the right times (not too many, not too little), throughout the meal. Described dishes, and was more than happy to accommodate any request. I originally picked the Karanga Mbuzi, goat meat stewed with Kenyan spices. Wycliff let me know they were out of goat, so I asked what he would suggest: Chicken. The entrees come with your choice of two side dishes. I chose the sautéed green beans with onion and plantains. First off, the presentation of the food on the plate completely jumpstarted the salivation! So simple, yet the smells radiating left me speechless! The green and yellow colors played well with the mind. I almost couldn't eat it; thank goodness the pic serves its purpose. So where do I start. Green beans. Steamed to a perfect al dente. Slight crunch, hints of a light buttering. The chicken main dish? Holy SPACEBALLS!! No bullshit, out of this world succulent, tender chicken. The yellow sauce was something of a curry and coconut milk flavor. The curry was seasoned with the exact taste of utopia! The fried plantains (Ndizi) were just icing on the best cake I've had in a long, long time. Marlena, bless her heart, was nice enough to let me try their coconut milk based soup. It was so freaking phenomenal, I got a cup of that to-go. I couldn't eat everything - I was in sheer bliss. I am elated I got to share this magnificent experience with Marlena! Don't even get me started on Marlena's entree of choice. Let's just say, the look and taste of that entire white fish knocked our socks off. I'm quite positive I'd be perfectly content to live off these dishes for the rest of my days :) Hats off to Wycliff for the truly awesome restaurant he has honed. Kudos. This was a UYE for the books!

Excellent food and great value for what you get! The staff is very friendly as well! Highly recommend! You will not be disappointed.

food was freakin amazing! love the food here and love how they cook your food fresh! need you guys to stay open forever!!

Food is so good!! My current favorite. I love the chicken stew, goat stew, and goat biryani with chipati and plantains. The coconut soup is also fantastic.

Excellent service and perfect Kenyan food! Everything was tasty. The parking isn't too bad. They were accommodating and we were able to fit a power chair.

Eating here brought back childhood memories. Best Kenyan food and the service is great. Definitely going back again with the family.

Food is ok. The wait is very long and unprofessional . Placed an order in person at 12:25 got food at 1:23 for a to go order

Food was not good value for price. We paid $70 for two people but the vegetables were not fresh, the meat was poorly cooked. The ambience was also not good. Food was served on cardboard plates. Location is sketchy. Plastic silverware was used. You have been warned!

Went here last night for the first time for dinner and it was so good! Had samosas as an appetizer that were great, but the best part was the karanga ngombe. It was a big portion, came with two sides (I recommend the ndizi and chapati), and just tasted incredible! The waiter we had was also so so nice and the restaurant was overall warm and inviting.

Black owner. Support the 2020 revolution to end systematic police brutality in America. Support our fellow Americans for the pain that's been caused unto them. Wycliffs' has some good food!

Great family owned restaurant with authentic Kenyan food. Our kids especially love the samosa

Everything was delicious. Best beef samosas I've ever had and the hot sauce pairs with them perfectly. Their chai tea is flavorful. I had the karanga ng'ombe with ugali and fried cabbage. Everything was prepared well and tasted phenomenal. Service was excellent. Our waiter was very friendly and offered assistance and suggestions when ordering.

My first time trying Kenyan cuisine - this place is a great way to get initiated! No-frills ambiance, very friendly service (Cliff was so helpful), easy parking, and reasonable prices. I tried the mbuzi (goat curry) with chapati and pilaf on the server's recommendation, which was really good. On my second visit, had the beef choma, which is a delicious grilled beef dish, combined with ugali and spinach. Would also recommend the samosas - they're Indian/Pakistani style and are delicious.

(Dinner Time)The staff was very kind and inviting! They welcomed our family in and we let them order for us. The kids had Bajia(fried and seasoned potatoes), wings and fries. Everything was cooked perfectly. If you are looking for a super quick meal you chipped call ahead but we were very happy to laugh and chat while our food was being prepared. The other guests were having a nice time as well. Super kid friendly. The meal was reasonably priced with certain dishes fluctuating due to supply(such as goat). With four kids and two adults we averaged about $9-$11 per meal with water as our drinks. Another example of the beautiful diversity in our city. A gem for sure and you should be here soon!

This was my first time here and I was very impressed with the flavor and freshness of the food. We tried the goat, beef, and chicken sautée. The chicken was my favorite.

Very good food! The staff are friendly folks. They do keep it way laid back there though. So don't be in a hurry. I will go back again and again.

The food at Wycliff's is flavorful and interesting and the service is friendly and inviting. The ambiance is a bit basic but it's freshly painted and clean. I highly recommend people come here and try the Karanga Mbuzi (goat stew) with the Ugali (maize flour porridge -- eaten with your fingers and a starch like rice or bread) and the Kabeji (stir-fried cabbage). Everything is incredibly rich in flavor. (I've tried everything but the chicken and fish and it's all been delicious.) The portions are large enough to share and feel satisfied. The service is a little slow because they cook everything to order. It's definitely worth the wait! There is a TV here but if you ask, they will mute it.

Amazing food. We've been there twice now. The Mchuzi Wa Kuku (chicken in yellow curry) is my favorite so far. In all my years living in New York City I never encountered Kenyan food. It is a testament to Columbus that you can get it here. For those who have never tried Kenyan food, it reminds me of a sort of fusion between Indian food and Soul food. They have curries, samosas, mango lassis, and flatbread. The chapati flat bread is a bit sweet. They also have the sorts of sides I would associate with soul food or Carribean food -- cabbage, greens, plantains, etc. There are plenty of unique dishes that I haven't seen in any other cuisine too. Service is extremely friendly. Multiple servers and cooks came to our table to ask us how we liked the food. Get the Mchuzi Wa Kuku. You will not be disappointed.

Excellent food -- so far have tried only Sambusas, along with goat and chicken entrees and Mango Lassi. All were excellent. Highly recommended. I will be back. Dine-in is open during the panic-demic. Be sure to call ahead; they prepare food from scratch, I called ahead 30 min.

I never tried Kenyan food before and did not know what to expect but this was delicious! We had the goat Choma, tasted great. We also had cabbage and plantains along with the chapati. Everything was perfectly seasoned and our server worked the room perfectly even though he was the only one on duty. Dont hesitate, try them asap

Came here for lunch, relatively early on a weekday. Ordered the lunch portion of the roasted goat with spinach and flatbread. It came out very quickly, especially for African food. The goat is tender and well spiced, the spinach is delicious, as is the flatbread. Fatty and thick without being greasy.

First off I may be biased because I'm Kenyan but this place totally exceeded my expectation!! Wycliffe is a really nice, honest guy but the food is what makes this place special! The nyama choma took me back home, with the ugali and the cabbage!!! I would order the nyama choma in advance if you know you're going, especially if like me you're driving from Cleveland! I've never been a fan of sukuma wiki but please do try their cabbage!! The mbuzi fry was superb, again tasted just like it does back home! My husband and friends who had never had Kenyan food before loved it!! If you don't have anything else then have the samosas, chai and mandazi..... YUM!!! you can order mandazi in advance if you want it in bulk like I do!!! This place is definitely worth a try

My wife and I had one of the best meals we've had in Columbus at Wycliff's restaurant. Wycliff's serves wonderful Kenyan cuisine. I had a fried fish with spinach, rice pilaf and a coconut dipping sauce. The fish was delicately fried. It had the soft texture of very fresh fish. The dipping sauce was a perfect complement. The spinach was so good I can't remember when I had spinach that good. My wife's goat stew was rich and very flavorful. Her cabbage with onions was excellent. The portions were huge so we didn't have room for dessert. Wycliff himself was our server and he was very charming. We'll be back.