Linda O.
Yelp
Don't let the name throw you--there's no Middle Eastern food, politics or religiousity here. It's West African cuisine, mostly. The articulate proprietor, Oyin, is a proud Yoruba from Nigeria. Her restaurant's food is fresh, not too crazy spicy and the menu is substantial.
First and foremost, the Jollof Rice was respectable, and as such, is a solid measurement of the rest of the fare. Bear in mind it's Nigerian-style, and, yes, there is such a thing; Malians and Senegalese, for example, prepare their Jollof Rice differently. I consider Jollof Rice to be sort of like potato salad here in the US; there are lots of ways to fix it; kinda depends on how your people like it.
I tried one of Zion's combo platters. The one I opted for consisted of a whole bunch of rice (options: Jollof Rice or fried rice), along with a sauce/stew choice (options: too many to list), a meat choice (beef, chicken, goat, fish), and a side choice (plantains or beans). I went with the Jollof Rice. My sauce was Efo Riro, a Yoruba delicacy (pounded melon seed with greens and smokey, dried fish)--it was flavorful and hearty. I took white fish as my meat and it was, notably, cut into one, unbroken piece (a fish steak fillet, if you will)--meaning I was not given a mess of bones. It wasn't a whole lotta fish, but it was moist and tasty. The fried plantains were good; and although cut into smallish pieces that I have never seen before, this approach does ensure each morsel is crisp and not oil-laden, as can happen with larger hunks of plantain. I tried the fufu out of curiosity. Zion offers 3 kinds; cassava (traditional), plus wheat and oat. I selected cassava. The fufu's consistency was plump (no grit or lumps) and came steaming hot.
Zion Kitchen's customers are African primarily. African cabbies/drivers are a staple here, and stop by regularly, along with African families looking for a meal from the motherland. This is an important fact. Zion is known by word of mouth advertising amongst Africans essentially.
Try and seek out Oyin if you are new to this type of food. She will patiently and happily describe the various offerings of the day, as things do rotate.
Zion Kitchen has been in existence for 13 years, and that's saying a lot since African restaurants are as scarce as hen's teeth in the DC area. Ghana Cafe recently closed; Chez Aunty Lib appears to have shuttered; and Nando's Peri Peri chain is not genuine African food. I do realize that there is an endless number of Ethiopian restaurants operating in the DMV, but Ethiopian cuisine is really unto itself and not comparable to the numerous other "leaf sauce" dishes available across the African continent (my opinion). Why do I love the West African dishes? I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mali and lived in other West African nations for a time...
Oyin told me she intends to expand Zion Kitchen soon, both in terms of menu and space. She wants more non-Africans to discover the restaurant and become patrons. I wish her and the staff there all the best with these encouraging plans.
Tip: Don't consume all the food that comes with the combo--save some overnight in your fridge; enjoy it even more the next day, after the great flavors have time to really sink in. Oh, yeahhhh.