Zweli's
Restaurant · Durham ·
Zimbabwean cuisine with piri piri chicken and oxtail
Zimbabwean cuisine with piri piri chicken and oxtail
"The long-awaited reopening of Zweli’s is here, with the popular African restaurant having recently relocated to new digs in Brightleaf Square. Customers at this new iteration of Zweli’s can expect the same classic Zimbabwean cuisine that helped put chef Zweli Williams on the map. Piri piri chicken, spicy stews, jollof rice, and more are available in the restaurant and as catered meals. A full wine and cocktail program complementsthe food, but a nice cold pilsner might be the best bet to pair with the punchy Zimbabwean flavors." - Matt Lardie
"Zweli's bills itself as the only Zimbabwean restaurant in the country, serving up dishes like braised oxtail, piri piri chicken, and jollof rice with sadza, a starchy, cornmeal-based staple used to scoop food with your hands. It’s in a strip mall just off the highway, with a casual feel that makes it perfect for a big group meal. Whatever you do, make sure you finish your meal with the magwinyas, sugar-coated doughnut balls that are perfectly bite-sized and the ideal companion to your otherwise savory meal." - eric ginsburg
"Opened in Durham in 2018 and reported as the first known Zimbabwean restaurant in the United States, this establishment grew out of the chef-owner’s determination to be true to her African identity and to authentically represent the continent’s cuisines. The founder’s personal journey—arriving in the U.S. two decades ago and initially hiding her food out of embarrassment—shaped a mission to celebrate African flavors openly, preserve traditional recipes (including frequent use of peanuts and grains), and create cultural storytelling through food. The operation has emphasized authenticity over convenience and has undergone location changes, with the original site closing and plans announced to relocate from Oak Creek Village Shopping Center to Brightleaf Square in fall 2023." - Jenn Rice
"Zweli's bills itself as the only Zimbabwean restaurant in the country, serving up dishes like braised oxtail, piri piri chicken, and jollof rice with sadza, a starchy, cornmeal-based staple used to scoop food with your hands. It’s in a strip mall just off the highway, with a casual feel that makes it perfect for a big group meal. Whatever you do, make sure you finish your meal with the magwinyas, sugar-coated doughnut balls that are perfectly bite-sized and the ideal companion to your otherwise savory meal. photo credit: Anna Barzin" - Eric Ginsburg
"Opened in 2018 by restaurateurs Zweli and Leonardo Williams, this Zimbabwean restaurant quickly became a Durham fixture and earned local honors such as “Best Chef” and “Best New Restaurant” from Indy Week. Zweli, originally from Zimbabwe, and Leonardo, from eastern North Carolina, met as students at NC Central University; he later taught in Durham Public Schools while she worked across restaurants and food-service departments before realizing her dream of ownership. Beyond its cuisine, the restaurant is noted for strong community engagement—providing free meals during the pandemic and participating in local civic efforts, including Leonardo’s role in forming the Durham Small Business Coalition." - Erin Perkins