From Beef Mafe To Banku, 3 Restaurants In New York That Serve West African Dishes And Will Remind You Of Home

When you come across restaurants in far flung areas millions of miles away from home selling 'home away from home' experiences through their African cuisines you cross your heart and say bless them before you sit down and place your order.

New York City is home to close to nine million people sourced from almost every corner of the world.

So here are three restaurants in New York which have specialized in serving West African dishes from beef mafe to banku which you can savour.

Nothing beats the taste and feeling of home, especially when you are in abroad.

Therefore when you come across restaurants in far flung areas millions of miles away from home selling 'home away from home' experiences through their African cuisines you cross your heart and say bless them before you sit down and place your order.

Home to close to nine million people sourced from almost every corner of the world, New York City can as well be the World's capital.

New York City (happyfly.)

However, even in New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of, where there's nothing you can't do, where streets will make you feel brand new and the lights will inspire you, one can still feel lost if they can't once in a while eat some local cuisines just like mama used to make back at home in Africa.

So here are three restaurants in New York which have specialized in serving West African dishes from beef mafe to banku which you can savour.

Mama G African Kitchen

MamaG African Kitchen (Facebook)

Should you pop into this restaurant located at 1322A E, Gun Hill Road in the Bronx's Allerton neighborhood, you will be smiling from ear to ear while skimming through their menu.

On the menu, you will get jollof rice with beef and plantains, grilled red snapper and spicy kebabs, as well as banku-- a Ghanaian specialty of cooked fermented corn and cassava dough, served with stew or pepper sauce.

"I enjoy their service and friendly atmosphere," Yelper Barbara S., who reviewed the joint on August 19 wrote.

"If you're a newbie and don't know what to get I'd say get the waakye cooked rice and beans. My favorite thing on the menu,"

Mama G African Kitchen is a family-owned joint, which specializes in Ghanaian cuisine. (Facebook)

Mama G African Kitchen is a family-owned joint, which specializes in Ghanaian cuisine.

The restaurant provides takeout, delivery and catering as well as dine-in options. It has 3.5 stars out of three reviews on Yelp.

Mama G African Kitchen is open from 11 AM - 2 AM daily.

Berber Street Food

Berber Street Food is an African-Caribbean hybrid joint serving up take-out and dine-in meals. (Eater NY)

Berber Street Food is an African-Caribbean hybrid joint serving up take-out and dine-in meals from its space at 35 Carmine St. in the West Village.

Some of West African dishes you can order form their extensive menu range from Senegalese empanadas with beef, chicken or vegetables, Nigerian sirloin skewers with cabbage salad, to herbed lamb meatballs with berber salad.

Berber Street Food joint. (Eater NY)

The restaurant provides catering services and delivery via Seamless. It has a five-star Yelp rating out of three reviews.

Berber Street Food is open from 12 noon to 9 PM only on weekdays.

Medina

Medina is a new Senegalese restaurant conveniently located in Downtown Brooklyn. (Eater NY)

Customers at Medina can expect to find mouthwatering dishes like the red snapper stewed in tomato sauce with eggplant, carrots, cassava and cabbage, served over jollof rice, and the beef mafe: pieces of beef and veggies in a peanut sauce, served with veggies over rice.

"The food is delicious and the portions are huge! It is buffet style, quick and easy," said Nicholas M "You get a lot of food... enough for two meals."

Medina is a Senegalese spot serving buffet-style food priced by the pound. (abc7NY)

Medina is a Senegalese spot serving buffet-style food priced by the pound. The restaurant currently holds 3.5 stars out of six reviews on Yelp.

The family-owned counter-service restaurant is located at 51B Willoughby St. (between Lawrence and Jay streets) in downtown Brooklyn.

The restaurant is open from 10 AM - 9 PM and 10 AM - 9 PM, Monday to Saturday.