By Okon Ekpenyong

As we prepare for the first-ever Ohio African Restaurant Week from August 17-27, 2023 and promote small businesses, we have recently visited several Central Ohio African restaurants. This week, we visited Zongolink African Restaurant inside Saraga International Grocery Store off Hamilton Avenue and Red Sea Cafe & Deli on Dublin Granville Rd & Sharon Woods Blvd.

The two restaurants offer different cuisines, allowing us to sample the diverse flavors of African cuisine. Zongolink served us traditional Ghanaian dishes such as jollof rice and groundnut soup. At the same time, Red Sea Cafe and Deli had a variety of Somalian dishes such as rice and goat. The meals were all delicious and a great introduction to African cuisine.

Zongolink African Restaurant aims to provide its customers with a unique and unforgettable experience. The restaurant takes pride in its traditional African cuisine, utilizing fresh ingredients to create authentic African dishes such as the Egushie soup and pounded yam. The restaurant’s inviting atmosphere and delicious dishes aim to bring people from all backgrounds together in joy and celebration.

Pounded yam with Egushi is a popular Nigerian dish made from yam, Egusi (a melon seed), and other ingredients. It is said to be a delicacy that is savored by many. “Our restaurant takes great pride in its food and strives for customer satisfaction, and we welcome customers to taste and confirm this with us,” said the owner.

The restaurant offers a variety of traditional West African dishes to satisfy any palate. From savory stews to flavorful fried dishes, the menu includes favorites such as fufu with groundnut soup, jollof rice with plantain and chicken, Hausa Koko with Kose, tuo Zaafi, banku with okra stew, fried rice with chicken, sobolo with pie, banku with tilapia, fried yam with Chofi, pounded yam and attieke with fish.

These dishes are prepared with fresh ingredients, such as tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, ginger, and herbs, to create unique and flavorful combinations. The restaurant also uses traditional African cooking techniques to ensure that each dish is perfectly cooked. The plates are made with love and care and served with a smile.

The Red Sea Cafe & Deli Somalia Restaurant

The Red Sea Cafe & Deli is an excellent example of a beautiful African cuisine place in Central Ohio. The rice and goat or rice and chicken meal was savory and flavorful and was a great introduction to the array of African food in the area. The restaurant is off Dublin Granville Rd and Sharon Woods Blvd.

The Yelp website allows users to review and recommend local businesses, shopping centers, entertainment venues, restaurants, etc. One customer on Yelp, who gave the restaurant a four-star, stated, “As someone who has tried a few restaurants around Columbus. I can tell you that they are well worth the trip. I tried the lamb, and it was perfectly seasoned to the bone. The owner has the best Somalian food I’ve ever had, real talk”.

We look forward to visiting more African restaurants in the upcoming weeks.

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