By Okon Ekpenyong

The Ohio African restaurant week starts today, August 17, and runs through Sunday, August 27. It aims to celebrate the unique African culture and cuisine many immigrants bring to Central Ohio and the state of Ohio.

Back in July and early August of 2023, if you had attended Liberians Cultural Fusion, Columbus African Festival, and Ghanaian Festival, you most likely experienced some African best-kept secrets from a restaurant owner or caterer.

African cuisines vary significantly across the continent, reflecting the diverse range of cultures and climates. Ethiopia is known for its spicy, flavorful dishes such as doro wot, a slow-cooked chicken stew cooked in berbere sauce. West Africa has a variety of starchy dishes, such as fufu, and a wide range of spicy stews made with local ingredients.

East Africa is home to the famous Swahili cuisine, which features dishes such as ugali, a cornmeal-based porridge, and pilau, a rice-based dish cooked with spices. There are also plenty of other traditional African food, from cassava-based meals in Ghana to curries in Zimbabwe.

And this is an opportunity to celebrate African-owned restaurants and their contributions to the local economy. The week-and-a-half event will feature a variety of African-inspired dishes from over twenty-five African Nations, and it helps highlight small businesses (like restaurants, cafes, and bars) and celebrates African/Diaspora cuisine and culture; we hope to stimulate the local economy and foster a sense of community.

Supporting these restaurants is also essential because some African restaurants can fail quickly. Therefore, the key to a successful African restaurant is strong support from the community. But also, the establishment must make sure they do a unique twist on traditional African dishes, as well as excellent customer service. And this will help the restaurant stand out from its competitors and keep customers returning for more. Additionally, it is vital to keep up with trends and adjust recipes and pricing accordingly to ensure the restaurant’s success.

We are looking for your recommendations and pictures of some of your favorite African restaurants in Ohio. Our team will curate a list of the ten best African restaurants in the state to feature in our September edition. Please submit your recommendations and pictures by August 28th so that we can include them in the special edition.

Some of the top restaurants in Central Ohio voted by food lovers are:

* Lalibela Restaurant and Bar

* Savor Bar & Grill

* Tasty Hands

* Intercontinental Restaurant

* Addis Kitchen

* The Nile Vegan

* MyafroFoods

* Fork In Nigeria

* Pat’s Delicious

* Drelyse African Restaurant

* Chez Rama Restaurant

* Senetaste Restaurant

* Hoyo’s Kitchen

* Afra Grill

* Ginevra Cafe

* Habesha Garden Restaurant

* Somalia and Ethiopia Restaurant

* Hamdi Grill

* Red Sea Cafe & Deli

* Riziki Swahili Grill

* The Point Restaurant

Some of the top African Restaurants in Cincinnati are:

* Darou Salam African Halal Restaurant – Senegalese cuisine

* Teranga African Restaurant

* 221 Restaurant

* Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant

* Sene Grill

* Elephant Walk Indian Bar and Grill

* Divine Appetite Café & Catering

And if you are looking for other African restaurants in Ohio, you are in luck! There are a variety of African restaurants in cities across the state. From Cleveland to Dayton, Toledo, and beyond, there are plenty of options. To find the best African restaurants near you, visit yelp.com or check your Google Maps.

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