During the pandemic, most restaurants switched from full service to takeout. At Authentic EthioAfrican on McDowell Road, the team did just the opposite. During the downtime, the restaurant transformed from a takeout-only spot into a sit-down destination complete with wooden furniture and decor brought directly from Ethiopia, a new cocktail list and a traditional coffee […]
African in Phoenix
Showing 1 - 12 of 12
You’d never know to look at it, but this unassuming little storefront is home to Arizona’s largest wine distributor, where the Valley’s most dedicated wine enthusiasts gather to taste and buy more than 2,000 vintages hailing from 13 countries. From economical to extravagant, from old favorites to unconventional finds, AZ Wine Co. has it all-as […]
No one lives in Tempe for long without hearing, “You’ve got to try Cafe Lalibela.” The husband-and-wife-run Ethiopian restaurant has occupied a strip mall suite for decades. Serving some of the best African food in all of metropolitan Phoenix, the eatery specializes in vegetarian dishes (though several meat items are on the menu) and is […]
Habbouz Tunisian Cuisine, a small, family-owned eatery located just off the I-17 in north Central Phoenix, bills itself as Phoenix’s first and only Tunisian restaurant. Luckily, there’s more to recommend this no-frills eatery than pure novelty. Owner and chef Nabiha delivers spicy, fragrant dishes like ajja merguez, a lamb sausage and egg dish served in […]
The exterior is pure strip mall, the interior is modern and sleek, and the setup is quick-service and buffet style. But the food from the 2018-established Jollof King in south Tempe goes back generations and generations in west Africa, with a few personal touches from the cooks and owners. The two-page menu features Ghanaian food […]
advertisement
The prize of the Somali community in Phoenix, located in a strip mall they should start calling Little Mogadishu to reflect not only the demographics of the shop owners, but also of the residents of the surrounding area. The recently refurbished interior is clean and pleasant, and the food is outstanding with a two-section menu: […]
In-the-know diners come to this well-regarded ethnic diner for authentic African cuisine with Caribbean influences. African food is traditionally very spicy, but one can adjust the heat on pretty much every dish. Equisi soup, a slow-cooked Nigerian concoction featuring pounded yam and rich chunks of goat, is a winner. Likewise the thyme-infused oxtail soup, a […]
Miss the old frat house? You’ll swear you’ve stepped into old Omega Alpha Etcetera when visiting this peculiar Tempe tavern. Perhaps it’s the cardboard portrait of Princess Leia stapled to the wall or the thrift-store décor of mismatched furniture and odd tchotchkes that give Monkey Pants its frat-house vibe. The wait staff shouts “Hello!” as […]
Some hidden gems are known in certain food circles, and others are more like the Somali eatery Waamo Restaurant: more truly hidden. Marked by a loud green-and-white sign, Waamo buzzes, nevertheless. Inside its yellow-lighted, yellow-painted dining room, there’s multilingual conversation, regulars cradling hot coffee, and often a takeout logjam. A mango smoothie and chapati wrap […]
advertisement