Jollof King

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 with a few Nigerian flourishes. Before entering, prepare yourself for hits of ginger, garlic, guinea pepper, alligator pepper, and Maggi in the various entrees, stews, soups, dumplings, and starches like Jollof rice. Orders can include chicken, beef, tilapia, or goat, yes, but also banku or fufu — both west African-style dumplings of sorts. These colorless balls made from corn or yam, plantain, or even oatmeal are beautifully accompanied by the eatery’s oily, fragrant stews, the dumplings working like an edible utensil. Plus, there’s peanut butter soup here. It’s unassuming, yes, but Jollof King has some of the best samplings of west African offerings in the Valley.