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Afrikando Afrikando - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants African African [Edit]
5903 Rainier Ave S(between Juneau St & Kenny St)
Seattle, WA 98118
Neighborhood: Columbia City
(206) 497-1801
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
21 reviews for Afrikando Afrikando
Review Highlights
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"...the plantains to the peanut sauce to the braised chicken..." In 5 reviews -
"I had the Debe, a lamb dish." In 3 reviews -
"...and rice, and crowned with half a chicken (or you can get a..." In 3 reviews
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Sonia G.
Auburn, WA
9/21/2010
Good stuff!! We came here with no expectations and were pleasantly surprised.
Good stuff!! We came here with no expectation and were pleasantly surprised! -
Review from Kiki M.
1/19/2010
I wanted to try African food and it didn't matter which region it came from I was on a mission to expand my palette's experience. My friend who lives in Columbia City mentioned Afrikando Afrikando and I said, "Let's go, yo!" without thinking twice.
Afrikando Afrikando is nestled on the corner of a bustling urban neighborhood. You walk in and its simply decorated with fabrics and regional artifacts. There were only two other people there who ate their meals silently.
The waiter walks up to us and asks if we want to eat and if we do want to eat we'll have to pay for it. Excuse me? A chuckle quickly follows the jab and he tells us to sit anywhere. We find a table not far from the adjoining room where a man is watching a religious video.
Our menus come with more rousing as the waiter says I'll have to translate the menu for my friends. He likes to give you a hard time obviously but you realize its all in good fun. At that time I wasn't eating meat and found one option that could fit my dietary needs: a dish with vegetables doused in a sauce similar to peanut sauce. My friends went with a fish dish and a lamb dish.
As we were waiting for our food to arrive the waiter came back with drinks for us. He was coy with letting us know what it was. We took a sip and it was amazing! I knew the taste was familiar but couldn't pinpoint exactly what it was. The waiter explained it was a ginger drink. Ah ha! Boy, it was tasty.
The food came and my plate was almost overflowing. I dove into the vegetables, put some rice on the fork, and was totally taken aback by the flavors. My vegetables were cooked just right, soft but not soggy and the sauce was excellent. My friends enjoyed their entrees as well.
I enjoyed Afrikando Afrikando. The food was flavorful and that ginger drink has become one of my favorite things. Just brace yourself if you get the tall gentlemen waiter with the white beanie because he will jerk your chain frequently. Go to Afrikando Afrikando with a sense of humor and an appetite because you will need both. -
Review from Carla J.
Seattle, WA
3/4/2010
I love this place! To go, dine in, WHATEVER!!! I have ordered the lamb, chicken AND fish! Each dish has been as tasty as the last.
The portions are HUGE! Service friendly and geniunely warm. A true ma' & pa joint that has consistency in fabulous food with grand presentation!
You should go! And get his hot sauce... AWESOME!Listed in: Carla's Favorites!!!
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Review from Leonardo H.
Seattle, WA
10/22/2009
Wow. I really don't know what to say about this place. It's a completely mixed feelings. Of good and bad, of yummy food and bad, awkward atmosphere. It was definitely quite an experience.
First of all, I had driven all the way out to wherever this area is that I had never been to before. It was a completely foreign neighborhood that looked sketchy to me, which was only accentuated by the presence of 2 cop cars right outside the restaurant. After reading reviews in magazines/newspaper, I had been wanting to try this place. And I was expecting the kind, warm service from the couple that run the joint, which those reviews had raved on about. I called when I was having trouble finding the place, and the lady on the phone did not sound very friendly at all. She sounded annoyed that I even asked for directions and made sure the place was still open.
I get there, the place was completely EMPTY. The family greeted me, their kids were running around. Nice kids, with big smiles. I couldn't help but smile back, and that made me feel comfortable and welcomed. The wife/mother came to take my order in a very lazy, uncaring manner, as if I had made them stay open later just for me. I ordered 2 dishes, since I was waiting for my friend to come. But she may also not come, I said. Or if she did, she might not even want to eat. They were confused that I wanted to order both at the same time. "I drove all the way out here, I want to try at least 2 of your signature dishes."
1. Mafe: Spicy peanut sauce with a variety of savory root vegetables served over Jasmine rice. -- This is the one I wanted to try the most; I love peanut sauce.
2. Thieb : Savory Jolof red rice (Basmati rice cooked in a rich tomato sauce) with eggplant, carrots, cassava and cabbage. -- I didn't feel like eating meat that time.
As I waited for my food to arrive, all I could hear was people talking loudly in the back room. Arguing, mostly in their native language, but a few sentences here and there in English. I don't want to get into the details of what they were talking about, but it kinda just made me uncomfortable. I don't like raised, argumentative tones. I definitely don't want it coming from the people who are preparing my food.
I felt antsy. O god, just give me my food and get me out of here. I'll probably even just eat a little bit and take most of it to go.
One dish came, it was the NOT-peanut-sauce one. As she served it to me, she tells me that the Mafe was out. Wait, really? You couldn't have told me that sooner? I actually would've just left and not even get anything, because the Mafe was my ONLY reason to try that place. I was upset and really disappointed, but I was so hungry that I just had to swallow my pride along with the basmati rice, with the most fragrant of smells, and tomato-based sauce, with chunks of perfectly cooked vegetables. The sauce was just the right amount of spicyness and texture: not too liquidy, not too thick.
I ended up ordering another dish because I was 'that' hungry. Kandja got the pick. "Okra stew cooked in golden palm oil with lamb and fish (sometimes other seafood too)." --that's taken straight from their online menu. This dish was unbelievably complex. You can taste lamb, you can taste fish, you taste the okra. It was just a thick stew of yummy goodness flavor.
I was pleased by the time I cleaned up the two dishes that I had forgotten how stale the service was. I was so pleased with the food that I had to give them the benefit of the doubt. Maybe they just had a really really bad day. And I should know how sucky that could be, since I just had the suckiest month ever. I decided to warm up to them and start talking about their food, praising them on how well the two dishes were prepared. I asked them in details what went into each stew, and what was so special about the then-depleted Mafe (peanut sauce dish).
I definitely have to come back for the Mafe and hope that they won't be having a bad day then. Maybe I'll come with a friend next time. -
Review from Rebekah D.
WA
2/24/2009
Afrikando is amazing!! I cannot recommend this place more and I am so happy it's just a few blocks from my house. My husband and I ate here for the first time a few months ago and were blown away by the blending of flavors, spices and huge portions. For the price you really can't beat being able to have left overs for at least two days afterwards. The folks who run Afrikando Afrikando are super friendly and are very open and proud to answer any questions about the cuisine. Even if you don't live in the neighborhood it is well worth the drive and the sketch to check out this amazing gem.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! -
Review from Darcy H.
Seattle, WA
9/14/2009
Delicious, and plenty of vegetarian choices for your veg-friends. Great bevs.
Just TRY to not feel charmed when the owner comes by your table to say hello and joke a bit. ~swoon. -
Review from ira g.
Renton, WA
7/24/2009
Africando Africando used to be located in Downtown Seattle, I went there once with my Ghanaian friend, and she was quite happy to find a west-african food in Seattle for the first time then. We had a great impression on Africando that day.
When we decided to return to the restaurant sometimes back, the restaurant wasn't open anymore in D.T Seattle, we looked and looked and couldn't find their new location. Until just few days ago, my boyfriend took me out for a surprise dinner to 'AFRICANDO' - can you imagine how psyched I was?.... that was really a surprise.
The food is amazing still- we ordered fried plantain with the onion/habanero/tomato sauce- It was Delish!
As Entree- we ordered the Fish ball and Halibut dish with eggplant, cabbage, carrot, sweet potatoes, and yam. It has unique taste, savory, spicy, sweet, salty, all mix together. We will definitely come back to try something else from their menu next time.
Ooh.. did I tell you the lady who served us- she was so friendly, she's from Niger. she explained to us the food in West-Africa and the spices they use in those countries. -
Review from Rachel L.
9/6/2009
Delicious! Enjoyed a meal with a Cameroonian and a former Ivorian Peace Corps volunteer. Both were delighted with this Senegalese place (and happy for a chance to use their French). We came just as the family who runs the place was breaking their Ramadan fast, and felt a bit guilty about taking them from their food to start preparing ours, but it was SO worth it. Everything was delicious, from the plantains to the peanut sauce to the braised chicken, to the fish balls, to the halibut. All the sauces were exquisite and the portions were ENORMOUS.
We also appreciated the little touches - kids playing in the back, ceiling tiles and chairs covered with bright fabrics, friendly server and host . . . The prep time is a little long, and some menu items weren't available, but we expected that and were pleasantly surprised by all the options and the relatively smooth service. Definitely worth the trip South! -
Review from Jason T.
Seattle, WA
2/18/2009
It's hard to beat the hospitality of the staff here, and it's great that they're the only West African place in Seattle.
Unfortunately, the mafe and the eggplant/rice thing were incredibly, incredibly salty. The flavors were interesting enough, but undermined by excessive salt.
One of the members of our group wasn't thrilled with the okra/fish stew that she tried, because the fish was a bit too smelly, not in a "strong-tasting-fish" way but in a, well, more unpleasant to think about way.
The most popular savory item in our group was their half chicken dish, which was so much for the person that ordered it that he shared it with four or five other people.
The (non-alcoholic) drinks we tried were nice. A rice-pudding like dessert with fruit was also good.
I want to like it, but I don't have much urge to return. -
Review from Tony S.
Seattle, WA
3/1/2009
we arrived at 5:30pm saturday night...in 5 minutes the place was packed. it was, however, the 1st day since they were written up in the seattle times.
started with the plantains which were cooked al dente and seasoned just right and came with a mild chili sauce and mango garnish...yum.
wanted the soup de la mer but they were out for the day. main course was the fried whole tilapia which was perfectly fried, fresh from the frying pan. it came with a very generous portion of cous cous, a sliver of eggplant, some cabbage and a piece of yuca...all cooked wonderfully in a tomato base sauce.
left full and satisfied. my friend and i both had diet soda and the bill came out to $25 for each of us and that was including tip! loved the food although one of the wait staff seemed confused and wasn't very quick with answers regarding the menu and the bill.
totally yummy! service and speed of food coming out was very good! gonna go back! -
Review from Sabiha D.
Seattle, WA
5/12/2009
I am the lucky one, I live south of Hudson, as one reviewer calls it, in Hillman City, each week I walk the two blocks to Afrikando Afrikando with friends in tow. This is a restaurant so nice Jacque, the owner named it twice. For those who think it is slow, you are missing the culture of Africa and the concept that nothing is prepared (except maybe the rice and couscous) until ordered. When you are at Afrikando, you are in Africa, I know, I have been there. Any who has been to Africa knows it is friendly and seldom can you find a clock outside the city. Don't go with anyone you do not like, or is boring because in Africa this is the time used to relax ( a novel concept) you sip a drink (ginger tea and Habiscus juice is great) and get to know each other better as friends, mates, business partners. Relax. Then eat that huge meal and go home and sleep. Try it, you work hard you deserve a meal at Afrikando Afrikando.
As to the fish, I eat there at least once a week and I almost alway order Talapia fried whole always fresh, no smell at all other than wonderful spices.
The wait is usually not an hour, but for the reviewer it was, it might have been prayer time. The owner is a devoted Muslim, and does stop cooking to make prayer at prescribed times. The bathroom thing is interesting. -
Review from Theresa R.
Seattle, WA
Updated - 11/29/2009
Sorry Afrikando Afrikando, your rating is going down down in my book. The slowest service imaginable, even when we were one of maybe three parties there?! The food is still okay, but it is way too spicy (which means our 2 year old daughter cannot eat there because there's habanero everywhere) and last time we were there the meat was all dried out. Maybe it cooked too long since we were there for seemingly hours. Don't want to go back, sorry, and good luck!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/25/2009
Oh Downtown C.C., how I'm bored of thee, let me count the ways...
Okay, I'm being a little harsh. To… Read more »
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Review from Alex S.
12/14/2008
This may become my new favorite restaurant. I can't recommend it highly enough.
The food is amazing! Great preparation. Fresh ingredients. Peanut sauces, chilies, interesting spices. We've ordered an assortment, and it's all been excellent. Like, so good my mouth is watering thinking about it now. And the prices were completely reasonable.
Better yet, this place has heart. It's clearly a family business, and the staff are just about the friendliest people you could imagine. They have put together a terrific place to eat.
The only possible hang-up is that they don't serve booze. But that's why the bars up the street are there. Eat, then drink. No problem.
I'll be going back this week. -
Review from Rachel S.
Seattle, WA
5/8/2010
OH MY GOD.
This place is so good. I had the Debe, a lamb dish. It had the most amazing and interesting mix of flavors. My partner had a chicken dish, I forget which one. Both entrees were huge-we probably could have split one. If you are a wuss about spice, like myself, stay away from the red sauce served on the side. It was fairly painful for me although I understand if you like that sort of thing it was good.
The only downside is the service and the food was very slow. The food took probably almost 45 minutes and then afterward we had a hard time flagging down the server for boxes and the check. The owner/chef did come by to ask how we enjoyed our meal (and to give us a hard time for not finishing it. Seriously, that would be impossible for one person!). -
Review from Jacob M.
Seattle, WA
3/27/2009
A very good, cheap Senegalese restaurant with HUGE portions. We had fried plantains with a fiery pepper sauce, two chicken dishes (with a half-chicken each). One had a peanut sauce with cassavas and carrots, the other had couscous with a tomato based sauce. Delicious! Dessert was couscous with fruit in a sweet milky sauce, similar to rice pudding.
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Review from Andrew D.
Seattle, WA
3/29/2009
I agree with another poster, I wanted to like it but just wasn't blown away. Went there with a couple other people and were expecting a wait, but it was really a wait. I think it took about an hour to get food once we ordered. There were only two other tables too. My lamb did taste okay, but there are better places to get lamb. It could have been an off night for them cooking-wise. They were great hosts though. The bathroom situation was a little interesting as well...
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Review from Arunkumar N.
King, WA
10/4/2009
The fried tilapia was awesome and so were the lamb chops. Its a little further off from the downtown area.
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Review from elizabeth s.
Olympia, WA
4/27/2011
I had to post. Is it really closed? I loved this place. It was so good. It was a little expensive (because I had to have the mafe AND the fish) but it was worth it (tasted great and huge portions). We don't live in Seattle but loved visiting this place when we were in town. PLEASE RE-OPEN SOOON!!!!
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Review from Holly J.
Kent, WA
8/6/2010
My boyfriend and I came here for the first time tonight. It took us forever to find it because our GPS took us to the intersection of Rainier and Jackson and said we had arrived. I believe it was 30 blocks away from there! So not even close. We got there and looked over the menu. My boyfriend ordered the yogurt drink and was told they were all out, but that they would have some by the time our food came out. I ordered the meat/seafood pockets and was told they were out. They were also out of chicken and we wanted to get the mango tart for dessert and they were out of that as well. I ended up having the lamb kebob (brochette?) and my boyfriend had the debe (lamb chop I believe). Apparently his was delicious but my lamb was very dry and difficult to eat (very chewy). I was a little disappointed. The best thing we had was this hibiscus drink... very tasty. We also got ice cream, it was okay. We ended up going to another restaurant in Seattle a couple of hours later because I just felt kinda disappointed. I REALLY wanted to like this place but the service was meh, the food was meh, and it also took a long time to be done. I'm sure my boyfriend will want to go back someday but I'm not sure if I will give it another chance or not :-/
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Review from Mindy S.
Tucson, AZ
9/23/2010
Admittedly, I am not the most daring of diners, but my boyfriend and I were celebrating our one-year anniversary in Seattle, and I wanted to go someplace I thought he would like, so I figured I'd suck it up and grab a slice on the way back to the hotel. What a pleasant surprise Afrikando turned out to be! The service was great, and the food... wow! I have no idea what the dishes we tried were called (sorry), but the real standout here were the sauces. I chose a vegetarian dish, mainly composed of root vegetables and a savory sauce, and my boyfriend ate a lamb dish. We also had an appetizer which were some sort of fritters - also fantastic. As someone else mentioned, they have a hot sauce which was one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life, and the couple seated nearby (sadly, the only other people in this wonderful restaurant) were eating a whole fish and a chicken dish, and they couldn't stop raving about it. I will definitely go out of my way to eat at Afrikando the next time I visit Seattle!
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Review from dharma-karma f.
Seattle, WA
4/2/2009
Hooray! Afrikando lives again, down in Hillman City. I had withdrawal symptoms when the original restaurant in Belltown closed years ago, and was thrilled to find the same owners back in business. It's a bit out of the way, and no alcohol with your dinner here, but the flavors of the stews is the same, and that's delicious! I naturally gravitate to the mafe, a rich peanut stew over large cuts of root veggies and rice, and crowned with half a chicken (or you can get a smaller portion). I look forward to revisiting and sampling the rest of the menu again soon.
