A Taste of Africa in New Orleans: Celebrating African Chefs and Culinary Roots

 


A Taste of Africa in New Orleans: Celebrating African Chefs and Culinary Roots

By Linda Dabo 

New Orleans is famous for its gumbo, po’boys, and jazz-soaked evenings, but there's another flavorful layer to the city's culture that continues to rise—its deepening connection to African cuisine and the chefs bringing it to life. From the bustling streets of the French Quarter to the historic neighborhoods of the Seventh Ward and Gentilly, African and African-diaspora chefs are reshaping the city’s culinary landscape with food that tells ancestral stories and honors heritage.

A Culinary Star: Chef Serigne Mbaye of Dakar NOLA

At the forefront of this movement is Chef Serigne Mbaye, the Senegalese-born culinary artist behind Dakar NOLA, a fine-dining restaurant that has captured national attention. Blending Senegalese traditions with the soul of New Orleans, Mbaye’s tasting menus offer diners a culinary journey rooted in family, migration, and flavor.

In 2024, Dakar NOLA was honored with the James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant in the U.S., a historic win for African cuisine in America. With every course, Mbaye serves up a masterclass in storytelling—each dish connecting the dots between West Africa and Louisiana Creole food traditions.

Bennachin Restaurant: African Roots in the French Quarter

Long before the rise of Dakar NOLA, Bennachin Restaurant was already making its mark. Located in the French Quarter since 1992, Bennachin serves dishes inspired by Gambian and Cameroonian cuisines. Favorites include "bennachin" (the West African precursor to jambalaya), akara fritters, peanut stew, and egusi soup.

The restaurant not only offers authentic African meals but also reminds locals and visitors alike of Africa's foundational role in the making of New Orleans Creole cuisine.

Bayou Road Flavors: Addis NOLA and the Ethiopian Tradition

A short trip to the culturally rich Bayou Road reveals Addis NOLA, a beloved Ethiopian restaurant serving injera, lentils, spiced meats, and flavorful stews. The aroma of berbere and warm hospitality make this spot a community gem. It’s one of the few places in the city where the dining experience includes sharing dishes communally—an homage to Ethiopian tradition and a welcome return to food as fellowship.

The Afro-Caribbean Connection

Many restaurants in New Orleans also draw from African-diaspora culinary traditions, especially those from the Caribbean:

  • Fritai, led by Haitian chef Charly Pierre, serves Haitian street food with a modern twist. From griot (fried pork) to plantain sandwiches, the menu bursts with Caribbean character rooted in African foodways.

  • Queen Trini Lisa offers Trinidadian cuisine, from jerk chicken to doubles and curry goat. Her flavors recall the complex fusion of Indian, African, and Creole influences in the Caribbean.

  • Afrodisiac, located in Gentilly, brings together Jamaican and Creole flavors. Led by chef Caron “Kay” Garel, the menu includes Caribbean-style cocktails and jerk-spiced dishes reimagined with New Orleans flair.

More Black-Owned Excellence with African Heritage

Several other Black-owned restaurants carry the essence of African culinary history through Southern and Creole traditions:

  • Compère Lapin, owned by Caribbean chef Nina Compton, blends French, Creole, and Caribbean flavors in elegant fashion.

  • Willie Mae’s Scotch House, a legendary Black-owned institution, serves some of the city’s most famous fried chicken and soul food staples.

  • Morrow’s, located in the Marigny/Bywater area, is a trendy eatery that serves gumbo, pasta, and Southern comfort food, celebrating Black culinary entrepreneurship.

A Rich Tapestry of Taste

What unites these chefs and restaurants is more than delicious food—it’s a shared dedication to heritage, memory, and resilience. Their work connects the dots between Africa, the Caribbean, and the American South, showing that the African diaspora is not only foundational to New Orleans cuisine but continues to breathe new life into it.

From fine dining to neighborhood favorites, these culinary artists are not just cooking—they're preserving culture, sharing history, and redefining what it means to dine in New Orleans.

Sidebar: Where to Dine African in New Orleans

Restaurant Cuisine Location
Dakar NOLA Senegalese fine dining Uptown
Bennachin Gambian & Cameroonian French Quarter
Addis NOLA Ethiopian Bayou Road
Fritai Haitian Treme
Queen Trini Lisa Trinidadian Various Pop-Ups
Afrodisiac Jamaican-Creole Fusion Gentilly
Compère Lapin Caribbean-Creole Fusion CBD
Willie Mae’s Southern/Soul Food Treme
Morrow’s Southern-Creole Fusion Marigny/Bywater

Conclusion

The African culinary presence in New Orleans is no longer hidden in the background—it’s leading the charge, plate by plate. In a city long known for its layered food traditions, African chefs and African-inspired restaurants are weaving new stories into the fabric of New Orleans cuisine.

Whether you’re a local or a visitor, take the time to explore these flavors. With every bite, you’ll taste not just food—but history, pride, and a deep sense of cultural return.


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