Columbus is fortunate to have a range of African restaurants that cover a variety of countries and cuisines, and the relatively new Foodateria on the northeast side offers a mix of both Kenyan and Nigerian food.
The family-run Foodateria is run by Yetty Abimbola and her son Gideon. Gideon said Yetty had always had a dream of owning her own restaurant, so the family – who hail from Nigeria – purchased the old Wycliff’s Kitchen Kenyan eatery. They kept many of the Kenyan dishes while adding favorites from Nigeria.
Right away Gideon recommended we start with the zobo hibiscus tea, a rich brew that offered a perfect sweet counterpoint to the dishes we tried.
The two-sided menu is split between Kenyan and Nigerian specialties. We should note that there are a lot of vegetarian and vegan items as well.
In addition to the hibiscus tea, we’d also suggest starting with a couple beef samosas from the Nigerian menu.
The triangular pockets are filled with a mixture of nicely seasoned ground beef and veggies.
This is Yetty’s egusi, a rich stew with pepper, onion, tomatoes, melon seeds, palm oil, and pieces of beef.
To eat it, you tear pieces of fufu, or pounded, cooked yams, then scoop up bites of the stew.
The suya meal features bites of grilled steak with peanut-heavy spices and a choice of sides. We chose the excellent jollof rice and fried plantains.
The samaki karanga is a Kenyan specialty that features a whole fried tilapia with a bowl of coconut soup and a variety of sides.
The fish itself was fried wonderfully, with crispy skin and tender meat that pulled off the bone.
We could have eaten a larger bowl of the coconut soup!
On Gideon’s suggestion, we tried the madodo beans as a side.
And the ugali, a ball of cornmeal mush.
Plus sides of cabbage and sukuma, or collard greens.
Thanks to Yetty, Gideon, and the whole family for a wonderful meal! Whether you’re familiar with a lot of different African cuisines or you’re brand new to them, Foodateria is a great introduction to at least two countries’ offerings.
You can find Foodateria in the Atrium Center shopping plaza, a couple doors down from the also-excellent Taqueria Guadalajara.
It’s open Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday, noon to 8 p.m.
Foodateria
2492 Home Acre Dr.
Columbus, OH 43231
(614) 772-3461
Web: foodateriakitchen.square.site
IG: @foodateria
