Where To Find London's Best Jollof Rice

Aude Konan
By Aude Konan Last edited 58 months ago

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Where To Find London's Best Jollof Rice
Image from West Africa Cooks.

It’s a universal truth that the surest way to start a war between Nigerian and Ghanaian communities in London is to ask them who makes the best jollof rice.

Both claim to hold the title, fiercely defending their own brand of jollof. Ironically, neither country invented it.

Jollof is the rice of the Wolof, an ethnic group from Senegal. There though, they call the dish tchep or tcheboudienne. Traditionally it's made of fried rice, scotch bonnet, onions and tomatoes. But because it's been exported to the likes of Ghana, Nigeria, Congo and Cameroon, there are many different takes.

The rice is such an important matter that a competition was held last year in Brixton by the Afrikan Family Works charity. To everyone’s surprise, the winner was Victoria Spence — of Jamaican/Guyanese background — showing once again that the rivalry between Nigerians and Ghanaians may be a bit pointless.

Still, in London you’re most likely to eat jollof that's Nigerian or Ghanaian. Depending on your personal taste, you may find the Ghanian better because it is more spicy, or the Nigerian one better because of the meat and plantain on the side. Brixton and Dalston’s pop-up markets are the places to go, but there are other great restaurants as well.

Zoe's Ghana Kitchen

Ghanaian

Ghanaian jollof rice consists of basmati rice, tomato and spice.

Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen is an incredibly fun place in which to devour your jollof; the calendar packed with live music and supper clubs.

Zoe’s Ghana Kitchen, Unit 36, Pop Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Road, SW9 8PQ

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Safari has also won plaudits for its top-notch jollof.

Safari, 440 Streatham High Road, Streatham, SW16 3PX

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Tel: 020 8679 9055

The jollof at 805

Nigerian

There are two types of Nigerian jollof: 'normal' and party — which is more copious, made with long grain rice, tomato sauce, and has onions and plantains on the side.

No need to present the famous 805, one of the most popular Nigerian restaurants in London. Jollof rice starts at £11.

805 Restaurant, 805 Old Kent Road, SE15 1NX

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Enish is a Nigerian restaurant serving jollof rice (with plantain on the side) for less than £10. Add some fish and it goes up to £15.

Enish, 228 Lewisham High Street, SE13 6JU

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Little Baobab

Senegalese

Tchep, or thieboudienne, is made of fried basmati rice, onions, garlic, aubergines and fish.

Little Baobab is a Senegalese restaurant in Clapton owned by two friends, Khadim and Abdoulaye Samb. They serve a fusion of African and European food as well as traditional tchep for less than £10. Tchep is served on Fridays, but you can make a reservation to have it served any other day.

Little Baobab, 159 Lower Clapton Road, E58EQ

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Last Updated 22 May 2019

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