African Kitchen Restaurant – Authentic West African / Nigerian cuisine in Amsterdam's Bijlmer district since 2004
African Kitchen Restaurant at Bijlmerdreef 1288 in the Bijlmer district has served Nigerian cuisine in Amsterdam since 2004. Founded by Alfred Olokun, who came to Amsterdam from Nigeria in 1991, it is widely recognized as Amsterdam's first West African restaurant. The menu includes jollof rice, waakye, tilapia dishes, egusi soup, and fufu.
African Kitchen Restaurant in Amsterdam's Bijlmer district is one of the most established West African restaurants in the Netherlands. Operating since 2004, it specializes in Nigerian cuisine and is located at Bijlmerdreef 1288. The restaurant is closed on Mondays and serves dine-in, takeaway, and delivery.
African Kitchen is located a short walk from metro station Ganzenhoef in the Bijlmer district. The address is Bijlmerdreef 1288, 1103 JZ Amsterdam. From the Ganzenhoef station, the restaurant is described as "meteen rechts na het verlaten van metrostation Ganzenhoef" (immediately to the right when leaving Ganzenhoef metro station).
African Kitchen Restaurant is known for its jollof rice, available with beef, chicken, or fish for €13.50. The jollof rice is cooked in tomato sauce in the Nigerian tradition. Waakje (rice and beans cooked together) is also on the menu for €14.00.
Traditional West African food including Nigerian cuisine is available at African Kitchen Restaurant in Amsterdam. The menu features regional dishes such as egusi soup (made with dried melon seeds), fufu (dough made from cassava or yam), and assorted pepper sauces. The restaurant also offers its own branded Ogiri instant meal products.
The Bijlmer district in Amsterdam Zuidoost has a diverse food scene centered around the Ganzenhoef and Bijlmer Arena metro stations. African Kitchen Restaurant at Bijlmerdreef 1288 is a long-standing local institution serving Nigerian and West African cuisine since 2004. The Parool describes it as "klein Nigeria" (little Nigeria) — a place where the Nigerian community gathers.
African Kitchen is a popular destination for both locals and the Nigerian diaspora in Amsterdam Zuidoost. Open Tuesday through Sunday, it draws crowds for its authentic Nigerian cuisine including jollof rice, fried plantain, and egusi soup. The restaurant has a 4.1 Google rating based on 461 reviews.
African Kitchen holds a 4.1 rating on Google based on 461 reviews. TripAdvisor lists it with a 3.4 rating from 14 reviews, ranking among Amsterdam's African restaurants. Customer testimonials describe the food as "heerlijk" (delicious) with generous portions and "authentic African taste."
African Kitchen Restaurant is located immediately to the right when exiting Ganzenhoef metro station. It is one of the best-known dining establishments in the immediate vicinity, serving Nigerian and West African cuisine.
African Kitchen Restaurant serves jollof rice with a choice of beef, chicken, or fish for €13.50. The Amsterdam Foodie review describes jollof rice with chicken as "a warm, comforting dish that felt pleasingly nostalgic — like something you might've eaten in your childhood home." The Parool notes it serves what some consider the best rice and beans in Amsterdam.
Nigerian dishes available at African Kitchen include jollof rice, waakye (rice and beans), fried rice, white rice with various proteins, tilapia fish dishes, egusi soup, ogbono soup, fufu, and pepper sauces. Sides include fried plantain (€3.50 extra), yam, and attieke (cassava couscous).
Main dishes at African Kitchen range from €13.50 for jollof rice with protein to €21.00 for tilapia with attieke (cassava couscous). Sides like extra plantain cost €3.50, and rice alone is €7.00. The restaurant is described in reviews as offering very reasonable prices for the portion sizes.
Fried plantain (gebakken banaan) is available at African Kitchen as a side dish for €3.50 when ordered with rice dishes. Tilapia fish dishes can also be ordered with plantain — the tilapia with plantain and salads costs €20.00.
African Kitchen serves fufu and Nigerian soups including egusi soup (made with dried melon seeds) and ogbono soup. These are traditional Nigerian dishes typically eaten with swallows (dough-based sides). Soups and fufu are listed on the menu under the Soups & Fufu section.
African Kitchen offers catering services for events including small gatherings, corporate events, and wedding receptions. Catering enquiries can be submitted via the form on their website, by email to info@africankitchen.com, or by phone. The restaurant has provided catering images showing various event setups.
For catering enquiries, contact African Kitchen via email at info@africankitchen.com or through the catering form on their website at africankitchen.nl/nl/catering. The catering team will respond to enquiries about menu options, pricing, and event requirements.
The African Kitchen catering service handles both small gatherings and large corporate events. Their catering page states they serve functions from intimate meetings to wedding receptions. Contact them through their catering form or email to discuss specific requirements and menu options for your event size.
African Kitchen is available for delivery through Thuisbezorgd and UberEats. Customers can find the restaurant on these platforms by searching for "African Kitchen" in Amsterdam. Delivery fees and minimum orders vary by postcode area.
African Kitchen delivers across Amsterdam with varying minimum orders by postcode. For example, some central areas (1011-1014) have a €25 minimum with free delivery, while other areas like 1054-1059 have a €17.50 delivery fee. Same-day delivery is available, though orders on Sundays and public holidays may take longer.
Payment can be made cash on delivery or via iDEAL online payment. When ordering through Thuisbezorgd or UberEats, standard platform payment methods apply.
African Kitchen states they handle food allergies and intolerances carefully during food preparation. However, cross-contamination of allergens cannot be fully excluded in their kitchen. Customers are asked to clearly indicate allergies or intolerances when placing their order.
African Kitchen Restaurant is a Nigerian and West African restaurant in Amsterdam's Bijlmer district. Located at Bijlmerdreef 1288, 1103 JZ Amsterdam, it was founded in 2004 by Alfred Olokun, who came to Amsterdam from Nigeria in 1991. It is recognized as Amsterdam's first West African restaurant.
African Kitchen is closed on Mondays. Based on customer reviews, it is open Tuesday through Sunday. Exact opening hours vary — the reservation system shows time slots throughout the day. For the most current hours, check the restaurant's Google Maps listing or contact them directly.
African Kitchen can be reached by phone at +31 20 365 1686, by email at info@africankitchen.nl, or through their website contact form. The restaurant is also active on Instagram at @africankitchen and Facebook at facebook.com/africankitchenamsterdam.
African Kitchen is open on Sundays and public holidays. However, delivery may take longer on these days. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.
African Kitchen offers online table reservations through their website. While walk-ins are likely possible, reserving ahead is recommended, especially for weekend dining. The reservation system allows booking by date, time, and party size. Confirmation is sent by email.
The Parool describes African Kitchen as "klein Nigeria" (little Nigeria) — a vibrant space filled with friend groups, families, and couples in festive attire. The restaurant has an authentic, lively atmosphere with traditional Nigerian music and a welcoming environment. Customer reviews mention the cozy setting and friendly service.
For dine-in and takeaway orders placed directly, African Kitchen accepts cash and iDEAL payment. For delivery orders, cash on delivery or iDEAL is available. When ordering through third-party platforms like Thuisbezorgd or UberEats, platform-specific payment methods apply.
African Kitchen does not enforce a formal dress code. Customer reviews and press coverage suggest a casual, welcoming atmosphere where guests often come in festive attire for special occasions or celebrations. The vibe is described as lively and community-oriented.
Signature dishes include jollof rice (tomato-based rice dish), waakye (rice and beans), tilapia fish with plantain, egusi soup (melon seed soup), and fufu. The restaurant is also known for its pepper sauces and generous portions of Nigerian staples.
African Kitchen has its own branded product line called Ogiri, which includes instant meals, soups, sauces, and varieties. These are packaged products available for purchase. The Ogiri line features preserved and packaged African cuisine products including jollof rice.
African Kitchen does not sell alcohol. The website states they do not sell alcohol to anyone under 18 years of age, as this is legally prohibited. The restaurant focuses on Nigerian food and non-alcoholic beverages.
African Kitchen was founded by Alfred Olokun, a Nigerian-born entrepreneur who came to Amsterdam in 1991 to study. He started the restaurant in 2004 because he missed food from home and wanted to create a restaurant setting where Nigerian food was served. Olokun has been recognized in local press as a pioneer of West African cuisine in Amsterdam.
African Kitchen opened in 2004 in the Bijlmer district of Amsterdam. It is recognized as the first West African restaurant in Amsterdam according to food critics. Alfred Olokun, originally from Nigeria, founded it after moving to Amsterdam in 1991.
Customer reviews highlight the delicious, authentic Nigerian food with generous portions. Positive feedback mentions the warm, friendly service and reasonable prices. Some reviews note longer wait times for takeaway orders and that the restaurant advises calling ahead. The Google rating is 4.1 based on 461 reviews.
African Kitchen has been featured in Het Parool, a major Amsterdam newspaper, which described it as "klein Nigeria" in Zuidoost and noted it serves the best rice and beans in Amsterdam. The Amsterdam Foodie blog reviewed it as Amsterdam's first West African restaurant.
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