Akoko in City of London, Westminster

Food was perfect and different (in a very good way) to tasting menus I've had in other Michelin starred restaurants. Each course was delicious, but the highlight for me was the longhorn beef and jollof rice. That rice was incredible. The spicing level was perfect, not hot enough to blow your head off, but you definitely knew it was there. I had moimoi years ago, but Akoko's version was on another level. Portion sizes were generous, and this meal was excellent value for money. Service was professional, and welcoming. Pleasant staff, very friendly. The Akoko pairing was also a welcome change to just wine. It was lovely to have something different. The whole experience was superb. I highly recommend this restaurant, and will definitely return.

Si tratta di un ristorante eccellente Accoglienza semplice e cordiale Spazi ampi e tutto ispira pulizia Cucina a vista con una grande eleganza di preparazione degli alimenti e dei piatti, Il menù: geniale Dagli amuse bouche ai dolci: grande creatività ed equilibrio Difficile descrivere ma basta dire che NON è il Solito ristorante Africano Scelta dei vini limitata ma saggia Non particolarmente costoso Per fortuna le recensioni precedenti non brillano per entusiasmo: questo è un posto eccezionale

Utterly spectacular! Barney was our server and was fabulous! We had received a recommendation from two fellow students at le cordon bleu (where I was a student until the end of last week) and subsequently made a recommendation to another student who went for lunch the following day and was as bowled over as we were! The meal was phenomenal - the did the Akoko drink pairing which was mostly excellent - sadly the last pairing was whiskey based and as I dislike whiskey I was unable to drink the last pairing but otherwise we enjoyed all of them. The food was outstanding - I cannot recommend highly enough and hope to return as soon as I'm back in London!

Blown away by Akoko. Absolutely fabulous food coupled with their Akoko drinks pairing with wine, cocktails and even a porter. Staff were knowledge and lovely. The restaurant itself has a stylish, minimal vibe. The food is exceptional. Ever wondered how jollof rice could ever be worthy of a Michelin star? Wonder no longer! Wow. It ain’t cheap but well worth every penny. Go the extra mile and opt for the additional caviar course. You won’t regret it. Top drawer.

If you’ve read any of the other reviews of Akoko, you already know you’re in for a treat when you dine here. My experience is just more confirmation of that—but I will point out two specifics that might be of interest: 1) The vegan menu is exceptionally good. One member of our group chose this option—you should let the restaurant know ahead of time, when you book—and it was delightful to see the differences in the various courses between the vegan and the meat-centric dishes. Equal care taken, equally inventive and delicious. Not at all perfunctory. 2) Don’t sleep on the ‘mixed’ beverage pairing. I think it’s an even better option than the all-wine option: You’ll get a spread of wines, cocktails, and even one beer to complement your various courses. The quality is uniformly high, and the variety, at least for me, really added to the fun. Fair warning: like most alcohol pairings with tasting menus, it ends up being a fair amount of booze. Don’t feel obligated to finish these drinks. Highly recommended to all London visitors. And if you’re a local? Be rich and go often.

Excellent food, outstanding experience. A superb list of meals from West Africa, together with the Akoko pairing (2 wines, 2 cocktails, 1 beer) lefts us pleasantly happy, full and slightly tipsy.

Well, I've never been to a West African restaurant before, so I can't really judge whether Akoko represents African cuisine, but that doesn't matter at all, because regardless of that, I've rarely had such an excellent tasting menu before. Starting with the starters at the beginning (oysters, pulled beef croquettes), the excellent - I'm not usually a big fan of it - crab meat up to the maincourses (monkfish with chanterelles, Wagyu with Jollof rice and an excellent ox cheek), everything was really outstanding And the the two desserts were also first class. The excellent wine pairing - and as a big fan of South African and Greek wines, I almost felt at home here - was perfect, too.

Outstanding food, amazing service and one-of-a-kind Akoko drinks pairing. We'll be back and we'll be telling everyone we know about his unique and brilliant experience.

Incredible. Service second to none, incredible setting. Head chef a master and Etienne our waiter the epitome of his profession

A tasting menu which provides wonderful and exciting flavours. No disappointments. The kitchen team is at the top of its game. Service is relaxed, friendly and knowledgeable. The food is obviously taken very seriously. You can taste the freshness and work which has gone into every dish. Such clever and balanced spicing. One of the best restaurants in London right now. (I think the wine list could be improved though . It needs some more choice in the mid-price range ). Don’t hesitate. Go.

Located in Fitzrovia,short walk from Goodge Street or Tottenham court tube stop a modern minimalistic deco in the restaurant with a fantastic chef table Welcoming service staff with wonderful views of the kitchen with ability to interact with the chef, Aji Akokomi. The short lunch menu which was four courses and good value for money the first course a chicken parfait top with truffles on a fried dumpling- beautiful dish with great amalgamation of flavours. The next course was blow Tocrched mackerel with moi moi with a vatapa concentrated sauce- another amazing dish. The main of lamb with Jollof rice was interesting. The rice is a combination of cooked rice with crispy rice and some greens on the top. The lamb was unfortunately a tad bit dry. I had an extra dish to the short menu which was an addition which was the ox tongue skewer with bone marrow sauce, which was again another excellent dish. The dessert of Uda ice cream which is a pod, rather smoky with a coffee mouse and chocolate base was again excellent. The petite four of the sesame seed triangle was amazing. The 15% service was deserving as service was very attentive and interactive and sitting sitting at the chef table made a wonderful experience. The Negroni with a twist, and the highball whiskey were both very good. The interior was very lovely, was quite peaceful with good interaction of the chefs at different stations, creating their courses which is highly entertaining and very insightful to most proving provided. Highly recommended and certainly will be returning and I hear there will be a menu change in March, so perhaps then.

Recently I have become rather weary of paying high prices for very nice and pretty but ultimately forgettable food. This place has dragged me out of my doldrums :-) I am almost shocked at the level of delicious novelty in the flavours and presentation. Every dish was exceptional, each a new experience in taste. Mostly on the spicy side but never actually hot. I don't think I can convey much more about the individual dishes except that if they don't wow you with the first bite then the subtlety of the flavours will wow you as you prepare to take the next. My favourite for you to look forward to though was the jollof rice, some sort of inherited and legendary magical powers applied by the chef to create this explosion of savouriness and texture. Service with a smile, absolutely spot on. Definitely deserves a Michelin star, both for food and service. Will be back!

We were seated at the chef’s counter where we could see all the magic happen and it was magic indeed. Food was served beautifully, it was tasteful with just the right amount of spices. The wines we were recommended (1 white, 1 red, 1 sweet) went perfectly with the dishes. Service was excellent; shout out to Jordan, our waiter, who was very attentive and lovely throughout the evening. Great experience, 100% recommend.

A short walk from the tube and a lovely, warm, stylish interior with a nice open kitchen where you can observe the head chef leading his team. Grand food, a ton of interesting flavours and a knowledgeable staff keen to share the stories of the food. Some very bold (the famous ox-tongue and liberal use of scotch bonnet elsewhere) whereas some had a lot more subtlety to it (the ayamase in particular had wonderful notes). Compared to many other restaurants in a similar class+location, the tasting menu still remains at a surprisingly low price point. For some it may sound silly talking about a £120 meal as "good value" but all things considered I think it delivers on that front. Between our group we had all three drinks pairings. Wine was a decent mix, the Akoko pairing had some twists on classic cocktails, some African wines (including a Moroccan), and a Nigerian Guinness (worth trying, strong and smooth). The soft pairing was great fun, particularly the smoked pineapple drink - if you're happy to forgo the booze for a bit I would definitely recommend the soft pairing the most. Honestly, the food I couldn't fault, but there were elements of the service I felt could have been tightened up. The drinks seemed to arrive up to ten minutes before the dish they were supposed to be paired with. I also felt the waiter was more pushy than I'd usually expect when trying to upsell the additional tatale course with the tasting menu (the tatale was decent, but I'd rather have it without the caviar and worked into the main tasting menu). One unfortunate issue is that after discussion it appeared the food had too much gluten in it for my coeliac wife (who can sometimes handle a little bit, but there's nuance). I'm not going to tell the chefs how to cook their cuisine, but being contacted about this to discuss it four days ahead of time, when I had booked about six weeks in advance and mentioned it wasn't great. Again, another fine fine point on the service that I hope they tighten up in future. Overall, I definitely think Akoko has a solid place on the London scene for years to come. The food is must-try and I'm super excited to see what else is going to come out of that kitchen.

Unexpected but anticipated- remarkable!! One of the best dining experiences I have enjoyed. The attention to detail around flavours that are both familiar and new is delightful. The attendant wine pairing was bliss. All served by staff who matched their enthusiasm for what they brought with care for the customers- thank you espoused to Frank!

I went with a friend for lunch but we opted for the full dinner menu. It has to be one of the most enjoyable dining experiences we have both had. Incredible interesting food. Excellent friendly service. I particularly liked the Akoko pairings where it involved not just wine but also had cocktails and beers for some pairings. Cost a fortune but worth every penny. Would go again.

WoW Africain cuisine to the next level. Every détails was perfect ! Good service, good ambiance, good wine and amazing wine

This place is amazing, and should have a Michelin Star. The food experience is amazing and is a must do if you are a foodie in London for the weekend. The service is excellent as you would expect. It is expensive but worth every penny.

This spot is an amazing place if you want to go to a family dinner. The food was absolutely delicious, the seasoning was spot on and the staff were immeasurably nice. The only downside was that we had to wait too long in-between courses. Other than that, an utterly pleasurable experience. 4/5

Without doubt one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in London. Please explain why this restaurant isn’t on the Michelin Guide?

Incredible dinner for my partners birthday. Every server wished him happy birthday on arrival and even wrote him a card. Such a beautiful touch. The food was exquisite, each dish better than the last. The atmosphere was lovely and relaxing, watching the chefs cook in the kitchen like a well oiled machine was great. The service was perfect, so friendly and attentive. Would recommend to anyone!

Dine in | Dinner | £100+ Was completely blown away by the food here - especially the use of spice and flavor, which tends to be muted and subdued when given to western guests. Many dishes comprised creative flavorful combinations that worked. Sublime experience and would highly recommend

An evening at Akoko was a real treat. One doesn't have a choice with the menu. You all have the tasting menu. Though we recognised probably half of the menu the other half was all new and we were very intrigued. It all just worked...

Outstanding meal! Come ready to feast! My partner and I went and he had the normal menu and I had the pescatarian menu. The modifications were fab. I had an outstanding octopus instead of beef but the best was the add on which has the...

What a fantastic place! Delicious food menu, fabulous food pairings and attentive service. One of the best meals in London in a long time!

Akoko is a whole vibe. The courses were interesting, the presentation was awesome, the service was stellar. There was a vegan in my party and their food was also excellent (you do need advance notice). Not cheap by any means - but definitely worth a...

Akoko is beyond lovely - I’ve got a pretty seasoned palette but honestly, the tasting menu is gorgeous. No pretensions, this is seriously good cooking from people confident in their flavours. Compared to many tasting menus at London’s best, it’s good value. Drinks-wise, the coconut...

Fantastic foods with Eran's lovely services! Every dishes so yummy and clean with well cooked. Great place for unique foods experience 😋

Very different experience. Food outstanding. Small plates, beautifully presented, delicate portions. Service great - friendly and insightful, and also very proud of their restaurant. I will definitely go back and bring my family.

The menu is outstanding - creative, nicely presented, impeccably executed. Maybe they can do something better with the wine list, but overall deserve a Michelin star. To be noted that the atmosphere is chill, unlike some similar quality restaurants that are a bit stuffy. The...

First, they kindly increased our number of customers a few hours prior to reservation. The staff was first class from the time we entered the door. The food courses came in a well timed manner. It was our first experience having west African food and...

Without a doubt the most memorable meal we've had in many months. The food was just so very different from anything we've ever had and the service was impeccable - friendly, knowledgeable, gracious, not at all stuffy yet passionate about their food. Not every dish...

A memorable discovery full of new flavours and impeccable dressing. First time I took a soft pairing which cleverly pays tribute to African ingredients. Soothing restaurant design and very friendly staff. Lunch menu at £55 or longer/dinner menu at £120. Go without hesitation!

Some of the worst service I have received for staff as they were very rude, I would not recommend this at all.

This was a wonderful place, the range of food and flavours lifted further by lovely friendly attentive staff. Some really interesting wines from all over. Prezentation of the tasting menu was superb and full of surprises! We loved it and the little treats for our...

The service was attentive. The staff are very professional. Excellent wines. The food is dekicious, fresh light and beautifully balanced. A very different restaurant experience. Well worth a visit.

Neis, Interior, very Friendly, Service and absolutely great and very interesting Food. Absolutely nothing to a………..

Wow, we were totally blown away by the food and service. Every dish on the taster menu was delicious. Our favourite was the lobster tail with carrot terrine and jollof rice. Flavours worked exceptionally well, and it was so refreshing to have a tasting menu...

This place is incredible. A wonderful friendly atmosphere, terricotta textured decor, beautifully rustic serving dishes and cutlery. We have eaten many tasting menus and this has to be one of our favourites. Nine courses of wonderfully presented food, incredibly different flavours and perfect wine pairings....

Visiting AKoKo was like going on an adventure in wonderland! Every part of the 9 course menu and wine pairings was speechless! Words can’t explain this flavorful dining experience. The atmosphere was amazing as well. Service was very friendly and prompt. Loved every part of...

We had a tasting menu for a business dinner and it was exceptional. Great service. Excellent food. Unique experience. The drinks are also very nice. We had a very nice group menu and everyone was very happy.

We came with high expectations given all the great reviews, but we left disappointed. The decor is nice, the staff is attentive, and the food is tasty (that can’t be denied) but it’s the menu itself we took issue with. We had the six-course lunch...

I really enjoyed Akoko. The whole experience from start to finish was outstanding. The service was exceptional - our waitress Hermine (I hope I spelt that correctly!) was very attentive and friendly. She really took the time to bond with us and make us laugh....

We had a sublime evening within a tempered, yet vibrant space. The African inspired decor and music lend to the elevated vibes of this establishment. The food here is simply a cascade of rich West African flavours that take you on a tour of this...

Food is really interesting. 9 course tasting menu. Really cool watching the chefs work right in front of you. Food was delicious and top notch but not as west African as the website/image would have you believe. The staff are second to none though and...

We loved this place. The tasting menu was delicious with really interesting dishes - many unusual flavours and ingredients, all with such interesting and varied presentation. The whole vibe of the place is great too. Everything from the furniture and decor and music, right down...

Akoko is a truly wonderful restaurant. The tasting menu is incredible - the flavours and the presentation are so carefully crafted and like a piece of art on your plate. We didn't have the wine tasting, but would highly recommend the pineapple and coconut G&T!...

We had an excellent dinner at Akoko and thoroughly enjoyed their tasting menu. The food was superb with an array of wonderful flavours. The chef is very engaging and has created a taste of Africa with a fine dining feel. The staff were brilliant, very...

My partner and I came to Akoko last night for the first time and were extremely impressed with absolutely everything that this restaurant had to offer. We loved the unique yet simplistic decor, the friendly, welcoming staff with such attention to detail, the food was...

So, it’s a cool space, terracotta coloured walls evoking the red earth of West Africa…but also, we realised a bit like a mud hut…hmm. Anyhow, we sat and were offered water - free still or sparkling and glasses topped up throughout the meal - which...

We had a lovely lunch, and enjoyed the tasting menu. The wine was good, the service was excellent, and the food was really interesting. It is fun to be able to see the kitchen at work, and the sommelier knew her stuff. I would certainly...

I knew nothing about west African food except for jollof rice. I was therefore so excited to try this restaurant with rave reviews. Every dish has an amazing combination of textures, tastes and colours which make them surprising and perfect. They must have spent hundreds...

We booked a table for lunch as our first indoor dining date and to celebrate our anniversary. Ordered the 6 course tasting menu which was hands down the most delicious food we’ve had. The service was 10/10, Joe the head waiter was extremely good at...

My girlfriend and I had a great time the other night in Akoko, the setting is beautiful down to the finest detail. The food was fantastic, and a break away from the norm for us. We found ourselves asking each other which was our least...

We visited within a few weeks of their opening, and the place was pretty busy. Only a tasting menu was on offer, priced at £55. This cuisine is pretty unusual in central London, so it is certainly an interesting menu with some different flavour combinations....