Tfk african restaurant

Unpretentious but delicious and near enough to the theme park to not be out of the way.

First time trying Nigerian food. Ordered by phone, food took 45 minutes. We went off the menu on Yelp because they didn't have a website, but when we got there the prices were WAY higher... so for 3 items we paid about $90... We got the asun, jollof rice, swallow. The meats on these dishes were just all bone.... Portion size was tiny given the price. Swallow is basically non flavored mashed potatoes that's like in a ball. Also when we got there, the doors are all locked and we had to ring the bell multiple times. The take out area is tiny and we did not really feel welcome... we drove 30+ minutes for this. This will probably be our first and last time here.

Absolutely delicious! First time trying authentic Nigerian food and mm, mmm, mmmmmm, it did not disappoint. I dove right in with my hands and found the fufu and egusi soup to be a delectable combo. Had chicken and beef, which I found to be a juicy delight, but I also tried the goat and found that even better. The real highlight was the egusi, I absolutely licked my plate clean. You walk in, get greeted with a quaint atmosphere and super warm and kind service. Then you wanna stay from the incredible food. I absolutely recommend, just be prepared to spend up a bit.

The whole experience at this restaurant was odd, from the moment we walked in to the actual meal. The space is huge, with multiple tables but also some couches in the back. There was no host or hostess to greet us when we walked in and the place was pretty empty except for a table with 6-8 very rambunctious regulars who appeared to be having very intense conversation. Eventually someone who works for the restaurant (?owner) came to greet us and handed us some menus. We explained that it was our first time eating Nigerian food and she made some entrée recommendations which we went with. We had no major expectations (except we knew we really liked Ethiopian food) and we really wanted to like the food here but unfortunately it was not good. Despite the claims that everything is cooked fresh to order, the meat in the two dishes we got was very dry. We tried the jollof rice with beef and fish as well as the egusi soup with goat and a side of fufu. The fish taste was really strong, kind of off putting. The goat was ok, but like previously mentioned, the meat was tough and dry. I didn't mind the egusi soup but my husband hated it, not sure if they use ghee to cook which he absolutely despises (to him it gives a cheesy taste/smell to food). The fufu was interesting, with an odd texture and very bland on it's own but not as bad if eaten with the soup. We also tried a meat pie (their version of a meat empanada) which had extremely dry dough, kind of formed a paste once I took a bite of it. The staff was friendly but unfortunately the food here was not to our liking.

So it's very hard, and I know everybody has their opinion "just as I do" to do these reviews but here goes one that is close to my heart. I was looking for Nigerian food closer to me here in FL and there was a lot of smoke in the reviews about TFK. I came here on 6/21/23 and had an amazing experience despite the bad reviews that the restaurant had both on yelp and google. I held reviewing the restaurant till today 7/15/23. I did this, so I could also try the competition in the Tampa area before giving an honest review:Let's start with things I've eaten here:SuyaJollof rice with assorted meats (goat, beef, chicken)PlantainEgusi with assorted meats (goat, beef, tripe)AmalaFufuWhite rice with stew - goat, beef and chickenReviews:Suya - 5/5 - I was definitely left salivating and wanting more. Pros: This will definitely open up that appetite you have. TFK killed it - only thing missing was the newspaper the malam back home wrap it in (if you know, you know).Cons:Quantity. Wish I had more meat but I also understand things are expensive these days and can't fault there.Jollof rice with assorted meats - 5/5 - another killer dish served on a board - not traditional plate - loved the presentation forPros:The meats and plantain complemented everything nicely. It's just right Cons:I'm a big rice guy. You get pre measured portion but when it is that good however, you want more Egusi and assorted meats / Amala / Fufu -5/5 - TFK why why why... now I have to drive and spend more money - has arrivedPros:Flavor on flavor on flavor - the stew and egusi complemented each other. Licking my fingers Amala was on point. I had to get the fufu as well to make sure I was still kicking. Goat meat, beef and tripe are to die for with this combination.Cons: None here. Everything was perfect.Summary:I spent over $200 in total on my 2 visits here. Dined-in and also ordered to-go as I live 2 hours south of Tampa. Good food, good people are hard to come by but I'll tell you that TFK not only embodies both but their Food speaks for itself. We all have different taste buds but I can definitely vouch for the things I've had the pleasure of consuming here. I wish them nothing but success and hope they continue to get even better.Peace and love

The food was great me and my brother was trying African food for the first time you were blown away and can't wait to come back

*The owner of the restaurant is amazing. She was so accommodating and the food was delicious and spicy), but they give the option of little to no spice. *I tried moimoi as suggested and it was delicious. It tasted like a mixture of a crab cake*i ordered the jollof rice and 2 beef and fish dish. I didn't like the fish as much but the beef and jollof rice were amazing. *tried sugar cane juice for the first time. It wasn't my jam. Tasted too much like plants. I have no better way to describe that lol. It's similar in flavor to coconut water.

First time having Nigerian food. My friend and I shared fufu with goat and ebusi and also jollof rice with beef and fish. The food was amazing and everything is cooked when you order it, nothing is frozen. All of the meets were so seasoned and flavorful, the ebusi was amazing, and the fufu was such a fun experience. Janet, the owner, came over and cut our food and taught us how to eat everything correctly. It genuinely felt like I was going to a friends house for dinner. It was so incredibly hospitable and comfortable and they make sure that there is a community for anyone to join. Everyone there was just so welcoming, I would go back in a heartbeat!

The ambiance felt like I was in a restaurant in Africa, pretty cool. The food, however, was not good at all. The meat was super super tough, and we were given more bones than actual meat in our dishes. The flavors were reminiscent of Africa, but the dishes truly missed the mark and felt like they were thrown together with left overs instead of a la cart cooking. We spent $100 for two entrees, which was excessive in price, and for the quality of food, truly a rip off. These dishes, done well, however, should be fall off the bone delicious. What's truly sad, is that there are very few African restaurants in the Tampa Bay area representing this cuisine. This place could be a beacon for those looking to experience Africa on their palate, but they've fallen short and provided poor representation. Do better.

The food was amazing! I had the egusi soup. It was so flavorful and rich. The owner was very accommodating and explained the menu to us. The dishes were very authentic.