[Nagoya, Nishi-ku] Japan's only Gambian Cuisine at "African Restaurant Jollof Kitchen"

Do you know the "Republic of The Gambia" located in the western tip of West Africa?

The Republic of the Gambia is a small country about the size of Gifu Prefecture, located at the western tip of West Africa and surrounded by Senegal.

​Jollof Kitchen, located in Nishi Ward, Nagoya, is the only Gambian restaurant in Japan. A 3-minute walk from Nakaotai Station on the Meitetsu Inuyama Line.

*Information is current at the time of the interview.
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Look for the orange and white stripes

"Jollof" means "hometown" in the Gambian language.

The store uses colorful African fabrics. Atmosphere like a restaurant in town.

Ms. Bintu Kujabi Djalo, the Gambian owner, greeted us cheerfully.

Ms. Bintu, the owner. A map of Gambia is on the back.

Ms. Bintu is actually the Honorary Consul General of the Republic of the Gambia. We asked her why she opened a Gambian restaurant in Nagoya and what Gambian cuisine is all about.

Came from Gambia and lived in Nagoya for 30 years

It was 30 years ago that Ms. Bintu came to Nagoya as an arrival for her husband's study abroad. There was no Gambian embassy in Japan, and she experienced many inconveniences. When she appealed to the Gambian government to create an embassy, she was appointed "You should be the consul" in 2015. However, he says that all the work of the consulate is done by volunteers.

Mr. Bintu:"I have always wanted to connect Japan and The Gambia. We used to have a consulate office in a different location, but we closed that because of the Corona disaster and the lack of people coming and going. I had always wanted to open a restaurant, and I thought that if there was a place to eat Gambian food, people would learn about the culture. Food and culture are inseparable."

Ms. Bintu carefully prepares each dish

In April 2021, Jollof Kitchen had opened. The Gambian Consulate office has also moved to the second floor of the restaurant.

On the outer wall of the restaurant is a sign that says "Honorary Consulate General of the Republic of Gambia in Nagoya".

Ms. Bintu, who also pays for all expenses related to her work at the consulate, says, "It's hard work. It's really tough. That's why I have to do something else to earn money (laughs)."

Ms. Bintu:“When I first started the restaurant, my neighbors would not come in to see how I was doing. Sometimes they are scared of me because I am black. But when I go out and greet them, they come inside. I never ignore those people and talk to them. We have more Japanese customers now."

Ms. Bintu, who smiles friendly and takes care of others, is like the “lady of the cafeteria” who is admired by everyone. There is also a rarity of "Gambian cuisine", and some people come from far away.

Gambians also love rice

"Gambian cuisine" may sound unfamiliar, but it is actually similar to Japanese cuisine in that rice is the staple food and vegetables are often eaten. The Gambia has an abundance of fish due to its oceans and rivers. Apart from fish, chicken is also commonly eaten.

Gambian cuisine often uses ginger and chili peppers, and it is said that there are many spicy dishes, but at Jollof Kitchen, the spiciness is moderated to suit Japanese tastes. You can adjust the spiciness, so please request it when ordering.

A distinctive feature of Gambian cuisine is fufu, which looks like a ball here. Fufu is a traditional dish eaten in many African countries and is served with soups and stews as a staple food. While other countries use corn flour or cassava, Gambia uses rice flour. The use of rice flour gives it a mochi-like texture, making it popular among the Japanese.

It fits the taste of Japanese people too!
Jollof Kitchen recommended menu

Jollof Kitchen is the only Gambian restaurant in Japan, but surprisingly many of its customers are Japanese. Ms. Bintu, who has lived in Japan for more than 30 years, also loves Japanese food and knows exactly what Japanese people like, so she makes her dishes to suit the Japanese palate.

From here, we will introduce popular menus for customers who asked Ms. Bintu!

Popular No. 1! Peanut flavored sauce "Domoda"

Domoda ¥1,320 (tax included)

This peanut-flavored sauce “Domoda” is popular in Gambia and Senegal. It is eaten with rice or fufu with meat or fish. Jollof Kitchen's Domoda contains chicken.

Domoda is like curry rice in Japan and is very popular in Gambia. In addition to peanut butter, it contains herbal spices such as bay leaf and black pepper, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, and finely chopped okra.

The moment you put the sauce in your mouth, the aroma of spices spreads. The spiciness of the sauce is moderate, but the many spices and garlic give it a strong punch. The chopped okra gives the sauce a nice thickening, and it goes down smoothly in the mouth.

The cross-section of the perfectly round ball-like fufu looks like this. Since it is made of rice flour, it has a really sticky texture! It goes well with the thick, well-flavored sauce. It is so popular that some regulars always ask for Domoda every time.

Firm seasoning and refreshing sweetness are exquisite! "Chicken Afra"

Chicken Afra ¥1,320 (tax included)

This is another popular product, "Chicken Afla". You can choose bread or rice as a side dish. Stir-fried chicken marinated in mustard and herb spices and onions and other vegetables. Serve with salad with dressing.

It also has a strong flavor and a refreshing sweetness. The identity of freshness is yuzu.

Ms. Bintu: “In Gambia we use jam, but Japanese people love yuzu.

A lot of vegetables are in season at that time. It's a refreshing seasoning, so you can enjoy it like a salad.

Gambian classic dessert "Chakery"

Chakery ¥550 (tax included)

This classic Gambian dessert is made with milk and yogurt and is not too sweet. It contains bananas, apples, and dried fruits, and has a light, drinkable yogurt-like flavor. It also contains coarsely ground wheat, which gives it a delicious crumbly texture!

In Gambia, it is eaten not only as a snack, but also for breakfast and even for babies.

Jollof Kitchen also holds concerts and events on an irregular basis. This is also because of Ms. Bintu's desire to "enjoy it and let people know about Gambia." Many people come to the restaurant because they rely on Ms. Bintu, and on the day of the interview, a newly arrived foreign student was inquiring about the restaurant.

Ms. Bintu (left), international students and staff

Jollof Kitchen is a warm place where people from all over the world gather. In addition to delicious food, how about visiting Ms. Bintu, the famous landlady?