DOUAHOU AFRICAN RESTAURANT — Restaurant in Porto

We met with a Social media group at this restaurant curated by by the leader of the group who came all the way up from Lisbon to show love for the northern collective. Unfortunately the highlights of the event were the fellowship, meeting and greeting familiar friends and getting to know new ones.

The atmosphere of the restaurant was definitely inviting and warm. However I can’t recommend this restaurant for the food and service, especially if you are with a large group as we were.

The best I can say is the turnout vs what was expected for our gathering was larger than the curator and the restaurant anticipated but they did their best to add seats and an overflow area where the group leads and support team wound up semi seated. (The 4 of them shared a table made for 2 and sort of ate and sat in shifts, if they ate at all) When they weren’t seated, they were busy snapping photos, checking on the group to ensure everyone was getting proper service, making sure ordered were taken food drinks delivered, etc. and unfortunately the latter became a full time gig!

To start -There were not enough menus for everyone to decide what to get, so the order taking process was an exercise in herding cats; Friendly hungry cats mind you.

Then tic tic tic tic tic about 65 minutes later dribbles of food started showing up. There was no coordination no order, so one plate of food at a time would come for a table of 20. Initially it was very cordial, but 2 hours into the event, some folks still hadn’t received their food, and many were finished eating. I never got my jollof rice, but apparently paid for it anyway.

The 2-3 servers were doing their very best to hustle, but the food prep n delivery was a debacle. Paying was also like standing in line at a government office in Lisbon on a hot summer day. Fortunately my wife got in the queue early. She mentioned it was laborious because the owner was hand adding each order into the computer to come up with the bill.

We were home in bed when text from the group blew up my phone.

The owner, claimed he was shorted €17 and was calling the police!

Due to the slow one by one bill paying process there were still members of the group at the restaurant paying 40 minutes to an hour after we left! The owner threatened the remaining group with police action. Fortunately our curator paid the difference from her own pocket to avoid a scene on a beautiful blue moon evening in Porto.

My wife and I already decided, once in the Über, we were not venturing back to this place again anyway. But after the way he treated our companions, we are all ready to write reviews.

I’m blaming it on the full moon, hopefully subsequent patrons experiences will...

I recently had dinner at Douahou African Restaurant, nestled in a cozy corner of Porto's city center. The moment I walked in, I was met with warm lighting, vibrant wall art, and a sense of cultural flair that promised something special.

I began with a starter platter featuring spicy akara (bean fritters) and grilled plantains—bright, savory bites full of texture and heat that set the tone. For my main course, I opted for jollof rice paired with tender, grilled chicken and a side of creamy groundnut sauce. The rice was perfectly seasoned and slightly smoky, while the sauce added a lovely nutty depth.

They offer a range of homestyle African dishes—from stews and grilled meats to veggie-forward plates. Prices are fair, portions generous, and every bite felt deeply rooted in tradition. The dessert of coconut panna cotta with tropical fruit was smooth, subtly sweet, and a breezy finish to the meal.

Service was warm and welcoming. The staff were always ready with a friendly smile, explaining dishes and ensuring I had everything I needed without ever rushing me.

Douahou strikes a wonderful balance: lively and vibrant, yet relaxed and comforting. It's a place to sit back, enjoy bold flavors, and soak in a different corner of Porto's culinary scene. I’ll definitely return to explore more...

I travelled from UK and this was the only African restaurant closest for the authentic. I took 20mins taxi and I was very exited. I entered the restaurant walked to the counter with no smile from the staff member who looked like she did not want to be there and looked at me as if I came to disturb her peace. She had her head phones on. There was lack of English speaking, my order came incorrect a number of times, despite pointing out the pictures, the wait was very long and there was no checking in or apologise. The place is used for a group of boys hanging out. I ended up being the last customer eating meanwhile they are closing the restaurant and looking at me to hurry up. Very poor customer service. I love restaurants but this was my worst...