Aso Rock Restaurant — Restaurant in London

NO HOXTON PRETENSION, JUST AUTHENTIC NIGERIAN FOOD...

When I was younger we had a term for this kind of place, we called it a "Sweaty Betty".

It normally referred to an Indian Restaurant but gradually referred to any venue, that from the outside looked liked a guaranteed case of Salmonella, but once inside you discover the food is not only fantastically authentic but also outstandingly good.

There's always been a good smattering of this kind of venue in London from the old stalwarts like the unrelated Stock Pots to the surprising new comers like the Roti King (Euston).

And Asosrok is definitely a Sweaty Betty!

On this occasion I had just finished seeing the BUFF (British Urban Film Festival) Gala Screening of A United Kingdom at the Rio Cinema just around the corner. The organisers were all Nigerian and recommended this establishment.

I was so glad they did. Finding true authentic food from a different nation is very hard for a Londoner from Wales. Not least because we don't know how it should taste.

Certain cuisines, we know well, so can compare. But with the upsurge of mixed cuisines (PanAsian, Italian Tapas etc.) it makes a true authentic experience difficult to recognise.

But seeing as my guest were from Nigeria there could be no doubt about its provenance.

The servings were hearty, flavoursome and cheap. I had the Yam Potage and a very unusual alcoholic beverage called Orijin. A beer/lager type drink at 6% ABV but containing no barely or hops ("a bittersweet blend with flavours of African herbs and fruit - Water, alcohol, sugar and plant extract (kolanut, prune, oakwood, bitter orange peel, wormwood)).

A set meal, which would easily set you up for the day would cost you £5.50 for the small, that isn't (Any small Okele & Any type of Stew 2 piece of meat OR “6 Small Small” meat) or £7.50 for the large, that is.

So if you find yourself in Dalston, especially after a Rio Cinema Visit would heartily recommend.

If you're looking for real Nigerian food then...

This would be probably be the last time I set my feet on these premises after being a customer for over a decade. A week ago they got my order wrong and gave me lungs though I ordered only beef and I was served by the lady (the Nigerian one who bleaches her skin with lip piercing - sorry don't know her name) and she was extremely rude and had a nasty attitude however she was nicer to the non-black customers.

To avoid any issues again, I called today before making way down (as I'm not local to the area) to ensure they had a decent amount of ayamashe stew and the Caribbean lady ensured me they had enough. Arrived 20minutes later, they brought out a new batch of stew just to be told they couldn't sell it to me as it's for customers until 10pm but I arrived 5pm so I'm perplexed as to why I was told to come down anyway. What other customers are they waiting for? 🤔🙄They didn't even apologize for wasting my time and making me coming all the way down just to be disappointed. Even telling me to order a WEEK BEFORE before to avoid disappointment.

The bleaching Nigerian woman was constantly interrupting my conversation with the Caribbean lady which is highly unprofessional and she matters worse.

These women have horrible customer service or maybe it's time of the month or menopause. This is why so many black owned businesses have a bad reputation and you expect loyalty from your OWN people. Utterly DISGRACEFUL.

Please bring the men back as they're more efficient at providing better...

First of all i dont appreciate being called an 'oyinbo' because i wanted to eat my poundo with a fork instead of using my hands. For hygiene i use forks when i eat in and you guys didnt even have proper washing facilites how rude to question my dark skinned blackness when you have the cheek to be bleached to high heaven.

another customer made the point of the quality of the meat LUNGS! I dont know what piece of meat that is but it is not beef and comes like some kind of organ not meat. You lot are rude and have the audacity to charge big prices. Its unnaceptable.

Your staff are rude as well and you need to be careful who takes your payment if you pay contactless make sure you check. the guy almost charged me £20 instead of the £8 it really was. if i didnt check i would have been over charged. Tesco value stormzy on the till needs the sack.

ive been coming here since i was a child even my children and mother have been and i am so disappointed in how aso rock has decended into nonsense like this. all the comments about black businesses are right we are better than this. You have lost my loyal custom.

to the owners of this place your families legacy always inspired me but you are allowing these new people to make a mockery of you and what your parents have built. Two words:...