Zanzibar Cafe — Restaurant in Charlotte

Review of Zanzibar Café – A Taste of Authentic African Cuisine in Charlotte, NC

Zanzibar Café is a hidden gem in Charlotte, offering a vibrant and flavorful journey into African cuisine. Located at 3720 N Tryon St Ste 101 , this restaurant stands out for its diverse menu, warm atmosphere, and commitment to authenticity.

Food & Menu Highlights The menu is a delightful mix of African and American fusion, with standout dishes like: Grilled Specialties: Beef & Chicken Kabobs, Grilled Blackened Salmon, and Whole Tilapia—perfectly seasoned and cooked . Fish Meals: The Fried Croaker with Plantains or Acheke (a West African side) is a must-try . Liberian Dishes: The Palm Butter and Cassava Leaf stews are rich, aromatic, and highly praised by patrons . Unique Sides: Fufu, fried plantains, and corn beef rice add an authentic touch .

For lighter options, their salads (like the Blackened Salmon Salad) and grilled chicken dishes are equally satisfying .

Service & Atmosphere The staff is noted for being friendly and efficient, whether you’re dining in or ordering takeout . The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly, with TVs and a welcoming vibe . Reviews highlight the restaurant’s cleanliness and the owner’s responsiveness to feedback .

Pricing & Practical Info Hours: Open Tue–Fri (11 AM–8 PM), Sat (Noon–8 PM), closed Sun–Mon . Note: Some sources list slightly different hours , so checking ahead is wise. Price Range: $$ ($10–$25 per person) . Service Options: Dine-in, carryout, and delivery available .

Final Verdict Zanzibar Café delivers an unforgettable culinary experience, especially for those craving African flavors. Dishes like the Pepper Soup with Fufu and Palm Butter come highly recommended by regulars . While the restaurant’s Google ratings are mixed, the passionate reviews from diners—especially those familiar with African cuisine—speak volumes.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5) Recommendation: A must-visit for adventurous eaters and anyone missing homestyle African cooking. Don’t skip the...

I'm all about supporting black businesses, especially African cuisine (which I love). However, my experience with Zanzibar wasn't up to par. The restaurant is cute and small -- definitely for take out. I could not decide on what to eat so my boyfriend and I decided to order wings and plantains online. First strike, on their restaurant and on Facebook the company says they deliver but on the website it says that delivery is unavailable. I bought a groupon for this restaurant for $14 -- my actual meal was about $18 total. Once we got into the car we noticed that our plantains was missing from the order. My boyfriend goes back into the restaurant and the owner gives some excuse about when we placed the order online someone calls the restaurants and gives the order to them and they must've "forgotten" to say plantains. In order for us to have plantains we must pay for an additional side. Second strike -- the menu says WINGS & PLANTAINS. We ordered WINGS & PLANTAINS. What we got was only wings no plantains. Regardless of what the third party gave you as the order, what is on the menu and what we requested should be honored. But of course it wasn't. He kept insisting we must pay more, which disregards the first rule in business.. "The customer is always right." Anyway, get home, begin to eat the wings. They were decent -- they had too much sauce (I got the house style) and not enough meet on the wings. I doubt I'll be...

I visited Zanziber Café for the first time around 12:30. We were greeted as soon as we walked in, and it’s a seat-yourself setup, which I liked. The customer service was really good, and the food came out pretty quickly.

I ordered the Palava sauce with white rice and fried fish. The food was seasoned excellent — full of flavor and cooked just right. My only critique is the rice — it tasted like Uncle Ben’s, and I would’ve preferred Jasmine rice instead.

The ginger drink was perfect — refreshing and had the right kick. I’ll definitely be going back to try a few more items and will update my review then! I visited Zanziber Café for the first time around 12:30. We were greeted as soon as we walked in, and it’s a seat-yourself setup, which I liked. The customer service was really good, and the food came out pretty quickly.

I ordered the Palava sauce with white rice and fried fish. The food was seasoned excellent — full of flavor and cooked just right. My only critique is the rice — it tasted like Uncle Ben’s, and I would’ve preferred Jasmine rice instead.

The ginger drink was perfect — refreshing and had the right kick. I’ll definitely be going back to try a few more items and will update...