Monikay's Kitchen — Restaurant in Laurel

onikay's Kitchen is a hidden gem for anyone craving bold, authentic West African flavors with a surprising Caribbean twist. The restaurant blends cultural influences beautifully—offering classic dishes like jollof rice alongside flavorful Caribbean staples such as jerk chicken.

I tried the jollof rice with jerk chicken, and it did not disappoint. The rice was rich and well-seasoned with just the right amount of heat, while the jerk chicken was juicy and had a nice smoky kick. You can really taste the care that goes into the preparation.

While the food is definitely tasty and satisfying, the prices are a bit on the higher side for casual dining. That said, the quality and fusion of flavors help justify the cost—especially if you’re looking for something a little different.

Monikay's Kitchen brings something unique to the table with its West African-Caribbean combo, and it's worth a visit if you’re in the mood for flavorful comfort food...

I was seriously craving some good jollof, and Monikay’s Kitchen delivered way beyond expectations! I ordered the jollof rice with goat meat and a side of spicy suya—and let me tell you, every bite was a flavor explosion. The jollof was rich, perfectly seasoned, and had that authentic home-cooked taste I’ve been missing. The goat meat was tender and juicy, and the suya? Absolutely fire—spicy, smoky, and addicting.

Big shoutout to Ousmane Diallo, who took my order. He was incredibly friendly, professional, and made the whole experience even better with his warm and attentive service.

If you’re looking for real West African comfort food done right, Monikay’s Kitchen is it. Next time I’m in town I’ll definitely be coming...

I was just disappointed at the seasoning of the suya, which was heavily loaded with Maggi seasoning. The tilapia fish was extremely spicy. Take note, I'm no stranger to spicy food. I use organic ghost peppers from my garden for my scramble eggs, so when I complain something is spicy, believe me it is. My husband and I couldn't eat the tilapia fish. My husband said the jollof rice was tasteless. I ordered the brown rice which was good except for the suya. The only good thing about the food is the quantity. We could barely eat half of it even though we were famished. They forgot to put some Cutlery and we had to eat with our hands since we were out of town...