8 African Restaurants You Need to Visit in São Paulo

Original Story Published by: Kiratiana Freelon for OkayAfrica
Photo Source: biyouz_restaurante_afro/Instagram

Here are some of the best restaurants in Brazil's most "African city."

São Paulo is the African capital of Brazil. This title used to be reserved for Salvador, Bahia Brazil's blackest and most culturally African city. But in 2008, thousands of Africans began to move to São Paulo in search of economic prosperity. Europe was in the middle of an economic recession and Brazil's open doors and booming economy proved to be too much of a temptation. Those immigrants brought with them their families, language and of course food.

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Most of São Paulo's new African immigrants are from Nigeria, Senegal, and Congo. Their presence is most visible in the neighborhood of República in the center of São Paulo.

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In the late 00's and early 2010's West African casual restaurants began to pop up in this neighborhood. Their prices reflected their clientele: immigrants looking for a cheap home-cooked meal. As Brazilians began to discover this authentic African food, some of these restaurants became media darlings and their prices increased along with their popularity. But Africans (and non-Africans on a budget) aren't complaining. There is always a new restaurant offering cheap, tasty and filling African dishes. Thieb (a tomato-based stew served over rice), mafé (peanut stew served over rice) and n'dolé (nuts, Ironweeds, and meat) are the most popular dishes.