Entry No. 109 — the Denver file — filed under: west-african
African Grill and Bar
Tucked into a Kipling Parkway strip mall you'd blow right past, this is one of the few places in metro Denver doing real West African food, and they've quietly done it since 2004. Owners Sylvester and Theodora plate fufu, jollof rice, peanut soup, kelewele, and South African pap, and on the right night there are drummers and dancers. The Denver Gazette framed it as a restaurant that 'beat the odds' — it survived precisely because the people who find it keep coming back. Nothing about the storefront tells you any of this is inside.
The story
If you weren't looking for 955 South Kipling Parkway, you'd drive right past the generic Lakewood strip mall without a second glance. But behind that glass facade, Sylvester and Theodora Osei-Fordwuo have been running one of metro Denver's only dedicated West African kitchens since 2004 [1.2.3]. The couple immigrated from Ghana in the early 2000s with a specific gap in mind: Denver already had Ethiopian spots, but nobody was serving the rest of the continent under one roof. After starting in Aurora and operating in Green Valley Ranch, they consolidated their operation to this quiet suburban strip-mall lot.
Theodora cooks every dish from scratch without dairy, while Sylvester handles the floor. Open their eight-page menu and you'll find a family photo on page one and Ghanaian Adinkra symbols printed on the back—including Aya, the fern symbol representing endurance and resourcefulness. It is a literal badge of honor for a kitchen that beat long odds in a city historically thin on West African food, surviving relocation and economic hits strictly on word-of-mouth loyalty.
The starchy fufu Sylvester pounded as a child in Ghana anchors a spread that crosses the entire continent. West African staples like jollof rice, kelewele (spiced fried plantains), and peanut soup sit alongside South African pap with chakalaka, plus East African samosas and chapati. They don't tone down the spices or cut corners on long-simmered stews, which is why the people who find this place keep coming back.
What it's like
Pull into the shared Kipling Parkway lot, park for free, and step inside an unassuming room where Sylvester or Theodora will likely walk you through the eight-page menu. Do not come here for a quick bite; because every order is prepped fresh from scratch by a small family team, dinner moves at an unhurried, sit-and-linger pace. Regulars point out that prices run higher than a typical suburban takeout joint, but portions are heavy, the chili heat is uncompromising, and complex stews like light soup or oxtail take real time to build. Keep in mind that live drummers and dancers only perform on select nights—call ahead to catch one—and the restaurant does not accept food orders over the phone.
The move: Go hungry and order family-style — get fufu plus a stew so you're both tearing into the same bowl, and split an order of kelewele (spiced fried plantains). It's a low-stakes, talk-a-lot dinner where you're learning a cuisine together rather than performing a date.
📍 Before you go It's in Lakewood on the southwest edge of metro Denver, so plan it as a destination drive rather than a walk-up neighborhood stop — Kipling Parkway is a major north-south arterial, and the shared strip-mall lot means parking is free and plentiful. The live drummers and dancers aren't a nightly thing; if that's your draw, call ahead to catch a performance night. Come hungry and unhurried — this is a sit-and-linger meal, not a quick bite. If you want to extend the evening, Bowlero Lakewood sits right next door at 945 S Kipling, an easy walk across the same lot for a few games after dinner.
- 📍 Lakewood
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 955 S Kipling Pkwy, Lakewood, CO 80226 (inside the Kipling Parkway strip mall; easy to miss from the road)
Hours: Roughly noon-9pm Mon-Sat per current listings; call (303) 985-4497 to confirm and for reservations/live-music nights.
Pair it with
- Rocky Mountain Punk Nature Art & Oddities — Pair your dinner with a short under-a-mile drive down Wadsworth to browse pinned insects and handmade bone jewelry hidden in another generic Lakewood strip mall.
- Chain Reaction Records — Head three miles north to West Colfax after dinner to dig through punk and heavy metal vinyl curated by local scene fixtures at Chain Reaction Records.
- Denver Museum of Miniatures, Dolls & Toys — Combine your meal with a visit two miles away to explore a dense collection of over 20,000 historical miniatures dating back centuries.
Good to know
Where is African Grill and Bar located?
It is located inside a strip mall at 955 S Kipling Pkwy in Lakewood, on the southwest edge of metro Denver, with free shared parking in front.
What kind of food do they serve?
While owners Sylvester and Theodora are from Ghana, their extensive menu covers West, East, South, Central, and North African dishes—including fufu, jollof rice, kelewele, peanut soup, South African pap, and samosas, all cooked dairy-free.
When do they host live music and dancers?
Performances occur on select evenings rather than daily; call the restaurant directly at (303) 985-4497 to confirm music nights or check reservations.
Can I place a takeout order over the phone?
No, the restaurant explicitly states they do not take phone orders for food; you must order in person or dine in.
What is a good order for first-time visitors?
Order family-style so you can share: pick a starched base like fufu or jollof rice alongside a slow-simmered stew (like peanut soup or light soup), and add an order of kelewele (spiced fried plantains).
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · cpr.org · denvergazette.com · Tripadvisor · blackrestaurantweek.com · Westword
last checked: 2026-06-07