Jambo Jambo

Take a perch at Jambo Jambo, north Sydney’s favourite African restaurant, and see what soul food with a distinct Ethiopian bias is all about. Found at the Crows Nest Plaza up Willoughby Road, this cosy culinary hotspot kicks things off with Ethiopian Konga natural Yirgacheffe coffee, and is more than capable of taking you on an inspired foodie journey through the wonderful world of African cuisine thereafter. What’s more, Jambo Jambo serve up their chicken, beef, lamb and vegetarian delicacies with a smile.

The first thing that strikes diners when they step foot inside Jambo Jambo’s Crows Nest Plaza eyrie is the decor – this diminutive but all the more intimate restaurant down Willoughby Road is flying the flag (and a whole lot more) for African culture. And the food is the star of this proud display. The cuisine on offer at this north Sydney African restaurant focuses on Ethiopian dishes, and you can’t go wrong with the mixed entree with the chef’s special to get you geared up for some serious culinary exploration.

From this far­from­humble beginning – African­Ethiopian cuisine is packed with flavour – venture forth with dishes like Jambo Jambo’s doro alicha, a mild dish of chopped chicken legs simmered with spiced butter, onion, ginger, and served with boiled eggs. On the hotter end of the spectrum, doro wot marinates chicken legs or thighs in a homemade sauce, stewing them in a separate red sauce for a fiery finish. As with the entrees, a great way to sample this Sydney restaurant’s offering when it comes to main courses is the gebeta a platter of African delicacies. Book a table at Jambo Jambo’s Crows Nest Plaza premises along Willoughby Road in advance to avoid the stampede come opening time.