Akwaaba Restaurant and Bar

Last sunday during a public event I came in to buy 3 cans of soft drink, and the owner Ahmed, who I actually used to work with, charged me $18 for 2 Cokes and a sprite. When I asked why it cost so much, Ahmed just said "It's St Kilda" and shrugged. I could see him imput the drinks 3 times each and they're usually $2 a can, so this was a deliberate way to rip me off but my friend had already opened her drinks and I didn't feel comfortable to press it further. Very disappointing and I wouldn't come back to support this behaviour.

Food was delicious and staff were friendly, bonus if you’re anxious there’s an option to scan the code by the table and order there.
Thank you for your service had a lovely evening here

The interior is absolutely beautiful, feels like a perfect authentic experience. The staff was extremely hospitable and treated us as guests and not customers. The food was great we kept ordering more and more. 10/10 experience overall i hope to come back soon

Had the best African cuisine in Melbourne! We celebrated our special day at Akwaaaba and it was a great service and food. Loved the decor on the wall as well!
- okra soup with fufu
- tilapia
- banku
- fried rice

Friendly staff, starters were really good but the rest of the food was overpriced, underwhelming & took an hour to come out. I was still hungry after $60 of food.

Amazing chicken wings! We also loved the rice dish, stew and donuts for dessert! The food was really good value for money.

The food was all so delicious. Highly recommend the beef stew with fufu.
Service was a little bit slow but it was worth the wait.

If you're looking for an exceptional African dining experience, look no further than this restaurant. From the moment you walk through the door, you're greeted by a warm and inviting atmosphere, with attentive and friendly staff eager to make your meal memorable.

The menu is truly a masterpiece, with a wide range of dishes to suit all tastes and dietary requirements. You can tell that the chefs take great pride in their work, as each dish is not only delicious but also a work of art.

The drinks menu is also impressive, with a wide range of authentic African beverages to choose from. And if you're not sure what to pair with your meal, the knowledgeable staff are more than happy to make recommendations based on your preferences.

Overall, I think restaurant is a true gem, and one that should not be missed. The combination of exceptional food, excellent service, and inviting atmosphere make it the perfect place for a special occasion or just a night out with friends. Highly recommended

What a pleasant surprise!
Food was super delicious, staff was nice and atmosphere was amazing.
Really enjoyed the beef stew and the fish! Perfectly seasoned and super tender!

Amazing vibe, live music and delicious food. I can’t ask for more.shout out to the waitresses there too

Love supporting restaurants like this. Super unique and fun place with a good vibe. Foods really unique and authentic and well made.

I visited this restaurant specially to try some fufu. Had a kontomire stew along with fufu. The restaurant's staff and ambiance is nice but the price for the amount of portions served is a little bit expensive.

Will I dine here again: No, but it was a good one time experience to try fufu.

When told that I was going to have an African experience for lunch I wasn’t looking forward to it and complained all the way here from the western suburbs lol I looked on the reviews like a hawk looking for any faults not to come.
I ordered the:
Jollof plate
Beef stew
Fufu
Fried Casava
Kelewele

Man I tell you BEST African food experience I’ve ever had. To fault this place for anything would be a lie. Massive congratulations to owner the CHEF the lovely lady that served us. You put a smile on my face and will continue to be a customer for future visits.

Wonderful restaurant and very delicious food! Would definitely recommend. We had the kontomire stew with banku, kenkey, and tomato gravy - so good. Will definitely be back when we next visit Melbourne.

Amazing food, loved the fufu, plantains and beef stew! Highly recommend, staff were lovely even though they were short staffed on the day but would definitely come back

- Amazing food. Unique and rich flavours.
- Jollof rice, fried chicken, coleslaw and beef stew all tasted amazing.
- Friendly staff and owner
- Pleasant and comfortable dining experience
- Can definitely recommend.

Loved everything about this place it definitely took me to Africa. It was delicious and the spices were on point. Lovely place with the decor and the waiter was helpful.

Good food and portion - had jollof rice with chicken, plaintain and calamari between the two of us.

Menu was a bit difficult to navigate because it didn’t have description or explanation of each dish so I had to compare with the menu on the website to know which dish is the calamari (pousina).

Note that the restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol. I had a mocktail and it was refreshing.

Will go again to try different dishes.

A distict and delicious taste of African cuisine.
A warm welcome from the lovely staff had a noticeable impact on the great experience we had. The quality of the food was perfect.

Great food with a good amount of spice and variety. The restaurant plays music but it's pleasant and not loud. Great for having a conversation with others. Staff helpful. Shame they don't serve alcohol but at least it's BYO. Loved the Suya platter.