Mississauga is as diverse as a city can get so it shouldn’t be surprising that the dining options are equally varied. If you’re craving a slow-cooked stew, baked eggplant or spicy grilled chicken, you don’t have to venture far. Here are five African restaurants in Mississauga you have to try.
Masrawy Egyptian Kitchen
The dining options near the suburbs of Streetsville, Erin Mills and Meadowvale have grown significantly in recent years but Masrawy stands out above all the rest. The owners and staff are friendly and the restaurant itself is stunning, but it’s the authentic dishes that’ll keep you coming back for more.
The menu offers a good amount of vegetarian options, such as eggplant and mallow dishes, as well as grilled classics like Beef Kabab, Lamb Chops and Chicken Tawook — and they also serve up classic Egyptian breakfast on the weekends. Are you drooling yet?
If you’re looking for an elegant but affordable meal, look no further than Masrawy. It’s Egyptian comfort food at its finest.
Naija Jollof
Located in Westwood Square, you won’t find another food court eatery like it anywhere. Literally. There truly isn’t a place like this anywhere in Mississauga (or the Greater Toronto Area) where you can get fried plantain, and chicken or turkey on the side of the delectable rice typically served up in West Africa (Nigeria, in particular).
Their soup list is extensive, from okra and amala to ogbono and egusi, as is the choices of main meats. And there’s nowhere else in the city where you can find a delicacy as exotic and wonderful as Naija Jollof’s Peppered Big Snails.
Samaka Mediterranean Seafood
If seafood is your favourite cuisine and large portions are your thing, then Samaka is the place for you. There are handhelds like lobster rolls and tuna melts, tantalizing entrees (like their Seafood Tajine and Shrimp Bechamel), and an array of fresh fish to choose from which can be cooked in five different styles — singari, raddah, sayadiah, fried and lemon and herb.
The atmosphere is warm and modern, the staff and chef are attentive and helpful, and every beautifully spiced plate will have you coming back for more.
Galito’s Flame Grilled Chicken
Galito’s opened their first restaurant in South Africa in 1996 — and hasn’t looked back. The franchise grew into North America when it opened its first location in Mississauga in 2011, bringing fresh and healthy, flame-grilled chicken (which is marinated in their secret peri-peri sauces for 24 hours), to their guests, who can’t get enough of it.
The tender, mouthwatering chicken is served fresh from the grill, and it’s up to you and your palate what flavour you opt for. The best part? It’s quick. Galito’s promises your food will be at your table in 10 minutes, making for an ideal dining experience. Because the only thing better than good food is getting it promptly.
Nando’s
Similar to Galito’s but with a Portuguese twist, the goal of Nando’s is for its guests to feel like they’re in Southern Africa, from the vibrant colours, mixes of old world and new, and the decor combines African and Portuguese touches, in honour of the restaurant chain’s roots. Even their choices of font was adopted from what’s used on road signs throughout South Africa.
Nando’s boasts about their PERi-PERi, rightfully so, which can be enjoyed on chicken, fries, mixed nuts and even a drizzle on their hummus. From Johannesburg to Mississauga, their flavourful, heavenly chicken is the real deal.
Platinum Suites: Located Close to African Restaurants
When you’re in Mississauga, you never have to go far to experience various flavours and the city offers some of the best African food around. For some of the best furnished apartments around, contact us to pre-book a stay at Platinum Suites, whether it’s a long- or short-term rental. Conveniently located in the centre of Mississauga, you’re just a short drive away from one of the city’s African restaurants.
By Denette Wilford