Aria Suya Kitchen

Like many restaurants in the Galleria neighborhood, the West African spot Aria Suya Kitchen has the energy of a semi-exclusive club. Mostly thanks to plush booths and the latest Afrobeat tunes playing throughout the restaurant. As fabulous as the sleek deco is, the best reason to head here is for the food—like earthy egusi soup, beef-filled meat pies, and our favorite, the sizzling suya. Suya platters overflow with beef, chicken, and goat, fried suya wings, and suya spice shakers placed on every table in case anyone needs to turn up the heat.

This place is designed for you to stay awhile, so come here when you want to shoot the breeze over palm wine with a couple of friends. And if you’re at Aria Suya Kitchen Wednesday-Sunday and want to keep the party going, head to their connected lounge (that’s somehow more glamorous than their restaurant) to hang out, smoke hookah, and have a cocktail or two.

photo credit: Liz Silva

photo credit: Liz Silva

photo credit: Liz Silva

photo credit: Liz Silva

Food Rundown

photo credit: Liz Silva

Mighty Platter

Generous portions of spicy beef suya, shrimp suya, chicken suya, ribs, goat, and lamb chops are served in the mighty platter. Each meat on the platter is delicious, but the best of the bunch is the juicy, seasoned lamb. Come with a buddy or two to help you finish this dish, or, at least, see the bottom of the tray.

photo credit: Liz Silva

Suya Wings

Tongue-tingling suya spice coats fried chicken wings to make the suya wings. They’re crispy, packed with flavor, and one of our favorite dishes here.

photo credit: Liz Silva

Jollof Rice

Warm and smoky, no meal at Aria Suya is complete without jollof rice. We like to order a side of the fluffy rice and add a few shakes of suya spice on top.

photo credit: Liz Silva

Egusi Soup

There are few soups that bring us comfort like the egusi soup at Aria Suya. It’s rich, nutty, and served with a side of fufu, which is dough made from pounded yam.