Peasants Paradice’s Zimbabwean-born chef and owner,Dwight Alexander.
14.5/20

Run to Paradice – or at least this spirited Northbridge dining room

Could this be one of the city’s best-kept-secret cooks? His bold,confident,unique cooking suggests his is a name to watch closely.

  • Max Veenhuyzen
Go-to dish:Beyaynetu vegan platter on injera.
13.5/20

‘Doubly exceptional’:Why this humble Ethiopian restaurant’s injera is twice as nice

Sinq’s sisters cook Ethiopian dishes you can find in dozens of Melbourne dining rooms,but with uncommon deftness and detail,and a warm,generous spirit.

  • Dani Valent
Assorted dishes,includign fufu (top left),at Little Lagos in Sydney.

‘Fufu has gone ballistic’:Five West African eateries (and their signature dishes) to try

There’s a Sydney import bringing goat curry to Fitzroy,a vibrant bar and bistro putting Ghanaian spirits in your cocktails,and more.

  • Tomas Telegramma
Fried plantain at African Calabash restaurant in Footscray.

‘Golden,starchy goodness’:These are hot chips,but not as you might know them

Friendly family restaurant African Calabash is a taste of West Africa in Melbourne’s west.

  • Dani Valent
Jollof rice with beef and fried plantain.

La Gout Afrique is a brilliant little gem in a suburban corner milk bar

What do you buy from a milk bar? Cheezels,dishwashing liquid and emergency Tim Tams. What about jollof rice,fried plantain and fufu?

  • Dani Valent
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The suya platter is a Melbourne version of a Ghanaian street-food grill.
13/20

Akwaaba brings the food of West Africa to St Kilda

Do you know your banku from your fufu? If you're unfamiliar with the food of Ghana,visit this colourful restaurant for fun and tasty schooling.

  • Dani Valent
Soulful and supremely comforting:the fitfit (beef soup) served with awaze (chilli paste) and injera.

Ras Dashen's fitfit will warm your winter-brittle bones

Head to Footscray for a bowl of this Ethiopian-style beef soup that's soulful,fortifying and supremely comforting,writes Dani Valent.

  • Dani Valent
Go-to dish:Hot and sweet chicken wings.
13.5/20

Rug up for a taste of Cameroon in a Melbourne gravel lot

The food coming out of this shipping container is dynamic,filling,comforting and,at times,thrilling.

  • Besha Rodell
After building a following with pop-ups,Manze chef and co-owner Nagesh Seethiah has a hit on his hands.
Good Food hat15/20

North Melbourne's Mauritian wine bar Manze gets off to a flying start

After building a following with pop-ups,Manze chef and co-owner Nagesh Seethiah has a hit on his hands.

  • Gemima Cody
The much-loved Nigerian meat pie is kissing-cousin to a Cornish pastie.
14/20

Little Lagos offers taste of Nigeria on Enmore Road

The menu picks a diplomatic path across national favourites,regional differences and spice levels.

  • Terry Durack