“The mission of Naija Wife Kitchen has always been to be a bridge in between the Nigerian and American cultures,” says Tahnee Francis, the Naija wife.
For Francis, the exploration of the Nigerian and, more specifically, the Yoruba culture, began when she married her husband. Since then, she has made it her mission to help bring the beautiful experiences she has discovered to her fellow Americans. Since her marriage, she has also traced her own roots back to the Yoruba tribe.
Her passion for sharing the culture prompted her to open Naija Wife Kitchen at 502 N. Hudson Ave. in Oklahoma City. The menu is limited and changes weekly, and has a rapidly growing number of devout followers. Diners may sample dishes at the take-out-only kitchen before deciding on their meal.
Francis travels to Nigeria once or twice a year to bring back the authentic spices needed to create dishes like Egusi soup, made from ground melon seeds. The popular peanut butter soup is served with chicken and white rice or fufu (a ball made from pounded African yam). Whole tilapia comes with a choice of plantains or jollof rice. Vegetarian and vegan options are always available, and all plates are $10 or under.
Naija Wife only accepts cash or CashApp, and because everything is made fresh daily, she may close early if they sell out of the daily portions.
