Naija Wife Kitchen
“Naija” is a nickname for a Nigerian-American. Tahnee Francis has only been a “Naija Wife” for six years, but she cooks Nigerian food — with all its spicy, aromatic, and deeply seasoned goodness — like she’s been doing it her whole life. As a second-generation Laotian-American, her story is one I can relate to, and her passion for Nigerian food mirrors my goal of educating through food at my own restaurant, Ma Der Lao Kitchen.
Born in Oklahoma and raised in Dallas, Tahnee is a second-generation Nigerian-American who married Toby, a Nigerian-born man, six years ago, fell love with the culture, and wanted to fully embrace her roots by learning to cook Nigerian food at home. She learned from everyone she could, including Toby, her sister-in-law, and other Naija wives. Her cooking became so in-demand that she was asked to make plates to sell from her home, which evolved into a marathon of popups beginning in Nappy Roots bookstore in October 2020. Her restaurant in Oklahoma City, Naija Wife Kitchen, opened in late 2021.
A Nigerian diet usually consists of starchy ingredients like cassava, yams, rice, and plantains, seasoned and cooked with a mix of palm oil, garlic, melon seeds, and all the spices. Nigerians are fond of soups and stews. Tahnee’s menu selection showcases these staples well with complex, savory dishes that have a mild, approachable spice level.
Tahnee often greets diners herself and provides free samples while passionately describing each item so a guest can understand and appreciate each dish before making difficult decisions. On the other hand, you really can’t go wrong with anything you choose.
Tahnee’s favorites are Efro Riro (spinach stew), Banga Soup (palm fruit soup), and Spicy Suya Wings, which she says is her Nigerian-American dish meant to blend both cultures. Fried chicken is culturally one of the most American food items that could please anyone. My personal favorite was the Efro Riro. It was simple yet complex and full of flavor—I thought, for just a second, that I could go meatless.
Naija Wife Kitchen introduced me to fufu, and I can only hope that any future fufu I have is on par with Tahnee’s. It’s a starchy item made from boiled and pounded cassava, and is usually paired with flavorful soups and stews to soak up and balance all the richness. Fufu is meant to be eaten with your fingers — specifically those of your right hand, as the left hand is seen as dirty or disrespectful. Left-handers, don’t worry: Tahnee jokes that no one is going to be mad at you.
I recommend taking at least one friend, because you’re going to want to order multiple dishes to share. The decisions were difficult.
> Naija Wife Kitchen, 119 N. Robinson Avenue (inside the Renaissance Building), Oklahoma City, (469) 315-8724, naijawifekitchen.com
Jeff Chanchaleune is the chef and owner behind Ma Der Lao Kitchen. He has been recognized by the James Beard Foundation, The New York Times, and Bon Appetit Magazine.
