What Tasty African Food actually is Tasty African Food started as a single restaurant founded by the Olaleye family, built around dishes like jollof rice, efo riro, and peppered meats. Word of mouth grew it into a chain of around 27 locations across London and Kent, reportedly generating close to £7 million in annual revenue — making it one of the UK’s largest West African food businesses. The founders deliberately turned down outside investment to grow at their own pace and protect the brand. More recently, the business expanded into a ready-meal line now stocked in major UK supermarkets, putting West African dishes on supermarket shelves at a scale that wasn’t really available before. That’s a meaningful part of why West African food generally has become more visible and searched-for in the UK over the past few years — Tasty African Food isn’t the whole story of that shift, but it’s a genuine proof point of it. If you want to go beyond a ready meal A supermarket ready-meal range is a good entry point, but it’s built for convenience and shelf life, not the full range of what West African cooking actually offers. If you want to go further, there are really two paths: Eating out. Independent West African restaurants across the UK — many far smaller than a 27-location chain — offer dishes made fresh, often with more regional specificity than a mass-market range can provide. Cooking it yourself. This is where you get the most control over ingredients, spice level, and authenticity — and it’s more accessible than people sometimes expect. Staples like rice, palm oil, egusi, and suya spice are all available from specialist sellers, not just larger chains. Where to buy the ingredients If a ready meal has got you curious about cooking West African food properly, Deni connects you with identity-verified sellers across the UK stocking exactly these staples — grains, spices, fresh produce, and more — organised by category so you’re not stuck hunting through generic search results. Frequently Asked Questions Is Tasty African Food available in supermarkets? Yes — the brand expanded from its restaurant chain into a ready-meal range now stocked in major UK supermarkets. How many Tasty African Food restaurants are there? Around 27 locations, primarily across London and Kent. What’s the difference between a ready meal and homemade West African food? Ready meals prioritise convenience and shelf stability; homemade cooking lets you control spice level, freshness, and regional authenticity more closely, using ingredients from specialist sellers. Where can I buy West African cooking ingredients online? Verified specialist sellers stock staples like rice, palm oil, egusi, and suya spice — [browse categories on Deni →]