For nearly four decades, our cozy corner at 941 Bonifant Street in downtown Silver Spring, Maryland, has served as a cultural anchor for the DMV area. We have evolved through three distinct names, with each chapter reflecting the growing, vibrant African diaspora we call family.
We are thrilled to welcome you to the next chapter of our story under our new name: African Icons Restaurant!
The name of the restaurant (African Icons Restaurant) expands its beautiful legacy. We are shifting our focus from honoring a singular sports star to celebrating the collective brilliance of global African culture and All-Time Soccer Legends. We now pay tribute to the legendary musicians, historical trailblazers, modern cultural pioneers, and everyday ancestors who preserved the rich traditions we dish up every day.
The Peace Corps Spirit: A True Pan-African Welcome
When you dine with us under our current owner, Dr. Brad Hounkpati (popularly known as Brad), a former US Peace Corps Technical Coordinator, you can expect a unique blend of scholarly precision, deep-rooted cultural pride, and profound hospitality.
Dr. Hounkpati famously left a career as an Entomologist, researcher, and academic to preserve the restaurant’s legacy. While he manages the high-level operations, his wife, Sophie, acts as the culinary anchor in the kitchen, and their children help manage incoming orders after school.
Running the business with the global community-building mindset found in programs like the U.S. Peace Corps, Dr. Hounkpati & family have turned the dining room into a cultural embassy. The restaurant proudly displays the flags of all 54 African nations alongside their names, ensuring every diaspora member and local visitor feels represented, connected, and deeply welcomed.
Zero Short-Cuts Heritage Cooking
In a fast-paced world, our kitchen remains committed to a meticulously slow, traditional cooking method. We spend hours sourcing authentic ingredients, and preparing a single recipe can take an entire day.
If you are wondering what keeps our tables packed generation after generation, here are our top 5 most-ordered dishes loved by our community:
Poulet D.G. (Director General) ($18.00 – $25.00) – A savory, celebratory Cameroonian classic that combines tender marinated chicken and sweet fried plantains in a rich tomato-and-vegetable reduction.
Jollof Rice ($4.99 Sm / $12.99 Lg) – The undisputed star of the menu. It is deeply vibrant, perfectly smoky, and packed with traditional West African spices.
Ndolle Stew ($18.99) – A true Cameroonian treasure featuring native bitter-leaf slow-cooked to creamy perfection with ground nuts, crayfish, and select spices.
Egussi Stew ($18.99) – A comforting, rich staple crafted from ground melon seeds and hearty spinach, served flawlessly alongside smooth, authentic pounded yam ($4.99).
Goat Meat Grill ($20.99 Reg / $25.98 Lg) – Sourced straight from our traditional African grill, featuring deeply seasoned, flame-grilled goat tossed with fresh onions and peppers.