Teranga Midtown: A Taste of West African Superfoods in NYC

Teranga Midtown Introduce

In the heart of Midtown Manhattan, a vibrant culinary journey awaits at Teranga Midtown. Nestled within The Hugh, a stunning food hall, this restaurant is a celebrated destination for authentic West African cuisine. Teranga, a name that means "hospitality" in the Wolof language of Senegal, perfectly embodies the welcoming and enriching experience you'll find here. For New Yorkers looking to expand their palates beyond the usual, Teranga offers a unique and delicious alternative. It's a place that tells stories and shares culture through its food, focusing on ancient, nutrient-dense crops and time-honored cooking traditions. The menu is a thoughtful blend of modern fast-casual convenience and deep-rooted authenticity, making it the perfect spot for a quick, healthy, and incredibly flavorful meal. This Black-owned and women-owned business has become a favorite for locals and tourists alike, praised for its commitment to quality ingredients and its role in bringing the rich, diverse flavors of West Africa to the forefront of the city's food scene.

The atmosphere at Teranga Midtown is a reflection of its home in The Hugh, a space known for its wonderful ambiance, natural light, and ample seating. It’s a casual and trendy environment that makes it feel like a discovery. While the counter-service setup is perfect for grabbing a quick bite, the communal tables and inviting surroundings encourage you to stay, relax, and savor your meal. Whether you're dining solo, meeting a friend for lunch, or grabbing a bite with colleagues, the setting is comfortable and accommodating. The dedication to culture extends beyond the menu; Teranga is part of a larger mission to promote African superfoods and support smallholder farmers in Africa, giving every meal a purpose beyond simple sustenance. This commitment to both culinary excellence and cultural ambassadorship is what truly sets Teranga apart and makes it a special part of the New York dining landscape.

Teranga Midtown is situated in a prime location within The Hugh, a vibrant and popular food hall at 153 East 53rd Street, with an entrance at 601 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, USA. This central position makes it incredibly accessible for anyone working or visiting the Midtown area. Located in one of the city's busiest business districts, it is a convenient stop for a lunch break or a post-work dinner. The location is easily reachable via multiple subway lines, and its presence within The Hugh provides a spacious and comfortable setting that is a welcome contrast to the usual cramped street-side eateries. The restaurant is also wheelchair accessible, with a wheelchair accessible entrance, restroom, and seating, ensuring it can accommodate a wide range of diners.

The surrounding area is a nexus of corporate activity and tourist attractions, making Teranga a perfect meeting point. The accessibility from both Lexington and 53rd Street makes it an easy destination to find and navigate. The combination of a high-energy location with a fast-service model and a relaxed atmosphere makes Teranga an ideal choice for a diverse crowd, from a professional on the go to a family with children. The ability to find such authentic and healthy options in this part of the city is a major draw, and the convenience of being located within The Hugh adds to its appeal, as it provides a clean, well-lit space with plenty of seating.

Teranga Midtown offers a variety of services designed to make your dining experience seamless and enjoyable.

Outdoor seating: Perfect for enjoying a meal on a nice day, with dogs allowed outside for pet owners.
Delivery, Takeout & Curbside Pickup: For maximum convenience, you can get your meal brought right to you or pick it up with ease. No-contact delivery is also an option.
Dine-in: Enjoy your meal inside The Hugh's spacious and comfortable seating area.
Catering: Bring the vibrant flavors of Teranga to your next event, with a menu that can be customized for any occasion.

The menu is a highlight, with a focus on fresh, healthy, and gluten-free options.

Super Bowls and Market Plates: The signature "build-your-own" meal concept allows you to choose your base, protein, and a variety of delicious sides and sauces.
Proteins: Options include Jollof Salmon, Steak Suya, Yassa Grilled Chicken, Chicken Mafe, and Vegan options like the Ancient Vegan Bowl.
Sides: A standout selection of sides such as 'Kelewele' Roasted Sweet Plantains, 'Ndambe' Black Eyed Pea Stew, and Jollof Rice.
Sauces: Enhance your meal with flavorful sauces like Yassa Caramelized Onion Sauce, Mafe Peanut Sauce, and 'Moyo' African Salsa.
Beverages: A unique selection of freshly made juices like Bissap, Bouye, and Ginger, alongside other drinks and an onsite bar.
Desserts: Indulge in sweet treats like Sombi Coconut Rice Pudding.

Teranga Midtown is celebrated for several key features and highlights that make it a standout choice in New York City.

Identifies as Black-owned and women-owned: A business that supports community and diversity.
Fast Service: Despite the high quality, the service is fast, making it ideal for a quick lunch during a busy workday.
Healthy and Vegan Options: The menu is packed with healthy choices, many of which are gluten-free, with a wide array of vegetarian and vegan options.
Casual & Trendy Atmosphere: The vibe is relaxed yet modern, perfect for a casual meal.
Good for Kids: With amenities like high chairs and a kid-friendly atmosphere, it's a great spot for families.
Onsite Bar: Offers beer, wine, and unique cocktails like the 'Beloved' Peach Nutcracker.
Wheelchair Accessibility: The restaurant and its facilities are fully accessible, which is a significant plus.

To experience the flavors of Teranga, you can find them at their convenient Midtown location.

Address: 601 Lexington Avenue, 153 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022, USA

Phone: (332) 910-8138

What is worth choosing at Teranga Midtown is the combination of its delicious food and its commitment to a greater purpose. The food itself is a revelation, with customers raving about the incredible flavors and the feeling of being full and satisfied after their meal. The Jollof rice, a staple of West African cuisine, is a fan favorite, praised for its rich flavor, even when some reviews noted it was slightly overcooked. The 'Kelewele' Roasted Sweet Plantains are a must-try, adding a delightful sweetness to any dish. For those looking for a healthier option, the Ancient Vegan Bowl is a popular choice, packed with flavor and nutritious ingredients. The customizable nature of the bowls and plates ensures that you can create a meal that is exactly to your liking, from the protein to the sauce. Beyond the food, choosing Teranga means supporting a Black-owned and women-owned business that is dedicated to sharing culture and promoting ancient, sustainable ingredients. It’s a place where every meal feels like a discovery, and you can truly taste the passion and tradition in every bite. Whether you're a connoisseur of African cuisine or a first-timer, Teranga offers an accessible and unforgettable experience that is well worth seeking out in the heart of New York City.

Teranga Midtown Menu

Super Bowl
Jollof Salmon Bowl $22.00
Roasted salmon topped with a flavorful blend of spices. Bowl includes: - Roasted Salmon (cilantro, cumin, paprika, lime) - Jollof Rice (rice cooked in tomato broth) - Casamance Salad (kale, mango, tomato, onion, moringa-ginger vinaigrette) - Black Eyed Pea Salad (cucumber, tomato, pepper, parsley, moringa-ginger vinaigrette)
Come Chop Suya Super Bowl
A delicious combination of West African street food classics. Hailing from Nigeria, our Suya (chicken or steak) is marinated in a hot honey tomato sauce and finished with our house suya seasoning. Gluten-free. Medium Spicy. - Grilled Suya (grilled chicken or steak with suya seasoning) - Jollof Rice (rice cooked tomato broth) - Kelewele (roasted sweet plantains) - Ndambe (black eyed pea, sweet potato, okra stew)
Yassa, Yassa Grilled Chicken Bowl $17.00
Our signature Grilled Chicken with sweet & tangy Yassa caramelized onion sauce. - Free-Range Grilled Chicken (thyme, garlic, lime) - Jollof Rice (rice cooked in tomato broth) - Kelewele (roasted sweet plantains) - Black Eyed Pea Salad (cucumber, tomato, parsley, moringa-ginger dressing)
Chicken Mafe Peanut Bowl $17.00
Our signature Grilled Chicken with savory peanut Mafe sauce over Jollof Rice. - Free-Range Grilled Chicken (thyme, garlic, lime) - Jollof Rice (rice cooked in tomato broth) - Kelewele (roasted sweet plantains) - Ndambe Stew (black eyed pea, sweet potato, okra, tomato)
Ancient Vegan Bowl $15.00
Plant-based, protein-rich vegan bowl. - African Red Rice (hearty whole grain rice) - Efo Riro (kale, okra, dawadawa fermented locust bean, red palm fruit oil stew) - Kelewele (spicy roasted plantains) - Ndambe (black eyed pea, sweet potato, okra stew)
West African Keto Bowl $12.00
Build your own keto-friendly bowl using our refreshing West African Kale & Mango Salad. Add your choice of protein. - Kale, Mango, Tomato, Onion, Moringa-Ginger Teranga Vinaigrette - Add Protein

Market Plate
Custom Salmon Bowl
Make your own Salmon bowl.
Custom Steak Suya Bowl
Make your own Grilled Steak Suya Bowl. Medium Spicy. Gluten Free. Suya seasoning: paprika, ginger, onion, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, honey.
Custom Chicken Suya Bowl
Make your own Grilled Chicken Suya Bowl. Medium Spicy. Gluten Free. Suya seasoning: paprika, ginger, onion, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, honey.
Custom Grilled Chicken Bowl
Make your own Free-Range Grilled Chicken Bowl. Gluten free. Halal.
Custom Vegan Bowl
Make your own Vegan bowl.
West African Keto Bowl $12.00
Build your own keto-friendly bowl using our refreshing West African Kale & Mango Salad. Add your choice of protein. - Kale, Mango, Tomato, Onion, Moringa-Ginger Teranga Vinaigrette - Add Protein

Deconstructed Market Plate
Make Your Own Meal as Sides-Only (instead of everything combined in a bowl!).
Deconstructed Roasted Salmon Market Plate
Make your own Roasted Salmon deconstructed bowl. All items will be packaged individually.
Deconstructed Grilled Steak Suya Market Plate
Make your own Grilled Steak Suya deconstructed bowl. All items will be packaged individually.
Deconstructed Grilled Chicken Suya Market Plate
Make your own Grilled Chicken Suya deconstructed bowl. All items will be packaged individually.
Deconstructed Grilled Chicken Market Plate
Make your own Grilled Chicken deconstructed bowl. All items will be packaged individually.
Deconstructed Vegan Market Plate
Make your own Vegan deconstructed bowl. All items will be packaged individually.

Side
Roasted Moroccan Salmon (GF) $10.00
Roasted organic salmon (5oz) topped with a flavorful blend of spices (paprika, cumin, cilantro, lime).
Steak Suya (Halal, GF) $10.00
Grilled hanger steak with suya seasoning. Mild spicy, Gluten free. Suya seasoning: paprika, ginger, onion, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, honey.
Grilled Chicken Suya (Halal, GF) $8.50
Grilled chicken with suya seasoning. Medium spicy. Gluten free. Suya seasoning: paprika, ginger, onion, cumin, cayenne, turmeric, honey.
Free-Range Grilled Chicken (Halal, GF) $7.50
Lime, Thyme, Garlic. Gluten Free. Halal.
'Kelewele' Roasted Sweet Plantains (V, GF) $7.00
Roasted Sweet Plantains, Ginger, Cayenne. Mild Spicy. Vegan. Gluten free.
'Ndambe' Black Eyed Pea Stew (V, GF) $7.00
Black eyed pea, Sweet potato, Okra and Tomato Stew. Vegan. Gluten Free.
West African Kale & Mango Salad Side (V, GF) $7.00
Kale, fonio, mango, tomato, onion, moringa-ginger vinaigrette. Gluten free. Vegan.
'Niebe' Black Eyed Pea Salad (V, GF) $7.00
Black eyed peas, Cucumber, Tomato, Pepper, Parsley, Moringa-Ginger Vinaigrette. Gluten Free. Vegan.
'Efo Riro' Kale Stew (V, GF) $7.00
Kale, Okra, Fermented Locust Bean (Dawadawa), Tomato, Red Palm Fruit Oil Stew. Vegan. Gluten free.
Roasted Tamarind Carrots (VG, GF) $7.00
Roasted carrots with mild spicy tamarind glaze. Gluten free, Vegan.
Harissa Honey Roasted Brussels Sprouts (VG, GF) $7.00
Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Harissa, Honey. Gluten free. Vegan. Mild Spicy.
Jollof Rice (V, GF) $5.00
Jasmine rice cooked in tomato broth. Vegan. Gluten Free.
Yassa Caramelized Onion Sauce (V, GF) $3.50
Caramelized onion and lime confit sauce. Vegan. Gluten Free.
Mafe Peanut Sauce (V, GF, Peanuts) $3.50
Peanut sauce. Vegan. Gluten free.
Thiou Tomato Sauce (V, GF) $3.50
Tomato, Onion, Pepper, Ginger, Garlic, Smoked Paprika, Turmeric, Cumin, Scotch Bonnet Pepper,
'Kani' African Pepper Jam (V, GF)
This fiery scotch bonnet pepper sauce pairs well with meat, fish, stews, and vegetables. Very hot. (scotch bonnet pepper, onion, garlic)
'Moyo' African Salsa (V, GF)
Cucumber, Tomato, Pepper, Onion, Lime, Parsley, Mustard.
'Rof' Senegalese Green Sauce (V, GF)
This garlicky parsley-based sauce goes great with meat, fish, stews, and vegetables. (parsley, olive oil, garlic)

Dessert/Snacks
Sombi Coconut Rice Pudding $8.00
Coconut rice pudding with honey roasted mango. Vegan. Gluten free. This delicious pudding is perfect for dessert, breakfast or an afternoon snack!
Fonio Chips $3.00

Juice
Bissap $7.00
Hibiscus, mint. A traditional West African hibiscus infused juice that is rich in antioxidants, strengthens the immune system and supports digestion. We source our hibiscus from West Africa.
Bouye $7.00
Baobab fruit, coconut milk. An ancient African juice made from baobab fruit, one of the most nutritious fruits in the world, and is rich in vitamin c, calcium, fiber, and potassium. It's great by itself or in a smoothie! We source our baobab from West Africa.
Ginger $7.00
Ginger, Mint. A zesty, refreshing tonic that strengthens the immune system, increases metabolism and aids digestion.
Moringa Limeade $7.00
Moringa, Lime Juice. A refreshing, nutrient packed elixir made with moringa, a nutrient dense plant, that is high in protein, calcium, iron, fiber, and potassium. We source our moringa from West Africa.

Drinks
Saratoga Still Water $3.50
Saratoga Sparkling Water $3.50

Bar
'Beloved' Peach Nutcracker $10.00
This new canned cocktail is a nod to the ‘Nutcracker’: the iconic fruity, potent (and often illegal) punches sold by street vendors at beaches throughout the NYC area. ‘Beloved Nutcracker’ merges a delectable fruitiness with balanced alcohol and restrained sweetness. Succulent sweet peach notes shimmy over a tequila base that is just-sweet-enough and just-plain-refreshing. Peach daiquiri fans will want to take note!
'Beloved' Guava Nutcracker $10.00
This new canned cocktail is a nod to the ‘Nutcracker’: the iconic fruity, potent (and often illegal) punches sold by street vendors at beaches throughout the NYC area. ‘Beloved Nutcracker’ merges a delectable fruitiness with balanced alcohol and restrained sweetness. Vodka is the base for this 12% ABV pocket-sized cocktail. Juicy guava with savory herbal basil notes and a hint of Persian lime provide plenty of succulent fruit while being just-sweet-enough!
Heineken $7.00
Baobiere Golden Ale
12oz. ALC 7.8%. The baobab fruit brings a lightly tropical citrus flavor and aroma that works wonders in this crisp and delicious golden ale. Brewed with the fruit of the legendary African Baobab tree - referred to as the Tree of Life. About Montclair Brewery: Montclair Brewery is a black-owned microbrewery and tasting room located in Montclair, New Jersey. Founded by a husband and wife, Montclair Brewery was born from the desires of head brewer, Leo Sawadogo, to turn his passion of home brewing into an exciting and growing business with his wife, Denise, who leads up the business operations. Leo’s African and Denise’s African-American and Caribbean cultures are often infused into its product and event offerings.
Harlem Renaissance Wit - Harlem Brewing Company
16oz. ALC 5.8%. Lightly hopped with rich coriander, cumin, grains of paradise, orange peel, and natural orange flavors. A toast to the 100th Anniversary of the Harlem Renaissance. Similar to Blue Moon or Allagash White. About Harlem Brewing Company: Celeste Beatty is the first Black woman to own a brewery in the United States. Harlem Brewing has more than 20 years of history and tradition. HBC creates artistic and intuitive beers inspired by the timeless rich history of Harlem and ancient traditions. The beers are sold internationally and have been featured on MSNBC, FOX News, Forbes Magazine, New Brewer, Draft, People, and Ebony.

Teranga Midtown Details

From the business
Identifies as Black-owned
Identifies as women-owned

Service options
Outdoor seating
Curbside pickup
No-contact delivery
Delivery
Takeout
Dine-in

Highlights
Fast service
Sports

Popular for
Lunch
Dinner
Solo dining

Accessibility
Wheelchair accessible entrance
Wheelchair accessible restroom
Wheelchair accessible seating
Wheelchair accessible parking lot

Offerings
Alcohol
Beer
Comfort food
Healthy options
Quick bite
Small plates
Wine

Dining options
Lunch
Dinner
Catering
Seating

Amenities
Bar onsite
Gender-neutral restroom
Restroom
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi

Atmosphere
Casual
Trendy

Crowd
Tourists

Payments
Credit cards
Debit cards
NFC mobile payments
Credit cards

Children
Good for kids
High chairs

Pets
Dogs allowed

Teranga Midtown Photos

Teranga Midtown Location

Teranga Midtown

New York New York County New York East 53rd Street

601 Lexington Avenue, 153 E 53rd St, New York, NY 10022, USA

Teranga Midtown Reviews

An average rating of ★4.6 from 142 user reviews.

bowljollof ricefood courtplantainssenegalese cuisineveganpeanut saucehot saucesuya chickenokra

★ 5★ 4★ 3★ 2★ 1

The Hugh has such a wonderful atmosphere to grab lunch. Very open, natural light, and lots of seating. The food was great. I really love the plantains that come with the food and felt full after eating. The jollof rice was overcooked but had great flavor. Put some salt and pepper on the food especially for plantains. Little interesting taste from the warm chicken to the cold peas.
August 03 · Dylan Marshall
Delicious! Fast casual but not wasteful. They will prepare your meal on an enamel plate if you tell them that you are dining in the food court. Lots of flavorful options. I ate the ancient vegan bowl. I'll be back.
July 15 · Melissa Logan
I got the grilled chicken with rice, plantains, and kale and mango salad. It was delicious — remarkably fresh and each item was expertly prepared. The chicken was super tender and flavorful (the pic doesn’t do it justice), the plantains were the best I’ve ever had, and the kale salad was so refreshing. The man working there was very kind, too. I highly recommend this place and wish I lived closer so I could get it regularly. I’m already craving it again. 🤤The Hugh is also a nice place to eat. There’s a good amount of seating and a clean restroom.
January 22 · K
Very tasty food I'm busy food court. Cashier was seemingly having a low energy day but still cordial... other than that, very good food. Great for vegan/vegetarian/gluten free eaters.
April 17 · Law Sistar
Rice was flavorful and the hottest sauce is very hot here. Thought the vegetable options were decent and the beef was not bad, but overall nothing worth shouting too much about.
July 17 · Rovik Robert