Savor Suya Beef Skewers and Jollof Rice at ChòpnBlọk
What began as a fast-casual stall in the Post Market food hall has now evolved into a formidable, full-service, Michelin Gourmand restaurant bursting with energy. The Black diaspora’s style, music, and slang have shaped the world’s culture for generations, and its food, especially soul and Creole, helped shape Americana. Yet African cuisines, the foundation of so much of it, rarely receive the same reverence as other global cuisines. From Nigerian American chef-owner Ope Amosu, ChòpnBlọk, like a growing number of Houston restaurants, takes West African flavors and gives them their proper due.
What to order:
- The Polo Club Suya ($16), tender beef skewers dusted with yaji peanut-pepper spice sourced from Nigeria, is succulent and genuinely spicy. Suya is one of Nigeria’s most beloved foods, grilled and sold everywhere from roadside stands to city clubs. The recipe here mirrors the version served at the legendary Lagos Polo Club.
- The chips & dip ($14) riff on something instantly familiar to any Texan. Tortillas are swapped for crisp, lightly salted plantains, and guacamole, queso, or salsa with velvety, savory stewed Liberian greens. A ChòpnBlọk visit without an order of this appetizer is incomplete.
- The well-portioned bowls are ChòpnBlọk’s calling card, and you can’t go wrong with any of them, but the golden bowl ($22.50), with smoky jollof jambalaya, curry, chicken, yaji vegetables, and stewed plantains, combine for a rich dish that hits smoky, sweet, and spicy all at once.
What to drink:
- The manyaritas ($14) are ChòpnBlọk’s spin on the margarita. There are three options, but if you’re going for one, order the tamarind, which adds earthiness for more depth of flavor.
The vibe
Lively, loud, colorful, and well-lit room with Afrobeats pulsing through the room that feels like a party. While the original outpost at Post Market is firmly fast-casual, as a full-service restaurant, the Montrose location more accurately reflects the Michelin-caliber food on your table.
Insider tip
Thanks to word of mouth and its heap of accolades, ChòpnBlọk is busy often, so you’ll want to book a reservation. But if you don’t and they’re full, go down the street to Traveler’s Table, which specializes in different cuisines from around the globe, and take a seat at the bar while you wait for a table.
