Ghentian restaurant review: Wacka Wacka

Food is a big part of everyday life: it's what fuels our energy and makes our mouths water. It's one of the reasons why we wake up early every day and head to work, just so we would be able to afford it. It's what generates the everyday question that most spouses hear from their significant other and parents hear from their children: what's for dinner? It's also a topic that has caught my attention the last couple of years, especially such topics as 'food deserts' in the United States, in predominantly Black neighborhoods. A topic I intend to discuss on this blog in the foreseeable future. 

But above all, the culinary history of African cuisine is what makes my heart tick. It's what makes me happy to read about events such as the African Restaurant Week in New York City (5-21 October 2018) and magazines like Cuisine Noir. The African culinary world is taking over and social media is making it possible to make it visible and accessible to the public. 

So imagine my surprise when I heard about an African restaurant opening in my town, followed by an African-American one (Southern cuisine) not too long thereafter? Personally haven't set food outside of Europe in a decade, so staycations are an annual occurrence in my solo household. It gives me time to explore my town and the surrounding cities. Best believe I was more than willing to try out the food at these two restaurants. 

Started out with Wacka Wacka on 5 July 2018 (my birthday), my girlfriends and my cousin came along for the ride: 

The owner with my nephew 

The whole gang

The Wakanda salad

My nephew and me

Thoroughly enjoyed the food and the original names that were picked out for it. The restaurant is extremely small, which makes for a nice, cozy and intimate atmosphere. There's a mural depicting Black women in an African village, pounding yam. We were told by the owner that he had a friend paint it for him. He was also very gracious when I enquired about taking my cake with me to his restaurant, in true African manner. All this to say: if you're ever in town and want to try out an authentic African restaurant, head on over to: 

Wacka Wacka

Sleepstraat 54

9000 GHENT

   Reservations : +32 (0)472 17 56 11