Oft cited as the best restaurant in Abuja, Wakkis has no Michelin stars or James Beard winning chefs – they simply have good Indian food, good prices and a great atmosphere. The building sits above Aminu Kand Crescent and has a simple, A-frame dining room. In the front portion of the restaurant, long wooden tables and benches surround an open kitchen where many of the meats are grilled. The ceiling opens up to the roof and the mezzanine, where another several dozen tables overlook the main room and extend briefly back into the building.

The atmosphere here is warm and mixed between Indian and African, with dark wood furniture, brick walls, exposed trusses and a thatched roof far above. There’s also a nice selection of African artwork on the walls. Surprisingly, the space is extremely quiet, even as the room filled up to half-capacity during my visit. Staff and visitors here seem to respect each other’s space, resulting in a pleasant dining experience free from any external distractions. Later in my visit they did turn on a speaker system, so it’s safe to bet that the atmosphere becomes a bit more festive in the late evening.

Food here is distinctively south Indian, with several dishes referencing Kerala, but there are also a few mainstream selections. Free papadum (flat crispy bread) is provided for each table, then everything from tandoori to fish curry to palak paneer is on the menu. I ordered murgh tikka masala and was extremely happy with my choice. Surprisingly the onion rings were also excellent. Nothing on the menu was over N 3000 except for the prawns.

Wakkis is located in Wuse 2 just north west of the city center. While it’s tucked back into Aminu Kand Crescent, all of the drivers in the city know where the restaurant is, so there shouldn’t be a problem in finding it.