Project Suya has officially opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in downtown Silver Spring, bringing one of West Africa’s most beloved street foods to Montgomery County in a permanent location. A video preview can be seen below.
We stopped by this weekend to support and ordered a variety of menu items, including a Suya Bowl, Suya Burger, Suya Tacos, and Jollof Rice. For those unfamiliar with the dish, suya is a massively popular West African street food, most famously rooted in Nigerian cuisine. It consists of thinly sliced, highly seasoned meat that is skewered and grilled over an open flame. The result is a flavorful, smoky dish that serves as the foundation for much of Project Suya’s menu.
The food was delicious across the board. The suya itself stands out immediately, delivering the bold flavors that have made the dish a staple throughout West Africa. Among the items we tried, the Suya Burger was a particular favorite, thanks in part to a flavorful sauce that complemented the seasoned meat perfectly. The Suya Tacos were also very tasty, offering a creative fusion that still lets the suya remain the star of the show.
Located at 8777 1st Ave., the restaurant represents the latest chapter for the family-owned business, which began as a backyard venture before expanding into a successful food truck operation. The restaurant celebrated its official grand opening this past weekend.
In addition to its signature suya, the menu features burgers, tacos, shawarma, wings, rice dishes, and other specialty items inspired by West African flavors. Project Suya occupies the space at 8777 1st Ave. that was previously home to Mezcal Cantina, which closed last November. Prior to that, the location operated as Tacos Way Mexican Grill.
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