Naija Wife Kitchen

Naija Wife Kitchen earned a genuine place in Oklahoma City's dining conversation during its run at 119 North Robinson Avenue in the Robinson Renaissance food court, which it moved into in February 2023. Chef-owner Tahnee Francis built the concept as a fusion she called Nigerian-American cuisine, calling the restaurant the "Home of the Fufu Queen" and making nearly the entire Nigerian menu gluten-free. The signature order was the jollof rice with fried plantains, but the menu stretched wider: stewed goat, spicy suya wings, banga soup, egusi soup, efo riro, peanut butter soup, okra soup, and fufu as the classic swallow. Francis's practice of offering free samples gave first-timers an approachable way into unfamiliar flavors, and the daytime weekday crowd — Monday through Friday, 11am to 4:30pm — was loyal. The restaurant's national recognition came in 2025, when Francis was named a James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalist for Best Chef: Southwest — a distinction that also brought an invitation to cook at the 2026 James Beard Awards in Chicago. She was known beyond the counter too, showing up at area cookoffs and collaborations and sponsoring meals for people in need. On August 21, 2026, Francis announced the restaurant's closure, with the last day of service on September 25, 2026. The official site (naijawifekitchenfusion.com) remains live with the menu and contact information — (469) 315-8724 — and the catering inquiry path, but treat this entry as a record of a closed restaurant rather than a current recommendation.