Chuku’s
Tottenham, London
A splash of bright orange on Tottenham High Road, Chuku’s immediately stands out from the crowd with its vibrant, life-affirming colours and its dedication to authentic Nigerian cuisine. Launched as a supper club by a brother-and-sister duo back in 2018, its current pint-sized premises is cool, unfussy, neighbourly and loud, with no standing on ceremony (note the paper napkins and canteen-style cutlery laid out on bare tables). Staff are also as keen as mustard, exuding warmth and enthusiasm from the off. This may be London N15, but Chuku’s heady, sweet and spicy tapas plates come straight from contemporary Lagos – from plant-based ideas such as steamed quinoa ‘jollof’ (smoked in-house) to meaty offerings including shredded chicken ‘ata din din’ in a fiery sauce of Scotch bonnets and red peppers. Best of all during our visit was a dish of meatballs with such a great depth of flavour and nuttiness from its traditional ‘suya’ seasoning (peanuts, ginger and chillies). There are just three desserts – a cheesecake, plantain waffles and (vegan) yam brownies served with dairy-free ice cream. Brunch and happy-hour deals are further reasons to be cheerful, while the emphasis on authenticity rolls over onto the drinks list, where Nigerian-brewed Guinness, Star lager, exotic cocktails and palm wine are the headliners. Times have been tough post-lockdown but thanks to the success of a recent ‘six-week charge’ fundraising campaign, Chuku's future is secured... for now.
