A fast-casual West African concept called Jollof Bowl opened in July at Cross Street Market in Federal Hill. The new restaurant, which fills a stall formerly occupied by Sobeachy and Southern N Smoked, is owned by Andrea and LA Oketunji.
The Oketunjis are veterans of the hospitality industry and owned restaurants and night clubs, but “COVID took all of that from us,” said Andrea Oketunji.
Andrea Oketunji is Liberian and LA Oketunji is Nigerian. They wanted to do something different this time and focus on a quick-service food menu. They modeled Jollof Bowl after Chipotle, but with West African food. Jollof Bowl began at home and then the Oketunjis opened a ghost kitchen in Silver Spring working with delivery apps. That success lead to a move to Cross Street Market.
