Rainbow Restaurant
312 E Diamond Ave, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877
Rainbow Restaurant Menu
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Address :
312 E Diamond Ave
Gaithersburg, MD, 20877 - Phone (301) 947-0099
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
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Jessie O.
I found this place on the recommendation of a friend from Nigeria. Although the owners are from Ghana, the food is similar to our food in Nigeria. They do a great job there. I have been frequenting this establishment for over 7 years. The ambience is like stepping into a portal putting you in a bustling business in Accra. The service is quick and very friendly. They sell other things there like drinks (including Ghanaian Malta), suya, and meat pies. They are very generous with their portions especially with meat. My personal favorite is pounded yam with egusi soup. I highly recommend this place whether you are from West Africa looking for a taste of home or just from anywhere ready to try some ethnically diverse food.
(5)Kirk W.
I used to like this place a lot, but as of lately the portions have been getting smaller and smaller. I always choose between the Ghanaian ox talis, Jamacian Jerk chicken, or egusi with goat. For the last 5 months or so my jerk chicken has been extremely dry and no sauce poured over my rice when asked over the phone. I really love jerk chicken so this is a disappointment. The ox tails: 1: they give you kid size portions 2: they give you one big tail and three tiny ones 3: the ox tails have more fat then meat 4: they are usually either too tough/almost burnt or very tender(fatty) 5: be ready to get full off of rice cause that's all your paying for Egusi w/goat: goat is exceptionally good all the time. The flavors on it are amazing. However, once again the portions are so small not even a microscope could see them! The spinach egussi seemed like it is always cooked to fast or something... I have the same exact meal prepare at other west African restaurants (Ghanaian/Nigerian) and theirs didn't taste like everything was sautéed dumpster juice and thrown in a box... Regardless of the negative things I've been experiencing, they are very friendly here and make everything from scratch. If you don't mind paying between 10$-15$ for 3-4 pieces of meat an about 5 pounds of rice then this is DEF the place for you.
(2)Kelsie K.
My friend just spent 3 days admitted at Holy Cross Hospital due to bad fish she ate there. Montgomery County Maryland said their last few inspections have been very very bad. Conditions are very poor and dirty at the time of the inspection. Please think twice before eating there, you health depends on it. My friend was hooked up to a drip of antibiotics and anti nausea medication for 3 days. 5000 people die from food poisoning a year!
(1)Yeta M.
It kind of took sometime for someone to come to the front and take my order. They were nice and friendly. I order the fufu and goat, it was pretty good (a nice hint of spiciness). You may be wondering why I give them 2 stars...well right after eating my food I ended up vomiting profusely ( I felt like I was dying) my body didn't want any of it in my system. I'm not sure if their food is contaminated or if I reacted to one of the ingredients but considering I have no allergies I'll go ahead and say their food may be contaminated. Anyway it was great to eat but I later suffered.
(2)Fareez A.
Just got food poisoning from this place. Really gross...never eating here again.
(1)Emma W.
I have been here many times over many years(at least 3-4)... and I have always liked it. Now I have to caveat that I only come on weekends or the holidays since that's when they make the dish I like! I have tried many things off their menu, and while different still good!! So my dish of choice is the Omotuo. Spicy palmnut soup with a huge rice ball. It comes with a mix of meats- goat, oxtail, fish... delicious!! I love the soup. The flavors! There is a layer of oil, but this is to be expected. Get a drink if you think it might be too spicy... also you probably will get you hands dirty. Traditionally you would eat this with your hands. But they do provide you a spoon :) So you walk in, and as my friend said today-- you are transported to another world! This isn't Gaithersburg anymore!! Get some menus at the counter and seat yourself. If you need speedier service just go to the counter and they'll make sure you have everything you need. Super friendly. Always so much going on... simple decor but it works. Once you order, they will bring out drinks and a washing bowl and soap. This is so you can use your hands to eat. I wasn't sure at first but watched others... but as I don't really want to get my hands dirty-- I just enjoy my food with a spoon :) Try this place out! Don't be shy! It is an experience.
(5)Muriel H.
Amazing food and an awesome owner and wife. My company was having a multicultural day and I was too ill to cook so I looked to Rainbow Restaurant 2 days prior to cater the event for me. They were so helpful! I got a good deal on jollof rice, beef stew, chicken stew, plantains, pepper sauce, chicken suya and beef suya for about 20 people. Since it was a tasting, I was able to feed over 50 individuals at the festival! I got all good compliments for the dishes provided by Rainbow. I also had some of their banku, tilapia, kilewile, and pepper sauce for dinner which were all really good. "Mr. Rainbow" himself threw in a chicken and beef suya for free for myself and my husband! My one wish was that the tilapia was a bit bigger because I was enjoying it too much and before I knew it all was left was the fish head! I plan to go here for lunch a couple times because their menu is devine. I was also told by the owner that they are going to add a lunch special soon! I can't wait!!!! There are not too many African restaurants in the Gaithersburg/Germantown area so its good that there is a good representation of our amazing cuisines!
(4)John H.
I was invited to rainbow by Ghanaian co workers a couple of times. I really loved the goat soup with fufu. The fufu just melts in your mouth (chewing it is apparently the wrong method according to my Ghanaian friends). On other occasions I tried the jallof rice with goat stew. This was also very tasty, but as others have mentioned the goat was a bit over cooked. Also as others have mentioned,the servings are colossal. If you are looking for an ambience, you won't find it here. Neither will you find unbiased service. My Ghanaian friends got treated like family. Me? Not so much. If you haven't tried west African cuisine, then you need to try rainbow. On the other hand, I would rather try cooking it myself.
(3)Coretta O.
Don't do it to yourself. I ordered Banku and Tilapia and the fish was so hard and tasteless she must have microwaved it a few times. I have never had fish meat taste so hard, and no it wasnt fried. The shito was burnt, definitely burnt. GROSS
(1)M S.
My first visit took place this past Saturday. The food was delicious. I had the oxtails and my friend had the stewed tilapia. He inhaled his food. Everyone was polite and friendly.
(4)Ideen S.
When we walked in, there was some pretty cool Ghanan music playing; but they changed it shortly thereafter to the TV, which was kind of a bummer. Anyways...pretty humble setup, and rather confusing menu; but definitely tasty food! I had the "Jollof Rice With Stew" and my girlfriend had the Jerk Chicken. I thought both had an awesome taste and were reasonably priced. Rainbow's ambiance isn't anything to call home about, but the food is pretty good and the staff there are pretty friendly. I'll likely visit again!
(4)Gerri S.
Perhaps I am a little too critical of Rainbow because there is another Ghanaian restaurant less than 10 mins away (Pinks afrikoko). Look this is 2012. Even if the owners recently initiated this venture I don't see how you wouldn't do your homework and realize that in this area ambiance does matter. I can't believe there is a large tacky glass chandelier in the form of a large ship right in the center of the store. The seating area is poorly lit and the little cloudy portholes into the kitchen area are unsettling. It's not so much that one has to spend tons of money on renovations. But c'mon someone actually bought that chandelier. Ok rant over. The menu is pretty extensive. If you are a lover of west african cuisine you will find what you are looking for here. I delighted in the light, flaky crust of the beef patties. The fufu with goat soup is something that will bring tears to your eyes. Literally. It is spicy, rich in flavor and each mouthful is to be savored. The prices are average considering you will make a second meal out of each entree. I would really urge the management to take some interest in the ambience. You take a lot of pride in your food and I wish you would do the same for the appearance of the restaurant.
(3)Kojo B.
Rainbow Restaurant is extremely solid all around. As a Ghanaian, I know my Ghanaian grub and Rainbow does justice to all of them. From Jollof rice, plantain, fufu et al. A plus for me is the fact that they have ground nut soup everyday which goes perfectly with my Fufu. My only wish is that if they were closer than Gaithersburg.
(4)Sophia J.
What's the rave about this place?? Absolutely rude as hell Hostess/Waitress at the front bar as you walk in, impatient,arrogant and just vile as hell .The Jollof rice dinner l ordered tasted like last weeks refrigerated food, hard as stone, tasteless and two pathetic looking plaintain, in a dish that is supposed to be garnished with as many plaintain slices as possible, but again not surprised, l thought l was walking into a Nigerian restaurant where the portions are super generous.The puff-puff l bought wasn't bad. The restrooms are locked up all the way down some hallway, so unsanitory to be taking a key from the front bar and opening/shutting with the kind of traffic and size of restaurant this is. Maybe l'm used to upscale African restaurants, this one is a major Zero. First time there, first African restaurant l tried in Gaithersburg,Never,ever again.
(1)Ndi I.
Rainbow Restaurant....an African gem. When we went there (on a weekday evening) it was quiet and the staff was friendly. Customers stopped in and out to pick up their orders and it seemed the neighborhood was undergoing some construction work. I have to say that you get a lot of food at a reasonable price - And- they have an extensive menu catering to a wide West - African population (for those not from Ghana). It will be a good idea, however, to check with the waiter/waitress as to what is available that day. I really would like to go back soon, and am glad I have found another great African restaurant.
(4)Angela M.
I was told to check the Rainbow Restaurant out because they would have hot and spicy food. The dishes don't actually seem very spicy, but they do offer a very good, hot sauce as a side dish. The portion sizes turned out to be huge! And the food was really very good! The decor is uninspiring. If anything, it is kind of discouraging. But don't be put off by that. The food is great!
(4)Andrew K.
This is my third time trying Ghanian food and I thought this place was ok. I tried the jollof rice and beef stew and while they gave a huge pile of rice, I thought they skimped out on the beef. It was seasoned pretty well and tasted ok. I also tried the ghanian oxtails and that was average. Some of the oxtails were dry and overcooked. I don't think I'm a good judge of ghanian food but I thought the other places I've tried was better but this place is not bad.
(3)Elizabeth M.
OK, I wouldn't normally review the Rainbow, because I've only had their food delivered (via Takeout Taxi). So I can't comment on ambiance, and food is never as good delivered as when eaten at the restaurant. That being said .... Stop what you're doing, go to oldtown Gaithersburg, and order the Fufu with Goat. Or, probably, with beef, though I haven't tried that yet. Seriously. Do it now. The rest of our meal was perfectly fine ... we ordered a beef patty appetizer (nicely seasoned and flaky if slightly dry), and the red snapper (well seasoned, and a great sauce, but perhaps very slightly overcooked), and the bofrot / puff puffs (fried bread-balls, dusted very lightly with sugar -- quite tasty). But the fufu with goat was fantastic. The star of that meal is the soup that the goat is cooked in -- a spicy, deep, rich, meaty, stunningly flavorful thick broth that I want to beg them to sell to me by the gallon. Or possibly by the pony-keg. Really, it's that good. The fufu, a sort of ground plantain dumpling, is served separately but you add it to the soup -- it balances the spice wonderfully. And the goat is rich, spicy, and tender. I'll edit this review once I've had a meal at the restaurant itself -- which be assured I'm going to do soonest. But in the meantime, you owe it to yourself to get there. The prices are reasonable, the menu is interesting and varied, and the portions range from slightly large to huge (the jollof rice that came with the snapper could have reasonably fed a family of four!). Really, try the fufu. I'm not kidding.
(4)M R C H.
This is a takeout place to be sure, so the atmosphere is non existent. The service was terrible, a woman at the counter watching the television LOUDLY the entire time. I'd love to tell you that the food saves the place but things were dried out, tough, and either too bland or too spicy. As this is a cuisine that a lot of people don't have exposure to, I'd love it if this place did a buffet so I could try more stuff. They need to get their act together.
(2)Mel M.
Its ok for just trying west african i suppose. I ordered take out. we had the spicy spinach dish (very VERY oily)---it was tasty but they could use way less oil. ox tail...very flavorful and tasty jollof rice (rice with tomato sauce)...it was ok---wish it had more spices. kebab--it was basically stewed beef- dried out and put on a stick.... not good.
(3)Steve G.
African Food in Gaithersburg? Snowballs in Hell? Sure, why not? My brother went to Kenya and Tanzania once. Can I use that as street cred here? No? Oh well. Enjoy the review anyway. Rainbow restaurant was not full as I entered on a Wednesday afternoon. But, every person in there, whether staff or patron, was from Africa or the caribbean. I had jerked chicken to go. What was a refreshing surprise was to find actual pieces of identifiable chicken parts--dark meat---not some blanched white, formed nuggets. Sure, I had to pick out bones from the chicken chunks, but this was REAL chicken, cooked fresh and swimming in a superb jerk sauce. For $11, it's not exactly a bargain, but it does fill you up. I noticed some of the plates of the African customers. You want whole fish on a plate, buggy eyes and all? Come here. You want customers with clothing that doesn't say DKNY, or CK, or whatever the hell is the height of runway tragedy these days? Come here. All threads in the joint were continental or caribbean, and it was such a great surprise find for a quick lunch, when all I wanted was a turkey sandwich and the deli was closed. How fortuitous to end up here. This is the kind of place that seems very authentic (at least to this reviewer, who, remember, has a brother that went to Africa:)) and would be a shame to miss. Even if the food is not breathtaking, it's a breath of fresh cuisine in a staid suburban community that tows the line of sushi and every chain restaurant known to the Washington area.
(3)C J.
I'm gonna hold out with Rainbow as my second favorite Ghanaian food in town. Pluses: *they have t-zed!!! (this is the traditional dish of Northern Ghana (where I lived) and no other West African place in town has it!) *their ground nut stew is probably the best in town *lots of choices *VERY clean *flat screen TV's Minuses: *far away *far away *far away If it were closer I'd probably eat here more often! We had a fairly large group and they managed to get the food out and mostly correct pretty quickly. I think there were a few mix ups, but I don't really hold that against them! Everyone was really satisfied with their meals at the end.
(4)JF N.
Being African, I 'am very particular and can be harsh on African establishments, since alot of them (I feel) don't really step up to the plate with it comes to their businesses(customer service, maximizing the potential, etc...). Rainbow has stepped up (Some what!), it has good food (mostly from the West african region), good portions, tastefull, seasoning is on point, flat screen tv, flexible with your order, good wait time. My only complaint is their prices, I think that they are a little steep ( Intentional...I think!), but that's what happens when competion is lacking (You price as you please and smile all the way to the bank, hahaha), as your only option for another descent African restaurant would be to head to Silver Spring or PG County. Overall, it's a good place to get food if you're hungry and are in need of some good African grub.....you won't regret it!
(3)C A.
African & Ghanian in Gaithersburg! It's hard for me to imagine after coming to Old Town Gaithersburg to eat & shop for so many years, a little corner restaurant/carry-out place has been hidden from my view & smell! (and it's directly across from the train station!) The first time I heard of Rainbow was last Summer during The Taste of Gaithersburg. Rainbow had a booth there and I was so happy to see an African place here! I have gone to Langley Park to get market foods and African spices but never knew I had one so close to home. Being vegetarian, I still had options and the beans & rice, spinach with some kind of tomato hot sauce (the BEST way I have ever eaten spinach in my life & has resulted in cravings galore!) and fried plantains were the choice of the day. All the dishes were prepared to order and the owner had cool jazz going during the lunch time. so cool was it in fact, we found out the cd he was playing and went on-line and bought it after we returned to our offices! If you've never tried African/Ghanian food, then now is your time to try. The owners & staff are very helpful if you have questions and you can even rent dvd's if you like. Overall I really like the place and have gone back a least 3 times now. It's definitely a "carry-out" atmosphere but they do have tables for dining. Try stepping back a little in time to a far off place, listen to the music and try some hot & spicy food from half way around the world. The spices are like none other than you have had, unless you've had African food before. This American of Italian descent, loves it as much as I love Middle Eastern, Asian & Indian. Hum, lunch again this week, yeah, I must have that spinach again!
(5)Juanita P.
I have never tried African food prior to visiting Rainbow, but I knew I was in excellent hands when I came with friends that recommended this place. I trusted their judgment because a) they have been to many African restaurants and this is their top pick, and b) one is from Ghana and the other is from Nigeria. I ordered their 24, which was tilapia with attieke. Attieke reminds me of couscous. If you never had African food like me, I would suggest you get something else. The tilapia was very dry and everything, including the attieke, was spicy. It also was garnished with a crazy amount of onion, which made the dish look unappetizing. What added stars to this review was the Ghanaian style oxtail! Mmm... I would come back for that! The oxtail came in a nicely seasoned tomato stew and a side salad, and it was delicious! The service was slow but my African friends said that the service brought them back to home, so coming here was like being in Africa, as I was told. The lady was really nice and the menu has a nice variety.
(4)Susan S.
Very friendly owner. We arrived just at closing time and they still served us with a smile. Unlike other African restaurants they seemed to have everything on the menu. I had the attieke with tilapia, my husband had the fufu with goat, mom had the oxtail with jollof. We liked it all.
(4)Andrew W.
Where to start? I love ethnic food and always like to try something new, and this restaurant was a new experience for me, my wife, daughter and her friend. First, let me say the restaurant, while small, was impeccably clean and the service was top notch. Not being experienced with West African food, we ordered four different dishes - Rice with Spinach and Egusi; Jerk Chicken with Rice; Eba with Rice and Spinach; and Jollof Rice with Stew. The second point I'll make - the portions are HUGE and one dish can easily serve 2-3 people. Each of us took home more than half our food. As for the food itself . . . by no means not good, but like Ethiopian food (the only other African food I'm familiar with), once every couple of years will suffice. I'd give the food 2 1/2 stars, but only because it isn't quite to my taste. I think if one likes African food, they would love this place.
(3)John H.
I was invited to rainbow by Ghanaian co workers a couple of times. I really loved the goat soup with fufu. The fufu just melts in your mouth (chewing it is apparently the wrong method according to my Ghanaian friends). On other occasions I tried the jallof rice with goat stew. This was also very tasty, but as others have mentioned the goat was a bit over cooked. Also as others have mentioned,the servings are colossal. If you are looking for an ambience, you won't find it here. Neither will you find unbiased service. My Ghanaian friends got treated like family. Me? Not so much. If you haven't tried west African cuisine, then you need to try rainbow. On the other hand, I would rather try cooking it myself.
(3)Yeta M.
It kind of took sometime for someone to come to the front and take my order. They were nice and friendly. I order the fufu and goat, it was pretty good (a nice hint of spiciness). You may be wondering why I give them 2 stars...well right after eating my food I ended up vomiting profusely ( I felt like I was dying) my body didn't want any of it in my system. I'm not sure if their food is contaminated or if I reacted to one of the ingredients but considering I have no allergies I'll go ahead and say their food may be contaminated. Anyway it was great to eat but I later suffered.
(2)Fareez A.
Just got food poisoning from this place. Really gross...never eating here again.
(1)Gerri S.
Perhaps I am a little too critical of Rainbow because there is another Ghanaian restaurant less than 10 mins away (Pinks afrikoko). Look this is 2012. Even if the owners recently initiated this venture I don't see how you wouldn't do your homework and realize that in this area ambiance does matter. I can't believe there is a large tacky glass chandelier in the form of a large ship right in the center of the store. The seating area is poorly lit and the little cloudy portholes into the kitchen area are unsettling. It's not so much that one has to spend tons of money on renovations. But c'mon someone actually bought that chandelier. Ok rant over. The menu is pretty extensive. If you are a lover of west african cuisine you will find what you are looking for here. I delighted in the light, flaky crust of the beef patties. The fufu with goat soup is something that will bring tears to your eyes. Literally. It is spicy, rich in flavor and each mouthful is to be savored. The prices are average considering you will make a second meal out of each entree. I would really urge the management to take some interest in the ambience. You take a lot of pride in your food and I wish you would do the same for the appearance of the restaurant.
(3)Kojo B.
Rainbow Restaurant is extremely solid all around. As a Ghanaian, I know my Ghanaian grub and Rainbow does justice to all of them. From Jollof rice, plantain, fufu et al. A plus for me is the fact that they have ground nut soup everyday which goes perfectly with my Fufu. My only wish is that if they were closer than Gaithersburg.
(4)Angela M.
I was told to check the Rainbow Restaurant out because they would have hot and spicy food. The dishes don't actually seem very spicy, but they do offer a very good, hot sauce as a side dish. The portion sizes turned out to be huge! And the food was really very good! The decor is uninspiring. If anything, it is kind of discouraging. But don't be put off by that. The food is great!
(4)Andrew K.
This is my third time trying Ghanian food and I thought this place was ok. I tried the jollof rice and beef stew and while they gave a huge pile of rice, I thought they skimped out on the beef. It was seasoned pretty well and tasted ok. I also tried the ghanian oxtails and that was average. Some of the oxtails were dry and overcooked. I don't think I'm a good judge of ghanian food but I thought the other places I've tried was better but this place is not bad.
(3)Elizabeth M.
OK, I wouldn't normally review the Rainbow, because I've only had their food delivered (via Takeout Taxi). So I can't comment on ambiance, and food is never as good delivered as when eaten at the restaurant. That being said .... Stop what you're doing, go to oldtown Gaithersburg, and order the Fufu with Goat. Or, probably, with beef, though I haven't tried that yet. Seriously. Do it now. The rest of our meal was perfectly fine ... we ordered a beef patty appetizer (nicely seasoned and flaky if slightly dry), and the red snapper (well seasoned, and a great sauce, but perhaps very slightly overcooked), and the bofrot / puff puffs (fried bread-balls, dusted very lightly with sugar -- quite tasty). But the fufu with goat was fantastic. The star of that meal is the soup that the goat is cooked in -- a spicy, deep, rich, meaty, stunningly flavorful thick broth that I want to beg them to sell to me by the gallon. Or possibly by the pony-keg. Really, it's that good. The fufu, a sort of ground plantain dumpling, is served separately but you add it to the soup -- it balances the spice wonderfully. And the goat is rich, spicy, and tender. I'll edit this review once I've had a meal at the restaurant itself -- which be assured I'm going to do soonest. But in the meantime, you owe it to yourself to get there. The prices are reasonable, the menu is interesting and varied, and the portions range from slightly large to huge (the jollof rice that came with the snapper could have reasonably fed a family of four!). Really, try the fufu. I'm not kidding.
(4)M R C H.
This is a takeout place to be sure, so the atmosphere is non existent. The service was terrible, a woman at the counter watching the television LOUDLY the entire time. I'd love to tell you that the food saves the place but things were dried out, tough, and either too bland or too spicy. As this is a cuisine that a lot of people don't have exposure to, I'd love it if this place did a buffet so I could try more stuff. They need to get their act together.
(2)Mel M.
Its ok for just trying west african i suppose. I ordered take out. we had the spicy spinach dish (very VERY oily)---it was tasty but they could use way less oil. ox tail...very flavorful and tasty jollof rice (rice with tomato sauce)...it was ok---wish it had more spices. kebab--it was basically stewed beef- dried out and put on a stick.... not good.
(3)Steve G.
African Food in Gaithersburg? Snowballs in Hell? Sure, why not? My brother went to Kenya and Tanzania once. Can I use that as street cred here? No? Oh well. Enjoy the review anyway. Rainbow restaurant was not full as I entered on a Wednesday afternoon. But, every person in there, whether staff or patron, was from Africa or the caribbean. I had jerked chicken to go. What was a refreshing surprise was to find actual pieces of identifiable chicken parts--dark meat---not some blanched white, formed nuggets. Sure, I had to pick out bones from the chicken chunks, but this was REAL chicken, cooked fresh and swimming in a superb jerk sauce. For $11, it's not exactly a bargain, but it does fill you up. I noticed some of the plates of the African customers. You want whole fish on a plate, buggy eyes and all? Come here. You want customers with clothing that doesn't say DKNY, or CK, or whatever the hell is the height of runway tragedy these days? Come here. All threads in the joint were continental or caribbean, and it was such a great surprise find for a quick lunch, when all I wanted was a turkey sandwich and the deli was closed. How fortuitous to end up here. This is the kind of place that seems very authentic (at least to this reviewer, who, remember, has a brother that went to Africa:)) and would be a shame to miss. Even if the food is not breathtaking, it's a breath of fresh cuisine in a staid suburban community that tows the line of sushi and every chain restaurant known to the Washington area.
(3)C J.
I'm gonna hold out with Rainbow as my second favorite Ghanaian food in town. Pluses: *they have t-zed!!! (this is the traditional dish of Northern Ghana (where I lived) and no other West African place in town has it!) *their ground nut stew is probably the best in town *lots of choices *VERY clean *flat screen TV's Minuses: *far away *far away *far away If it were closer I'd probably eat here more often! We had a fairly large group and they managed to get the food out and mostly correct pretty quickly. I think there were a few mix ups, but I don't really hold that against them! Everyone was really satisfied with their meals at the end.
(4)Susan S.
Very friendly owner. We arrived just at closing time and they still served us with a smile. Unlike other African restaurants they seemed to have everything on the menu. I had the attieke with tilapia, my husband had the fufu with goat, mom had the oxtail with jollof. We liked it all.
(4)JF N.
Being African, I 'am very particular and can be harsh on African establishments, since alot of them (I feel) don't really step up to the plate with it comes to their businesses(customer service, maximizing the potential, etc...). Rainbow has stepped up (Some what!), it has good food (mostly from the West african region), good portions, tastefull, seasoning is on point, flat screen tv, flexible with your order, good wait time. My only complaint is their prices, I think that they are a little steep ( Intentional...I think!), but that's what happens when competion is lacking (You price as you please and smile all the way to the bank, hahaha), as your only option for another descent African restaurant would be to head to Silver Spring or PG County. Overall, it's a good place to get food if you're hungry and are in need of some good African grub.....you won't regret it!
(3)C A.
African & Ghanian in Gaithersburg! It's hard for me to imagine after coming to Old Town Gaithersburg to eat & shop for so many years, a little corner restaurant/carry-out place has been hidden from my view & smell! (and it's directly across from the train station!) The first time I heard of Rainbow was last Summer during The Taste of Gaithersburg. Rainbow had a booth there and I was so happy to see an African place here! I have gone to Langley Park to get market foods and African spices but never knew I had one so close to home. Being vegetarian, I still had options and the beans & rice, spinach with some kind of tomato hot sauce (the BEST way I have ever eaten spinach in my life & has resulted in cravings galore!) and fried plantains were the choice of the day. All the dishes were prepared to order and the owner had cool jazz going during the lunch time. so cool was it in fact, we found out the cd he was playing and went on-line and bought it after we returned to our offices! If you've never tried African/Ghanian food, then now is your time to try. The owners & staff are very helpful if you have questions and you can even rent dvd's if you like. Overall I really like the place and have gone back a least 3 times now. It's definitely a "carry-out" atmosphere but they do have tables for dining. Try stepping back a little in time to a far off place, listen to the music and try some hot & spicy food from half way around the world. The spices are like none other than you have had, unless you've had African food before. This American of Italian descent, loves it as much as I love Middle Eastern, Asian & Indian. Hum, lunch again this week, yeah, I must have that spinach again!
(5)Juanita P.
I have never tried African food prior to visiting Rainbow, but I knew I was in excellent hands when I came with friends that recommended this place. I trusted their judgment because a) they have been to many African restaurants and this is their top pick, and b) one is from Ghana and the other is from Nigeria. I ordered their 24, which was tilapia with attieke. Attieke reminds me of couscous. If you never had African food like me, I would suggest you get something else. The tilapia was very dry and everything, including the attieke, was spicy. It also was garnished with a crazy amount of onion, which made the dish look unappetizing. What added stars to this review was the Ghanaian style oxtail! Mmm... I would come back for that! The oxtail came in a nicely seasoned tomato stew and a side salad, and it was delicious! The service was slow but my African friends said that the service brought them back to home, so coming here was like being in Africa, as I was told. The lady was really nice and the menu has a nice variety.
(4)Andrew W.
Where to start? I love ethnic food and always like to try something new, and this restaurant was a new experience for me, my wife, daughter and her friend. First, let me say the restaurant, while small, was impeccably clean and the service was top notch. Not being experienced with West African food, we ordered four different dishes - Rice with Spinach and Egusi; Jerk Chicken with Rice; Eba with Rice and Spinach; and Jollof Rice with Stew. The second point I'll make - the portions are HUGE and one dish can easily serve 2-3 people. Each of us took home more than half our food. As for the food itself . . . by no means not good, but like Ethiopian food (the only other African food I'm familiar with), once every couple of years will suffice. I'd give the food 2 1/2 stars, but only because it isn't quite to my taste. I think if one likes African food, they would love this place.
(3)Sophia J.
What's the rave about this place?? Absolutely rude as hell Hostess/Waitress at the front bar as you walk in, impatient,arrogant and just vile as hell .The Jollof rice dinner l ordered tasted like last weeks refrigerated food, hard as stone, tasteless and two pathetic looking plaintain, in a dish that is supposed to be garnished with as many plaintain slices as possible, but again not surprised, l thought l was walking into a Nigerian restaurant where the portions are super generous.The puff-puff l bought wasn't bad. The restrooms are locked up all the way down some hallway, so unsanitory to be taking a key from the front bar and opening/shutting with the kind of traffic and size of restaurant this is. Maybe l'm used to upscale African restaurants, this one is a major Zero. First time there, first African restaurant l tried in Gaithersburg,Never,ever again.
(1)Ndi I.
Rainbow Restaurant....an African gem. When we went there (on a weekday evening) it was quiet and the staff was friendly. Customers stopped in and out to pick up their orders and it seemed the neighborhood was undergoing some construction work. I have to say that you get a lot of food at a reasonable price - And- they have an extensive menu catering to a wide West - African population (for those not from Ghana). It will be a good idea, however, to check with the waiter/waitress as to what is available that day. I really would like to go back soon, and am glad I have found another great African restaurant.
(4)Coretta O.
Don't do it to yourself. I ordered Banku and Tilapia and the fish was so hard and tasteless she must have microwaved it a few times. I have never had fish meat taste so hard, and no it wasnt fried. The shito was burnt, definitely burnt. GROSS
(1)Kirk W.
I used to like this place a lot, but as of lately the portions have been getting smaller and smaller. I always choose between the Ghanaian ox talis, Jamacian Jerk chicken, or egusi with goat. For the last 5 months or so my jerk chicken has been extremely dry and no sauce poured over my rice when asked over the phone. I really love jerk chicken so this is a disappointment. The ox tails: 1: they give you kid size portions 2: they give you one big tail and three tiny ones 3: the ox tails have more fat then meat 4: they are usually either too tough/almost burnt or very tender(fatty) 5: be ready to get full off of rice cause that's all your paying for Egusi w/goat: goat is exceptionally good all the time. The flavors on it are amazing. However, once again the portions are so small not even a microscope could see them! The spinach egussi seemed like it is always cooked to fast or something... I have the same exact meal prepare at other west African restaurants (Ghanaian/Nigerian) and theirs didn't taste like everything was sautéed dumpster juice and thrown in a box... Regardless of the negative things I've been experiencing, they are very friendly here and make everything from scratch. If you don't mind paying between 10$-15$ for 3-4 pieces of meat an about 5 pounds of rice then this is DEF the place for you.
(2)Kelsie K.
My friend just spent 3 days admitted at Holy Cross Hospital due to bad fish she ate there. Montgomery County Maryland said their last few inspections have been very very bad. Conditions are very poor and dirty at the time of the inspection. Please think twice before eating there, you health depends on it. My friend was hooked up to a drip of antibiotics and anti nausea medication for 3 days. 5000 people die from food poisoning a year!
(1)M S.
My first visit took place this past Saturday. The food was delicious. I had the oxtails and my friend had the stewed tilapia. He inhaled his food. Everyone was polite and friendly.
(4)Ideen S.
When we walked in, there was some pretty cool Ghanan music playing; but they changed it shortly thereafter to the TV, which was kind of a bummer. Anyways...pretty humble setup, and rather confusing menu; but definitely tasty food! I had the "Jollof Rice With Stew" and my girlfriend had the Jerk Chicken. I thought both had an awesome taste and were reasonably priced. Rainbow's ambiance isn't anything to call home about, but the food is pretty good and the staff there are pretty friendly. I'll likely visit again!
(4)Jessie O.
I found this place on the recommendation of a friend from Nigeria. Although the owners are from Ghana, the food is similar to our food in Nigeria. They do a great job there. I have been frequenting this establishment for over 7 years. The ambience is like stepping into a portal putting you in a bustling business in Accra. The service is quick and very friendly. They sell other things there like drinks (including Ghanaian Malta), suya, and meat pies. They are very generous with their portions especially with meat. My personal favorite is pounded yam with egusi soup. I highly recommend this place whether you are from West Africa looking for a taste of home or just from anywhere ready to try some ethnically diverse food.
(5)Emma W.
I have been here many times over many years(at least 3-4)... and I have always liked it. Now I have to caveat that I only come on weekends or the holidays since that's when they make the dish I like! I have tried many things off their menu, and while different still good!! So my dish of choice is the Omotuo. Spicy palmnut soup with a huge rice ball. It comes with a mix of meats- goat, oxtail, fish... delicious!! I love the soup. The flavors! There is a layer of oil, but this is to be expected. Get a drink if you think it might be too spicy... also you probably will get you hands dirty. Traditionally you would eat this with your hands. But they do provide you a spoon :) So you walk in, and as my friend said today-- you are transported to another world! This isn't Gaithersburg anymore!! Get some menus at the counter and seat yourself. If you need speedier service just go to the counter and they'll make sure you have everything you need. Super friendly. Always so much going on... simple decor but it works. Once you order, they will bring out drinks and a washing bowl and soap. This is so you can use your hands to eat. I wasn't sure at first but watched others... but as I don't really want to get my hands dirty-- I just enjoy my food with a spoon :) Try this place out! Don't be shy! It is an experience.
(5)Muriel H.
Amazing food and an awesome owner and wife. My company was having a multicultural day and I was too ill to cook so I looked to Rainbow Restaurant 2 days prior to cater the event for me. They were so helpful! I got a good deal on jollof rice, beef stew, chicken stew, plantains, pepper sauce, chicken suya and beef suya for about 20 people. Since it was a tasting, I was able to feed over 50 individuals at the festival! I got all good compliments for the dishes provided by Rainbow. I also had some of their banku, tilapia, kilewile, and pepper sauce for dinner which were all really good. "Mr. Rainbow" himself threw in a chicken and beef suya for free for myself and my husband! My one wish was that the tilapia was a bit bigger because I was enjoying it too much and before I knew it all was left was the fish head! I plan to go here for lunch a couple times because their menu is devine. I was also told by the owner that they are going to add a lunch special soon! I can't wait!!!! There are not too many African restaurants in the Gaithersburg/Germantown area so its good that there is a good representation of our amazing cuisines!
(4)