Welcome to Ile Bistro
At Ile Bistro, we celebrate the vibrant essence of Nigerian cuisine with a refreshing California twist. Nestled within Citizen Public Market in Culver City, our bistro offers a warm, inviting atmosphere where culinary artistry shines. Led by a passionate owner, we craft dishes that highlight bold flavors and traditional spices, such as our beloved jollof rice and succulent tilapia. Each bite tells a story, merging authentic ingredients with local flair. Our commitment to quality extends to unique desserts, like our aromatic orange and rosemary cake. Join us at Ile Bistro for an unforgettable culinary journey that dances on your palate!
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9355 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 Hotline: (323) 986-6822
Welcome to Ile Bistro, a vibrant culinary gem nestled within the bustling Citizen Public Market in Culver City, CA. This unique eatery specializes in African desserts and authentic Nigerian cuisine, bringing an innovative twist that appeals to both traditionalists and adventurous foodies alike.
At Ile Bistro, the combination of flavors is both exciting and satisfying. Patrons have raved about the jollof rice bowls, a staple dish that showcases rich seasoning and expertly cooked ingredients. Reviewers highlight the rice bowls, often combined with seasonal fish, roasted carrots, and the beloved suya chili oil, as an unforgettable experience that leaves diners wanting more. One customer eloquently stated: "You will leave HAPPY!"
- Signature Dishes:
- Jollof Rice Bowl: Packed with spices, it is often paired with tender fish and complemented by plantains and roasted vegetables.
- Spicy Soup: An unexpected delight that many reviewers regretted overlooking.
- Desserts: Don't miss the unique orange, lemongrass & rosemary cake, served warm with an aromatic syrup.
- Refreshing Beverages:
- Maltina - a refreshing malt drink.
- Zobo: A hibiscus iced tea that serves as a perfect palate cleanser.
- Classic Sodas: Including Sprite, Coke, and Fanta for a familiar taste while you explore new flavors.
Atmosphere plays a pivotal role at Ile Bistro. The intimate L-shaped bar seating allows diners to immerse themselves in the culinary action. Here, you can enjoy the cooking process while savoring your meals, creating a truly interactive dining experience. The friendly service, highlighted by attentive staff and even the chef’s presence, enhances the warm ambiance, making dinner feel both casual and special.
Ile Bistro is not just a restaurant; it's a community experience where every dish tells a story. The owner’s passion for Nigerian cuisine blended with a distinct Californian flair invites food lovers to embark on a flavor journey they won’t soon forget. As one enthusiastic diner noted, "Give your taste buds a treat and experience some new flavors." So whether you’re a Culver City local or just passing through, Ile Bistro is a must-visit that promises to ignite your senses and leave you craving more.
Visit them at 9355 Culver Blvd, Culver City, CA 90232 or call (323) 986-6822 for more information!
Hipster Nigerian food but, being in Culver City, that's honestly the point. Nothing is spicy, portions are unexpectedly small for any cuisine from this continent. I have to find this man something to eat... after this. The hostess was really sweet.
So not only do we love Citizen Public Market in general and I'm on record saying there are seldom other oyster places (not better but) comparable to our favorite place in here, we were surprised to see something new... low and behold ILE Bistro located across from GoGo Bird in the Citizen market. Wrapping around the corner, you see a very polished bistro. Kitchen in view and a really simple but amazing menu. As soup didn't sound too appealing for a hot day in Los Angeles (we were wrong about that) we got the jollof half and half local fried rice which has a great kick to it. Added the steak, carrots and green beans. The steak was so flavorful, buttery and tender, the greens were a perfect crunch and flavor. Honestly I'm gonna use flavor a lot or I can just say everything blended so well together and stood tall on their own as well. My mouth is a wee-bit on fire but I'm happy at all the... flavors. Our server Anthony was so helpful and knowledgeable of all the food, spices, sauces and made us feel comfortable as we dined at the beautiful wooden bar top/ counter. He also let us try a tiny bit of the soup we now know we missed out on and WOW. The broth alone was incredible. I'm not one to hype anything for any other reason so you can trust when I say this place is 5 stars. Not one bad thing. Boom!
Seriously good! This is my first time at Citizen Public Market and I was surprised to find this place here! I'd heard about it but not made the connection. The bowl with the fried rice and tilapia was excellent, the fish perfectly seasoned and cooked. The peppery sauce added the perfect finish to the dish. ILE Bistro understands crave-ability and delivers because I'll be thinking about this dish until my next visit.
Phenomenal food. I've never had Nigerian food before and I'm in love. I got the rice bowl chicken. The seasoning is nothing like I had. I love the kick. Me and my friend shared and bowl and we were super pleased The owner moved here two years ago and decided to open up his place here when a space opened up. The menu is authentic Nigerian with a California flair. I highly recommend it. Give your taste buds a treat and experience some new flavors
great place to catch a quick bite for lunch. service was efficient and delicious. i tried one of their bowls with jollof rice, oyster mushroom, carrots and fried plantain. i chose the stew and chili oil for my sauces. so yummy and we tried the hibiscus tea also which was so lovely! the restaurant is in citizens public market - this food hall in culver city so it's pretty cozy and they have bar seating that's cool for a little light lunch situation. it might look light but it's heavy though. super filling.
ILE Bistro is located near the back of Citizen Market with a cute L-shaped bar sitting area! Even with the market bustling around, we still felt like we were in a chill restaurant vibe with great viewing access to how they prep our food and drinks! The rice bowls were PACKED with spices and flavor that never felt overpowering and just extremely homey. That chili oil tho made it even more enjoyable. We got one bowl with jollof rice, chicken, traditional slaw (not pictured), roasted carrots, and Suya chili oil (on the side) - the only average thing was the slaw, but that's mainly cause it felt bland compared to everything else. The second bowl had half jollof rice, half curried rice, blackened fish, roasted green beans, plantains and also the Suya chili oil (we love chili oil) - the portion of the fish was pretty small, but delicious! My favorite part goes to the plantains tho!! And the chili oil! For dessert, we got the orange, lemongrass & rosemary cake - definitely wasn't what we expected since it was served in a little paper cup and the cake was cubed, but it was nice and warm and had great orange flavor! The only thing was that the cake had a syrup drizzle that had more of the rosemary/lemongrass flavor that wasn't distributed well cause it was all just stacked in the cup, but definitely got the flavors at the end where the bottom pieces soaked up the syrup! Also gotta say service was really friendly and great where our server recommended certain things and always checked in on us! We even saw the billionaire chef himself serving and chatting with the customers which made the place feel even more welcoming and friendly! I would say this spot is a little on the pricier side, but I guess also pretty standard among it's counterparts in Citizen Market. Definitely would want to try out their soup noodles next time on a nice date night!
10/10 - speaking for their rice bowls! Follow this combo: Jollof rice Seasonal fish Roasted carrots , plantains, and black eyed peas Sauce: suya chili oil. You will leave HAPPY!
10/10 vibes 10/10 food 10/10 service 10/10 experience Chefs kiss! Can't wait to go back