All stories about "African"

Unless you're totally satisfied with Ethiopian cuisine (which is, don't get me wrong, deeply satisfying) and tantalized by Moroccan cooking (which is, in and of itself, tantalizing), it's near impossible for the international foodie to get a thorough African fix in LA. Where are the West African eateries, the Central and South African cafes? The truth is, they're disappointingly few and far between. We Angelenos have got more couscous, tagine, and doro wot than we know what to do with, but if you're looking for thiebou diem or fufu, you're pretty much out of luck. Aside from a (very small) handful of restaurants, African flavors in LA are restricted to Ethiopia, Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt. The restaurants that do stray from that model vary in their offerings, authenticity, and quality. Though they don't require a passport, some involve a serious safari, so I guess the question is: Just how far are you willing to go for an outstanding bowl of Egusi soup?

Considering New York's culinary scene doesn't include too many African influences, the New York Times' Seth Kugel does a great job this week creating a cross-continental African feast throughout the city. After the jump, check out his choices for African fare as well as a few additional suggestions.