Hey family,

Over the past few notes, I’ve shared how this started… and some of the harder moments along the way.
Today, I want to share what happened next.

The shift.

It didn’t happen overnight.
There wasn’t one big moment when everything changed.
It was gradual.

One restaurant turned into a few more.
A few more turned into something consistent.
Customers started coming back. Not just once, but again and again.

And that’s when I realised… this was becoming something real.

Restaurants weren’t just signing up. They were growing.
Customers weren’t just ordering. They were trusting us.
And slowly, a community started to form.

That was the moment it clicked for me.
This wasn’t just about delivering food.
It was about creating access.
Supporting small businesses.
Making sure our culture had a real place here.

One moment that really stayed with me was during Ramadan: seeing thousands of meals being coordinated and delivered, knowing they were reaching people who truly needed them.

And then, being recognised at the Mayor’s Office for this work…
I paused.

Because I thought back to the early days: the flyers, the events, the deliveries. And I realised just how far we had come.

That recognition wasn’t just about me.
It was about all of us.
The restaurants.
The community.
Every single person who believed in this.

That’s when I truly saw the bigger picture.
What we’re building has impact.
Not just for restaurants.
Not just for customers.
But for the community as a whole.

And from that point on, it wasn’t just about making it work anymore.
It was about building it properly.
Growing it.
Strengthening it.
Making sure it could go further.

We’re still in that process.
Still building.
Still learning.
Still pushing forward.

Next time, I’ll share a bit more about where we’re headed and what’s ahead for African Dishout.

For now, thank you for being part of this journey.

With love,
Jamila
Founder, African Dishout

‍

Frequently Asked Questions

What is African Dishout?
African Dishout is a food delivery platform and community brand that connects the African diaspora in the United States to independent African restaurants and grocery stores.

Who founded African Dishout?
Jamila founded African Dishout. It began with a single restaurant and grew into a platform supporting small African businesses and the communities around them.

Where is African Dishout available?
African Dishout is available in New York, New Jersey, Worcester, and Atlanta, with independent African restaurants and grocery stores on the app in each market.

Is African Dishout in Atlanta?
Yes. African Dishout is available in Atlanta, Georgia, where Fufu Catering Kitchen & Grill was the first restaurant partner and Yaya’s African Market was the first grocery partner.

‍

‍

‍