Chishuru

Chishuru, modern West African cuisine in Fitzrovia

Chishuru is a modern West African restaurant located in Fitzrovia, London. Its approach is built around the culinary traditions of three peoples: Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa, the heritage of its founder and chef, Joké Bakare. The restaurant holds a Michelin star.

The chef herself describes the project as a modern West African restaurant because versions of its dishes can be found throughout the region. The menu brings together elements of those three cuisines: the intense heat of Yoruba food, the rich spices prized by the Igbo and the fire cooking characteristic of the Hausa. Ingredients that may appear include uziza pepper, uda, aidan fruit or daddawa.

Joké Bakare's career

Joké Bakare was born and raised in Nigeria and came to the UK with her family in the late 1990s. She did not work professionally in the restaurant industry until 2019, when she won a three-month residency at Brixton Village, in south London, which began in September 2020. A highly positive review by journalist Jay Rayner, of the Observer, turned the residency into a permanent one. In April 2022, TimeOut magazine published its annual best restaurants in London issue and placed Chishuru, which then had 18 seats, in first place.

The Brixton site closed at the end of 2022 and Joké Bakare operated popups before moving Chishuru to its new permanent home in Fitzrovia in September 2023. Five months later, in February 2024, Michelin awarded Chishuru a star, making Joké Bakare the first black female Michelin-starred chef in the UK and the first black female chef in the world with her own Michelin-starred restaurant. In 2024 she was named Chef of the Year at the National Restaurant Awards. In December 2024, the Financial Times included her among the 25 most influential women of 2024, and in July 2025 British Vogue included her in the list Vogue 25: The Women Defining Britain in 2025.

Team and front of house

Matt Paice worked in television as a channel controller, commissioning editor and executive producer before turning to cooking. He ran a street food business which he later transformed into two casual dining restaurants in west London. After they closed, he was operations director of a group of Italian restaurants in the City of London. He became Joké Bakare's business partner in June 2021 and is responsible for front of house at Chishuru. He holds two wine qualifications.

Space and design

Joké Bakare worked closely with interior designer and project manager Sasha Filskow to incorporate authentic materials such as rough plastered walls, wood grains and pigmented cement. The soft furnishings come from British-Nigerian designer Eva Sonaike and seek to reflect the roots of the Chishuru menu. Bold graphics, rich colours and carefully selected lighting, including a commissioned light feature by South African designer Mash.T, together with table tops and stonework custom-made in North Africa, create a homely atmosphere. The illustrations of women in the downstairs alcove table were created by Afiya. The construction of the dining room was overseen by Andy and Matt, of Thinking Space.

Restaurant services

The restaurant offers a reservations service, food and drink menu, attention to special diets, group bookings, gift vouchers and a newsletter to receive news. The address is 3 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 8AX.

Location and contact

3 Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 8AX