Stango Cuisine, located at 500 North Walnut Street in Champaign, Illinois, is an African restaurant that offers the community authentic African & Zambian cuisine.
Stango Cuisine is an African restaurant in Champaign, Illinois, specializing in Zambian cuisine. The owners learned to cook this cuisine in Zambia before migrating to the U.S. and are dedicated to introducing it to their chosen communities. The facility is clean and passes health inspections with high ratings. Its location downtown makes it an easy destination to reach regardless of where you might be.
Stango Cuisine was the first Zambian restaurant in the United States and the first African restaurant in Champaign, Illinois.
Additionally, Stango Cuisine Restaurant operates a food truck known as Stango Bites, which is parked at a different location each day. The food truck is popular among college students who live near the restaurant. It offers Zambian-style street food, which is not served in the restaurant. You can order the Stango Bits menu items online for pickup at the restaurant or through a third-party delivery company.
Soon, they will offer Stango Late Nite, which will provide pickup and delivery only from 10 pm to 2 am. Details will be announced soon. Delivery will be available via DoorDash, GrubHub, or Uber Eats.
Mubango Chanda is a co-owner, manager, and lead chef. She migrated from Zambia to the U.S. in 2000 and serves authentic Zambian cuisine using family recipes. She is also responsible for scheduling and operating Stango Bites, a food truck serving the Champaign, Illinois, community.
What is Zambian Cuisine?
Zambia is one of Africa’s most beautiful nations, boasting stunning natural wildlife. This vibrant nation is also famous for its delicious cuisine, passed down and preserved for generations.
Zambian cuisine is a delightful blend of rich flavors, hearty textures, and fresh ingredients, reflecting the country’s agricultural abundance and diverse culinary traditions. It is centered around staple foods like nshima, a thick porridge made from maize meal, similar to grits or polenta. Nshima is commonly paired with relishes—flavorful side dishes made from vegetables, meats, or fish.
Key Dishes in Zambian Cuisine:
- Nshima – The national staple, similar to mashed potatoes or polenta, but firmer and used to scoop up stews.
- Ifisashi – A delicious peanut-based dish with greens like spinach or pumpkin leaves.
- Kapenta – Tiny dried fish, often fried or cooked in tomato sauce for a crunchy, salty kick.
- Chikanda – Also called “African Polony,” this is a unique, plant-based sausage made from wild orchids and peanuts.
- Vitumbuwa – Deep-fried dough balls similar to American doughnuts, but less sweet.
- Chikanda – A snack similar to meatloaf but made with ground nuts and tubers.
- Village Chicken Stew – Free-range chicken slow-cooked in a tomato-based sauce, offering rich, natural flavors.
- Game Meat – Zambia has a tradition of cooking flavorful game meats such as impala, kudu, or buffalo, which are lean and tasty.
Why Americans Should Not Be Afraid to Try It:
- Familiar Elements – Many Zambian dishes have equivalents in American cuisine, such as nshima (polenta), ifisashi (peanut butter and greens), and vitumbuwa (doughnuts).
- Healthy and Natural – Zambian food is often made with organic, farm-fresh ingredients, avoiding overly processed foods.
- Rich, Yet Mild Flavors – Unlike some African cuisines that use heavy spices, Zambian food is more subtle, making it easy for new palates to enjoy.
- Great for Adventurous Eaters – If you love trying new things, Zambia offers unique dishes like kapenta and chikanda that introduce new textures and flavors.
- Warm and Comforting – Many Zambian meals are slow-cooked, hearty, and filling, much like American comfort food.
- Cultural Experience – Food is a great way to explore a culture, and trying Zambian cuisine allows you to connect with its traditions and people.
In short, Zambian cuisine is flavorful, nutritious, and full of hearty comfort foods that Americans can readily appreciate. Whether you’re trying nshima with a rich stew or enjoying a peanut-infused dish, it’s a culinary adventure worth taking!
Stango Cuisine online ratings are as follows as of March 06, 2024, at 12:20 pm:
- Google – 4.5 Stars with 149 online customer reviews
- Facebook – 4.5 Stars with 54 votes – 1.9k likes – 2.1k followers – 88% recommend this restaurant
- Yelp – 4.7 Stars with 55 online customer reviews – an exceptional Yelp rating
- TripAdvisor – 5 Bubbles with one online customer review
- DoorDash – 4.6 Stars with 200+ online customer reviews
- GrubHub – 4.8 Stars with 383 online customer reviews
Stango Cuisine business hours:
- Sunday – CLOSED
- Monday – CLOSED
- Tuesday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Wednesday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Thursday – 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
- Friday – 11:00 am – 7:45 pm
- Saturday – 11:00 am – 7:45 pm
Stango Cuisine address and phone:
500 North Walnut Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Phone: +1 217-369-3566
Website: StangoCU.com
Owner (s): Mubango Chanda – Co-owner & Head Chef
Owner (s): Betty Phiri-Chibwe – Co-owner