The short answer
Leicester is one of Britain's most diverse cities, with a long-established and lively African and Caribbean community, and a food scene spanning Jamaican and Caribbean cooking and Nigerian, Ghanaian and other African food. Areas such as Highfields, close to the city centre, have long been diverse, multicultural parts of the city, home to African and Caribbean shops and eateries. Across Leicester you will find African and Caribbean grocery stores, restaurants, takeaways and caterers. To find them near you, use the Africanstores listings for African food stores in Leicester and African restaurants near you.
What to remember
- Leicester is one of Britain's most diverse cities, with a lively African and Caribbean community.
- Highfields, close to the centre, is a long-established diverse and multicultural area.
- You will find Caribbean cooking alongside Nigerian, Ghanaian and other African food.
- The city has African and Caribbean grocery stores, restaurants, takeaways and caterers.
- Use Africanstores listings to find African and Caribbean food shops and restaurants near you in Leicester.
For Leicester's African and Caribbean communities, food is home, heritage and belonging, part of one of Britain's most diverse cities. It is the shops and kitchens of Highfields, the smell of jerk and Nigerian stews, the ingredients from home found on a local shelf, the caterer who does the family celebration. Leicester has been a home to these communities for generations, and its food scene carries that history and love, a real taste of the Caribbean and Africa in the heart of the East Midlands.
Whether you have lived in Leicester all your life or are new to the city, exploring its African and Caribbean food is a way to connect with community and heritage. From a plate of curry goat to a bowl of egusi soup, from a Caribbean patty to a wrap of suya, the flavours of home are there to be found and shared. That warm, welcoming spirit is what African and Caribbean food in Leicester is all about.
Leicester african and caribbean food scene
Leicester is celebrated as one of the most diverse cities in Britain, and its African and Caribbean community is a proud part of that. With Caribbean roots going back to the Windrush generation and West and East African communities added over the years, Leicester has a warm and varied food scene, where you can find Jamaican and Caribbean classics like jerk chicken and curry goat alongside Nigerian jollof rice, egusi soup and other African dishes, cooked with real knowledge and love, in a city that knows and loves good food from around the world.
For anyone in Leicester, the city is a great place to explore African and Caribbean food, whether you are looking for a taste of home or keen to discover the cuisines. From grocery shops full of hard-to-find ingredients to takeaways, restaurants and caterers, Leicester has what you need. If you are new to the food, our guides to Caribbean food and Nigerian food are a good place to start.
Highfields and the community
Leicester's African and Caribbean community has roots in several areas of the city, particularly Highfields, close to the city centre. Highfields is one of Leicester's most diverse and multicultural areas, long home to communities from the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia and beyond, and its streets are lined with a rich mix of shops, takeaways and restaurants, including African and Caribbean ones. It is a classic place to look for Caribbean and African ingredients, home cooking and community life.
Beyond Highfields, African and Caribbean businesses are found across Leicester, from the city centre to other neighbourhoods, so wherever you are in the city there is likely to be good food not far away. Leicester's strong tradition of celebrating its diversity means African and Caribbean food and culture are valued and enjoyed widely across the city.
Where to eat, shop and cater
Leicester offers good choice. For eating out, restaurants and takeaways across the city, especially in and around Highfields, serve Caribbean classics like jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail and rice and peas, and African dishes such as jollof rice, egusi soup, pounded yam and suya. For a celebration, caterers cook African and Caribbean food for parties, weddings and events, ideal for an owambe, a christening or any occasion. Browse African restaurants near you and African caterers near you to find current, well-reviewed places close to you.
For ingredients, Leicester has African and Caribbean grocery stores, particularly around Highfields, stocking yam, plantain, scotch bonnet, egusi, garri, palm oil, saltfish, ackee, hard dough bread, patties, spices and more. To find grocery stores near you, the Africanstores listings for African food stores in Leicester show you which shops stock what, so you can find the closest place for whatever you need. You can also read our guide to African supermarkets in the UK for tips on what to look for.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find African and Caribbean food in Leicester?
Leicester, one of Britain's most diverse cities, has African and Caribbean restaurants, takeaways, caterers and grocery shops across the city, with the community rooted particularly in areas like Highfields, close to the city centre. You will find Caribbean and African food throughout Leicester. The easiest way to find places near you is through the Africanstores listings for African food stores and restaurants in Leicester.
What is the main African and Caribbean area in Leicester?
Highfields, close to Leicester city centre, is one of the city's most diverse and multicultural areas, long home to communities from the Caribbean, Africa, South Asia and beyond, with a rich mix of shops, takeaways and restaurants including African and Caribbean ones. African and Caribbean businesses are found across the city too.
Where can I eat Caribbean food in Leicester?
Caribbean restaurants and takeaways across Leicester, especially in and around Highfields, serve Jamaican and Caribbean classics like jerk chicken, curry goat, oxtail, rice and peas and patties. To find current, well-reviewed places near you, browse the Africanstores listings for African and Caribbean restaurants near you.
Where can I buy Caribbean and African ingredients in Leicester?
Where can I buy Caribbean and African ingredients in Leicester? Leicester has African and Caribbean grocery stores, particularly around Highfields, stocking yam, plantain, scotch bonnet, egusi, saltfish, ackee, spices and more. The Africanstores listings for African food stores in Leicester show you which shops stock what, so you can find the closest one for what you need.
Is Leicester good for African and Caribbean food?
Yes. As one of Britain's most diverse cities, Leicester has a lively African and Caribbean community and food scene, especially around Highfields, with plenty of shops, takeaways, restaurants and caterers serving Caribbean and African food. The city's tradition of celebrating its diversity means these cuisines are valued and enjoyed widely.
