Triangular-shaped, meat-filled pastries sit in grease, resulting in a crispy, golden-brown shell, samosas; one of the most popular items at Plus254 – A Taste of Africa.
When Stayce Momanyi moved to Oklahoma from Kenya in 2010, she didn’t imagine herself being a chef, much less owning and operating her restaurant alongside her husband, Brian. The two also operate a food truck that appears across the entire OKC metro, including regularly scheduled visits to the campus of the University of Oklahoma.
Moving to Oklahoma, over 8,500 miles away from her home country, Stayce Momanyi loved getting home-cooked meals while living with her aunt, making the adjustment to life in the United States easier. However, Stayce Momanyi noticed her friends also missed having a home-cooked Kenyan meal, prompting her to take up cooking and practicing different meals and dishes before eventually becoming a mainstay of gatherings and potlucks.
Throughout all this, Stayce Momanyi decided that spreading Kenyan cuisine in Oklahoma was realistic, but the couple needed to generate enough capital to do so. The food truck was an affordable option for Stayce and Brian Momanyi to start their business while introducing people in Oklahoma to authentic Kenyan cuisine. A year later, the opportunity arose for a brick-and-mortar location.
“We saw an opportunity to give people a different kind of view when it comes to African food,” Brian Momanyi said.
Located in downtown Oklahoma City in the lower level of the Robinson Renaissance, Plus254 – A Taste of Africa’s physical restaurant is open Monday-Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Owner Stayce Momanyi says there is something for everyone, even first time consumers of Kenyan cuisine.
“The samosas, because as soon as you try a samosa, you definitely want to try something else that we serve,” Stayce Momanyi said.
While Stayce Momanyi loves owning a restaurant, alongside her husband Brian, there are also challenges.
“It is fun and stressful, there are days where you are like ‘Yay it’s a good day!,’” Stayce Momanyi said. “There are times you are locked up somewhere and just crying and feeling overwhelmed, but all the emotions are worth it.”
Apollo Woods, Executive Director of the Bigger Than Food Foundation, has worked with Stayce and Brian Momanyi for three years now, helping showcase their restaurant and food truck.
“What Taste of Africa is doing, they are really a true testament of what an Oklahoma business is,” Woods said. “They’re hardworking. They want people to try. They’re inviting, they make amazing things happen with minimal resources.”
Plus254 – A Taste of Africa also offers shipping across the country for customers outside of Oklahoma to enjoy their food. Information on how to place these orders, as well as where the food truck will be set up during the week can be found on their Facebook: Plus254 – A Taste of Africa and on Instagram: @plus2fivefour.