Dish & Drink KC: Titular takeaway at KC Mac N’ Co and plantains at Teetasty Foods

Vegetarian Plate At Teetasty Foods. // Photo By Lauren Textor

It’s my last February Dish and Drink KC column. This month, I’ve covered eight amazing Black-owned businesses. Before we get into the reviews, I’d like to emphasize how difficult it is for many of these businesses to stay open due to financial barriers, sociocultural obstacles, and a lack of word-of-mouth advertisement. 

Research from the Federal Reserve shows that Black business owners usually receive less funding from banks than their white counterparts. However, a 2023 Harvard study concludes that the demand for these businesses increases when they’re spotlighted and recognized as Black-owned (like on Yelp, for example). 

How can you help? Support nonprofits like Generating Income For Tomorrow, which provides grants to Black-owned businesses and promotes economic prosperity in low-income areas. Check out KC Black Owned, which has done a terrific job of highlighting these businesses with a comprehensive directory. Spread the word about your favorite Black-owned businesses and try new ones as they pop up. 

You can even get 10-20% off at participating businesses by showing your KC Black Owned Kick Start Keychain. 

Spicy Coconut Rice At Teetasty Foods // Photo By Lauren Textor

Teetasty Foods

Teetasty Foods is an African restaurant and bar located on Southwest Trafficway, right down the street from Sun Fresh. It has a small parking lot in the back that it shares with the other businesses in its small strip. It’s only been open for a few months, and there were only a handful of people seated when I entered an hour before close. 

I often drive on Southwest Trafficway and, like most Kansas Citians, I hate it with a passion. It’s difficult to cross the street, whether you’re a pedestrian or driver, and the street angles give me intense anxiety when making a turn. 

When I pulled into Teetasty Food’s parking lot, I was bordering on hangry but also intensely relieved to be pulling off the street. 

My sister and I seated ourselves at a small table by the counter. A few prints are hanging on the purple walls, including one of musician and activist Fela Kuti, and we had time to examine them in detail while we waited. After about 10 minutes of observing only the other customers, I told her that we’d wait another five and head out. 

Not long after, Chef Oluwatobi Temitope Adeleke appeared from the kitchen, carrying two heaping plates in her hands.

“Sorry for the wait!” she said, and her warm demeanor had us chirping, “No problem!” 

She brought over two menus, but we were already versed in it, thanks to the website. We ordered one vegetarian plate ($15) and one order of spicy coconut rice ($10). 

Here’s where some confusion came in: The rice’s description encourages diners to “pair with any choice of protein.” I took this to mean that a serving of meat was already included with the meal, so I asked Adeleke if I could choose the goat.

She asked if I meant a small or a big serving, and I replied that I’d just take the serving that came with the coconut rice. 

Our meals were served more than 45 minutes after we first arrived, but everything smelled delicious. Each of our plates contained sweet, soft plantains and spinach stirfry in addition to a large serving of rice. 

Goat Meat At Teetasty Foods. // Photo By Lauren Textor

I’m a big fan of anything coconutty, and the rice balances that milky sweetness with the spice of chilis and peppers. After adding a splash of the house hot sauce, my nose started to run. It’s a very physical eating experience, but not an unpleasant one. 

The vegetarian plate’s Jollof rice and the plantains were easily my favorite parts of the meal. The plantains are ever so slightly crispy and syrupy, making it easy to eat a whole plate by myself. If you’re new to West African food, Jollof rice is an excellent starter dish. It’s hearty and mild with a full flavor. 

The goat meat wasn’t served with the rest of the dish but, truthfully, I had forgotten about it in my hunger. We were prepared to ask for to-go boxes when Adeleke delivered a bowl of bone-in goat meat to the table. 

“You don’t need to rush!” she said cheerfully. It was already past the time that Teetasty was meant to close, so my sister and I responded that everything was delicious, but we were happy to take the rest of it to-go. 

While we waited on the boxes, though, I did bite off a piece of goat meat. Maybe it was the remnants of hot sauce on my tongue, but the meat’s sauce had more heat than I expected. 

I am not a patient eater, which is why I’m not always big on bones. This was my first experience eating goat, and it was a visceral moment. Tearing the meat from the bones with my teeth gave me more appreciation for the food. That said, it was chewier than I generally like. 

Adeleke dropped off the to-go boxes and the bill with us. I love to eat and I believe that good, local food is worth the money. But I was surprised with the breakdown, which was $15 for the vegetarian plate, $10 for the coconut rice, $3 for our two bottles of water, $5 for my plantains, $5 for the spinach stir fry, and $12 for the goat meat. 

I wholly enjoyed the plantains and the spinach stir fry, but I assumed that it was included with the dish since I didn’t order them separately. I had been surprised, too, with the sizable portion of goat meat when it was delivered, but that miscommunication was at least partially my fault. 

Teetasty Foods is new to the area. It has a small staff, with Adeleke running most of the show herself, and it’s a noteworthy addition to the relatively small African food scene in the metro. My best suggestion, though, is to budget your time before a visit and confirm your order before you get the bill. 

Teetasty Foods is located at 3711 Southwest Trafficway, Kansas City, MO 64111.

Honey Serrano Mac At Kc Mac N Co. // Photo By Lauren Textor 2

KC Mac N’ Co

I haven’t been to KC Mac N’ Co. since it was housed in Parlor’s Chef Collective. Now it has its own location downtown. Parking in the Crossroads is no picnic, but downtown is arguably worse, and only the lure of creamy mac n’ cheese could make me brave the traffic on a Saturday evening. 

I’m not a Kraft girlie, so if I’m eating this comfort food, it needs to be deluxe. Luckily, Mac N’ Co. delivers in this respect. My favorite is the Honey Serrano Mac, which features twice-fried chicken tenders, serrano peppers, and a honey Serrano glaze ato

Honey Serrano Mac At Kc Mac N Co. // Photo By Lauren Textor 2

p a bed of cavatappi pasta. 

This is a thick, multiple-meal mac. It’s in my top foods for when you have the munchies, cannabis-induced or otherwise. You’ll pick up a hint of heat where the peppers kiss the pasta, even if you pick them out, and it works. Sweet and spicy is a flavor combination that’s right up there with apple and cinnamon or lemon and raspberry. Absolutely elite. 

Surprisingly, the double-fried chicken isn’t dry. And, if there is such a thing as overly cheesy, it does not apply to these noodles. 

Because of my worrisome parking job, I did not dine in, but there’s plenty of seating. It’s a clean space—not the most decorative or personalized, but great for a quick lunch stop, especially as it’s nestled between KC’s biggest office buildings. 

KC Mac N’ Co. is located at 1111 Petticoat Lane, Kansas City, MO 64105.