Chef's Creation: The Akara Burger — A Nigerian Twist on a Classic
Chef Obinna Nwagboso September 10, 2026
Every great dish starts with a question. Ours was simple: what if the crispy, savory akara you grew up loving could be the heart of a burger?
Akara — golden fritters made from peeled, ground black-eyed peas — is a breakfast staple and street-food favorite across Nigeria. It is humble, satisfying, and full of flavor. So we set out to give it a brand-new home between two soft, toasted brioche buns.
Chef Obinna in the Ufondu Kitchen, moments before the first bite of the Akara Burger.
The result is the Akara Burger: a thick, seasoned akara patty fried to a crisp golden shell with a tender, fluffy center — layered with fresh crisp lettuce, tangy pickles, and our house sauce, all stacked on a buttery toasted bun. It is comfort food from two worlds at once, and it eats like a dream.
Fresh lettuce and house-made pickles layered over a crisp akara patty.
We wanted the first bite to speak for itself — so we filmed it. No script, no retakes. Just Chef Obinna, the burger, and an honest reaction.
Chef Obinna tries the Akara Burger for the first time.
Built on a black-eyed pea patty, it is deeply rooted in Nigerian tradition and completely at home on an American lunch menu. Whether you are new to West African food or you grew up on akara, this one is for you.
Come taste the Akara Burger for yourself at Ufondu Kitchen — inside Colonie Center Mall, by the Regal Cinema entrance and right across from Five Guys (1417 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12205). We are open daily, 11 AM to 10 PM. Call us at 518.977.3014.
— Chef Obinna Nwagboso
