West Africa · Street food
Koklo Meme (Spicy Grilled Chicken)
Succulent grilled chicken infused with ginger, garlic, crushed chili, and spiced oil, charred over charcoal for Lomé's iconic street-side flavor.
The story
In the coastal capital of Lomé, the night air is thick with the scent of Koklo Meme sizzling over glowing charcoal braziers outside bustling roadside bars. Historically eaten during informal evening gatherings with friends, this street food staple relies on a signature double-cook method: gentle par-steaming in a spiced aromatics bath followed by intense charcoal searing. This unique technique ensures the dense meat of indigenous free-range chickens stays meltingly juicy inside while forming a blistering, caramelized crust infused with hot pepper and peanut oil.
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