Hakuna Matata Kitchen & Bar

I had the Grilled Chicken which was seasoned very well. The Collard Greens were awesome and I will back to try the Fried Red Snapper next time. Cool place for drinks or dinner.

When we walked in there was nobody to tells us where to sit. The food came out fragmented instead of together. The goat meat dish was nasty. It tasted burnt, unseasoned, overcooked, amongst other things. This is the 2nd time I tried this dish. The chef was not hospitable and was combative and slightly condescending to the feedback that was requested to us. The bartender was great though! I enjoyed the ginger hibiscus drink. The restaurant has potential, however it is fairly new and there's a few things that need to be addressed: better food, more staff, more hospitality.

The food was delicious, fresh and full of flavor. The staff was friendly and aimed to please. The came quickly. The drinks were fantastic.

They have been in a soft opening for about a month now so they still have some kinks to fix. Which is ok. Better to start building and getting feedback now. I had the goat. There are two on the menu so the none spicy one. It comes with coconut rice. The rice was really dry not the best coconut rice I’ve had and I’ve tried a lot from different African restaurants.
The goat was tender/seasoned well. My friend had the same order.
They were out of a lot of other stuff when we got there.
We made reservations for 7 on a Friday so interesting that they were already out of stuff on Friday night there was only one other party in there.
Ambiance is cool music is nice but depending on the crowd it could get loud very quick. This couple showed up towards the end of our meal chatting with the bar tenders and it was LOUD. My friend is soft spoken so I couldn’t hear her at all.
I could see this being an upbeat/loud atmosphere on Fridays when more folks learn it’s open
Pricing is reasonable. With tax we each spent $33 we didn’t order alcohol though

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 4

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Goat

This is an African resturant, I just received my food. I did come close to closing and I didn’t taste me food yet, was told I have to take it home which is cool with me. What puzzled me is this business is managed by a White woman who doesn’t fit the vibe and energy of the space which is the strangest thing for me and it makes me question this places authenticity. I hope this place gets it together but already they are making bad decisions.

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 3

Service: 1

Services was great, food was unique and flavorful. Will definitely be going back!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

We visited Hakuna Matata Kitchen & Bar on H Street during their soft opening. It’s a laidback spot featuring chill Afrobeats. Shout to owner Paul and the crew, Nesto and Amelia, for being super friendly and welcoming. The goat stew and fried whole fish were both awesome. Their wine list has some cool South African picks, including nice Chenin Blanc. The mango ice cream is definitely worth a try. Looking forward to being back soon after the grand opening.

Vegetarian options: In addition to some of the appetizers and sides, there were three vegetarian entrees.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Goat, Whole Fish, Mango Ice Cream

Amazing Bar Tender, Food order was quick, Dining was amazing! A must!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fries

We were really happy with our whole experience here. It was a quiet Wednesday on the early side. Our server was pleasant and chill, knew a lot about the food, food was excellent and well timed and prices are reasonable for the quality. The only thing was they were out of several items on the menu but that didn't stop us. Definitely recommend!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Been to many African restaurants in DC but the FOOD here is definitely the best I’ve ever had. Make it a must to ask for the goat stew!!! It’s delicious????. My partner had the fish___ he love love loved it!!! 5 stars from me!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Samosa beef. Excellent
Staff knowledgeable On menu. First time there. I will be back.
But no mango ice cream.
That's why only 4 stars
Next time Mango Ice Cream

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 4

Totally worth the wait for this place to open. The vibe, the food, the drink, & the location all make it an amazing experience. Silverback tequila cocktail in my cup. Masala fries on my plate. I’m bringing all my friends here.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Masala Chips, Maharagwe WA Nazi Coconut Beans, Samosas 2 Beef

Very excited for this long awaited addition to the neighborhood. They hosted us as a party of 15+ and each dish was freshly prepared and very tasty. The service was very responsive to dietary needs and questions. We were sad to see Cusbah go, but many of these East African dishes have an Indian flare, so it will be one of our new go to places on H.

Dietary restrictions: We have a soy allergy and they were very accommodating.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Fries

Been waiting for this place to open!!! Right on the NW corner on 12th and H street this beautiful restaurant sits. I’m so impressed with what they did with the interior space here, they did a really good job.

The service here is amazing !!! The server, host, bartender, and owner/chef all lovely people!!

Now the food— it was amazing!! The grilled beef was just incredibly flavorful and the beef Samosas have soooo much flavor! Everything was delightful! The portion sizes are more than generous and I can’t believe the value here! I hope they stay open for a long long time. I can’t wait to come back and try everything else they have to offer!

Thanks again to everyone at Hakuna!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Most items weren’t available. Took over 30 mins to get our order taken, food is good but some portions are too small. Server was confused on how to operate paying for tab. Caused an error when paying

Atmosphere: 2

Food: 5

Service: 2