We stopped by Hakuna Matata for a couple of quick drinks before heading home. While we did not eat anything, I thought the menu had a lot of interesting and fun items. The menu also had quite a few nice cocktails too. Service was just ok. While bartender and hostess working weren't mean/nasty, they weren't very friendly either. To be honest, they were a bit aloof. If I come back for food, I'd probably would get my food to go.
Kenneth K.
My wife and I came here after seeing Lion King at Kennedy Center as we were hungry and we knew a place with this name. We came late around 11pm on a Friday night and only the bar was open and restaurant was closed. We tried a Margarita and an African Sunrise which were great especially the African Sunrise. The ambiance was nice and the service as friendly and fast. Need to come earlier another time to try the food and will have an updated review.
omar taleb
Stupid it been saying coming soon since 2019Just idiot
Geneva D.
Ambiance: I came to meet a few friends for happy hour on a weekday afternoon and I'm so glad I did. The spot has ample outdoor seating with canopies so every seat is in the shade. In the interior, there's about 6 to 10 seats at the bar and then a larger dining room behind. I really enjoyed that there was Afrobeats music playing in the background and it wasn't too loud so you could still hold a conversation with those around you. The energy in there was great. It was diverse, both racially and age, and everybody was positive, especially the staff. Service: Jerome, the bartender, and Aaron the server for that day were fantastic. My friends and I ordered food and different happy hour bites and they brought out the food as it was prepared versus waiting until everything was done which I appreciate it because that means the food was hot which was great. Happy hour goes until 8 and both the food and drink menus are extensive, so this would definitely be a place I'd recommend.Food: I ordered the chicken skewers, masala fries and samosas. They were all very tasty with authentic African flavors, which reminded me of the Ghanaian food I used to eat as a kid. I got a blue cocktail off the HH menu. Unfortunately I can't remember the name, but it was Gin based with blue curaçao. If it were a Friday or Saturday night I probably would have order a few more because they were so good without being strong tasting. I enjoyed it, but only ordered 1 before switching to wine for the rest of HH.Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience and I'll definitely be back for happy hour again.
Andrew P.
Decided to try a new place, the reviews looked awesome! And what can I say... Lion King was one of my favorite movies growing up. Hakuna Matata's entrance makes the place seem really small, but looks can be deceiving. The bar can seat a max of 10 people... but just beyond it, there's a whole seating area. And there's plenty of outside tables too!I met my friend at the bar, and looked through their happy hour options. It's until 8:00, awesome! My friend was drinking wine, and I decided to try a mojito. The bartender asked me if I wanted it sweet or not so sweet, and I went for the latter. It was good! I then saw that $7 Casamigos was an option, so I had that with club soda next... great! We then asked the bartender what some of the most popular food options were, and he said everything XD -- we decided to share the masala chips (fries), spicy chicken skewers and salmon filet. The fries were delicious -- I loved the spices on top and the onions and peppers that were mixed in. The spicy chicken skewers had a kick but it was nothing serious -- the dipping sauces were a nice touch too! That salmon filet was nice... probably my least favorite of the 3, as the inside was a little dry and left a little to be desired, flavor-wise. But all in all I had a great experience and would love to explore the full menu and try more. The staff were really cool, by the way, and there was plenty of Afrobeats and Caribbean music playing. I'll be back!!
Betty D.
This place is always a joy to come to. Reason being is that they have karaoke, comedy, and live music. They have great bartenders here who are ready to serve you with excellence. They also serve food here which taste amazing. I've been here numerous times and am never disappointed. But beware that shots cost nearly $20 (at least on a Friday night).
Taz M.
Delicious food. Though the food was slightly different from where I come from but the names of the meal reminded me of home. The restaurant was decorated with cultural materials, decorations and delicious smell of traditional food. The atmosphere actually makes you feel very close to home, if you are from Africa and if you are not, it welcomes you. Our server was a young man who is very friendly and very helpful. It is our first time dining at this place and he was very welcoming. Loved it and come back many more times.
Taylor J.
We wanted to try something new and this place didn't disappoint! Outside patio was lovey. Coconut rice was 10/10 (yes, the rice). Collard greens were a little salty but still enjoyed them with my coconut beans. We got the fried cassava as an appetizer with a mild sauce and the spicy pili sauce (not sure how to spell it). Very spicy but great flavor, definitely try the spicy sauce!! I also got the passion fruit juice. It was good, couldn't taste any of the mint in it though.Servers were all very nice and helpful. Inside ambience was cool but it was too nice of an evening not to eat outside.
AUBREY J.
I'm in love with the lamb burger, and that's only served on Thursdays. One of the best happy hours in the area, from 4 to 8 pm. Wine bottles are half off on Wednesday, and happy hour is all day on Taco Tuesday. You get a lot more than expected on the right night.
Jami S.
Super intimate. Great food. Good drinks. It's Friday so there's karaoke. The staff here is so kind and welcoming this is my first time here. No complaints
Came out for Karaoke and open mic comedy night. The drinks were good. That shot of Captain Morgan was smooth and creeps up on me. The wings were fried a little to hard, but some people like that. Nice astomphere. Lightning was really nice. I order the goat with Spinach and Coconut Rice. The goat could have a little bit more tender. The curry sauce it was I was on point!!
Jailene A.
We reallyyyyyy wanted to like this place.Looking for a good happy hour deal, we called around to a few local restaurants. When I got on the phone to inquire, he said they had the best happy hour in silver spring. I was sold! An extensive HH menu offered until 8 pm? Hell yeah, sign me up!We walked in around 6 pm on a Friday night: the bar was already busy, and a couple families were seated in the dining area. We were quickly seated and loved the ambiance of the restaurant. The lighting was gorgeous and the music was fun. The happy hour menu has a lot of both food and drink options at great prices. We ordered a couple drinks, the masala chips, chicken wings, chicken skewers, and grilled salmon.The drinks were strong. I enjoyed my margarita, but the chobe sunrise was a bit too strong. The masala fries came out quick, and they were really good. Not exactly what I was expecting, as they were more saucy than I thought they would be but I was pleasantly surprised. The chicken wings were just not good. They were tough and did not taste fresh. The chicken skewers were better. The grilled salmon was so bland, I don't know if they put any seasoning on it at all. For a menu that is so heavy on meat, I would've expected the meat to be better. Probably not a place I would come back to for food, but the lounge area is a nice place to stop in for a cheap drink.
German D.
We came here to meet up some friends, the service was really attentive and profesional, I got the dry rub Umoja wings which were extremely good. As for drinks the sauti sol was my favorite, it was exceptionally good. Overall the music, food and drinks options make this one of the best places to go to in this area.
Glenn J.
The goat was very yummy with spinach and rice. First time trying this restaurant.There's parking across the street.
Kamou M.
Best samosas ever! Good spicy remoulade sauce came with them. The goat stew was delicious as well as the spinach and coconut rice. Will definitely come back to this Kenyan / Tanzanian restaurant. Service was top shelf and timely. Mostly families with kids or couples in the dining area. Bar looks good too. Good selection of music at a level to permit conversations over dinner.
We stopped by Hakuna Matata for a couple of quick drinks before heading home. While we did not eat anything, I thought the menu had a lot of interesting and fun items. The menu also had quite a few nice cocktails too. Service was just ok. While bartender and hostess working weren't mean/nasty, they weren't very friendly either. To be honest, they were a bit aloof. If I come back for food, I'd probably would get my food to go.
My wife and I came here after seeing Lion King at Kennedy Center as we were hungry and we knew a place with this name. We came late around 11pm on a Friday night and only the bar was open and restaurant was closed. We tried a Margarita and an African Sunrise which were great especially the African Sunrise. The ambiance was nice and the service as friendly and fast. Need to come earlier another time to try the food and will have an updated review.
Stupid it been saying coming soon since 2019Just idiot
Ambiance: I came to meet a few friends for happy hour on a weekday afternoon and I'm so glad I did. The spot has ample outdoor seating with canopies so every seat is in the shade. In the interior, there's about 6 to 10 seats at the bar and then a larger dining room behind. I really enjoyed that there was Afrobeats music playing in the background and it wasn't too loud so you could still hold a conversation with those around you. The energy in there was great. It was diverse, both racially and age, and everybody was positive, especially the staff. Service: Jerome, the bartender, and Aaron the server for that day were fantastic. My friends and I ordered food and different happy hour bites and they brought out the food as it was prepared versus waiting until everything was done which I appreciate it because that means the food was hot which was great. Happy hour goes until 8 and both the food and drink menus are extensive, so this would definitely be a place I'd recommend.Food: I ordered the chicken skewers, masala fries and samosas. They were all very tasty with authentic African flavors, which reminded me of the Ghanaian food I used to eat as a kid. I got a blue cocktail off the HH menu. Unfortunately I can't remember the name, but it was Gin based with blue curaçao. If it were a Friday or Saturday night I probably would have order a few more because they were so good without being strong tasting. I enjoyed it, but only ordered 1 before switching to wine for the rest of HH.Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience and I'll definitely be back for happy hour again.
Decided to try a new place, the reviews looked awesome! And what can I say... Lion King was one of my favorite movies growing up. Hakuna Matata's entrance makes the place seem really small, but looks can be deceiving. The bar can seat a max of 10 people... but just beyond it, there's a whole seating area. And there's plenty of outside tables too!I met my friend at the bar, and looked through their happy hour options. It's until 8:00, awesome! My friend was drinking wine, and I decided to try a mojito. The bartender asked me if I wanted it sweet or not so sweet, and I went for the latter. It was good! I then saw that $7 Casamigos was an option, so I had that with club soda next... great! We then asked the bartender what some of the most popular food options were, and he said everything XD -- we decided to share the masala chips (fries), spicy chicken skewers and salmon filet. The fries were delicious -- I loved the spices on top and the onions and peppers that were mixed in. The spicy chicken skewers had a kick but it was nothing serious -- the dipping sauces were a nice touch too! That salmon filet was nice... probably my least favorite of the 3, as the inside was a little dry and left a little to be desired, flavor-wise. But all in all I had a great experience and would love to explore the full menu and try more. The staff were really cool, by the way, and there was plenty of Afrobeats and Caribbean music playing. I'll be back!!
This place is always a joy to come to. Reason being is that they have karaoke, comedy, and live music. They have great bartenders here who are ready to serve you with excellence. They also serve food here which taste amazing. I've been here numerous times and am never disappointed. But beware that shots cost nearly $20 (at least on a Friday night).
Delicious food. Though the food was slightly different from where I come from but the names of the meal reminded me of home. The restaurant was decorated with cultural materials, decorations and delicious smell of traditional food. The atmosphere actually makes you feel very close to home, if you are from Africa and if you are not, it welcomes you. Our server was a young man who is very friendly and very helpful. It is our first time dining at this place and he was very welcoming. Loved it and come back many more times.
We wanted to try something new and this place didn't disappoint! Outside patio was lovey. Coconut rice was 10/10 (yes, the rice). Collard greens were a little salty but still enjoyed them with my coconut beans. We got the fried cassava as an appetizer with a mild sauce and the spicy pili sauce (not sure how to spell it). Very spicy but great flavor, definitely try the spicy sauce!! I also got the passion fruit juice. It was good, couldn't taste any of the mint in it though.Servers were all very nice and helpful. Inside ambience was cool but it was too nice of an evening not to eat outside.
I'm in love with the lamb burger, and that's only served on Thursdays. One of the best happy hours in the area, from 4 to 8 pm. Wine bottles are half off on Wednesday, and happy hour is all day on Taco Tuesday. You get a lot more than expected on the right night.
Super intimate. Great food. Good drinks. It's Friday so there's karaoke. The staff here is so kind and welcoming this is my first time here. No complaints
Restaurantji Recommends
Came out for Karaoke and open mic comedy night. The drinks were good. That shot of Captain Morgan was smooth and creeps up on me. The wings were fried a little to hard, but some people like that. Nice astomphere. Lightning was really nice. I order the goat with Spinach and Coconut Rice. The goat could have a little bit more tender. The curry sauce it was I was on point!!
We reallyyyyyy wanted to like this place.Looking for a good happy hour deal, we called around to a few local restaurants. When I got on the phone to inquire, he said they had the best happy hour in silver spring. I was sold! An extensive HH menu offered until 8 pm? Hell yeah, sign me up!We walked in around 6 pm on a Friday night: the bar was already busy, and a couple families were seated in the dining area. We were quickly seated and loved the ambiance of the restaurant. The lighting was gorgeous and the music was fun. The happy hour menu has a lot of both food and drink options at great prices. We ordered a couple drinks, the masala chips, chicken wings, chicken skewers, and grilled salmon.The drinks were strong. I enjoyed my margarita, but the chobe sunrise was a bit too strong. The masala fries came out quick, and they were really good. Not exactly what I was expecting, as they were more saucy than I thought they would be but I was pleasantly surprised. The chicken wings were just not good. They were tough and did not taste fresh. The chicken skewers were better. The grilled salmon was so bland, I don't know if they put any seasoning on it at all. For a menu that is so heavy on meat, I would've expected the meat to be better. Probably not a place I would come back to for food, but the lounge area is a nice place to stop in for a cheap drink.
We came here to meet up some friends, the service was really attentive and profesional, I got the dry rub Umoja wings which were extremely good. As for drinks the sauti sol was my favorite, it was exceptionally good. Overall the music, food and drinks options make this one of the best places to go to in this area.
The goat was very yummy with spinach and rice. First time trying this restaurant.There's parking across the street.
Best samosas ever! Good spicy remoulade sauce came with them. The goat stew was delicious as well as the spinach and coconut rice. Will definitely come back to this Kenyan / Tanzanian restaurant. Service was top shelf and timely. Mostly families with kids or couples in the dining area. Bar looks good too. Good selection of music at a level to permit conversations over dinner.