First time having Kenyan food and it was amazing! Lots of great vegetarian options and good spice! As someone of Indian heritage, it was cool seeing so many Indian influences but also uniquely East African dishes. I ordered matoke and githeri with ugali for my entree and bhajia and veggie samosa for the appetizers. The bhajias were thin and crispy and the veggie samosas were rich and juicy, unlike most Indian samosas which are dry. Loved the vegetable dishes too as well as the consistency of the ugali. It absorbs stews very well. I'll definitely have to come here again!
Coté S
Loved this place! We ordered the deep fried tilapia with collard greens and it was so tasty. My favorite part was that we got to hang out with our friends there for three hours! I have never been able to sit down for dinner and have a deep conversation with friends anywhere else in Seattle. No annoying waiter to interrupt your conversation, or passive-aggressive “y’all need to leave now cause we need the table.”I come from Latin America where we sit and talk and connect over food for a long time. It was a delightful evening of good food and connection.
Brahim Mansaray
Normally when I visit Safari, the wait time takes a bit too long, even when it's not so crowded. So I figured by calling, I can place my order ahead of time so it'll be ready by the time I get there.As I explain that to a lady over the phone, she responds angrily "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!".Well, "what would you like to order?" would've sound better.
James Akagi
Went here and had my first Kenyan dinner. My friend had Goat and collard greens. I had the fried Talapia with collard greens. (Although I did ask for carrots and peas.) It was actually very nice. The service was very friendly. The restaurant was very clean. The fried Talapia was a bit too crispily fried, very slim pickings, but still tasty. The Kenyan flat bread I had was delicious!
Michelle L.
So yummy! That fried fish is irreplaceable. I crave it every week. It's citrusy, perfectly cooked, peppery, the sauce is amazing. the pilau and collard greens are also delicious. I'm always amazed I finish the whole dish in one setting, but it's impossible for me not to. Also got the beef samosas. Delicious!
Lexi Wylie
This is the best restaurant I’ve had in Seattle so far! They have a ton of vegetarian options. I ordered the vegetarian meal with samba, matoke, and terere. Everything was good but the matoke is AMAZING! The yellow sauce that came with my meal was the best sauce I’ve ever tasted. This place is definitely worth a trip to Columbia City.
Frederick Barasa
Jewel in the heart of Seattle. For those looking for Kenyan food, this is your restaurantHighly recommended
LaRelle H.
I will never eat here again. CHECK YOUR FOOD! This was my first experience with this restaurant and I was very excited! I ordered the Tilapia, Goat, and Ugali to go. First the wait to get the food took very VERY long. Then when I got home I noticed hair in my food before I could get it on my plate! I quickly called the restaurant to make them aware and the lady on the phone told me there was no way. The Ugali is white and hair is black. I understand which is why I called. I explained to her I haven't even taken it out of the box yet. She told me there was no way and we weren't going to argue because there was no hair in my food. There was no resolution and I can't even eat my food. I just wanted to bring awareness to future costumers CHECK YOUR FOOD!
Lexi W.
This is the best restaurant I've had in Seattle so far! They have a ton of vegetarian options. I ordered the vegetarian meal with samba, matoke, and terere. Everything was good but the matoke is AMAZING! The yellow sauce that came with my meal was the best sauce I've ever tasted. This place is definitely worth a trip to Columbia City.
Zach Cain
Tasty, authentic Kenyan food. They really make you feel welcome. The amaranth greens were delicious. Lots of vegan options
Awesome, Authentic Kenyan food, I was right at home, away from home. Highly recommend!
Hilary W.
This place is an unassuming gem - great homemade-style Kenyan food that is traditionally prepared. We went as a large group of friends so got to sample quite a few of their foods and all were delicious and carefully prepared. I had been craving greens - their collard greens are great. And omg - the crispy pan-fried whole Tilapia?!? Ah-mazing!!! Super crispy and flavorful on the outside and moist and delicious on the inside. We also had their goat curry (nicely prepared and not too gamey), vegetable samosas (spicy and yummy), and the ugali (a thick grits-like porridge that you eat with the other foods.) Then fo drinks I tried both their cold ginger tea (thick, sweetened with brown sugar and super gingery) and the hot chai (nicely spiced with cardamom and ginger; you add your own sugar.) Overall it was a great meal and we'll definitely be going back!
Emily Schlackman
Food was delicious and staff was very quick and friendly. Fresh, authentic food that tastes home made and is worth the drive!
Nicholas Omondi Auma
Slow service wait time over 1 hour. I ordered for wet fry fish and instead they gave me dry deep fried fish deeped in lemon which I didn't like ,and very hard to chew kales. Smoke all over the place.
Corwin Franklin
Phenomenal food. The ginger drink was so good I'm getting one every day during my visit. Staff was so friendly my jaw is sore from grinning too much.
First time having Kenyan food and it was amazing! Lots of great vegetarian options and good spice! As someone of Indian heritage, it was cool seeing so many Indian influences but also uniquely East African dishes. I ordered matoke and githeri with ugali for my entree and bhajia and veggie samosa for the appetizers. The bhajias were thin and crispy and the veggie samosas were rich and juicy, unlike most Indian samosas which are dry. Loved the vegetable dishes too as well as the consistency of the ugali. It absorbs stews very well. I'll definitely have to come here again!
Loved this place! We ordered the deep fried tilapia with collard greens and it was so tasty. My favorite part was that we got to hang out with our friends there for three hours! I have never been able to sit down for dinner and have a deep conversation with friends anywhere else in Seattle. No annoying waiter to interrupt your conversation, or passive-aggressive “y’all need to leave now cause we need the table.”I come from Latin America where we sit and talk and connect over food for a long time. It was a delightful evening of good food and connection.
Normally when I visit Safari, the wait time takes a bit too long, even when it's not so crowded. So I figured by calling, I can place my order ahead of time so it'll be ready by the time I get there.As I explain that to a lady over the phone, she responds angrily "WHAT DO YOU WANT?!".Well, "what would you like to order?" would've sound better.
Went here and had my first Kenyan dinner. My friend had Goat and collard greens. I had the fried Talapia with collard greens. (Although I did ask for carrots and peas.) It was actually very nice. The service was very friendly. The restaurant was very clean. The fried Talapia was a bit too crispily fried, very slim pickings, but still tasty. The Kenyan flat bread I had was delicious!
So yummy! That fried fish is irreplaceable. I crave it every week. It's citrusy, perfectly cooked, peppery, the sauce is amazing. the pilau and collard greens are also delicious. I'm always amazed I finish the whole dish in one setting, but it's impossible for me not to. Also got the beef samosas. Delicious!
This is the best restaurant I’ve had in Seattle so far! They have a ton of vegetarian options. I ordered the vegetarian meal with samba, matoke, and terere. Everything was good but the matoke is AMAZING! The yellow sauce that came with my meal was the best sauce I’ve ever tasted. This place is definitely worth a trip to Columbia City.
Jewel in the heart of Seattle. For those looking for Kenyan food, this is your restaurantHighly recommended
I will never eat here again. CHECK YOUR FOOD! This was my first experience with this restaurant and I was very excited! I ordered the Tilapia, Goat, and Ugali to go. First the wait to get the food took very VERY long. Then when I got home I noticed hair in my food before I could get it on my plate! I quickly called the restaurant to make them aware and the lady on the phone told me there was no way. The Ugali is white and hair is black. I understand which is why I called. I explained to her I haven't even taken it out of the box yet. She told me there was no way and we weren't going to argue because there was no hair in my food. There was no resolution and I can't even eat my food. I just wanted to bring awareness to future costumers CHECK YOUR FOOD!
This is the best restaurant I've had in Seattle so far! They have a ton of vegetarian options. I ordered the vegetarian meal with samba, matoke, and terere. Everything was good but the matoke is AMAZING! The yellow sauce that came with my meal was the best sauce I've ever tasted. This place is definitely worth a trip to Columbia City.
Tasty, authentic Kenyan food. They really make you feel welcome. The amaranth greens were delicious. Lots of vegan options
Restaurantji Recommends
Awesome, Authentic Kenyan food, I was right at home, away from home. Highly recommend!
This place is an unassuming gem - great homemade-style Kenyan food that is traditionally prepared. We went as a large group of friends so got to sample quite a few of their foods and all were delicious and carefully prepared. I had been craving greens - their collard greens are great. And omg - the crispy pan-fried whole Tilapia?!? Ah-mazing!!! Super crispy and flavorful on the outside and moist and delicious on the inside. We also had their goat curry (nicely prepared and not too gamey), vegetable samosas (spicy and yummy), and the ugali (a thick grits-like porridge that you eat with the other foods.) Then fo drinks I tried both their cold ginger tea (thick, sweetened with brown sugar and super gingery) and the hot chai (nicely spiced with cardamom and ginger; you add your own sugar.) Overall it was a great meal and we'll definitely be going back!
Food was delicious and staff was very quick and friendly. Fresh, authentic food that tastes home made and is worth the drive!
Slow service wait time over 1 hour. I ordered for wet fry fish and instead they gave me dry deep fried fish deeped in lemon which I didn't like ,and very hard to chew kales. Smoke all over the place.
Phenomenal food. The ginger drink was so good I'm getting one every day during my visit. Staff was so friendly my jaw is sore from grinning too much.