Once visit with best friend he recommended me the food was delicious super fresh and Halal we…read moreordered Lamb sandwich and chicken wings I really enjoy food and there ambiance real African and modern culture mixed but beautiful very professional staff and welcoming Highly Recommend

I met one of the kindest cooks/cashiers at Karibu! And he made the most amazing (and affordable!)…read moreSambusas. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. So considerate, I was asked, "Do you mind waiting 5 minutes while I make your order?" Then we had a great conversation about giraffe preserves on the Somalian/Kenyan border-- a beautiful story from a young man who graduated from Johnson HS. The store was bright colored and really casual. What a great restaurant to have in the Payne/Phalen neighborhood!

Service was prompt and friendly. Beef samusas were delicious, a perfect afternoon snack!read more

Went to lunch with big group. We got to eat all the variety. The food was all delicious…read more Customer service was great too. They were very friendly and kind. Bought Sanbosa and baklava to go. Price was reasonable. I would for sure go back there again!

When your wife and in-laws are Lebanese and make the best authentic versions of the food you've…read moreever had there's always the quest to find something close to that bar, and going to many different Lebanese restaurants around the world looking for that same quality never stops but is never met.... until that one night and one restaurant knocks you out of your chair and you can't stop thinking about the amazing cuisine right in your own backyard. This was that such night! The Awaijane family has brought their family tradition in great Lebanese cuisine since 1973 and maintained by their children generation after generation, and through their fresh grape leaves, perfectly pan baked Kibbeh (OMG and the raw!!!!), lemon kissed Tabbouleh, & authentically cured Labneh, we intended to take it to go but it was so irreisistable we sat down and ate half of it on site. Don't let the quaint store front on University pass you by, the the truly authentic food amaze you, and the family friendly service bring you back!

How is it that I have never reviewed Emily's before now? I have been a loyal customer for over 30…read moreyears and have always enjoyed this small, yet mighty restaurant. For ambiance, well, let's say it's authentic in types of a typical Middle Eastern Restaurant that is in the Middle East (not the US) meaning that it is sparse. Whatever, that's not why you come here. There used to be a woman who occupied one table peeling about 10,000 garlic cloves. Again, typical (sadly, I have not seen her lately). Service is good. There are not very many tables, so it's not much of a challenge to see the entire restaurant at one time. However, they are attentive and happy to answer all questions. Food: This is why you here. They literally (and I do mean literally) have the best Tabouli salad I have ever tasted anywhere in the world. The menu says it is made fresh every day and it is. Freshness is the absolute key to good tabouli and if it's not fresh, it's not worth eating. Let me say this again: This is the BEST tabouli you can find and if you think you don't like tabouli, at least give theirs a try. But Emily's has much more than tabouli. I love their lamb shish kabob. If you are not a fan of lamb, their chicken kabob is also excellent. Both of them come with an excellent rice pilaf. Pro Tip: You can get a full portion that comes with soup or salad, just a skewer, or half a skewer. Their humus is good, but perhaps not as favorable as other versions I've had. I can also vouch for their spinach pie, which is a great price too. And of course, you can't go wrong without a piece of baklava for dessert. They do have an upstairs eating area that is used for groups. I had not seen this until I went upstairs to use their restroom and saw it on the way. This is a neighborhood gem of a small, family owned quality restaurant. I hope they stay in business for another 50 plus years!

We're in the area to support a neighboring Somali eatery. ICE protest going in full force on the…read morestreet, taking up an intersection with cries of the community. We got to that door just as the owners were closing up shop, so we asked for a nearby suggestion and were directed down the block, to the other side of the protest. My friend promptly forgot the name of the suggested eatery, and I was busy focusing on the protest and feeling so deeply proud of our community, so we simply meandered before arriving at Hamdi. Abdiladif had such a bright, warm grin spread across his face as he welcomed us into the space and led us to a back table that you wouldn't think there was a fight for human rights occurring right beyond the walls. Or rather, it's possible that he realizes that, yes, there was, and every voice outside and every visitor inside is proof of where this community stands in this fight. Yeah, okay, that'd be reason for me to grin, too. The menu was simple. A few protein options. A few vegetarian dishes. A few drinks. A complimentary cup of Somalian tea that you could refill at will at a station conveniently located at the middle corner between the two dining rooms. No prices beside the menu items, which was puzzling. Abdiladif was so friendly and happy to answer our many curious questions, offer clarifications and suggestions. We ordered the two goat dishes. One ended up being out of a key component, likely the happy result of several tables filling up before ours, so we ended up with two of the same goat dish. They weren't really named, so "goat" was all we went off of on the menu. My friend paired his with the spaghetti, while mine was with chapati, hummus, and creamed veggies. My friend ordered mango juice. The sweetened Somalian tea was plenty delightful for me. We both preferred the creamed veggies in the same bite as the hummus. The chapati seemed somewhat dry and needed the hummus. The goat was decently flavorful and tender, though not juicy. My friend struggled a bit with the larger bones on his pieces. We both loved the tea so much that we continued chatting while sipping on one last sweet refill, after learning that a dessert menu no longer existed. Before we leave, I leave my jacket and to-go container of lamb meat at our table to use the restroom. I return to my jacket missing. Baffled, I figure my friend had grabbed it. I turn to grab the to-go box and go pay on my way out. As I turn back towards the main dining room, a diner from a neighboring table within the room runs back in and makes a beeline for me. He's holding my jacket, folded tidily. Sheepish, he explained that he thought I'd forgotten it and had run out of the restaurant with it to look for me. It's unfortunate that painful times like these exist, but it's also beautiful to see community come together in light of that dark. There are several Somali places in this area, many other ethnic spaces to support in the Twin Cities. My friends and I look forward to getting to know a great many more.

This place has GREAT food, and very attentive service. Very vegetarian-friendly, there were several…read moreoptions to pick from if you don't eat meat or fish. We will be back

Hole in the wall E African restaurant. I stopped by here since it was a quick 10 min away from work…read moreon my way home. There is construction actively going on due to the new train station with denser housing and businesses being built, so be aware when you drive in. The establishment is not a vibe, it's an American dream in the making. The building is rustic as food is filling. The staff was brisk in taking orders and the environment is lively. Some places to sit, but more of a take out kinda place. I ordered a Sambusa and Goat Meat plate with rice. I'm still new to E African cuisine, so my reviews is more biased with my background versus experience. Sambusa; fried patty filled with meat which I'm gonna assume is beef? It has a nice spicy kick to it, but is drier than my preference. Nice and crispy. Goat Meat with Rice; the star of my dinner and my favorite of the 2. It comes with a salad which is forgettable. The real appeal is the tender goat atop the rice. The rice soaks up the juice and is so flavorful. The goat has bones, so can be annoying to some diners, but allows for a richer flavor. It appears to be pressure cooked finished off with a tomato and onion stir-fry, the crunch of the onions pairs well with the tenderness of the goat. Fun place to pick up food to eat at home if you're tired of cooking. Would stop by and try the other dishes.

I love it Somali food in general yes the portions are huge but I'm Somali and it's really common to…read morehave portions that huge the hot sauce is really good for the average person it's really spicy but I have Somali blood in me I can handle it I love Sam USA but putting fish in it and not making it spicy should be illegal if you're vegetarian almost everything has meat in it but overall it's amazing

Strongly recommended. Best Gyros sandwich I've had anywhere in Mn, and perhaps the US. Terrific…read moregoat and rice combo dinner. Not a fancy place but very friendly. Definitely deserves to do well.

Delicious Falafel. I mainly chose because it was the lowest price. Most everything else is $15 &…read moreup, so a little pricey, but maybe I'm still living in the 70's :-) The service was good, and I'll definitely be back. (I didn't rate for this, but it would be nice if they played Somali music, and had Somali videos of the country, or Somali music videos on their big screens)

I finally took the plunge into Somali food at Mama Safia's in Minneapolis--and I'll be real, I was…read morenervous. Ok, maybe completely terrified is more accurate. I am admittedly a novice when it comes to east, west, or South African food! First time, didn't know what I was walking into. But turns out? Absolute gem. The space itself is clean, bright, and surprisingly spacious. And what came was heavy-hitting. Portions? Massive. The mango juice? Pure tropical sunshine. The goat? Tender, rich, full of flavor. The rice? Fragrant, fluffy, and this is coming from someone who's ruthless when it comes to rice standards. But the dish that stole my heart was the sambusa--crisp shell, soft pillow inside, savory meat bursting through. A perfect bite every time. Can I have a box of these to take home please?! Bottom line: Mama Safia's turned my nerves into a craving. Clean, comfortable, and food worth coming back for. Next visit, I'm bringing additional backup.

After going to the dmv we stopped here around lunchtime. First time going and we will definitely be…read moreback soon. We ordered the beef suquaar with canjero and malawah. It was well spiced, delicious to bit and really went well with the different bread like options. I ordered a mango smoothie that was an absolute hit. Tasted like an elevated mango lassi. We also got the Somali tea which tasted similar to a chai latte and was exceptional as well and only $2. It was good service, quick and overall just had a very pleasant time being there. Vibe was great and it was a chill atmosphere. Only thing I would say is that one entree was definitely enough for two people in our experience. We got leftovers and it wasn't crazy expensive but next time.

Caspian is an experience from the dining to the market. They have all the classic Persian options…read morelike the saffron rice with different types of kebab. The family is incredible, they are friendly to all their customers. Recently had Caspian catering - it was beautifully set up & so tasty. The rice is buttery and fluffy while the tadig was perfectly crispy. The kebabs were cooked nice and seasoned so well.

Dining here was a fun experience. The menu was full of traditional Persian and Turkish foods. I had…read moreamazing tea and baklava as well. The service was so friendly and welcoming to our large group! The ambience is relaxed. Definitely check out the marketplace to bring some cultural foods home with you.