Yes I did visit Afro two times in one week. And yes it was delicious both times and I can't wait to go back. 1) The Chicken Fantastic is truly fantastic. Chicken, veggies & basmati rice. Also, I ordered the smaller size, and woah it's a definite large helping. I'm nervous to see what the larger one looks like. Meal for two? 2) The Somali Tea and hummus are definitely dos if you're in the need for a snack. Seriously the best tasting and budget friendly tea & hummus around! I'm craving some meow. 3) My friend ordered the Beef sambosas and yikes they are tasty. I sampled Alexandra H's veggie ones last time and I think they may have won my heart over a little more. Either way, they are both delectable. Thank you Afro Deli for brightening up West Bank with friendly service, and bringing delish (& affordable) fun food options. And great news to students and those up late, Afro is open until 10pm Monday through Saturday! read more

Afro Deli - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

This is probably one of my favorite places to eat in stadium village. There is an option to get your food to go, something I love to do in the warmer months and take my food to eat across the street on the lawn of McNamara. Otherwise, you can eat inside there. My go-to dish is the Somali Steak Sandwich. It's incredibly filling by itself, however, I usually get the house salad as a side. The dressing is delicious and I'd highly recommend trying it as well. When I feel like really treating myself I order a side of fries. The fries here are delicious. You will actually finish the entire side dish of fries because they're that good. Their crunch and size is perfect to dip into the sauce they provide. On other days when I want a quick snack, I grab an order of three sambusas to go to enjoy throughout my day. You wouldn't expect it but they sell desserts including tres leches cake. Be ready to get a full meal when you visit. read more

Great place for sambusa! The atmosphere is friendly and busy. Took a bit to get my sandwich but it was worth the wait. The samoli steak sandwich was amazing; great spices and perfect bread. read more

Afro Deli - Sambusa and steak sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

I have eaten through this menu several times, and I can honestly say that from top to bottom, everything here is delicious. Ever since I finished my masters program at the U of M, I have had Afro Deli withdrawals. Affordable, tasty, convenient - what else does a person need? But let's talk about the delicious food. Seriously, last week, I dreamt about ripping apart those soft yet hard triangular sambusas with either lentils or beef inside slathered with that spicy green sauce with my teeth. Oh, and those tasty sweet potato fries that perfectly compliment the sandwiches and wraps there. I highly recommend the lamb gyros and the Somali steak sandwich. If that's not really for you, try the Chicken Fantastic. Yes, this sounds corny, but it truly is fantastic with the sauteed bell peppers, red onions, carrots, zucchini, fresh garlic held in a lighr cream sauce with grated Parmesan cheese on top of basmati rice. You will not be sorry. I've catered from Afro Deli about six times and eaten there way too many to count. Afro Deli is certainly a jewel in the neighborhood. The only critique I would have is that during busy hours, the service is absolutely horrid. It takes forever to get my meal. However, it's definitely worth the wait. read more

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Ordered Afro Steak Dinner, Chicken Fantastic, Beef Sambusas (with jalapeño sauce), and Somali Tea. Steak Dinner has some spice and was pretty tasty. Chicken Fantastic is great if you're a Norwegian with a bland palate, but still good. Sambusas were yummy with the sauce that is basically puréed jalapeño. Now the baklava was the best I've ever had, and the tea was piping hot and tasted like a sweet tea style chai with spices like cinnamon. I'd go there just for that. Looking forward to trying the Somali Steak sandwich next time. The place is TINY. Good sign: lots of Somali people eating there. Weird sign: all the cooks were Mexican. There is no real ambiance - kinda felt like a gas station to me with their faux white dishes (they're plastic), but with a name like "Afro Deli" - nothing was misleading to me. The prices were super affordable and the food portions were definitely share-able. Matter of fact - I have a huge take home box. Someone commented on the music being "Afro beats." That makes me laugh! The music blasting tonight was definitely Mexican hip hop or whatever the real name for that is. I wish it was "Afro beats." I'd give it 4 stars for that! Street parking was perfect at 7pm on a Friday. read more

Afro Deli - Beef Sambusas with jalapeño sauce, Afro Steak Dinner, Chicken Fantastic, Baklava, (Somali Tea) - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

GREAT FOOD I WISH I HAD REVIEWED IT EARLIER I HAD A WRAP WITH LAMB AND BEEF AND IT WAS WONDERFUL. The service was very nice and the lady did not hesitate to give me extra dipping sauce the fries were good and overall a great dining experience read more

I finally made it to Afro Deli after a work meeting at the African Development Center and it was painfully clear that I have been missing out. I ordered the small chicken curry and a side order of sweet plantains to go. The staff were extremely friendly and the diversity of the patrons reflected the neighborhood. Everyone comes together over good food! The curry was larger than I had expected for a small order but I'm not complaining over leftovers. The curry was moist and seasoned well but I was hoping for more heat. I have a ridiculous standard of "hot/spicy enough" though so I have come to expect this. The plantains were freshly prepared and perfectly sweet with that caramelized flavor and coloring that I hope to see. This place is a true value. I paid less than $11.00 If you are intimidated by trying Somali food, don't be! Almost all of the menu items were familiar and the staff is friendly enough to answer questions. Also, don't let the parking situation keep you away. I was never interested in competing with two campuses worth of students and locals for parking but I easily found a spot right off the side of the building. read more

Afro Deli - Curry Chicken - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Good little takeout spot. Good customer service. Food is good. Fast service. Lots of indoor seating. Not sure about the parking situation because I caught a lyft. Affordable. Good selection. read more

A friend introduced me to this place and I'm disappointed that I didn't visit Afro Deli when I first moved here! The workers here are not just friendly -- they are kind. Sometimes, one of the workers gives me a free tea or sambusa. :) I don't usually become a regular, but I now go to Afro Deli twice a week. At first, I wanted to try half the menu, but I started with the lamb gyro and was hooked. Still, I'm on a mission to try at least 10 items, and here's what I have to say so far: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Lamb Gyros -- if you don't know what to order, get this. This is the only item with lamb in it (though I've asked for it in other dishes!) and the meat is juicy. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Somali Steak Sandwich -- the steak tastes chewy because it is cooked well-done, as in other dishes. I like the flavors, the bread, and the size (it might be more like a snack for most Midwestern men; it looks like a 500-600 kcal sandwich)...but I just don't like the way the meat is cooked. Update: this sandwich is great the next day, after the juices have soaked into the bread and I'm too busy to make anything! Falafel Sandwich -- standard fare and a solid choice, though I would still prefer the lamb gyros or chicken fantastic. Chicken Fantastic -- the regular size is two meals for me! It is very filling, especially with the rice and fiber-rich vegetables. Harar Beef & Veggie Stew -- this stew is mildly spicy and tasty. However, the meat seems overcooked and I got tired of chewing it. Keke -- I ordered the vegetarian version and asked for lamb on top. Loved the lamb, disliked the African noodle. The noodle tasted bland and dry...like over-floured pie crust. In the leftovers, I could even see flour in the noodles that fell apart. I would not recommend this dish. (When I came back a week later, one of the workers explained that the noodles were actually a paratha or chapati flatbread that has been fried or stir-fried...) Caesar salad -- great dressing-to-greens ratio. Chicken is on the dry side. Sambusa -- love all of them, though I usually get the veggie one. They seem so neatly folded and I like how sambusas are easier to eat than its doppelganger, the samosa. Sambusa = flat. Samosa = pyramid. And always cooked to order! Shrimp Sambusa -- limited edition, March 2014 only. Meh. It was not good. The tiny pieces of shrimp seemed like the sort that comes out of a plastic bag and gets dehydrated. Chicken wings -- crispy and on the plain side, comes with a mild/med bbq sauce and ranch. The one time I ordered a dozen wings, my basket had 15. :) Sweet potato fries -- soggy and no accompanying sauce :( Baklava -- I don't know if it's made in-house, but I love the version that is sold here. I am starting to think it's dangerously unhealthy to eat this dessert even once a week, given how filling the above are. Somali tea -- what a wonderful winter drink! it has milk and spices, and makes me smile when I take a sip. Conclusion: Lamb gyros is my #1. And maybe a veggie sambusa. And maybe baklava. I don't miss the other dishes at all. (The one other dish I would recommend is the Chicken Fantastic, for curiosity's sake.) P.S. Free wifi! Extra seating in the quiet conference room! Nice bathroom with thick toilet paper! P.P.S. Eventually, I plan to try the afrosteak dinner, veggie platter, suqaar, chicken curry, and chapati wrap. I will update this review accordingly. :) read more

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i work in the hospital near this place, and it is so good! We got one sambusa of each kind to try the different flavors (veggie, chicken, beef). I am a heavy carnivore but i think the veggie was best seasoned. I had my share of bad/old sambusas but these were flakey and just enough crunch. We also got the Chicken fantastic and the Afrosteak in a bowl. They are pretty hefty portions (see picture). I usually like read meat but i actually preferred my chicken fantastic bowl. It was a bit creamier whereas the steak one was more stir-fry looking. Both were pretty good and we had no complaints. I took a baklava (to go because I was dead full), which was pretty awesome (not to sweet, and little crunch from the nuts -- just the way I like my baklavas). I am not sure how authentic "African style" the food is given Africa is huge. But, the experience was great and I know I will come back. Note the place is pretty small so not a lot of seating if you have a larger group. read more

Afro Deli - Sambusas (one of each flavor, veggie is the yellowish one), chicken fantastic (bottom right), afrosteak in the back - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Somali steak sandwich. ~$6.50 Better than jimmy johns but a bit less on the meat side However, this cafe is associated w a good social cause (African community development) so, extra stars for that! :) read more

Afro Deli - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Never expected this to be so yummy! My colleague insisted to eat here and am fan of this place! The roasted veggie sandwich was so yummy. Many options resemble Indian food. This is University area, finding parking is big challenge, but you will not regret the parking fees after eating here. read more

Afro Deli - Roasted veg sandwich - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Love the chicken fantastic. It's nice to have something different and authentic every once in a while. Very quick service and reasonable prices. Don't go with a big group unless you want to sit outside and have a casual experience! read more

Still 5 stars and a whole new menu! Go check it out!! Now they have a burrito-type wrap - the chapati wrap - , a number of additional entrees - many of which are vegetarian - , 2 types of soups changing weekly and sweet plantains. And I have a new favorite (actually 2): Keke and Suqaar. Both not to be missed. Go visit and enjoy your lunch! read more

This is seriously of my favorite places to go to on West Bank!! I came in around 11am and it was already busy with tons of people coming and going. Even though it was hectic, the staff were still very friendly and got my order in fast. I ordered the usual for me--Chicken Fantastic, which I LOVE! The basmati rice with the creamy chicken and veggie sauce is amazing. It's super savory, and not overwhelmingly salty in any way. I really like how the chicken, bell peppers, onions, and the cheese sauce comes together really well. The portions are also extremely generous--I got a large and planned to eat the rest of it later on in the day. Overall, I love this place & always come back when I'm craving something different. The best way to expand ones horizons is through food! read more

Afro Deli - Chicken Fantastic! - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Great Gopher Gyro and the dipping sauce for fries is outstanding. 5 Stars! The wait was short and food was made fresh when I ordered. Everyone there was very nice. read more

The food here is really good and priced well too! When I ordered the wrong thing on accident they went above and beyond to get me the thing I wanted. Would highly recommend!! read more

I've been meaning to try is place out and I'm glad I did. I heard great things about the food here and it lived up to it! The Chicken Fantastic is really FANTASTIC. The beef Sambusa was also really good. Prices are decent and affordable. read more

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This place is phenomenal! The flavors are delicious! Been here several times and never disappointed.

I got takeout from here and it was fantastic. I ordered the vegetable stew and the chicken curry. The stew was loaded with soft vegetables in a red sauce, kind of like a ratatouille but less brothy and with a thicker tomato base. So good my toddler fought me for it. Both dishes came on a bed of rice that had a nice light oil to it. The curry was amazing! Zingy and curryish for sure, but the vegetables and rice and tender chicken lent a comfort food factor. This is winter cold comfort food at its finest but also very enjoyable in summer. read more

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Avoid. My friend and I got sick from this place. Their oil was super old and we ate their fries and sambusas that were fried in it. Their chapati wraps are okay but honestly, we won't be back because we got sick. read more

Afro deli is a great spot and take me back to when I used to attend college at the U of M. However, the food was not as greasy as I remembered it. I ordered the chicken fantastic, a popular dish at Afro deli and it was on the bland side. As it has sentimental value to me from the days it was on the West Bank of the U of M, I will be back to try it again to see if it can live up to my memory. read more

Awesome food. Walking around the University of Minnesota campus are asked a student for " What is a good restaurant in the area replied Afro Deli is my choice. Great suggestion. Students CEO and doctors all gathering for a delicious meal. Thank you for the recommendation read more

I ate here constantly during my freshman year of college. The food is consistently amazing and the staff is always friendly and welcoming. The falafel is one of the best i've ever eaten, and the chicken fantastic is incredible! read more

You can't go wrong with the chapati wrap whether you choose chicken, steak, lamb gyro, veggie or falafel. It is absolutely delicious- the Somali answer to tired old burrito chains. Their sambusa are on the oniony side, so if you don't like onions, beware. But they have just the right amount of heat so you can eat them with pepper sauce if you want and still not overdo it. Chicken Fantastic is a prefect dish for those who don't like any heat in their food; try the chicken suqaar if (Minnesota-level) heat's your thing. And always, always get the Somali tea- especially in the winter- a delicious tea with cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg that is perfectly sweet and spicy. read more

Food was great! We ordered the lamb gyro Chapati Wrap, Somali Steak Sandwich, and wings--delish!

I first learned about this place when my work ordered catering for an event. The food was amazing. When I hosted my own event, I knew they were my top choice but I didn't realize how popular they were! They worked really hard to fit me in and the customer service from Alex and Danny was phenomenal. When I picked up the food all the team members were really nice and helpful. The food was a huge hit with my guests and family. Will definitely order again and recommend them to anyone and everyone, either for a casual meal or special event! read more

Love this place. Chicken fantastic is amazing. Chicken curry is amazing. Also, has the best French fries and ketchup. I found myself craving the food here even after I moved out of Minneapolis.. and it is always worth the trek. The prices are reasonable, the service is friendly, and they offer unique options for anyone with adventurous taste buds. It's easy to get take out, and they also have some seating inside. Would definitely recommend. read more

Fantastic food! Tried a vegetable sambusa- very good didn't even need the sauce. Excellent fries with the sandwich too. I highly recommend the Somali Steak Sandwich. Simply great. read more

Great place to stop if you are on campus. Especially since there are not a lot of great options on Washington Ave at this end. Great portions and great tasting food. Service is quick even if there is a long line, and always polite. read more

ordered a take out lamb gyro. It came out quickly. tasted great, though I would have liked it better with less salt. The sauce in small container is awesome as well. read more

Afro Deli - lamb gyro - Sandwiches Near Me - Minneapolis, Minnesota

My husband took me here the other day after constantly talking about this place for years. I ordered the veggie sambusa and chicken fantastic. The veggie sambusa was sooo good. It tasted like a lighter version of an indian samosa. The chicken fantastic was good too, but a bit too creamy for me. Tip: get extra hot sauce!!! read more

It's a little tricky to get to. Parking is not great in this neighborhood. We used a private lot across the street that seemed a bit steep vs city parking. It was $1.75 for 38 minutes. I had been meaning to get to this place for a while due to the great reviews, but I now know it's not worth a special trip to the neighborhood. Nor is it even worth seeking out parking if you do happen to be in the neighborhood. When we got inside I noticed it was all college kids dining there. Immediately I was struck by the notion that this may be a factor that is skewing the reviews. Unfortunately, the restaurant didn't do anything to disabuse me of this notion. I think I had a fairly open mind in spite of the relative lack of experience of the customer base. I asked the friendly cashier what the specialty dishes were. He recommended the Chicken Fantastic and the Somali Beef Sandwich. So my girlfriend ordered the former and I ordered the latter. The menu was actually heavier on conventional fare, like cheeseburgers and such, which I saw getting ordered. I didn't see people ordering what had been recommended to us. I had to ask the friendly cashier if someone could wipe down the table, since both open tables were sprinkled with bits of food. He was happy to do so. There is no bathroom here. Nor is there one in the building available for use by Afro Deli customers. I was directed to a Brueggers that was nowhere in sight, or alternatively, to the Topper's Pizza, a couple doors down. So now I have to do the homeless guy move and walk purposefully toward that bathroom, with no hesitation to betray that it isn't a pit stop on my way to order something. I finish my business and walk from the bathroom straight for the door while the Topper's employee waves to me. "So long, sucka!" My sandwich had ok bread, a little chewy and a little toasted. The meat was like someone had taken a leather belt and cut it with a pair of upholstery shears and layered it dutifully between the other ingredients. Super tough and chewy, it would mostly pull out from between the bread rather than give way between my teeth. If this is supposed to somehow represent Somali food culture, I'm having a hard time seeing what the contribution is, other than a lot of pepper in the meat, mostly heat, with a little bit of of pepper fruitiness flavor. It came with a choice of fries or salad, and my amateur move was to go for the salad, even though I had plenty of evidence around me, mostly the aforementioned college kids, indicating that fries were the more common choice. The cukes and even the cherry tomatoes in April were in good shape, but a salad needs to be judged on it's leafy greens. These were rusty, and I chose not to eat them to avoid any risk to my health. Dressing on the side. Normally I like my salad tossed, but this time it was a moot point. It was a stark contrast to the superb salad I had at French Meadow earlier in the day. My GF's chicken dish tasted like something that came out of a cafeteria. It wasn't objectionable, just kind of doughy or something. It wasn't bland per se, because there was indeed some salt in there, but it lacked defining flavors. It tasted like the kind of thing that might be a step up if you lived on campus and didn't drive and only ever got to eat campus food. I'd love to know more about Somali food culture and find a restaurant that can show me. If that's what you are looking for, keep moving. read more

Always love going to Afro Deli. They have a lot of options and really great tasting food. Never had to wait to long and it's fairly affordable. Would definitely recommend. read more

A friend introduced me to this gem and I was so pleased. While parking was a problem (when isn't it in this area), the service was great, process was streamlined, and the lunch was wonderful. I saw another review that made reference to a mediocre ambience. Can't say I expect much when the word 'deli' is in the name of the place. I found the spot friendly and cute. One suggestion would be including descriptions of menu items on the menu board as I'm not as familiar as I'd like to be with this kind of food. All in all a delightful lunch spot. read more

One of my favorite places on campus! The food is delicious, and it's always clean and speedy. They have some great vegetarian options. My personal favorite is the Veggie Fantastic! read more

Afro Deli did so well on West Bank that they upgraded to East Bank location on Washington! I recently tried this place out for the first time because the place is ALWAYS packed with people--students, professors, workers, everyone. It's fast service, pay at the cashier, and no-frills, but that's what's awesome. I got the Chicken Fantastic bowl, and it was delicious! Flavorful and sauce was on point over aromatic rice. Will definitely eat again! Though my heart belongs to Falafel King. read more

Their lentil sambusas are so delicious! I loved their vegetarian platter. Food was fresh and tasty. Sometimes it gets busy at dinner or lunchtime and you might have to wait. It is a self serve restaurant. and has some seating. Parking is an issue. There is no parking in front of restaurant. You must walk or park somewhere else and walk. The food is well worth it! read more

Afro Deli is pretty dang good! As i've specified in other posts, I love Mediterranean food and I have had my fair share of it in my days. While Afro Deli serves mainly African dishes, they do have burgers and gyros. When I came here I got a gyro and it was great! The lamb was juicy and the veggies that came on it were fresh. Their french fries were really good too. I have heard that the African dishes are really good too so next time I go I am going to try one of those. Afro Deli is located close to the University of Minnesota and is easily accessed from the green line. The inside is a little cramped and at times a bit dirty but the food is very good. As I have only had the gyro I can't speak to the African dishes but I plan on going soon to try them out. read more

I've been coming to this location for years. Its been one of my favorite spots. I have the hugest cravings for the Somali steak sandwich. Unfortunately, ever since the new location opened up (downtown St. Paul), I've noticed the food and service at the stadium village location has started to slack. The ingredients have changed for one, the bread is cheaper quality and dry. It's honestly so much bread, that you'll get mouthfuls of it before reaching the actual sandwhich :/ They also charge for extra sauce now, and stopped seasoning the fries. I'm glad there's more locations but it's just super sad this one is falling off. Miss the old Afro deli read more