Wow...this place completely exceeded my expectations. Flavors From Afar is unlike any restaurant I've been to in Los Angeles. Every dish represents a different culture, and you can truly feel the intention behind every bite. I ordered the entire vegan menu and loved everything; from the Somali Sambusas and Haitian Pikliz with sweet plantains to the Egyptian Koshari, Three Sisters Soup and Salad, Ethiopian Veg Combo, and the Berbere fries; which were seriously addictive. I also have to give a huge shoutout to Elyse. She was absolutely amazing throughout our visit. As a vegan, I really appreciated how attentive she was in making sure every item was prepared correctly and answering all of our questions. She made us feel genuinely welcomed, and her recommendations were spot on. Between the outstanding service, meaningful mission, and incredible food, this has easily become one of my favorite vegan-friendly restaurants in LA. Highly recommend! read more

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3.5, please take this review with a grain of salt! we didnt get to eat our pick up order almost hours later, so that's probably changed the taste and texture of the dishes. we ordered the haitian short rib, somali chicken, navajo fry bread, somali lamb sambusa, three sisters soup, and cherokee dumplings. my favorite was somali lamb sambusa, it didnt feel gamy to me, and even when we took long to eat it, that wrap of the sambusa was still crunchy, the meat was so delicious. didnt need anything else for it imo. very good, do try this! the flavors were nice, though the side veggies with the short rib was too sour we just had to set it aside because it was overpowering the meat and everything else. i did like the short rib itself and the rice and beans but we felt that there wasn't enough meat. and also for the three sisters soup, we felt that it lacked a bit flavor and tasted a bit plain. the dumplings dessert reminded me of gnocchi, there wasn't anything inside the dough but it does come in their own grape reduction which was very nice and their own ice cream (also very yummy). besides those, everything else was pretty good. we didnt get to enjoy it as much as we wouldve because the fry bread and the somali chicken all got soggy by the time we got to eat- but that's completely on us. we still did like the flavors. the staff were so kind and patient with us too and even offered to remake them since we kept getting delayed. i loved the concept, i love what it stands for, wish i couldve just eaten in person to taste the food as it should and the place had such a warm and nice homey environment. read more

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Amazing concept and the food matches! Their menu rotates, but can confirm everything we tried was so delicious. I was a big fan of the halloumi salad and bison fry bread! There were so many unique dishes on the menu that I wish I could've tried--I'll have to return and see what's new that they're serving! The staff are lovely and you can tell how deeply everyone cares about their mission. Highly recommend you check this place out, you'll be leaving full and comforted by the experience! read more

So glad I finally tried this place. Part of price supports refugees chefs. Playlist was awesome, service was top notch and food tastes amazing with all the great spices and flavors. read more

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Incredible food and service, lovely ambiance! The sambusas were so good we forgot to take a picture until there was only one left. I had the Somali chicken rice bowl which was delicious and my friend had the tilapia, which she also said was excellent. We'll definitely be back! read more

Flavors From Afar - Somali Sambusa Veg - Somali Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Very cute spot with full wine bar as you walk in. We visited during golden hour and you should too cause it really set off the aesthetics and vibe in the restaurant. The food was good, but I enjoyed my drink the most. This is a cute spot to work from during the day as well. read more

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Flavors From Afar deserves all of the accolades in my humble opinion. There is, first of all, no other restaurant like it in Los Angeles. Operating as a social enterprise, this Michelin recognized establishment highlights global traditional recipes made by refugee and indigenous chefs. Where else could you find this in LA? Not only that, the owner is herself an Ethiopian refugee, Chef Meymuna Hussein-Cattan, who I had the pleasure of meeting upon my arrival to the restaurant. I was so fortunate to have met her in person to thank her personally for conceptualizing such an inspirational idea in the competitive culinary landscape of LA where may restaurants are struggling for survival daily. What got me from the website was a statement that to me distinctively defined the Los Angeles I know: migration is beautiful. For those of you who drink alcohol, they also have a wine list of African and Indigenous wines that add to the well-known honey wine in Little Ethiopia and can compliment the Kenyan Coconut Tilapia to the Navajo Bison. I'm so grateful that a friend of mine mentioned that she wanted to eat here for her birthday which put this place on my radar initially. I followed-up with my own reservation with friends and savored every bite of every order we tried from the Haitian Pikliz, which was the perfect appetizer to the Somali Lamb Sambusas, the Somali Rice Bowl and the Kenyan Coconut Tilapia. It was perfect for 3 people to share. The venue was spacious and I loved the added cultural details and open space. I was lucky to find a parking spot in the back and my friends also scored on parking spots in the neighborhood. I highly recommend making a reservation to secure your table and can't wait to return to try additional items on their menu. Thank you Flavors from Afar and Chef Meymuna Huseein-Cattan for bringing this beautiful concept to LA. I can't wait to share it with more people to enjoy what you're all about. read more

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It was date night and I booked dinner reservations. We arrived 15 minutes early since there was plenty of street parking in front of the restaurant. We were greeted, then seated right away. It is a lovely, inviting space. We ordered the Three Sisters salad, Navajo Fry Bread, Haitian Short Ribs, Haitian Pikliz and the Cherokee Grape Dumpling for dessert. All the dishes were packed with flavor and seasoned well! My favorites were the Haitian Pikliz and the Three Sisters Salad. The pickling on the veggies for both dishes was so appetizing. The fried plantain was a great vessel with a crunchy texture. My husband loved the Haitian Short Ribs! Our meal was satisfying! I subtracted one star because one of the wait staff was just standing behind the counter while another was running around, handling everything! From our point of view, our server took orders, ran the food, connected with guests, did everything. The other staff member couldn't even ring us up when we were in line to pay because she didn't know our order. So she asked our server to ring us up while he was preparing drinks. We were confused as to why she couldn't just find our ticket and go from there since that is exactly what our server did. It sucked to see they were slammed, and only one of them seemed stressed. Maybe she was new or training? I don't, it was a bummer to witness it happen. Our server wished us well and thanked us for our visit, he was best! We highly recommend and will back! read more

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Food 5/5: wow. This is my first time trying Haitian food and I was truly blown away. We ordered Sambusa, chicken rice bowl, Tilapia, and Cherokee Grape dumplings. Wooooooooo my gawd. Every single dish was AMAZING. All the dish were very savory and felt like home. Not too sweet, perfect amount of sweetness. We will for sure be back for lunch menu as well. Service 5/5 Ambiance 5/5: good date vibes, dim lights, chill and modern. Highly recommend it! read more

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I've been here several times but this was my first time coming to co-work. Every time I've been here it's been a wonderful experience. So much light, open flooring and spacious with a good amount of plugs for working. Staff was friendly and attentive. I could LIVE in those lamb sambosas!! Add them to my plate and I'll never share, its that serious lol. The side of fries can definitely be shared so keep that mind. Parking can be tricky so be prepared to walk or circle the block and anytime of day. read more

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5 out of 5 in every aspect From the hospitality and warm welcome, to the flavor of the food and cleanliness of the restaurant. Ron was super helpful in answering all the questions I had. The Mediterranean lentil soup was soooo goood! The fries had a nice spicy kick to them but that lemon garlic vegan mayo really brought it together! The ketchup was good too but the winner without a doubt is the lemon garlic mayo. The chicken and waffles was great, next time I would just ask for extra pickled onions/jalapeño, they were kinda lemony and really brought the flavors all together on the fried chicken! read more

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Absolutely delicious food! It was hard to decide but you can definitely share plates. We went with the Three Sisters soup, Halloumi salad, Somali Chicken rice bowl, and Ethiopian Berbere fries. I had Palestinian-American wine. We devoured it all. The decor was minimalist and nice. Bonus- it was a LIBRE party night so amazing DJs set the mood. I plan to go back! read more

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DELICIOUS! We came for my partners birthday and everything was fabulous. We had sambusas, meat plate, halloumi salad (so good) and bison fry bread. The juice was also so good and my partner loved the honey wine. the staff is beyond amazing, Elise was so helpful sweet and welcoming, the space is beautiful and we're so excited to come back and try new dishes! read more

Flavors From Afar - Seasonal halloumi salad - Somali Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place is about 11 minutes walking from me. The food and atmosphere is top tier. Right along with the service. I'm vegan so I tried their Ethiopian plate and a few other dishes. When I tell you everything was DELICIOUS!!! Elyse was such a sweetheart. I'll definitely be back. If you want authentic indigenous food, you need to try them! They also give back! The ketchup is even home made. Omg the fries! The salad. It's all so good!!! read more

Everything about this business is amazing. But bottom line is that the food is just as good as the staff, services, and the mission. I've been here a handful of times for special events and, combined with the amazing service provided by the staff, the amazing vibes of the space itself, it's always an amazing experience. I had a few different plates on my most recent visit, the Ethiopian Berebere Fries, Mediterranean Lentil Soup, Haitian Pikliz & Plantains, and Somali Chicken and Rice plate. They were all absolutely incredible. You should know that this place is a social enterprise and they work with refugees and displaced persons skilled in cooking, teaching them how to run a culinary business. So the food is as authentic as it gets and the quality is absolutely amazing. The sales of the food go to round the restaurant and find the programs for their organization, the TIYYA Foundation. PLEASE visit, try their food, and support their work! read more

Flavors From Afar - Mediterranean Lentil Soup - Somali Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I went to an event here and only had a glass of wine which was from Guinea. It was lovely. The atmosphere here is 10/10! I read the whole menu and can't wait to come back and try the food. read more

The best multicultural ethnic food and a WeHo staple for cultural events. From immigrant featured chefs, music & game nights, and many more community events. Literally feels like home and a sense of belonging. This is where I come when I want to fill my cup. read more

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We have enjoyed several meals here, from our introduction to a rotating global menu in their Little Ethiopia location, to more recent events, including a 5-course Haitian dinner and a Native American feature. The space is warm, inviting, beautiful, and cohesively designed. What charmed me the most was commitment to showcasing thoughtful chefs who are immigrant and indigenous as the pathway to promoting sharing, openness, and care for community. read more

This gem is an oasis in the city. The quiet, stylish ambiance is a welcome contrast to the bustle of Hollywood blvd just outside. The spacious, calming energy of the restaurant makes it a perfect place to relax and enjoy some tasty international cuisine from around the world. I've enjoyed authentic Egyptian, Somali, Indian, Ethiopian and Tunisian dishes here. What makes them authentic is that they work with indigenous chefs from around the world who now call LA home. This spot is a social enterprise created to support refugee chefs who spread love through their culinary talents. Every dish and beverage has a story and unique flavor that sets this place apart. Eating here feels good, and tastes amazing! read more

Flavors From Afar - dining area - Somali Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Perhaps on of the best meals I've had anywhere in the world on my travels. I will absolutely come back here whenever I'm in LA and I'm recommending it to all of my friends. I would recommend trying the custom in-house non-Alc drinks, and a selection of small items (each from a different African nation) There's a reason the won a Michelin star. Location wise - perfect. We went after the Hollywood sign hike and before an Observatory visit the location is quick stop in with lots of street parking on the front. read more

Excellent and unique! I'm usually not a cabbage fan, but the sambusas with the cabbage filling were excellent! The fries were good, and the grape dumpling dessert was a delight. I like the fried chicken and waffles dish, but it wasn't anything out of the ordinary. I enjoyed the buffalo flatbread; I wouldn't necessarily choose to order it again because I would probably look at the rice or lamb dishes instead, but it was a good dish. The other dishes look intriguing, and the service was friendly and efficient. I look forward to coming back. I hope this place gets all the support in the world. It deserves to get rewarded for doing something not many other places do. read more

Very nice ambiance with friendly staff. I had the Egyptian bashari which had lentils, chicken peas, rice, and something else in a tomato sauce. It was okay but I have the problem I don't like tomato sauce that much. My fault for ordering. I also had the Somali sambusas made from lamb. Those were great but it wasn't much food for the price. Also got the Egyptian Bissap drink. That was terrific. Not sure how much I will recommend the food but I love trying new dishes so I will be back. read more

Great Food, Service, Ambiance. ...is amazing each time I patronize this business. I wish the parking was better. "Kudos" to All The Staff.. read more

Good food! Great service! I really liked the Navajo Bison frybread. I would definitely go there again.

A post-Christmas treat, we went to Flavors From Afar because I had heard Evan Kleiman interviewing the owner on her KCRW radio show, Good Food. As a multicultural family, I really liked that their mission is to help refugees settling into this country--refugees who are chefs. The ambience was welcoming, helpful input from our waiter on our wine selection, and the food--what an adventure. There were ten of us (children-grandma), and we ended up sharing our menu choices with each other. I whole heartedly recommend Flavors From Afar! read more

Such an amazing cultural experience - beautiful ambience, unforgettable food & supporting a great cause.

excellent food and atmosphere- check it out! Great new place to have in the neighborhood. read more

Flavors from Afar is a gem! The space is absolutely gorgeous and the staff were friendly and helpful. I had the kosharyand the samosas, and both were absolutely divine. The koshary was comforting and perfectly seasoned, probably the best I have ever had! And I've eaten koshary in Egypt and at friends homes. The samosas were crispy and bursting with flavor and the cilantro sauce was FIRE!!! You can really taste the care and authenticity in every bite. Beyond the amazing food, I love that this place celebrates global chefs and supports refugees through the Tiyya Foundation. Delicious food with heart and purpose -- can't wait to come back and try more! read more

I've been a long-time fan of this place. Their dishes are on the saltier side but always so flavorful. I haven't been back for a little while and this time I returned to order food to take out. My friend and I love their lamb shank so I picked one up for him on my way home one night out in LA. Not only was I surprised at the price increase a huge jump from $20 to $28 (yeah, I understand the cost of living went up, etc) but there's a MANDATORY 20% tip for takeout orders too. The staff was very courteous so I didn't mind until we got home and saw that the portion has shrunken. My friend opened up the box and had thought I brought home my leftovers for him. The "EGYPTIAN GRAVY SMOTHERED LAMB SHANK" was not only one lamb shank short compared from my past order but there was no gravy at all. There use to be 2 lamb shanks and now there is only 1. (I did read on the menu additional lamb shank is $10 but never crossed my mind that they took one away from the plate.) For about $35 for a half-full takeout entree, it's not an affordable place to dine anymore. I'm all for supporting small businesses and especially small business like theirs that supports a good deed, but who's going to support the customer? sadly it's not affordable anymore. Street parking only. Incredibly hard and very inconvenient to find a spot. read more

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The main idea behind this restaurant is not only incredibly humanitarian but also really interesting. Every week they feature a different chef refugee cooking the typical dishes from their country and culture. Something definitely to behold and experience. My group and I had the pleasure of being taken care of by Sonia, a chef from Guatemala. We had chicken, the best chow mein I've ever had (Guatemalan style) mashed potatoes, plantains, amongst other things. The ambiance is also great. The whole restaurant has a "dining room of my favorite aunt's house" vibe. It is welcoming and cozy, yet still well-lit and professional. The staff was courteous and excellent. Taking care of a 15 of us with ease. They even gave us takeout boxes for the rest of the food. 10/10. Would eat there again. read more

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I have been wanting to try this spot for a long time because it is right by my barber. Unfortunately he canceled on me today so it was the perfect reason to pop in for lunch! Yared was amazing and super helpful with my dietary restrictions. He was also very knowledgable about history which was fun! The venue is beautiful we ended up staying and getting some work done. I would definitley recommend this spot if you're craving comforting flavorful cuisine in a a chill environment. read more

Oh wow oh wow, the food here is soooooo delicious. Got the Haitian spear ribs and the red snapper fish with collard greens, red beans and rice. Ohh those flavors were hitting every level of flavor. The service we received was amazing. She was very attentive and made sure we were taken care of. And I loved the ambiance of the place. The art that was on the walls was beautiful and the place gave a cozy and intimate feel. 5 star and definitely recommend. read more

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Flavors from Afar in Little Ethiopia is my jam. The concept here is really cool. The chefs are refugees who have brought recipes and culinary traditions from their homelands. They have an amazing classic menu from around seven different cultures. They also have a rotating menu from other global traditions. If you bring enough people, you can order an international feast! Kenyan Pan Fried Coconut Tilapia: The tilapia is large and plump and fried with spices until slightly crispy on the edges. The fish is firm, moist, and juicy. The filet is smothered with a thick orange gravy of coconut milk, tomato, onion, and garlic. The broken grain rice is brothy. On the side are soft and sweet stewed cabbages and tomatoes. In the corner, there is a round ball of ugali. The ugali is like polenta, but much grittier, and it soaks up all the flavors. Dining Area: It's a small space with half a dozen tables. I think it's possible to make a reservation here. Parking: There's metered parking on the side streets. read more

Flavors From Afar - Kenyan Pan Fried Coconut Tilapia - Somali Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Wow this place is incredible! The food is delicious and the drinks are perfect. Even more impressive is the ambiance and decor. You can tell every element was intentionally chosen to bring the vibes together. I can't wait to come back! read more

Flavors From Afar - Somali Near Me - Los Angeles, California

So so sooooo good we had the chicken Somali rice bowl, Haitian ribs, and lamb sambusa and each was beyond flavorful!!! The new location is such a glow up too - love to see this restaurant continue to grow and support refugee chefs! Love that it feels like a cozy lounge. Me and my husband went after a long day of moving and it was the perfect meal and vibe. And the service - omg - the absolute best. So sweet and attentive. Can't wait to come back and even chill in the day with some lemonade or a tea. read more

This restaurant needs training, badly! 1st, the appetizer came after the food after we told the waitress how hungry we were! The waitress was confused as to where to seat us after we told her we had a reservation. No decor whatsoever! No artwork, it looked like they were not ready to open! No ambiance! Food was flavorless. we order 3 Sisters Soup and Salad. I have never tasted anything so bland. We couldn't eat our food after two bites. We devoured the fries when they showed up. The waitress had some wild hair ad a shirt that was too small. Not a good experience at all! The smallest water glasses I have ever seen. No vibe at all. I will never go back and am so mad that I spent my hard earned money there. No music from afar, only regular R&B. read more

I needed a place to take a lunch meeting in Hollywood and I stumbled upon Flavors From Afar after seeing restaurants near me. LET ME TELL YOU, not only were there outlets a plenty - but the food was BOMB. I got the lamb sambusa bc I was trying to be dainty and not eat too much but I could have literally eaten 87 of those things. I washed it down with a hibiscus drink which was SO refreshing. They do a coworking membership too I think. Not sure what it comes with but honestly it's the perfect place to work with good prices and a fire vibe. Not to mention everyone was so friendly and kind. DEFINITELY coming back with my laptop!!! read more

Flavors From Afar - Lamb sambusa - Somali Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I can't believe I haven't done a review of this place yet. They do a rotating menu that features different cuisines on a monthly basis. I think the first time I went, they had Fiijian food and the second time they had Haitian. Their classic menu includes Somalian, Egyptian, Kenyan. They hire immigrant chefs that highlight their cultures which I thought was pretty dang cool. I got their pita chips with Baba ghanoush. They deep fry their pita bread but also give unfried pita bread if you prefer. But their pita chips are SO GOOD. it's like... crunchy but also chewy. kind of the best of both worlds. I got a lamb stew one time. or was it goat... It came with rice and a giant lamb shank or something. Bone was still on... kinda cut open and the marrow was still inside! Hell yeah. It was full of flavor. Lots of spice to it but not spice-y. I'm thinking maybe it was the Egyptian smothered lamb shank now that I think about it. I remember also trying some of the sambusas. Deep fried triangles filled with spiced, amazing, piping hot goodness. I love that they allow you to mix and match whatever filling you want... unlike other restaurants that make you order them in batches of 3 or whatever. Service was great. We had THE Christian Davis serving us, bringing us all the plates, describing what everything was and how it was made. An extremely pleasant experience... all for a great cause. read more

Went with friends for a late lunch. It's a cozy space with beautiful artwork throughout. Because of the time of day, parking was not an issue. There was ample street metered parking close by. I had the vegetable samosas which were really good. My friends ordered a salad and steamed greens. We ate family style so that we were able to sample. This restaurant is a modern take on Ethiopian food (utensil place settings). The food was delicious and the staff provided great service. read more

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We tried Flavors From Afar on the tail end of a road trip where we spent the last few nights in LA. This restaurant was listed as a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin app: great food at a great price point and those listings in the app have been gold in the past. Another hit. I love the mission of this restaurant: they work with refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants to highlight recipes from their native countries. I had the West African Bissap to drink and my wife had the Tropical Tamarindo. These non-alcoholic beverages were exploding with flavor, some of the best juice-based drinks I've ever had. We started with Somali sambusas and Haitian Pikliz, which are twice fried plantains with a tangy blend of picked cabbage+peppers. Both were amazing. For the main, we split the Somali rice bowl which was a beautifully spiced rice (turmeric, warming spices) with a quarter chicken (drumstick, thigh). The chicken was so tender and nicely spiced. We ate every grain of rice and piece of meat. Everything on the menu looked amazing and I wish I was in LA longer so that we could try all of the things. Our server Jonathan was amazing, really warm and inviting. Parking in the neighborhood was a bit tight but the restaurant has free parking out back. Highly recommend this place! read more

Flavors From Afar - Sambusas and pikliz - Somali Near Me - Los Angeles, California