Featured on triple D, and did not disappoint! You arrive in a container/railroad park and there is a store before you enter the restaurant. It is dimly lit with cool vibes and amazing furniture and decor to set the mood. The service was outstanding, with quick turnaround times on ordering and friendly recommendations. We enjoyed everything we ate. The chicken Swahili bowl was a hit with creamy coconut curry sauce and yummy spices. The plantains were a great sweet addition. The Moroccan inspired lamb was the highlight! The slow roasted meat was seasoned to perfection and had an amazing combination of hearty flavors. I was pleasantly surprised by the sweet drink - Oasis Nile-ade, and would definitely recommend. Overall, this was a fabulous stop for anyone coming to Tallahassee! read more

Delicious food, they gave us a great portion for what we paid! Our egusi stews were wonderful, paired with that soft fufu, but the best surprise was how good the drinks were. We got this hibiscus iced tea which was super refreshing and sweet with hints of cinnamon and ginger, and that lemonade, we had to get 2 glasses of it; it had over 5 different juices mixed together, and that was just fantastic. We would definitely come back. read more

Halisi Africa - Chicken and beef Egusi Stew with fufu - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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The food was great but they really have to tighten up with the timing ! Menu wasn't functioning properly and they had to retake our order after waiting for a while, took around 2 hours to get our food with no one there, definitely some hostility in the air too. Might've just been a bad night, we had the time to kill so it wasn't a huge deal, but definitely not timed for the faint of watch. read more

Halisi Africa - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

First time experiencing African Fusion food and wow, absolutely incredible! My mouth taste buds are still singing! I had the Swahili Chicken Bowl with Chapati bread, and every bite was bursting with flavor and comfort. The spices were perfectly balanced, and the presentation was beautiful. My waitress, Leoni, was such a gem; kind, helpful, and so attentive. I'm already excited to come back and explore more of the menu. What a delicious and welcoming experience! read more

Halisi Africa - Swahili Chicken Bowl with Chapati bread Hibiscus/ginger tea - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Was greeted with a smile as soon as I entered. It took a minute to find the place since it is located somewhat "off the beaten path." But, glad I found it and was able to partake of a delicious lunch! Very small/intimate dining space, but so worth my time. I wanted to try something "light" since this was my first visit. I really had a hard time making a decision, but the server was so very patient and kind. I ended up ordering a salmon wrap with seasoned rice (pick your protein, grain, sauce) along with a side of sweet plantains. For my drink, I ordered the Kenyan tea infused with passionfruit. I am looking forward to what I will try next - perhaps one of the stews! Yum!!! Note, the front part of the restaurant serves a boutique with lovely items for sell. read more

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Beef Egusi stew was awesome!!The oasis Nile lemonade was refreshing and delicious on a hot sunny day! Will be back!

Friendly service They have board games which I enjoyed The food seems fresh to order as there is a wait. We had oxtail stew The Sahara bowl The Swahili bowl A side of seasoned rice Chapati Tried many drinks Everything was delicious All the bowls read more

Food was good. But they were out of more than half of the items on their menu. If you are flexible about your order this is great. But if you have dietary restrictions maybe choose somewhere else. They might not have what you need. read more

Small place that serves food with big flavor. They are located in railroad square, which seems like a very cool, vibrant area, perhaps Tallahassee's Wynwood? So much on the menu that I want to try, and I will be back. . I tried the Zanzi Pizza, which had a foreward vinegar and cucumber tang quickly followed with a smoky heat of the peri peri sauce. The heat lingers in a good way. I had trouble deciding on the Swahili or Sahara bowl. Ended up going with the Swahili, and it was very good. Personal preference, I would have liked a stronger curry flavor. Without asking, they brought me a side of Sahara sauce. I really liked how the lemon and garlic balanced the olives. This might be my choice next time. However, the plantains that come with the Swahili bowl were excellent. Great spot if you are in the mood for something different. I also look forward to coming back to try the stews. Thank you Yelp, off the beaten path and never would have discovered without the app. read more

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Finally made it here! It smells amazing when you walk in, African spices galore. Small quaint place in the railroad district with a little gift shop in the foyer. The food is really tasty, and you eat some of it with your hands like the fufu, but amazingly we had to ask for napkins, and our friends said they had to on a previous visit also, odd! We had the blacker the berry cocktail and the baobab tea and both were delish! To eat, we had the mini egusi app, it comes with fufu which is a dough that you pull apart and dip into the stew. The stew was yummy and a little spicy. I had the mushroom okro stew, very good! It also comes with fufu. The jackfruit Sahara bowl was absolutely delicious! The service was good, but the cook time was long due to short staff in the kitchen during the holidays. Overall, it was great, I would highly recommend for a new and different dining experience! read more

Halisi Africa - Mushroom okro stew with fufu - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Staff were very polite, the teas were great, but the food was lackluster. The okra stew, kisamvu stew, and curried goat were all very bland, to the point that we didn't even eat half our plates. The wraps were good. read more

Truly a hidden gem. We decided to go out on a limb with this one since we were unfamiliar with African food and Guy Fieri had visited. Highly recommend trying the fufu, a doughy food made from cassava and plantain meant to be dipped in stew. We had it on the side with the okra stew with chicken and it was fantastic. Also got the curried goat, which Guy Fieri tried, which had a tremendous depth of flavor that truly shocked me. The bissap tea was also nice and they have a variety of other teas with fruit infusions that sounded interesting as well. Our server was kind, attentive, and knew a lot about the food. She was the only one that seemed to be serving tables, so service was on the slower side but didn't pose too much of an issue. The cultural decor was nice, and although the eating area may seem small at first, once you sit down you feel comforted in a sense by the homeliness of the space. The front of the store is a boutique where you can buy African products such as tea blends and spices. Overall, we had a very pleasant experience. Service is fine, atmosphere is nice, and the food is by far the selling point for me. Would recommend if you are looking for something out of the ordinary or just a good place to eat. read more

I ordered the oxtails, egusi, fufu, and jollof rice. It seems like the dishes had promise but they all fell short on flavor, pretty bland and standard. The wait was also ridiculous, we were the first to order in the restaurant and it took over an hour. The hostess seemed very lost about everything, which made the process take even longer. They also got my order wrong and other people in the establishment, don't see myself going back anytime soon. read more

Ordered the beef egusi stew with fufu, it was my first time experiencing African fusion food and I really enjoyed it and have been recommending it ever since. I first visited in February. They had a berry iced tea and I'm not a big tea person but, I actually enjoyed it. The staff were nice. read more

We found this gem by accident and it was the best accident ever. I had the swahili bowl,it had great flavors. The Bissau tea,passion, fruit, and tropical punch were all good. If you want a little more spice, go with the sankofa bowl good spice but not too strong. Our server was great and tentative. The front part has some nice trinkets and clothes as well. Definitely pop in ,can even order ahead if you are on the go. read more

Halisi Africa - Sawhili bowl - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Loved my first visit to Halisi Africa this week for lunch. Pictured is a Swahili bowl with flounder which is seasoned with coconut curry. The fish was so fresh where all items and spices in the bowl satiated and soothed the palate. The baobab tea with mint and ginger was sweet and delicious. I will be back to try their wraps and stew as well. The restaurant area is small, so it wouldn't work for a very large group. They have a store in front of their shop where they sell clothing and other sundries. read more

Halisi Africa - Baobab tea and Swahili bowl with flounder - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

I tried Halisi Africa for the first time, I got an order of the chicken Swahili and the beef FuFu. Both the dishes were excellent! The man I spoke to on the phone was very helpful in helping me decide what to order. The food was made quickly and the shop inside was filled with beautiful jewelry and apparel. My only drawback was the portions were small. read more

Halisi Africa - Beef Fufu - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Situated in the student artsy district in a cute building, the decor sets the stage nicely. The food not so great. Fusion is always a red flag for us but we gave it a shot anyhow. The pictures on the menu and website are great but do not look like the food that came out. The zanzi pizza was a drab with only the taste of peri peri. The crust was a crust. The okra stew and shrimp egusi were tasteless. Texture was good other than the shrimp were overcooked. I asked for Injera and got what I think were their Injera left over chips. Not good. Me wanted spongy teff injera. That would be the fusion perhaps. The fufu also tasted old and what very gray. If you are used to West African Food and Ethiopian food then prepare to find a less authentic version here. For $55 dollars it was not VFM. We could have made a fuss but honestly there were newbies eating West African Food for the first time and we did'nt want to spoil their excitement. There was good music playing but it was way too loud for the small space and the early 11.00am hour. read more

I was excited to try but was let down. The food options look so good but I didn't enjoy what I ordered. I ordered takeout and it took a while for the food to come back and there was only one other person at the restaurant. The biggest red flag for me was how much I was hearing the microwave being used. I will say the inside looks amazing and they have a lot of good decorations. The waitress at the front is very kind and nice. All in all, great service but not so great food. read more

Halisi Africa - Fufu and chicken stew - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

The location is quaint and intimate. The aroma seeps through the walls onto the street, and draws you in. You can smell earthiness and the different spices, and they smelled amazing. This was my first time and I was impressed. The customer service was great. We were greeted at the entrance and we had drinks while we waited for food and the conversations we had were informative and the staff was engaging. The food was worth the price. It was loaded with flavor and culture. Very good. Try the drinks. Very good selections of wine and teas. Overall, the experience was pleasant and I can't wait to visit again. read more

Halisi Africa - The blacker the berry cocktail - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Fantastic little place. Authentic African food. Recommend the Selassie (spicy, great collard greens) and the Sahara. read more

Halisi Africa - Selassie and Sahara - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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If you love African food or you're simply a person who likes trying different cuisine...You will LOVE Halisi Africa and Mrs. Vanessa, the owner. My dish was the Tajine Chicken Bowl. (Chicken braised with savory spices, garlic, onion, olives and lemon). Delicious! And if you know ANYTHING about African tradition, then you know about JOLLOF RICE! Go try her out and tell me what you think. read more

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The cafe at Halisi Africa deserves so much more attention!! Every time I come here the service is so nice and the food is outstanding. I've never been disappointed! The Baobob tea was recommended to me and I can see why it's a favorite. It's very refreshing and not too sweet, which made it a perfect pairing with the Sankofa rice bowl I ordered. I was warned that the jollof rice would be spicy and they weren't kidding! The stewed chicken in the Sankofa bowl was so soft and all the flavors meshed together perfectly. If you're looking for a new food experience try the Okro Stew with Fufu! It's spicy but so comforting, and I had fun learning to eat a new kind of food. There is also free wifi here so it's a great place to chill and do homework. I wish more ethnic food like this existed in Tallahassee! read more

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Quick stop for a light lunch and I hoped for better because it's the only African place in Tallahassee. Food was not flavorful enough and didn't taste fresh. I'm very familiar with Ethiopian food (from DC) and their injera was not spongy enough and torn apart in pieces too small to be able to scoop up the food as you're supposed to, looked like leftover pieces. Portions were very small for the price. Ordered two different bowls, two appetizers and drinks. I may try them again because I like supporting local and I really like the concept, but the food, portion and prices need to improve. Maybe offer certain dishes only on certain days to ensure freshness and reduce waste, large menus are not always sustainable for small businesses with low traffic. The service and atmosphere were 5 stars, you do need to wait more than usual for your food, which I don't mind if the food would Have been worth it. Not the server's fault, and she was very personable and helpful. Little boutique in front is very cute, loved the music and decor. read more

This is a gem of a restaurant, a rare find in Tallahassee. The food is so flavorful. My wife and I had two different bowls for lunch (the Sankofa and the Swahili bowl) and they were both excellent. You can't find another place like this in Tallahassee. I strongly recommend it. read more

Serving size was small given the cost. Tried the Kenyan goat dish. Meat was very tender and delicious but rice were dry. It could use some more sauce. read more

I stumbled upon this place exploring the Railroad Square art district. This store was absolutely stunning, all of the pieces they sell were beautifully unique. A very kind and friendly salesperson helped me through picking out a piece I was absolutely in love with, and informed me all of the pieces were made by independent designers based in Africa, how freaking cool is that? When I saw the price tag I couldn't believe it was for both pieces of my two-piece set rather than just a single piece! As someone who shops (primarily European) designer fashion from time to time, for something as stunning as this and of this creative quality, I'd expect to pay at least 5X-10X the price they had here. We also bought a cool African spice kit with very unique spices I've never tried before, and we're so excited to try them in our cooking! Definitely looking forward to coming back and purchasing more clothing pieces for my friends and loved ones! This is definitely my favorite clothing spot in Tallahassee now and arguably one of my faves in the world! read more

Halisi Africa - Cafes Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Great ambiance and service, not to mention the delicious food! Had dishes from different areas of Africa and all of them were very flavorful. read more

This place is great great great!! Hidden gem at the back side of Railroad Square, definitely worth being a spot on my Tally restaurant rotation!! The boutique has a bunch of cute stuff and in the cafe they project music videos on the wall, it's such a vibe! We had the Harissa Salmon and Tajine Chicken entrees, with a side of Gomen Ethiopian collar greens, and Tanzanian chapati. Everything was so delicious!! Harissa salmon has a little bit of heat to it but isn't a challenge if you like spicy foods. We also got the Bissap/hibiscus tea with ginger and the Egyptian Guava drinks. The bissap/hibiscus is definitely a fave, and the guava tastes really fresh and not overly-sweet. Next time I'll definitely try one of the coffee roasts, and the East African Pilau. Can't wait to go back and bring a friend with me! read more

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Cute little place with a boutique and diner. We ordered the chicken Swahili bowl and the chicken Edufuu stew. Both were flavored well and food came out rather quickly. We also enjoyed the baobab tea (refreshing fruity taste). Would definitely come again. read more

Excellent food and service. Nice vibe and decor; you feel transported like you're somewhere other than Tally. The boutique has really nice authentic crafts, jewelry, clothing, bags, teas, spices and more. Top notch spot. It was also nice that they offer a variety of African cuisine offerings including Ethiopian, Tanzanian, Egyptian and Kenyan dishes. read more

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First off the smell is amazing walking in , music decor very much interesting, waitress was nice she's a very sweet girl. They offer a variety of games to play while you wait. I ordered the mild okra stew and spicy beef egusi - it wasn't spicy nor mild and I couldn't taste it omg I was very much disappointed. Overall it was a nice experience just wish I could taste what I was smelling. God Bless.. Keep Going up Halisia Okra Stew Beef Egusi read more

I happened to stumble on Halisi searching for women owned restaurants and was drawn to the unique theme and cuisine. The food and service did not disappoint! Can't wait to come back and try more dishes! Highly recommend!! read more

Frist I would love to say the people are nothing but luv" the food is delicious. The setting of the place is fantastic. My first time eating African food was in Africa" Accra Ghana I've visit 2twice. Beautiful as the people Halisi Africa!! I will be returning often... read more

First time visiting an African restaurant, and their service was excellent. Ordered the E. Stew and tasted the authentic ingredients in this dish. Food was, however, flavorful, yet I could tell that it was left over from a few days ago. Fufu was horribly over seasoned! Unless you enjoy stale food and not having an option to sample what they serve, expect to be disappointed. Food portions are rather small in comparison with menu prices. read more

Halisi Africa is a find in Tallahassee. We found the gem on Yelp and glad we visited on the trip to Tallahassee. Let me say that we took a good pilgrimage thru multiple countries in the one visit. The menu has plenty of options of savory dishes. We started with the Egusi stew with Fufu. This dishes had flavors exploding in my mouth. Next we had the Zanzi Pizza with Jackfruit. The flavors took my taste buds to a joyful place. Our main dish was the Mushroom Selassie Bowl. The rich Berbere sauced marched well with the greens. These dishes were filling. The service was exceptional from the time we were greeted at the door thru the end of our dining experience. We will visit again to try other dishes. read more

We stopped for lunch and were treated to a delicious lunch of goat stew on rice special and a beef Swahili bowl. Amazing little restaurant!

Great staff, good food and a unique and fun decor. Check out Afro beats, the mural and other art work. It is fun and unique in Tallahassee. Great vegetarian food. read more

The staff are rude and disrespectful. They take forever to serve you then get upset when you ask them about your food the service is not even one star bad service. The manager was horrible. The servers was horrible. The food was so cold after waiting a whole hour. We still ended up getting cold food. They kept making excuses that they had other tables but they were only two tables come to find out the lady is in the back eating and stuffing her face while we're over here, waiting for our food for her to bring it out cold. So disappointing think twice before you come back here or ever consider going to this place. read more

Food was excellent and the service was great! Check them out. The Jollof rice is highly recommended.