This was my second time ordering from Kismayo Kitchen, and it was just as amazing as the first -- if not better! We ordered dinner takeout this time, and everything from the service to the flavors was truly top-notch. We ordered from The Classic Somali Dish menu. I had the Somali Rice with Goat Meat, which was incredibly flavorful. The rice was perfectly seasoned and aromatic, and the goat was tender, well-cooked, and beautifully spiced. My wife had the Coconut Chicken Stew with Rice, and she couldn't stop talking about how delicious and comforting it was -- the coconut sauce added a rich, creamy touch that paired so well with the perfectly cooked chicken and rice. We also shared two beef samosas, which were crispy, savory, and packed with flavorful filling. They were the perfect appetizer to start our meal. The service was friendly, prompt, and welcoming, just like the first time we visited. Even though we ordered takeout, the staff made us feel valued and took great care to package everything carefully to keep it fresh and warm. The ambiance of Kismayo Kitchen is always warm and inviting. Even though we didn't dine in this time, you can still feel the vibrant, welcoming atmosphere when you walk up to place your order. Kismayo Kitchen continues to impress with its authentic flavors, generous portions, and wonderful service. It's quickly becoming one of our favorite go-to spots for Somali cuisine. read more

See all

Shit food, shit restaurant, definitely would never order again, wish I'd never ordered. Truly awful

Small place, best for takeout. I had the coconut chicken with rice and it was delicious! Decent portions. Personally, I'd like more spice heat. Nothing fancy and reasonable prices. read more

What a super friendly owner! We placed an order for pick up. We were greeted with tons of warmth and free chai samples ( so yummy!) even while the owner was chatting up some regulars. The food was good too! Coconut curry had tons of white meat chicken and good veg. Beef plate was flavorful and not fatty. If you want things spicy, ask for it. If you need mild ( like I do) it's just right as is ( watch the dressing-- spicy! ) read more

This is the best food ever, try their Somali Rice and Chicken. It is perfectly cool with a wonderful mild spicy flavor. Their customer service is the best, they help you out choose your meal and go as far as giving you water. a MUST check it out if you Burlington! read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Somali Rice and chicken - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

I go here all the time. The owner is great and the food is always fresh. Recommendations: goat combo with pasta and a side of samosas read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Classic Somali rice with goat meat - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Delicious food -- I got the veggie coconut stew with rice -- already ready, served really quick and with flair! The potato salad I didn't love so much, it was just like any American potato salad I'd ever had, and I wish I'd known that because I wouldn't've gotten it -- but the yumminess of the other dish more than made up for it! It was creamy and flavourful, filling but not too heavy. The man who took my order was very nice! It was especially exciting for me because I'd never had Somali food before -- and it did not disappoint! I'm a fan now! The music playing was pretty cool, too .... The parking was plentiful, as well, with a parking lot that was easy to get in and out of and a sign that was easy to see! read more

The owner is exceptionally friendly. He offers everyone a free samosa on their first visit and is always excited to strike up a conversation if you're interested. I've had the goat and beef. I prefered the beef but both were delicious and spicy. I really liked the hot tea as well. There is very limited seating space, so I recommend take out. I cannot emphasize enough how friendly the staff are, and how delicious the food is. read more

Amazing food, amazing people. The chicken and rice, beef and spaghetti, THE BEEF SAMOSA, THE TEA, they were all 10/10 and well worth a long drive! Do yourself a favor and come experience this place ASAP! read more

WOW! This spot is small but has a big impact with flavor and food overall. A smaller menu, but enough that everyone would like something on it. The staff here and what I assume might be the owner/manager is SO nice and attentive to guests - it was an awesome experience. Stopped in here with my parents after not finding any good options for a Wednesday down in downtown Winooski and I think they will be making return visits. This will be a revisit for sure so definitely give it a shot!!! My pictures would've been better but I'm fat fat and had to start eating read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Classic Somali rice with chicken - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

See all

You have to go to Kismayo! The freshest ingredients ever! Everything tasted amazing and had out of this world flavor. We ordered a chicken and rice plate with salad and sambusas (samosas). I took a bite into the sambusa (samosa) and was shocked how dynamic the flavor was with perfectly seasoned beef and a kick of cilantro. It was all topped off with the most delicious chai Tea I have ever had! The best part was the staff was super friendly and excited to share their food with us They even do catering! All this and the portions were huge, fresh, healthy and affordable! Run don't walk to Kismayo! read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Rice plate with salad, chicken and samosa - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

This is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Burlington, VT! To sum it up, you get the most flavor for the best prices! We ate two samosas which were unreal good, followed by splitting a chicken wrap and the steak rice plate. Everything was delicious... but the sauces are what puts the food over the top delicious! If it weren't enough already, the service is extremely kind and caring. My wife is allergic to nuts and he took the time to ensure we knew everything we could order. Can't wait to eat here more! read more

A small spot with BIG taste. I first tried Kismayo Kitchen a few months ago and was hooked instantly. I'm writing this review after my 4th or 5th time going and have been promoting this spot to everyone I can. They are doing it right, small menu but everything they serve is packed with flavors backed up by a hefty serving size. My go-to is the Classic Somali Rice with the Cheesesteak. I often throw in the Somosas as well, all for a great price. Today was also my first time popping into the restaurant to do a pickup and all of the employees were incredibly nice. Asked me how my day was going, where I was from, and thanked me for wing a reoccurring customer. All around amazing food, great serving sizes, great prices and amazing hospitality. Do yourself a favor and please stop in for some great food! read more

I'm a huge foodie who never posts reviews out of laziness, but Kismayo Kitchen deserves more stars than I can give. I'll list the reasons why you NEED to visit: (1) Very Tasty Food, (2) Great Prices, (3) Cute Atmosphere, and (4) truly some of the best and warmest Service I've ever had! I was just doing a road trip through New England and finding Somali food in Burlington was truly a must-try. Lunch here was honestly something I won't ever forget. read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Pasta with beef - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

See all

If I could give more stars I absolutely would! The food is extremely good, and I love the goat dish a lot. The tea is the best ever and you have to try it! What makes this a great spot, on-top of the food, is how nice the staff is. Omar feels like a long-time friend with how friendly and caring he is. I love overhearing his interactions with customers, as he really cares about them. read more

Definitely a unique taste to the Burlington area with this African/Somalian restaurant. The samosas were pretty good. The chicken and rice was alright - the meat had a weird smell to it so I wasn't able to finish it. Overall it was not bad and the prices are low so it's worth trying if you're in the mood for something exotic. read more

Uber eats menu options are very limited. Food delivered quickly but they ignored all my added notes. Therefore I had to eat spaghetti and curry rice without utensils.... Food was fine but not very flavorful. Cheesesteak tasted like bread, meat and cheese. I think they forgot to add whatever twist is supposed to be added, not to mention the mayo I asked for. There was no kick or zing in the chicken pasta or coconut curry, cooked well but I was expecting more than just mellow tomato/coconut sauces. The prices are reasonable but don't expect to be blown away. read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Cheesesteak. Not bad. Needs sauce. - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Amazing service, fantastic food. You can't go wrong with anything you try. We tried the coconut chicken curry, the beef gyro, the samosa, and the chicken and rice and goat and rice. Everything was so good. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something flavorful while you're in Vermont. Oh, big plus, the food is HALAL!! read more

incredibly friendly staff, good value, and Unique foods that are jam packed with flavor. I got this goat over rice for dinner, delicious! The meat was full of flavor and spiced beautifully. The portion of meat to rice could have been better but that is my only complaint. I cant say enough nice things about the staff, so friendly and constantly checking in to make sure the food is good! Total hidden gem in BTV read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Goat over Somali rice - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Food was incredible!! ordered chicken and rice plate and chicken wrap. The hospitality was even better. We presume it was an owner that greeted us and was super gracious. Would recommend to anyone. We can't wait to come back!! read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Kismayo Chicken Wrap - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

See all

Oh my God, what an incredible litte restaurant tucked away in Vermont! We came here on a day of a spontaneous trip to Burlington, and found this place on yelp. Zero expectations going in other than hope for a warm meal, but instead we got utterly blown away!!! The food was so amazing i forgot all about trying to find Bernie!!! We had coconut stew with rice, this was my favorite, pure comfort food. We also enjoyed the noodle dish with meat reminded me of my south Asian flavors and spices. The meat was tender and delicious, and also halal! The samosas were absolutely incredible as well. We jived with the laid back vibe of the place, and the Jamaican sodas were fun to try too. The whole time we were there, customers kept coming like a revolving door of popularity--guess they couldn't keep their cooking talent a secret!! Best of all was the serviceeee. The brother that mans the counter was so incredibly kind and welcoming, I felt like he was my own brother. Truly a piece of home away from home. If you're in Burlington and looking for some food that cannot disappoint, come eat at Kismayo. I can't wait to make a trip there again. read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Coconut curry with rice, meat with noodles - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

See all

Absolutely love this place. Everything is so fresh and flavorful. My only wish is that they had more menu choices as the selection is very small. Despite that everything they have is delicious. read more

Really great guest service and fabulous food! The Somali Tea is to die for! The chicken and rice is also extremely delicious and the chicken samosas are super good as well! I totally recommend! read more

See all

Soooo delicious! My boyfriend and I both agree that we could eat a dozen of the beef Samosas each. Large portions, and well priced. Customer service was excellent, very warm and inviting atmosphere. I got the beef rice platter, and it was cooked and seasoned wonderfully. I'm a bit picky about meat, and devoured every bite. Will definitely be coming back. Great spot for an easygoing, inexpensive lunch. read more

Haven't felt compelled to write a review for a really long time but Kismayo's great! Overall great vibes from the people working there and was surprised by how tasty the food was. This is my new go-to for take out! read more

First time trying samalyan food and it did not disappoint us! Omar the owner gave us free cheesesteak which is probably the best philly cheesesteak I've ever had! Ordered goat over rice, chicken curry and samosas! All amazing. Thanks to our concierge from hilton who told us this place. read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Outside - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Yummy, cheap, delicious Somalian food. Owners are so sweet and working so hard to feed the constantly busy stream of people come on. Service was awesome, they were constantly checking in (even though it was so busy)! I loved the Philly cheesesteak and samosas! read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Coconut Chicken Stew Combo and Beef Samosa - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

This food is absolutely amazing. I got the Somali classic combo with the beef & rice and the beef samosa. All I can say is wow. The seasoning on the food was perfectly balanced and the portions are great. I will definitely be eating here again, highly recommend. read more

I had an errand in the area and was hoping to find food to bring home so I could get a night off from cooking. I found this place on the yelp app and decided to try it based on the reviews. The owner was very warm and welcoming and gave me a glass of phenomenal chai-like tea to drink while he put my order together. Back at home we devoured the food. Really flavorful chicken with rice that had such thoughtful spices in it, you know the person who made it loves to feed people. Stewed beef over al dente pasta that would have made an Italian nonna proud. Excellent kale (with other chopped cruciferous veg) salad. The menu is tiny, the place unassuming, the owner was out of some of the items. Still, I was so glad I stopped and ended up with such a delicious and warming meal (with leftovers for today's lunch). Will definitely order from them again. read more

Great authentic food - got the Somali rice with chicken and the coconut chicken stew. Appreciate the small touches like the guy at the counter bringing us hot sauce before we had to ask. Also highly recommend the Somali tea - hot and spicy is a great combo for a snowy evening. read more

boyfriend and I stopped here for a late bite just before closing - food was delicious and was blown away by their rice and chai. store owner was generous and stayed open late for us. very warm all around and will be back when in the area next. 5 stars!! read more

Stopped here on a whim and was super impressed. Kind service and great food. Highly recommended read more

Ate my first meal recently. Love it! We had the Coconut Chicken Stew with Rice. Very delicate and subtle tastes. And the Somali chicken and rice. Super. The spicing was very mild. You might want it hotter. The Somali tea was delicious! Honey, milk, tea, cinnamon, kardamon. And the best part..I can walk to it. read more

I had a samosa, a rich, perfectly textured chicken coconut stew with maybe the most fragrant and delicious rice I've ever tasted, a magnificent fried bread of some sort that had some magical cardamom in it and a very satisfying doughy-to-crusty ratio, and a lil bit of potato salad as a sort of amuse-bouche: the bit of carrot provided freshness and the house spices brought the whole thing to new heights. Also there's a cardamom and cinnamon tea that, while a bit sweet, was deeply seductive. Omar's enthusiasm for the food and his welcoming, gregarious style perfectly match the unpretentious decor and polished a remarkably efficient service, making us feel both comfortable as diners and valued as customers. So excited to recommend this place to friends, and even more excited to return soon and eat my way through the rest of the menu. Do yourself a favor and visit while you can still get in without a reservation. read more

Best meal we had in Burlington. Every dish was amazing. Very flavorful and delicious plus cheap to boot. Friendly service too.

Wow! Wow! Wow! You literally CANNOT beat the service at Kismayo. Everyone there is so friendly and accommodating. On top of that, the food is incredible! And if top-notch service and delicious food isn't enough for you, don't worry, the value for your dollar is unmatched! You get a ton of good food without breaking the bank. Kismayo is my new go-to spot in Burlington. Give it a shot, you'll be glad you did. read more

This place is amazing! The owner is extremely warm and hospitable. He recommended us getting the combination of chicken and beef samosas so that we can try them out. They are both amazing by the way. I got the rice platter with goat meat. The rice was beautifully seasoned and to die for. The goat meat was also seasoned beautifully. The Somali tea was delicious. I am officially a fan. Please check out and support this place if you can. read more

Kismayo Kitchen - Somali Rice Combo - Somali Near Me - Burlington, Vermont

Absolutely amazing food and service! We ordered almost everything on the menu and every dish was delicious! Omar is a great host.

Friendly staff, great service, not a lot of choices on the menu but food is flavorful and fresh, I would come back!

The food is unlike the typical fare and provides a unique experience. And the staff is incredibly accommodating.