It's hard to find and off the beaten path but it's worth the effort! The food is very tasty, very…read moreaffordable, and the ambiance is no-nonsense, "let's eat and drink tea" kind of place. Baarakallah is set back from the street and tucked inside a corridor that is shared by a Halaal grocery shop. Once you arrive inside, the clientele may observe you but it's fine. The server at the front is approachable and can describe the dishes and is very prompt with service. And the food is spicy yet balanced, savory but not over seasoned. The prices are very affordable for the amount of food you get! We were very happy with the beef over rice and the samosa style pastries. Great food and a unique experience.

Hole in the wall so you know it'll be good! We came in with no real knowledge of Somali foods (but…read moresome of Kenya and Ethiopia), yet the menu was still fairly relatable even without any prior experience. Most importantly, they had the menu of the previous restaurant still up - a Mediterranean place it looked like - and the woman in charge said they could make Somali versions of most of that. So I asked for a chicken sandwich using the Somali stewed chicken and my partner got the chicken stew plate (suqar I think). Both were delightful, and the Somali-styled black tea was deliciously like a chai tea. Highly recommend.

The food is absolutely amazing! I highly recommend this establishment and their delicious menu!read more

Terrible I order off door dash never showed so I went in tit was really filthy in there and they…read moredon't have anything to receive orders from door dash on

I can't say I've had a ton of Somali food, but this definitely made me want to try more of the…read morecuisine. I ordered a beef and chicken sambosa, chicken suqaar and the roasted goat, all of which were very awesome. The goat was so incredibly tender and it came with grits and greens, while the chicken came with fragrant rice. It's hard to pick a favorite. Friendly staff who was kind enough to give me extra green sauce and two bananas. Looking forward to the camel meat next time!

I got the Calooley (cow stomach), which was pretty good (4/5)! I did not think I would like it…read morebecause I do not like tripe (lining of cow stomach), but I was pleasantly surprised! It came with a ton of good rice and also a banana. I came about a year ago and got the goat, sambosas, japati bread, and veggies, and all of it was good! They definitely give you a lot of food! The service is all right (3/5). It is a little slow, and you usually have to ring a bell or wait a bit for someone to come up. The ambiance is not anything special (2/5); you are not missing out on anything doing takeout.

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!

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

Friendly spot with decent Somali food. Stopped in late on a Monday night. Since it was near closing…read moretime, they were out of several items. Ordered the chicken suqqar and my friend got the beef suqqar with ugali. The meats were a little dry and didn't have a lot of flavor. I asked for some of the green sauce that helped, but it would have been nice if the dishes had more flavor on their own. The spinach dish that came with the ugali had a lot of flavor, and the ugali had nice texture. It was a very cozy space and the service was friendly, but I was also overcharged for my dish (didn't notice it until I paid). I wanted to love this place, but found it only OK. I will try it one more time since they didn't have the dishes I wanted to order.

I popped in for a snack to warm up after risking frostbite during the march on Lake St. I wasn't…read morethe only one doing that, and the cashier was graciously offering us free hot tea. She warned us it was sweet so I passed. She seemed to be genuinely enjoying her job, not something I see often in restaurants. I chose a Sambusa and a Mandazi since they looked like they would be easy to stuff in my coat. Mama Safia's looks like a tiny corner place from the outside but seems bigger on the inside. Bright and sunny with well spaced tables. I saw some full orders being served and they looked amazing. It didn't take long to get my order but the march had ended, so I went back to my car and bit into the Sambusa (aka Samosa in other cuisines) as soon as I was out of the wind. Best I've ever had! Lovely flakey crust with a mild curry taste in the chicken filling. The Mandazi is something like a donut but not overly sweet, and aromatic with warming spices. This could actually be a 5 star, but I feel I should return for a full meal experience.

best food and good customer service. i liked the sambusa…read morepasta fish and best rice around the area

Newish Somali spot that has been in the neighborhood for around two years now. They have a number…read moreof outstanding dishes, but my go to is the chicken suqqar and beef steak over rice. They give you a nice portion of thinly cut steak along with a heaping of chicken suqqar over a bed of rice and peppers. A salad, banana, and complimentary drink are also provided in traditional Somali fashion. Dining area available with about ten tables, but it is a counter service spot. People there are super friendly and it is a scratch kitchen, so be prepared to wait a little if it's busy, but the end game will be well worth your time. PS Ignore the review below me. How can one rate a restaurant that they haven't eaten at solely because they don't have a website? Simply absurd.

Amazing food every time. Afro Deli won the small business owner of the year award for good reason…read more Those fries get me out of a slump instantly! I like to switch between getting a grilled chicken wrap and keke chicken most often. The indoor seating is a vibe, I love the mural and colorful furniture! It's a great spot to get a bite with friends, and have a chat. My favorite location is in the heart of the U of M campus, making it easy to take a walk after. This place is phenomenal, definitely worth the visit!

The veggie sambusa is what bumped it up to a 3 star review. It's nice that you can order a single…read moresambusa. The chicken fantastic is, not so fantastic... I was disappointed in my meal here. There is much left to be desired. I found it to be a bland dish that lacked flavor and variety. Veggies were soggy and bland also.

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