Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Swahili Spot

    4.7 (34 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Order Swahili Spot Takeout or Delivery

    Services - Swahili Spot

    Vegetarian catering

    Swahili Spot Photos

    SWAHILI SPOT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Swahili Spot

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Love this place- went to catered event where they taught how to make chapati. Wonderful chefs and delicious food!
    Heidi G.

    Wonderful authentic healthy and delicious! My favorite was the mandazi. The chapati was flaky and tasty!

    a bowl of rice, beans, and greens
    T S.

    Food is solid. Enjoyed the chicken curry bowl. I only wish it had more greens and less chicken lol Customer service so nice! I got a complimentary sweet fried bread thing which was also delicious! I already inhaled that but now that I think about it, it would have been perfect dipped in chai tea.

    a variety of food items in a styrofoam container
    Alexis F.

    Food: Primarily Tanzanian but also food from surrounding East African countries. I lived in Uganda for a summer which borders Tanzania and can say the food is legit. Immigrant owned and operated. Recommended Food: - The Rolex: Omelette wrapped in chapati with veggies and hot sauce. This is a street food found all around East Africa. - Chicken Sambusa: Triangular, savory puff pastry with ground chicken and vegetables. They have a vegetarian and beef version as well that I didn't try. - Vitumbua (very dense coconut mini-pancake with vanilla flavor). Delicious dessert. Ambiance: This is primarily a takeaway place. It is small and bare-boned with only a few small tables and the kitchen clearly visible behind the counter. There are some African flags, bowls and photos to show cultural pride. Tip: Order in advance for pickup if you are in a rush. If you have time, order at the restaurant and they'll make most of the dishes by hand in front of you. They are only open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00AM to 5:00PM. Phone number: (510) 978-9495

    Catered lunch
    Anthony L.

    We had a catered lunch from Swahili Spot, and overall, it was a good experience. The Bongo Beef had nice flavor, but there was a bit too much fat for my liking. The Zanzibar Chicken also had good seasoning, though it came out a bit dry. I really enjoyed the fresh and tasty green salad, and the coconut rice was wonderfully aromatic. The Makande Stew was an interesting dish with firm and chewy ingredients--a unique first-time experience for me. The sautéed greens, however, were cooked down a little too much. All in all, it was a solid meal, though a few improvements would have made it even better.

    Chicken & rice dish

    Wow, what a gem of a find! The food was a large portion, and it tasted amazing! I'll definitely be back -- thank you!

    Menu + Swahili on the Wall
    Marquez A.

    I first met the owner at a food festival in Oakland where they had their food truck out and have been coming to the restaurant frequently since! The Curry Chicken Bowl is my favorite. The rice, beans and greens go together so well.

    Ox tails okra peas and coconut rice
    Sonja L.

    Okay down home food peas and coconut rice or Palau rice curry chicken thank you for your kindness and the love in the neighborhood

    We finally got a chance to try The Swahili Spot and the food is awesome. Ingredients are fresh and cooked with love. Everything is seasoned well and there is no heat added. Now the pepper sauce is INCREDIBLE for the spice lovers. We only had vegetarian & fish dishes, but look forward to trying all of the meat entrees and sides. Ordered: fried whole fish with coconut rice, vegetarian rice pilau, vegetable sambusa, and mandazi for dessert. The pinto beans are the star of all dishes!! Yum

    Beef stew and chapati.

    See all

    2 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Priscilla M.

    Priscilla M.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Adel W.
    407
    852
    2959

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of C. W.
    0
    12
    0

    1 month ago

    Enjoyed their food at a recent street festival - absolutely everything they made was delicious!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 month ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Priscilla M.

    Priscilla M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Priscilla M.

    Priscilla M.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 4
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Saundra D.
    221
    217
    114

    1 year ago

    Good food and portions. Flavorful. I would go again. I had the Beef Bowl and the samosas.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Nat D.
    0
    12
    0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Madeline C.
    339
    89
    128

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J G.
    2
    6
    1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of J D.
    0
    23
    12

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    I thought the food was good. I ordered the beef bongo bowl. Friendly service. Worth a visit.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great food, healthy, and not something you can find almost anywhere else. This is a great addition to the neighborhood.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Excellent food and service and very generous portions! The host was very helpful and the spices were on point.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Me N.
    0
    12
    7

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The Food tastes great ! Service is Amazing! The environment is very welcoming, gives me a warm home feel.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    The best Tanzanian food in the bayarea

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Swahili Spot Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Swahili Spot

    You might also consider

    Ollie's American Cheese + Provisions - Holiday Grazing Table

    Ollie's American Cheese + Provisions

    5.0(22 reviews)
    1.4 mi•Oakland Chinatown

    This place is so cute!! My husband and I ordered the picnic charcuterie board and it was the…read moreperfect size for us two. The box was beautifully put together with a lot of care and the flowers were such a cute touch! The cheese is very tasty. We loved it! It would be nice to eat it there at their table or as take out to eat at a park or just at the lake a walk away! We will definitely come back for more. They also have super cute little Knick knacks around the store to purchase and even make a cute gift basket. There's cookbooks, hot sauces, honey, jam, crackers, candles, cute hair clips and cheese related books. They also have cards and candles...perfect for a little birthday gift!! Would definitely come again and recommend others support this business. My impression based on the box I received today is that the owner puts a lot of love and care into the store and the boxes she creates.

    The quality of the meat and cheese was exceptional. Beautiful presentation. The added herbs and…read moreflowers made it so pretty and special. When I at first received my medium sized board I thought it looked a bit small for the price. However, one I brought it to my event and it was settling among the other options..... I realized how special it was and was ok with the price, the quality is unmatched and totally worth the splurge. I will be back!!

    Photos
    Ollie's American Cheese + Provisions - San Francisco Bay Area Grazing Table

    San Francisco Bay Area Grazing Table

    Ollie's American Cheese + Provisions - Perfectly ripe quinta on a custom holiday board

    Perfectly ripe quinta on a custom holiday board

    Ollie's American Cheese + Provisions - Custom Cheese Wheel Cake with honeycomb layer and florals

    See all

    Custom Cheese Wheel Cake with honeycomb layer and florals

    Mama T's Oakland - Storefront

    Mama T's Oakland

    4.4(191 reviews)
    1.3 mi•Uptown

    Over the weekend, my friends and I went to Mama T's to try her infamous fish sandwich, and I have…read moreto say--it was everything they said it would be! Not only that, the cajun fries tgat come with it are absolute PERFECTION!!! ‍ I think I paid about $18 for the sandwich and fries after tax. Mama T's is a tiny, hole-in-the-wall spot with just enough room to step inside, place your order, grab a drink, and step back outside to wait for your food at the curb. She sells a variety of things, including turkey burgers, wings, and more, but the fish sandwich is actually what brought me there. Mama T was so sweet, and she was in the kitchen working alongside her son, Terrence, who I believe does most of the cooking. The customer service was absolutely top-tier, and I'll definitely be back! One thing I noticed was how many people walked up and were disappointed to find out that the fish sandwiches had already sold out. I think she needs to create a sign to post when the sandwiches are sold out so that people don't waste their time in line only to find out once they get to the register. Nonetheless we got lucky as we were among the last few people to get one! With that, if I had to give you one tip: GO EARLY! I'd recommend getting there at least an hour or so before closing because those fish sandwiches definitely sell out. Overall, great food, great service, and definitely worth the visit!

    I came here yesterday after seeing a tik tok video a few days ago. I ordered the fish sandwhich. It…read morewas fantastic. The portion size was more than enough. It wasn't too greasy and the fish was fried just right. It also came with fries. I recommend calling ahead or ordering online. This is a walk up place and parking is hard to find as it's downtown. I definitely will be visiting this place again soon. This place gets busy during lunch time so come early. The prices are very reasonable as well.

    Photos
    Mama T's Oakland - The Famous Fish Sandwich

    The Famous Fish Sandwich

    Mama T's Oakland
    Mama T's Oakland - Specials menu

    See all

    Specials menu

    Oakland Smoke Shack - 14hr low and slow smoked pulled pork.  3 wood combo for that extra flavor!

    Oakland Smoke Shack

    4.8(105 reviews)
    4.8 mi•St. Elizabeth, Fruitvale, East Oakland

    After sampling the delicious smoked meats from Oakland Smoke Shack while selecting a caterer for…read moreour wedding reception picnic, we knew we didn't need to look any further. Wow! OSS' ribs are hands down the most incredible, fall-off-the-bone, flavorful ribs I've ever had. They were the only BBQ spot we needed to try. Our interactions with Matt and his team were top-notch from the get-go. The quality of their service completely aligns with the incredible quality of their meats. Outstanding! We selected the brisket, chicken, ribs, mac & cheese, potato salad, baked beans, Asian salad, and cornbread for a large 100+ person outdoor event. Everything was absolutely delicious, and our friends have been talking about the food ever since. Be prepared to eat copious amounts of savory, tender meats and likely take home leftovers--their portions are generous! Communication was seamless, and Matt helped us select just the right menu. They set up and presented everything in an organized and appetizing fashion, were friendly and engaging while serving, and were quick and efficient with breakdown and cleanup. We are so happy we had the opportunity to work with Oakland Smoke Shack for our picnic. They truly helped make our event a success, and we would absolutely choose them again--gold stars all around!

    My (very discerning) best friend used Oakland Smoke Shack to cater a casual post-wedding…read morecelebration for a large crowd. All the attendees were commenting to each other about how absolutely delicious the food was! When I asked my friend afterward about her experience in working with OSS, she said it was great: The owner Matt was extremely friendly and accommodating, and the pricing was very reasonable -- with huge portions. Her candid review was so good that I myself am now working with Oakland Smoke Shack to cater a surprise party that I'm hosting. As anticipated, Matt has been communicative, generous, clear on pricing, and flexible with logistics. I'm super excited to eat the delicious BBQ again and introduce it to another crowd! Thanks Matt and Oakland Smoke Shack!

    Photos
    Oakland Smoke Shack - Ribs are life! Apple & hickory smoked low and slow!

    Ribs are life! Apple & hickory smoked low and slow!

    Oakland Smoke Shack - 14hr low and slow! #PECANWOOD

    14hr low and slow! #PECANWOOD

    Oakland Smoke Shack

    See all

    Swahili Spot - african - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...