Flavors of East Africa Reviews

We went for dinner Saturday night and the restaurant was empty. We hesitated but then decided to go in. After the dinner we wondered why it was empty. They told me that the restaurant is mostly a lunch place. The food was great... very flavorful but not overwhelming in one taste. The short ribs were the best I have tasted, even better than Korean short ribs, that are my favorite. The chicken curry and the cabbage with collard greens were superb. You owe it to yourself to check this place out.

This was such a treat. The meal was amazing with just the right spices. Great and authentic menu items and great choices. Prices are moderate and the Restaurant has a cute theme. We live a ways out and their hours are later in the evening which make it hard to frequent often. Highly recommend this Restaurant.

just saw the place and thought it would be a nice spot try. We were correct. Loved the spicy jerk chicken, and the wife said the lamb was some of the best she has had. Will be sure to return for more before too long.

If you like to try out foods from other cultures you will want to try this place. The food was good and diverse. The service was good. We went at lunch and there was not a crowd. We especially liked the greens and the eggplant and the sweet chicken jerk on the buffet. A good value for the price paid.

Oh my goodness, went to restaurant next door and they were closed so went into this place and the food was amazing. I probably would not have tried them and so very pleased it worked out this way. Our waitress was from Kenya and so pleasant and friendly and helpful. She knew every item on menu and gave us her honest opinion as to our questions. Our food was out in no time and WOW, the flavors were so right with the dishes we tried. We eat out each weekend and try different types of restaurants and dishes from around the world and this was a 10. Never would you think of this little restaurant being one of the best. MUST TRY !!

AMAZING!!!! OMG!! I wasn't sure about ordering the Ox tails and the waitress brought me a sample. #1 Even in the most customer centric establishments in the world, have I ever been offered a sample because I was unsure weather I should order a particular item. #2 If you go on the last Sunday of the month, know there will be at least a 2 hour wait because there's a belly dancing and dance show. #3 I left had an appetizer at another place but, came back because I heard the food was that good. And let's just say I was not disappointed. #4 this place is like being at home. I didn't finish all of my food so the chef came out and asked if everything was ok. It was better than ok but I was stuffed. So I took it with me! Yeah for left overs. I personally think left overs are the best! It gives the spices a chance to settle in. :) So if you're in San Diego and have a craving to try something new PLEASE stop in. You won't be sorry at all.

Pleasantly surprised by this place.. We tried the sambusas (spicy beef, chicken and spinach) and they were delicious.. as they are deep fried (similar to an Indian samosa) they were slightly oily in case you are watching your calories.. The portion size of the entrees were large with two sides and a bread/rice. We opted for the chicken curry with chapati and sombe (mixture of spinach and some other green veggies, which you can easily pass) and their specialty lamb curry with rice and yellow lentils. Both the chicken and lamb were very well done and extremely flavorful. The pumpkin-pie-like dessert that we tried could have been better though but you should definitely try their house-made drinks..!! The decor is pretty simple and the place is next to another eating joint and a car repair shop. In case you are looking for a fancy place this is not it. But if you want something different than your regular meal feel free to give this a try..

Been here 3x and twice just this June with friends and family ages 8-65.so flavorful, organic, local ingredients. We all loved it and went back a week later. Must have: spicy jerk chicken, chicken curry, lentils, collard greens, lamb and sambusas just to name a few

We had an excellent meal including a vegetarian plate for my wife plus an eggplant side. My Athola chicken was likewise excellent. Our server was knowledgeable and extremely helpful.

This place is one of my favorite spots in San Diego. I remember when they were only found at the farmers market in Hillcrest. For under $15, you can eat a wonderful meal whether you like fish, meat, or even gluten-free and vegan. I love the hominy and the collard greens are absolutely delicious. The sambusas are wonderful, but my favorite thing about this restaurant is the mambazi (the Kenyan fried donuts) delicious with flavors of vanilla and cardamom. This place is definitely worth stopping at. Ethiopian food is easy to find in SD, but this Kenyan place is one of a kind.

Our party of six came in to an empty restaurant. The server was friendly and prompt. After ordering, the food took at least 40 minutes before arriving. Once it arrived, most of it was great but one member of our party had to wait an additional 5 minutes for his food to arrive. The server mentioned there was a new cook, so I am guessing that's why it took so long, but nothing was done to remedy the delay. They do not serve alcohol and there is no children's menu. The ugali was bland (probably how it's supposed to be) and the goat curry was really salty. The chicken curry and jerk burgers were good.

The menu is authentic and extensive and there is a buffet lunch served daily until 3 PM. In general I am not a fan of buffets. Too much food and I’m not into self-serve. However, the variety seemed just right and not overwhelming so I gave it a try. I was VERY pleased! I enjoyed every single dish. Spicy jerk chicken, sweet chicken, chicken curry, amazing lentils in a creamy sauce, 2 types of rice, eggplant in tomato sauce, corn and beans, collard greens, injera, plantains, AND fresh greens, tomatoes, and assorted cut fruit. No alcohol but and amazing drink called Gingerize and some fruit drinks and African iced tea. The restaurant is colorful and seems like an oasis after walking in from El Cajon Blvd. There are even a few small tables outside. Service was friendly, if not overly attentive. I will definitely return!

This is a nice local spot with great attentive service. The gingerize drink was great. The sambusas were enjoyable. I had the beef stew which was average. My friend had the curry which he enjoyed.

Amazing! Very delicious. We had two Vegan platters and everything was excellent. We had both rice and both were excellent. We got the eggplant, lentils, collard greens and beans. Good thing we shared, I couldn’t decide what I liked best. We also had a couple sambusas and the jalapeño mint sauce is awesome. Pleasant service and great food. We’ll be back.

What a treat! Stopped in for lunch on a summer afternoon. I found a warm welcome, a breezy vibe, and an Afropop beat in the background. I tried an assortment of sambusas--very tasty, and I'd never tried coconut sambusas. I also enjoyed a hearty nyoyo vegetable salad. I definitely want to go back next time I'm in town. On the way out, say "Asante" ("thank you" in Swahili) to the staff.

Great food and lovely friendly service, would definitely recommend and would visit again when in San diego

Such good food. I haven't tried anything here that I didn't really like. My personal fav is the purple Gingerizer drink!

I don't normally try food beyond my comfort range, but this place was a wonderful surprise that I've recommended to friends. The first time I went with one friend and then I returned with a group of 9. We started with the delicious mixed appetizer dish--a variety of pastry-covered fillings with two sauces. One is spicy. The other is not. For main dishes, the curried lamb is my favorite so far. There is a lot of very tender meat with a mild and flavorful red sauce. The chicken curry is also delicious, also mild, with a yellow sauce. My favorite thing so far is the eggplant side dish which is cooked with tomatoes and maybe milk. It is rich with flavor. There is a spicy beef which is too spicy for me, but others I was with enjoyed it. The tilapia was delicious but very bony. This restaurant does not have a liquor license, but try the Jamaica, which has a great splash of ginger. The people who own the restaurant are caring and funny. Service is slow, but maybe reflects the care that goes into preparing with many fresh ingredients. Prices are reasonable. I'll go back.

Dropped by on a whim and I am glad I did. The name does the restaurant justice. Marinaded chicken with collared greens and yellow rice were full of flavor and fresh. The chicken in particular is not to be missed. I had the excellent (local) 'gingerize' drink. Very cool place to stop by.

All the dishes we've tried have been outstanding -- flavorful, varied, well-done -- and plentiful. Some will probably be familiar, but many might not, so try a variety of things.

Great sambusa, chicken pilao, injera veggies and chai. Flavors were bold but never overpowering or spicy. Avoid dining in, as they are undergoing an interior remodel. Can sit outdoors on the patio or take out

Now this is some deliciously tasty food. I had never had Kenyan food so I didn't know what to expect. Boy was I pleasantly surprised. We started with some Spicy Beef Sambusas which were amazing. They actually were spicy but not too much where you couldn't taste anything. I want to have some of these every day for a snack! I ordered the Aliya which is dried beef and fantastic. The spices they use are amazing, the flavor was just perfect. My side items were the Nyoyo and Chapati and they were both also good but I didn't eat much of them just because the meat was so yummy I couldn't stop eating it. We also had great friendly service which is always a plus.

Yummy food! The plantains, Collard greens, eggplant, coconut rice and curry chicken were all wonderful. The staff was so friendly and the food was excellent. So glad we checked it out! We pre-ordered and pick it up.

I stayed across the street from this restaurant, so I was able to walk over and I am very glad I did. I don't think I ever had East African food, but this was a great first! The selection was great and the server was very good at explaining what everything was; he was also very honest when I choose one dish and he went back to the kitchen to see how long the meat had been marinating - he suggested I make another choice because he didn't feel I would've get the full flavor....how great is that!?! What I did select...a ground spiced beef, eggplant side and flat African bread was delicious and really like nothing I ever tasted. I want to use the word "spicy" but most people think hot or overpowering and this was not; the spices were very unique and mild, but made the dish. I used the very thin and plentiful flat-bread to scoop up the meat and eggplant....delicious! The only negative, and it is probably more cultural, is the servers are not very quick (I had to get my own menu) and the food does take some time to prepare....nothing is fast there, even getting the check. Most everything looks reasonable priced and the quantity you get is plentiful. I would recommended this to anyone, even if you are not sure you would like this type of food - try it!

I am so lucky that this restaurant is in my neighborhood. It has an open, casual atmosphere and friendly staff. Every food item I've ordered - and I've worked my way through most of the menu - is fresh and delicious. I just wish they would give me the recipe for their delicious coconut lentils and gingerize beverage. Yum!!!

Having moved recently to San Diego My wife and I are trying many different restaurants. Many have been disappointing, some have been amazing. This one is definitely something you should try at least once. The Good - The service. The waitress Jess was very friendly and knowledgable about the food. Definitely added to the overall experience having her as our server. The Great - The flavors. We had all 7 Sambusas (kind of like African Samosas) and the curry stewed goat. For sides we had the saffron rice and the eggplant. The sambusas and the goat were absolutely delicious. While presentation is definitely not their forte', the flavors are undeniably good. Why You'd Avoid - This is not a fancy restaurant. This is a mom and pop hole in the wall restaurant. Food was served in to go containers, disposable plastic cups, and plastic silverware. If you are looking for an upscale dining experience this is not it. Overall I gave this place 5 stars because as a mom and pop shop that has been around for about 11 years, they do not pretend to be something they are not. The prices are appropriate, the food is delicious, and the servers really seem to care about their customers.

The only time I get greedy is when I get fed here. This food is pure love! I have eaten in the restaurant, called for take-out, and had it delivered. The food is always superb! They do not alter their recipes ever and it works! This is genuine East African food...flavorful, fresh, and simply delightful! The restaurant is very humble and colorful. If you can't handle spicy order something different. The greens are the best I've ever had in my life, their coconut rice, sweet jerk chicken, spicy jerk chicken, lamb, beef, sambusas, herbal drinks are all superlative! I get food from this restaurant almost weekly....I can't help it, I am addicted. : )

It is definitely hard to find African Food in California. I first tasted the wonderful cuisine at the Blues Festival in San Diego two years ago and have counted it as one of favorite resturants. However, due to the location It is a special trip for me. I love the Oxtails, Curry Chicken, Jerk Chicken, Samboosa, Gingerize Drink and making my way around the menu. The probably think I am a pig when I come with a sit down order and an order to go, but I live so far away. You always get enough to take home, if you are not greedy like me. Well worth a trip. I planning on a trip back now. Oh, I found out that they also cater events. Love the nice music, that makes you rock while eating some good food. It just goes together. All cutlures go to eat. My only negative comment would be the parking situation.

My son and I stumbled upon this restaurant for an early dinner while I was visiting San Diego. We were pleasantly surprised at how fresh, flavorful and simply wonderful our meal was. You get a substantial amount for a reasonable price - we couldn't eat it all. The atmosphere was comfortable for relaxed dining with family and the service, friendly and prompt. I am looking forward to my next meal there next time I visit.

Be sure to have their home made Root Beer, made with their special brew of roots. African food tends to be stewed or cooked for a long time, so keep wit the stews and curries -which do better with longer cooking - and avoid the roasts and chops, which dry out. Wit this approach, there are a lot of iterating edibles on the menu. The eggplant is an especially good side, ad we liked the coconut samosas and the lentil-encrusted plantains.

This place had some really good dishes and the service was fantastic! We shared in our group so we could try several items and the standouts were the slow cooked ox tail and the eggplant, both AMAZING. I also really liked the collard greens and rice, so flavorful and a nice complement to the ox tail. Overall everything we tasted was pretty good and the the only complaint is the beef was a little tough on the Kilimanjaro skewer but it had great flavor. If you like ginger, their fresh Gingerize drink is a must, very refreshing. We are looking forward to returning and trying some of their other interesting dishes.

never tried east African before and the 4 of us were up for the experiment - I had the lamb curry excellent plentiful and just the right spice, next person had the mbavu the short ribs excellent - will have that next time, next person had vegetarian biraganya also very tasty and final group member had the safari chicken and the jungle fries - group decision - we will come back - food was great flavorful and portions were large - only drawback it was air conditioned well but will still come back

Lots of differnt dishes for a change of pace. At first I was leary,but found the food and service outstanding.

I tried this place on a whim and it was one of my favorite meals in a long time! The oxtail was *outstanding*, and the African salsa is a must! I'm only in San Diego for three more days, but I'll be back again before I leave.

My fiance is from Kenya so we eagerly anticipated having dinner at this restaurant in the San Diego area. We were not disappointed. We had sambusas for starters which were very flavorful with crisp, deep fried coatings and two dip sauces. The restaurant menu did not have the traditional Kenyan tea (hot and made with milk and sugar) on the menu; however, they did have dark African iced tea with African spices that was very enjoyable. He ordered the goat that same with rice. I ordered vegetarian dishes including dengu which was deliciously slow cooked in garlic, coconut milk, onions, and curry. I also had the wali, which was also tasty--the yellow rice was nicely mixed with vegetables and spices. We ordered chapati, Kenyan bread, which was a bit thick for my taste but was very soft and enjoyable. My fiance was very impressed with the food we shared for our first meal at this restaurant and would return again even though we're about a 3 hour drive away in Orange County. The food is worth a return visit to try other Kenyan inspired menu items. For those who expect fast food speed in receiving their food, this restaurant is not for you. If you want authentic Kenyan-based food, this is the best we've found in Southern California.

My partner was interested in a trying African Food as he had never had any. This was close to where we were staying and we enjoyed the evening walk. We looked over the menu. I have food restrictions and there was no problem eating there. The waitress was very helpful and accommodating. We shared the curry chicken with vegetables and it just melted in out mouth. He had the goat and we shared the deep fried plantains, one of my favorite deserts and they were wonderful. A perfectly lovely meal. For drinks we had a ginger drink that was just wonderful. We each has seconds. I hope we can return again before I leave.

Food was hot and delicious! Staff was super friendly. Rice was yummy and soft. Meat was tender. The sauce was rich. Sambusas were just the right amount of spice with 7 filling choices. Wonderful!!

This is a great restaurant in a great location with great customer service. There are many choices of food to choose from and the food is tasty.

I love Ethiopian so we gave East Africa a try. My kabob was a little tough and dry but everything else we got was very good. Friendly staff too.

Friendly waitstaff. Very quick service. The drinks (Mango and Ginger) were fantastic! The Jerk Chicken is out of this world, finger-lickin' good. Not too spicy. I'm not a fond lover of lentils (maybe because they are usually bland), but I ate every bit of the curried lentil side that came with the Jerk Chicken. Love, love the explosion of taste in every bite of food. My husband had the collard green side--he cleaned up! Fun change of pace.

We met the owner of the restaurant by mistake. He invited us to have dinner at his restaurant. He greeted us outside and gave us sambusa to try free of charge. I recommend those! The food was delicious and came in big portions.

Found this place originally at the OB Farmers Market. After a taste, knew I had to have more. Jungle Fries and Sweet Jerk Chicken! This place even has a buffet. I don't know if I could control myself. The business is nice, clean and the waitress was super nice as well. Loved the atmosphere and the music. This place is now on my go to list! Instagram @planefoodies

Great visit. Took our children to enjoy the food we enjoyed in East Africa. I used a coupon from restaurant.com

fantastic food. the plaintains, collard greens and jerk chicken were amazing. my friend's lentils and sambusa and goat were amazing. i'd go back in an l.a. second.

Everything from the spiced black tea to the sambusas and our entrees was wonderful spiced and well prepared.

The spices in the dishes are wonderful. It IS great to have variety in this neighborhood. The service is friendly.

Before Covid, I ate their food every week at SDSU food truck Thursdays. The usual: spicy jerk chicken with collards and lentils and 3 sambusas ( the Kenyan version of samosas/empanadas). I had withdrawal for their greens after covid set in. Was near SDSU and decided to hunt down the storefront on ECB and get my fix. I ordered spicy chicken with greens, lentils and plaintains instead of rice. So much food, and had a delicious ginger and hibiscus drink to go with my lunch. AND Dez gave me a sample of their Chai latte- a little sweet for me- but tasty. I ate some of the food on the little street patio and Dez checked on me at least 3 times. Support Alvin and his staff!

I didn't what to expect from an East Africa restaurant, turn out if you have middle eastern food and like it, you kinda know what to expect here. Our waiter was super friend and explain to us what some dishes were. The combo Sambusa was fresh, flavorful and tasty like the potato version best, lamb curry, Mbavu (short ribs). The lamb curry was a little too spicy and Mbavu was gilled perfectly, but the portion was too small. Overall portion was generous and tasty, but my short rib was too little meat for me ;-(

I love ethnic foods so came by for the lunch buffet to give this place a try. The server/hostess/cashier??? basically just showed me to a table and got me a glass of water & pointed to the serving dishes for the buffet. There's no beer to be ordered here. There was not a lot of choices, a couple of rices, lentils, curry, jerk chicken. There was just a couple of very small rolled up injera and no more were brought out after I took them. The food seems more Kenya based and I am more of a big fan of Ethiopian food so I love the injera spongy bread to scrape up the good curries. The atmosphere is very lackluster and altho there were a few others eating, it was so lacking in any kind of ambience at all. The flavors were very good but this place really misses the mark for me when eating out.

The food here is a nice break from the routine of Asian, American, Italian etc. I had the beef stew and ice tea. Tasty and fresh. The staff was super helpful.