How many Somali restaurants do you know?
Although not so numerous, those Somali restaurants in the United States cannot leave you indifferent.
On the contrary, if you have the curiosity to cross the threshold of some of them, you will pleasantly notice that you are dealing with a surprising cuisine that will conquer you.
Maybe you didn’t think until now that Somali food deserves to be included on your list of delicacies, but you will surely change your mind.
We have prepared some interesting information for you, which we invite you to discover in the lines below.
How do you find restaurants with Somali food near you?
Unfortunately, you won’t find a Somali restaurant in too many states in the United States, which can be quite frustrating for the culinary tourist in you, or maybe the simple lover of delicious food.
Therefore, our recommendation is to use online platforms such as Yelp, TripAdvisor or Google Maps.
They are places full of useful information such as customer reviews, details about menus and locations.
Don’t forget to ask your friends if they have any recommendations for you.
What is Somali food?
Somali cuisine is characterized as a delicious combination of African flavors and oriental influences.
The dishes are rich in spices and herbs, and meat and rice are the basic ingredients.
From curries and pilafs to savory meat dishes, Somali cuisine can be compared to a culinary journey full of surprises.
Examples of Somali food
- Suqaar
Under this exotic name is actually a traditional Somali steak, usually made of beef or lamb, cooked with onions, spices and vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes.
- Bariis iskukaris
Also known as Somali pilaf, this dish consists of rice cooked together with meat, vegetables and spices, creating an explosion of flavors in every sip.
- Sambusa
This popular appetizer is similar to empanadas or samosas, being made of a kind of crispy pie, filled with meat, vegetables and spices, then fried until it becomes golden and delicious.
- Canjeero
These Somali pancakes are similar to Ethiopian injera, and are prepared from a fermented dough of buckwheat flour or rice flour and water, served with various toppings or dishes.
Top 10 Somali restaurants you must try
- Hoyo’s Kitchen – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Hoyo’s Kitchen brings authentic Somali flavors to the middle of Minnesota, offering delicious suqaar and bariis iskukaris.
Prices vary between 15 and 30 dollars, giving you the chance to have an authentic experience of Somali cuisine.
- Banadir Somali Restaurant – Columbus, Ohio
In Columbus, Banadir Somali Restaurant serves authentic Somali food, prepared in the traditional way.
The average prices are around 15-25 dollars, bringing something closer to the flavor of Somalia.
- Mogadishu Restaurant – Atlanta, Georgia
In Atlanta, Mogadishu Restaurant spoils you with authentic dishes, from suqaar to sambuusa.
Prices for a portion vary between 15 and 30 dollars.
- Safari Restaurant – Seattle, Washington
In Seattle, Safari Restaurant is the place where, for prices between 15 and 25 dollars for a portion, you can try to see if Somali dishes are to your liking or not.
- Jubba Restaurant – San Diego, California
In San Diego, Jubba Restaurant serves authentic Somali food, including the dishes I mentioned above.
The average prices are around 15-30 dollars, quite affordable.
- Mogadishu Restaurant – Portland, Oregon
In Portland, Mogadishu Restaurant serves its customers with traditional Somali dishes, for which you will pay between 15 and 30 dollars a portion.
- Safari Cuisine – Houston, Texas
In Houston, Safari Cuisine serves authentic Somali food, including sambuusa and canjeero, and there are not a few Texans who cross the threshold of this location.
The average prices are between 15 – 30 dollars.
- Safari Restaurant – Salt Lake City, Utah
In Salt Lake City, Safari Restaurant is a name that needs no introduction.
As for the prices, they are the ones I have mentioned so far.
- Mogadishu Restaurant – Phoenix, Arizona
In Phoenix, Mogadishu Restaurant is one that has conquered the locals.
The prices are in the range of 15-25 dollars, bringing the flavor of Somalia to the Arizona desert.
- Horn of Africa – Atlanta, Georgia
In Atlanta, Horn of Africa offers for sale authentic Somali food, in generous portions.
Average prices are still around 15-30 dollars.
Final words
A culinary trip through Somali restaurants in the USA reveals to those interested a little of the richness and authenticity of the cuisine of this African country.
Come and convince yourself that it deserves a leading place in the ranking of your favorite culinary delights!
