Swahili Spot

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.

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.

Food is solid. Enjoyed the chicken curry bowl. I only wish it had more greens and less chicken lolCustomer 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.

I am not particularly familiar with East African fare so was eager to try this place. Prices on the high side for such small portions. Food was satisfying but not spectacular. Note they don't take cash.

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

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

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

First time trying this type of food and really enjoyed it! Very hearty servings and delicious. Great flavors in the veggies and stew! Plus they give you a lot of rice in the bowl and it soaks in ALL the flavors.They had a few small tables in front which we sat and ate on a Sunday afternoon. Very nice staff. Will be back to try the mondazi and other bowls.

Best food in & I believe only Tanzanian restaurant you'll ever find all my 23 years living here; owner is very nice as well Black & woman owned !! Amazing vegetarian options too.

I ordered through the "too good to go" app. It was pretty much all filler rice with a thin layer of sauce and a little meat and veggies on top of the to go box. I normally use the app to decide if I want to spend more money there. This time, I did not like my experience so I won't be returning. Staff was reasonably friendly. It's a small business.