Kulan Cafe

The only Somali food in town. To me, it's not really a sit down place - I think a lot of people are doing takeout. The food is bomb but you never know what they will or will not have that day. I guess that means it's fresh! Calling in an order on the phone is iffy. They seem to only randomly answer it. Both the rice and the pasta are great. I prefer the lamb the most. Entree come with soda and of course, a banana.

We got the Sports for 2 and the food was good. The server was attentive, really personable, and accommodating! Seems like a family style restaurant; I love supporting these. They recommended the lamb and they delivered! The combo had lamb, chicken, rice, pasta, and started with salad. Great value and the food came out fast! I went in thinking this would be a 5* experience but they fell a little short:- The food could have been warmer. - I expected a bit more seasoning; usually these middle eastern places deliver on that - I would have also appreciated a bit more cleanliness in the restaurant; however in their defense, it was a storm and it was mostly leaves. Tips1. Get the Sports (combo), they scale up to 6 people 2. Make sure you get some lamb no matter what you order.3. The photos have vegetables, but call ahead, they don't have everything every day.

Someone brought this for me at the hospital. It was absolutely delicious. The goat meat was well-seasoned, the rice was fragrant, and the stewed potato side dish was wonderfully well-balanced.If you have never had Somalian food, today is the day! I will be eating this for both lunch and dinner because the portions are very large.

AMAZING. It's really that simple. We ordered the lamb combo w/chicken and this amazing platter that could feed an army came out. The lamb was flavorful and tender, while the chicken was fried Milanese style. The potato was super flavorful and the rice and pasta served as the excellent carb to a perfect meal.And yes, you will get the customary banana to eat with the rice. The perfect sweetness to the savory.The tea is also amazing. Has a cinnamony kinda taste to it but the perfect complement to the perfect meal. This is a no frills kinda place so what you're not paying for in atmosphere and ambiance, goes directly into the food which is what I prefer every single time. If you're looking for excellent Somali chaining in the DMV, this place it is. Don't hesitate and get there asap. You will not regret. Somalia Hanoolaato!

The food was delicious with millions of flavors and a spicy kick. The service was excellent and made sure everything was perfect. The ambiance was okay but lacked in color and charm. Overall my experience was amazing and I highly recommend Kulan.

KULAN CAFE - YOU ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITES!This small Somali restaurant is located by the Skyline Towers, in the Build America Plaza. When you enter, it's all 1-way through their parking lot, so when you turn in from Seminary, go until there is a split between the two sets of the buildings, make a right, and then make a right again. The Cafe itself is around the corner from the main road.The menu is limited, but very straightforward - chicken/fish/beef/lamb entrees with rice, pasta, or sabaya (bread), meals to share among 2/3/4 people, sandwiches, samosas, and salads.The hubs and I came here for a later dinner, and we tried the Rice with Chicken Steak (the rice was perfectly cooked, fluffy, had raisins, and sliced bell peppers; the chicken was a nice pounded thin breaded cutlet) and the Pasta with the Beef Steak (the pasta was cooked al dente and dressed in a light marinara sauce; the beef steak kind of reminded me of a Korean juhn; it was lightly breaded, thin, and very tasty!). The meats were juicy and yummy!Entrees come with a banana, in which you can dice and mash and mix into the rice, have it as a complement to your main mail, or just have it for dessert afterwards. It's really up to you!Don't forget to ask for their housemade zhoug - it's in a squeezy bottle, and it's green, spicy, made with cilantro and jalapeños, and great on the rice, meat, and salad! For those who are against cilantro (like myself), you couldn't taste it - it was more like a spicy tomatillo sauce.We also received a plate of fresh salad - mixed greens, freshly-sliced tomatoes, and red onions, with a bottle of Italian dressing to dress your plate to your heart's content. YUM!The portions are extremely generous and filling, so delicious, and tastes homemade! Everything is made-to-order - just be patient, as it is all worth it!Don't forget to try their tea - made with cloves, cinnamon, cardamom and black tea - no need for any addition of sugar/cream - this is spicy, already sweetened, and soothing. Perfect for those who are feeling under the weather or to enjoy on a cold day!Note that they don't serve tap water, and it is bottled water only.The staff and the customers are very welcoming, very kind, and just very sweet. At first, you can't distinguish between the owners and the customers, because they all say 'Welcome' - so amazing! It was like stepping into a relative's kitchen. There are 2 separate 'dining' areas, but they're both the same - it's just separated by a wall. The parking can be a bit tight, as the plaza is always busy and packed; you may have to circle around a few times to find a spot.Check this hidden gem out - you will NOT be disappointed! I'll definitely be adding this place to my dining rotation!+Rice+Beef Steak+fresh salads+tea!+housemade zhoug+delicious homemade entrees!+friendly service!+located in the Build American Plaza+tight parking

I went here after going to the gym and was looking for a healthy meal to have. The food was very delicious and healthy with a lot of variety. There was lamb chicken fish rice and you also got a house salad. Everything was family style and it was really well priced. I highly recommend anyone to come to this restaurant. This was my first time ever eaten, Somali food or even encountering anybody from Somalia and it was a very pleasant experience.

It was our first time having Somalian food and also at this cafe. The owners recommended that we get the Sports for 2 people with lamb, chicken, rice, and spaghetti. 1000/10 would highly recommend this place

Food was soooooo good if you are thinking about going goooo. You will not be disappointed, fast service and very friendly.

Delicious food it reminded me back home growing up when my mother use to cook. If you want authentic Somali food in VA come to this restaurant,