I finally took the plunge into Somali food at Mama Safia's in Minneapolis--and I'll be real, I was…read morenervous. Ok, maybe completely terrified is more accurate. I am admittedly a novice when it comes to east, west, or South African food! First time, didn't know what I was walking into. But turns out? Absolute gem. The space itself is clean, bright, and surprisingly spacious. And what came was heavy-hitting. Portions? Massive. The mango juice? Pure tropical sunshine. The goat? Tender, rich, full of flavor. The rice? Fragrant, fluffy, and this is coming from someone who's ruthless when it comes to rice standards. But the dish that stole my heart was the sambusa--crisp shell, soft pillow inside, savory meat bursting through. A perfect bite every time. Can I have a box of these to take home please?! Bottom line: Mama Safia's turned my nerves into a craving. Clean, comfortable, and food worth coming back for. Next visit, I'm bringing additional backup.

After going to the dmv we stopped here around lunchtime. First time going and we will definitely be…read moreback soon. We ordered the beef suquaar with canjero and malawah. It was well spiced, delicious to bit and really went well with the different bread like options. I ordered a mango smoothie that was an absolute hit. Tasted like an elevated mango lassi. We also got the Somali tea which tasted similar to a chai latte and was exceptional as well and only $2. It was good service, quick and overall just had a very pleasant time being there. Vibe was great and it was a chill atmosphere. Only thing I would say is that one entree was definitely enough for two people in our experience. We got leftovers and it wasn't crazy expensive but next time.

We have really missed having a Middle Eastern restaurant of good quality on the east side ever…read moresince Beirut left. Was great food and attentive staff.A small family run place it seems, but clean bright decor, nice bathrooms, it looks like (I hope) a back patio in the future. Check your map and follow driving directions because the road work is major and I can't imagine it will be less than all summer. It was easy to get to on the side street. Even though it says you can't get through there across Rice, clearly people have been driving through. But if you follow the map right to the place, there is parking off hours across the street and there appears to be street parking also. We will be back

I've had great middle eastern food before but let me tell you when I say Ali Baba Grill has the…read morebest and freshest dishes you'll ever get your hands and mouth on in St Paul!!! We were warmly welcomed in and greeted by the owner, Ali. Placed our order in and went to sit at one of their many tables. The restaurant is nice and bright with good open space. Soft music playing in the background so conversations are easily made. The food was great and so tasty. You can really taste the quality of the food. Everything was made fresh and cooked perfectly well. I'll be coming back to try the owner's recommendation: Ali Baba Plate.

I can't believe I've lived in this area for so long and just discovered this absolute gem!! The…read morefood and hospitality were spectacular. They call it a bar and grill but they serve wine and beer only so don't expect a full bar. The Malbec that is served by the glass pairs perfectly with the food. Samosas to start were perfection. Tandoori chicken breast was so juicy and delicious. Garlic naan bread was very obviously made to order and the coconut rice is an absolute must have! Do not hesitate if you're thinking about a nice Indian meal.

The Chicken Tikka Masala Lunch Box was delicious! Great service, very clean, and very reasonably…read morepriced! Can't wait to come back!

Excellent food. We came here for lunch and really enjoyed it. For an appetizer, we had Samosa…read morechat. It had a variety of flavors. Distinctive and very tasty. We shared two entrees: Chicken Chau-Chau (noodles, vegies and chicken) and Chicken Jogi - chicken thigh meat with vegetables, cooked in tomato stock sauce. In terms of spice level, you can order 1-6. We are older folks and ordered 2. This was spicy but not overwhelming. but we still enjoyed it. This is not a fancy place but it has been here a long time. The food is good & distinctive.

I didn't have a good experience at this restaurant. The chicken momo was overcooked, and we felt…read morethat the meat in the yak momo tasted stale. Overall, the food quality was disappointing and did not feel worth the price. Considering the portion sizes, the cost was also quite expensive. The staff were friendly and polite, which we appreciated, but the overall environment was not very pleasant and could be improved. Unfortunately, the food quality, high prices, and overall experience were very disappointing. We will not be coming back.

We visited Aroma as a party of 25 to celebrate both a friend's birthday and Mother's Day, and it…read morewas an absolutely delightful experience! The food was nothing short of amazing. We ordered a variety of dishes including masala dosa, malai kofta, paneer tikka, paneer butter masala, idli, garlic naan, mango lassi, and filtered coffee--every single item was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. The staff were incredibly helpful, attentive, and made sure our large group was well taken care of throughout the meal. The ambience was colorful, vibrant, and inviting, creating the perfect setting for a special celebration. Overall, it was a memorable dining experience, and we left completely satisfied. Highly recommend for anyone looking to enjoy authentic, delicious food in a lively and welcoming atmosphere!

This is probably the second one star review I have ever posted…read more The butter chicken had about four small pieces of chicken in it. I also ordered the spinach pakora. It looked like it had been fried and then re-fried. Dry as a stick and zero flavor. I didn't realize I could ever be so disappointed by Indian food.

The food was absolutely delicious and the service was exemplary. I would absolutely recommend this…read morespot!

Great tofu saag & best garlic naan I've had in a long time. We also got cheese naan- super yum &…read moreveggie samosas. Tandoori chicken wings were very good! Hubby got chicken briyani & enjoyed it. We ordered take out & it was all in perfect condition for eating.

It was ok.... I think an actually preferred the appetizers to the entree. Service was good. The…read moregarlic naan was a bit dry.

Absolutely delicious authentic Indian cuisine. Service is always top tier. Prices are amazingly low…read morefor what you get. The menu is expansive. When we come to Minneapolis every three months to care for my father-in-law, Tamarind is most definitely on our dining list, sometimes as both a lunch and a dinner destination.

If you're craving to transport yourself to Central Asia, to imagine the ancient world of the Great…read moreSilk Road, and to taste what kind of food Aladdin would eat, then "Samarkand" restaurant is your must go destination. The traditional Uzbek plov is highly praised throughout Central Asia. You will not be disappointed here. I also highly recommend their tamdori samsa. The owners are ethic Uzbek family from the ancient city of Samarkand. Hence the restaurant name. The restaurant is cozy and yet spacious enough to host special events. This restaurant is a genuine representation of the Uzbek culture Central Asian hospitality. Everyone is welcome!

I was excited to try this place as it is one of the only known Uzbek food in MN and I wish I could…read moregive this a higher rating. There was a problem with one of the dishes, so that's why it's only at a 3. My friend and I got the lagman, tandoori bread, assorted shish kebabs , and small plov to share. Overall, the food was flavorful and portions were generous. We really enjoyed the lagman's deep flavor. The bread was just okay, as well as the plov. We got a small size, but it was still pretty big. The assorted shish kebabs came with lula, lamb, and chicken. The lula and lamb were great! However, I took a bite of the chicken skewer and it was cold and ended up being raw. We checked the rest of the chicken kebab and found that while the middle pieces were cooked, then ends weren't. We brought this to the server's attention and he was very apologetic and immediately took it away for us. It was not the server's fault for sure. He informed us that he would let the cooks know and offered some alternatives (1. they remake the chicken skewers, 2. remake the whole dish (and I guess we would still be charged?), or 3. just remove it from our check). We chose the third option. Overall, service was friendly and nice. They were just swamped because there was also a banquet that was going on. I wonder if that also contributed to what happened with our food. While I was disappointed, I am willing to give this another try some time later. I would just be hyperaware of how meats are cooked.