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.

Delicious Somali restaurant! It does not get more authentic than this. It felt like eating in a…read moreSomali family's home. The decore was basic but the food was top notch with amazing flavors and depth. We were the first ones there at about 730p (the regulars were fasting until 745p for Ramadan) and by the time we left the place was packed with local Somalis. No one spoke English except our server. And I got a few gestures of welcome. It was awesome. I had the beef samosas as an app and the Chicken Suqar as a meal and they were increíble. The flavors and spices were out of this world. While the chicken was delicious the rice really stood out. Wow all around.

It's hard to find and off the beaten path but it's worth the effort! The food is very tasty, very…read moreaffordable, and the ambiance is no-nonsense, "let's eat and drink tea" kind of place. Baarakallah is set back from the street and tucked inside a corridor that is shared by a Halaal grocery shop. Once you arrive inside, the clientele may observe you but it's fine. The server at the front is approachable and can describe the dishes and is very prompt with service. And the food is spicy yet balanced, savory but not over seasoned. The prices are very affordable for the amount of food you get! We were very happy with the beef over rice and the samosa style pastries. Great food and a unique experience.

came here twice during my trip and both times were perfect. fast service and everything tasted…read moresuper fresh. try the cheesecake it's unbelievable!

Hit or Miss. the Sampusas were SO delicious, I would absolutely order them again. However? The…read moreSomali Steak Sandwich was not so great. The meat was tough and chewy and the flavors were underwhelming. Service was friendly, but I could hardly understand what the server was saying. Ambiance was a typical fast food joint, with nothing special.

We're in the area to support a neighboring Somali eatery. ICE protest going in full force on the…read morestreet, taking up an intersection with cries of the community. We got to that door just as the owners were closing up shop, so we asked for a nearby suggestion and were directed down the block, to the other side of the protest. My friend promptly forgot the name of the suggested eatery, and I was busy focusing on the protest and feeling so deeply proud of our community, so we simply meandered before arriving at Hamdi. Abdiladif had such a bright, warm grin spread across his face as he welcomed us into the space and led us to a back table that you wouldn't think there was a fight for human rights occurring right beyond the walls. Or rather, it's possible that he realizes that, yes, there was, and every voice outside and every visitor inside is proof of where this community stands in this fight. Yeah, okay, that'd be reason for me to grin, too. The menu was simple. A few protein options. A few vegetarian dishes. A few drinks. A complimentary cup of Somalian tea that you could refill at will at a station conveniently located at the middle corner between the two dining rooms. No prices beside the menu items, which was puzzling. Abdiladif was so friendly and happy to answer our many curious questions, offer clarifications and suggestions. We ordered the two goat dishes. One ended up being out of a key component, likely the happy result of several tables filling up before ours, so we ended up with two of the same goat dish. They weren't really named, so "goat" was all we went off of on the menu. My friend paired his with the spaghetti, while mine was with chapati, hummus, and creamed veggies. My friend ordered mango juice. The sweetened Somalian tea was plenty delightful for me. We both preferred the creamed veggies in the same bite as the hummus. The chapati seemed somewhat dry and needed the hummus. The goat was decently flavorful and tender, though not juicy. My friend struggled a bit with the larger bones on his pieces. We both loved the tea so much that we continued chatting while sipping on one last sweet refill, after learning that a dessert menu no longer existed. Before we leave, I leave my jacket and to-go container of lamb meat at our table to use the restroom. I return to my jacket missing. Baffled, I figure my friend had grabbed it. I turn to grab the to-go box and go pay on my way out. As I turn back towards the main dining room, a diner from a neighboring table within the room runs back in and makes a beeline for me. He's holding my jacket, folded tidily. Sheepish, he explained that he thought I'd forgotten it and had run out of the restaurant with it to look for me. It's unfortunate that painful times like these exist, but it's also beautiful to see community come together in light of that dark. There are several Somali places in this area, many other ethnic spaces to support in the Twin Cities. My friends and I look forward to getting to know a great many more.

This place has GREAT food, and very attentive service. Very vegetarian-friendly, there were several…read moreoptions to pick from if you don't eat meat or fish. We will be back

Service was prompt and friendly. Beef samusas were delicious, a perfect afternoon snack!read more

Went to lunch with big group. We got to eat all the variety. The food was all delicious…read more Customer service was great too. They were very friendly and kind. Bought Sanbosa and baklava to go. Price was reasonable. I would for sure go back there again!

best food and good customer service. i liked the sambusa…read morepasta fish and best rice around the area

Newish Somali spot that has been in the neighborhood for around two years now. They have a number…read moreof outstanding dishes, but my go to is the chicken suqqar and beef steak over rice. They give you a nice portion of thinly cut steak along with a heaping of chicken suqqar over a bed of rice and peppers. A salad, banana, and complimentary drink are also provided in traditional Somali fashion. Dining area available with about ten tables, but it is a counter service spot. People there are super friendly and it is a scratch kitchen, so be prepared to wait a little if it's busy, but the end game will be well worth your time. PS Ignore the review below me. How can one rate a restaurant that they haven't eaten at solely because they don't have a website? Simply absurd.

I can't say I've had a ton of Somali food, but this definitely made me want to try more of the…read morecuisine. I ordered a beef and chicken sambosa, chicken suqaar and the roasted goat, all of which were very awesome. The goat was so incredibly tender and it came with grits and greens, while the chicken came with fragrant rice. It's hard to pick a favorite. Friendly staff who was kind enough to give me extra green sauce and two bananas. Looking forward to the camel meat next time!

I got the Calooley (cow stomach), which was pretty good (4/5)! I did not think I would like it…read morebecause I do not like tripe (lining of cow stomach), but I was pleasantly surprised! It came with a ton of good rice and also a banana. I came about a year ago and got the goat, sambosas, japati bread, and veggies, and all of it was good! They definitely give you a lot of food! The service is all right (3/5). It is a little slow, and you usually have to ring a bell or wait a bit for someone to come up. The ambiance is not anything special (2/5); you are not missing out on anything doing takeout.

My only complaint is that someone wanted to watch TV so I had to listen to some insipid talk show…read more But the food was really good, with good portions, in a nice new building in a convenient area.

Once visit with best friend he recommended me the food was delicious super fresh and Halal we…read moreordered Lamb sandwich and chicken wings I really enjoy food and there ambiance real African and modern culture mixed but beautiful very professional staff and welcoming Highly Recommend

I've passed by Quruxlow countless times and finally stopped in! They have a huge private parking…read morelot. The front windows as of Oct 2020 are still boarded up and you may wonder if they're even open (I did). But there two sets of double glass doors that are unlocked if they're open. The waiting area at the is absolutely beautiful, I should've taken pictures! I went around 1:30 pm on a Wednesday and it was pretty packed with people waiting for to-go orders. I wasn't sure of where the line was if any but after just a few minutes, someone called out to me "Sister! What would you like?" They have a case with desserts and small foods so I ordered a couple sambusas to go. They warmed them up for me, tossed them in the bag with some green sauce and I was on my way. The sambusas are $2 each which I think it seasonable and about the same price as other spots. These sambusas had ground beef and onion. The green sauce super spicy for my weak tolerance but was also so good that I ate it with almost every bite! I went through like 5 tissues by the end haha Overall really easy takeout experience, next time I'll order something more substantial than just sambusas!

Friends, this is where hospitality lives. Let them take care of you. We asked for lamb and chicken…read morelegs for 3. It came with bananas (a traditional side for evey meal), soup, salad, rice, and the meats. So filling and warming on a below zero day. If English is your first language, be patient and gracious, as I know you will be.

The place for Somali tea. Excellent service, excellent location. Hufan is an asset for the…read morecommunity.

Our office ordered from Hufan- a family style catering order…read more -salmon and veggies- the salmon was well seasoned and so good!! The veggies (onion and bell pepper) were crunchy and added brightness. Everyone in the office was surprised with how much they enjoyed the salmon, even non fish-eaters -Goat- tender and flavorful -Fuul- my first time having. Like a spicy, smoky bean. Flavor profile reminded me of smoky lentils I've had at Ethiopian restaurant. V good! - chicken legs- nice crisp. Could have used a little salt but otherwise great -Malawah- like a springy flatbread pancake. Easy to scoop up -Beef sambusa- SO flavorful, moist, savory. Really so good -Rice- so flavorful!!! This rice had warming spices- cinnamon, I think I saw cloves, and think I tasted cardamom. Unreal- I could have had a whole pot of this. Everyone was so pleased with the food. It traveled well and we had lots of leftovers!