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    Karibu

    4.5 (192 reviews)
    ModerateAfrican
    Closed 7:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Karibu Photos

    KARIBU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Karibu

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    a menu board outside of a restaurant
    Rosie Q.

    Karibu is an East African family-owned gem in Waltham. They have a small set menu that's easy to go through. You can also take a look at their website for visuals. There's dining here, outside when weather permits. Takeout is available as well. No alcohol. Parking lately has been tricky around this area but if you find one, come here for the food. Coconut Chicken- Creamy with tender chicken. I don't think they always have this but I liked it. A must-have with chapati. Chapati- Fresh pan-fried bread. Soooo good! Use this to sop up stew or soups. Or eat it plain. Beef Samosa- Deep-fried pastry stuffed with beef and vegetables. We got the spicy samosa and it was about 8/10 level spice to me. A lot of sniffling but flavorful. It's worth it. Overall Service: Super sweet lady who helped us. I'm not familiar with the menu and she made recommendations. Also, they were closing soon and she stayed open for us and told us to take our time.

    a variety of dishes of food on a wooden table
    Allison L.

    I've never had East African food before so I didn't know what to expect, but Karibu blew my mind. The restaurant was kind of like a cafeteria. You order at the counter and choose what you like. There's no menu- everything changes every day. You pay a flat fee for a plate, and you can choose a protein, a carb, and a few sides. For carb, we chose the rice pilaf. It was really well spiced and savory. For our sides, We picked the mashed bananas and the staff chose the groundnut sauce and beans as our other two. The groundnut sauce, which was made from peanuts, paired really nicely with the mashed bananas. Since the bananas reminded me of mashed potatoes, this felt like a nuttier and healthier version of mashed potatoes and gravy. The beans were really good too. Super flavorful. The chicken stew was so so so good. The chicken was so tender and flavorful, and the meat fell off the bones. The soup was also warm and hearty and I couldn't get enough of it. Highly recommend. We also tried the veggie samosas. They were delicious (although a little bit too spicy for me... haha), so I'd only recommend it if you like spicy food. They do have non spicy samosas too though. I can't wait to come back!

    Menu
    Leo Y.

    I have been slowly working through the world's cuisines, so I was excited to discover a Ugandan restaurant close to me. I will admit that I needed to look on a map to see where Uganda is, and what is typically eaten there. Parking was a bit of a challenge as it is a busy area with many excellent restaurants, offices, and residences, but it took just a bit of a drive to find a spot. The area is nice and safe, so there was no qualm about walking from the car, in the dark. There was a menu posted outside as well as a QR code inside. We chose three samosas, chicken, beef, and vegetable, and they were excellent. We also had the beef stew, peanut sauce, white rice, veggies, potato, and something else. I had the tea with milk at the end of my meal. The experience was like walking into someone's house for dinner. Everyone, from other guests to all the employees were very welcoming and pleasant. The food all tasted like it was home made at an excellent cook's house. The portion size was impressive, especially for the price. I came hungry and it was a struggle to finish what was on my plate. The beans/peanut sauce did not get finished, even though, they were amazing. It was a surprisingly large restaurant with clean restrooms, booth and table seating, and both counter and table service. To pay, we went up to the front and then listed what we ordered. I have experienced this method in other African restaurants as well. I can't wait to come back and try their other dishes. If I had lived closer, I'd be here once a week.

    Samosas
    Aakanksha S.

    We tried one of each of the samosas, but they were underwhelming. The coconut chicken and chapati were definitely the highlight, and made me wish I hadn't filled up on the samosas. Would absolutely recommend stopping by for the coconut chicken. Unfortunately I have to take a point off for the service--it was quite friendly, but hard to navigate! The restaurant was relatively empty and we couldn't figure out whether to order at the counter or be seated. We were eventually told to take a seat and someone would be around to take our order, but we had a long wait before anyone came around--we went back up to the counter to see if we could catch anyone's attention that way either, no luck. Overall it seems like it's all part of the laid back vibe here (when we were here, half the tables weren't ordering food, just chilling with each other and the workers), but I wouldn't recommend if you want food quick!

    Karibu Platter with Tilapia Stew
    Randy T.

    Outstanding food with excellent service. I ordered the Karibu platter, which allows for the sampling of a few starches, some vegetables, and a stew. My choices were the tilapia stew, beans, rice, matsooke (steamed highland bananas), and ugali (cornmeal). Upon arrival, the owner greeted me and asked me for my choice of part of the fish. I chose the center. He also asked me if I had peanut allergies (I don't), but I was very impressed. Can't remember the last time I've gone to a restaurant that verified for allergies. Onto the food - the food is definitely unique for the Waltham neighborhood. The tilapia stew was delicious and well seasoned. The fish is served with bones, but the bones are so large that you won't have a lot of problems picking them out. By the end, I was thoroughly scouring the fish for any delicious remnants. The steamed highland bananas are not like the bananas you'd typically get to go with your cereal or açaí bowl. They have a texture slightly grainier than mashed potatoes and go very well with a peanut sauce that was recommended by the owner. I'm not sure if the cornmeal was also supposed to go with the peanut sauce, but I ate those together as well too. Karibu has really cool food that I tried for the first time. Definitely recommend!

    Coconut chicken, rice, plantains, spinach, chapati
    Madow N.

    First time customer. Great service and great food. They were quick, friendly and accommodating. The meat and veggie samosas were really good. Crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside. Very well seasoned. The coconut chicken was lovely. Not greasy or too heavy. Again perfectly seasoned. Parking was easy. There was an inexpensive lot within a block. Street parking is also available but saw a lot of 1 hour spots. The decor is lacking. The place can use a little sprucing/brightening up. But it was clean and spacious. Will be back.

    Fish stew, beef stew, chapati, beef rice and veggies

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    1 year ago

    What a hidden treasure. I can't wait to go back and experience more of this unique and delicious cuisine.

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    1 year ago

    Great samosas (esp spicy beef!) mandazi, chapati, and ginger tea. Relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

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    3 years ago

    Wonderful food!! I was a bit surprised by the counter at the front, but someone helped me, and the food was delicious and filling.

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    Ask the Community - Karibu

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    This has been my favorite Ethiopian restaurant I've found in Boston so far! I've ordered delivery…read moreon several occasions, but this was my first time in the space itself. I love it because it actually is like a cafe, just with a full service menu. There were people doing work or having a quiet meal to themselves. (I went on the evening of Marathon Monday). My sister and I ordered the meat veggie combo for 2, where you get 1 meat entree and four veggie sides of your choice. We got the lega tibs, tikil gomen, shiro wot, misir wot, and kik alicha. We were quite hungry so we cleared the entire thing. It was a perfect portion for two! The injera is soft and the proportion was perfect. I would love to come back for a meal or to even grab a quick lunch! Or to study and eat at the same time ...

    Excellent! Highly recommended. I am new to the cuisine, but niece invited me to try. The beef combo…read morefor two was great. The variety of vegetables sides were wonderful with different flavors and textures. The sides were so good that next time I might just try the veggie combo. We got a medium spice and it was warm and flavorful, but not over powering. Priced very competitively for Huntington Avenue Boston. I would highly recommend it. Just be prepared that the cuisine is eaten with fresh flat bread not with utensils so wash your hands and get ready for a delicious experience. Note you order at counter, but the service was quick and friendly. Also try the traditional Ethiopian coffee. The presentation is amazing and it is a deep flavorful coffee. My niece recommends the peanut tea - she said it taste like like drinking a yummy peanut butter smoothie.

    Karibu - african - Updated May 2026

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