So my gf, me and my big came here on a Wednesday evening. Neither of us has been here and two of us never had any African food before. We came in, a woman who appears to be the owner of the restaurant sat us down and narrated us the menu. Correct, no paper menu lol. She is super nice, very patient, always has a smile on her face and covers her mouth laughing when we complemented her food that was too fantastic. Food is great, idk what is authentic African food but was great, especially the nang-like bread; Environment was little dark at the time, could use some more lighting; Price was 16$ per person for the off-menu family style dinner. read more

Karibu - African Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Excellent food! Nothing fancy, a hidden gem! The coconut chicken and samosas were delicious and the meat so tender. Highly recommend. read more

A nice inviting restaurant with the authentic flavors of Uganda. Try the flavorful beef or fish stew, try the banana with peanut sauce, try it all. You can't go wrong. Most of all come for the pleasant conversation with the owner and her family. A hidden gem in Waltham. read more

Karibu - African Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Consistently-delicious food and great for meat eaters and strict vegetarian (you can trust their veg dishes). Casual, cafeteria-style lunch service with super-tasty, hearty options. Even their mixed veg and stewed potatoes are well-seasoned and delicious all on their own. If you eat beef, definitely try their beef stew. read more

Karibu is definitely a hidden gem tucked on the corner of Crescent St.! There were a variety of East African dishes, where you could pick and choose what you like (think about a Chipotle-style service) with an extremely generous portion as a bonus! Came here with a coworker for lunch, and we were intrigued to try out almost everything! We ended up having a humongous lunch feast :) Not to mention, the owner/chef was very friendly and patient with us asking questions on almost every food they were serving. Some highlights: 1. Life-changing samosas! Make sure you get the chili sauce on the side. 2. Fish and beef curries 3. Nshima (white corn "carb" dish) -- authentic African dish. 4. Chapati -- don't be alarmed, there's actually a rich Indian diaspora in East African countries :) read more

Karibu - African Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

One of my favorite places in Waltham. Quick, and delicious. I'm a pescatarian and the fish, beans, potatoes, and spinach dish... that's my go to. Can't rave enough about this place. Perfectly seasoned with a flair of the Motherland. read more

My whole family loved it, which doesn't always happen with international food. Highly recommend, especially the beef stew, samosas, and peanut sauce. It reminded me of my visit to Uganda several years ago. read more

Not at all what I was hoping for. The staff was hospitable but unfortunately the food was nothing I would return for.

Phenomenal African food, we stopped in after hearing rave reviews about Karibu. We specifically heard about the coconut chicken so we gave that a go & WOW it delivered. The chicken was so flavorful and so tender that it fell apart with a spoon we also were debating between the samosas and ended up getting all 3 - chicken, veggie, and beef. The chicken samosa was by far the best. In total, the coconut chicken & 3 samosas were $14. read more

If only the terms "hidden gem" and "best kept secret" were not so clichéd, they would apply perfectly to Karibu. There don't seem to be many Ugandan and / or Tanzanian restaurants in the US, so the town of Waltham, MA gets extra respect for being home to Karibu. The food is delicious, and the people working here are very gracious. The stewed tilapia pairs great with the chapatti or with rice. Watch out for the bones in the tilapia. The chapatti is such perfection in terms of taste and texture, I could eat it everyday with anything, or just by itself. The samosas are a great snack. As somebody else has pointed out, they are different from the various kinds of Indian / Pakistani samosas. I'm a fan of the perfectly crunchy exterior and the savory filling. My favorite is the veggie samosa, which is surprising, given the fact that I'm primarily a meat-eater. The chicken with coconut curry is tasty, but they don't serve it everyday, so try it if they happen to have it on the day of your visit. The peanut sauce is more like a flavorful gravy to pour over your meat, vegetables or rice, for added flavor and texture. I haven't tried any desserts here because I just never have any stomach capacity left after gormandizing on all the savories. read more

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Happened to be in DT Waltham and was debating over Italian or Mexican and happened to glance over and see Karibu. I then debated whether I wanted to try a new type of food as I was starving to death. Boy, did I make the right choice. 100 times out of a 100 my adventurous spirit pays off in spades! Walked in to a simple place with what looked like cafeteria style service. It's not, but that was my first impression. I spoke with the owner and asked about a menu, but they were out at that particular moment. I bravely told the kind man to serve me anything vegetarian that he thought I would love. Again, one point for adventure! He brought out, very quickly I might add, my drink and plates. What followed can only be described as some of the best non-American food I've ever tasted. My plate was full of food when he placed my plate in front of me. I had a heaping pile of rice, some spinach, an Irish potato, a yam and a yucca. He also brought out a bowl of beans and a side of peanut sauce. I cleaned that plate UP. Were it not for my own personal germs they could have re-used that plate. Everything was seasoned perfectly. The flavor of the food was just astounding. I didn't think I'd like the root foods as they tend to be bland, but these, with peanut sauce turned out to be some of my favorite things. The beans were, oh my god. I think they were better than my mom's which I will deny saying if ever confronted. But still. THEY WERE. Get here and try this place out. Take a chance, you will not be disappointed and you'll feed your adventurous spirit to boot! read more

Karibu - Rice, spinach, Irish potato, yam, yucca, beans and peanut sauce! Filling! - African Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

This Resturant is surprising awesome. I had never had real sub Saharan East African food. This food is very tasty and can be very addictive. The place is good sized the servers are very responsive and friendly they suggest for you some great things on the menu which are organic since in Africa most food is produced naturally organically which makes it so special and wholesome l. The aromas cam make you think you are on a different planet. Food is priced fairly. read more

My favorite discovery since being in quarantine! They are serving a limited menu (so few of the things I was hoping to order, after finding the menu online, were unavailable) but the owner is super friendly and gave terrific suggestions. Ordered beef stew, vegetable samosas (LOVE samosas and these ones are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, so crisp and so much flavor), a vegetable chapati wrap, some chicken, a side order of beans and two pieces of chapati bread. The bread...delicious on its own and so good topped with the chicken and beans. read more

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Casava, yams and plantains base for peanut sauce, beans and spinach. I was very hungry and it was ok. The rice has meat and they had meat dishes. Vimto is a soda from Africa or maybe the Middle East (conflicting reports, not obvious from can). I guess it felt like a vegetarian compromise, a bit starchy. Interesting flavors, subtle, not spicy. I was looking for hot sauce 3 booths, 9 tables, one big screen TV, steam table, display cases, and African artwork on the walls. The TV blared news, that killed the ambiance for me. The man served us, read about the woman, she stopped by and was nice. read more

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What an absolute gem. There's a unique joy and appreciation that comes from discovering something marvelous by chance. I was wandering around Sunday night looking for dinner, found Karibu, and decided to try it based on all the glowing reviews. I did not expect to find such a wonderful dining experience on a quiet street in Waltham, MA, but all the glowing reviews rang true. The owner was welcoming, kind, helpful, and attentive. The space was nicely designed, pleasant, and comfortable. I loved how the meal was chef's choice. I sat down and after a few short questions from the server, plate after plate of food arrived shortly after. The samosas, the chapati, the vegetables, the stew; it was all delicious, hearty, hot, and fresh. If you're in Waltham, MA, or Massachusetts in general, you should absolutely dine here and bring your appetite. read more

Karibu was an amazing experience. It's a bit unassuming from the outside but inside you will find a nice sized restaurant. The lady that worked at the counter was warm, welcoming, and extremely helpful as I had no idea what I should order. It also helped that the patron standing next to me was friendly and shared w me some recommendations. The food was excellent read more

Absolutely delicious food. Not a place I would have wandered into without several good yelp reviews so I'm glad we were feeling adventurous enough to try it. There's no menu and no prices so you need to brace yourself. He will come talk to you about what they have and bring you family style entrees. We paid $90 for two adults and three children. This wasn't actually a terrible deal because we were staying close enough to be able to take leftovers and it fed our family three times. I would give five stars, but he didn't actually bring us what we ordered. I was anxious to try the mashed plantains and peanut sauce but he brought us potatoes and spinach instead. Everything was delicious and we didn't complain to him. The samosas. Are. The bomb. I ordered extra to bring to the hotel for dinner. We also had the coconut chicken curry and chapati, as well as rice with beef and everything was really tasty. It was Easter Sunday so I called ahead and they had a place for us when we arrived. read more

Food and service were amazing. I was greeted by the owner, who I asked to pick me her favorite items and they did not disappoint--beef stew, matooka, and rice. She also gave me a chicken samosa to try for free--it was the best samosa I've ever had with flaky crust and extremely flavorful filling. Would definitely visit this spot if I find myself in Waltham again! read more

I'm a goof for not trying Karibu sooner, but thank goodness for a sequence of events that led to being tired, Karibu venturing into Door Dash delivery service, and ultimately Ngege/Samaki (Tilapia Stew) (***so flavorful***) (don't be afraid of the bones, that's just how animals/fishes are made, and seafood is almost always tastier when cooked with bone-in or shell-on) (but don't eat the bones, unless they're tiny sardine/anchovy bones), Matooke (google it then order it), Rice, and greens with mm peanut sauce appearing at my door, with help from Leonardo & co @ Door Dash. Next time I will go to there. And while we're on the subject of recommending magnificent things and people [originally] from Uganda [but now full-on Watch City Wonder-people], dare I say: Vote Sharline Nabulime, Ward 6 :) read more

I like that east African food (other than Ethiopian) has some representation. They do dishes that are common in Burundi, Kenya, and Uganda. And, The dishes are pretty authentic. Ok, now as for the food itself, it's not my favorite. The chicken could've been warmer though the peanut sauce was good. The sides were a nice experience with less commonly experienced flavors and textures. And the price is reasonable. They are nice. So, go and check it out at least once. read more

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The food was solid. I'd go back there anytime. My only issue was with the service. They were out of a lot of foods, and the ordering window was in a small area filled with people. It was a bit difficult to social distance. If you order online and pick up, it goes much smoother. Would recommend for some good African food! read more

Absolutely wonderful experience with East African cuisine, made with the highest quality ingredients, some sourced from Africa. Friendly, attentive service. Highly recommended! read more

We chose to eat dinner at Karibu last night because many restaurants in the area are closed on Mondays. Did we ever get lucky. We had a fantastic meal that was prepared after we ordered it. It came out fresh and hot. We tried the chapti and somosas as appetizers. Our main meal consisted of beef stew/ chicken stew which was accompanied by rice, mashed plantains, spinach/vege mix. The wonderful lady who helped us brought us some peanut sauce to try as well. In the end, she finished us up with fried plantains. Sound like a lot? It was! And every bit of it was delicious and perfectly seasoned. If you have the opportunity to try this restaurant, I would highly recommend it. read more

Amazing authentic and wonderful. If you've been or from Uganda this is your place in Massachusetts!

This was an excellent dining experience! The food was fresh, flavorful, and very reasonably priced. I would recommend the veggie samosas and mango juice in particular. The service was friendly and overall fantastic. I would highly recommend stopping in! read more

One of a kind and absolutely delicious. The samosas are fresh and flavorful, the coconut chicken curry is awesome. Beef stew, beans and chapati bread also great. Super friendly service and reasonably priced. Try the Zanzibar hot sauce. Unique and wonderful. read more

I went to the restaurant on 8.50pm. The lady said we are sold. I was sad. Cuz today my first time to have African food. She was loveably thoughtful to say sorry and gave some Samosas to me and my buddy. I will be back there again soon. (^_^)_/\_ thank you for be nice. I love people who be kind. read more

My husband went there today and got me a spinach wrap and he had chicken stew with potatoes and beans. Very polite service and clean inside . This place stays busy with may cab drivers and locals . I forgot to take pictures i will next time read more

Oooh I loved Karibu but it'a definitely not a conventional ordering experience. We basically sat down and a nice lady brought us a lot of great food until we were full. There was no menu and we didn't make any choices she just kept bringing us whatever the chef thought we would like. I loved everything! You have to come in with an open mind but it's a truly great experience read more

Came here for the samosas and wow they're amazing!! Will definitely be coming back for more. Only one issue-- we got quite a few of them and decided to try just 2 of the spicy ones while getting the rest of them mild. In the end, we ended up with lots of spicy ones and only two mild ones due to a mix up on their end. Good thing the spicy ones were delicious as they had the perfect amount of spice. read more

Delicious, quick, and friendly service. This is a hidden gem. We had the meat and the chicken stew, plus the samosas. Everything was clearly lovingly made, felt like home. read more

The food was incredible. I am new to African food and the people working there provided excellent suggestions to try. The staff is very friendly and kind. I would highly recommend it to those in the area. read more

WOW, what are you Yelpers even talking about??? It's not that I am not an adventuresome eater, because I am. I'm probably at least 10X more adventuresome than any you are lol. But this meal just wasn't good. And frankly, it's wasn't even remotely adventuresome (except the grasshoppers they apparently serve). Nyama (beef stew) was so tough, I had to spit most of it out! Ngege/Samaki (tilapia stew, chapati on side) and Nanansi (pineapple custard dessert) were also underwhelming. Didn't have the samosas; maybe those are good. I'll be generous and give them a second star because of the theoretical goodness of those samosas you all rave about. Don't say I'm not a nice guy lol. Try it if you are looking for something different, but don't say I didn't warn you. [GRATUITOUS RANT: I know a lot of chefs and restaurant owners, and it always annoys me when they complain about online reviewers who didn't complain to their staff during a meal so the restaurant had a chance to fix any problems before a review appeared online. Well, sorry, but I NEVER complain in person. Everyone's different, but that's the way I am, take it or leave it. But I still expect a good meal. Is that too much to ask? And BTW, I'm not interested in a refund, free food (which I always turn down), an excuse about how you are understaffed tonight, or an apology. Just do a good job at your chosen profession. I'm not a professional reviewer; you have one chance to impress me, and then you get your review for what it's worth. As far as the impact of one review, let's be honest and admit it is minimal. The value of sites like Yelp is in quantifying large numbers of individual one-off experiences. Just like reviews of a electric razor on Amazon. If there is a trend between reviews, the business should fix their systemic problems and stop trying to "make it right" customer by customer. That's just making excuses. As for Karibu, I'm sure readers can make up their own mind from among the 80+ reviews as to whether they want to dine here or not. I've given you my opinion.] read more

We have spent extensive time in Uganda and we love Karibu. Our two visits have been great. Chapati, matoke, g-nut sauce, pilau, samosas, beef stew...everything we've eaten has been terrific. It feels like we're back in Kampala or Fort Portal or Mbale! Our service has been extremely kind and helpful. This mzungu highly recommends Karibu for great East African cuisine. Webale nyo! read more

I love this place! Delicious food, great prices and very friendly staff and owners. I recommend the chicken or beef with rice, veggies, plaintains, chapati and mandazi (fried dough rolls)! read more

First time here and so pleased. Very nice ambiance with very friendly and welcoming staff. The food was tasty, fresh, and homemade. There aren't menus, and I didn't get her name, but a lovely hostess explained the dishes that were available and brought us an amazing spread. The coconut chicken..... nom nom nom. The price was extremely reasonable and almost shocking. We will definitely return! read more

Karibu - African Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

We found ourselves in Waltham after a day of biking. We were looking for a vegetarian restaurant. We searched yelp and saw this African restaurant listed and we decided to give it a try. The owner was extraordinarily hospitable. He offered two ways to order: choose some vegetarian dishes for quick service or relax and spend some time letting him introduce us to some of his offerings. We chose the latter and I think we chose well. We enjoyed a sampling of traditional vegetarian delights: mashed plantains, spinach, manioc, potato and corn. The sauces that accompanied the meal were peanut and bean. I would highly recommend this great culinary experience. read more

Karibu - African Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Great African cuisine, great service, great ambience! I was feeling homesick and walking in for a meal was everything I needed! Definitely highly recommend. read more

I have had two really great experiences and one negative experience at Karibu. I have lived in Uganda for a year and the food is authentic. Going to Kirabu is like stepping into a portal and being transported to Uganda. It is very tasty. As other reviewers have noted, the usual customers are East Africans. The peanut sauce (called g-nut sauce) is amazing. The wait staff is very friendly and I had great times talking to them about Uganda while trying out the few Luganda words I still remember. Obviously, going to Kirabu is great for anyone who has been to East Africa. This is also the downside. Like in Uganda, the wait staff believes they can close the restaurant at anytime. Last night I drove with a friend from Uganda and arrived a half-hour before posted closing time. The open sign was still up yet the staff had just locked the door. They refused to let us in. Even after we talked to them in Luganda and explained to them that we had driven from Braintree to eat there. A good piece of advice, is to call first if you are coming in the morning and or in the late evening. Other reviewers have also noted that the prices feel a little steep for what you get. I would disagree. The atmosphere is barebones. Yet, so are most restaurants in Uganda. At Karibu, you are paying a premium for the only Ugandan restaurant in the Boston metro area. If not, all of New England. Or for that matter, all of the United States. read more

A lot of the other reviews here are now anachronistic. A woman comes over to you if you're white, ie oblivious, and asks if you would like to try the samosas. They were deeelish- they're crunchier than the Indian variety. Then we ordered some tea, which had a really strong and yum cardamom flavor. The woman told us what they had available for the day, and we ordered the steamed plantains, peanut sauce, spinach, chipati (sp?), beans, and ugali. Note here, that if you just order the vegetarian 'sides', your food will be way, way cheaper. The food arrived and we got heaping portions. The peanut sauce was HEAVEN. It's chunky, salty, sweet, savory, and just all around mmmtastic. It went really well with the other food. The chapati was ultra fresh and had the perfect chewy factor. And we were absolutely stuffed at the end! The woman was also extremely considerate and helpful. Also, there isn't anything loud on the tv anymore- they just had CNN on at a reasonable volume. I will definitely come back here, and bring my friends. read more