First time trying Kenyan food and I'm super happy I came to Rafiki restaurant! The service was great, I was helped by Tracy and she was so sweet, made great recommendations and was very attentive. The samosas were served with lime which I've never had before, in the past I usually get sauces, but the lime went great with them! The beef stew was packed with flavor. And don't get me started on the collard greens (I ate them up) The ugali didn't have much of a flavor but I'm assuming that's the point. It soaked up the sauce of the beef stew perfectly. I loved the chewy texture as well. I will definitely be coming back! read more

Rafiki Restaurant & Lounge - Samosa - Lounges Near Me - Kent, Washington

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One of the best experiences I've had in a while. My Girlfriend and I love the atmosphere and the food was amazing! Service was really fast and the workers were really nice! 맛있는 음식 고마워요! read more

I'm going to straight Big Up this spot! First of all the food! Damn so delicious! The tastes were amazing. Just right! The flavors, the herbs, seasonings just on point. The sauce with that fish! I would drink it! The wait was long. Plus the place being packed with patrons. It was worth it. Food came out piping hot and the first bite! Like yum! The indoor set up was nice. Can turn into a dance club in the evenings. They said live music playing Thursday to Sunday! For sure I'm coming back! read more

Rafiki Restaurant & Lounge - Fish, kale and forgot the.Name if it butttt SOOOOOOO good! - Lounges Near Me - Kent, Washington

I really wanted to like this restaurant in its new location on Kent-Kangley Road. It is the closest restaurant to our house, and the neon green exterior caught our attention. My husband and I were excited to try Kenyan food for the first time, but unfortunately, we were very disappointed with the dry fish and goat stew. The fish was juicy, but it was underseasoned. The goat stew was incredibly chewy and contained sharp shards of bone. One piece was so thin and sharp that I initially thought it was a fish bone, although it may have come from the goat. Either way, it was unpleasant and concerning. Chewy meat in a stew is unacceptable. The whole point of stewing a tougher, less expensive cut of meat is to cook it until it becomes tender. In that regard, the goat was significantly undercooked. We were excited to support a nearby restaurant and try something new. Given how close it is to our home, we could have become regular customers, but after this experience, we will not be going back. read more

Rafiki Restaurant & Lounge - Lounges Near Me - Kent, Washington

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My family's first time trying East African/Kenyan food, and everyone, including my toddler, enjoyed it. The server who took my order over the phone is friendly, answered my questions and helped me choose the sides. The establishment is half restaurant and half bar. Turn left after you enter through the door to get to the restaurant part. Food: Rafiki basket (3 appetizer combo) - mandazi (fried bread, slightly sweet) is my favorite, followed by the samosa (beef filling, kind of oily) Samaki WA Nchuzi (fried whole tilapia with sauce) - the sauce is not spicy, bright with lime and tomato. Mbuzi Kaanga (goat stew) - some bones as expected. Goat meat is tender and flavorful, though portion isn't that big. For sides we tried the collard greens, Ugali (white corn mash, very dense, not my favorite) and chapati. Overall a good first experience. We want to come back to try other dishes. read more

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Out by 12am. Food was great. Vibe was right. Music was right. Service was great. First time, won't be the last time. Bravo

Great food, friendly staff, and a really nice atmosphere. The service was quick and everything tasted delicious. Had a great time here and would definitely come back! read more

This Kenyan restaurant is a must. In a cute little downtown like area. This restaurant has some pretty good African cuisine that you don't see typically in the Seattle area. I enjoy the different stews that they have with their ugali. My go to has been the grilled goat or the fried fish. Some of my favorite dishes are the Kenyon sausage and the Kenyon chai. Be prepared to eat with your hands. Service was patient with me, figuring out what I wanted to order. read more

Was a regular customer but our cars got towed one Saturday. The club owners were alerted before the tow by the apartment complex manager to alert their customers NOT to park across the street but NO ONE said anything. The security outside saw the cars being towed and were laughing and exchanging glances. They never announced for customers to come out and get the cars. WE froze outside for hours without anyone helping us get to the tow company to get our cars. We will NOT be returning. We felt as if the business owners DONT care about the customers. WE came, paid at the door, bought drink.. n now we didnt matter anymore!!! read more

Delicious dry fish , greens, fish gravy , and a new potato/hominy side that was super filling ! The goat soup was creamy and packed with marrow /bone proteins! Just the thing to keep you warm on a cold day Shout out to Flavian ( our server ) for exemplary service , a warm welcome , and great menu suggestions ! 10/10 would eat here again if we were locals. read more

This was my first time trying out Kenyan food and this was such a good experience. Loved the menu, I was surprised that Kenyan food has so much Indian influence. Samosa, roti, chapati just sounded super familiar. I went for fried Tilapia and it was delicious. I don't have the necessary skills to eat the fish cleanly but I still enjoyed the meal. The green that came with it was also superb. This was my first time trying corn based ugali. Unique experience. Highly recommended place to expand your flavour profile. The service was super nice. The ambience was more average. The ambience is the only reason I couldn't give this a solid 5. But it's definitely 4.5. read more

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Food: Ordered Samaki Kaanga (Dry Fish) - The fish was well cooked and well seasoned. It was crispy and moist. Came with a side of chapati (and asked for gravy on the side), this was delicious. The slightly chewy texture and dipped in the gravy was such a great combo. Ordered Nyama Kaange (Beef stew) - it was moist, the meat was a little chewy and tough to chew, however the flavor of the stew helped. Service: They were friendly and our dishes came out in a reasonable time. Ambiance: It was bright and open. Overrall, it was a great experience as a first timer trying Kenya Food for the first time. read more

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I still love the music and the food here. The restaurant is still five stars for the food and for the most part the customers are cool. The usual ups and downs of people being people HOWEVER there is a dramatic downshift in the staff etiquette. The female servers are EXTREMELY rude to female patrons. Poor service ranges from simply ignoring single-appearing ladies, to acknowledging them THEN ignoring them for male customers , even worse so - the pushing and shoving they do to get from the bar to the table is ridiculous. Two visits ago only the male server would take our orders and we tipped him well but a female bartender came up every time to remove the money- we let him know so he could get his tip. They could see the money under the bar mat from across the bar but not us to serve us like magic! This last time we did not deal with the bar to ensure a good time, my boyfriend got our drinks. Still, one short wider female server repeatedly beelined for my friend and I every time she served the nearby table, intentionally pushing past us and spilling drinks on my friend for no reason. I made room to make sure it was just an accident. It wasn't, she still chose to go closer to my friend and push her while she danced with someone. This behavior is unexplainable, unnecessary and unprofessional. read more

We got a good service the food was on time. The lady by the name Owiti was attentive, friendly and making sure we had everything we needed. From greeting us from the table to the final check. The whole service was impeccable we appreciate. read more

This restaurant pleasantly surprised me. Don't be intimidated by the exterior of the business. From the outside, it looks like a sports bar. That's because it is -- kind of. Half of the business is a lounge/bar. The other half is separate to the left of the business and is a chill, standard restaurant. The servers were nice and more importantly, patient. They have no problem explaining the dishes to you. If you haven't given African food a try, give this place a shot! read more

Great food. Their fries are amazing and unique. Enjoyed with fresh deep fried tilapia. We also had original mukimo and Tusker lager Kenyan beer and music to boot. Fantastic place for. Kenyan cuisine experience. read more

This review is for food ordered via uber eats. I had the goat stew/goat fried and cornmeal with collard greens. The food was outstanding! Very flavorful. The goat was not gamey at all and very nice with the cornmeal as i used it to soak up the sauce. The collard greens were the best i have ever had, and this coming from the perspective of having grown up in Atlanta Ga with southern greens. No trace of bitterness and the greens were garlicky and buttery with some aromatics. Would love to try this place in person next time. read more

Went in on a Sunday evening, which was quite busy. Finding seats despite the peak hours was easy, and a server was available in real good time. Starters were brought not much longer after we ordered, but the main course took a wee bit too long. Staff was quite friendly, they seemed understaffed as well. Food was absolutely delicious, despite the long wait time. Was advised to call ahead of coming to get your order started especially during busier times. read more

Rafiki Restaurant & Lounge - Ugali, samaki and sukumawiki ( cornbread, tilapia and collard greens) - Lounges Near Me - Kent, Washington

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This place is awesome, the ambiance is really good on a Sunday brunch. Service was excellent to say the least, our server Purity was the best. It all gave me a very nostalgic experience. I ordered and had the chance to eat my favorite meal from back home and it didn't disappoint. Well done, 5 stars well deserved. read more

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I swear this place has the best music and they know how to their drinks right! We showed up late after the restaurant was closed but the appetizer menu was still open. I gobbled down the Mandazi and their chicken wings with those fries! I literally want to go back to try their main dishes if the appetizer are just that good. The samosas are spicy but have a good taste to them, I could only get through half before my mouth started burning haha. Their service is an example of "service with a smile". It's quick, friendly and you get your food and drinks fast! They make great mixed cocktails. I had a margarita and it was perfect! It is far from where I live but I would love to return! read more

Always great service! The staff are friendly and welcoming. I have been going here for 5 years. Recommend others to go! read more

Food was delicious but service sucked. Girl at front counter was not friendly at all and made me feel like I had no business being there

Food was yummy! Jerome was very hospitable. Definitely would come back to eat & to check out their lounge on the weekends. read more

Rafiki Restaurant & Lounge - chicken curry & beef stew - Lounges Near Me - Kent, Washington

The security at the door is lazy asf he don't search people what if someone get in with a gun or knife and he is not professional

I usually don't complain but this experience begged to be exposed. First of all, if you want nyama choma (charbroiled/grilled meat), this is not the place for you. The meat was overcooked on the stove top which caused it to be tough and dry. Small servings as well. False advertisement on their part. Second, long wait times for food and drinks. They then got one of our drink orders wrong and when we asked for the correct one, they charged us for both drinks! The wrong drink was barely touched. Will not be returning and cannot recommend it to anyone. Go elsewhere for better food and service. read more

Most of the food was just okay, but the meat in the goat stew was very tough (must've spent a full minute on some bites) and the collard greens barely had flavor. Our waitress was nice, but slow (and there were only 2-3 other groups). Good ambiance, but the booth seats were so far from the table, I almost fell off trying to eat. read more

Good spot. Great service and the food too though music was too too loud to have any meaningful conversation, the space is limited so getting a spot to sit is tricky . read more

I ordered the samosas over the phone when I got there they were ready to go. The samosas were great and the taste was delicious. The place I usually go to makes there's bigger and uses a different type of crust. But these were just as good with the squeeze of a lime read more

Rafiki Restaurant & Lounge - Samosa - Lounges Near Me - Kent, Washington

Flavor is almost there. We stopped in right at opening on a Monday. They didn't have samosas, so technically we couldn't try the sample basket, which has all the appetizers. We did have the sausage and maandazi. The maandazi tasted stale, not fresh. However, the sausage was delicious. My boyfriend got the fried fish and I got the grilled chicken. The chicken was very moist and seasoned well. The pilau was lacking some flavor. The fried fish also wasn't the best we've had, it was pretty good. The service seemed nice, it wasn't busy at all but we did have to flag down a waitress every time we needed something. Overall, not bad. I would recommend the sausage and the grilled chicken. read more

Samosas were on point, like a Decimal!!! Will review the rest of the food upon arrival home and completion of assignment. Those red hoodies 4 employees weren't inclusive enough for me to consider purchasing; Red. Last time I checked, Kenya has 4 colors. read more

Great food, excellent and very proffesional service, and a nice calm and warm ambience to dine in. Would definitely recommend.

Lunch with my dude near my place of employment. Something different turned out to be something amazingly good and seasoned well. We listens to music and enjoyed our grilled lamb, collard greens, samosas, rice and grilled beef. I understand they also have a night life of entertainment. read more

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The wet fish had some of the best sauce I've ever tasted. I also got the greens and flat bread. Greens and flat bread are delicious, especially together. read more

Oh my gosh! Very ethnic and tasty food. We ordered the goat stew and dry fish with pilau and Kenya's version on naan bread influenced... it was extremely tasty and yummy. Better than 99% of the Indian restaurants we've eaten. Their samosas are meat filled version and yummy. It's small and busy, not the fastest service but it's because they cook their food when ordered! Extremely worth every penny. No complaints. Bonus: Ann our waitress was very informative about the menu and broke it down to what is popular, recommended, best and paired with sides. She's awesome! Our plates were empty and fished deboned! Will return! 100 stars. read more

Rafiki Restaurant & Lounge - Goat stew - Lounges Near Me - Kent, Washington

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This is a little hidden gem in downtown Kent, WA. We happened upon it after leaving another place of business. The staff was very friendly. The atmosphere was very comfortable. I was there with friends and family, this is important because the wait for meal was a little slow. Our drinks came fast though. We were able to relax and enjoy each other's company, catch up on our life. For this we did not mind that the meal didn't come in an instant. Quality time together is just what we needed, the great food made it all the better. read more

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I've only been here once because a friend invited me. The food was great. That was my first time eating Kenyan food and it made me want to study about the Asian (India to be specific) influence in their cuisine. It's a lounge that's used as a club at night. It's best to go with someone due to the interior design and ambiance. You can order to go too. The only downside was, my order wasn't complete. I noticed it when I was miles away from the place. You can go as a family in the day time. I wish there was a parking nearby, I would've stayed a little longer. read more

Am visiting this place for the first time from California & heard so much about it, so was super excited, the place is clean and presentable, BUT, my dad, sister and her husband who leave in the area ordered our food but to our disappointment, we waited for the food for over an hour, the food sucked & to make matters worse all our food came out COLD, poor! Poor! Service. I hear the club apart is fun? i surely hope so cause at this point, I need to be convinced about this places read more

Came here with some friends because we wanted to try Kenyan food. The food here is amazing! Loved what my friend and I ordered. I order the chicken curry (I forgot the actual name) and my friend ordered the fried basmati rice (also forgot the actual name). We got the samosa as a appetizer. It was soooo good! Definitely order this when you go there! The chicken curry was very good. A little on the dry side but still it had enough sauce to balance it. My plate had their collard greens and Kenyan flat bread. The side were great also. The fried basmati rice had pieces of beef mixed it. It was very tasty. I included a picture my other friend order; Samaki Kaanga (Fried Fish), from what he told me it was very good. I believe this is the restaurant's famous fish. To try I ordered the Kenyan beer Tusker, I mean who can say they've had beer straight from Kenyan without actually going there. It was a lager and tasted like Budweiser. I would recommend this restaurant to people who have never had Kenyan food. It was a great experience since it was our first time. read more

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Tried this out for lunch last Sunday and I wasn't disappointed! It was fairly quiet inside and relaxing. Servers were polite and prompt. I've never had food like it so I was excited to try anything. I got beef stew with a flat bread and stewed collard greens. So good! read more

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Great food. The collard greens are the best I've ever had. Too bad the service was really slow even when there was barely any customers.