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    Safari

    4.4 (267 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Safari Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    SAFARI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Safari

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mango veggie currry
    Oliver C.

    Still phenomenal! Love the somali coffee too (has ginger, cardamom, other spices) and had the crepes for dessert. Highly recommend getting as much of the sabbayad (flaky chewy chapati) as you can eat, it is delish!

    Banana
    Idrees K.

    Safari completely won me over -- Somali food might be one of my new favorite cuisines! We tried the Beef Suqaar, Mango Curry Chicken, and Hilib Ari, and every single dish was full of flavor. The owner was so warm and welcoming, and the ambiance was very authentic, which made the whole experience even better. Definitely ask for bananas with your rice -- it takes the meal to another level!

    Sambusa
    Yoko K.

    We ordered Hilib Ari(goat), lam shoulder, mango curry chicken, crepe and donut. They are all amazing!! My son who is a very picky eater loves it and says, "We need come back every time we visit Central Park!"

    Hooyo Faduma's Mango Curry Chicken
    Vivienne C.

    This has been part of my saved list for such a long time and I'm so glad I finally got to try it out. We came on a weekend lunch and I was really surprised that there was no one in the store. I ordered the Mango Curry Chicken and it was absolutely delicious. I love the way the sweetness of the mangos bring out the flavor of the chicken. Also surprisingly the curry reminded me a bit of Thai curry as the flavor profile was a lot milder than what I expected. There was a vegetable in there, maybe it was a huge spice I'm not sure, that I didn't know about that was interesting and that I wasn't the biggest fan of. But overall, I thought this dish was delicious especially with the rice with raisins inside. I will definitely be back to Safari to try more Somali dishes!

    Reema S.

    My friend and I hiked up to this neighborhood on the 1 train to experience Safari - a beautiful Somali restaurant nestled a stone's throw away from Central Park North on a beautiful tree lined corner. From the outside this place was unassuming but as you step inside you are instantly transported to another world. The bright red patterned carpeting and beautiful playlist called out my name. I wholeheartedly welcome to opportunity to dine in floor seating, so this visit was nothing short of an experience. We visited during restaurant week so opted to go for the prix fixe menu. This started with a delightful hummus and sambusa filled with meat. The hummus was more on the acidic side, it wasn't my favorite but it was definitely tasty. I prefer hummus a little smoother and creamier. The sambusa was delicious but I would've loved if they were bigger. The green sauce that came along with it was absolutely divine, I think they should offer that sauce on the side with their entrees actually. For drinks, the mango juice did not impress me too much, there was somewhat of an artificial quality to it. It might be because I am Pakistani and spoiled with some of the world's best mango juice.. I also did not really like the tea, it seemed too weak and milk heavy. I think the beverages here definitely need some improvement. For the mains my friend went with the lamb/goat stew and I went with the mango curry chicken. Both dishes came with fragrant yellow rice. We shared plates and I really enjoyed the lamb curry. The lamb was moist and cooked down, and the curry was heavy on paprika and other spices, which I absolutely loved. The flavor was very mellow, but well balanced. The mango curry had a tartness and bright acidic flavor to it. That was very enjoyable. I especially love the greens and herbs in this curry, but I think my one complaint was that it was a little bit watery. This comes down to a personal preference, but I do like my curry to be thick and creamy sometimes even a little oily. The meal ended with the sweet crêpes that were dusted with cinnamon and came with a syrup and honey. These were a good ending to the meal, although I do wish these crêpes had some sort of filling in them to contrast through the sweetness and push this dessert to the next level. Service was friendly and attentive, our food came out right on time and we had a cure of the kitchen which looked clean and well organized. I think apart from a few small improvements, this is a wonderful neighborhood restaurant dishing out some authentic Somali food and putting this cuisine on the map. I look forward to eating here again one day when I find myself in Harlem next time.

    Out front
    Cheri G.

    Sigh* I came here for ny restaurant week. Let me paint the scene. Its about 1230p on a Thursday. Prime lunch time. 2 guest are seated and talking. No employees are in sight. Im waiting and waiting. Finally someone emerges from the back says you can sit anywhere. I ask about the restaurant week menu. He said its not available yet. Online it shows they will have a lunch menu but apparently they are only doing a dinner menu. I just ordered an app The beef sambusa 8/10 very good not oily good flavors. The issue for me was the lack of service. I sat and sat waiting for someone to come back over. Again its only 3 of us in the spot. Not sure what the delay was . The place has potential . The staff isn't rude they just arent attentive.

    Sabaayad Wrap
    Anne B.

    The inside is beautiful, the music and ambiance really felt authentic to the cuisine. While I've had plenty of Ethiopian/Eritrean food, this was my first time trying Somali food. The woman working was very sweet, when I was there on a Saturday afternoon it seemed like she was doing everything -- taking orders, in the kitchen, serving, cleaning. There was no separate brunch menu so we ordered the classics from the standard menu. For vegans/vegetarians there are two options -- one being an open faced wrap and the other is a mango curry. All of the entrees of course come with banana, I've had banana with rice/stew before and I never get tired of the sweet/savory combination. Everyone at my table loved their food -- it was so flavorful and unique to most other cuisines we've tried. I tried the Sabaayad wrap which was a bit small in portion, but packed with flavor. Most tables, including ours, got the "Shaax Somali" tea which is served in a small kettle for the tables with cups for whoever ordered some. It's so warm (both in flavor and temperature) and great in the winter especially. While service was kind, it was admittedly a bit slow -- you might have to flag whoever is working down if you're in a rush. A cozy spot for brunch, lunch or dinner in Harlem; I'd definitely recommend!

    Inside of the restaurant
    Deforio B.

    There has been a lot of buzz lately about this Somalian restaurant in Harlem, so I decided to check it out. I am happy to say that the place was super clean. The tables and floors were shining, and I arrived after 6pm. There was, what appeared to be, traditional music playing over the speakers, and a traditional dining space set up in the rear of the restaurant. I ordered the vegetarian Sambusa. It was very good. It came with a dipping sauce that had some "kick" to it. The pastry was flaky, similar to a beef patty, but not the same texture. For my main dish, I ordered the Hilib Ari. This dish is a Somali staple in households, so I had to try it. I thought that the meat would be lamb; however, it was goat. It was tender and well seasoned. The goat literally fell off the bone that's how tender it was. This dish also came with Basmati rice and BizBas sauce. For dessert, I tried the mandazi. Is essentially fried dough with some cinnamon and syrups or honey. They were not on the menu, but the chef made it since I requested it. It was just ok. For drinks, I ordered the Safari Mango Lassi and the Fiimto. Both were very good. Overall, Safari hits on all cylinders. It's a great place to dine-in or take out. The owner, Shakib, was very nice and even took a picture with us once we were done eating. Keeping my promise to him, I'm spreading the GOOD word for everyone to come to Safari in Harlem for some good Somalian food. Til we eat again...

    Goat curry and chai
    Jasmine M.

    I'd definitely come back to try the mango chicken curry next. The chai was so good and so was the goat curry. Really cool area to sit if you don't want a table too. Service was perfect.

    Hilib Ari

    Food was very delicious. The flavors were very clean allowing the xawaash to shine through very clearly. Not overly salty. The basbaas had just enough punch to make you feel it but also wasn't punishing. Suitable for someone who hasn't had a great deal of East African cuisine. For a beginner the only thing I'd caution about is that the Hilib Ari still has bone in it, as is traditional. The decor is lovely, and there's ground seating for those who wish. The service was speedy and considerate. I do agree with the previous reviewer that there are some details that could stand review. The menu is a little unclear about the spice levels of the dishes - simple enough to fix by rewriting the menu. Also, the menu itself is a little roughshod and alignment is off in certain places. Not a big deal and can be fixed overnight. However, our food came out hot and delicious consistently, so the concerns of the previous reviewer seem to have been addressed. I'm cheering for these guys - more unique and elegant restaurants like this in Harlem is always a win.

    Safari's totally delicious Somalian Sabaayad Wrap, beef grilled with onions and peppers in a fresh homemade chapatti along with green sauce
    Mike R.

    Noted that Safari had moved from W. 116th to this location, but hadn't realized it was open until I saw 2 people sitting there last night. Safari offers Somalian cuisine. Had not eaten at the earlier place, but thought I'd give it a try, picking something up for lunch. The closest to a lunch-priced option was their Sabaayad Wrap, which comes with beef or chicken grilled with onions and seasonal peppers in a freshly homemade chapatti. I ordered the beef, which was absolutely delicious along with the accompanying green sauce. The combination of spices and all the ingredients... Yum! That being said, given its size, it either could have been bigger or priced less to make it more filling for lunch. From my understanding, they've only been open for a little over a month. When I mentioned about how it would be great if they have reasonable lunch specials, since I frequently bring in lunch from other places in the neighborhood, they told me it's something they plan in a few weeks. Looking forward to try out what they'll have what they have as lunch specials since there are many things on the menu that seemed exciting and worth trying. Especially like to have another great local restaurant closer by! To add for those not ordering take-out, the space is a nice environment with large windows with a street view. FYI - The food is Halal, for those keeping to that.

    Madow N.

    Positives: - the sambusas were great. The pastry was not greasy at all this time, which was fantastic. The beef one was a bit on the salty side but the bisbaas (hot sauce) helped. - The space is open and airy. A good amount of seating. Some floor cushions with traditional decor in one area. - Parking surprisingly did not take that long to find on an adjacent street on a Sunday afternoon but maybe we lucked out. - The service was friendly Constructive feedback: I couldn't get over the fact that they allowed the meat to come out cold. It's embarrassing when you rave to people about how good Somali food is and then they get cold dishes of suqaar and hilib ari. Please tell whoever is in the kitchen never to do that again. The mango juice was also almost at room temperature. Could have added some ice. If you want to thrive in this economy, and get consistent repeat customers, you have to pay attention to quality and the details.

    Chicken Suqqar
    Stephanie N.

    We came to this place nearby because we all wanted to try Somalian food. We waited foreverrrr for everything the place was full and food took about an hour to come out my sister was pissed they didn't even bring water or clean up the tables next to us. She also really didn't like the food even though we liked it, we definitely won't be coming back because the service was horrific.

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    7 months ago

    Amazing food, amazing service, great vibe, great value. highly recommend the Somali coffee

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    7 months ago

    The food here is fantastic! So flavorful and fresh. Also the servers are incredibly kind and attentive. Would highly recommend!

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    10 months ago

    Food was very flavorful and the ambiance was nice. The goat with rice was really good. Service was great as well. Will be back for sure.

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    11 months ago

    I bought rice with chicken, but the rice was old and clumped together, and the chicken was dry, tough, and of low quality!

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    Page 1 of 7

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    Is the food halal?

    yes it is.

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    Baya Bar - Acai & Smoothie Shop - This Sunday morning is a great time for me! Gets busy around 10am. 05/26/24

    Baya Bar - Acai & Smoothie Shop

    4.1(17 reviews)
    1.3 miYorkville, Upper East Side

    Let me start off by saying -- I'm a Playa Bowls fan, okay? Ten toes down. But with an open mind, I…read moredecided to try Baya Bar... and yeah, let's talk about it. First thing I noticed? The size. For the price -- almost $18 -- the bowl felt small. And not even small in a "packed with goodness" kind of way. It just felt... lacking. I got an açaí bowl, and honestly, it was more toppings than actual smoothie. And don't get me wrong, I love my toppings, but there has to be a balance. The ratio was off. The toppings completely overpowered the smoothie base, and at that point, it's like... am I eating a bowl or just snacking on toppings with a little bit of açaí underneath? Taste-wise, it was good. No complaints there. The flavors were solid. But when it comes to overall experience -- portion, balance, and value -- it just didn't hit the way I needed it to. So yeah... I tried it, I gave it a fair shot, but I'm sticking beside my Playa Bowls. The more you know.

    It's good to see some healthier dining options open in an area where too many pastry and dessert…read moreplaces have popped up. Plenty of options for acai bowls, oatmeals, toasts, smoothies, and some coffee drinks. The friendly staff work quick here preparing your order. Location is also kept clean and has a bright fun vibe to it. They do have some tables and window counter seating available, but to me its more of a grab and go spot. Only open until 8pm most nights.

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    Safari - somali - Updated May 2026

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