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    Safina Restaurant

    4.6 (27 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

    Safina Restaurant Photos

    SAFINA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Dogs allowed

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    Syed S.

    Attached to a gas station, Safina World Restaurant is as "hole-in-the-wall" as it gets. It is also my find of 2025 - the food here is made-to-order and delicious. On top of that, the portion sizes and price points are pretty great. The restaurant is set up as more of a take-out spot, and after a 35 minute drive home, my food travelled well. The inside is bare-bones - a few tables, a small bar-like area, and not much decor. You order at the counter and you can watch your food being cooked fresh. The menu is pretty extensive, and so far, the plantains, the chicken over rice, the chicken wrap, the beef wrap, the mango juice, and the lemonade have all hit the spot. I can't wait to go back to Safina to keep up with my obsession with this place.

    The chicken was overcooked and hard. The oil was old & changed every 3 days which explains why the grease was old.

    The oil was old. The chicken tenders were overcooked. Made me sick. They stated they only change their oil every 3 days which explains why it's old.

    Cabbage & chicken with a side of rice and a mango smoothie
    James T.

    Nice food and service , jollof rice is good and so is the yellow rice. I'm only mad they stopped selling cabbage :(

    Valerie W.

    Small, unassuming "hole in the wall" spot that you might miss if you're not looking for it, but LOOK FOR IT...!! An add-on at the Shell station on Morse Rd. heading toward Easton (corner of Cleveland Rd., I believe...) I noticed it during a previous drive through the area and had planned for months to give it a try. Take the time to study their EXTENSIVE menu ahead of time; there's A LOT on there and it's ALL tempting. I went with the KK chicken, and while I'm not exactly sure what I got, the mix of chicken, assorted veg and pasta/dough was GOOD!! VERY reasonable prices, friendly service, and definitely something for just about everyone. I love "discovering" places like this and doing my bit to help get the word out for Columbus' vast "hidden gems" in this diverse corner of town... My old "stomping grounds!!" I'll be back to try more, and offer up that fifth star!! YUM...

    Ryan C.

    Safina did not disappoint. Dropped in for the first time and got the Plantains with chicken. Fast service and food was delicious, and halal! Good portions, decent prices and huge menu! Ordered food to go, next time might have to eat at the counter. Salaams!

    Avacado and mango smoothie. $3.00 each. Trying avacado for first time
    April S.

    I absolutely love African food and Columbus is full of hidden gems. I was originally told this food Was from Somalia however, i was educated when i ate there and they have dishes from all over Africa! This is located on the north side of Columbus. I will admit i rolled up and realized it is located on the right hand side of the gas station on the corner of morse road and cleveland ave. Please do not let that deter you...i am Glad i didnt!! The restauant is a separate building with a wall separating from gas station and its own entrance. The inside is bright and colorful, not to mention the amazing aroma that literally made My stomach growl saying "Feed me! Feed me!" Whenever i go to a new restaurant , my go-to is the chicken and rice. Man oh man...this chicken and rice- holy cow!! FINGER-LICKIN GOOD! My friend ordered a salmon wrap and rice with lamb. The lamb was so tender and tasteful. The rice was amazing and tasted different than my rice! The rice, so different than mine complemented the lamb so well. I have no idea what the white sauce on my rice was but OMG- I LOVED IT! The salmon roll- lets just say my friends eyes rolled to the back from the awesome taste. You know when the food is so good, two people dont speak. They eat and smack their lips. I wanted to eat it all but i was so full. My leftovers turned into another two meals for me!! I seriously cannot wait for a return visit and try out more menu items!!

    Chicken and Rice with spicy chutney sauce and an Avocado smoothie
    Muhammad F.

    The gentlemen that work as this fine establishment were down to earth, patient, and cool individuals that helped me navigate their awesome menu. OH and as for the food, Yeah; it was absolutely exquisite. This will be one of those restaurants that starts from the bottom and quickly climbs to the top. I had ordered the fan favorite chicken and rice with their chutney spice sauce on the side and the Avocado smoothie to go along with and for $18 it was money WELL spent. I will definitely be back here again in the near future!!

    KK chicken
    Patricia S.

    I almost passed this place. It shares a building with a gas station, so it's almost easy to miss, but it does have a separate entrance and the inside of the restaurant is separate from the gas station! The employees were friendly. I had never been there and asked for a recommendation.. so I got the KK & chicken meal, which was pretty good. I also got the ginger pineapple juice. The juice was sweet and definitely more pineapple than ginger (so even if you're hesitant about ginger, I think you'd still enjoy). Next time I am looking forward to trying the chicken and rice! Place was pretty steady with business and I wouldn't doubt they have regulars!

    Salmon over Rice
    Clifton S.

    This is one of my favorite places to eat in Columbus. The staff is really friendly and they are always very good. This is one of the best little secrets in Columbus

    Salmon & Rice /w Spinach and Pinto Beans

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    7 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

    It's was so good. Very flavorful and tender meats. I def will be back soon. My son enjoyed it as well as and wants to go back.

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

    I went there with a Somali friend . I got a pate with chicken and plantain it was delicious. I recommend it

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    2 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great food and staff. I will definitely go back again and try more dishes. They have many different cuisines, not only African.

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Everything was sooo good 10/10 goin there today there chicken and rice was soooo good and fresh

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    5 years ago

    Amazing customer service, also very time efficient especially when your on a time crunch. Would definitely recommend:)

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    Lalibela Restaurant and Bar

    Lalibela Restaurant and Bar

    4.5
    (188 reviews)
    8.4 mi
    $$

    this is the exact type of place I expect to get amazing Ethiopian food and Lalibela never…read moredisappoints! not your typical "restaurant" as there's a little dance floor bar area when you first enter, but as you progress through the space there is plenty of restaurant sitting - feel free to seat yourself wherever! we ordered to-go so we took our seat at the bar, placed our order with the nice young lady, which let us know our food would be about 10/15 mins. portion sizes are definitely worth the price which isn't too expensive (we got the vegetarian combo). I'll snap some pictures next time ha

    SEVEN WORDS: TRADITIONAL, LOW PRICED, EHIOPIAN CUISINE / SKETCHY NEIGHBORHOOD…read more . Since we Live in Whitehall and my Wife has never tried Ethiopian Food, we stopped by Lalibela's - One of this part of towns historic Go-Toss. for Ethiopian Food anywhere in Columbus. . As we parked Our Car, we were greeted by a Short Strip Mall that had a very Gritty Look to the Exterior: Dirty Windows, Littered Parking Lot (with an Unbelievably High Number of Old Blackened Bubble Gum Stains from Parking lot to Front Door. It was Something you might see in a Marrakesh Baszaar - or any thired World Place where the Challenge was to actually keep things Clean on a Continual Basis. However, this is Hamilton Road in Sub-(Urban) Columbus. . We've eaten at Several Other Whitehall Restaurants - and Nothing look like this until you get on the South Side of Livingston Avenue - and Beyond. Still, I am personally undaunted by Exteriors - and sometimes the Restaurants themselves - by a little bit of unclean surrounds. . We Entered and the place immediately reminded you of a Middle Eastern Restaurant - Well-Stocked Bar along the Opposite Wall from the Entrance, a Quaint Restaurant that is outdated - and probably needs a good refresh on Furniture and Wall Coverings - but All are VERY Negotiable in a World Food Setting. . When we Looked through our Menus, we really didn't know a Single Dish on the Menu. Still, I chose the Beef Kitfo (Cooked to Medium) and My Wife Got the Beef Tibs (Cooked to Mild). . Unfortunately, we are both fans of a Very Mild Food - so this was not quite for us. Still, Let's try to give it a reasonable Fair Review, based on the Community, not the Individual Tastes. . Kitfo is a traditional meal, where a thick chili-like paste is cooked and placed in a small bowl with a Starchy Yogurt Sauce that has more of a butted whirred potatoes than the true yogurt that is mentioned. . The Bowl/Tureen sits atop a large pancake of "Injera," a fluffy Bread that is half-way between crepe and pancake, but 100% Savory. The traditional eating method is the Right Hand, taking the Injera in the right hand, folding around a dollop of Kotfo (or whichever protein) and maybe smoothing on a small bit of the Yogurt. Again - it's like Potatoes in this case, which was great. . Sorry for Being Lengthy, but If you don't know Ethiopian, you don't know it at all. . The Kitfo was mildly spicy and had the strong tastes of both Anise and Cardamom: Both are very Savory, but As Good as a licorice Liquor. The Beef, cooked to my liking - was like a spicy chili with a deep smoky tinge of Chili powder - and maybe even turmeric. Bright and Bold, but not Overwhelming. The Injera (bread" was like a fine piece of wheat-pumpernickel bread, a small bit tart, but quite yummy. It complemented the Kotfo perfectly. . My wife truly doesn't like Spicy food - and the Beef Tibs (not Tips, but a similar mash of Beef, Tomatoes, Chopped Onion, and some hot Peppers of some sort. . Due to the Heat and Exotic Flavors, we filled up quite quickly, but there would still be enough for a Hearty Serving for Each of Us. The Bill, including Two Entrees and One Soda came to $42 Reasonable, considering two Beef Dishes - and the Extra prep for the Made-from-Scratch Injera. . Although I Ranked it 3-Stars, it's still a mid-3, Maybe 3.45. Was it the Best Ethiopian? I'm not Sure of that, But I'll let you know whenever I try another of these Restaurants this Summer.

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    Lalibela Restaurant and Bar
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    Afra Grill | African & Somali Cuisine

    Afra Grill | African & Somali Cuisine

    4.7
    (128 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    We got an order to go to break our fast with. This time we got the lamb shank meal, Afra chicken,…read moremango lemonade, and chicken sambusa. Everything was packed really nicely and the portions are big. The lamb shank was fall off the bone and really well spiced. Everything we got was actually really nice in flavors. I got jollof rice with the meat and it was spicy but not overpowering. The plantains were really good and the salad was fresh. I love everything mango, so the mango lemonade was refreshing. My son enjoyed the chicken sambusa and my husband enjoyed the Afra chicken meal. I gave my son ketchup as a dip for the sambusa because although their sauces are very good, they are much too spicy for him. The Afra spicy sauce was good and my husband said it elevated his chicken meal. They also included crepes with our meal. I was not aware that they come with the meal or if they just gave us these as an extra. The crepes were huge though and delicious. They had the perfect amount of sweetness to them. We were late in picking up our meal, so appreciated the staff for holding it for us. The food was fairly warm even after the delay. We will definitely be back.

    So happy to return to this wonderfully delicious spot in my old "stomping ground" on Morse Rd…read more First checked them out over in Easton, and I've been wanting to return ever since!! So many tempting choices offered, it's tough to decide. The minute you walk in the door, the smell of all the wonderful, tempting options will let you know you're getting the "real deal." You can create your own bowl, choosing the protein (chicken, goat, fish...) and the toppings and sauces to your taste. Speaking of taste, the woman at the counter very helpfully gave me a taste sample of several different options. Both the regular and spicy chicken were super flavorful, and I've tried Somali goat meat before (very flavorful!) but trying to keep it light(er) since I had a plane to catch in a few hours, I got a veg. bowl, with a sampling of both types of rice and (woops!!) and spaghetti add on (carb-o-licious!!). Should have added on the salad, that might have made a bit more sense! Anywhooooooo, my bowl was DELICIOUUS, as was the veg. sambus I added on, and super reasonably priced for the quantity (and deliciousness!!) of food I was served. Come HUNGRY, leave VERY happy and FULL!! Beautiful, cozy dining room, great service, and a WONDERFUL way to support our pan-African neighbors!! Mmmmmmmmmmm!!

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    Foodateria Kenyan & Nigerian Kitchen

    Foodateria Kenyan & Nigerian Kitchen

    4.7
    (91 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $

    So I went to Foodateria Kitchen again this evening. They specialize in upscale Kenyan & Nigerian…read morecuisine. Also, they do have 8+ vegan / vegetarian options as well. Ya'll the place is straight The service and food is absolutely exceptional. It's a must try.

    My very first meal on moving to Ohio!…read more On my way from the airport to the hotel, I was hankering for some good food. Good ol' Yelp popped up Foodateria on my route, and I am so glad it did. The restaurant had a warm ambiance with earthy tones as you walk in. Nothing to write home about with standard tables and chair but one is here for the fare! The gentleman who runs the restaurant kindly suggested the Yetty's Egusi. In my opinion it was the perfect surf and turf (or should I say surf and fluff?) dish. This was a delicious stew with both fish and chicken in it. The stew of spinach (or was that kale?) and melon seeds in palm oil initially left me a little confused wondering if it was ricotta cheese, scrambled eggs, or fish roe. The Chicken drumstick and the fish morsel were deep fried separately then added to the stew later before serving. The chicken was really good with a teeny crust from the frying, and moist and juicy inside, but I have got to hand it to the fish. It was moist, flaky, flavourful, and reminded me of all the river fish I grew up eating. Upon mentioning to the gentleman that I was intrigued by the Fufu, he let me order it as a side (it's not usually served with the Egusi). It was super soft, starchy, with no need to masticate. Had you come here with your gummy teeth, having left your dentures at home, you would have absolutely no problems downing this dish. Had on its own it reminds one of a smooth and creamy mashed potatoes. I enjoyed pinching out tiny morsels of it, dunk it in the sauce, and just let is slide down my chute. PS: I read that it is considered ill-mannered to chew the fufu. One usually swallows the morsel without any chewing. And I can see why. Just crush it up with your tongue against the roof of your mouth to extract its mild flavour and enjoy the creamy texture, and off it goes! It's been a while, and I really need to go back again!

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    Safina Restaurant - african - Updated August 2026

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