So let me just start by saying the portions here are GENEROUS. And when I say generous, I mean…read moregenerous. We ordered two meals to split between two people and I think we had 8 meals between the two of us. Anyways, the restaurant itself is super easy to miss. Its right off of Cleveland Ave and if you aren't familiar with the area, you can drive right past it without noticing. Google maps does help but if you're like me and have no idea what "on your left in 1000 feet means" then best to try and look out for the sign and be prepared to make a u-turn. There is a small parking lot out front but again, very easy to miss, especially in the dark. As it is still COVID times, I can't rate the interior dining experience. I do have to admit, it didn't seem like the nicest area but the best food always comes with a journey and a story. We parked, went inside and were greeted with a wide array of tantalizing scents. The staff was friendly and had our food ready for pick up. Basic COVID measures were in place, masks, social distancing, cleanliness. With our food they included soda and bananas, more on the bananas later. We also got a couple cups of soup, so protip, ask for soup if they have some! So we took this behemouth bag of food home and finally sat down to try it. I'll start with the soup, it was such a great flavor. Heavy on the goat/lamb flavor if you've ever had that but not in any overwhelming way. It was just so flavorful! The chicken kalankal also was just bursting with spices and was a great accompaniment to the yellow rice it came with. It was a very warm dish and very reminiscient of South Asian curries. The goat cubes were also delicious, fairly tender and again all those spices and sauce was very well soaked up by the rice. There are bones that come with the goat cubes so if you aren't used to eating things with bones, be careful cause there could be little pieces here and there. Overall, the food was amazing and I'll definitely be coming back to try more dishes in the future. So about those bananas. My friend and I, being ignorant, had no idea whether the bananas were dessert, appetizers, whatever so weren't really sure how they fit into the meal. However, I do have one friend who told me he eats bananas and rice so I tried a piece of the banana with the overall dish. It actually worked really well, the sweet creaminess of the banana balanced out some of the spices from the meat very well. Whether or not I did the right thing is up to y'alls interpretation. Anyway, this was a very long review but in summary, Darbo is a great restaurant to try if you want some flavor heavy food. Also ensure you come with an empty stomach cause you can eat a meal for days!

Made a LONG DRIVE and wanted to eat in . Get here and it's TAKE OUT ONLY . I had tried calling the…read morenumber on Yelp earlier and no one answered No where does it say take out only . Taking my business elsewhere and my tik tok live stream . So disappointed

Coming to African Paradise was such a new experience!…read more This restaurant was packed at the time I visited! Parking was difficult to find because of the way the plaza is set up, so I definitely suggest carpooling if it's a busy day. The restaurant is divided into two parts based on the cultural norms, one side has all men, and the other side has women and their family/friends. I went with my co-ed group of friends so we sat on the women's side. When we sat down we were served right away, the servers were kind and helpful explaining the menu. The menu doesn't have prices, so be sure to ask before you order. You also get a banana (for the rice), lentil soup, and some mango juice! I ordered the Roasted Lamb with curry rice and honestly this was one of the best meals I've had in a long time! The lamb was so juicy and cooked perfectly and the seasoned rice went so well with it, the salad on the side as well as the green hot sauce brought it all together. Overall, I wish I could give the place 5 stars because the food is so amazing. However, the appearance of both the restaurant and menu could use some up-keep. I will definitely be going back soon!

Excellent food. From the Sambusa to the Biryani. Nice, quiet atmosphere as well. Wood recommend if…read moreyou enjoy Somali dishes or if you just want to widen your palate by trying something new!

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!!

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.

Okay, short review because I can't explain my experiences inside the African Paradise…read more I have been there four times and each time I have been by myself and ended up being asked to sit with a group of Somali men. The conversations have been so nice and I have walked away it's time feeling like a good man. There are a lot of things that I don't understand about the Somali culture and some foods but I do know without a doubt that I have been so accepted so welcomed and have had so much fun at the African Paradise on West Broad Street. So I have enjoyed a breakfast consisting of liver onions potatoes a couple other things that I'm not sure what they were and this pancake-like crepe-like bread that you use to eat the food rather than silverware. The Crepe-like bread... I've had both the Savory and the sweet. I really like the Savory and I have taken it home and just eaten it throughout the day. I'm not sure which part of me has had more fun on each of my four visits to the African Paradise. Is it the fact that each time I believe that I'm learning more and gaining as a true human being learning the Somali culture? Is it because I'm discovering foods that I would have otherwise never had the privilege to taste and enjoy? Is it because there are others in there from the country of Somalia by origin and birth that just make me feel alive? Oh, I have had their Somali tea can't explain it don't understand it I just enjoy it. I hear that there is something similar by a different name in the North Linden area for the heavy Somali population that lives there. There is such a heavy Somali population on the west side that this truly is there Home Restaurant.

Goat. Lamb. Rice. Delicious!!!…read more That's my whole review. These are just wasted words. I'm adding because Yelp wants my review to be longer. So, go to African Paradise and enjoy some delicious food.

Delicious ethnic food! Yum! Try the camel meat if you're feeling adventurous. I didn't see it on…read morethe menu but I had read they have it. We asked and you can either have it fried or roasted. We opted for roasted and were not disappointed. Goat and camel were both cooked to perfection. Both meats were wonderfully tender and flavordul. It's a no frills place with pictures on the wall with prices crossed out serving as the menu. Its location isn't the greatest but it's fine during the day. You could also get takeout. Food comes out quickly. I will be back!

The chicken is really good, there is a lot of different kind of meats offered, even lamb! I had…read morerice on the side also.

The food is always fantastic here. You can get beef or chicken and pick between rice, pasta or…read morebread!!! If you are very picky about seating arrangements or ambiance I would take it to go because it is not a fancy place. You literally go there for good home cooked affordable food!

Simplistic menu. I would not say that anything particular stand out as unique. It literally is…read morechicken that's cooked in BBQ sauce and they serve it to you with a bunch of vegetables and rice with a banana. The chi Ken I got was also a bit dry, but I heard the leg is a lot more tender so I might go for that next time. They do give you w lot of food for the price though. I came with a large group and we were separated from the rest of the restaurant. We were placed in a room which allowed us to have privacy but they kept closing the door which felt kinda odd since it was like we were trapped haha. The ranch sauces they provide goes quite well with the bbq chicken. There is a spicy one and a regular one. The yellow bottle is spicy and the red bottle is regular.

If I can give a 0 I would. Ate chicken that was uncooked. Just disgusting.Just ridiculous. Wasted…read moremy Money.

This was my first time going to a Somali restaurant and I immediately fell in love. The people were…read morenice and friendly and the portions were a good bang for the buck. The food was so good I was crying tears of joy as I ate it everything was seasoned and flavorful. On a whim I tried the ginger tea, it sent my tastebuds on a wonderful flavorful journey. I walked out of the restaurant full, and angry. Angry that I hadn't tried this place before and that the rest of Columbus doesn't know about this lovely place. My friend and I were talk about this place weeks later it was so good.