Somali food in the Twin Cities means bariis, sambusa, and hilib ari done the way home cooks judge them, not the way novelty seekers do. This list moves between Minneapolis, St. Paul, and Savage, and ranks each room on the plate, not the parking lot.
Stadium Village & the U $
720 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414 · +16128715555
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Afro Deli's Minneapolis roster has narrowed in recent seasons, and diners should confirm which room is currently serving before making the trip. The brand's East African and Mediterranean crossover built its name on the Chicken Fantastic and hummus plates found at its sister locations, but this listing carries no verified current menu. Call ahead rather than assume the address is unchanged.
What to ordersambusa, Somali sweet spiced tea, veggie sambusa
№ 02
Sambosa Restaurant
Savage
3995 Egan Dr, Savage, MN 55378 · +19527361188
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Beef and chicken sambosa arrive crisp at this Savage strip mall room, alongside calooley, tender cow stomach that wins over even diners who normally skip tripe. The dining room runs large and plain, with enough seating that groups do not wait. Shaah, the spiced tea, closes the meal. It is a straightforward introduction to the Somali table for anyone new to the cuisine.
What to ordersambosa, calooley, shaah
St. Paul $
400 Wabasha St N, Saint Paul, MN 55102 · +16518882168
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Chicken Fantastic and Veggie Fantastic are the reason regulars keep coming back to this West Seventh room, both built on a creamy sauce that has occasionally arrived thinner than the standard set. Hummus rounds out a menu that leans vegetarian-friendly without saying so loudly. Family groups fill the casual room, and the kitchen has earned loyalty even through inconsistent stretches.
What to orderChicken Fantastic, Veggie Fantastic, Hummus
the Lake Street Corridor $
818 E Lake St, Minneapolis, MN, 55407 · +16128239660
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Lamb stew and sambusa anchor the menu at this Minneapolis room, alongside injera for diners crossing over from the Ethiopian table. The interior is plain and casual, with enough seating for groups and families. Service runs attentive, and the kitchen accommodates vegetarian orders with real range rather than a single token dish. It is a straightforward, unpretentious room built for regulars.
What to ordersambusa, injera, lamb stew
Frequently asked
What are the best Somali restaurants near me in the Minneapolis area?
It depends which side of the river and which suburb you are starting from. This guide covers rooms in Minneapolis proper, St. Paul, and Savage, and each entry names its actual city so you can judge the drive before you commit to it.
What should a first-time diner order at a Somali restaurant?
Start with sambusa, the fried pastry filled with beef or chicken, then move to bariis with hilib ari, spiced rice with goat. Calooley, cow stomach, is worth trying if you are curious. Shaah, the spiced tea, is the standard way to close the meal.
How were these restaurants chosen?
Each restaurant carries an Insider Score built from its public review record and no restaurant pays to be listed or ranked higher. The score reflects what diners have actually reported about the food and the room, not advertising.
Is Afro Deli the same restaurant in every location?
Afro Deli operates as a small local group and its roster of open rooms has changed. The St. Paul location on this list is verified and distinct from any Minneapolis address under the same name, so confirm which room you are heading to before you go.
