All Reviews
Dan Uber
3 weeks agoKaribu is an absolute gem! The flavors are incredible.....every dish bursts with authenticity and warmth. The staff makes you feel like family from the moment you walk in, and the portions are generous. Whether you're trying East African cuisine for the first time or it reminds you of home, this place delivers. Easily one of Boston's best kept secrets. Its a must stop for us every time were in Boston.
Tony Moze
2 months agoStopped by Karibu Restaurant for a weekend lunch with a friend, and overall it was a really solid experience—especially when it came to the food. We decided to share a couple of dishes, including a rich, hearty beef stew and another plate with beef, rice, and vegetables, plus a side of samosas. Everything was flavorful and satisfying—the kind of food that feels comforting and well-seasoned. The samosas were a great addition too, nicely done and a perfect complement to the meal. The setup is a bit more casual and interactive, almost cafeteria or buffet-style, where you move along the counter and they serve your plate as you go. It’s quick and efficient, which works well if you’re grabbing lunch or takeout. That said, the experience felt a little less welcoming than we expected. Even though we were genuinely interested in the cuisine and excited to try it, we couldn’t help but feel a bit like outsiders during our visit. It didn’t take away from the quality of the food, but it did impact the overall atmosphere. Still, the flavors really stood out here. I’d definitely recommend giving it a try—especially for takeout—if you’re looking to experience something a little different and genuinely delicious.
J. Michael German
10 months agoThis place was... strange. First I'll say the food was excellent. We got the beef stew, chicken platter, spicy samosa, and fried donut. The beef stew was some of the best stew I have ever had. Everything else was top tier. The strange part was the atmosphere and service. First, the location is set back from the street and looks like a hole in the wall. Once inside its a big room with tables and a small counter section with food partially visible partially not. See the images. No menu, no prices, no people. Eventually we noticed a woman in the corner who got up, walked into the kitchen and got someone to help us. They showed us some of the food, gave no indication of what prices anything was nor what would be purchased together. After some back and forth with us asking about things not mentioned we randomly got things. My wife got, a potato, some rice, some veggies, and chicken stew. That was a platter for $22. My beef stew was $9, and each of my two samosa and 2 fried donuts cost around $2 each. I really want to rate this higher because of the food, but the atmosphere was so off for us I just can't.
Somair Feroz
a year agoMy first time trying Ugandan food. When I entered the restaurant, it felt as if I was entering someone’s home as a guest, who like to take care of you before anything else. I wanted to try stuff so had the beef stew, chapati, beans, spinach , tea , kabalaga (pancake) and the mandazi (donut). The chapati with beef stew and the kabalaga with tea were pairs made in heaven.
Joyce Quach
2 years agoI love this place, but today I was finally disappointed. They can be dishonest with the pricing of their food. A friend and I got 6 spicy beef samosas, 2 plates of rice, 1 bowl of peanut sauce, 1 bowl of beans, 2 medium chais, (all delicious) and 2 water bottles because the waitress told us there wasn’t a lot of food left- but we were charged $24 per person with no itemized receipt. Meanwhile.. we see an African couple with a child next to us have plates clearly containing meat and cornmeal, and I’m sure they came in later than us. The first time I was here, $20-$24 meant a plate of cornmeal, meat (oxtail), and greens, and that lasted me another meal. A medium chai at that time was probably around $4-$6. No way that food costed $20. A different friend of mine had a similar experience with overcharging and underserving. Be wary of what you order here. They also seemed to not pick up their phone today before we came in- probably because they were low on stock for dinner tonight- but how would we have known that? Really cute place with homey vibes, and I still do recommend it, but do be wary. You might have to pull a bit of a Karen at the beginning and ask for the pricing of each item so you know what you’re paying for when you’re done.
Cynthia Assanah
Edited a year agoWe drove over three hours from Brooklyn, New York to Waltham, Massachusetts to go to this restaurant. We’d heard they had very good Ugandan food. My husband and I had all foods with a chicken stew and my husband had the fish. The fish wasn’t that great, but everything else was ok. The food wasn’t worth the drive, but it’s one person’s opinion. We also bought some Mandazi. Those were really good.
Nabeel Khan
3 years agoI had a mixer plate with an option of boiled rice, beans, mixed vegetables and a side of Irish. The total cost was $15, which can be pricey on a student budget. Also once you pay in the vicinity of $15 you start looking at items such as ambiance etc which the place could definitely do better. My experience was slightly different from my previous time, when i did take away. While the beans and vegetables were nice, it was slightly less flavorful from my previous time. The Irish was nice and tender potato which is how i like it. I also had a sugar rush before so perhaps that could be the reason.
Vincent Valenzuela
3 years agoI've never felt so taken care of - instead of a menu, we were told what was available and what was good today. Staff is soooo friendly and helpful. We had Ugandan beef and veggies samosas chicken in coconut milk sauce, rice and beef, mixed veg . . . So so so good!