Menu
Our Menu At-a-Glance
Tilapia & Fried Plantains
Tilapia marinated with Swahili spice and fried. Plantains are coated with cinnamon and salt, then deep fried.
Tilapia or Ugali & Spinach
Spinach is made with tomato, onion, and garlic that is cooked until ready then spinach added. Served with either Tilapia marinated with Swahili spice and fried, or Ugali.
Beef or Goat & Ugali
Beef or goat cut into pieces, simmered with peas and carrots in a curry made with East African herbs, spices, and yogurt. Served with Ugali.
Veg. Sambusa & Pili Pili
Sambusas made with potatoes, green peppers, onions, and green peas with Swahili spices, salt & lemon. Served with Pili Pili sauce.
Spinach & Ugali
Spinach is made with tomato, onion, and garlic that is cooked until ready then spinach added. Served with Ugali.
Goat & Swahili Spiced Rice
Goat cut into pieces, simmered with peas and carrots in a curry made with East African herbs, spices, and yogurt. Spiced rice flavored with cinnamon, cloves, pepper, and cumin.
Beef Sambusa & Pili Pili
Seasoned ground beef, peas, carrots, green onions, garlic, and yellow onion deep fried until golden brown. Served with Pili Pili sauce.
Coconut Beans & Chapati
Pinto beans stewed with tomatoes, garlic, onions, cumin, coconut milk, and Swahili spices. Served with chapati, a type of bread cooked with wheat flour, milk, salt and yeast. It is fried with vegetable oil. Vegan is made without milk.
Chicken Curry & Ugali
Tender Chicken cooked with an East African Curry Spice Rub. Served with Ugali.
Coconut Lentils & Rice
Lentils simmered in coconut milk and an in-house spice mixture from Chef Najati's including cumin, cloves, and tumeric. Rice option: Basmati or Spiced.
Fried Plantains
Plantains coated with cinnamon and salt, then deep fried.
Wet Curry Chicken & Rice
Chicken cooked with Bell Peppers, Onions. Served with Rice: Basmati (spiced long-grain basmati rice) or Spiced (rice flavored with cinnamon, cloves, pepper, and cumin).
Appetizers
Black-eyed Pea Bhajia
Bhajia made from black-eyed peas (a legume), garlic, onion, salt, and curry or tumeric. It can be prepared as Vegan and Gluten Free. Served with pili pili sauce.
Chick Pea Bhajia
Bhajia made from chick peas (a legume), garlic, onion, salt, and curry or tumeric. It can be prepared as Vegan and Gluten Free.
Sambusa
A savory pastry, triangular in shape filled with meat, vegetables and/or lentils.
Swahili Spring Rolls
Spring rolls filled with chicken and vegetables. Served with Pili Pili Brown Sauce made with garlic, white onion, jalapeños, vegan mayonnaise, tamarin juice, and salt.
Katlesi
Made from mash potatoes with a spiced ground beef filling similar to a sambusa but without onion. Coated with egg and deep fried. Specialty item. Can be appetizer or full meal.
Desserts
Desserts:
Cardamom Basbousa Cake: This Swahili treat is a light crumbly semolina cake baked until golden brown flavored with cardamom and generously drizzled with homemade simple syrup made of lemon. *Vegetarian, contains dairy, contains gluten
Baklava - A layered pastry dessert made of phyllo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with either syrup or honey. (Contains nuts, wheat)
Donasi - A delicately spiced type of donut with fragrant cardamom and doused in icing sugar by Chef Najati! [Contains eggs]
Kaimati - Deep-fried, bite-sized Swahili donuts coated in sugar and flavored with cardamom. *Vegetarian, contains dairy.
Stand-Alone Entrées:
Featuring: Chicken, Beef & Vegetable Curry Entrées, Omnivore & Vegan Entrées, Lentils, Sambusa, and Desserts.
Chicken Curry:
East African Chicken Curry (GF): Tender Chicken cooked with an East African Curry Spice Rub, served with Somali-Spiced Rice and a Fresh Green Salad
Chicken Curry (GF) with Raisins and Sweet Potato served with Somali Spiced Rice.
Curry Chicken (GF) with Bell Peppers, Onions, and Swahili-Spiced Rice with Raisins and Mixed Vegetables.
Coconut Chicken Curry (GF): Chicken thighs, onions, green & red bell peppers, and other seasonal vegetables in a quick marinade of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns. Simmered in coconut cream and served over a bed of light, fluffy couscous. *Halal, dairy free, gluten free
Coconut Chicken Curry (GF): Chicken, tomatoes, onion, coconut milk, and a special blend of East African curry spices, served over white rice with fried onions.
Beef Curry:
Swahili Beef Curry (GF) – Grilled sirloin seasoned and cut into pieces, simmered with peas and carrots in a curry made with East African herbs, spices, and yogurt. Served over lightly seasoned and fluffy couscous.
Beef Curry (GF) with Onion, Bell Peppers, and Somali-Spiced Rice with Raisins and Onions.
Vegetable Curry:
Swahili Vegetable Curry (GF): Eggplant, potatoes, zucchini and green beans roasted in the oven and simmered in a curry made with coconut milk, East African herbs and spices. Served over lightly seasoned and fluffy couscous.
Coconut Vegetable Curry w/ Couscous (GF): A mixture of seasonal vegetables, sweet peppers, onions, garlic, and squash simmered in coconut cream. Seasoned well with cumin, cinnamon, cloves, and pepper corns. Comes served with light and fluffy steamed couscous. *Vegan, dairy free, gluten free
Coconut Vegetable Curry w/ Rice & Fried Onions (GF): Roasted vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, carrots, and green beans) coconut milk, and a special East African curry spice blend, served over white rice with fried onions.
Omnivore Entrées:
Baked Chicken with Spiced Rice and Swahili Cabbage Salad - Tender marinated baked chicken served over Somali-spiced rice. served with Swahili Cabbage Salad (green bell peppers, onions, radishes, vinegar, and raisins)
Grilled Chicken or Beef Wraps wrapped in tortilla or chapati, with lettuce, pickled cucumber, tomatoes, and jalapenos, with ranch dressing.
Mishkaki Skewers (Beef or Chicken breast) in Swahili spice then grilled. Served with rice or ugali.
Swahili Spaghetti with homemade Tomato-Beef Sauce and a side of Pili Pili sauce.
Tender Beef (GF) simmered in a Stew with Mixed Vegetables, served over White Basmati Rice.
Vegan Entrées:
Bhajia Fritters with Spiced Rice and Cabbage Salad, and a side of Pili Pili sauce.
Bhajia Wraps with chick pea or black-eyed pea, wrapped in tortilla or chapati, with lettuce, pickled cucumber, tomatoes, jalapeños, and black olives with ranch dressing.
Coconut Beans - Warm Pinto Beans simmered in Coconut Milk, served with handmade Chapati Flat Bread and Chickpea Bhajia.
*Vegan Entrée can be made gluten free by replacing chapati flat bread with spiced rice.Collard Greens & Mixed Vegetables: Tomato, White Onion, Green Onion and Chapati Bread. *Vegan Entrée can be Gluten Free by substituting Somali-Spiced Rice for Chapati Bread.
Mixed Vegetables (GF): Roasted in fresh Tomato Sauce with Coconut Lentils. Each Entrée comes with Bajia, chickpea fritters served with pili pili sauce.
Vegetable Stew (GF): (carrots, tomatoes, onion, and cauliflower) served over White Basmati Rice.
Lentils:
Lentils (GF) simmered with Coconut Milk and a blend of spices native to East Africa, served with plain basmati rice and black-eyed pea bhajia.
Swahili Coconut Lentils (GF): Lentils simmered in coconut milk and an inhouse spice mixture from Chef Najati's including cumin, cloves, and tumeric. Comes with Namash Swahili Cuisine's colorful long-grain basmati rice spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns. Vegan, dairy free, gluten free.
Coconut Lentils Variations: Can be served with Long-grain Basmati Rice, Vegetable Fried Rice, or Swahili Cabbage Salad (green bell peppers, onions, radishes, vinegar, and raisins).
Sambusa:
Vegetable Sambusa (peas, carrots, peppers, onions, & spices) Served with Coconut Beans. **Vegan orders will substitute pepper chutney with lemon garlic salad dressing.
Paired Meals:
Tilapia or Lentils
Entrées:
Swahili Tilapia with Basmati Rice and Salad: Marinated and fried tilapia and served with long-grain rice seasoned with cumin, black pepper, coriander, garlic and lemon, and salad. (Dairy free, gluten free)
Coconut Lentils with Basmati Rice: Lentils simmered in coconut milk with East African spices alongside basmati rice spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and peppercorns. (Vegan, dairy free, gluten free)
Appetizers (Sambusa):
(Served with *Pili Pili Sauce: A puree of cucumber, cilantro, olive oil, and serrano or jalapeno chiles. Spice Level 8 (1-10).)
Beef Sambusa: Seasoned ground beef, peas, carrots, green onions, garlic, and yellow onion deep fried until golden brown. Comes with spicy pili pili sauce. (Halal, contains wheat, dairy free)
Vegetable Sambusa: Seasoned potatoes, peas, carrots, green onions, garlic, and yellow onion deep fried until golden brown. Comes with spicy pili pili sauce. (Vegetarian, contains wheat, dairy free)
Beverage: Mango Lassi - A refreshing and flavor-packed smoothie made with a mixture of yogurt, whole milk, and mango. (Vegetarian, contains dairy, gluten free)
Dessert: Basbousa - A crumbly semolina cake flavored with cardamom and generously drizzled with homemade syrup. (Vegetarian, contains dairy, contains gluten)
Salmon or Vegetables
Entrées:
Omnivore Option: Baked salmon marinated with Swahili spices topped with bell peppers and onions, served with spiced rice (Gluten free, dairy free)
Vegetarian Option: Mixed vegetables with Swahili spices, served with spiced rice. (Vegan, gluten free, dairy free)
Appetizers: Samosas with your choice of beef or vegetable, handmade and deep fried until golden brown. (Halal, contains wheat)
Beverage: Mango Lassi - A rich and creamy yogurt drink with mango puree.
Dessert: Baklava (Contains nuts, wheat)
Chicken or Beans
Entrées:
Swahili Baked Chicken served w/ Long-grain Spiced Rice: Tender, marinated chicken quarters baked in the oven until golden brown. Comes with Chef Najati's spiced rice flavored with cinnamon, cloves, pepper, and cumin. *Halal, gluten free, dairy free
Coconut Beans & Long-grain Basmati Rice: Pinto beans stewed with tomatoes, garlic, onions, cumin, coconut milk, and Somali spices. Served with spiced long-grain basmati rice. *Vegan, gluten free, dairy free
Appetizers: Bhajia - Chickpea spiced fritter made of chickpea flour and spinach. *Vegan, gluten free, dairy free.
Sides: Chapati - A round, flat, unleavened bread handmade and cooked on a flat top griddle. *Vegetarian, contains gluten, dairy free.
Beverage: Strawberry or Mango Lassi - A refreshing and flavor-packed smoothie made with a mixture of yogurt and whole milk in either mango or strawberry flavors. *Vegetarian, contains dairy, gluten free.
Dessert: Kaimati - Deep-fried, bite-sized Swahili donuts coated in sugar and flavored with cardamom. *Vegetarian, contains dairy, gluten free.
Combo Meal - Coconut Chicken Curry or Coconut Vegetable Curry
Namash Swahili Cuisine Combo Meal - Each combo comes with the following options.
Entrées:
Coconut Chicken Curry: Chicken thighs, onions, green & red bell peppers, and other seasonal vegetables in a quick marinade of cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, peppercorns. Simmered in coconut cream and served over a bed of light, fluffy couscous. *Halal, dairy free, gluten free
Coconut Vegetable Curry: A mixture of seasonal vegetables, sweet peppers, onions, garlic, and squash simmered in coconut cream. Seasoned well with cumin, cinnamon, cloves, and pepper corns. Comes served with light and fluffy steamed couscous. *Vegan, dairy free, gluten free
Appetizer: Beef or Vegetable Sambusa.
Beef Sambusa: Ground beef, peas, minced carrots, scallions, garlic, and yellow onion, seasoned well and deep fried until golden brown. *Halal, dairy free, contains gluten
Vegetable Sambusa: Potatoes, peas, minced carrots, scallions, garlic, and yellow onion, seasoned well and deep fried until golden brown. | Vegetarian, dairy free, contains gluten. *Comes with a side of spicy pili pili sauce
Dessert: Cardamom Basbousa: A light cardamom-flavored white cake made from semolina flour. Baked until golden brown and drizzled with a simple syrup made of lemon. *Vegetarian, contains dairy, contains gluten
Beverage: Mango or Strawberry Lassi: A refreshing and flavor-packed smoothie made with a mixture of yogurt and whole milk in either mango or strawberry flavors. *Vegetarian, contains dairy, gluten free.
Food Glossary
Beverage: Mango Lassi: A refreshing and flavor-packed smoothie made with a mixture of yogurt and whole milk in either mango or strawberry flavors. *Vegetarian, contains dairy, gluten free.
Bhajia is a fried food made from black-eyed pea or chick pea flour (gram flour).
Cabbage Salad is served with Carrots, Green Peppers, Red Peppers, and Vinegar Dressing.
Chapati is a type of bread cooked with wheat flour, milk, and salt. It is fried with vegetable oil. Chapati is similar to and thicker than naan bread. Vegan is made without milk.
Curry Styles: Wet Curry is made with water, coconut milk or other liquids. Dry Curry is grilled.
Khaki is a type of bread made from wheat flour with water and a pinch salt. Used to wrap sambusas. It has a texture similar to phyllo dough.
Pili Pili is a sauce that comes in three varieties:
Green Pili Pili is made with garlic, white onion, jalapeños, vegan mayonnaise, and salt. A spicier version can be made with serrano peppers.
Brown Pili Pili uses the Green Pili Pili base and adds tamarin juice.
Red Pili Pili uses the Green Pili Pili base and adds red tomatoes.
Sambusa is savory pastry made with khaki, triangular in shape filled with meat, vegetables and/or lentils. It is similar to but not the same as samosa.
Swahili Spiced Rice is made from tomatoes, onions, garlic, and cilantro which is cooked in oil to which cinnamon, cardamon, cloves, and cumin are added to flavor. The mixture is added to cooked basmati rice and lightly salted for flavor.
Ugali is made from corn flour cooked in boiling water until it reaches a stiff dough-like consistency.
Viazi Karai is boiled potatoes with chickpea flour, fried.