Simba's Grill — Restaurant in Burnaby

I had the opportunity to dine at Simba's Grill on my recent weekend visit to Vancouver. This was my first time trying African-Indian fusion food. I haven't had the opportunity to visit Africa but I did live in Mumbai for a bit so I was very excited to compare this to traditional Indian food.

FOOD My sister, boyfriend, and I decided to share everything family style. We ordered one appetizer and three entrees and ended with some leftovers. The Machicha spinach-curry dish was absolutely delicious and probably my favorite out of everything we tried. It has the perfect amount of deep curry flavor and spice. I really enjoyed the Chicken Surwa (reminiscent of butter chicken but not quite the same) and the deep fried tilapia with fresh lemon drizzled on top. We wanted to try a variety of sides so we had naan, saffron rice, and uglai which is an African corn/maize meal (it's sort of like a bland version of polenta with a similar texture -- I'm a huge fan of polenta so I really enjoyed eating this with the chicken dish). My boyfriend ordered the Lamb Kebabs which I was not a fan of. I thought these were a bit overcooked and not as flavorful as I would have liked. We ended our meal with the Chef's famous Lamu cheesecake and we were so glad that we saved some room for dessert. After a few minutes, there was no more rich cheesecake to be found -- only the remnants of the divine mango sauce and pistachio and almond shavings adorned the plate.

SERVICE/ATMOSPHERE The restaurant itself is small yet cozy. Pictures and art from Kenya adorn the walls and ceilings and there is low lighting. Servers were attentive but not intrusive, we were eating heaps of the spicy mango chutney and hot sauce and they made sure that our waters were always full! I love that the owner is so involved in the restaurant -- he took our order by memory and we saw him help the waitresses bring out food, fill water, etc. He spent lots of time checking on customers to make sure everyone was enjoying their meals.

This is definitely a local gem and I hope to return on my next trip to Vancouver to try more of their dishes! I wish I had a second stomach at the time because the ribs and the Mbida okra dish both...

My recent visit to Simba’s Grill left me & my party utterly disappointed. From start to finish, the experience was marred by rude behavior from the owner, subpar service, and mediocre food that was absurdly overpriced.

Upon entering the restaurant, I had high hopes for a pleasant dining experience. Unfortunately, the owner’s attitude quickly shattered any positive expectations. Their demeanor was consistently rude and dismissive, showing no regard for customer satisfaction. It’s disheartening to witness such unprofessional behavior in a hospitality establishment.

Empty glasses were left unfilled for extended periods, and requests for assistance were met with indifference. It was evident that customer satisfaction was not a priority for the restaurant.

Regrettably, the disappointment extended to the food. The dishes lacked creativity and were far from memorable. The taste was average at best, and the presentation was unremarkable. Moreover, the portion sizes were notably small for the exorbitant prices charged. I expected quality ingredients and flavors that would justify the high cost, but sadly, it was an unjustifiable expense.

To make matters worse, the menu prices were unjustifiably inflated. It was evident that the establishment was attempting to capitalize on its location or reputation, without delivering the value or experience expected at such price points. The overall lack of quality, coupled with the exorbitant prices, left me feeling cheated and dissatisfied.

In summary, my visit to Simba’s Grill was a regrettable experience. The rude owner, subpar service, mediocre food, and exorbitant prices combined to create a disappointing dining affair. I will not be dining at this establishment ever again, as there are countless other restaurants in the area that offer superior service, delectable cuisine, and better value...

Let me start by stating that my review here is slightly biased because there are some nostalgic feelings of when we lived in East Africa for 10yrs. Our fond memories have always focused on the people, but it was often food that brought us together, and the diner we had at Simba’s was also an event with friends, so it was Special! Asante sana mpishi mkuu, tunakushukuru sana! We ordered the (Mchaguzi wa Chef) Chef’s Mix platter which was generous with a little of everything. We ordered a side order of fried muhogo (cassava) which brought back memories of picking up a mid-day snack from the vendors on the side of the road. Crispy fried fingers with tender “almost creamy” centers! Yum! If it wasn’t cassava that got us through the day, it was the roasted sweet potato (white starchy variety), sprinkled with chili powder and salt, or Bhajia (fried lentil bean dough). 😋 Quickly enjoying these starchy treats, the platter arrived, and it was full of goodies; a filet of fried fish (tilapia), a couple of Mishkaki (roasted beef with a dry rub seasoning), and two kebabs (roasted seasoned ground beef on skewers), 4-5 roasted chicken slenders, all atop of a bed of basmati rice. Because we ordered two platters, it was a feast for the six of us; there were plenty of leftovers for two couples to bring home! I might add that there was a side salad to “make mom happy” and brought some color to the plate. We will be back, especially for their East African style nyama choma (beef) ribs (dry not sweet and saucy), and the all popular East African somosas (which differ from their larger counterparts made in India). Thank you for “bringing us home” tulifurahi sana kufika nyumbani, na...