Rayyan Restaurant — Restaurant in Edmonton

Having been kept by Covid from eating out as we used to, my wife and I got to do a lot of home cooking. We pretty much cut out going to restaurants. Because of that we became really picky the few times we went to a restaurant, or we bought take-out from one. We didn’t want to eat in, or have take-out from, a so-so restaurant the few time we did either. One place, out of the very few, that has become our go-to restaurant for take-out, is Rayyan Restaurant, which is located in downtown Edmonton on 106 Avenue, just off 101 Street. The restaurant caters mostly Somali food. We’re not new to restaurant Somali food. We used to help ourselves to it a lot but went off it for quite sometime. Then, not too too long ago, we happened to be driving along 101 Street across 106 Avenue when we spotted Rayyan Restaurant, which describes itself as serving “East African food.” We said, “A new East African restaurant. I bet they serve Somali food. Let’s try it out!” We did and found the food to be better than much other Somali food we had had in the past — a variety of tasty, dishes in big portions served in a fast but friendly and professional manner. The owner, Noor, is engaging with a welcoming smile. He keeps a hands-on involvement on various tasks in the restaurants but still finds time for brief pleasant exchanges with customers. The restaurant operates 7 am to 10 pm, which means they must have lots of customers to be confident enough to be open for so many hours daily. Their confidence must come from their good food. We have tried mostly camel, lamb (shoulder and shank), beef, flavored rice and spaghetti, and chapati (flat bread); and all those dishes have been sumptuous. Rayyan also serves goat and chicken, which we haven’t try but plan to. They also serve breakfast, which we haven’t tried but we may just one day, out of curiosity. All in all, Rayyan is a Somali food restaurant I would recommend without hesitation to any one with a love for or curious about African food. Rayyan may be an excellent place for one to begin their African...

First time visiting Edmonton and it was really cold the night we arrived -- decided to try out a nearby eatery for convenience and was not disappointed with Rayyan!

It was our first time trying East African food and the server recommended that we try the "Sport" platter, which included two proteins and two sides. We went with the grilled chicken and the braised beef shank (originally wanted the goat and lamb ribs, but it was sold out already by lunch), and the "federation" of rice and pasta.

Portions were very generous and fantastic for sharing, but the taste was what really stood out. Beef was perfectly cooked and it fell apart with only a quick jab of the fork, chicken was tender and had a lovely char taste from the grill (slather on some of that spicy and tangy green sauce for extra zing). The pasta was also incredible -- think it was tomato-based, but the star of the dish were the bits of chopped up chilis. The bit of heat was just what we needed for that cold night.

We immediately made a reservation a few days later for lunch to try the goat and lamb ribs, and after we tried it, it made perfect sense why they consistently sold out. Both were deliciously gamey (especially the parts close to the bone) and were to die for. Would highly recommend trying this if you are in the area and to go before noon -- we went at 11:30am and was told the lamb ribs were already the last portion left!

The friendliness of the owner and servers were what completed the experience. Not only were they friendly and inviting, they were also exceptionally hardworking -- the place opens for breakfast from 8am all the way until 10pm, so it's a fantastic choice for both full meals and a hearty snack (preferably to share).

Would definitely come back again when we return...

I was made to feel very welcomed here. Everyone treated me kindly and the gentleman said he would assist me if needed, given the fact that this was my first time eating Somali food.

The lamb shank was so tender that it fell right off the bone. It was seasoned very well and had a very delicious taste. The rice was very fragrant, I am pretty sure they used cardamom and cloves to give it an extra zing. The soup was simple but tasty.

The green sauce was not super spicy but packed a lot of flavour. It definitely added to the dish as a whole.

The down side? The mango drink was sugary and definitely not made with real mangoes. The salad was also lackluster compared to the main course. The soup, though flavourful, lacked a lot of vegetables to give it more depth and substance. The other negative about this restaurant is the location. A lot of sketchy characters hanging around outside deters people who are less brave than myself from coming here.

The negatives aside, I only spent $21 for a delicious lamb shank with rice. There is definitely value for money at this place. The gentlemen and the lady who served me were kind and genuine as well. I would return to try some more...