Malo Malo BBQ Swahili Cuisine — Restaurant in Nairobi

📍The Venue and Ambiance📍

A hidden gem? More like an overrated restaurant. Walking in you would think it's a huge restaurant but it's an establishment with a huge seating area and small kitchen. The toilet and hand washing area is not well maintained. I requested to use the washroom as I waited for my friends to arrive and I was met with blood droplets at the toilet's entrance. Apparently someone cut themselves, resulting in the bloody mess. This, however, doesn't explain why they couldn't clean it up because it paints a terrible image of the establishment.

The restaurant's ambiance doesn't give much to write home about. It's a swahili restaurant so the decor edges towards the same but the execution fell flat. They do, however, have ample parking space and adequate seating areas, some with backrests and others without. You get to choose where you want to sit.

👩🏾‍🍳 The service 👨🏽‍🍳

My goodness, the service at Malo Malo Restaurant 🤦🏾‍♀️. I always say I can overlook a lot of things but the food and service always have to be top notch. The waiters are hands-on, that much I'll give them, but the restaurant's products 🙆🏾‍♀️, no, no and PLEASE NO! We ordered one tamarind juice and two servings of piña coloda mocktail after the waiter told us the signature mocktails were unavailable. You would think they can't mess up three simple drinks and somehow, someway, they managed to mess them up.

The waiter first served me my tamarind juice which was watery and sugary, and it tasted nothing close to tamarind. The piña colada mocktails were no better as they were also watered down and tasted nothing like piña colodas. Only one of my friends finished his drink because he was thirsty but the two of us were unable to down our drinks. To make matters worse, the waiter came to tell us to order our food early enough because food ends early 🤦🏾‍♀️. It's one thing to serve watered-down drinks but it's a whole new level of disorganisation to tell customers to order early because food is ending. This was at 2:30 pm, so I'm assuming those who'll visit the restaurant at 4 pm won't be getting food 🧐. It honestly makes no sense 🤷🏾‍♀️!

🥙 Overall review 🥞

Malo Malo Restaurant needs to improve and do so SIGNIFICANTLY. I could write so much more about my disappointing experience but I'll leave it at that. I'm glad I didn't get to try their food because I don't even want to imagine how disastrous that would have been. I won't be giving the restaurant a second chance especially not after that...

Visited on 02/12/2023 at around 4:40pm I had a terrible experience, nothing welcoming. Visited with a party (family) of 6. When we asked for sheltered sitting coz we had an 8 month with us, the lady said no. Then she asked "how long are you staying?" 🙄.

I was excited to try the food. But the food or drinks were ALL BLAND!!!! Ordered 3 pilau, 2 chicken curry (rice, naan) and fries and samosas for a 4 year old. Need I say the fries and samosas were last to be brought! Smh.

Anyway, the pilau was tasteless, nothing special. Nothing like the expected Swahili pilau. The chicken curry was bland. To be honest we had the food but there was no taste to it.

Ordered an Orange sunrise for the 4 year old and even she rejected it and preferred a coca cola! It was and tasted like dilute Orange juice. The only thing I could give a mark to was the milkshake. Though could be better.

Remember our lady at the start, she came over as we were about to leave and said their food is usually top-notch but the chef today had let them down. She added that they had made a new pot of pilau and she could sample us. No thank you!

May I add that the price on the menu is not the price charged, chicken curry was 400/- on the menu, i paid 500/-. Sigh!

Dear self-proclaimed reviewers online, please 'let hidden gems remain hidden ".

Definitely never...

So you're looking for a place to grab a bite in Nairobi? Malo Malo BBQ Swahili Cuisine, located on Kilimani Road in Nairobi's Kilimani neighborhood, offers a great authentic Swahili dining experience. The restaurant features a cozy and inviting atmosphere, making it an ideal spot for both group gatherings and family outings.

During my lunch visit, I ordered the beef pilau accompanied by extra chapati, sparkling water, and fresh tamarind juice. The service was prompt, and the portions were generous, providing excellent value for money. The beef pilau was flavorful, with tender meat and well-seasoned rice, while the chapati was soft and complemented the meal perfectly. The fresh tamarind juice added a refreshing touch to my meal experience.

Malo Malo's menu also features a variety of Swahili specialties, including grilled fish, chicken shawarma, and coconut-infused dishes (try the coconut beans! They're great!), all prepared with traditional spices and herbs. The restaurant also offers breakfast options like mahamri and mbaazi za nazi, catering to diverse eating preferences.

In summary, Malo Malo BBQ Swahili Cuisine provides a delightful dining experience with its authentic dishes, generous portions, and reasonable pricing. It's an excellent choice for those seeking genuine Kenyan...