Hooyo's Kitchen & Grocery — Restaurant in Omaha

How refreshing to visit a place that is so remarkably human.

Came in slightly in a rush (for no good reason) and was gently reminded to slow down once we walked in. The atmosphere was just that calm. And even that isn’t the right adjective! The place is family owned, so while you wait, folks are often passing in and out of the back rooms, chatting & laughing. The closest word to describe the restaurant may be the Dutch word ‘gezellig.’ It brings a feeling of comfort and familiarity through these social interactions: a warmness, and an encouragement to take a breath & embrace quality time. And so I did!

I grabbed a chicken steak sandwich meal. The fruit juice provided was quite good, and the sandwich was probably perfect. It has this addictive spice that is offset by (I think) a yogurt-based sauce. Still thinking about it! We were also given complimentary bone marrow soup which was, like seemingly everything else on offer, packed with so much flavor.

But really, it goes beyond the food (which does deserve all the praise, it really is special). I was seriously overwhelmed by the kindness & hospitality of the staff. As we left, my friend suggested that our experience was simply a testament to “East African kindness.” A gem here in Omaha that I will certainly be returning to, as I tell everyone I...

We came here at the recommendation of a friend, and boy was that a good decision. Upon entering, the interior is clean and well-lit. The menu is easy to read and navigate, and the person at the register was more than happy to help our family choose what to order. He recommended the family platter (which had rice, pasta, house-made juice, and four meats of your choice). We also tried their sambosas. When our food came out, I grabbed a fork in one hand and a banana (which, also at the recommendation of the server, we ate with bites of the food) in the other and dug in.

Hot DIGGITY.

The rice was beautifully seasoned, the lamb shank was tender, the chicken steak was tasty, the goat kebabs were delicious, and the shrimp made me feel like I was in a five star oceanside resort. Combined with the sauces, the food was unbeatable. Oh, and the sambosas were like little triangles of heaven on earth. I almost ate myself into a coma.

In conclusion: clean and welcoming environment, awesome staff (so accommodating and genuinely helpful!), and RIDICULOUSLY good food (at such reasonable prices).

Come and support this absolute gem of...

If you're looking to try something exciting and novel, you have to visit this Hooyo Kitchen. First of all, it's encouraged to eat the food with your hands, which is a rare treat and a fun experience if you haven't tried it before. I had the fufu and goat plate, and it was absolutely delicious. "Savory" perfectly describes the flavors of the meat and vegetables on the platter. The pale green sauce that came with the food was the perfect amount of spicy, even though I have no idea what it was.

My girlfriend and I enjoyed the food a lot. Additionally, the owner's son, Abdi, was incredibly helpful and nice. He explained how to eat the food and shared his culture with us, which was awesome. He also graciously gave us two cups of the homemade Shaah (a chai-like tea), and it was amazing if you're a tea drinker.

Overall, we were incredibly happy with the portion sizes, value, flavor, and atmosphere of this place and will...