Nyumbani maybe the best entree in Detroit on any menu. It's impossible for me not to order it every time. Consistently delicious.

Food: Yum! It's clear they know what they're doing in this department and their 2024 James Beard nomination was well deserved. They must have a bunch of veteran grandmothers cooking in the back because everything was seasoned to the edge but also felt so homey. We got the sambusas, an East African rendition of the samosa, the signature nyumbani, and the samaki. The sambusas were a good appetizer, not bad but nothing too crazy. Both the main entrees were so well balanced and packed with so much food. The slow cooked savory beef of the nyumbani was a tad on the dry side but made up for its robust, unctuous flavor, the rice was well spiced, the spinach had surprisingly intense smokiness, and the fried plantains made for a nice sweet palate cleanser. This might be crazy but the LeBron James of the entire meal was the fish of the samaki. So fresh, so tender, so tasty! The sides of the samaki were so freaking good too! I'm never one to pick sea over land but this won me over. Service: Welcoming for sure! We got everything we requested in a timely manner. Shout out to the homemade salsa they were passing out. Holy crap, that little spicy cup was life! I need that salsa recipe pronto! Ambience: Baobab has a lot of modern and inviting touches to let everyone know how hip they are while maintaining their roots with East African decor sprinkled in here and there. Not too fancy but not too casual, the environment rides the fence well. Overall: Wow, it's nice to see an establishment put so much care in every part of the plate. If I had to pick one restaurant for someone to try in the D to represent the city, it would def have to be this. A seemingly unambiguous sleepy corner at first glance that gives way to amazing depth of tradition, culture, and food.

Food is amazing and really well priced. The wait to get a table can be kind of long on a weekend evening so keep that in mind. Note that they don't serve alcohol, but this quality of food here really is a step above the rest.

Food - delicious Service - excellence ambiance - dining rm is a little t tight but it's cozy

STILL AMAZING! Excited to keep working through the menu and falling in love with new dishes!

The food is to die for. The ambiance reminds me of a cramped NYC restaurant. Decor is chic and bright. Most street parking nearby is free and typically easy to find. Service is efficient but not overly-friendly/welcoming. Prices are great for portions received. I've been here a few times now. You truly come here for the delicious food, not so much the "experience" like some restaurants. Reservations are encouraged, especially if there are more than two in your group. It doesn't really seem like they can accommodate more than 4 at a table because space is very limited. Expanding into a larger space would be a godsend for this business! I've ordered the Mbuzi (goat shank) and Kyumbani (simmered beef) a couple times. I've determined that, while you get a HUGE portion of meat with the goat shank, the simmered beef is wayyyyy more flavorful and much more joyful to eat. The yellow beans are a perfect complement to the bold flavors of their dishes. I also love the coconut rice. My husband really likes the corn salad, too. (Everything is served on one big plate, so if you're funny about food touching, request them on smaller plates but be prepared to run out of space on the table.) I've gotten the sambusas as an app once and tried to order the last time I went but they were already sold out for the evening (it was around 5pm on a Saturday.) They're very good if they're available when you go! Drink choices are extremely limited. You can get one of their specialty drinks like juice, tea or coffee or a glass bottle Coke or Sprite for $4. A friend recommended the tamu, a creamy avocado/passion fruit dessert for us to share. I was turned off at first but it was love at first bite. Definitely give it a try if you have any room after your awesome meal. Service is sufficient but hasn't been very friendly in all my visits. They focus on correct orders and getting them to you quickly. It's not the kind of place where you'll become besties with your server but you will fall in love with their food.

Wow. Just wow. Every so often you have a dining experience that makes you look forward to writing a review. Our dinner tonight at Baobab Fare was one of those occasions. We arrived close to 6pm on a Summer Saturday evening and were fortunate to skip the estimated 40 min wait for a table by sitting at the small bar. My wife started with a refreshing passion fruit drink while we reviewed a short menu where every dish looked fascinating. I went for the house specialty Nyumba and never looked back.

Baobab Fare is a beautiful restaurant serving East African cuisine. Immediately upon entering, you feel embraced by its welcoming atmosphere. "More than a restaurant, Baobab Fare is a gathering place where all are welcomed and embraced" is printed in bold yellow letters on the wall behind the bar. We started with the sambusas, fried savory pastries filled with marinated grilled chicken, served with dipping sauce. These were delicious, especially with the dipping sauce. For my main dish, I had their signature dish, the Nyumbani. Tender beef, slow-simmered in ripened tomato sauce, served with fried plantains, peanut-stewed spinach, and your choice of spiced rice pilau or coconut rice. I loved the beef, the fried plantains, and the spiced rice pilau. I do wish the beef came with more sauce. Unfortunately I wasn't a fan of the peanut-stewed spinach. It tasted like cigarettes to me. However, I had three friends that ordered the same dish and devoured everything, including the spinach, so it might be an acquired taste. For dessert, I had the coco mango, which consisted of coconut cream with mango coulis and fresh mango chunks, topped with roasted coconut flakes. It was the perfect way to end the meal. Also, the service was amazing!

I was visiting family in Michigan and was so happy I had done my research. After reading the reviews and accolades for the chef, I knew I had to make a trip to Detroit to taste the amazing fare here. Parking is plenty on the streets but signs sometimes are confusing, so I decided to park in a lot 2 blocks away. It was $5 for the whole day and coming from LA, I was thrilled for this!! Parking in downtown LA is close to $40, so this is a steal. I came early and there was plenty of seating. I had the coffee which blew me away as well as Nyumbani. I loved this dish, especially the Swiss chard. I usually fast till 2 pm but broke my fast at 11:15 am for this amazing dish! I came here alone and portion sizes are big, so I ended up taking some home. If you are visiting Detroit, come here for a fantastic meal and superb service. I love the people of Detroit, everyone was so friendly and I will definitely be back when I'm visiting Michigan again.