The Best Halal Somali Restaurants in NYC & Long Island

4.5

Safari

If you're looking for authentic Somali food in NYC and haven't found it yet, Safari is basically your only shot—and thank god they exist. This family-run spot in Harlem does all the classics right: crispy sambusas that shatter in your mouth, silky mango curry chicken that'll make you forget every other curry you've had, and fluffy chapati bread that's basically edible nostalgia. The owners bring spices straight back from Somali markets, which means you're tasting the real deal, not some Americanized approximation. It's casual, impossibly affordable, and perfect whether you're stopping by for breakfast or grabbing takeout for dinner. Go for the food, stay because the whole operation feels like eating at someone's really cool aunt's house.