WOW. This place is out of this world delicious with customer service that matches. I try to eat here one a week. Recommended: Mamosa Ribs Chicken Fish and chips Mmmmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about the food.
(5)
Sasha G.
Do yourself a favor and try this place. It's unique and refreshing. Everything is made from scratch! The owners are so sweet and very informative when it comes to the menu. Small inside, but outside seating (and take out). This place is amazing and the food is full of unique flavors!
(5)
Karla M.
From the moment we walked into this eatery to the time we left I'm sure there were smiles on our faces. The aromas in the air from the food being prepared to the amazing and friendly staff one cannot go wrong when chosing their next meal here. The waitress was the sweetest I've ever had: explaining the history of their food and describing their main dishes helps put one at ease while reading through the menu. We tried a few appetizers and dishes so that we could share. Samosas, tandoori chicken wings, short ribs, beef skewers, curry corn, veggie rice pilaf and one cannot forget to try cassava fries! Delicious!! Amazing and delightful vibrant colors and flavors! We were not disappointed! Next time we'll add dessert!
(5)
Christina H.
I had a Groupon for this place because I wanted to check it out and boy am I happy that I did! The food here is AMAZING - a wonderful mix of Indian, North African and New Mexican - probably a few more spices thrown in there for good measure. My boyfriend had the sliders and the meat seasoning reminded me of my grandmother's Greek meatballs. I had steak which had been marinated and cooked on a grill, inside a pita bread with slaw and fried okra - to die for! We also started out with an order of Samosas and I have to say they were some of the best I've ever had. They have a beer and wine license and one thing I love about this place is that they carry local beer and wine! Way-to-go Safari Grill! I love a restaurant that supports local industry. The service was truly some of the best I've had anywhere and they were completely attentive and helpful the entire time we were there. So peeps - I highly recommend this truly yummy hole-in-the-wall. Their prices are decent and they have an amazing variety. Go out and try anything on the menu and I bet you will love it!
(5)
Jazmine V.
This place is so cool...and unique! Don't bring a large party...it seats 12-16 people, tops. A family owns it. They are so knowledgeable about the food. They will explain it to you in detail. You'll be drooling by the end! It's African food meets New Mexico. You have to try the Samosa. SOOOO GOOD! They are hot and fresh. The only thing I can compare them to is a mini stuffed sopapilla...but crispier. The beef ones were the best. I had the shrimp tacos. They were solid tacos. The owners overheard that I like hot food...so they brought me out some specialty sauce. It's habanero and pineapple. I forget what it was called...but just ask for the hot habanero sauce. It's flavorful and delicious. Safari has a decent beer and wine selection, including some of NM's own. The cassava fries (New Mexico Yucca plant) were surprisingly delicious! If you're looking for something new and creative, you've found the place. It's a welcome addition to the west side!
(5)
Christian R.
Had a chance to visit the Safari Grill while on tour with my band. We were craving some meat so we checked for the nearest thing and found the safari grill and we were absolutely happy with the food. 1) Great service. Knowledgeable staff and very friendly without blowing smoke up my rear end. It was great. 2) Food was great. Their menu accommodated a vegan and pescetarian from our group. Their bean burger was fantastic. Happy with my overall experience and will look forward to coming again next time we are in new mexico.
(5)
Monica B.
We pass by the Safari Grill everyday and always saw cars at their little place. Oh my gosh now I know why! Their food is just outstanding! We had the chicken skewer, a beef safari bowl and samosa's. I can't say enough about the chicken and how tender, juicy and flavorful it was. The owner said they marinate it overnight in spices and that's how it gets so tender. It's wonderful! The beef safari bowl was just as delightful. The beef was the most tender beef I've ever had. It's served over rice and comes with two sauces. Amazing! I had never had samosa's before so I tried all 3 flavors; beef, chicken and vegetable. They were all great but the chicken was my favorite. The three dipping sauces are to die for. The service, well it's just the best in town. Everyone was friendly, smiling and explained everything on the menu. We are so happy we tried it and can't wait to visit this little local gem again.
(5)
Flozilla B.
Fun destination on the west side...We live in the valley (not a ton of selection when it comes to eating out) and found this place on a recent trek across town to peruse the costumes at the super savers thrift store. My hubby thought it was a african cuisine kind of place...maybe sit down with white table clothes...hopefully with some Ethiopian type cuisine....we were probably just remembering the inside of the old Bombay grill which used to inhabit part of the building and most likely both of us were hoping for a reincarnation of that interior with real african food. Alas, no. The Safari Grill is a much more casual kind of place with a menu featuring sandwiches and a few specials. We both ordered the "skewer tacos". Mine a mixed beef and chicken, both spiced well and quick to deliver! The hubby had the shrimp and seemed to enjoy the dish fine. I like the self serve drink station...but I was charged for water. No biggie. The server way very peppy and quick to offer suggestions on the menu...was surprised that we have actually heard of "gyro meat" and "samosas" and "cassava"...I guess many of the clientele there have not? I don't know. Anyhow the food was good and we will most likely return to try a few of the other interesting fusion menu items.
(3)
N S.
We found this on yelp on a whim on a quick visit to Burque, and absolutely a gem! I can not find the right words to describe the food, and the owner is awesome! She took the time to explain the whole menu in such detail that it was not tough at all to choose! Too bad I don't live around the corner other wise I would be there very often. Will be back for more on next visit! As others reviewers stated "do yourself a favor and try this place"!
(5)
A Z.
The perfect combination of good service and fantastic food with rich flavors, so bad I am so far to go more often.
(5)
Melody L.
We were pleasantly surprised by the creative menu and delightful service and ambience. The prices are also quite a bit more palatable than the restaurants within the area. Looking forward for their specials: Mogo with beef and rice pudding! Highly recommended!
(5)
Howie K.
I met Bill Young, the owner of this grill, two years ago during the Nob Hill Summerfest. Starved, I walked up to the first food truck I could find, and after taking one bite of a green chile, beef and potato samosa, I was astonished. "This is African food?" I asked. "Yeah, Tanzania. With a New Mexico kick." Those bites were so flavorful I remember them to this day. I told Bill to keep in touch, I wanted to see what became of the Safari Street Grill. Ironically, as I parked my car outside his new brick-and-mortar shop tucked behind a soulless franchise mega mall on the Westside, somebody on the radio was talking about how the suburbs in America have drastically changed over the last decade. "If you want the best Chinese in Washington DC, you don't go to Chinatown anymore. You go to the 'burbs." His point was that the quality and cost of urban life had improved dramatically, pushing out small business entrepreneurs who can't afford the rent. Hence, the 'burbs are becoming the place to find authentic, dynamic cuisine. No longer on the street, The Safari Grill is one of those stories that just keeps getting better, the next step in what appears to be a very promising culinary career for Mr Young. Ask the dude about what inspires him, he'll go on and on about bringing new flavors to New Mexico, and from what I can tell he's delivering in spades. The samosas continue to be the signature dish, here, with three dipping sauces and lime, I loved the Indian chicken curry variety. The short ribs also made my tummy very happy, and while some could rightly claim that the paper plate presentation hardly befits a restaurant, I found it endearing. I seriously think this guy has the chops to go great places in this city; it'll be fun to look back and say, "I remember the paper plate days..." One more note: seating is currently limited to 30, but will expand to 50 soon. Grand plans include a local beer and wine bar and safari-esque seating in the front. Want your new favorite hole-in-the-zebra-striped wall? This is it.
(5)
Tory M.
For my first visit I was with my daughter so didn't want to try anything too exotic, since she has a slightly sensitive palate. Maybe I should have tried the Casava fries, because the regular fries were nothing to write home about, though they were uniquely spiced. I also had the gyro which was good, even if a little on the dry side. The service was excellent which, that alone, warrants a return trip to be more adventurous and hopefully respond with a better, and more thorough, review. I do like to see small local businesses do well, especially when they have a fresh/new idea!
(3)
Mary M.
For two years we passed by this restaurant thinking about visiting but not being sure. Man, I'm sorry I waited so long! This Indian/African fusion take-out restaurant (there are maybe three or four small tables inside and more outside), was awesome. A great change for samosas (with three dipping sauces), fried okra is good (but tiny portion), same with the curry corn. We've loved the veggie burger and Indian style fish and chips. Service is helpful and they love to talk about their dishes.
(5)
Maggie D.
Groupon brought us here but the friendly staff and delicious food will bring us back. We ordered veggie samosa app. Lovely curry and veggies fried in a light crispy shell. Served three tasty dips. Entree- husband had beef skewer tacos- with a side is casava fries- Amazing! Great flavors. Spicy, tasty treats. I had Indian dish & chips with tomato curry. Salmon was a little dry but the red curry and chips were very good. Super friendly staff makes it a great experience.
(3)
Andrea R.
If I could give it more stars I would. There are so many things I want to rave about, but first as a mom, let me say THEY HAVE A KIDS MENU!! So many times you go to little specialty places and they don't really have anything for kids to eat. Burgers, hotdogs, chicken strips with fries and a drink. Awesome! Ok with that being said, let me say that the food was amazing! My children loved it, they ate more of our food then what we ordered them off the kids menu!! Ok so now let me talk about the menu, the food is awesome!! I mean awesome! The fusion between New Mexican and Tanzanian is something to brag about. It's just something you have to try for yourself. This place has to be one of the best little secrets in Albuquerque. I seriously wanted to order everything on the menu. But we settled for the beef kabob and the short ribs with the yucca fries, lol settled, my kiddos even loved them. I'm so happy we stopped by on a whim, I would totally recommend this place to everyone! If even just to try it once!
(5)
Nadia M.
Pretty darn good! Very odd, in a delicious way. Casava fries are airy and light. The samosas are delicious. All the sauces are unexpectedly awesome. Definitely exotic with a local flair. Staff is awesome too!
(4)
Dan J.
Finally! After two other tries we got to experience the flavors at Safari Grill. Three little tables in the front so get here early or take home for a treat. We had the samosas. Don't get the three...get the six so you get two of each flavor. The chicken was absolutely our favorite. Three sauces come with them. The green chile chutney was the favorite but the tamarind was perfectly balanced and a great second. Entrees for us were the chicken tikka (amazing interpretation) and the beef skewer. I don't know what the marinade was but it made the most tender cut of chuck. If you get the pilaf as the side, I recommend the curry corn to go with it. Together they are the perfect flavor and compliment each other well. Thank you for choosing New Mexico wines for the menu. Don't just eat here, talk to the owner. He is passionate about food and that is a rare find today in the chain-food-osphere. I learned more in one trip about this kind of food than I ever would anywhere else.
(5)
Shyam S.
Outstanding food. As Andrea R said, "If I could give it more stars I would." The chicken is on a whole new level of amazing, as well as their cassava fries, corn, and maybe the best chicken wings I've ever had. The owner is a lovely woman. I would recommend EVERYTHING on the menu. It is all legit. I just wished I didn't live a thousand miles away!
(5)
Richard T.
This is the first time here. Just ate the best shrimp skewers and my husband had a sizzling pile of short ribs! The server was very friendly and attentive. We will go back soon
(5)
Sumarin B.
If you couldn't tell from reading the yummy adjective packed language of their menu, I wanted to let you know that the people behind The Safari Grill are super excited about their food and serving you. We had their style of fish and chips and gyro. Being accustomed to heavily spiced and spicy food, I was surprised that the flavor was surprised that the food wasn't as flavorful as I expected. I have high hopes for this joint on the Westside, a nice break from other chain restaurants. Give em a try!
(4)
Tim O.
Outstandingly good, tender, tasty and plenty. Somosas are excellent. Definitely will be back soon.
(5)
J R.
Tasty grub with a friendly staff. Only negative is a tiny seating area. Check it out for something different.
(5)
Tracy R.
Awesome food and service. It's small but give it a try. They will tell you about their Specialties. Try them all. They also serve local craft beers!
(5)
Kaylyn P.
The food was absolutely delicious! It was all extremely fresh and piping hot. The service was also top notch. Our server was friendly and helped us through the menu. He seemed to genuinely love his job and the restaurant and was happy to discuss the food with us! We were very appreciative of all of his help! We got the appetizer platter with veggie samosas, zucchini chips, and okra and the safari bowl with beef (I didn't try the beef). I've never had a samosa, but oh my, it was good (and so were the dips). It had great flavor - an interesting combination of indian/new mexican tastes! I've never had anything like it. The zucchini and okra were really, really good too! I just tasted the rice of the safari grill and it was pretty good. I was told that the beef was insane and extremely tender. I wouldn't know, but my source is credible :) The vegetarian in me struggled a bit with Safari Grill. I was a bit disappointed, only because everything I ate was so delicious that I wanted more! Their veggie option, beyond appetizers, is the veggie burger. I refused to get the veggie burger, opting for the shared safari bowl, only because I wanted to stick with something more...authentic...But I will definitely try the veggie burger next time, I'm sure it is amazing just like everything else! I do hope that in the future they increase their vegetarian options. Despite my vegetarian struggle, which i suppose i've brought upon myself :), I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Safari Grill and would recommend it to anyone! Especially meat eaters...
(5)
Carolina A.
If you're looking to support a great local business, this is it. The staff was great. Very helpful describing the food. The food is delicious. They make everything from scratch. Love it all!!! Samosas, palif rice, cassava fries!! All exceptional!!!! They also serve wine, some mixed drinks and local beers.
(5)
Vanessa P.
We tried a little bit of many things on the menu. The cassava fries were unique. I'm glad I ordered them, but probably wouldn't again. They were a bit denser than potato fries, and the tamarind sauce we had to dip them in was very thin and while tasty on its own didn't really stick to the fries or add much flavor. The samosas were yummy...the chicken seemed to be the unanimous favorite overall in our party of four, but all three flavors were good. My husband and brother both got the short ribs, and they were super tender and flavorful...definitely the standout dish of the meal. My husband has a big appetite, and he did express a wish for more when his ribs were gone. They are very reasonably priced however, and a double order wouldn't set you back more than a rack of ribs at a place like Applebees. All our food came out piping hot, sometimes literally sizzling (as in the case of the cast iron platters the short ribs came on.) Towards the end of our meal, we even met the owner's mother who came out to find out how we had enjoyed everything. She seemed sincerely moved to be able to share her family recipes with people, and overjoyed that we were all pleased with our food. The service was very friendly and helpful, and our experience was wonderful overall. Next time I want to try the curry corn, which has received so many accolades on Yelp, but of course I couldn't order all the things I wanted to try in one go. We read on the restaurant website that you can get the short ribs in taco form (a sort of secret menu item), and we'd definitely be down to try that. I'm also curious about the "Indian Fish & Chips." I'll definitely be going back to catch the things I missed the first time and have more of what they're doing right!
(4)
Havana P.
This is our first visit here, and I am very pleased with the experience. The place is small only 3 tables and the bar area, but the food is very flavorful, the staff is extremely friendly and the prices are very reasonable. Overall great place!
(5)
Mala H.
Terrific! Very friendly staff. No frills no fuss efficient! Wish it were closer to where I live
(5)
Tami C.
Came in today with my two sons for the first time and we all enjoyed the food. The flavor here is unique and very tasty.
(4)
Mitch H.
Completely amazing. My girlfriend got takeout from this stupidly good spot tonight. ...at my request. Told her to make me a sandwich and bring me a beer. She'd rather get takeout. The skewers (beef and chicken) were perfect- well cooked, well seasoned. The chicken samosa is almost too good to describe. Okra- amazing! I was already in total lust with this food and then I tried the curry corn. It is indescribably good. I'm not sure what sorcery is happening here but I adore it. Eat here!
(5)
Andi D.
Absolutely phenomenal food! It was our first time and they went out of their way to explain the menu to us and tell us about the different dishes. I got the tacos and my husband got the gyro. Everything was amazing! The service was fast and friendly and they were very attentive to us and our experience. We will definitely be back!!
(5)
Anna K.
We are business owners in the area and were looking for something new to try for lunch. I suggested Safari Grill... We were very pleasantly surprised! The food was EXCELLENT! I had the chicken skewer tacos with a whole wheat tortilla and the curry corn. My boyfriend had the gyro with the yucca chips. We both loved the food and the staff was very pleasant. All in all a good experience! I can't wait to go back to try other menu items! What a great little local restaurant!!!!!
(5)
Kaedi H.
Yum! I had the chicken tikka, which I have eaten many times in the Middle East, and the taste was authentic! So delicious. They even give you a green chile sauce to dip it in. The service was great. They are very attentive! The kids menu is good, and they have real fruit ice creams for dessert. The prices are decent, too. The inside is pretty small, so I wouldn't recommend bringing large parties. Overall, excellent food and service. A very unique restaurant to have here in Abq.
(5)
Leslie S.
I've been driving by the Safari Grill for a few months now and was finally persuaded to drop in tonight. I'm glad I did. As other reviewers have mentioned it's tucked into the back half of a salon and behind the array of chain restaurants. We got an overview of the menu and finally settled on samosas to start with. I had the chicken skewer wrap, boyfriend got the beef skewer tacos. I'm going to pause for a second here to give this place props for pacing their customers. I know it's easier with smaller places but I've had so many experiences lately where the appetizer and all the other food shows up at once so you wind up with cold icky something invariably. I know that proper pacing from the kitchen should be expected but it seems that some places want to go by the wayside so I was very happy that Safari Grill didn't. Okay, back to the food. The samosas were lovely and crisp. We had a mixture of the chicken (my personal favorite) and the veggie ones (still good). Boyfriend enjoyed his tacos and enjoyed the taste but had a hard time keeping the wheat tortilla together with the amount of juice and meat inside. Fried okra for the side seemed to be a hit as well. My chicken skewer wrap was incredibly good. The chicken was flavorful and spicy, but not so spicy that it blew out my palate keeping me from tasting anything else. The pita was thick and fluffy and completely adequate for keeping everything inside. The slaw was a new experience. I normally hate slaw. If It comes to the side then I pawn it off on someone or politely decline it. I was tired and failed to notice it came on my wrap so I grudgingly nibbled and discovered for the first time ever slaw that I love. Again I couldn't name flavors if I had to. I thought there was a little bit of fruit and a little tang in it. The vegetables were crunchy. Ok, I may be a slaw convert (but only Tanzanian slaw). I was way too stuffed to try the dessert, but I'll definitely do it next time. The restaurant itself feels a little divey but is clean and I dig the zebra stripes. The family running the place is friendly and wonderful and we wound up talking to them for quite a bit after we finished eating. All in all this was a very pleasant discovery that I'll be going back to soon.
(4)
Adam W.
Excellent food and service! Atmosphere is very homey and personal. Samosas are a must try and the Skewer Tacos are mindblowing! A perfect combination of Tanzanian and New Mexican influence make for some tasty eats!
(5)
Jeff L.
This place has great and unique food. It is difficult to find, but worth the effort. I had the tacos and the meat was very well seasons a cooked. They also put their signature coleslaw on them. Mmmm. Highly recommend!
(5)
Deb P.
Holy cow. Boss recommended the safari grill and was not expecting much little hole in the wall place. Food was Excellent. Service was Excellent. Over 50 miles from our home and we are already planning on coming back. We had the Samosas, shrimp skewer and tikka chicken. Do not know which I liked best. Highly recommended!!!!
(5)
Bou P.
Try it! So i was with a customer and after talking a while it turns out he's into food we seem to be pretty aligned with our opinions about what's good. He mentions Safari Grill for just an awesome burger so on my lunch break on the very same day i stopped by. I was greeted with a very enthusiastic guy who I later found out was one of the owners. He explained the menu thoroughly and in a way that excited me about the food and place. I wanted to try their other items but i went on my customer's recommendation and ordered a hamburer and boy was i impressed! The beef patty was thick, juicy and the bun was even given some love. I had an exotic side and a self serve drink that was included in the sub $9 combo. I felt like having a business talk with the guy about his pricing. I feel the restaurant is getting the short end of the stick at his pricing but i'm not going to complain lol. Serously though, i have spent probably more on my combos at Freddy's or Chic Fil A. This restaurant knocks it out of the park for it's price and it's food. I'll be a regular for sure and will highly recommend to anyone i know.
(5)
Amy O.
I was reluctant to review Safari Grill because of the fear of others finding out about this wonderful gem in Albuquerque. I have literally driven by this restaurant hundreds of times and had no idea of what I was missing!!! Beware it is a bit small (although they now have patio seating) so if you have a large group grab their take out. The staff are SO nice, informative and helpful! The aroma from the kitchen can be smelled in the air of the parking lot drawing you into an amazing meal! The sangria with Samosas was a wonderful start to our meal. Plus the chips and salsa are not your normal chips and salsa (in a good way)! I don't even think you need the salsa because the chips are great alone. The African Short ribs melted in my mouth. The flavor and care put into these ribs was noticeable and appreciated! You must ordered these!! Plus the Curry Corn is a nice blend of Indian and African cuisine. The Mishkaki Skewers of chicken and beef with the cassava fries amazing! The chicken and beef were seasoned and grilled to perfection!! Plus the dipping sauces are a great addition to the proteins! The Safari Grill is the perfect fusion of African, Indian and New Mexican culture, flavored and cuisine! I have been thinking about the food since we left there which says a lot about the food. This place is definitely one my favorites right now! Super small business and a local family by trying Safari Grill and becoming just as addicted to their food as I am!!
(5)
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Address :3600 State Hwy 528 NW,Suite B
Albuquerque, NM, 87114
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Brunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Ray G.
WOW. This place is out of this world delicious with customer service that matches. I try to eat here one a week. Recommended: Mamosa Ribs Chicken Fish and chips Mmmmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about the food.
(5)Sasha G.
Do yourself a favor and try this place. It's unique and refreshing. Everything is made from scratch! The owners are so sweet and very informative when it comes to the menu. Small inside, but outside seating (and take out). This place is amazing and the food is full of unique flavors!
(5)Karla M.
From the moment we walked into this eatery to the time we left I'm sure there were smiles on our faces. The aromas in the air from the food being prepared to the amazing and friendly staff one cannot go wrong when chosing their next meal here. The waitress was the sweetest I've ever had: explaining the history of their food and describing their main dishes helps put one at ease while reading through the menu. We tried a few appetizers and dishes so that we could share. Samosas, tandoori chicken wings, short ribs, beef skewers, curry corn, veggie rice pilaf and one cannot forget to try cassava fries! Delicious!! Amazing and delightful vibrant colors and flavors! We were not disappointed! Next time we'll add dessert!
(5)Christina H.
I had a Groupon for this place because I wanted to check it out and boy am I happy that I did! The food here is AMAZING - a wonderful mix of Indian, North African and New Mexican - probably a few more spices thrown in there for good measure. My boyfriend had the sliders and the meat seasoning reminded me of my grandmother's Greek meatballs. I had steak which had been marinated and cooked on a grill, inside a pita bread with slaw and fried okra - to die for! We also started out with an order of Samosas and I have to say they were some of the best I've ever had. They have a beer and wine license and one thing I love about this place is that they carry local beer and wine! Way-to-go Safari Grill! I love a restaurant that supports local industry. The service was truly some of the best I've had anywhere and they were completely attentive and helpful the entire time we were there. So peeps - I highly recommend this truly yummy hole-in-the-wall. Their prices are decent and they have an amazing variety. Go out and try anything on the menu and I bet you will love it!
(5)Jazmine V.
This place is so cool...and unique! Don't bring a large party...it seats 12-16 people, tops. A family owns it. They are so knowledgeable about the food. They will explain it to you in detail. You'll be drooling by the end! It's African food meets New Mexico. You have to try the Samosa. SOOOO GOOD! They are hot and fresh. The only thing I can compare them to is a mini stuffed sopapilla...but crispier. The beef ones were the best. I had the shrimp tacos. They were solid tacos. The owners overheard that I like hot food...so they brought me out some specialty sauce. It's habanero and pineapple. I forget what it was called...but just ask for the hot habanero sauce. It's flavorful and delicious. Safari has a decent beer and wine selection, including some of NM's own. The cassava fries (New Mexico Yucca plant) were surprisingly delicious! If you're looking for something new and creative, you've found the place. It's a welcome addition to the west side!
(5)Christian R.
Had a chance to visit the Safari Grill while on tour with my band. We were craving some meat so we checked for the nearest thing and found the safari grill and we were absolutely happy with the food. 1) Great service. Knowledgeable staff and very friendly without blowing smoke up my rear end. It was great. 2) Food was great. Their menu accommodated a vegan and pescetarian from our group. Their bean burger was fantastic. Happy with my overall experience and will look forward to coming again next time we are in new mexico.
(5)Monica B.
We pass by the Safari Grill everyday and always saw cars at their little place. Oh my gosh now I know why! Their food is just outstanding! We had the chicken skewer, a beef safari bowl and samosa's. I can't say enough about the chicken and how tender, juicy and flavorful it was. The owner said they marinate it overnight in spices and that's how it gets so tender. It's wonderful! The beef safari bowl was just as delightful. The beef was the most tender beef I've ever had. It's served over rice and comes with two sauces. Amazing! I had never had samosa's before so I tried all 3 flavors; beef, chicken and vegetable. They were all great but the chicken was my favorite. The three dipping sauces are to die for. The service, well it's just the best in town. Everyone was friendly, smiling and explained everything on the menu. We are so happy we tried it and can't wait to visit this little local gem again.
(5)Flozilla B.
Fun destination on the west side...We live in the valley (not a ton of selection when it comes to eating out) and found this place on a recent trek across town to peruse the costumes at the super savers thrift store. My hubby thought it was a african cuisine kind of place...maybe sit down with white table clothes...hopefully with some Ethiopian type cuisine....we were probably just remembering the inside of the old Bombay grill which used to inhabit part of the building and most likely both of us were hoping for a reincarnation of that interior with real african food. Alas, no. The Safari Grill is a much more casual kind of place with a menu featuring sandwiches and a few specials. We both ordered the "skewer tacos". Mine a mixed beef and chicken, both spiced well and quick to deliver! The hubby had the shrimp and seemed to enjoy the dish fine. I like the self serve drink station...but I was charged for water. No biggie. The server way very peppy and quick to offer suggestions on the menu...was surprised that we have actually heard of "gyro meat" and "samosas" and "cassava"...I guess many of the clientele there have not? I don't know. Anyhow the food was good and we will most likely return to try a few of the other interesting fusion menu items.
(3)N S.
We found this on yelp on a whim on a quick visit to Burque, and absolutely a gem! I can not find the right words to describe the food, and the owner is awesome! She took the time to explain the whole menu in such detail that it was not tough at all to choose! Too bad I don't live around the corner other wise I would be there very often. Will be back for more on next visit! As others reviewers stated "do yourself a favor and try this place"!
(5)A Z.
The perfect combination of good service and fantastic food with rich flavors, so bad I am so far to go more often.
(5)Melody L.
We were pleasantly surprised by the creative menu and delightful service and ambience. The prices are also quite a bit more palatable than the restaurants within the area. Looking forward for their specials: Mogo with beef and rice pudding! Highly recommended!
(5)Howie K.
I met Bill Young, the owner of this grill, two years ago during the Nob Hill Summerfest. Starved, I walked up to the first food truck I could find, and after taking one bite of a green chile, beef and potato samosa, I was astonished. "This is African food?" I asked. "Yeah, Tanzania. With a New Mexico kick." Those bites were so flavorful I remember them to this day. I told Bill to keep in touch, I wanted to see what became of the Safari Street Grill. Ironically, as I parked my car outside his new brick-and-mortar shop tucked behind a soulless franchise mega mall on the Westside, somebody on the radio was talking about how the suburbs in America have drastically changed over the last decade. "If you want the best Chinese in Washington DC, you don't go to Chinatown anymore. You go to the 'burbs." His point was that the quality and cost of urban life had improved dramatically, pushing out small business entrepreneurs who can't afford the rent. Hence, the 'burbs are becoming the place to find authentic, dynamic cuisine. No longer on the street, The Safari Grill is one of those stories that just keeps getting better, the next step in what appears to be a very promising culinary career for Mr Young. Ask the dude about what inspires him, he'll go on and on about bringing new flavors to New Mexico, and from what I can tell he's delivering in spades. The samosas continue to be the signature dish, here, with three dipping sauces and lime, I loved the Indian chicken curry variety. The short ribs also made my tummy very happy, and while some could rightly claim that the paper plate presentation hardly befits a restaurant, I found it endearing. I seriously think this guy has the chops to go great places in this city; it'll be fun to look back and say, "I remember the paper plate days..." One more note: seating is currently limited to 30, but will expand to 50 soon. Grand plans include a local beer and wine bar and safari-esque seating in the front. Want your new favorite hole-in-the-zebra-striped wall? This is it.
(5)Tory M.
For my first visit I was with my daughter so didn't want to try anything too exotic, since she has a slightly sensitive palate. Maybe I should have tried the Casava fries, because the regular fries were nothing to write home about, though they were uniquely spiced. I also had the gyro which was good, even if a little on the dry side. The service was excellent which, that alone, warrants a return trip to be more adventurous and hopefully respond with a better, and more thorough, review. I do like to see small local businesses do well, especially when they have a fresh/new idea!
(3)Mary M.
For two years we passed by this restaurant thinking about visiting but not being sure. Man, I'm sorry I waited so long! This Indian/African fusion take-out restaurant (there are maybe three or four small tables inside and more outside), was awesome. A great change for samosas (with three dipping sauces), fried okra is good (but tiny portion), same with the curry corn. We've loved the veggie burger and Indian style fish and chips. Service is helpful and they love to talk about their dishes.
(5)Maggie D.
Groupon brought us here but the friendly staff and delicious food will bring us back. We ordered veggie samosa app. Lovely curry and veggies fried in a light crispy shell. Served three tasty dips. Entree- husband had beef skewer tacos- with a side is casava fries- Amazing! Great flavors. Spicy, tasty treats. I had Indian dish & chips with tomato curry. Salmon was a little dry but the red curry and chips were very good. Super friendly staff makes it a great experience.
(3)Andrea R.
If I could give it more stars I would. There are so many things I want to rave about, but first as a mom, let me say THEY HAVE A KIDS MENU!! So many times you go to little specialty places and they don't really have anything for kids to eat. Burgers, hotdogs, chicken strips with fries and a drink. Awesome! Ok with that being said, let me say that the food was amazing! My children loved it, they ate more of our food then what we ordered them off the kids menu!! Ok so now let me talk about the menu, the food is awesome!! I mean awesome! The fusion between New Mexican and Tanzanian is something to brag about. It's just something you have to try for yourself. This place has to be one of the best little secrets in Albuquerque. I seriously wanted to order everything on the menu. But we settled for the beef kabob and the short ribs with the yucca fries, lol settled, my kiddos even loved them. I'm so happy we stopped by on a whim, I would totally recommend this place to everyone! If even just to try it once!
(5)Nadia M.
Pretty darn good! Very odd, in a delicious way. Casava fries are airy and light. The samosas are delicious. All the sauces are unexpectedly awesome. Definitely exotic with a local flair. Staff is awesome too!
(4)Dan J.
Finally! After two other tries we got to experience the flavors at Safari Grill. Three little tables in the front so get here early or take home for a treat. We had the samosas. Don't get the three...get the six so you get two of each flavor. The chicken was absolutely our favorite. Three sauces come with them. The green chile chutney was the favorite but the tamarind was perfectly balanced and a great second. Entrees for us were the chicken tikka (amazing interpretation) and the beef skewer. I don't know what the marinade was but it made the most tender cut of chuck. If you get the pilaf as the side, I recommend the curry corn to go with it. Together they are the perfect flavor and compliment each other well. Thank you for choosing New Mexico wines for the menu. Don't just eat here, talk to the owner. He is passionate about food and that is a rare find today in the chain-food-osphere. I learned more in one trip about this kind of food than I ever would anywhere else.
(5)Shyam S.
Outstanding food. As Andrea R said, "If I could give it more stars I would." The chicken is on a whole new level of amazing, as well as their cassava fries, corn, and maybe the best chicken wings I've ever had. The owner is a lovely woman. I would recommend EVERYTHING on the menu. It is all legit. I just wished I didn't live a thousand miles away!
(5)Richard T.
This is the first time here. Just ate the best shrimp skewers and my husband had a sizzling pile of short ribs! The server was very friendly and attentive. We will go back soon
(5)Sumarin B.
If you couldn't tell from reading the yummy adjective packed language of their menu, I wanted to let you know that the people behind The Safari Grill are super excited about their food and serving you. We had their style of fish and chips and gyro. Being accustomed to heavily spiced and spicy food, I was surprised that the flavor was surprised that the food wasn't as flavorful as I expected. I have high hopes for this joint on the Westside, a nice break from other chain restaurants. Give em a try!
(4)Tim O.
Outstandingly good, tender, tasty and plenty. Somosas are excellent. Definitely will be back soon.
(5)J R.
Tasty grub with a friendly staff. Only negative is a tiny seating area. Check it out for something different.
(5)Tracy R.
Awesome food and service. It's small but give it a try. They will tell you about their Specialties. Try them all. They also serve local craft beers!
(5)Kaylyn P.
The food was absolutely delicious! It was all extremely fresh and piping hot. The service was also top notch. Our server was friendly and helped us through the menu. He seemed to genuinely love his job and the restaurant and was happy to discuss the food with us! We were very appreciative of all of his help! We got the appetizer platter with veggie samosas, zucchini chips, and okra and the safari bowl with beef (I didn't try the beef). I've never had a samosa, but oh my, it was good (and so were the dips). It had great flavor - an interesting combination of indian/new mexican tastes! I've never had anything like it. The zucchini and okra were really, really good too! I just tasted the rice of the safari grill and it was pretty good. I was told that the beef was insane and extremely tender. I wouldn't know, but my source is credible :) The vegetarian in me struggled a bit with Safari Grill. I was a bit disappointed, only because everything I ate was so delicious that I wanted more! Their veggie option, beyond appetizers, is the veggie burger. I refused to get the veggie burger, opting for the shared safari bowl, only because I wanted to stick with something more...authentic...But I will definitely try the veggie burger next time, I'm sure it is amazing just like everything else! I do hope that in the future they increase their vegetarian options. Despite my vegetarian struggle, which i suppose i've brought upon myself :), I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Safari Grill and would recommend it to anyone! Especially meat eaters...
(5)Carolina A.
If you're looking to support a great local business, this is it. The staff was great. Very helpful describing the food. The food is delicious. They make everything from scratch. Love it all!!! Samosas, palif rice, cassava fries!! All exceptional!!!! They also serve wine, some mixed drinks and local beers.
(5)Vanessa P.
We tried a little bit of many things on the menu. The cassava fries were unique. I'm glad I ordered them, but probably wouldn't again. They were a bit denser than potato fries, and the tamarind sauce we had to dip them in was very thin and while tasty on its own didn't really stick to the fries or add much flavor. The samosas were yummy...the chicken seemed to be the unanimous favorite overall in our party of four, but all three flavors were good. My husband and brother both got the short ribs, and they were super tender and flavorful...definitely the standout dish of the meal. My husband has a big appetite, and he did express a wish for more when his ribs were gone. They are very reasonably priced however, and a double order wouldn't set you back more than a rack of ribs at a place like Applebees. All our food came out piping hot, sometimes literally sizzling (as in the case of the cast iron platters the short ribs came on.) Towards the end of our meal, we even met the owner's mother who came out to find out how we had enjoyed everything. She seemed sincerely moved to be able to share her family recipes with people, and overjoyed that we were all pleased with our food. The service was very friendly and helpful, and our experience was wonderful overall. Next time I want to try the curry corn, which has received so many accolades on Yelp, but of course I couldn't order all the things I wanted to try in one go. We read on the restaurant website that you can get the short ribs in taco form (a sort of secret menu item), and we'd definitely be down to try that. I'm also curious about the "Indian Fish & Chips." I'll definitely be going back to catch the things I missed the first time and have more of what they're doing right!
(4)Havana P.
This is our first visit here, and I am very pleased with the experience. The place is small only 3 tables and the bar area, but the food is very flavorful, the staff is extremely friendly and the prices are very reasonable. Overall great place!
(5)Mala H.
Terrific! Very friendly staff. No frills no fuss efficient! Wish it were closer to where I live
(5)Tami C.
Came in today with my two sons for the first time and we all enjoyed the food. The flavor here is unique and very tasty.
(4)Mitch H.
Completely amazing. My girlfriend got takeout from this stupidly good spot tonight. ...at my request. Told her to make me a sandwich and bring me a beer. She'd rather get takeout. The skewers (beef and chicken) were perfect- well cooked, well seasoned. The chicken samosa is almost too good to describe. Okra- amazing! I was already in total lust with this food and then I tried the curry corn. It is indescribably good. I'm not sure what sorcery is happening here but I adore it. Eat here!
(5)Andi D.
Absolutely phenomenal food! It was our first time and they went out of their way to explain the menu to us and tell us about the different dishes. I got the tacos and my husband got the gyro. Everything was amazing! The service was fast and friendly and they were very attentive to us and our experience. We will definitely be back!!
(5)Anna K.
We are business owners in the area and were looking for something new to try for lunch. I suggested Safari Grill... We were very pleasantly surprised! The food was EXCELLENT! I had the chicken skewer tacos with a whole wheat tortilla and the curry corn. My boyfriend had the gyro with the yucca chips. We both loved the food and the staff was very pleasant. All in all a good experience! I can't wait to go back to try other menu items! What a great little local restaurant!!!!!
(5)Kaedi H.
Yum! I had the chicken tikka, which I have eaten many times in the Middle East, and the taste was authentic! So delicious. They even give you a green chile sauce to dip it in. The service was great. They are very attentive! The kids menu is good, and they have real fruit ice creams for dessert. The prices are decent, too. The inside is pretty small, so I wouldn't recommend bringing large parties. Overall, excellent food and service. A very unique restaurant to have here in Abq.
(5)Leslie S.
I've been driving by the Safari Grill for a few months now and was finally persuaded to drop in tonight. I'm glad I did. As other reviewers have mentioned it's tucked into the back half of a salon and behind the array of chain restaurants. We got an overview of the menu and finally settled on samosas to start with. I had the chicken skewer wrap, boyfriend got the beef skewer tacos. I'm going to pause for a second here to give this place props for pacing their customers. I know it's easier with smaller places but I've had so many experiences lately where the appetizer and all the other food shows up at once so you wind up with cold icky something invariably. I know that proper pacing from the kitchen should be expected but it seems that some places want to go by the wayside so I was very happy that Safari Grill didn't. Okay, back to the food. The samosas were lovely and crisp. We had a mixture of the chicken (my personal favorite) and the veggie ones (still good). Boyfriend enjoyed his tacos and enjoyed the taste but had a hard time keeping the wheat tortilla together with the amount of juice and meat inside. Fried okra for the side seemed to be a hit as well. My chicken skewer wrap was incredibly good. The chicken was flavorful and spicy, but not so spicy that it blew out my palate keeping me from tasting anything else. The pita was thick and fluffy and completely adequate for keeping everything inside. The slaw was a new experience. I normally hate slaw. If It comes to the side then I pawn it off on someone or politely decline it. I was tired and failed to notice it came on my wrap so I grudgingly nibbled and discovered for the first time ever slaw that I love. Again I couldn't name flavors if I had to. I thought there was a little bit of fruit and a little tang in it. The vegetables were crunchy. Ok, I may be a slaw convert (but only Tanzanian slaw). I was way too stuffed to try the dessert, but I'll definitely do it next time. The restaurant itself feels a little divey but is clean and I dig the zebra stripes. The family running the place is friendly and wonderful and we wound up talking to them for quite a bit after we finished eating. All in all this was a very pleasant discovery that I'll be going back to soon.
(4)Adam W.
Excellent food and service! Atmosphere is very homey and personal. Samosas are a must try and the Skewer Tacos are mindblowing! A perfect combination of Tanzanian and New Mexican influence make for some tasty eats!
(5)Jeff L.
This place has great and unique food. It is difficult to find, but worth the effort. I had the tacos and the meat was very well seasons a cooked. They also put their signature coleslaw on them. Mmmm. Highly recommend!
(5)Deb P.
Holy cow. Boss recommended the safari grill and was not expecting much little hole in the wall place. Food was Excellent. Service was Excellent. Over 50 miles from our home and we are already planning on coming back. We had the Samosas, shrimp skewer and tikka chicken. Do not know which I liked best. Highly recommended!!!!
(5)Bou P.
Try it! So i was with a customer and after talking a while it turns out he's into food we seem to be pretty aligned with our opinions about what's good. He mentions Safari Grill for just an awesome burger so on my lunch break on the very same day i stopped by. I was greeted with a very enthusiastic guy who I later found out was one of the owners. He explained the menu thoroughly and in a way that excited me about the food and place. I wanted to try their other items but i went on my customer's recommendation and ordered a hamburer and boy was i impressed! The beef patty was thick, juicy and the bun was even given some love. I had an exotic side and a self serve drink that was included in the sub $9 combo. I felt like having a business talk with the guy about his pricing. I feel the restaurant is getting the short end of the stick at his pricing but i'm not going to complain lol. Serously though, i have spent probably more on my combos at Freddy's or Chic Fil A. This restaurant knocks it out of the park for it's price and it's food. I'll be a regular for sure and will highly recommend to anyone i know.
(5)Amy O.
I was reluctant to review Safari Grill because of the fear of others finding out about this wonderful gem in Albuquerque. I have literally driven by this restaurant hundreds of times and had no idea of what I was missing!!! Beware it is a bit small (although they now have patio seating) so if you have a large group grab their take out. The staff are SO nice, informative and helpful! The aroma from the kitchen can be smelled in the air of the parking lot drawing you into an amazing meal! The sangria with Samosas was a wonderful start to our meal. Plus the chips and salsa are not your normal chips and salsa (in a good way)! I don't even think you need the salsa because the chips are great alone. The African Short ribs melted in my mouth. The flavor and care put into these ribs was noticeable and appreciated! You must ordered these!! Plus the Curry Corn is a nice blend of Indian and African cuisine. The Mishkaki Skewers of chicken and beef with the cassava fries amazing! The chicken and beef were seasoned and grilled to perfection!! Plus the dipping sauces are a great addition to the proteins! The Safari Grill is the perfect fusion of African, Indian and New Mexican culture, flavored and cuisine! I have been thinking about the food since we left there which says a lot about the food. This place is definitely one my favorites right now! Super small business and a local family by trying Safari Grill and becoming just as addicted to their food as I am!!
(5)