Juba Restaurant & Café

My family and I used to love coming here. Been here about 6 times. But the last 2 times I've come here (end of Nov 2024 and 7/1/25) I've been overcharged, To clarify we've always gotten the SPORTS GOAT MEAT & ONE OTHER MEAT (CHICKEN/BEEF STEAK OR SALMON) which is $45 per the menu and per their website. On 7/1 we got the beef and goat. Only to receive the check and was overcharged for the plate. We've tried to discuss with cashier and they don't understand. Also noticed meat portion sizes have drastically decreased in size. This time around portion of food isn't worth the price. Food does still taste delicious.

My son had gotten carry out from here once so I tried it for lunch with a friend. You order at the counter and they bring your food out. On the cashier’s recommendation, we got the the first two items on the menu, Goat meat (Hilib Ari) and lamb shank. Both were very tasty and large portions - we could have split one entree. Service was fast and they checked in with us several times. It was Friday lunch and they warned us when we ordered that they would be closing to attend prayers. But they let us finish and pack our leftovers without bothering us. The setting is bright and orderly but nothing fancy. Location is on Tukwila International Boulevard not far from the light rail station so it’s an easy detour if you are headed to the airport or want to take an outing on the light rail. Definitely worth a visit! I need to explore the other entrees next time.

I’ve been a loyal customer of Juba Restaurant for the past 9 years, and it continues to be one of my absolute favorite spots in Tukwila. The consistency in both quality and quantity of the food is what keeps me coming back. The meat, in particular, is always outstanding — tender, juicy, and clearly of high quality. You can tell they take pride in how they prepare their dishes. Every meal feels hearty, flavorful, and satisfying, with generous portions that make it a great value as well. Whether you’re new to Somali cuisine or already a fan, I highly recommend giving Juba a try. After nearly a decade of dining here, I can confidently say they never disappoint.

If you are craving food from the Horn of Africa, then this is the place. Mostly caters for the Somali community that settled in large numbers in Tukwila. So if you want to taste this aspect of Seattle metro diversity, then this is place to be. About service, it is casual, and you have to order from the counter. If you expect extreme attention then this is not the place. The food: too much sugar. Sugar in nearly everything. That’s something that can upset anyone, looking for something moderately spicy.

We had the Beef Suqaar and the Lamb Shanks and they both were really delicious. It was really good, they had really nice portions and were really affordable. Would recommend to anyone who wants really good East African food to try!

Excellent food and huge portions. We ordered the goat curry and chapati with chicken and both were excellent. The service was quick and with a smile. I also ordered the mango lassi to go to drink in the car and once you get past the frozen ice feeling, it tasted very good. Also the restaurant seems to be a gathering spot for the community as well saw people just sitting and chatting and having a good time. Definitely will go again when in the neighborhood

We went for quality and not experience, and came out fully satiated with resplendent amount of food. Food how it should be, simple but pleasure to your taste buds. I have tried from pike place recommendations to somewhat extravagant options but this one stands out. Meats cooked to perfection, spiced optimally, priced perfectly and served warmly. Anytime in need of a meal around SEA-TAC , this is top of my choice.

Amazing food and hospitality! Tender and flavorful lamb shank and goat meat. Workers were so passionate about the menu when I asked for recs

Tried it for the first time today with two of my friends and it was delicious. Service was great super friendly people. They obviously knew that we'd never been there and helped us out and explained to us what we were going to be having. They told us to come back anytime. The atmosphere in there was great everybody even though they were talking in a different language, they still were able to say hello to us give us thumbs up ask us if we needed anything. Just a good place to go if you've never been you definitely need to get out and try new things I highly recommend it

If you like to try authentic East African food, this is the place to check out. It's authentic because all the East Africans go there. When my husband and I went, we tried their Injera with Lamb shank and Kati Kati and it was sooo good. Their portions are big but we still got two different dishes. We should've just shared one dish and it was enough. We ended up taking the Kati Kati home. I also ordered their spiced tea but it was too sweet for my taste. I had to add water to dilute the sweetness. Overall it was a good experience! They're also open early so if you need to eat breakfast before picking someone up from the airport, this place is close by!

This place was so good! Walked in and everyone was so friendly. Was close by to a customer I was visiting. I asked the guy at the counter what he recommended and I picked the chicken and rice dish. Wow it was full of flavor and so delicious. The lamb shank looked so good too! Might have to come back next time I am in town to get that!!!

I hate to do this but Juba has had a fall from grace. Service is nice and I always get my tea right away but I was just shocked to see stir fried veggies instead of Tikil Gomen and pinto beans instead of Miten Shiro. Everything was made fresh and there was some fighting in the kitchen, so I'm assuming stuff wasn't available- what I got was not what was pictured nor what I was expecting from Juba. I was given two large injera and my tea was perfectly made so I'm happy with that. Not sure if I'll drive across town to visit again, which is upsetting.

This restaurant is located amongst many other African restaurants, which I see myself checking them out in the future. The menu here focused more on the Somalian and Ethiopian cuisine, and the food we got is more Somalian. We tried the chicken suqaar with basmati rice and lamb shank only, which is a hearty portion for 2 people. It was a good call because the rice variation of lamb shank was $5 more, and the rice from the chicken suqaar is already a lot so we just split that portion. The chicken suqaar is very flavorful with the Somalian spices, and adding the lemon wedge makes the flavors pop out more. The rice is also super fragrant and pairs well with the chicken. The lamb shank is one of the better lamb shanks I tried - not too gamey, with the right meat to fat ratio, and it was very tender. I could be fooled to pay multiples the price at a sit down fancy restaurant if they presented the lamb shank in a more elegant manner. This is to show how good the lamb shank is here. The restaurant is more fast casual as you order and pay at the front, but the food is delivered to you and someone will bus your table when you finish the meal. Food was amazing and the price point is excellent - a bit over $20 per person for a very filling meal. This is one place that I love to go again to try more of their menu, including more unique dishes like goat stomach, etc

Superb, delicious flavorful food, large portions! Phenomenal food -- flavorful basmati rice, lamb shank the quality on par with dishes double the price elsewhere, and all in so so many wonderful bites. Ambience - 8/10 -- Large, welcoming cafeteria about half-filled when people when we arrived. Chattering happily, they make the place feel like a community schelling point. Service - 9/10 -- Fast, friendly, and consistent. Self serve water. Food - 10/10 Value - 11/10 Overall - 10/10

A message to all foodies, I urge you to put Juba on your bucket list! When I pulled into the parking lot and stepped out of my car from 50ft away I got a pleasant whiff of the strong aromatics being pumped out of Juba. Before even stepping into the restaurant, I knew I found myself a gem. When I did step into the restaurant it quickly became clear to me that Juba was an authentic hotspot. The portions are absolutely massive, the rice is flavorful, and the meats are seasoned and juicy. I got things to go, but there's a huge amount of seating available. Although, be warned it can get pretty packed during the lunch and dinner rush. Come by yourself or with your family/friends and share their big platters.

We just happened to be in the area for my son's tournament when we found this place. My husband was hungry and wanted something different from the usual Korean bbq or pho restaurants so he googled food nearby, and this is the spot we decided on. It's not much to look at from the outside or even when you step through the door. Very low key and plain. You could overlook a place like this if you had a stuffy nose (or didn't even bother to look at the menu). The smells omitting from this establishment are absolutely delectable! I'll admit, the menu was a little overwhelming for us at first glance as we'd never had Ethiopian or African food before so we asked the gentleman at the counter for recommendations, and he pointed out a few of the more popular dishes. My son and I decided on the lamb shank, my husband ordered a goat dish, and oh my word...we were astounded by the huge portions when everything came out. We immediately dug in, and the food is just so tender and marinating in massive amounts of flavor! Even with so much food on his plate, my son was almost able to finish his entire meal because it was just THAT delicious. If you're looking for a new place to try that's casual and exotic, then this is it! I promise you won't be disappointed :)

Juba Restaurant & Cafe marked my first time trying East African food. I grew up with a few Ethiopian friends and was always curious about their food and culture. So after a long time coming, I finally got to try it out! My friend and I came in and ordered the Ethiopian Injera, one of the seemingly popular and staple dishes that I hear most about. I was really excited to try it out as I was searching on Google and Yelp for restaurants that served Injera and ended up choosing Juba. At first glance when it was served, I was amazed by the large portion size given. Thank goodness I had a friend with me to help eat it. I specifically ordered the lamb one, and was not expecting a large bone-in piece of meat in the middle, so that was pretty cool! Although I had high expectations for the dish, I regret to say it was underwhelming. It wasn't as flavourful as I was expecting and it seemed the quality of the ingredients that came with the dish didn't seem that great as well. We barely finished it but all well, I'm sure other items they serve at the restaurant are good. While my expectations weren't met, I'm still willing to come back to give this place another try!

Friendly staff and always very quick to prepare the order. Food is always well cooked and tasty. Lamb shank is definitely my favorite with side of veggies

Just go here! My first time ever having Somali food. Everyone was so nice and I LOVED the Kati Kati with chicken Suqaar. They serve it with this green sauce on the side that was the perfect complement to the dish. You get an enormous amount of food for the price. They have a nice big parking lot so if you have mobility issues you won't have to walk far.

Juba's cuisine is one that I thought I wouldn't like until I tried it and it's absolutely amazing. Now I constantly crave the Salmon Kati Kati. The portions here are HUGE and the prices are so fair. Which is great because the leftovers taste so good when heated back up. They also have really good spiced black tea. It's definitely a hole in the wall and a must try!

Im a fan of ethiopian food. Do I know what makes good vs bad ethopian food? No, all I know was everything tasted good to me and wife and that everyone there seemed super friendly and it seemes like most of them knew each other because they were just hanging out in there. Anyway im a fan and will be back. I had a coworker try this place that is ethiopian and he said it was good as well so take that as you will! bottom line: Delicious food.

I've wanted to try Juba for awhile and finally made it! It was super busy and obvious that this is a popular spot. I got the chicken suqaar (recommended by my friend) and it was hefty, you have the option of rice or pasta and the rice was delicious. Tons of flavor. Everything came with a side of green sauce and lemon, the green sauce was SO spicy. I also tried the beef suqaar wrap and the seasoning on the beef was strong, I enjoyed it more than the chicken.

I have never had Ethiopian food before, but was in the Seattle area recently and saw great reviews on yelp, so I decided to try it with my boyfriend. We got our orders to go. When we first walked in, we walked into a busy but small restaurant that was packed with people. It was very loud and many different languages were heard, but it felt like a little community gathering in this restaurant which was really cool. My boyfriend got the beef suqaar with rice and I got the chicken suqaar with noodles. Never had this before in my life, but I loved it! They gave HUGE portions, like lasted me days and for the price in comparison to what they give, it was very affordable. I loved trying new things, and this place was a super fun eating experience. I don't think I could eat there at the restaurant, just because it was so busy and loud, but take out for s

My official first time trying Ethiopian food today and man it was the best! Speedy service with a constant customer flow. This place is a gem and absolutely a family oriented space. Everyone was friendly and constantly moving! I ordered the lamb with rice, chicken suqarr and the goat injeri and a dinner for two combos with beef and lamb! So much flavor in everything!

Some of the BEST East African food I've ever had! I forgot what I ordered, but seriously everything is . This is also a great place if you're vegetarian.

Just called to place a to go order & was excited to try this place for the first time. A guy answered & he asked me what I wanted and I told him my order. He then proceeds to tell me to hold on, then I can hear him helping other people in the back ground. He finally came back and said something but it was so loud I couldn't hear him so I told him "I can't hear you sorry what" and he hung up on me. Y'all losing customers before they even get to try to food, I was ready to spend some coins too, but I decided to take my business elsewhere

Wow! This place has been on my bookmark forever! Finally today, I went and tried and oh boy the goat meat I have with rice is sooooo good yum yum yum.. I wanna try all of them! The service was really good, the people are nice. The ambiance was good and a lil awkward for me since I was the only Asian eating there. I will be back and try the lamb next time, I regretted that i did not buy it to go hahahaha

FLAVOR TOWN!!! We were planning on getting a quick bite at the fast food near, but then decided on here. The service is so sweet, and friendly. The food for the money is unbelievable. We got tons of amazingly delicious food!! That green sauce was fantastic too, i ate so much of it!! The layers of flavors in the rice and meat are so pungent, you can tell its made with love and time!!! We got 2 family meals for 6 ofus, and had enough left for the kids to eat later. We tried the salmon, chicken, beef, and big lamb bone; all so good!! No weird fat, or waste of meat. Everything was perfectly cooked, snd this was by far the best place ive ever eaten at, hands down!!! Im actually craving more as i type!!The food was so fantastic, and we were so stuffed, but couldn't stop eating!! Amazing taste, fantastic quality, and superb quantity!! If we are ever in seattle again, we will be back!!

A friend was in town so we met up for lunch. My mother recommended this place. Ordering was easy once we viewed the menu. Plates are large amounts of food. I ordered a takeout goat only for my husband. I end up taking both home it was too much to eat. The food was delicious but not the best I ever tasted. We ate at the restaurant.

This is, hands down, the best meal I've had this entire COVID-19 pandemic. Juba is in the corner of a nondescript strip mall. A bunch of dudes work hard to dish out all the orders. Nothing fancy. But the flavors are the fanciest! I usually get the Beef Kadaafi. It is a rich rice dish made with basmati and layers of flavor from various herbs and spices. Squeeze some lemon on top and use their firey hot green chili... mmm mmm good! Also got their Chicken Suqaar this time. The only thing I can compare it to is an Indian tikka marsala... but it isn't the same. This dish has such complexity of flavor in their chicken and paired with the rice it is just unbelievable. The rice is a seasoned basmati with clove, cinnamon, golden raisins, garlic, among many others. So so tasty that my mouth waters as I type this. We also tried to get the goat but apparently it runs out by noon. No worries, because the guy who took our order sold us on the lamb which did not disappoint. Huge chunks of marinated lamb on big bones, with pickled onions on the side. AMAZING. So rich, so tender, bursting with flavor and umami. I will be back.

Great food. Basic chicken over rice and you can't go wrong with either one of their main entrees. The price is high but the portions are definitely not skimped upon. The owners are lovely and super welcoming. Come here if you're starving because you will be very full at the end. The restaurant is near the airport and part of international shops area.

Worth a try, their steak option for the meat was mid, but goat was great. Perhaps, goat And chicken is their go to. Most, likely the best Somali restaurant in Seattle. Also portion is ridiculously generous.

It was still breakfast time when I walked in, but I want the goats, it is lunch order. It didnt disappoint me, good as before.

I have found the food here to be excellent. I love the chicken shuqaar and the chapati in particular. Best chapati since I was in Uganda in 2019. My son loves the goat and lamb. The salmon Kati Kati is excellent as well. The food is very consistent and the portions are generous. I come when I am in the area. Try e family that runs the restaurant is very friendly.

Love it, great food, service is great and ambiance is very unique. My favorite was the chicken and rice plate sooo yummy great for ramadan

Stopped by here right before going to the airport to get some food to go. We got the goat dish with rice and the beef dish. Good sized portions. One dish could feed 2 to 3. The green chili sauce is spicy and has some kick to it. The restaurant is Somali food. They were doing good business, the restaurant was crowded with families. It is a smaller restaurant. Our order came out pretty quick and there was a nice younger staff member that was watching out for our to go order. Not as familiar with their dishes so I would recommend looking at their online menu before going if you are like me. Located pretty close to the airport in a small older industrial strip mall. Next to Bartell drug store. The neighborhood is like most areas near airports. Reminds me of the Oakland Airport neighborhood area.

Small dining area, great & friendly service, food is consistently good. I ordered the carne asada omelette and my gf got the eggs benedict. Might be a bit pricey for some, but worth it.

I was craving some Ethiopian food, and found this place with pretty good ratings. We got Goat and Chicken Suqaar If you like the unique flavor (some call it gamey) of goat, this is a great choice. The combo came with collard greens, pinto beans and lentils. The Chicken Suqaar looks more like a Chinese chicken stir-fry, but tasted like a combination of Indian and Chinese food (maybe cardamom or cinnamon?). We got both Ethiopian and Somali style Ingera (instead of rice or pasta). The Ethiopian Ingera was very sour, the sourest I've ever had (interesting taste and texture, try it if you haven't). I originally wanted to try the kidney, but was told that it was a breakfast dish!!? Guess I'll have to come back to get some breakfast items

I soooooo love this restaurant The flavor is insane Really yum This is the chicken Sth I will come back if I get the chance!

Recommended for the traveler visiting Seattle because it's not far from the airport... that's how we chose Juba when we landed... but we were back again soon because this place is great! Delicious food in generous portions. One entree feeds two easily. We are here twice during our one-week stay. I don't often give five stars because I want to save that for something special! Flavors so good.

Had a delightful experience at Juba, enjoying their Lamb Shank with Rice. The lamb was delicious, fatty, and literally fell off the bone, while the rice was incredibly flavorful. The restaurant itself has an authentic vibe that added to the overall enjoyment.

They have the best African food in Seattle. I love that they give you a banana with your food lol but the food is tasty, very flavorful and I love the rice I deafly would recommend this restaurant to anyone of any culture

Heard many great reviews over the years and finally able to check out the restaurant. It did not disappoint, the only regret was that I wish I would've came by sooner. Ordered the Combo #14 with Goat. The food was amazing, huge portion size and friendly staff. This place will definitely be my to go spot when I am craving Ethiopian food. EXCELLENT FOOD!!

So I haven't eaten much East African food but as a big fan of tons of various savory foods I can at least tell you that the Chicken Suqaar is just unbelievably delicious. So good that the next day I happily walked halfway across town 40 minutes there and back just to have it a second time.

good portions great food in a cafeteria style restaurant with fast service. The goat is really delicious as is the chapati

If u ever try here I would highly recommend the lamb shank. It's $20ish u get a plate of rice n a plate of lamb. The service is not bad but it ain't good either. The lamb is definitely worth it tho.

I only get the lamb shank from this place and it is good most of the time. It could be a bit more saucy but over all I would go there again. The Chai is house made. Ask them to add sugar and enjoy. I only get food To-Go. The service on the food is good despite the tiny language barrier.

Staff at this restaurant are warm and welcoming. The rice and goat meat is outstanding.

The food is so good, my favorite is the beef sukkar. The portions are huge, its usually a two and a meal for me!! I always try to stop by if I am ever in/crossing tukwilla. Try it, you will be amazed!

I've been attempting to try all the East African places and Juba makes me wish I lived in Tukwila. The food is so delicious with massive portion sizes (an Ethiopian platter is probably good for two people for more than one meal). I got the Ethiopian Injera with chicken suqaar and the chicken was perfectly cooked with rich flavor. Beyond the food, the energy in the place creates a very fun and lively environment, and the service is brilliant. I want to try all the things on the menu, but I'll stick to my generous leftovers first.

It's so hard to find good cultural food around. So hard. I think it's because when people realize that most Americans aren't not hip on what certain dishes should taste like they find it beneficial to use the cheapest ingredients and make the cultural foods at the lowest standards because the Americans will like it anyways. That's not the case with this establishment. Located on a corner off of pacific highway at the end of a strip mall is the small wonderful African (specifically east) restaurant. Being East African myself but having no immediate direct link to the culture I am always looking for food that is close to what I used to eat. Of course I can make it at home but why? Lol I knew I didn't want to drive too far from Kent and I found this place. I was a bit hesitant based off of the picture but man I'm so glad I went! I've gone a total of 2 times now and I'm waiting to get off of my fast so I can go again!! My first visit was amazing! I came in and sat down and a waiter approached me right away! He brought me a bowl of goat soup (broth) to which I kindly declined due to being plant based. When I explained that to him he smiled and brought me back a bowl of beans (mmmmm lovely). I already knew what I wanted before I came in and was surprised and happy to see that they had chapati on the menu!!! I order the veggie injera plate and patiently waited.....when my plate arrived I was so happy. Words can't describe it. The aroma, texture, taste, everything! It was like I was a child all over again! I couldn't stop eating it! I ate it until I couldn't anymore lol. I left a tip and went up to pay for my food. The owner asked me if I would like a Togo box to which I declined. I knew if I took the food then I would just keep eating it lol. The second time I came here the experience with the waiter wasn't so great. There were different waiters this time who all seemed to be older. I came in and sat down and none of them came to me. I watched as others came and sat and they helped them but just would not come to my table. I eventually got up to the front and ordered my food. Once the owner noticed he ended up serving me himself! (Awesome right?) and let me tell you! The second time was better than the first!!! THEIR BERBERE SAUCE IS EVERYTHING!! I promise you that every single bite I took had berbere sauce with it lol. They have the best chapati I've ever had outside of what I make at home!!! (Nothing beats home cooked). The injera here is good as well. There isn't enough that I can see about this restaurant. I love their food! And if you love our cultural food then I would suggest you go here as well!! So why 4 stars right? Well the issues with the service on the 2nd visit. That really bothered me and I wasn't pleased. I was happy when the owner took notice but that is something that can be fixed. Also the injera. It comes out on your plate as strips as opposed to rolls making it hard to pick up your food because it isn't wide enough. I ended up tearing from the injera on the plate. All in all I totally recommend!

We were so pleasantly surprised when we stopped here for lunch after our Covid shots: the place doesn't look like much from the outside, but the food is incredibly delicious! We weren't terribly hungry, so we just had the shawarma wraps, one with beef and one with salmon. Both were super tasty. They came with lemon and a small container with a green hot sauce--who knew what a winning combination those would be? Next time, we'll try some of the larger dishes. Everything was fresh and delish.

It's hard to find good African restaurants in Seattle but my friend that introduced me back in high school put me onto this place her and her family go to being Somalian and whenever I have a craving for African food I always come to this place they have the BEST goat meat And they run out of it very fast. I usually I Get goat I am just not eating red meat that often right now

My friend and I ordered Chicken Suqaar with Basmati Rice by phone. You can choose Basmati Rice or Pasta. I reviewed this place and wanted to eat this Chicken Suqaar here. Perfect 1 order for 2 people. Yelp and website prices need updates now. Chicken Suqaar was $11. But $11.50 now. When I opened the Chicken Suqaar, big sliced Lemon and small cup of green paste. Squeeze lemon as much as and add hot green paste to food. Taste better and delicious! I will be back soon and try some more

I have returned to the restaurant and ordered the lamb shank. It was perfect! Great flavor and meat falling off the bone. Juba is the best

I had the Chicken Suqaar, a samosa, and a fried dough. Chicken Suqaar - Holy crap, the flavors were vibrant and absolutely addictive. It channels the comforts of chicken noodle soup, familiar yet wonderfully unfamiliar at the same time. An ultimate savory, rich comfort food. The Suqaar has a copious but perfect amount of turmeric - paired with a subtle sweetness and a squeeze of lemon, I couldn't stop eating it AND managed to stretch it out to several meals. The chicken is tender and pairs perfectly with it. There's also something shamelessly indulgent about tearing up a bunch of pita pieces and squashing it with delicious curry slurry. My only suggestion would be to throw in a bunch of cilantro to balance out the flavors. Curry beef samosa - Incredible as well! Popping with just the right amount of flavor Fried dough - unexpectedly one of my favorite renditions of fried dough, across cultures. Had flecks of some undetermined spice that gave it just the subtle unexpected, aromatic flavor while having a fresh, delicious fried exterior. This place rocks. Definitely revisiting when I'm in the area. Took a few bites in the car and couldn't put it down. Maybe it was because I had just returned from a long, arduous wait at IKEA. But my opinion held even after I was full.

The goat stomach and lamb shank are to die for. Some of the best food you can get in the Pacific Northwest.

Delish!!! The food was soooo good. I ordered a spice tea to go with my meal...so long starbucks!! The tea was so good, it's basically a chai tea latte mmmm! My meal was great, the greens lacked flavor, but the rest of the dish made up for it. I had the salmon Injera plate and my husband had the lamb shank. Lamb shank didnt have much flavor (super tender though) BUT they provided a few sauces after spreading those on it the meat it was soo good...im guessing "back in the day" when you could eat in the restaurant perhaps they prepare the meal with the sauces already on it...not sure as this was our first time here and our first experience having Ethiopian food. Definitely recommend They have hand sanitizer throughout, spacing for folks in line and all the men behind the counter wore mask.