Kismayo Kitchen

Amazing food and courteous staff. This is my 2nd time going to this restaurant. And food is delicious as expected, I was in Burlington, I believe in 2021 and met the owner Umar, such a gem of a gentleman. I found out on this trip that he passed away. Beautiful soul and great chef. I had samosa and Philly cheese steak sandwich. Wife had coconut chicken stew with rice, all items are just spot on and delicious. Make sure to try their tea as well. Staff is very helpful in explaining dishes and go out of their way to make you comfortable.

Great Somalian cuisine, very welcoming staff. Delicious food, generous quantities.

The food here is absolutely delicious and the staff are incredibly kind and generous. While we were eating lunch I heard 3 people come in to pick up their takeout order and the staff knew them by name and chatted with them like old friends. This is a true neighborhood spot - if you're in Burlington, make it a point to stop here.

Kismayo looks unassuming from the outside but it is well worth a stop. They serve a small, simple menu. I ordered the coconut chicken stew, somosas, and a delicious sweet cardamom tea. The stew was flavorful but delicate, with really nicely seasoned, perfectly cooked rice. The samosas were perfectly shaped with fresh tasting ingredients and a subtle heat. The food is clearly made to a high standard and with love. The ladies that run the place also seem to want to create a polite and friendly atmosphere. I'll be coming back.

I have been coming here since they opened. The food is delicious with so much depth of flavour- satisfying without being heavy. I go here whenever I need a feel-good, pick-me-up meal. The staff is always welcoming and friendly, and the small menu means that every dish they offer has been perfected. I highly recommend the cheese steak, the rice and beef dish, and the tea. So grateful for what Kismayo brings to the local food scene!

I wish we would have came here sooner! We've been eyeballing this place for a couple years and stopping by never worked out until today. So thankful that we did! Hands down the best samosas ever! So light! We also had the chicken dish and coconut curry. Amazing all around with such warm and welcoming staff members. Will definitely be here again!

The menu is limited, but the food tastes so good!! I had chicken & rice, which is amazing. They cooked the rice just perfectly. I had beef samosa, which is also delectable. The guy who served me food gave me tea for free. Thank you. The tea tastes like sweetened chai. The place looks humble, but the service is really good.

Small, family run restaurant. Easy to drive right past it if you’re not on the lookout.The cafe area is tidy, bright, and welcoming. The owner was absolutely lovely. We ordered the chicken and Somali rice plate. The flavors were tremendous. Everything was freshly prepared, hot, and tasty. While my husband and I sat enjoying our shared lunch, the owner approached us with a Somali tea and a beef Somosa. She said “I just want you to try it”. Wow, everything was delicious. We will definitely be back. Try the somosas & the tea. The service was excellent. Give this place a try.

What a super friendly owner! We placed an order for pick up. We were greeted with tons of warmth and free chai samples ( so yummy!) even while the owner was chatting up some regulars. The food was good too! Coconut curry had tons of white meat chicken and good veg. Beef plate was flavorful and not fatty. If you want things spicy, ask for it. If you need mild ( like I do) it's just right as is ( watch the dressing-- spicy! )

If I could give more stars I absolutely would! The food is extremely good, and I love the goat dish a lot. The tea is the best ever and you have to try it! What makes this a great spot, on-top of the food, is how nice the staff is. Omar feels like a long-time friend with how friendly and caring he is. I love overhearing his interactions with customers, as he really cares about them.

This is the best food ever, try their Somali Rice and Chicken. It is perfectly cool with a wonderful mild spicy flavor. Their customer service is the best, they help you out choose your meal and go as far as giving you water. a MUST check it out if you Burlington!

Amazing food, amazing people. The chicken and rice, beef and spaghetti, THE BEEF SAMOSA, THE TEA, they were all 10/10 and well worth a long drive! Do yourself a favor and come experience this place ASAP!

I go here all the time. The owner is great and the food is always fresh. Recommendations: goat combo with pasta and a side of samosas

Absolutely love this place. Everything is so fresh and flavorful. My only wish is that they had more menu choices as the selection is very small. Despite that everything they have is delicious.

Uber eats menu options are very limited. Food delivered quickly but they ignored all my added notes. Therefore I had to eat spaghetti and curry rice without utensils.... Food was fine but not very flavorful. Cheesesteak tasted like bread, meat and cheese. I think they forgot to add whatever twist is supposed to be added, not to mention the mayo I asked for. There was no kick or zing in the chicken pasta or coconut curry, cooked well but I was expecting more than just mellow tomato/coconut sauces. The prices are reasonable but don't expect to be blown away.

Definitely a unique taste to the Burlington area with this African/Somalian restaurant. The samosas were pretty good. The chicken and rice was alright - the meat had a weird smell to it so I wasn't able to finish it. Overall it was not bad and the prices are low so it's worth trying if you're in the mood for something exotic.

I'm a huge foodie who never posts reviews out of laziness, but Kismayo Kitchen deserves more stars than I can give. I'll list the reasons why you NEED to visit: (1) Very Tasty Food, (2) Great Prices, (3) Cute Atmosphere, and (4) truly some of the best and warmest Service I've ever had! I was just doing a road trip through New England and finding Somali food in Burlington was truly a must-try. Lunch here was honestly something I won't ever forget.

Oh my God, what an incredible litte restaurant tucked away in Vermont! We came here on a day of a spontaneous trip to Burlington, and found this place on yelp. Zero expectations going in other than hope for a warm meal, but instead we got utterly blown away!!! The food was so amazing i forgot all about trying to find Bernie!!! We had coconut stew with rice, this was my favorite, pure comfort food. We also enjoyed the noodle dish with meat reminded me of my south Asian flavors and spices. The meat was tender and delicious, and also halal! The samosas were absolutely incredible as well. We jived with the laid back vibe of the place, and the Jamaican sodas were fun to try too. The whole time we were there, customers kept coming like a revolving door of popularity--guess they couldn't keep their cooking talent a secret!! Best of all was the serviceeee. The brother that mans the counter was so incredibly kind and welcoming, I felt like he was my own brother. Truly a piece of home away from home. If you're in Burlington and looking for some food that cannot disappoint, come eat at Kismayo. I can't wait to make a trip there again.

Delicious food -- I got the veggie coconut stew with rice -- already ready, served really quick and with flair! The potato salad I didn't love so much, it was just like any American potato salad I'd ever had, and I wish I'd known that because I wouldn't've gotten it -- but the yumminess of the other dish more than made up for it! It was creamy and flavourful, filling but not too heavy. The man who took my order was very nice! It was especially exciting for me because I'd never had Somali food before -- and it did not disappoint! I'm a fan now! The music playing was pretty cool, too .... The parking was plentiful, as well, with a parking lot that was easy to get in and out of and a sign that was easy to see!

Amazing service, fantastic food. You can't go wrong with anything you try. We tried the coconut chicken curry, the beef gyro, the samosa, and the chicken and rice and goat and rice. Everything was so good. I highly recommend it if you're looking for something flavorful while you're in Vermont. Oh, big plus, the food is HALAL!!

WOW! This spot is small but has a big impact with flavor and food overall. A smaller menu, but enough that everyone would like something on it. The staff here and what I assume might be the owner/manager is SO nice and attentive to guests - it was an awesome experience. Stopped in here with my parents after not finding any good options for a Wednesday down in downtown Winooski and I think they will be making return visits. This will be a revisit for sure so definitely give it a shot!!! My pictures would've been better but I'm fat fat and had to start eating

incredibly friendly staff, good value, and Unique foods that are jam packed with flavor. I got this goat over rice for dinner, delicious! The meat was full of flavor and spiced beautifully. The portion of meat to rice could have been better but that is my only complaint. I cant say enough nice things about the staff, so friendly and constantly checking in to make sure the food is good! Total hidden gem in BTV

A small spot with BIG taste. I first tried Kismayo Kitchen a few months ago and was hooked instantly. I'm writing this review after my 4th or 5th time going and have been promoting this spot to everyone I can. They are doing it right, small menu but everything they serve is packed with flavors backed up by a hefty serving size. My go-to is the Classic Somali Rice with the Cheesesteak. I often throw in the Somosas as well, all for a great price. Today was also my first time popping into the restaurant to do a pickup and all of the employees were incredibly nice. Asked me how my day was going, where I was from, and thanked me for wing a reoccurring customer. All around amazing food, great serving sizes, great prices and amazing hospitality. Do yourself a favor and please stop in for some great food!

boyfriend and I stopped here for a late bite just before closing - food was delicious and was blown away by their rice and chai. store owner was generous and stayed open late for us. very warm all around and will be back when in the area next. 5 stars!!

This food is absolutely amazing. I got the Somali classic combo with the beef & rice and the beef samosa. All I can say is wow. The seasoning on the food was perfectly balanced and the portions are great. I will definitely be eating here again, highly recommend.

Yummy, cheap, delicious Somalian food. Owners are so sweet and working so hard to feed the constantly busy stream of people come on. Service was awesome, they were constantly checking in (even though it was so busy)! I loved the Philly cheesesteak and samosas!

Great price point for quality take away! Simple Somali fare - basically quality peanut chicken curry is their offering - but it's among the best value in town. Friendly and cheerful ownership as well. Finding affordable food in Burlington is rare, but this has to be in the top 5 for 'ethnic.'

Tried the beef gyro, Philly, chicken wrap, chicken and rice, and the beef with noodles. All were delicious, but the gyro was my favorite. Friendliest service we experienced on our trip to Vermont.

Best meal we had in Burlington. Every dish was amazing. Very flavorful and delicious plus cheap to boot. Friendly service too.

You have to go to Kismayo! The freshest ingredients ever! Everything tasted amazing and had out of this world flavor. We ordered a chicken and rice plate with salad and sambusas (samosas). I took a bite into the sambusa (samosa) and was shocked how dynamic the flavor was with perfectly seasoned beef and a kick of cilantro. It was all topped off with the most delicious chai Tea I have ever had! The best part was the staff was super friendly and excited to share their food with us They even do catering! All this and the portions were huge, fresh, healthy and affordable! Run don't walk to Kismayo!

Absolutely amazing food and service! We ordered almost everything on the menu and every dish was delicious! Omar is a great host.

This is one of my favorite restaurants in all of Burlington, VT! To sum it up, you get the most flavor for the best prices! We ate two samosas which were unreal good, followed by splitting a chicken wrap and the steak rice plate. Everything was delicious... but the sauces are what puts the food over the top delicious! If it weren't enough already, the service is extremely kind and caring. My wife is allergic to nuts and he took the time to ensure we knew everything we could order. Can't wait to eat here more!

I had an errand in the area and was hoping to find food to bring home so I could get a night off from cooking. I found this place on the yelp app and decided to try it based on the reviews. The owner was very warm and welcoming and gave me a glass of phenomenal chai-like tea to drink while he put my order together. Back at home we devoured the food. Really flavorful chicken with rice that had such thoughtful spices in it, you know the person who made it loves to feed people. Stewed beef over al dente pasta that would have made an Italian nonna proud. Excellent kale (with other chopped cruciferous veg) salad. The menu is tiny, the place unassuming, the owner was out of some of the items. Still, I was so glad I stopped and ended up with such a delicious and warming meal (with leftovers for today's lunch). Will definitely order from them again.

Food was incredible!! ordered chicken and rice plate and chicken wrap. The hospitality was even better. We presume it was an owner that greeted us and was super gracious. Would recommend to anyone. We can't wait to come back!!

Great authentic food - got the Somali rice with chicken and the coconut chicken stew. Appreciate the small touches like the guy at the counter bringing us hot sauce before we had to ask. Also highly recommend the Somali tea - hot and spicy is a great combo for a snowy evening.

The food was delicious and the owners were so kind. I showed up a bit early for my pickup and the gentleman behind the counter gave me a free tea while I waited (which was some of the best tea I've ever had). I highly recommend the Classic Somali Combo with beef and the Somali tea. Definitely one of the best restaurants in Vermont!

Small place with great food You couldn't find a more friendly owner who does everything to please you. Coconut chicken is one of favorites but love the cheese steak and last visit gave us a chicken sample with great seasoning and flavor. Prices are super reasonable too !!

The food is unlike the typical fare and provides a unique experience. And the staff is incredibly accommodating.

I'd been staring at this place as I pass it on my drive home from work every day, and I had never tried it, but my coworker insisted and WOW. Everything I had was delicious. The vegan samosa didn't even make it home, I ate it in the car. The chicken and rice were SO delicious, and then I curled up on the couch with the Somali Tea with milk. The portion sizes were enough that I was able to bring some chicken and rice for lunch the next day, and it was just as delicious then. Honestly, this is going to be dangerous because it's affordable and delicious, so I will need to prevent myself from stopping there on my way home every day!

Ive been eating here since early pandemic and the food is always amazing and the staff are some of the kindest, lovely people. The care that goes into the food and serving customers makes it really clear that they are pouring so much love into this place.

Friendly staff, great service, not a lot of choices on the menu but food is flavorful and fresh, I would come back!

I would kid this more stars if I could best place in Burlington. Staff couldn't be nicer

Really great guest service and fabulous food! The Somali Tea is to die for! The chicken and rice is also extremely delicious and the chicken samosas are super good as well! I totally recommend!

Soooo delicious! My boyfriend and I both agree that we could eat a dozen of the beef Samosas each. Large portions, and well priced. Customer service was excellent, very warm and inviting atmosphere. I got the beef rice platter, and it was cooked and seasoned wonderfully. I'm a bit picky about meat, and devoured every bite. Will definitely be coming back. Great spot for an easygoing, inexpensive lunch.

Wow! Wow! Wow! You literally CANNOT beat the service at Kismayo. Everyone there is so friendly and accommodating. On top of that, the food is incredible! And if top-notch service and delicious food isn't enough for you, don't worry, the value for your dollar is unmatched! You get a ton of good food without breaking the bank. Kismayo is my new go-to spot in Burlington. Give it a shot, you'll be glad you did.

We tried this place the other night, never having had Somalian food before, we weren't quite sure what to expect, but if this place is any indication, we can't wait to have Somalian fare again! The chicken and rice plate, as well as the beef and rice plate, were flavorful and hearty. The tea was also perfectly balanced with sweetness and spices.

I found Kismayo Kitchen because it was the only place open on Christmas in Burlington. I'm in Montreal and my son is in Burlington and we weren't able to be together for Christmas. His fridge broke down and he had little food and I wanted to get him something good to eat, as it was bad enough we would have to be apart. So, I called Kismayo Kitchen and spoke to the nicest gentleman, Ahmed Omar, the owner. My son received the best sandwich that day and since then he asked me to order for him again today. Spoke to Mr. Omar, who remembered me and my son, and he was just such a beautiful person. My son says his sandwich was absolutely delicious every time, the delivery fast, and the experience such a good one. We will buy again. Happy New Year Mr. Omad!

First time trying samalyan food and it did not disappoint us! Omar the owner gave us free cheesesteak which is probably the best philly cheesesteak I've ever had! Ordered goat over rice, chicken curry and samosas! All amazing. Thanks to our concierge from hilton who told us this place.

Lovely hole in the wall. Limited menu but we love it. Unique flavors, generous servings, great service - what more could you ask for.

Small restaurant and a small menu but the coconut chicken stew and beef and rice plate were very good. Also enjoyed the samosas too!

ABSOLUTELY AMAZINGGGGGGGGGGGGG food and such amazing service. You must try this place immediately !!!!!!!!!

I ordered samosa and they were delicious. The service was fast and great. I will definitely go back. If you're in the Burlington, VT area and you like to try different/exotic cuisine give it a try

This was my 3rd visit to review Kismayo. The person who I believe to be the owner is polite, professional, and so welcoming. I've tried the cheesesteak, samosas, coconut curry stew and chicken dinner combo. Every one of these meals exceeded expectations. The flavors are unique and complementary. This is one of my favorite places to eat. You have to try it

Stopped here on a whim and was super impressed. Kind service and great food. Highly recommended

Outstanding food, well priced, super friendly staff. Definitely will be a regular here from here on out

The food is incredible. The staff is so kind and thoughtful. So grateful to have kismayo in our community!

I have been here several times and the food and service are always excellent. The salad dressing is so tasty, I wish they bottled it. Tried most menu items and all have been great. Somali tea is also a nice treat.

I had a samosa, a rich, perfectly textured chicken coconut stew with maybe the most fragrant and delicious rice I've ever tasted, a magnificent fried bread of some sort that had some magical cardamom in it and a very satisfying doughy-to-crusty ratio, and a lil bit of potato salad as a sort of amuse-bouche: the bit of carrot provided freshness and the house spices brought the whole thing to new heights. Also there's a cardamom and cinnamon tea that, while a bit sweet, was deeply seductive. Omar's enthusiasm for the food and his welcoming, gregarious style perfectly match the unpretentious decor and polished a remarkably efficient service, making us feel both comfortable as diners and valued as customers. So excited to recommend this place to friends, and even more excited to return soon and eat my way through the rest of the menu. Do yourself a favor and visit while you can still get in without a reservation.