Safari

West African restaurant · Westwood

Safari

West African restaurant · Westwood

4

10014 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77036

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Safari by Gianni Greene
Safari by Gianni Greene
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Highlights

Authentic Nigerian soups, fufu, tilapia, jollof rice  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

10014 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77036 Get directions

thesafarirestaurant.com
@thesafarirestaurantx

$$

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10014 Bissonnet St, Houston, TX 77036 Get directions

+1 713 541 4436
thesafarirestaurant.com
@thesafarirestaurantx

$$

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Last updated

Aug 25, 2025

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@infatuation

The 10 Best West African Restaurants In Houston

"Going to Safari, a Nigerian restaurant in Westchase, is sort of like stumbling into a dinner party, with locals hanging out and shooting the breeze over kola nuts. The most exciting part of your dinner will be the food that hits your table, so make yourself comfy and order the flaky, spiced tilapia, and make sure to get a side of smoky and spicy jollof rice. Spend enough time here, and you’ll be drinking orijin beer and picking fish bones clean like you’re a long-time regular." - gianni greene

https://www.theinfatuation.com/houston/guides/best-west-african-houston
View Postcard for Safari Restaurant
@infatuation

Safari Restaurant Review - Westwood - Houston - The Infatuation

"Going to Safari, a Nigerian restaurant in Westchase, is sort of like stumbling into a dinner party, with locals hanging out and shooting the breeze over kola nuts. The most exciting part of your dinner will be the food that hits your table, so make yourself comfy and order the flaky, spiced tilapia, and make sure to get a side of smoky and spicy jollof rice. Spend enough time here, and you’ll be drinking orijin beer and picking fish bones clean like you’re a long-time regular." - Gianni Greene

https://www.theinfatuation.com/houston/reviews/safari-restaurant-houston
View Postcard for Safari Restaurant
@eater

Every Houston Restaurant Marcus Samuelsson Visits on ‘No Passport Required’ | Eater Houston

"One of the first Nigerian restaurants in Houston, Safari is a family-run operation. Samuelsson learns how to make fufu, a staple dish made from boiled and mashed yam, with owner Margaret “Safari” Jason. He eats it alongside a stew with okra, bonefish, and goat." - Sonia Chopra

https://houston.eater.com/maps/houston-restaurants-nigerian-west-african-food-marcus-samuelsson-no-passport-required
View Postcard for Safari Restaurant
@eater

The Houston Episode of ‘No Passport Required’ Airs Tonight on PBS - Eater Houston

"Tune in to watch Samuelsson visit stops at more traditional West African favorites in Houston, and fufu at old-school staple Safari Restaurant." - Amy McCarthy

https://houston.eater.com/2020/1/27/21079513/houston-episode-no-passport-required-pbs
View Postcard for Safari Restaurant

Larabella O

Google
Delicious Nigerian food. Not a big variety but each dish is tasty. Service is not always the best and don't like that menu prices aren't fixed and keep changing. Still, I always go back for the tasty meals.

Jide O.

Google
Food was phenomenally tasty. However, for Banga soup at $40, it was a rip off to only get the thin part of goat leg where it's just burnt skin and bones. I cannot help but to second guess why they would think this is what I deserve. Because if I were a wicked step mom from a Nollywood movie, this is what I would serve my step children. Also, could we remove the bones in the smoke fish before cooking with them? Thanks! Really good tasting meal but there are areas for improvement.

tyler ralph

Google
the waitstaff was very rude and disrespectful, the restaurant itself was very dirty and messy. I ordered the jollof rice with chicken and the food smelled rotten, the chicken looked like it was a year old, I did not even finish the food, I spat it out and threw it away.

Uvie Bikomo

Google
The food was amazing. Truly authentic naija dishes. The cook/server was sooo nice and even kept checking in on us. The location felt like I was at a buka. Definitely will order again.

Keenan Peterson

Google
So this is my first time trying goat meat with red sauce and rice as well as plantains. The goat meat was tough in certain areas but probably due to the age of the goat. The sauce is different added flavor to the goat meat which was excellent. The plantains was good seeing as I don't eat bananas unless it's a smoothie. I want to give it a 5 just 4 seem more honest giving that this is my first time eating this. Everything overall good my expectations wasn't disappointed besides not getting fufu. Definitely will try another dish but something different that includes fufu.

Ramona LaShun Wms Tennessee

Google
This was my very first time experiencing authentic Nigerian food. A little too spicy for me but it was good. I just kept eating 🤭

d

Google
goat pepper soup 🌶 i believe they gave me a whole goat with how many pieces i received! it’s spicy but so delicious 🤤 very kind people own it and they make everyone feel like home and greeted everyone as family!

Ola Alao

Google
This was my first time and I went with friends. The owner was seated when we arrived and he didn't welcome or acknowledge us upon entry. The place had a nasty smell. It smelled like adult urine that hasn't been properly cleaned. The bathroom is right there by the main restaurant. We were unable to eat there due to this. Please, clean the bathroom thoroughly especially the men and ensure it's flushed afrer use and invest in a good air freshner. The food didn't come out on time too but it tasted good.
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Tiffany S.

Yelp
My first time trying an African dish, Eugusi soup, and it was good! The ladies were very nice and friendly.
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Jahvena W.

Yelp
I went in last night for my birthday!!! Was super excited to have some authentic African food! I explained to the lady that we don't eat meat and can only have seafood! I ordered egusi with fish and vegetable stew with fish and plain jolof rice with plain stew. However, it all had meat in it!!! I attempted to call and talk to someone about it but the lady hung up in my face . I tried to call back and they did not answer.
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Kelly D.

Yelp
Knowing that our family would be in the Houston area, and having seen an episode of Padma Lakshmi's show "Taste the Nation" on Hulu featuring this restaurant, I knew we had to stop in! We have never had Nigerian food before but are a family who loves trying new and different cuisines and were excited to come to Safari. Often the best kept secrets are in unassuming strip malls and this is where you'll find Safari. It's nestled near a gas station and other small restaurants so don't miss it! Upon entering we were greeted and seated right away. We weren't sure what to order so our waitress gave us suggestions of their egusi with fufu as well as some tomato-based soup and braised meat. I wish we had the time (and stomachs) to explore the whole menu as everything looked great. We also had an order of rice and plantains for the kids. Our 2 year old daughter loved everything - especially the fufu! Overall we really enjoyed our time and we can't wait to make our way back to try more of their menu. The service was wonderful as everyone is very kind and attentive. I couldn't recommend Safari more, or Nigerian food, to anyone who is willing to explore cuisines that have yet to have their stamp on the food scene. My hope is we'll be seeing more African and West African restaurants in the future!

Kolbi H.

Yelp
The food and atmosphere is GREAT! Everyone in there was kind and having a good time. There's a board with what they have and the "prices" OR SO YOU WOULD THINK. The manager TRIED to charge us $50 for an item that says $35 on the board. I wasn't having it. I told them that I saw reviews about how they change prices but they weren't going to change our price. After being stern , they charged us the price that was posted. THEN had the nerve to ask me to give a larger trip. We will be back because it was a good time BUT just make sure you only pay the price on the board!
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Oge O.

Yelp
Terrible. Just terrible. I will never patronize this establishment again. Ordered goat meat pepper soup and also okra soup to go. When I got home I saw my pepper soup had not one single piece of goat meat but only assorted pieces of Rancid bowels of some random animal. I gagged. It smelled like stale water and salt and black pepper and I couldn't bring myself to taste the garbage my eyes were seeing. My friend was brave enough to try a bite of it and immediately went to spit it out in the toilet. The okra soup tht was suppose to hv assorted meat had literally only ONE small piece of tripe & one Pomo piece. What a disappointment and disgusting.
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Fatou M.

Yelp
Nice service. Great atmosphere. Staff was amazing. Food was delicious and I would definitely come back.

Coco L.

Yelp
Mrs. Margaret is so sweet & kind....she made me feel comfortable as an African who was struggling with my choice of food. I knew what I wanted but did not know the west african lingo 2 express it. 4 example cow skin & cow leg "I think"....I described it 2 her the best way I could & she got it & it was delicious. Extra tomato sauce on my jollof rice & talapia...she got it ...it was understood even with out slight language barrier. She I'd a very hard & efficient worker & i appreciate that. She is beautiful inside & out! Exceptionally great west african food.!!!!!
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Awele N.

Yelp
The two star is for the tastiest fish in sauce with plantain you'll get around and at an ok price.At $20,it was pretty size-able. I knew my best bet was to drive by and pick up so I called in and ordered but it still wasn't ready when I got there.It wasn't a long wait but that meal was super tasteeee! Service and environment is crap!!!
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Fatima MsPinky J.

Yelp
...that one star is for lack of a choice of no star....first of all..why have a website that directs you to call for menu and prices only to be met with total rudeness over the phone. We called and the woman was acting as of we're disturbing her by calling. I asked about menu and prices and she responds with "we don't give prices over the phone " . I Told her that their website states to call for prices and menu.."eh forget about the website if you want something you can come and get it here"..is this how you treat customers as if you're doing them a favor? Please work on that and take that website down if it doesn't serve a purpose. So disappointing trying to support my African entrepreneurs and receive such distasteful service.
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Aye R.

Yelp
OMG! My friend's and I went for the first time minus one of us and the food was so good and everyone was so nice. Our waitress gave us a great suggestion to try the fisherman soup, similar to gumbo, and she was right. The fisherman soup shrimp, crabs, oxtail and some other things. Our entire table enjoyed it, including the egusi and fried fish with tilapia, jollof rice and plantain. Everything was so fresh and flavorful. Will definitely be back!
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Blaq D.

Yelp
HORRIBLE. Listen, i am African and disappointed. My goodness I am very disappointed. The pepper soup was gross- that was thrown out. The Moi Moi was decent and the escargo was tasteless.
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Naomi O.

Yelp
One of the best places to get Nigerian food from in Houston. The egusi is perfect! It's also open late which is a huge plus.

Kay R.

Yelp
I will actually never come here again. I'm African American woman & one of my good friends ( Hispanic ) came in to purchase my food & the worker lady was very racist to em & Asked him if he was confused on where he was & amongst other things . I wish he would've walked out immediately & never purchased the food but I was highly dissapointed I couldn't even eat my food . I hope the homeless lady enjoyed
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Honey J.

Yelp
I came here with a friend and sadly I will not be returning. When we walked in we were not greeted just stared at by the rest of the patrons. We seated ourselves and a young man came by with a order pad and just stood at our table. He didn't smile, he didn't greet us or offer a menu, just stood there. I was extremely confused. My friend, who is Nigerian, decided to ask about a few meals that he isn't used to eating. The young man took our order and walked away swiftly. I seriously thought a prank was being played on me. In order to keep this review from being the most negative review ever written by me, I'll just summarize it and recommend you try another place if you care about service, location, and atmosphere. If you don't, go for it, the food was good.
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Princess U.

Yelp
Well, everyone looked at me and my dad as we walked in. Most tables did not have food on them. I assume it's just a place friends/family go to chat. It took about 20+ mins before anyone approached the table. He was friendly so it was hard to be angry with him. We ordered our food and it came out another 20 mins later. Best plantain I've ever had. The goat meat was really rough though. I didn't even bother trying to eat it. Maybe I'm just used to Jollaf rice across the street at Finger Licking so maybe that's why I didn't care for the rice here. But, loud music, big screen TV and everyone seems to know one another except my dad and I. Also, if you need to pee, you'll need a key to unlock the bathroom. Weird. I guess to keep the prostitutes of Bissonnet from servicing folks in the restroom, no idea. Anyway, if I'm craving plantains, I'll return. Otherwise, I prefer the African cuisine across the street.

Kristin P.

Yelp
Very good food! The service was great had a chance to speak with the owner she was really friendly. My mother and I ordered jollof rice and tilapia it was all worth the price had enough for the whole family.
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Funmi J.

Yelp
As a Nigerian who cannot cook Nigerian food, I want to love this place as it's been a stronghold in Houston for a while but the customer service leaves a lot to be desired. Every so often I stay away long enough that I forget and then I go and then I remember all over again.
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James B.

Yelp
What I like about safari varies. Firstly, from the menu perspective: I like the pounded yam and vegetable soup. Then the white rice and chicken stew. I usually order to go. The portions are generous and the price to me, is reasonable. It is a nostalgic feeling as you enter the premises. Cultural themes surround you. From the music to people sporadically speaking in their native tongues. It is an english speaking establishment, I should mention, so you have no problem ordering your dish of choice. I like the establishment.

Chin A.

Yelp
Went here during lunch with a couple of coworkers. I ordered ogbono and goat with fufu. It was so good! Coworkers ordered egusi with fish and another with goat. They enjoyed their meals.It came out to about $16 each. Which isn't bad. My coworkers didn't take their food home, but I did. That's how big the meal was. When we came in we were greeted right away and seated. The owner was very nice and attentive. The only thing I can complain about was the price of water, which was $3 for a bottle. But that's not a big deal. I work at city center the prices are higher.
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Barbara J.

Yelp
If I could give this place 0 stars, I would. Called in to order but didn't know what was on their menu so wanted some suggestions. The person on the phone yelled at me and told me that I was using up his time asking questions. He then fought with me on the line about how I'm not his customer that I should know better then hang up on me.

Brandon M.

Yelp
Real good food. Not too personal service, variety a little lacking, but food on point. They use peanut oil.