Z Zoul Cafe

I visited Z Zoul Cafe in San Francisco and really enjoyed the experience. I tried the falafel wrap and the shawarma wrap, along with their special hibiscus drink. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. The hibiscus juice was especially refreshing and unique. It’s a nice spot if you’re looking to try something different with Sudanese flavors.

Z Zoul is such a delight! My friends and I shared three plates together to have a variety! The okra stew and lamb shank were my fav! Highly recommend supporting this Black owned business!!

The food was really well done and you could tell everything was homemade. I ordered the falafel wrap which I definitely recommend and I also got to try from the chicken shawarma which was delicious as well. The atmosphere in the restaurant really reminds me of home and the workers were all super welcoming and friendly. Def go try if you’re looking for a good Sudanese/Middle Eastern comfort meal spot!

One of San Francisco's hidden gems 💎! We had just returned from visiting The Wiz in Emerald City. Tough trip, so we were hungry. We goggle nearby restaurants and saw that Z Zoul Cafe was only a ten minute walk away at 295 Eddy St. It was Super Bowl Sunday, so the streets were kind of empty. We found the place. The first thing we noticed was how small but quaint it was. We were greeted by one of the owners and seated right away. We were served hot and spicy tea that was delicious! The menu was small, but the choices were great! The four of us ordered different things so we could share. I decided on the Beef Kofta that came with a green salad, Basmati rice with Tahini sauce and hummus, which you could tell was freshly made. When the food arrived, we were shocked and pleased that the amount was huge! We were told they believed in making sure you had plenty. We did! The beef was very, very tender and tasty! None of us were disappointed with anything. I will say that when you go, try the Dalya Pudding. It's made with Egyptian rice and has the right amount of sweetness. We all had leftovers to take home. The price for all of us was far less than we would have paid at well-known restaurants and totally worth it! I know we will be returning to Z Zoul. It's five stars worth it ! By the way, the word Zoul means, 'friend'. Indeed.

Tried Sudanese food for the first time here in downtown San Francisco and got the falafel plate! falafel was delicious with an awesome crispy texture on the outside. It also came with rice with spices, pita, humus, and a salad. Portion is large! Nice decorations and makes me feel like I’m in Sudan even though I’ve haven’t been there yet

Nice people quick service very friendly. Would be a nice experience of Sudanese food in California. I should say that the food tastes good for the most part but unfortunately nothing tasted fresh. The falafel was stale and old. The lamb was juicy and soft and didn't smell so that was the best part for me.

The food was so, so, so stinking good. I was honestly surprised the place wasn't PACKED when we went (6 PM on a Friday). The atmosphere was super cute, the staff was exceptionally friendly ... did I already say the food was good? Also, if you go, absolutely do not skip on the Hibiscus Tamarind juice. I usually only get water at restaraunts, but I had one sip of my fiance's drink and immediately got up to order a second one so I didn't have to share with him.

Roast Lamb Shawarma, loosely wrapped, but crispy grilled — perfect with the spicy tangy sauce add-on. A filling meal, perfect when eaten fresh or on-the-go. Falafel is not as crispy, but soft and comforting, a nice pack of protein.

I work in the area so stopped in for a quick lunch on Friday. They were so nice when we walked in and immediately took our order at the counter. I got the beef kofta bowl which came with so much food and was the perfect combo of meat, rice, veggies and hummus. Everything tasted super fresh and delicious. It also was like 13-14$ which is a steal these days. Definitely recommend coming here! A balanced and delicious meal and the vibes were great.

Ordered a Falafel Plate that took around 45 min to prepare. The owner said it was because he was making fresh falafels; I don't know how long they generally take to make, so sure. Luckily I didn't have anywhere to be, so it wasn't a big deal. They gave me a tasty Hibiscus drink for the wait. The food itself was pretty good. I don't have hummus often, but it was definitely the best hummus I've ever had. Will probably come back again to try something that's specifically more unique to Sudan.

I hadn't tried Sudanese food before, so decided to give Z Zoul a try. I ordered in person for a falafel wrap and paid in cash; it would've been $10.50 before the tip. It took them about 8 minutes to make, but was nicely fresh and still warm. It was not that thick or big as wraps go, but the falafel was tasty and had a nice level of softness. I found the jalapenos spicier than I'd like, though, as someone who can only handle a mild level of spice. I think I tasted pickles or something similar as well.

Sooooooo, this is absolutely amazing food from start to finish! Good food doesn't end at taste it matters how it makes you feel after you digest it and I feel great! Customer service- Excellent! I didn't get the gentlemans name, I'm guessing he's the owner but he was so kind and customer service centered. You can tell he loves and appreciates his customers! Portions- Portions were HUGE. There is no way you're finishing the whole plate. And theres soup and salad! The Food- Incredible and I'm picky. The flavors were so down home and healing, flavors like cardamom, cumin, pumpkin, tumeric, soft garlic yum! I got the lamb shank plate, and for my dog I got chicken and rice and he looked up at me like he was so very proud to have me as his owner because he killed that plate. And unlike other dogs, my dog is picky because I hand make his meals at home but he knows even his mana can't cook like this! I could have sworn I heard him say, "Girl this food is he**a good, why we ain't been here before?!!!" The lamb shank was tender, tasty, clean flavored(lamb can be gamey but not this one!), hearty, and special. The rice was also very flavorful and delicious and just yum! The salad was tasty, the baclava was tasty, the soup was tasty and nostalgic and I've never had Sudanian/Mediterranean food but somehow I transported back into a time when I ate this delicacy as a child at my grandmother's home on a beautiful island:) All together the food and flavors left me with a general feeling of wellness, peace, joy, love, nostalgia, healing, and goodness of the heart. Real love was cooked into this food and it really uplifted my day and made me feel healed(I was a bit congested and coughing before I came in now I'm not). This cuisine feels good to the soul and whether its your first time like it was mine, or your 8th time, get yourself over here and experience this cuisine and excellent customer service. I'll be back! Sorry no pictures I dug in pretty fast so it would've been a blurry photo!

Made my way to the TL to check out Zoul Cafe after shopping in Union Square. The area can be a little intimidating but once you're inside, the food makes the journey well worth it. It was hands down some of the best middle eastern food I've had in the city. The flavors, the spices, and even the prices were fantastic. I Definitely plan to head back again soon.

Chicken shawarma plate and the special listed on back of menu (do not recall the name) all delicious and inexpensive. Staff very courteous. HIGHLY recommended.​

I was walking around and thought I would cone here for lunch. I had the chicken plate. Was about $21 with tip, no drink or dessert. The food was okay, but I couldn't eat the soup. I requested an onion-free option, and the soup was stuffed with onions so could not go near it. The chicken was okay, had a yoghurt spiced marinated, with white rice and lettuce with pickles. I guess I just still not used to SF prices, but for the price I wasn't all that impressed. Service wasn't great as the guy never told me hoe to get water and I am sad I wasn't told I could not eat the soup I ordered. The place itself was clean, especially for Tenderloin.

We had the eggplant salad for appetizer and the lamb shank plate. I ordered the bowl with chicken, lamb chop (more like a piece of sausage) and falafel. The owner added beef cause he wanted me "to try everything" The falafel was perfection and the best I ever had. Every single person working here is super nice! I want to take the flalfal class with owner. We got our own napkins and utensils and water and we had to walk to counter to pay. There was an extremely LOUD person sitting next to us and I could barely hear my son I got a headache.

So the place is in the Tenderloin so obviously the neighborhood isn't great, but the food itself is really good and worth it. It is the kind of place where you order at the counter and then bus your own plates and silverware once done, but thats no big deal. I have been here three times and the food has been great each time, but each time I noticed the place was almost totally empty. I hope this place doesn't close down for lack of business.

Ok so maybe this is because it was a company lunch order but I got the beef kofta bowl, and the beed was sooo dry, not spiced good, the sides were pretty bland and the hummus was so runny and tasteless, nothing like how it looks on the photos here.

Tried Sudanese food for the first time and got the falafel plate! falafel was delicious with an awesome crispy texture on the outside. It also came with rice with spices, pita, humus, and a salad. Portion is large! Nice decorations and makes me feel like I'm in Sudan even though I've haven't been there yet

Great food, clean place, nice service. I got the roasted lamb wrap, and I liked the lamb and the flavors in the wrap, including the sauce

If you know me, you know that I am half-Sudanese (Northern Sudan) and half-Egyptian. I moved here over a decade ago, and it was hard to find Sudanese food until I came across Z Zoul. The restaurant is a haven of warmth, cleanliness, and comfort. When I entered, I immediately felt like I was back home, thanks to the delicious aromas and the warm welcome I received from Arif. Aref served us the best homemade Sudanese food that brought back fond memories of my dad and family. The taste of the food and how it was presented just brought tears to my eyes. After the sumptuous meal, we ordered hibiscus drink (Karkade), which was the perfect finale. The food is very reasonably priced, and you get a generous portion for the price. If you've never tried Sudanese food, I highly recommend Z Zoul. My husband, who had never tasted Sudanese food before, and my son can't remember the goodness of Sudanese food. Both were thrilled with the food, and I'm sure you will be too. Aref and Dalya, I cannot thank you enough from the bottom of my heart for the hospitality and the incredible food. May your restaurant continue to flourish, and may your family always be blessed. Thank you again!

Tucked in a somewhat rundown neighborhood, this place stands out from the rest. I never had a Sharwma as good as theirs and their babaganoush had the best aroma and flavor. The way they make their food is unique to other similar places of Middle Eastern faire. The staff is very friendly as well. I got greeted with a big smile and patience when trying to figure out what I wanted to eat. Highly recommend this establishment!

This place was great. I really enjoyed talking to the owner, and hearing the story of his immigration here. The food was excellent. A rare gem in the heart of San Francisco. Portions were generous, and the lentil soup was incredible.

Ordered takeout. Owner was polite and food was ready upon arrival. Overall the food was good. Rice was a bit too oily for me and the chicken was fine. Perhaps I was expecting a bit more with the restaurants' high rating.

Oh, this place is just fantastic. I would eat here seven days a week if I could. The mural on the back wall is very pretty and the people who work there are just absolutely wonderful. If I could leave this place six stars I absolutely would.

It's a Mediterranean halal restaurant to me. I had a chicken shawarma plate...got burger and wings to go..hummus and pita pretty good..rice has unique flavor I rarely had..calls it sudanese but I think it's halal ..nice and good space with mural..in tenderloin at Jones

Great joint offering relatively rare Sudanese food. All of the dishes we ordered were excellent. I would describe the food as Middle Eastern food with some spiciness, which is perfect. The added bonus is that it is in Tenderloin so you get some excitement and mystery a la "Will this be my last meal or not?" A must visit.

amazing food!! amazing service!! the flavors were so good and the man working was soo sweet! will definitely be back

It wasn't great, it was WONDERFUL!!! We were in San Francisco from Sonoma County and Richmond to see the stage play 'The Wiz'. (Loved it!) Afterwards we decided to get something to eat. We goggle and found Z Zoul. It was just a few blocks from where we were so we chose it. The place was very easy to find. It's small but quaint. We were seated right away and given hot, spicy and delicious tea. The menu had plenty of choices ranging from salads, sandwiches, soups plates and bowls. Each of us ordered something different so we could sample. I chose the Beef Kofta. It came with a green salad, hummus, pita bread and Egyptian rice. The amount of food was awesome! I was very impressed by how tender the beef was. Everything was tasty, seasoned just right! We ate as much as we could and had plenty to take home for later. I ordered the Dalya Pudding. I wish I had ordered two. It was very good! The price for the four of us was surprisingly low. I can tell you the service was awesome! I like the play area for the kids. So, if you want to try something new and delicious, give Z Zoul a try! The word Zoul actually means 'Friend '.

It's a little deep in the TL, but like Casa Mayah and the nearby Yemeni joint, it's worth the excursion. I've had both the falafel and lamb wraps. The falafel wrap is flavorful with a good mix of veggies. I wouldn't ind it a little saucier. The lamb wrap was the real star though. The lamb is tender and flavorful , as is the rice which is all mixed with some sort of creamy sauce and pickles. It all works really well. I especially liked the texture of the lavash in both. I'll try the chicken wrap next time.

Lamb was delicious! They have the best service and best food! I would recommend this place that's sick of the average place to eat. Come and experience something new !!!

I've never had Sudanese food before, so I wanted to check this place out. Per recommendation, ordered the roast lamb shank plate and the basbousa. The roast lamb shank plate comes with lentil soup, salad, and rice. The best part of the dish was definitely the roast lamb shank. It was cooked well and fell off the bone so easily. The salad and rice by themselves were nothing to write home about, but mixed with the lamb shank made for a comforting meal. The basbousa - a middle Eastern sweet semolina cake soaked in simple syrup - tasted like baklava, but with a fine grainy texture. I appreciated that the owner/chef checked in with me to see what I thought of the food. The guy behind the cashier (looked like he was in his teens), however, did not look the slightest bit engaged or interested in his job. After serving me a slice of the basbousa, he left the entire platter of basbousa by the register uncovered and with the serving spatula still sitting there. Not very professional. Overall, I found the food comforting. Not amazing, but comforting, like a homemade meal. In summary, a no frills, hole in the wall, Sudanese place in the Bay Area that you won't find too often, even in the Bay Area.

It's fair to say I've never had Sudanese food before, and until last year, I never tried Liberian food and a few years before that, Yemeni, Sri Lankan, and Afghan food. Uh, what was my point again? I guess that there's a global culinary presence in this city, especially in the Tenderloin, that you're a fool not to check out. Excellent Ethiopian. Luscious Laotian. It's in the 'hood. Oh sure, it's pretty sketch around here, but these unique restaurants are family run and worth a try. My first time here I ordered just a sampling of their food. First up was the $4.80 cup of Vegetable Soup which the owner was quick to point out was not vegetarian. It was a lukewarm lamb-based broth with the shimmer of oil left on top. The vegetables inside mostly consisted of potatoes (photo: http://bit.ly/2Hn3Ott). I liked the $6.35 Eggplant Salad (Salatat Aswad) which was not sliced but mashed with the garlic yogurt, lime, and cumin quite prominent in the distinctive flavor. It came with a couple of pita halves for manual scooping (photo: http://bit.ly/2Hyo6iM). About a month later, I decided I should try a proper dinner here. I ordered the same soup, but it was more flavorful this time with more carrots and the addition of hominy (photo: http://bit.ly/2HCjuZ0). It was nice comfort food indeed. I was somewhat less enamored with the $14.30 Roast Chicken with Basmati Rice because the chicken tasted like it was warmed over with the meat a bit dry on the inside. Although mixed vegetables were mentioned in the description, I didn't see any except the diced carrots in the rice. The salad was present and accounted for though (photo: http://bit.ly/2HBodtZ). I truly wish the owners well, but I have to confess I didn't come away feeling like a convert. FOOD - 3 stars... a unique cuisine with Middle Eastern and South Asian influences AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars... nice uniquely Sudanese touches in the 'Loin SERVICE - 3.5 stars...friendly enough but not informative TOTAL - 3 stars...looking forward to boosting their rating on a later visit RELATED - Looking for something unique to eat? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2HxDegq

My kids had a birthday delivery sent to me. Only half of the order arrived. The food looked like it was just tossed into the box with no care. I swear the soup came from a can. Ive never had a salad where every ingredient tasted like vinegar and onions before. I'm not even sure how they accomplished that. The rice was rice. I actually threw it away.

Never had Sudanese food before, so had to give this a try. Got a hole-in-the-wall vibe in the middle of the Tenderloin. Food is mostly good, though I highly recommend you avoid the fatayer. Fatayer w/ Ground Meat: Not what I was expecting at all. Google "fatayer" and you'll see a bunch of open face meat pies. Instead, I got a sorry mini pizza made on a pita, like something a desperate high school student in need of an after school snack would make. Definitely avoid this one. Didn't even taste good. Lamb Shank: Thankfully the lamb made up for the fatayer debacle. A huge shank that was so tender. It was lightly spiced and served dry, without any sauce. The rice that came with it was super fluffy, without any grains sticking together. There was a soup on the side that tasted like lamb bone marrow broth with a few random veggies. It was very savory and helped add moisture between bites. The romaine-centric salad on the side was pretty boring though. Basbosa: Even better than my feast of a lamb shank! Tiny granules of carbs soaked in a sticky sweet sauce. Reminded me a tiny bit of English toffee pudding, but with the texture of gulab jamun. Such a nice treat, don't miss it. Take some for an afternoon snack if you're full from lunch.

Delicious homemade Sudanese and Mediterranean food! Think succulent lamb shanks, roast chicken, buttery basmati rice, flatbreads with Zaatar, rich lentil soup. The portions are generous for the prices, and the family who owns it is friendly and welcoming. By the end of the meal, we were so comfy and full.

A bit of a let down with our order. When we came to pickup they said they ran out of the rice pudding dessert, and packed up a piece of baklava instead, even though we already ordered baklava. The lamb shank was really good though; meat off the bone tender. It came with a small portion of salad, veggies, and stale/hard rice; all of which were mediocre. The foul mosalah (fava beans with tomatoes and onion) was pretty good, and had a meaty flavor to it, and came with a stale piece of flatbread that we didn't finish. Baklava is hard not to love, though was too sweet. I'd recommend calling up ahead of time to make sure they have the food you want! Also, be weary that it's situated in Tenderloin, and was a bit frightening to pick-up.

We not good with words so here's our way of showing how we feel about Z ZOUL CAFE SO MUCH LOVE

Our first visit didn't go so well because we didn't get to try the Sudanese food at Z Zoul Café but the owner, Aref reached out to me, apologized, and graciously offered us a signature dish for our troubles. I messaged Aref on Monday just to give him a heads up that told him we wanted to visit again on Tuesday around 11:30 am. My co-worker and I arrived a little early and the gates were down. Uh oh...but I did say, 11:30 am so we waited a couple of minutes and soon enough Aref and his family arrived to open shop. Z Zoul Café is basically a one-man show with Aref and his gorgeous wife helping out. She reminds me of Sofia Vergara and they have the most beautiful kids. They're a very humble and gracious family so it's like dining at an extension of their home. This is the first Sudanese restaurant in the Bay Area. On the menu are familiar Middle Eastern items like Hummus, Falafel, and Shawarma. While I'm sure those are great, I wanted to pop my Sudanese food cherry so we stuck with the Sudanese fare. Everything is made to order so expect to spend at least an hour for your meal. We started with the bowl of the Housemade Vegetable Soup and Sudanese Lentil Soup ($4.80): https://bit.ly/2td8rO5. Equally delicious, the soups were like a warm hug in a bowl - piping hot, comforting, and good complexity of flavors. The Vegetable Soup had a nice meatiness (like goat) from a blend of Aref's special blend of spices. And, the Lentil Soup reminded me of an excellent split pea soup. You can't go wrong with either one. For our mains, my coworker and I shared the Roasted Lamb Shank w/ rice, salad ($14.80) & Sudanese Daily Special (Tagalia): Ground Meat + Okra Stew w/ gorrasa bread, salad ($11.80): https://bit.ly/2MGIVsz. The Flintstone sized lamb shank was meaty and tender. I slathered on some of that chili relish for a pop of heat. The basmati rice was fragrant and flavorful, and the salad added a nice freshness. The tagalia was interesting...it was like a blended stew that's more soupy in nature. We used the freshly made gorrassa (like a thick paratha) to sop up the stew. I like my food with more texture but I'm interested in trying their other daily Sudanese specials in the future. For dessert, Aref brought us the Roz Billaban: Rice pudding w/ milk, mastic, hazelnuts, vanilla ice cream ($4.50) on the house: https://bit.ly/2M9EvJM. Usually, I don't like rice pudding (even the ones from the popular Rice to Riches in NYC which I thought was gross) BUT the milky, smooth texture of the roz billaban won me over. I don't know what he does differently, but the rice pudding is perfectly creamy and not overly starchy. The vanilla ice cream added a nice temperature contrast and the toasted hazelnuts gave a satisfying textural contrast. Get this! There's a good amount of seating for about 30 people. I usually avoid some parts of the TL but Z Zoul Café is located across from the police station and YMCA/Boeddeker Park so we felt safe. The TL has some of the best cheap eats so don't let the area deter you. Give Z Zoul a try and pop that Sudanese food cherry!

I love when new family owned restaurants open up in the city. It makes my heart happy to try new foods and support local businesses. So well just say I was super excited to see the new business open up! It took about five minutes to be recognized when my friend and I walked in. We took our time to look over the menu while we waited. There was no one else in the restaurant but it didn't deter us. It's a cute hole in the wall and the music was inviting. When we were finally greeted we were pushed quite a bit to order more. It wasn't the typical making you aware of desserts or other things, but rather a steady push of "Nothing else? You sure?" It was very uncomfortable when all I wanted was a wrap. My friend ordered the lentil soup and was informed that it would take about ten minutes to come out. We had plenty of time before our event and said that was fine. With the wraps you can pick tortilla or pita bread. I chose pita bread and delicious lamb. We waited over 20 minutes for our food to arrive. Mine arrived first and they said 2-3 minutes for the soup. Another 5-10 minutes go by and the soup finally arrived! Now remember it was only us in the restaurant...it took thirty minutes to get our food and this isn't a sit down and order restaurant! My wrap was also made in a tortilla and the owner came over halfway through my meal realizing so and offered to make me another which was very kind. I had somewhere to be and couldn't wait another 30 minutes for a wrap so I kindly declined. I was so disappointed with the service and timing of this place. They've only been open for three months and I hope they can work out these bumps. The food was very tasty and reasonably priced. The owner is very kind but a bit too pushy. I won't be coming back for a couple of months until they've a bit more time under their belt. Hopefully these bumps can be fixed because as of right now the service and timing isn't reasonable.

Ordered delivery via Uber Eats. I saw this place highlighted as both an immigrant-owned and Black-owned business. We were pleasantly surprised by the large menu and affordable prices. The hardest part was determining what to order! Look forward to ordering from here again and trying different things. My boyfriend got the Beef Shawarma Arabi Ali Baba plate. When it arrived, he was surprised that it was in a wrap format, but he said it worked and he enjoyed it. I got the Zoul Emperor Bowl so that I could try many different elements. I enjoyed the lamb the most. For dessert, we ordered baklava and pudding. When the order arrived, we received a baklava and a basbosa, with a note saying that they had sold out of the pudding.

This place is simply phenomenal. You can't beat the backstory (check out the SF Chronicle for the full scoop!), you can't beat the prices, you can't beat the food (may be the only Sudanese place in SF still?), and you'll never find friendlier service anywhere in the city. The gentle giant who runs this place is so friendly and accomodating. We got the special of the day which was a beef stew with okra, and the flavors were delicate and scrumptious. It came with some greens and a heaping pile of injera, which was so good (think soft and spongey sourdough). We also got the beef shawarma wrap as well which is to die for. If you can handle the spice, get it spicy - the sauce that comes with it is some of the best chili sauce I've had. Anyways, this place makes my top, top, top list. I've even started searching for excuses to come here. It's really quiet at dinner which is nice. Lunchtime is a bit busier.

Pretty deep in the tenderloin but don't let that fool you because the food here is amazing and cheap. It was empty when I walked in, but I was immediately helped and it only took them five minutes to make my order. Compared to the usual city prices, this was considerably cheaper and very much worth it.

Just simply delicious!! Lamb was awesome. Highly recommend the pickled side dishes too.

Not in the best part of SF, but worth a trek Pretty delicious and I'd love to go back for more Sudanese dishes very lowkey casual tenderloin joinT vibes l, but if you're into that and affordable good food, then this place could be good :)

It was my first time trying Sudanese food and I totally loved it: great taste, wonderful authentic energy, very personable people! Definitely visit this place to experience it!

Delicious Sudanese food. Loved the peanut salad, fava beans, baba ghanouj, pita bread, falafel, and more. Great warmth and hospitality from the owner as well.

Went for lunch and had the falafel wrap and Hibiscus drink. Very good falafel wrap served hot. Drink wasn't too sweet which I liked. I only ate half because it was large. Ordered a lamb shank entree for my husband to go. Rice, vegetables and sauce came with entree. The lamb was tender.

Excellent food. Lentil soup hummus yogurt salad lamb chicken. All perfectly presented and delicious. Also rice pudding is the best.

I ordered the Emperor's bowl and the food was amazing. The meat was well seasoned and the vegetables and sides offered a nice counterbalance of the rich flavor of the meat. The portions are very generous as well and the rice tasted flavorful also. I got the tamarind soda which reminded me of jarritos and knowing that z zoul serves hibiscus tea definitely is an extra reason to come back because of the similar drinks from my culture. Not only was the food amazing but the service from Aref, the owner, was incredibly welcoming that I made a yelp just to leave this review. After our bowls, Aref treated us to complimentary roz billaban which tasted amazing as well. We were able to talk for a moment and it really comes through just how much Aref welcomes you back to eat and enjoy his food.

I hosted my birthday dinner at Z Zoul and it was an incredible experience! Owner Aref and his wife Dahlia were phenomenal in helping me plan the event ahead of time. They made it easy, fun and full of love. The food was perfect - we had lamb shank, roasted chicken, falafel, fuul (fava beans) and a bunch of delicious appetizers. We held the private event for 35 people and I couldn't have imagined a better birthday celebration. I highly recommend hosting your event here or considering catering!

After reading reviews and going myself, I really want to give this place five stars but the service brought it down to four stars. Let's talk about the good! There's so much to love about here. Firstly, I'm not sure where else to get Sudanese food. It is a great addition to the city that adds their own flare to the food. Shawarma is popular throughout this region of the world, but the Sudanese take on it is still different and just as tasty as everywhere else if not better! What I fell in love with too is the homey feeling. This is a prime example of family run. I had the daughters take my order, and they would run around with their friends in and out. It isn't the typical restaurant experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed that part. Food will take longer but you know it is fresh and prepped then and there. Now, what brought it down to four stars? Going back to service, it is slow and difficult when only the family runs it. I wasn't entirely sure how to order when coming in till the daughter explained. They accidentally forgot my dessert too but were apologetic. I hope over time, it becomes a bit more organized or they can hire one employee when it is busy. If they can do that, this is worthy of five stars and many more! Small, family-run restaurants deserve lots more credit and recognition over the larger chains.

Z Zoul Cafe is a unique restaurant in that it features authentic Sudanese cuisine. The restaurant itself is not much to speak of. This is a simple place. Most definitely not a date spot. You order at the counter and then have to return to the counter to retrieve your food when called. A great addition that they should consider is to bring the food to your table. The food highlights are roasted lamb (often in shank form), lentil soup, and rice pudding. For the lunch-goer on the run, they offer wraps that can contain falafel, chicken/beef shawarma, or roasted lamb. On their website they have a tool to make a reservation, however, this is unnecessary. Most times I've been here there have only been one or two other customers. If in doubt, get the lamb. It's their specialty.

Appetizer: Got the cheese fatayer and the zaatar fatayer. The cheese fatayer tasted similar to the regular cheese pizza. However, the zaatar fatayer was AMAZING. would totally recommend. The herbs were aromatic with a little hint of saltiness. Yum! Entree: Got the chicken and rice plate. I was too hungry and forgot to take the picture. It was a huge serving, especially after the fatayers. The chicken was super tender and it was great. Drinks: Turkish coffee. It was my first time trying it. Super strong but the taste was unlike I have tasted before. Not bitter like American black coffee. It is quite smooth. Service: we have a huge party (10+) and the food came out a bit slow. However, everyone was really nice and friendly. It's a family own business so it was a very welcoming environment.

Worth braving the TL to get food at this restaurant. Note that the hours published on Yelp may not be correct, it was open when we went but Yelp indicated it was closed. Boss was not in today according to the staff running the restaurant today, didn't catch his name but he was very friendly and attentive. Really appreciate the warm feeling and great service for carryout. Also heartwarming to hear their immigrant story on the site. Food itself was tasty, got the lamb shank which everyone recommends, beef schwarma, and falafel, all tasty.

First time having Sudanese, was happy to see this newly-opened immigrant-owned restaurant take over a good spacious location in the TL. Spectacular and huge roasted lamb shank. The meat was falling off the bone, this was fork-only tender. Lovely service by presumably the daughter of the owner. Getting our feed took a bit of time but it was worth the wait. Get thee to the Tenderloin!

Myself and a fellow chef popped in for shawarmas, we both had the lamb. It was juicy, well seasoned, and with pickled onion, tomato and a delicious sauce. The wrapper was perfectly crisp and super fresh. I highly recommend this place. Next I am going to try the roasted lamb bowl and the beef Kofta.