Z Zoul Cafe The only Sudanese Cuisine in the Bay Area

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

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 had the lamb plate, falafel, hibiscus drink and rice pudding. The portions are very big but I didn’t want to stop eating! 10 out of 10!

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.

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.

Tasty and healthy food! It was my first time trying Sudanese cuisine. They have lots of lunch specials and combos you can get. I was tempted by the falafel but ended up with a roasted lamb bowl, pita and baklava. The service was super nice and courteous to me, seem like decent folks. The outside is a bit sketch. A group of homeless hanging out along the wall. But the inside is of better ambience and cleanliness. Would come again!

Absolutely amazing food! I am Sudanese and have wanted to go here for so long. I finally had the chance and it was somehow even better than I expected. We had the Roasted Lamb Shank, Fuul Mosaleh, and Salatat Aswad. These are all Sudanese dishes that I've grown up with and Z Zoul Cafe knocked it out of the park. Everything was perfect; the vegetables in the Fuul, the consistency of the Salatat Aswad, the tenderness of the lamb shank, the hot sauce (shata) and the green chiles. Calling this restaurant authentic would be an understatement, every bite took me back to Sudan! Sudanese culture is known for its hospitality and any diner at Z Zoul will see this very clearly. Thank you Aref for this great experience.

One of my new favorite spots. I tired their lamb shank platter with soup and it was EXCELLENT. Really hit the spot. Generous portions of everything and everything cooked just right. Excellent dessert too (rice pudding and basbousa). Super-pleasant and welcoming customer service. Pleasant atmosphere. Very reasonable pricing. Highly recommend.