You haven’t had the best of Kenyan meals without a taste of charcoal-roasted meat at the best Nyama choma joints in Nairobi. These joints are available almost everywhere due to the love many have for grilled or roasted meat. Goat meat is the most preferred roasted beef or mutton due to its unique flavour and tenderness. Kenyans have a special attachment to grilled meat be it beef, mutton, pork or chicken.
The fuel behind this love is the unity it brings among people. Food in Kenya is a unifying factor. You often catch up with long-lost friends over a delicious dish of roasted meat popular known in Swahili as nyama choma.
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Which are the Best Nyama Choma Joints in Nairobi?
With a hive of eateris in the city, See Africa Today has put together 10 places where you’ll get the best, juiciest and softest nyama choma.
1. Njuguna’s Place
Njuguna’s Place has been existing for more than three decades. Its glory still runs high since it is one of the best nyama choma joints in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. The eatery hosts a buzz of clients daily who are interested in nyama choma and relaxing. It is located along Waiyaki Way opposite Abc place in Westlands.
Njugunas Place in Westlands, Nairobi. Photo/Capital News
2. The Smith
The Smith is tucked along Magadi road in Ongata Rongai. It is the best place for nyama choma lovers who are tired of the routines and chaos in the city. Here, you dig into your succulent beef or goat meat in a serene environment watching cold beer bubbles nearby.
3. Green Spot Gardens
Green Spot Gardens is undoubtedly one of the best nyama choma joints along the Eastern Bypass in Ruiru, Nairobi. Green Spot is lively, especially on the weekends when the meat vendors dive into work, and the place drowns in smoke from the endless meat grills.
Nyama choma vendors. Photo/ Tuko.
4. Kamakis
You can’t be a nyama choma fan if you’ve never heard of Kamakis. Kamakis is a general term for different vendors selling different types of meat on the Eastern Bypass-Ruiru. The place was named after Mugui wa Kamaki. Apart from being home to tens of nyama choma spots, Kamakis is also famous for dishing out pieces of meat to potential clients to woo buyers.
5. Olepolos
Olepolos is another place on the outskirts of Nairobi where you’ll find some fantastic nyama choma. Some people say Olepolos is the best place to go if you love grilled or roasted meat in Kenya. Clients drive in here daily to enjoy the scenery, air, thrill and, of course, the goat meat. Olepolos Country Club, located in Kiserian, is an ideal place to genuinely ding out your platter as you enjoy the view of the breathtaking Maasai plains.
6. Red House Grill
Red House Grill is an iconic meeting point for nyama choma lovers in Nairobi. The place offers delicious, subtle, tasty grilled goat and chicken platters. Located in Karen, Red House Grill is known for hosting small and big office parties. It also has branches in Hurlingham, Kilimani and Upperhill.
7. Coco Jambo
Coco Jambo is one of the best places to enjoy some juicy meat away from the city’s noise. Here, there are quirky hideaway huts where you’ll relax as you have your scrumptious nyama choma while sipping refreshing top-quality drinks. Coco Jambo is located on Denis Pritt Road, Kilimani, Nairobi and boasts friendly staff.
Coco Jambo is one of the best nyama choma joints in Nairobi. Photo/ TripAdvisor.
8. Nyumbani Restaurant
Nyumbani Restaurant, the once residential home eatery, serves great roasted meat coupled with kachumbari. Located on Diani Road, Nyumbani Restaurant operates from 8.00 am to 10 pm. This is the best place to go if you’re looking for a genuinely authentic African nyama choma.
9. Carnivore Simba Saloon
Carnivore Simba Saloon is the best place to challenge your squad to an all-you-can-eat “Beast of a feast”. For every three people eating, you only pay for two. The restaurant offers whole beef, pork, lamb racks, spare ribs, chicken wings and even crocodiles. The nyama choma is roasted using traditional Maasai community swords over a charcoal jiko. Your nyama choma experience in Nairobi is incomplete if you have not visited Carnivore Simba Saloon.
10. Maxland Grill
Maxland Grill is one of the best nyama choma joints in Nairobi. Apart from grilled meat, this eatery also serves mutura, wet fry, and dry fry, among others. It is located on Waiyaki Way, opposite Safaricom House, Westlands.
