Five St. Paul restaurants to get you started with African cuisine

This year for Black History Month, I decided to focus on something a little more current.

The history of Black people in the United States continues to evolve, especially with a newer wave of African immigrants. And some of those Twin Cities immigrants have opened restaurants and are serving some really amazing African food.

Africa is a huge continent, and the cuisine varies widely. East African fare — which includes Ethiopian and Somalian food — is the most common in Minnesota. Here are five St. Paul spots to get you started if you’re new to African cuisine. And if you’re not, maybe there’s one on this list that you haven’t tried yet.

Bole Ethiopian

Bole’s original University Avenue storefront was leveled in fires during the protests following George Floyd’s murder. Their new spot, the former Foxtrot (and before that Delicata and Java Train) in the quiet Como neighborhood, has been spiffed up nicely, with an indoor palapa, fun lighting, a rock-inlay wall and more. In fact, it’s so cute that it could just become a favorite date night spot.

On a recent double date, we ordered the Tour of Ethiopia, a giant spread of food that included sambusas to start, five vegetable dishes and four meaty entrees, which conveniently covered a lot of the menu.

Items are served in the traditional way — atop spongy, made-in-house injera bread with plenty more bread on the side for scooping up little bits of the brightly colored foods with your fingers.

Additionally, the uber-crisp sambusas, wrapped in phyllo dough, are some of the best I’ve tasted.

1341 N. Pascal St., St. Paul; 651-330-2492; boleethiopiancuisine.com

Sabrina’s Cafe & Deli

I had heard from a few friends that the chapati wraps here were not to be missed, but I didn’t get around to trying them until recently. Now I’m mourning the time that I didn’t have with them. Seriously.

Simple, perfect chapati (an Indian flatbread) is wrapped around fillings, sauce and lettuce, all of which are fresh and delicious. We tried the chicken and the gyro meat, both of which were tender and bursting with flavor. The spicy sauce might offend some Minnesota palates, but we thought it was just right. If you prefer to eat your meal with a fork, you can get any of the meats over fluffy, spiced rice, too. All the meals, including the wraps, are gigantic and shareable, especially for a light lunch.

518 Snelling Ave., St. Paul; 651-797-3941; sabrinascafeanddeli.godaddysites.com

Karibu Grocery & Deli

This brightly colored deli and small grocery store on busy Payne Avenue has a succinct menu that includes African and American favorites.

The African specialties include chicken, goat and beef, served over the restaurant’s technicolor (and delicious) rice pilaf. My favorite entree of theirs, though, is the Wild Veggie Special, a mix of whatever vegetables they have on hand, spiced and perfectly cooked, and like the meat specialties, served with pilaf and two spicy sauces on the side, which make eating a delicious adventure.

If you’re ordering for a family that includes picky kids or are just in the mood for it, the Philly cheesesteak here is absolutely fabulous as well.

719 Payne Ave., St. Paul; 651-414-0799; karibugrocery.wixsite.com

Fasika

For no-frills, delicious Ethiopian, this Snelling Avenue gem is my go-to. I usually order the vegetarian platter, which is full of richly spiced, beautifully colored vegetable dishes, served on a giant platter with plenty of injera to scoop it up with.

I really love that there are three types of lentils, all of which have different flavors, and the beets and greens are out-of-this-world delicious.

510 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul; 651-646-4747

Afro Deli

Bright, modern decor and fresh food make this a favorite Twin Cities lunch spot. In St. Paul, the space is large and welcoming, and the service warm and friendly.

There are a few things on Afro Deli’s menu that are not available elsewhere, including the chicken or veggie fantastic, both of which feature a generous portion of vegetables in a creamy sauce, spooned over rice pilaf.

The chapati wraps, sambusas and yassa chicken (marinated chicken over rice or couscous) are also delicious.

5 W. Seventh Place, St. Paul; 651-888-2168 or 720 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis; 612-871-5555; afrodeli.com