Dining in Nairobi - An Overview

Thanks to everyone for the corrections and updates.

I haven't really been on the boards since moving back to Nairobi from LA and it was a pleasant surprise to find that there are 'Hounds'' here too. I guess I will have to start logging in and updating more regularly!

AmarV in Middle East, Southwest Asia & Africa

Delicious Home-style Punjabi Food

I'd agree that the food isn't 'excellent' and my parents' kitchen delivers food that is tastier by a number of degrees... but in a city where in my experience it's hard to find authentic / traditional Indian food (by which I mean the food grew up with) there is a lot to be said for some place that does it simply and well. I'd rather have competent home-cooking than incompetent, over-reaching 'restaurant' food anyday.
As for the chholey it may just be a matter of personal taste but I can't stand it when the chickpeas have been cooked until they're mushy and lose their shape and texture. I'd rather have them slightly al dente although ideally they should be a little softer than that... when I'm cooking them at home I get them until they're just on the point and then get the best of both worlds by mashing some up in the pan and leaving the rest unmashed.

AmarV in Los Angeles Area

Delicious Home-style Punjabi Food

So I went to the 23rd St Cafe (that is it's name) for lunch today. Once again the food was great - I ordered the super chicken combo - rice, dhaal, chicken curry, and shane murgh (marinated roast chicken).

The shane murgh was very tasty with a real hit of ginger and cumin and a little chilli. A bit dry maybe but still good. The dhaal was awesome once again - hot and spiced just right. The chicken curry was delicious too. Not overly spiced but with a good flavour and just enough heat (though I could have done with a bit more chilli - maybe next time I'll see if they can make it hotter). All of the food is simple but delicous - the kind of cooking you get in good home kitchens.

I also tried the samosas and while they were better than most I've tried in LA they weren't amazing. The skin was nice and crispy (not chewy like a lot of places serve) and the filling was a flavourful mix of potatoes and peas with a good spice and chilli kick to it.

Here are the details:
23rd St Cafe
936 W 23rd St
(corner of 23rd and Portland)
Business hours 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
213 749 1593

AmarV in Los Angeles Area

Terrible Indian -- Westside -- Sad

So I went to the 23rd St Cafe (that is it's name) for lunch today. Once again the food was great - I ordered the super chicken combo - rice, dhaal, chicken curry, and shane murgh (marinated roast chicken).

The shane murgh was very tasty with a real hit of ginger and cumin and a little chilli. A bit dry maybe but still good. The dhaal was awesome once again - hot and spiced just right. The chicken curry was delicious too. Not overly spiced but with a good flavour and just enough heat (though I could have done with a bit more chilli - maybe next time I'll see if they can make it hotter). All of the food is simple but delicous - the kind of cooking you get in good home kitchens.

I also tried the samosas and while they were better than most I've tried in LA they weren't amazing. The skin was nice and crispy (not chewy like a lot of places serve) and the filling was a flavourful mix of potatoes and peas with a good spice and chilli kick to it.

Here are the details:
23rd St Cafe
936 W 23rd St
(corner of 23rd and Portland)
Business hours 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.
213 749 1593

AmarV in Los Angeles Area

Terrible Indian -- Westside -- Sad

Ate at Lahore Karahi a few weeks ago when I was up in the Bay Area and it was great. Took my parents along too - we were on a family road trip after graduation - and they also loved it. I can't remember exactly what we ate though I do remember that it was all good. The fish tikka was particularly tasty (the chef/owner has won awards for it) and the kheer was good too. The service was a litttle patchy but worth it for the food which is cooked to order in an open kitchen so you know they're not cutting corners.

As for north Indian food in LA I have had much the same problem as you and although I can and do cook (and am lucky enough to have a roommate who brings back home cooking from his aunt's place - saag and makhi di roti!) there are times I just want to go out and get some decent, simple home-cooked Indian food - seemingly an impossibly task here in LA.

Luckily I have found a couple of places that I do like and would recommend them to you. First is Al Watan on Inglewood Blvd in Hawthorne - a hole in the wall serving Pakistani food - their meat dishes are particularly good.
My latest favourite and one I tried just the other day is not far from I live near USC - I recently posted about it on the boards but unfortunately I can't remember the exact name of the place - it's know amongst USC's Indian students as 23rd St Cafe as it's on 23rd St just east of Hoover. From the outside it looks like a mom and pop Mexican place but although they do serve Mexican food their Indian food is what keeps it full of desi students looking for a taste of home.

I'm going there for lunch today so will add all the contact details to my post later this afternoon. If you're looking for good homestyle Punjabi / North Indian food I recommend it. The link to the review I wrote is given below...

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/417003

AmarV in Los Angeles Area

Delicious Home-style Punjabi Food

Thanks Trojandude (fight on!) for the more accurate address.

After moving to LA Manas was the first venue I frequented in order to satisfy my Indian food cravings - mainly as it is less than a two minutes walk from my house. I actually went there a few times before I bought a car and became more mobile. Once I did have a car then Manas was definitely off the menu.

The food there tends to be excessively oily and greasy. I've tried both the buffet and the a la carte menu and the same is true of both. It's OK if you're desperate for Indian food and not too fussy about what you get but then this is Chowhound and I'm assuming that's not the case here :-)

The 23rd St cafe (still can't remember the name) is a beast of a totally different nature. There is no buffet, no food sitting under /on heaters etc. I am pretty sure that it's not cooked to order (would take too long) but it doesn't taste like typical bulk-cooked buffet food.

I'm probably going to head there again for lunch today so I'll post the correct name and phone number etc. once I get back.

AmarV in Los Angeles Area

Cool/delicious fruits from around the world?

Ugandan pineapples - I'm a huge fan of pineapple in general but the ones you get in Uganda are ultra-sweet and extra tasty -particularly good when juiced and served over ice on a hot African afternoon.

And also (although it's not technically a fruit) sugar cane - delicious!

AmarV in General Chowhounding Topics

Why do you buy tilapia? [moved from Ontario board]

Thanks for the info... I guess I have some reading and research to do when I move back home next month! :-)

AmarV in General Chowhounding Topics

Any good Indian food in downtown LA for lunch?

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/417003#2711974

Here's a link to a post I wrote earlier tonight about an Indian hole in the wall on 23rd St just east of Hoover... not downtown but not too far away.

AmarV in Los Angeles Area

"Breakfast" around the world

Most Kenyan style tea is made by boiling the milk, water and tea leaves (or bags) together for a few minutes in a saucepan and is then served with unholy amounts of sugar! :-)

If it was more of a masala / chai type concoction you should try simmering the milk with cinammon, cloves, cardamon, ginger and the tea for a few minutes before adding as much water as milk. Bring to the boil and then simmer for 5 minutes.

AmarV in General Chowhounding Topics

"Breakfast" around the world

You should try Indian grocery stores if there are any in your area. Here in LA most Indian stores have a good and resonably priced selection of Brit favourites (a trhow back to India's colonial past) including tea, digestive biscuits, marmite, and Heinz baked beans - no HP sauce though :-(

AmarV in General Chowhounding Topics

Why do you buy tilapia? [moved from Ontario board]

You're right about the Nile Perch problem but it's my understanding that effluence from farms (nitrate-based fertilisers) and also industry (esp sugar refineries) is contributing to the problem.
My comment about no fish to be had in the Lake was somewhat exagerrated. There are fish in the Lake but finding them in the areas around Kisumu is difficult these days and most fish are brought in from the outer edges of the Winam Gulf. This shortage in local supply has led to a massive increase in price... to the point where it is cheaper for people in the catering industry to buy trucked in sea fish than Tilapia.
Nile Perch is available but is not really rated as a good eating fish by most Kenyans as once past a certain size (IMH about 30lbs or so) it gets oily - the more delicate Tilapia is theorefore preferred... which brings us back full-circle to the topic of the original post :-)

AmarV in General Chowhounding Topics

Delicious Home-style Punjabi Food

I've been craving home-cooked punjabi food for a while now and as I was too lazy to cook it myself and didn't want to drive all the way to my usual stand-by of Al-Watan I decided to try somewhere closer to home (I live right by USC). For some time now my Indian friends have been telling me about a place they call "23rd St cafe" although that's not the name on the front (I can't remember what the actual name is right now... d'oh); all I can say is that I'm glad I finally went.

After parking my car across the road I was a little concerned walking up to the place as most of the menu items listed in the window were for Mexican food (!) but I was somewhat re-assured walking in. The place was full of Indian students from USC eating what looked like pretty delicious unpretentious food served on iron thalis. Deciding to forego meat dishes my friends and I ordered the very reasonably priced vegetarian combo plates - $5 or so for one main dish served with rice, dhal, raita, and naan. My two friends VP and KG ordered the matter paneer (indian cottage cheese with peas) and the aloo gobi (potato and cauliflower) respectively and I went for the chole (garnbanzo beans). KG and I also ordered plain unsweetened lassi.

After a short wait the lady behind the counter brought out out food, the lassis and also gave us some achaar (pickles) at no charge. The food was as I have said unpretentious, but it was clearly freshly made and more importantly was delicious to boot! The naan was unfortunately reheated and not freshly made but they don't have a tandoor in there so it was to be expected. The rice was plain but of a good quality and tasty even on its on. The raita tasted like it was made with homemade curds and had just the right amount of veggies (tomato and cucumber) and spices in it. The dhal was truly delicious and I would have been happy with having just that.

Of the three main dishes we ordered between us the matter paneer was my favourite (wish I'd ordered it) spicy and full of flavour with a generous amount of paneer. The aloo gobi was also tasty with fresh slightly crunchy cauliflower pieces contrasted with soft piueces of tender aloo - it was also unlike most aloo gobi I've had here in LA which comes with too much sauce and was more akin to the dry(er) version I am used to my mum making. The chole were good too, cooked till just al dente in a flavourful gravy - although I would have preferred a bit more heat in them.

The lassi also deserves a mention as again it was more authentic than most lassis I've had here in LA which tend to resemble a milkshake rather than the more watery version that Punjabis are used to. My room-mate and I (another Punjabi) both agreed that it also tasted as though it was made with home-made yoghurt.

I've been told by my friends that all of their Indian food (they also serve mexican dishes) is of a similarly high standard and I can't wait to go back and try their aloo parathas and gobi parathas as well as the samosas - all of which have been recommended to me.

The cafe is located on the south-east corner of 23rd St and Toberman St (just east of Hoover Blvd) near USC. The area is not apparently the most safe place to be especially in the evenings according to USC friends of mine who live there - but then again they still live there...

AmarV in Los Angeles Area

Why do you buy tilapia? [moved from Ontario board]

In Kenya and other parts of eastern and south-eastern Africa tilapia are prized as good eating fish. I grew up catching them on Lake Victoria and while I have no particular complaints about the taste or lack thereof of farmed fish her ein the US it doesn't hold a candle to the fresh wild fish we used to get back home.

Sadly, thanks to the introduction of nile perch, bass, and American crayfish, to many fresh water systems back home combined with commercial over-fishing and high levels of pollution, the fish is facing a major crisis in parts of east Africa and is getting harder and harder to find. A cousin of mine used to run a restuarant in Kisumu (the major Kenyan port on L. Victoria) and used to serve red snapper (froxen and shipped in from the coast over 800 miles away) because there was no fish to be had in the lake!

Anyway, the point is that farmed tilapia may well be bland 'chicken of the sea' (or more accurately 'chicken of the lake' as they are a freshwater species) but if you're lucky enough to have access to the real thing - fresh and caught wild in clean waters then you're in for a treat! :-)

AmarV in General Chowhounding Topics

LA Indian Food, Please Enlighten!

My family are originally from Punjab which now is split between Pakistan and India (following partition at independence). Punjabi cuisine is still more or less the same on both sides of the border and so for me the closest thing I have found to home cooking is technically a Pakistani restaurant - Al Watan on Inglewood Ave in Hawthorne (I can't remember the street number.)

I've been there several times now and the food is always great and also reasonably priced. I even took my parents there when they were in town recently and they loved it. If you do decide to go then be sure to try the fish fry which is Amritsari-style fish like my grandma makes. I actually like everything I've tried there (with the exception of some of the vegetarian dishes) esp. the lamb saag and some of the more unusual specialties - the nehari (slow cooked lamb) and (if you're really adventurous) the curried brain. The desserts are good too.

Another LA favourite is Annapurna on Venice which is a good place for South Indian dhosa's (crepe like dish served with curried potatoes and various sauces). My friends like the veggie dishes here too but they don't appeal to my tastes (North Indian bias!). The kulfi (Indian ice-cream) here is delicious - though i don't think it's home-made - but be sure to ask for it without chocolate sauce which they drizzle over it for some reason.

The only other place I'd feel comfortable recommending is Surya on 3rd St (just west of Fairfax) which I'll admit is over-priced but which also serves the best lassi (yoghurt dirnk) I've tried in LA - skip the sweet / mango version and try the salty lassi - delicious! If you feel uncomfortable just having a drink then I'd recommend the tandoori fish made with chilean sea bass, it's pricey but worth it!

AmarV in Los Angeles Area

Strange Pairings that Taste Uncommonly Good

I think someone has already mentioned sprinkling fruit with chilli powder although we always made a little mix of sugar, salt, and chilli powder - goes particularly well with any crunchy, slightly sharp fruit - e.g. unripe mangos, unripe guavas, Granny Smith apples.

Another fruit / spice favourite of mine is slices of ripe oranges sprinkled with black pepper.

And as a little twist on the salt/tequila/lime technique try ground cinammon/tequila/orange.

AmarV in General Chowhounding Topics

"Breakfast" around the world

Although my family are Indian (from Punjab) I am a third generation Kenyan who went to boarding school and college in the UK - so breakfast means many different things to me.

Growing up at home in Nairobi most days were started with a meal of cereal or toast and tea. Every so often we'd have fried eggs and toast, porridge, or sometimes french toast.

Sundays however were different, a mish-mash of Indian and British influences: We'd almost always have my mums parathas, fried egg or egg phurji (Indian style spiced scrambled eggs), bacon, sausage, achaar (Indian pickles), and either spiced English-style baked beans (think Heinz) or a home-made tomato masala (spices, golden fried onions, tomatoes and cilantro - the kind of sauce you would normally throw chicken or meat into to make basic masala chicken/meat).

Sometimes we'd mix it up with some dhaal (lentils) or even left-over chicken curry - again with parathas. Other times it was puri (a a crispy fried Indian bread), aloo (potatoes), and of course achaar. Rarely (mainly because my brothers and I didn't like the dish as children though I love it now) we had kidhdi (and indian dish of lentils and rice cooked together) with a big knob of butter swirled in... mmm!

When we were on an African vibe we'd have mandaazi or mahamri - fried breads that are African/Arabic in origin (although I was once staying in a village in Fiji and they served something eerily similar for breakfast - needless to say I was in heaven). And very rarely it was uji, a sour porridge that is probably the most common African (or at least East African) breakfast.

However, thanks to the boarding school years I also have a huge weak spot for breakfast English style; a heart-stopping plate of fried eggs, baked beans (again think Heinz), sausage, bacon, grilled mushrooms, grilled tomato, fried bread (or sometimes toast, plain bread and butter, or even fries), and if I'm lucky, a slice of 'black pudding' a British blood sausage that's a traditional breakfast staple. All of the above served with lashings of ketchup and 'brown sauce' (a condiment I've only ever found in the UK or its former colonies - I don't think there's an American equivalent). My other English breakfast favourite is a simple 'bacon sarnie' or bacon sandwich; soft English bacon between two slices of buttered bread (not toast) with a generous dash of ketchup and brown sauce.

Finally it goes without saying that no breakfast was complete without a cup of tea - English breakfast or Early Grey if it was a western breakfast day and chai if it was an Indian / African meal.

God I'm hungry now - it's healthy oatmeal tomorrow morning but I'm counting down the hours to Sunday and I'm going to go all out - now I just have to decide which of my favourites to go for... :-)

PS - most CH's might not agree but my other most favourite breakfast is a typical French one - a cup of good, strong coffee and a cigarette!

AmarV in General Chowhounding Topics

Dining in Nairobi - An Overview

Hi

I just posted this in reply to another thread and though it might be useful to repost as a seperate topic for anyone who might interested in the future.

I was born and brought up in Nairobi and while I've been away at school for a year or so now the list below should be pretty up to date. I am terrible at remembering addresses so you may have to use some initiative to find these places - most will be listed in the local edition of the Yellow Pages, or just ask a good taxi driver.

One point worth making is that the list below is by no means comprehensive as Nairobi is chock full of restaurants with new ones opening (and old ones closing) every week.

Finally, I'll give fair warning that many of my favourite places are more upscale and expensive by Kenyan standards - but in US money they'll be pretty cheap.

Happy Eating!!

CHAINS
Java House
This is a local chain of coffee shop / cafes very popular with both locals and members of the ex-pat community. They have a number of different locations and serve an excellent selection of coffees, teas, sandwiches, burgers etc. My personal favourite there is the fish and chips.

Dormans
Another coffee shop chain with a good menu which is slightly less cafe-ish than Java House. Again they have a number of locations through out the city.

Kengeles
A restaurant / bar chain owned by a white Kenyan called Bell (Kengele in kiswahili) which is slightly more down market and is very popular with locals. The food is pretty standard but it's a good standby for cheap eats and a cold one or two.

INDIAN
Haandi
Probably the best Indian food in town (Kenya has a relatively large population of people from the sub-continent). Located in a shopping mall called 'The Mall' in Westlands, which is restaurant and bar central. I haven't eaten here much as, being of Indian descent myself, we tend to cook this kind of food at home.

Open House
Again located in Westlands. This is a relative new comer to the scene serving very authentic Indian food and is very popular with the Asian African (as we call ourselves) community.

Hashmi Pan House
Located in a mall known as UK Centre also in Westlands. Excellent tandoori food that tasty and cheap! Try the ice-cream too and, if you're adventurous, pan - betel nut, spices and various other tasty things wrapped in a betel nut leaf (a traditional digestif on the sub-continent)

Diamond Plaza
This mall in Highridge is a little slice of India in Africa. As well as various stores selling everything from saris to incense there are a number of little restaurants serving Indian food and street snacks - try dropping by one afternoon for a cold glass of passion juice and some maru bhajia (potato slices deep-fried in spice gram (garbanzo) flour).

CHINESE
There are a number of chinese restaurants in Nairobi but most (if not all of them) cater to the local palette and aren't as authentic as places here in the US or in the UK.

Hong Kong
Located downtown near the Nairobi Safari Club (aka Lillian Towers) this is probably Nairobi's oldest Chinese restaurant and one my parents used to take me to when I was a kid. Still popular with businessmen and women as a venue for a working lunch.

China Jiang-Hsu
Probably the most authentic Chinese in town and one which was popular with our family when it first opened although I haven't been there in a while. Located in Westlands in Soin Arcade.

Also, there's a new Chinese trade centre that's opened in an area called Hurlimgham which I haven't been too but which apparently has a good food court.

THAI
Siam Thai
The best of Nairobi's two Thai restaurants is located in Rank Xerox House in Westlands. A bit pricey by local standards but I love the food here - especially the spicy fried prawns (shrimp) and the date pancake with vanilla ice-cream for desert.

JAPANESE
Furusato
My favourite of Nairobi's numerous sushi joints. Conveniently located in Westlands a little behind the Sarit Centre (Nairobi's biggest mall). Try the 'dynamite roll'.

Tokyo
Again this can be found in Westlands (on Raphta Rd). My friends like it but I tend to stick with Furusato. They also have a small outpost at "The Village Market" a mall out near the US Embassy and UN HQ in Gigiri which also has an excellent food court that's great over the weekend as a place to hang out and people watch.

Akasaka
Located downtown at the Six-Eighty hotel (I think) this is another strong Japanese venue which is popular with businessmen for lunch - they're bento box is pretty good value.

ETHIOPIAN
There are a number of excellent Ethiopian restaurants in Nairobi all of which are fairly hole-in-the-wall-y and cheap, cheap, cheap. My favourite is located on Arwhings-Kodhek Rd in Hurlingham just after the junction of Elgeyo-Marakwet (if you're coming from Lavington). I can;t remember the name but it's located in a converted house and has a big sign outside the gate - if you have local guide, or a decent taxi driver they should be able to find it.

ITALIAN
There are a number of good italian restaurants around the city - but I can't remember any of their names! There's one in Westlands next to a place called China Plate (in a strip mall) that I like going to. Look out also for Mediterraneo another old favourite in Westlands.

FINE DINING
Alan Bobbe's Bistro
Sadly Alan Bobbe passed away recently but the restaurant has been taken over by his long-term partner Christian who pretty much ran it for the last few years anyway and who is doing a great job of keeping the flag flying at one of Nairobi's best, oldest, and well-known restuarants. Located downtown on Koinange St.

Ibis Grill
The restuarant at the Norfolk hotel has a an excellent reputation and on the one or two occassions I've been there I've always enjoyed the food though the atmosphere can be a bit lacking at times as it isn't always busy - more about the price than the food

Tamarind
Kenya's best seafood. Ideally you want to go to the Tamarind in Mombasa, which sits on a small cliff overlooking the ocean (or even spend a night on the Tamarind dhow enjoying your meal as you sail down the Mtwapa creek) but if you can't get there then make sure you make it to the Nairobi branch. It's great!

There are a number of other fine restaurants you could try many of them located at the finer hotels but these are my favourites.

NYAMA CHOMA (Roast Meat)
Nyama choma (NC) is Kenya's answer to BBQ. This could truly be called the national cuisine. There are hundreds of places to try this out ranging from special NC nights at fancy hotels to any number of little dives and shacks across the country. You go in order meat (normally goat or beef by the kilo) and wait for it to be served with a number of local side dishes; sukuma wiki (sauteed greens), ugali (maize-flour cooked into a stiff and sticky porridge), irio (mashed pumkins, potatoes, and corn), and kachumbari (a local salsa of onions, tomatoes, lime, and chilli).

I like to go to a place in the Kariakor Market which my dad first took me to (he's been going there for 40 years!) but I wouldn't be able to explain to you how to get there. Your best bet is to ask somebody local and get them to go with you - if you offer to buy them lunch they're bound to take you somewhere good! :-)

MISC
The Carnivore
Without a doubt Kenya's most famous restaurant. Located on the outskirts of town this is essentially (although don't try telling Kenyan's this) an African take of a Brazilian churasciria complete with a local cocktail based on caiphirinias- 'The Dawa' (medicine in kiswahili). Popular with tourist and locals alike it's an all you can eat affair with meat taking centre stage (I think they have some veggie options but then again maybe not!). If you want to check this out I suggest either going at lunch-time or, if you're up for making a night of it, a Saturday night after which you can head into the adjacent disco and try to dance off the calories!

The Village Market Food Court
Located in Gigiri and a great place to grab a bite to eat. This is where my friends and I go on a Sunday afternoon to sit in the sun, eat, and drink.

Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens
Located in the old neighbourhood of Karen (named after the late author Karen Blixen aka Isak Dinesen of "Out of Africa' fame) this is a lovely little place to grab afternoon tea or a simple lunch.

The Rusty Nail
Another Karen stalwart this is popular with many of the locals in the area (mostly of European descent) and while I haven't eaten there the bar is a great place to throw down a few and the food is meant to be good too.

Gypsy
A very popular bar/restaurant in Westlands which served surprisingly good food. The fish piri-piri here is a particular favourite of mine (grilled fish in a hot sauce). A good place for a working lunch in Westlands but also for dinner before drinking the night away downstairs.

Casablanca
A popular nightspot in Hurlingham (though I can't remember the address) that does fabulous cocktails (or at least used too)

Mercury Lounge
Located in ABC Plaza in Lavington this is probably the best cocktail bar in Nairobi and serves excellent tapas style small plates. It's expensive by local standards but packed with a young and hip crowd of locals and ex-pats.

The Outside Inn
Located in Karen this pub is a great place for Sunday brunch over a few beers especially if there's a rugby/soccer game being shown on TV.

I'm sure I could think of more given time but I'm sure this will keep you busy and full!!

A

AmarV in Middle East, Southwest Asia & Africa

Kenya and Sudan

Being from Nairobi (although currently residing in LA - for 5 more weeks) I think I can be of some help here.

Nairobi has a hugh range of excellent restaurants from all over the world catering for all budgets and tastes... I'll try and give you some highlights although I may not be able to remember the exact addresses for many of these restaurants. Also, I'll give fair warning that many of my favourite places are more upscale and expensive by Kenyan standards - but in US money they'll be pretty cheap.

CHAINS
Java House
This is a local chain of coffee shop / cafes very popular with both locals and members of the ex-pat community. They have a number of different locations and serve an excellent selection of coffees, teas, sandwiches, burgers etc. My personal favourite there is the fish and chips.

Dormans
Another coffee shop chain with a good menu which is slightly less cafe-ish than Java House. Again they have a number of locations through out the city.

Kengeles
A restaurant / bar chain owned by a white Kenyan called Bell (Kengele in kiswahili) which is slightly more down market and is very popular with locals. The food is pretty standard but it's a good standby for cheap eats and a cold one or two.

INDIAN
Haandi
Probably the best Indian food in town (Kenya has a relatively large population of people from the sub-continent). Located in a shopping mall called 'The Mall' in Westlands, which is restaurant and bar central. I haven't eaten here much as, being of Indian descent myself, we tend to cook this kind of food at home.

Open House
Again located in Westlands. This is a relative new comer to the scene serving very authentic Indian food and is very popular with the Asian African (as we call ourselves) community.

Hashmi Pan House
Located in a mall known as UK Centre also in Westlands. Excellent tandoori food that tasty and cheap! Try the ice-cream too and, if you're adventurous, pan - betel nut, spices and various other tasty things wrapped in a betel nut leaf (a traditional digestif on the sub-continent)

Diamond Plaza
This mall in Highridge is a little slice of India in Africa. As well as various stores selling everything from saris to incense there are a number of little restaurants serving Indian food and street snacks - try dropping by one afternoon for a cold glass of passion juice and some maru bhajia (potato slices deep-fried in spice gram (garbanzo) flour).

CHINESE
There are a number of chinese restaurants in Nairobi but most (if not all of them) cater to the local palette and aren't as authentic as places here in the US or in the UK.

Hong Kong
Located downtown near the Nairobi Safari Club (aka Lillian Towers) this is probably Nairobi's oldest Chinese restaurant and one my parents used to take me to when I was a kid. Still popular with businessmen and women as a venue for a working lunch.

China Jiang-Hsu
Probably the most authentic Chinese in town and one which was popular with our family when it first opened although I haven't been there in a while. Located in Westlands in Soin Arcade.

Also, there's a new Chinese trade centre that's opened in an area called Hurlimgham which I haven't been too but which apparently has a good food court.

THAI
Siam Thai
The best of Nairobi's two Thai restaurants is located in Rank Xerox House in Westlands. A bit pricey by local standards but I love the food here - especially the spicy fried prawns (shrimp) and the date pancake with vanilla ice-cream for desert.

JAPANESE
Furusato
My favourite of Nairobi's numerous sushi joints. Conveniently located in Westlands a little behind the Sarit Centre (Nairobi's biggest mall). Try the 'dynamite roll'.

Tokyo
Again this can be found in Westlands (on Raphta Rd). My friends like it but I tend to stick with Furusato. They also have a small outpost at "The Village Market" a mall out near the US Embassy and UN HQ in Gigiri which also has an excellent food court that's great over the weekend as a place to hang out and people watch.

Akasaka
Located downtown at the Six-Eighty hotel (I think) this is another strong Japanese venue which is popular with businessmen for lunch - they're bento box is pretty good value.

ETHIOPIAN
There are a number of excellent Ethiopian restaurants in Nairobi all of which are fairly hole-in-the-wall-y and cheap, cheap, cheap. My favourite is located on Arwhings-Kodhek Rd in Hurlingham just after the junction of Elgeyo-Marakwet (if you're coming from Lavington). I can;t remember the name but it's located in a converted house and has a big sign outside the gate - if you have local guide, or a decent taxi driver they should be able to find it.

ITALIAN
There are a number of good italian restaurants around the city - but I can't remember any of their names! There's one in Westlands next to a place called China Plate (in a strip mall) that I like going to. Look out also for Mediterraneo another old favourite in Westlands.

FINE DINING
Alan Bobbe's Bistro
Sadly Alan Bobbe passed away recently but the restaurant has been taken over by his long-term partner Christian who pretty much ran it for the last few years anyway and who is doing a great job of keeping the flag flying at one of Nairobi's best, oldest, and well-known restuarants. Located downtown on Koinange St.

Ibis Grill
The restuarant at the Norfolk hotel has a an excellent reputation and on the one or two occassions I've been there I've always enjoyed the food though the atmosphere can be a bit lacking at times as it isn't always busy - more about the price than the food

Tamarind
Kenya's best seafood. Ideally you want to go to the Tamarind in Mombasa, which sits on a small cliff overlooking the ocean (or even spend a night on the Tamarind dhow enjoying your meal as you sail down the Mtwapa creek) but if you can't get there then make sure you make it to the Nairobi branch. It's great!

There are a number of other fine restaurants you could try many of them located at the finer hotels but these are my favourites.

NYAMA CHOMA (Roast Meat)
Nyama choma (NC) is Kenya's answer to BBQ. This could truly be called the national cuisine. There are hundreds of places to try this out ranging from special NC nights at fancy hotels to any number of little dives and shacks across the country. You go in order meat (normally goat or beef by the kilo) and wait for it to be served with a number of local side dishes; sukuma wiki (sauteed greens), ugali (maize-flour cooked into a stiff and sticky porridge), irio (mashed pumkins, potatoes, and corn), and kachumbari (a local salsa of onions, tomatoes, lime, and chilli).

I like to go to a place in the Kariakor Market which my dad first took me to (he's been going there for 40 years!) but I wouldn't be able to explain to you how to get there. Your best bet is to ask somebody local and get them to go with you - if you offer to buy them lunch they're bound to take you somewhere good! :-)

MISC
The Carnivore
Without a doubt Kenya's most famous restaurant. Located on the outskirts of town this is essentially (although don't try telling Kenyan's this) an African take of a Brazilian churasciria complete with a local cocktail based on caiphirinias- 'The Dawa' (medicine in kiswahili). Popular with tourist and locals alike it's an all you can eat affair with meat taking centre stage (I think they have some veggie options but then again maybe not!). If you want to check this out I suggest either going at lunch-time or, if you're up for making a night of it, a Saturday night after which you can head into the adjacent disco and try to dance off the calories!

The Village Market Food Court
Located in Gigiri and a great place to grab a bite to eat. This is where my friends and I go on a Sunday afternoon to sit in the sun, eat, and drink.

Karen Blixen Coffee Gardens
Located in the old neighbourhood of Karen (named after the late author Karen Blixen aka Isak Dinesen of "Out of Africa' fame) this is a lovely little place to grab afternoon tea or a simple lunch.

The Rusty Nail
Another Karen stalwart this is popular with many of the locals in the area (mostly of European descent) and while I haven't eaten there the bar is a great place to throw down a few and the food is meant to be good too.

Gypsy
A very popular bar/restaurant in Westlands which served surprisingly good food. The fish piri-piri here is a particular favourite of mine (grilled fish in a hot sauce). A good place for a working lunch in Westlands but also for dinner before drinking the night away downstairs.

Casablanca
A popular nightspot in Hurlingham (though I can't remember the address) that does fabulous cocktails (or at least used too)

Mercury Lounge
Located in ABC Plaza in Lavington this is probably the best cocktail bar in Nairobi and serves excellent tapas style small plates. It's expensive by local standards but packed with a young and hip crowd of locals and ex-pats.

The Outside Inn
Located in Karen this pub is a great place for Sunday brunch over a few beers especially if there's a rugby/soccer game being shown on TV.

I'm sure I could think of more given time but I'm sure this will keep you busy and full!!

Enjoy your stay in Kenya - I miss it a lot and can't wait to move back home!

A

AmarV in Middle East, Southwest Asia & Africa

Graduation Dinner - I have reservations for Moonshadows... should I look further?

Thanks everyone for all the great feedback; I knew I could count on chowhounds to help out. I still haven't made up my mind but your comments are certainly helping to point me in the right direction.
Maybe I'll try heading out to one or two of the recs next week just to check them (and the sunset out) over a drink or two and a plate of something tasty. :-)

AmarV in Los Angeles Area