I first visited Tamu Grill at Taste of Minnesota with my mother, who used to live in Kenya. She’s a hard grader yet gave their samosas two thumbs up.
At the festival this year, the beef samosas will again be served, along with vegan samosas, Kenyan beef sausage, passion juice (a drink made from passion fruit), and Kenyan coffee. A must-try is Chef Jojo’s seasoned fries – he uses a house spice blend on the fries I’m still thinking about. Manager Fanaka Ndege tells me this year the seasoning will be on sale, dubbed “potato buddy.” Another new offering will be Kenyan beaded bracelets from Nairobi.
Ndege’s top recommendation for someone new to Tamu Grill is to try their beef samosas and fries. “It's delicious, filling, and most importantly easy to eat on the go. And if you're a spice lover like me, we'll have hot sauce on the side you can add!”
THE TASTE OF KENYA IN MINNEAPOLIS
Tamu Grill is a weekend restaurant (available for dine in/take out: Fri to Sun. Hours: 2 - 8 p.m.) and posts updates on TikTok (@tamugrill). Ndege says a phrase that characterizes what they offer is, “The taste of Kenya in Minneapolis.”
For instance, he says, “it’s very rare to find ugali in the Twin Cities.” This is a staple of Kenyan cuisine that resembles cream of wheat shaped in a round ball. It’s made from scratch with cornmeal and water and served hot. Ndege says, “it screams ‘home’ for those familiar.” It pairs well with other offerings at Tamu Grill like tilapia fish, beef curry, and coconut-curry beans. Other offerings at the restaurant include slow-cooked greens (collard and spinach) and chapati (pan-fried flatbread).
The restaurant offers many vegan and gluten-free options and Chef Jojo stays away from excess grease. This is another reason those tightly wrapped samosas are so good! You can eat flavorful without feeling weighed down. That means more energy to wander the festival and try even more.
Many consider Chef Jojo, the man behind the menu and a person noted for his tremendous hospitality, a pillar of the local Kenyan community. He grew up in Nairobi, where he got exposure to a variety of foods, including Middle Eastern, Indian, and Kenyan.
He relates his food philosophy on Tamu’s website: “I believe one does not have to be wealthy to enjoy delicious food. I cook from my heart, enjoy experimenting with spices, and go for flavor.” I saw this philosophy come through firsthand when tasting Tamu’s food. If you try it at Taste of Minnesota, maybe you will, too.
