Maskali Restaurant -  Vanier,

This restaurant is fantastic! While it may only advertise as "East African Cuisine", it actually specializes in Djiboutian cuisine for those curious about the menu.

This is how much I know about Djibouti cuisine: I enjoyed it during my visit to Maskali. The owner is welcoming and willing to explain the cuisine to newcomers. I went for lunch with some colleagues and we tried 4 different dishes, all of which impressed us. If you like spicy food, the owner will gladly add more spice, but there are also milder options available. While I can't guarantee the authenticity of the food, I can say that it is delicious.

You do not come here for the location or the ambience. You come for the food. So flavourful and tasty and well priced. I can especially understand people saying it is great for lunch. Five us came here for dinner. Our first visit here based on a food critic review in a local paper. And to say the review was 100% spot on is really saying something. The owner was very accomodating and we got to try all his specialties and even dessert. No one had anything bad or even middling to comment. All agreed it was phenomenal food - aromatic and just tasty. Total bill for 5 (WITH 20% tip) was $94.00 We had 4 sharing platters plus a big bowl of rice. So beef and chicken suqaar, lamb, vegetables, tea, two sodas and two large desserts to share. We were all stuffed and like I said 5 adults ate for under $80 and tipped well at 20% for under a hundred. BUT like I said in the beginning this is not a prime location and the decor is much like a fast food or take out place although the service is impeccable and they can seat about 25 people.

The menu is limited and the dining is very casual in this strip mall restaurant, but the owner is most friendly and willing to talk about the various dishes and his country. For lunch we shared the suqaar platter with chicken and shrimp, which was served with a wonderfully flavourful basmati rice and bread (similar to Nan). The meal came with a complimentary spiced tea. I recommend sampling this unique East African cuisine.

If you enjoy exotic, international flavors, then this restaurant is a must-visit. The cuisine is from the African country of Djibouti and it was truly a delight. The owner is friendly, kind, and very pleasant. If you're not familiar with the food, he will make good recommendations. The menu may be small, but the flavors are bold and complex. The mixed platter, which includes beef, chicken, rice, and salad, was a hit with my friend and me. The rice, spiced with cardamom, cinnamon, and cayenne, was topped with caramelized onions and a red/green pepper mix. The meat was tender and cooked in a delicious sauce. The ingredients were of high quality, and everything was simple, delicious, and healthy. The portions were also quite generous. The restaurant may be small and located in a strip mall, but the food is worth the visit. The owner even asked us if we wanted our dish spicy or not, showing that the heat level can be adjusted. A fragrant tea provided the perfect finishing touch to a memorable culinary experience.