Flavors from Afar - Los Angeles, California

Free Livingson

We had an amazing lunch. This month they highlighted Haitian food which is one of my favorites. The food was delicious, perfectly seasoned and tender.
We ordered the VEGGIE LEGUME:
Eggplants, Carrots And Watercress, Black Beans Simmered Slowly In Coconut Milk Based Broth With A Side Of Spicy Haitian Dijon Rice
And
HAITIAN STYLE FRIED GOAT
Thick Savory Pieces Of Fried Goat With Side Of Red Beans And Riced Covered With Gravy And Side Of Pikliz.
The accept cash or card and gratuity is automatically added.
Customer service and food was 10/10.

Rafael Escobar

The concept of this place is great. Every month, the menu changes, depending on the guest chef of the month. The guest chef is a refugee or immigrant from another country, and the dishes reflect their cuisine. A portion of the sales goes to helping people from around the world. This month was Cameroon.

We ordered a TON of food for a group of 6, but all the dishes are easily shareable. An easy way to try a little bit of everything. We had the chicken, lamb, fish, and a bit of appetizers, and baklava for dessert.

In total we spent about $38 per person, but again, we ordered a lot of food, with the intent of sharing all the dishes, so no one dish belonged to one person.

Bashaer Gheyath

Before I get into the delicious food, let me describe my favorite concept of this restaurant.

Every month they identify a new refugee from the Tiyya foundation who brings forth a recipe from their hometown for which in that particular month that refugee gets a cut from the money the restaurant makes (I believe 5%). This also ensures they have a diverse monthly menu. They also report that 40% of proceeds go directly to the Tiyya Foundation to support their programs!

So you can rest assured that some of your money is going back to the community to do something good.

Now that I explained that let’s get into the food. I know one word that can never be used to describe it “bland”! We ordered 2 main courses and 2 appetizers and they were all deliciously spiced differently.
The goat was cooked to perfection and so tender it melted off the bone. As for the appetizers- they are so hearty and priced mostly <$10 which is impressive for the amount you get. If the sambusa (samosa) is on the menu - grab it ! It is super delicious - the beef and cheese and the potato and cheese are my favorite and it comes with a spiced yogurt dipping sauce that is so unique and divine. Lastly, the service is impressive. They waiters and owner are so attentive to your needs, are happy to answer questions and are very supportive of each other. It feels like dining with family. If you are in LA you have to stop by and try this gem!

Victor Valente de Araujo

My experience was great!
The food and service were amazing.
Really liked the Sambosas, recommend the beef or potato and cheese flavors.
The Kenyan Coconut Tilapia and Somali Chicken, both were fantastic.
The water melon juice was one of the best, but tamarind was the highlight.

Kyle Deeley-Hardgrave

Fantastic eatery with wide-ranging menu options and friendly service.

My wife and I stopped by on a 100 degree day on our way to the Pantages theatre, and took a seat on the shaded street-side seating. I ordered a watermelon mint Fresca to cool off, and it really did the trick! This came garnished with a bunch of delicious, fresh mint leaves.

We started with the sambusas, which were perfectly crispy. Of the beef and cheese, chicken, and cheese and potato options that we got, the beef and cheese were my favorite.

I ordered the Syrian muskhan roll, which had shredded chicken, onion, and sumac is a crispy flat bread. This was not fried like a chimichanga, but was more what I would describe as toasted: all the crunch, none of the grease! The filling was incredibly flavorful and I would get this for lunch daily if I could.

Their main menu changes monthly, but the lunch menu seems to stay largely the same. I wouldn't change a thing!

Hena Rizvi

Amazing experience overall. Flavors from Afar had been on my radar for months and I decided to finally visit when my parents were in town. This month, they are featuring Indo-Fijian cuisine. This was such a special experience because this cuisine reflects my heritage. I was so grateful to share this experience with my father and eat the food that his mother would have eaten. I felt that this meal brought me closer to my heritage, so a special thank you to Lauren and Christian. Flavors from Afar also has a wide variety of other items on the menu that were delicious. This was such a powerful meal and I look forward to eating here again.

Avena

This restaurant has a unique, authentic, and absolutely delicious menu. They are also on the michelin guide as of 2022! When I came they were serving Kenyan food. I got the Mbizu plate and it was absolutely delicious. Will come again to see what the new menu tastes like next month 🙂 (though will hopefully have a chance to come back before then to try the rest!)

Chizoba Ezeh

I cannot recommend this place enough. Just rented out the space for an intimate dinner for 7 vaccinated people. Each month the food ethnicity changes. This month, May 2021, it is Afghani cuisine, which is insanely good. I went last month to have food from Guatemala. The food, service and atmosphere was a perfect way to celebrate life. Eating here also supports a great cause.