Restaurant
Carnivore
Nairobi's famous meat restaurant on Lang'ata Road, open since 1980, where waiters carve meats roasted on Maasai swords at your table until you lower your flag.
Mama Oliech Restaurant
A Hurlingham institution famous for whole tilapia with ugali and stew, founded by Mary Auma and visited by Mark Zuckerberg in 2016.
At a glance
- Type
- Kenyan fish restaurant
- Area
- Hurlingham, Nairobi, Kenya
- Price
- $ · Budget
Good to know
- Local Kenyan cooking
- Casual dining
- Budget-friendly
Why we recommend it
Mama Oliech is one of Nairobi's best-known places to eat fish, and it has become a stop on many visitors' lists too. The restaurant was built up by Mary Auma, mother of the former Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech, and after her death in July 2018 the family continued to run it, with her daughter Lilian Oliech overseeing the Hurlingham restaurant. It has appeared in international guidebooks, and both Mark Zuckerberg, who ate here in 2016, and the actor Idris Elba have drawn attention to it. The family's cooking has reached even further: Lilian Oliech prepared tilapia, ugali and stew for Barack Obama at his grandmother's home in K'ogelo.
The dish to order is tilapia served whole, the plate that made the restaurant famous, with ugali, the firm maize-meal staple, and stew. Many diners eat it with their hands in the traditional way, tearing off pieces of ugali to scoop up fish and sauce.
This is a straightforward, busy local restaurant rather than a polished dining room, and that is the point. Like most popular Nairobi lunch spots, it can get busy around midday. Prices are modest, which makes it a good choice for budget travellers, solo visitors who want to try everyday Kenyan food, and anyone curious about the dish that made Lake Victoria tilapia a Nairobi favourite.
A few practical tips. Fish come in different sizes, so ask what is available when you order. If you are not used to eating fish whole, take your time with the bones, and ask for cutlery if you prefer. Go a little before or after the main lunch rush if you want a quieter table. Opening hours are not published on an official website, so check locally if you are making a special trip.
The restaurant is on Marcus Garvey Road in Hurlingham, between the city centre and Kilimani, and is easily reached by taxi or ride-hailing app. The Yaya Centre and the restaurants of Kilimani are close by, and it fits well into a day exploring the western side of the city or before an afternoon at the Nairobi Arboretum.
Mama Oliech Restaurant FAQs
What should I order?
The famous whole tilapia with ugali and stew.
Who founded the restaurant?
Mary Auma, mother of the footballer Dennis Oliech. Her family has continued the business since her death in 2018.
Which famous guests have eaten here?
Mark Zuckerberg visited in 2016, and the actor Idris Elba has named it among his favourite African eateries.
Is it expensive?
No. It is a casual, budget-friendly local restaurant.
Do I eat with my hands?
Traditionally yes, using ugali to scoop up the fish and stew, but you can ask for cutlery.
When is it busiest?
It can be busy around lunchtime, so arrive a little early or late for a quieter table.
Where is it?
On Marcus Garvey Road in Hurlingham, between the city centre and Kilimani.
Is there more than one branch?
The family opened a second branch at Dagoretti Centre, but the Hurlingham restaurant is the original.