We are Afro Deli
A fusion restaurant weaving together business, community, and culture across Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Afro Deli & Grill started in 2010 with one idea: that food is the fastest way to bridge cultures. We blend the bold spices of East Africa, the freshness of the Mediterranean, and the comfort of American classics into dishes the whole Twin Cities can share. We are a social enterprise, which means our success is measured in jobs created and meals shared, not just plates served.
For the love of food
We did not just want to open a restaurant. We wanted a table where Somali, Ethiopian, Mediterranean, and Minnesotan flavors meet as equals. Every recipe carries a story from home, reworked for the people we feed today. The result is fusion that feels familiar to everyone and foreign to no one.
Real ingredients, real flavor
Food should make you feel good. We use fresh vegetables, halal meats, and spices we grind ourselves. No shortcuts and no mystery, just honest, bold, home-cooked taste served at the speed of a workday lunch.
Generosity at scale
As a social enterprise, our bottom line is impact. We hire and train youth and recent immigrants, pay fair wages, and donate meals to neighbors who need them. When you eat with us, you help fund that work.
Values on every plate
Hospitality first
Everyone who walks in is a guest. We greet, we remember, and we send you off full.
Fresh, halal, honest
Halal meats, in-house spices, and ingredients we are proud to name on the menu.
Opportunity built in
Jobs and training for youth and new arrivals are part of the business model, not an afterthought.
Rooted in the Twin Cities
From campus to downtown to the State Fair, we show up where our community gathers.
Our History
2010
Afro Deli is Born
2015
Opened St. Paul location
2016
Introduced Grab & Go
2017
Moved to Stadium Village
2018
Opened St. Paul Skyway location
2019
Opened Minneapolis Skyway location
2021
Joined Minnesota Central Kitchen
2023
Became a Minnesota State Fair vendor
2025
Moved Downtown St. Paul down the street
2026
Returned to the Minnesota State Fair
A restaurant with a mission
Afro Deli reinvests in the people who make it run. We provide first jobs, language-friendly training, and a path to advancement for youth and recent immigrants, and we donate meals to local shelters and community events. Eating with us is a small act of community investment.