Somali cuisine has found a welcoming home in Calgary at Zam Zam, a small restaurant in Forest Lawn where spiced tea, fragrant basmati rice, and fall-apart lamb bring the bold, comforting flavours of East Africa to the table.
Hidden Gem: Zam Zam Authentic Somali Cuisine
When Ahmad Farah came to Calgary to visit a friend in 2024, he noticed there was something missing –a place for authentic Somali food and community. Being the sort to take things into his own hands, he collaborated with partner Samir Ismael to open Zam Zam in early 2025.
Located in Forest Lawn on the corner of 17th Ave. and 52nd St. S.E., Zam Zam is small, unassuming and full of Somali expats enjoying the food and company of home. We’re welcomed with a free cup of spiced tea featuring cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and fresh organic ginger. There’s also a clear lamb broth on tap to get you started.
According to Farah, Somali food is a combination of traditional herding culture and its position on major oceanic trading routes.
“We borrow a lot of food from other cultures,” he says. “Like we have pasta from Italy and samosa from India and we make it our own.”
Lamb and goat form the foundation of the Somali diet with animals outnumbering people exponentially in the East African country. So, Farah says he recommends lamb and rice to anyone coming to Somali cuisine for the first time. We had the braised lamb (you will also find it done in other ways here) and it was fall-off-the-bone tender and delicious with Farah’s signature hot sauce made with tamarind, tomato, spices and a hint of habanero to keep things interesting. The basmati rice is fantastic with warm spices, fresh garlic and generous portions.
For those on the more adventurous side, camel meatis coming to the menu this spring as Farah awaits a shipment from an Australian camel farm.
Zam Zam Authentic Somali Cuisine | 150, 5115 17th Ave. S.E. | 403.365.7707
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