Is it BBQ, Barbeque, or Barbecue? Honestly, I have no clue. But what I do know is that this is a review of Barbeque Nation in Westlands, Nairobi—a place with an unlimited Indian buffet and a spoiler: it’s absolutely worth a visit. Let me explain why in this post.
First off, Barbeque Nation is an Indian restaurant chain with 82 locations in India, 4 in the UAE, 1 in Malaysia, 1 in Oman, and 1 in Kenya. Yes, you read that right—Kenya’s got the first-ever Barbeque Nation in Africa, and it’s the first one outside Asia.
Now, just because it’s an Indian restaurant doesn’t mean it’s all Indian food. There’s a small section with local dishes (they even have mukimo! ), but let’s be real—90 to 95% of it is Indian.
They’ve also got a bar and a separate menu if you’re not feeling the buffet. But honestly, most buffets prioritize quantity over quality. This one? The food’s actually solid, and I’d recommend going for the buffet—especially if you have a big appetite.
Here’s a pro tip for buffets:
Step 1: Devour as many starters as humanly possible.
Step 2: Do the same with desserts.
Don’t feel bad about going for seconds, thirds, or tenths—after all, you paid for it. Usually, the mains at buffets are normally underwhelming, but surprise! Even the main courses here at Barbeque Nation are great.
Pricing
At Barbeque Nation, you’ve got options: buffet, regular menu, or just chilling at the bar. The buffet’s a flat rate—KSh 2,650 for the meat lovers and KSh 2,350 for the vegans.
If you’re going for the regular menu, it’s still pretty reasonable, with most items around KSh 1,150 and nothing over KSh 1,500.
Naan bread goes for KSh 190 to KSh 290, while classics like Paneer Tikka Masala are KSh 1,100, and Biryani’s about KSh 1,150 too. But if we’re being honest, Red Ginger in Parklands is way cheaper across the board.
That KSh 290 naan? Just KSh 160 at Red Ginger. The KSh 1,100 Tikka Masala? A cool KSh 850 there. But hey, if you’re here, you better be here for the buffet. For that, Barbeque Nation is unbeatable
The buffet prices here are solid, right on par with other spots like Fogo Gaucho in Kilimani and Westlands, maybe even cheaper. And let’s be real—it’s miles better than the overpriced circus at The Carnivore, which is basically a tourist trap. The Carnivore charges a wild KSh 4,800, while Fogo Gaucho is a far more reasonable KSh 3,000 for better quality meats and buffet options
Ambiance
This place is decent, with an average ambiance. Honestly, any spot with a buffet isn’t too worried about ambiance. But that doesn’t mean it’s run-down like Between Two Buns—it’s just simple and well-maintained.
Nothing flashy or full of the trendy colors Nairobi restaurants seem to love. It’s more of a family-friendly spot. And since I’m not big on ambiance anyway, I’m just here to get my money’s worth from the buffet. Food is what matters.
So, if you’re all about the ambiance or looking for a date night spot, this probably isn’t the place for you. For dates, I’d suggest fancier joints like Slate, MeSo, INTI, or Caviar—all in Westlands. But since I’m single and don’t care about ambiance, I’m totally fine with this place. Actually, I love it.
In a nutshell: MeSo is minimalistic with green and white contrast theme, INTI is over-the-top in every way, Slate’s the fanciest and closest to fine dining, and Caviar is basically a greenhouse gone wild with plants everywhere, (which I love)
Food Options
Let’s talk about the buffet first; I’ll cover the individual menu items at the end of this post. So, for the buffet, you’ve got a salad bar with a variety of options—at least 10 different kinds.
Then there’s a selection of hot dishes, and once you’re seated, they’ll start bringing around meat skewers straight to your table.
All-inclusive of the buffet menu at Barbeque Nation includes:
- Salads ( 10+ options)
- Starters ( 15+ options)
- Mains ( 5+ options)
- Breads
- Desserts
Like most buffets, the menu here switches up depending on what’s available, so what I had during my visit might not be what you get. That’s why I haven’t gone into the details of each dish—just gave a general idea of how many options you can expect.
Buffet Food Review
First off, every table comes stocked with the standard four chutneys or sauces: Tamarind, Chilli, Mint, and Yoghurt. Any self-respecting Indian restaurant has to have these—it’s practically a rule.
Now, this place takes vegan food seriously—but then again, so does every Indian joint. Honestly, it’s not even up for debate—Indian cuisine is one of the best options for vegans who want food that actually tastes good.
The way they turn basic legumes and spices into gourmet dishes is nothing short of wizardry. Every course here is split into vegetarian and non-vegetarian sections, so if you’re a vegetarian, I highly recommend checking this place out.
Oh, and rumor has it they grow their own produce, kind of like Cultiva in Karen—though at Cultiva, you’re literally eating in the garden. So yeah, you can expect fresh, crisp salads at Barbeque Nation, perfect for vegans who love a good buffet.
Most buffets tend to go for quantity over quality, but I’ve gotta admit, this place has changed my mind. No wonder it has a 4.9-star rating on Google from over 350 diners, and they’ve got a clean 5.0-star rating from 28 people on Tripadvisor—yep, the same Tripadvisor where reviews are usually brutal. So if they managed to survive that, you know they’re really that good.
I don’t know many places with that kind of rep—maybe Crave in Kilimani, which sits at 4.8 stars from 416 reviews and still holds the crown as my favorite affordable spot in Nairobi.
Oh, and there’s a chaat station here, too, so that’s something to look forward to. Just keep in mind that drinks aren’t included in the buffet price—you’ll need to buy those separately.
All in all, the buffet at Barbeque Nation is top-tier. I’d even say it’s better than the one I had at Mövenpick years ago, which was consistently bland across every dish; it’s the only thing I remember about it.
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