Jaliz Cuisine Of East Africa has been on our list for quite a long time, as one of the few Ugandan restaurants in the US. Finally, this year, we were lucky enough to visit with our two LA foodie friends, A and C. Tucked away in a residential neighborhood in Van Nuys, CA, Jaliz is the brainchild of chef Jalia Walusimbi, who also runs a catering business. As you will realize when pulling up to the address, the restaurant is run out of her home, and the food is served in the back yard, inside a big party tent.
The menu is limited to what is on offer every day, but I can assure you that you will like what you get. The day we visited, the food options were ngege (tilapia soup with zucchini) or mbuzi (goat stew). Each came with a heaping helping of rice and fried matooke (similar to plantains) smothered in a savory peanut butter/groundnut and greens sauce. Topping off each dish was a freshly fried chapati flatbread, a nod to the Indian influence on East African cuisine. Of the dishes, the goat stew was a particular standout and had a lovely smokey flavor. For the heat lovers, there was also some fiery Ugandan hot sauce on offer. According to an LA Times write-up, on other days you might enjoy other mixed grilled meats or ugali porridge.
On the weekday we visited, we were the only people dining in, but the food couldn’t have been fresher, and it was great to chat with the proprietor in a relaxed atmosphere. Just after we visited, we learned that Jaliz temporarily closed to make way for a possible move to a bricks and mortar restaurant. We wish them all of the success in transitioning to a more permanent spot, hopefully bringing their cuisine to a broader audience. Watch this space!
Eating The World 