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Restaurant

Nyala African Restaurant

1/356 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Recommended by 40 people

Updated

Find Nyala African Restaurant

1/356 Brunswick St, Fitzroy VIC 3065, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 3 9419 9128
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Thursday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Friday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Saturday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM Sunday: 6:00 – 10:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

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About Nyala African Restaurant

Settle in for hearty pan-African feasts along Brunswick Street, dishing up rich stews scooped with warm injera or fufu. Diners often point to the slow-simmered beef Domeda and tender Beg Tibs, washed down with sweet Ethiopian honey wine or cold St George lagers. The floor team readily talks you through the menu, passing around bread tastings to ease newcomers into unfamiliar spices. Most nights, live acoustic guitar and bongos kick up the tempo—often drawing guests up to join in the rhythm.

  • Pan-African Feasts: Generous platters of slow-simmered beef Domeda, Doro Tibs, and vegetarian combos served alongside injera, fufu, or rice.
  • Interactive Live Music: Acoustic guitar and bongo sets bring cultural rhythm to the room, with musicians inviting guests up to play along.
  • Ethiopian Drinks & BYO: Sip imported St George lagers and homemade Tej honey wine, or take advantage of the relaxed BYO wine option.
RestaurantEthiopianRestaurant

What's On at Nyala African Restaurant

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose Nyala African Restaurant

Authentic regional stews, interactive live music, and welcoming cultural guidance make dining at Nyala a standout experience.

  • Hearty Feasts and Traditional Breads

    Rich African stews like Domeda and Doro Tips are paired with traditional staples such as injera and fufu in generous portions.

    the Domeda with fu fu was rich, comforting, and beautifully cooked.

    Chin Perera

  • Generous Feasting with BYO Flexibility

    Guests can accompany comprehensive feasts and house-made injera with flexible BYO wine or affordable drink options.

    They do byo and have one of the cheapest wine lists in Fitzroy.

    Cameron

  • Interactive Live African Music

    Live musicians create an engaging cultural dining atmosphere, welcoming patrons up to learn the bongos and drum along.

    the musician had guest come up to learn the bongos and play with him.

    Zoe Samas

  • Vibrant Decor and Musical Atmosphere

    Lively acoustic sets combine with warm, colorful dining room decor to deliver an immersive cultural night out.

    there was a band playing some sort of reggae music when we were there

    Skep Mo

  • Attentive Guidance for New Diners

    Patient and friendly waitstaff assist unfamiliar diners through dish selections to ensure a comfortable first visit.

    The wait staff were very helpful in selecting foods.

    Anastasia&Lewis

  • Hands-On Menu Education with Bread Tastings

    Hospitality includes menu explanations and complimentary staple bread tastings to introduce diners to traditional cuisine.

    He even gave us injera to try.

    Jon Porter

Hearty signature stews and main courses

  • Domeda

    the Domeda with fu fu was rich, comforting, and beautifully cooked.

    Chin Perera

  • Doro Tips

    The Doro Tips (chicken with onion peppers and tomatoes) had a fresh feel.

    Andy Subramanian

  • Kuku Nanazi

    We tried Kuku Nanazi and the Nyala special with Injera bread. 10/10.

    kaif ahsan

  • Beg Tibs

    We tried the KuKu Na Nazi and the Beg Tibs with rice and Injera. We liked the Beg Tibs little more (larger portion) though both were good.

    Empowered One

Other favorites

Traditional beverages and appetizers to complement your meal

  • St George

    Lou and Caelin had the Ethiopian lager, St George and I had a glass of African moscato.

    Bernadine Rozells

  • Ethiopian honey wine

    if you wanna try something different I recommend trying the homemade Ethiopian honey wine.

    j6lide Oender

  • Walia

    The food was absolutely delicious, we completely cleaned our plates with every last bit of injera, washed down with bottles of Walia.

    Gemma Billingham

  • Sambusas

    Sambusas were delicious as an appetizer.

    Empowered One

Beyond the menu

Attentive hospitality gestures and participatory cultural touches that elevate your dining experience

  • Interactive Bongo Lessons

    Musicians actively invite guests to step up, learn the rhythm, and join in playing the bongos alongside live acoustic guitar.

  • Birthday Dessert Gesture

    Birthdays are celebrated with a complimentary house-made African tart served with ice cream.

  • Hands-On Menu Navigation & Injera Tastings

    Staff actively guide first-time guests through regional dishes and provide complimentary injera tastings before ordering.

  • Ethiopian Drinks & BYO Flexibility

    Diners can pair hearty banquets with imported Ethiopian St George and Walia beers or homemade honey wine alongside flexible BYO wine.

Frequently Asked Questions

How generous are the portions?

Guests report that portions are very generous, with mains, meat combos, and set banquets easily filling everyone up and often leaving leftovers to take home.

Can I bring my own wine, or do they serve Ethiopian drinks?

Yes. Nyala welcomes BYO wine and also serves drinks such as Ethiopian honey wine (Tej) and Ethiopian beers like St George and Walia.

Can staff help recommend dishes if I am new to African cuisine?

Reviewers frequently praise the staff for helping newcomers navigate the menu, suggesting popular dishes like Domeda, Doro Tibs, and Beg Tibs, and even offering bread tastings.

Can I make a reservation if online bookings look full?

Yes. You can book ahead, and reviewers suggest calling the restaurant directly if online bookings show as full.

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