Eat · Central market (Soko Kuu)
Khan's BarbequeKhan's
Grilled meat and skewers served in the forecourt of a car-spares shop after dark: go on an empty stomach, expect a queue, and treat the wait as part of the show.
last order: unknownmixedNot field-verified
Key facts
- Price
- unknown
- Hours
- unknown
- Walk in
- before 19:00
- easiest window
- Seating
- mixed
- 28″ bags
- No
- Central market (Soko Kuu)
- Getting there
- Taxi to the workshop forecourt, central market side
- 5 min walk
- Grilled skewers after dark
- A car-spares yard, not a restaurant
- Queue is part of the experience
- Order: Grilled skewers (mishkaki)
- Tables and stools
- Walk-in window: before 19:00
Highlights come from Voykit's own data and desk notes, not from reviews. Hover a tag to see its source.
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Map & directions
Directions
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Plan
When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay
Walk-in windows
before 19:00: high19:30–21:00: risky
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
On the ground
Facts
- Reservations
- false — Walk-in only; no phone bookings taken.
- Capabilities
- food
- Diet
- vegetarian: none · gluten free: unknown · halal: ask
- Getting there
- Taxi to the workshop forecourt, central market side · ~5 min walk
Cons
- Long queues once word gets round on a given night.
- Open-air seating on plastic chairs among the spare-parts shelves.
- No printed menu; you watch the grill and point.
Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check · Dietary phrases · Hygiene
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Mishkaki | Marinated meat skewers grilled over charcoal. | Order by the skewer; ask for a mixed plate if you cannot decide. |
| Chapati | Flatbread, usually ordered alongside the grill. | Ask for extra if the table is sharing. |
Price check
- locals pay
- A plate of skewers with chapati runs a few thousand shillings a head (2026 estimate); confirm the board price before ordering.
- tourist price
- No separate tourist price reported, but confirm the count of skewers before you pay.
- rule
- Count what lands on the plate against what you ordered; it is easy to lose track in a crowd.
Dietary: what to say
| Need | Say or show | Reality here |
|---|---|---|
| Vegetarian | Sina nyama, tafadhali. | Very limited: this is a meat grill by design. Chapati and a side salad are the only options if available. |
| Halal | Ni halali? | Not confirmed by Voykit; ask staff directly on the night. |
Hygiene notes
- Meat is grilled fresh to order over charcoal; eat it hot off the grill rather than left sitting.
Deep dive
Questions, nearby food and sources
Questions and answers
What time should I go?
Arrive before 19:00 to avoid the worst of the queue; go later and you may wait 30–45 minutes for a table.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Can I pay by card?
Plan on cash in shillings; card acceptance has not been confirmed by Voykit.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Answers come from Voykit editors, not from other travellers.
All places to eat in Arusha, with filters →
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Used as a seated rest node in Arusha in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Arusha