Eat · Giraffe Centre
Carnivore RestaurantCarnivore
A large barbecue restaurant on Langata Road known for all-you-can-eat grilled meats carved at the table: go for a long lunch or early dinner, book ahead and skip it if you eat little meat.
Key facts
- Per person
- KES 4,000–5,500
- Kenyan
- Hours
- unknown
- see note below
- Walk in
- after 14:30
- easiest window
- Seating
- chairs
- booking: true
- Card
- yes
- Getting there
- Langata Road, by car
- 2 min walk
Go now?
Open?
Lunch and dinner (check)
Busy this hour
Estimate by hour below
Easiest walk-in
after 14:30
Reservations
Reserve ahead
Paying
Bring cash
Per person
KES 4,000–5,5002026 estimate · check
- All-you-can-eat grilled meat
- Set price
- Book ahead
- Order: The nyama choma feast
- Table seating
- Walk-in window: after 14:30
- Queue risk: 12:00–14:00
- Bring cash
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
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Plan
When you can walk in, what to order, how to pay
Walk-in windows
A walk-in lunch is only planned as primary when your arrival lands outside the “impossible” window.
When to go, hour by hour
Quietest listed hour: 12:00 (busy).
- 12:00busya short wait is possible
- 13:00heavyexpect a line
- 14:00busya short wait is possible
- 18:00heavyexpect a line
- 19:00packedexpect a long line
- 20:00heavyexpect a line
Desk estimate of crowd on a weekday; weekends and public holidays run one level higher. Not live data. No line length is on file, so waits are in words.
How to order here
The order of play at the counter or table, what to say, how much to order and how to pay.
- 1Book a table and arrive hungry.
- 2Meats are carved at the table; say when to stop by lowering the flag on the stand.
- 3Ask the price and what is included before you sit.
No shared language? Point at the dish or a photo of it. For a printed menu, translate a photo of it.
What to say
| In English | Say or show | Sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| How much is it? | Ni bei gani? | nee BAY GAH-nee |
| Too expensive, a bit less? | Ghali sana, punguza kidogo | GAH-lee SAH-nah, poon-GOO-zah kee-DOH-goh |
| The bill, please | Naomba bili | nah-OHM-bah BEE-lee |
| I need help | Nahitaji msaada | nah-hee-TAH-jee m-sah-AH-dah |
| Hello | Habari / Jambo | ha-BAH-ree / JAHM-boh |
| Thank you | Asante | ah-SAHN-teh |
Extras, condiments and what costs extra
- Drinks: Add to the fixed price — Ask for a drinks menu.
- Service charge: May be added — Check the bill.
Paying and tipping
Sit-down restaurants: about 10%, less than the 15–20% US norm.
- Ask what drinks cost; they add up.
- Cards accepted; keep cash for tips.
- Tipping: Round up for a driver and tip a guide or an animal-park ranger in cash.
- Tips of 10% are usual when there is no service charge.
At the table
- Eat hot food and skip raw salad and unwashed fruit if your stomach is sensitive.
- Order nyama choma by weight and confirm the price before it is cooked.
- Drink bottled or filtered water only.
Price and paying
- Typical spend
- About KES 4,000–5,500 per person (2026 estimate)
Paying
Accepted.
Visa and Mastercard.
M-Pesa (check).
Diet and allergies
Yes means there is something for you; ask means possible with care; no means go elsewhere.
- Vegetarianask
Limited; call ahead.
Show: Sili kula nyama.
- Veganno
Meat-focused.
- Halalask
Not certified; ask.
Show: Sili kula nyama ya nguruwe.
- Gluten-freeask
Ask.
- Nut allergyask
Ask.
- Allergynot on file
Say it before the first serving.
Show: Nina aleji ya ___.
Who it suits, booking, closures
- How to book
- Phone or message ahead.
- How far ahead
- 1 day
- No-show / cancel fee
- Check the policy
- Dress code
- Casual; smart-casual for dinner.
| When | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Public holidays | check before you go | Hours vary. |
| Reopening dates | check before you go | Confirm it is open. |
On the ground
Hygiene and comfort
- Restrooms
- Restroom on site · accessible restroom: check
- Seating
- Chairs at tables
- Kids
- kids' menu: ask · stroller: ok · Children's price may apply
- Access
- step-free: partial · Garden paths; confirm
Hygiene
- Choose well-cooked meat; skip raw salads if your stomach is sensitive.
Facts
- Reservations
- Taken — Book ahead for evenings and weekends; groups need a reservation.
- Capabilities
- food · toilet
- Getting there
- Langata Road, by car · ~2 min walk
Cons
- A fixed-price feast is heavy and expensive; check the current price.
- Not suited to vegetarians.
- Hours and reopenings change; confirm.
Ordering helpDish glossary · Price check
Dish glossary
| On the menu | What it is | Order it how |
|---|---|---|
| Nyama choma | Grilled meat. | Tell the waiter which meat to skip. |
| Dawa | Honey, lime and vodka cocktail. | Ask for it with less sugar. |
| Ugali | Maize staple. | A side. |
| Kachumbari | Tomato and onion salad. | A fresh side. |
Price check
- locals pay
- A fixed-price feast is the norm; the price is the same for locals.
- tourist price
- Tourist-focused; prices are high for Kenya.
- rule
- Ask what drinks cost; they add up.
| Extra on the table | Typical charge | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Drinks | Add to the fixed price | Ask for a drinks menu. |
| Service charge | May be added | Check the bill. |
Deep dive
Questions, nearby food and sources
Questions and answers
What is included?
A set menu of soup, meats and sides; drinks are extra.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
How long does a meal take?
About 90 minutes.
Checked 2026-09-29 · Voykit desk
Do I need a reservation?
Yes for evenings and weekends.
Is it worth the price?
For a big meat meal, yes; skip it if you want a light lunch.
All places to eat in Nairobi, with filters →
Nearby
Straight-line distance; walk time adds 30% for streets.
Used as a seated rest node in Nairobi in 4 days.
Sources
- secondaryWikivoyage — Nairobi (eat)