305 Karafuu Restaurant

305 Karafuu Restaurant is a long-running Indian restaurant at 398 Zambia Road in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on the border of the Upanga and Oyster Bay neighbourhoods. The kitchen serves North Indian curries and thali plates, with a vegetarian thali and a non-vegetarian thali as the core offering, and it has long been a reference point for Indian food in a city with a large and historic Indian community. Signature dishes include the two thalis, oxtail curry and a selection of Indian desserts, and the thali format, with several small bowls and bread served together, is the easiest way to sample the range. The dining room character is family-oriented and unfussy, with plain furnishings, good turnover at lunch and dinner, a moderate noise level and no dress code. It draws local Indian-Tanzanian families, office workers and visitors who want a substantial meal at a fair price. The beverage list covers lassi, soft drinks, tea and juices, in keeping with a family restaurant. Prices fall in the $$ bracket, and a thali is a filling single-dish meal that costs less than ordering several curries. The restaurant is open daily from 11:00 until around midnight, so lunch, early dinner and later meals are all possible. Reservations are not usually required and walk-ins are accepted, but large family groups and weekend evenings are best arranged by telephone on +255 754 277 188. Weekday lunch is usually busy with local office workers, and mid-afternoon is calm. The Zambia Road location is a short drive from the city centre and Upanga, and it is convenient by taxi or ride-hailing.