Karibu! Explore your tastebuds with us at Swahili Spot. Crunchy street food, savory sauces, traditional entrees and fresh juice from the heart of Tanzania. We have a Food Truck, Take-Out Restaurant, and we offer catering services for private events.View our Menu for more details.

Our Story

Priscilla Mkenda was born and raised in Tanzania and Uganda. Sharing these two cultures has given her the urge to cook East African Cuisine. She wanted to do something that she had a connection with, something she loves. So, she decided to introduce East African food here in the US and surprisingly, her customers love it!

From a young age, she has always enjoyed cooking and it helps her relieve stress. She believes that food brings people together and, in her culture, when people visit family, regardless of whether they are poor or rich, the host will make sure the guest does not leave without eating something. She loves to share this part of her culture because this is a time people get to talk, laugh, and get to know each other.

She had always dreamed of opening a restaurant and her food journey in the Bay Area began after she hosted a women’s day luncheon at AU lounge. The luncheon was a 3-course meal of Tanzanian cuisine and the attendees loved the food so much that some said it reminded them of home which was heartwarming and further motivated her to start catering. She started off by vending her food at Lake Merritt and over the years gained enough clientele to purchase a food truck which facilitated mobility. Her food truck is the second Tanzanian Food Truck in the US, and she is proud to hold the flag high as a pioneer in this space. In May 2023, she opened take-out restaurant location in West Oakland where customers can pick up her homemade themed dishes at leisure.