Hiding between a carnicería and a barber shop on Inglewood's Arbor Vitae Street is a small Somali restaurant serving one of the best goat dishes you'll find anywhere in Los Angeles.
The front façade is faded, and its sun-bleached business name is barely visible. In fact, for some locals who've grown up on this stretch of Arbor Vitae, it might have taken years before they noticed it, like Chef Ulisses Piñeda Alfaro of El Barrio Cantina, who grew up around the corner and has been a loyal customer for the past ten years after wondering why there were always so many taxi cabs parked out front during lunch. I went to school across the street at Payne Elementary. I used to buy carne asada preparada next door at La Poblanita. I spent my childhood going back and forth on this street to visit different cousins. I never noticed this hidden gem, either.
When you walk in, you'll see a counter to the left with a bright mustard-colored wall behind it with a blue sign with the name Banadir above a white star. Seven simple menu items flank it: a vegetable soup and the other six are different meats with your rice. You can order beef, chicken, lamb, tilapia, or salmon. But order the goat. It's the most popular dish.