News / Restaurants
East African restaurant returns to a new address
A popular East African eatery that’s been popping up across venues in the city is ready to reopen a permanent site at a new location.
Previously trading from the Coach House Business Centre in St Paul’s, the team behind Jikoni closed the site temporarily in August 2024 and moved on to run kitchens at various pubs across Bristol.
After nearly a year of serving Bristol from these temporary sites, the husband and wife pair, Iman Salat and James Hillier, announced on Tuesday that they are “nearly, officially back”.
The Jikoni team is currently preparing the new site within the Old Fire Station
Talking to Bristol24/7 about their move into a site within the Old Fire Station on Silver Street, the pair said: “This is such a great space, we feel like we can realise so many of the ideas we’ve had for Jikoni over the years.
“We are really excited about bringing our cookery workshops in-house and working with Creative Youth Network and 91 ways to make this happen.”
Their new restaurant will take up the former fire station’s old engine room, on the ground floor, adjacent to the building’s main entrance.
Other than being home to delicious food, Jikoni will also collaborate with 91 Ways and Creative Youth Network to use the space as a ground for workshops for young people associated with the groups.
Additionally, the predominantly East African restaurant will be adding a variety of traditional and inspired dishes to its menu, including Somali-style braised beef brisket, with poached eggs, bisbas green chilli and lime sauce on sourdough.
View this post on Instagram
There are also plans to kick-start East African-inspired Sunday roasts in the backdrop of gentle African-origin music.
The duo are currently busy preparing the site, with plans to open for breakfast and lunch by August 22.
Sharing their excitement on Instagram, Iman and James said: “After temporarily closing our venue at the Coach House last August due to building refurb, we had been a bit unsure of what lied ahead for Jikoni.
“But by sheer chance of fate, The Old Fire Station on Silver St became available this year and we are incredibly lucky to have been given the opportunity to trade there!
“Such a fantastic venue with so much going for it.. we are beyond excited and can’t wait to get going! Doors to open officially August 22nd for breakfast & lunch. Expect a much larger menu with plenty of Jikoni classics plus an array of new dishes, cakes, pastries & good times!!”
All photos: Jikoni
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