There’s been a lot of fuss about Red Ginger restaurant in Parklands Avenue, and since I’ve had a lot of time for myself lately, I decided to go check it out on a Friday night and enjoy all the buzz that’s been going around for the last two years.
In a nutshell, Red Ginger is a pan-Asian eatery in Nairobi located on Second Parklands Avenue in the greater Westlands area. Its menu is a mashup of Indian, Chinese, and Mexican food, and according to the reviews, this eatery is quite affordable for its quality of food, ambiance, and service.
If you are going to hit a spot in Nairobi for a Friday night shindig, I’d advise you to get to the location early. This gives you ample time to pick out the best parking spots to exit and the best seats in the restaurant. You can also check out the location before everyone comes in. By early, I mean getting to the location by 5 p.m. at the latest.
Nairobians don’t waste time getting to their favorite spots on a Friday night. If it’s a popular spot like Red Ginger, it’ll be buzzing by 7 p.m.
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First Impressions of Red Ginger Restaurant Nairobi
Red Ginger is located on Second Parklands Avenue in the heart of the Parklands neighborhood. Nairobi restaurants are top-tier, but most lack one ingredient – you’ll have to fight for parking spots, and sometimes, you’ll be forced to park at the side of the road after hours, especially on Friday nights and weekends.
The establishment has a massive parking lot—there was enough space for the cab driver to drop us off within the premises and get out without any worries, which was quite a relief.
It’s boring to be dropped off at the gate and have to mess up your outfit walking all the way into the restaurant, especially when it’s raining in Nairobi. For that, it gets a lot of returning clientele.
On the inside, the Red Ginger is designed in a cozy, airy outdoor setting; the dining area is perfect for dates, and the bar section and the outdoor area are fitted with bandhas for groups. It gets cold in Nairobi, but the outdoor area drew me in—the lights and the serene garden were so dreamy.
The Vibe
As you enter the Red Ginger establishment, you’ll quickly realize that it was designed to appeal to the urban Nairobian. It’s filled with expats, tourists, middle-class Nairobians – and the vibe is generally young (and free).
The music is mellow, and you’ll notice the management did this to encourage conversation—it’s not a nightclub, but I’ll admit, you could stay until midnight and not feel the urge to leave.
If you sit in the bar area, get ready to converse. Everyone is friendly and talkative, and you’ll likely make a few acquaintances. If you are lucky, get a couple of drinks sent your way if you make a good impression. It’s not anything weird – the crowd here is just friendly. Tourists, top Nairobi execs, and expats.
Red Ginger Nairobi Menu
The Red Ginger is a pan-Asian eatery in Nairobi, and as you’d expect, you’ll be spoilt for choice on what to eat. The fancy restaurant in Parklands prepares Indian, Mexican, and Chinese food. Their food menu has up to 14 pages (including Vegan options) – and you won’t have an excuse for a favorite. Their drink menu has 11 pages (including all the cocktails, wines, whiskies, gins, and beers you can think of).
I love chicken—it’s a weakness—and as you’d expect, I had butter chicken and Naan. For drinks, I took an old favorite, Long Island, with a hint of lemon grass and ginger ( I love it that way).
My date had Tom Yum Prawn Soup as a starter, Roast Prok with Spicy Red Ginger Sauce, and Naan. We also sampled some noodles (chicken and Prawn noodles)—there’s no way you are going to an Asian restaurant and not enjoying some noodles.
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Red Ginger Menu: This Pan-Asian offers a wide variety of food, and you’ll need to visit at least a dozen times to get a taste of what it offers—one visit is not enough.
The Red Ginger menu includes a selection of Sushi and Maki Rolls, Dimsums, Open Bao, Starters, Soups, Curries, Vegetables, Poultry, Seafood and Meat, Rice and Noodles, Desserts, and an assortment of drinks.
In total, we both spent around KES. 3,200 was quite surprising for a top-tier restaurant like this in an uptown location like Parklands, Nairobi. How do they pay their bills?
Average Red Ginger Meal Price/Person/Meal: Between KES. 850 and KES. 1,000.
Location and Contact Information
Red Ginger is an uptown, cozy pan-Asian eatery in Nairobi, Kenya, offering top-tier cuisine at an affordable rate. In case you are looking to contact them, here’s how;
- Red Ginger Location: 2nd Parklands Avenue, Parklands, Nairobi, Kenya.
- Red Ginger Contacts: (+254) 768 744 444: 0758 044 444,0758 344 444.
- Red Ginger Operating Hours: Daily 11:00 am to 11:00 pm.
My Experience
There’s a lot to love about Red Ginger in Nairobi, Kenya. For starters, the establishment is cozy, with a cool uptown ambiance. I loved it more at night because of the warm colors – and exotic decor.
You’ll also love the menu. The variety of food offered at Red Ginger is out of this world—Prawns, Noodles, Chicken, Grilled Meat, Asian Breads, and drinks of all kinds.
Their services are very transparent—they have an open kitchen, and you can view the top chefs showcasing their skills right before you. The open kitchen concept also helps arouse your senses, giving you a glimpse of what your taste buds should expect.
The servers at this pan-Asian eatery are very professional and well-maintained. The service was swift, and what I loved best was that they offered suggestions on what combinations I’d love the most. If you bring someone here for a date, you’ll give a good first impression— the vibe and exotic decor will blow your significant other away.
If you are a lone ranger like me, this hidden eatery is the perfect spot in Nairobi to go out and have fun and meet interesting people along the way. The bar’s setup is perfect for conversations and light banter.
Would I come here again – Definitely!