A Hungry Tourist Who Ate Too Much Pilau and Now Has Regrets (but not really)
By: John S. Morlu II, CPA
Welcome to Lukmaan Restaurant — Zanzibar’s Most Delicious Tourist Trap
And by trap, we mean the kind where your stomach walks in before you do, and your brain doesn’t argue. Lukmaan is the kind of place where:
- You say, “I’ll just have a light lunch,”
- Then you blink, and there’s 6 plates in front of you.
- Then you say, “Okay, I’ll walk it off,”
- Then you blink again and you’re ordering seconds.
No one leaves Lukmaan the same. Spiritually? Enlightened. Physically? Rounder.
Where Is This Magical Place?
Lukmaan is tucked right in the belly of Stone Town, the old part of Zanzibar City. It’s like stepping into a living museum — with extra heat and surprise motorcycles zooming past you every 30 seconds. Picture tight alleyways, ancient coral stone buildings, giant carved doors, cats that look like they’ve seen things, and tourists holding paper maps upside down.
🧭 Pro Tip: If you ever get lost, just follow the smell of coconut curry and frying plantains. It will lead you home. That home is Lukmaan.
Stone Town Fun Fact Attack:
- UNESCO World Heritage Site – basically history’s version of getting a verified blue check.
- Freddie Mercury (yes, Queen’s Freddie) was born a few streets away. If only he’d written “Bohemian Pilau-sody.”
- Arab traders, Indian merchants, African royalty, and every kind of spice dealer once lived here. Today? All their flavors are served in one plate at Lukmaan.
The Lukmaan Menu: A Choose-Your-Own-Flavored-Adventure
There’s no official menu. It’s more like a Swahili food safari. You walk in, point at what someone else is eating, and say “That one!”
🔥 Top Dishes You Should Try Before You Die (of happiness):
- Pilau Rice – tastes like a drumroll and a hug.
- Biryani – not just a dish, it’s an emotional experience.
- Octopus Curry – for the bold, brave, and slightly confused.
- Zanzibar Mix (Urojo) – a bowl full of “What is this?” and “Why is it so good?”.
- Chapati – thin, chewy, addictive. Like a tortilla that studied abroad.
🥤 And don’t forget:
- Tamarind Juice – sour, sweet, and will slap you across the tastebuds like a telenovela grandma.
- Sugarcane Juice – because your pancreas wasn’t busy enough.
Lukmaan Law: The 5 Rules of Eating Here
1. Sit where you can. The place is always packed. Sharing a table is normal. Yes, even with strangers from Norway who eat rice with a spoon.
2. Point, don’t talk. Point at the food, nod, and trust the process. Talking too much just delays the feast.
3. Spice is not optional. You will sweat. You will cry. You will thank them for it.
4. Don’t wear white. Especially if you love coconut curry. Unless you’re into tie-dye stains.
5. Don’t order one thing. That’s not how it works here. This is a buffet for your soul.
A Historical Snack
Back in the 1800s, Zanzibar wasn’t just a chill island — it was the spice capital of the universe. Sultans ruled from Stone Town, merchants from Oman and India rolled up with boats full of goodies, and everyone argued about the best way to cook cloves.
Lukmaan keeps that ancient flavor war alive. Every bite is like a reunion of ancestors arguing over cardamom.
Even the restaurant name, Lukmaan, is classy. It comes from Luqman Hakim — a legendary wise man known for his deep sayings and chill wisdom. Basically, if Luqman was alive today, he’d be at Lukmaan eating mutton biryani and saying things like, “Eat slowly, but refill quickly.”
More Fun Facts That Will Change Your Life (or at least lunch plans)
- The chairs and tables look basic — but that’s a trap. This is five-star street food in disguise.
- Lukmaan has no Wi-Fi. Why? Because the only connection that matters here is between you and your food.
- There’s a dessert station no one talks about. Coconut pudding, mandazi, fried bananas — it’s Zanzibar’s secret weapon.
- One guy on TripAdvisor said he lost his passport here — because he was too full to care.
- Lukmaan closes when the food runs out. So don’t show up at 8PM expecting miracles. This ain’t a Netflix buffet.
The People Watching Is Incredible
Sit down, and you’ll see:
- Backpackers arguing over which island has better mangoes.
- Locals eating in silence, focused like it’s an Olympic sport.
- Kids balancing chapati on their heads for no reason.
- That one tourist who asked for ketchup and now lives in shame.
Cheap Like Magic
For under $5, you can eat like a king who just came back from battle. Even the British Empire would’ve stayed longer if they had found Lukmaan. It’s that good.
Instagram vs Reality
- 📷 What you post: a colorful plate of biryani with fancy sunlight and coconut juice.
- 🤤 What actually happened: You dropped half your pilau. Your hands are orange. Your face is shiny. And you’re still asking the waiter for “just one more chapati.”
Final Verdict: Don’t Think, Just Eat
If you’re in Zanzibar and don’t eat at Lukmaan, did you really go?
This isn’t just food. It’s an experience. It’s a cultural exchange. It’s a flavor explosion hosted by the ghosts of spice traders and Swahili aunties.
So come hungry. Come curious. Come with loose pants.
Because Lukmaan doesn’t just fill your stomach —It fills your story.
Karibu Sana.
(That’s Swahili for: “Welcome. But don’t blame us if you need a nap after.”)
📝 Disclaimer: Lukmaan is not responsible for lost diets, emotional rice attachments, or spontaneous food-related poetry.
Author: John S. Morlu II, CPA is the CEO and Chief Strategist of JS Morlu, leads a globally recognized public accounting and management consultancy firm. Under his visionary leadership, JS Morlu has become a pioneer in developing cutting-edge technologies across B2B, B2C, P2P, and B2G verticals. The firm’s groundbreaking innovations include AI-powered reconciliation software (ReckSoft.com) and advanced cloud accounting solutions (FinovatePro.com), setting new industry standards for efficiency, accuracy, and technological excellence.
