Afro Deli’s founder is graduating from quick counter service to white‑tablecloth vibes. Martiya, the brand’s first sit-down restaurant, is set to spotlight Somali-fusion cooking in a full-service setting, building on the Afro-Mediterranean flavors that made the original spots a Twin Cities staple. For local diners, it could be the most visible push yet to give Somali cuisine a permanent seat in the broader restaurant scene.
According to the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, the new venture, called Martiya, comes from Afro Deli’s owner and arrives with a company-provided rendering of the main dining room. The Business Journal reports that Afro Deli has spent roughly 15 years familiarizing Twin Cities diners with African food, a stretch of steady growth covered in a piece by reporter J.D. Duggan.
The restaurant group behind Afro Deli, Martisoor Hospitality, now lists full-service concepts on its website as it grows beyond fast-casual operations. Martisoor’s online materials highlight projects such as Azure Gardens and Azure Space, signaling a broader move into event and dining venues under founder Abdirahman Kahin. In those same materials, Martiya is framed as part of an effort to celebrate Afro‑Mediterranean hospitality through elevated design and menus.
What Martiya Might Serve
Afro Deli has long introduced diners to East African staples such as sambusas and Somali tea, and those familiar flavors are expected to guide Martiya’s approach. The Business Journal’s rendering points to a modern dining room tailored to full service, hinting at a menu that leans into Somali-fusion techniques rather than quick counter fare.
Why It Matters
Minnesota is home to one of the nation’s largest Somali communities, and neighborhoods such as Cedar‑Riverside, nicknamed "Little Mogadishu," have for years served as hubs for Somali culture and food, as described by the Star Tribune. A sit-down Somali-fusion restaurant gives chefs room to stretch, creating tasting menus and specials that move beyond the grab-and-go counters many diners currently associate with the cuisine.
Martisoor presents Martiya as the latest step in a growing hospitality portfolio that includes projects listed as "Coming Soon, Spring ’26" on the group’s website. The company has not released a firm public opening date for Martiya, and more information about timing and the exact location is expected to follow as plans are finalized.
