Isiolo has a clear culinary identity: nyama choma (roasted meat) is what the town is known for, and the main street delivers it honestly and well. Beyond the roasting spots, several basic Kenyan 'hotels' (the local term for a simple restaurant) serve ugali, sukuma wiki, chapati, beans, and chai. Nothing fancy — but filling, cheap, and well-suited to travellers starting a long drive north at dawn.