African Restaurants in Chicago, IL

“I eat here EVERY time I come back to Chicago! Get the peanut butter MOFEEEE!!!“

“oh my gosh. first time eating Somali food. absolutely loved experimenting with different types of breads, the different condiments, eating with banana pouring tea with spices on the food. what a great variety of combinations. So absolutely delicious. if I lived locally to Chicago I would be eating here on the regular! place is simple in decor, long on wants and hospitality. not a lot of seating. five tables total. customer base seems very friendly lots of smelling cab drivers.“

“Good foods, good price good culture.... ENJOY“

“BULSHO restaurant

One of the best Somali restaurants in Chicago. The food is authentic, fresh, and full of flavor. The rice is well cooked, and the grilled fish/meat is nicely seasoned—you can really taste the traditional Somali style.

The place is simple, clean, and comfortable. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable, and the service is friendly.

What makes this place even more special is that there is a masjid inside, which is very convenient for Muslims—you can enjoy your meal and still have a peaceful place to pray.

Another big plus is the available parking, which makes it easy to visit without stress, especially in Chicago.

Overall, great food, great atmosphere, and very convenient for the community. Highly recommended.“

“Food was great! The jollof platter had excellent rice and the plantains had a good texture. The fish that was on said plate as well as the egusi was also well cooked and tasted amazing. The fufu had a great texture too. Would definitely come back again. One small thing is that they took awhile for the check to come out after we asked but they were likely just busy so who knows. Great stuff!“

“Firstly the woman taking our order was very lovely and gave us the best service. With that said, the food was very flavorful, with the chicken, goat, beef, and fish possessing a very nice texture that, quite literally, fell off the bone. The plantains were cooked to perfection, with a nice crispness and the jollof rice was, of course, flavor-packed. Would definitely come and try again.“

“Recently relocated to Chicago and was craving a meal from the mother land! Visited this location to pick up my order which I placed via DoorDash.

Pros
1- very delicious freshly made meal. You can tell from the richness and taste that the owner did not cut corners!

Cons
1- this is my first experience but my meal took longer than expected. Seeing that there was only one person working - welcoming guest, taking orders and cooking - it is understandable at least, for now.

Overall, this a solid 9.8/10 from me. Wishing the owners continued success.“

“I will highly recommend this restaurant. Everything i’ve experienced at this restaurant has been nothing short of amazing. The hospitality was excellent, the food was outstanding. The scenery was beautiful. I give this place a 10/10“

“Had an absolutely incredible meal here yesterday! We got the jollof rice and efo riro and everything was delicious! The rice and stews were richly seasoned, the plantains were sweet and hearty, and the fufu was delectably soft. Portion sizes were generous and two entrees were enough to feed three people with plenty to take home as leftovers. We were the only group dining in at the time which seemed completely unbelievable for how good the food is. They’ve been in business for 30 years and you can tell there’s 30 years of experience in the recipes! Do yourself a favor and visit ASAP!“

“I used to walk by this spot a lot, and I always wanted to try African food. One day ring the doorbell and been inside the place is clean, the owner is welcoming, and food is worth it!! So good, my first order was the goat meat fire. Second one is the egusi soup with fish, yeah I recommend this place!“

“It’s about time Chicago gets solid West African cuisine. Dozzy didn’t disappoint. Had the Designer Jollof Rice Bowl and it was delicious. I combined it with a couple orders of the shrimp suya sticks which put it over the top. Now, I loved the jollof, but that’s to be expected. What wasn’t expected was the shrimp. I can honestly say it was some of the best I’ve ever had. The herbs were perfect and it was grilled just the way I like it. I’ve known Dozzy for a long time and I’m so happy he’s sharing his gift to the world. Y’all get some.“

“The only issue i had with my last order was they added sugar to the fufu which we never do in any African cuisine.“

“Delicious Somali restaurant in Chicago suburbs. My first visit to a Somali restaurant and I was pleasantly surprised. Food was pretty good. Loved the Goat with rice and vegetables. Their tea was good too. Didn't care much for the orange juice made from concentrate. Lady at the counter does all the billing and orders. She spoke decent english. Had to wait to use the bathroom, which was not gender segregated. Interior is very basic, but food makes up for it.“

“Family friendly and great service. Food is fresh and professionally served in a nice dish. Also, a good place for Large groups. I will frequent this restaurant. #RevDrChantellBeatyBello“

“The food was delicious and service was great.“

“My first time trying the Egusi soup with beef and fufu was really good and spicy I really enjoyed it because I’ve been wanting to try it for so long for myself. I can’t describe the taste. I didn’t care for the Jollof rice with chicken it didn’t really do it for me so I’ve had my fix probably won’t eat it again it was just a one and done experience for me“

“TLDR: Food was great but service was poor.
I had the Amala and abula combo which comes with a mix of goat meat and assorted, it was arguably the best Amala I’ve had in a restaurant in Chicago. But the service took so long after we placed the order, it seemed like only one person was waiting on everyone in the restaurant and taking all orders and payment at the cashier.“

“wonderful wonderful place. owner is very friendly. usually has her children assiting her. very police, clean place. wonderful atmosphere and great authentic ghanian african food.“

“Mama Osas is a true African Queen. So kind, talented, and professional.
The flavor of her cuisine is top tier. It is a family atmosphere.
One of my favorite dishes is Fresh Fish (catfish filet), with jalof rice, red stew, and plantains 😋.
The restaurant is nice and cozy. You’ll need to plan ahead for large groups or order for catering.“

“Extraordinary experience ✨“

“Was watching a TikTok video of someone eating Egusi soup and fufu. I Immediately got a craving. Tried this restaurant once and was hooked.“

“I went to Iyanze with friends visiting from out of state, we had different types of food ordered to try as a table. I have to say, it was delicious, money well spent. They have variety to chose from, and we had variety to taste. Thanks to the manager who attended to us personally. Nicely priced as well.“

“This has quickly become one of my favorite spots for authentic West African food! 🌍🍛 The portions are always generous, the chicken is incredibly tender, and the stews are some of the best I’ve tried in the city. 😋🔥 You can really taste all the different spices and flavors in every bite. The service is usually pretty quick, and the prices are very reasonable for the amount and quality of food you get. 💯 The atmosphere is welcoming, and it’s a great place to enjoy a satisfying meal with friends or family. Definitely worth stopping by! And if you’re looking for some extra fun, ask about their karaoke nights—you might catch a great one! 🎤🎶“