Photo courtesy of Yassa African Restaurant Craving Ethiopian, Egyptian, Ghanaian or Somali food? We’ve got you covered with our exhaustive list of Chicago’s must-try African restaurants.
For decades, immigrants from African countries have brought their sweet and savory recipes to Chicago by opening family-owned restaurants. They have introduced our city to a mash-up of cuisines, from Egypt’s signature ful medames (a stew of fava beans in garlic and lemon) to Moroccan couscous, and from Senegalese seafood to Ghanian peanut butter soup.
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While African immigrants make up just 5 percent of Chicago’s immigrant population, they are among the fastest growing immigrant communities here. Over time, the African food scene in Chicago has become more concentrated in the Bronzeville, Uptown and Edgewater neighborhoods, where many African immigrants live. Roaming these neighborhoods, one can come across businesses serving Moroccan, Nigerian, Somali, Senegalese, Ghanian, Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes.
Ready to spice things up and travel through the diverse flavors from the Maghreb to those of East and West Africa? Borderless Magazine has compiled a comprehensive list of 28 African restaurants to try in Chicago organized by neighborhood.
Map is color-coded by a country’s cuisine. Click on the top left icon to see map key.
Bronzeville
Yassa African Restaurant (Senegalese): lamb curry, yassa, fataya, mafe, aloco
3511 S. King Dr.
773-488-5599
11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sundays–Thursdays
11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
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Edgewater
Dynamic African Cuisine (Nigerian): jollof, pepper soup, yam dishes
1127 W. Thorndale Ave.
773-728-0082
10 a.m–9 p.m. Mondays–Saturdays; 1–8 p.m. Sundays
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Vee Vee’s African Restaurant (Nigerian): pepper soup, fufu, egusi, yam dishes
6232 N. Broadway St.
773-465-2424
12–11 p.m. daily
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Irving Park
Al Waleema Restaurant (Algerian): lham lahlou, kesra, tagine, biryani, maqluba, knafeh, griwech, chebakia, pastries, cookies, cake
4304 N. Pulaski Rd.
773-628-7704
10 a.m.–10 p.m. daily
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Shokran (Moroccan): tagine, kebab, pastilla, couscous, merguez, mint tea
4027 W. Irving Park Rd.
773-427-9130
3–9 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 3–10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
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Zebda (Moroccan): kefta pizza, couscous, tabbouleh, kebab, merguez, pastilla, tagine, mint tea, coffee, cake
4344 N. Elston Ave.
773-545-7000
10 a.m.–10 p.m. daily
Kenwood
Gorée Cuisine (Senegalese): yassa, mafe, fataya, thiou curry, soupou kandia
1126 E. 47th St.
773-855-8120
9 a.m.–10 p.m. Mondays–Wednesdays; 8 a.m.–11 p.m. Thursdays–Sundays
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Lincoln Park
Cairo Kebab (Egyptian): hummus, ful medames, dolmasstuf, tabbouleh, falafel, shawarma, kebab, koshary, ma’amoul, baklava, Turkish coffee
1524 W. Fullerton Ave.
773-687-8413
11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sundays–Thursdays; 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Fridays–Saturdays
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Near West Side
Couscous Restaurant (Moroccan): baba ghanouj, falafel, tagine, shawarma, couscous, lentil soup, baklava, Turkish coffee
1445 W. Taylor St.
312-226-2408
11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. daily
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Bulsho Restaurant (Somali): anjero, soor, lamb shank, cambuulo
211 W. Walton St.
312-265-0198
5 a.m.–1 a.m. Saturdays–Wednesdays; 5 a.m.–12p.m. Thursdays; 5 a.m.–2 a.m. Fridays
MEROË Sudanese & Mediterranean Grill (Sudanese): hummus, baba ghanouj, ful medames, falafel, shrak bread wraps, kebab, shawarma, hilba pudding, ligemat
939 N. Orleans St.
312-265-1230
No dine-in option currently. Pickup and delivery 2–9 p.m. Mondays–Saturdays; pickup 2–11 p.m. Fridays
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Mogadishu Restaurant (Somali): anjero, sabaayad, fajita, cambuulo, tilapia, biryani, lentil soup, lamb shank
931 N. Orleans St.
312-265-1850
6 a.m.–12 a.m. daily
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Noble Square
Marrakech (Moroccan): pastilla, zaalouk, dolmas, tagine, kebab, couscous, harira soup
1440 W. Chicago Ave.
773-770-9018
5–10 p.m. Wednesdays–Saturdays
Badou Senegalese Cuisine: fataya, fufu, jollof, attieke, couscous, diby guinar, touba coffee, tea
2049 W. Howard St.
773-293-6913
12–10 p.m. Mondays–Fridays; 12–11 p.m. Saturdays; 12–9 p.m. Sundays
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Den Den (Eritrean): shiro, tibs, derho, spiced tea
6635 N. Clark St.
773-973-4752
10 a.m.–11 p.m. Sundays–Thursdays
10 a.m.–12 a.m. Fridays–Saturdays
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K I African Restaurant (Nigerian): meat pie, jollof, egusi soup, fufu, ofada, ayamase, tilapia, moi moi, coffee
7137 N. Clark St. 773-856-0044
12–9 p.m. Mondays–Saturdays; 2–9 p.m. Sundays
Qaato Halal Restaurant (Nigerian): suya, moi moi, ewedu, ognobo soup, yam and plantain dishes, ayamase, jollof, coffee, tea
7118 N. Clark St.
773-465-6255
12–8 p.m. Mondays–Saturdays
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Yinkres Nigerian Restaurant
2407 W. Lunt Ave.
(773) 856-0541
11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mondays–Saturdays
South Chicago
Southside African Restaurant (Nigerian): efo riro, jollof, meat pie, egusi soup, ayamase
8311 S. Baltimore Ave.
872-666-5588
10 a.m.–10 p.m. Mondays–Saturdays
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Uptown
B&Q Afro Root Cuisine (Nigerian): jollof, catfish, egusi soup, ogbono soup, moi moi, asaro 4701 N. Kenmore Ave.
773-878-7489
11 a.m–10 p.m daily
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Demera Ethiopian (Ethiopian): messob, sambusa, ambasha, ice cream, tiramisu, torte
4801 N. Broadway St.
773-334-8787
12–8 p.m. Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 12:30–8 p.m. Tuesdays; 12–9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
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Mama Osas African Restaurant (Nigerian): jollof, amala, eba, egusi soup, meat pie, fish pie
1027 W. Wilson Ave.
773-561-2754
11 a.m.–10 p.m. Sundays–Thursdays; 12 p.m.–11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
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Palace Gate Restaurant (Ghanaian): jollof, peanut butter soup, okra soup, fufu, banku, fish stew, waakye
4548 N. Magnolia Ave.
773-769-1793
12–8 p.m. daily
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Tesfa (Ethiopian): zilzil tibs, wat, kitfo, alicha
1023 W. Wilson Ave.
312-698-4481
11 a.m.–10 p.m. Mondays–Saturdays; 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Sundays
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The Mukase African Restaurant (Ghanian): fufu, okra stew, peanut butter soup, jollof, omo tuo, curry chicken 13635 W. Wilson Ave.
773-754-7121
11 a.m.–9 p.m. Mondays–Thursdays; 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Fridays–Saturdays; 11 a.m.–8 p.m. Sundays
Website, Yelp
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Nigerian Kitchen Restaurant: egusi, ewedu, ogbono soup, yam and plantain dishes
4447 N. Broadway St.
773-271-4010
11 a.m.–9 p.m daily
Iyanze Bar And Cafe (Nigerian): cassava, fufu, egusi, jollof, ewedu, honeybush tea, hibiscus tea, ogbono soup, peanut butter soup, fufu, yam dishes
4623 N. Broadway.
773-944-1417
11 a.m–9 p.m Mondays–Saturdays
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West Loop
Dozzy’s Grill (Nigerian): jollof, jorrito wraps, suya kebabs, spring rolls, red bean bowls
131 N. Clinton St. (Chicago French Market)
312-351-9551
9 a.m.–3 p.m. Mondays–Fridays; 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturdays
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If you try any of these places, make sure to tag us on Twitter or Instagram @borderless_mag and tell us about your experience!
