I like that Cincinnati now has more ethnic restaurants as they bring so much value to the community and will open up the taste buds. This was my first time trying Senegalese food and it was really good! I am happy that I went with my friend who is originally from Senegal and she helped me pick out what to eat. I trusted her and it was very delicious. I tried the national dish of Senegal - Thiebou Jien - it is broken rice with a whole bunch of side dishes (they do have some Vietnamese influence if you read up on the history of Senegal). My friend also ordered this okra stew with fish, which is thick and sticky that you eat with rice. It was good as well. I think my experience was good because I had my friend there who knew what to order. She also let me try a hibiscus drink (which was quite sweet), which is the national drink of Senegal along with a drink made from the Baobap tree (looks like milk). They have street parking and also a paid lot across the street. read more

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The reason I had not reviewed this place is because of the poor customer service each time I tried to order take out in person. I finally ordered delivery online. The maffe was average, maybe could have used more flavor. The yassa has good flavors but I do not believe that chicken was freshly cooked, it seemed like leftovers. Not sure if I will reorder. read more

Just went in to ask if they happened to have a headlamp flashlight. With a place like that ya never know what they may or may not have, but they still decided to visually mock me, snicker and a small laugh just fir asking that question. Then I saw a djimbe drum (I've been going 2 hippie shows and having drum circles for my birthday since I was like 14. I know what a dunbek drum is as well. I asked him if it was a djimbe (jimbay) and he flat out lied 2 my face and said it wasn't, as he gave me his final disrespectful, dismissive wave. All that was unnecessary. Behavior like that come from clean, thoughtful soul never. read more

So...after going to a wine bar I will not name, I found myself hungry after 1 glass of wine. I searched for food establishments close to the wine bar and came upon Darou Salam. I like to try different area foods and never tried Senegalese food before. I proceeded to walk to the restaurant and through the courtyard which appeared to belong to next door bar. The place was small inside with a decent sized crowd waiting for carryout orders. Communication between cashier and customers were in the language spoken by Senegaleze. French mixed with native tongue? After a few minutes uses, I ordered the braised tilapia for $18. Pricy for a single person but I was hungry and intrigued. After about 15-20 minutes I got my carry out and traveled for another 20 minutes home. I ordered couscous as my side. The taste was sweet, spicy with a slight pungent kick. It was good and had the characteristics of food that was home cooking. What that is I can't say but you can feel it in your bones. It just felt like good solid and hearty home cooking for someone living afar. Needless to say I ended up eating the whole fish and sides for what could have easily fed 2-3 people. I think their other items would have been good as well. I look forward to going back and trying some of the other entrees. This is a place I would not only pay to eat at again but was very delicious. So 4 stars!l read more

Darou Salam - A little braised tilapia and circus with a bit of white wine. - African Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Oh my where can I began. My friend raved about this place so we Randomly got out of bed and headed down to Northside. I never had a Senegalese food. My friend knew the menu and knew what to get so I followed his lead. We got the grilled chicken with onion and peppers, with the rice smothered with something called onion sauce and a side of plantains. Boy was I in for a treat. The chicken was grilled to perfection falling off the bone. The grilled chicken came with an onion , pepper mix which was a party in my mouth. The plantains had just the right amount of flavor. The rice with the onion sauce was both sweet and savory at the. This place will most definitely be added to my list of places I will go too frequently. They have a great outdoor space to sit and enjoy your food and it is connected to a bar where you can get a drink while you wait for your food. The staff were friendly and welcoming. You will love it!! read more

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I hate giving a low score to a small business with nice service, but I've had good senegalese food and this place just doesn't measure up. Everything was overcooked and dry. We did the dibi guinar (grilled chicken) and dibi lamb. Yuck. Overcooked, tough, greasy. The really unforgivable thing for me was the couscous, which was so dry you couldn't eat a bite without drinking. The place looks cool from the outside -- it's in an old house. But inside, it looked like a fast food restaurant. Tables weren't wiped down. We were served in styrofoam to-go containers with flimsy plastic silverware. Water is bottled only. The bathroom is shared with the building and is truly one of the worst bathrooms I've ever seen in the U.S. Sorry, never again. Nice people, but need better quality. read more

Very poor customer service and disrespectful. I think it's my last time to come here. She ignored me and my wife

Soooo good! Plenty of food! So fresh! I had the Poulet Braise & would get this again and again. read more

Darou Salam - a chicken and rice dish in a styrofoam container - African Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I enjoy most of their food so much,but the dibi lamb is always burnt and hard and very severely overcooked.

Daron salam is a great place to order form they have the best food and the nicest workers the food that was served to me to me was delicious their restaurant was pretty clean I loved everything I recommend trying Daron salam . read more

Customer service is none existent if you don't speak the language. The food is not the same as it was in the past. The dining area is outdated, not well lite and not very clean. read more

Food was nicely seasoned and very friendly atmosphere. Most of the people there were speaking French and watching le foot on TV. Portions were large and it was so good I ate the whole thing. I had the thiebou jenn. Decorating is not their forte read more

I would have given them 5 star if they would take care of the customers properly who wants to dine in. Been there around 5pm and whole patio and 4 tables are empty but they have people coming for To-go. Ordered Brown Rice with Lamb and side order of Plantains which costed me $14 and my friend ordered white rice with chicken ($10). Pros: -------- Great Food Good Portions Not Pricey Patio Seating Street Parking(Sunday Free) Other Food Options close by in the hood) Cons: ---------- SERVICE SUCK BIG TIME( They dint serve water nor asked about it and took time to get order). No soda(At least I dint see them in the fridge, they had some traditional drinks) THEY HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE A HOT SPOT IF THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE SERVICE. read more

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Pros: Authentic Friendly staff Freshly made Easily accessible location Amble Parking Tasty as heck! Clean establishment Cons: Because it is freshly made, expect a wait. Might be better to call in ahead of time. read more

I moved to Cincinnati from Boston and I have often missed the African influence of restaurants. This is a family owned from the ground up Senegalese treasure! Very generous portions, quick service and everyone is kind and helpful. I have slowly moved my way through the menu and I have yet to order anything that wasn't amazingly flavorful. The meat is cut african style, so there are bones, which is where the most flavor hides! They also do a great takeout and they have a grocery across the street. read more

If you've never had West African food this is a great place to try it out! It's all made to order and tastes unlike anything I've ever had before. The food is affordable ($10-15 per entree) and they are massive. I always have leftovers. It's easy to call or walk in and order. The fish and lamb are my go tos, but everything I've had is 100%. It's a great option for takeout during this time. read more

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I love love this place. It's no frills but seriously flavorful and delicious food. Portions are tremendous and the food keeps well for days. It's meat heavy but the sides are also key. Some of the best in Northside! read more

Darou Salam - This is the poulet braise. It's not served like this; this is my plating. The food is all theirs though! - African Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is the place to get authentic Senegalese food. Come here and you will see lots of Senegalese people and you know you've made a good choice. The food is fantastic, but service and location are lacking. This place could really do well with a little bit of polishing. Food: I came here with wife and friend. Half of the items we asked to order weren't available, so ultimately we ended up ordering the dibi, dibi guinar and poussin braise. The dibi was great, lamb that was tender, well seasoned and moist. The dibi guinar was hands down the winner as far as our favorite of the entrees this evening. The chicken was hot, moist and so flavorful. I would buy the spice rub/marinade for this in a split second. The poisson braise is whole tilapia fish, and I though was more flavorful than other Senegalese options in Cincinnati. For drinks, they had a case of Mountain Dew and Coke, and water to choose from. Service: Service here is pretty marginal. The person taking our order seemed annoyed that we were ordering food. She wasn't mean or rude, but just dead pan throughout the encounter. With the beautiful weather outside, we chose to eat outside and asked for utensils. They didn't have knives to give us, making eating our food challenging. They primarily do take out orders, so keep that in mind if you want to come here and eat here. Facilities: Facilities are... humble. The restaurant is located across the street from the store, tucked away from the street. Inside is pretty sparse, the walls are half painted, with exposed ducts (and not in a chic way). There are 4 tables with chairs inside, and outdoor seating out front shared with the bar next door. I didn't see a bathroom available to customers, but didn't seek it out either. read more

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I wasn't impressed with my visit to this African and ethnic grocery store. The store carries various imports from somewhere in Africa. I couldn't place the nationalities, but I have a feeling that they were what was listed on the sign that I'd never heard of. They had lots of various items such as vegetables, meats, spices, grains, and canned goods. My only problem was that I couldn't tell what anything was. Maybe I don't know what that spice is, but it would help if the label said something like, "good for spicing lamb". At least for those of us who haven't had any exposure to this particular cuisine. There was lots of interesting stuff, but I didn't know what it was! My other problem was that nothing seemed to be priced. If I had been interested in something, I would have wanted to know how much it was without going up to the counter. read more

Darou Salam - African Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

First time eating #senegalesefood and now I'm hooked. The perfect favor profile. The food is simple yet the taste is not #darousalamafricanrestaurant read more

This place is so good! It's been open for a while now, but I only just recently made it in. Apparently they used to have a restaurant on Colerain Ave and the owners still have a store across the street (Darou Salam Store). The restaurant is in the old Picnic and Pantry space at the back of the courtyard next to Northside Tavern. The people -- I felt super welcomed when I walked in. The phone was ringing off the hook, but I still felt taken care of. One guy also come in while I was waiting and was super friendly -- he seemed like a regular. I ordered carry out for both myself and my husband -- one entree each. The portions were so big that gave us 2 meals EACH! We got the Poulet Braise (grilled chicken) and Poisson Braise (grilled whole tilapia). Both came with sides (got the couscous with one, salad with the other), a great chunky spicy red pepper sauce, and then a sweeter caramelized onion reduction sauce. Everything was so flavorful and good! Usually I don't talk up such standard sounding sides like couscous and salad either, but both were yummy and interesting. The meat on the chicken was phenomenal, and the fish was super tasty. This was also my first experience getting a whole fish rather than a fillet and I'm glad it was so good! On spice -- I wouldn't have called anything spicy except the chunky red pepper stuff. If you don't like spice, don't eat it with the meat or ask for it not to be included. You also don't chose a spice level -- I think this had been stewed all day so customization is not an option. I would rate the space level at about a 5 on a scale of 10. read more

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The first thing that we tried from here was their popular dish "Dibi" ( Grilled lamb) and omg we absolutely loved it. Now every time we go there we only order this with the brown rice. Although it's far from where I live. But their "Dibi" makes us keep coming back. I just love the taste read more

Alright 3 stars. We've ordered from here about 5 times so I think our opinion is well rounded. The food is super good. And that's why we keep coming back. The fries chicken, tilapia and grilled lamb are always great. They're hit or miss on the plantains. They always seem to be out of them but if you can get them they're good. The service is horrible. You walk in and no one greets you. You just kind of stand confused. They're super abrupt. You'll be missing items. Just now we tried to call and the phone rang for 5 min with no pickup. We went and got other food. Frustrating but it is what it is. Bad service and even hit or miss or taking an order but the food is good when you get it. read more

Wow! I know where I'm bringing people next time they visit the Northside area. I had ate here once before when the place opened, but this time I had a feast with 7 people and it was an even better experience. Eating family style and sharing all the meals. We got three different dishes with 3 different sides. Fish, chicken, and lamb, couscous, rice, and fries. There were also some spiced chopped veggies and or onions (several different types) that really added a lot to the flavor of the meals. Eat plate was definitely meant to share and at an extremely good price. Everyone at the table had different preferences on their favorite, meaning that everything was delicious! read more

After figuring out that East African food is absolutely credible, I decided I had to try West/Central African to continue my world tour of cuisines. Having heard good things about Darou Salam I decided to make a date to pick up lunch on one of my days off work, and was pretty delighted that I did. Ordered the thiebou jen with red rice, having absolutely no idea what I would be getting. I have no frame of reference for what this should taste like, but I know I like fish, and I know I like rice and vegetables. I ordered it through yelp, and asked them for a side of the house dressing they make for the house salads, which they happily obliged. Showed up, waited for a few minutes while they finished up my order, and then had to drive with this incredible smell home. Opened it up, see a GIANT serving of rice and 2 of, what looks to be, every type of vegetable that grows in Senegal. There's a yam, a white potato, a carrot, some other tuber of some type, and a serious amount of onion and pepper mixed in. The fish though? That was the star. The fish was absolutely falling apart, but not overcooked. Just the right texture, with an incredibly flavorful seasoning. There's a little too much oil on the rice, and my GI tract was definitely not used to the seasonings and flavors, but it was so tasty I'm going to make an effort to build my familiarity for sure. Definitely check them out if you're in the area! read more

Darou Salam - Lunch Thiebou jen with red rice. Fall apart tilapia with flavorful aromatic rice, carrots, cabbage, eggplant and some type of tuber - African Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

The food was good be the customer service was not. He seemed liked he was annoyed at us ordering food. And very out of tuned with what ever else was happening. We asked questions and there were just bland answers that didn't answer the question at all. The food was good but the service could be better. read more

Soooooooooo good! My sister and I went here in March and it's delicious. We ordered the whole tilapia, which takes 20-30 min on a busy night btw, but it was work the wait. The fish was huge and could definitely be split by two people - unless you're ravenous. We ordered rice and sweet plantains with it and both were flavorful. The restaurant can get really smoky from the grill in back but they have outside seating as well. I definitely recommend grabbing a drink or dessert while there. A whole fish is priced at $10 on their menu and it's a great deal. If you're in Cincinnati you should go here!! read more

Darou Salam - African Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Love this Senegalese restaurant! Got the grilled chicken and grilled tilapia dinner entrees (i was super hungry) with their side rice. Everything was delish! I will be back with all of my foodie friends to show case this hidden gem. :) read more

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Pros: Giant portions, flavor so crazy and rich, diverse food options for people looking to break out Cons: Service was kinda terrible. One woman working the counter, no real line structure, and place was poorly lit. read more

My boyfriend and I love this place for takeout. I always order the grilled chicken and plantains, even though I swear every time that I will branch out and try new menu items. We also love the ginger juice, which we take home and mix with homemade seltzer. Darou Salam Forever!!! read more

The food here had so much flavor that I am still amazed at how good it was. And the portions were so big that I ended up having food for days afterward which didn't bother me at all since it was so delicious. I placed a carry-out order for Poulet Braise (grilled chicken) and Dibi (grilled lamb) which both come with a side so I chose white rice and plantains. The Poulet Braise consisted of four whole chicken legs (thigh and drumstick) with two separate piles of onions. One of the onion piles contained well cooked onions that were soft and in a brown gravy sauce and the other pile was chopped onions and peppers that were not cooked as much so they had a firmer texture and also different flavoring. The chicken itself was so flavorful and delicious it definitely ranks up there as some of the best chicken in the city. The Dibi was a heaping pile of lamb with a large pile of lightly cooked onions. The lamb was so well spiced that every bite filled my mouth with so much flavor I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to stop eating even once I was full. The plaintains also came in a large portion and were caramelized with a nice mix of sweet and starchy. The white rice was served with a slice of tomato and cucumber and a spoonful of onions in gravy on top. The two meals each cost $12 and were huge portions. Everything came in larger portions than I expected except for the rice. I could have easily ordered one meal for my wife and I but this way we had plenty of food for lunch and/or dinner the next day. I can't stress how delicious this food was. Ever since we ate at Darou Salam we have talked about going back for more. The only complaint I can possibly state is that the restaurant seemed kind of smoky when I was inside ordering and picking up my food. It was as if the kitchen wasn't well ventilated and since the door from the kitchen to the dining area was open it vented all the smoke into the dining room. I don't know if they have a regular ventilation issue or if this was a one time thing but it would definitely be bothersome to eat in those conditions and would certainly leave a smell on your person and clothing. read more

Darou Salam - Poulet Braise (grilled chicken legs), Dibi (grilled lamb), white rice with gravy, and plantains - African Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I had grilled lamb and a salad...it was sooo good!!! Just go there!!! A co-worker bought it forme so I'm not sure how much it cost...but man... It sure is good! I can't wait to share with my friends and fam! read more

Solid 5 out of 5. Tried the poulet braise with side of plantains and it was probably the best chicken I've had in my life! It is cooked so well with the most flavorful spices. The plantains were also delicious. A little sweeter and crispier than other plantains I've tried but still wonderful. I hope people don't turn away due to the exterior. And sometimes, those are often the best places! It's hard to find genuine authentic food in Cincinnati and this place does it so well. Go try it now! A tip to call in ahead. And sometimes, it may be hard to get a hold of them so keep trying! If you wanna just go there in person and order, be aware that it may be a 30 min to 1 hour wait. There are other places in the area to keep you entertained though if you end up waiting. The menu is just what yelp has in their photos! read more

OMG!! We just had our dinner at this African restaurant. We LOVE it! We decide that we have got to spread the word! Tonight, our dinner at Darou Salam restaurant is probably the best and the most unforgettable meal I had at a restaurant for a while! The couple who run this place speak "Wolof" and are from Senegal. So more precisely, this restaurant serves West African cuisine. This restaurant is hidden in the courtyard right next door to Northside Tavern. We have passed this courtyard millions times but have never noticed there is an awesome West African restaurant at the back of the courtyard!! When you enter the restaurant, you might feel hesitant since it looks more like a take-out place rather than a sit-in place. There is barely any decor in the restaurant, and nobody will greet you or serve you water either when you enter it. But... don't let this scare you away! Just walk to the counter, pick up the menu, and order!! You will be surprised how good and how generous their food is!! My husband and I decided to stay in the restaurant to have our dinner. During our waiting time, we saw many Africans coming in for take-out. That was good sign since it probably meant we were going to have some authentic West African cuisine! ;) All dinner entrees come with a side dish of your choice. I ordered grilled Whole tilapia with a side salad, and my husband had grilled chicken with plantain. Omg, both entrees were incredibly delicious! So flavorful, hearty, and generous! Love them! I am a native Taiwanese and I was raised in eating "the whole fish". Since I moved to the US 8 years ago, I almost seldom had a chance finding restaurants that serve a whole fish as my entree. Tonight, I was so excited that I was having a whole tilapia in a West African style! In addition to my side salad, my grilled fish also came with an onion and pepper relish. My fish was cooked to perfect--juicy and tender! It has a rich and complex flavor--spicy and a little bit acidity (that is the key flavor of this delicious fish!) The onion and pepper relish is very unique and goes well with the grilled fish. Man, am I in heaven eating this!? Where are you going to have this dish in Cincinnati? As for my husband's grilled chicken (was it actually fried or grilled, I am not sure. But that does not matter, because it was absolutely delicious!) The chicken is tender, juicy, and rich in flavor. Texture-wise, it has crispy skin with nice spices infused! So so good!! Guess how many chicken quarters we got for this entree---4!!! This meal can feed two people! So generous! :) The chicken comes with two different kinds of relish--the onion and pepper one and the spicy pepper one. My husband loves both of them! Though this restaurant is more like a take-out place, the man (who runs the place) who brought us our dinner was super friendly! We were also being smiled at constantly by other customers coming in to take out their food. We enjoyed the space very much. Omg! Now I am still so excited about our dinner for tonight! We do not care about the bare decor of the restaurant. We do not mind that there is no service when you dine in the restaurant. The food here is just phenomenal and so different! If you are tired of having burgers, sandwiches, bar food, tacos in the Northside, please give Darou Salam a try!! read more

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So so so good! Darou Salam is somewhere I am already looking forward to revisiting. I tried the poisson braise, poulet braise, and the dibi. All superb! The freshness-- the SEASONING. The fish, chicken, and lamb were all cooked to perfection. It was nice being able to sit in the surprisingly quiet patio area and enjoy a bit of Senegal in Northside. read more

I had the plantains, couscous, and lamb (Yaap Lunch). It was phenomenal! This is honestly the best food I've ever had and the lamb was cooked perfectly. Getting the lunch entree with two additional sides was enough for me and my friend to split and to still have leftovers. I would estimate this at $10 per person for a very filling and delicious meal. TIP: use the bathroom before getting there. The bathroom is terrible, especially if you're a woman. Avoid using their bathroom by going elsewhere before or after. The food is so dope that this issue doesn't take away any stars though. read more

My friend put it best when she went there for dinner for the first time: "This is where I would take Anthony Bourdain if he came to Cincinnati." Every single thing I've tried has been amazing and I love the location, they share a courtyard/patio with Northside Tavern so we usually grab a drink while we wait and it's a perfect combo. Ridiculously large portions considering how affordable and delicious the food is. Not a lot of vegetarian options but their couscous and plantains are off the charts amazing! read more

This place is so low key I've driven past it hundreds of times. It sits behind and outdoor courtyard in Northside. I walked in to the craziest smell I can remember to date. It was off setting but I realized rather quickly that it was the Senegalese spices in action. I ordered two lamb dishes and two sides with a ginger drink. THIS WAS THE BEST AFRICAN FOOD I HAVE EVER EATEN!!! Hands down! I couldn't believe how large the portions of lamb were based on my typical restaurant experiences. The flavor was phenomenal and I found myself singing and dancing while I ate. I called my wife, told her to leave her job and come meet me to experience this. That's how serious the food is here! They have a very limited(concise) menu and there are pictures on the wall showing the dinner entrées. A happy tummy is just a point and click away! read more

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I have nothing bad to say about this place. I love it. I just tried it for the first time last week and have been back since. Both times I had chicken. Once was the lunch and once the dinner. Both were huge portions and I fed my entire family of 4 for $24 and had plenty of leftovers. The chicken is just spicy enough and bursting with flavor. I'd never had this type of cuisine before and have been missing out my entire life. It's a great addition to Northside and I plan on returning over and over again! read more

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This was supremely tasty food.... I would love to try the plantains, but even the side of rice was very good. I will definitely be back to eat here again. read more

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