Upon entering the restaurant we were seated at a table that hadn't been wiped down as evident by a cup of water and basket for silverware on the table. Clearly there are cultural differences present right away. No biggie. We were seated right away. We ordered red snapper... Cooked to perfection and fresh and yummy. Lamb dibi the lamb was a bit charred and not super tender but still good. Portions were good for us. I believe that a hungry person or a grown man could easily clean a plate. The juice drinks were good kinda sweet but I don't do sugar at all so I had to water it down. I observed a little kid come in with bread being carried in his bare hands that I hope wasn't for a patron. There is an African shop next door that has nice items...I really liked the mudcloth coats and hoodies. Free street parking. Customer service 4.5 Food 4.25 Bathroom Cleanliness 3.75 Restaurant cleanliness 4.0 Price $$ read more

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There was plenty of seating for our big group. Unfortunately they seemed to be understaffed while we were there so the waiter didn't take our order for about 30 mins. It was a nice atmosphere and the staff were really kind. The Yassa chicken and shrimp had great flavor, a bit spicy, juicy, and had flavorful rice. The vegetarian maffe was a peanut flavored sauce with potatoes and carrots with a bit of spice as well. If you're looking for more spice, they'll bring a small cup of Senegalese pepper sauce. read more

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Sexy. Jollof. Yassa shrimp!!!!! The yassa shrimp completely stole the show, so good that everything else felt mid by comparison. Honestly, I should've just ordered three yassa shrimp plates and called it a day. Blessed. The yassa fish was my second favorite, but the shrimp was so superior it's hard to even compare. The lamb curry was just okay. I mainly got it for the fufu, but the lamb itself was a bit dry. I genuinely don't remember most of the other dishes because I cannot stop thinking about that yassa shrimp. Drinks were pretty sweet, and service was slow and inattentive, but I'd still come back for the shrimp alone. read more

I'm so glad my friend brought me here. The food was delicious. Hot and fresh! The mint tea, full of fresh mint and sweetened nicely. We shared multiple appetizers and the jalof rice and everything had great flavor. There was a slight wait but not too bad. It seems to be run by family which is nice to see. I will return for sure. read more

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Senegalese goofy say stop being cheap look at the receipt u gave me white rice n veggie fataya can u read English. The ppl making u rich dont understand wolof goofy clown read more

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This was a great experience. The inside of nice and comfy with good service. We ordered the Jamaican Pineapple drinks first and they were so good. To eat we ordered the Yassa Tilapia and Lamb. Both meals were delicious and tender. This was my first time eating a whole fish but definitely won't be my last. Serving sizes were perfect and prices matched appropriately. I will be coming back as soon as possible. read more

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I'd been to Goree years ago and remembered loving it but couldn't remember what I got, so I went back more recently. Very much still lived up - we had a delicious meal. We ordered the dibi lamb chops and maafe for entrees, got the salmon patties (I believe they're called fataya) as a little appetizer as well as a side of plantains, and the thiakry for dessert. The lamb chops were sooo good and flavorful - my friend said he would come back just for that. I liked the maafe, salmon patties, and plantains as well. The plantains were crispy and well done. The only thing I'd probably personally skip was the thiakry but what a yummy meal. read more

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Very cold and stale. Was inedible, had to throw away. The salmon fatayas were completely cold. I mean very cold and stale as if they had been sitting out for a long time. The rice was no better. Completely stale and I couldn't enjoy chewing on it, it tasted like it was not fresh at all. The chicken was okay. But the maffe stew was also awful and the lamb was awful quality too. The food genuinely was just bad. I'm being very unbiased I have no ties to this place or any other. Am extremely disappointed and will never return . I rarely ever write yelp reviews but I just wanted to look out and warn someone since nobody looked out for me. read more

We've been here a few times and they even catered a big event for us (for 170 people). And we just went today again and I wanted to leave another review The food is phenomenal and it's the best Senegalese/African restaurant I've been too in Chicago. The dibi lamb is my FAVORITE it's so so good!! And make sure you try the Thieb it's so delicious (only on Fridays) The service is always amazing too!! read more

These folks were so kind and we enjoyed our food. Ambiance is very casual and we actually got up to order as they were a bit busy. A very friendly young girl helped us and we can't say enough good things about her poise! Food came out a little slowly and somewhat in fits and starts, but we understand everything is made to order. The fataya appetizer was our favorite. Drinks are limited, but we tried the gingembre and mint tea which were nice, but not super memorable. No alcohol and no BYOB. Parking was available street side right out front. It's a little further from home so not sure we will be regulars, but we'd visit again if in the area. read more

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Everything was great. The food was outstanding and the atmosphere was delightful. The service was excellent.

That is place is my favorite go to every year for my birthday. I usually stop in to order the whole fish with rice. Today I decided on something different which was the Thiou Curry Chicken with rice. I added a side of fufu for an extra $5. It was my first time having fufu and it didn't disappoint. If you have time to dine-in I love ordering the mint tea. It is a treat. They serve coffee and other drinks if tea isn't your thing. read more

Gorée Cuisine - Thiou Curry chicken & rice with fufu. Fufu extra $5 - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I've had my eye on this establishment for quite some time. When my boss asked where we should order our holiday lunch from, I chose this place and to my excitement, everyone agreed! My boss mentioned that when she arrived to pick up our food, staff was very warm and friendly. She only waited a few minutes as they were finishing getting our order together. The lamb was grilled to perfection and it was so tasty. The rice was also good and it has a hint of spiciness which we all raved about. We will definitely order from here again and try other menu items. read more

Gorée Cuisine - Dibi lamb - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our group order a slew of different dishes and every single one was fantastic. My personal favorite was the yassa shrimp. If you like a sweet, onion, perfectly spiced dish, this one is for you. I had it djolof rice and it was the perfect pairing. Also can't recommend the plantains enough. 10/10 and would go back read more

I always get two things here... 1) The Fataya appetizer: consistently on point! 2) The Senegalese salad: seriously inconsistent and a total crap shoot... Sometimes it comes with everything stated in the description, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes it comes without dressing, sometimes it comes over dressed. Sometimes it's the best salad you've ever had, sometimes it's a waste of time and energy. read more

My visit here today was my first time trying Senegalese cuisine and I was very pleasantly surprised! My friend has frequented this restaurant before and she chose it for her birthday lunch spot. She had the vegetarian plate and I had the yassa salmon. The salmon had a nice, light crispness on the outer skin, and was cooked perfectly so the inside was still tender and flaky. The grilled onion garnish was seasoned deliciously to the point that the onions take on a different texture! Really tasty! And the rice was cooked perfectly and provided a nice balance to the meal! I tasted a bit of my friend's vegetarian plate and it was also delicious. All of the food was really well prepared and seasoned. The owner was our server and was so attentive and kind. The restaurant is also next door to a Senegalese clothing and goods store, same owner! Beautiful store!! I am a new fan of this place and Senegalese food! read more

Gorée Cuisine - Yassa Salmon - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Food was amazing! We got the Senegalese tea which was perfect for a cold day. The dibi chicken and the yassa lamb were flavorful and delicious. The jolloff and cabbage were cooked well. The service was kind of slow as there was just one server but the food was cooked to order and so good it didn't matter. read more

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First time at Gorée and everything was super flavorful. We asked our waiter what she recommended off the menu and she paused and was like "um, basically everything." And sure enough, everything was delicious. The Yassa lamb and Yassa fish (tilapia) were enormous entrees and the lamb literally fell off the bone. I ordered maffe, which is a West African peanut stew with lamb, and requested jollof to go with it. The jollof rice was some of the best I've ever had and while the maffe was slightly spicy, had great flavor. My only wish is that it came with a bit more lamb (I think there were two small pieces of lamb - there was more bone than meat). The veggies in the stew were great. Gorée is a local restaurant that serves up some great Senegalese food- I'll be back to try some of the other stuff off the menu! read more

Gorée Cuisine - Maffe - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Well-decorated and I've always had delicious food here! I've tried the ginger drink, the tilapia, maffe, and all my sides have been nicely seasoned with good texture! Highly recommend to anyone looking for some Senegalese/West African food! read more

Gorée Cuisine - Maffe with jollof rice - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My Red Snapper, plantains and rice were cooked to perfection! Will definitely b back.

My cousin who is currently visiting from South America wanted to try West African food while visiting Chicago because you can't typically find these type of cuisines there. We rode our bikes on a beautiful & warm April day to Kenwokd/Hyde Park along the lakeshore, and decided to dine here because of its convenience. There's a divvy bike parking rack a minute walk from here so it was ideal. Overall - the owner who greeted us was friendly and accommodating. We ordered several dishes keeping in mind that my cousin doesn't eat meat (pescatarian), and everyone was delicious. Personally, I really liked the Fataya with the spicy-ish sauce that accompanied it. While I enjoyed my Yasss Shrimp, I felt that the price was a bit expensive (at $20) for just 4 pieces of large shrimp and then a huge portion of rice. The Senegalese mint tea that I ordered was absolutely delicious though. I tried their meals as well and it was all so yummy. 100% would recommend this place to others. read more

Gorée Cuisine - Yassa Shrimp - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We went to Goree for dinner on a Saturday night. There was a decent amount of seating indoors and it had some nice decorative pieces in the restaurant. The food was delicious. We were enjoyed eating the jollof with the stews they were served with. The bissap juice was also very refreshing. It is a family run business and everything is made fresh so the service can be a little slow if you come during a busy time. However the food is the real deal and we would love to come back to this place. read more

Gorée Cuisine - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food atmosphere and people. Flavorful food, family business and personal attention.

Big fan of Senegalese cuisine and this place is right on the money! Its been in my bookmarks to try for a handful of years and since I knew I was going to an event nearby, I figured it was time to try it finally. Stopped in around 6pm on a Friday evening and wasn't too occupied so it was very easy to get a seat. The host is a pretty cool guy and seems to run the show here. Menu was full of delicious items, but I saw a friend's review on the Saka Saka which is combo of lamb, shrimp and crab meat cooked with cassava over white rice. Definitely smashmouthed it as it was very delicious. My dining companion got the Maffe which is cubes of lamb cooked in creamy peanut butter and tomato sauce with potatoes, yams and carrots; served over white rice. Very good as well! They have fresh juices to order as well. The ginger ale was on point. Good joint with good service and good food. Planning to return without a doubt. read more

Gorée Cuisine - Saka Saka directly under the camera and Maffe next to it. - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and atmosphere. Not too expensive but well worth the price for the portion of food you get.

The food was delicious. We got the yassa chicken and the didi lamb. The lamb was a clear winner. I was a big fan of the mint tea but it works better after eating than with it. Service is slow but fits the relaxed atmosphere. Not a place to eat when you're in a rush but great for a sit down meal on a slow weekend. read more

Excellent Food and Service! The restaurant was very clean and esthetically pleasing. Senegalese music was playing complete with African art from across the diaspora. I had the Yassa red snapper, it was comparable to jamaican fish escoviche. Everything was very well seasoned and there was a variety of fresh drinks to choose from. read more

I love their Yassa fish (tilapia)! I get this every time. A whole grilled fish always feels comforting. The Yassa fish is grilled perfectly and comes with a delicious sauce which I'm not sure how to describe, but has some Dijon mustard and caramelized onion flavors. It comes with a heaping mound of fresh white rice. So good and can be enough to share between two people. I also got the fataya (battered salmon patties) which was a great appetizer that comes with sweet chili sauce. I got a side of cabbage which reminded me of the filling of an egg roll. I get the mint tea every time, it comes with many sprigs of mint and a lot of honey. It's delightful especially on a cold day. Split between two people, we both ended up with food comas every time. There is a lot of free street parking nearby. Definitely recommend if you want to try out Senegalese food!! read more

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Great service and food! Cashier was extremely friendly and the Yassa was a can't miss. read more

Gorée Cuisine - Yassa Fish (Tilapia) big - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

OMG!! I was dancing in my seat the Yassa lamb with Joloff rice was soooo good, so tender and flavorful in every bite. We had the YASSA red snapper which was delectable. The espresso with cream was the best coffee I have had since Puerto Rico. My hubby had hot mint tea that was sweet and good. Service was attentive and sweet. The ambience was casual the natural lighting was calming. Definitely worth a visit. So glad we came back been about 5years and it did not disappoint. read more

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Our friend brought us dinner from here and it was amazing! -dibi lamb--my favorite; great grill flavor -yassa chicken--great onions -vegetarian maffe--nice spice and balance of sweetness -djolof rice--delicious -cabbage--this was the sleeper; so tasty! -plantains--solid read more

Food was delicious. The spices totally on point. Reminded me of eating at the home of my Senegalese friend. Love the hot pepper sauce. read more

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One of the most flavorful and filling dining experiences I have had. The food is very carefully made with layers of flavor from the meats themselves, as well as the spices and the curries that accent them. I tried the Saka Saka, a dish that mixes seafood with lamb in a rich curry sauce to be eaten with rice. The wait is reasonable (15-20 minutes) and the staff maintain a very quiet and peaceful environment for you to eat. This was my first time trying West African food and the experience was more than I could have hoped for between that and the top-tier food itself. I will absolutely be back and would recommend this to anyone looking for something interesting to try in Bronzeville. read more

Gorée Cuisine - Saka Saka - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is exceptional; however, customer service is unsatisfactory, and the owner exhibits a lack of professionalism. Customers can place orders through Uber Eats, but the platform does not offer many of the available items. Instead of not accepting the order or removing unavailable items from the site, the establishment permits customers to proceed with their orders and subsequently informs them that only one particular item, the 'big fish,' is available, which incurs an additional charge of twenty dollars. Customers are expected to pay this surcharge, despite the option to simply remove the lesser items. The owner is unhelpful and appears aware of this issue but has not taken measures to resolve it. I will refrain from making further purchases from this establishment and will ensure that both Uber and other relevant parties are informed of these practices. Such conduct is unethical and constitutes customer deception. read more

Food is delicious, the lamb , jollof & cabbage were perfectly cooked, with a little kick. Service was friendly, calming atmosphere, sang Happy Birthday in Frenc & English, so enjoyable. Highly recommend read more

This place is amazing!! This was my first time trying Senegalese food (first time trying West African food in general) and it was sooo delicious! I would recommend everything we ordered: - Fataya. So good! This is an appetizer that to me resembles samosas, and has salmon patty filling. It was juicy and crispy and delicious! The dipping sauce tasted very similar to Sriracha. - Yassa fish. This is a must order!! This is a whole grilled fish (we ordered tilapia) and it's served with very flavorful jollof rice. It's so tender that the meat falls right off the bone. It's a pretty large portion so I recommend sharing it with someone and eating family style so you can try more dishes! - Cabbage and carrots. Juicy and really complements the yassa fish well! - Mint tea. Also a must order!! It's the perfect tea, served at the perfect temperature. Ask them to add honey. It's sweet and delicious and so warm and cozy. The experience is also fun because they add a generous and fresh sprig of mint in the mug. Altogether the food was delicious and my partner and I were stuffed and happy. The restaurant was quiet, clean, and the staff were attentive and friendly. I can't wait to come back!! read more

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Interesting rich flavorful food, awesome service, cozy atmosphere. Worth to try for sure!

The food was great and the staff was good at explaining the menu! We went with the Yassa Salmon (and jollof rice) and Thiou Curry Shrimp for food and the Bissap and Gingembe to drink. Our waitress explained that Yassa is grilled, so the outside of the salmon was deliciously crispy. The portion of curry was enough for leftovers and we loved the ginger aftertaste of the Gingembe! This place doesn't feel like fine dining, but it was perfectly nice inside. So glad we got the chance to try Senegalese food! read more

Gorée Cuisine - Yassa Salmon, Gingembe - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The food was 10/10. The Jolof rice was the best I've had, period. The fish tasted fresh and was very flavorful. Perfect amount of spice on everything. read more

Gorée Cuisine - House Tiebu Dejun - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

great service, amazing mint tea and delicius lamb!!! A neirgborhood and family bussiness. Very friendly and relax.