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    Mahari

    3.9 (102 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 3:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Mahari Photos

    Business Info

    MAHARI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Mahari

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    Reviews With Photos

    Brandy S.

    Between the food, the vibe, and the energy, Mahari definitely delivers. The Pineapple Wings were crispy with a sweet & tangy heat And the Lamb Burger was.Juicy, flavorful, and unforgettable The stuffed plantains were too spicy for my liking but if you like heat, these are for you Don't skip this one when you're in Chicago!

    Vandana M.

    We tried this place for our wedding anniversary as we wanted to try a cuisine new to us. We made a reservation ahead in time and we were greeted with a warm smile at the entrance and the hostess wished us a happy anniversary. Our server was also very sweet, educated us about the cuisine and helped us choose our order based on our preferences. Looking around, there were a few African couples and families dining there which assured us that the food is liked by the people who know the cuisine well. I did however feel that the food was a bit on the pricier side. All in all it was a good experience and we were happy with the food and the service. I cannot say with high confidence that we will return, primarily because we live quite a distance away.

    Honey bere naan
    Justin P.

    My Mahari experience was unbelievable! Prior to visiting, I had heard nothing about this establishment, but my buddy wanted to try it during Black Restaurant Week. Every employee in that space gave us a smile from the moment we walked in. We were seated quickly upon entry; the place isn't big but the layout is a pleasant vibe. For those who just want adult beverages, they have a small bar area in the back, but we stuck to the dining room for this trip. For restaurant week Mahari offered a 3-course deal for $60. Every dish that touched my mouth was phenomenal. My starter was the naan; I didn't know naan could be savory, but they drizzled it with something (honey?) and it was ridiculously tasty. Next was the mushroom satay (solid) and the main course was the steak jollof (super tasty.) For dessert I had the bread pudding, and I'm still dreaming that tasty moistness. I washed this down with two drinks: the first was the afrodisiac (soooo good) and the next was a edelberry infused beverage (not bad.) As an FYI - my homie tried the okra, and that was the best okra I've ever had (and I didn't usually care for it.) Another thing I tried was this fried salmon ball dish... It was super good Listen when I was done, I was so full that I could barely move. A member of the staff came over and mentioned that when you order a la carte the portions are a tad bigger. At that point I cried tears of joy, because it ensured my return visit. Highly recommend.

    Myia S.

    So happy that we tried Mehari in the Hyde Park neighborhood. We were looking for one place to have lunch for Chicago restaurant week to end our restaurant week event events. And we picked this place. It's so nice that they have a parking lot so that you don't have to worry about looking for parking or paying for parking. The creole, African Latin soul food Fusion Vibe was really nice. You can tell they were super intentional about a lot of things in the restaurant. My favorite dish was the honey naan bread and the pineapple wings were delicious. We ordered a side of the jollof rice it had a good flavor, but the temperature was not as warm as some of the other food that we had. We also tried the lamb burger, and the salmon cala. The salmon collar was more rice than salmon. It had nice flavors, but wasn't really all that to me. The lamb burger was flavorful and delicious. We ordered cocktails, but they missed the mark for me. I like a well balanced cocktail. It just seemed like it was missing something. We ordered that Keylime pie. You can tell it was made with love. It was extremely delicious. Overall, I definitely recommend trying, and I will go back. they overall have really good customer service. They just need to work on the food consistency and drinks.

    Menu
    Tobin J.

    Mahari - Hyde Park, Chicago (4/10/26) 3.5/5 (7.1/10) The food at Mahari was the highlight--bold, layered flavors that kept building with each dish. You can tell there's real creativity coming out of the kitchen. Unfortunately, the service didn't match the quality of the food. On a busy Friday night, it felt like the staff was overwhelmed. Long waits for both food and drinks, little to no communication, and basic things like water refills were completely missed. One of the waitresses, Ashley, did try to step in and improve the experience, which was appreciated--but by then, the overall experience had already taken a hit. Hoping this was just an off night, because the food alone makes this place worth another shot.

    Menu
    NiNi F.

    My first impression walking in was cute decor and quaint. I suggest reservations due to no waiting area if you walk in. The music selection was spot on but very loud so it made everyone else talk louder. My friend and I shared plates one of us ordered the seafood etouffee with chicken sausage and the other ordered the platter with steak. The presentation of the food was perfect. The etouffee had good flavor but it was more of a gumbo/soup. I'm used to etouffee being in a thicker sauce similar to jambalaya. The platter with medium well steak came out cooked to perfection and tender, unfortunately it was lacking flavor. There was also salmon on my dish about 2oz. I ate a small piece and when I went to cut into the middle I noticed it was not cooked all the way. I informed the owner Lisa and showed her, no type of compensation. They also add a 20% gratuity to parties of 2+.

    Banana pudding cake
    Rebecca W.

    Mahari is a Kenyan restaurant serving African fusion items. I came in with a group of friends and were seated quickly. The menu has items inspired from foods all around the continent and you could tell the chef was well versed in all the different flavors. Everything we had was amazing. 10/10 for everything we had. The food took a little while to come out but overall the vibes were good and the music was good. The chef ended up coming to our table and introduced himself and asked our opinions of everything we had. He listened to everything we had to say and even brought out dessert for us on the house. Needless to say, we will definitely be back!

    Jollof platter
    David M.

    I highly recommend mahari one of the newer restaurants in Hyde park. Bringing a fusion of African flavors under one menu. It is a wonderful and we got excellent service from when we walked in, to the wait staff, and when we left. It's a great blend of soul food, creole, Caribbean, while blending fine dining techniques. Joloff platter was delicious it comes with your choice of protein, rice, Mann bread, and plantains. A great dish with excellent flavor I really loved the plantains. I also tried the rah-Sta pasta. It had some unique flavors to it in the coconut cream sauce. This was a great culinary experience and they also make great and unique drinks. This is a wonderful neighborhood spot in the Hyde park area featuring an overall great menu with a great dining experience.

    Key lime pie
    Devyn C.

    I have dined at Mahari at least five times, and the food is always phenomenal. The drinks are pricey but they are also strong and really good. On very busy evenings, the service can be slow. But, again, the food is fantastic and the decor is gorgeous. Also, regardless of speed, the service has been friendly every time I've been there. Mahari is a great addition to the neighborhood and I really hope it sticks around for a long time.

    Brielle B.

    Update on Mahari...went solo this time and it was a whole vibe. I sat at the bar and had an amazing experience again. The bartenders were great, especially Kenzie she was attentive, friendly, and clearly knows what she's doing. I wasn't even planning to drink, but she made me a Sidecar that was so good I ended up ordering two. One of the best I've had. They also brought out a special dish that isn't on the regular menu, and I need them to add it permanently. It had a coconut, curry-like undertone with peppers and red snapper (though it almost gave salmon vibes), topped with crispy onions. Every single bite was divine...easily one of the best dishes I've had there. I even ended up chatting with someone else at the bar, and the whole atmosphere was just easy, warm, and fun. The team does their signature drum performance and toast, and the owners are always welcoming. This was my second visit...the lamb burger was great before, but this special dish topped everything. Highly recommend checking out Mahari. When they have specials, go. You won't regret it.

    Mahari was honestly such a great place to celebrate my birthday with friends. The food was the highlight for sure. Everything looked beautiful when it came out and tasted even better. You can tell a lot of care goes into the preparation and the flavors felt really authentic and thoughtful. The service was also really attentive and welcoming the whole time. They made the night feel special in a simple, genuine way, which I really appreciated. Overall just a great experience and a really strong spot if you want excellent food and a nice atmosphere for a celebration or dinner with friends. Definitely planning to go back.

    Bread pudding
    Jen S.

    So glad Mahari has come to Hyde park! We get take out- one day soon I hope to dine in. It's always been easy to order and wait for food. The staff are all wonderful. The food is divinity. I can still taste the sweet-savory-slight kick spiciness of the food. The bread pudding is a must try. Must. There's so much on the menu for people with different preferences. There's really something for everyone! Writing this review makes me want to go back pronto. See you soon Mahari :)

    Monmon Bread Pudding
    Monyca M.

    This was my second visit here. The food and service were amazing once again! I didn't have a reservation, but there was space at the bar. I got the jollof platter with steak. Everything on the plate was delicious. They even did a small performance to acknowledge birthdays and other celebrations. It was dope.

    Sambusa

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    29 days ago

    All staff should be aware of reservation policy, this would have been a better experience. The food and service was great!

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    Ask the Community - Mahari

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    Nayo's African Cuisine

    Nayo's African Cuisine

    (7 reviews)

    Rogers Park

    Best nkwobi in chicago. or are you looking for Ukazi soup,…read moreor uha. Reached out and you will confess 3313057300.

    Wanted to treat hubby to some cuisine from his culture and so we went here. It's a long distance…read morefrom home but it was a mild weather day in December so we decided to make the drive on 12/9/24. We ring the bell and a young boy let us in and we sat down. It was awhile before someone came to tend to us but as my husband was explaining to me, in the African culture, you go to them to tell them what you want, not the other way around. They were in the back busy cooking and preparing, there is a open window where you can order. We got to meet the owner who the restaurant is named after, Anayo. He was awesome! I wanted to order the fried rice or the coconut rice but those are large orders for several people which are only for call in but they don't indicate that on the menu. I got to order the last meat pie they had and OMG, I'm still dreaming about how good it was! I ordered the jollof rice and told them mild spice but it was still a bit too hot for me but in Nigeria, that is how they spice their food, LOL. It comes with goat meat and fish. I loved the fish as it was flavorful, crispy and delicious! I will make sure to order that fish again. Hubby got the Nkwobi made with cow feet, scotch bonnet pepper, onion, palm oil Spinach and seasonings. It was so hot but he enjoyed every bit of it. Anayo told us that they have only been open for 1 year. I hope they continue and thrive. I got to taste a strawberry yogurt drink that they had in the frig that was in a 1 liter container. I really enjoyed that also. You get the bill after you pay - they told us our total for us to pay. Not used to that but they aren't the first business that I've experience to do that. Area was very quiet that evening. Thank you Nayo's - see you soon!

    Mahari - african - Updated May 2026

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