Badou Senegalese Cuisine

African restaurant · Rogers Park

Badou Senegalese Cuisine

African restaurant · Rogers Park

3

1947 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60626, USA

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Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null
Badou Senegalese Cuisine by null

Highlights

Senegalese dishes like Mafe, Yassa, and Pastels.  

Featured in Eater
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1947 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60626, USA Get directions

badousenegalesecuisine.com
@badou_cuisine

€€ · Menu

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1947 W Howard St, Chicago, IL 60626, USA Get directions

+1 773 293 6913
badousenegalesecuisine.com
@badou_cuisine

€€ · Menu

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Sep 26, 2025

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@eater

Where to Eat and Drink in Rogers Park | Eater Chicago

"Badara “Badou” Diakhate is the owner/chef behind this Rogers Park restaurant specializing in Senegalese fare with a few soul food dishes, too. His specialty is a jambalaya of okra cooked in a thick tomato sauce with onion, shrimp, and smoked turkey. There’s also boulette, a Senegalese beef patty accompanied by braised collard greens, and bissap, a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage of hibiscus, anis, vanilla, and mint." - Aimee Levitt

https://chicago.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-bars-rogers-park-neighborhood-chicago
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@eater

Where to Eat African Food in Chicago | Eater Chicago

"Badara “Badou” Diakhate is the owner/chef behind this Rogers Park restaurant specializing in Senegalese fare with a few soul food dishes, too. His specialty is a jambalaya of okra cooked in a thick tomato sauce with onion, shrimp, and smoked turkey. There’s also boulette, a Senegalese beef patty accompanied by braised collard greens, and bissap, a refreshing non-alcoholic beverage of hibiscus, anis, vanilla, and mint." - Audarshia Townsend

https://chicago.eater.com/maps/best-african-restaurants-chicago
View Postcard for Badou Senegalese Cuisine
@eater

I Heart Halal fest returns to Chicago’s Navy Pier with more food - Eater Chicago

"Badou Sengalese Cuisine represents African flavors and will be part of the food lineup at the festival." - Ashok Selvam

https://chicago.eater.com/2019/4/4/18295382/i-heart-halal-2019-navy-pier-festival-lettuce-entertain-you-chicago-food-lineup
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Kaitlyn Brown

Google
I was visiting a friend and she said it was a must have--she was absolutely right! I got the vegan mafe, my friend got cebbu yap, and then we split the plantains and veggie pastel. All amazing! Can't wait to go back next time I'm in town!

Kate Ford

Google
They had a stand at the Old Town Art Festival, so I haven't made it to the restaurant yet. The food was incredible! I had a chicken platter that had jerk chicken thighs, rice, carrots, and cabbage and a side of the veggie potato pastels. The chicken was moist and well seasoned. The rice was so good and the carrots and cabbage gave a sweet and sour mix. The pastels were potatoes with extra spices and also really good. Definitely will try more!

Mohamed Eljerary

Google
The service is absolutely amazing. The consideration for customer experience is phenomenal, with a care to connect and cater to customer needs on a level beyond what is normally offered by other restaurants and staff. The food is delicious, I cleaned every bit of it off my plate. Would highly recommend!

Harrison Schroeder

Google
Badou is the man! A group of us are planning a trip to Senegal in the fall and wanted to experience the cuisine before we went. Badou recommended an entire course for us, a mixed group of vegetarians and non-vegetarians. All the food was fantastic. We come to find out that he wasn't even planning on being open tonight, and he was so happy to make the food for us that he opened. Excellent food, excellent service. Would highly recommend.

Shelley C

Google
Been eating from Badou for years and I have never been disappointed! Everything I’ve had is delicious so it’s hard to pick a favorite but I tend to order the Yassa Fish more than anything else. I was very happy to see him at Vegandale this summer. Congrats to your continued success!

Kidjie Boyer

Google
Badou and Daniel are so nice. 😇 Cooked the meal fresh and kindly corrected my order when there was a misunderstanding. I'm looking forward to returning. I want to try everything on the menu that is pescatarian friendly. I had veggie pastels, Joloff rice, and whole fish. Yummm😋 Support this Black business! Keep up the great work, everyone!

Patrick Cameron

Google
Oh my Gosh. What a wonderful surprise. I went there not expecting anything fantastic to happen. Not good, not bad. Just expected to get a meal after a long, hard, day at work. Well Surpise, something fantastic did happen. The food was delicious. I have to put this on my list of places to revisit. I ordered Jerk Chicken and Jolaf Rice. The chicken was spiced just right and the rice was fresh (not that hard, bottom of the pot stuff. No this was a softer texture and was very flavorful). I'm sure they can bring spice flavors down if you don't like spicy. But check their menu. The have lots of flavorful looking dishes.

millsjam8

Google
A group of us stopped for dinner and had a terrific experience. Food was really flavorful and fresh. The owner helped us decide on dishes so we had a variety to try and enjoyed very much. Had good vegetarian options. Really delicious and had a great time.
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Fiana S.

Yelp
I always like trying new cuisines so was excited to try Senegalese food for the first time at this restaurant in 2019. The restaurant has a very casual interior. I liked the Senegalese art and design. Not a lot of ambience otherwise. I love that there are a lot of vegetarian options on the menu. The owner was friendly and went to cook my dish up fresh. Typically, I love peanut sauce in different cuisines. Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of this dish. It had a lot of peanut butter and I didn't taste many spices. I would have likes more veggies. The rice was plain white rice. I wish I could have tried other things on the menu that I may have liked more.
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Johnny Z.

Yelp
I have become a Badou Senegalese Cuisine disciple. I have been hooked on the barbecue jerk chicken which is grilled and slightly spicy along with the veggie and chicken pastels. The pastels are crunchy, light and flaky. I used Badou for many of my events where the participants have never tried Senegalese food before and now they have become Badou groupies
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Seth F.

Yelp
Badou's food is amazing. Curry veg soup blew my mind. My wife's salmon dish was great. Dishes are great size and beautifully served. Don't sleep on this place! He's also a great man!
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Katie E.

Yelp
Okay first off..... WOW. I will be the first to admit I didn't think I'd like this food.. and boy was I wrong. Badou Senegalese was the only option for food during the Jauz Block Party event this weekend at Plumbers Hall in the west loop. We weren't sure if this is what we were in the mood for, but we were starving. I'm SO glad we gave this place a shot!! To split, me and my friend ordered the Jerk Chicken, Plantains, and some fried goodness that included a veggie Boulette and a meat filled Pastel. OMG. We devoured this plate.. everything was so flavorful. The jerk chicken.. now my friend does not like spicy foods but she also could not stop eating this! The plantains were a little cold but we were eating this supppper late, and they were still tasty. The boulette... was incredible. This may sound weird but I kept saying it tasted like minestrone soup, but in fried ball form. The description might not be great, but the meal was. Overall... I will definitely not be skipping out next time I see this place at an event. If I'm in the area too I will definitely be stopping in to try some more items!

Mary Kate T.

Yelp
This was an excellent experience! I loved everything we had, but particularly the vegan mafe, yassa, and pastel. There were tons of vegetarian options and they were all good. The service was great as well. He pulled up a chair and helped us choose what to order, and then the food just kept coming. Great value for money as well! 10/10 recommend and I will be going back.
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Tiff E.

Yelp
I got to try their food at the Taste of Chicago. First off, they're such lovely ladies. So kind and funny. But the food was amazing! The keel chicken was tasty and not too salty. The jollof rice was full of flavor and the veggies were tender. If I didn't have any self control, I would've faded blanched into it. Well done!

Gourmetgeek 2.

Yelp
Such great food, really enjoyed the boulettes, pastels (pastry was so crispy ), followed by yasa and mafe chicken. So flavourful!

Ruth H.

Yelp
The owner Badou was super welcoming and friendly. The "mafe," sweet potatoes in peanut butter sauce, and the tilapia dishes were wonderful. Badou showed us Senegalese recipe books and took time to explain what makes his recipe's unique.

Josephine D.

Yelp
Food was great! Especially the chicken pastel! So crispy, love that the crust was so thin. The fou fou was fantastic, so flavorful. Would definitely co
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Christopher R.

Yelp
Don't let the modest appearance mislead you, what Badou lacks in the appointments associated with fine dining, they make up with incredible food plus attentive & genuine hospitality. Senegalese cuisine is definitely something worth exploring (West African, in general), especially their Mafe/peanut stew plus a variety of other dishes. Since much of it may be unfamiliar, just let them take you on a journey. For example, we had a large group and they put together a great progression of options including vegetable, fish, poultry and beef-based preparations, and we enjoyed everything (and still had food to take home).
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Stephen N.

Yelp
I had a chance to try the pastel through Taste of Chicago and I'm so glad I stopped by. It easily won the best thing I had that evening and I'd love to come by and try other dishes here. The chicken pastel had a delightful crunch and the chicken was also savory and well seasoned and somehow still so moist despite it being almost close time of the event that day.
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Carly R.

Yelp
This place was such a pleasant surprise. Food was 10/10, staff was precious and price was right. The owner was out sick so his wife was in the kitchen, so things were a little slower than usual. But she apologized and gave us a heads up as we came in - so expectations were set. That alone was better service than most restaurants I've been to. Got the chicken and peas and a few other menu staples - plates were licked CLEAN after. We've been back a few times since - this place has a permanent place on our restaurant rotation forever.

Jack K.

Yelp
Food was amazing and the owners are very friendly and accommodating. Great place to go!
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Kevin L.

Yelp
Takeaway: Strong flavors, perfectly cooked meat, and reasonable prices combine for an incredible dining experience Context: Dined in for dinner with a friend. I effectively have no experience with West African food and especially with Senegalese cuisine What I Got: Pataya (8.5/10) Perfectly flaky (and so hot) pastry dough filled with spiced chicken, tomatoes, and onions. The stand-out part of this dish, which reminds me a lot of an empanada, is just how great the crust / dough is. You can tell it was freshly baked (fried?) and that made a massive difference. The filling was also great - despite it being a more "wet" mix due to the tomatoes, it held up really well, likely due to it being freshly made. I would go back just to eat more of these. Diby Yaap (8.5/10) Spiced grilled lamb, onions, & carrots over saffron rice. Everything was basically seasoned perfectly here and want to call out the lamb specifically for also being just the right amount of tender. Saffron rice was great with the rice at an ideal texture - not too mushy and not too hard. This was the spiciest dish we got, but definitely not anything crazy. My only complaint is that I wish there was more of it! Jerk Chicken with Jollof Rice (7.5/10) Jerk chicken paired with jollof rice, plantains, cabbage, & carrots. My favorite part of this dish were the vegetables - the plantains, carrots, and especially the cabbage could be a standalone dish - as with everything else, perfectly seasoned and cooked. My main complaint, if you'd call it that, here was with the jerk chicken. Don't get me wrong, it was still great and cooked / seasoned well, but maybe pales a bit in comparison both to the other dishes I tried as well as some of the more dedicated Jamaican restaurants in town.
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Lisa J.

Yelp
I had an absolutely wonderful experience. My selection was absolutely wonderful. I had the grilled lamb with caramelized onions, grilled yellow, and red peppers over saffron rice. The restaurant has a wide selection of fresh juices. I selected the ginger juice with a hint of pineapple. The service was exceptional. It's a family owned business and the owner and his wife are so hospitable. It's like being in their home. The ambience was very traditional Senegalese setting. With Senegalese artwork, sounds of 70's Senegalese music, and all the feelings, sounds and sights of being on the continent of Africa.

La M.

Yelp
Locally owned, family owned, Senegalese Owned. AMAZING food Deep rooted family vibes and wonderful service always. What more can you ask for? Try EVERYTHING.
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Jessica H.

Yelp
We cannot say enough great things about the service and food. I learned about Badou through a Timeout Chicago article promoting different NYE restaurants to order from. The restaurant reviews were great and I was very interested in trying Senegalese food for the first time. After seeing I could order online, we placed an order for four items. Long story short, when we arrived to pick up the order this evening, the restaurant appeared closed. It turned out the 3rd party ordering system hadn't updated the restaurant's hours for the day and they were in fact closed, HOWEVER with the help of the small business owner next to the restaurant, they contacted the owners of the restaurant and then the owners of Badou said they would complete our order!!! What?! It was over and beyond! I was shocked and extremely appreciative, but I also shared with them it wasn't necessary if they were closed. They insisted they would make the food for us if we were okay waiting just 30 minutes. We waited 30 minutes with no problem and then they called when it was ready. I later learned they had a big catering job that evening/tonight and so was even more grateful and surprised that they were willing to fulfill our order. The food did NOT disappoint and was the perfect way to end 2021 and say hello to 2022! I will 100% be revisiting Badou, and will just make sure I call the restaurant in the future to confirm our online order came through. ALSO, the online ordering company they use is very helpful. The online ordering company was quick to respond when I emailed to see what happened with our order. They originally refunded our credit card, but once we received our food, I emailed them back to ensure that our credit card was recharged. I will also call tomorrow to make sure that the restaurant did in fact get paid for our food order. 5 stars all the way!

Kathy V.

Yelp
Delicious African food. I had the chicken curry & rice. It was very good and fresh. You can vary the spice, mild or spicier. We also tried the chicken & vegetable pastels (like empanadas) dough was very light they were delicious. Can't wait to go back.
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Joshua M.

Yelp
I had many Senegalese foods in CHciaog, but by far Badou is the best of all He is a chef who makes food with love and is the kindest person you can meet. He puts the flavor in all Senegalese dishes and is welcoming, I love his food, and the vegetarian this is great. Go to Howard street and eat at Badou.

Nik V.

Yelp
Highly recommend Badou! Everything we got was absolutely delicious! We tried many things off the menu, the Thieboudienne and Jerk chicken were especially phenomenal. They also have a wide array of vegan/vegetarian options that tasted great. We got the Mafe and pastels and some of the lentils/soup dishes. A low key dish that was one of our absolute favorites was the veggie soup. Don't sleep on this pick, the broth was so wonderfully spiced and warming it almost brought tears to our eyes! Extremely friendly ownership that truly cares about their food.
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Joshua W.

Yelp
It was all very good. You may have to stick your head around the window inside and let them know you're there, but the chef is friendly and the food is delicious. We had the Mafe Peanut Stew, it's like peanut butter chicken, and it was very good. The Thiou Curry Chicken (I chose beef actually) was so interesting, just a little spicy, and very very good! The chicken Pastel (handpie) had a very good flavor but deep fried and too heavy for me personally. I want to go back and try the other entrees!
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Victoria D.

Yelp
The food is hit or miss. I ordered delivery from this location, and it was still warm when I got it, which was nice. The fataya appetizer was delicious, flakey pastery and very flavorful beef filling. The entree that I got, fufu, on the otherhand was very bland and watery. I was surprised and disappointed because this was the item that I was msot excited to try. I also got their beef stew, which was delivious as well.
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Malaika W.

Yelp
Everything was fresh cooked and made with love and joy! You could taste every drop of care through each bite. If you love fresh fish, veggies and fufu, you will be in heaven. The sauce, splashed with fresh lemon enhanced the flavor of the jollof rice and side veggies. I was so satisfied and full. We will be visiting again!
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Kelly T.

Yelp
"We should definitely go back again...soon!" It is THAT good, folks! The people, customer service, and food exceeded our expectations. To us, it was just another workday when we didn't feel like cooking so we decided to try out a different place. This place made our day. Easy peasy online ordering. The food was prepared swiftly and they were so delicious! We fully recommend trying out this place, if you haven't. Most of all, the owners were so warmth and kind to us. They even gave us a freshly made ginger drink for free. As ginger drink enthusiasts, we were obsessed with how fabulous it was. We would definitely go back again...soon!

Paul W.

Yelp
I have eaten here several times and always get excited to something I haven't had yet. Had the classics jerk chicken, peanut butter stew, fataya and others. There's many other chicken dishes, lamb and fish. And a surprisingly varied vegetarian menu as well. Intending to try it all. Badou and his wife Paula are committed to best culinary experience possible, and are genuine and welcoming. The decor seems Senegalese to me. Very low key, to the point where I was surprised at just how good the food is! Also, be prepared to be a little patient. They are preparing to order and the food comes out hot and fresh. I go often.
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Linda S.

Yelp
Hands down one of the best experiences we have had!! They recommended every dish and every dish was better than the last! So many different flavors, everything cooked to perfection, I 100% recommend this place! I will be back!!
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Tiffany S.

Yelp
First time trying Senegalese cuisine and wow - I don't think I've have anything quite like it before. Badou is a small blue shop in a small strip mall (yay free parking!). These are my favorite kinds of places - unassuming and in a strip mall (is my Southern California showing yet? ha.) We had the: *Mafe Entree (Chicken or vegetables cooked in rich creamy peanut butter sauce) - YUM. That rich creamy peanut butter sauce!! I was telling my dining companions that it reminded me of Taiwanese Cold Noodle (tahini/peanut butter is used as the sauce). *Thiebou Djen Entree (Djolof rice, senegalese national dish with fish fillet) - this dish had a wonderful unexpected tomato overtone, which created a comforting heartiness. The fish did seem a little salty at first, but once paired with the veggies/rice, it was perfect. The djolof rice kind of reminds me of cous cous/another more short grain, more al dente rice. Yum. Our server didn't ask us heat level for either dishes but I liked the heat. I probably could've even used a little more heat. She also wasn't really sure about the Yelp check-in free appetizer, but it's fine. I also was entertained by the "open kitchen" concept because the first thing you see is two stacked microwaves. I'm not sure what they're microwaving back there, but I don't really mind because the food didn't taste not fresh or microwaved. 95/365
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Berni C.

Yelp
This unassuming, low key resto is a hidden jewel of Senegalese cuisine. I ordered the national dish of Senegal which is Thiebou Djen , just like what I saw in the Food channel, oh boy, it's delicious ! mildly spiced, with sweet yam, and with my favorite veggies: carrots, eggplant , wow, awesome! I also love the gospel music being played to the African beat! This is a to go to resto to nourish not only the body but your spirit as well! I will surely come back!
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Chris M.

Yelp
We had our monthly dinner club at Badou last night. I stopped in earlier in the week to be sure he could accommodate a party of 10. Yesterday Badara called me to confirm and asked about any dietary restrictions. When we arrived, the tables were already set up and ready for us. Plus he had already planned out the menu for us and we were treated to some very delicious, Senegalese cuisine. Very nice people and a great dinner!
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Mira K.

Yelp
Quite possibly the best jerk chicken in Chicago! The food was so freshly made and the staff were so, so warm. We loved the jollof rice with jerk chicken--definitely a standout. The boulette and pastel were perfectly fried. I'm excited to try more from this little restaurant.
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Kelechi O.

Yelp
Really good, authentic Senegalese food! That is hard to find in the Chicago area, but Badou has it in spades. I don't tell my moms, because she was slap me silly, but it's better than what she makes. There. I said it!
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Inna K.

Yelp
Excellent service and wholesome food: we ordered what was recommended by our hostess/server : fried plantains, pastels, grilled lamb w saffron rice and Yassa chicken! So tasty! Highly recommend!
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Brianna R.

Yelp
We traveled here from Milwaukee a few weeks ago looking to try something new and really enjoyed our experience here. The food was delicious! For our order we shared plantains, peanut butter Mafe , and the fish dish. Everything we ordered was full of flavor and was exactly what we were looking for. It was our first time trying Senegalese food and Paula was really kind and took time to explain some of the dishes which we really appreciated. Since we were there towards closing we even got to meet the owner & Chef Badou who came out and said hello. loved the food and enjoyed meeting Paula & Badou! Will definitely be back! The food was so good that we forgot to snap a pic lol.
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Miguel Angel V.

Yelp
Great food and amazing costumer service. Everyone is friendly and you feel like you are in a family restaurant. The owner explained us what is each plate and give us good suggestions. The food is great with so much flavor and a variety of options depending on your own preferences. If you are close to Rogers Park you have to try it out.
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Lily F.

Yelp
I love trying new cuisines and am proud to have earned my Senegalese badge! First, the food here is good and honest. And what I mean by that is you can taste the love that goes into each dish. It's a small dining room (maybe 5 or 6 tables) and there were only 2 people working on the day I went. I ordered the Thiebou djen jolof rice, the national dish, as well as the Mafe, Peanut Butter Stew. The Thiebou djen was a delicious fish dish that I highly recommend over the Mafe if you're only getting one thing. The fish was pan fried, served over rice and topped with a thick tomato paste. It tasted homey and even though I've never had it before, it tasted like familiar. The mafe was good and did remind me of a Taiwanese dish, as someone mentioned earlier. I looked the owner in the eyes and asked him to make it as spicy as he could because I heard this place was ridiculously spicy. It wasn't, although it had a kick to it. It tasted like he used a habanero blend. It was good, but it was an incredibly thick sauce. Great, but the fish dish was awesome. I will say that if you're in a hurry that this probably isn't the place for you. There were only 2 other people there and it took them a bit longer than an hour to get my food out. I plan on coming back of course because the food was not only delicious but the owner was extremely kind. I might call it in though next time.
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A A.

Yelp
genuinely the best dining and food experiences i've ever had. you want talent, culinary creativity, and authenticity -- find Badou

Melissa A.

Yelp
I am moving away from the neighborhood soon and one thing I will miss most is the best african food from Badou senegalese cuisine on Howard. They have great vegetarian options, the jollof rice and curried vegetables are amazing. Also the owners are so sweet and hospitable, making your food with love. Definitely worth checking out!

Paul W.

Yelp
Started with the classic Jerk Chicken and Jollof rice. Very enjoyable flavors of jerk spices and barbecue sauce skillfully combined for the right notes of sweet and spicy. Rice was unique and satisfying. Plentiful portions. location is quaint. Staff and owners warm and welcoming. Bringing my family at earliest opportunity.
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Gund E.

Yelp
it was pretty disappointing. we walked into a cloud of burnt oil smoke, but decided to give it a chance. Then, 3 out of 5 dishes we ordered were not available. we tried fried plantains and fried pastries, they were acceptable. Then we finally ordered BBQ shrimps, expecting something that was described and pictured in the menu, but what we got was a pile of weirdly tasting rice with a few pieces of veggies and few large shrimps on top. Shrimps were obviously sauteed, not bbq, and the worst, there was an overwhelming amount of cheap bbq sauce dumped on top all over everything. My husband picked on it a little, i couldn't eat it.
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Kira G.

Yelp
Absolutely in love with Badou! All the flavors are outstanding and unique. Great portions on delicious stews. We're determined to eventually try everything on the menu, haha. Also, their pineapple ginger juice is one of the tastiest beverages I've ever had. One time we had to wait a little longer than expected so they gave us some for free. So sweet! Highly recommend to try some epic food and support small local businesses :-)
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Alexis H.

Yelp
Chicago has three known Senegalese restaurants. Yassa in Bronzeville, Goree Cuisine in Kenwood, and Badou in Rogers Park. I ADORE Goree, but I found myself on the north side today and decided to finally give Badou a chance so I can complete tasting the trifecta. First impression: Had doubts about the kitchen conditions. It doesn't... look good. And you can see it all standing at the register. I won't judge them on that alone though, because every other kitchen could look like this but I'd just never know. I went to place my order and there were issues with the card machine. The owner then asked me to go next door (his wife owns the shop next door) and use his wife's square for payment. Wow... okayyy. Long story short, his wife was able to process my card and payment, but in retrospect I wish it didn't. The food was horrid. And I hate to say that, because the people truly are kind, but never again. I ended up throwing it away after a few bites.
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Hannah E.

Yelp
We walked up to this restaurant a bit after noon, when its listed hours say it opens. But the owner opened the door a bit, apologizing and telling us that they were opening later that day. "But I'm hungry NOW," said my dad, which would have been a dumb strategy except that it actually worked: the owner considered his statement, shrugged, and let us in. After presenting and thoroughly explaining his menu, we decided on pastels to start and thiebou djen (fish with jollof rice and... well, I'll get to it). The pastels were excellent (spoiler alert, everything was excellent). The filling, sure, but the pastry itself was the most impressive: soft and flaky and fall-apart. The (tender, flavorful) fish came with what we thought was a sweet potato. My dad, who doesn't like sweet potatoes, told the owner that it was the best sweet potato he'd ever had. "You know why?" asked the owner. No, why? "Because it's a carrot!" We all laughed together, and then my dad and I completely cleaned all our plates.
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Kel G.

Yelp
I had been itching to try this place because my former roommate had gotten food from them numerous times at 3 in the morning. Today I finally got my chance, and ordered the Fataya (beef pastry) appetizer, Chicken Coconut Soup, Mafe lamb (peanut butter stew), and some Jollof Rice on the side. The Beef Pastry was Phenomenal, it was deep fried, crispy, hot, and full of flavor and filling and sauce. However, that's the only thing I had that I really liked. The chicken coconut soup just tasted like regular chicken soup with a hint of basil/thyme - not anything super special. The jollof rice was unfortunately really bad - it had no detectable tomato flavor, or flavor whatsoever. The Mafe I didn't end up liking much, but maybe that's my fault because I thought Peanut Butter stew would taste more like Peanut Sauce than Peanut Butter. I didn't know to take it that literally. I'd definitely come back for the Pastels only (for a snack), although I'm inclined to give them a second chance with other dishes like the Senegalese Fish. In terms of food I'd give 3 stars, but I did like the service much more than the food. Badou's wife gave me a metal spoon bc she didn't have any plastic ones - I felt bad for taking it but she insisted they had plenty and she does it a lot. Apparently Badou himself is in Africa atm so they haven't had time to redecorate the restaurant after moving locations in the past year.

James C.

Yelp
Great place I would recommend anyone to come to this fantastic place good food good people clean area everything just right so gone down there and get y'all some good food all and they margaritas is to die for
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Alexis M.

Yelp
We love, love, love Badou. Seriously, nous aimons. There are SO MANY vegan options. And the options aren't just your boring vegan dishes that some restaurants throw on. They are full of flavor, unique, chockful of veggies, and just so yummy. I love the petit pois, the lentils, the jollof rice, the lentils, the pastels. Basically, I love everything I've ever tried. We order it hot, which is nice and spicy, but you can order if to your taste. The pastels are flaky and creamy and tomatoey. The food isn't fast, but that's just not the type of restaurant this is. Badou is so nice. Give him and the restaurant a chance. It's a hidden gem.

Char C.

Yelp
I highly recommend eating at this wonderful African restaurant. My daughter had a school project for her world cultures class requiring African food and culture. The owner Badou, his wife and friend so generously explained the foods and and culture to us. They were very hospitable and the food was absolutely, AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS!! When the food came out we were stunned. It was very filling and way better than we anticipated. We will be back and HIGHLY RECOMMEND stopping in for a meal. The food is delicious!!

Philip R.

Yelp
First time there, ordered the chicken and rice on the GrubHub app, the meal was very good, but spicier than I like. It turns out, that item on their menu on GrubHub has no option to specify mild or spicy, but it does on their website. For this reason, I would recommend ordering from the Badou website, instead of GrubHub. GrubHub also gave an incorrect wait time for pick up, a half hour longer than it should have. When I got there, they said my order had been sitting there for a while. So to sum it up, Badou was great, GrubHub was not.
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Freddie L.

Yelp
It's pretty fun to try out exotic cuisines and taste foreign dishes with explosions of flavor in combinations that you didn't think were possible. If you've been hitting up your favorite vegan Chinese, or Thai restaurants a little too regularly, it's time to try something new. Senegal African cuisine is rich in spectacular flavor, vibrant color, and serious spices. And I'm not talking about just the Moroccan tagine or Ethiopian injera and vegetable wat that you've probably tried (and loved). Dishes from this continent include Lentils cooked in a creamy tomato sauce with potatoes and exotic spices, ancient grains, tropical fruits, veggies, and tons of spice to make your palate go "Wow!" Plus, these foods are great for those who want a hearty vegan meal. Don't forget to try there delicious Jolof Rice and Veggie Pastel.
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Gretchen D.

Yelp
Really good food. I know nothing about Senegalese food, but this is very tasty. We came on a Saturday night when they were very busy with a large group. It is very unassuming, strip mall restaurant with room for maybe 20-30 people. Because they were swamped, the hostess asked if we would mind having what they had already prepared--the chicken with peanut sauce. We shared one order and couldn't eat it all. It was delicious. For appetizer, we had the chicken pastel--the chicken and tomato inside is a delightful combination with a tiny bite. Finally, after the chicken, due to a miscommunication (my fault), they brought out --the national dish-Thiebou Djen. I didn't have the heart to explain the error and my husband doesn't eat fish so I thought I would eat some. OMG the fish is so good. Beautifully seasoned and prepared. Even though I was full I couldn't stop eating it. The fish was moist, the very light breading and grilling perfect, and then they top it with a small amount of tangy mustardy sauce. Highly recommended!