Vee-Vee's African Restaurant

Great service and good food. The owner/manager was very accommodating and answered many questions about Nigerian food and culture. Turns out many foods I thought were Caribbean actually originated in Africa. I look forward to my next visit to try more things on the menu.

i’m highly disappointed at the service. i ordered to go and they gave me basically 4 plantains and a size of fish that was the size of a bread roll. i never got my fish stew AND they admitted that my portion would be better if i dined in next time???? the portion to go should be the same because i am PAYING the same. don’t ever order to go here.

The old man there at night way extremely rude. He kept insulting me because I took time figuring out what app i used to order. Door dash or uber eats. That was very unprofessional and traumatizing. And the jollof is not good it’s like white rice and palm oil no taste.

DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY! THE WORST AFRICAN FOOD I'VE EVER TASTED. I ordered the pepper soup and goat meat. The soup was tasteless and a small portion. The goat meat didn't have any MEAT! I paid $30 for this mess! I don't understand how this restaurant is still open!

Both meals I ordered as carry-out were bad. My mistake was not checking before leaving the restaurant as I was in a hurry. I ordered goat meat pepper soup but got assorted (beef, tripe, liver), didn’t even taste like pepper soup more like beef stock. Also ordered Nkwobi but received trash as it did not contain cow leg but cow skin and taste was horrible. It’s like the cow skin was boiled until tender, then sautéed in palm oil with some sort of vegetable that gave it a bitter taste (see attached). Got charged at higher price than what’s listed on the menu. ORDER AT YOUR OWN RISK

First time eating at the restaurant though I've had it many times at the Taste of Chicago booth. We had the jollof rice with fried fish and one with chicken stew. It was delicious and the servings were plentiful. I will definitely come back again and I highly recommend.

Rolled into Vee‑Vee’s African Restaurant for dinner—dropped about $25 on jollof rice with goat meat and a side of plantains. The flavors were on point—rice had that nice spice kick, goat was tender, and plantains were crispy-sweet. Staff was friendly and let me BYOB, which is clutch. Seating was cozy but packed, and wait was decent. Top-tier dinner spot north side—just wish portions were a smidge bigger. Will def be back!

You can BYOB. Very good meals, on a good day (some days may not be) . Fair price for some of the menu. Long wait if you don't order ahead. Friendly and chatty owner.

I walked in, rang the bell at the empty desk, and waited 15 minutes for no one to show up. I then took a good look around and decided the place looked much too unsanitary to eat from (I included a picture). So I think they actually did me a favor by not operating their own business. Stay away.

I just ordered a goat stew, and they delivered a random chicken in an Aldi bag. First of all, that's not okay ~ what if someone tampered with my food? When I called the delivery guy, he lied and claimed he called me (which he didn't no missed call), and instead of apologizing, he said 'there's nothing I can do' and hung up on me. The audacity! I'm honestly so annoyed. The level of rudeness and carelessness is wild.

The food ranges from very good to okay, and there is a lot of variance here. The service varies from slow to the speed of glaciers. What did the snail say when hitching a ride on top of the turtle? "WWWwweeeeeeeeee!" Service is faster than a snail's pace, and maybe typical for a SubSaharan West African place. My people are slow like this too, it's kind of an equatorial speed. They are friendly, both the workers and the other customers. They make my favorite well, peanut soup and fufu with fried fish. They often get orders wrong, repeat yourself and make the waiter repeat your order (well it still may not be correct but give yourself your best shot at getting what you want). Their Jollof rice is good but not the best I've had in Chicago. I've lived in Milwaukee for almost 20 years now, and what I miss most about Chicago is the wide choices in International cuisine. Some fellow on Tik Tok is eating "around the world in Chicago" and I don't know which Nigerian restaurant he chose but there's at least 7 and they are all good with the food and slow with the service. Another problem they all seem to have, this one too, is opening late and closing randomly. Anyway, worth the 70 mile drive for me and if they aren't open, the competition is nearby.

I had the Jollof Rice with chicken stew. I expected the rice to be spicy...it was mild but still delicious, flavorful & moist. The chicken was disappointing- dry and overcooked :(

Food is delicious. Didn't wait too long for food to get to me I'll def be ordering from here in the future

Vee Vee is one of the most consistent Nigerian restaurants in Chicago. It's always good, service is top notch, and the vibes are always amazing!

Great neighborhood spot! I couldn't decide which platter to go with, so I ended up with the recommended combo of goat and fish with boiled yams - was not disappointed at all with that recommendation. I'm not sure what the dish's red sauce was, but it was delicious. There was some heat to it, but not spicy. For an appetizer, I split a goat hoof (highly recommend) and also a meat pie, which I recommend putting the red sauce on top of for an added bonus.

I have tasted quite variety of Nigerian dishes and can say I know a good one when I see it. Few days ago, we stopped by and ordered Egusi soup with Garri. The soup tasted very different; was made with egg instead of egusi. The customer service was not better either. I ordered for goat meat and was served with tripe and beef instead. When I asked the waiter he stated that "he was doing me a favor" . When I complained he accused me of "speaking too much grammar" I mentioned to him that even as a Nigerian, I cannot recommend this place. If you are used to authentic naija food, this place is not for you. I stand by this review.

I went to the Sunday buffet the service was very slow workers had call off for church service food wasn't prepared I kept asking for wine he said he would bring it to me then ignored my request the buffet cost$13.22 the food isn't spicy at all this last experience wasn't good at all

I absolutely love this spot....I was turned on to African food a few years ago...I have my entire family eating it now..looking forward to going back soon..

The food's actually pretty good. The problem is going there. Vee Vee's is basically never open. The hours they list everywhere are irrelevant. They'll open and close when they feel like opening and closing. You'll show up an hour after they theoretically opened for lunch only to find the lights off and some employee will tell you they don't open for another hour. If and when you eventually get into the restaurant, the service is awful. Vee Vee's does attend just about every street festival and so I'd recommend getting their food then. But don't go to to the restaurant.

Their Fish Egusi Soup with Fufu is so good! They give you a good amount of fish and the egusi is packed with flavor and has the right amount of spiciness to it. Whenever I crave fufu, this is my go-to place because they are always consistent and their meat portions are pretty decent.

Vee Vee's was an interesting experience. My husband and I eat a lot of ethnic food and love hole in the wall places... but when we walked in on a Friday night and were litterally the only ones in the restaurant (no servers, no one at the counter)... we were a little intimidated. We stood around for a minute or two until someone came from the back to seat us. Our chair were two plastic lawn chairs... interesting. We waited ages before someone came to take our order. We looked over the menu for a while and my husband was pumped about ordering goat. The waiter comes... and when he orders... THAT'S when we were told they were out of goat. I dunno... that would have been much more helpful to know about in advance. Ok, back to the menu to pick something else... We both agree that the fish soup was some of the best soup we have ever had. I would go back and eat that fish soup everyday if I could. However, the entrees we had were just... good. Nothing that blew our minds. I'd go back... but I think I would do take out and just order the fish soup.

Does anybody know if the Vee Vee African Restaurant truck is still serving lunch in the Loop? When I used to work in the loop a few years ago I would stop by the Vee Vee African Restaurant truck in downtown Chicago for the goat in curry with rice. It was great and a nice change to the traditional places to eat in the area. For only $7 you get a lot of food that I would would not be able to eat the entire portion. The truck used to park on Columbus just north of Randolph next to the Blue Cross Blue Shield building. Todor Krecu http://hotfortea.yelp.com/

It is one of the few African restaurants with a buffet on Sunday. The food is typical for the cuisine. They do have foofoo, Jollof rice and plantains. These are all things that I enjoy. I enjoyed some other places more but they are much more expensive. I am sure that the menu stuff is more special. They have been there for 28 years. People must enjoy everything there.

Omg, I have had it with this place. I've spent a lot of money here and the service f'n sucks. I'm an easy person. Bring my food and leave it. I'll eat it and that's it. Service is slow, and they're never open on time. Last, I've ordered a meat-pie for here with my chicken and jollef rice and he got the nerve to give it to me to go. And, it was in a Jamaican microwave packet. I asked a lady who was ordering Togo should I tip him more that $5, she did hell no. I tipped him anyways but I will never ever come back again.

This use to be my favorite African restaurant in the Chi but when I visited in 2017, the lady cook was no longer working there. I ordered my regular, goat, white rice and red sauce (goat stew). It wasn't that bad but it wasn't good like it was. I questioned a worker and explained that my food tasted different and that's when he said that they have a new cook. I will not be going back to Vee Vees again. I use to love to eat at this place when I lived in Chicago and whenever I visited, I would not leave the Chi unless I stop in for some goat and rice. Bring the former cook back. Pleeeeeeeeease!

It always amuses me to see how people pan West African restaurants -- the complaints are always quite similar. West African food (Ghanian and Nigerian is the most available in Chicago) can be amazing and delicious, and going out for it can be really fun, but I think you have to know what to expect. The first thing: don't expect American-style service, and know that the food will take a while. In West Africa, people take things slower, so relax, enjoy the company of your dining companion (bring two six packs instead of one), and don't be afraid to flag down your server if you need something. The second thing: soup is not soup as in chicken noodle, soup is the sauce that is meant to be consumed with a starch such as pounded yam or foo-foo. Vee Vee's does an excellent pounded yam with spinich sauce and meat of your choice. If your not feeling too adventurous, their coconut rice is quite good, and the jollof rice is to die for if you can handle the spice.

I was first introduced to this spot at Taste of Chicago many years ago, and they never fail to impress me! The red beans and rice with jerk chicken -- moist, flavorful, just the right kick. Woosah! Every thing else is good too -- the jollof rice, the plaintains, the goat, all of it delicious. And I've never been greeted with anything less than a smile and great service. Vee-Vee's might be the best West African/Caribbean food in Chicago!

My favorite West African restaurant. When I miss my mother's cooking I go to Vee Vee's and order the Vegetable Egusi* with goat and foo-foo (pounded yam.) *Egusi seeds, spinach, tomatoes, onion, garlic, hot pepper... think of it as a rich stew and you can have it with any type of meat, stockfish or just plain. I rarely dine in but always see a good mix of people eating there so do not be intimidated! http://www.foodtv.ca/recipes/recipedetails.aspx?dishid=7590 (Here is an example of my FAVORITE dish)

I ordered ogbono soup and it wasn't too good. It was very watery. The restaurant looks nice but the soup wasn't. There is another Nigerian restaurant nearby and their ogbono soup is absolutely amazing.

Friday night is more like going to a party than a restaurant. Friday is the Friday Night International Club (or something like that) where a casual environment, music and good food make for a great time. The music was all over the restaurant and got the diners involved. The food was great and the portions were massive. I had the jerk chicken with coconut rice. Some adventurous people at our table had goat and cow foot...I didn't feel so adventurous... but it's there if your willing!

The first time I was in here was a Sunday afternoon during their buffet, and everyone eating there (all Africans) were sitting in a row with their back to the wall, and they all turned to stare at me. I promptly turned around and walked back out. I say this because, though I love ethnic food, I found the experience a little intimidating at first. But don't let that stop you! I came back with an African friend the next day and ordered the goat stew with plantains. The plantains were great, one of my favorite dishes, and the seasonin was good overall. But as far as African food goes, I've had better (thanks to the aforementioned friend). I've never had goat but it tasted like tough beef, in case you're wondering. I'm not sure I'd come back, except maybe to try the jerk chicken, since all the other reviewers mention it. Oh, yes. And to echo everyone else, yes the service is pretty nonexistent. Let someone know when you're ready to order or you'll be waiting forever. Same goes for getting the check.

This place was a stall at the Taste of Chicago. I have tried Nigerian food before, so when I saw Jollof Rice on the menu, I was in. I got the one with sauteed goat. It was really good. It was tender and not gamey at all. I also sampled my boyfriend's jerk chicken. It is also a winner. I would definitely go try this place again and go for the sit-down experience.

I've been here twice now and the food is wonderful. I've had the best plantains I've every tasted here and some of the best goat I've ever had. Vee Vee is a really great lady and has come and talk to me both times I've been there. The service is suspect and the second time I came the goat was a little tougher but these are things I'm willing to live with for the quality of the food. Also both times I've come at around 7 pm and no one else was in the restaurant which sort of through me off but the meal was great regardless. It's BYOB and service is slow so it's worth your while to bring something. The coconut rice tastes better than the jolloff in my opinion and the yam porridge is great. I'm going to continue going here because the food is delicious.

We decided to try something new. Vee vee's is authentic West African food. When a couple white kids walked in, everyone stopped and stared lol. I always think that's a good sign of authenticity. Overall, it was interesting, but there were a couple factors I would have liked to know first. 1. they keep the bones in all the meat, I'm just not a fan. 2. the "bread" is weird (see below) 3. the plantain is delicious, load up on this. We tried the chicken, plantain and bean stew - it was good, interesting flavors, but the plantain was the real star. I could eat a whole dish of just fried plantain! We also got the jollof chicken rice, again interesting flavors, but not for me. The "bread" looks more like raw dough, but tastes like mashed potatoes. It was better than the pancake you get with Ethiopian food, but just not for me. The food is not as spicy as I would have guessed, so that was good for my wimpy taste buds. Overall, it was interesting. I don't think it's for me, but if you want to try something new, go for it.

Best Nigerian food you will get !! They are so sweet and they make the food to the exact ingredients you ask for . Very prompt when it comes to getting the food out ! The ambience is great music fantastic ! I just love vee vee ! I hope if you're reading this you go in and check it out !!!

This place is really good, the owner was so sweet, and understanding about what I wanted. The Jallof rice was the best ever. I would definitely recommend this place for some good authentic African food.

I traveled from the Westside of Chicago to enjoy a meal at Vee Vee's and enjoy I did.. The red stew and Spinach had the perfect amount of kick to it.. The goat meat was tender and the price was very reasonable. The women their took great care of me, I will be returning soon!

The Chief is a great guy. Here is a video we did of him at Taste of Chicago. https://youtu.be/BtSPnlun6Bg?list=PL3C4CD2FB2E691A01

The food was really good. I had chicken and okra. The customer service was also wonderful. I was hard to find the place cause the sign was not too visible. But I will go again. Food tasted very fresh

I went there with a very good friend...not really knowing what to expect but hoping for the best...well...to my humble surprise...the food waa absolutely AMAZING! I can not remember the last time I was out in such a warm and invitimg place. Not only was the food delicious but the atmosphere was calm and nice and the customef service was superb...To top it off they had a live band playing nice music and the crowd was warm and friendly as well...I will definitely be returning SOON :)

Tried this at the Taste of Chicago yesterday and I was blown away by how good it was. The braised goat and plantains were amazing. 10/10 experience. Would definitely recommend.

5 stars for their plantains, 1 star for their service. The last time I was there, I had called ahead for one order of their plantains. When I showed up 20 minutes later, I had to wait 45 minutes for my order! Ridiculous. Although their plantains are amazing, I don't appreciate being made to wait that long when I called ahead.

I went to Vee Vee a few years ago (talking about 10 years ago). The food was nice. First time I ate West African style food. The jollof rice was good as was egusi.

Nice experience at Taste of Chicago. Follow the smoke, you'll find some tasty red beans & rice, jerk chicken, goat, plantains, etc. Was good for me!

I was very unhappy with my experience from the start because I called to see what time they were open and when I got there they were closed. The gentleman had someone come and unlock the door and then he told me he was closed even though I ordered on the phone. I told him that I was upset and I was allowed to come in but then they gave me overlooked old fish. I will never go back here and I would advise you to go somewhere else.

I had eaten VeeVee's jerk chicken at the Taste of Chicago and it was great. So I was eager to check out the restaurant experience where I wouldnt be eating standing up in a moving crowd. I went on a Sunday. They had a "buffet" set up. Nothing was labled. Somethings I couldnt identify. What I thought was goat meat wasnt that great. The Jerk Chicken was hard to identify and the seasoning was Wayyy Off what I had tasted before. It had to have been a different cook. All the food tasted like it had been sitting around for hours. The Exact Opposite of what I was looking for. The food was in catering dishes with plastic cover. I dont know why I didnt run out right then and there!? The decor was Ok. There was no one in there but me for a while. Thats always a bad sign. The clerk was pleasant. And I served myself so I dont know what there was to tip about. Also No alcohol. Great. It was a huge disappointment. Its highly doubtful I'll Ever return. The best thing that came of it is I discovered Moodys Pub down the street with a wonderful outdoor beer garden. Check that out!

Reading past reviews, I would like to offer some wisdom imparted by my dining partner when I asked "Why do you think there's two sinks in the bathroom (which has only one toilet and no stall)?" and she said "when you go to an ethnic place such as this, you have to just assume that you are actually in the country of origin." Good advice, for me and for all. That's what makes it authentic, no? So this was both of our first experiences and as vegans, our choices were limited so we basically ordered everything which didn't contain animal. The kind waitress was pleasant about our questions revolving around meat, egg, and milk. What we got was DELISCIOUS. I won't remember the names except for foo-foo (because it's fun to say), but what it looked like was: the soup (which is really a bursting-with-flavor-and-not-a-little-spice mush that you dip pinched off peices of a bland, white-mush ball into - YUM (spicy, but yum). we got some spiced rice - tasty and some plantains and black beans with a red sauce - delish! Everything was very good. We, too, were the only ones in there for a while, until a group of what we're assuming were Nigerian men came in and then later on, another couple. The service was fine - the waitress was pleasant and we didn't wait for too long. It's just the style, if you need something, you may have to go hunt her down, but she'll be pleasant when you find her, so it's all good. It's BYOB so we brought our own and indulged. It was all good - I'd definitely recommend it for a good ethnic food experience and really, really tasty. Just go in with the right frame of mind and you'll love it. Cheers! We're already planning our next trip back.

I went to the sunday buffet at this restaurant and the food is good but the customer service is the worst of any restaurant I have been to in my entire life I had to ask for water three times and the Manager a bald dark guy and The Owner were both very rude to me so if you want African food I wouldn't suggest VEE VEE ' S because I am not going back there ever again #Baddiningexperience

Vee Vee is a restaurant that seems to have been the prime spot back in it's heyday but struggles to keep pace with the changing restaurant scene. I ordered jollof rice and goat which was tasty but the order took a while and the rice for several of the orders at my table were incorrect. Nonetheless, my food was very tasty and I would definitely order maybe carry out for next time. We also asked for pastries and got beef patties from a frozen box that were warmed up. Definitely just needs some life injected back into it but is a great establishment with a ton of history.

No hyperbole here, I had the worst meal of my life at this (charming looking) little restaurant. I ordered something they called soup, but was more like a sticky syrupy dark gel with chunks of goat meat (still attached to the bone). I'm not a very picky eater, and have NEVER thrown away food, especially something that cost me over eight dollars. But this was the time and the place. I am not very knowledgable about West African food, but it doesn't matter because what I had there was terrible and I can't imagine going back.

I have never been to the restaurant but just had there goat and plantain at the taste and it was amazing. I have had goat all over Jamaica and I have to say this was one of the best I have ever tasted, so much so that I am now going to go to the restaurant so I can have a full meal.

Have not been to the actual restaurant, but the lunch trunk is a weekly ritual for me. The catfish and jollof rice is excellent! I was very surprised when I bit into a perfectly cooked piece of catfish. Not overcooked, still moist and very well spiced. This week I tried the egusi with pounded yam. A mix of different meats (goat, tripe, fish, etc) in a very flavorful sauce (spinach, egusi seeds, tomatoes)... An obscene amount of food for $10!

Love this place! So friendly and I felt like I was back in Nigeria. The pounded yam and egusi were fantastic!

Excellent food, horrible customer service. Best to order your food to go. Restaurant is dark and unfriendly.

Plantains, Jollof rice , Egusi stew w/ Pounded yam... All on point. I truly wish this place were closer to where I live. I am a faithful customer, because it reminds me of my auntie's cooking straight from Lagos. I'm honestly avoiding the disappointment I could experience by going elsewhere. Highly recommended for newbies to African cuisine as well as the seasoned vets. 4 stars tho, because I had to call a bunch of times before they even answered

I was anticipating a new flavor experience when I ordered at Vee Vee's booth at The Taste of Chicago this sumer. Plantains get me every time so I ordered the Goat Stew and Plantains. The plaintains were simply delicious. The goat stew had goat bones and goat gristle but no goat meat. I tell you, the sauce in the no goat meat stew was fantastic (a new flavor experience!) but the lack of meat only compounded my frustration as I realized that most of the stew was inedible.

We go for the Sunday buffet. It is a very casual, friendly place where you walk in and grab a plate and start eating, even though there is no one around to greet you. It is a good mix of food that you normally wouldn't find anywhere else. We always get plenty of good eats and you can't beat it for $10.