My belly and heart are so full after going here for lunch. I got the fish (tilapia) lunch special which was a WHOLE FISH grilled to juicy perfection and a mild yet flavorful sauce. The side of rice was plentiful and onion sides were a nice touch too. We were greeted with smiles and genuine friendliness, felt like family greeting you. Finally, the place was clean, tidy, and decorated with west African adornments, which I loved. Oh, and service was even quick, maybe only a 10-15 min wait for our three large meals read more

Lilly's Corner - Talapia fish lunch entree with rice and carmelized onions and a spicy cold onion side - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Wow. Simply fantastic. I knew this place was promising when I pulled up and saw that it was at a gas station. Thue Curry with chicken, fish fatayas, and a side of joloff rice. First, the curry was piping hot. This really made a huge difference because it just made the flavors pop. The chicken was fall off the bone, and the powerful curry and onion flavors really did my soul some good. I could have done with white rice, but I wanted to try the joloff. The curry pairing with joloff rice turned out to be just fine. The fatayas were FRESH. Piping hot, crackling crispy, and flavorfully deep on the inside. The ginger and lemon juice was a perfect drink to combat all the spices and heat. Excellent meal! read more

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You can smell the food as you're parking right outside the restaurant! Very cozy unassuming place, right next to a Jr. Market/gas station. Outside you can see giant signage covering the windows with pictures of their entrees. As you enter, the great smell of food envelopes you. You get transformed into a world of Senegalese/African motif - bright yellow, burgundy, green patterned wallpaper, repeated onto fabric table covers protected by plastic liners. There is seating for 28, combination of booths and chairs. You are then greeted with a smile and hello. I quickly said my hello and made a remark that it's my first time and that not sure what to select. I was asked what I feel like eating - fish? Chicken ? Lamb? It's a good thing I came well informed from the Yelp reviews- so I ordered Beef Fataya and Chicken Thue Curry. I also ordered poisson frit (fried fish) to go for dinner! The beef fataya came out within 5 minutes. It came in 4 pieces, enough for a meal, with a few fresh chopped lettuce leaves and sauce in a tiny container. They look like empanadas! Very delicious with fresh ground beef. The sauce how ever little packs some spicy punch!!!!! While waiting for my other dish I am entertained by some humming and singing in the kitchen. Is that part of the service? Then the chicken Thue Curry came out. The curry comes with fufu, served in to go containers and plate for you to enjoy portions as you dine in. The curry came with 2 small drumsticks and two chunks of bone in, fall off the bone chicken and deep orange carrots and potatoes all cooked to Perfection. The fufu looks like a deeper yellow mashed potatoes but tastes like less fibrous cassava! You can smell the curry but when you start to eat, the curry is different from the Thai curry or Indian curry - they seem to use other spices- different but delicious! The temperature was hot, you know the food wasn't heated up from refrigerated or frozen state. I would come back to try all other dishes. Will definitely add the review for the poisson frit when I eat it for dinner tonight! read more

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When do you guys open again? I need this food back in my life this is my favorite restaurant.

WHAT?! I first came here back in October. I have been telling people about this little hole-in-the wall offering INCREDIBLE Senegalese food. I got the grilled lamb and plantains. Price was reasonable for lamb and the dish was packed with flavor! I love that it came with a side of onions too- they really complimented the meat. I have my eye on the fish yassa for my next visit- which I hope will be soon. I see on their Facebook page that they are still open for takeout and delivery through DoorDash. I also want to note that I received excellent customer service during my visit. The man who helped me didn't seem at all surprised that I wasn't familiar with Senegalese food. It's not common in the area so don't feel out of place if you ask for a little help figuring out what you want to order during your first visit. If you're feeling adventurous looking for a new cuisine experience (or just looking for a great meal) this is your spot! read more

I ordered online and got the fish yassa and nems (egg rolls) and bissap drink this time. They were out of the bissap drink so I got the ginger lemon drink instead, it had strong ginger taste, I liked it the deink felt "cleansing". The fish came with white rice and sautéed onions, the fish was seasoned really well and the white rice was also seasoned well. The nems / egg rolls came with three sauces and they tasted pretty good. read more

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The fish fataya was tasty but aesthetically unappealing. As you can see from the photos, some were burnt. However, the Thieboudienne, was quite delicious. I couldn't stop eating it. The family owned business, which is Senegalese (Wolof) is filled with all things related to family. With that said, the brother and sister who greeted me and my daughter were exceptionally gracious and friendly. Will definitely be back. read more

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This is a small hole in the wall kinda restaurant. But they offer flavorful good food. I ordered the Chicken Yassa with jollif rice and Beef Fataya. It cost about $17, which was reasonable. The chicken is marinated in lemons i think. It was jam packed with flavor and the rice was to. It was served with raw and sauteed onions on the side. The onions were delicious, they had a kick, and a pow, and a boom. Lol. Flavahhhh for ya!!! So anyway, the Fataya are like empanadas and their very good. They come with a red sauce that you should only try if your bold... Because u will feel the burn. It creeps up on ya for sure. I enjoyed the meal and will definitely return to try some other things. The guy who worked there was friendly and he made small talk which i could appreciate. The inside is small and colorful. I ordered togo and it was done when i got there about 15 minutes later. There is a gas station attached so it was kinda busy in the parking lot. But it was enough parking available. So everything was cool and I'd give them 4 stars. read more

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My only real issue is do Not Order for pickup off door dash. Your food will be ready and you will not know. The food is so good though. The lamb dibi is my go to. Everything is good to be truthful. Support local! read more

08/2019 They really knocked it out of the park this time. I ordered the grilled lamb with jollof rice and my coworker ordered the grilled lamb with plantains. The food was excellent and so delicious. Kudos. 04/2019 This review is based on my first Senegalese experience with the lamb mafe (peanut sauce). I'm not a huge fan of peanut but I felt obliged to try as it was highly recommended, gotta say it was alright. I probably wouldn't order it again. I plan to try something else next time like the grilled lamb or ch read more

Lilly's Corner - Lamb mafe - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Fufu & Okra Soup was good however there were some stringy veggies I kept pulling out of my mouth. I'm not sure if that was the okra or another vegetable (I just don't like stringy veggies). I would return and just try another soup in the future. I got to speak with one of the owners very nice. read more

Had the beef swarma/gyro. Heavily packed with rice but enough beef to offset the amount of filler rice. Price was good. The people are friendly. read more

I've been daydreaming about getting my hands on some savory and aromatic ethnic food that would satisfy my cravings so I decided to settle for this local restaurant that specializes in Senegalese cuisine. I ordered through grub hub and let me tell you the portions for the lunch platters will fill you up for sure. It was all so filling I probably had only one beef fataya which I'm happy about so I can have more for later. I still have plenty of leftovers. For around $5 the fataya side comes with 4 pieces and the ground meat inside is so tender bursting with flavor and it's not too salty. It pairs well with the pepper sauce they give you but be careful it definitely has a kick! I liked it. The shell of the fataya is also buttery, crispy, light, and slightly flaky. The white rice is just the perfect fluffiness, it's so soft and absorbs the sauces from the stews well. Not too wet, not too dry. The lamb mafe reminds me of Filipino kare kare, they are both peanut butter stews from two different cultures! It's very rich and the lamb chunks were oh so tender. One thing I would critique is maybe adding 2 more pieces of meat but I do appreciate the amount of sauce so I can let it go. I could probably just eat the sauce and rice tbh and it also came with carrot and potato. The thue curry chicken dish was pretty good too! you can really taste a nice blend of spices giving the dish a depth of flavor. The chicken drumsticks were fall off the bone tender. Overall I rate what I got an 8/10! You can tell the foods were cooked with love and patience in order for all the ingredients to marry well with each other. If there's one thing you can't go wrong about, it's definitely the beef fatayas! I can't wait to try more next time. read more

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I'm only going to be commenting on food and customer service. Okay so... Wow. So many different flavors; so good! The customer service was fab. The person who helped us was so nice. He let us try some of the jolof rice and some of the drinks. Helped us decide what we want. We ended up ordering 3 things and a drink. The Beef fataya is like empanadas. Great by itself. But the habanero sauce they provide is a perfect fit if you want to add some heat to. The Thiebu djen is apparently the Senegalese national dish. It is only available on Saturdays so we decided we had to try it since it was both the national dish and we happened to come on a Saturday. The jollof rice by itself is wonderfully flavored with a kick. I could eat a whole bowl of that stuff by itself. The explosion of flavors and all the different textures and items in this stew/dish was amazing. There was a satisfying savory, acidic, smoky, and spice that kicked all the major taste buds. It just worked, but be prepared for a kick in each bite! Fufu: We had heard it was something very different than anything we're used to so we wanted to try it. The flavor was pleasant, light and savory. The texture... I would compare it to an over thickened mashed potato. We were supposed to dip it into any of the stews; we chose the lamb mafe. Lamb mafe: this was a peanut stew with lamb and carrots. Savory and delicious. I could eat this with rice or fufu. We were eyeing more items and will probably try to come back another time to try those items out. read more

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I found this place by accident while looking to order something quick for dinner. With the black lives matter movement going on, I decided to try something out of my comfort zone. I had african food twice in my life--ethiopian food in DC and Virginia Beach. When Lillian's popped up as Sengalese food, I was intrigued. Also, the yelp reviews were great. I messaged the restaurant on facebook and asked for a recommendation--I was told the chicken yassa, fish yassa & dibi lamb are popular. Choice made--everyone can't be wrong all the time. I ordered about chicken yassa and dibi lamb. When I arrived, the order was not ready but the handsome young man said he would make it fresh for me if I had 10 minutes. When the order was ready he brought it to my car and I was on my way home. Bad thing--the lamb was not there--fish yassa was in the bag. Good thing--the fish was THE BOMB. The chicken and fish were both nicely seasoned and great amount of heat (real fish with the head and bones) Both came smoothered in seasonings and sat on a bed of onions. White rice was more than enough and looked great with the mixed veggies on top. At first, I thought way too many onions. Not so. I finished the onions with the rice. My take aways: 1. Lillian's had great sized portions and fresh food. Rice is cooked to perfection. The chicken was so good I don't have the words. Moist, well seasoned and wonderful presentation is what comes to mind. 2. Lillian's is the only place I will eat so many onions. Onion lovers, endulge. 3. Check the order before you leave. Mistakes happen. It just worked out that the mistake was so delicious. read more

Lilly's Corner - Chicken yassa - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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So this WAS a lamb shawarma. I know I'm supposed to take a photo of the actual food, but I keep forgetting lol. I've had about 10 of these things over the last 3 months (don't judge me) and keep forgetting to write a review and take a pic just like I did this time. Only this time, I figured what the heck- I'll take a pic of the aftermath :) and still write a review. So as you can see I'm still in my car- this bad boy doesn't even make it into the house- it's that good! The lamb shawarma consist of lamb, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, And French fries all wrapped up in some Kinda magic sauce. Yes I said French fries. 10 shawarmas Ago I would've thought what the heck.. French Fries!?! but it goes. Trust me. And even though this dang shawarma is packed with a great amount flavor already, my dear friend, Elhaeji - the young man who works the front most days recommended I try this hot spicy sauce on the side with it- that's what you see in the little container. The spice does something to my taste buds that I've never experienced. EVERYTIME! Just about everything at this dang place is delicious- trust me I think I've had everything on the menu with the exception of a few items. But this dang on shawarma........ perfect snack. I think I'm gonna start ordering two cuz one just is not enough. read more

Lilly's Corner - This WAS a lamb shawarma ‍ - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Authentic food but the prices are a little confusing and the food was just okay. I am an African so I was trying my best not to compare it to other countries or my taste palette, but I wasn't really impressed. The presentation of the food was great, the stewed vegetables that accompany the jollof was really good. The jollof itself was seemingly bland. The spinach stew was great! The egg rolls were good, eat it without the sauce, it actually takes away from the natural seasonings in the food. Customer service left little to be missed. We were the only ones there, but they were filling to go orders while I was there, so maybe that was an issue. read more

Whenever I have a taste for something different I eat at Lilly's. The staff are ale's friendly and the food hasn't disappointed me yet. The food is a bit pricey but it's worth it. I've tried the dibi chicken with jollof rice and stewed onions and sautéed onions. I never knew onions could be cooked in so many ways and be delicious at the same time. This Nigerian style of cooking is authentic as it get. read more

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I would rate the food a four. I personally did not like the jellof. Debi was liI came out with my friends I'm out of town, and the experience was atrocious. We waited for about an hour for food. While waiting we were accused for not paying for the food. read more

This one was a miss for me. I saw all the great reviews so I had to try it out. I ordered the spinach stew from the menu. I was expecting to get a vegetarian dish, but ended up getting something that had some kind of meat on a bone in it. My coworker guessed that it was goat, it could have been oxtail or something. What threw me off is that the menu did not state that this dish had meat in it. The flavor of the stew was good, but my coworker and I noticed that there was too much salt in the dish. As well, while eating the stew I found several small bones that looked like fish bones, or it could have been slivers from the goat bones. Atmosphere in the place is really run down, very small and a handful of tables. There were flies flying around our table, which is usually not a very good sign. As well halfway through our meal, the place seemed to be Smokey from whatever was being cooked in the kitchen. Ventilation is terrible!! The staff, assuming they are the owners, were very friendly and engaged with the customers. Not sure if I would come back here as I am not a big fan of the little hole-in-the-wall places. But if I do, I will try one of the more popular dishes. read more

The food was amazing. I was a little concerned about how sanitary they may be behind that curtain, but overall the presentation and taste of the Jollof rice was very good and chicken was great. I'll definitely be back. read more

I've been telling all my friends this is one of my favorite places to eat in Norfolk. When Lilly is cooking the food is BOMB. I ordered the fish yasso and it was delicious! Perfectly crispy/charred on the outside but soooo juicy and flavorful on the inside. One of my most memorable dishes from Norfolk. Another time I came back and a guy made the fish but he over fried it and it was just way to crispy. I wish Lilly was cooking all the time. read more

Lilly's Corner - Fish yasso made my Lilly. Excellent!! - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

we absolutely love this place & the staff even tho there's only 2-3 people, the red snapper is my fave & the food is great quality. i've tried a lamb dish too that was really delicious. the portions are huge as well! read more

Lilly's Corner - Red Snapper & Jollof Rice - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

This place was decent had 2 orders of db lamb with Jollof and plantain. The db was juicy and the plantain were cool. This is a Senegalese restaurant so I expected the Jollof not to be as good. The Jollof lacked flavor and 0 spice. However over all a solid choice if you not coming for jollof, like I usually do! Filling portions as well! read more

The food was really good, but there was a lot of drama going on in the back and it was very loud. I wasn't very comfortable. And they were talking in a different language that we couldn't understand which was kinda good because I didn't really wanna hear it. Me and my mother they were yelling like they were in a. Nallywood movie and it was hard for us to eat because it was so loud and we heard crying and banging on pots but the food was very good but I would never come back. but my mother will. read more

This is a hidden treasure in Norfolk!!!! I keep looking to see what to try and I finally tried it! The fufu and Spinach stew was outstanding!!!!! It was so good I ate the leftovers for breakfast. I also tried the Jollof rice! It was light and very flavorful on its own! Oh and the meat in the stew was so tender and . I'll probably be ordering the Lamb next week! read more

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I wanted to love this I really did. I don't give negative reviews but in this case I felt it was warranted. With such high reviews I expected so much more. However, I was highly disappointed. I ordered Thiebu Djen and the Cassava Leaf stew. I received a very unflavorful pale dish of something. The stew was so greasy I could not eat it. Both dishes went uneaten. read more

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Far price for tasty food. The fish is not filleted, however it taste so fresh. I ordered by delivery and everything came correct.

The fish was amazing. Very tender and flavorful. The fufu was also delicious. I would highly recommend this place.

Delicious and fresh cooked to ordered. My family and I always enjoy eating here. The fufu was perfection read more

Realizing that Norfolk had a Senegalese restaurant was the highlight of my day. I ordered the mafe, a peanut butter/tomato stew with lamb, potatoes , and carrots. It was bomb! If you've never had Senegalese food I would advise you to try the thiebudieen/cheeb jeen/jollof rice. It's all the same dish just spelled differently depending on which country is cooking it. It's their National dish. Thiebudieen technically means Rice and fish and jollof rice originated in the Wolof kingdom, located in present day Senegal. I won't participate in the jollof wars but everyone knows that Senegambia and Togo make the best jollof rice. If any Nigerian or Ghanaian tells u differently ask them why their rice is so dry ‍. Back to the restaurant, the yassa is basically a caramelized onion sauce served with chicken or fish. It's a must try. All their dishes are just tried! Mboroke (sp?) is for a more seasoned Senegalese food connoisseur but it's tasty as well. One suggestion would be to add attaya ( tea) to the menu. It definitely aids in digestion and I feel like it's an authentic aspect of Senegambian culture and cuisine. Service was really helpful. I heard the poor man trying to explain what thiou curry was for like 15 minutes lol. Btw the thiou is amazing as well. Just try everything people! read more

This was quite a discovery, a Sengalese restaurant right here in Norfolk, not too far from Military Circle. It seems to be pretty authentic, as everyone else in the place were wearing traditional African clothing. The owner was very friendly, welcoming us as soon as we came in, and explaining the menu to us. Going in, I knew absolutely nothing about food from Senegal. I now know it is fantastic and full of flavor. I'm really wondering why we don't see more of it. Even as a native New Yorker, I've never encountered it before. We got three dishes to try, with no misses. First, was the lamb mafa, which was a stew of lamb, carrot, and potato in a peanut-based sauce. It was rich, flavorful, with a nice layer of spiciness. The meat was tender and nicely cooked, all served over white rice. The chicken yassa was great as well. It was grilled marinaded chicken, I'm guessing in lime juice, onion, and salt/pepper. It was accompanied by two different onion condinents. Both were great, one was sauteed and one raw; they each were great with the chicken, and the depth of flavor was amazing. We also ordered the lamb Thue curry, another great dish. The curry flavor was nicley spicy, without being overpowering. It reminded me of the flavor of Jamaican curry powder. It was also served with potatoes and white rice. They also serve a nice drink, called Bissap. It's a cold sweetened drink made from hibiscus leaves. Everyone in the restaurant was drinking it, so we tried it at the end. It was really good, sweet, without being too sweet. Egyptians make a very similar drink called karkare, although they make it much sweeter. It pains me to admit it as an Egyptian-American, but I like the Sengalese version better. The restaurant itself is very small, there are only four tables, and it seems most of their business is in takeout. It is decorated with various items and flags from Senegal. It is cozy, but do not expect anything fancy. In fact, there isn't even a public restroom unfortunately. It is in a very small strip of shops, next to a Citgo quick mart. It reminds of someplace I'd find in Queens, not Norfolk, but that's a good thing. This place is very much worth a try to an adventuresome palate. It's on a road that cuts between VB Blvd and Military Hwy, so you have to look for it, but it's not far from roads you probably travel all the time. Another great find, I will be back! read more

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Lilly's Corner is an incredibly culture rich experience with food that will take you abroad without having to leave the area. The variety of tastes and flavors will make this a regular stop and an ideal place to bring anyone to make an impression. The service is as welcoming and friendly as if you were in Senegal visiting family. The location may be off the beaten path, but that only amplifies the assurance that you will enjoy your time and love the food. read more

Lilly's Corner - Seating is roomy and beautiful. - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Yelp wins again! We were in search for African cuisine in local area. I came across this restaurant with some reviews. We decided to be spontaneous and give it a try. We were not disappointed at all. The host was very friendly, funny and helpful. He explained entire menu options and even provided us with samples to help ease our decision. The dish we ended up selecting was so delicious that as I'm typing this I'm reminiscing about taste . So when in the area give it a try. I guarantee you will not be disappointed. read more

Lilly's Corner - Chicken Yassa Chicken Yassa - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Yes yes yes all around! Food is good, portion to cost ratio Is amazing. Might have some today if they are open!

Amazing authentic cuisine . I cannot wait to eat here again . I'm a picky eater and I hate veggies but this place here makes it worth it . read more

Lilly's Corner - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

My husband and I love hole in the wall places and found this and LOVED it !!!!! Everything is fresh and authentic! read more

Lilly's Corner - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

What a gem! The fish yassa is amazing! Especially with the cooked onions! My coworkers enjoyed the lamb and chicken yassa also but we all agreed the Jollof rice was not good. It tastes like rice just cooked in tomato sauce with a bag of frozen veggies so don't get that - the jollof rice I've had in D.C. Many times is amazing and nothing like that. The service is great but the prices online are not updated as everything is like $3 more! read more

I had the chicken yassa with side of plantains and a hibiscus drink, and it was Very good! The portion size was also very generous. The food was hot, juicy and delicious! Will be sure to come again read more

Lilly's Corner - Chicken Yassa with side of plantains - African Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Great restaurant. Best fish I've had in my life. Love the food. If you haven't been, you need to stop by and try the food!