We stopped in here for a late weekend lunch around 2pm. At the counter, we saw a variety of closed reheat containers, some of which were stacked on each other. The man at the counter told us in vague terms what was available (rice, vegetables, chicken, beef, salmon) and we named a couple things, sight unseen. What came out was not exactly what we ordered (I asked for beef and chicken and got salmon and beef; my friend asked for a bit of all the proteins and just got beef). One of the two vegetables on offer was cold, even though both were cooked and clearly were intended to be served hot. Otherwise, the food was bland and unimpressive. Not sure why it has such high ratings, we would never return. read more

First time here, and I got a hearty welcome and felt at home. The owner (?) was very helpful on what to eat because I never had this kinda food before. My friend and I had the lamb shank. I was AMAZED at how large the bone was. It was certainly worth going 40 minutes by bus to discover this place. 5/5 would recommend read more

I walk by this restaurant everyday going to work so I decided to swing by on my lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised. They were very friendly and the food was delicious (well what I ordered). I purchased the veggie plate (kale and cabbage, lentil soup and rice). I will be going back again. read more

This place has delicious food and a very friendly staff! I definitely recommend it even if you haven't had Somali food before. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome and the food is so good that you can't go wrong with whatever you order. Very generous portions of healthy, homemade food. Also, several reviewers mentioned that there isn't a menu or prices. This is no longer the case, I was there on 8/12/17 and there was a full menu with prices posted on the wall! With text and pictures, in case you aren't familiar with the food. read more

A small shady restaurant. Good food, good price and good service. The owner gave us a banana lol.

Really enjoyed this place. Huge portion sizes with lots for leftovers and multiple meals. You can order straight off the menu, or you can just ask what they have and basically customize an order like I did with multiple meats and different rice options. Also, try the different bread. The one that looks like a crepe tastes like a crepe. Altogether I think it was really good, very affordable, and I'll be back because the workers were so nice. read more

I have had an incredible experience every time I have eaten here. Amazing prices, amazing food, amazing atmosphere. Don't come here if you're looking for a traditional sit down meal. Come in, sit down, and relax. Let the workers choose what you get or ask for a sample of everything. read more

I will be back! It's so nice to have such a wonderful restaurant close to my daughter's house. Clean place, tasty cuisine.

Magadishu offers a very tasty $10 meal in a city where it can be hard to find a hamburger for the same amount. The meat, vegetables, and the sabaayad flatbread were all fantastic. read more

Small restaurant with outstanding food and service. We were served family style without even ordering. The host brought us out a mix of seafood, chicken, vegetables, and rice. Everything tasted great. read more

As a tourist, I came to Chicago expecting deep dish pizza. Late at night, a friend and I were having a spectacularly hard time finding somewhere to eat that was still open, reasonably priced, and would add to our Chicago experience. Mogadishu gets amazing Yelp reviews and so we decided to check it out. Neither of us had ever eaten Somali food before. There's no menu, no prices, but the folks running Mogadishu were super friendly, gave us huge carry out portions, and let us try a little bit of everything. We paid about $12 for a huge box of rice, chickpeas, cabbage, chicken, beef, and fish. So many delicious leftovers! Definitely deserves the 5 stars and would love to visit again on my next trip to Chicago. This is a Chicago must. read more

Fantastic find! Tiny hole in the wall with friendly staff, great food, and large plates at a low price. Highly recommended, especially if you're looking for something different than tourist fare. read more

Best njara bread ever had you defiantly need to try it, I love the grill goat, lamb and the salmon fish and if you are vegetarian they have something for you as well all for $ 10 or there about am loving it. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Njara - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The guy at the counter gave us each a plate with a little bit of everything. It was delicious and only $10. It is a hidden gem. Don't be put off by the appearance of the place, it really is worth a try. read more

Shady location. Tasty food. The place is really small, so be prepared to share the table with others. Tried the veggie meal, sweet flatbread and tea. Best tea I've ever had. read more

This is one of the best authentic Somali food with reasonable prices that you can find. We got enough food for 2 small people that was also reasonably healthy - there was cabbage, lentils, greens, mixed veggies, chicken and home-made Somali "tortillas" - there was a soft, sweet version and a regular roti-type tortilla. I would definitely return to this spot. The service was also excellent, you will get your food fast and it is fresh! My husband ordered the goat which was excellent - it just fell off the bone and was very tender. I would not say that the meat is very flavorful, but when you eat it with the lentils and everything else that it comes with, it is excellent. read more

Excellent food! Great service! Mogadishu sent the most amazingly delicious food to my class at Columbia college. Rice, pasta, stew, goat meat, chicken, salmon, salad, pancakes. Everything was fresh and the portions were generous. They even brought complimentary bananas and water. Very nice people. Jama, the restaurant manager came to my class and talked to the students about the food, where he was from. He asked them questions too. The students really appreciated his warmth. Jama also knew about one of the writers the students had read - Somali poet Warsan Shire. Overall I will definitely recommend mogadishu restaurant to everyone I know and will continue to order food from here for my end of the year celebrations! read more

Simply outstanding! I knew the food was going to be authentic when I saw all of the native Somalians eating inside the restaurant. If you've never had it before, let them build you a sampler plate with 3 or 4 items. Our server was very friendly and made recommendations. I'll definitely be back! read more

Just finished the most delicious meal from Mogadishu. We decided to try a little bit of everything like many other reviewers recommended; and they were right! There was some salmon, chicken, greens, rice, and noodles. There are so many different Flavors at play in these dishes- looking forward to trying the goat at lunch sometime and the stuffed egg and flatbread. read more

I travel a lot on business and to Chicago one or two times a month. Chicago has some of the best food. Experiencing good flavorful food can be a highlight of my travels. Went to Mogadishu Restaurant on a recommendation from my cousin. What an amazing decision that was! My first visit there on Monday night the gentlemen behind the counter was very good helping me with my order. The service is amazing and upscale, the venue itself is gorgeous, and the food was perfection! I enjoyed every bit of food and every bite was heavenly! I knew I was coming back and this would become one of my spots. I came back Wednesday for more deliciousness and again I was very pleased. The fish, chicken, lentil beans, Biryani rice, cabbage and spinach, The second night I got the same but had a piece of the fried chicken (very good) and a piece of the sweet bread. Super good. The restaurant is not large at all but through the excellent customer service and the customers the restaurant enlarged itself as I sat down and I felt like I was eating with locals in Somalia community style. It was hard to believe I was a few minutes from my hotel downtown. Great food plus a great over experience in the restaurant made for another definite two thumbs up. This has become one of my spots in Chicago now. I would highly recommend this restaurant for everyone. read more

Definitely returning to Mogadishu! The best authentic North African food I have found outside of being in North Africa. Delicious food that tasted homemade, the atmosphere was wonderful and the people incredibly friendly! read more

Get the rice with all the beautiful colors and pimentos and peas and gandules. Everything is scrumptious. They give you a mountain of rice. And a free giant banana - no kidding. read more

Small, but amazing! Have little variety, no menu, but the food was delicious, though it was cooked earlier, and the service was very prompt, helpful and timely. Went there with friends and we were a bit skeptical initially, but half an hour later we were left with nothing but happiness and appreciation for this little establishment. The meals are priced flat at 10$. And yeah, there is limited seating, can't seat more than 20 people at a time, but the wait, if any, will be worth it! read more

Great food, large portions, and solid price. The folks working there are accommodating and personable. Will go again next time I'm in Chicago! read more

This place feels like you've stepped into someone's welcoming Somali home and you're invited for dinner. There are only 3 or 4 tables, free cardamom hot tea, and huge platters of food brought to you for around $10/person. Ours included chicken, fish, rice, veggies, noodles, and fresh bananas. We didn't order off a menu per se, just asked for dinner. Everything is hearty and delicious, but the fish and tea were my favorites! Thank you, Somali friends, and sorry that our country isn't giving you such a warm welcome back right now. read more

Small place with seating for 15...20 people. Staff was very friendly. We asked for a menu and he instead showed us all the food he was offering. Was nice to learn what was specific to that food/ethnic style and try something new. The employee offered to get us mixed plates with different options to try all the different types. It was all delicious! Will go back again sometime soon. read more

We wanted to try something different and were intrigued by the reviews. So glad we did! This is a super tiny hole in the wall place 3 tables with a few high tops), everyone in the place except us were from Somalia (always a great sign). The service was absolutely fantastic, the server was very friendly. It was incredibly delicious and extremely cheap. There were 5 adults and the server just brought us out a giant smorgasbord of different dishes, each more delicious than the last. Highly recommend, will definitely be back! read more

I've never had Somalian food before, so it's the best I had. It was really good. Small spot, so not a lot of seating. Order at counter, really quick. Staff was super friendly. read more

Delicious Somali food, enormous servings, funny and friendly servers, amazing tea. The restaurant is small, not at all fancy, but charming in its own way. read more

Portions were very generous, staff were super friendly, food tasted delicious, and service was fast. There is also a delicious sweet tea up for grabs. A perfect quick and easy bite for when you're real hungry! read more

My boyfriend and I went in tonight and we were a little out of place at first but we were greeted by the owner and shown a table. It was a great expirée ce great service and beyond great food. I'm in culinary school and love trying new foods! This was amazing felt like you were eating a home cooked meal. We both had a plate with a little bit of everything and everything was delicious! A little hole in the wall but well worth checking out! I highly recommend! read more

This is an unpretentious hole-in-the-wall that serves tasty and hearty Somali food. There is no menu per sé; the food is already prepared, and when I go in I like to ask for a bit of everything. What I get is an enormous plate piled high with seasoned rice, meat (chicken, tilapia, and beef or goat), vegetables (sometimes a spinach/cabbage saute), and usually lentils or potatoes. The rich flavors seem like a blend of Ethiopian, Moroccan, and Indian influences. The spices are sufficiently pleasant that the food is tasty without seeming greasy or salty or sugary. To drink, there is water or hot chai tea. Sometimes there also is a sweet spongebread, and a banana (which is traditionally eaten throughout the meal). The atmosphere is novel--the clientele is mostly Somali cab drivers, who have energetic discussions in Arabic. Whoever is behind the counter is friendly, and the interior is drab but has comfy seats. The food is hearty, the portions are quite generous, and the price is reasonable (~$10). It's a pleasant slice of a different culture, and a tasty one at that. read more

So glad I finally made the time to come to Mogadishu.These reviews are accurate for the most part.Except if you eat like a horse like I do EXPECT TO PAY MORE than $11.My dinner ended up being $21.Ughhhh.But Im not surprised because like I said......I EAT LIKA' HORSE.So if you're a big eater its gonna cost you MORE like EVERYWHERE ELSE.lol.I couldnt help myself!!!! I was sitting there stuffing my face with chicken,fish,rice,steamed vegetables,spinach and samosas when ALL OF A SUDDEN guy pops out with an INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS looking tray of lamb shanks!!!! WOOOOOOW!!! Now I just HAAAAAD TOOOOO!!! And since I had already snarrffed down the delicious samosas that I originally ordered I just HAD TO HAVE 2 more to go with my NEW ENTREE.Couldnt just eat that lamb shank all by its lonesome now,could I?? And I killed two bowls of that delicious hot sauce that they serve complimentary I wouldnt of felt right if they didnt charge me more than $11.That woulda been highway robbery!!!!! Im glad I paid more.Its what I get for being such a GLUTTON..The food was very delicious.People were really friendly.I think I kinda freaked my server out with all the food I ate tho.Cause as I kept ordering he looked at me like,"You want ALL THAAAAAT for HERE?!?!!!?" I was like,"Yes,please." I also think I made a new buddy.Im sure I'll be going back.Glad I was there today. read more

Great place! It's different than anywhere I've ever been but the food was amazing. The server was also phenomenal and really patient and kind. I will definitely be back! read more

I walked in apprehensive and left happy. The people in there were very friendly to my shy awkward self and the guy behind the counter fixed me a sampling of a bit of everything to go. The food plus a drink was only $11. A good deal. read more

Make sure you get the tea with milk as well- fantastic.the food is so legit.not the expert on somalian food; but from what i can tell you definitely get a ton of food for what you're paying; and it doesn't taste none too shabby.you will love it if you like trying new things!highly recommend the egg ball and sweet flatbread. read more

Incredibly friendly staff, huge portions, great price, and amazing food. It just doesn't get any better than this.

Probably some of the best food I've ever had. If you want a recommendation on good food ask the locals, we ask Uber and taxi driver and this place came highly recommended, did not disappoint! read more

Food is incredibly delicious. Generous portions and great prices!! Also try their awesome tea!!

Instead of a menu, I had a conversation with the very friendly guy working and let him know that I don't eat fish and he brought me the most amazing plate of chicken, veggies and rice! It was totally the right choice to just be present and be fed. I left feeling full and like I'd gotten a great deal - just $11 for a big dinner and a soda. This is totally the kind of place that is the point of living in or visiting a big, diverse, interesting city like Chicago. read more