The moment I walked into Mogadishu Restaurant, I knew I was in for a great meal. The restaurant is cluttered, and honestly a bit of a dive - think fly tape, styrofoam cups, and bottles of ranch dressing on the tables. The cashier (owner? chef?) serves food from hot trays behind a counter, cafeteria-style. Restaurant goers speak a language I don't recognize. The cashier greeted me and asked my name. He helped me decide on something to order (I have no idea what), then invited me to help myself to some tea, which was well-spiced but a little too sweet. The food came out on a decorated plate, like you'd have in your home. I got a mountain of spiced basmati rice with lentils, shredded chicken with peppers and onions, salmon, and greens. The rice had a really interesting spice profile - earthy and slightly sweet. The lentils were warm and comforting, as were the greens. The chicken was tender and packed with flavor. The fish had a strong fried-seafood taste, though it didn't appear to be deep fried. Those squirt bottles turned out to be filled with tangy, spicy chili-garlic sauce, which went perfectly with everything. After I cleaned my plate, I grabbed a beef samosa on the way out. It was flaky and juicy and oniony and meaty and spiced and basically everything I've ever wanted. Seriously, give this place a try. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Rice, lentils, chicken, salmon, and greens - delicious! - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had a delicious meal here. Highly recommend the samosas and enjera plate. Very good service. Will return!!

Had the chicken leg plate and it was so good! Located in a nice area as well. They give you a good portion of food along with some vegetables. I already planned my next trip back. read more

Unfortunately I cannot recommend people to eat here right now. The cashier in the front and the lady cooking in the back both were not wearing masks and nor were any of the customers that came in. One of the customers went behind to talk to the cashier and he was just there casually chatting with the workers there right on top of the prepared food that they serve to customers. I decided not to risk it and chose to get food from somewhere else. Maybe I will give an updated review post covid but for everyone's safety right now I cannot recommend that you get food from here. read more

This was truly one of the best dinners I've had in Chicago. They serve authentic Somalian food and make you feel so at home. My boyfriend and I decided to come here because I was craving African food (I specifically love Ethiopian and Somalian food), and he had never tried it. We knew this was a good spot instantly, because everyone else was Somalian. What better indicator that a restaurant is truly authentic?! Anyway, we had a sampler platter which included lentils, rice, amazing grilled salmon, roasted chicken, Somali bread and tea (which is free!). You top it all with a spicy green sauce that is very hot but in a flavorful way. We will definitely be back - been craving it ever since! Thank you Mogadushi! read more

I ordered the fish filet rice plate and a fish samosa, and they were delicious! The smell of the food in my car was unbelievable, the fish was really nice, with large pieces, and the rice was so tasty and fragrant. Also, the ordering service was great - clear and informative communication, easy to order and quickly get food. Definitely will go again! read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Fish rice plate - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place might look a bit sketchy at first but the food is totally worth overcoming the uneasy feeling of the space. I have come twice so far and definitely plan to return. The plates are only about 10 - 12 dollars and the portions are huge, so if you don't have problems with self-control like I do, haha, you could easily split the meal into two. The server that worked on both occasions when I came in is very nice but he does not speak English too much so make sure you clearly specify what you want and I would suggest avoiding doing any special requests as he might not understand. I recommend their vegetarian combination and trying their house tea with that. It has lots of different spices to it and is sweetened with cinnamon. So yummy! read more

I've heard rumors of this hidden gem for awhile and decided to try it with a group of fellow foodies. WOW! The food was delicious! We all tried a variety of items and it was ALL GREAT! The services was very friendly and helpful with the size of my group. Very nice people! It's a small hole-in-the-wall place but you can't beat it for it's authentic cuisine and friendly service. I will definitely come back. I recommend everyone check this place out! read more

Good food. Lamb was kinda underseasoned. But I really liked the tea. Service was fine. The servers are polite. Ambiance caters more towards locals of the culture. But I didn't mind. It's a small tight location, so it feels very cozy. read more

This was my first time trying Somalian food. This is not my last!!! I ordered the salmon and rice plate. I enjoyed every bite. I couldn't finish the plate. (Leftovers are the best to me) So I look forward to finishing it off tomorrow. I can't wait to see what's next. Thank you. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Salmon and rice plate - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such an unsuspecting storefront but such a pleasant surprise!! The food was so authentic too, and so well priced. The rice and chicken were so good and flavorful, not too spicy at all. Will definitely go back to try more things! read more

Perfect service at strategic space. Loyalty of the tidy staff and their all round professionalism enjoyed. Nice menu with a perfect taste. I liked and it was very much beyond my expectation. Maintained the somali cultural smart delicious items in the menu as well. As it was said earlier "Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder" agreeing now as well "taste is in the tongue of the beholder" Recomending a digitalized menu...staff to be in uniform always while on duty... read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Come here. Now. Mogadishu is easy to miss if you don't know what you're looking for. There is no clear signage outside save for the covering over the door which you would have to look up for while standing directly in front of it. The inside is nothing fancy, but the food. The food is so legit. I can't really even explain what Somalian food is per se, it seems to be a fusion of some Chinese, some Indian, some Ethiopian. We didn't know what to order so just asked for a plate with a taste of everything, and it did not disappoint. I totally wanted to take some to go for lunch the next day. Super friend staff and beyond reasonable prices. A must for anyone who loves food! read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Everything plate! - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This was my first time trying Somalian food and it was a great place to start! When you walk in, you know what you're getting--a great, no frills, authentic meal. And it was. I got the number 30 that had chicken, veggies, spinach, beans, and a side of crepe-like bread. It was incredibly flavorful and delicious! The spinach and beans were the best, and chicken was pretty good but I'd prefer it a little less dry. The bread was incredible with a hint of sweetness. The man helping us with our food suggested the best stuff to get and he didn't fail us. It was so cheap and portions are huge! I will definitely be back for more, maybe the salmon. read more

Simple. Respite. Value. Happy. Taxi drivers. That is all! My American folks and I made the journey to a real neighborhood in Chi town seeking real Somalian food. We walked in to a flurry of activity and the guys behind the counter were patient with us as we pointed and struggled to be cultured. For $12 I got yummy guava juice, egg ball, sweet flatbread, samosa, rice, spinach, 2 pieces of salmon and beef with veggies and a cup of sweet oatlike porridge. Doing takeout is your best bet and they guys will happily provide you with plastic ware and napkins. Service is chaotically authentic...you will love it if you like trying new things! Highly recommend the egg ball and sweet flatbread. The food was awesome and like home food but I could definitely have used some hot sauce! read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Fish with rice and spinach for $6! - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This food is fire! We've only ordered it for group meals and honestly I've never looked at the menu. The first time we walked in (pre-COVID) we saw a group eating from a platter and we said we'll have that. Every time since we just call ahead and ask for enough food for x people then pick it up. The food comes in a large foil tray with an assortment of meat - goat, chicken, fish, honestly don't know what else is included but it's all BOMB over a huge pile of bariis (somali style spiced rice). The meat is always perfectly seasoned and sooo tender/juicy. We always have leftovers for days and given the price it is very reasonable to feed a crowd! read more

Get the plate of everything - its about $10 pre tax and worth every penny. In case you are curious what that includes, check out this video review I did on youtube about my experience at Mogadishu Restaurant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBL-CHLC8Yc& read more

A unique experience worth trying. The restaurant is small- only about 14 seats total. We came with a group of 8 and had given the restaurant advanced notice to make sure it was ok. All of the other patrons while we were there were Somali so you know it is authentic. There isn't really a menu so we just asked the owner to bring out some large plates of authentic food for the group to share. The food was delicious. Make sure you get the tea with milk as well- fantastic. Final cost of the meal was incredibly reasonable as well. Great people, great food, and a fun spot to check out. read more

Came late approaching closing time...appeared much of the food was picked over and no longer available. Went with dealers choice and had the gentleman pick what was left. Expectations were somewhat low right up to first bite. Was really impressed with the food... it was damn delicious. If the food tasted that good near closing I'm sure it's even better when they're turning it out fresh. Highly recommend and will be back. read more

This is hands down some of the best Somalian food I have EVER had. This is one of my favorite go to spots. The chicken and salmon are both really good, as well as their rice and all of the veggies they offer. The value of the food is also unbeatable. You get a big oalte with very generous portions for a good price. I have brought several people here and everyone has loved it! The service here is also amazing. It's very small and not many seats, but they will always make sure a seat is cleared for you so you can sit and eat. I would highly recommend this place to anyone, especially if you're looking for a homecooked tasting meal at late hours. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Salmon and chicken platter - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Ok, so I've been putting off going to this place, because honestly I was scared. I was scared that I'd look dumb not knowing what to order because I've never really had Somalian food. But when I read the reviews, I saw that a lot of people were in the same position as me and just asked for recommendations. So I did just that and they did not disappoint. I got the Somali Rice with Salmon. It was like 2 plates of food! And they make this awesome homemade hot sauce unlike anything I've tried before.... I'm definitely coming back to try something new. I'll probably end up trying the entire menu. I mean why not? Their prices aren't bad at all. Also everyone is super polite! Including the customers! You can tell that they are regulars, but they definitely make you feel comfortable. This might be my new spot Yelp Family! read more

I don't have a lot of experience with Somalian food.... but WOW where has it been my whole life Service was great. They brought us out a platter with "everything" and it was incredible. There were five of us who split a plate decked out with rice, greens, chick peas, fish, chicken, lamb, and a million other flavors that I never wanted to end. But alas it did...so we ordered more. We got samosas for dessert to top it off. Go in, ask for the good stuff, and leave the rest to your taste buds read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Affordable, huge portions. I've never had Somalian food before, but it kind of tastes Indian. My husband loved the beans, i loved the chicken. Also, there are dishes with literally rice AND pasta. Carboloading ftw read more

Delicious food and coffee, also amazing service. They're so nice! Definitely need to check it out if you haven't been before

My friend and I were looking for a place to eat close to his place, and we found this place on Yelp. We didn't realize it was a to-go place though, but we happily adopted it. When we entered, there were a lot of people around and actually quite noisy. My first impression wasn't too great though because it was dark and dingy, and not too clean-looking. The food was also pre-cooked, so it wasn't going to be fresh food. I also didn't really understand how to order food, but basically my friend and I ended up with some rice, meat, and vegetables. I don't remember exactly what I ate, but it was tasty but a bit lacking in flavor. The food being lukewarm also bothered me. There was a lot of food for the price of $12 post-tax. If we weren't too hungry, we could have shared one probably. Anyway, this was my first time eating Somalian food, and I'm excited to try more in the future! read more

I live a couple blocks away and wanted to try something new in the area. I placed a pick up order over the phone. After 10 mins I walked down the street to grab my food. I was greeted by a different guy than I spoke with over the phone who was working the counter and immediately seemed confused about the order I placed. I think there was a lack of communication. Anyway my first thoughts when I walked in is this is not a place you want to sit down and eat at. It wasn't very clean looking and felt very crammed by the layout. Now for the good part. The food. The portions were very large so getting your money's worth is no question here. The flavors were great! I order a chicken dish with brown rice which came with steamed greens and a side of veggies. I also ordered a vegetable wrap. It was honestly enough for two people and it was right around $20. To summarize all this - Nice place for some inexpensive, filling takeout but I don't recommend sitting down to eat. read more

Definitely a hidden treasure. The definition of hole in the wall with no menu or prices but the food is delicious and they are VERY generous with their portions. When I went they had several different entrees and sides out (I think they have something different every day) and since it was my first time there, the server just gave me some of everything! My take out box was literally overflowing with food. I got some vegetable rice with chicken curry (2 drumsticks), lentils, spiced vegetables, tilapia fillet, salmon fillet and a spinach and cabbage side dish - all for $11. He even gave us a free samosa at the end just so we could try it :) Will definitely be going back! read more

Food is okay for the price, a bit hole in the wall type restaurant with limited seating and facilities. The quantity is lot

I was here two weeks ago on Saturday with my son as he wanted to try the cuisine here. This is definitely a hole in a wall place very authentic, most of the folks didn't speak English which is fine but everyone was friendly and cordial with us. The food, let me tell you about the food this is my first foray into African cuisine and let me tell you that it was delicious. Somethings struck us is odd as they have spaghetti but apparently that is a very popular dish over there and let me tell you this is homemade food. It tastes homemade, it is utterly delicious, and all the people there love it. First busy as it was they got the food out pretty fast everything is pretty much cooked order and they sell out fast. I highly recommend trying this as it is a nice place to go, as I said a bit hole in the wall but the people are friendly the experience was once in a lifetime and the food was that good. We will be back read more

This place is the best! It's a hang-out spot for Somali taxi drivers that also serves delicious food. In addition to their posted menu which is cooked to order, they can also serve you scoops of pre-made food, cafeteria-lady style. The result is a massive pile of rice, chicken, and veggies for only $11. I highly recommend this place! read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Chicken, beans, veggies, and rice! No nonsense. This is my kind of place. - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Second time trying this place, and my cravings for this restaurant continue to grow! Had the lamb the first time, which was absolutely amazing. Today I got the goat, to which was equally as good, and I now understand why it's always sold out haha. Apart from the food, the people working here are awesome, very kind and welcoming. If you're thinking about going, definitely go. If you aren't thinking of going, I'd implore you to give this place a shot, as I guarantee it will be great experience! read more

This place is a small, hole-in-the-wall establishment in downtown Chicago, so you know the food has to be amazing! Came in Sunday afternoon, and due to Ramadan, they were serving only take-out orders (which was fine by me since got to eat at a nearby park!). They don't have prices of things, but it's okay - I asked the server to surprise me and he took care of everything! I got a huge plate of food as well as sabaayad (Somalian flat bread) and a samosa for $13 (tax included). The food included rice (which was soooo good), a chicken leg (which was tender and flavorful), beef stew, and spinach! My favorite was the beef stew - it also had potatoes and carrots and were so delightfully smooth. The servers are so friendly and helpful and the food amazing. Really enjoyed the whole experience! read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - This huge plate of food (and flat bread and samosa not pictured) was only $13 - tax included! So good! - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place has a lot of potential. Like other reviewers have said, it's a hole in the wall. The guys that work the place are so kind and generous, definitely went the extra mile to ensure we had a good experience. We had the salmon dinner plate and the chicken thigh plate. The salmon was very dry and overcooked, but the chicken thighs were so tender and juicy. The skin ok the chicken was crunchy and the flavors in the chicken were very good. The rice and lentil sides were flavorful as well. If you like chai lattes or black tea, their version is superb. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Chicken thigh dinner - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love this place and come here as much as I can. The owner is always so nice and the food is good. It feels like a cheat day meal because it taste so good but really it isn't. I'm always satisfied and not weighed down. I always have enough for two meals. Get the drumsticks..not the fried ones but the sautéed ones. Soooo insanely good! Even if I move out of the area I will make time to stop by :) read more

Excellent dinner and very friendly people. No menu but just take a seat and let them feed you. They also had amazing tea. $11 for an entire meal. Would definitely suggest if you're willing to try authentic Somalian food. Service was very quick and friendly. The food was already made and sitting in warmers but still tasted great and made our wait time very short. read more

Tiny little hole in the wall with the friendliest crowd around. When we came around 7pm on a Friday night it was a busy place, the street around the entrance surrounded by double parked cabs. They don't have a menu and they have their food already prepared, cafeteria style. There aren't a TON of choices but the flavors were definitely delicious enough to make up for the lack of variety. The owner/manager was super helpful and saw the lost albeit excited look in our eyes, and offered us a little bit of everything. We ended up each with a plate of Somalian rice (reminded me of veggie biryani), lentils, sauteed chicken, fried fish fillets, cabbage and carrot saute. The cabbage and carrot saute/stew was by far my favorite - it was stewed perfectly, wasn't mush but it had soaked up all the flavors and was beyond delicious. The lentils were a great add because the dish needed some sort of sauce or cream to pull it all together. For $10, we got a huge plate of food and it was well worth it. They also threw in a big plate of pancakes which were SO good - they were soft and pliable, slightly sweet, and was perfect to scoop up some food on the plate. There aren't many tables and because the place is so small, it gets pretty cold during the winter. Next time, I'm going to try the noodles! read more

We went here because it was something different, but it's really close to Old Town. They were super welcoming and told us the special, and asked if we wanted all of it. The brought us (3 girls) a gigantic platter of chicken, lentils, salmon, lamb, plantains(we think) and Somalian rice. It was so good! And the green hot sauce is awesome on it. Not to mention the tea was awesome as well. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's about as close to actually eating in Mogadishu as you can get while staying in Chicago. The dining room has very little seating. When I was there the place was full of customers, and very difficult to move around in. It is unclear how to both order your food (who takes the order?) and then how to pay (turns out you pay after your eat). Another strange thing is that the local Somali customers got a banana with their meal, my dining partners and I did not. The food was decent, but the dinginess of the place left me a little uneasy. The tea they serve (both a black tea and a milk tea or chai) was excellent. They also have goat on the breakfast menu, so that's pretty unique. For a westerner expect to be outside of your comfort zone when dining here. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

There's no menu or price list. Don't worry about it. Just let them feed you. We walked in on a cold night and were offered a variety of options - our server read our (thrilled) facial expressions and asked if we just wanted a little of everything. We agreed, and within minutes, we were digging in to a platter of aromatic spiced lentils, rice, and chicken. It disappeared within another few minutes. We'll definitely be back! read more

Sexiest. Told me to go downstairs. I just wanted to grab food and leave.Hopefully they dont do that to anybody else insha'Allah