Delicious! My first taste of Somalian food, and it just might become a future go-to for fall weather comfort food. I had the K-Kay with chicken, which includes chopped up, marinated pita, and was so tasty. My partner had the Chicken legs. Meat was tender and delicious, as were the sauteed spinach and cabbage. The long-grain rice was moist and flavorful. My only complaint with the food is they tossed in a mix of peas, carrots, and corn, which seemed frozen. I eat these plenty at home and felt they didn't add much to the freshly prepared items. Other than the food... we walked in, the only non-Somali patrons, and clearly didn't know what to do. They very kindly helped us choose items from the menu above the counter and served us. All the regulars knew each other, sat with each other in the small space, and politely ignored us. It was a very warm atmosphere. read more

Came here Saturday night with a date. The food was absolutely delicious, the tea was excellent and the man who provided service was very courteous. Definitely recommend to anyone looking for a delicious meal and good service. read more

Mogadishu offers simple, home cooked Somali comfort food at a good price. It is not fine dining, nor is it anything other than the Somali equivalent of a hot dog stand, but it does a fine job of filling its niche for hungry and thrifty customers. Mogadishu restaurant offers huge portions, good variety, and a reasonable price. I happened upon Mogadishu one year ago, because it is across the street from Zaiqa, which I had patronized off and on for the past fifteen years. (It's a few doors down from Big and Little's.) Many of Mogadishu's patrons are cab drivers, but that is almost the only similarity between Zaiqa and Mogadishu. The latter is very small, it is much lighter and brighter, it has neither a prayer room nor a parking lot, and the list of differences goes on. The restaurant has limited seating, and fifteen customers would make it seem filled beyond capacity. Whenever I come, I am greeted warmly and made to feel as comfortable as possible, given that I am the only non-Somali. My very first time there I asked for recommendations, but that turned out to be unnecessary, as the reader will soon see. This is the way that customers order food. For a flat fee, let's say $9.00, which was the price one year ago, you get to fill a large platter with any selection of entrees and starches you choose. It is like a buffet in that regard, the difference being that it is not self-serve. Coffee is included. An order of Somali bread, which, apparently, is eaten with honey, can be had for $1.00 apiece. I myself am not a fan of the bread. Different entrees, side dishes and starches are available at different times of the day, as they are produced in the kitchen. For me, a typical plate would be rice, fish, beef with vegetables, okra, tandoori chicken, beans, and a side salad. Others might choose fufu (Mogadishu makes it with farina) or noodles (regular spaghetti noodles). Goat is another entree that is frequently available. Aside from the okra and the beans that I already mentioned, a braised cabbage based dish and dish based upon greens are dishes that I have seen. There is no dessert, as such. The entire steam table offering --- possibly Somali cuisine in general, about which I have no idea --- is prepared in nutritious fashion, with hardly any added oil, or other cooking fats. Between the meats and fish, the two or three vegetables and the rice, fufu or noodles, a meal at Mogadishu is well balanced, although excessively large. The restaurant is only mildly interesting as a hangout spot for Westerners. Every now and then, Al-Jezeera - English is on TV, and last year I watched a few World Cup matches there. If you don't want to stay in the restaurant, you can always take your food in a carryout container and eat in nearby Bughouse Square. In summary, if you are looking for a balanced, nutritious meal, big portions, and a variety of flavors, all at a cheap price, give Mogadishu a try. 9-4-11 Update: In case Yelpers don't already realize this, the Orleans Street area is a bit sketchy from the evening onwards. Cab drivers, whose occupation requires them to carry large amounts of cash, are susceptible to assault, apparently in neighborhood hangouts as well as in their cabs. The following story is an incident from last year: http://archive.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/05/cabbie-critically-hurt-in-near-north-shooting.html Because both Zaiqa and Mogadishu patrons are predominantly cab drivers, I have updated my review to make Mogadishu suitable for lunch visits only, not for dinner. --- wys read more

I have never tried Somali food before but I've been eyeing this place since I live 15 minutes away from it walking. So during COVID-19 times we finally decided to get some take out, I ordered through Yelp and although it was cancelled (I think they were out of the goat dish I had ordered) after getting there I was able to still order. Their food is already premade and warm so it was really fast took like 7-8 minutes. I got the lamb shank and my friend got the chicken suqar with rice. The meal came with a cabbage side and a beans based side. The cabbage was really soft and light while being flavorful. I normally don't like beans but it was really cooked down, slightly spicy and very flavorful. The lamb was really tender and had the bone marrow intact which I appreciated. Also super flavorful and well seasoned, prepared well so didn't have the gamey taste lamb sometimes has. The rice was really well seasoned and appetizing/paired well with the food. We also tried both of the samosas the fish and the beef, we both liked the beef better and thought it was more flavorful. The owner also gave us a free mandazi to try which is just slightly sweet fried dough which was super flakey and delicious! Can't go wrong with fried dough. Overall this place's food was bomb and really very affordable, huge portion sizes and amazing flavor. We would definitely come back to try some of the breakfast options in the future. read more

Filled with taxi drivers and lively conversations in multiple languages, this place is a rare gem. I stumbled upon it on a business trip. Serving really amazing, home cooked Somali food at reasonable prices. No menu, no frills, seats only 14 or so people in a cramped area. I'd give it 3 stars for value plus another star for really great service from a staff that clearly cares and another star because it is such a unique experience. I would NOT recommend this as a place for a date... rather a great place to go if you really want authentic food from an exotic place. P.S. Probably the easiest place in the city to catch a cab. ; ) read more

Amazing and tasty food! Really kind people who work here as well. Shout out to Ayanle for the kind service and recommendations. We loved the milk tea, Somalian flat bread and the Somalian rice pilaf. We will definitely be back! read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am so lucky to have found this restaurant through a co-worker! The food is beyond delicious! Even better, they also do catering so it's a perfect spot to pick up food for parties, work events etc...we had an event catered for my work and everyone kept asking where the food was from, YOU MUST TRY THIS PLACE! Also the tea is really good. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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True hole in the whole place, but clearly the spot to go for authentic Somali cuisine judging by the clientele/lack of English being spoken. Big menu with pretty reasonable prices, everything was around 10-12 bucks, and the portions looked generous no matter what you ordered. We had the injera plate which had the most tender chicken legs I think I've ever had in my wife and a delicious red curry dish that there was not nearly enough of. The rest of the plate was mostly vegetables which were fine but nothing special. Service was a little spotty but it was also packed so can't be too upset with them. Overall not as great as the Ethiopian restaurants in Uptown but definitely worth a visit if you're closer to downtown. read more

Ordered take out from here and got my food missing the utensils but despite that I give it 5 stars. The food seems basic ; rice, chicken, and veggies but I don't know why the flavor and unique spices were amazing! The food just reminds you of that perfect Thanksgiving, homey-like cooking that puts you in a happy food coma! read more

Very authentic, unpretentious, homemade Somalian cuisine. I saw the other reviews and decided to try this place out myself. I was not disappointed. The people are super-friendly and the food is homemade (yes, it actually looks and tastes homemade). Nothing is as authentic. We had cabbage, fish, chicken, and lentils and were not disappointed. Highly recommend!! read more

Came here for a cultural project for school. Very cultural. We told the owner that we came to do a cultural project on African cuisine. He gave us a "little bit" (a lot) of everything for ten dollars. Here's the list: Mixed vegetables: seasoned and cooked well. No complaints. Not outstanding, but above average. Spinach/cabbage sauteed mix: really refreshing and contextualized with the cultural feel. I would munch on it all day. Macaroni: pretty good! It's cooked very different than those of Italian restaurants. It has a different feel to it. Chicken broth: it's the cherry on top. Wraps everyhing up nicely. Chicken and salmon: delicious. Clean and well done. Very good. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Went to do a cultural project here. He gave us a little bit of everything. What a generous owner! - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This was our first time eating Somalian food. The owner gave us two heaping plates of at least 10 different items to try. It was all Simply fantastic! The Somalian tea is served steaming hot and has a lovely sweet flavor with a slight spice that lingers on the tongue. 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

Small, tight, hole-in-the-wall place with about 4-5 tables. Got the biryani with fried chicken - the chicken is crispy, flavorful, albeit a little salty. The biryani was just okay. A good spot for a quick, inexpensive bite after work. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Chicken Drumstick with Biryani - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place is a cute little hidden gem. I've never tried Somalian food so I didn't know what to expect. I got their combo boxes, one with chicken and the other with salmon, that comes with rice and vegetables. Their rice was simply divine. Probably one of the best rice I've ever had. The chicken and salmon were alright, nothing too special. The veggies were kind of dry but the green salad that they served along with it was tasty! One thing I didn't like was that there was no sauce, everything tasted kind of dry including the vegetables. Their food portions are huge - one box is definitely enough for two people. Two of these came out to be $24.26, very reasonably priced. I'm glad I got to try this place since I've been looking at their raving reviews for so long. The inside is super small so it might be difficult to find a place to sit so I'd recommend taking the food to-go. I'm glad there's an authentic Somalian restaurant in the middle of Gold Coast, you don't see too many of those around and it's refreshing to try something new! read more

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You can so easily miss this place as you walk by but once you walk in, you would instantly feel like you have been transported to a developing country with some 20 people standing, sitting and chatting in a crazy small place ( 8*10 maybe ?). People were super friendly and yes, it is full of cabbies and boy, do they always know the best hole in the wall type of places! I ordered a salmon takeout ($10) and it came with so much flavored rice ( tastes like a mildly spiced pilaf with raisins) to last three meals, potato and peas veg dish , sauted spinach and cabbage and lentil soup. The fish was a bit dry but tastes pretty good. My fav was definitely the lentil soup which was simple but tasty ! Definitely check this place out for some affordable international food ! read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Salmon with rice, vegetables and lentil soup - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Unbelievable amount of really delicious, hearty food. We got a plate each of mixed veggies, rice, bread, and meat of your choice for only $10 each! The guy behind the counter was super nice and welcoming. Will definitely be back! Also, we ended up coming in right before the end of a cab shift and the place got packed! Just like other reviews said, it's a small place, and it was fun to see it really buzzing. Good food and good atmosphere! read more

This place is authentic. I order from there regularly and the food is spot on. It shows the Somalian cooking culture and it feels home-cooked. nothing fancy, but very flavorful. The owner offered us Masala Chai which was great. He was friendly as well. Don't let the appearance of this place fool you. It's clean to eat and frankly, I think the way it is adds to the experience. Would go/order again! read more

SUPER authentic and oh so delicious. owner extremely nice and brought out so much food for us to try. the beef stew was phenomenal. come early because they tend to run out of a few options that i wish i could have tried . highly recommend read more

Tremendous! I was in Chicago for a week and was looking for unusual cuisines to try. I found this place on Yelp and trekked out specifically to go there. The place is quite small, with three large tables that could seat about 6 people each, and two small high tables for one or two people each. The restaurant was crowded with Somali people who all seemed to know each other and were chatting continuously. The workers and even the other customers greeted me amiably. Behind the counter were hot trays of food, and then other trays stacked on top of those trays. When someone orders something, the guy shifts the trays around to get everything he needs. Boxes and random stuff is stacked all around. A very chaotic atmosphere, but in a good way. I ordered a lamb shank. The guy behind the counter first piled my plate with a massive amount of rice, nearly an inch deep over the whole plate. Then he added scoops of different kinds of vegetables. Finally he laid down a massive hunk of lamb, on the bone. Everything was delicious. The rice had peas, carrots, and corn in it, and had a spicy flavor similar to Indian pilao rice. The vegetables were things I would normally detest (cauliflower, broccoli, something green shredded into tiny bits), but with these spices, it was great. The lamb was tender and flavorful. On the table were some bottles of sauces, including a spicy green one almost reminiscent of a hot Mexican salsa. I sat there stuffing myself as multiple simultaneous conversations in Arabic and Somali went on nonstop around me. Various people came in and out, picking up to-go orders, and exchanging laughs and repartee with those already present. There was so much food that I wasn't able to finish it all. I went up to the counter to pay and asked for a box to take the leftover rice. While I was paying, another worker came and took away my plate, with the rice I had intended to take home. I tried to stop him, but the guy at the counter said, "Oh, don't worry, I'll give you some more." He went into the kitchen and filled my to-go container with a new mound of fresh rice, much more than I had had left, and threw in a chicken drumstick for free. Did I mention this stomach-splitting abundance, including the extra replacement rice and extra-extra chicken, cost only $11? Unbelievable. I came very close to going back to this restaurant later during the same trip; ultimately I didn't just because it's a bit out of the way relative to other stuff I was doing. But if I come back to Chicago I'll definitely revisit it. The atmosphere is super friendly, almost like attending a big party with an extended family; the food is delicious; the portions are more than ample; and the price is low. Highly recommended. read more

Must try lamb! Best in the Midwest! Close to down town and great street parking for free! We will come here every time we are in Chicago! Wish we could give 10 stars! Owner is super nice and really helpful! read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Lamb plate with Chapti and tea! Delicious! - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Pleasantly surprised by the affordable, mouth-watering and plentiful meal (got a second order for next week's famolh meals) - I could pick anything I wanted from the incredible and varied selections of grains, meats and seafood which were addictively seasoned - If the super causal restaurant is too tiny for your comfort, I strongly recommend delivery to impress at your next gathering. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Mogadishu Somali Restaurant - Beef, Chicken & Tilapia Over Goat Rice Pilaf With Vegetables ($10) - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I am in LOVE! I and my boyfriend were just visiting Chicago for a short vacation, and this place will be our high point in memory. We were staying near the water tower and wanted to explore Chicago's ethnic and racial diversity in food! After a bit of research, we discovered this place -- Somali food! -- and decided to give it a try. And oh it was a good decision. We didn't know what to order, but the owner helped us getting everything platter + arjena (? hope I spell it right) bread. As everyone already mentioned, huge proportion! And oh my, the food was absolutely scrumptious! The chicken was perfectly marinated, the beef well done and chewy, wonderfully balanced with satayed green and souffled beans, and all backed up by salaciously seasoned rice. Adding a bit of poblano sauce did a wonder. I wrapped some of these with an extra thin bread, and it was gooooood. We were sit-in customers but saw a lot of locals taking take-out and coming and going. If I were to live here, I swear I would come here every three days. It's apparently a stock place for Somali neighbors in town, which gives a whole another flavor to the food. It was slightly far away from the fancy blancy part of town, but who cares really. I hope the place stay strong for a long period of time and become one of the great Chicago gems. read more

Dropped in here for a beef Sambusa and I was very happy I did . Very tasty . I'll be returning to try everything on the menu because it smells amazing ! read more

Flew into Chicago on a weeknight after having my flight delayed. I was hungry and on the prowl for a good late-night spot near my lodging and saw Mogadishu on Yelp. I'm sure glad I did! I got the plate of everything to go, and really enjoyed it. It included a spiced rice, curried vegetables, steamed vegetables, spinach, chicken, and if my palate is correct, two types of beef. Very tasty and flavorful- being hungry might have helped, as my travel companion and I demolished our food. I've never had Somalian food prior to this. Back home we have a large Nigerian (=a lot of Western Africa cuisine options) and Habesha (=a lot of Ethiopians spots) population. The food here was most reminiscent of the Kenyan food I've had, apart from the rice flavoring which reminded me of Indian cuisine. Can't beat the price either for how much food you get. It's a true hole-in-wall, and when we reached the door, there were a few Somali men were congregated at a table talking and we almost thought the place was closed for the night until the man at the counter gestured for us to enter. Overall, a pleasant and unexpected find on our trip I hope the locals catch on to. read more

This place is the bomb. Didn't make it in time to taste their goat meat but the chicken and the plate was wonderful and plentiful. I needed a carry out! Great place! read more

Place is always my go to when I am really hungry and want some good food. The gentleman who makes your plate is super generous and really friendly. Keep doing your thing guys! Glad I'm right by this place read more

Fantastic experience. We were given the combo platter and it was excellent. Try the spicy garlic/lemon sauce.

This was such a hidden delight! Do not be deterred by the location and neighborhood esthetic....right off the Gold Coast, this is a fabulous gem of an experience. The staff was so nice and friendly and treated us well and the portions were extremely generous. We shared salmon, beef, biryani rice, chicken, and chapati (a Naan like bread.) It was a great experience at an extremely affordable price! read more

This food makes me feel like home! The cooks are heaven sent and the people and atmosphere are like family! I'll go here for the rest of my life! read more

Delicious food, gracious service, HUGE portions and extremely good value. We ordered two plates of food to go and just had the server select items for us--easily served three good eaters. The owner also offered us large cups of spiced sweet milky tea--wonderful on a cold rainy night. The seating in the restaurant is limited. Extremely friendly service. A little gem! read more

We ordered this on a rainy rain while stuck in the hotel. The delivery was very fast and the food was delicious! We ordered beef samosas, Veggie Bariis, and Kay Kay with chicken. The food was good was still hot when it arrived and was so flavorful! Definitely stop by this restaurant if you are in town! read more

My favorite African restaurant in Chicago and arguably the best Somalian Food restaurant in the Midwest. The food is fresh, and the customer service is nice. I recommend to anyone in Chicago. read more

This restaurant is not for the faint-hearted--don't come in here expecting normal wait service or straightforward ordering from the counter. Firstly it's quite cramped; in order to get to the counter you have to go around a few tables and move along a narrow aisle, where much of the space is likely occupied by people. And when you make it to the front, you'll have to make some hard decisions of what to order. We couldn't really decide so we just asked them for some recommendations. While waiting we eventually got a table to share with some others already eating there. Though they weren't able to properly clean the table beforehand, the server did bring us some hot tea, which was refreshing and lightly sweetened. The two dishes that we ended up getting consisted of chicken legs and a salmon plate. The latter was definitely unique and the star of the show. There were so many ingredients and flavors mixed up with the chopped up salmon pieces that every bite was delightful. I think it was their "K-Kay" dish but he added salmon rather than one of the other meats. All in all it was definitely a worthwhile experience in trying Somalian food for the first time, as I'd eat it again if I get the chance. read more

Mogadishu Restaurant - Chicken leg meal - African Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Amazing chicken wrap. The perfect amount of spice. I will continue to order from this restaurant because the food is PHENOMENAL. Thank you!

One the best restaurants in Chicago a friend recommended me to this restaurant I came all the way from Pennsylvania to experience their food Mansha Allah perfect food respectful waiters I'll strongly recommend read more

The food here was delicious, tasted very authentic. We ordered the the plater, bread and tea. Everyone were very friendly and took care of us the entire time. Would definitely come back again. read more

I've never had Somali cuisine but we saw all the 5 star reviews and 1 dollar sign and figured, "What's to lose?" Thanks, Yelpers! Highly recommended. I followed the advice of some reviewers and just asked for a combination. And, also based on other reviewers, asked for food for two and got more than the three of us could manage. Everything was delicious and the service couldn't have been more gracious. They insisted we take a container of their special hot sauce and help ourselves to the tea. Both were wonderful. The hot sauce has a nice kick and was great on everything (rice dish, carrots, greens, fish, chicken, beef). The tea was sweetened and had rose and cardamom flavors. Enjoy! read more

Great food, and very cheap for the amount they give you. A humble little restaurant, nothing fancy, but solid eats! Recommended!

Great lIttle place. A little dirty feeling but food is great. Chicken cooked really well and lots of good new flavors.