Found parking in front and went inside during peak dinner hours. The inside was dimly lit and has…read moreplenty of seating. The dining area was packed and there were lots of people. The ambiance was loud and there were also tv playing. Once we sat the waiter came over and gave us menus. everything looked great and prices were awesome. We got their recommendations: the dibi lamb and dibi chicken with our choice of a free side. we got white rice and vermicelli The lamb was cooked good and the hot sauce was fantastic. The Chicken was a bit burnt but very juicy nonetheless. It was my first time trying Senegalese food and i am looking forward to coming back here! Very flavorful and nice staff i really like it! Come here when you're in the area A+

Excellent service! Good food. Great location. LOVE the educational map of Africa!…read more The only reason for docking a star is the jollof was not the best and the lamb was a bit less juicy than preferred. We were an odd party of 5 and it was packed inside - they played Yahtzee with a couple parties who didn't yet have food and were seated at larger tables for their small party just so we could sit. Then, moments after a table left they moved us and merged tables so we could comfortably dine. This was so intelligent and comforting imo. Most managers/owners would be afraid to do that, but when you're dealing with mom & pop cultured businesses they make you feel a part of the village so make it work for everybody to eat & enjoy. They handled it professionally and with respect to the customer as we listened in to how they managed. They were fast, helpful, on it from entry to exit! I appreciated the cushioned seating. The fresh ginger juice was amazing especially after all the singing we'd done. They were helping us pronounce the dishes and the presentation was nice. The portion was large enough for leftovers. While they were out of most menu items and handling a large catering order, it seems they're popular for a reason and I'm happy they're doing well. Go, enjoy!!

The food here is authentic Senegalese cuisine! So delicious! Enjoy some of the best of Africa…read more Happy Yelping!

I happened upon this restaurant and have not been disappointed yet. The food is authentic and…read moreflavorful the service is fast and friendly. You know the food is delicious when they sell out of menu items daily, It's a MUST try for incredible Senegalese food!!! I love the Thieboudienne try that first if you have never had Senegalese food. The restaurant itself if unfussy and very clean, it feels as if you are having the best meal ever in your loving aunt's kitchen. If you don't know what you want the staff is super friendly and will give you recommendations. Trust me you will LOVE IT!

got a lamb maffe. portion was generous & we still had leftovers. it was tomato-based & tasty, not…read morelamb-y at all they also had a fridge w pre-bottled drinks. we got a bissap (like mexican jamaica, not as many spices as sorrel), & a bouye, made from baobab fruit. the drink texture reminded me of smth like guanabana or soft pear, creamy & sweet & a bit tart, but mixed w vanilla flavor? hard to describe but we liked it would def go back again to try more dishes

Thieb and bissap both delicious!! We were on the hunt for the best Senegalese on 116th and were not…read moredisappointed. The fish was fresh and the portion was generous. For lunch we shared 1 dish of thieboudienne and 2 bottles of bissap was $30 total

Would 100% recommend a reservation, this place is popular and for good reason. The service is…read moregreat, and we came on a nice sunny day so we were able to enjoy an indoor outdoor eating environment. We really enjoyed the Thiebou Jen, while the fish had some bones they were manageable and the flavors were on point. The dish does come with a pepper on the side, but beware she is a heavy hitter and not for the faint of heart. So happy we had the plantains as well, they were a perfect compliment to this main dish. Cocktail was the Last Last, a delightful take on the Last Word and extra points here for the creativity of the name. Had some of the Fataya empanadas as well, next time I want to try the Spicy Potato Nems and a lamb dish.

first time trying senegalese food and it was so good!!…read more - got the thiebou jen (national fish dish) and lamb chops - top bites were the smoky lamb chops, the flaky fish paired with the rice, and plantains - the juices were also good! though I wish they had the baobab juice (sadly they ran out) - servers were nice!! also the decor was very cute and felt homey/authentic in a summery way some notes: - for some reason resy showed a bunch of openings but when we got there it was pretty full and only had bar seating. rec making a res!!

Came here with a couple friends after my show that was next door at the Shrine World music venue…read more I had a marvelous mango salad that was fresh and quite tasty. The vinaigrette waa excellent. To accompany it I had their wings that was out of this world. My friend had a lamb stew with onions that was tender and superb. Place is kind of busy so you gotta be a little patient particularly at peak times. Excellent sounds, good vibes. When in Harlem, this is the spot!

They have the best dibi lamb and jollof rice anywhere. So delicious. Always on point. Great…read moreportions for great prices. No complaints.

We happened to be in this part of Brooklyn for the concert in a small park by my son's band, and…read morehappened to notice that there was a Senegalese restaurant nearby. Since we've never had Senegalese food, the decision to go there was no brainer. The interior of the restaurant looked like an art gallery, with paintings, carvings, handicrafts and photos from Western Africa. An old man (the owner?) received us. He recommended several vegetarian options for me, but I already had my heart set on the Okra stew. He then asked if I wanted Okra Tofu? I asked him if people in Senegal consumed Tofu? He said no, but customers had requested it, so they put it on the menu. (Who comes to a Senegalese restaurant and asks for Tofu?) I told him to not give me anything outside an authentic Senegalese diet. A few minutes later he came out of the kitchen to tell me that there was not enough okra stew left to form a main dish, but he'd offer whatever was there as a free side dish for me. So I went with his suggestion of Mafe Legumes (vegetables stewed in peanut butter sauce), while husband asked for the Senegalese national dish of Tiebou Jeun (baked fish). For the accompanying starch, I chose Funio, the Western African staple grain (again introduced by this wise old man). We also ordered Nem Legumes - vegetable spring rolls (I'd call them samosas :-)). Husband asked for a ginger drink. The ginger drink tasted like pure ginger juice (sweetened a bit of course) - it would certainly cleanse one's palate and warm one's stomach. The Nem Legumes were nice, but the winner was the stewed tomato dipping sauce that came with them. Our main dishes were served on large dinner plates. The portions were so substantial that I ended up packing half of my stew home, after stuffing myself unusually full already. There were chunks of yam, carrots and cabbage on my plate, flavored in a creamy and well-seasoned peanut butter sauce. But the winner was still the Okra stew - spicy, tangy, tasty. I also stole some Joloff rice off my husband's plate. It was another surprisingly delicious treat! His fish looked like a portion of a big carp, with quite a bit of bones to pick out (we don't mind fish bones, having been well trained in certain Asian cuisines :-)) Our bill, presented by a young waitress, came in a little basked covered by the broad hem of an African lady in a beautiful dress. The old man passed out table and said "oh yes she collects for us." For a meal of one appetizer, two mains, and a drink, the price was super reasonable!

You must visit if you're in the area…read more Enjoyed the okra stew with Joloff rice. For appetizer, small fish pastries. Everything was lovely. The space inside is warm and inviting. They already appear to host community events as well. I noticed a small stage and projector.

My sister-in-law was visiting and wanted to try out one of my local African cuisine restaurants, so…read morestopped by here. This no-frills place was friendly, reasonably priced and delicious.

Although I'm a country girl at heart, happiest hiking with my human and canine pups in remote…read moreplaces, it's little nooks and crannies like Le Petit Sénégal / Little Senegal, centered around 116th Street, that anchor me to NYC. For a tiny fraction of the cost of a plane ticket, one can talk to so many interesting people, explore so many fascinating cultures, and eat so many different kinds of delicious food here! Senegalese food is, like many west African, coastal cuisines, spicy, often seafood-heavy, and complex, often incredibly labor intensive to prepare. Over the years, we've tried probably a dozen different restaurants in Le Petit Sénégal, but this was the first time we'd ordered from Keur Coumba despite the fact that it's no newcomer to the scene. (I think it's been open for a decade at least.) Keur Coumba's version of the Senegalese national dish, Thiebou Djeun (rice with fish), was quite good. It was a pleasure to sink one's fork into a thick, generous cut of meaty, white fish to find allium-heavy pockets of dark green roff (a mixture of finely chopped garlic, onion, and parsley). The fish was served over reddish brown, umami-rich, tomato paste-infused rice, circled by slices of sweet carrot, eggplant, plantain, green cabbage leaf, fresh red bell pepper, lemon -- and even some lovely xoon, the close cousin of socarrat. I thought I detected a note of crustacean in the rice (it reminded me of lobster bisque), which a survey of different recipes tell me could be shrimp bouillon, fish sauce, dried / smoked fish, mussels, or... ? I'm not sure what was used in Keur Coumba's version, but if you have a shellfish allergy, you should probably ask! Yassa Guinaar (chicken marinated in lemon juice with sauteed onions) and yassa yapp (beef with the same lemony sauteed onions) were both deeply flavorful and oily -- I believe pleasantly so by Senegalese standards, but perhaps not pleasantly so to everyone. A finish of oil (palm, I think) is used to dress dishes, not unlike chili oil in Sichuan cuisine, tadkas in south Indian cuisine, olive oil in Greek and Turkish cuisines, etc... It might seem excessive to those unused the cuisine, but that oil adds stick to your ribs flavor, which might be particularly desirable if you consume mostly vegan dishes and calories are not as easy to come by. The onions in the yassa preparations, caramelized to sweetness and slowly cooked in oil to a silky consistency, combined beautifully with the bright acidity of lemon / vinegar, and touch of pungent mustard. Yassa might just be the next premade slow cooker sauce peddled by a major US food corporation. It would taste great on just about anything, including hot dogs. (You're welcome, Campbell's!) Our final dish, Borokhe, was about 1/3 oil -- more oily that we have had it at other Senegalese restaurants. I enjoyed the flavor of the vegetables, which slightly reminded me of nettles. But for us, at least, the large proportion of oil was excessive and not at that point of satiation enjoyable. I'll give our leftovers another try in a few days. With so few data points, I can't say that Keur Coumba -- which Google tells me translates to either "Coumba's house" or "strong house" in Wolof -- serves my favorite versions of any Senegalese dish we've tried so far. But I would not hesitate to go back, especially for the Theibou Djeun, which is made with attention to detail and impressively fresh fish. Jërëjëf, Coumba!

Clean restaurant, variety of choices, and vibe-based pricing…read more Stopped by on a Saturday afternoon and couldn't really tell if they were open or not. We heard that it's usually bustling at night, but seemed to be pretty quiet during the day. There's a menu printed on the wall but it mostly specifies the prices of their drinks. The menu has photos of dishes they (supposedly) serve, but not all of them were available when we visited. We decided to split a couple of entrees with the goal of sampling the various protein and carb options available. The employee who helped us out was helpful when we had questions but also did not have many words to say. The food was tasty. Everything was seasoned perfectly, although some of the chicken pieces were dry. I really liked their black-eyed peas and rice, both of which had a lot of flavor.

On Canal near the Sara D. Roosevelt Park promenade and spotted D. Salam African Cuisine, a new…read moreSenegalese Halal & organic buffet in Chinatown that I'd otherwise expect to see on W. 116th St. When I was there, the options included a lamb and chicken selection along with assorted bean, rice, lentil, and cabbage sides. They have a charcoal grill out front to cook meat, but it was not being used when I stopped by. Tried both one of D. Salam's lamb and chicken dishes, plus a couple bean options. Each was spiced, yet not excessively spicy. Next time if I'm nearby when the outdoor grill is running, I'm likely to try that out. At $15 per pound, however, what I saw in the buffet doesn't compare to the diverse selection in an uptown buffet I enjoy for under $10 per pound. That being said, if you're in that part of Lower East Side and looking for some non-Asian eats, it's worth checking out. Keep in mind, D. Salam has no tables, but only a small counter to stand and eat.

I was on my way to the Schomburg and remembered this little gem was close enough so I planned to…read moremake a pit stop. As I only had 45 minutes, I knew based on previous experience that I wasn't going to have enough time to properly savor and enjoy an entree. Chez Jacob is busy and their service is very lax, so it is best if you are in no rush. Don't expect warm and fuzzies. I've previously had a taste of their fried fish with traditional Senegalese sides and enjoyed. This time on a crunch, I ordered the fish pastelles/fish pie (appetizer). This is definitely what my people call a "pastelito." It was filled to the brim with stewed fish which had a really nice kick to it and served with a red (tomato based?) sauce. It was good and not very spicy. I loved that the pastel did not feel or taste oily. I imagined I would get two, but the order was for four. At $2 a pop, it was a hearty appetizer at a great price. I ended up taking half home and they were great later. In any case, what I really knew I couldn't leave without is their heavenly ginger juice. I crave it often and have yet to find a ginger juice that competes. Homemade to perfection, the spice of the ginger will linger and clear up any ailment you may have with the absolute quickness. My sinuses revere this juice. It's in the fridge next to the register for $4. All in all, Chez Jacob is a winner in my book, and I look forward to tasting more of their dishes when time permits!

Here's the Scoop! After attending a concert at a church in…read moreHarlem we decided to get some dinner and I was hungry. My husband's long time friend trombonist Craig Harris said let's go to Chez Jacob's for dinner. Upon entering its small but space utilized well. Seats about 15 people. 2 large booths and 1 small booth. It gets crowded quickly. The lighting is medium strength and there's a counter to order to the right of the entrance. Many delicious sounding items on the menu. Large screen TV showing African music videos. I ordered the seared Tilapia with Salad & sweet plantains. My husband ordered the lamb slices with white rice and veggies. Hot bread/butter was given while we waited for our meals. Our meals came and the portions were large. Large piece of Tilapia and beautiful salad. Some back heat seasoning on the Tilapia and I thought I wouldn't be able to handle it but the salad and plantains help put out the fire. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Check my pics. I will definitely come here again to enjoy another tasty meal. My fellow Yelpers come and check it out!

Stopped by here the day I landed in New York as I was recommended this place by a friend and it was…read moreamazing. I don't have much experience with Senegalese food but after trying the Thiebou Yapp here, I'm very much a fun. Super traditional vibe which adds to the homecooked comfort style of the food. The portion sizes were incredible for the price and the lamb was cooked to perfection. The spicy onions added the extra kick to really round off the flavor and the rice complemented the sharp flavors so well. Can't wait to come back the next time I'm in New York.

My partner and I visited Le Baobab Gouygi 2 today for a late Sunday lunch, per a friend's…read morerecommendation. It's a casual spot where you seat yourself and order at the counter. We started with a bag of small, cornbread-like buns that were slightly sweet and so delicious--perfect for snacking before the main dishes arrived. We also ordered two homemade drinks: the Senegal ginger drink, which had a bold kick to it, and the bouye drink, made from baobab fruit, which was creamy, slightly tangy, and refreshing. We'd never tasted anything like these. Both were unique and complemented the flavors of the food, which came out quickly. For our main dishes, we tried the Chicken Yassa, a traditional Senegalese dish of marinated chicken cooked with caramelized onions, lemon, and mustard. It had a wonderful tangy flavor with tender, flavorful chicken that literally fell off the bone. We also had the Thiebou Djen, the national dish of Senegal, which is a savory, tomato-based fish and rice dish cooked with vegetables like carrots, cabbage, and cassava. I opted for red jollof over yellow and loved the crispy parts. This dish was rich, hearty, and packed with flavor. We wanted to try the Fataya (fried fish or meat turnovers) but unfortunately, they were out. Despite that, we had more than enough food; we left feeling stuffed and still took home a large to-go container. The food came out quickly, and the staff was prompt with bringing water to the table. Overall, it was a great West African dining experience with generous portions and authentic flavors. We'll definitely be ordering their delivery!