Go eat at Teranga! Please keep this place alive and doing well because it's so good, I want to come back again and again! We had the Fataya (handpies), mafe (chicken with peanut sauce) and dibi (grilled chicken and lamb) and everything was stellar! We were there on a Saturday and there weren't many customers which is crazy, this food is excellent. The guy was very nice and he and my friend spoke French with each other : ). Of course he also spoke English and was a great host. I like that it's BOYB, we brought our own and saved some money. It's a cozy place with about 8 tables. Great location around many other shops, literally 50 feet from the Bryn Mawr red line stop! read more

My friends and I had dinner here at the recommendation of our friend in the neighborhood. Specifically, he loved eating here so much after one bite of the dibi chicken and thought their food was incredible. We got that, yassa chicken, maafe lamb, fufu, plantains, jollof, accara, fataya, and the baobab and hibiscus drink. We kept ordering more fataya because there was a lot of us and it was so good. We also enjoyed the other appetizer of the accara (black eyed peas fritters). The hibiscus drink and plantains were particularly yummy but overall we had such a great meal. The owner was so warm and it really felt like we were having a homecooked meal at someone's house. They were so welcoming and we all are rooting for them to prosper! read more

Teranga - Plantains, jollof rice - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We stopped in at Teranga during their soft open so the entire menu wasn't available but all I wanted was some yassa and I got it lol This is a lovely space right across from the Bryn Mawr red line stop; the food was good and the service was even better. My plantains were a little too charred but I'm not tripping on it! Come get you some delicious Senegalese food - you won't regret it! read more

Teranga - Yassa with chicken! - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Teranga serves authentic Senegalese food full of those delicious flavors and spices that are so hard to find elsewhere. The menu is straightforward but gives a variety of options that will make any diner happy. The cooking has a homestyle feel and the portions are hearty; fortunately they have to-go boxes. The restaurant is clean, tastefully decorated, and conveniently located. The service was excellent, fast and attentive, and by the owner himself. Recommended spot if you're craving Senegalese or haven't had West African cooking before. read more

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What a great find! I love trying foods from all over the world and this Senegalese spot came up highly rated so I had to drive the hour and give it a try. The owner was so welcoming and helpful with the menu. I sampled a few dishes- the Chicken Yassa was a standout. It had the perfect charred smoky flavor and the onions and peppers were a tasty accompaniment. Also enjoyed the Senegalese salad - they make their own dressing and it went well with the green olives in it. Some very spicy dishes in there too including the jollof rice so come prepared for that but it really was a great experience and I hope it sticks around in Edgewater for a long time to come. read more

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The area has numerous SubSaharan West African restaurants, this is my second Senegalese restaurant so I can't testify fairly to authenticity yet. It is definitely not any of the cuisines from Nigeria or Cameroon, and yet it's also clearly not so distantly related. It's a beautiful and intimate location, might be the prettiest SubSaharan African restaurant I've ever been to. I got the Mafe with lamb, it's sort of like Nigerian Peanut soup but not. I think it might have gone better vegetarian or with chicken. It comes with two sides, but one fufu is really not enough, I should have gotten two fufu sides but the jolof rice is good and also a little different than Igbo or Yoruba jolof rice. They don't serve the fufu in a challenging Saran wrap, I always have trouble with those. Teranga, I am told, is a Wolof word that doesn't have a direct English translation (because we lack the concept, it's the Sapir Whorf Thesis in action) but restraining the sociological lecture it means the Senegalese generous and sincere hospitality that is fundamental to their social solidarity. It's a good name for a place that treats customers like family. read more

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The restaurant is clean and organized. The service was quick, and great! The food was very good! The chicken in particular was so so good, very juicy and flavorful. The accara was soft in the inside and the sauces that came with it were very flavorful! I will definitely be back to try out other items in the menu! read more

Teranga - Yassa chicken, plantains, Fufu, Jollof Rice - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was actually so so sooo yummy!! I am such a big foodie and took my friend here to try the food and cuisine, and this really did make both of our nights so magical! The place is also so very beautifully decorated, and the service was super quick! The owner of the store is also such a great person, I would 100% recommend and will def be frequenting this place read more

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Delicious Tilapia Yassa with Jollof rice I could eat all day long. The owner was friendly and wanted to make sure we were enjoying ourselves. All wrapped up in a great cozy store front. read more

Teranga - Tilapia Yassa w/.Jollof rice - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dinner at Teranga was an absolute pleasure. The food was wonderful. Hospitality (more than just service) amazing. Atmosphere friendly and comfortable. The appetizers were great. Fataya (like an empanada) was flaky and the the filling (which included salmon, but didn't have a fishy taste) was wonderful. The accara were a highlight and should not be missed. They are black-eyed pea fritters. Fluffy and light. Great tastes. I never had anything fried so lightly as this. The appetizers were both served with two sauces which were great. One was very hot- (4 on a 1-5 scale according to ElHadj, the owner and host) - perfectly enjoyable. The other was sweeter and full of onions and tomato. He called it a 2 on his scale. Both complemented the appetizers beautifully. Mains were generous portions of stews of different types. Well, stews might not be the best description. I had Soupe Kandia, with a base of okra (frankly l, I couldn't distinguish the okra because it was cooked so well into the dish). It had shrimp and lamb, and lots of marrow bones . The description on the menu doesn't do the dish justice. If you enjoy lamb stews, you'll love this. Our friend had the Yassa with tilapia. It came out with a whole fish and she worked through the bones to enjoy a wonderfully cooked fish with a great traditional lemon-mustard seasoning. I wish we were in picture taking mode. It was beautifully served. My partner had the Mafe - a peanut based stew with chicken. She enjoyed it and has a lot left for lunch today. All the entrees came with a choice of sides. There is a great selection-including white rice, Jolloff rice, couscous (2 types ), plantains and more. They had sold out of the Joloff rice earlier due to a large order). The white rice was actually the only disappointing part of the meal for me. A little dry and lifeless. But it went well with the stew anyway. The African drinks were refreshing. I had a ginger drink which tasted like it had just been squeezed from fresh ginger root. Tasty. I was surprised to learn that a Teranga was very new. It looks beautiful and is very comfortable. I almost hate to leave a good request because I'd like it to be able to stay the way it was. ElHadj told us he wants it to be a very friendly place and he certainly made it friendly for us. I hope he is able to handle the eventual crowds because the food and style will attract more as the word gets out. Get there soon before there are lines out the door! read more

Amazing food and service. They really pack in a lot of real flavor. Try the Mafe with fufu and jollof rice. The owner is so nice and takes time to get to know his customers and talk to them about Senegal. read more

Fantastic food. Some of the best I've had in Chicago. One thing that stuck out to me was just how hospitable the staff was compared to other restaurants I've been to in Chicago. Most Chicago restaurants I've been to aren't all that friendly, but the staff here was genuinely kind and hospitable. If you're not sure which restaurant to try on Bryn Mawr, try this one. read more

Teranga - Bouye (Creamy Baobob Tree Fruit Drink) - Senegalese Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've tried the rum punch and side car and they were both delicious. I've tried the jerk chicken tacos, Rasta pasta, seafood pasta and they were amazing. I've even tried the shrimp egg rolls and the cabbage and shrimp were well seasoned. I've been to the restaurant twice in one week. Please try them out. read more

I can't stop thinking about my food I had here -- the yassa, fataya, and mafe yesterday with the sides of fufu, couscous, jollof rice, and plantains. The lamb was cooked perfectly, the flavors were rich and delicious and transported me. I have never had Senegalese food and Teranga has made me a quick fan. The staff recommended couscous as a side. I have never had couscous I have found particularly interesting but Teranga's couscous is amazing. I will be getting this side again. The fufu was delicious, reminding me of something similar to a glutinous rice mochi ball. The fataya came with two sauces for dipping and they were full of complex spices in the best way. I will be back. read more

J'aurais pensé que c'était impossible de trouver la gastronomie Sénégalaise au Chicago. Heureusement qu'ils sont là! Ma famille et moi avons mangé la poulet yassa, l'agneau maade, du riz jollof, et des fatayas. Aussi on a bu le bissap, le bouye et la thé du gingembre. Tous les options sont délicieuses également, mais j'ai préféré le yassa. L'ambiance est très agréable et il y a beaucoup de space pour un rendez-vous avec ses amis. Merci à tous qui les sont préparés et merci à ElHadj, la service était très agréable et accueillant!! Je reviendrais bientôt read more

Great food with rich, authentic flavors and an awesome chef who clearly knows what they're doing. Everything was well prepared and enjoyable, but the only downside was that the dish didn't have quite enough meat for the portion. Overall, a solid experience and a place I'd definitely return to. read more

This place was amazing! Outside of Ethiopian food, I haven't found many great restaurants serving sub-Saharan African cuisine in the Midwest. Teranga is exceptional though. I loved the atmosphere, the friendly service and the outstanding food. read more

Delicious! We had the Fataya and Mafe and it was amazing. Definitely coming here again

This was a fabulous experience. My first time eating African food & by no means did this place disappoint. The curry dishes were great. Fruit drinks were awesome. & the star of the show were the black eyed peas fritters. Cuisine is exactly what one should look for when being introduced to their culture. As far as the atmosphere, it's quite cozy. Not too spacious, so it'll never feel crowded & our host Elhaj (sp?) Was oh so accommodating. One heads up though. Their peanut stew (which is what I came for) is their most popular dish, so they were out of it when we arrived. But Elhaj stepped up & made a fresh batch for me to take home at the end of dinner ON THE HOUSE. Highly recommended place to dine. read more

I'm new to Senegalese cuisine, but the food was delicious for an Irish| German American! I liked the heavy pungent essence of my Lamb Curry. A very different curly than an Indian curry. The menu is in SenegalI with a lot of small print explanation in English, so bring you reading glasses! Oh, and Chicago size portions, one entree is enough for two. read more

I ordered through a Fooda pop up at my office in the Loop and loved it, great flavor, healthy, and left me feeling satisfied but not bloated, perfect lunch of Chicken, couscous, and veggies read more

Wow wow wow!!! A absolute masterpiece of quality, flavor, and environment. You truly feel like you're eating in Africa, not on Bryn Mawr! Very well done guys!!! Will definitely be back! 2/20/26 -Sonny read more

Our large party had a wonderful experience at Teranga this evening! Our group is actually heading to Senegal later this year, so we wanted to sample Senegalese food. If the food in Senegal is anything like it was at Teranga, we have a lot to look forward to! The whole red snapper and lamb dishes were wonderful, as were the ginger and hibiscus soft drinks. The owner, Elhadji M P., was most friendly and accommodating. We highly recommend this establishment for an authentic Senegalese experience. read more

My interaction with the owner has been a pleasant experience and I intend on trying this establishment again! I love Senegalese food.

.I was there on only the 3rd day that they opened. They did not yet have their full menu but they did have the lamb, tilapia and red snapper. I love lamb and had that. I have never had Senegalese food before. They did a fine job on the lamb. I also had one of their wide range of special beverages. I had the ginger. It was very strong, a definite sipper. I like ginger and will have it again. The prices were about $2 more than I usually spend but I don't ever find lamb on the menu and it is a more expensive meat and their portions were generous. Next week they get in the other meats like chicken and beef. They will also have peanut sauce. I must try that as it is one of my favorite foods. I am also looking forward to the fufu as it is my favorite African side dish. I chatted with the owner. When I bragged about Vietnamese coffee and he told me that Senegalese coffee is not like any other including spices. I am excited to try that next time and there will be a next time read more

Spicy but in a good way. Thank you for the great service too! I like how close to the redline and also cozy atmosphere.