Welcome to Mogadishu Restaurant
At Mogadishu Restaurant, vibrant Somali flavors come alive in a cozy, unpretentious setting on 931 N Orleans St, Chicago. Founded by four passionate Somali friends, the eatery invites you to embark on a culinary journey, where generous portions and unique dishes like the crispy anjera and chicken suqaar beckon exploration. The communal hospitality enhances the experience, as staff warmly guide you through authentic flavors that stimulate the senses. Whether you're savoring the rich spices of goat meat or enjoying comforting rice and pasta combos, each dish tells a story of tradition and culture, creating a memorable dining experience that captivates the heart.
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931 N Orleans St Chicago, IL 60610 United States Hotline: (312) 265-1850
Welcome to Mogadishu Restaurant, a hidden gem nestled in the vibrant streets of Chicago at 931 N Orleans St. This cozy establishment specializes in authentic Somali cuisine, providing an exhilarating culinary experience that invites you to explore the rich flavors and traditions of African food.
As you step inside, you’ll be greeted by an inviting atmosphere filled with warmth and the sounds of friendly chatter—often in different languages—as the local Somali community shares their love for food. The restaurant’s unassuming exterior belies the culinary treasure trove within. Here, you can indulge in a variety of dishes that captivate the palate and warm the heart.
Highlights of the Menu
- Crispy Anjera Breakfast: Enjoy the delightful combination of Somali Anjera served with hot sweet tea and a drizzle of olive and sesame oil—perfect for starting your day.
- Hilib Ari: The signature fried goat meat is an explosion of flavor, available at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and served with your choice of traditional malawah anjera or chapati.
- Chicken suqaar: A popular dish among diners, this tender, flavorful chicken, grilled to perfection and paired with seasoned vegetables, is a must-try.
- Lamb Shank: A mouthwatering option that is rich, aromatic, and served alongside fragrant rice or pasta.
- Bariis: The signature Somali rice, infused with spices like cardamom and cumin, perfectly complements the bold flavors of the grilled meats.
The array of options does not stop at just meat dishes; Mogadishu Restaurant proudly offers a variety of vegan and vegetarian choices, ensuring everyone can find something delightful. Many visitors rave about the Veggie Bariis and vegetarian pasta, which showcase the fresh vegetables and spices characteristic of Somali cuisine.
Dining Experience
While the seating may be limited, the communal dining atmosphere adds to the experience, allowing you to connect with fellow patrons as you savor your meals. The staff at Mogadishu Restaurant are known for their extreme hospitality, guiding you through the menu with enthusiasm and clarity. Many reviews highlight how accommodating the staff are, ensuring you leave with a newfound love for Somali flavors.
Unique Pairings
One of the restaurant's unique features is the self-serve tea station, where you can opt for tea without milk or with it, complementing your meal perfectly. Don’t forget to explore the squeeze jars of honey, olive oil, and chili sauces available for enhancing your dishes.
Conclusion
Mogadishu Restaurant is more than just a place to eat; it’s a celebration of Somali culture and hospitality. The culinary journey through their menu is an adventure that is rich in flavor and history. Whether you're a foodie looking to explore new tastes or just someone yearning for a comforting meal, Mogadishu Restaurant will leave you thrilled and satisfied.
So next time you find yourself in Chicago, don't miss out on this extraordinary culinary experience. Your taste buds will thank you!
My favorite meal of our global eats in Chicago tour! Staff were extremely warm and accommodating. Explain to them our trip was about having different food experiences different flavor profiles and ingredients etc that we couldn't get at home. We were guided on dishes to select. I want to live closer than 5 hours to this place to be honest. It was such a great culinary experience. It's a very small place very utilitarian just five tables crammed into a small space It's a little crowded to order at the counter. It is a spot for Somali cab drivers. They were all very polite and friendly. Really enjoy the fact that you could have so many different flavors going on. You're giving up a nana what you do not eat by peeling the banana and taking bites of it but rather you incorporate little bits of banana with your other food. On the table are squeeze jars of honey, olive oil, green chili and red chili sauce. Order the chai tea. It's self-serve they have tea without the milk and tea with the milk. They have a sweet mildly sweet bread malawah #41 as well as a more savory enjera, #39. They also have a more Indian style chapati which we did not get. We had breakfast here. We had the #5 goat breakfast. First time either one of us had goat. Very good. Had a okra along with other vegetables really nice flavor profile. Then we were able to have variations on it by eating it with the bread and using any combination of the honey olive oil green or red chili sauce and also including little bites of banana or not and including pouring your chai tea over it or not. Just so many flavor opportunities. We also had the number three with chicken. Again all the variations of flavor combinations using the sauces and the chai tea and banana. It was just a fun interesting engaging way to eat. And it was delicious. I polished off the meal using some of the malawah to wrap up remaining banana drizzle with honey in the dash of my chai tea for a delicious breakfast dessert. If I lived in Chicago I'd be here probably once a week. The owners were very warm and kind and helpful. He even directed us to the fact that there were six Somali restaurants about an hour and a half away from us in Columbus Ohio. Yay.
"Somali beeen weey sheegta laakin been maku maah maahdo" is a famous Somali proverb which means Somalis may lie but they never lie with proverbs. - The crepe/bread with honey was great. I was the only gringo in the place with lots of Somali chatter, and they made me feel welcome.
I'm not 100% sure which dish I got, but I believe it's the chicken suqaar. Trying Somali food for the first time, I asked the server for a recommendation and told him I liked chicken. So he grabbed a plate and spooned loads of food onto it. The space is tight, but at 12:30pm on a weekday there was one table open. It was a cold, winter day when I learned about this comfort food I never knew I needed. I loved the mixture of soupy rice and beans, savory chicken, and steamed vegetables that all came together to soothe and warm my heart. This was great meal after a workout too. Highly recommend!
Fascinating new (to me) cuisine to check out: it's prepared a bit differently than what I'm used to, but that's what I enjoyed. I'm always a sucker for lamb or goat so I got the goat. It was several pieces all braised in an interesting and very citrusy brine of some kind. Quite interesting: goat and lamb tend to be drowned in heavy sauces (which I also love!) but the fact that this is so different made it really appealing. As for presentation it's quite basic. I felt a little out of place there; folks dining in seemed to all be known to the business and people working there. I also really enjoyed the multicultural vibe; that term gets thrown around a lot this is where you really feel it. Like 10 people came in while I was there and all ordered in different languages. It's good food and an opportunity to appreciate something about this city you'll often miss; not only different cultures but all of them really right there with each other bonding over the way there's difference in cuisine with lots of commonality due to cultural contact, etc. over time.
A hole-in-a-wall restaurant that serves Somali food. I noticed that the time to get the food was very fast since it's served cafeteria style. The chicken with rice was good, and so did the sweet bread.
After visiting Mogadishu Restaurant, I'm officially a Somali food fan. Everything I tried was so uniquely delicious, with a blend of spices and ingredients I've never had before. Highly recommend if you want to give your taste buds a treat. Some favorite dishes of mine are the kay kay and chicken suqaar. A nice accompaniment to both is their tea (available with or without milk), which is self-serve. The people that work here were also super friendly and patient with me while I took in the menu. Ambience was that of a casual hole in the wall, which is exactly my kind of place. I've been back once so far and definitely have plans to go back!
Great "hole in the wall" Somali restaurant where the food is authentic and of great value. This is run by four Somali friends who are very helpful in explaining the food options. The food is fresh and tasty.
Phenomenal is the best word to describe this restaurant. Don't let it's 'hole-in-the-wall' exterior look deter you by any means. They are so authentic and absolutely delicious. I was thrilled to find this hidden gem! Their portion sizing is so generous at a great price! They're also on food delivery apps.