New Senegalese Restaurant Inspired By Tiny Island Opens In Kenwood

There’s not too much of a selection when it comes to Senegalese food in Chicago, but a new restaurant has opened in Kenwood hoping to give Chicagoans a taste of West Africa. Gorée Cuisine opened last week, a reference to Gorée, a tiny island a mile off the coast from mainland Senegal.

Owner Adama Ba told DNAinfo about the island restaurant he used to work at, and how he’s already had customers from Senegal dine at his new Chicago restaurant. The menu includes stews and the national dish of Senegal, thiebou djenne. The labor-intensive rice dish is sharable and made with fish. Ba makes use of seafood including shrimp and tilapia.

Senegalese food is a rarity in the Chicago area. The popular spots include Badou in Evanston and Yassa African Restaurant, which relocated from Chatham to Bronzeville after a fire in 2014. Over at Gorée, Ba even hopes to import baobab from Senegal so he can make fresh juices.

Gorée Cuisine, 1126 E. 47th St., open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, (773) 855-9596