Tried their food at the African Festival in Washington Park. It was my first time eating African Food. I opted for the Grilled Lamp Chops, white rice, and this red onion side that I have no clue the name of. The kind women serving the food were very generous with the portions. I was not disappointed! The lamb was cooked perfectly and the rice and onion dish was so tasty together. The flavors were on point and I couldn't stop eating even after I was full LOL. I was so greatful to have tried this food and I will take a trip to the resturant when I return to Chicago.
(5)
Eva S.
I had a really great Sunday lunch here with two other friends, and this was their introduction to West African/Senegalese food so I was excited to bring them here- we all left really full (with boxed leftovers) and pleased with our food. If you have never had West African or Senegalese before, you should definitely check this place out! In undergrad I studied abroad in Senegal and now once in a while, I would really want some fried plantains, Yassa chicken and jollof rice. This place was spot on and they had kind, attentive service. So I was glad I stumbled upon this place during one of my Yelp searches. When our server first came I said a Wolof greeting, "Nnanga def?" Like, how's it going? The response is: "Maangi fi" = "I am here" and there was another greeting/exchange about peace. I was getting nostalgic about those sweltering hot days in Dakar (the capital), and the server told me he is actually from Togo, but had studied at the Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar. Cool. Two of us ordered the Yassa Chicken [$12.00/order] (I got a half:half side of white rice and jollof rice. My friend got a side of half:half jollof rice and plantains). My friend's boyfriend got the Yassa Lamb [$14.00] which was tender and delicious and also had the half:half jollof rice and white rice sides. I also ordered a Bissap drink (which is a hibiscus drink, tangy and sweet at the same time, served cold). For the Yassa Chicken, it was a huge portion (1/2 chicken) with those amazing stir-fried mustard-y/caramelized minced onions and your sides. For the Yassa Lamb, you get a large portion of tender, marinated meat. My friends loved the strong/spiced flavors of the meat, the rice, the sweetness of the plantains. They loved the variety of tastes from a single dish that you can get in one bite. Since we all did the half:half sides, each side was an additional 50 cents. I'd have to say, the plantains and the jollof rice was the best combination of sides. The plantains were served piping hot, and next time I'd get an additional side of this on its own. If you dine here, be sure to also ask for a side of spicy chili sauce - it gives everything a nice fiery kick. Come here for big portions of Senegalese food and you won't be disappointed! The chicken was charred and a little dry, but nothing that took away from the flavor. Next time I'd get the Yassa Lamb or try the House Tiebu Djeun, which is whole tilapia with cabbage, carrot and yucca, served over jollof rice - I had Tiebu Djeun almost daily when I was with my host family in Dakar. Their lunch menu is definitely well-priced based on the heaping amount of food that you get. Whether it's your first time eating Senegalese food or you're nostalgically craving it, Yassa African won't let you down.
(4)
Oscar S.
I just totally LOOOVE the new location.I had already visited their previous spot on the southeast side.Food is still fantastic.One of my top picks for African cuisine in Chicago.This new location is so much nicer and way more accessible to me.Means I'll have the opportunity to dine here more often since I go hang out at the lakefront so often.Service is really good.Always has been.They really did a great job with the decor.I just love it.Im so glad they relocated.Hopefully I can convince friends and family to try West African/Senegalese cuisine and point them here.Im sure they'll become fans as well!!! I will return!!!
(5)
Faith N.
Hands down, Yassa is everything! The food is made with love and you can tell--plus, it's amazing! Order 30-45 minutes in advance (they're slow), but simply because it's made to order. It's also byob, so if you want to dine in, grab a bottle on your way in. Tip: If you're not a fan of bones-in fish, ask for it filleted. I've had the chicken, lamb and fish, always w/ jollof rice w/ a side of cabbage and plantains. Just thank me later...
(5)
Joni R.
"Well it was ok." That's my response whenever someone asks me about my food from Yassa. My boyfriend and I decided to try them out last Saturday and me being me I said cool. Walked in, sat right down because the place was half full. It's a family friendly restaurant where the servers were very friendly and responsive. We never had to ask for more water( that's being attentive and ice cold by the way) and the restaurant was very clean. He ordered the Yassa fish...Tilapia fillet with djolof rice. I ordered the brochette chicken with cabbage. My chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned. My cabbage needed more salt or herbs but it was cooked well. I didn't eat the onion relish they serve with it because I don't like olives. His fish dish was very well seasoned and tasty but the fish seemed dry. Kinda like frozen fish fillets which are always a no no. His fish had a vegetable mixture on top of the rice which was good but the same olive onion relish that my dish came with too. Oh we also ordered the Fataya patties which were salmon, spices, onion and tomato paste stuffed in a sweet pastry dough and fried. It was ok. I'm willing to try Yassa again because the lamb looked amazing. Everyone raves about the Yassa fish which I can't do because of the fish head. Try them out and see what you think.
(4)
C R.
Yassa's food was great but their customer service is poor. Was there on a busy Sunday (Labor Day weekend) and most of the tables were occupied. Had one server, who also worked was the host and cashier that afternoon. I felt bad for him. The food came out EXTREMELY slow. It took 50 minutes for our food to come (we ordered one appetizer and two entrees). The waiter/cashier/host mumbled so you could hardly hear him. He also said a rude comment to me relating to what he (incorrectly) thought my ethnicity was. Overall, it's nice to have an African restaurant on this part of the south side, but next time I'll pass until they tighten their ship.
(3)
Melissa L.
Illinois Tech employees take heart. There's finally a delicious family-run and -owned, homey restaurant within walking distance of campus. In a neighborhood full of the same-ole chain restaurants, Yassa is a very welcome addition. The host/co-owner Madieye Gueye and his staff make you feel like you're one of the family. I didn't get to meet Chef Gueye this time, but I felt like I did after eating her amazing food. I had the Yassa tilapia and my friend had the Yassa chicken. I kind of assumed that both dishes would taste the same--you know, kind of like when you get a red or a green at a Thai restaurant? Doesn't really matter if you pick tofu, pork, shrimp or chicken...they all pretty much taste like the green or red curry they're served in. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find the fried fish had a deliciously distinct taste that was very different from that of the chicken, which was grilled. Perfectly spiced. The djolof rice and the cabbage and carrots side dishes were perfect accompaniments. I sampled my friend's Ginger juice. Yum. I've never been to Africa, but like Ben G., dining at Yassa was a trip down memory lane for me too. I felt like I was right back in any one of the many delicious family-run restaurants where I've had the fortune of eating a home-cooked meal while traveling in Peru or Mexico. Tip -- if you're going for lunch and you only have an hour, call in your order so they can get it started because it takes time to prepare food this delicious!!
(4)
Stacey G.
Yassa is authentic and reasonably priced and very tasty!!!! - With a nice variety of dishes. The service and staff are very friendly and it's great see a different cuisine being offered on the south side of Chicago.
(5)
Mike M.
We had a fantastic time at Yassa!! Everyone was extremely welcoming and the food was outstanding! I had the Lamb Maffe and it was out of very savory: cubes of meat in a strange (...or strange to me) peanut/tomato cream sauce. It has some starchy vegetables -- similar to a Thai mussaman curry, but not exactly. For an appetizer, we had Fataya. The highlight of the dinner, however, was visiting with the owner who came over and chatted with us. We learned a great deal about how the food was prepared and he shared with us information about the health benefits of the Bouye Baobab juice, which I highly recommend.
(4)
Maurice B.
I went here with my girlfriend this past weekend. I am grateful I did. The new location is perfect. Free parking! What more can you ask for? On to the food. I had the yassa shrimp with plantains and jollof rice and my girl had the Yassa fish. Let me just say, my shrimp, for real, it was so good. I was so full. And, I had two more meals of it left over! For real y'all, I had shrimp for breakfast and for lunch the next day. I felt like I got buy 1 meal get 2 free! Furthermore, it was just as good as it was at the restaurant. My girl kept digging in my plate. I highly recommend you check this place out. If you are hesitant on trying new things, don't worry. They will guide you in the right direction. The best part is that at the end of the meal, I still had money in my pocket. So, stop reading. Just go!
(5)
Michelle U.
Mmmmm... Dinner with friends and Yassa fish! You definitely have to appreciate the spice found in African food. Pairing the fish with sweet plantains and succulent cabbage can only create the perfect meal! The managers are very friendly and check to make sure you are happy! Definitely worth it! Plus, reasonable prices!
(5)
Josalyn M.
I love the food at this restaurant. The grilled fish and lamb are my favorites. The food is perfectly seasoned and not dry. The service is a little on the slow side, especially if you pre-order. I wish they offered smaller portions like tapas in the future. A whole fish is a little too much for one person to eat. Whatever you order plan on having leftovers.
(5)
Angelo K.
Great vibe great food and great customer service ! Also what a beautiful view of the city from the corner of king drive I love historic bronzeville
(5)
Charm T.
I came for lunch special and was waiting 30 minutes for food which is a typical African restaurant experience. All of that aside food was delicious. I had dibi chicken. Grilled to perfection. Jollof rice was delish. Beautifully decorated restaurant and clean environment.
(4)
marlon m.
Great food....friendly customer service...warm atmosphere....glad it's in nearby Bronzeville now!!!!
(4)
Briget T.
I absolutely LOVE the family and customer service at Yassa. Sunday was my third visit at the Bronzeville location. We had dinner with 30 of our friends from church. They were extremely accommodating and gracious! The food was spectacular! PLEASE add them to one of your "must try" list!
(5)
Jennifer L.
I've had my share of horrible service from restaurants but this place far exceeded what I thought bad service was like. DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS PLACE. My roommates and I ordered a couple of dishes over the phone and they told us that the delivery fee would be $10 dollars. We had ordered from them before so we told them that last time we ordered, it was about $4. They wanted to negotiate to $8 and we told them no, it was $4. (It's $4 on grubhub). That should have been the point when we stopped trying to order. IT ONLY GOT WORSE from then. We were told our food would be at our place in 30 minutes. Great. Reasonable time. An hour passed. No food. We called and they told us that the driver left 30 minutes ago. My roommates and I live 10 blocks away from this place. IT DOES NOT TAKE 30 MINUTES BY CAR. Okay so we waited again for 30 minutes. NO FOOD. We called again. The guy on the phone doesn't know where our driver is. WE HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR OUR FOOD. That was ridiculous. Especially when we were told we would only have to wait 30 minutes. The main frustration was that whenever we called to check, THEY KEPT LYING TO US. They kept saying that the delivery guy had left or just left. And we just had to keep waiting. We ordered our food at 6:30pm and got it at 9pm. Oh but it was about to get worse. When we opened our food, we realized that our orders were not complete. The rice that was supposed to be with all four of our orders wasn't there. The missing rice was not a big deal but granted that we had to wait so long for our food to arrive and discovering that our orders were incomplete, we were pretty angry at this point. We called them again and when we inquired for the rice, they told us that there was no rice with the dishes. We told them that the online menu said it would be included and we've gotten rice with our dish last time we ordered (not too long ago). They told us that the menu was a decade year old. We told them that it's not our fault they haven't updated the menu and they told us that they will deliver the rice for us. WE WAITED FOR 2 HOURS AGAIN and guess what? NO RICE! They never showed up. My roommates and I finished an entire movie while waiting (and we probably could have watched another movie while waiting for our food). So. We are never ordering from this place again. DO NOT EXPECT GOOD SERVICE. Also they will try to RIP YOU OFF with the delivery fee. They also lie to you and tell you that the driver has left and then later saying the driver has just left again. Oh, at one point they told us that the driver was right by our place and we called and canceled the order so the driver turned right back around. THAT WAS A BLATANT LIE. We never canceled anything. So yeah. IF YOU WANT TO WAIT 4 HOURS FOR YOUR FOOD, go ahead. But I've warned you.
(1)
Teschia B.
Love this place. Me and my fiance are the in here all the time. We never have a dull plate. Try the nem it is the best. The wait staff is great and always friendly. The best place to eat Senegelese food on the southside.
(5)
Elliott B.
We loved our chicken on skewers and grilled tilapia with djolof rice and plantains. Great place to practice your French, too! Very warm staff.
(5)
Donielle W.
The food was delicious and the serving size is decent. I ordered the Thiou Curry with chicken. The owners were very patient with our party of 50. I enjoyed experiencing Senegalese food for the first time.
(4)
Jacqui H.
Our waiter was a bit rude, otherwise this would be 5 stars. The food was amazing. I had dibi lamb and my lil one had the grilled fish. The jolof rice was great and the lamb was grilled and seasoned to perfection. The portions were big enough to share and save for lunch the next day. My 9 year old loved the fish, though her eyes were bigger than her stomach.
(4)
M O.
If I rated Yassa after the first time I went, I would easily give it 5 stars. The food is amazing and service was great. I went back again and the food was excellent but service was garbage. Try to get the young woman as a server because she knows what she is doing. The two young men are clowns. They didnt know what they were doing and they were very unprofessional. They took about 20 minutes to simply take our order. The order wasn't written down so he forgot a part of it. One person was served much later than the others. The only time the guys were quick was when it came to getting the bill. We paid but before we could leave a tip, the guy took the envelope with didn't have any sort of tip. But I guess that is what happens when service is just miserable. I would totally go back for the food but I stay away from the two stooges.
(3)
Ying G.
DELICIOUS! The food was freshly cooked and soooo good, as well as very generous servings. The fiah,and Joloff Rice was so tasty. Will be back, next trip to Chicago
(5)
Kirstin B.
Incredibly good food, and awesome service! My mouth is still watering whenever I think of the Yassa chicken and djaloff rice. The owner was incredibly personable, and I will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)
Evetty S.
Excellent! The food was delicious and the ginger juice was TASTY!! I live close to this location and I am excited they are near. The service was great but a tad bit slow. It wasn't that busy so I hope that when they are slammed (as I'm sure they will be) there will be more workers. I will be back!!
(4)
Delayna D.
I visited the new location; it's been open for two days. They are still decorating, but the new location has so much potential and the neighborhood feels safer. The food was very tasty also. I ate the Yassa Shrimp with Djollof rice, cabbage and carrots. I enjoyed it all; it was my first time experiencing Senegalese cuisine. The owners and other occupants were warm and friendly; I felt as though I was among family. Lastly, its BYOB!! I look forward to going again.
(4)
Quin W.
Excellent food and generous portions! The Yassa lamb and chicken were especially tasty as was the plantain. Give it a try.
(5)
J J.
What a great addition to our Bronzeville neighborhood! We had dinner last Sunday and really enjoyed our meals! We started with the battered salmon patties; I had the Yassa chicken with djaloff rice and plantain and my BF had the Sauce Grain. Both meals had amazing flavor and they are not overly spicy which sometimes takes away from the herbs and flavor (in my opinion). The portions are large especially given the reasonable prices. The space even has some beautiful artwork on display that is also available for sale. The owner came over to speak to us and was very friendly. He allowed us to sample his delicious ginger drink, which he claims is very popular and available for sale by the gallon. We will definitely be back, Yassa.
(5)
Ben G.
Welcome to the neighborhood Yassa! Munchies will be missed, yet this is a nice replacement. The food is delicious and there are great options for fans of spicy food and not so spicy. The juices are a nice twist with unique options you can try out ahead of time. Most dishes are meat based but there are some good veg options. The decor reminds me of places I've been in Africa while traveling and living which is a trip down memory lane. The owners and staff are quite friendly and it's a welcoming place. Plus it's BYOB! There's a Walgreens close by and liquor store down the street in case you forget ahead of time. There is free parking in the back. Enter through the alley on 35th, park in the lot, and walk through the the building to get to Yassa.
(5)
Malcolm Jamal W.
Wow, this food was absolutely delicious. I got Tiebu Djeun - whole fish over jollof rice. I was in heaven. Can't wait to go back here.
(5)
Never M.
I am so glad to welcome Yassa to my neighborhood to share a piece of African American history. Entering the restaurant is like walking into big mamas kitchen on Sunday. Everybody on the staff greets you, even other patrons looked up to wave during their meal lol. I've tried the Yassa fish which is outstanding. I had that with the djolof rice which tastes identical to an African american soul food dish that we simply call "red rice". Then, me and my husband ordered fataya and its real good too. I can't wait to go try everything else.
(5)
Shivika J.
The entire experience was amazing considering they were only open less than a week in the new location. Food - I had the Yassa Whole Fish dinner with rice. My friend had the Yassa lamb. We shared a plate of cabbage. Everything was well seasoned and large portions - enough for leftovers to take home. Drink - The owner let us try each of the popular juices before choosing. All were amazing but we both settled on the Bissap and it did not disappoint. Service - Great. Very hospitable, explained everything. Overall a great meal for a great price. Will be back.
(5)
Antoinette N.
Just ate here. This place is family-owned; the nephew was our server and the chef was the aunt. We got samples of the sorrel, ginger, and baobab. The fataya was savory and sweet with a hint of spice. Had the Yassa snapper. OMG it was delicious! I had leftovers only because I wanted to have the experience again. I will be back.
(4)
Aminah H.
Love this place! The food and service are always the best. The new location on 35th & King Drive makes it even better. A little piece of Senegal is just what Bronzeville needs.
(5)
TW P.
This is hands down, thee BEST restaurant I've eaten at in Chicago! They're like Family to my sister & me! We love the atmosphere!
(5)
Dedulax A.
Always a pleasure to visit this place with my family. My wife and I love the taste of the food. Can't stop thinking about my *dibi lamb* with cooked onions, fataya and dibi chicken...hmm tasty. Highly recommend!!! You won't be disappointed. Enjoy
(5)
Josephine U.
I love love love Yassa. I came into town from DC to see friends in Chicago. My sister recommended this place and I was so disappointed after finding their location closed only to find they had re-opened in Bronzeville. The food is DELICIOUS though it takes some time and did not come out all together for our table. The service was like being at home- good or bad- and a bit slow but friendly. The price is unbelievable and the plate sizes are unreal! There were enough of us to order one of just about everything. The lamb. The fish. The chicken. Rice. Plantain. Cabbage. It was all SO SO SO good!!!!!
(5)
Christine R.
You feel like family here. Midiieye (the owner) and his wife Awe greet everyone with such genuine joy, it is impossible not to be happy here. The food is Senegalese and has a wonderful array of spices that are nicely balanced but not too hot (unless you request it). The lamb is a hit. Try the baobab juice. The portions are very generous. Come in, enjoy the energy and get stuffed on great African food!
(5)
Tina J.
The food here was horrible. I am Nigerian so I was excited to see this restaurant come to Bronzeville but I am no pleased with the food. The jolif rice was hard and undercooked, the lamb was horrible. I also tried their stew and that was not pleasing either. I will not return nor will I recommend this place to a friend or family member.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Ariel B.
Tried their food at the African Festival in Washington Park. It was my first time eating African Food. I opted for the Grilled Lamp Chops, white rice, and this red onion side that I have no clue the name of. The kind women serving the food were very generous with the portions. I was not disappointed! The lamb was cooked perfectly and the rice and onion dish was so tasty together. The flavors were on point and I couldn't stop eating even after I was full LOL. I was so greatful to have tried this food and I will take a trip to the resturant when I return to Chicago.
(5)Eva S.
I had a really great Sunday lunch here with two other friends, and this was their introduction to West African/Senegalese food so I was excited to bring them here- we all left really full (with boxed leftovers) and pleased with our food. If you have never had West African or Senegalese before, you should definitely check this place out! In undergrad I studied abroad in Senegal and now once in a while, I would really want some fried plantains, Yassa chicken and jollof rice. This place was spot on and they had kind, attentive service. So I was glad I stumbled upon this place during one of my Yelp searches. When our server first came I said a Wolof greeting, "Nnanga def?" Like, how's it going? The response is: "Maangi fi" = "I am here" and there was another greeting/exchange about peace. I was getting nostalgic about those sweltering hot days in Dakar (the capital), and the server told me he is actually from Togo, but had studied at the Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar. Cool. Two of us ordered the Yassa Chicken [$12.00/order] (I got a half:half side of white rice and jollof rice. My friend got a side of half:half jollof rice and plantains). My friend's boyfriend got the Yassa Lamb [$14.00] which was tender and delicious and also had the half:half jollof rice and white rice sides. I also ordered a Bissap drink (which is a hibiscus drink, tangy and sweet at the same time, served cold). For the Yassa Chicken, it was a huge portion (1/2 chicken) with those amazing stir-fried mustard-y/caramelized minced onions and your sides. For the Yassa Lamb, you get a large portion of tender, marinated meat. My friends loved the strong/spiced flavors of the meat, the rice, the sweetness of the plantains. They loved the variety of tastes from a single dish that you can get in one bite. Since we all did the half:half sides, each side was an additional 50 cents. I'd have to say, the plantains and the jollof rice was the best combination of sides. The plantains were served piping hot, and next time I'd get an additional side of this on its own. If you dine here, be sure to also ask for a side of spicy chili sauce - it gives everything a nice fiery kick. Come here for big portions of Senegalese food and you won't be disappointed! The chicken was charred and a little dry, but nothing that took away from the flavor. Next time I'd get the Yassa Lamb or try the House Tiebu Djeun, which is whole tilapia with cabbage, carrot and yucca, served over jollof rice - I had Tiebu Djeun almost daily when I was with my host family in Dakar. Their lunch menu is definitely well-priced based on the heaping amount of food that you get. Whether it's your first time eating Senegalese food or you're nostalgically craving it, Yassa African won't let you down.
(4)Oscar S.
I just totally LOOOVE the new location.I had already visited their previous spot on the southeast side.Food is still fantastic.One of my top picks for African cuisine in Chicago.This new location is so much nicer and way more accessible to me.Means I'll have the opportunity to dine here more often since I go hang out at the lakefront so often.Service is really good.Always has been.They really did a great job with the decor.I just love it.Im so glad they relocated.Hopefully I can convince friends and family to try West African/Senegalese cuisine and point them here.Im sure they'll become fans as well!!! I will return!!!
(5)Faith N.
Hands down, Yassa is everything! The food is made with love and you can tell--plus, it's amazing! Order 30-45 minutes in advance (they're slow), but simply because it's made to order. It's also byob, so if you want to dine in, grab a bottle on your way in. Tip: If you're not a fan of bones-in fish, ask for it filleted. I've had the chicken, lamb and fish, always w/ jollof rice w/ a side of cabbage and plantains. Just thank me later...
(5)Joni R.
"Well it was ok." That's my response whenever someone asks me about my food from Yassa. My boyfriend and I decided to try them out last Saturday and me being me I said cool. Walked in, sat right down because the place was half full. It's a family friendly restaurant where the servers were very friendly and responsive. We never had to ask for more water( that's being attentive and ice cold by the way) and the restaurant was very clean. He ordered the Yassa fish...Tilapia fillet with djolof rice. I ordered the brochette chicken with cabbage. My chicken was perfectly cooked and seasoned. My cabbage needed more salt or herbs but it was cooked well. I didn't eat the onion relish they serve with it because I don't like olives. His fish dish was very well seasoned and tasty but the fish seemed dry. Kinda like frozen fish fillets which are always a no no. His fish had a vegetable mixture on top of the rice which was good but the same olive onion relish that my dish came with too. Oh we also ordered the Fataya patties which were salmon, spices, onion and tomato paste stuffed in a sweet pastry dough and fried. It was ok. I'm willing to try Yassa again because the lamb looked amazing. Everyone raves about the Yassa fish which I can't do because of the fish head. Try them out and see what you think.
(4)C R.
Yassa's food was great but their customer service is poor. Was there on a busy Sunday (Labor Day weekend) and most of the tables were occupied. Had one server, who also worked was the host and cashier that afternoon. I felt bad for him. The food came out EXTREMELY slow. It took 50 minutes for our food to come (we ordered one appetizer and two entrees). The waiter/cashier/host mumbled so you could hardly hear him. He also said a rude comment to me relating to what he (incorrectly) thought my ethnicity was. Overall, it's nice to have an African restaurant on this part of the south side, but next time I'll pass until they tighten their ship.
(3)Melissa L.
Illinois Tech employees take heart. There's finally a delicious family-run and -owned, homey restaurant within walking distance of campus. In a neighborhood full of the same-ole chain restaurants, Yassa is a very welcome addition. The host/co-owner Madieye Gueye and his staff make you feel like you're one of the family. I didn't get to meet Chef Gueye this time, but I felt like I did after eating her amazing food. I had the Yassa tilapia and my friend had the Yassa chicken. I kind of assumed that both dishes would taste the same--you know, kind of like when you get a red or a green at a Thai restaurant? Doesn't really matter if you pick tofu, pork, shrimp or chicken...they all pretty much taste like the green or red curry they're served in. Well, I was pleasantly surprised to find the fried fish had a deliciously distinct taste that was very different from that of the chicken, which was grilled. Perfectly spiced. The djolof rice and the cabbage and carrots side dishes were perfect accompaniments. I sampled my friend's Ginger juice. Yum. I've never been to Africa, but like Ben G., dining at Yassa was a trip down memory lane for me too. I felt like I was right back in any one of the many delicious family-run restaurants where I've had the fortune of eating a home-cooked meal while traveling in Peru or Mexico. Tip -- if you're going for lunch and you only have an hour, call in your order so they can get it started because it takes time to prepare food this delicious!!
(4)Stacey G.
Yassa is authentic and reasonably priced and very tasty!!!! - With a nice variety of dishes. The service and staff are very friendly and it's great see a different cuisine being offered on the south side of Chicago.
(5)Mike M.
We had a fantastic time at Yassa!! Everyone was extremely welcoming and the food was outstanding! I had the Lamb Maffe and it was out of very savory: cubes of meat in a strange (...or strange to me) peanut/tomato cream sauce. It has some starchy vegetables -- similar to a Thai mussaman curry, but not exactly. For an appetizer, we had Fataya. The highlight of the dinner, however, was visiting with the owner who came over and chatted with us. We learned a great deal about how the food was prepared and he shared with us information about the health benefits of the Bouye Baobab juice, which I highly recommend.
(4)Maurice B.
I went here with my girlfriend this past weekend. I am grateful I did. The new location is perfect. Free parking! What more can you ask for? On to the food. I had the yassa shrimp with plantains and jollof rice and my girl had the Yassa fish. Let me just say, my shrimp, for real, it was so good. I was so full. And, I had two more meals of it left over! For real y'all, I had shrimp for breakfast and for lunch the next day. I felt like I got buy 1 meal get 2 free! Furthermore, it was just as good as it was at the restaurant. My girl kept digging in my plate. I highly recommend you check this place out. If you are hesitant on trying new things, don't worry. They will guide you in the right direction. The best part is that at the end of the meal, I still had money in my pocket. So, stop reading. Just go!
(5)Michelle U.
Mmmmm... Dinner with friends and Yassa fish! You definitely have to appreciate the spice found in African food. Pairing the fish with sweet plantains and succulent cabbage can only create the perfect meal! The managers are very friendly and check to make sure you are happy! Definitely worth it! Plus, reasonable prices!
(5)Josalyn M.
I love the food at this restaurant. The grilled fish and lamb are my favorites. The food is perfectly seasoned and not dry. The service is a little on the slow side, especially if you pre-order. I wish they offered smaller portions like tapas in the future. A whole fish is a little too much for one person to eat. Whatever you order plan on having leftovers.
(5)Angelo K.
Great vibe great food and great customer service ! Also what a beautiful view of the city from the corner of king drive I love historic bronzeville
(5)Charm T.
I came for lunch special and was waiting 30 minutes for food which is a typical African restaurant experience. All of that aside food was delicious. I had dibi chicken. Grilled to perfection. Jollof rice was delish. Beautifully decorated restaurant and clean environment.
(4)marlon m.
Great food....friendly customer service...warm atmosphere....glad it's in nearby Bronzeville now!!!!
(4)Briget T.
I absolutely LOVE the family and customer service at Yassa. Sunday was my third visit at the Bronzeville location. We had dinner with 30 of our friends from church. They were extremely accommodating and gracious! The food was spectacular! PLEASE add them to one of your "must try" list!
(5)Jennifer L.
I've had my share of horrible service from restaurants but this place far exceeded what I thought bad service was like. DO NOT ORDER FROM THIS PLACE. My roommates and I ordered a couple of dishes over the phone and they told us that the delivery fee would be $10 dollars. We had ordered from them before so we told them that last time we ordered, it was about $4. They wanted to negotiate to $8 and we told them no, it was $4. (It's $4 on grubhub). That should have been the point when we stopped trying to order. IT ONLY GOT WORSE from then. We were told our food would be at our place in 30 minutes. Great. Reasonable time. An hour passed. No food. We called and they told us that the driver left 30 minutes ago. My roommates and I live 10 blocks away from this place. IT DOES NOT TAKE 30 MINUTES BY CAR. Okay so we waited again for 30 minutes. NO FOOD. We called again. The guy on the phone doesn't know where our driver is. WE HAD TO WAIT 2 HOURS FOR OUR FOOD. That was ridiculous. Especially when we were told we would only have to wait 30 minutes. The main frustration was that whenever we called to check, THEY KEPT LYING TO US. They kept saying that the delivery guy had left or just left. And we just had to keep waiting. We ordered our food at 6:30pm and got it at 9pm. Oh but it was about to get worse. When we opened our food, we realized that our orders were not complete. The rice that was supposed to be with all four of our orders wasn't there. The missing rice was not a big deal but granted that we had to wait so long for our food to arrive and discovering that our orders were incomplete, we were pretty angry at this point. We called them again and when we inquired for the rice, they told us that there was no rice with the dishes. We told them that the online menu said it would be included and we've gotten rice with our dish last time we ordered (not too long ago). They told us that the menu was a decade year old. We told them that it's not our fault they haven't updated the menu and they told us that they will deliver the rice for us. WE WAITED FOR 2 HOURS AGAIN and guess what? NO RICE! They never showed up. My roommates and I finished an entire movie while waiting (and we probably could have watched another movie while waiting for our food). So. We are never ordering from this place again. DO NOT EXPECT GOOD SERVICE. Also they will try to RIP YOU OFF with the delivery fee. They also lie to you and tell you that the driver has left and then later saying the driver has just left again. Oh, at one point they told us that the driver was right by our place and we called and canceled the order so the driver turned right back around. THAT WAS A BLATANT LIE. We never canceled anything. So yeah. IF YOU WANT TO WAIT 4 HOURS FOR YOUR FOOD, go ahead. But I've warned you.
(1)Teschia B.
Love this place. Me and my fiance are the in here all the time. We never have a dull plate. Try the nem it is the best. The wait staff is great and always friendly. The best place to eat Senegelese food on the southside.
(5)Elliott B.
We loved our chicken on skewers and grilled tilapia with djolof rice and plantains. Great place to practice your French, too! Very warm staff.
(5)Donielle W.
The food was delicious and the serving size is decent. I ordered the Thiou Curry with chicken. The owners were very patient with our party of 50. I enjoyed experiencing Senegalese food for the first time.
(4)Jacqui H.
Our waiter was a bit rude, otherwise this would be 5 stars. The food was amazing. I had dibi lamb and my lil one had the grilled fish. The jolof rice was great and the lamb was grilled and seasoned to perfection. The portions were big enough to share and save for lunch the next day. My 9 year old loved the fish, though her eyes were bigger than her stomach.
(4)M O.
If I rated Yassa after the first time I went, I would easily give it 5 stars. The food is amazing and service was great. I went back again and the food was excellent but service was garbage. Try to get the young woman as a server because she knows what she is doing. The two young men are clowns. They didnt know what they were doing and they were very unprofessional. They took about 20 minutes to simply take our order. The order wasn't written down so he forgot a part of it. One person was served much later than the others. The only time the guys were quick was when it came to getting the bill. We paid but before we could leave a tip, the guy took the envelope with didn't have any sort of tip. But I guess that is what happens when service is just miserable. I would totally go back for the food but I stay away from the two stooges.
(3)Ying G.
DELICIOUS! The food was freshly cooked and soooo good, as well as very generous servings. The fiah,and Joloff Rice was so tasty. Will be back, next trip to Chicago
(5)Kirstin B.
Incredibly good food, and awesome service! My mouth is still watering whenever I think of the Yassa chicken and djaloff rice. The owner was incredibly personable, and I will definitely be coming back soon!
(5)Evetty S.
Excellent! The food was delicious and the ginger juice was TASTY!! I live close to this location and I am excited they are near. The service was great but a tad bit slow. It wasn't that busy so I hope that when they are slammed (as I'm sure they will be) there will be more workers. I will be back!!
(4)Delayna D.
I visited the new location; it's been open for two days. They are still decorating, but the new location has so much potential and the neighborhood feels safer. The food was very tasty also. I ate the Yassa Shrimp with Djollof rice, cabbage and carrots. I enjoyed it all; it was my first time experiencing Senegalese cuisine. The owners and other occupants were warm and friendly; I felt as though I was among family. Lastly, its BYOB!! I look forward to going again.
(4)Quin W.
Excellent food and generous portions! The Yassa lamb and chicken were especially tasty as was the plantain. Give it a try.
(5)J J.
What a great addition to our Bronzeville neighborhood! We had dinner last Sunday and really enjoyed our meals! We started with the battered salmon patties; I had the Yassa chicken with djaloff rice and plantain and my BF had the Sauce Grain. Both meals had amazing flavor and they are not overly spicy which sometimes takes away from the herbs and flavor (in my opinion). The portions are large especially given the reasonable prices. The space even has some beautiful artwork on display that is also available for sale. The owner came over to speak to us and was very friendly. He allowed us to sample his delicious ginger drink, which he claims is very popular and available for sale by the gallon. We will definitely be back, Yassa.
(5)Ben G.
Welcome to the neighborhood Yassa! Munchies will be missed, yet this is a nice replacement. The food is delicious and there are great options for fans of spicy food and not so spicy. The juices are a nice twist with unique options you can try out ahead of time. Most dishes are meat based but there are some good veg options. The decor reminds me of places I've been in Africa while traveling and living which is a trip down memory lane. The owners and staff are quite friendly and it's a welcoming place. Plus it's BYOB! There's a Walgreens close by and liquor store down the street in case you forget ahead of time. There is free parking in the back. Enter through the alley on 35th, park in the lot, and walk through the the building to get to Yassa.
(5)Malcolm Jamal W.
Wow, this food was absolutely delicious. I got Tiebu Djeun - whole fish over jollof rice. I was in heaven. Can't wait to go back here.
(5)Never M.
I am so glad to welcome Yassa to my neighborhood to share a piece of African American history. Entering the restaurant is like walking into big mamas kitchen on Sunday. Everybody on the staff greets you, even other patrons looked up to wave during their meal lol. I've tried the Yassa fish which is outstanding. I had that with the djolof rice which tastes identical to an African american soul food dish that we simply call "red rice". Then, me and my husband ordered fataya and its real good too. I can't wait to go try everything else.
(5)Shivika J.
The entire experience was amazing considering they were only open less than a week in the new location. Food - I had the Yassa Whole Fish dinner with rice. My friend had the Yassa lamb. We shared a plate of cabbage. Everything was well seasoned and large portions - enough for leftovers to take home. Drink - The owner let us try each of the popular juices before choosing. All were amazing but we both settled on the Bissap and it did not disappoint. Service - Great. Very hospitable, explained everything. Overall a great meal for a great price. Will be back.
(5)Antoinette N.
Just ate here. This place is family-owned; the nephew was our server and the chef was the aunt. We got samples of the sorrel, ginger, and baobab. The fataya was savory and sweet with a hint of spice. Had the Yassa snapper. OMG it was delicious! I had leftovers only because I wanted to have the experience again. I will be back.
(4)Aminah H.
Love this place! The food and service are always the best. The new location on 35th & King Drive makes it even better. A little piece of Senegal is just what Bronzeville needs.
(5)TW P.
This is hands down, thee BEST restaurant I've eaten at in Chicago! They're like Family to my sister & me! We love the atmosphere!
(5)Dedulax A.
Always a pleasure to visit this place with my family. My wife and I love the taste of the food. Can't stop thinking about my *dibi lamb* with cooked onions, fataya and dibi chicken...hmm tasty. Highly recommend!!! You won't be disappointed. Enjoy
(5)Josephine U.
I love love love Yassa. I came into town from DC to see friends in Chicago. My sister recommended this place and I was so disappointed after finding their location closed only to find they had re-opened in Bronzeville. The food is DELICIOUS though it takes some time and did not come out all together for our table. The service was like being at home- good or bad- and a bit slow but friendly. The price is unbelievable and the plate sizes are unreal! There were enough of us to order one of just about everything. The lamb. The fish. The chicken. Rice. Plantain. Cabbage. It was all SO SO SO good!!!!!
(5)Christine R.
You feel like family here. Midiieye (the owner) and his wife Awe greet everyone with such genuine joy, it is impossible not to be happy here. The food is Senegalese and has a wonderful array of spices that are nicely balanced but not too hot (unless you request it). The lamb is a hit. Try the baobab juice. The portions are very generous. Come in, enjoy the energy and get stuffed on great African food!
(5)Tina J.
The food here was horrible. I am Nigerian so I was excited to see this restaurant come to Bronzeville but I am no pleased with the food. The jolif rice was hard and undercooked, the lamb was horrible. I also tried their stew and that was not pleasing either. I will not return nor will I recommend this place to a friend or family member.
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