Two new Korean restaurants in Dakar

Today’s post was contributed by Shinae. If you know Shinae, you know that she knows good food!

I would like to introduce two newly opened Korean restaurants in Dakar.

Shabat offers traditional Korean food like Bulgogi (marinated beef with soy sauce), Chapchae (crystal noodle with veggies and beef), Kimchee Jjigae (kimchee casserole with tofu and pork) and Deonjang Jjigae (fermented bean paste casserole with tofu), to name a few as well, as some salads and some international dishes.

They also sell pre-made kimchee, tofu and other Korean side dishes on demand.

Some delivery options are available, but I personally like dining in because they give generous portions of side dishes.

Tel: 33-820-8380 (French or Korean)

Hours: Opens at noon for lunch, 7pm for dinner. Buffet dinners on weekends will start soon. Open on Sundays and closed on Mondays.

Directions: From the new US Embassy, turn first left immediately after King Fahd, then go about half mile. Shabat will be on your left.

La Corée offers one of the best sushi and sashimi in town (in my personal opinion, of course!). They also have famous Korean style fried chicken with or without sauce, Bulgogi (marinated beef and pork), warm noodle with sea food, Ddeonjang Jjigae (fermented bean paste casserole with tofu), Pajeon (seafood pancakes) and assorted tempuras. They also offer set menu for groups (minimum of 4 people).

La Coree delivers from Fenêtre Mermoz to Almadies with nominal fee. They intend to offer lunch boxes soon.

Tel: 77-637-9000 (the owner, Mr Heo, speaks English, French and Korean)
Hours: Opens at noon for lunch, 7pm for dinner. Open 7 days/week.
Directions: literally on Marmelles roundpoint

Planet Kebab – a great find in Plâteau!

Today’s post was a great thing to receive in my inbox from Amanda. Thanks for the information, write-up and photos!

A friend and I were roaming around in Plâteau last night and came across a really nice, possibly new, restaurant. It was like a little slice of America with the clean décor, fast service and simple menu.

Planet Kebab is at the intersection of Lamine Gueye and Rue Carnot, and you can’t miss the black and yellow signage. They have a great menu of sandwiches/wraps, salads and burgers. There are small and large options to the sandwiches, which would make it a great lunch option.

Photo from Planet Kebab’s Facebook Page

The service was very fast and a number of the employees spoke English. My friend had the large Americano sandwich, which was basically 4 small hamburger patties on really good bread (panini-like minus the grilling). I had the small Chicken Cheese which was 2 breaded chicken patties with emmental. Both of us had fries and a drink and the grand total for our dinner was 5,600cfa. Can’t beat that!!

This place is in such a neat little neighborhood, too. As we were walking to the restaurant, we found a number of super nice clothing boutiques, shoe stores, and a nice looking baby store. This would be an interesting area to explore a bit more.

Just wanted to share this with Dakar Eats. We will definitely be back soon!

Directions: Head towards the Palace on Rue de Republique. Make a left at Chez Mon Ami, and the restaurant is down a couple of blocks on your left. There was reserved parking in front for customers.

Planet Kebab Afrique
150 avenue Lamine Gueye
Tel: 33 821 11 77
Delivery available.

Layal coffee in Dakar

We went on a breakfast date, but didn’t exactly find what I expected. I’d heard good things about Café Layal and thought it sounded like a good place to grab an omelette and coffee.

Apparently though, there’s Café Layal as in the place where coffee is roasted and sold, there’s the boulangerie Layal where the best pita bread in town comes from, and then there’s also Le Layal, their restaurant which Jenn reviewed here. So we were standing in front of Café Layal, expecting omelettes but only seeing large containers of freshly roasted coffee.

Photo from Layal’s Facebook page

When you’re us, coming across freshly roasted coffee is never a bad thing. So we went in and started talking with the woman behind the counter.

An hour later we walked out after having sampled beans from every single roast, buying five kilos of our favorites and enjoying a complimentary espresso from the Mexican roast that the woman thought we’d under-appreciated. (She was right! Next time…) We were thrilled to find coffee we loved at a reasonable price, plus supporting local businesses is always our preference.

Here’s what you should know:

- Café Layal roasts coffees every Monday, Tuesday and Friday.

- If something’s not fresh, they won’t sell it to you.

- They love coffee and spilling the stories behind their beans.

- Current stock includes Guatemalan (our favorite!), Mexican, Guinean, Ethiopian, Brazilian, Vietnamese…

- You can also find their coffees at Cafés du Monde downtown and in some grocery stores around Dakar, like Hoballah’s (Le Parcours / the French Fry store) on the Corniche.

- They are the exclusive Dakar distributors of Lino’spresso dosettes, which are compatible with Nespresso machines, but much less expensive.

Café Layal
44 rue Paul Holle, near Lamine Guèye

They do not offer delivery service, but for orders over five kilos, they’d consider it. But half the fun is going down there and talking coffee! The other half, I’m enjoying right now.

HelloFood Senegal: a guest review

Today’s review of HelloFood is by Marianne, a Dakar Eats reader. In case you haven’t seen the ads yet, HelloFood is a delivery service that works with 30+ popular restaurants around town, including Happy Days, Times Café, Eric Kayser, Saveurs d’Asie and more.

HelloFood has a variety of Dakar’s finest restaurants (but they are not just the most expensive ones) and new restaurants are added almost weekly. Availability depends on where you live. Some areas have almost all the restaurants available for delivery (Point E, Fann, Plâteau, so on).

On the site you’ll find the restaurant’s full menus, from the entrees to dessert and drinks, everything! Some restaurants have minimum order amount, but for most of them there’s no minimum and they have everything you can order from breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks at work or at home. You just order what you want and confirm online and within seconds you will get a confirmation SMS with the estimated arrival time.

They start the deliveries at 11am and go to 10pm. Delivery fees range from 0Fcfa to 500 Fcfa, so not bad at all. Delivery speed usually sucks in Dakar. But so far so good – they did not go over the estimated time of delivery, so they really did their homework on that.

And the most important thing they have a live chat that’s available all the time anytime you are connected someone will greet you through the chat (customer service, right!).

You can always give them suggestions I already told them that it would be wonderful if we could pay online with a bank card and if they could also have an English version of the website and they did get back to me in a very efficient manner.

I love Mexican food, so the first time we ordered was from “The Sombrero” and everything was so spicy and tasty and so yummy I tried the “beignets de calamari”, the “fish burritos” and the “fondue de chocolat” and it was with skewered fruits and a warm fondue to dip it in it was great! And my husband tried the “nachos poulet” and we had some chicken wings for the kids and, as I already said, it was delicious!.

The second restaurant we tried wasn’t far from our home so delivery was like within minutes. The restaurant’s name is KISAKALA and they specialize in both Senegalese and international food and they have kind of a full-course menu bundle called the “KOOL BOX”.

What else to say? I am impressed, but I will not scream victory just yet. I know most of the time in Dakar the new things are the best, but once they have you they do nothing to keep you.

Has anyone tried HelloFood? What did you think? Thanks, Marianne!

Cheesecake. Ice cream. Coffee.

Presse Café just got another star in my book! Their made-on-site cheesecake ice cream is absolutely delicious. Eight thumbs up! (That’s four of us in agreement that it’s awesome.)

Other ice cream flavors include vanilla, chocolate, mango and capuccino. At 1,000cfa per scoop, I’m totally on board.

Cheesecake. Ice cream. Coffee. Life in Dakar is good!

My favorite restaurants (#15)

People often ask for restaurant recommendations in Dakar. I’m a bit hesitant to do so simply because if there’s one thing that’s consistent about the food scene in Dakar, it’s that it can be inconsistent. So in order to give a nice, well-rounded view of things, I’m asking readers to give their opinions as well. If you’d be willing to participate, please email me!.

Today we’re hearing from Brenda, an American mom who arrived in Dakar last year.

Favorite pizza: The best pizza we’ve had was poolside at King Fahd. I’m not sure it would be worth the effort to get it for dinner, but if you are ever there, enjoying a day at the pool, we definitely recommend it!

Favorite place for a burger and fries: Still looking for a really good burger. We’ll have to try some of the other recommendations.

Favorite ice cream: Some places have a better atmosphere or are easier to get to, but when we want good ice cream (and a lot of it), N’Ice Cream is the place we go!

Favorite little beach restaurant: Le Recif in Almadies. Well, it might not technically be considered a beach restaurant, but it is right on the water with an amazing view.

Favorite old standby: Ceasar’s downtown for their chicken nuggets.
Favorite place to order a good coffee: I love the coffee, atmosphere and pastries at Presse Café.

If I were stranded on a deserted island and could have only one of Dakar’s restaurants, it would be: Assuming it was a hot deserted island, I’d have to say N’Ice Cream. Maybe not the most practical, but just think, I could eat a different flavor everyday until I was rescued.

What is missing from the Dakar food scene? Authentic Mexican.

Thanks, Brenda!

My favorite restaurants (#14, PCV edition)

This post is a perfect example of why I started Dakar Eats. In just a few lines, Danielle shares information from her experiences that made me think, “I didn’t know about that,” or “I never thought of trying that!”

When recruiting people to give their opinions of the Dakar restaurant scene (we nee YOU!), I thought of Danielle because I know that Peace Corps Volunteers are often a wealth of information that’s not always on my radar. She didn’t disappoint.

If you’d be willing to participate, please email me!

Favorite Senegalese restaurant and/or meal: Adji’s ceeb shack (near the USAID building)

Favorite breakfast or brunch: The bean sandwich lady near the Peace Corps office. Beans, peas, mayonnaise and potato sauce. Soooo good!

Favorite old standby: Eric Kayser

What is missing from the Dakar food scene? Enchiladas

Thank you so much, Danielle!

My favorite restaurants (#13, vegetarian edition)

Polly has lived in Senegal for three years. She’s been a vegetarian for 1.5 years but her husband is not. One of the things she missed most about the States is trying a new restaurant every weekend. So I knew she’d be a great one to ask for restaurant recommendations.

In order to give a nice, well-rounded view of things, I’m asking readers to give their opinions as well. If you’d be willing to participate, please email me!

Favorite pizza: 

That’s a hard one. Caesar’s in Mermoz has a great vegetarian pizza, but it’s not necessarily consistent. Sometimes, maybe 80% of the time, the crust is the perfect thickness and flavor and other times it’s flat and lifeless. Le Baladi has a great cheese pizza, called Mananeesh fromage, which is just flatbread smothered in cheese and some olive oil (read not exactly healthy but oh so delicious!).

Favorite place for vegetarian treats:

 The veggie and fruit stands!! It’s amazing the variety you can find and what you can whip up in your own kitchen quickly! But if I’m eating out, my go to places are Mami Mia for their vegetarian sandwich with grilled eggplant and zucchini with pesto. Fan.tas.tic! Or Sweet Coffee, which has a great selection of salads and sandwiches, all which can be ordered without the meats! Just say “Je suis végétarien(ne)!”

Favorite ice cream: Xocco at Sea Plaza. I know it’s not most people’s favorite, but they have this citrus basil ice cream, which I love. So sour but flavorful with the hint of basil. They also have a great dark or milk chocolate and a great Fleur d’orange which when mixed together taste like this old Christmas candy. N’ice cream used to have a Cherry Mania type ice cream which is my all time favorite but they haven’t carried it in recent trips.



Favorite ethnic restaurant:

 Currently my favorite is Le Jardin Thailandais, but honestly it changes constantly! This restaurant not only has a HUGE selection of meals but they can also do almost all of them with tofu or all veggies instead of the meat! Needless to say, decisions may take a while.

Favorite Senegalese restaurant and/or meal: Mafe gerte (peanut sauce) has to be my all time favorite Senegalese dish. In many of the places we work, they can’t afford to put meat in the dish so it’s full of pumpkin, carrot, eggplant, cabbage, jakatu, and tons of other vegetables. Plus it’s a super easy dish to make with or without the meat (as my husband is not a vegetarian).



Favorite breakfast or brunch:

 Unfortunately I’m a night owl, which means that most of the time, my breakfast consists of a cup of coffee (hot or iced). But Times Café does have a great omelet, which I’ve gotten at other times than breakfast 

Favorite little beach restaurant: La Cabane des Surfers in Les Almadies. Great atmosphere and great view! Their vegetarian selection consists of fries or eggs, but my husband loves their lotte brochettes and the view wins out in the end!



Favorite old standby:

 Mami Mia. I’m not kidding when I say that the grilled eggplant sandwich is amazing! I could eat that everyday for lunch or dinner! Or Saveurs d’Asie’s sautéed legumes with rice. Always a good mix of veggies and they are fast..relatively speaking.

Favorite splurge:

 Le Jardin Thailandais. When we are in Dakar, we always pick one night to eat here. My favorite dish is number #35 made with tofu. It’s a curry with pineapple and coconut milk and it’s served in a halved hollowed out pineapple. Great great dish!

Favorite place to order a good coffee:

 Unfortunately I am a little snobby picky when it comes to my coffee. Xocco has an okay espresso and café au lait. BUT I am hearing amazing things about Presse Café.

If I were stranded on a deserted island and could have only one of Dakar’s restaurants, it would be:

 Shady Shack probably. The smoothest most delicious hummus I’ve ever eaten and a great tabouleh salad.

What is missing from the Dakar food scene? More vegetarian choices! I can always find something to eat because most places in Dakar always have a vegetarian pizza, a three cheese Panini, and an omelet. But the selection is so limited. We need more restaurants that serve a wider variety of sandwiches with more than just lettuce and tomato or cheese. Get inventive restaurant owners! Use all the great produce at your fingertips and make some great vegetarian options for your meatless clientele.

Oh and a great Italian place… not just a place that may have one Italian dish, but a for real Italian restaurant.

Thanks, Polly!

My favorite restaurants (#12)

If I ever go on some kind of competitive cooking tv show, I’m taking Shawn as my teammate. He’s a great resource of information for living in Dakar and one of his fields of expertise is restaurants.

People often ask for restaurant recommendations in Dakar. I’m a bit hesitant to do so simply because if there’s one thing that’s consistent about the food scene in Dakar, it’s that it can be inconsistent. So in order to give a nice, well-rounded view of things, I’m asking readers to give their opinions as well. If you’d be willing to participate, please email me!

And now, I’m handing the mic over to my future tv show teammate, Shawn.

Favorite pizza: La Piazza by the Palace and next door to Eric Kayser

Favorite place for burgers and fries: The challenge with burgers is, as soon as you find a good one you go back and they have changed it. I find it a bit overpriced, but Times Café makes some pretty good burgers, and they have been consistent.

Favorite ice cream: Myicecream. I haven’t tried very many ice cream places, but what I have had; the qualities have been the same. The reason I would pick myice cream over N’Ice cCeam is the workers have been trained with some customer service, which makes for a more enjoyable experience.

Favorite ethnic restaurant: Churrascaria Brasil. Unfortunately it can be hit and miss sometimes, and the weekends especially Sunday afternoon is usually the best because they cook with charcoal, and usually have more clients which keeps the meat fresh.

LeJardin Thailandais is very good too, the only problem is when I go there I drop a pretty nice chunk of CFA and then go straight home and raid the cupboards for a snack.

Favorite Senegalese restaurant and/or meal: I like a good Mafé, but I don’t go to restaurants to eat Senegalese food.

Favorite breakfast or brunch: I don’t go to restaurants for either normally but recently went to Presse Café, and they have a very good muffin and coffee.

Favorite little beach restaurant: La Cabane des Surfers in Les Almadies.

Favorite old standby: Les Ambassades in Point E, delivery or take-out. They make a good Chawarma, and a decent hamburger. (Must avoid the mean lady in the dining room.)

Favorite splurge: La Lagon II or Le Jardin in Almadies.

Favorite place to order a good coffee: Presse Café has a good cup of coffee, and it is normal size, not like the” sample” sizes you buy anywhere else. I would say though that you can’t beat going and getting some freshly roasted beans from Cor Coumba, and brewing a nice strong cup at the house.

(Editor’s note: Shawn is a coffee snob connoisseur. If he says it’s good, it’s good.)

If I were stranded on a deserted island and could have only one of Dakar’s restaurants, it would be: I must say Churrascaria Brasil, good meat, and good buffet, plus the sweet corn ice cream is a must try.

What is missing from the Dakar food scene? A good burger joint where if you ask FOR a fried egg on it they look at you funny.

Mexican food would be nice as well.

Any other suggestions? I also wanted to give a shout-out to Saveurs d’Asie, take-out or delivery. Very good, always consistent, try the My Sao, or Caramel Beef, Chicken, or Pork, and you won’t regret it.

My favorite restaurants (#11)

People often ask for restaurant recommendations in Dakar. I’m a bit hesitant to do so simply because if there’s one thing that’s consistent about the food scene in Dakar, it’s that it can be inconsistent. So in order to give a nice, well-rounded view of things, I’m asking readers to give their opinions as well. If you’d be willing to participate, please email me!.

Today we’re hearing from Valerie, an American mom of five who enjoys cooking and baking from scratch in her home in St-Louis. But she also enjoys the restaurants of Dakar when they travel down!

Favorite place for a burger and fries: Shady Shack, hands down.

Favorite ice cream: Mami Mia on route de Ouakam. Smooth, creamy, nice atmosphere and doesn’t require a drive downtown.

Favorite ethnic restaurant: Shady Shack’s Lebanese or Le Jardin Thailandais in Point E.

Favorite Senegalese restaurant and/or meal: We don’t eat Senegalese food out ever. However my friend in Dakar makes the most amazing thiou. Long grain white rice with a spicy tomato onion sauce, fish, and veggies.

Favorite pizza: If I had to choose, I’d say Pizza Inn, but I usually can’t justify buying pizza out when I can make three times as much at home for the same price and it tastes better.

(Editor’s note: Hmm… sounds like Valerie should do a guest post on making pizza from scratch!)

Favorite breakfast or brunch: La Galette bakery downtown with a full restaurant upstairs. Best omelette I’ve had here, maybe anywhere. Good prices, great service, nice Western feel atmosphere

Favorite splurge: Le Lodge in Les Almadies

If I were stranded on a deserted island and could have only one of Dakar’s restaurants, it would be: Shady Shack

What is missing from the Dakar food scene? Mexican.

Thanks, Valerie! (Now about that pizza post…)