16/05/2026: A one-way flight to Dakar, right in the heart of the Marais district, where influences intersect and intertwine like fragments of a world in miniature, where every street tells a story from elsewhere.
As you turn the corner on Rue Elzévir, it's a sensory journey where the aromas, colors, and flavors invite you to leave Paris for a moment.
In this historic street with its understated charm, people have been coming since the early 2000s to dine and discover the best of Senegalese cuisine.
The menu is intentionally short but features the great classics, served in generous portions.
On the walls, paintings and works by Senegalese artists converse with a library paying homage to African authors, enhancing the cultural immersion.
I naturally choose my favorite dish, mafé, this rich, creamy stew made with peanuts and tomatoes, prepared with beef and served with rice. However, I could just as easily have opted for the thiéboudienne, a true national icon made with fish and rice, a favorite dish of the owner, Marie-Barthélémy, who has been there for over 10 years.
Alternatively, we readily trust the praise of French actress Léa Seydoux for the flavorful yassa, with its free-range chicken with lemon, onion, and garlic.
Here, chili peppers are served separately, out of consideration for those with delicate palates.
We quenched our thirst with an excellent bissap, a typical sweet drink made from dried hibiscus flowers, before concluding this generous feast with a homemade dessert of the day. For me, it was a cassava and coconut cake drizzled with bissap syrup.
Finally, good news so you don't leave empty-handed: the restaurant has published a book entitled "A Dinner in Dakar," written by its owner, Marie-Barthélémy, which compiles all the recipes featured on the menu.
28/04/2026: A great small Senegalese restaurant in Le Marais. The food came quickly and the server was nice. I had a sampler appetizer that was good. The plantains were perfectly sweet. The Yassa was delicious. I wanted to take the sauce home for my baguette in the morning! They are open on Mondays too. Great first day in Paris meal!
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