Restaurant
Le Lagon 1
Seafood restaurant built on stilts over the sea in 1956, with views of Gorée and a nautical dining room, still run by the founding Calendini family.
Chez Loutcha
Long-running family restaurant in the Plateau serving large plates of Senegalese and Cape Verdean food, including thiéboudienne, mafé and caldou.
At a glance
- Type
- Senegalese and Cape Verdean
- Area
- Dakar Plateau, Dakar, Senegal
- Price
- $ · Budget
Good to know
- Lunch and dinner
- Generous portions
- Local dishes
Why we recommend it
Chez Loutcha is a Dakar institution and one of the best places in the city centre to try classic Senegalese cooking without spending much. The family-run restaurant, of Cape Verdean origin, has been a local favourite since the 1960s, and it is busy every lunchtime with diners who come for its generous plates.
The menu covers the national repertoire. Thiéboudienne, the rice and fish dish that is Senegal's best-loved meal, is the one to order, ideally with plenty of xooñ, the crisp rice from the bottom of the pot. Other favourites include mafé, a meat stew in peanut sauce; soupe kandja, an okra stew made with red palm oil; dibi, grilled mutton; and caldou, a lighter fish dish served with a sharp relish. Wash it down with bissap, the deep red hibiscus drink. Thiéboudienne, pronounced roughly 'cheb-oo-jen', means fish with rice in Wolof: the fish, usually grouper, is stuffed with a garlic and herb paste called rof and cooked with vegetables and tamarind before the rice absorbs the sauce. Cape Verdean dishes appear alongside the Senegalese ones, reflecting the family's roots.
The dining room is simple and bright, with high ceilings, plenty of windows, patterned tiles and colourful tablecloths. It is not a place for a long, leisurely evening so much as for a satisfying and good-value meal. Portions are large, so consider sharing if you want to try several dishes.
Arrival Guides lists opening from Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner, closed on Sundays, but call ahead to confirm, especially on public holidays. Arrive before the main lunch rush around 13:00 if you want a table without waiting. It suits solo travellers, families and anyone on a budget, and is a good first introduction to Senegalese food for visitors.
Rue Moussé Diop is in the Plateau, near the Institut Français, and within walking distance of Place de l'Indépendance and the Musée Théodore Monod d'Art Africain. That makes Chez Loutcha a convenient lunch stop during a day of sightseeing in the city centre, and the IFAN museum or the garden café at the Institut Français are good places to continue afterwards.
Chez Loutcha FAQs
What kind of food does Chez Loutcha serve?
Senegalese and Cape Verdean dishes such as thiéboudienne, mafé, soupe kandja, dibi and caldou.
Is it expensive?
No, it is known for generous portions at affordable prices.
What should you order?
Thiéboudienne, with a glass of bissap, is the classic choice.
Is it open on Sundays?
Arrival Guides lists it as closed on Sundays; call ahead to check.
When is it busiest?
At lunchtime, so arrive before 13:00 to avoid waiting.
Where is it?
At 101 Rue Moussé Diop in the Plateau, near the Institut Français.
How long has it been open?
It has been a local favourite since the 1960s.
Is it good for a first taste of Senegalese food?
Yes, its menu covers many of the country's classic dishes.