Kilimandjaro: Senegal in West Philly
Yes, it felt like the Paris-Dakar rally trying to locate this Senegalese restaurant in West Philly, but it was well worth the effort. Our crusade for Senegalese food started with a recommendation from new friends I met at the Blog Philadelphia conference, continued with a misspelling and concluded with a few laps through West Philly to place us at this diminutive restaurant nestled between a donut shop and an adult bookstore. Nobody knew what to expect; we figured that if the food was bad, we could at least have a donut and pick up some skin mags. Needless to say, we didn’t walk away with Jellies and porn; the food and service were great.
We were welcomed with a big smile from Miss Ula and she ushered us to a table. 
Kilimandjaro’s dining room is fairly small, contains eight tables and features a variety of African artifacts adorning the walls. Like so many smaller restaurants, there were a couple of random additions too: the nonfunctioning, centrally located ATM machine and a poster depicting the Ali-Foreman “Rumble in the Jungle” epic held in Zaire. Miss Ula presented us with menus and disappeared with our drink order. (Kilimandjaro is a BYOB).
Upon her return, Miss Ula delivered our drinks and offered a brief tutorial on the menu. Guiding us through the somewhat limited menu, she explained the characteristics of the entrees and side dishes. Generally, Senagalese food is spicy and features a number of meats including chicken, lamb and beef not to mention fish; crops grown in the region such as peanuts and couscous, are main ingredients. For more information on Senegalese food, click here.
Looking over the menu, we found our Ginger Juice to be delicious. It’s syrupy sweet, with a peppery kick that reminds me of a good ginger beer. While I didn’t finish mine, I took it home - it’s a perfect mix for vodka with a splash of soda!
After some debate, we selected the following items:
Fried Plantains (Appetizer)
Gigot (Entee) â- Sauteed Lamb Shank with onions & garlic
Dibi (Entee) - Grilled Lamb Chops with Attieke
Poulet Roti (Entee) - Rotisserie of Chicken
Poisson Braise (Entee) - Whole Grilled Fish (Tilapia)
Although we found all of the items well prepared, three of 
them definitely stood out. The consensus favorite was the Poisson Braise, which was a whole, grilled Tilapia. The well spiced fish appeared to be cooked on a griddle, making it crispy and easy to clean. The Gigot consisted of saueed Lamb shanks which were flavorful, yet tender. Lastly, while the Fried Plantains were good, the accompanying Onion Chutney makes the dish excellent. Comprised of sliced onions, mustard, pepper and spices, this accompaniment was sweet, spicy and a real winner.
After a rocky start, our journey to Kilamandjaro was a lot of fun. Our meal was very good, including the service (Miss Ula was very helpful and patient in answering our questions) and cost ($16 each including tip). The atmosphere was enjoyable, complete with the constant stream of expatriates stopping by for a taste of home. If you enjoy out-of-the-way places and interesting foods, this spot is for you. Clearly it will be worth the trek.
Kilimandjaro is located at 4317 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, PA 19104 (215) 387-1970.
TAGS: Philadelphia, West Philly, Senegalese Food, Kilimandjaro, Podcast
Joe S on 17 Jul 2007 at 7:12 pm #
Another pearl discovered and shared by the PhillyFoodGuys. I am new to your site but as a foodie and one not afraid to try new things outside of Center City I welcome reading about your adventures and look forward to trying them.
Bill on 19 Jul 2007 at 6:49 am #
Joe, thanks for your comments. But “pearl”? Isn’t that a bit strong?
Mike on 19 Jul 2007 at 11:22 pm #
Thanks, for going there. I’ve passed it everyday for a few years now and every time I see it I say to myself “Kilimandjaro!” in a big almost singing voice; and yet, never went in because I figured it couldn’t be good considering what’s next to it.
sarah on 29 Sep 2007 at 4:19 pm #
I’ve always wondered about this place! I have some friends who live down the street… might have to convince them to make a field trip with me. Any cuisine that incorporates peanuts and plantains is great in my book.
Bill on 30 Sep 2007 at 9:59 am #
Sarah, while it may take some convincing, it’ll be worth the trip. Yeah, being next to an adult book store is kind a freaky, but so is living in some parts of West Philly…