If you’re looking for a Somali restaurant in Chicago, look no more and head to Bulsho. It takes a little determination to find the entrance to the restaurant on Walton Street, but it’s worth the journey. The storefront is quietly hidden off of Wells in an area that doesn’t have a lot of commercial activity. You are immediately greeted to hotel pans filled with different choices for your meal. It has a very distinct cafeteria hall setup. There’s also a case of gleaming sambusas staring you down.
This newer cookbook prominently features Somali food. We got the cookbook after visiting the restaurant. It features some recipes for this dishes we tried at the restaurant. Xawaash is the secret spice blend that is the key to unlocking the full potential of Somali food. It is full of cardamom, cinnamon, clove and tumeric. It’s a highly warming spice blend that reminds me of some Indian cooking as well. I could add some graphics on the historic spice trade routes in the area, but I am sure that will be a topic for deeper discussion on another day.
We ended up trying the chicken and salmon as our proteins. We also got a hearty helping of rice and a few sambusas. The exact names of some dishes are unclear and that is part of the mystique of visiting Bulsho! It was exciting to be able to make that global connection with our local experience in Chicago. We hope you venture to Bulsho if you decide to eat at a Somali restaurant in Chicago.
