Dynamic African Restaurant Cuisine

I may don’t understand African food, but the dish I tried I just couldn’t eat, it smelled like spoilt fish

I have to say, this is THE best Naija restaurant I’ve been to as far as food is concerned. I tried their ogbono soup and it is absolutely amazing. It tastes like my mother’s soup and she’s a hard act to follow. I will definitely come here again whenever I visit!!!

Went to Dynamic last night for an Early Valentines Vegan Feast. It was a really good experience all around. The owner was warm and friendly, and really took pride in her cooking. I could taste the love! The offering was a variety of veg-​friendly dishes like plantains, an amazing and savory vegetable stew, beans and rice with coconut crème. The coleslaw had a real punch of horseradish and was a nice crunchy foil to many of the softer dishes. So delicious. The owner’s brother took the time to tell us a little about Nigeria and talked about the history and authenticity of this cuisine. It’s just a humble little storefront place across the street from the Thorndale Red Line stop. It’s also BYOB with a liquor store across the street, and the fabulous Independent Spirits around the corner. Go!

The jerk chicken is delicious and they give you plentiful. The prices are very reasonable seeing how you get a good amount of food. Although customer service is poor. My husband and I went to pick up food that we called in to order at least 15 minutes later than the time they suggested and we went in no one greeted us or ask how could they help us.
They also seem to always run out of food.
Even with these few complaints, they have delicious food and will continue to patronize them

**Update 12/​27/​14**
Sadly, they no longer sell jerk chicken. I’ll leave my five stars in the hopes that they bring it back.
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Best jerk chicken I’ve ever had! And I used to work at an authentic Caribbean restaurant. The atmosphere is pretty sparce, but who cares? The chicken is out of this world.

Super fuckin good just order jerk chicken extra side of cabbage more than enough for two girls… less than twenty bucks BYOB

So I was intending to go to Iyanze after getting a bottle of scotch, but I saw this ugly storefront restaurant in a strip mall while looking for parking. Scott at Independent Spirits said that the place was closed, but information was from his trip in to open his store at 11 am. So after the single malt pick up, I walked over, and the door to Dynamic was open. A very nice, friendly fellow with a Jamaican accent cheerfully explained that it was indeed an African restaurant, but they weren’t open yet, they open at 11. That is what the sign on the outside said, but at this point it was just shy of noon. I asked about the menu, as it looked like at least half the selections were Jamaican, and of course, he was speaking to me with a pretty Jamaican accent. He explained, in a very inviting and cheerful manner that he was the chef, he was indeed from Jamaica, his partner is an Igbo Nigerian woman, and he assured me both cuisines were authentic and delicious here, and urged me to come back shortly when they opened up, at 11:00. Since it was now after noon, I was quite convinced that at least the Jamaican side of the menu was authentic, from his very Jamaican sense of punctuality. When I returned in half an hour, a woman was also working, and although it must have been 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the restaurant, she was wearing a bulky down long arctic coat, scarf, knit ski hat, and took off her gloves only to wash dishes. I guessed she was the Nigerian partner, and wasn’t yet used to Chicago winter. They didn’t have my favorite, peanut soup, but they do have my second favorite, Egusi stew, which was pretty good. I prefer just fish in mine, but he added a wide variety of meat, including some unidentifiable and somewhat suspicious… bits. When he saw that I cleaned my plate except for the, well it could have been goat… parts, he said that next time he would make it with just fish for me. That adds a star just for noticing, I like an observant waiter-​chef. Another star for entertainment, I got to watch a Jamaican chef try to shovel snow. He’s better at cooking. So maybe a comparison would be in order, as there’s some serious choice in Chicago for Sub-​Saharan West African cuisine. Bolat is much, much nicer, in terms of décor and ambiance, but this place is less expensive. I like the selection of food at Iyanze better, but the service was better here. Although Dynamic is by no means «pretty» in terms of décor, it’s brighter and cleaner looking than Iyanze. Iyanze can be very busy, just chock full of computer engineers and taxi cab drivers, which can slow service down to am equatorial pace, not matter the weather. In the hour or so I was in here, the only other customer was a fellow who came in and ordered one jerk chicken to sit down and eat, which he did with obvious relish, and another two orders to go. I guess the Jamaican side of the menu has its fans too. Expect to pay 10 to 12 dollars a plate, servings are generous. They offer nothing to drink besides water (no palm wine!), this could be a problem for some, the Egusi has a bit of a kick to it.

Awesome jerk chicken and jerk shrimp … Food was full of flavor and so tender… I took my kids today 08−13−13. Well worth the trip ! They have a small lot for parking. The service was warm and friendly. If you want the best jerk chicken and a bargain the gome here

The jerk chicken at Dynamic truly is the best in town! I’ve tried many, and never been completely satisfied. This dish is as good as you get in Jamaica! I have also had fish and it was perfectly done. The restaurant is not much from the outside, but the vibe inside is nice — friendly and good service, and the prices are reasonable! You won’t be disappointed!

OK, so i enjoy African food and make the rounds of the usual suspect’s; Vee Vee’s, Ianze, Demeras. I’ve been passing by Dynamic for several months now, but it just didn’t look that inviting. Small dumpy strip mall, bars on the windows.
So, it was my day off and my birthday and I thought i’d treat myself to an African lunch.
Inside the place is nice, simple and clean, a very pleasant surprise. I ordered my favorite, goat curry with fu fu (a pounded yam you eat with your fingers) and my partner had jerk chicken, rice and beans with a side of plantains.
OMG, we were blown away. The portions were good and the flavors were AMAZING!!! All for 18 bucks. What a deal!
If you like African food, don’t let the exterior turn you off, stop in and give them a try. You won’t regret it!
And don’t be in a hurry when you go there. Ryan, the cook, is from Jamaica. The service is very laid back, ya mon.

I have a passion for jerk chicken, but am frequently dissapointed; too hot with no reason, too bitter, too dry. Dynamic African hit all the right notes. My jerk chicken lunch today was moist and tender, flavorful, and delicious. The rice and beans on the side was exceptional, and the plantains I had for a treat were perfection. We asked the cook where he learned to cook. He said he learned from his Mom. It shows. This is food made just like your Mom would make (if your Mom was Jamaican); hearty, tasty, and lots of it.
From the outside, Dynamic African doesn’t look like much, but once inside, you’ll feel like you’re on vacation in the Caribbean. The staff is warm and friendly, and make you feel right at home. They’re open late, and they’re just steps away from the Thorndale El stop. They’re on Grub Hub, too! I am in love.