Chaima Cuisine

I stopped in for lunch on a Wednesday. Chaima (that’s the name of the restaurant’s owner, pronounced ‘shy-​ma’) had several of her meals set at half off as lunch specials. I had the fried fish and fried plantains, which were very tasty. They were accompanied with a pasta with some sliced veggies, and two sauces, one tomatoey and one spicy. Both sauces were delicious.
Chaima is from Togo, and proudly serves authentic Togolese food here in Omaha. There is a rather substantial Togolese population in Omaha, between 2,000 and 4,000, depending on who you talk to. Several of my Togolese friends have recommended this restaurant.
Chaima is tucked away in a strip mall near 108 & Q that I didn’t know existed. Definitely check this place out!

Reeeeeally sweet people and pretty good service. That being said, I wish wish wish I could say I loved this place. But it was bad. My first impression was the filthy bathroom that smelled like death and was obviously dirty with dead bugs and whatnot. Then the high chair was covered in thick grim. I am not a germaphobe AT ALL. But this place lacks basic cleaning in general which makes me worry about the kitchen… and then the food. The plantains were overripe and overcooked to the point where I couldn’t eat them. The spicy spaghetti with raw veggies was weird. Chicken was so so dry. The small saving grace was the yummy yams. Sadly, though, the price point was way off and we ended up paying wayyyyy too much for unfinished plates. I left hungry :(

Welcoming and courteous, the two words I would describe the small business owner here. You can see her kind heart in her eyes. For my first West African cuisine, it blew us away. My fiancé had the spaghetti creole and the hint of curry is just enough to leave you wanting more. Paired with the amazingly unique hot pepper sauce it was a winner in my books.
*Google Maps is a little off*
If you were to try three things go for the:
–Fried Plantains
–Chicken on a stick
–Spaghetti Creole
Then ask for extra hot sauce. They should seriously think about bottling it for sale!

While I do not claim to be any kind of expert on African (and specifically West African? Food) I do claim that the food we tried at Chaima tonight was delicious.
The location I found via Google maps, but it’s definitely a head scratcher-​as it’s located in a plaza tucked in a residential area that looks more like the back loading area of a store than a place for a restaurant. There are also a lot of «space for rent» signs. Just follow the GPS. It’ll get you there.
The initial presentation of the restaurant is simple and straightforward. There are 3 separated pockets of dining areas, and we occupied the one in the back. There are large and loud TVs in each room, but you can turn it off if you prefer conversation. Chaima herself was very accommodating, finding ways to make us feel at home. A few of us remarked that it felt like she was serving us in her own home. There’s no tap water here so expect to pay for bottled water or fanta or coke. The menu is not very extensive– it’s a mix of fried chicken legs, chicken breast, fried fish, turkey tails and lamb for meat, and the starches include white rice, brown rice with beans and grain and various types of spaghetti. There’s some corn dumplings that are very interesting in texture and flavor (think grits and jello). I loved my plate of spaghetti/​chicken/​plantains and the hot sauces were to die for.
Certainly a place to try– another great addition to Omaha’s diversity.

Again, I found myself at a place which I have a hard time judging, since this is my first meal at the hands of a cook from Togo, West Africa. But Chaima was a gracious host. When we asked about her recipes she came out and explained almost every secret of her kitchen. From her Fufu experience, her ‘corn dumplings’ process, to their spices and dips, she smilingly and generously gave her time to us.
When my friend ordered fried Turkey, they tried to explain to her it was the Turkey Tail, so she changed to fish, but I had to try it out, since it came with Plantains, and I love my fried Plantains… and a noodle and vegetable concoction. We were warned it was spicy, I do like my spicy also, but I am very glad it came on the side. I presumed that my spicy tolerance would be no match for West African heat… Hello!
I was impressed. I only got a little of my friends Corn Dumplings, which she likened to tofu, which was basically starch which goes with any sauce (I think for Fufu and other roots, its always the sauces…) she took home to try as a soup thickener…
OK, so the atmosphere totally lacks, the big screen in front of me had on paraplegic downhill skiing, not what I associate with Togo… the tables and chairs were sparse, but you come here just for the cuisine intrigue and adventure. I want to go back and steal a few more secrets from Chaima, once I know what questions to ask. This restaurant will not only broaden your culinary horizons, it will make you appreciate a whole new culture!

Authentic West African food + a relaxed atmosphere (you can tell there are a lot of regulars who go there to spend a nice time together often) + very friendly, personable, and welcoming family working there. It’s a great experience.
We had the fufu (yam pounded into a dough-​like consistency) which was pillowy soft like the best gnocchi in a tomato broth with lamb and the Riz au Gras and Gigot (rice, lamb, and a delicious warm cabbage salad). We already want to try more — the peanut sauce and a beef dish called Riz Creole are at the top of the list. If you’ve never had food like this, I am sure the staff or another guest can help you out. While we were eating, another table asked what we were eating and if we would recommend it. It’s overall a friendly, laid back (don’t expect the speediest service, it’s a relaxed style), and delicious experience.

Chaima does offer one of the best african and Mediterranean cuisine in the Omaha area. The owners are so friendly that i feel like home whenever i go to the restaurant. The food is not only delicious but affordable too

Great authentic west African food is served here. If you are looking for something exotic… different…flavorful…well look no further. Chaima Cuisine provides that and much more. You can choose from a wide variety of dishes that are mostly made from scratch, hence the slight wait you have to endure. But the dishes are well worth the wait. Depending on your dish selection, you might end up paying a bit more than your average McDonald, but it’s still way cheaper than dining at a 4 stars restaurant. Chaima Cuisine is Omaha best kept secret, hands down !!

Authentic food from West Africa. Great ambiance and awesome service. The meals are always cooked with fresh ingredients and can be customized to your liking. Stop by Chaima cuisine today, you can call ahead for pick up or simply dine in. They also deliver !!

Nice owner! Personalized service! And good authentic African good. The environment was joyful. If new food is something you like to try. This is the place to go.

Awesome West African food! Spicy and delicious, I will definitely be back! I tried the Kome and Attieke Poisson Braise, both were great, but the Attieke was my favorite.