Bomoko Table offers a wonderful resource for Rogers Park residents seeking consistent meal support. The organization operates a small kitchen on Glenwood Avenue, providing free dinner service Monday through Saturday from five thirty to eight pm. This reliable schedule ensures that neighbors have access to hot, prepared food six nights a week. The menu features diverse options such as pondu cassava leaves stewed with onion and palm oil, fresh fufu, rice and beans, and salted fish on Thursdays. Vegetarian plates are available every night, and guests can inform servers about allergies. Beyond food, the organization provides housing support through twenty-two apartments in nearby buildings for families who have just arrived and need somewhere to land. The staff includes cooks and caseworkers who share linguistic connections with guests, speaking Swahili, Lingala, Kinyarwanda, French, and English. Volunteer opportunities are plentiful, with prep starting at three pm and service extending to nine pm. Donation drop-off occurs on Wednesdays and Saturdays, accepting unopened pantry food and new bedding. The welcoming atmosphere and clear hours make it easy for anyone to find help without paperwork or questions. This community kitchen serves as a vital anchor for newcomers and long-time residents alike, offering dignity and sustenance in a welcoming environment.
Questions about Bomoko Table
What is Bomoko Table?
Bomoko Table is a community kitchen and welcome house located at 7042 N. Glenwood Avenue in Rogers Park, Chicago. It has been operating since 2019 and serves free dinner six nights a week from Monday through Saturday between 5:30pm and 8:00pm. The organization also manages 22 apartments to provide transitional housing for newly arrived families.
What is the upcoming special event?
The welcoming dinner scheduled for Sunday, July 26, 2026, will feature food for about 300 people, music, and a dedicated table for the kids. This event specifically welcomes 19 families arriving from eastern Congo who were displaced during the Bundibugyo outbreak response. Cooking begins at 2:00pm, and volunteers are needed to serve and wash up starting at that time.
What dishes are served?
The menu typically includes pondu, fufu made fresh every night, rice and beans, makayabu on Thursdays, and chicken moambe on Saturdays. Vegetarian plates are available every night, and guests are encouraged to inform a server about any allergies. The food comes from the garden whenever vegetables are ready.
What are the operating hours?
Dinner service runs from 5:30pm to 8:00pm on Monday through Saturday, with volunteer prep occurring from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. The housing office operates on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm, while donation drop-offs happen on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Sundays are closed for the kitchen.
What are the donation requirements and pricing?
A donation of $18 feeds a family of four, and $260 covers a month of utilities for one apartment. The kitchen also accepts unopened pantry food, new bedding, working kitchen equipment, and CTA fare cards as donations. Used mattresses and opened food are not accepted because there is no room to store them.
Who is the target audience?
The kitchen hosts a housing office that assists families who have just arrived and need a place to land. Most of the cooks and caseworkers share the same background as the guests they serve. Staff and volunteers speak Swahili, Lingala, Kinyarwanda, French, and English.
What services does Bomoko Table offer?
The organization holds 22 apartments in two nearby buildings to support transitional housing needs. It also hosts community events such as welcoming dinners for new arrivals and offers volunteer opportunities for cooking, serving, and cleanup. Everyone is invited to the neighborhood dinners with no paperwork or questions required.
Where is the kitchen located?
The kitchen is located two blocks from the Morse stop on the Red Line, making it accessible via public transit. The green door marks the entrance to the building on Glenwood Avenue. This location places the kitchen firmly within the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.
What do reviewers praise?
Some reviewers praise the inclusive atmosphere where everyone eats without needing to fill out forms or answer questions. The community aspect of bringing together people from similar backgrounds is frequently highlighted as a key strength. The variety of languages spoken by the team is also noted as a welcoming feature.
What recent events have they hosted?
The kitchen previously hosted the Lunt Avenue Block Supper on June 20, 2026, where they closed the block and set 400 places. Another recent event was the Winter Coat & Kitchen Drive on February 7, 2026, which collected over 1,200 items. These events demonstrate the kitchen's capacity to organize large-scale community gatherings.
What should a first-time visitor know?
The kitchen encourages guests to tell a server about allergies and notes that vegetarian options are available every night. They also mention that the menu changes but usually includes specific traditional dishes. The emphasis on fresh preparation and local sourcing is a consistent theme in their offerings.
How easy is it to get involved?
The kitchen operates on a simple model where no experience is needed to volunteer, and training takes only ten minutes. Volunteers can come and work a shift for prep, service, or cleanup. This low barrier to entry allows anyone to participate in the community efforts.
How can visitors contact Bomoko Table?
The kitchen provides a specific phone number, (312) 725-8160, and an email address, hello@bomokotable.org, for inquiries and coordination. These contact methods are listed on their website for visitors who need to reach out. The website also provides a map and directions for those arriving by car or transit.
What is the core philosophy?
The kitchen emphasizes that everyone is invited regardless of background, with no paperwork or questions required to eat. This approach removes barriers for new arrivals who might be overwhelmed by bureaucracy. The focus on immediate food and shelter is central to their mission.
What is the official website of Bomoko Table?
The official website of Bomoko Table is bomokotable.org.
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Bomoko Table appears to be a well-organized community kitchen with a clear mission. The structure of their operations is impressive, with specific hours for dinner service, volunteer prep, and housing office access. The fact that they manage twenty-two apartments for families who have just arrived adds significant value to their community presence. The menu reflects their cultural roots, with dishes like Pondu and Fufu, which suggests authenticity. The clear distinction between what they need and do not need for donations shows logistical maturity. For someone looking to support a local initiative, this seems like a reliable and transparent organization to engage with.
Bomoko Table consistently serves free dinner six nights a week on Glenwood Avenue. The dedicated team prepares diverse meals using fresh garden vegetables and traditional ingredients for the community.
It is nice to see a place that values community so deeply. The fact that they serve free dinner six nights a week without paperwork makes it very accessible. The Sunday dinner for new families seems like a great way to help people settle in. It feels like a warm, inviting spot in Rogers Park.
Bomoko Table presents a genuinely welcoming atmosphere in Rogers Park, especially given their mission to support families arriving from eastern Congo. The information available suggests a strong community focus, with volunteers and staff sharing linguistic backgrounds similar to many guests. The Sunday welcoming dinner for the July cohort appears to be a thoughtful touch. However, the requirement to wear masks and the specific note about needing help with prep and serving indicates that operations are still reliant on community participation. While the service seems solid, the reliance on volunteer labor means the experience might vary slightly depending on who is on shift. It is a positive sign for a small kitchen making a real difference.
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Bomoko Table is a community kitchen located on Glenwood Avenue in the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago, operating since 2019. The organization serves free dinner six nights a week, Monday through Saturday from 5:30pm to 8:00pm, with a menu that features dishes such as pondu, fufu, rice and beans, makayabu, and chicken moambe. In addition to its meal service, Bomoko Table maintains 22 apartments in two nearby buildings to provide transitional housing for newly arrived families. The kitchen also hosts community events, such as welcoming dinners for new arrivals, and offers volunteer opportunities for cooking, serving, and cleanup. Staff and volunteers speak Swahili, Lingala, Kinyarwanda, French, and English to support the neighborhood's diverse residents.
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- bomokotable.org
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- Non-profit organization management