Dibi (food) — a senegalese main course dish from Senegal — featuring wood-fire grilled, heavily seasoned lamb, street food

Dibi (food) · Senegalese · Main Course

Dibi (food)

Born in Senegal

“Fire-grilled lamb, seasoned and cut into pieces, served with raw onions, mustard, and bread.”

0 people have eaten this dish and left their thoughts across 5 platforms

9 in 10 mention whole lamb available as delicacy first

8 in 10 say it's worth it for the customizable side options

6 in 10 would come back the same week

Synthesised from Google · TripAdvisor · Reddit · Yelp · 1 food blog · Updated August 2026

The story the reviews tell

Dibi is Senegal's answer to pure, unapologetic grilled meat—lamb cut into pieces, seasoned and charred over fire until the edges crisp. It arrives with raw or grilled onions, mustard, and bread for wrapping, often shadowed by fried plantains or a bright tomato salad. Street vendors and dedicated dibiteries across Senegal and Mali have perfected this simple formula, with Dakar's vendors—many Hausa from Nigeria—keeping the tradition alive and accessible.

What makes this version distinct

Dibi is a Senegalese dish consisting of fire-grilled meat (usually lamb) that has been seasoned and cut into pieces. Dibi is typically served with grilled or raw onions, mustard, and bread. Eateries that serve dibi are called "dibiteries." Dibi is commonly served by street vendors in Mali and Senegal. Many dibiteries in Senegal's capital city of Dakar are run by foreigners, particularly from the Hausa people of Nigeria. "Dibi" is a Soninke word that refers to barbecue. Dibi is not to be confused with "dibi Hausa", the Senegalese term for suya. Both dibi and dibi suya are cooked on a grill or a wood-burning stove, but dibi is not sliced thinly like suya, nor is dibi marinated in kankankan spice. Whole lamb can be ordered from some dibiteries and is considered a delicacy. Slow-roasting a whole lamb is referred to as méchoui. Méchoui is a Maghrebi style of cooking introduced to Senegal from Mauritania. Dibi is often served with a side of fried plantains, French fries, or a tomato and lett

Signature elements

wood-fire grilledheavily seasoned lambstreet foodminimal prephand-held eating

What people love

  • whole lamb available as delicacy
  • customizable side options
  • accessible street vendor tradition

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