In downtown Ypsilanti, a new restaurant has opened its doors, uniting the West African diaspora through a blend of traditional flavors.
Galy’s, a West African restaurant, is located at 20 N. Washington St. in downtown Ypsilanti. The restaurant is open Monday from 4-9 p.m., Tuesday and Wednesday from 3-10 p.m., Thursday and Friday from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Growing up, Bangaly Kaba, owner of Galy’s, developed a passion for cooking after watching his grandmother prepare food for various occasions, including weddings, birthdays and baby showers.
After moving from Guinea to America in 2001, Kaba missed having authentic home cooked meals from his culture. This inspired him to learn traditional recipes and cook food himself. Kaba said there are differences between food in America and Africa but also recognized similarities in certain American regions.
“The food from America and Africa is very different, but it also depends on what you classify as different because Southern American food is similar to African food,” Kaba said. “Food from New Orleans is very similar to West African food; so is creole. There's a few similarities there.”
After serving as an executive chief in the community for 12 years and creating a meal prep business 360 Savor Meal Prep, Kaba opened Galy’s to represent his West African roots, using locally sourced produce and businesses.
“This restaurant has been my motivation to bring light to West African cuisine,” said Kaba. “To me, my mission behind this restaurant is to unite the West African diaspora because we are all the same.”
Rather than centering his menu on a single West African country or region, Kaba strives to represent cuisines from across the continent and the African diaspora.
Being an executive chief gave Kaba the foundation of what it would be like to run his own restaurant beyond cooking through managing different personalities, organizing the kitchen and looking at machines to know how much you are investing.
So far, Galy’s primary challenge has been gaining visibility. However, opening the restaurant has been a blessing for Kaba and a reminder of how far he has come.
On the same street as Galy’s, there once stood a barbershop where Kaba received his first haircut in America. Because of that personal connection, he knew the area was the best place to open his restaurant.
“This is home, and this is where I feel the most comfortable at,” Kaba said.
For Kaba, culture and identity are woven into the foundation of the restaurant, allowing him to express who he is through food.
“It is very important because it’s my identity. Food is my art, right? And as an artist, I like to be self-expressive,” Kaba said.
Kaba recommends the chicken yassa to customers who have never tried West African food because of its affordability, meat-friendly ingredients and authentic West African flavors.
“It’s very festive; it is only chicken, packed with spices. It’s a good meal and one of my most-selling items,” said Kaba.
Galy's also offers lamb dibi, a Senegalese-style street food; Moquecca shrimp, a Brazilian-inspired seafood dish; and salmon aux remoulade, which is served with West African jollof rice. The menu also serves various burgers, including lamb, chicken, a jerk burger and a vegan burger. Menu items range in price from $13-25.
Looking toward the future, Kaba hopes to make the restaurant a destination for families while continuing to diversify his menu.
“I can see this being a destination spot for the family, and once things get running and I’m comfortable, I would like to do rotating menus,” Kaba said. “I’m very eager to do that, because I don’t want to just be stuck in one side of Africa.”
To follow Galy’s journey and stay up to date on the restaurant’s latest updates, those interested can visit the restaurant's website, Facebook and Instagram.
