The Ethiopian Restaurant is now in my list of favorite Ethiopian restaurants that I've had in the US. The service was amazing, fast, and you can see/smell your food being cooked in front of you. We ordered the vegan combination platter which included injera, 3 types of lentils, cabbage, and potatoes and carrots. The food was more than enough to feed 4 individuals and very reasonably price. Although we ordered 3 lentil dishes in our platter, they all had a unique, wonderful taste to them. Would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting Denver. read more

Ethiopian Restaurant - Combination Platter 3 - Ethiopian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

What nice people. Ok, don't go in expecting a fine dining experience. The place is kinda dumpy, but so was almost every other ethopian restaurant I've been to. It's the food that keeps me coming back. The owner (maybe?) was there and the lady cook (his wife maybe?) were so incredibly sweet and forgiving of my blunders. I got the vegetarian combo and it was incredible. Holy hell the one with jalapeños was incredibly spicy and my lips got swollen, but that's the best compliment. There is so much flavour in their food you cannot go wrong. The place is cash only so keep that in mind. Also they don't have a parking lot so you may have to drive around a little bit to find parking in the neighbourhood but that hassle was well worth it because I have missed Little Ethopia in LA for so long! But I think I was even more impressed by the tastes here. Large portions and the guy even took my $20 that I accidentally ripped in half because it was the only cash I had on me but didn't act like it was a problem, unlike another one place I tried to use it at a few days prior. Cannot wait to enjoy again! read more

So glad I decided to eat here. I finished my large plate all by myself in like 15 minutes and I enjoyed every bite. So delicious. So happy.

Food is incredibly delicious, beef is super tender and well seasoned. Staff is very friendly. If you haven't tried Ethiopian food, highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

Ethiopian Restaurant - Key Wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Delicious and authentic! I love the food and mom and pop feel to it. Everything I've had on the menu is delicious, but ask them for a recommendation if you're not sure what to order. Will definitely be back. read more

I passed this restaurant several times before noticing the bright colors of the Ethiopian flag at the front of the entrance. It took me a few more minutes while I searched for a place to park. Its street parking only here. Inside is a darkened room with Ethiopian decor. There are few tables inside and a bigger room on the other side with around 12 more tables. The place was packed. A sweet older couple did all everything from cooking to cleaning and I thought they might be the owners. Jazzy music played softly in the background. It took a while before the food arrived as I expected. Their injera is one of the best ones Ive had (and Ive had plenty). The veggie combo dish I ordered was good. Ive had better. My favorite potato and cabbage had one potato piece and the rest was cabbage. The cabbage was very good though. I wasnt a fan of the other two items, the lentils and peas, I think. I would gladly try other items. The food is freshly made and the meat combos looked amazing on other peoples' plates. The price is beyond reasonable and you definitely get lots of food for the price. Cash only! read more

Ethiopian Restaurant - The three item veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Ate here for the first time and the food was so yummy and very authentic. Portions were perfect. My boyfriend who is not a vegetable fan commented on how good the cabbage was. We had lamb and beef with potato and carrot. Sides of lentils. The injera was perfect. If you've never had Ethiopian be prepared to eat with your hands using the injera to scoop it up. As others commented this is a family run business and they do everything from cook to serve and it can be slow if they are busy. We actually almost got up to leave but stayed and it was the best decision ever. I hope they get they're roof fixed soon because the dripping with buckets in the dinning area to catch it is probably not too safe. read more

A group of friends, including myself, went for dinner at this establishment. Friendly welcome by a young gentleman. A segment of the building is a narrow open concept with an open kitchen. A slightly larger fully dining area was also available. We went straight to the shared dish (Combination #2) that included ginger chicken, split peas, cabbages, spicy beef, stewed lamb and lentils. Additionally, we enjoyed the Honey wine. All i can say very delicious and great service. Moving forward, I'll make it priority to visit this establishment whenever I'm in the Denver area. read more

One of the best Ethiopian meals I've ever had. Don't be afraid. This places looks like it might be closed, and when you enter you won't see any patrons. But keep walking to the dining room and you won't be alone. Service was friendly, and the wait was not as long as expected. My experience has taught me that Ethiopian meals take a while. That is due in part to the prep required and also to culture. Don't go for Ethiopian if you want a quick meal; go if you want a relaxed evening of delicious food. The injera tastes like they use a good amount of teff (not standard in the States, I'm told--often due to cost). It's got a great sour tang to it. They cook it a bit longer, so one side gets a little crispy, which is different from other places I've eaten. The doro wot (chicken legs, hardboiled egg, and a spicy Berbere sauce) was excellent. We ordered that with a vegetarian special. The bf was especially fond of the cabbage and potatoes. I enjoyed the alicha, a flavorful stew of lentils. Our food was gone within minutes because it was so delicious. If I could only eat one cuisine for the rest of my life, it would be Ethiopian food. And this place makes some of the best. Since we were only two, we couldn't get the combo dishes or the traditional Ethiopian coffee. Both serve at least four people. We made a note to find some friends to come back with us. (If love coffee and you haven't had it in the traditional Ethiopian style, you really should. It sounds expensive at $15, but it is well worth it.) read more

From the outside, you have to wonder whether you want to come in. Once you come in, you're in the middle of the kitchen with two small tables. The guy told us to wait a second and we soon realized we wouldn't have our own personal dinner as he lead us to the unassuming other room, which was packed with patrons! Everyone was drinking local (Ethiopian) beer and each had an appetizing looking dish on their table. We ended up going with the combination plate, which I just can't remember what it included. Everything on it was really good so I guess ultimately it didn't matter, does it? And I loved how some were spicy and others just spiced really well. I'm not an expert on this cuisine but, to my taste, it was pretty fantastic. And surprisingly the ambiance of this place works out well if you're in the mood for a more low key dinner setting. read more

Had such a good meal here! Split between 3, the combo #1 was perfect. We spend the whole meal arguing about which dish we liked more before resorting to saying "ok, we like it all." Had so much food for leftovers as well! Also ordered Ethiopian beers and an Ethiopian white wine to accompany the meal, weren't disappointed there either. read more

I think this is a one man show. Cut him some slack. He is a cool dude to run this restaurant by himself. He's real friendly and will suggest what to order. The food is right in--probably the same recipe his mom made in Ethiopia. You have to love the name. So self-explanatory!! read more

Ethiopian Restaurant - This is the place. So great! - Ethiopian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Delicious!! Highly recommend the spicy lamb. And FYI they accept credit cards. Can't wait to go back.

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Denver. I recently went to a different one (I'm not naming any names but it's on Santa Fe) and while the service was excellent, the food was not nearly as good as Ethiopian Restaurant. I always get the vegetarian combo dinner. It is a feast. I do eat meat but when I have ordered the meat dishes in the past I haven't liked them as much as the vegetarian dishes. The meser wot is my favorite (spicy red lentils) and the greens are to die for. My 10 month old LOVES the chick peas and the potatoes and cabbage. The combo is a feast. I've never come close to finishing my food there- though I've tried. The service is usually good (sometimes a little slow when they are packed) and the staff are incredibly nice. I think it's the owner who is very friendly and always makes you feel very welcome. On the down side it can get very hot in there and for some reason they don't have high chairs!? I bring a strap on booster seat but they need to get some high chairs- especially since much of their food is ideal baby food. I love this little restaurant. Delish! read more

See all

CASH ONLY RESTAURANT!!! Okay now that I got that out of the way, let me rave about how much I love this place. When I was leaving, the owner told me "just one taste and you will crave this forever". Wow, was he right. We ordered the vegetarian plate which came with cabbage, lentils, beans, collard greens, potatoes, and injera. Everything had amazing flavor and we had plenty of injera to soak it all up. We ate it with the Ethiopian beer and left feeling full and content. I have been itching to go back ever since! Bring cash and if you forget, it's worth running to an ATM and coming back. read more

I've been to four Ethiopian Denver restaurants and have one favorite. Now I have two. My favorite thing is chicken wot sauce. Wonderful. This place rules with their side of cabbage. Strange thing to rave about, but really - wow. The injera bread is super spongy/chewy, not my preference but it differentiates them and I can see from other reviews that some love it. Great vibe - the gentleman and his wife are jovial and I enjoyed the entire experience. I'll be back! read more

Ethiopian Restaurant - Chicken wot and side goodies - Ethiopian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

See all

I still in love with The Ethiopian Restaurant in DENVER. From my perspective, the best spot for comfort food. Finally took a pic with the owner, chef, server, mixologist. Here it is. read more

I have been going to this place for over 20 years now and it has remained consistently good that entire time, and better than other Ethiopian places along Colfax. I've been a vegetarian most of that time, so I can't really speak to the quality of the meat these days, but I remember it being great over 15 years ago. I usually go with at least one other person so I can order two veggie combo III's, which has the full compliment of vegetarian options, all very tasty. Once major caveat: the service can be SLOW. Go with an appetite, because you will have more food than you can possibly want, but just keep in mind it might take you an hour to get your food! read more

Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

After finding out on a Sunday night that my plans for going to QoS would not work for Monday night, I called these lovely folks and they were able to accommodate our party of 8. We arrived bit by bit and the meal did take quite awhile, but it was a great time with good food and a friendly server (ie, owner). There was a bit of upsell attempted but you can watch for that and it's all handled easily (just keep track of your orders). We weren't able to get the "famous" honey wine, but they do have an excellent beer available (Bedele Beer - $5 a bottle). I had tea (with a second round of hot water no extra charge) and water was available as well. Plenty of injera available for all of us and they could accommodate for eating issues (vegetarian and spicy). I really recommend checking them out, just call in advance if you have more than 4 people! Finally, BRING CASH! read more

I went here Saturday evening at 7:45pm. I was seated and served water very quickly, but at 8:35pm when I asked how much longer it would take for my vegetarian combo, there were still 2 orders ahead of me. I wish I was told about the wait in advance so that I didn't have to stay hungry for so long. On the one hand I appreciate food cooked well, my expectations were guided by other places. A heads up would have been helpful. At all times the staff was very polite and courteous, as was I. They were very understanding when I excused myself for not being able to wait longer because I was starving. I would recommend going here when nobody is there read more

If you've never had Ethiopian food before, you need to get yourself to this place. Ethiopian food is very vegan friendly (Injera bread, lentils, potatoes, cabbage, etc.) and you get to eat with your hands! read more

Had a great dinner for five, plenty of food. We ordered combo #2. We had more than enough food for all of us to try everything. It was a great meal! read more

Ethiopian Restaurant - Combo #2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Denver, Colorado

So happy that we found such an excellent establishment with amazingly delicious Ethiopian food. The owner is very involved and nice, so you know that you are getting quality service and food. Very filling. We had the lamb dish and it was superb. Can't wait to come back again. They have definitely found themselves some new regulars! read more

Incredibly slow. We waited 1.5 hours for just one entree. No food is worth that long of a wait. While we waited we had some coke that was completely flat. The food maybe good but unless you have hours to wait I wouldn't come here. Definitely never coming back. read more

Delicious food, left totally stuffed and felt like I had a very honest, home cooked, family owned and operated meal at a local gem.That being said, the wait was unbelievable. Unbelievable. I repeat: unbelievable. It's a wife and husband duo who work the front and back of house, day in day out. They work at their own speed and while they will eventually get to you, do not be surprised if water is brought to your table 20 minutes after arrival. The cool thing about the service here is it will weed out impatient, sassy folks, leaving us serious eaters and appreciators (who are not ravenous upon arrival) to enjoy our wondrous Ethiopian feasts in peace. read more

If you are a vegetarian or a vegan you must must must eat here! The waiter is so friendly and helpful and he always makes sure you order a complete meal. The place is very nice inside. Probably nicer and bigger than you'd expect from the outside. My friends who eat meat said that the chicken was good, however, I wouldn't know as I have not eaten chicken in probably 13 years. The lentils though. So. Good. honestly, even if you are not a vegetarian, you got to get those lentils. I can't even remember what they are called but my mouth is watering just thinking about them. read more

Hands down the best Ethiopian food in Denver (and one of the best restaurants in the city, full stop). Very unassuming name and storefront on Colfax, but you can't go wrong with anything you order here. Everything is made with love and care and tastes INCREDIBLE. Plus, the owners and staff are kind, calm, and welcoming. They'll give you extra injera for free if you ask, too :) read more

I've gone to a few Ethiopian restaurants on my last couple of trips to Denver and this is the best I've encountered so far. The homemade injera was awesome. And the owner was a real pleasure to chat with. read more

You NEED to come here! I'm not saying you "should try" this restaurant, nope, I'm telling you that you need to. I grew up Ethiopian food and eating here was like going back to childhood. Everything is absolutely delicious, the owners are SO kind, and they'll even explain how best to enjoy your meal if you've never tried Ethiopian food before. Oh, and the injera? I could eat it ALLLLLL day long! Homemade, locally owned, and alllllllll worth it! read more

We hadn't eaten here in a long time but ordered take out today. The food was excellent and did not disappoint!! Perfectly spiced. Highly recommend. Definitely "healthy " portions as well. read more

While I am no expert in Ethiopian Cuisine, I personally have only had truly excellent meals here. The food is straightforward but perfectly executed and seasoned. It is truly worth the wait and inconvenience of paying only in cash... highly recommended! Also, this establishment is great for vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike. Try the tibs. read more

Surprisingly bland. I've had a lot of Ethiopian food, and the meal here was the blandest I've had. My order was ready when they said it would be, and the guys at pick up were nice enough. read more

Delicious! Had the spicy lamb and beef combinations and the flavors were amazing. Will be back for sure!

Twelve of us came here for dinner after spending the day in downtown and had a pleasant experience. This hole in the wall starts with an open kitchen with a walkway that leads to a small dining room next door, where our table was spread across the middle surrounded by antiquated décor, moderate lighting, and a mix of cultural artifacts and paintings faded in the background. We considered getting all three combination dinners that were available on the menu, but were told that our meal would arrive sooner if we could triple order the same thing for everyone to share. At the owner's recommendation, our Combination I ($14.95 per person) came with Yebeg Wot, Doro Wot, Meser Wot, Yater Alicha, Yatiklit Wot and Cabbage. The overrepresentation of stews led me to walk over to the kitchen to add the Special Tibs ($13.95), which the owner initially said they were out of, but later appeared from the kitchen along with our combo meal with servings of injera for everyone. The common threads across each item were highlighted by tender meat and a mix of good textures, but flavors were generally held in check, especially with items that could be spicier. The pieces of beef and lamb were shortchanged into small cubes than served in large juicy strips, but the chicken stew impressed with its tender flavors to complement two delicious hard boiled eggs. There were some redundancy in the mix of spicy butter and berbere sauce as seasoning, but the depth of spiciness were somewhat bland, much more symbolic and inspiring for the taste bud. The same could be said about the mix of lentil stews, where the pureed textures were easy to grab with a finger full of injera. The garlicky cabbage had a good bite and was one of the few highlights that several individuals were raving about. The role of berbere sauce, awaze, and other spices could be more salient; and the injera was not too sour which can be a positive attribute depending on one's preference. I was less enthused about the meat when compared to the likes of Awash and Café Eritrea D' afrique, but enjoyed the chicken stew enough to prefer it over the one previously experienced at Nyala. Portions were skimpy on the meat but plentiful in all other dimensions. Their menu is quite limited so interested diners should be aware that you won't find seafood or fitfit at this restaurant. Additionally, I had mixed feelings about the service as there was some noticeable pauses and show of hesitation on the part of the server followed by persuasive arguments for reasons to keep our meal simple. I think this is in part due to their capacity as a two-people operation which might draw some concerns for large groups that may be considering a visit. Otherwise, the server was friendly and down to earth. Solid but not exceptional, I would be interested in trying other Ethiopian restaurants in the area before deciding whether to return. read more

See all

I think a lot of people who give this place a negative review just aren't getting it and/or are not cognizant of how this place/cuisine works. Ethiopian food is ALWAYS traditionally served the way this restaurant does: Communally on a large plate using injera bread to eat. If you ever ate at an Ethiopian restaurant that served differently, I assure you it was because they were accommodating western customs. This restaurant in particular is a small, family-run place with only two people working here at all times. After the server takes your order, the single cook is making everything herself. So yeah, it's going to take a long time. Most Ethiopian restaurants are like this so you should simply expect to wait awhile for you food or eat at Taco Bell, whatever you prefer. To me, this is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in town and has very affordable prices. My friend and I had the vegetarian special and collard greens, which basically amounted to a ton of food that we couldn't even finish for just $12 a person. The red lentils were very spicy, just the way I like them. The cabbage was soft and sour in that wonderful cabbagy way. The collard greens has a nice jalepeño kick to compliment the smokiness of the greens. Everything was cooked perfectly and presented very neatly on the injera. And the service was actually really good. We called ahead twice to ask about the hours and whether they took credit cards (Until 10PM and they don't). We asked for more injera, he gave it us (without charge). We asked for napkins twice, he gave it to us some both times. Water was always filled. The server often went into the kitchen for awhile, but when one of us went into the room to ask him something, he attentively fulfilled our requests. Some people are accustomed to having a server be really active and attentive at the table all the time, but I personally don't mind asking the server myself for things and I don't think that he minded helping us. I thought he was actually a high-quality server, regardless of the type of restaurant. Simply a great all-around Ethiopian restaurant for anyone with an open mind and an empty stomach. read more

best ethiopian food in denver. don't go super hungry, because you'll have to wait a while before you eat. some big ad agencies said about some beer and ketchup once, "good things come to those who wait," and it certainly applies to the food here. the service is slow. but let's talk about this service. it's an old man. the old woman does all of the cooking and the old man does all of the serving. he shuffles around the dining room and offers the drink selection in terms of "dark beer" and "light beer," yes those are your two choices. the beers themselves have changed over the years, but the selection style has not. i usually go dark. currently (oct 2011) that means an ethiopian stout. and now the food. it's soooo good. the yellow lentils are possibly the best lentils i have ever eaten in my life (and that's a lot of lentils). the potatoes and cabbage are hit or miss for texture, but are always delicious. the vegetarian combo is a sure fire win every time. ooh pardon me as i get a little drooly over here just thinking about it... in other words, this is a two-person team of ethiopian culinary magic. be patient and you will be rewarded. oh final note: the last i checked, it's cash-only. read more

Pack your bags, you're going to Ethiopia. And by that I mean, you're going to sit and starve while you hope someone will feed you. The kitchen, the waiters, foreign aid workers...anyone--my kingdom for a loaf of bread. Thing is, this place has simply amazing food. And absolutely no service. No sense of time. No awareness that a world with utensils and clocks is perversely moving forward outside its walls. For all that, it's worth it. I came in with some friends and we got a table, although the place was packed. We did get menus, but that was all. Getting water, ordering drinks, etc...all of that took a cool half an hour. When we waved for a waiter, he said he would be right back and then disappeared for another ten minutes. This happened a few times. When we ordered drinks, mine never came. No one knew what happened to it. It was of no importance at all. My glass of wine eventually came, I think right around the 45 min mark. When they did bring drinks, they were in no hurry to take our orders. We had to frantically seize a waiter and this still took another "be right back" in 10 minutes episode. Finally, vaguely weak with hunger, we managed to tackle someone and stab at the menu until we had a simple order placed. One group combo dish and one extra. We got it after about another 40 min. The thing is, as soon as it came, it was so good that we were instantly happy again. All grousing forgotten, we were tearing into the bread and swiping up the food. Even our friend who is **not a big eater** killed a stunning portion and finally defeated, kept picking away at little bits because it tasted so good. It was a marathon experience. We came, we sieged (for weeks it felt like...), we conquered. Just don't come hungry. In fact, bring a Tolstoy novel, a camelbak, and a towel. Then, it would be the perfect meal. read more

I've been eating here since I was a little girl. The food here is a gift from the heavens. If you enjoy spicy, savoury, sweet, sour, and delicious food I would recommend coming here. They have so many options for everyone. Their vegetarian recipes are beautifully made. When the food comes out to your table the owners present the dish to you and describe what you've ordered. They're very kind people who make the environment feel like home. I reccomend this restaurant for dates, dinners, and much more. read more

I have always been curious as to what Ethiopian food entailed. I had no idea coming in what to expect. I've wandered by this place many times on Colfax and always wanted to try it, and came in with a few other curious friends to finally try it out this past weekend. We walked in and the owner greeted us. He was watching tv in a small room with a few tables. I was relieved when he lead us to the back which had much more room. He explained the entire menu to us, and we ordered a combo that we could all share. What can I say..it defied my expectations! We decided on the Combo #2, which had lamb, chicken and assorted veggies. I have to admit, I was a little afraid because I didn't know what to expect. The chicken and lamb had this flavor that I have never experienced before. Same goes for the veggies. The best part-you eat with your hands! It's ok to be sloppy! The meal comes with this bread type substance that you dip into your food to pick up and eat with. The bread filled me up though so then I was just eating with my fingers. All in all it was an amazing experience. Go with a small group of people and try a combo plate. You won't be sorry and it will be a meal you will never forget! read more

Things You MUST know about the Ethiopian Restaruant: 1. Decor reeks of a dirty place that needs a makeover. 2. We were only ones in the restaruant on a Wednesday night. 3. Brown fake wood topped tables with fold up metal chairs that are squeezed into a tight place and not much light type of place. 4. Menu is very simple with about 6 entrees. Can substiute whatever meat you want in it. Price is is 10- 15 bucks 5. Service was very slow for being the only ones in the restaurants. Server was kind, but I got the feeling who did not want to work. 6. Mens bathroom has no light and i think i pissed on myself a little. No joke...... 7. GREAT FOOD. Whatever you get here is spiced perfectly and extremely yummy. 8. This is rare as I am docking a whole two stars even though the restraunt had exceptional food. The decor sucks, as does the service, and they take cash only. 9. Do not go when your busy as you will never get out. 10. I love the food, but will not be going back. read more