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    Selam Ethiopian Kitchen

    4.5 (70 reviews)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Selam Ethiopian Kitchen Photos

    SELAM ETHIOPIAN KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Quiet
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Selam Ethiopian Kitchen

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    Around the corner form the big sign
    Karla M.

    This place was great--we walked so I'm not sure about parking. It's to the right and down the street from the big corner sign. We got the meat sampler for 2 which was perfect so we could try many things. There were 4 of us at around 9pm Friday, and 6-10 people total in the whole restaurant with plenty of space for many more. We did not like the bread the second time we tried this place--too much lemon? the first time it was perfect! So the bubbly bread (injera) depends on the day it seems. I'm sure you can get silverware cutlery if you asked but I was able to just use the leftover mini spoon from the sambusa sauce. Everyone else at the table did just get the food with the injera bread. Ask for the receipt when u want--seemed like we could chill all night here I think they're open til 2am. The decor ambiance was ok. Table seats were pretty big.

    Meat sampler for 2 Vegan sampler for 2
    Tiffany K.

    WOW, I have truly been sleeping on other Ethiopian places in uptown???? Selam is open until 11pm which is SUCH a nice change of pace from restaurants typically closing so early. We had a big group of 5 but were plenty fed from the two samplers for 2!!! A great way to try many different options, and each of them BANGERS. The staff was so sweet, the injera was perfectly sour and chewy, every item was so flavorful and filling. I'm truly stunned, thank you so much selam!!!! Will be back

    Traditional coffee
    Ephrem W.

    Great service, Solomon knows what he does! The "zilzil tibs" is the best you can get in town, the Ethiopian version of rib eye steak - esp. if you like some fat. The raw meat melts in your mouth. Great traditional coffee too. Highly recommend!!

    Meat sampler for 2
    Sammy L.

    First of all this is like a hidden gem. It doesn't look like much from the outside but a big restaurant on the inside. I went there for Valentine's Day and they had a cute rose on the table. This place honestly needs to be more busy but they do a great job with the food and I honestly think it's better than the well known Demera. Good prices for the amount of food you get. I would 100% go back.

    Joanne T.

    Loved the food here! This is the second time I've had Ethiopian and it was way more memorable than the first time. The restaurant has a very chill vibe and a lot of the customers were casually drinking. The injera is great and not too sour. The curried meats were my favorite. It was so flavorful and juicy. I was impressed with how good the vegetable sides were. We ended up ordering way too much food for 2 people and had tons of leftover.

    Meat (in the middle) and vegan (around the outside) samplers.
    Brian L.

    It has been too long since I've had Ethiopian food. You know those first bites of the food that taste so freaking good after arriving at your table? Yeah. Heavenly. We both got a glass of the Tej (Ethiopian honey wine), which is extremely sweet, but a nice taste. We split a meat and veggie sampler platter.. after all, it would be more like picking names out of a hat for us, plus we wanted to know what was to our liking. Almost everything on the platter was delicious. We didn't care much for the collard greens and the green beans were standard fare, but there were other piles of stuff that were so good. Unfortunately we didn't really manage to distinguish which was what, but the samplers are a great place to start. The meat samples were also great. One of them was long strings of beef cooked with onion and peppers.. so good! The hard-boiled eggs were served with a chicken wing and an amazing sauce. One meat sample was not to our liking (we think it was lamb) but overall we were happy with everything. The samplers are deceptively a LOT of food to the point where we thought the server brought out the large size instead of the small. Between the two of us, we still had a lot leftover. I will definitely return. I really want to sample the tartare and raw meat next time!

    Meat sampler for 2

    We got meat sampler for two and it was delicious. Seasoned well and was such a large portion. This is all we could eat after not eating all day. Service was exceptional, kind wait staff and very fast service. Music is fun and the restaurant isn't too loud or anything. I loved it and hope you do too.

    Meat Sampler
    Michael B.

    Honestly, what a great experience I had at Selam. They are a bit under staffed, but this did not bother me because when you arrive you can feel the great energy from the customers and the restaurant. The owner and server who helped us were extremely kind and welcoming and made us feel like family. The food was absolutely delicious and I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to try Ethiopian!

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    Ask the Community - Selam Ethiopian Kitchen

    Figo Wine Bar - Meatballs

    Figo Wine Bar

    4.2(329 reviews)
    1.7 miLakeview
    $$

    In an area packed with casual food spots, Figo is spicing things up! It's upscale but not…read morepretentious- perfect for meeting up with friends when you want to feel a little fancy without going through hoops getting ready. The staff was super attentive and kind, checking on us frequently. My friend and I stopped by for happy hour, and this should absolutely make it onto the list of the best in town. They have delicious wine, cocktails, and bites for nearly half of the regular price. I opted for the happy hour prosecco to drink, which was light-bodied and not too sweet. We split the meatballs and dates for bites and both were outstanding. I was super impressed with how tender the meatballs were, and they did not skimp on the flavorful marinara and cheese! The dates, which were topped with a white wine cheese sauce, were mouth-wateringly delicious and a must order. There was also complimentary focaccia with olive oil, which was greatly appreciated. With sea salt on top and a crispy exterior, I could easily have eaten a whole loaf. The only note I have is that the portions are small, so if you don't come during happy hour the prices are a bit steep for what you get. Will 100% be back soon to try more of the menu and highly recommend making the trek over here!

    Very cute spot right off the Belmont stop. We were able to take advantage of happy hour deals and…read moresat right at the bar. However, the bartender was not very nice, and we saw her stick her hand in someone's glass to get something out before serving it... Other than that though the hh glass of red, complementary bread with olive oil, and hh Brussels were all great!

    Photos
    Figo Wine Bar - A quick look at our wine cellar for private parties.

    A quick look at our wine cellar for private parties.

    Figo Wine Bar - Grilled Octopus

    Grilled Octopus

    Figo Wine Bar - Dates

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    Dates

    John’s Food and Wine - Milk Bread

    John’s Food and Wine

    4.1(80 reviews)
    3.1 miLincoln Park, DePaul

    One of THE most amazing dinners I've ever had! Our daughter…read morehad been here & really wanted us to go on a recent visit. Got our reservation, studied the menu. You have to order with the hostess at the door, unusual, but don't panic--it works well. And you can always add dishes or drinks from your table. We ordered a number of dishes to share, one better than the next. It was a great experience. We'd love to go back.

    This restaurant made my husband's 40th birthday truly unforgettable. I flew in his best friend as a…read moresurprise, and from the moment we arrived, the staff went out of their way to keep the secret and pamper us along the way. Every interaction felt thoughtful and intentional. When his friend finally arrived, the staff was just as excited as we were--they made my husband feel incredibly celebrated, which meant the world to me. That kind of genuine hospitality is rare. And the food... absolutely incredible. Every dish hit: the oysters were fresh and briny, the clam pasta was rich and comforting, and the duck breast was cooked to perfection. Not a single miss. The cocktails were delicious and well-balanced, and Wine Director Owen truly spoiled us with thoughtful pairings and top-tier service. From start to finish, this was a 10/10 experience. If you're celebrating something special--or just want an amazing meal with exceptional service--this is the place. Highly, highly recommend.

    Photos
    John’s Food and Wine
    John’s Food and Wine - Pulled pork sandwich

    Pulled pork sandwich

    John’s Food and Wine - White sesame ice cream w peach koji and white chocolate

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    White sesame ice cream w peach koji and white chocolate

    Cafe Yaya - Shakshuka bun

    Cafe Yaya

    3.8(98 reviews)
    2.7 miLincoln Park, DePaul

    First things first, cafe yaya is by the same group that operates galit and is literally right next…read moreto galit! So if you aren't able to get a reservation at galit, cafe yaya is a great option to consider. Cafe yaya was a great experience for us! We had a prior reservation and came here for brunch. We ordered a bunch of things for the table, including the Yaya fries, shakshuka, veggie bowl with sweet potatoes, mushroom, some more veggies with a side of some slaw and a sauce, lamb burger, pistachio rose bun and a veggie twist (this was at the cafe counter). The food was good but for me he standout was the pistachio rose bun. Omg it was to die for, it was not overly sweet, very decadent and had a great amount of pistachios and rose flavor in it, YUMM! The veggie bowl and the shakshuka were decent. My friend loved his lamb burger. The veggie twist was ok, and our server had forgotten about it for a while so we got it late. Overall, the service was great! The server was super friendly, explained everything really well to us and even offered a replacement when I spilled my coffee. Very hospitable staff overall! The ambience was great! Felt like we were in a Mediterranean cafe.

    Tried a grain bowl recently for lunch, as there are no vegan breakfast options from what I could…read moretell (disappointing but I'm used to it), and it was alright but the upcharge for tofu was ridiculous. $6 tofu upcharge. Tofu is less than $2 per 14 oz pack and this is a lot less than a block. This may still be a fine price to pay for someone prepping my food were it not a miss. It feels like miscellaneous vegetables thrown together without much thought or anything to tie it all together. There's also completely random unadvertised services charges? Wtf? There's barely any service! The atmosphere is nice but the entryway is always crowded and chaotic, it's confusing when you enter the building. Overall disappointed. It's cute but really felt like I was getting charged nearly $25 for beans and rice. Wanted to like this place as it's near where I live and looked promising.

    Photos
    Cafe Yaya - Very nice interior space

    Very nice interior space

    Cafe Yaya - Challah french toast - awesome, great sharable

    Challah french toast - awesome, great sharable

    Cafe Yaya - Shakshuka bun

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    Shakshuka bun

    Willow Room - Arugula salad over avocado toast with poached eggs.

    Willow Room

    4.2(429 reviews)
    3.5 miLincoln Park, DePaul
    $$

    Great dinner here tonight - had the mussels, burger, and octopus. All were exceptional. The drinks…read morewere also very good, and the service was awesome. Great meal overall.

    Chicago Restaurant week. I reviewed various dining options in search of a good place for dinner…read more Reddit gave me some ideas. I'd never been to Willow Room and liked that they had a four course dinner menu, with items I liked. I was able to make a reservation for a Saturday night at 8:15pm. PARKING Parking on Halsted on a Saturday night can be a nightmare, and it did take a minute to find street parking. North of the 1800 block is busier because there are several restaurants within a two block radius. Side streets are permit parking after 6pm. Meters on Halsted are $2.50/hr. ATMOSPHERE Willow Room was pretty packed. We had a reservation for 8:15pm and my party of two was seated right away. The restaurant features a full bar, dim lighting and is nice and roomy. They have banquette seating around the perimeter, in addition to tables in the middle. SERVICE Our server, who was very nice and accommodating during our dining experience, came by and gave us our menu's. I had already decided on the RW menu and after review, my friend was interested in the Beef Wellington (not on RW menu). Our server informed us that normally the whole table had to order off of the RW menu if one person does, but said she would check with the kitchen since this was the last day of RW. Luckily, we were able to proceed with ordering from different menu's. FOOD I ordered a raspberry Cosmopolitan. I'm a Riesling/Moscato girlie, but I tasted the Riesling and didn't like it. RW dinner was priced at $60. I ordered: First Course: Caesar Salad (Typical salad, was good) Second Course: Mussels (Tasted fine, came with a baguette) Third Course: Short Rib (Could've been slightly more tender and better seasoned. I've definitely had better. Wouldn't order again.) Fourth Course: Orange Ricotta Donuts (Donuts were very good. Three were served, a few more would have been more filling.) My friend ordered a glass of Pinot Noir and: Truffle Fries (Fries were very tasty. I would order again if I went back.) Beef Wellington (The breading was buttery and very good. The beef could've been more seasoned. I wouldn't order.) Key Lime Pie (Was not sweet and had no taste. When our server came back and saw it was uneaten, she offered to take it off the bill. It should be removed from the menu altogether.) The busboys and server were very attentive. Our water glasses were always filled. OVERALL The atmosphere was nice, our server was great. Of all the food we ordered, I would order the truffle fries and Cosmopolitan again. I did leave full and did take my leftover Short Rib to go. Main dishes needed more seasoning. I would dine here again and try a different menu (brunch/lunch), or Happy Hour if they offer it.

    Photos
    Willow Room
    Willow Room
    Willow Room - French 75

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    French 75

    Le Mistral - Inside the building - Le mistral is all the way down on the right side

    Le Mistral

    4.8(13 reviews)
    3.0 miLincoln Park

    The service is just incredible. That's what stands out the most. We came after having a superb…read moredinner at S.K.Y. and out waitress transferred us to Le Mistral for dessert as we were hoping to end the night with another cocktail. The transition was seamless, the walk through the kitchen was very cool, everyone was very friendly and excited to see guests. Our dessert came quickly to Le Mistral instead of S.K.Y. and was superb. Our waiter at Le Mistral was very friendly, gave some good advice on the cocktails, and was consistently attentive. My cocktail was just OK - sherry-based martini. I don't normally like a martini but all the ingredients actually seemed very much up my alley - the sherry, benedictine, rose vermouth. But the olive just overpowered. And definitely not worth the price of $24... Would definitely return and try the food next time as well.

    We popped in on a Monday night for a nightcap after finishing up at Mon Ami Gabi across the lobby…read more Our experience was meh. I don't know if every Monday is Metal night, but it was that Monday - Black Sabbath, Nu-Metal, everything but the live goldfish. Perhaps they should advertise "Monday Metal at Mistral" if that is to be a regular thing. It does flow off the tongue. To be fair, there was a full house and the other patrons did not seem to mind. We were not looking to feel the noize, however, and so stayed for just one cocktail. Mine was a Sazerac adjacent mix, and it was very high quality. The decor is very low light, but the vibe is pretty basic - more Paint Your Dorm Room black than Parisian Opium Den black. A bit of a missed opportunity for romance.

    Photos
    Le Mistral
    Le Mistral
    Le Mistral - Inside

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    Inside

    Selam Ethiopian Kitchen - ethiopian - Updated June 2026

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