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Name: Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant
Address: 5846 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL, 60660
Telephone: (773) 506-9601
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.23

Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant

5846 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL, 60660

(773) 506-9601
Store is closed

Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Mereq

Sambusa

Zenash's Chickpea Salad

Zenash's Yellow Beet Salad

Ras Dashen Salad

Cucumber Salad

Qategna
Sides

Komodoro Salata

Ethio Salata

Yeqaysur Salata

Misser Salata

Tikil Gomen Alicha

Gomen

Qosta

Diblik Atkilt

Ib

Misser Wat

Kik Alicha

Yeqay Tikil Gomen

Vegetarian Sampler
Special Vegetarian Entrees

Telba Shimbera Misser Wat

Shimbera Asa Wat

Misserana Bowmia

Komodoro Fetfet

Shirro

Pumpkin (dupa) Wat

Special Mushroom Wat
Chicken Entrees

Doro Wat

Doro Alicha
Beef Entrees

Sega Wat

Yeqay Ferfer

Lebleb Tibs

Kitfo Tere

Kitfo Lebleb

Zilzil Alicha

Qelulu

Gored Gored

Zilzil Tibs
Lamb Entrees

Yebeg Tibs

Yebeg De Berbere

Yebeg Dereq Tibs

Yebeg Wat

Yebeg Alicha
Fish Entrees

Asa Wat

Asa Tibs
House Specials

Grilled Tibs

Awaze Tibs
Beverages

Ethio Chai

Espresso

Qezqaza Chai

Cappuccino

Soft Drinks

Macchiato

Bottled Juices

Americano Nebeb

Mineral Water - Perrier

Mineral Water

Americano Samuel

Snapple Mango

Americano John

Buna Be Jebena
Appetizers

Mereq

Sambusa

Zenash's Chickpea Salad

Zenash's Yellow Beet Salad

Ras Dashen Salad

Cucumber Salad

Qategna
Sides

Komodoro Salata

Ethio Salata

Yeqaysur Salata

Misser Salata

Tikil Gomen Alicha

Gomen

Qosta

Diblik Atkilt

Ib

Misser Wat

Kik alicha

Yeqay Tikil Gomen

Vegetarian Sampler
Special Vegetarian Entrees

Diffen Misser Wat

Shirro

Shimbera Asa Wat

Misserana Bowmia

Komodoro Fetfet

Special (Dupa) Pumkin Wat

Special Mushroom Wat
Chicken Entrees

Doro wat

Doro Alicha
Beef Entrees

Sega Wat

Yeqay Ferfer

Lebleb Tibs

Kitfo Tere

Kitfo Lebleb

Zilzil Alicha

Qelulu

Gored Gored

Zilzil Tibs
Fish Entrees

Asa wat

Asa tibs
Lamb Entrees

Yebeg tibs

Yebeg de berbere

Yebeg dereq tibs

Yebeg Wat

Yebeg alicha
House Specials

Grilled tibs

Awaze tibs
Desserts

Molten Lava Cake

Coconut Crème Brule

Ethio Bread Pudding

Rice Pudding

Baklava
Beverages

Soft Drinks

Snapple Mango

Bottled Juices

Ethio Chai

Qezqaza Chai

Espresso

Cappuccino

Mineral Water

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant

Appetizers

Mereq [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sambusa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zenash's Chickpea Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zenash's Yellow Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ras Dashen Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cucumber Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qategna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Komodoro Salata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ethio Salata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yeqaysur Salata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Misser Salata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tikil Gomen Alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gomen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qosta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Diblik Atkilt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Misser Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kik Alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yeqay Tikil Gomen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Sampler [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Special Vegetarian Entrees

Telba Shimbera Misser Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shimbera Asa Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Misserana Bowmia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Komodoro Fetfet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shirro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Pumpkin (dupa) Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Special Mushroom Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chicken Entrees

Doro Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Doro Alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beef Entrees

Sega Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yeqay Ferfer [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lebleb Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kitfo Tere [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kitfo Lebleb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zilzil Alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qelulu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gored Gored [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zilzil Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Lamb Entrees

Yebeg Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yebeg De Berbere [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yebeg Dereq Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yebeg Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yebeg Alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fish Entrees

Asa Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asa Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Specials

Grilled Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Awaze Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Ethio Chai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qezqaza Chai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Soft Drinks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Macchiato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bottled Juices [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Americano Nebeb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mineral Water - Perrier [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mineral Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Americano Samuel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Snapple Mango [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Americano John [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Buna Be Jebena [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Appetizers

Mereq [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sambusa [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zenash's Chickpea Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zenash's Yellow Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ras Dashen Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cucumber Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qategna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

Komodoro Salata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ethio Salata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yeqaysur Salata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Misser Salata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tikil Gomen Alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gomen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qosta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Diblik Atkilt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ib [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Misser Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kik alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yeqay Tikil Gomen [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Vegetarian Sampler [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Special Vegetarian Entrees

Diffen Misser Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shirro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shimbera Asa Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Misserana Bowmia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Komodoro Fetfet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Special (Dupa) Pumkin Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Special Mushroom Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chicken Entrees

Doro wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Doro Alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beef Entrees

Sega Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yeqay Ferfer [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Lebleb Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kitfo Tere [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kitfo Lebleb [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zilzil Alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qelulu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gored Gored [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zilzil Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Fish Entrees

Asa wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Asa tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Lamb Entrees

Yebeg tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yebeg de berbere [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yebeg dereq tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yebeg Wat [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yebeg alicha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
House Specials

Grilled tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Awaze tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Molten Lava Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Coconut Crème Brule [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ethio Bread Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Baklava [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Beverages

Soft Drinks [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Snapple Mango [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bottled Juices [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ethio Chai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Qezqaza Chai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mineral Water [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

M M.

Delicious food! Definitely worth a trip back here.
(5)
Christy L.

I've tried several Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago, and Ras Dashen is my favorite! The food is tasty and the portions are large! The Doro Wat has the tastiest sauce with just the right amount of spice. I wish they still offered the meat sampler where you could select a few smaller portions of meat, but they don't have that option anymore. Regardless, two entrees, each of which comes with a veggie side, is more than enough food for three people. For two, you'll have leftovers.
(5)
Patrick D.

We ate on the sidewalk patio. It made for a great evening atmosphere. The food itself was delicious, but the portions were small and I left hungry. As far as Ethiopian food goes, this place is pretty pricey, especially for the smaller portions, but the food is high quality enough to make up for the price. The wine was delicious, but overpriced. The waitstaff was friendly, but eating outside meant we didn't see much of them and our glasses were empty most of the night without anyone realizing it.
(4)
Stephen S.

I loves me a good Ethiopian meal. Pull up the sleeves and dig into those delicious salads, lentils, and wats with a good serving of injera. I went to Ras Dashen with a group of folks allowing us to sample a lot of the different dishes. The service here was great, the treated us like family offering warm conversation and cheery smiles. I don't have any particularly favorites when it comes to Ethiopian (I like all the things!) so I just told them to bring me a vegetarian sampler with their best choices. They did a great job of bringing a lot of variety and one of the biggest surprises was the Ib, a soft cheese, kind of similar to paneer, that I had never had at an Ethiopian place before. I thought everything was good but spiced more mildly than I'm typically used to (or prefer). It's good Ethiopian, not my pick for best of the city, but definitely tasty.
(3)
Jack D.

I love this place. The food is always excellent and the staff is lovely and pleasant. It's a fun place to meet friends who've never had Ethiopian before, or to bring a small group for an interesting shared dining experience. Wouldn't recommend it for people who are averse to getting a bit messy as the food is mostly of the eat-with-your-hands variety, or to those who don't crave spicy and flavorful and unique. I would recommend it for people with kids. Every time I've seen people bring kids in the staff fawns all over them, to the extent that I've seen them take babies out of their mothers arms and take them around to show others. Very family friendly.
(4)
Jenny S.

Definitely an interesting dining experience. I love stews and I absolutely love how each plate/dish was so flavorful. The injura was definitely different, a spongey sour dough liked bread that they take and pick up food with. A little hard on to stomach. All in all a great dining experience. We came here on Valentine's Day.
(4)
Ashley E.

Loved it! We had the honey wine and it was so good! Loved the bread, it was a perfect vessel to eat the great meats and veggies.
(5)
Talibah M.

My children love this place and so do I. The ambiance is lovely and so is the service.
(4)
Barb L.

I have been here several times and the service has been excellent and accomodating. The food is delicious! I've ordered the meat combo two times and it is more than enough for two. The beef stew is heavenly and loved the lentils and spinach.
(5)
Steven K.

Awesome place with great service. No real complaints. Overall atmosphere is wonderful and I truly love the menu!
(4)
Yohanese T.

I am the grandson of zenash Beyene and a waiter at Ras dashen. The food selection on our menu is for vegans and meat eaters. We are very clean in the kitchen and dining room. All pans are cleaned before cooking vegetarian meals and we have smooth live music on Friday night. We will do our best to give you great service. For the meat eaters I would recommend you try our grilled tibs, cooked to perfection seasoned and satisfying, choose lamb or beef. If you like spicy or mild we got it for you in any category of meat selection your heart and stomach desires. If you want chicken we have it plus it comes with a hard boiled egg, kind of different for some but its a good combination. If you like beef I would recommend the Qelulu for spicy lovers, Zizil alicha, and leb tibs for mild lovers and If you are looking for some brain food try some tilapia; Asa tibs #36. If you are vegan I would recommend you try the veggie sampler which allows you to choose a variety of five vegetarian sides. Add an entry to add some more flaaavvaahh!! I'd recommend the telba shimbera, it has chickpea, lentils, super grinded flaxseed, and yummy berbere. Try shirro, this dish is pureed chickpeas with a sense of light berbere spice. Very delicious comfort food. All of our dishing come with one side. We allow BYOB and we have an open bar . delicious honey wine, red wines, and white wines come check us out we got the spice you crave and the mild goodness you want.
(5)
Judith Z.

Mouth watering rolling on the floor good!
(5)
Nathan H.

This is the first time I have ever been to an Ethiopian restaurant. I had no idea of what to expect, other than one of my good friends had recommended the cuisine. The entire experience was fantastic from start to finish - unique, authentic and delicious. The service was warm and friendly, the food was full of rich, Ethiopian flavours and the atmosphere was vibrant. I cannot wait to come back here again when I next visit Chicago!
(5)
Kurt M.

Some of the best Ethiopian I've ever had. Everything we ordered was delicious, and they have an interesting drink selection. If you don't like this place, you need to stick with Applebee's
(5)
Melissa G.

This is such a great place! I love sitting at the traditional tables. It's such a great date place. Eating with your hands can be a sensual experience, especially when the food is so damn good! The service staff here is absolutely astounding. They all work together and take really great care of everyone. Definitely try this place right away!
(5)
Anupam S.

Food is good but not worth the wait. The service is extremely slow and not polite. If you can handle extremely slow and rude service this is the place for you. Servers will forget what you ordered but what ever they get you will taste great
(3)
Desiree H.

I was visiting a friend in Chicago and she highly recommended fhis place! it was Delicious!!!! They had Vegan and gluten free options! Also had Great customer service! I love it!
(5)
Colin C.

CELIAC GLUTEN FREE DINERS BEWARE: Its a shame to have to write a bad review about a place I've frequented for years, but I feel like I have no choice. My fiance has a gluten allergy, and we loved Ras Dashen because they serve a gluten free injera, which we've been told is actually a more authentic version of the dish and is always delicious. They ask that you call a day in advance and special order it. Last week, we called to place our order, and they said they had one waiting for us and that we should come that night. We did. When we were seated, we explained to them that we had called ahead for the gluten free injera, the waitress said she understood, and we proceeded to order. Everything was delicious, but about half way through our meal, we asked for some extra gluten free injera, and the waitress told us that we weren't actually eating gluten free injera to begin with... they had served us the regular version by mistake. We were very upset about this because it meant that my fiance would be very sick for several days, but we didn't raise our voices or cause a scene. Although it was a very serious mistake, we understand that mistakes are made and people aren't perfect. What really bothered me, however, was that they ended up CHARGING US FOR IT ANYWAY. We didn't ask for anything free and didn't act rude or make any demands. However, upon finding out that they had served my fiance what is essentially poison for her, they took one of the $12 entrees off our tab and stuck us with a bill that was more than $70. Again, we just quietly paid and left, but this made me furious. They made a huge mistake and didn't make it right. Even offering to take half off (considering only one of the two of us was served something that made them sick) would have been a decent gesture. In a restaurant, when you are served food that makes you sick, even after repeatedly and explicitly requesting food that doesn't make you sick, you normally wouldn't expect to have to pay for the food after its been accidentally served to you, or at least you wouldn't expect to pay nearly full price. My fiance has in fact been sick for several days because of this, and in spite of the fact that we've been regular customers there for years, their lack of sympathy and refusal to make this right assured that we will never return. There are plenty of other great Ethiopian places in the area.
(1)
Pete B.

First time having Ethiopian food, and overall it was good. Ethiopian food, to me, is similar to Indian food but instead of Naan, you get this gigantic spongey bread that feels like some sea creature. Since we went with a big group and the food is served family style, I got to try pretty much all the recommended items on the menu. The food was good, but I wasn't a fan of their texture. My stomach can tolerate different ethic food very well, but I left the restaurant feeling... bloated... in a bad way. It's a very weird uncomfortable feeling. My roommate also said his stomach felt funny after eating it. Overall, it was a fun experience but I wouldn't go back again.
(3)
Jennie T.

I think this is probably my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. I came here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and we ordered a bunch of food. Rob was very helpful to us. I believe he was a manager. He recommended the awaze tibs (with lamb) for the entree, the shirro for vegetarians, and Zenash's yellow beet salad for starters among others that I've forgotten. In fact, he mentioned that he had carried the lamb into the restaurant that very morning. I was impressed. Our dinner party was divided into groups of four to simplify the ordering process, and Rob had recommended that we each order an entree. So my group of four ordered the following: We started with the yellow beet salad, which was amazing. I love beets, and this beet salad did not disappoint. It had the perfect amount of vinegar, and I loved the addition of walnuts and dried fruits. For our entrees, we ordered a chicken dish, a beef dish, and a lamb dish. We ordered the doro wat, which is the national Ethiopian dish. It's very spicy, but I loved it. I thought it was delicious. The gored gored was also delicious. It was more stewy than I expected, but still very good and delicious. And I loved the yebeg dereq tibs, which were little cubes of lamb. They had a few off-the-bone pieces, and those were great. With our entrees, we were allowed one side dish each so we ordered the following: The qosta was delicious, and so were the kik alicha. The ib tasted very similar to Mozzarella cheese, and I loved it a lot. It certainly helped calm my palate down from the spicier foods. The injera bread (spongy and tasted similar to sour dough bread in flavor, but not texture) really fills you up. I probably had about 2 rolls of the injera bread and that was about all I could handle. You use this bread to pick up, wrap your food in, and eat. It's a very fun, communal eating experience. One of my friends let me try a sip of her Ethiopian coffee, and I liked it a lot. Another friend thought it was too strong, but I thought it was just fine. Almost everyone on Yelp mentioned that they thought the service was slow. I didn't think it was slow, but perhaps we just had so much fun talking amongst each other that we didn't notice how slow the service was. I thought that Rob did a great job at introducing himself and explaining Ethiopian food to us.
(5)
Ryan M.

It had been quite a while since I've had Ethiopian food, and all the locations in Chicago are about an hour north of where I live. Thankfully, I finally found another Ethiopian-food fan... with a car! So I finally had the option to try a place out. Ras Dashen was a good choice. There was a live band playing on a Sunday night, and we were seated (thankfully) towards the back and away from the band. (They were good, but it would have been a bit loud.) They have a full bar (surprisingly) and make their own mead (!) (which was pretty tasty). My guest and I did the vegetarian sampler, thinking it might not be enough food (you get 5 sides and a bunch of tasty, thin injerta). There were one or two I wasn't gonzo for, but overall the sides were very good. And I left unable to eat anything else. Bonus. I wish I could have tried the desserts or maybe one of the entrees (which past Ethiopian places have not had). The good news? It was good enough that I'll be back to have them.
(4)
Meredith B.

I am trying to get my boyfriend to like Ethiopian food. We tried the Diamond and he was not impressed - though I think honestly he was just surprirsed by the injera and lack of rice/conventional bread/forks/etc. He was dubious about trying it again, but a couple we know really wanted Ethiopian and he willingly agreed to give it another shot, as long as we didn't go back to the Diamond. So Ras Dashen it was! We were there on a Sunday around 830, and they had live music that ended pretty early, around 9. The music was not of the Ethiopian persuasion so it was a bit odd atmospherically, but that's okay, it didn't last long. Unlike other restaurants, this one has a veggie sampler platter but no meat sampler platter. A little disappointing, but if you get an entree that you really like, you get more of it, and aren't fighting with your friends for the tiny amount left in a sampler, so I guess it isn't necessarily a bad thing. I got the asa tibs (tilapia and veggies with ginger) and my boyfriend got the gored gored (brisket with shallots, butter, hot pepper paste). The misser wat and kik alicha (red lentils and split peas, respectively) rounded out the meal. He absolutely loved his brisket, and finally started coming around to Ethiopian food because of it! I liked my fish, though I wouldn't say it was anything special. It was mild, and I enjoyed it since I was pretending to be "healthy" after lunch at Pequod's but I should've gone for something heartier, in a dark spicy sauce. I wouldn't bother with the fish unless you're pescetarian. The sides were great, and I picked at a few more vegetarian sides when our vegan friends couldn't finish their sampler platter. I can't really say whether it's better or worse than the Diamond, but it's definitely a reliably yummy choice for Ethiopian in Chicago! I would come back anytime, if I can convince my boyfriend not to hate injera so much....
(4)
Nicky K.

Great food. Wonderful service. The wait staff were happy, polite, and a pleasure to talk with. One waiter told me his grandma owned the restaurant which makes me love the place more.
(5)
Heidi D.

Great restaurant, wonderful service and quality food. I've been to several Ethiopian restaurants & this is a good one. Collucci's in Berkeley/Oakland is my fave, But this place is great! The meat tibs were the best. The staff was amazing & the owner came up to our table & asked if dinner was good. Yes!!!!! The paneer dish was the only tib I didn't enjoy bt all else was on point!
(4)
Green T.

We've been back here several times since my original review and unfortunately, I have since found the quality at Ras Dashen to be very mixed. Sometimes their dishes are phenomenal and sometimes they're mediocre and you never know what you're going to get. For example, my husband had gone with a friend but without me fairly recently and got the Shirro (chickpea flour stew) which we love at Ethiopian Diamond and said that Ras Dashen's version, while a little thin, had amazing flavor. So we went back and it was "meh" - he agreed that it wasn't nearly as good as when he'd had it a couple weeks prior. Additionally, their prices are a bit high (especially the lamb), though that can be forgiven if the food is delicious, it's just hard for it to be such a crap shoot on whether you're going to get mind-blowingly tasty food or stuff that is just okay.
(4)
Jeanne L.

Deeeelicious! I can't say that I'm a pro at Ethiopian cuisine, but I've tried Ethiopian Diamond, Demera, and a few other places. However I will say that I know what I like, and it was definitely the food here. My brother and I ordered a Meat Combo (two half portions of entrees + 3 sides). I think it is intended for one person to eat, but we had a hard time finishing it. But then again, we also did order an appetizer and 1 extra piece of injera. However, for most people, I probably would still recommend ordering the Meat Combo to share with 2 people. We got the Kitfo tere (steak tartare) and Yebeg wat (lamb stew). The steak tartare came out very mildly seasoned, which I enjoyed, because I really just wanted to enjoy the taste of mildly raw meat. Lamb stew also enjoyable, and came with a big bone piece to gnaw on. For an appetizer, we got the Qategna, which was warm crispy injera with lots of garlic and oil. Yum! Drinks: The honey wine was enjoyable. The Left Hand Milk Stout is super creamy, rich, and a bit sweet - much better than a typical stout. Etc: Nice ambiance/decor and service. This is probably similar in size to Demera - medium-sized and somewhat intimate-feeling. However, this place does have a nice large area in the back that could be used for private parties. Ethiopian Diamond felt almost like a school cafeteria because of how big it was.
(4)
Deborah C.

Very disappointing return visit tonight. We had a groupon for a veggie combo with three sides. After ordering that plus another kitfo entree and a few extra sides, we also ordered chickpea and beef sambusas. We also asked it the bar could make mojitos and were told yes, they could. About 20 or more mins later, the drinks finally arrived and appeared to be made with no simple syrup. So I asked for some sugar, which took another 10 or more mins. All this time, still waiting on the apps (which was not good with a hungry kindergartener in tow). Sambusas finally arrived and were teeny--very very small and pretty bland. Apps were polished off fast and then the long wait for entres arrived. Waiting. Added some more sugar to the $9 mojito. Waited some more...finally, asked a waiter to check on our order. No word. Asked a second waiter. Finally, original waiter comes back to tell us our order was lost (duh!). We're 65 mins in at this point. Are told they will prioritize our order if we re-place it. Go through menu again and patiently reorder, including a repeated request for well done kitfo, not raw, not red. 15 more mins go by. Food finally arrives. Kitfo is raw, red. Exactly NOT how we ordered it, TWICE. Ask for them to take it back and cook it some more. Less than 5 mins later, it's back at our table looking much as before. At this point, I'm beyond caring and just want this meal to be over and get my kid to bed. We eat the food which was ok, not bad, but not great (and definitely NOT worth the wait). Ask for the bill and they comped us ONE of the four beverages we ordered (and really only because an hour forty into this fiasco my husband says to the waiter, "I think you owe my wife a free drink). Big deal. Almost exactly TWO HOURS LATER we leave. Not because we'd been lingering over a delicious meal but simply because our evening was wasted on a mediocre meal. My advice? If you want some delicious Ethiopean food, go down the street to Awash. Occasionally, the wait is longish, but the food is always well worth it. And they won't sell you a $9 mojito that they don't really know how to make. (sambusas are ample and really delicious, too).
(2)
Ben N.

I'm stingy with five-star reviews, and I reserve them for extra-special places, not merely the top quintile. (My current ratio is about one five-star review out of ten.) Well, for me, Ras Dashen is a grand-slam, Phi Slamma Jamma five-star review. At least based on our single experience on a bone-chilling Monday night in November. Relatively speaking, we're Ethiopian-food neophytes. First time was about five years ago, visiting California family friends of the wife's, who are Ethiopian and Turkish. We stopped an Ethiopian place in San Diego and picked up a big buffet spread for a Super Bowl party. An especially memorable Super Bowl not only because of the ridiculous Eli Manning-to-Tyree play in the final minute, but also because of that great food (and great company). And our host swore that Ethiopian food got a bit better than this. Our Ethiopian place in Cincinnati is plenty good, but little did we know how good this stuff can get until we visited Ras Dashen in Chicago. Holy crap, was this delicious. The five veggies for $13 deal is phenomenal, with very generous portions, and everything we ordered a bold blast of distinct flavor and texture. We also ordered the asa wat (tilapia filet in a hot berbere sauce), which was also terrific and cooked perfectly and was a perfect accompaniment to all the veggies. (And it looks like there is plenty more deliciousness on the long menu.) We loved the casual, warm, lowlit feel of Ras Dashen, too. It's a very unassuming place with unhurried but attentive and helpful service. It also has a full bar with a decent beer list and cocktails and some other items (honey wine, etc.). If Ethiopian food gets even better than THIS, I think my skull would implode. P.S. For whatever reason, the current Yelp map location for Ras Dashen is wrong. The restaurant is actually just south of the Thorndale Red Line stop, rather than north of the Gravnville stop as indicated on the map.
(5)
Gregory B.

It's been years since we had Ethiopian food. I used to go for it in Oakland, Berkeley, Detroit and even D.C., which has a huge Ethiopian community. This place was good, but the spices were less hot and pungent that we have enjoyed before. We liked it, but it lacked the punch and distinctiveness we remember. Great service.
(4)
Jacob S.

Nice way to end our visit to the city this afternoon. My wife and I went strolling around Edgewater and stopped here to have late lunch. We ordered the Sambusa, ground beef spiced to perfection stuffed in pastry and deep fried, served with deliciously made yogurt sauce mixed with chopped jalapeno peper garlic and I think also chopped mint leaves, yumm. Then we ordered a sampler tray. We chosen to go vegetarian. A tray of fresh perfectly seasoned beets salad, lentils salad, split been salad, and stewed vegetables served on a lovely tangy crape. Great food, great service
(5)
Partha A.

Now the 3 is not that the food was bad or dislikeable. It is because I've had better and expected much better. Everything we had was overly tart. I loved the mead. Do try the honey mead - I am told the owner makes it herself (not sure if that is correct). We had the lentils - both the mild and the spicy one. Both were good. Then the cabbage, the tomato salad. The mains were doro wat and stewed lamb (the ones which were cubed). Doro wat I liked - it was one big piece of chicken in spicy thick gravy. Except that, the strength of the acidity compounded by the injera (which was very good btw) quickly got old. the stewed lamb was disappointing. the lamb was smelly. I am not sure which portion of the lamb the meat came from, but it was unsavory. Would not try lamb or beef here next time. We went in on a saturday afternoon i believe and the place was quite empty. i was able to park right in the front. In all, everything was sour, sour, sour. I just needed one more parallel taste to go with it. It just felt overpowering. Otherwise the food was good.
(3)
t l a.

Could we love this place even MORE? We could. We brought our friend who was performing at the theater across the street, who for some reason had not yet been. The restaurant was closing for a party...but....for us (and we're just occasional customers)....THEY STAYED OPEN! The host prepared a table, and our lovely waitress brought our food quickly (an improvement over last time--when our only small inconvenience was that the amazing food can take some time to arrive). The variety of our combination veggie platter was even more interesting. The food was still astonishingly good (and we ate beets---something we had never experienced in an Ethiopian Restaurant.) Extra points for having both a Christmas tree AND a Chanukah menorah, with the correct number of electric candles lilt. Talk about multicultural.
(5)
Tricia D.

It was one glorious deja vu. I came here with my same partner in crime. We coincidentally ordered the same 2 meats (lamb and beef strips) and chose the same 3 sides (collard greens, spinach, and yellow split peas). We were just as content with the meal, just as giddy over the conversation, and equally as satisfied with the service. I left thinking the same thing as last time - "I can't wait to come back!" The one difference was that we both left with the bread pudding to go. I loved the way RD took a classic dessert and made it their own, using the traditional Ethiopian injera as the bread. You could taste the sourness and spices, which was different for me. It was far from my fav bread pudding, but it was creative.
(5)
Monica J.

This was the the first restaurant I went to that serves Ethiopian food and I was NOT disappointed. The service was very good. It was not too crowded and the waiters were helpful with letting us know how to order (in terms of ordering injera, a combo, which dishes were recommended, etc.). We do still come here but with other options (Den Den and Awash), it makes is difficult to really choose which place is the best. I really like all of them and I think you can't go wrong.
(4)
Ryan C.

WOW, where to start with this one? Was it 5 stars for the food? The service? The music? The environment? Yes to all. I went with another person that knew just about as much about Ethiopian as I did, which was nothing! Luckily, our waiter (John) was able to help with the selections. He asked a few questions about what we liked and gave his suggestions. Very helpful. The environment was comfortable, unique and quite interesting. I don't know much about Ethiopian music, but I thought the 3 piece jazz group was wonderful. If you don't know, Ethiopian food is served on a shared plate. On the plate, the food is put on top of Ingera bread. You get a side order of the bread and you tear off a small piece and scoop the food with the bread. If you run out, use the bread plate and continue. Remember, eat with your right hand and don't lick your fingers! He recommended 3 orders, which was way more than what was needed for two people. Regardless of being too much, we did like the variety. We had the plate split with curry chicken, lentils, spinach and an assortment of other saucy sides. Took the left overs home and enjoyed the next day. However, I don't recommend taking the "bread plate" with it. It just go soggy and wasn't good the second day. If you want to try something new, fun and culturally different, I highly recommend this. OK, if you are Ethiopian it may not be different to you, but it was to me!
(5)
Kari T.

super yummy food esp for vegan/vegetarian diets and really great atmosphere. the waiters seem to be lightening fast with orders and getting your food out as fast as possible. the only problem I had was how many times I kept coming to my table asking me if my food was ok. asking once or twice in an average dining setting is okay but 5 times little excessive. me and my dinner guests almost felt like we were being rushed to complete our food in a timely manner since they kept coming back trying to take it away! lol. nonetheless, the food was amazing and the place is fairly quiet which is appreciated.
(4)
Grace N.

Being pregnant makes a food-tyrant out of me, and one day I woke up chanting, "Ethiopian!" So off to Ras Dashen we drove and it was definitely worth the journey, because there's nothing better than their berbere. Mmm....the beauty of berbere on beef and chicken, scooped and absorbed by the tangy injera, followed by a palette of flavor as part of their omnivore dinner..makes a preggy lady very very happy. After visiting several Ethiopian restaurants in the city, Ras Dashen's food is my favorite. They give the heartiest portions and the spices are very balanced. The ambiance was blah but the food made it worthwhile.
(5)
Karen O.

This place is awesome! I went as part of a special group, for which they provided us a special vegan buffet in their back banquet room for our group. It was simply delicious, and the owner (I'm assuming she is the owner) was as sweet as could be. Plentiful vegan options! Highly recommend!
(5)
Comensal A.

In my ongoing quest for a really enjoyable Ethio restaurant, I finally got to Ras Dashen -- and I'm glad I did! It seems to be a very well-run restaurant, with attention paid to food, ambiance and service. They even have a decent selection of wines (or you can bring your own for a $10 corkage fee). I like Ethiopian samplers, and though they don't have a meat/veg combo sampler here, they do offer a veg sampler that allows a choice of 5 items from a list of 12. We had that and added lamb Awaze Tibs. Everything was delicious -- the tastes & textures were the best I've had in Chicago, surpassing my favorite from years ago, Wrigleyville's Addis Abeba. Even the injera was the best I've had in terms of tenderness and clean flavor. The staff was uniformly gracious & welcoming, and coordinated our service very smoothly. The setting is a notch above the usual Ethio in Chicago -- there are more traditional Ethio low pedestal tables with comfy chairs as well as traditional American seating. The room is pleasantly decorated, and a nice mix of Ethio-themed music plays at a conversation- friendly level. The place was doing a lively business on our weekend visit -- deservedly so. (The contrast between Ras Dashen and Abyssinia, another Ethio place immediately south, is stunning. I dined at Abyssinia a few months ago: it was essentially empty, the vibe was tomb-like, the dÃ©cor deadly dull, the staff seemed confused, the service was slow, and the food was so-so. I don't know how Abyssinia stays in business situated next to Ras Dashen.) In summary, I have a new favorite Ethio place, and I'm looking forward to returning!
(4)
Chrysa L.

My biggest problem with reviewing Ras Dashen is remembering the names of all the tasty dishes we sampled (seven sides and seven main courses total). However, one thing that stands out to me is how flavorful everything was. Admittedly, I am a huge wimp when it comes to spicy food so some dishes got the smallest taste from me and that was it. I will say that the injera is the best I have ever had in my visits to at least three other Ethiopian restaurants. Additionally, I am a huge fan of Honey Wine. The man working behind the bar warned us that it was sweeter than normal and offered us a sample before we committed to ordering a carafe, which was very kind. It was very sweet, but since I am a huge fan of overly sweet beverages, it was right up my alley.
(3)
Nada R.

The food at Ras Dashen is usually fine. However, there are a few caveats for dining here which don't hold for other area Ethiopian places, so I don't feel the need to return. Don't go on a busy night--Thursday through Saturday. The food is inferior, the presentation and handling of the food is slovenly and unappetizing, and the service is abysmal. The prices are far higher here than at other places in Edgewater, and the portions are smaller. The quality however is not any better. Again, it's not awful, it's just enough of an ordeal to avoid.
(2)
Eileen Z.

Yebeg dereq tibs (lamb tibs pan-fried with onions, garlic, green peppers and rosemary) for daaays. I can't even put into words how life-changing a scoop of that stuff is. Just like how a Monday morning mixtape can jolt you back into life on, well, a Monday, this dish gave life to me after a seemingly never-ending day cranking out expense reports. The Gored Gored is definitely a close second to awesomeness (tender beef brisket lightly cooked with shallots, spiced butter, garlic, awaze and a splash of cognac, served medium rare), too. Although we were a pretty indecisive table of six (thank you for your patience Ras Dashen staff!!!), I still highly suggest going in a large group mainly for the reason of being able to try a variety of menu items. It seems kinda sad to just order two entrees or something... I assume they'd just look sad in the middle of such a large piece of injera.
(5)
Vineet S.

Outstanding food with delicate flavors! Went there for the first time on 04/21/14 & I'll definitely go there again. Highly recommended. Staff was very polite, helps make the right choice. Great customer service!
(5)
Katharine T.

Ate a pleasant lunch here on a total whim and had a great time. We sat at the traditional Ethiopian table (highly recommended). You get to choose three sides from about twelve, plus however many entrees you want. All of the food is served on top of a VERY LARGE spongy "roll", Injera (the thinness of a crepe). You get a basket of extra, smaller Injera on the side. Two for each person, extra Injera are a dollar each. I dined with two others and we did not need more than our two allotted Injera plus the Injera the food was served on. For our sides we ordered Qosta, spinach cooked with onion and spices, the Ib, soft cheese cooked with buttermilk and Misser wat, lentils with berbere sauce. The Qosta was pretty good but I feel could have used a little more spice or salt. The Ib was delicious and a cool, refreshing reprieve from the spicy Misser wat and one of our spicy entrees. I did not like the Misser wat, it had a strange chemically taste, sort of like chemical and styrofoam, I didnt eat much of it. Their Injera is delicious, spongy and a little sour, a great taste and utensil to scoop up the food with. For entrees we ordered Misserana Bowmia, lentils and okra in berbere sauce. This was pretty spicy and pretty tasty but our other entree was leaps and bounds tastier, their vegetarian special, Dupa Wat, pumpkin and other glorious spices and sauce. The Dupa Wat was lightly sweet from the pumpkin and so satisfying. Really truly delicious, the star of everything we ate. I would go back in a heart beat for their Dupa Wat scooped up with their delicious Injera. I also would love to try their other vegetarian special, Mushroom Wat. Since we went with a vegetarian we did not try any meat but I have a feeling their lamb dishes would be amazing. I was not totally blown away by the food but it was definitely tasty and a really fun lunch experience. The weight staff is lovely, the restaurant nicely decorated. Dining at their traditional tables capped off a great lunch. Will definitely go back to try their meat dishes.
(3)
David S.

My first authentic Ethiopian experience. I had the Shirro with a side of Misser Wat. While I had to ask for a side of additional spice to get the heat I desired, it was amazing. The Injera (sour bread that resembles a pancake) was great, but I try to avoid eating much bread-like food. The Buna de jembena (coffee) was bold, strong, and a smooth finish to a great meal. The servings of each item wasn't huge, but beyond filling. Very helpful and patient staff for some Ethiopian first-timers.
(5)
Allison L.

Best Ethiopian food in the city. I know, everyone says that about their Ethiopian spot, but this place truly is the best in the Chicagoland area. The vegetarian options are exceptional and the meat and fish are fabulous. They also have amazing teff injera for anyone who has gluten intolerance. Who could ask for anything more? I could!!!! Great Brazilian music on Sunday nights!!!
(5)
Kate H.

This place is great! Affordable ($26 for 2 vegetarian samplers with 10 items total) and delicious (try the beet and sweet and sour red cabbage sides) with a nice atmosphere. Skip the Ib, the soft cheese is a little plain. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Andrea M.

Went for dinner last night with a couple friends and we all loved it. My favorites were... - Chickpea Salad: the chickpeas had a slight crisp/toast to them that I wasn't expecting, but loved. The jalapenos added a nice kick to it. - Misser Salata: really fresh, clean flavors. - Yebeg de berbere: so good! The lamb was tender and fell off the bone. I liked the spiciness of the sauce as well. Our server, Jennie, was really helpful in the selection (none of us had had Ethiopian cuisine before) of our dishes and was a lot of fun while joking around with us. Overall, good food and good service.
(4)
E P.

I came to be here by accident - silly as that sounds. I was on vacation, staying in the neighborhood, and looking for gluten free pizza. I'd passed a number of Ethiopian places on my trip and thought I'd return some day with a date or a group. That night, overtired and hungry, I walked in because I overshot the pizza and needed to eat - now! The waiter was super helpful and told me the injera could be made with teff, so GF. I felt funny at a table alone but turned out to not be the only one doing that there. I picked a beef dish and was warned it was hot, so advised another. So I had the cheese, beet and onion salad, and spinach sides. I wont lie - I'm not sure what I think of the food or method of eating, it was foreign even to me who cooks and eats a wide variety of ethnic food. But, it was all still delicious and intriguing andnim glad to have tried it. In some strange way, it kind of looked like pizza - and sat in my tummy like pizza, afterwards (very filling!)
(4)
Amy S.

I've never had Ethiopian food before and thought this would be a good place to try it since it has so many positive reviews. Came in for a late lunch and started our meal with a bottle of honey wine to share, so delicious! Has a unique flavor and was quite boozy. We still finished the bottle. I ordered what the yelpers had suggested, the door wat while my friend ordered the lamb. When I asked my waitress what side would go well with mine (as the menu mentioned I should) she looked at me like I was stupid and told me any of them would be fine. Alright then. I ended up getting the lentils and my friend the cabbage. The spongey bread was weird for me. Maybe because it was cold? The doro wat was okay, reminded me of Indian food but not as good. I didn't care for the lamb at all. It was grey, chewy, and didn't have much flavor. The sides were the saving grace of the meal. Both lentils and cabbage were excellent. I think the whole eating in public with your hands on a lowered table isn't for me, but neither is mediocre food. Won't be back.
(2)
Lauren F.

Mind-blowing. Ethiopian food seems to be closer to Indian than to Moroccan, etc. -- perhaps because they traded more with India than with the rest of Africa before the Suez Canal was built? Anyway, we ordered the veggie sampler -- a good choice for first-timers -- and one chicken thing (the national dish of Ethiopia, but I can't remember the name). It was all so good we almost cried. Service was friendly but not perfect -- she didn't come back to check on us and we had to call her over for new drinks -- but when the food is this good, it really doesn't matter.
(5)
Hana B.

LOVE THIS PLACE. Definitely ask for the traditional seating to get the full experience (you basically won't be seated at a table--so if you have back issues/don't like having to hunch over while you eat, then maybe go with normal seating...).The sampler is the best way to go, since you can try a bunch of different dishes. Oh, and in case you didn't know, no utensils--you eat Ethiopian food with your hands. Staff is super friendly, and if you're going to eat here while it's still cold out, get a hot toddy to drink with your meal!
(5)
Christine M.

I really wanted to like this place, but we were disappointed. Firstly, we had the worst service ever. We were seated for 25 minutes before our server acknowledged us, at which time she just said, "Ready to order." We were obvious newbies and she offered one word answers to our questions, so we were pretty much on our own. When we finally were served, the lentil soup was great, so we had high hopes. But it went downhill from there. I did not like the flavor of the injera bread, and since that's your only utensil, it affects everything. It was very sour and had a weird, moist texture. Not like naan or sourdough like some other people said, to me; it seemed more like a bitter Swedish pancake. I didn't expect anything super fancy, but the server literally just dumped bowls of our entrees onto the platter, without any regard for keeping the meat and veggie dishes separate. The veggies were pretty good - the yellow split peas in particular - and the "spicy juicy" lamb dish was delicious. The doro wat had good flavor, but it was difficult to eat, served on the bone with literally a whole boiled egg and a lot of inedible parts. The gored gored was so chewy that I found it inedible, although the sauce had great flavor and heat. We weren't in a hurry, but the meal took two and a half hours, and we spent most of it waiting for our server. Thankfully another server noticed that we were waiting too long and comped a drink for us, but we ended up going to the bar ourselves because we couldn't find our server. We're open to new and different experiences, and I found a lot of the flavors to be very good. But overall, we were very disappointed.
(2)
Natasha K.

There is one thing that I miss about moving to Milwaukee, WI: the Ethiopian places here PALE in comparison with Ras Dashen. Several years ago I saw Ras Dashen being reviewed on Check, Please, and I thought: "wait a second, thats the place right across from my grandma's house!". So one day I had to lie to grams that I couldn't come over for dinner, and go to RD. I was amazed...it was so freaking good. The seating: either small rattan tables with carved wood and leather chairs in Ethiopian seating style, or regular tables. I have eaten at either, the tables just have more space. The food is brought in on a large round tray, covered with spongy sour injera bread. Then the waitress brings out your food on plates, and slides them off the plate onto the tray. This also comes with several pieces of injera bread in a basket. You tear off a piece of bread, and scoop up the food with it, not using any utensils (yeah, make sure to wash your hands before you eat, people!). My usual order is number 27 (cubed pieces of beef in sauce), and its...to die for. As a side I get Ib, amazing cottage-cheesy stuff that goes great with the food. Watch out for 28-tartare steak means the meat is raw, so unless you like your beef uncooked, don't get that. The steak is amazing, and the servings dont look huge because they are on a large tray. I am usually completely full after half my meal (my bf and I share each other's orders), and have some leftovers to eat in the morning. The service is always great, and clearly some people have unreasonable expectations that they will be served immediately when the place is packed. Its called PATIENCE, geesh...
(5)
Nancy B.

My boyfriend and I went here on New Years Eve based on all the awesome reviews. We were not disppointed! It was seriously delicious. The service was decent (we did have to ask them to refill our waters once during the spicy meal). The manager was VERY accomodating and let us switch tables to get away from the cold because he saw we had our coats on. We felt very well cared for :) Onto the food! Based on the reviews we had to try the Awaze tibs which was definitely amazing, but our favorite was the Doro wat (chicken entree). It was incredible- juicy, fell off the bone, seasoned perfectly (spicy!). It's a MUST try. We also got a bottle of vino and then their special Ethiopian coffee to conclude the meal. I would love to go back and recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind getting their hands dirty.
(4)
Joel G.

Ok I'm going to go 3 star on this location but it was a tough choice. If I reviewed this 5 months ago it would be 4 stars bordering on another 1/2. I find the food to be really wonderful, staff is always friendly, decor is a bit dated/run down but I can get past it. The food really is a darn good, best Ethiopian I have had. Fresh, perfectly spiced, and just really tasty. There isn't a dish I have had here that I have not liked. Now why the 3 stars? My most recent visit I discovered a new menu... when I see this at a local place like this I do not think to myself... Oh sweet seasonal menu change... I think oh great price increases. This is what is was and I have seen this several times now at this location. What used to be a great value and large portions of food is now on the edge of over priced while still very good. Another move on the menu that left me feeling the money pinch is the result of them removing the meat combo.. you used to be able to order 3 meats and 3 veg on a combo that was really my favorite. This entree is gone. Final observation is that the portions appear to be a bit smaller than they used to be. So the combo of a few bucks per meal, removing the combo that was so loved, and slightly smaller portions makes me rate this 3 stars. I'm also just not as likely to return as often as I used to. I moved out of the area a while ago and this is still on my target to hit when up this way but I'm probably not going to go as often as used to as it's not that great value it used to be. Until I find a equal or better place for Ethio this is my go to but I can't recommend it as much as I used to.
(3)
Rene P.

I am a fan. I have been here with family many times and always have great food and a great time. Now, I know that sometimes the service is slow, but I've never minded, until Sunday. I was there with a group of 8 (happened to be my birthday) and we were literally there over 2 hours before getting our dinner. There were two platters of food, basically 4 orders per platter, and the first one arrived a good 7 minutes before the second. So half the table was eating and the other half waiting. The server would come by and someone would ask for a drink and she would run off to get it without asking if anyone else wanted anything. It was all just inefficient and a little frustrating. Meanwhile - I tried a new dish that I just loved (talapia with ginger) and as usual the food was outstanding. I have been loyal to Ras Dashen for a long time, but I am starting to think that I should try some other Ethiopian places.
(3)
Monica S.

I gave Ethiopian food a second chance after trying it at a restaurant in D.C., which ran out of tej! How that happened at an Ethiopian restaurant, I don't know, but I made sure to order the honey wine here. I chose the homemade tej over the Oakland, CA version and was very satisfied with how the tej's level of sweetness complemented the spices in the food. I especially liked the texture of items 6, 8, and the mushroom wat from the vegetarian dinner for two combo; I also ordered 12, 14, and 17, but those items didn't suit my palate. Back then, I was also an amateur when it came to eating injera--I felt painfully stuffed after that first meal in D.C. You see, even though the porosity of the sour flat bread makes it easy to scoop up sauces and dishes with your hands, it also absorbs water like crazy. So this time around, I made sure to put aside my glass of water while eating...and my stomach thanked me afterwards. Be aware that after the first basket of injera, any additional ones will be $1 per roll. Overall, I thought the Ethiopian food was okay, but for the price we paid for two people (~$50), the service and ambience needs more work: -1 star for the inattentive hostess, who zoned out while chewing her bubble gum. -1 star for the dim lighting; I could barely read my dinner menu by candlelight.
(3)
Angela P.

Foodie Fabulous anniversary day in the city...stop one. --That was my check-in quick tip and sums up why I was here but let's get into what this place was all about, shall we?! We had been wanting to try Ethiopian food for some time now and decided to go where we heard served the best! When we walked in, the first thing I noticed was that it was very ethnic and I LOVED the decorations! They were beautiful paintings and clothing draped on the walls and it was great to look at. We were greeted right away and we decided to go with the Doro Wat and asked the server to pick three sides to go with it. (Note: the entrees only come with one side unlike what it says in Chicago Magazine, so the other two that we ordered were extra.) I also ended up ordering the special salad of the day which was a beet salad. The meal comes on a pan with injera bread lining the bottom and a basket with extra for grabbing your food. The items are just dumped on top of the bread which makes for a very rustic experience of eating with your hands which I loved. The Doro Wat was a chicken breast and wing covered in this sauce that was very similar to a Mexican mole and it also had a hard boiled egg in it. This was fantastic! The sauce was to die for and the flavor combination was just great. The sides the waiter ended up picking for us were the sweet and sour cabbage, spicy lentils and collard greens. My favorite was the cabbage but they were all decent. I would definitely want to try other sides to go with that fabulous chicken. The beet salad was also very good, the dressing was sweet and tangy and the flavor combination was nice. The only down side I would say was that it was pretty pricey. Considering that the chicken only came with one side and cost about $18, I thought that was a bit high for the portion that you got. But I do understand that there are probably a lot of different ingredients that go into the sauces and stuff, but I'm just being honest. Overall, though, I will definitely be back to try more Ethiopian dishes. The flavors are so complex and interesting and the atmosphere was so unique, how could you NOT want to visit this place?! =]
(4)
Rachel S.

I haven't been to all the Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago or even in the neighborhood, but I have been to a few and Ras Dashen is my favorite. The selection of dishes for the shared plate is pretty standard, but their lamb dish, nick-named "spicy juicy" is the number one reason I keep coming back here over other places. I start thinking about "spicy juicy" and within the week I'm at Ras Dashen. I think we went there 4 times in 2012, which when you consider the number of places we eat out, is a lot. I haven't had a bad dish here though, and the beet salad is to die for. Very fresh and tangy. Also Ras Dashen has a cozy feeling without that "I'm not sure I should be here" feeling you get at some cozy/family places. And, the best indicator of all, it's always packed. We've had a little slower service at times, when most of the tables were full, but in general it's been sufficient. If you call ahead--a day or two I think--you can get gluten free injeera (or however it's spelled).
(4)
Meg W.

We had reservations but got a terrible table where the glare from the kitchen fluorescents dogged us all meal long and the servers bumped into all four of our chairs on multiple occasions trying to get by. The food was decent, but not nearly as tender or injera-friendly as other Ethiopian food I've had. The beef was tasty, but served in tough ropes of meat, making it very difficult to eat without utensils (which is kind of the point with Ethiopian food, right?). Cut it up, man! The chicken was awesome, though; very spicy and tender. Lamb was tough but flavorful. Lentil entree was too soupy to be anything but a condiment. Service was pretty bad, but you already know that from other reviews. Ethiopian Diamond is much better, and just down the street.
(2)
Chris W.

I had never had Ethiopian before but I had spent the past year listening to how amazing it was from my boyfriend. Above all the Ethiopian places he had been to (and he's visited every in the city and burbs) he loved Ras Dashen the best. We went on a double date early on a weekday and ordered a whole bunch of food. The dining room was nearly empty, quiet music, none live which I've heard is great there and would have enjoyed. I'm always open to new things but wasn't prepared for a couple of these flavors that were brand new to my pallet. The one that I had a love/hate relationship with was injera. This is what the Ras Dashen website says about it: "A traditional Ethiopian meal is served on a round of injera and shared by everyone at the table. Each entree comes with a roll of injera to be used as your eating utensil. Injera is a sour, spongy bread made with teff, the indigenous Ethiopian grain." I had imagined it to be something more like roti or naan. With MEAT dishes, the spongy saltiness was the best complimented, and in fact my favorite pairing. ALL the meat dishes. Here was what we ordered (A perfect amount for 4 hungry folks in their 20's): Zenash's Yellow Beet Salad Yellow beets, fruit, walnuts, a touch of vinegar and zenash's special dressing $8.95 Shirrov similar to misser wat, but with whole lentils for a different texture ground chick peas imported from Ethiopia are the base of this spicy, pureed stew $13.95 Zilzil Aicha strips of beef cooked in a tasty sauce with onions, garlic and green peppers $15.95 Yebeg tibs lamb lightly cooked with onions, green peppers and Ethiopian seasonings $24.95 The major turn off when we went was that our service was kind of awful as far as the way we were addressed, and how long it took to serve us and re-fill drinks. I would come back here for a quiet date in the dim atmosphere and soft music.
(4)
Asif F.

While running the Bank of America Chicago Marathon I met a guy who lives in Arizona and is of Eritrean descent. We somehow got to discussing Ethiopian food and injera on which I told him I never tried it. He recommended this place since he used to live in Chicago so I made up my mind that I would try it before I left. A short distance from the CTA 'L' Red Line - Thorndale Station, the neighborhood is pretty cool looking! I got to the restaurant and was seated immediately. Looking over the menu, I asked the waiter his favorite vegetarian entree (being that I'm vegetarian) and he recommended "Shimbera Asa Wat" - a stew with chickpea balls in berebere sauce. So I ordered that and "Misser Wat" - red lentil stew in berebere sauce for the side. The injera was exactly as described, spongy with a sour taste. I immediately paired it with the entree and the flavors were amazing! The sourness of the injera mixed with the savory notes of the stew were perfect! I also had Ethiopian coffee which is stronger than regular coffee and great tasting! The artwork and interior decor give it an authentic atmosphere and I'm really glad I tried Ethiopian for the first time at this restaurant!
(5)
Brian E.

Update: After having been here a couple more times, and having usually a decent dinner - recently they have changed a few things that made me take a star off. It seems like their prices have increased slightly, while changing the amount of sides you get (I believe it's just one per entree instead of two) and the portions seemed to have shrank too. On top of not giving any injera bread with your meal without paying for it and getting a very small amount (I mean come on, you don't have silverware - you're paying to be able to eat your food), it just wasn't the best experience. Still decent tasting food but not my go-to place anymore.
(3)
Erick N.

I have been dining at Ras Dashen once or twice a year for a few years now; if it were a bit closer to my condo I would be a regular. The menu features authentic Ethiopian food and everything I have tried has been good to great. The quality has been quite consistent across several visits. Dining here is a lot of fun as well. The venue is nicely appointed and the food is served atop of injera (an Ethiopian spongy type of bread). You break off a piece of the injera and use it to scoop up a portion of food. There are so many dishes to choose from and fortunately they have combination options so you can sample multiple items. My wife and I usually opt for the Omnivore dinner for two (your choice of three sides and three mains). The food is relatively inexpensive and represents a great value. Portions are generous. In addition to having fun, authentic and tasty cuisine the service has always been decent to good at Ras Dashen and they were very accommodating when I held a monthly Ethnic dinner club for our large sized group. Ras Dashen also holds fun events periodically; my first visit here was for a beer dinner where a local brewery paired their beers with the food and the chef/owner or Ras Dashen spoke about the food. It made for a very nice and entertaining evening. The beverages are great here too; some outstanding and strong Ethiopian coffee served in a clay pot as well as a selection of African beers as well as some local microbrews. If you want to try something different Ras Dashen is an excellent choice.
(4)
M. K.

I used to come here like ALL the time, but there was a waitress who was always so incredibly awful to me (on 3 different occasions) and the various friends I'd bring with me who I'd hoped to introduce to good Ethiopian food. The owners of Ras Dashen actually messaged me and apologized soon after I posted a so-so review back in 2010. I didn't reply because I didn't know the girl's name nor did I even want to get her in trouble with her employer, even if she was doing a terrible job. Anyway, I was so upset and stopped coming, but in the last year started frequenting this place a little more. I haven't seen this waitress in the half dozen or so times since I've started coming back, so I really can't say I have any complaints. In fact, the service is actually pretty good here. Lately, my server is always this young guy (I think his name is Michael) who is really pleasant, even on a busy night. Like I said in my review before, great food, great price, and a really kind owner who always says hi. I just wanted to update because this place really does deserve five stars, and I don't think my last review reflected just how much I love this place.
(5)
Samantha E.

I've missed Ethiopian food so much since moving from DC to Chicago. It was a regular thing back home to go get some delicious sort of wat but there are no Ethiopian restaurants around me. Luckily, one of my friends lives next door to Ras Dashen. We had a wonderful dinner full of standard dishes that were all flavorful and delicious. The staff was very attentive and offered more injera as soon as they saw us running a little low.
(4)
Andy M.

After my first sampling of Ethiopian food, the verdict is in. I loved it!!!! The meat, the sauces and the bread were all wonderful. I'm generally not a big fan of communal food. My rules of dining are simple. If you try to touch anything on my plate, expect to be stabbed with a fork. It took a few minutes for me to get used to having all of our food on the same pizza-pan sized dish. Once I tasted the delicious offerings that were laid before me, I was fine with it. Ethiopian food is all about the wonderful sauces that are used. To be honest, I can't remember what kind of meat I ordered, all I remember is the savory sauce and delicious bread it was served on. And to top it all off, the Ethio Chai tea we ordered was the best tea I ever tasted. We went through two pots in world record time. The bottom line on Ras Dashen is a tasty one. Delicious food served in a cozy setting makes this place a must for the adventurous eater. The quality of the food and delicious spices will blow your mind. I'm now officially a huge fan of Ethiopian food. Chalk up another victory to my wonderful wife for helping me broaden my food horizons.
(5)
Jason Z.

I can't say enough good things about this place. I am absolutely convinced that this is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago. I dare anyone to prove me wrong... Lol!
(5)
Theanne G.

Best Ethiopian restaurant I've been to in Chicago. Fresh ingredients, great ambiance and gluten-free friendly! Make sure to try the pumpkin dish. Might be the best on the menu.
(5)
Cora T.

I've been searching for a good Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago for a long time, and this is it! My favorites were a delicious and tangy red cabbage dish, the misser wot (spicy red lentils), and the almost-buttery qosta spinach dish. Being from the South, I thought that the qosta tasted like Ethiopian-style comfort food. The sauce that came with the sambusas was amazing, and I kept eating it plain. The sambusas themselves, on the other hand, had thicker shells than I was used to and were kind of hard to eat since the lentils kept falling out. Our waitress was very kind and helpful in figuring out what to order, and the atmosphere of the restaurant is very cozy. I can't wait to come back and try some of their honey mead.
(5)
Christina M.

I think Ethiopian people are one of the most beautiful people in the world. With that said - I have to say that this place has great service and great food. You have to know what to order and the waitresses will help. I have to say I don't like the bread - they have but that is just a personal preference. Great
(5)
Bonnie L.

I have been wanting to try Ethiopian food for the longest time. I just knew that I would love it and LOVE IT, I did! I took my sister here yesterday for her birthday. She tried a beef dish that comes with three sides and I chose the vegetarian combo that is a choice of five sides. They dont call me the Queen of sides for nothing! Wow, was this good. My sister loved her beef dish and I loved my combo. I chose a cabbage and potato, spinach, lentil beans, yellow split peas and some sort of a white soft cheese. You use your bread to eat up all of these tasty foods. The bread was a brown spongy type, I had been expecting something similar to naan and this was not even close. What i really liked about this bread it that it is light and airy. Since you use it to eat the food, you are actually eating a lot of it. It was light enough that you could do so. Aside from the food, I just want to mention how absolutely wonderful the customer service was. Our waitress was phenomenal. We told her it was our first time having Ethiopian and she guided us on what to order and her suggestions were supurb. Although I do get the feeling that no matter what you order, you cannot go wrong. We also had conversation with the manager on duty. What a nice guy. He chatted with us for some time and also sent over a piece of Bread Pudding on the house for my sister's birthday. What a nice touch! Thanks Ras Dashen for the best lunch experience I have had in a long time. I am already planning my next visit.
(5)
Avni S.

I love it... The food and service is fabulous- it's a really cozy and authentic place!
(4)
Erin E.

not my favorite ethiopian, but pretty good. after our last experience, i'd advise to stick with the veggie dishes. spinach and greens were very good. beets were pretty good. cheese thing (ib) was not what i thought it was going to be but it was ok. the service and ambience are solid. every other time we've been here it's been quiet, but sunday night it was hoppin'. live music & everything. it was nice. but. DO NOT GET THE GORED GORED. unless you enjoy having a piece of meat in your mouth for upwards of 10 minutes. we were so excited about it too. it was awful. inedible. i'm hoping it was just a case of ordering the wrong thing, but still that's 20 bucks down the drain! waah.
(2)
Matt R.

Eating at Ras Dashem for me was a little bit like finding a new speakeasy, but for ethiopian food. Having thoroughly enjoyed Addis Abeba and Ethiopian Diamond ( 1 ) multiple times, I figured that Ethiopian Diamond was probably the best. Meanwhile, I've also been watching brewmasters during spouts of boredom, and had caught the episode named bitches brew, where they make a beer mixed with Tej. So of course what do I start off my dinner at Ras with? A glass of Tej, aka honey wine. It was really good. It was a light wine, with great flavor, and as deep a tan for a wine as you'd get from a cider. We followed that up with some samosas, and if there's one thing probably half the world always gets right, it's samosas. Whether it's called sambucas, sambosas, samosas, it's all somewhat similar and notably: good/great. Mealwise, the vegetarian combo is not only a great price but a great meal. It's not unlikely to get 3 meals out of this place including takehome, just due to the sheer volume of the food and the awesome spongey bread. Meanwhile, there are approximately 15 choices on the vegetarian combo, so let's explain a little. The Shimbera asa wat (mock fish) is awesome. I still have no idea what Shimbera is, but it's certainly good. At the same time, Tikil gomen alicha has been available at every ethiopian place I've been to and is quickly becoming a staple. It sounds simple in how it's done - cabbage, carrots, potatoes, but it's great. It's somewhat curried and has a very unique but awesome flavor. I absolutely love okra when it's well prepared, so the Misserana bowmia was a great addition to the meal, and had plenty of spice to go with it. Oh and don't forget - it's Ethiopian food, so check your silverware at the door and let your fingers do the exploration. To top it off? Service is pleasant and polite. I will be coming back again, for certain.
(5)
Sampad D.

Great food ... The lamb was very delicious ... but bit pricey They claim they serve only authentic Ethiopian food.
(4)
DeeDee L.

I travel out of my way (way out, as I'm from Brookfield now and the south side previously) to go here. My favorite Ethio place in the city. I have tried just about all of the (only) handful of Ethio places there are in Chicago, all inexplicably clustered in this neighborhood, and Rash Dashen suits me the best. Friendly service, nice environment, and my favorite Doro Alitchia done just right. I recommend sitting out on the sidewalk area when the weather is good and there is a band playing. It can get a little loud then, but being behind the music is perfect.
(5)
Jacob D.

Tastiest Injeras The place was so huge, much bigger than I expected, as soon as I walked in I thought to myself this would be a great place to have an Ethiopian styled wedding for myself. Oh well, that was a thought. The Ethiopian tea was a very delicious accompaniment with the injera. The vegetables and meats were delectable! I savored everyone of them and had so much I took home some and ate a great lunch the next day. As I write I am beginning to feel hungry for Ethiopian food again. The appetizer was a triangular pastry similar to the Indian samosa's. Delicious...and the service could be a tad bit better.
(4)
Edward C.

Went there with a group of friends a few weeks back. It's was my first time ever having Ethiopian food, so I can't really say much to the authenticity, but it was really cool that our server was actually Ethiopian, and was able to answer some of our questions. They had traditional tables for smaller groups (our group was too large, so we sat at two longer tables). Maybe we're ignorant, but we asked if a meal served like this (all together shared from one large platter) was an everyday type meal, or something that was saved for special occasions (it's an every day type of meal, btw). I don't love the sour injera bread on its own, but with the food, I thought it was delicious. Being Taiwanese, I don't know a lot about Indian food, but on the surface, I would compare a lot of the entrees we had to Indian food, considering the sauces and the spices used. Even the eating method with the injera is kind of like eating with naan. Just make sure everyone washes their hand before eating. There's a sink out back to the left, outside of the bathroom, if you're just there to hand wash. I tried a couple Ethiopian beers with the meal. Nothing extraordinary, mostly just another beer, but for just a little more than a Miller Lite, I went for it. The price was about right, service and ambiance were very nice too. I don't know if I'll be back anytime soon though, just because it's a little out of my way. I'd definitely suggest it to anyone looking to try out Ethiopian food!
(4)
Corbett L.

So good, we named our cats after a dish.
(5)
Jessica D.

I finally got to eat Ethiopian!! And we loved it! Came in Friday night at around 10 pm. Wonderful little Ethiopian restaurant which is deceptively big inside. Wonderfully appointed in earth tones and with gorgeous African paintings. My favorite was the two angels sharing some injera over a traditional ethiopian table. Well attended by all sorts of folks. Excellent trancey jazz band arrived one at a time and joined in to the others as they were already playing. You can be seated at a traditional ethiopian table with four chairs and two, small side tables or a traditional full table that seats four or more. The food is alive with flavor: spices, great base ingredients, and delicious gravies/sauces. You select three side dishes per table and then pick your entrees. You typically order an entree per person at the table but share since it's served in a communal aluminum tray. You get an injera flat bread under your food and extra injera (two come with every entree) or $1 per any additional. We ordered for our sides: Diblik atkilt (mixed veggies), Kik alicha (yellow peas paste), and Yeqay tikil gomen (sweet and sour purple cabbage). For our entrees we ordered vegetarian mushroom wat and asa tibs (pepper/ginger tilapia filet with veggies). For dessert we shared an ethiopian bread pudding (made with injera so it's a little sour). I had the ethio chai which is a spiced black tea that comes with a sugar bowl and spoon to help yourself. No dairy. Awesomeness. He had the ethiopian beer. Make that two. Delicious dinner that was memorable and relaxing, in all the right ways and more! Tip: wash your hands before dinner and after dinner at either the two, private ladies restrooms (or the gents restroom I guess) or the separate hand-washing area. Totally well maintained facilities. We will be back! Often I hope!
(5)
Vanessa D.

Came with a group of fourteen and were seated in an area meant for ten at best. Other than being crowded, service left much to be desired. Six of us arrived first, and no one bothered to take our drink order or bring us dinner menus for thirty minutes. Finally I waved at one of the servers from afar and she mouthed "hi, how are you", but never came to the table. We summoned another server who was friendly and laid back but didn't seem particularly concerned with helping us. I'm all for relaxed, slow dining but this meal took way longer than anyone expected (3.5 hours). Service never did get better and we had to practically beg to get our drinks refilled. They would have made so much more money off our party if they were better about getting us drinks from the start, then refilling them. No complaints about the food or kitchen. Everything was flavorful, prepared well & they delivered what they advertise. We had fourteen entrees and side dishes, and the kitchen did well getting things right. I mostly preferred the veggie dishes, but that is probably due to my taste preferences. We had an automatic 20% gratuity added to our bill. Eighteen percent seems the norm for large groups, and the service they provided our group did not deserve a 20% gratuity (we paid it anyway). I may give this another shot with a smaller party, but for large parties I cannot honestly recommend, which seems the consensus if you read other reviews.
(2)
Cait A.

This is hands-down my favorite Ethiopian spot in Chicago. The service is excellent and lucky for them, they're like always packed! Soooo many vegetarian/vegan options it's crazy, I always stuff myself when I come here. They also had live music one time, which was super nice. I recommend the vegetarian sampler...my picks are the komodoro salata, misser wat, qosta, the tikil gomen alicha, and the kik alicha. Oh, and for sure the spinach sambusas for an appetizer! P.S. Be prepared to eat TONS of food if you've never had Ethiopian before. Injera (the crepe-like bread traditionally served with Ethiopian fare, tastes kind of like sourdough bread) is basically crack, and they give you so much of it.
(5)
katie h.

Wow - this was great! The place was hopin' on Saturday night but we'd made a reservation and were seated right away. Menus came quickly as did the meal. The omnivore's dinner for 2 ($40) was plenty for two adults and one child. and everything was delicious! We're big Ethiopian fans but this was among the best we've ever had. We especially recommend the "spicy juicy" lamb. Service was spotty. There was some confusion at the bar - but it was quickly rectified. Deserts were inauthentic (gelato and chocolate lava cake?) but honestly we appreciated that. Service was slow at the end - but like I said, they were busy. We'll be back.
(5)
Philip K.

I can't really be a good judge of Ethiopian food as far as how Ras Daschen compares to other similar restaurants, but I always feel welcome and warm when I walk into this place. The servers are kind and patient. And I always have a good experience. I would suggest NOT sitting in the traditional seating areas. I don't find it comfortable at all. But that's just my opinion. Plenty of vegetarian options. I suggest getting the Ethiopian coffee after your meal. Delicious.
(4)
Liz D.

Ras Dashen, I love you. You were my first experience with Ethiopian and I'm now spoiled. I ventured out to try another couple popular Ethiopian places in Chicago and they just can't hold a candle to Ras Dashen. it's all. About. The food. If you don't know anything about Ethiopian, look it up or read some of these reviews before you go so you know what to expect. You will not get silverware. You will be sharing. The service is much more hands-off; what you may consider mandatory, they might consider intrusive. You'll have to ask for what you want - be it a description, recommendation or the check. (Get over it RLR, you sound like a real peach, people who get off insulting wait staff should eat at home.) The first time I ate Ethiopian, I didn't know what to expect, and I wasn't even sure I liked it or not, but found myself craving more on the ride home. Since you can look up the whats/hows of Ehiopian food anywhere, just know you are getting the real deal at Ras Dashen, and it's fresh, homemade, and so incredibly delicious it blows my mind. Flavor on flavoroids with a side of extra flavor with flavor on top kind of flavor. You can't compare it with Indian food, but it has that level of spice intensity: several different flavor profiles at once combining, with the undercurrent of berbere - which yes, can get a little hot. I don't find Ethiopian especially hot, but I like really hot food. I don't think I'd recommend it to somebody who eats nothing but bland food (sorry for them). I am a pretty picky eater but can be kind of adventurous. You can't go wrong with anything you order here - it's all made with so much love you're practically high after you eat. My favorites are all vegetarian; the red & yellow lentils are the best; the pumpkin is incredible, and if you get the Ib (cheese) get the spinach and eat them together (wipes drool from chin). The meats are also delicious but I don't have room for them after my veggie favorites. The pointers: make a reservation if you go on a weekend night - it can get busy, and they have awesome assorted live jazz. Drink the Ethiopian beer, and pace yourself - you don't know how rib-sticking injera is until about 15 minutes after you finish eating. Don't go with super picky/inflexible eaters as you WILL be sharing, and may be sitting at a slightly awkward low rattan chair. 2nd date yes, first date no.
(5)
Deacon M.

I love love love Ras Dashen, it's the only Ethiopian restaurant I go to in Chicago, and I've tried the others. My sister always wants to go to that place in Evanston, but it's too bland for me. I like flavor & spice! They know me here, even if I don't go for months, cause its so far up north. But I always feel welcome. They have the traditional & non traditional seating. Come for the food and the Tej. Art work is pretty interesting too. Food takes time to cook, try the sambusas, it's like Ethiopian Samosas. I always leave super full, even sharing.
(5)
Nicole C.

Never fails to please! The food is amazing and Scott the bartender is wonderful! Great food, great people!
(5)
Nicole C.

Mmmmmmmm. This is what I call finger licking good. The vegetarian sampler is a must when you are craving rich and delicious, well seasoned veggies and legumes. Cabbage takes on a whole new meaning when stewed and spiced Ethiopian style, garlicky and sweet...honestly, even if you don't think you like greens, I bet you will here. My favorite dishes are the Gomen (collards) and Misser Wat (red lentils in a sauce they call spicy but it really isn't too hot.) I recommend getting 1 salad (I got the Ethio Salta) as a contrasting element and palate cleanser. Veg heads will appreciate that vegan items are labeled on the menu. For dessert they even offer Chicago-based Temptations soy ice cream (as well as a molten chocolate cake, baklava, and other items that probably aren't authentic but sound great.) There are many meat items that look and smell tasty (I haven't tried yet, feeling so blissed out with the veg), but I have noticed that my dining companions who get meat sometimes have to spit out some gristle or tough bits. They seem otherwise content. I haven't tried the gluten free teff Injera yet but will make a point to in future. (Have to request that the day before...so takes some planning.) Service is sauntering, but with a smile.
(4)
Gabrielle B.

I am the most LOYAL Ras Dashen customer. Whenever a friend suggests Ethopian Diamond or another place I always insist we go here! My sister discovered it a few years back and it is my family's favorite restaurant. We always sit at the traditional tables and enjoy the most fresh, delicious Ethiopian food. I do have to admit it took about 4 tries for me to even like Ethiopian food but now I am addicted! The service is also very friendly and attentive. By far the best Ethiopian food in the city. I would order the doro wat and all of the veggie side dishes including ib, misser salata, ethio salata, they are all amazing!
(5)
Natalie T.

Good God, ridiculously delicious. I haven't eaten that much food since... the last time I ate Ethiopian. Blame it on the edible plate. How does a person stop? We shared the veggie combo and I eventually begged the busser to take it away--please save me! This was my first time having Ethiopian in Chicago and I was very excited. Ethiopian food is a vegetarian's dream. Did not disappoint, other than the slightly cold temperature of all the food. Also, we hoped for spicy hot Ethiopian tea and asked for it, but the tea we were given tasted like Earl Grey? Cool dim atmosphere but don't look up--drop ceilings. Sort of weird space overall. We'll be back but I also want to try the joint next door.
(4)
Mmm Y.

I crave this restaurant ALL THE TIME. Hands down, favorite! After seeing a groupon for another Ethiopian restaurant in town, we decided to stray and give it a shot, but Rash Dashen reamins far superior. Their coffee, is heavenly... The Dora Wat is amazing, spicy and oh shoot! I'm craving it again! They even offer gluten free injera. This is our go to place to take out of town guests and it's never too crowded. Which honestly, it should be!
(5)
Namrata A.

This is how our journey to Ras Dashen began: We boarded a bus that took forever, walked about a mile in the extremely cold weather resulting in numb body parts and entered an incense smelling Ethiopian place. Decor/Ambiance: authentic! NYC's restaurants are either cluttered or really minimalistic. Ras Dashen is very authentic with nice paintings and traditional items. Bathroom was clean and also very Ethiopian centered. Food: tasty, spicy - we had the vegetarian dinner for two and the mushroom wat - their okra and lentils were spicy and their shirro was delicious. I enjoyed the mushroom wat - something different. I liked that this restaurant had some new vegetarian entrees that were not just focused on collard greens like other Ethiopian joints in NYC. I definitely liked the food and I'm sure the meat dishes would be delicious as well. The prices were not cheap, but not too expensive either. For three of us the meal costed $55 (including tip and coke cans - which were like two bucks, a little steep there!). They also have an extensive wine and beer menu, too bad we didn't get any Tej honey wine or Ethiopian beer. Service: waitress and waiter were very nice, though the service was a little slow and there were 2 other parties there (Sunday afternoon).
(4)
Caroline L.

Ras Dashen = Heaven in Edgewater. A little off the beaten path, Ras Dashen is still always packed with hungry and happy diners! I LOVE this place. I have never had a disappointing meal here. The first time I went, I was wish meat-eaters and we never even looked at the menu. We just asked our waitress to put together something with variety and she came through amazingly! She put together a whole mess of delicious foods and by the end of the meal, our plate looked like it was ravished by wolves. The flavors were amazing and unique! My dining partner in crime is a vegetarian, so we always get the vegetarian dinner for 2. You'd think this would be disappointing after trying their amazing meat dishes, but it's really not! We always get the red lentils and yellow peas (my favorite!!!) and then try some new dishes. We also get the ib (it's a soft white cheese) and it's so nice to mix it with the warm veggies. It's tangy and delicious, and reminds me of raita (yogurt) on indian food. I'd recommend ib as a side dish to any meal here!!! If you are on a no-booze evening, the total for this meal is 30 bucks after tax + tip. Steal! Ok... I could go on, but I won't. Simply put, Ras Dashen is amazing. I've taken ethiopian food virgins here many times and watched them delight in the awesome flavors and delicious (and affordable!) meals. Fantastic!
(5)
J. F.

My boyfriend wanted to try this food, and I'm always open to something new. The three stars are for what would be his four-star rating and my two-star rating. He was fascinated by the service with the "spongey bread" - which is really more like a spongey pancake, and he really liked the spicey food. He used his hands the whole time. We did agree that it's hard to imagine eating with your hands from this large tray with strangers - you don't know where their hands have been! (eeewww!)) OTOH, I have washed my hands, and this morning I can still smell the curry-like seasoning. I requested a fork pretty early on in our meal. I did like the beet-potato-onion dish and the chicken, although the presentation of the meat was pretty unappetizing for my taste. It seemed like a pool of pureed meat. The cabbage was good though. We'll be trying other Ethiopian restaurants because my guy wants to. I wouldn't go again on my own.
(3)
Shayna N.

Growing up in Washington DC (with a huge ethiopian population) I'm very familiar with the cuisine. Ras Dashen was my first Ethiopian dining experience in Chicago. I was surprised at the freshness, quality and tastiness of the meal. It was some of the best Ethiopian food i've eaten anywhere!! Ethiopian food is generally shared and eaten with your hands using injera (a spongey pancake/bread) to scoop the food up off the plate. In the past I almost always just order the vegetarian platter of 5, but here they didn't have that option. At Ras Dashen we had the Omnivore platter for 2, chosing 3 sides and 3 main courses for $32. It's a little more expensive than Im used to, but SO delicious and the portions are generous. We had - 3 sides: - a sauteed spinach side (Quosta) - a beet salad (Yequaser) - cabbage, carrot potato stew (Tikil gomen alicha) 3 mains: - Mushroom Wat (under daily vegetarian special) - Doro Wat (chicken and egg cooked in berbere sauce) - Yebeg Tibs (lamb with sauce) Everything was SUPER tasty. I LOVED the Cabbage and Beet sides and the mushroom Wat and the Doro (chicken) Wat the best. The spinach and the lamb were also VERY good. In addtion we ordered a bottle of wine with the meal. It was disappointing, but the spectacular food more than made up for poor wine. Next time we will probably drink one of their ethiopian beer selections, or the traditional honey wine. I'm so happy to have found this amazing spot in Chicago to satisfy my Ethiopian fix. Excellent!
(5)
Tiffany K.

I've been dying to try Ethiopian at Ras Dashen! Although I have already tried Ethiopian, everyone rants and raves about Ras Dashen. I had to give this place a try. I recently set up a little group dinner for my boyfriend's birthday at Ras Dashen. First off, half of the group came on time and the other half came 30 minutes after our reserved time! Rude, I know. They were still so very accommodating! They reassured that half of our guests were already sat and that we will be seated as soon as we get there. Awww, so sweet of them! Then, it took us a while to grasp the concept of the menu and how we are supposed to order. hehe It was a little confusing but they made it very clear on the menu how you are supposed to order. I'm too lazy to write how you are supposed to order, I blame it on my flu. :( We started with beer. I forgot what but every single beer we ordered was very good. They recommend beer to your liking and they do a very good job with their recommendations! The waitress came out with 2 big round silver plates covered with injera. (Injera is a soft, sponge like Ethiopian flat bread that you're supposed to use to pick up the food that is placed on top of the injera.) Then, she came back with the different food we ordered. There were a total of 8 at dinner and each one of us ordered a meat/fish/poultry dish and a total of 3 vegetable per 4 guests. Everything that our table ordered, I loved! It was so good. My side of the table finished everything on the plate. We even finished the other half of the table's dish. It was THAT good. :) I would definitely come back here for another good meal with good company. Food is inexpensive and tasty, Ambiance is very inviting, everyone (including customers) are so friendly and happy. Everyone seemed like they were having a great time in the restaurant!
(5)
David G.

Talk about an educational experience! A week ago I knew nothing about Ethiopian cuisine. It's not often that I actually need to do research before going out to eat. I was very impressed. The atmosphere was laid back (this was Saturday afternoon), the service was polite and helpful. We started off with spnach sambusa, which I was later told was a precursor to samosa, which my research didn't confirm or deny. It was like a middle eastern spinach pie. It was good and spicy and was served with a kind of salsa. We ordered three dishes and three sides. Three sides are included per table, and you can get additional sides for a charge. Everything was good. The Asa Wat (tilapia) was tangy and spicy. The lamb tibs was very tender. The Doro Alicha (mild chicken with egg) was a little too mild but it was still tasty. The entire meal came on one large tray accompanied by plenty of inerja, a sourdough flatbread. The bread saved our hands from getting too messy, but when eating with my hands I'm bound to make a mess. Who needs utensils when you have perfectly good hands to eat with? I wasn't used to eating in this style, but it was a lot of fun. For dessert we had the coconut creme brulee and ethiopian bread pudding which came topped with vanilla ice cream. Both were excellent, though the creme brulee could have been torched a little longer. All this was accompanied by honey wine, which seemed to be recommended by everyone. I can see why. It was a little strong, but I loved how the taste of honey mixed with the spice of the entrees. It wasn't too sweet, but that was the first time I ever had honey wine so I don't really have a basis for comparison. For those with dietary restrictions, the menu is vegan friendly. They even mark the items that are vegan friendly. I'm glad Ras Dashen was my first Ethiopian experience. I will most likely be back. I heard they have live bands on weekends. I will need to check that out some time.
(5)
Jonathan U.

I saw this place on TV. It looked really good and I always like Ethiopian, but this one was a little weird. Some of them were good, some were weird. I think it really depends on what you order.
(3)
Abby T.

This was my first Ethiopian dining experience! Although I am not a fan of the spongy bread used to scoop up the entrees, I still thorougly enjoyed the items we ordered. The salad was delicious and the lamb is what is making me what to make a return-visit. Service was good, attentive.
(4)
Donald H.

My MANK (aka my Queen) and I really like this place. We had the meat combo 18-24. Our sides were 6-7-12. Food was FIRE( aka GOOD LOL). The beer Bedele was good.The honey wine, the Mank didn't care for it. It was too sweet for me, but keep in mind I don't like sweets. The whole dining experience, including eating with our hands, was different. Overall, we enjoyed it and will return. Helen was very helpful helping us with our selection and the service was great overall.
(4)
Katherine Z.

I mostly want to write this review for Ras Dashen to explain why it's my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago, not simply a great restaurant among many. I have had the good fortune to try most of the Ethiopian mainstays in the city - Mama Desta's, Diamond, Demera as well as some other African resaturants like the Eritrean-based Peacock. Ras Dashen is my favorite because it wins gold stars in every category of dining experience, as far as I'm concerned. The food is impeccably delicious, every single time. I don't care what dish you're interested in, at Ras Dashen it is mouth-wateringly good. While Diamond boasts delicious food, Diamond has opted for a more Western-inspired semi-fine-dining darkened ambience that has always felt a bit superimposed and artificial to me, as it offers little of the Ethiopian culture besides the albeit awesome food itself. At Ras Dashen, while there are Western-style tables and chairs available, there are also Ethiopian tables and chairs and much Ethiopian artwork adorning the walls and African music playing lightly in the background, such that while it's certainly not like stepping into Ethiopia when crossing the threshhold, the sense of authenticity and care the owners must have about conveying authenticity is immediately apparent. The wait staff are kind and patient with patrons' ridiculous pronunciations of dishes and willing to connect with inquisitive, curious diners about the correct proncunciations, the indigenous spices, the history of the food and the way it is eaten - communally. The large dining room is filled with warm light and gregarious staff people, just as important to me as the food in front of me. At Ras Dashen, more than at the other Ethiopian restaurants I have patronized, the entirety of the experience - from the first bite of Kategna to the last sip of robust Ethiopian coffee - pleases every sense in the body and facilitates an actual connection with some of the culture and people of the Simian Mountains of Ethiopia. Whenever anyone asks me for a restaurant recommendation in Chicago, I usually ask what type of cuisine or dining experience they're looking for and go from there. Ras Dashen is in my top ten favorite restaurants in Chicago and it's certainly the only Ethiopian place I recommend to anyone who's asking.
(5)
tracy f.

Ras Dashen is really amazing. I have to take away one star because the service was SO SLOW and inattentive. It was a rainy day and there was one other couple in the restaurant. There were 4+ people working, all watching tv. They forgot my tea entirely, never refilled our water and disappeared until our food came 30+ minutes later. But then the food came. The food is forking incredible. Injera bread always makes my heart swoon, but the presentation and the unlimited amount of sourdough goodness really made me want to do a dance or something. And the menu indicates what is vegan! And it's affordable! eeeeep yum.
(4)
Pamela R.

Ras Dashen is one of the cleaner, easier to order Ethiopian places in the area. The service has usually been good every time we went and the food more than enough. I still couldn't really tell you what I ate there, because I always forget the names of the food, but I know it's vegan and there are certain ones I really like, such as, the lentil one and the potatoe one and the cabbage one.. I've been a repeat customer so that's speaks for this place.
(4)
Keun L.

This was my second time having Ethiopian cuisine. I love to eat with my hands. If you're expecting to keep you hands clean while eating here, sorry, not going to happen. If anything, I would let out the inner child and make do without the utensils and taste, consume, and really enjoy the food as well as the experience. I'd say the experience for me is one of the best factors of coming on board as a newcomer to Ethiopian cuisine. We ordered like 5 different portions of food that came on a single metal platter. The food portions were all over this spongey sour dough'ish type of bread. Very different from any other bread I've ever tried, but it goes so well with the food. I love it when you allow the food to soak into the bread and then eat it afterwards. Do expect to leave this place with a full belly. Also, the dessert wine we had here, was just so awesome. I had to ask where they get it from, but they could not disclose that information to me. Ah well. Will come here again.
(4)
Michael P.

This was my 1st experience with Ethiopian fare. Well...my father took me someplace when I was young but once I saw the whole "eat with your fingers" schtick, my 12 year old mind was NOT having it! Anyway...Me, the Mrs, The Midget and a family friend with her children dropped in for a meal. First thing....this restaurant is DEFINITELY more enjoyable with a group. The Family style meal absolutely invites conversation and community. The Waitress was accomodating. My wife ordered a Virgin Drink and the bartender made a minor mistake with her order, but the staff swiftly rectified it and gave the resident alcoholic (ME) the incorrect drink on the house. The injera is very filling...but the subtle sourness did wear on me after a bit. But this was way after I had gone past eating my fill straight to PIG OUT. SECOND...we had a 3 year old and a 5 year old with us. They weren't as receptive to eating with their hands (kind of like me at 9)...so GAUGE YOUR KIDS before taking them here, or you may end up ordering from Wendy's Dollar Menu afterwards. OH...AND DESSERT!! We had a large group so we had the Flan, The Creme Brulee and the Molten Cake. The Molten Cake was a smash...the Creme Brulee I enjoyed as did others...the Flan was a bit of a reach but not inedible. I am not an authority so I enjoyed all three. All in all...it was an enjoyable experience...I even got a chance to see the owner cooling out after a rough day in the back room. I look forward to returning when circumstances permit.
(4)
Kim S.

This was my first time coming here and it was an overall good experience. The food was so delicious and really authentic. I only gave 4 stars because the service was just alright, the staff is very friendly though. Most definitely would go here again!
(4)
Gargi S.

I have been to this restaurant at least 20 times. Not once have I been disappointed. The food definitely is one of the best Ethiopian food in the area. Additionally, the staff are very friendly and the service is very fast. My favorite at this restaurant is their diffen misser wat. Absolutely love it.
(5)
Atulya B.

For a long time my buddies and me wanted to try Ethiopian cuisine and thanks to Yelp, Ras Dashen - with its glowing reviews - was a unanimous choice. One thing you want to familiarize yourself with Ethiopian food is the Injera. And any side or entrÃ©e that you order on the menu comes with an Injera (a pancake kind of a thing which is spongy in texture and tangy in taste), and you can't substitute this for anything else. So, if you don't like the Injera, it might ruin the experience, but if you do warm up to its taste, the culinary experience is worth your time and money. Some of the meat entrÃ©e's you definitely want to try are the Doro wat (chicken) and Yebeg dereq tibs (lamb). Taste wise, nothing out of the world or mediocre, with most of the entrÃ©e's adjusting nicely to your palate. One more thing, this place doesn't have the capacity to seat a lot of people, so be advised if you're planning on going here on a Saturday or Friday night. And also the service is not quick; they take at least 20-25 minutes to get your food ready. So in the end, if you're looking to try a new cuisine or craving Ethiopian food, Ras Dashen is definitely not a bad place to stop by.
(3)
maya s.

The food here is amazing, portions are great, service is friendly. Try the veggie pumpkin dish!
(5)
Gabrielle S.

Mmmm Ethiopian. A very tasty vegan meal for us!! I loved the ambiance...we got to sit at a low table with these little authentic stool chairs- it totally added to the experience! Casual and not pretentious but a totally hip vibe...and LIVE music to boot!! Awesome. A great place for a date, an (adventurous) family dinner, or just with friends. Our server was good, no problem at all and very sweet. The food reminded me of Indian food with all the different spices- def not a bland food! A little less heat than Indian though. We got the vegetarian sampler dinner plate for around $25 and it was more than enough food for 3 people. The two of us had plenty leftover! Very reasonable. The injera was yummmm, kind of like sourdough crepes. Loved the cusine and the restaurant. Can't wait to go back.
(4)
Princess C.

11-9-12: Great food (they dont have goat:(, decent service. Been at Demera which is really good. The price point and portion size smaller than Demera. Great live music. Scotonic (ginger, rum, tonic & honey drink) was very good, the honey made the drink. We also had the Ethiopian coffee prepared traditional way on open flame which was strong and very good. Would go again.
(5)
Julie A.

I had a wonderful experience here. My friend and I made reservations for Saturday, were seated promptly and were in a cute cozy corner. My friend is allergic to gluten, and called in advance to see if they could make her gluten free injera, which they did, and it was wonderful. We split the omnivore dinner for two, and had the Diffen misser wat (whole lentils), the Yebeg tibs be berbere (lamb) and the Doro wat (chicken + egg) and it was awesome. The beer was great - I went off another reviewer suggestion of the Hakim - delicious! We also split a bottle of wine, and our total was around $70. I think it was totally worth it - a great sampling of different food, and we left stuffed!
(5)
Arden J.

After I discovered Ethiopian food, I started trying different Ethiopian restaurants in the city. Hands down, Ras Dashen was the winner! I've introduced (and converted) many friends through the spicy deliciousness of Ras Dashen. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it...
(5)
Krsna V.

The best Ethiopian food in Chicago. I have eaten at both Ras Dashen and Ethiopian Diamond and definitely recommend Ras Dashen. The food is served on injera (bread) like traditional Ethiopian food. Service is a bit slow but the food makes up for it. Definitely recommended.
(4)
Jose C.

It only seems fitting that I choose Ras Dashen to be my very first review. Since my first trip there, it has become my favorite restaurant in the world by far and I have returned many many times. Hands down, excellent food, period. I salivate during the entire drive to Ras Dashen in anticipation of eating there. I don't live especially close to this establishment, but it doesn't make a difference. I would follow these people anywhere. My fiance and I typically order a beef entree with varying sides. So far, we haven't found one side that we didn't love. The chilled lentils, the ib cheese, carrot/cabbage/potato stew, beets, and even the little salads with spicy Jalapenos- everything is awesome here. Extremely flavorful and satisfying. And of course, we both love the prices. I don't believe I've ever paid more than $20, between myself and my fiance, to eat here. If you've got room for dessert, try to the bread pudding with ice cream. The atmosphere here is another bonus. It is often busy, but we've never had to wait more than five minutes for a table. The service is generally fast. A few times we've had a wait a little longer, but believe me, it is worth it. The wait staff is courteous and prompt. On weekend evenings, there is a little band that plays great percussion-based groove music. It can get a little loud if you're sitting right next to them, so request a table further back. There isn't a whole lot else to say that 140+ people have said already about this fine restaurant. If you're in the mood for something outside the box, try Ras Dashen. Great food, great prices, great environment, easy street parking, the works.
(5)
Big Brown R.

Food was much tastier than I expected. Very flavorful. Be ready to eat with your hands. If you have not eaten Ethiopian, maybe for your first time, go with one person you know very well, but you will notice that groups of four - eight are sharing two 'big plates' of food. We ordered the meat/veggie platter. They bring out the big plate, bread and then get ready to eat. Not sure if they have live music on other nights, but Friday at 8:30pm they have a house band which was great. The place was packed.
(4)
Christoph S.

Granted, I don't know that many restaurants in Chicago - compared to the average yelper; It is only the second Ethiopian restaurant I've tried; I have a soft spot for exotic, spicy. For those who care, they have gluten free injera (100% teff, no wheat flour); I think you have to call ahead to make sure, but they definitely make it. The regular is better in my opinion, but the all-teff is decent nonetheless. Ras Dashen is one of my top three restaurant in the Chicago area. Just orgasmic. I would go there just for the music (their resident band, Magic Carpet, hits the spot every time): really, they're very talented, groovy, and non-intrusive in my opinion. But then I have to mention the Asa Tibs (marinated, grilled tilapia and bell peppers - which is not a spicy dish btw) which is so wonderful, the injera (not as sour as the Ethiopian Diamond I found), which fills you up faster than you want, and just pretty much everything I have tried on the menu. I have been there, I don't know, at least 10-15 times, it is consistently excellent. I am very happy to see that the service is still slow, and I wish it remains that way. Too many places focus on speed and efficiency; this place, well, it is a great reminder that it is, after all, African! when you go there, you take your time, wait for your food to be freshly made, really enjoy it when it arrives, and enjoy some of their excellent beers (check out Hakim) while you have a good conversation with friends, in a relaxed atmosphere, music playing if you're lucky, and just have a jolly good old time! Every time I take someone new to Chicago out, we come here: never been disappointed. On top of that, the price is right (leftovers often times); what more could you want??! This place is a real gem.
(5)
Joe C.

The food here was very good. It was the first time I had ever eaten Ethiopian. I had a chicken and vegetable dish and my girl got a lamb cube dish with the spongy bread. The place was packed wall to wall! The waitresses wear authentic Ethiopian outfits-skin tight dresses and they all look and sound as if every last one them is from Ethiopia. It was a little annoying at some points where you couldn't even walk because it was so crowded but the food is worth it. Don't hesitate to ask the waitress questions if you don't understand the menu, it was kind-of confusing for someone who had never been before! Because there are so many people, the service tended to be on the slow side and it was kind-of hard to flag down a waitress if you needed anything. However, in my opinion, the food makes up for it! It didn't seem like it took a long time from placing the order until we got our food, I expected a longer wait. It came out nice and hot, so it wasn't sitting around for a while.
(5)
diane c.

loved the lamb (Yebeg tibs be berbere)! loved the split pea app (Kik alicha)! spinach dish was good (Qosta) there was nothing distinct about Shirro, certainly not spicy at all. def wouldn't order again. definitely going to this place again though
(5)
Jenna C.

Brought my little sister here for the last night of her Chicago visit. We were in a slight rush, so this was more convenient than hiking up to Ethiopian Diamond. The food was fantastic as usual. Ras Dashen knows their customer - That's you, American, vegan hipsters! Vegetarian and vegan dishes are clearly marked on the menu. The service was fantastic. My little sis is a carnivore and tends towards less spicy food, while I am vegetarian and a devoted fan of the misserana bowmia (spicy lentils and okra). Our waitress navigated her towards the mild chicken and helped us pick a few sides we would both like. While we were here, a couple came in with their toddler. I can't even imagine how much fun it must be to watch grownups sitting at a little table eating with their hands. In my experience the injera (flatbread) is not quite as good as Ethiopian Diamond or African Harambee. That won't stop me from coming back though.
(4)
Emily C.

An incredibly unique and not to mention, hands on dining experience. Unfortunately, that's about all it was. Initially, I was extremely excited when a group of friends decided we should try this place out but was sadly disappointed at the end of the meal. Let's start with the bad: 1. The group of 6 of us was seated in the back room, in the back corner, with literally no lighting (okay, maybe there was 1 oddly colored lightbulb but that really doesn't suffice). 2. Really, a chicken leg & a hard boiled egg.. for like what, $10-$15?!! That hardly counts as a dish. National dish of Ethiopia, I'm sorry but I would never order that one again. 3. Service was beyond sloth-like. And now for the good: Injera was delicious & plentiful with free refills. It complemented the lamb & vegetable dishes extremely well- which is probably all that I would order if I ever came here again. Also, the Omnivore Dinner for Two is a great deal because it offers plenty of variety at a far more reasonable price. Maybe this was just an off chance sort of day because I want to believe all the other amazing reviews but it certainly did not match up to expectations when I went. Perhaps another try will be warranted one day...
(2)
Mac P.

the atmosphere is nice, with music on some nights, convivial half height tables, a crowd that is well mannered and not too loud the food is good but nothing that will have me driving back there. The service is a bit slow but waiters are nice and helpful. the value is not great, because a lamb entries at 23 USD or a chicken entries at 19 USD is a bit stiff, especially with comparable thai, indian curry shops. i would give the food and atmosphere a 3.5, the value a 2.5, so 3 overall. If you have never eaten Ethiopian, definitely a nice place to start out with.
(3)
Christina M.

I recently ate at Ras Dashen and found it to be a very pleasant experience. Being a Vegan I found it very easy to find several options here. They have a separate section labeled as vegetarian and a V is next to everything that's Vegan. Virtually every veggie dish was Vegan so that's a plus in my book. I got the Vegetarian Sampler and I got to choose five different items. I can't remember the names of what I got, but the numbers were 5, 8, 10, 11 (I got two of one of them). My meal was so good and I was partial to the potato and green bean item. After our meal they gave us the desert menu, and to my surprise, they had Vegan Temptation Ice Cream! This place gets many stars in my book! Great food and great options! 4.5 Stars
(4)
Steve G.

I've been here three times, and each time has been fantastic. I even took my parents here for their first experience with Ethiopian food. Generally, I recommend going with a group, since the whole idea is to share. Ask the server to recommend a variety of dishes so that your group gets a good range of flavors and foods. It's a fun thing to rip the injera bread apart and sponging up the different stews and meats and spices with your friends. Another note: They have a few African beers in bottles on the menu. None are spectacular compared to the heavy-hitter beermaking countries, but still worth a shot. This is one of my favorite Chicago restaurants.
(5)
Sophia A.

It can be a bit far, but totally worth it. This is the restaurant I will take people to if they've never experienced Ethiopian food. Not because it's safe (the food is spicy if it says spicy and nothing is bland) or friendly (though they are inviting), but I feel like the whole vibe of the place is perfect for that get-outta-the-comfort-zone attempt. Awesome live music, delicious food, and really cool ambiance. This is also the only place where I've witnessed my party actually clean up the whole platter sans leftovers. It has taken seven years of Ethiopian feasting to achieve this.
(5)
Jinyoung J.

I have never had Ethiopian Food before and was nervous when a friend invited me out for some. I was nervous because I have had an irritated stomach as of late and not knowing anything about the cuisine, I thought it might irritate it more. I was so impressed with all of it. The taste, the service and the combination of foods that I can make up on my own. They all blended in so well nicely together. I had it last friday and I've wanted to eat it again everyday since then. I only give it 4 stars because I've never had it anywhere else and I have nothing to compare it ot...
(4)
Michele H.

Excellent neighborhood spot, family friendly with very nice service. The food is delicious and they have some really nice (notably fair trade) wines. This is a great place to come with a group. It is very intimate and I have never heard it get loud. I highly recommend!
(5)
Ruchi S.

Amazing! I absolutely adore Ethiopian food, I have eaten it in many countries including right here in the USA. But, this has been my favourite experience. The customer service is warm, inviting, authentic. The food is tantalizing, fresh, scrumptious. Order this: red lentils, red cabbage, yellow lentils, beet root, tilapia, regular cabbage, lamb stew in Berber sauce and of course, injera (bread). For dessert, the warm rice pudding and coconut based creme brÃ»lÃ©e. You will walk away in a flavorful, delicious food coma, to prevent the food coma, end with their home brewed coffee, which is like Turkish coffee but better ( you have to like black coffee for this one). And, be ok being wide awake for a while... Worth it :) Love, Love this place!!! It is also an oasis in a dessert type of place, because it has surrounding Ethiopian places around it and you don't realize how yummy it is and welcoming till the doors open (unexpected). Ps: though they sell alcohol, they also have a B.Y.O.B !!!!! You can't beat it.
(5)
Jessica C.

So I paid for this delicious spicy meal the entire next day, but it was worth it. A day of heartburn and whatever else is a small price to pay for the dinner that you experience at Ras Dashen. You can choose from a traditional seating set-up of wicker lounge-ish chairs around a small circular table, or you can sit at a regular square table with upright chairs. We sat down in one of the traditional seating arrangements, but then switched over to the regular table, as I imagined myself dropping half my food in my lap and ending up wearing the larger part of dinner. Once seated, we were greeted right away by our server with menus in hand. I liked that you are able to choose your own sides instead of them just defaulting to greens, lentils, and salad. We ordered the Doro Wat and a spicy beef dish. The injera was great and the flavors were fabulous. I was initially scared to order the cabbage and potato stew as a side, but it ended being wonderful. The spice was strong and after about 20 minutes into the meal, our sinuses were clear and noses were dripping. May have been a little too spicy for me, but I somehow managed. :) I will definately head back to Ras Dashen soon and would love to grab a group of people and do the party thing there. Good stuff!
(4)
Gina H.

Who knew eating with your hands could be so liberating? After some girlfriends of mine suggested this place for our monthly girls dinner outing I was pretty excited to try this place. I had experienced Ethiopian food once in the past at a different restaurant and didn't really like the experience - most likely due to the fact that I was a little overzealous and ordered goat just to see how it tasted. This time I was planning on playing it a little safer. We ordered the Doro Wat (chicken dish with a spicy sauce, it was listed as the National Dish of Ehtiopia so we figured we had to try it out), the Doro alicha (another chicken entrÃ©e), and the Zizil Tibs (beef with peppers)....plus you get about three sides so we tried some of the lentil options and the Ib (which is simply cheese). When the food came they serve it to you on a giant platter with this spongy bread beneath the food and on the side. Literally you do not even get a plate - at first we were shiftily looking around at the other patrons to see if we were supposed to wait for plates, but quickly realized you really just get right down to it. I personally loved the food, it was spicy but not over the top, had a lot of flavor and was just so different (was reminiscent of Indian food, but different in a way). I was glad we got the Ib (cheese) on the side as it helped compliment some of the spicier food options. All in all everything we ordered was good, wouldn't have changed a thing. The restaurant itself it pretty interesting looking, I would definitely say that this would be a great date place as the food and manner in which you eat it would give you plenty of fodder for conversation. I'm looking forward to going back to trying out something else!
(4)
Kristin S.

This would have been an easy 5 stars if our server hadn't been so. incredibly. slow. (and just inattentive in general). We weren't in a rush, but having to ask for our check by cornering the server two separate times and sitting with menus, starting at every passing server for 15 minutes just couldn't make the 5th star happen. The food is great. I do recommend going early if you're heading here on the weekend because we got there a little after 6pm and when we were leaving (close to 8, yeah, I told you the service was slow), it was PACKED with people waiting for tables from about 7pm on. We took the train and had no troubles getting there. You can sit at the traditional tables (small, round table about the height of the seat of your chair), which we did, or a regular table (recommend for groups larger than 3-4). Tried the honey wine (glad I tried it, but really sweet and acidic. probably wouldn't order again) and the coffee (FANTASTIC! Super dark and rich, served in a beautiful pot with small cups). We split the lentil sambusas which were recommended by our server and they were very good. I maybe would have liked a few more lentils, but delicious all the same. We also ordered: Sides: Qosta: (spinach, onions, garlic) Very tasty and quite a bit of spinach. Misser wat: (red lentils in spicy sauce) Also very good, but I thought this would be my favorite and it was great and spicy, but not as much flavor as I was hoping for. Kik alicha: (yellow split peas, onions, garlic and other good stuff) This one was AMAZING. All of us were scooping and even swiping our fingers on the edge to get every last bit. So much flavor! Tikil gomen alicha: (cabbage, potato and carrot stew) This one was also uber yummy and a nice contrast to some of the spicier entrees we got. Entrees: Doro wat: (Chicken & a hardboiled egg in a spicy brown sauce) This was the national dish of Ethiopia I think and it was amazing. The whole, hardboiled egg was a little weird, but the chicken and sauce were spicy and incredible. Yebeg Tibs Be Berbere: (aka Spicy Juicy; lamb stew) I liked this one a lot, but there was a higher than I'd like bone to meat ratio. The sauce was super spicy, but I like spice, so that was good for me. We didn't have dessert because while waiting for our server, we gave up and decided we didn't need anymore carbs after ingesting so much injera (the sour, flat, spongy bread you scoop everything up with to eat). This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and it only made me eager to try more, so I'd say that's a pretty successful experience. Go here when you're not in a time crunch and enjoy the amazing food and experience.
(4)
Rick L.

I absolutely love Ras Dashen! I make a point of going here every time I am in Chicago, usually once or twice per year. I am usually with my friend who is a gluten-free vegan, so we call the day before to special order the teff injera, which they are happy to make upon request. I actually prefer the teff injera, but their regular injera is also quite excellent. I've enjoyed just about everything I've tried at Ras Dashen, yet I've never had their meat based dishes, so I cannot attest to the tastiness or the meatiness or however people grade meat tastes. If the meat dishes taste as good as the veg-based items, then I'm sure they're quite good. I've always had lovely and knowledgeable service too. Nice people! For those reviewers who don't like using your hands to eat your food...maybe stay home and eat Chef Boyardee out of a can with a plastic spoon.
(5)
Scott B.

Torn between two lovers, feelin like a fool.... After meeting a friend of mine here for dinner recently, I have been trying to decide if I like Ras Dashen or Ethiopian Diamond better. After days of deliberating, I have come to the conclusion that I prefer Ras Dashen. Although I must say that it is a photo finish between the two. What puts Ras Dashen over the finish line first is the sides. Specifically the Gomen and the Qosta. If they let me, I would bathe in the Qosta (spinach). The Asa Tibs is unbelievable. Since I am only eating fish and vegetables for a while, I could eat this meal at least twice a week. It's official- I am a fan!
(5)
Katie H.

I don't know whos e idea it as to walk the 45 minutes from our place to here (oh wait, it was mine) but by the time we got here, I was starving and as a result we ordered way too much food. Here's a little tip - the omnivore dinner for two, actually feeds more like four with its three sides and three meat dishes. Our dishes were hit and miss - none of the veggie dishes impressed much- but the good made up for the not as good. The doro wat, (chicken and egg) was exactly that - fall off the bone chicken in a berber sauce with a whole hardboiled egg on the side, and it was the best dish. The "fish stew" that was acutally fired chickpea balls was also amazing and between those two dishes I filled up. We also tried the honeywine which was, as expected, very sweet but complemented the dishes well. Service was slow but friendly and despite our massive over-ordering the total bill was reasonable. I'll definately be back for my ethipoian fix, though next time I may take the bus.
(4)
Matthew L.

This is a place you have to go to more than once - not because it is so good, but just before you get a handle on what you should be ordering. For someone new to the experience like me, figuring out what to order our first trip was borderline frustrating and I was unsure what to do considering my food did not come with instructions. But the plate in front of me was delicious for the most part. It was not until my second trip when I figured out 1) don't order too much to make yourself sick and 2) what dishes compliment each other (I did get a little help from the wait staff) that I found our how truly great the food can be. The Service and Atmosphere (music on the weekends) are amazing. Some of the sides are hit or miss, but I think the best way to go is just to ask the wait staff what they like and what goes well together. I would avoid the chicken but all the other meat dishes have always been amazing.
(4)
Wendy G.

This is by far my favorite Ethiopian place in the city. I usually go.here with a vegan friend and we like to change up the veggie dishes we get each time, because we like them all. Oh, and try the house honey wine- yum! **Update (06/22/12): Had the pumpkin wat the last time I was here: AMAZING. My new favorite.
(5)
Keely J.

In terms of service and quality of food, there is really no need to go anywhere else. The staff is extremely friendly and always happy and accommodating. The food is delicious, and I find it to be far better than any of the other Ethiopian restaurants on the Broadway stretch. They also have a great selection of beers and wine.
(5)
Aaron B.

I am a big fan of Ethiopian food and Ras Dahsen is the second best restaurant I have been to for this type of cuisine, number one is the Blue Nile in Detroit - see that review to find out why. Out of the many offerings for Ethiopian in Chicago Ras Dashen is the best in every category. The food is very sapid, the drinks are moderatly priced and options plentiful, the atmosphere is fun and lighting just right, the weekend has the great band Quadrangle (at least they were still playing there last time I went there) and the prices for the food are reasonable. The only bad mark is the service. It can range from slow to a snails pace.... This is not really a mark on the restaurant yet the tactfulness of the management. If you want great Ethiopian food and couple of drinks and some decent conversation head here. Just don't think you will be in and out. If you want fast food style Ethiopian maybe try Diamond or Addis Abba in Evanston. If they had guaranteed speedy service everytime, cause i don't always get slow service (I go here often), it just frequently enough to be annoying, then total five stars.
(4)
xoxo j.

MmmMMm... what's the best way to ring in the new year? With a belly full of injera. We didn't have NYE resos, but we were seated right way and the restaurant was full the entire time we were there (unlike abyssinia, which is right next door, was open on NYE, and was completely empty... fishy...). The food :: awesome. If you've had ethiopian before, then you know what to expect. Everything was delicious - doro alicha + lamb tibs for entrees, gomen (slow cooked greens) + ib (soft cheese) + kik alicha (yellow split peas :: drool worthy, order 'em). I wanted chicken tibs, but they only had lamb, beef, & fish as tib options. boo. The service :: even more awesome. Great service, super attentive wait staff, and overall considerate + good people at this restaurant. Thumbs up. Other things to consider :: Uber-clean restrooms - an important factor in ethiopian dining b/c you know that little post-dinner wet nap is NOT going to get the smell off your fingers. A good ol' soapy hand wash is a must-do. Don't order the flan - yes, I know. We were at an ethiopian restaurant... we shouldn't have even considered flan. Lesson learned. It was our first new years resolution :: don't order flan when eating african food. Full bar - wine, beer, even mojitos (which actually was pretty good, so yes to mojitos and no to flan) Like spicy? Ask for their hot sauce... I have no idea what it's called, but it has a flavor/texture similar to sriracha and is deeeelicious. They'll put it right on the injera with the rest of the sides. enjoy. and then wash your hands again. they'll be smelly for awhile.
(4)
Daniel L.

I won't go into details about how Ethiopian food is served or eaten since there were a few other reviewers on here who's already done that. I'll just talk about the food. We all got the Doro Wat, Some kinda grilled lamb thing with no sauce, and a beef thing in a sauce that started with a B. lol Sorry about that, its been a few days since the actual dinner. But otherwise, the food was pretty yummy. Not too badly priced and worth the dough. The lamb was good and easy to eat since there was no sauce. The beef and chicken was swimming in a sauce so it was a little messier but still very yummy. The 3 sides we chose was the cheese (ick... there was a weird after taste), the spinach (Delicious!) and the cabbage (Boiled, stewed way too long). Would I go back there again? Sure but only if I was craving Ethiopian cuisine. All in all an enjoyable evening. 3 stars!
(3)
Shanna T.

I can't talk this place up enough. I love taking people here, I've never brought anyone who didn't like it. There's another Ethiopian place just up the road, and I'm always tempted to try it, but Ras Dashen tugs me back every single time. The atmosphere is very nice, calm, and clean. The back room (for parties) is great; I was there recently for a surprise birthday party and it was large and very well handled. The food is absolutely delightful. The vegetarian specials are very good, but I admit I'm a sucker for the kik alicha. The misser wat (another staple) is also great. The "bread pudding" dessert is worth at least one try, just for the interest factor, although I have now been won over by the rice pudding as well. The beer selection is great. The only con is that the coffee takes forever, so plan a dessert or some time digesting if you want coffee afterwards!
(5)
Becky H.

first time experience with ethiopian food and they blew me away! friendly, courteous staff went over and beyond what I expected... I didn't know to call ahead for gluten free injera (you really should if you need GF) but they had some in back that would be enough for just me! I totally would have just eaten the food with a fork but SO glad that they were able to accommodate. Definitely will be back and bringing friends with me!
(5)
Justin B.

Wonderful! Everything was great. Bread was fantastic. All meats were superb and leftovers were superb after food soaked in bread overnight while in fridge.
(5)
Ben K.

Ras Dashen is the best ethiopian around. Fantastic injera, delicious sauces and meat dishes. I recommend the #10 appetizer. Service is quite slow... still a fantastic experience.
(5)
Fran R.

My boyfriend and I went here last nite for my b-day. We have never had Ethiopian food before but we do like to try new things. We did our homework prior to going. Printed menu's from diff places as to get to know the food a bit. The honey wine is pretty storng. The food was very good, the bread was intersting. I liked eating with my fingers. Very spicy and some are very very hot. We did two-two meat combos and the food was almost to much for two people. I think I liked it more then my boyfriend did. You must must try the ethiopian coffee. If you like greek coffee this is ten times better. The best coffee we ever had. We shared a blakava (sp) with it. Very good. Yes, I recomend this place ! ~_~
(4)
Jonny P.

This is my favourite Ethiopian Restaurant in North America! If you have never enjoyed Ethiopian Cuisine this is a great place to experience it. The servers are all very friendly & can 'talk you' through the menu. A bit of Doro Wat (chicken), Tibs Yebeg (lamb), some lentils and a bit of Timatin fit fit should do you just right. If you are feeling a bit more 'adventurous' definitely order some Kitfo, lub lub if you are not so brave. It's really really good. A carafe of Tej to wash it all down and you have your meal...
(5)
Adam K.

My sweet lord. This place has everything, taste, service, selection, good cost, high quality & easy parking. I recommend everything, especially the desserts. Everytime I come here, they are super nice and attentive. If you have never had Ethiopian, this is a good starter place.
(5)
David K.

Edit 2: Gratuity issue was resolved in a very gracious manner! If they're always like this you might just owe to yourself to go to Ras Dashen for the service alone! Haven't been back to try the food again, but will get back around to it soon. Edit: Received a very even-toned, kind response from the owner and will give Ras Dashen another try in light of this. It is to any business owner's credit that they show such concern for each experience they create.. ======= Help was nice.... but.... 1) Amount of food was very little for the price. A tiny chicken leg and another non-descript piece of chicken meat for $16!? That is unacceptable in my book. 2) Food was somewhat bland. 3) Had an issue on the bill about gratuity charge. The menu versus what we were told seems conflicting. It sounds like they simply use best judgement when charging a gratuity or not, which seems fairly logical.
(3)
Nathan R.

Don't come here with a group. Their structure of family-style ordering is specifically worked against large groups. They force you to order more food than you need and won't let you order as subgroups for their couple deals. It was simply a terrible group ordering experience. Also, the service was incredibly slow. From sitting down to receiving our food was over an hour, even when the server knew we were in a rush to get to a show.
(2)
Meghan L.

ras dashen offers more bang for your buck, especially if you're a vegetarian. my husband and i always split the veggie sampler for $12, and it's enough to fill both of us. the menu is as diverse as it is delicious, but the red lentil and cabbage-based entrees are always my favorite. i tried ethiopian beer for the first time today; i had a surprisingly refreshing pilsner that paired perfectly with the 90+ degree weather. i also highly recommend the equally refreshing house-made honey wine.
(5)
Sandra N.

For many years, my husband and I always favored the veggie combos at Ethiopian restaurants we've eaten at in Philly, Atlanta, Durham, and DC. However, since moving to Chicago, we've tried about four different restaurants and haven't found any 'to-die-for' vegetarian dishes. I think mainly this is because many Ethiopian places around here cook with oil, as opposed to butter, and let's just say I'm a 'butter-baby' -- I am no purist! I simply prefer both the texture and richness butter adds to veggie dishes; you might be different. Ras Dashen's veggie dishes are personally not 'to-die-for' on my tongue -- we've had just about all the veggie 'sides' or platters, and they are OK. Given the 'oil/butter' issue, I tend to favor the vinegar-based salads instead. The Komodoro Fetfet has a nice blend of spices and a fresh, bright taste and 'kick.' The lentil salad is good--much blander than in other restaurants, and made with green peppers as opposed to jalapenos. As with every Ethiopian place we've ever been at more than once, the general taste of the dishes here varies from trip to trip. I don't mind that, though, with this cuisine. To my mind, it's just part of feeling the love and mood of the hands that made the food. Veggie dishes aside, the meat dishes are really what draws us in around here. The Sega Wat and Yeqay Ferfer are excellent--bold flavors, really deeply rich tastes. Yesterday we also tried the Gored Gored and loved that, too: It was very 'meaty' to taste at first, but the flavors soon came through and lingered. Overall, a very satisfying dish. In other places where we've had Gored Gored, the meat was raw; here, they cook the meat to medium rare. After coming here about five times, I can say we've never gone wrong with any meat dish we've had. In all honesty, Ethiopian food is one of my favorite cuisines by far, in part because of the food and flavor, but also in part because of the legendary hospitality and generosity of most Ethiopian restaurants. Ras Dashen falls far short in that regard, for me: The hospitality is generally lacking I am just not a fan of the service at this place. First, they never give you near enough Injera and seem annoyed and/or 'put out' if you ask for more. And rest assured: *You* always have to be the one to ask for more here, as opposed to other places where someone will see you are out and bring over one or two new pieces. Also, while I stated above that I don't mind some variability in the overall subtle 'tastes' of the food, I do mind how wildly variable they are here with how much food they give you each time. Last night the Gored Gored was a 21.00 dish, and we received considerably less than we would have had we done the 'two-meat dish, 1/2 portion' combo. Likewise, our 'sides' were very meager last night, too. That, combined with the general look the waitress gave me when after eating two pieces of injera (which came with the meal), I asked for one more, well, it made me think this place is pretty stingy, all in all. My husband and I have a 'waste-not, want-not' mentality with food--we don't over-ask for things, nor do we ever leave or waste a meal. And we're always complimentary of dishes that taste good. So, I just don't get where the attitude at this place comes from. Pound for pound, though I slightly favor the meat dishes here to the place next door (Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant), and though this place seems to regularly pull in more business, I'd much prefer the 'love' I feel at Abyssinia. When we eat there, the owner is always so welcoming, and he frequently will give us free dishes to try out. Also, he comes to check on us and is always so kind when anyone compliments his dishes--very personable man. And, guess what? The meat dishes there are tasty, too! So, in light of that, I think I'm stepping next door for a while. For me the dining experience is EVERYTHING about the evening--hospitality, service, food, and atmosphere--not just the food.
(3)
Kyle R.

Sheba Cafe is closed. What is happening with this world? So after being disappointed and hungry for some ethiopian cuisine, my brother and I trekked up to here for dinner the other night. I loved the feel of the restaurant when I walked in. The drink list left a little to be desired (is it bad that the drink list is how I judge most restaurants?), but the ethiopian coffee more than makes up for it. The live music was great too. The food was delicious, no complaints there (although I've only had ethiopian food a few times in my life so maybe my pallet isn't refined enough to judge that harshly). The only issue I really had was the layout. Getting all the way back to the bathroom was a total hassle. It's a very narrow joint. One awesome thing is ethiopian left overs are DELISH.
(3)
Trixie K.

Delicious, delicious! This place is much bigger than I expected and they do take reservations (a definite plus for late weekend dining). They also have a full bar and quite a few imported beers that are not badly priced. The staff is very friendly and helpful considering how often they probably hear the menu items mispronounced or need to explain something to the customers. My recommendation is to definitely go with a group of at least 4, and if you aren't familiar with the food just take a quick look at the menu then be brave and order. You really have to try the dishes to understand the flavors. And you will likely be surprised. Personally I never imagined myself to be someone who would develop cravings for spicy lentils--I can't get enough of them. Be advised that they do say orders will take at least 25 minutes to come from the kitchen and that they also charge for extra baskets of injera bread if you are a liberal eater of the stuff. This is not the cheapest Ethiopian restaurant I have been to in Chicago, but it is so far my favorite and the price points are reasonable considering the quality and that there is enough food that you do not have to order one entree per person. (we ordered 5 entrees for 6 people and had more than enough food) Otherwise, my favorite part (besides the communal eating style and that you are supposed to eat with your hands) is that they spice the food really well for my taste. I don't usually eat much red meat, but I could not pass up the marinated sirloin (gord gord, i believe) and the subtle burn left after each bite. Go with an open mind and an empty stomach and this restaurant will definitely deliver. ps: they have a hand washing station near the bar--a nice touch considering the meal style. thank you to the owners!
(5)
E W.

I've been coming to Ras Dashen for years. It is the best Ethiopian restaurant I've been to in Chicago, hands down. There is something for everyone, from vegans to raging carnivores. It is on the expensive side, but I think it's worth the price. Ethiopian style eating can be a tad confusing for newcomers (how to we split it to take it home? How do I pick up the food with the bread? etc), but it is social in a way that few cuisines are. The ambiance is nice; Magic Carpet, the house band, is excellent. They have a party room in the back, so you can have large parties or catered events. I love Ras Dashen and have never gone home disappointed or unsatisfied.
(4)
Hannah J.

I think Ras Dashen often gets over-shadowed by the the larger and perhaps well more well-known, Ethiopian Diamond down the street. I have lots of love for Ethiopian Diamond, but Ras Dashen is hands down the best Ethiopian food I've had in Chicago. Their vegetarian dishes are fantastic. They have a faux-fish dish made out of chickpeas in a spicy sauce that is to die for. Their misir wat is really what launches them over Ethiopian Diamond in my mind. I think I could live off of it. They have a wonderful, cozy atmosphere, a friendly staff, and killer injera. If there was a way to do six stars, I would give it to them.
(5)
TK K.

Having dined at various Ethiopian restaurants over the years, I must say I have never eaten bad Ethiopian food. But none of them compare to Ras Dashen. Being the Ethiopian dining veteran, I guided my two first-time Ethiopian dining companions on their culinary adventure. I had the vegetarian sampler, which allows one to order five selections. I enjoyed the misser wat, qosta, gomen, komodoro salata and tikil gomen alicha. My friends also enjoyed their meal immensely. My friend ordered chocolate cake for dessert. The server informed us it is made fresh and would take approximately twenty minutes. Upon its arrival, steam was coming from its center, as it was just taken from the oven. The chocolate aroma was mouth watering and the first bite of the warm chocolate cake was sensational. It was worth the wait. The only problem was it was so small. We should have each ordered one. Being a recovering chocoholic, I would return just for the delicious cake.
(4)
Hula B.

the food here is really really good. unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the service, which is disinterested at best. i keep going back for the great food. ambiance is nothing special. they do have beer and wine
(4)
Jenna N.

Service: Awful. Asked for a coke and 5 minutes later we see our waitress standing around chatting it up with no coke in sight. Asked her about it and she said she knew and came back 5 minutes later with the drinks. It also took FORTY-FIVE minutes to get our appetizers and well over an hour for our main dishes (they served patrons who came in after us before us). The weren't even anything special to warrant a 45 minute wait...some type of meat in a pastry dough, deep-fried; we're not exactly talking rocket science. I wish I could give zero stars, but truth-be-told, the injera was good, as were the potatoes so I don't feel quite as jipped in giving one star. I wasn't thrilled with the other food outside of that though (seriously...$22 for a pile of slopped meat with veggies?! Rip-off). I cringe everytime I pass this place...I shant be returning any century soon.
(1)
Michael H.

I think this is my favorite Ethiopian in the city! I just had it for the first time, and the food was amazing. The service was good too, so I'm not sure what some of the other reviewers are talking about. My only gripe- I think it is overpriced, especially compared to all the other Ethiopian places in Chicago, but the food was too good for me to take off a star for that. All in all, fantastic food and I will definitely be coming back.
(5)
pbarp M.

I always went to Addis Abeba before and heard about Ras Dashen, so we went here for the first time this week. We chose a traditional table in a quiet corner and drank some honey wine which I never had before. For appetizer, we tried the beet salad which was quite delicious. This is surprisingly nice. For the main dish, we had the Doro Wat which is tender chicken in a spicy berbere sauce. This dish makes it my top favorite dishes of all time - finger licking delicious! We also had the pan fried lamb tips which is drier to not over power the Doro Wat. Overall, I give this place 5-stars.
(5)
Mark P.

One of the best ethiopian meals I've had. Loved the omnivore combo for 2
(5)
Mr. T.

Seriously good. I think it's the best Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago -- at least from what I've tried. The thing I love most about this place is that they are VEGAN FRIENDLY. They even have vegan ice cream for dessert! And the food? It's REALLY, REALLY flavorful and fresh. I love their sauces, and salads. And ethiopian food (the vegan stuff anyway), is very healthy. Their bread (made from teff flour) is loaded with calcium -- which is a nice plus for vegans. And then there are lots of dishes with lentils for those all important amino acids we need. The homemade honey-wine (not vegan) is really good too -- if you do honey. They've even added a new hand sink in the back for the ever important hand washing you'd be wise to undertake both before and after the meal. For anyone unaware, eating with your hands is apparently the norm in Ethiopia! Honestly, this place is great.
(5)
Anthony S.

The first time I ever had Ethiopian food was this past December at this restaurant, since then I've been back quite a few times. First off, be prepared to eat with your hands. That's right, there is no cutlery to speak of, well at least there isn't supposed to be. If you ask for utensils you might be provided with something but I have yet to see anyone with a knife or fork in this restaurant. In place of conventional eating utensils is injera. Injera is a kind of sticky and spongy bread that almost resembles a crepe or thin pancake. You use pieces of it to scoop delectable pieces of meat and soak up their flavorful array of sauces (I suggest the berber sauce). If meat isn't your thing their side salads and vegetarian offerings are just as tasty. Be forewarned the injera can be quite filling and the sauces a bit sweet, in addition to spicy. The service is not always the greatest, but the food has so far made up for it.
(4)
Vinifer D.

Ras Dashen, how do I love thee. Let me count the ways: 1. Injeera: One of the best out there! And it's gluten-free! 2. THE BEST vegetarian dishes! 3. A lady who wards off voodoo and bad spirits! 4. Great Ethiopian coffee! 5. Live music! 6. Sharing is caring! 7. Spicy, Spicy, Spicy! Go here with people you actually like. Remember, you'll be sharing your plate!
(5)
Kerry S.

This is where I like to go for Ethiopian food, and I always leave satisfied and happy. I went there for lunch today with my boyfriend and my two year old niece, and we received really great service. We made a bit of a mess, and the server was completely kind and helpful when spilled a plate of food all over the floor. It was especially fun that my niece got to sit in the same bucket seats we sat in, given that as a two year-old she usually needs a high chair or a booster seat. Is most definitely one of my favorite places to eat out, and as a vegan it feels awesome to be at a restaurant and to get to eat the same wonderful food everyone else is eating.
(5)
Alberto M.

Who do I think I am? I have one Ethiopian meal in my life and I think I'm qualified to critique the place. Yeah, well I can comment about what I ate and how the place felt so JUST DEAL WITH IT! I should be giving this place 5 stars 'cuz I will travel however far I must go, wait however long I have to while sitting in the smallest chair they could find to eat the food from Ras Dashen. Consider this a 4 star only because it's a review from a guy that has not tried any other Ethiopian place. I'm a nut for spicy meals, and from meat to veggie dishes, Ras Dashen gives them all the treatment. If you've had Middle Eastern food, if you've had Indian, if you've had Mediterranean, there will be something familiar to you in their meals, but it's their bold taste and unique dining experience that set them apart. You can make your experience at Ras Dashen a little more "traditional," if you like, by sitting at their Ethiopian tables that look like basket drums with a wood top (Note: you will have to crouch forward more if you use these tables since they're shorter and smaller than the standard tables you're used to.) I went with the traditional table because I felt like lounging more than just eating, and the decor of the place made me feel very comfortable. In the menu, they tell you the meal will take at least 20 min to prepare, so sit back and get comfortable. There are so many vegetarian dishes to choose from and plenty of meats to boot so I split the "Omnivore meals for two" combo with my date, and for $15.00 a piece we shared three entrees and three sides with a tasty Ethiopian beer "Bati" (extra of course) and we were filled and enjoyed that tingle on our lips the spices leave. No utensils, you share a plate of injera topped with everything you ordered arranged in separate piles, so get comfortable with your fingertips because you'll want to grab handfuls of Ras Dashen.
(4)
Lindsee R.

Ras Dasehn is absolutely adorable. And, on a Friday night at 8 o'clock, there's wasn't a wait...for the table at least. Service was a little on the slow side, which was strange since we were sitting at the awkward corner table under the kitchen window. The waitstaff pretty much tripped over us every time they picked up an order. Once we got the food, it couldn't stand up to Ethiopian Diamond. The cabbage was wonderful, but the gomen ( spinach) was bland and the lebleb tibs ( beef with onions and peppers) was just okay and a little overcooked. Maybe it was an off night or perhaps I should try their specialty rather than sticking to my old faves....
(3)
Hayley M.

I have been here three times and have been thoroughly satisfied. I try to only eat meat occasionally and this is that occasion! My sister and I usually go together. We like the spinach side, the lentil side, and the cheese side with stewed lamb as our entree. All of them are amazing. My sister's got a sweet tooth so she gets the coconut creme brulee which is worth the 6 bucks. The last time i went it was a little more crowded than usual and with only 3 waitresses things got a little slow but i wouldn't say that's the norm. And even after i leave the restaurant i continue to smell my fingers for hours afterwards because theyve soaked up the scents of the wonderful food! and i totally wrap up the extra ingera bread and take it home for later ; P awesome awesome delicious food for a moderate price (totally worth it!)
(5)
Ej S.

Reviewing restaurants that already have really good reviews is difficult. There is nothing new I can say about the place, so instead I'll talk about YOU!! Yes, YOU! Do you like a wide variety of vegan foods? Do you like rich flavors? Do you like your food dumped out in front of you? (In a good way!) Are you laid back? If you answered "yes" to any three of those, by all means try this place. Now.... Are you on a first date? Do you refuse to wash your hands? Do you get creeped out by anything vaguely spongy? Do you insist on getting MAEM (Meat at every meal)? Do you sometimes send forks back because they aren't sanitized enough? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you might want to pass this place up. Alternatively, please let me know when you're going so that I can show up as well, for the entertainment. In short: Eat good veggie stuff with your hands and some slightly sour (again, in a good way!) bread and your (hopefully clean at the beginning) hands. Also note, that this restaurant is NOT affiliated in any way with Ra's al Ghul.
(4)
Mike G.

We've been coming to this restaurant for years, since it was introduced to us by some of our vegetarian friends. The original seating arrangement was a bit more open, but due to it's popularity it's a bit more cramped. Onto the food... FANTASTIC. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is just amazing here. If you have never had Ethiopian food before, a few warnings: Everything is served on the same platter (we do have vegetarian friends who request a separate platter as to not mingle with us meat-eaters). The platter itself is covered in a spongy, vinegary bread called Injera and you get additional Injera to eat with as a utensil. You simply tear off a piece of bread and go grab what you want on the platter. Several friends of ours are turned off by eating with their hands or others eating with their hands so I figured it was worth mentioning. Back to the food.. Amazing, superb, sublime, unique and down right yummy. Plenty of veggie options (which I actually prefer most of the time) and the meats are cooked amazingly well with fresh ingredients and seasonings. The sauces everything is cooked in are very, very good. The best and worst part of the meal is when it's over. Best, because you get to eat all the Ingra on the bottom which has all the amazing flavors of the dishes you just ate! Worst, because it's over- sad face. The meal packages vary but we typically get two entrees +3 sides which is a huge amount of food. The prices are, on average, very good for the amount of people eating! Cocktails are priced well and if you are a beer fan- try the Xingu. It's a Brazilian dark beer that is amazing; sweet undertones and not bitter. If you've never tried Ethiopian food (or even knew it existed), get out there and give it a try. It is by far my favorite ethnic cuisine!
(5)
Matt P.

I think the restaurant and the service is great, but I agree with Pamela, I dunno if me and Ethiopian mix ... specifically that sponge bread. I think I'd rather take a fork and just gorge on the food.
(3)
Natasha O.

I haven't been to many places but this was very tasty. Plus, my North African friend recommended it so I'm hoping that gives her opinion some more authenticity. :) My only complaint is that the service seemed a bit slow, but I don't think I've ever been to an Ethiopian restaurant where that wasn't the case, so it seems moot. The food was fantastic; all the meat was super tender and the veggie dishes had interesting textures, etc. Also, everything seemed between $13-$18, which seemed pretty reasonable.
(4)
Jamie O.

For a unique dinning experience, I recommend this restaurant. For a meal worth returning to, not for me. I enjoyed the unique flavor of the dishes and that in family style you could taste everything, but the sour spongy bread was my least favorite item and unfortunately the most ubiquitous bite in each mouthful. For the price and utensil limitations, I will not be back.
(3)
David R.

First time having Ethiopian food. They were very helpful in letting me know what to order and the options. My wife and I love spicy food, the food was very flavorful. Friday evening they also had entertainment.
(4)
Temple S.

Abyssinia, which is next door to Ras Dashen has better food. I give Abyssinia 5 stars for the food. Our waiter was very nice, but the service was a bit slow. Hence minus the one star. We had been to Ras Dashen right next door. The food there is very good, but nothing unique. Additionally, the service there was VERY slow and the bartender was very bad. He kept us sitting for 10 minutes before even acknowledging us and then was very snooty. My husband and I have eaten now eaten at every Ethiopian restaurant in the Chicago area as well as many in other cities. Abyssinia has the best food. There are dishes on the menu that I have not seen in other Ethiopian restaurants, like butternut squash and swiss chard (both amazing). Additionally, the lamb dish was an entirely different preparation than what I had experienced with other Ethiopian restaurant. It was prepared with Rosemary and did not have a sauce on it. Absolutely outstanding!!! We got the sampler platter for one and two vegetarian dishes. More than enough for 2 people. They have a very limited bar - just bourbon, vodka, etc. on the rocks. Abyssinia is owned by a married couple. The husband takes care of front of house while his wife cooks in the back. This may by why the food takes a bit, but it is well worth the wait. Also, their sitter backed out on them last minute and their 3 young children were in the kitchen while mom was trying to cook. Might be another reason why the food took awhile. That's okay, though. We will be back and I don't see us going to another Ethiopian restaurant in the city. Abyssinia is the best by FAR!
(3)
Nicole B.

This is one of my top 10 favorite restaurants ever. Ethiopian food is amazing, people. Give it a try if you never have, and go here! All of the food I've had has been excellent. There aren't any specific recommendations I can make beyond saying that you should just go here. Seriously. As if their food weren't amazing enough, they also have cute atmosphere (great date spot) and a wonderful little selection of African beer. Did you know that African beer is good? Try the Hakim-- it's a stout, but it has the consistency of a nut-brown ale and is very flavorful.
(5)
Jaime S.

This was my first time eating ethiopian, but i really enjoyed it. They said allow for 20 mins for your meal, but really it was more like 15 mins (not uncomfortably long), and I went with 3 other people. It was very filling, and not nearly as spicy or as messy as I thought it would be, especially since you eat with your hands (unless you ask for a fork).
(5)
Ali H.

YUM! Stopped in here the other night randomly on a bike ride back from edgewater. Glad we did! We got the vegetarian dinner for two, which included three "almost full" sized portions of main dishes along with three sides. The waitress helped us pick good sides to go with the entrees that we chose, and they were excellent. The cheese-type side and the pickled cabbage were my favorites. Portions were larger than I expected, but everything tasted great and the injera was excellent! Super friendly service and chill atmosphere. I think the dinner for two was 25 dollars or something, so totally on par with what I'd expect. I'd definitely make a trip back here.
(4)
Erica B.

Definately the best ethiopian food i have ever had. The atmosphere is lovely and the waitstaff was extremely friendly. They are very knowledgeable and will make suggestions if you are unsure what to order. The food was delcious. We tried a variety of different things (all vegetarian) and were completely satisfied.
(4)
Anna N.

We have been eating Ethiopian from here for many many years. Every once in a while we try the others (you know who they are), but we always come back to Ras. The last time I was in for just a pick up order - "Come in. Have some tea while you wait. How's the family? Here, take some tea home with you." Great food, great people, genuine hospitality. Why go anywhere else.
(5)
Neal G.

I love going here with friends, and unlike most restaurants, the more people you come here with, the better. The food is served family-style, so the more people you bring, the more entres you get to try. (Plus, hey, you get to eat with your hands!) It's also very veggie/vegan-friendly, which further contributes to it being a great place for larger groups, when you've got those one or two (or six) buddies who have some peculiar aversion to putting dead animals in their mouths. :) Their drinks are also great. If you like mead or other sweet drinks, their honey wine is excellent; if beer's more your speed, they have a good selection there too (Tusker's a good one to start with, IMO.) Further, if you like coffee at all, the Buna Be Jebena is not to be missed. It's flavorful and very fresh--you'll occasionally see (and smell!) the servers coming through the dining room with a pan of roasting coffee beans. If the food and drinks weren't enough, they sometimes have live music during dinner hours as well.
(5)
Christina K.

Although not quite as spicy as I like my Ethiopian food, I found Ras Dashen to be a godsend. I called a night ahead to make sure that they had a batch of gluten-free all-teff injera ready for me--they need to let the teff sit overnight, so if you have gluten issues, plan ahead. (For the curious, all-teff injera is more purple/gray, a little more sour than I remember 'normal' injera being, and it's especially delicious.) I ordered a meat combo (one lamb in tomato, one beef in berebere sauce), but threw myself upon the mercy of the waitress for help in selecting the sides that, like the meats, get spread like a lovely little island chain dotting that seabed of injera; there were four that I wanted to try (and I wanted just a taste of the Ib cheese), but she laughed and said she'd get me all four, no problem. So I got to sample the cabbage, the Ib, the lentils, and the yellow peas, and it made for a perfect blend of flavors. To cap the meal, I couldn't resist, and had the Ethiopian-style coffee with a coconut creme brulee, a perfect balance of sweet and creamy set against thick, strong, bitter coffee. After eating this well, and in the light of their reasonable pricing and a generosity of spirit, I'll be back, to be sure.
(4)
Fran C.

Great Ethiopian food! I recommend getting the combos. It's more than enough food for two. It comes with 3 sides and injera bread. Lamb dishes were good and it goes with the spinach and yellow split pea sides. Yum!
(4)
Naomi d.

....I was in Chicago this week and went to Ras Dashen based on some reviews. Nice place, clean. Server was awesome, hospitable. We sat outside. The menu had variety of Ethiopian beers and was impressed to see TUSKER (my fav. beer of all). Never seen it in any place before which was a plus!! For appetizer I ordered Kategna (grew up eating it)...which was done soooo ever differently. It was made with Kibee(butter) and Green onions ( i think?) because it wasn't red due to the berbere like I know it....and it was YUMMMMYYYY!! We ordered Firfir and Shiro w/ KIBE (yummm!), and some sides. The firfir could have used more injera than sauce, but it was still great. Shiro was on point, the best dish ever! We were too stuffed for desert! But the menu was very eccentric which made it stood out than the many Ethiopian restaurants I have went to here in North America. So for thinking outside the BOX and its deliciousness!...I give it 5 stars!! Definitely will dine there, next time I go to Chi town!!
(5)
Bekka F.

A great place to go with good friends. All the food is served on and with a large pancake-like flat bread called injera.The yebeg tibs de berbere (lamb) was really tasty and if you like fish the asa tibs was good as well. I also recommend the honey wine!
(5)
Eugene E.

I think the 2 star notation "Meh. I've experienced better" pretty much sums up MY experience here. I've gone to the (up the street) competitor and for what I eat (vegetarian) I prefer the other place hands down. A couple things played against Ras Dashen 1) after choosing the 5-combo vegetarian platter, the pleasant waitress tells me that 2 out of the 4 items they didn't have.. I was going to double up on 1, so I am now left with trying to understand how you run out of vegetables and quickly decide on something else. The waitress was helpful and accommodating giving suggestions. 2) What actually didn't help was when the food came out it was luke warm (this is after another waitress accidently gave us another parties food by mistake). So I am left with luke warm vegetables, 3 of which I really didn't want, but ate anyway and injera that made my taste buds question (WHAT?) prompting me to ask for a fork. Blew the entire experience. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and try them again... perhaps with my friend who recommended but also eats meat.
(2)
Yogurt D.

I keep coming back here whenever I have a craving for Ethiopian food and it never disappoints. Always a wonderful and friendly atmosphere and great food. I especially enjoy Asa Tibs, the tilapia with vegetables.
(5)
shaadoe B.

I have never been disappointed with Ras Dashen's food. They always give big portions and the food is delicious. With plenty of other Ethiopian restaurants in the area, I still love going back here.
(5)
- chicagobiker -.

Ras Dashen is hands down the best Ethiopian food in the city. The place is cozy, and the amazing smells that hit you when you walk in will have your mouth watering before you even sit down. All the food I've had here has been excellent, as has the service. The Hakim stout, one of the Ethiopian beers they serve here, is so good that my mother, who has never liked beer her entire life (she is 56), declared she liked so much she wanted to know if we could buy it somewhere to have a home (sadly, no). It's worth the trip uptown and then some.
(5)
Angela C.

WOW. Always fresh and delicious, staff is super friendly, desserts are delicious, and coffee will kick your a**! This is the best eating with your hands experience ever.
(5)
Bill M.

This is an Ethiopian restaurant that some say is the best one in the city. The interior is decorated with cool ethnic art, which lends an authentic atmosphere to the space. There are many selections as far as vegetarian and non-vegetarian, spicy or mild. It is good to go with a group and try a bunch of choices. The communal dining experience is enhanced by the fact that everyone eats without utensils. Spongy bread-like slices of injera are used to pick up whatever food morsels you want to try (and you should eat this sour bread too). The Ethiopian coffee is said to be strong, and the ice cream is decent although nothing special.
(4)
Abra B.

This was the spot for my first Chicago Ethiopian culinary adventure. Arriving on a Saturday night at 7:45, we didn't have to wait for a table despite the place being very full and busy. We ordered the meat combo for two, which is a bargain of two smaller entrees with three sides for $17. The doro wat (proclaimed the national chicken dish of Ethiopia) was amazing. The kitfo tere (steak tartare) was a little spicy for me but still delicious. Sides: the buttermilk cheese, spicy lentils and spinach. The cheese was imperative to help cut the spiciness, and the lentils were perfect. But the real star of the meal was my glass of honey wine. It was a little strong on its own before the food arrived, but it paired beautifully with the spicy food. Finished the meal with a buna de jubena, thick coffee brewed in a clay pot. This place was delightfully friendly and willing to answer all my Ethiopian cuisine questions and guide a novice through the ordering process even on a busy Saturday night.
(4)
cheffy J.

If you're going to this AWESOME restaurant, make sure to go on Friday Nights. Magic Carpet plays and it's like the coolest underground scene. Ethnic Jazz & Ethiopian Food - it's like being transported to another dimension. YUM!
(5)
Nessie V.

Good solid Ethiopian, with a few twists to keep things interesting. Seems like a lot of locals go here, there is a banquet room in the back. Prices on the higher end but worth it. It's definitely on of the top places I've been to for East African
(4)
Kendrah R.

I've eaten lots of Ethiopian food in San Francisco, Oakland, Chicago, and Washington DC. Ras Dashen is hands down the best I have had. We have gone on Friday nights when they have live music playing. It is cozy, good fun. Prices are fair. Food is incredibly fresh and spot on.
(5)
Colonel M.

Really nice place... If you like spicy youll love this place
(4)
Allie P.

The only other Ethiopian place I've been to is Lalibela, so my frame of reference isn't terribly expansive. However, I liked the food here slightly better (the tikil gomen is my favorite dish - we're talking could eat that and nothing else every day of my life and be thrilled about it - and it's definitely better here). The last time we went, my sister was visiting from out of town. She had never had Ethiopian before and was pretty hesitant. But when we got home, she was immediately looking online to see if she had any Ethiopian restaurants in her area. The only reason I took a star off is because while the staff is very friendly, the service is generally pretty slow - particularly if you go when it's busy. we ordered an extra egg for the doro wat, which our waitress forgot, and when we finally got her attention to request more of the injera, she only brought us back two half pieces for the five of us. That being said, both the quality of the food and the atmosphere definitely outweigh any shortcomings in the service, and it's well worth however long the wait happens to be.
(4)
Mike I.

I've been biding my time, waiting for the right moment to post this: my first five-star restaurant review. I can hardly contain my enthusiasm. I suspect you can hardly contain yours. Thank goodness for Thorazine. And thank goodness for Ras Dashen, home of the finest--and only--Ethiopian food I've ever had. Since a trusted friend took me here and guided me through the ordering process a couple years ago, I've made my way back several times and--in spite of the occasional slow service--had a wonderful meal every time. The food is rich with flavors that, were I a licensed gourmet, I would have complicated words for--words like "broiler" and "nutmeg." Alas, I'm just a guy who eats food every day. And as such, all I can say is that Ras Dashen is my favorite restaurant in Chicago because the food kicks ass. My favorite dishes are the sega wat, yebeg tibs, lebleb tibs, kitfo tere and qelulu. Of course, these names mean nothing to you if you've never eaten Ethiopian fare. You'll just have to trust my judgment and hardly containable enthusiasm ... or go to the restaurant's website and read the descriptions. The Hakim stout--a smooth, slightly chocolately Ethiopian beer--is a great complement to a meal. And the Ethiopian coffee is rich and flavorful. When you've stuffed yourself to the fullest, be sure to save your leftovers. Reheated Ethiopian food wrapped in berbere-saturated injera is tough to beat.
(5)
Kara G.

I can't in good consience give a restaurant 5 stars because there is always something that can be improved upon (in this case, the bathrooms, but let's not discuss latrines and food in the same sentence, shall we?), but I think that 4 stars and my glowing review will suffice. Never having tried Ethiopian cuisine (and let me tell you, I can't believe I waited 28 years to do so!!!) I was eager to check it out with my P.I.C. (partner in crime to you laypeople) Hannah Jane, since she is my eating, drinking, and just about anything-else-you-want-to-do buddy. Holy cow, Batman, this was incredible! First, the staff is unbelievably warm and friendly, and moreover, when we couldn't decide what we wanted, we took her suggestions which was one of the best things I have ever decided to do. Really. It even beats playing waterpolo. The food itself was fantastic- very flavorful, good-sized portions, and such a neat setting as well- cool murals on the walls, and your choice of seating. I can honestly say that even people who are not very food-friendly could try this place and leave feeling happy they did. I've been there a few times now...and I even took the big step and introduced them to my MOM! Yeah, big, I know. Check it out when you can- you will NOT regret it!
(4)
Borf B.

I loved the experience of eating at this place and the food was DELICIOUS. If you go, you should try the homemade mead. There was a live jazz band playing (Sunday night) and it made for a relaxing ambiance. The service was a little clumsy, but friendly and sincere.
(5)
Erin S.

I was introduced to Ras Dashen (and Ethiopian food) by an ex-boyfriend. I liked it so much that it's been my second date test for all guys since then. I've been to a few Ethiopian restaurants, but I find myself drawn back to Ras Dashen over and over (and over and over) again. It's one of my favorites in the city. Yes, the service can be slow (it's a small kitchen and a big restaurant, and it's a different culture than you're used to in Chicago), the food is worth the wait. This restaurant is ideal for vegetarians (and vegans according to the new menu), and meat eaters alike (lamb, beef, chicken, and fish), so you can bring anyone to this place and they'll find something to eat. As a warning, most of the food is spicy (a few dishes are mild, but still, if you don't like spicy you won't like the food.) It's a place to go and stay for an hour or two while you relax, talk, drink, eat, listen to music... it's not a place to go when you're trying to make a move in 45 minutes. Definitely one of my favorites in the city and a restaurant I make all my friends try.
(5)
Elizabeth L.

A friend and I visited Ras Dashen last Saturday night for dinner. It was only my third foray into the world of Ethiopian cuisine (the first being a visit to the now-closed Addis Ababa YEARS ago...the second, Mama Desta's). I have to say, this was infinitely better. We got there at the exact right time (just before 7pm) as it quickly grew crowded. The waitress took a while to get to us, but when she did she was friendly and helpful - suggesting several things off the menu. We ordered the Omnivore Feast (or something like that) for two...and had WAY too much food :). It was an excellent value at $30. The whole bill - the meal and four beers - was very wallet friendly. The food itself was fresh and extremely flavorful. We chicken, lamb and beef (tartar...which was surprisingly not disgusting). I can't wait to go back and try a different combination! As a note - service was slow in general...so just go in knowing that.
(4)
Victoria B.

I never thought I would ever taste Ethiopian food. My husband wanted to try it so off we went. I thought the food was a bit spicy but my husband loved it. I'm the saddest Mexican you'll ever met. I think Tabasco is hot. I just drank a lot of water and dealt with it. They do have less spicy items but I had to eat what he wanted. The things you do for your spouse, huh? Ethiopian food is traditionally shared by everyone at the table so bring a couple of friends with to enjoy a more traditional atmosphere. I suggest choosing one entree per person. Three side dishes per table come with your meal but you can choose your own side dish from the 12 side items. Forget the forks when you visit this place. The injera, sour spongy bread ,serves as both your plate and your eating utensil. Tear off a piece, pick up your food, and have at it. They have live music on Friday nights but we have yet to catch a set. That just gives us another reason to go back. All in all, we had a great time.
(4)
Amanda B.

Up until tonight I had only been to one other Ethiopian restaurant [Demera] that I was not fantastically excited about. I had also tried a more Eastern African restaurant that I loved, but went out of business [Bolat]. When I tried the Ethiopian initially it was not what I had pictured, and and had attempted to explain in class without actually having eaten it. When I went the first time I was with a bunch of people I didn't know so well, and everyone else was meat eaters, so I had limited veggie items, and really had no clue what I was doing becuase none of us had really eaten Ethiopian. Tonight I was supposed to go to an organic restaurant with a girlfiend of mine, who much like me likes everything different. She opted for either Ethiopian or Middle Eastern when we found out our initial choice was closed for the evening. She offered up Ras Dashen -- her and her husband have eaten there many times and LOVED it. I was ready to give Ethiopian another try, especially with someone who had been there, was veggie friendly, and knew what she was doing. So we got there, and the atmosphere was very good. They have more American tables and then more traditional tables. The wait staff was awesome and selected some great wine to us. I don't even like Chardonnay and he suggested a glass to me that I actually thought was really quite good. I don't know what it was, but I thought the enjera here was much better; wans't as sour tasting. We did a 2 entree option where you get 4 sides with it. We did tilapia which was delicious and then this more spicy okra and lentils dish which we weren't ecstatic about as we don't like spicey food too much, but it was still good. Then our four sides were a beet salad, another lentil dish I believe, this amazing cheese and buttermilk dish, and then I can't even remember the fourth. No complaints whatsoever! I even managed to save room for dessert even though the enjera expands as soon as you eat it and you tend to fill full quite quickly; can see why they eat it in Africa when they don't get to eat so frequently. I wound up getting a vegan chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream. As a friend joked with me, "That must have tasted grainy!?!?" Honestly, and I don't know how they do it, it was creamier than most ice cream I've eaten. My friend was full and wasn't even going to have some, and she helped me gobble it down. Overall -- fanatastic, and I would totally recommend it if you want to try Ethiopian, especially for the first time. Also, going with someone who knows the cuisine, also really helps, as I pretty much had her order for the two of us! Delicious!
(4)
Rayid G.

Ethiopian diamond has been my favorite plce in chicago for a while but Ras Dashen is creeping up to dethrone the diamond. It's a little inconsistent but when it's good, it's really really good. More variety (especially in vegetarian options) and a little cheaper than Ethiopian diamond. The atmosphere is slightly more warm & homey than ethiopian diamond since it's long and narrow instead of one large room. The staff is very friendly and they have live music sometimes (maybe weekends only?)
(4)
Ramya K.

I have one word to describe this restaurant0- CONSISTENT. I dont know how they do it.. We have been to this place nearly 20 times so far. And EVERYTIME, its the same. No disappointments. The flavor, the texture, the taste- remains the same each time you visit. We always take the vegetarian dinner for two. I love the fact that these guys have a lot of vegetarian options compared to other Ethiopian restaurants. We love the misser-wats with the berbere sauce. Okra, lentils and mushroom are always the default combination. The salads are flavorful and tasty. Considering the amount of reviews that have been written for this restaurant, I am going to stop here and not be repetitive on how yummy and tasty the food is :) The service is usually pretty fast esp on friday evenings. Among the drinks, their honey wine pairs really good with the food. Their coffee is one of the best that I have ever had- rich, does NOT taste burnt and aromatic. Also, if you are mood for their desert, try their molten lava cake that comes piping hot along with ice cream. And yes, it takes all of 20 minutes to get done :) Whenever I am in the Chicago area, we make it a point to stop by here for either lunch or dinner. I give it five stars and more!
(5)
Ania G.

Came here with 3 other people. It was our first time eating at Ras Dashen. On a Friday night, it was pretty busy, but not crowded or noisy. The food was very, very good. Unfortunately, I can't remember any of the names of the dishes. But we had a large variety of veggie and meat, all of which were super tasty. The coconut creme brulee was to die for, and I highly recommend their special coffee (it's worth the wait). On top of that, towards the end of our meal, there was live music. Rather than being annoying (which live music sometimes can be in a restaurant), it was just the right volume and highly enjoyable! I knocked off a star because our waitress had no idea what the dishes were and didn't even know how to pronounce them, though at least she tried (she was probably new). I will definitely be back!
(4)
Roy A.

I've never had Ethiopian food until I came here and I'll tell you that I certainly didn't have high expectations. I finally came after my cousin kept bugging me for probably over a year and I don't regret it one bit. I had no clue what or how to order but the servers explain it well and it's not too hard to figure out. We had the Doro wat, which is one of the only two chicken dishes they have and the national dish. This was downright delicious. I assume they don't dabble too much with chicken since there are only two dishes, but I still dream about having more of this. Just delicious. That's all there is to it. Also had the some lamb entree which was also very good and if it wasn't for the chicken, I'd say the best thing I had here. Finally, the Kitfo tere which is some sort of raw beef. I'll generally eat anything and therefore it didn't take much convincing to have this and it, too, was quite tasty. Especially for being raw. I don't know how one can consume it since it's raw but I'll leave that for you guys. I ate it and it was good and I'm still alive. Finish it off with some good African beer and I'm good to go.
(5)
Sean D.

If you're looking for an adventure in food, this restaurant is definitely worth the drive. Don't be scared off by the photo of the food attached above. While it does look like baby vomit, keep an open mind because the flavors are delicious! First off, they have a great selection of African beers. Personally, I had never had an opportunity to sample beers from Kenya and South Africa, so this was an absolute treat. They serve food in a traditional manner, everyone's entrees come served on a large platter with a spongy bread base beneath, which soaks up the flavors and grease and is great to munch on once you've cleaned up most of the food. The menu is heavy in beef and lamb with vegetable and a few chicken selections. If you aren't too crazy about spicy food, they have plenty of offerings that are mild but flavorful. But, if you enjoy spicy food, they can definitely recommend some great entrees. The entree platter is accompanied with a basket of the same spongy bread that serves as the base for the entrees on the platter. I'm not sure if this is traditional or more of a health code issue as I've spoken with people who claimed to have eaten "authentic" Ethiopian cuisine and the only means they had to transport the food to their mouth were their fingers. I prefer the bread. If the food isn't enough to convince you to try this restaurant then come for the gorgeous wait staff. The girls working here are beautiful!
(4)
carey c.

Ras Dashen is better than Ethiopian Diamond. The atmosphere is better, and they cook the meat dishes more than ED. (Green walls and barely cooked meat: Really?) Some of the reviewers are right, the service is not great, unless you are one of four tables that are present. If it is a Weekend night, call ahead to get reservations, and actively make your server pay attention to you. Get a group of friends together and share a platter!
(4)
Teri P.

I have tried 5 different Ethiopian restaurants in the city and I've decided that this is my favorite. The only thing I don't think they do that well is the Sambusa - they're tiny and not that flavorful. Other restaurants do them much better. But everything else is awesome here! I've tried almost all of the beef and lamb dishes and the sides are delicious!! I usually make a trip here at least once a month. The best thing is that it's just as good if you get takeout. Some foods don't travel well, but this is not one of those unfortunate cuisines. I was introduced to Ethiopian food a few years ago and honestly it wasn't something I was dying to try. But I am so glad that I tried it and it has quickly become one of my faves! I really suggest everyone give this place a try!
(5)
Liz L.

Holy deliciousness. Went the fiance and 2 friends to Ras Dashen last weekend. We were seated right away at a small table. The very friendly and helpful waitress helped us navigate the menu, taking our likes/dislikes and translating them into our order. And then, the feast began! After starting off with some delicious Ethiopian beer, we dug int oour 4 main courses, 3 sides, and baskets of soft, sour injera bread. Wow! Everything was delicious, flavorful, and unique. Ending the meal with fantastic Ethiopian coffee and gelato put the cap on a perfect evening.
(5)
Sam C.

New Years Day was my first experience with Ethiopian food. It was one of those, "What restaurant is open/Do you just want to do what everyone else is doing (for breakfast)?" that brought my roommate and I here. He knew it was here because he'd brought a date that loved the place. The place was easy to get to, and street parking is available (as long as it's not filled by a thousand cabs). The place was empty at noon on New Years Day (who would of thought?) but is decorated beautifully. After we sat down, our waitress helped us order, but our food took some time to make. But when it got there, it was totally worth it. I can't even tell you what I had, but it was spicy and delicious. It's definitely worth a return trip.
(3)
Chester R.

i had to try it........and i am glad that i did. the food was really spicy, the apps were good....the wine and beers are also very interesting. very friendly service and also a good espresso bar. now for the but......it's just not someplace i would go back to....and i guess because of the style of dining. just not really for me. i was with my family, so ok, the communal experience is very comfortable. but, i couldn't imagine going here with non-relatives and scooping up several entrees heaped on an xtra large pizza pan with nothing but steamed mystery bread and my hand. that said....if you have to check ethiopian off your list, this is not a bad pace to do so. i gave it 4 stars because the people were so friendly, and because my lack of culture precludes aboriginal style cuisine....and that is not their fault.
(4)
Agnes F.

the last time i had ethiopian food, it was 10 years ago and from what i remembered, it was not memorable happy to say that Ras Dashen brought me back to try the Ethiopian cuisine once again our friends made the reservation for Friday night so we can enjoy the live music and i must say, that definitely enhanced the experience we tried Chickpea Sambusa (tasty without being oily) and yellow beets salad for appetizers then we had Doro Wat (the chicken was a bit dry), Yebeg Dereg tibs (my fav of the night), zilzil alicha (the beef was tender and we liked the sauce), Qosta, diblik atkilt and ib as sides, all very tasty with the injera. we ended dinner with the ethiopian coffee (served in a special pot called jebena) and injera bread pudding service was uneven and at times slow, our server didn't stop by very often but when she did, she was helpful and friendly definitely a nice place to try the cuisine and at a reasonable price
(4)
erik d.

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food - went with some a date and some of her friends who had been before. I'm certainly not a stranger to trying new things, and the injera was certainly new... a little sour for my liking. One of the women in our group had been to Ethiopia for several months while studying abroad, and she said this was some of the most traditional Ethiopian she has had since coming back to the US. We did get a "bottle" of Honey Wine (served in a carafe) and it took a little getting used to - I'd suggest ordering a glass to see if you like it before committing to a "bottle" - myself and the other guy at the table were able to power through the rest of it, but it wasn't the most enjoyable drinking experience I've ever had.
(4)
jen m.

We were excited to try Ethiopian food for the first time and we were not let down! We ordered Doro Wat (chicken), Yebeg Dereq Tibs (lamb) and Gored Gored (beef). The sides were: Ib, red beet salad, and spinach. The food took a little long to prepare, which is fine since it's freshly made. But we enjoyed sipping on Ethiopian tea, hot and cold, which had enough spiciness w/o going overboard. We sat at a traditional table and when the food came out it literally used the whole table! Injera was on the bottom with the entrees and sides in sections on top. They also give you more injera on the side. At first we liked the injera but after awhile the sour-ness of the spongy bread got to be too much and we were just using it to pick up the food and not actually eating the injera. The lamb and the doro wat was AMAZING! The spices in Ethiopian food reminded us a lot of Indian food but not as spicy. Everything was great except for the Ib, it was more like cottage cheese than cheese, very mild in taste. Experience was great, until the cook started to yell at the waiter as we were leaving. Apparently there was some mix up with another patrons food and everyone in the restaurant heard the arguing loud and clear. Take your waiter aside, DON'T yell at him through the service counter!
(4)
Steven G.

I always have a great experience here. Admittedly, I don't get up to the far north side nearly as often as I'd like, but Ras Dashen is exquisite. The service and food are impeccable. Try it! You won't be disappointed.
(5)
Tanya G.

The food is great and the service is very friendly. They will also make the gluten free bread if you call ahead and let them know. The is definitely the best Ethiopian restaurant I have been to in Chicago.
(5)
Erika S.

My trip to Ras Dashen was my first Ethiopian experience, and I'm so glad I went. The food, the food was fantastic. It was spiced perfectly (I tend to like the spice) and so perfect. Our waitress was helpful in picking out our entrees and sides, and we were happy with all of the choices. Also, the Ethiopian beer selection is delicious... you must try the Hakim... one of the best beers I've ever had. For dessert, the bread pudding was a great surprise. Overall, an excellent experience and I can't wait to get back.
(5)
Kaio B.

one of my fav places. Go there with people you like cause you will be sharing your plate. I have taken my fav dates to this place to see how they deal with unique & unusual situations. now about food. If you like food with flavor, this is the place to go too. I dont remember the dishes but our grp ordered a lot of dishes and i liked all. They have a honey flavored beer that's quite good. I think on weekends they play african music which is good too. Parking is easy and this place is close to my fav place in the chicago, The Green Mill. What better way to end the night. I also think people should learn to eat with their hands if they can eat with chop sticks and forks. Its basic. Please dont drop your food into your mouth, it looks embarrassingly funny.And please dont forget to wash your hands before the meal. The restaurant gives you tissues to clean up afterwards.
(5)
emily c.

Ras Dashen is, in my opinion, the best Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago. Their food is excellent, and less expensive than some other Ethiopian places I've been to. I took my Ethiopian friends here a couple weeks ago, and they confirmed the good quality of Ras Dashen's food. It's great for vegetarians, and they have a good selection of Ethiopian beer. One drawback: we went on a Wednesday night and halfway through our meal, a guy came in to provide "entertainment"... He set up his synthesizer about 2 feet from our table, played loudly, distractedly (using one hand to talk on his phone half the time), and poorly. We were too polite to say anything, but when another table asked the server to have him to turn the music down, he gave us the stink-eye (thinking we were the ones who asked him to turn it down) and made us feel really uncomfortable. He muttered at us when we left... Ras Dashen is great, just don't go when that guy is there. Or, if you do, sit in the back.
(4)
Jon G.

Absolutely delicious. I'm not a vegetarian, but I've never had a meat dish here because I can't get past the awesome vegetarian options in the vegetarian sampler. They are all fantastic. The pumpkin wat is one of the most flavorful dishes I've had in my life. Don't come in a hurry, don't expect a huge drink list...just relax, try some of their coffee and enjoy a wonderful meal. I always leave this place feeling full, healthy, and rejuvenated. At around 15 bucks per person average, what more could you ask for?
(5)
Josh E.

Excellent meal, good service, no complaints here. I went on a Friday evening with my girlfriend and we were quickly offered a table. Not to say the place was empty, because it wasn't. They were just quick and prompt the entire evening. Our waitress was under the impression that it was our first time eating Ethiopian, when in fact it was just our first time at that restaurant. Still, her explanations of how the meal worked were great. I'd recommend this place for a first timer for sure. Considering the great and copious amounts of food we received for the price, great service, and wonderful ambiance, I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Julie B.

This place is a vegetarian and ethnic food lover's dream. They have a wide variety of dishes which come situated on a platter covered with injera bread. You eat with your hands by picking up the piles of food with the bread underneath. I went with a friend, and we were both stuffed at the end of the meal, and had left-overs to spare. Their tea is a good compliment to the meal. They have outdoor seating in the summer which is nice. Street parking was easy, right in front.
(5)
Gino R.

Wonderful first experience with Ethiopian cuisine at Ras Dashen. Our friends Jeff and Whitney turned us on to this location and we've since heard other friends and family enjoyed it too.
(4)
Sarah B.

I've been here several times and each time I've tried something new and really liked it. It's a great place to come on a date as well as bringing a larger group. It's definitely a conversation starter and makes people think outside their culinary comfort zones. At first I wasn't wild about the spongy sourdough injera but it grows on you! There are several dishes that use neither dairy nor meat on the menu and I guarantee that if you've never had Ethiopian food you are in for some wild and exciting spices. I would also recommend trying some of the beers from Africa. They are all really interesting and not something you can find very many places.
(5)
Samantha L.

Really good food. I just don't like that they won't let you order the bigger platters (for two or whatever) when you are in a bigger party. The bread pudding wasn't very good, but everything else was yummy. (If you want good bread pudding, go to Filippo's!)
(4)
Erin R.

Wonderful. Great food (everything we've tried, we've loved), good service, and a really lovely wine & beer selection. It's simple and quiet, and perfect for a night when you want to share a comforting meal in a relaxed, low-key setting.
(5)
Erika G.

Really like this place. A couple mentions of slow service are valid, but why be in such a hurry all the time? Standard Ethio food presentation - giant platter, injera, great seasonings, piles of food. Delish! This is definitely a place where vegetarians and omnivores can coexist happily and in harmony - there is something for everyone's taste here. But the meat . . . tender, juicy, perfectly spiced. MmmmmmmmMEAT!
(4)
Daniel O.

i recommend this place to everybody. everyone i have taken here has loved it. the staff is helpful and the atmosphere is the best.
(5)
Justin C.

Great atmosphere but not over the top.Traditional wicker seats and tables as well as regular tables. Helpful waitress. I have never had Ethiopian before and since I knew nothing, I asked her to recommend something from the mix and match vegetarian combo dishes. You get to pick 5 veggie dishes served on a large(huge) piece of injera(sourdough pancake). They also bring extra injera on the side. Price was like 11.99 but since extra injera was served I was full about halfway through the dish and the leftovers were great for the next day's lunch. Also, the veggie combo meal is tasty but not greasy at all, and most likely good for you and high in nutrients. I do eat meat, but I look forward to coming back again for variety offered by the veggie combo.
(5)
Nana H.

I love this place. I've become addicted to Ethiopian because of Ras Dashen. Thank god I live in a multiple member house hold, so I've come here and gladly taken advantage the 2 for 1 entree deal. I love their fish and lamb. We get the Ib cheese as well and anything with beets. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
(5)
Yumm y.

Oh man, this place is delicious! 3 people with large appetites split the vegetarian special for two. We were all stuffed and happy. Great dishes, TONS of vegan options and friendly service. Plus, they sell soy temptation ice cream!
(5)
Lauren H.

Nothing screams fourth of July holiday like a little Ethiopian food, right? But after a day of horseracing that is what my friends and I decided on. We yelped the cuisine and this was the highest rated so we gave it a shot. We started out with spinach sambusas which were little spinach pies with a spicy salsa. Pretty good. The three of us then shared the Omnivore's dinner for two: doro wat (chicken and egg in a spicy berbere sauce), shimbera asa wat (ground chick pea dough balls in berbere sauce--it was spicy!) and misserana bowmia (lentils and okra in berbere sauce), with sides of yeqaysur salata (beet salad), tikil gomen alicha (cabbage, potato and carrot stew), and yeqay tikil gomen (sweet and sour red cabbage). We were given tons of injera and everything was good, albeit some of it was a bit spicy for my wimpy palate. My friends also had honey wine which I didn't care for but they obviously liked. Service was good, and because the food is communal, the price of my dinner was quite reasonable ($15 with tax). Note that the portions are quite ample, so three or four people could easily share the dinner for two. Street parking was metered until 9 pm and spots were abundant.
(4)
M S.

I love this place, have Been here countless times in the past. The food is just excellent, but the wait staff and manager really need to get their act together! Everyone seems confused about where to seat patrons, whose order has appeared at the window, and there is constant running back and forth. All this makes for a very disruptive dining experience. No complaints about the food though, it always lives up to expectations. But they need to have a more competent set up!
(3)
Soft Pie N.

This is my all time favorite place to eat. Always split a vegetarian dinner for two. The vegetarian fish is the highlight. Yellow lentils are great two. Try vegan ice cream for dessert.
(5)
Andy G.

I'm calling shenanigans on some of the other reviews of Ras Dashen. My first time eating Ethiopian was at Ras Dashen and I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, even though I was not feeling the best that night. After reading the other Yelp reviews of Ethiopian Diamond, and of Ras Dashen, I was convinced I'd made a terrible mistake. So, like any good Yelper, I tried Ethiopian Diamond, to find out that I should have trusted my gut instinct (literally) that Ras Dashen was a quality meal. The restaurant itself is much more intimate and has a better atmosphere, with small tables and wicker chairs throughout the dining room. Our table was near the somewhat open kitchen, giving us a great view as the injera and tibs made their procession out of the kitchen and into anticipating mouths. The service was not the best, and it did take quite a while, but overall, the experience was much more pleasant than up the street. The food was more flavorful and had a nice presentation. After trying the competing restaurants, I'll definitely be going back to Ras Dashen for my next Ethiopian meal.
(4)
Katie R.

mmm.. ras dashen. :) super vegetarian-friendly with great dishes. i loveeee the red beets! i've never had a dish that i didn't like here. there have been a couple that were a little too spicy for my taste, but i am a weakling when it comes to spiciness so i think that is just a personal preference. the bread is wonderful - however if you can, try to actually use the bread as silverware instead of eating a piece with each bite of food or you will get filled up really quickly. for dessert, get the vegan icecream. vegan or not, you'll love it! the service has always been wonderful - we had my sister's birthday party here on a friday (with reservations, of course) and our water glasses were never empty.
(5)
Daniel T.

Very delicious dinner!
(5)
Jen S.

yum yum yum yum, super delicious, great waitstaff, and gluten-friendly! call ahead for gf injera. the only downside is that there are too many good choices... i always want everything!
(5)
v m.

you have to try the ethiopian coffee and tea! amazing. actually you should try almost everything on the menu. good service & ambiance. food was delicious and more than enough for the price(s) which are really reasonable. parking's easy in this neighborhood, so you could probably come at almost hour of the day. do it!
(4)
cj h.

Fun way to eat, healthy, social and inexpensive. Helpful staff and a great way to try a bunch of different dishes.
(4)
Danelle F.

This is my favorite place to eat in the city - hands down. I have tried nearly everything on the menu and have never once been disappointed. When you go, each table (usually per 3-4 guests) gets a round platter with three sides. The sides are delicious... everything from a green bean, carrot, potato mix to a sweet and sour cabbage. Then each person chooses an entree. This place has both vegetarian and meat options. The veggie options would please any vegetarian or vegan. The meat options are beef, lamb, chicken, and fish. Each comes in a variety of sauces which range from savory and flavorful (but child-friendly) to spicy berbere sauced meats. I also enjoy the specials they have from time to time. Most recently, a yellow beet salad which was so GOOD. The sambusas are very tasty, if a bit small (4 small pieces per order). The chickpea salad is a great new one to experience a veggie you might not think to order as a side. When we go, I like to bring a large group so we can get a good mix of foods to share. This is definitely not a place for you if you don't like to eat with your hands! The bread, injera, you rip in pieces to eat with. It's got a spongy texture with a mildy sour flavor. It doesn't affect the taste of the food (in a negative way), although it does get filling. As far as the seating is concerned, you can sit at a table and chairs, or sit in a softer, wicker and padded cushion type table. I find the service to be slower paced, but not bad by any means. It's just a very casual, laid-back vibe type of place. To be fair, I haven't been to any other Ethiopian place to compare, but then again, there hasn't been a reason. It's just so tasty and filling - why would I need to? I just wish they had a frequent diner card! :)
(5)
K P.

I'd never had Ethiopian food before, but my coworker recommended this place and because it's right around the corner from my house I gave it a try. The food here is amazing - and not too spicy, which I was afraid it would be. There are always lots of families here with children so the food must find fans among a wide crowd! We've brought friends and relatives here and they were all wowed by the food at this place. There isn't a thing on the menu that I don't like. Personal favorites include the alicha vegetables, and pretty much every lamb dish. "Spicy juicy" is delish, as is the lamb with rosemary. I love to cap off the meal with some of the Ethiopian beer "Hakim". Be prepared to eat your meal Ethiopian style by scooping it up with injera, as there isn't a utensil in sight. They won't rush you at all so you can sit around and chat, but if you don't ask for your check you might never get out! Reservations recommended on the weekends as they're always really busy.
(5)
J. T.

This is by far the best Ethiopian restaurant we've been to in Chicago in terms of taste, quality, atmosphere, and cost. The food here is so delicious and not greasy or heavy like at some other Ethiopian places. Lots of yummy vegetarian dishes. We're big fans of the 6-dish vegetarian dinner for 2 for only $25 and the delish dessert made from injera bread. The Ethiopian wine is a little sweet for our tastes, but it's worth trying if you haven't had it before. We've been to lots of Ethiopian restaurants (in Chicago, NY, DC, CT) and this one is by far our favorite. If only they delivered!
(5)
Cheyenne C.

I really wanted to be blown away by this place--I'd been looking forward to trying Ethiopian for quite a while. My review's based on the specifics of this restaurant as detailed in the next paragraph, but I will note the following: I'm not sure if it's Ethiopian cuisine in general, the Americanized version of Ethiopian cuisine, or Ras Dashen's particular take (since I'm not sure, I'm not holding it against Ras Dashen in my review), but I found everything surprisingly bland. I don't mean a not-spicy-enough blandness (although I was surprised at the mildness as well), but rather an absence of the flavor complexity that makes high-quality Thai, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Indian, even Chinese food (or well-spiced BBQ for that matter) so crave-able. Nothing at Ras Dashen was unpalatable, but I didn't *crave* a second bite of any of it. (Maybe the dupa wat. That was tasty.) The injera was lacking in the tanginess I'd been told to expect, the berebere sauces were good but not finger-licking... and my friend and I both thought the much-anticipated tej tasted like honeyed apple juice (it probably would have been better chilled). I should note that I stick to a strict mostly-raw, rarely spiced whole food diet at home, so on the rare occasions that I eat out, I'm pretty darn sensitive to nuanced flavor/aromatics. My friend summed it up best when we walked in... "It smells like tomato soup." But on to the stars. I tend to think menu prices should correspond to either the ingredient quality, chef talent, or service. I'm willing to forgive weak service if the food blows my mind, and vice versa. I called to make a reservation, and actually took the minimal English on the other end as a testament to the quality of the food. And when we arrived and asked for traditional seating only to be met with a puzzled look, we sat at the standard table to which we had been ushered, asked for glasses of honey wine (getting another puzzled look when we tried asking if it was better as a dessert wine or with the meal), and opened our menus. Immediately (I mean, as soon as we looked down), we were asked for our orders, to which we politely responded we needed a few minutes. Over the course of 7 minutes, throughout which we were clearly examining the menu and discussing our options, we were asked 4 times if we were ready to order; each time we responded that we needed a few minutes. It was amusing but pretty rude, especially given that we were one of 2 tables--they didn't need us to hurry out and clear their table. When we did close our menus and look around to order... it took a few minutes for anyone to notice. Not an issue, but after feeling pressured to decide it felt a little silly. After ordering the omnivore dinner for 2 with Qosta, Diblik Atlik, Kik Alicha, Dupa Wat, Doro Wat, and Zilzil Alicha (and getting yet another look when we asked if we might substitute the special entree Gored Gored for one of those for a few extra dollars), we noticed the tucked-away traditional seating on a trip to the restroom, and were able to ask the English-speaking bartender if we might switch, as all we had to move were our drinks. Everything went smoothly after that, but for $70 (including tax and tip, no appetizers or dessert--just 2 glasses of wine and the dinner for 2), I don't expect to work so hard. I wouldn't come back, although I might order the dupa wat for pick up if I get a pumpkin craving.
(3)
BIREN P.

Have had better food at other places. Service was just ok. Location not great and decor was average.
(2)
Brianna L.

today was my first time venturing into ethopian food although i've been wanting to try it for a while..it was confusing and the waitress should have told us that one entree is enough for two people, but did she? negative!! so we walked out with tons of leftovers..i had the lentil soup it was yummmmy!! it reminds me a lot of a moroccan soup called bissara..i'm pretty sure it is the same actually..then we had number 1 for the sides a salad of tomato, onion, and jalapeÃ±o..mmmm yummy!! that was our fave!!..then we had number 5 i think?? it was yellow with carrots, and potato, it was bland wouldn't recommend it..and then we had the spinach number 7 which i've heard rave reviews about but in my opinion it was bland...idk..maybe it wasn't the regular cook?? then the waitress recommended spicy juicy? i think thats what it was called it was juicy but not spicy and the smell made me sick..it reminded of why i rarely eat lamb..then we had this one beef dish OMG!! to die for!!! it was spicy and yummyyyyyyy...i think it was number 27?? i'm not sure but it was good i recommend that one foshoooo..and the bread is something to get used to, but its really good!! its spongey, tangy, and yyummy the owner is very sweet to write me a message..it's not your fault about the lamb, its my own!! and no, it will not keep from returning!
(4)
Beth H.

I've been to Ethiopian Diamond and Lalibela, but on Saturday I went to Ras Dashen for the first time. We ( me, my sister, brother, and aunt) ordered yebeg watt, doro alicha, yellow split peas, spinach, and a mix of carrots,potatoes,and cabbage. We started off with Ethiopian tea. Everything was delicious! and not too spicy..... I would definitely go back. My heart still belongs to Ethiopian Diamond,though. =D
(4)
Sophia T.

My tastebuds are definetly foreign to the cuisine, but I love to excite and surprise them once in a while. This restaurant was very friendly and nice. It was everything I could have expected. I just wasn't used to the food though. Honestly, I think we got a good variety of dishes (or lets just say blobs), but I just wasn't feeling the "bread". It was kind of spongy and tart and the main dishes/blobs where very similar in texture to the extent that I can't really tell you now, what each one was. All in all, a good experience though.
(3)
Todd H.

Easily the best Ethiopian in the city. The food is scrumptious, the prices are very reasonable, the management is superb, and the atmosphere is oh so comfortable. It exudes a quiet, unobtrusive exoticism. We like to have the yebeg alicha (lamb with ginger and garlic) and the vegetarian combo plate when we go there, and that provides ample food and a delicious spectrum of tastes. They also have a full bar and tasty, authentic desserts (as well as a few standards, such as tiramisu). But the find of the century is Ras Dashen's honey wine. The Tej is a perfect accompaniment to any meal there...and if you want something still a little sweeter, ask Maritu (the very courteous manager) for a glass of burrez. This restaurant is best if shared. Bring 3 or 4 close friends and get a little of everything!
(5)
Anna J.

i've been here twice. both times had excellent food. i love to try new places and when my friend suggested this place for her bday i was hesitant. i'm not into "eating with my hands." it was one of the main reasons why i hadn't tried ethopian food before. they helped us order and suggested dishes that would would be good for newbies. everything was delish. the flavors were much different than i anticipated. a little spicy and sweet. several weeks later i had a friend in from out of town who is really into food as well and i took here there and she loved it as well. however, i will warn you...it's easy to eat to much. it's very rich food and can give you a tummy ache if you're not careful. the service was good and they are helpful for the people don't have a clue to what they are doing. try it out.
(4)
Yujin A.

I have been here twice now. Ordered lamb and some kind of fish dish here. Food is good. Quite good actually. I've also had their chai tea, which is really strong and flavorful. When you order one main dish, you get to choose three side dishes. For those who haven't been to an Ethiopian place - They serve all of your food on this humongous sponge like pancake. You take some of the pancake to grab food with your fingers. It gets messy, but so yummy. I liked Diblik atkilt and Gomen for side dishes. I tried my friend's entree, Zil Zil Tibs, which was really good. My fish was spicy as it was supposed to be, and it had a really good flavor to it. But the service really brings it down to three stars. The servers here don't even seem bothered that you have been waiting for a long time. They couldn't possibly move slower! They also have many interesting paintings on the walls, which was probably planned by the management to keep you busy with something while you wait for your food forever. Traditional Ethiopian tables look interesting, but I would say stay away from those- not enough space, and your back is gonna hurt because the table is so low). If their service were semi-decent, I would give it four stars,,, but it's not.. what a shame.
(3)
Matt H.

I'm not that familiar with Ethiopian cuisine, but I loved all of the dishes that I had here, especially the beet salad. Delicious injera. Nice atmosphere, too. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Thea C.

Just went again the other day, and now they are making more all-teff injera so you don't always have to call 24 hours ahead (probably still a good idea if you have your heart set on it though). Still delicious -- we pretty much always get the vegetarian dinner for two, so we can have 6 of the dishes.
(5)
Justin C.

I'm addicted to this place. The food never fails to please and I always eat too much and leave wanting more. The staff is extremely friendly and always making sure you are enjoying everything.
(5)
Jarrad M.

At the recommendation of a friend, my wife and I went to Ras Dashen last Friday. My wife is not one for spicy food and is not really comfortable with adventurous cuisine. So when she said,"Ok, let's try this place..." I was really hoping it wouldn't disappoint. The food was really excellent! Bad Ethiopian food is like a too heavily spiced version of baby food. This was anything but that! Great flavors and spice with all the meal. We had the "meal for 2" combo which included a sampler of 3 entrees and 3 appetizers for like $30. We were stuffed by the end of the meal. We sat at one of the "traditional" tables, which is quite a feat for me at 6'4" tall. They had live music with a worldbeat/jazz quartet. They were really quite good. Highly recommended. The only bad thing was the service. We found our server to be MIA after the meal was brought to us. She never returned to check on us. So we might have liked more drinks or coffee/dessert but it was too late. quite literally, we sat at a barren table for 10 minutes waiting for our check. We even flagged down another server and busser to get our server to come back but to little avail. Now, maybe it was slow because it was Friday night? I'm willing to give it a try again during the week in the hopes that the service improves even marginally. My wife loved the food enough to give it another try...
(4)
Mo D.

The first thing I noticed is how clean the restaurant is. The restrooms, the dining room, and the kitchen were all spotless. I saw a waiter giving a table a thorough scrub-down. Second: the food is AMAZING. The Doro Wat was so well-spiced and flavorful I wished we had ordered two servings of it. All of the veggie sides were perfect and the lamb was also tender and even came with bones oozing marrow. If you're into that sort of thing, it's awesome. I only regret that we were too full to order dessert. Third, the waitstaff was attentive and everything came in good time. My husband and I were discussing whether to ask for more injera. Our waitress must have overheard because a few seconds later, a fresh basket of injera was placed on our table without us actually asking. The Ethio Chai is some of the best tea I've ever had. They also serve Ethiopian beers. Wonderful place!
(5)
S G.

Tried this place on a busy Sat night with a party of six. We had the vegetarian dinner with three sides, as well as tried the lamb, talapia, and chicken entrees with three different sides. Overall the food was pretty good. Some dishes like the mushroom vegetarian special had the kick I like, and the vegetarian "fish" (chickpea balls in gravy) was excellent. The spongy bread reminded me of a dosa (indian) but a bit spongier. Overall, a good place to try. That being said, the service was terrible. The staff was pleasant but 40 minutes to get a drink? Really? Main entrees took 80 minutes from the time ordered, which is too long in my opinion. When asking for extra plates or more of the bread, we never got them. So, four star for food, three or less for service. Thus, three stars for overall. Definitely try it, just go there on an off time with a small party.
(3)
Nick O.

I love this place. The food is fantastic, the service is great, and the coffee is intoxicating. It's vegetarian and vegan-friendly, the drinks are excellent and well-priced, and the decor and music create a warm and inviting atmosphere. It's a great place to go with small groups, and to take visitors from other cities who are looking to try something new.
(5)
Andre R.

Had excellent time at Ras Dashen. Went with large party and all enjoyed the food. Service was good and very helpful. Their "spicy juicy" was great and I was pleasantly surprised by the tilapia we had. Overall we had a great experience and would go back again.
(4)
Daniel H.

Seriously, how is this place ranking higher than Diamond? It is OK, just that. The sauces are decent, though they lack a piquancy that some "other" places have. The value is also not quite as good as you can find elsewhere. Service and decour are fine. Actually, last time I was there there was this jack of all trades musician playing a different instrument with each song. Live music at Ethiopian places has been, in my experience, "lacking," but this guy was actually impressive. And that coming from another musician so... But this exemplifies my point: I'm talking more about the music than the food. This place is good for when the you other favorite Ethiopian place is unavailable for some reason...
(3)
Deborah B.

I have now been to three Ethiopian restaurants in the Chicago area and Ras Dashen is by far the front runner. The service has been excellent both times I have eaten there with my husband. It is a very relaxing environment with the option of sitting at traditional round tables with very comfortable seats. The service is leisurly paced and very polite, helpful but not pushy in any way. The food is amazing. I recommend getting a mix of spicy and not so spicy. The cucumber salad in the appetizer section is a must have! The dressing is one of the best dressings I have ever had, in any type of cuisine. I highly recommend getting the cheese as one of the side dishes as it is a nice change of pace to the rest of the items. Also, try the coffee for dessert. My hubby who likes his coffee light and sweet enjoyed drinking the coffee straight up black. It had a very rich flavor. Ooo, also the beer we had (Hakim, I think) was really good.
(5)
Dave S.

Good Stuff People! I was an Ethiopian cuisine virgin until last night. I thought I might be in trouble when there was a section on their menu instructing people on how to order and what to expect when the food came to the table. These notes came in handy as I would have been lost and confused without them! Lara and I spit the carnivore meal for two which came with our choice of three main dishes and three sides. Trying to decide what we wanted was a daunting task in itself and our server was very patient with us. For our entrees we decided on the following: Doro Wat, YEbig tiba, and Misserana bowmia. I don't have a clue how to pronounce any of these so I am glad they all had numbers assigned to them. My favorite of the three: Yebeg tiba. The lamb was perfectly seasoned and delicious! Some people say that this food was not spicy enough for them. I am glad ti was not all that spicy as I would not have enjoyed it as much if it burned the hell out of my taste buds. I really got a kick out of the injera. It reminded me of a Swedish pancake. I also tried my first Ethiopian beer: St. George. This was a remarkable beer and easily ranks up in my top five list of beers! The service was good the prices were not out of control either but teh music was just a little too loud. This is going on my list of places in the area that I will be back to visit again
(4)
Jessica M.

I was a bit concerned that, after reading other reviews about Ras Dashen, that we would have to wait a long time for our food and that the service would suck. Luckily, this was not the case for us. We went here on a Wednesday night, got good street parking and good service (not great, but good) and got our meal way faster than I thought. We had a meat combo dish (beef with peppers and the Ethiopian Special - Chicken with Egg), the vegetarian chick pea "balls" and for sides we had the beet salad, the yellow split peas and the green beans with potatoes and tomatoes. Everything was really great, except that chicken dish. The chicken is served on the bone, which is great for flavor, but not so easy to eat without utensils. There is also a whole hard boiled egg in there which is also hard to tackle with a piece of spongy bread and your hands. Most of the food we had (minus the beets and the yellow split peas) were pretty spicy. It was tolerable for me and my husband, but if you are sensitive to spiciness, you may want to ask your server what is best to order. My husband tried an Ethiopian beer, which was good, and their coffee. It's boiled and served in a clay pot. Our server told us it would be a 15 minute wait for the coffee. We were like "dang", but we weren't in a hurry, so we waited. It only took about 10 minutes and was, according to my coffee snob husband, "decent, but lacking character". The live music is horrible, BTW. It was some guy with a keyboard. Sounded like my overweight cat walking across a keyboard with some cheesy, elevator/cruise ship melodies in the background. Overall, loved the food while we were there (did not like the relentless garlic burps for the rest of the night and the next morning - probably not a good place for a first date - just imagine the spinach stuck in your teeth and the abominable dragon breath). The vegetarian dishes were the best. Great flavors, a good selection of Ethiopian beers, okay service and questionable music.
(4)
PJ K.

Totally love this place. The room is beautifully laid out and highly conducive to long, leisurely meals. And there's really no alternative to longness and leisureliness -- Ethiopian is a slow-food cuisine, and this may not be the ideal choice if you're just looking to refuel before doing whatever the REAL activity of the evening will be. On the other hand, if dining out is the centerpiece of your evening, run, do not walk, to Ras Dashen. The menu is simple: meat dishes come with three sides of your choice, which is nice for those of us (he sheepishly admitted) who can be a bit picky about our veggies. Happily, the vegetarian dishes are extremely diverse and lovingly prepared -- I would not hesitate to take a vegetarian or vegan friend here and skip the meat entirely. But it's damn fine meat: I had the zilzil tibs, beef strips sauteed with peppers in a berbere sauce that packs a serious punch without overwhelming the flavors of the ingredients. There is a full bar with nicely chosen beers, which adds to the desire to spend some serious time here kicking it with friends in subdued conversation. The service is friendly if a bit languid (which mysteriously seems to be a universal at Ethiopian restaurants), but the food is good enough to overcome such quibbles. The prices are a bit steep (figure $20/head as a minimum w/tax and tip), but the portions are HUGE -- I couldn't get through a standard entree, and I am not a man of small appetites. Three entrees, I suspect, would be more than enough for four people, and sharing is not only possible, it's pretty much a cultural imperative. In short, great food, decent service, and a nice atmosphere make this, on balance, a perfect choice for a large group, and the diversity of the menu makes Ras Dashen a place where vegetarians can break injera with carnivores, and the spice-averse can eat happily alongside the truly masochistic.
(5)
Jessica S.

I have been here a few times and it has been great every time. The service can be slow, but the food is worth the wait. They have a nice selection of Ethiopian wines and beers. I also really like that they have live music on the weekends.
(4)
Andrea G.

Ras Dashen was very good both times I went. The service is nice and friendly, and there is a ton on the menu for vegetarians. We ordered the lentil sambusa, which is basically a fried wonton filled with lentils. It comes with a dipping sauce that is sort of like pico de gallo. I could drink the sauce, it is that good! The vegetarian dinner for two comes with 6 different items, 3 main dishes (they give you a bigger portion of those) and 3 sides. My favorites were the shirro (chickpea stew) and the tikil gomen alicha (cabbage, potatoes, and carrots). The shirro is out of this world--it has this really good buttery flavor but is not overly rich. The cabbage was cooked perfectly and had a great flavor. The other items didn't blow me away--we ordered diffen misser wat (lentil stew), diblik atkilt (green beans with carrots) and kik alicha (yellow split pea stew). All were very tasty but not amazing. I give this place 4 stars because I have had better Ethiopian food--there is a restaurant in St. Louis that is out of this world, and I still dream about their food. However, this is the best Ethiopian place I've been to in Chicago and I will definitely be back again and again!
(4)
Angi S.

We ate here just recently for the first time, and I loved it. We ordered a sampler, with vegetarian for me and meat for my boyfriend. Everything I had was delicious, wonderful spices and flavors. Truly mouthwatering. My boyfriend loves the veggie and the meat choices, as well. I can't wait to go back. This quickly became my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago...They apparently have bands occasionally on Saturday nights. I would like to check that out sometime, too! And if you're a coffee drinker, they have some special brewing and/or serving process for their coffee. I can't remember exactly what it was, but reading the description on the menu made me want to try it -- and I'm not much of a coffee drinker, especially at 9 pm on a weeknight.
(5)
Frank D.

This place is soooo awesome! Very good quality food, the spice factor is great! Order the Doro Wat (my favorite) and the Beef Tartar. The veggie options are great as well. The ambiance is nice and the staff are friendly and will answer any questions you have. By far my favorite ethiopian place. I always look forward to going!
(5)
Robin W.

YUM - my boyfriend has been telling me about this place for months so when the mood finally struck us to get Ethiopian food, we just had to go here. I had read the menu online beforehand and thought the selection was more limited than most of the other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to, but once I tried the food, I was a believer. Delicious! The African beers are really good too. The restaurant is well decorated with an updated though authentic feel and an outdoor patio (it might be new/seasonal as I saw other reviewers said no to "outdoor seating"). The staff was very attentive, and our food actually took less time to come out than the 20 minutes stated on the menu. The prices are reasonable too. If this is your first Ethiopian experience, you should definitely try Ras Dashen!
(5)
rachel p.

whats ethnic, veggie friendly and doesn't exist in indiana? ethiopian food! i took a couple of friends here monday night for dinner. they were in town visiting from indy and wanted to try something new (which wasn't hard). we shared the veggie dinner for two and the yebeg dereq tibs (for the two meat eaters at the table). there was FAR too much food for even 3 starving people to finish. everything was delicious but the standout for me was the mushroom thingy they had on special. sorry, i don't remember the name :( the service paled in comparison to the food. although she was sweet and gave us a few menu suggestions, she was slower than molasses. the food arrived at a snail's pace and we basically needed a flair gun to get her attention. our meal took over 2 hours. i'm glad we weren't in a hurry.
(4)
Cindy R.

Don't go with people that don't wash their hands and don't go without a friend. The food was truly amazing, and the in house coffee was one of the best cups of coffee I have ever had. Going here solely on the fellow yelpers reviews and my frustration with the whole "are you dressed nice enough to eat here", I looked for a highly rated casual restaurant and I found it. I can see why they got a Michelin recommendation and I have been bragging about the food ever since I ate there last Saturday night. I ordered the yellow beet salad off of their specials menus and the doro alicha (a chicken dish, that I had no problem eating with my hands). We ate all our food and the 3 sides, and the baby lava cake for desert that was made to order and brought hot to the table was really worth the 20 min wait. This was my second Ethiopian food experience, but the first time here, and I will be back when I'm in town.
(5)
Zehra G.

Came here with a Groupon of two on a quiet Tuesday afternoon. The place was nearly empty except for my mom and I. There is both regular sitting as well as 5-6 traditional Ethiopian dining which was comfortable and cute! The groupon ($26) lets you chose from any 3 sides and 2 entrees which is totally worth your money because usually you'd be paying about $40 (not including tax or tip) for all of those options but I left paying 26+ $3 tax+ tip. So a savings of about $10! Food came in under 15 mins, hot and delicious! I'll come here again.
(5)
Rachel B.

I have been a long time fan of Demera down the street, but a friend dragged me here last night and am I glad he did! I think I have a new favorite Ethiopian place You have your choice of traditional Ethiopian (4 chairs around a small, round table) or standard dining seating. We chose traditional- it created a casual, relaxed vibe and I found it to be way more comfortable. Only con is you have to be careful not to drop any food, as it's going to land on your lap instead of the table. Everything we ordered was flavorful and delicious. Asa wat (tilapia) was incredible- their berbere sauce is nice and spicy without overwhelming the dish. The yebeg alicha (lamb in a mild sauce) was really good- my only complaint was it was served on the bone and it was really fatty, so we didn't get a lot of meat. The service was good. Food came in a good amount of time. Our server checked back frequently on how we were doing and ensured our waters were full and we had plenty of napkins (which I appreciated, considering my mildly-OCD hand cleaning does not bode well with this style of dining).
(4)
Nikole M.

Delicious! Also dog friendly. Dogs aren't allowed on the patio, but it's easy to tie up your dog just outside the patio next to your table. Great place for vegans, vegetarians and carnivores! The chilled lentils hit the spot in the summer, as does the yellow beet salad.
(4)
Ali D.

Delish food at a good value BUT the service (Sunday evening) was horrendous. Both veggie & meat platters were solid.
(3)
Brian S.

Never had Ethiopian food so I figure wth after a few beers. We got the chicken doro wat as per my yelp crew and we were pleasantly suprised. The bread appetizer was a bit spongy but definitely a taste easily aquired with side dishes. Prices very reasonable and the service was great. The staff is very attentive indeed and previously stated by Yelpers. The orher cool thing was family style servings which made it a community fun dinner. I will go back and try some more.
(3)
Amy H.

I decided to go here because there was a groupon and I have always been curious about Ethiopian food. It didn't take long for us to be seated but it took awhile for us to get our glass of water filled and for them to take our order. We got one spicy chicken dish, a spicy beef dish, cabbage, salad, and cheese. The food is served on a large spongy flatbread. You get a basket of the flatbread and you eat the food by pinching it into the flatbread. It was interesting because I have never done that in a restaurant before. It was fun. The food was a little too salt for my taste and I started getting tired of the flatbread so I jut asked for a spoon to shove the food in my mouth. We ten decided to get Ethio bread pudding. We figured that we will probably not have another chance to go to an Ethiopian restaurant so we might as well. The bread pudding was really good, served a la mode. It is definitely worth trying.
(2)
Shelley L.

The food is OK but the wait might as well kill you. Don't expect great service either, (especially if you have a Groupon.) The only reason this place isn't getting one star is because the food was pretty authentic. It tasted decent but it's not the best Ethiopian food we've ever had. It took my bf and me 20 minutes to order and another 30 for our food to come. We would have understood if the place had been busy, but there were still many empty tables both inside and outside. (You can be in and out of most restaurants in that amount of time, so this is definitely not the place if you don't like sitting idly for an hour before the food comes. Also probably not a good idea to come here if you like friendly and efficient service because the servers are extremely uncoordinated and didn't seem to know what was going on throughout the entire experience.) To our surprise, our server actually turned out to be the manager. She introduced herself when we sat down but took 20 minutes, 2 bathroom trips, and 7 levels on cut the rope, to come by with our water. That was when we finally got to place our food order. After half an hour we saw our food come up on the counter, at which point 2 servers and 2 of the cooks argued about it for a few minutes. Then I guess one of the other servers got the manager and she came by our table asking if we had a Groupon. We did indeed have a Groupon, which we had presented to one of the servers at the very beginning when we sat down. She then repeated "you guys didn't tell me. You should have told me" a bunch of times before getting the cooks to fix our order and bring us the food. After the meal some random server guy presented us with a bill for $41, which we were very confused about since we gave the manager our Groupon. We asked the server guy what happened and he said he'd double check with the manager, who was on the computer toward the back of the room. It took her 15 minutes after the guy talked to her to come by and give us another check. This time, the check was for something we didn't even order. We finally left after she said we were good to go because she had already processed the Groupon. So basically we wasted 20 more minutes after we were done for them to sort out the confusion when we could have left right away. We will NOT be going back. The Mexican place next door (Mas Alla del Sol) was much better, so go there instead.
(2)
Rafia J.

Great food! Very similar to Ethiopian diamond, except the food is a bit more tangy, seems like they squeezed extra lime over everything! Which I like but my bf, who doesn't like his food sour, minded. Other than that, great, flavorful food, and good service! Will go again!
(3)
Cinthya Q.

First time eating Ethiopian food and it was delicious. The staff is very friendly and helped us through the menu giving great (side to entree) pairing advice. You can sit in a traditional table- small concave table where the good platter is placed. Or you can sit in a regular table. We tried the the Doro wat chicken (#18) and Dereq tibs lamb (#22). The chicken was so moist. The lamb was seasoned well. We had the sautÃ©ed spinach and the greens beans with tomato as our sides. There are no utensils so be aware that you'll eat with your hands via the Ethiopian bread. Overall a great place to visit if you are a first timer to Ethiopian food.
(4)
Kara B.

We had a great experience today at Ras Dashen. Came with a group of 10 because we wanted to get out of our usual food comfort zone and try something different. I would consider myself to have an open and accepting palate for a variety of cuisines, but I have never tried Ethiopian. It was great. Between the 10 of us, we got 3 huge plates (I'm sure there's a real name for these large silver plates...but I don't know it). Each "plate" had multiple sides and entrees all laid out on the "injera" which is a sponge like bread. The way it works is you pick up injera (there's also a basket next to you) and you scoop up the meat and veggie goodies on your injera and eat it that way. No silverware. I'm kind of a germophobe but after tasting the amazing flavors of the entrees I got over it and just shoved my food onto my injera and directly into my mouth. I don't even know what we tried but it was all great. We just told the waitress to bring us whatever she thought was good because we had no idea. We tried multiple chicken, lamb, and beef entrees. It's very similar to curry style but the sides are very unique and really add great flavors. It's a family run and operated restaurant and they just really seem to be passionate about sharing Ethiopian food with Chicagoans. Minus a star for atmosphere. There's not much atmosphere and didn't seem like air conditioning because I was sweating like a champ and had to guzzle down my white wine to cool off. Other than that, it's a great place and we'll be back.
(4)
Eric J.

Sometimes it can be slow, but it's absolutely worth the wait. Come on a weekday and ask if Nicholas can take care of you. You wont be disappointed. Get the Doro Wat with Ib. Trust me.
(5)
Joe P.

Woohoo! As good as [Ethiopian food] gets [in Chicago]! It is, seriously. It's also cheap and with good service.
(5)
Global G.

Another great staple when my Ethiopian craving kicks in on this side of town - The service is impeccable (as always), and I simply love having leftovers to take home!
(4)
LaDarian D.

Great dinner & experience. Loved everything, the chicken, the lamb & the beef. All of the sides were delicious & the spice was present but not overbearing. Service was excellent.
(4)
Masha G.

Amazing! We started off with the honey wine and even though it doesn't look amazing it's tastes so good. Very mild flavor. Using the Groupon we ordered the spicy chicken and spicy beef along with three sides. All which were delicious. To top it off with got the coffee. It takes about 20 min to make but well worth it. Yummm
(5)
L L.

Excellent Ethiopian food is what Ras Dashen offers. Chicken was perfectly cooked falling off the bone, succulent beef chunks and vegetables were well seasoned. Portions are large. We loved the yellow beet salad with fruit. Service is friendly and attentive. Interior is cozy and warmly decorated. It's located half block from Thorndale red line station.
(5)
Jenny H.

We don't really know what counts as good Ethiopian food, but this place is pretty decent. Each entree comes with a side. We ordered two meat and one vegetarian entrees for three people, and it was just the right amount of food. When they say chicken and egg, they mean literally half a boiled egg. The chicken was good though. Fell off the bone easily and was easy to rip into little shareable pieces. Read the menu carefully if you like your meat cooked. A lot of the beef is only slightly cooked and comes out looking basically raw. Also I would not recommend the cheese side, but the cabbage one is pretty good. Service is pretty slow, even when it was pretty empty. Only one waiter was working, but granted, it was a Monday night. The table next to us ordered maybe 5 minutes after us but were still waiting for their food when we left. A little pricey, but Ethiopian food tends to be in general, so no complaints there. There's a nice little hand washing station in the back which is convenient. We noticed a lot of people with printout deals, maybe groupons, so if you want to check this place out I would check if they have any promotions running at the time to make it more affordable. We probably won't be back because it is kind of far for us and wasn't amazing enough to warrant a return visit.
(3)
Rajat S.

Took my dad for a Father's Day dinner. He was visiting us after an year from India. The food was underwhelming compared to Diamond and the service was bad. Groupon for two platters costed 70 bucks which would originally be 90 bucks the quality of food was not worth over 20 bucks. Please save your hard earned money it's a rip off.
(1)
Sarah P.

I have enjoyed the following: - Diblik Atkiltv: green beans, potatoes, zucchini and carrots stewed with tomatoes - Qostav spinach cooked with onions, garlic and spices - Doro Wat: chicken and egg cooked in a spicy berbere sauce, also the national dish of Ethiopia - Awaze Tibs: lamb with sautÃ©ed, caramelized onions in a spicy awaze sauce . - Asa Tibs: marinated, boneless tilapia fillet pan-seared in ginger and black pepper and served with fresh-cut sauteed vegetables - Sambusa: beef wrapped in pastry and lightly fried We've eaten in-house and have done carry-out. In-house service is very hands off, and you won't get the bill unless you ask for it. That's how it's done, don't complain. Carry-out was fine, no issues. I picked up when they said it would be ready and it was there waiting for me. No complaints.
(3)
Mink L.

Walking in to a dimly lit but soothing room, we were promptly asked to pick our seats . We had a groupon and honestly didn't really have high expectations because my first time with Ethiopian food was far from being the finest. The server informed us to choose between two chicken dishes (one spicy and one not) and two beef dishes (same one spicy and one not). Chicken Doro Wat and Beef Zil Zil Alicha with a choice of three sides. We ordered the beets, split peas, and spinach and everything was so tasty! All foods were served on a spongy bread and soaked up all the flavors at the end. No forks... Just hands. Such an amazing experiences. Enjoyed our meal Little handmade tables, maybe not handmade, but impressed regardless. Michelin guide recommended 2015 and is now in top 10 for Chicago! Must try! Oh yeah. Ethiopian beers. Yum!
(5)
Swetha B.

This a great restaurant. My husband and I went there for New Year's Eve for a nice place to enjoy and different cuisine. Despite being vegetarians, we had a handful of choices and the food was great. I ordered a drink ( I forget the name!) that was a bit too strong than what I'd expect from the description on the menu. (Maybe the bartender was just a little too excited to get us drunk on New Year's Eve! *smh*) aside of the alcohol, i'd give this place a 7/10. (Holding back for the drink) The best part of this place would be the ambiance and the traditional Ethiopian tables and chairs. Loved that! Would recommend this place to a adventurous foodie!
(4)
A J.

The food takes a bit of time to make but it's worth it. Everything is consistently great! I had the doro wat and the mushroom wat; Incredible!!! If you're thinking about coming here don't hesitate much longer. You'll love it!
(5)
Benjamin L.

Great service, Jorge accommodated us on our special requests. The food was phenomenal. It was my first real Ethiopian experience, and the variety and quality of the food and spices was mind-blowing. Wash your hands!! Great drink selection.
(5)
Roshni P.

I will admit that I was a bit scared when my friend recommended Ethiopian food for dinner last weekend. From my fellow Yelpers, I was confident that I was going to enjoy the experience and the food. We walked in around 7PM on a Saturday and surprisingly there wasn't a wait for a table. We sat at the back of the restaurant, nice and cozy. Since both of us were clueless, we asked our waiter for vegetarian recommendations. We ordered the Pumpkin Wat and Telba Shimbera Misser Wat. For the two free sides, we ordered the Yeqay Tikil Gomen and I can't remember what the other side was but I remember carrots so it must have been the Diblik Atkilt. Everything was delicious! The waiter brought out a circular steel tray with a spongy bread with all the food on top. He also brought out a basket with Injera (thicker sponge like bread that you use to scoop up the food). Overall, I will definitely bring back friends and family. I loved the atmosphere and the food.
(4)
Natalie M.

I liked this place a lot! First, shout out to our server. Cool guy and he made the experience really great. We had so many questions. I've had Ethiopian before but we wanted to try new things. He gave amazing recommendations. We had some Ethiopian coffee too (delicious). So we did a vegetarian sample and we chose one protein dish. For the vegetarian sample were got, the ib (soft cheese), misser wat (lentils--delicious!), komodoro salata (diced cucumber), diblik atkilt (green beans, potatoes), yeqay tikil gomen (sweet and sour cabbage - liked this!), and I'm pretty sure we also got gomen (chopped greens). We got 6 things lol even though it's 5. As for our entree, we got lamb. We got the awaze tibs with lamb in a spicy awaze sauce. Using the injera to pick the food up, and the combination of lamb and veggie dishes, we had such a filling meal. Definitely a lot (maybe TOO MUCH) for two people. Such a great mix of flavors. The ib also tones down the spiciness of the food. Try this place!
(5)
Julie Y.

Came here yesterday for dinner with my sister and had the best experience. When you walk in they ask if you want to sit at a normal or authentic table. Defiantly wanted the full experience so sat at the authentic table. Tried some of the honey wine and fig wine but they were too sweet so we went for the bottle of Cabernet. If you like red wine and Cabernet I would defiantly recommend it. We ordered a side of cheese to go with it. -perfect- Our server recommended the Qategna which is garlic, jalapeÃ±os and butter. The green onions on top put everything together and it was perfect. For our main dish we got the doro wat and kitfo tere. Our sides were the cabbage and some greens she recommended. Everything was absolutely perfect!! All the flavors went together very well. I would have to say Ethiopian food is amazing and might be one of my new favs! I highly recommend this place. The service was great and the food was perfect. I read some reviews that service was slow but that defiantly was not the case.
(5)
Lauren N.

The service was great! The food was great but I'm a picky eater and I can't say I'm a fan of the inerja. It made everything sour. I came for the experience and I left with a great impression. I know I'm not a fan of Ethiopian food but I couldn't have gone to a better restaurant to experience it.
(4)
Raiza S.

my friend recommended I try this place out, so I did. it was my first ethiopian restaurant. i was pretty excited. I wasn't sure what to order so I asked the waiter for some recommendations. we ordered doro wat & side that complimented the dish. the doro wat was flavorful & yummy. i can't remember what sides we had ordered because I pretty much told the waiter to surprise me. I only cared for about 3 of the 6 sides he had chosen for us. I wasn't to crazy about the injera. it looks like a crepe, but is spongier and tastes sour, kind of like sour dough bread. I would have been fine eating the doro wat on it's own with the side without the injera. the injera kind of gave me a tummy ache because it was acidic. i would go if you are comfortable with whoever you are with because you are eating off of the same platter with your hands. so if you're a germ-a-phobe, ethiopian food is probably not for you. I would go again, but maybe try something else. I have heard great things about the coffee and wine too, so I will definitely try that next time i'm in.
(3)
Cynthia N.

This was me and my boyfriend's first time ever trying Ethiopian food! So exciting since I've been wanting to try this place for awhile. Our waiter was accommodating and very informative on what was included in our groupon and even explained how to eat it. The interior of this place was beautiful. It was clean and included a lot of art work from the Ethiopian culture. I love how they even had authentic seating if you wanted to give that a try. The ladies cooking in the back were sweet and welcoming. Let's move on to the food, me and my boyfriend had both of the spicy chicken and beef with three sides. The meat was so tender and flavorful but not too spicy (I am able to handle a good amount of heat). I would pass on the cheese since it tastes exactly like cottage cheese but our other sides were very delicious. The injera with the food was good at first but once full, we became weary of the taste. I definitely recommend this place and will be coming back! Give it a try if you guys are pondering on this place :)
(5)
Shaina K.

I've never eaten Ethiopian food before, so I was not sure what to expect. The restaurant is very quaint, and you can choose to sit at a regular table or on pillows on the floor. The menu is a bit difficult to navigate if you have no experience with Ethiopian food, but I was lucky to be dining with two pros. They took care of ordering everything :) FYI- everything is made fresh to order, so food can take a while. It's well worth it though! Everything is served on a common platter, and everyone shares. We ordered a number of vegetarian dishes, and two chicken entrees. Everything was incredible.
(5)
Kelly I.

Food is absolutely incredible! The Doro Wat has a good spice to it and the Tej is always available! Service has always been great. I live in Minnesota and travel to Chicago quite frequently. Every time I arrive to Chicago my first stop is this establishment! Check it out!
(5)
Shari O.

I've done the Chicago Ethiopian restaurant rounds and this is probably the worst I've had. We had the vegetarian sampler which included two entree portions and three sides. We chose shirro and misserana bowmia for our entrees. The shirro had no texture (it's a stew but still) and was honestly just bad. Not to mention scooping it was a nightmare and most landed in the table (oopsie). The Misserana Bowmia saved the day... berbere and okra? You can't go wrong. For sides we had kik alicha, Tikil gomen alicha and gomen. Kik alicha was almost purÃ©ed, a think overly buttery one. The Tikil Gomen Alicha was ok. The gomen was pretty good. I really wanted to love this place. Back to Diamond I go.
(2)
Ashley S.

Yum, yum, yum! This was my first time eating Ethiopian cuisine, and it did not disappoint! I went with my brother on a Saturday night. It was pretty busy, so I would definitely suggest a reservation if you go on a weekend. Our server was quiet but very nice and accommodating. We ordered two entrees - the Yebeg Wat (lamb stew in a spicy sauce) and the Kitfo Tere (Ethiopian steak tartare). Our server made sure we knew what steak tartare was, which I thought was nice of her. For sides, we ordered Komodoro Salata (diced cucumber, tomato, onion and jalapeÃ±o salad), Tikil Gomen Alicha (mildly spiced cabbage, potato and carrot stew), Qosta (spinach cooked with onions, garlic and spices), Ib (soft cheese made with cultured buttermilk), and Yeqay Tikil Gomen (sweet and sour red cabbage, Ethiopian style). It all came out on a large round of injera, which you use to sort of scoop and eat everything with your hands. Everything was absolutely delicious! The lamb stew and steak tartare were delectable. All of the sides were super tasty too. We also each had a couple of Ethiopian beers that the server recommended, and we really enjoyed those as well. (Unfortunately, I can't remember the beer names.) The restaurant also felt very warm and welcoming - kind of low lighting, some traditional and non-traditional seating, beautiful paintings decorating the walls, and just a feeling of comfort. It also smells AWESOME when you first walk in - all the spices hit you at once! I will definitely be back! This place is a gem.
(5)
Erick S.

Great GREAT food in the traditional Ethiopian style. This place is the genuine article. Come hungry: that ib will fill you up with the quickness. And bring company: the meal is much better when you can share!
(5)
Manish S.

If you want to try Ethiopian food, this is the place. I have been here at least 4 to 5 times. Food has been consistently great all the time. Staff is friendly and speak nicely. Service is a little slow only when it's really busy. I would given it 5 stars if they could handle busier times in a better way. Overall a really nice place and I intend to keep going here.
(4)
Marina G.

Amazing food! Great experience, expensive though and service is slow. But would definitely come back and recommend everybody to try it out
(5)
Mary Helen L.

Ras Dashen is our all time favorite restaurant. They have the best vegan/vegetarian food in town. We love their veggie combo plate, and shiro. The owner and chef, Zenash, really cares about the quality of her food, and the happiness of her customers. She always comes to talk to us personally when we're there. We love that there is a whole grain all-teff injera option which is gluten free. If you want a healthy and tasty meal, this is the place to go. They offer many vegan protein options, lots of cooked vegetables and salads, plus with the teff injera it's easy to stay away from refines carbs.
(5)
Joanna H.

Came here for dinner and the host asked us if we wanted to sit at traditional or regular tables. We, of course, chose the traditional tables to get the full experience. Our waiter started with drinks. I wasn't sure about the housemade honey or fig wine, so he offered to bring out samples of each. The honey wine was my favorite! YUM. We ordered the chickpea salad to be a bit healthier as an appetizer. It was delicious! I loved the jalapenos thrown in there. It gave it a necessary bite. For entrees we ordered Doro wat and Asa wat with kik alicha and komodoro salata for sides. The doro wat and asa wat were cooked just right (tender) with an interesting kick to them that I've never tasted before. I like the egg that the doro wat came with. It tasted kind of like a Taiwanese tea egg. The sides were also great to beat the heat. This would be a great place to go with a small group of people.
(4)
R L R.

I'm trying to be as pragmatic as I possibly can with this review, but I'm still fuming with the service my friend and I received this evening. The food is actually very good, but to say that everything is overpriced is one hell of an understatement. $2 for a can of soda is completely outrageous. I suppose I could have overlooked the highway robbery in pricing if it weren't for the disgraceful service we received. It took over 5 minutes for a rotund busboy to waddle a couple of glasses of waters to our table and then another 10 minutes for him to waddle back to us and see if we were ready to order. That's when I realized he was our server. After taking our orders, he waddled off and we didn't hear from him for another 10 minutes, still waiting for our sodas to arrive. Since we were seated across from the kitchen, we could hear everyone screaming and arguing with each other. This pretty much went on for the duration of our dinner. He brought an enormous tray with just the 2 sides we ordered along with the injera in a basket without the entrees. He then went over to the kitchen window and screamed for our entrees. After waiting a couple more minutes, he brought the 2 bowls containing our entrees and literally dumped both bowls in the tray like he was feeding a couple of hogs their slop and waddled off again. I could understand the slow service if it were a busy night, but there was never more than 2 other tables occupied the whole time we were in there. I had to flag him down for some napkins as well as a refill of water and another soda and then he disappeared for the rest of our meal. I had to actually get up and look for him for the check. After dropping off the bill he waddled off to the back of the room and sat down at a table hidden by the bar, while we sat there for ANOTHER 10 minutes with our payment rotting in the checkbook. I was losing my patience by then, but the only time I was about to get up out of my seat again was to leave, and I was very close to doing that by that point. I finally had to flag down another server that had just started to ask for our server. The second server walked back with our check and spoke to our server before closing out our ripoff of a bill. As much as I argued with my partner who kept trying to give our server a decent tip, I made him settle with me on $2, which is $2 more than that slovenly server deserved. I'm still baffled by the 5 Star reviews for this restaurant, because there are other Ethiopian restaurants in the area with better food and exceptional service for much less. I'm never setting foot in this joint again!
(1)
Michelle W.

I was there for lunch on a Friday with two friends. We ordered the vegetarian sampler for the appetizer. Everything was delicious. We then ordered beef, grilled lamb and chicken for our main meal. My favorite was the grilled lamb. I would go back just for that dish. Yum!
(4)
Susan C.

Went here with a fairly large group the other night, about 11 people. While the good was good, the wait stuff was an entirely different story. They were rude, not very helpful and when we Went to pay at the end, the waitress went on break while we stood there watching her walk out. We each ordered one entree & a few apps and drinks. When the bill came, everyone had paid cash except one person. Naturally, the gratuity is already figured in with a larger group so the one person did not add a tip onto the remainder of the bill and paid with their credit card. Upon checking the bank statement a few days ago, Ras Dashen had tacked on a tip even though the receipt signed for did not allow that. What the hell??! What kind of restaurant does that??? And to top it off, they slid in extra charges for things we did not order. Me, and my friends are never going back there again!!!!!! Scam artists!!!
(1)
Sandra T.

Delicious food served traditionally. So no forks! We had the vegan appetizer platter which I felt would have been enough. I like how the menu shows which dishes are spicy, and believe it because they are. I tried the homemade fig wine and I recommend it. Goes perfectly with the cuisine. Be prepared to spend a long time there. Patience is a virtue.
(4)
Jenny H.

I have made it atop of the mountain, and boy does it taste delicious!!! Had Ethiopian once elsewhere and was met with monotonous sour-tart offerings. I vowed to give it another shot, along with 11 of my coworkers and their lovelies. Yelp, you didn't steer this girl wrong! The food was satisfying, hearty, tender, smokey, gamey, zesty. For our large group, we split into five/seven people per pan. Our side of the table ordered a variety: beef, fish, chicken, veggie, and lamb. I loved anything in their berbere sauce-- spiiiiiicccy! The lebleb tibs were decent-- so many jokes about gettin' more "lub-lub'n". Per their menu, they recommend one entree per person. Each entree also comes with a side. I relinquished the choice of sides to our server, "whatever you think is best!" When our food came out, it proved to be a FEAST and then some. We probably would've been okay with half as much entrees. I must say, the red cabbage and potato-carrot-zucchini stew are must-orders for sides. Our server and the Ras Dashen staff were so friendly, hospitable, and patient with a large group of mostly first timers. Their recommendations were on-point with our tastes and they kept the honey wine a-flowin! I also got their chai tea, which was definitely skimpy on the dairy but still fragrant. A couple of gals at the table also got the coffee, which they said was super stroooong, but much-needed after eating themselves into a food coma. I ended up boxing up mucho leftovers for Ethiopian eats part deux. After drinks and everything else we ordered, it came close to $50/person. Worth.Every.Bite.
(5)
Daniel L.

I was craving for Ethiopian cuisine so my friend suggested that we come to this Ethiopian restaurant for a group dinner. The restaurant was good for groups as the long interior encompassed a full bar, three rows of tables, and cultural artifacts arranged along the walls. Despite their undisputed reputation, the atmosphere was slow for this particular evening. We were the only customers in the restaurant for a good portion of the night. My friends weren't looking for communal dining, so I ordered their award-winning Yebeg Tibs ($24.95) that came with one side, Misser Wat, and Gomen ($3.00). The Yebeg Tibs came recommended by the server and the dish exceeded my expectations. The lamb arrived in small cubes that were lightly cooked with onions, green peppers, and Ethiopian seasonings. The lamb could appear in larger pieces, but the combination was nicely cooked down to bring out all the sharp spices and flavors from the lamb. It was spicy, tender, and lots of moisture. Ironically, my friends who were not keen on communal dining loved it too. The Misser Wat came with pureed red lentil in a spicy berbere sauce. The buttery taste was heavier than the ones I had at other Ethiopian restaurants, so it is not something I would recommend. In contrast, the Gomen was very good as the slowed cooked chopped greens were nicely seasoned and complemented well with the lamb. Their injera was not too sour and it came with an abundant of soft spongy texture. Too bad I couldn't bring them back to Iowa but they do sell them for $1 per pound. Gluten-free injera is also available with advanced notice. The only serious complaint I had was their service. The servers were kind, down to earth, and gracious. However, the food took a long long time to arrive at our table, leaving us scrambling to grab a cab to catch our show. Even though the wait time for food to arrive tends to be longer at Ethiopian restaurants, but this was quite unusual especially since we were the only ones there for the good part of the evening. I would definitely be interested in coming back after having a chance to try a good number of other Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago. 3.5 stars for the experience.
(4)
Adi R.

Excellent food! By far the best Ethiopian food in Chicago! Can't go wrong eating here, except you need to be ok eating with your hands.
(5)
Lily J.

I had initially given this place 5 stars but the past few times I went, things have been terribly off. The honey wine is made in small batches and the consistency is never there anymore. Some days it's sappy sweet and some days its just bitter and tastes carbonated. We sent it back once already but it gets awkward at a certain point. Also, the rice pudding that comes with slices of dates has downgraded in size and they opt to just plunk a whole date on top. No doubt cutting corners, which makes the dessert less pleasant than it was prior. Overall, the place is getting busy and they can't maintain quality with the quantity. I will be searching for another Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago.
(1)
Davitt T.

WE LOVE THIS PLACE That's me and my amazing lover talking. We went here before they were even open and they let us in for the opening ceremony. We were very hungry, but I don't think either one of us were expecting to be in for such a treat, and good service. This place isn't just good for the food, but the community and culture in which they present and serve. It's just really good. I will go ahead and recommend this place openly for any of you reading who are vegetarian or gluten-free, because this place totally has you covered.
(5)
Julia K.

I can go a total of about 2 weeks without having Ras Dashen, no more. We get take out 99% of the time, and they're always quick and efficient with the orders. They come out correctly, and the food is hot, and packed well. The staff who helps us at the front is friendly and helpful. The times we have dined in have been pleasant experiences. The food: It's great. Definitely the best Ethiopian I've had. Their injera is really delicious, and a good texture, which I've noticed can be a problem at other places. The portions are absolutely enormous, and the takeout orders we get (an entree each) usually gives us about 3 meals total. Extra injera for $1 is well worth it for the leftovers.
(5)
Maria R.

The food is great and server is very friendly. Service is a bit slow and although I wanted to order a glass of wine they didn't return for my order.
(4)
Sam P.

Best Ethiopian food that I've had in America! For anything more authentic I may have to go to Ethiopia! I've been to Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago, Washington DC, Las Vegas (that one was nothing short of a health hazard), Columbus and Raleigh. This one is by far the best. They use the freshest of ingredients and have the most amazing vegetarian food ever!
(5)
Amey K.

Best Ethiopian in I have ever had! Meat was slow cooked and just fell off the bone.
(5)
Ebs B.

Let's be realistic here; I'm not one to share a meal where everyone is dipping their hands into food (even with bread as a utensil) and then watching them put the food to their mouth as they breathe on their fingers or accidentally have their fingers touch their mouth, and then go back for more. In the meantime, I'm watching in anticipation as I have to go next. Because of this concern of mine, I stayed far away from Ethiopian food not taking into account that I could go by myself or with one other person whose germs I trust (silly, I know). So, I did just that and went with one other person, and I loved my experience at Ras Dashen! The bread is a sourdough flavor, and cold, but it is just the right balance with the traditional spices. I love that each meal has a side that is just as filling and delicious as the entree portion. My favorite side was the cabbage. My favorite entree was the non-spicy chicken which was so tender, it fell immediately off the bone. To top it off, the rice pudding dessert was the perfect combination of sweet and savory, and a nice way to end the meal. In comparison to other restaurants in its category and price range, I'm giving it a five since I had no complaints with service, food, drinks, or the bathrooms (which were spotless, and I love that). Thanks Ras Dashen for getting me to try something new and having me love it!
(5)
Gretchen D.

Still fabulous. Took my son who has lived in Africa and been to Ethiopia. It declared it excellent. We had the doro wat and the 5 vegetarian sampler. The doro wat is well spiced (if you don't like spicy don't order it). Good service. Clean and delicious. $45 for three of us with three teas.
(5)
Josephine L.

I was craving Ethiopian food like crazy, so I, Dorise G. and a couple of her awesome friends trekked over to Ras Dashen to satisfy that craving. We got a variety of meat and vegetarian dishes: Gomen: Collard greens. Tasty and well-cooked. Yeqay Ferfer: Beef and injera in berbere sauce. The perfect sautee of rich meat and sour bread. Asa Tibs: Tilapia cooked with ginger, garlic and spices, topped with roasted veggies. The fish was incredibly flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth tender. Tikil Gomen Alicha: Cabbage. Delicious treatment of one of my favorite vegetables. Kitfo Tere: The classic tartarte. Not nearly spicy enough for me but otherwise okay. Salad: Self-explanatory. Meh. Doro Wat: Chicken and egg. I'm not actually the biggest fan of this dish, despite it being Ethiopia's national dish (I don't dislike it, it just doesn't excite me), and Ras Dashen's was adequate but did little to change my opinion. Kik Alicha: Split pea. Good. We also enjoyed some Ethiopian chai, which hit the spot but was a little pricy for what was essentially hot tea with cardamom. Service-wise, everything was great, and the staff are incredibly friendly and hospitable. The decor is par for the course with Ethiopian restaurants (dark, lots of memorabilia), but the restaurant is spacious with plenty of seating.
(4)
Jaspreet S.

Horrible service and mean staff! I didn't tip at all. Beside they take 20% extra gratitude Over priced for little quantity Same as Indian food but Indian is a lot more better None of my friend that I go to dental school with liked it and we are never visiting again
(1)
Tova M.

Went here based on a recommendation and it was delicious! The service was wonderful and the two of us ate everything (lot of food). If you eat here, don't forget to get the amazing iced tea!
(5)
AndrewSumi G.

We have been going to this restaurant for the past 8 years. It is definitely my favorite etihiopian place in terms of food. My favorites is the Yebeg tibs berebere and Dora wat. In fact, some of their food I thought was better than Ethiopian places in DC. They are the perfect level of spicy and flavorful. However, over the past years and my time there, they have steadily increased their prices and decreased the amount of food they serve. That left a kind of sour taste in my mouth considering that we have been going there for so long. So, that led me to start exploring other Ethiopian places and give them a second chance....
(3)
Michael D.

I really enjoy the food here, but unfortunately I can't tell you by name what I've had. We just order a bunch of veggie items and snarf them down in bliss. A couple nice beers and very friendly wait staff, definitely recommend. Now I just need to familiarize myself more with the individual items so I can know more what I'm talking about.
(4)
George E.

Fantastic restaurant. 5 stars seems suited for restaurants that are sublime and Ethiopian cuisine cannot, for me, achieve that level. That said, this is as good as I've ever had. The lamb dish, Yebeg de Bebere, we had was phenomenal and wonderfully tender. The veggie combo platter was super relish. And we had a bread pudding made of injera which was fantastic and the only dessert I've ever had in an Ethiopian restaurant that was worth eating. The place truly deserves 4.5 stars. It was that good.
(4)
Amanda W.

The food was great, although this was my first time eating Ethiopian, so I don't have a good comparison. Highly recommend the soup and the Qategna. Let me preface my review by saying we had 4 servers throughout the course of the evening. So I'm assuming this is part of why some of the following things happened. 1) Someone in our party of 4 ordered a Coke, server brings back a Diet Coke. OK, that's not the biggest deal in the world. After this, in a span of about 20 minutes, we had at least 2 servers come by and ask what we'd like to drink, even though we already had drinks. Slightly confusing. 2) No explanation of the menu at all. No one asked "first time having Ethiopian?" where it might have been helpful to get a brief rundown of recommendations. 3) I ordered a side of cheese with my entree, and the cheese (Ib) never came. We asked one of our servers about it, and he said he'd bring it with another drink for me, and about 20 minutes passed without either. Finally another server came by and we asked for the cheese and she brought it in 30 seconds. 4) Had to wait a really long time to get drink refills or extra bread. And it's hard to eat this food without bread. 5) Piggybacking on the no one explained how to eat Ethiopian to us n00bs, our sides came before our entrees, so we started to eat the bread on the platter, and we were basically scolded by the server when he brought our entrees and told us to put our extra bread on the platter so he could put the entrees down. 6) When the entrees WERE put down, the vegetarian food was touching the meats, which was a bummer for the person in our party who was vegetarian. 7) We waited at least 30 minutes for the bill. Someone dropped off some dessert menus and mints and then disappeared and we had to flag someone down to get our bill. 8) Bill finally comes, one of our party members doesn't get the receipt copy he has to sign. Have to wait again for someone to flag down. I'm bummed we had such bad service, as it was not cheap for the 4 of us. Will be trying Demera next time I get a craving for Ethiopian food.
(2)
Darren B.

Got carry out from here last night and it was really tasty. My brother and I got 2 of the veggie combo plates so we pretty much tried all but I think 2 of the 12 options. I do not have Ethiopian food often. I like it, but I have never been crazy about injera. This is the best injera I have had. I can't speak to the service or atmosphere as my brother picked it up, but I do look forward to my left overs for lunch today.
(3)
Razan L.

Loved the food here so much. I really enjoyed the intricate flavors and the contrasts between the different foods. John our server was a young handsome man who was such a sweetheart answering our questions about the food and Ethiopian culture. Def a place I would return to.
(5)
Dan S.

Going in I was very scared to try this place. I went with a group of about 9 of us and most of them had tried it. Try the food was just incredible from the appetizers to the drinks and the main courses. If you love eating and trying need good food go to this place! Our waiter was very sweet and funny. He had us laughing throughout the night also. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
S R.

anytime anyone visits us in Chicago, we bring them here. It's not just the food that's always superbly spiced, it's the experience of eating together and it's the atmosphere that all makes this place special.
(5)
Zee M.

I come to this restaurant as often as time allows. My son has been feasting Ethiopian style since he came the womb, still loves it the same. I am totally in love with the cuisine prepared by Chef Zenash!!!!
(5)
Andrea A.

I am seriously obsessed with this place. I tried Ethiopian food for the first time about 2 years ago and have been to several spots around the city (usual suspects: Ethiopian Diamond, Demera, etc.) but nothing comes close to Ras Dashen. I can't really handle spicy stuff and so I usually just order the vegetarian sampler, which includes 5 generous vegetarian sides. I can easily split this into two meals. Everything is just perfect--their gomen and qosta is perfectly cooked, their yeqay tikil gomen is addictive, and their tikil gomen alicha is the most comfortable comfort food ever. Oh, and their injera is perfect flavored and cooked--probably why their qategna appetizer is my favorite (can't get enough injera). Their honey wine is also a fantastic treat. Their service is also great--we probably average a meal there every 2 weeks (we live very close) and they are friendly and speedy every time, without fail. Their take-out service is also fast and reliable (and I think they might actually give you larger portions...) Since I love this place so much, I had my birthday dinner there last weekend (15 people) and they were extremely accommodating and dealt with the large group seamlessly. Everyone received exactly what they ordered and enjoyed every minute of it. Ras Dashen, never change.
(5)
Harry B.

Stellar Ethiopian food. The veggie sampler platter was outstanding.
(5)
Zorin D.

This place was pretty darn good. We went here after being trapped in Chicago due to traffic and decided to try out a few appetizers and drinks. The beet salad is one of the best that I have ever had. It was sweet and well balanced with a nice tart vinaigrette. There was also a crisp texture that comes from something that I eventually got too drunk to ask about specifically because their homemade honey wine is so good. Don't pass up the honey wine. It is liquid gold. It is what gods drink. The beef tartare was interesting spicy and different. I still enjoyed it with the sour bread, but honestly the portion was big enough for probably four or five people. Normally that isn't a bad thing, but I would never pack up raw meat to take home since that sounds like a recipe for death.
(4)
Bill J.

Family that owns it is lovely. And I love Ethiopian food. It seems like the Chicago Ethiopian restaurants, including Ras Dashen, are just pouring on the oil to appeal to Americans, We took out two veggie samplers last week and there were pools of oil on top of the food. It's incredibly unhealthy to eat this way. Diamond is even worse. Please give people a low fat option..I know you can make this wonderful food without so much fat .As it stands, going here is like eating two McDonalds meals.
(2)
Eli t.

Really good food. As vegan, I've always felt really comfortable eating Ethiopian food. This place has always been beyond exceptional. The menu is well labeled and the staff are willing and knowledgeable. The food is exceptional as well. Good vegan selection portions are decent. Their shirro, to me, is there best vegan item-spicey, perfectly seasoned, just thinking about it...
(4)
Erik C.

I'm not very seasoned (pun totally intended) with Ethiopian food, so this is only the 3rd time maybe in my life I've had it. This place is highly regarded around Chicago so I wanted to check it out, it definitely lived up to expectations. I ordered only vegetarian food and it was all seasoned perfectly and nothing was over powering. It was actually less spicy than I thought it would be. Keep in mind you eat with your hands here! The bread you use to eat with is a unique texture I haven't seen before. Great and plentiful vegetarian options!
(4)
Karpick M.

This is my favorite place to go to for Ethiopian food. I usually order the veggie dish that comes with three side options; I choose misser salata ,qosta,and gomen. The atmosphere is very authentic and the service is always pleasant as well.
(4)
Dawn G.

Ras Dashen where have you been all my life? This was my first foray into African food. I knew that I'd be in for eating with my hands but wasn't sure about seasoning and found the flavors to be similar to Indian. My companion and I had the doro wat (probably one of the best chicken dishes I've ever eaten), along with misser wat, diblik atkilt, and kik alicha along with the injera. I had the honey wine and my date had an Ethiopian beer. Yum! Staff is super friendly and attentive without being overbearing. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Shruta S.

Best Ethiopian place in Chicago. By far. Mind bogglingly delicious food. 'Nuff said :p
(5)
Hannah C.

We went on a weeknight and were surprised that there was no wait for a table. The honey wine was delicious - probably the best I've had in Chicago. Not too sweet or thick, just delightful. Service was pretty prompt, and portions were pretty modest. We each ordered one meat (which comes with one veggie side) and it was about right for two hungry people. The lamb tibs were good, but a bit overpriced. The Sega Wat was delicious and a real treat! The Misser Wat was also pretty good. This is a good find if you're in the neighborhood, but there are other Ethiopian places of equal quality that are significantly cheaper.
(4)
H L.

My husband and I are both vegan and we had dinner at Ras Dashen on a recent trip to Chicago. The restaurant had lots of options they said we could eat and we ordered a big platter with small servings of the following stews around the sides: Tikil Gomen Alicha (cabbage and potato --pretty good) Qosta (garlicky greens -- really quite good) Diblik Atkilt (a tomato-y vegetable stew-- yum) Misser Wat (spicy lentils--pretty good) Kik Alicha (yellow split peas-- also good), Yequay Tikil Gomen (sweet and sour red cabbage-- this was delicious and almost Asian-tasting). In the center of the plate we got a bigger serving of the Special Mushroom Wat, which was good but not as great as some of the side dishes. Everything tasted good and nothing was disappointing. It was a great meal, better than any we've had at an Ethiopian restaurant in LA, where we live.I told the server that, and he asked me to post it on Yelp, so I said I would. The food was so tasty that we even took the leftovers to our hotel room. But then came the next morning when the meal seemed to disagree with me and I had to make a trip to the pharmacy. I'm still not sure if that was really the fault of the food, since my husband didn't have the same problem despite eating all the same things. But I'm not sure I'd risk going there again, either.
(3)
eric p.

YUM!!!! very good ethiopian. nice people. easy parking.
(5)
Ritu M.

Unbelievable Edgewater gem. The food portions are more than generous and the food is finger-licking good. The cherry on the top is the helpful and courteous staff, especially Megan and the manager, Rob. I had an amazing experience and I am glad I was able to visit and try them before moving back to Jersey. Highly recommend to anyone who is visiting and want a guaranteed treat.
(5)
Christine F.

"If it ain't broke, why fix it?" -Me, in reference to Ethiopian Diamond My husband and I had been meaning to try Ras Dashen for years, but we were always lured back to Ethiopian Diamond because it was delicious. However, this past Friday, we got ourselves out of our Ethiopian rut and headed a bit south on Broadway to Ras Dashen. The ULTIMATE FACEOFF HAD BEGUN. ETHIOPIAN DIAMOND VS. RAS DASHEN Cute interior. When I walked in I was immediately greeted and seated. I started to peruse the menu and noticed that ordering works differently at Ras Dashen. Basically, if you order a veggie platter you get to choose from 12 different dishes at Ras Dashen, whereas Ethiopian Diamond has a set of dedicated dishes in their vegetarian platter. Same goes with the meat platter - you can choose what you want at Ras Dashen. Between my husband and I, we ordered the Tikil Gomen Alicha, Gomen, Qosta, Diblik Atkilt, Misser Wat, Kik Alicha, Yeqay Tikil Gomen, Doro Wat and Yeqay Ferfer. And, of course, a pot of tea. Ethiopian Diamond's tea is better, by a mile. I also preferred Ethiopian Diamonds rendition of Gomen (greens cooked in spices) - Ras Dashen's was a little crunchier, and I prefer the stewier version. I preferred Ras Dashen's Tikil Gomen Alicha (cabbage, potato and carrot stew) and their Kik Alicha (Yellow split pea stew). My husband preferred the meat at Ras Dashen. I also LOVED the Yeqay Tikil Gomen (sweet and sour red cabage), and that seems to be exclusive to Ras Dashen. It was incredibly savory and wonderful. So dreamy. All in all, I would say it's a draw. These establishments seem pretty evenly matched, and they are both super delicious. I would go back to both places in a minute.
(4)
Melanie M.

LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. The service is not always that amazing but it does NOT even matter. The food is AMAZING. I have tried most of the vegetarian options and have brought numerous friends here and not once did someone not LOVE it. My favorite side would have to be the Kik Alicha. My FAVORITE dish is the Misserana Bowmia. I have been to Little Ethiopia in Cali and CANNOT find this dish ANYWHERE. It is amazing. My man friend LOVES the Shimbera Asa Wat. Honestly you cannot go wrong with ANYTHING here. GO!
(5)
Monalisa M.

Highly rated, most reviewed, why not try it? Pretty damn tasty. Small inside, but not too busy during the day. THey supposedly have live music on Fridays/Sundays, SCORE! Great spread fa sho. Of all the Ethiopian places i go to, this place really is tastylicious. -Meat Combo: - Doro wat: chicken and egg cooked in a spicy berbere sauce - Zilzil alicha: strips of beef cooked in tasty sauce - Diblik atkilt: green beans, zucchini, potatoes and carrots - Tikil gomen alicha: cabbage, potatoes and carrots - Misserana bowmia: lentils and okra in tasty alicha sauce - Ethiopian Honey Wine... #YUMM. A MUST.
(3)
Jonathan W.

It's been a while since I've been to a restaurant three consecutive nights in a row. I really can't say enough good things about you guys. The Wat dishes are all amazing, Shiro is best-in-class, and also fantastic drinks. Ras Dashen rocks!
(5)
Nicole S.

I had been to an Ethiopian restaurant in Houston before and wasn't nearly as impressed. We were eating at an off time so we were the only people there. The waitress was able to make helpful suggestions. The beet salad was great. The veggie sampler gave us lots to try. Their flat bread is great too. I also loved their chai tea. Unfortunately, they didn't have any smaller sampler packs to buy when I wanted to take some home with me. Their homemade wine is also great.
(5)
Eleanor K.

I'm always surprised when people haven't tried Ethiopian food. This place really is excellent. I do have minor complaints about their "classic" seating ... in that the tables are really too low for those stools and everyone ends up hunching all night. but that's minor. and it's fun. I admit I'm a sucker for the raw meat. I don't know what it's called. But it's basically excellent steak tartare. No one will share it with me and I end up grossing myself out but I'm addicted. Don't miss the traditional Ethiopian coffee.
(5)
Marla M.

This is my favorite place for Ethiopian food. I crave diffen misser wat. The deliciously spicy flavor haunts my dreams when I'm out of town. Seriously, you have to try it! The staff here are always friendly to me as well. I couldn't ask for a better experience.
(5)
Phil P.

This was my first time eating Ethiopian and it was delicious! However it took over 50mins to get a check, which had a wrong charge on it. Ask for the check when you order, it ill save you hours
(3)
A G.

Awful experience at this restaurant run by an incompetent staff with an ignoramus clueless manager. We wanted to try a new place and unfortunately picked this place. We did not have a reservation so they looked at us like we were beggars even thou they were practically empty. They were pretty empty yet it took them almost 10 minutes to seat us. It seemed like all the staff needed to agree on where to place us. The manager asked if we would like to wait at the bar. We did but there was no bartender at the bar. They were all just walking around acting clueless. Overstaffed yet poorly managed. When they all finally agreed on where to seat us they put us in the corner next to the bathroom. The place is empty yet they seat us in the worst possible table. I have never felt like so unwanted. We were dressed well, my friend is a doctor and I was dressed in jeans and a dress shirt so I have no idea why they acted like there were no tables. The host said they were busy even though and I repeat myself there was practically no one there. We waited another few minutes yet no one came to take our order. We got up and left ... We walked a few blocks north and found a much better, cleaner and overall better Ethiopian restaurant. Don't waste your time with this place and do yourself a favor go three blocks north and you will have a much better experience.
(1)
Doris F.

Nom nom and then some! If you are craving some seriously delish Ethiopian food look no further than Ras Dashen! This place has very friendly service and staff and if you just happen to come in on a packed day the wait is highly worth it as you will listen to sweet tunes of Afro- Latin beats or even some authentic tunes that take you to another country or land. If you are not a person that likes eating with their hands this is not the place for you as the entire table is used for the tray served with goodies. The Doro Wat is amazing as it is chicken simmered in sauce and a hard boiled egg is placed in the center of this dish. As a vegetarian I have tried the vegetarian dishes and they are not to disappoint. Perfectly seasoned and you are given bread to sop up all the juices. Pure bliss!! I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Leanne A.

I sing every sunday night at Ras Dashen, and we are fed a huge feast each time. That means I've eaten here approximately 52 times, as it's been a little over a year. I KNOW this food like I know the back of my hand. I can depend on it always being the most delicious, scrumptious meal. Every single sunday, I look forward to my Ethiopian feast. We have our favorites, for sure, but I love basically everything on the menu. The injera at Ras Dashen (injera is the bread everything is served on top of) is so sour and full of little air holes and fluffy yet dense and omg so good. Injera might be my favorite bread, ever. Komodoro salad: fresh and vinegary. sometimes spicy. A lot like pico de gallo, it's my fave salad at ras dashen. Ethio salad: more like a typical american side salad, with added flavor from jalapenos. Tikil gomen: if you like cabbage, don't miss this. Very filling dish for vegetarians. Qosta: kind of like popeye spinach. healthy and tasty. Ib: mmmmmm IB. Pronounced with a short i, not a long i, ib is like fresh mozzarella but creamier, and not lumpy like cottage cheese. Doro wat: If you like spicy chicken, don't miss this. I don't find it to be spicy enough, but the chicken falls off the bone, and the hard boiled egg breaks apart so nicely. Mix it all with the sauce...mmmmmmmmm YEBEG DEREQ: BY FAR, my fave entree on the menu. We order TWO of these every week. lol. It's lamb that has been pan-fried and full of rosemary flavor. It's not oily, but it's so incredibly flavorful. We even chew on the bones when there's none left. I could literally eat this every day. Zilzil alicha: my fave beef entree. Totally juicy, oniony, fresh. Zilzil, it's what's for dinner. Kitfo lebleb: the single dish on the menu I don't like, but my bandmates love it. I find it too undercooked and really oily. Sega wat: one of the spicier dishes (I always want more spicy everything) this beef dish is really saucy. It soaks in to the injera really well and mixes with all the veggies. All the lentil and chickpea dishes are very tasty, too. A great place for vegetarians. Espresso: think Turkish coffee. This stuff is strrrrong and powerful Ethio chai: yummmmy tea! Like chamomile, but better. So yummy in wintertime. Many of the cooks and most of the staff at Ras Dashen are Ethiopian, and so is a lot of their clientele. You will be getting the full authentic experience in a nice yet cozy environment. I think what I love most about their food is that it's so packed full of flavor and sauce, and you get so much food and bread, it's like the joy just keeps filling up your mouth. I leave here every sunday way too full. And that makes me happy. The staff are skilled at recognizing regulars, and will be especially warm towards familiar faces. They work hard to create a delicious event.
(5)
Georgianne K.

As someone trying to explore a more plant based diet, I can't believe it took me this long to realize how many great options there are when it comes to basically any "non-American" cuisine. My husband and I enjoyed the vegetarian dinner for two that was $25. It included three dishes and three sides, all served on addictively delicious injera. Absolutely delicious food, made with love. Coincidentally, all vegan dishes are marked with a "v", of which there was an extensive selection. We will definitely be back. Great service and warm atmosphere.
(5)
Kathleen B.

Great meal here on Saturday night. Courteous service, reasonable prices, diverse diners, clean bathroom, easy street parking. Husband and I enjoyed the vegetarian platter (the best way to go) and the Doro Wat and agreed it seemed a little better than Abyssinia next door. Love Ethiopian food! Can we get a place in the western 'burbs, please?!
(4)
Ilana C.

The food is pretty good - the beet salad is my favorite. But they're expensive and they no longer allow 2 people to share a sampler, which makes us order (and pay for) way too much food (Ethiopian food doesn't make great doggie bags). Ethiopian Diamond has good food too and doesn't require that each person order a separate entree, so we'll basically always go there instead unless they change their policy.
(3)
Jeff G.

Definitely a solid 4 here. I have to admit I went out and had intentions of trying out Abyssinia next door. This was at 7:30 on a Tuesday. Abyssinia was completely dead while Ras Dashen was 75% full, so we ended up at the latter. Food was very good, very flavorful. the lamb in berbere was nice and spicy hot. the chicken was a little dry. wine list was a little on the expensive side. For 3 people our tab was $90.
(4)
Morgan B.

I used to frequent here often when I lived closer, but if you want authentic atmosphere and great food GO HERE! AMAZING! Leave room for their coffee as well... if you're a coffee lover then you will be heads over heels in LOVE with it! #1 Authentic Ethiopian experience in Chicago!
(5)
s c.

My Chicago friends brought me to Ras Dashen, their favourite Ethiopian eat. We chose the traditional seating with the round basket tables and low chairs. We asked for the vegetarian option to be shared among the three of us and allowed the chef to select the dishes. This is my first forray into Ethiopian cuisine and I was very impressed with the delicious selection presented to us incorporating spices and fresh, quality ingredients. The injera, a sponglike slightly sour flatbread was perfect and plentiful for accompanying the dishes. The serving was generous and we happily took leftovers home to enjoy. Service was a bit slow for a weekend lunch but well worth the wait.
(4)
Pascal M.

Talk food so good you could slap yo momma! Ethiopian food is beautifully soulful, full of bold flavors and interesting spices, and is a load of fun to eat with your friends or family. Ras Dashen has it down pat. I believe they are family run, so you know you get true recipes from their community, culture, and origin. It's so cool we have this in the city. Bring some friends, order a lot, and have fun talking about the food together. Here's some suggestions on what to order: +Komodoro Salata- Good clean salad with a touch of heat., helps harmonize all the interesting flavors. +Qosta- Another nice vegetable dish to throw in with all the meat. Reminicent of of cream spinach. +Ib- Extremely frush cheese that helps neutralize your palate from all the bold spices. +Doro Wat- A must order, it's their national dish +Yebeg tibs be berbere- Flavor town here, whole lot of spice +Qelulu- Another awesome protien dish with a lot of good flavor going on +Gored Gored- Nice and tender, also lots of heat. +Kitfo tere- Different take on steak tartare, good stuff.
(5)
Sara R.

I just love Ethiopian food and I love this place! You have to be ready to get your hands dirty and enjoy 'food' ! Their vegetarian options are great and their bread is just amazing! You can also enjoy live music and ask to sit behind their traditional tables...
(5)
Jiyoun B.

Wat. Doro Wat. Traditional seating available, just not too comfortable for my taste. Best Ethiopian EVER! I love this place. I love Ethiopian food. Wash your hands BEFORE and AFTER your meal. Love this place. Try the Honey wine for your thirst.
(5)
Angela K.

I am always pleased with the food, service, and atmosphere. If you eat the vegetarian dinner for two you can get out with a pretty inexpensive bill. Recommend: Dupa Wat! Ib! Misser Wat! Really, any vegetarian dish I have every ordered has been great, and when you get the veg dinner for two you receive more than enough to feed to people and you get to share six delicious dishes. Plus: They offer gluten free injeera(regular injeera is very low gluten anyway)
(5)
Natalie S.

The more I Ethiopian around the city, the more I've come to realize that this is just my favorite and it therefore needs to be upgraded to FIVE stars instead of just a mere four. I think that not only is the food the best I've had in Chicago, it's also the most cost effective. You get more food here for cheaper than you do at other places. Each entree comes with a choice of two vegetarian sides and you then avoid having to pay for, say, a vegetarian combination on top of your entree like you have to do at other places. Yes, you often have to wait for your food on a busy night. But I guess that should make me happy that they are in there cooking up fresh stuff rather than serving things from big vats that have been sitting around? Dang. I wonder if my Dude will approve a Ras Dashen trip this week. I've got a massive craving after writing this review.
(5)
Melody C.

I've had good ethiopian food in DC, which is known to have a lot of ethiopian fare. every ethiopian restaurant i've been to (and i've had ethiopian in nashville, dc, chicago, and beijing!) it's always consistently good and no matter where i've had it, it's always tasted and looked the same - maybe that indicates authenticity? i always walk away with a big full stomach. I tried something at Ras Dashen that was a little different from what i normally get. I got an appetizer and tea. The Qatenga, which are little bite sized rolls of their injera bread fried/toasted warm rolled with kibe, karya and garlic - out of this world. tangy, warm, crispy. the ethio chai, served with half a spoonful of sugar, really cuts into the Qatenga well. soothing and relaxing. although i saw another couple sharing individual sized portions on separate plates, i think one of the main points of coming to eat ethiopian in america is the communal dining experience that other ethnic restaurants lack. and by communal, it's not like family style in chinese food. it's truly communal because you eat the food your partner touches, you grab with your fingers from the same pile of lamb ladled in spicy berbere sauce. but one thing i noticed about the food at Ras Dashen that you don't have to share is the need to rush home to fight over the toilet either as is so often the case after eating indian food (yet we still keep going back to our favorite punjabi buffets b/c it's so delish). =) yay. my guess is the lack of dairy/cream in the curries/stews. therefore, if you want to prove to your date that you're bold, adventurous and have a taste for exotic food, but dont want to worry about not being able to get laid afterward because you have the firey shits, maybe give ethiopian a try(?) note: you can buy injera to go for $1 a roll i believe. For couples: the omnivore dinner for two is the perfect size. very generous. pretty good deal in the end b/c you pick 3 entrees for the price of two. even though it says it's smaller portions, it's really quite enough for two. Tips: don't flick the curry/stew remnants from your fingers back onto the plate. it's unattractive, and takes away from the sensuality of the communal dining experience. =) People with kids: i saw a young couple with their young son, maybe 6-7 years old eating, all sharing from the same round tray. he was well behaved and it seemed to be a fun cultural experience for him. if your kids suck because they are picky eaters and like to play with their food, don't bring them. it will literally ruin yours and everyone else's dinner.
(4)
Joseph B.

My wife and I love this place, it has been one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago for the last five years. There is this spicy lentil dish that is just fantastic, you can also purchase bags of fair trade Ethiopian coffee to go. the food is served on a sort of sour dough crepe called injera made from a grain called Tef, you then tear off pieces of injera and eat with your fingers. The rice pudding desert is a favorite.
(5)
Nam D.

Ethiopian cuisine has good stew meats (I ordered the lamb) that have a nice spice to them and you the dining style is a family shared style. If you want to try something different like eating with your hands I'll give Ras Dashen on the north-side a try! Great for adventurous diners and groups... A very clean restaurant as well fyi for those who want to know! The one thing I'll have to get to use to is the Ethiopian flat bread that is used, injera which has a sour tang to it but is balanced with the spicy curried meat stews.
(4)
Pandu W.

This was my first Ethiopean experience since trying it out many years ago in Milwaukee. I have nothing but kudos for the excellent food served here. The only issue is that it did take them some time (at least 20 mins) to seat us even though we had a reservation already. But the tasty food more than made up for the delay.
(4)
Drea W.

Great food! Liked the ambiance with authentic touches throughout.
(4)
Earlie C.

My girlfriend as I wanted to like this place so much. But we didn't. Which is sad because it has received such spectacular reviews. Maybe it was just us, but we've tried everything in Edgewater that exists. And we thought... Well, let's try it for new years. Best for last. Yelpers raved about it and I was ready to be blown away with every entrÃ©e and side. But like I said, it didn't happen. We had the omnivore dinner for two. We ordered the doro wat(18), yebeg tis bebere(21), and the zizil alicha(*which was cold*30). And as sides: Qosta(7), Ib(9), and the kik alicha (11). The Bedele beer from Ethiopia is delicious. Like... a mix between a Hefeweizen and a good Czech Pilsner. Aside from that, I really cannot recommend anything but the yebeg tis bebere(21). So disappointing! Without further ado, we paid $70 dollars for two people to eat a cold entree and food we simply didn't enjoy. We thought we had sophisticated palates, but maybe it just wasn't for us? We left feeling unsatisfied and not all that full.. =/ Some things in Edgewater I cannot go without. Indie's Panang curry, Little India's Lamb Vindaloo, or Nookie's Muscles appetizer... And I thought that upon gorging down at Ras Dashen, I'd feel that way for at least ONE of their entrÃ©es or sides... The fact is, we won't ever be back. At least we tried Ras Dashen. We tried so very hard. Your service wasn't all that great either. But at least it was an experience. One that we'll never participate in again.
(3)
Elena S.

Ras Dashen has amazing food cooked with love by the owner Zenash who clearly has a passion for food and people. I've eaten there so many times, I have no clue as to the number. All dishes are served on a massive tray over the crepe called njera - which has a sourdough type flavor which compliments the food, eaten with your hand, cradled in a small piece of the crepe. Favorite vegis/pulses - yellow split peas, beet salad Favorite entrees - tilapia, lamb (the kind they call juicy), and berbere stew The tea is delicious and nutritive as it's blended in house with fresh cardamom (yum) and the coffee service is a treat to experience. As much as I can stuff myself eating here, I never feel as if I have a "food coma" or overstuffed because it's fresh, high quality and well prepared.
(4)
Erica K.

This is my favorite spot for Ethiopian noms. You will find delicious dishes, each with distinct textures and flavors. See, that's my issue with a lot of ethnic restaurants...they just make everything taste the same. Not so at Ras Dashen! Our server didn't exactly get our brand of humor, but she was more than willing to explain things and recommend dishes. I learned a long time ago that I can't expect EVERYONE to think I'm as hilarious as I do, so I still give full points for service. Anyway, try it out. I've come to love Ethiopian in the last few years. Something about eating with my hands satisfies my inner child like you wouldn't believe. :)
(5)
B C.

We accidentally ordered a raw beef appetizer here. Our waitress warned us, with a heavy accent, "you know that's grraabeef?" Yep, we'll take it. It arrived a few minutes later, tada! Then she said with less of an accent "I told you, here's your raw beef." We got a laugh out of it and it was actually a lot tastier than you'd think. The texture was a little weird though. Anyway, raw beef is edible. Who knew? We ordered other platters too and it was all delicious. I really enjoyed the lamb dinner, yebeg alicha. I'm a sucker for injera. The staff here has a great sense of humor for those of us who have no idea what Ethiopian food is all about. It's a good place to go as an intro to the style of cuisine.
(4)
Happy Mama M.

We went here for my birthday dinner and I loved it! I even got my husband to like Ethiopian food. I'll be honest- I have not tried other Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago, but Ras Dashen left me feeling like I didnt need to look for other Ethiopian Restaurants. The food was wonderful. This was overall a terrific experience. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Aimee M.

I've wanted to try Ethiopian food for a very long time and Ras Dashen was a great place to enjoy it. The first thing I noticed when walking into the Restaurant was the aroma of cooking food--making me very hopeful for a tasty meal. I had studied the menu and read many reviews (thanks Yelp'ers!) but when I got there, it still took a while for us to decide on what to order. So what we had: Spinach Sambusa appetizers. Doro Wat (Chicken) Yebeg Tibs be berere (lamb) and Asa Wat (Tilapia). The sides we chose: Yeqaysur Salata (beet salad), Misser Salata (chilled lentil salad) and Gomen (chopped greens). Because everything is served on the large plate of Injera bread we all got to taste everything. For me, the lamb dish was the best one. From what I understand the lamb dish I ordered is just called "spicy juicy" and that's exactly what it was--spicy juicy. (YUM!) The Honey Wine was good. I also tasted the Ethiopian iced tea--if you like cardamon, this is one to try. For dessert we shared the Coconut Creme brulee and the Bread pudding--both very good too. The loud-talker on the mobile phone at the next table next to us loved her meal too--she told everyone she talked to on that phone--talk about word-of-mouth! :)
(5)
Saira K.

The food, together with the live music, was great.
(4)
Jonathan S.

This is our favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago. Live music on the weekends.
(5)
Steph M.

I can't really add anything that someone hasn't already said about this place. Absolutely amazing stuff prepared and served by great people. For two hungry people, the "Meat Combo" is a steal at $20 with two "half portions" of meat dishes and three sides. Don't be fooled by the wording; this is *plenty* of food. But if you're both really, really hungry, the "Omnivore Dinner for Two" will leave you absolutely stuffed. The Kitfo tere (a sort of Ethiopian steak tartar) is especially delicious, but I've liked every dish I've tried here. Oh, and the Ras Dashen beer complements the food quite nicely. I recommend going on a Sunday evening to listen to Maracujaz; it's a really relaxing end to the weekend.
(5)
Carolynne M.

Here's the problem with Ras Dashen. If you have never been, you might want to take extra consideration when planning an evening here. Because what is going to happen is that after you leave, you are going to keep thinking about the food...er, more like obsessing about it. To the point where is is going to either drive you absolutely crazy, or you will turn into some creepy stalker who drives by the place at all hours of the night and presses his face up onto the front window just to say he got to touch it. Do you want to be that guy? Yeah....oh you do? Well, OK then, but don't say I didn't warn you. In fact, I am gonna do you one better and tell you some things to look out for when you go. First up the Ethio Chai tea. Easily the most awesome, flavourful tea I have had in a long time. So good we ordered 2 pots and polished them both off in record time. You don't even need milk or sugar! It is that good. Now, you are going to order your platter. Remember to come here with people whose cleanliness habits you know and trust, because this is about to get messy. You are going to want to pick 3 sides. We chose the Komodoro salata (diced cucumber, tomato, onion and jalapeÃ±o salad), the Ib (soft cheese made fresh daily with cultured buttermilk), and the Misser wat (pureed red lentils in a spicy berbere sauce). Everyone then picks an entree. Andy picked the Sega wat (beef stew in a spicy, dark berbere sauce) and I went with the Doro Wat, which is similar to the Sega Wat, but it is made with chicken and egg. All of this is served on one big platter, with a basket of injera bread (sort of a spongy flatbread). You use the injera to scoop up all of these items and stuff them into your little impatient mouth. At the end, everything just sort of runs together and is fantastically delicious. Oh right, also don't bother to come here if you are one of those people who cant have foods on the plate touching one another. You won't get far if you are OCD in any way. Hey, just putting it out there folks. You are going to have enough to freak out about when you catch me drooling onto the front window.
(5)
Jennifer G.

The lamb was juicy, perfectly seasoned. We also had the veggie sampler. Everything was absolutely delicious! I'll go here rather than Ethiopian Diamond from now on!
(5)
Lee P.

Ras Dashen is solid choice for Ethiopian cuisine in Edgewater. Flavorful meats with just the right amount of heat combined with excellent sides with a touch of sweet. A great atmosphere seals the deal. The only real negative was the small portions of the sides but highly recommended all the same. Even the chocolate lava cake was worth the calories.
(4)
Cameron H.

Overall, I was very impressed. This was my second experience eating Ethiopian foods. Demera and now Ras Dashen. Ras Dahsen was very easy to get to in terms of location. The host and the waitstaff were very attentive. Service and the food was great. We ordered the Doro Wat and the Asa Tibs. Amazing delicious. We knew the Doro Wat was going to be spicy so we decided to order another dish that wasn't spicy at all. Didn't make sense being on fire the entire night. Then for sides, we ordered Ib, Qosta, and Yeqay tikil gomen. All good choices. Lastly, we ordered for dessert the bread pudding and the rice pudding. Great way to end the evening. Will definitely return!!!
(4)
Annie N.

I'm really torn. Our experience here was less than stellar but the food was absolutely amazing, perhaps 3.5 overall, but I'm sure I'll come back here so I'd give it a 4. The restaurant is big enough to hold the continuously long line of customers, but small enough to be intimate. The lighting and decors could have not been better, and the outdoor seating was very cute as well. Everything seemed good from the beginning. We sat and didn't take long to order. The menu is very helpful and they do have options for all dietary types. Although the menu did indicate that the food might take a while to get out, I just didn't expect it to be that long. To make it a bit worse, our water was empty and didn't get a refill at all, not until we stood up and grabbed a waiter. They do seem apologetic whenever we had to do it (yes more than one time), but still the service didn't improve throughout. But when our food came out, I quickly forgot about the mediocre service. As the waitress poured our food into the big injera, I secretly drooled. Everything looked and smelled ridiculously good. We quickly picked up the injera and started our feast. Being from Asia, I love nothing more than a shared dinner with friends and family, when everyone can eat anyone else' food, and needless to say I was very happy with this meal. My lentil and okra was delicious, and I got to try some other dishes, all of which were amazing as well. The Asa Tibs (pan fried fish) was to-die-for, we ended up order an extra for a friend who came late. For the sides, we got the cheese (Ib), green bean and potatoes in tomato stew, and cabbage and potato stew. The cheese didn't impress us - which is rare, considering I eat cheese 5 times a day, and my Egyptian friend basically lives off cheese and bread. It was not salty enough for us I guess. The green bean stew (#8) was delicious, and I wish we had gotten some more sides, since they all sounded really good. The portion was very generous, and of course there was still a lot left when we all could not eat anymore. There was lived music playing, and it could have been nice but we were sitting right next to it so we could not hear most of our conversation. The service still didn't improve much in the end and our waitress calculate our check wrong, but she quickly made changes as I told her. Overall, I was very happy with the meal, less so with the services, but I'd definitely come back. Also, good date spot, but make sure your date is ok with eating by hand and sharing food (and if they're not, it's probably best to not go on that date in general)!
(4)
Jas R.

5-star all the way. I am not going to detail my experience because there's already a truck-load of that available here. If you have not been to Ras Dashen so far then you've missed something. I feel bad for myself because I discovered Ethiopian food only when I turned 30. What a waste.... We were 4 people who dined and had a couple of beers and a scotch for under $100 with a live band playing traditional Jazz music. You'll love it...
(5)
Cynthia R.

Fantastic food. It was everything that I'd hope it would be: family size portions that you share, no silverware as you eat with your hands, dipping bread into all the entrees, and spicy enough that you need to blow your nose - which is always a good indicator of a good meal in my book. This was my 1st time eating Ethiopian food, but it certainly won't be my last.
(4)
Neetha V.

Lamb dishes were yummy... so were the alicha dishes!! Very tasty food!! The Ingera is soft and the serving style is very different!! We love to explore variety and ended up in Ras Dashen, went back with family and friends over and over.. Unique ambiance, Yummy Food & Live Music!! Worth visiting!!
(4)
Jamil C.

Am in town for the weekend with my son. The food and people here are lovely. Went with high expectations (given all the reviews) and found it met on all fronts. Most surprising is that they are very laid back despite all the attention.
(5)
kim c.

Good food if you can handle the RUDE service. This was the worst service I've ever experienced in a restaurant. We went to eat at 4pm recently on a sunday. There was one occupied table in the place full of empty tables and they were going to give our group of 7 the crappy table by the front door/hall. We asked if we could push 2 4-chair tables together closer to the bar. They said if we wanted to sit at different table then we'd have to wait for that one other table, yes only other table with people, to leave. Then another woman, (I think the manager) hesitantly agreed to let us push 2 tables together but made us feel unwelcome, like it was a HUGE inconvenience. Then she took drink orders. 30 min later no drinks had arrived and another woman came by and asked if we wanted drinks. When we told her we had coffees and a coke she said yeah, yeah like she knew it already. Ok. We ordered sambusas to start. 2 chick pea, one spinach, one beef. Lady came out with 3 chick pea, one beef. As she asked if it was all good, I said I also ordered a spinach sambusa. We were a group of 7 sharing food. We realized later when we got the bill they charged us for the extra chick pea sambusa we didn't order, that the waitress screwed up along w/most everything else. When I mentioned it, she bugged her eyes out all cocky and said, well did you eat it?! ??? She went to the manager and the manager came over and blurted out WE DON'T SPLIT. Ok that's fine but we weren't asking to split the bill? She ended up taking the extra charge off the bill. The side item w/ my date's entree was wrong. I gave a $10 gift card to waitress right before she rang up bill. Bill did not include gift card deduction 5 min after handing it to her. She had to re-do it (along w/taking off extra sambusa order). 30 min for coffee. Longer for food. Nobody else there and 2 women tending (if you could call it that, more like treating us like we were a nuisance) . Felt like they didn't want us there and only time they acted nice was when we were walking out the door. They couldn't keep a thing straight and blamed us when we mentioned anything. HORRIBLE. Just based on the food, I would say 4 stars. But I can get just as good of food at similar places nearby with kind and polite service so none of our group of 7 will be going back here sadly.
(2)
Ross R.

The food at Ras Dashen is excellent. All the sides are delicious. My one complaint is the wait time from placing your order to receiving your food. I can appreciate that everything is made fresh and with care, but the wait time made for an uncomfortable pace of the meal (no food, totally starving, then lots of food). Kitfo Tere (steak tartare) ranks as one of the best things I ate during 2012. Recommend the beet salad and lentils sides.
(4)
Jessica G.

Hands down one of my favorite Chicago eateries. I always get the veg combo and then go crazy. I can never ever get enough of their sweet and sour cabbage. And their homemade cheese....can't handle. Dining in is great but takeout is where it is at. I love their to go containers...every item is perfectly separated. And they load you up with tons of steamy injera. Come home, make your spread, lay out on the couch, and eat it all up like an Ethiopian queen. Magic.
(5)
Mary B.

Often when going on a date I worry that I should order a salad and be very lady like. I mean I do want to make a good impression and don't want my companion to know that what I really want to eat is cheesy tots and cheesecake. No no no...they will find that out if they stick around for a fifth date or so. So when the fella took me here I was comfortable with the fact that I was expected to eat with my hands and that it was going to get messy. This food is absolutely amazing. I love Ethiopian food and don't eat it enough. And while I have eaten at a couple of different Ethiopian restaurants I had yet to patron Ras Dashen. Let me just say that from here on out if I have to eat Ethiopian food (which I really hope that I do) I will be coming here. The food was quick, the food was good, the food was spicy and the food was messy. And while they didn't have cheesy tots I am fairly certain that I will always be happy when here.
(5)
Junchen F.

large tasty portion with reasonable price. The fig mead is truly a unique liquor, which goes great with the spicy food.
(4)
Amy F.

Ras Dashen is my favorite restaurant in all of Chicago. We go regularly and have ordered nearly everything on the menu. NOTHING approaches even mediocre. The space itself is dim and intimate, comfortable and homey, friendly and welcoming, and that last applies also to the staff, including the family members who own the restaurant and work there. My favorite dishes include the yebeg dereq tibs, lebleb tibs, quelulu, diblik atkilt, doro wat, kik alicha, kitfo tere, qosta, and ib. ALWAYS order the ib (pronounced eye-b): it goes with everything. Their homemade Tej is excellent. Their injera is excellent (and can be made with 100% teff if you call a day in advance!). I admit the desserts, though tasty, are small, but by the time the meal is over, I don't care since I am happily full. I was not thrilled with any of the appetizers but, again, why waste space on appetizers when the entrees are SO amazing? I don't enjoy when there is live music, but that is because I like the quiet of the typical evenings there, and for those who like live music, it might be a treat. I do enjoy the traditional music that plays over the speakers during regular evenings. The wait staff are tremendously responsive to any requests, and we've asked for bowls, forks, spoons, help with kids, volume changes on the music, pitchers of water and all kinds of things over our dozens of visits. The hot spice tea is also out of this world, especially in the winter. The food is even more amazing (something I would not have thought possible) when warmed over the next day in a skillet so that the leftover injera gets crispy. MMmmmm. I cannot say enough good about Ras Dashen. ...And now I am craving it all over again.
(5)
Angel L.

I had the lovely pleasure of being escorted to Ras Dashen yesterday by my wonderful boyfriend for light appetizers and dessert with coffee after a homemade dinner. Did I mention their sambusas (which are vegan except for the beef one) are the best I've had anywhere? The wrapper is so light and crispy and delightful! They have Lentil, Spinach, and even Shimbera sambusas (my favorite!), based on their Shimbera Assa (ground chick pea dough balls in a rich berbere sauce). So good! You even get four per order, which is great since most Ethiopian places only give you two. For dessert, we split the vegan Temptation mint chocolate chip ice cream in the most adorable chilled glass! Afterward we had Buna be Jebena, which is Ethiopian coffee (Buna) served in a beautiful clay pot (Jebena). On Fridays, they have live music! My boyfriend and I were seated right next to them finishing our Buna as they started. They sounded wonderful, and even though we were so close the music wasn't overly loud. The music gave the place an even more intimate, peaceful feel even though it was crowded with people. We will have to come back for dinner and hear them play a full set! Everything was so lovely! :)
(4)
Kymia J.

Amazingly delicious! I've been to several Ethiopean spots (in LA, DC, and Chi) and nothing else compares. Enjoyable menu selections and the servers will readily give suggestions if you're completely lost (the fish - asa wat - is addictive). Been here with friends and on dates and the ambience is such that you can enjoy it with either.
(5)
Jessica F.

TEJ + OMNIVORE FOR 2 + WBEZ MEMBER CARD 2 FOR 1 = ONE AWESOME DINNER! Every few months or so I crave Ethiopian food. I will think about it for days in a row. Then I make plans, starve myself just a bit so I'm REALLY hungry, and then head to Ras Dashen to eat. myself. stupid. I usually go during the week so it's not that busy, but I've also never had trouble getting a reservation on a weekend. The staff are nice, and their homemade tej (honey wine) is delicious and goes down REAL easy with the spicy dishes. I drag the BF with me and we get the omnivore for 2. We always get the doro wat, and usually the lebleb tibs. For sides, I love the red cabbage, and the lentils for sure! And there is just something really nice about eating with your hands. I swear it tastes better that way. The food is always hot, and always delicious. Savory, slow-cooked - something to engage all of your senses. Be prepared for some serious spice - but the injera (it's like a sourdough pancake) takes away some of the heat... and you can always order more tej! On the weekends I've often seen live music - with some pretty good jazz. And the best part - you can get 2 for 1 entrees with your WBEZ member card! If you don't have one of those, don't worry - this place is very affordable. Our night out with a couple of beers or glasses of wine/tej, and the omnivore deal comes out to about $65. I think this is a great place to take a date - the atmosphere is more intimate, especially if you sit at a traditional table. Also, you can find out if your date likes Ethiopian food or not - which would be a TOTAL deal breaker for me.
(5)
clare d.

Incredibly accommodating of large parties, I had 25 with just a few days notice. It was a weekday, granted, and I'm sure some of my party would have had several more beers if they'd been checked on more often, but in the long run, was that really important? No. The important thing was that my birthday party was totally amazing and everyone will remember what an outstanding meal they had, and how great the company was, and how Ras Dashen is the best Ethiopian Restaurant in American. A note on the price: If you are vegetarian you can eat here, very well,
(5)
Lindsey T.

Recently came here for my birthday dinner and couldn't have been more impressed! Having moved away from my favorite Ethiopian place in Boston, I was eager to find something just as delicious in Chicago, and Ras Dashen definitely delivered. Not only was the food delicious (great plates for sharing), but it was easy to find (very close to the L), and the ambiance was great. We came on a Friday night and they had some really fun live cultural music going on (not too loud or obnoxious, it was lovely) and the service was great. Our waitress was very nice and knowledgeable and had great recommendations when it came to the menu, both drink and food. It also was super easy to get a reservation and even though we showed up a little late (oops!) they held our table for us and were actually apologizing to US for the wait!
(5)
Sasha T.

We went here on a double date and had a fun experience. We got an awesome traditional table and chairs. I loved the Ethiopian honey wine - that is a must try if you go there. We ordered a vegetarian appetizer plate and it was an interesting mix of flavors. For the main entre we ordered Chicken and the couple we were with ordered Tilapia. Both of the entres were delicious and very tender. The chicken was on a bone so that was a little challenging. Overall it was a fun experience if you want to try something new and fun. Be prepared to eat with your hands (slip a fork in your purse just in case)!!
(4)
Kevin N.

4.5 stars. Subtle, complex, interesting spicing gives Ras Dashen a nod over other Chicago Ethiopian restaurants. Coupled with the house made Tej honey wine, superior coffee service and rare beer choices, it's a winner. The lamb, yebeg tibs, and beef tartar, kitfo tibs were standouts.
(4)
Jenny A.

This is my Ethiopian friend's favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago, and he knows what he's talking about. Having food cooked by that same friend and his sister definitely makes me an Ethiopian food snob, and the food here still lived up to my high standards. I even went with a vegetarian friend, so I couldn't have any of the meat dishes, and I still loved it a lot. I'm very grateful to her that she let me keep the leftovers to eat for the next couple days. I can't wait to go back to try some of the meat dishes. As long as I'm deciding, this will be the only Ethiopian restaurant I go to in Chicago!
(5)
M P.

The service is awful. Anytime my party asked for anything we were given a snappy attitude retort. Did not take drink orders and then took over 1/2 hour to bring a glass of wine. The food is mediocre at best.
(1)
Babanashe M.

I love Ethiopian food. Favorite food. Grew up on it and have been eating it for about 20 years now. So some friends are leaving town and we go out to eat with them here. I ordered something like Yebeg Tibs. When the waitress brought out the food, it was in a bowl and looked like it had just come out of the microwave or out from under the heat lamps. She dumped the bowl on the plate of injera and that was it. Usually you have a few other odds and ends on the injera that's laid out on your plate, like some cabbage, lentils, salad, etc. but for this dish it was just this pitiful lump of food on the plate of injera. (I was actually so surprised I took a picture of it, like "I know this can't be it!") I had two beers, one of which I had to hunt her down (literally get out of my seat and go look for her, then ask someone at the bar where our waiter was) before I got it. The plate of food was $22 dollars or so, there was a tip already factored in so with the two beers it came to around $40. I knew in the moment I was displeased with the experience, but we were sending these people off and we had to leave before everyone else and I didn't want to make a stink and embarrass my friends at their going away meal. I held on to the receipt, thinking I'd call the restaurant later and complain, but never made a point to do it. Overall, a really disappointing experience. I think I'll stick to the Ethiopian Diamond.
(1)
Vaidehi T.

I love Ethiopian food, and wanted to try Ras Dashen as we usually go to Ethiopian Diamond. The food is very good. Their sambusas are exceptional. Don't remember what we ordered exactly, but I remember enjoying the Messir Wat and their pumpkin wat (which was their special for the day). The dishes were finger licking good. Their service is a little slow - but again we were there on a Friday night.
(4)
Renae A.

Pleasant service. Delicious food. Awesome live music. We went on a Sunday. It was busy but no wait. The waitresses were very sweet. We had lamb, lentils, pumpkin, a chicken and egg dish. All were very good. Two dishes were quite spicy. I like spicy! But my favorite was a cabbage-potato-carrot dish that I could have eaten all night. I wanted more but it was gone. :(. Next time I will get a double order of that. It has a relaxed atmosphere. No pressure to leave your table. So we lingered, had after dinner drinks and enjoyed the wonderful music (Brazilian jazz that night).
(5)
H. Deborah S.

Hands down the best Ethiopian food I've had in a long time. I travel the world looking for Ethiopian restaurants because my home town doesn't have one. It's been a while since I could honestly say..."I would fly to Chicago just to have a meal at Ras Dashen." Tasty...tasty...tasty! Nice service, easy to get to from the Downtown area (Red Line to Thorndale). Ras Dashen, my hat is off to you.
(5)
Sophia T.

the best ethiopian in Chicago and the world. well in the places i've been to around the states, at least. outstanding vegan dishes. the taste lingers in my mouth and i want more and more. i've had pretty much every vegan dish in the place. love the beet salad and all salads. love the mushroom and pumpkin wats. the tea is delicious. if only i could cook like that...
(5)
Thalie L.

Really exotic place. you'll love it if it doesn't bother you to eat with your fingers. The food is great and the music was also really nice. One way to Africa.
(5)
Kiesha M.

I celebrated world vegan month with Ras Dashen. The fact that they even recognize world vegan month is amazing (I didn't even know there was a world vegan month!). That they managed to make it gut-bustingly delicious is incredible. The restaurant was pretty far from where I was staying, but it was conveniently located off the red line. The service was impeccable and I loved that they had special relationships with small businesses and farmers. It was well worth the long metro ride!
(4)
Jenna G.

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and I wasn't blown away. We ordered a little of everything - a chicken (#19), beef (#30), lamb (#22), and veggies dish (the special). The chicken was my favorite, and the rest really didn't impress me. The three others with me seemed to enjoy the other dishes much more than I did. Sides were the cabbage (my fav), cheese (not so good), and spinach (didn't even try). Maybe I just don't have the palate for Ethiopian food. The bread you use to eat with was a sour bread, and I left the restaurant feeling unsatisfied and with a stomach ache. We decided to get Ethiopian food because we had a restaurant.com . However, we went to the WRONG PLACE!! The place we actually intended to go to was right next door to this place - Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant. When we left Ras Dashen, we were looking at the two places, in disbelief that there were two Ethiopian restaurants right next to each other!! Some people saw us looking at the two and said "Go to Abyssinia!! It's so much better!" Guess I'll be trying Ethiopian food again to use our restaurant.com ... hopefully next time is better at a different place.
(3)
Saba A.

YUMMY! Cool Ethiopian Family Style--I think everyone needs to try it. I think they have Live Music on Friday...but anytime to go is good...it's more quiet during the day than nights. Be ready to pay for not so much food---but it is truly delicious. Great for Vege Lovers!
(4)
Carol K.

Actually I give it 4 1/2 stars. This place rocks. When I walked in for the first time I was happy to hear live music and see people from all walks of life. The food is killer, homemade, authentic, well priced and totally delicious. Also you can eat with your hands, definite plus. It's well priced for 4 of us with a bottle of wine, a beer or two, and dessert it came to $135 (not including tip) plus it's a crowd pleaser for out of town guests. Definitely vegetarian, vegan friendly. But also carnivores will be totally satisfied as well. Check.it .out.
(4)
Cat H.

By far my favorite Ethiopian Restaurant on the North side! I love the ambiance, and the food is always perfect. Their specials are always to die for! While the service is a little slow, there' s nothing like having a beer off their extensive list, or a pot of tea or coffee, while you wait for your food. Definitely worth a visit.
(5)
Pamela P.

I think I've come to realize that Ethiopian food and me don't mix. This place was dark, sultry, perhaps a bit dusty in some areas. The waitress wasn't that helpful in giving recommendations for first timers to this restaurant. In fact, after we changed our mind on one of the chicken dishes, she talked us into ordering our first choice because she felt it wasn't that spicy. Well, it was. Also, the various different side dishes and the veggie sampler really isn't enough for a filling meal. It's as if you went to Whole foods and took a bit of each different salad and just threw it on spongy, tasteless bread. The chicken dish, in all its spiciness, had bones in it and when we asked for cutlery to get into that fowl, we got the stare of death. No cutlery there--you're supposed to eat it with your hands and that darned spongy bread. The iced tea was overpowering and the spices were so thick and soupy-like that it wasn't at all a smooth drink. Not your typical iced tea and I would have liked to know that before I ordered it..... Not quite sure about all these great reviews....I guess it's all an acquired taste. But if you don't like that spongy bread, stay away!
(3)
Carolyn E.

RESERVATIONS: We called early Saturday afternoon for a party of 6 and were initially told that they were no longer taking reservations. However, we mentioned that we were going to see the show they were having in the party room and somehow that got us a teeny table for 6 of us to crowd around for the communal eating experience. (good thing everyone in my party of 6 generally likes each other) THE FOOD: Was perfectly cooked and spiced heaven. I wish I was still eating it right now. We chose to eat it communal style-with our hands and it was gone in about 10 minutes or less. (at least that's what it seemed like as time kind of stands still when you're in food heaven.) Yum. Yum. Yum. We chose 2 vegetarian dishes, 2 lamb, and a chicken if I remember correctly which was more than enough food for 6 people. We had our server choose our sides and she picked out some tasty items that perfectly complimented what we chose. THE SERVICE: Our food server was super helpful but service was slow. (the restaurant was packed) However, once we went to see the show in the backroom, our new server was bizarre and annoying. He kept trying to upsell us on "deals" and then when my mother accidentally bought a "deal" he tried to tell her that she couldn't share her buy one/get one free glass of wine with another person -- that the server would be "forced" to charge the other person. It was just weird.
(4)
Suzy D.

I love Ras Dashen. Everything is always very tasty. However, the service can be slow and I am not a huge fan at sitting at the chairs with the lower tray tables...it's just not as comfortable as sitting at a normal table. When it comes to comfort and faster service, I prefer Ethiopian Diamon. I do prefer the food at Ras Dashen though. Yum! We ordered the lamb chunks with rosemary and it was great. I also love the raw beef entree, but I just love anything raw in general. I'm gross like that.
(4)
Linda H.

Went here last night and it was my first experience with Ethiopian food. We had reservations and were seated right away, which was great, since the place was packed. We all went to wash our hands (since we would be eating with them), and I was pleased to find a very nice and clean rest room. It seemed like we sat for quite a while before the waitress came over. When she did arrive, she wanted to immediately take our food order, but we had some questions, considering we were all new to this. I figured she would have a standard "schpiel" explaining the procedure, but no...she was like (pointing to the menu) "These are the sides, these are the entrees...." basically, not really helping. Anyway, we had a long enough time to sit and study the menu (which actually explains how it works quite nicely) so we had pretty much figured it out. I had an Ethiopian beer that was very nice. The food did not take terribly long to arrive and we dug in. It was SOOOO good....we ordered all vegetarian fare (with an order of fish on the side, which I did not try). I did order another beer, which the waitress forgot to bring (the not-stellar service being the reason for 4 stars instead of 5)...and we all continued to chow down. We decided to all split a couple coconut creme brulees....again, SOOO good. OMG it was perfect. The dessert menu was interesting (I'm pretty sure that "Molten Chocolate Lava Cake" is not Ethiopian, but I'm sure it would be good just the same)....next time I would probably try to save room for the injera bread pudding. Anyway, this place was great and I can't wait to go back!
(4)
Heidi N.

After my first foray into Ethiopian dining, I can now cross "eat communal food with my fingers" off the bucket list. The boyfriend, some friends and I went to Ras Dashen for dinner last night, and it was a brand new experience for me. Not knowing at all what to order, I let the more experienced eaters in the group do the ordering for the table. One of our number was a vegetarian, so we decided on an all vegetarian meal, so we could share equally. And let me put it this way - nobody left hungry. For 5 people, we ordered 4 entrees and 3 sides, and we peobably would have been satisfied with only 3 entrees, to be honest. We got the Diffen Misser Wat, the Komodoro Fetfet, the Shirro, and the Vegetarian Special of the day, which was something similar in texture to the Diffen Misser Wat. My favorite by far was the Shirro. I wanted to slurp it all up all by myself, it was that good. I was a little confused by the presence of injera (the spongy bread) in the Komodoro Fetfet, because with the already injera-heavy meal, I would think the vegetables would be more prominently featured. For our sides, we ordered the Yeqaysur Salata, the Diblik Atkilt, and the Ib. All 3 were delicious. I particularly liked the texture of the Ib. For the less adventurous among us, the Yeqaysur Salata (beet salad) had very familiar flavors to an American palate. One note about the injera bread - it is sour. I was told this going in, that a lot of people don't enjoy the taste of the bread, so I knew what to expect. But I think I may be one of those who don't enjoy it as much. I didn't hate it, just didn't love it. It has a very strong sour flavor that, since you're literally using it as your utensil, is in every bite you take. I was hoping for a way to enjoy the stews and sides without the injera, but I didn't want to offend anyone by asking for silverware. :) Maybe in the future, Ethiopian cuisine will be more of a take-out option for me.
(4)
Inde A.

Based on its reviews on Yelp, I recently went to Ras Dashen with a group of friends who wanted to try Ethiopian food. The experience was very disappointing to say the least. As an Ethiopian, I know how our food is supposed to taste and the dishes at Rash Dashen are far from authentic. The injera was very sour, the wot dishes did not taste right and the kitfo was just downright terrible. The only somewhat decent dish was the lamb tibs. Our bill for this mediocre food came out to about $45 per person. I would highly recommend looking elsewhere for authentic Ethiopian food.
(2)
Shradha A.

I don't understand the 5-star reviews for this place. So misguiding and I got duped by it so much, that trusting Yelp reviews, I actually planned one of my best friend's birthday here last month and was so embarrassed that I tried hard to make our friends forget this was my suggestion! The food was not even half as good as Ethiopian Diamond or Addis Abeba! The service was shockingly awful! There was just one woman all afternoon on a weekend day and very rude and mean. The wait time for food was unbearable - 90mnts! And they were so much more expensive than the others too! They wouldn't even give us water refills while we were waiting... YUCK!!! The bread was too dry and the vegetables were not spiced right. For those of you who gave this place 5-stars and this was your first experience with Ethiopian food, please do me a favor and check out Ethiopian Diamond or Demera for the REAL taste!
(1)
Eduardo M.

I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet. I discovered this place as my "in chicago" ethiopian place. It's not far from the office (yes, it's a drive to place, but that's ok), and the parking in the area is fairly convenient, so all in all, points for that. the food is great, I've not been disappointed with anything here (try the red lentils, super great). I'll be honest, I'm not a super expert of what constitutes cuisine from ethiopia, but from what I've been told by friends, this is one of the closest to being there around. The staff is friendly, very knowledgeable, and they won't get your order wrong. This place is great for a group of friends, just remember to wash your hands before eating (no utensils!).
(5)
Glen W.

By far the best Ethiopian food I have ever had. The Qatenga are amazing
(5)
Dan Z.

I was super excited to go to Ras Dashen because I love Ethiopian Diamond and RD has even higher rating. But I wasn't very impressed...The food wasn't bad, but the service was horrible. It took us 30 min to get a waitress to take order and another 30 min for her to get our check. Not to mention that she didn't fill up our water glasses once! The only highlight of the night was buna be jebena (the traditional coffee boild in a clay pot), it was really really good. You have to try it! I might go back to just give it another try but mostly likely I'll visit Ethiopian Diamond when I'm craving for Ethiopian food next time.
(2)
Mandy A.

The first time I ate Ethiopian was with my husband and a bunch of strangers at Ethiopian Diamond during an I Wish class. While the presentation and info beforehand was captivating and interesting, when it comes to communal eating with strangers, you're all looking at each other like, did you really wash your hands when you came out of the bathroom? (I did.) After that experience, we decided to go with another couple who was eager to try out an Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago after visiting one in Madison, WI and we could relax knowing we could trust the sanitary habits of those we knew. We originally planned on going to Demera to use a Groupon but after failing to make a reservation, we ended up at Ras Dashen which ended up being a fabulous choice. I LOVE the fact that they have a "How to Order" section on the menu. It helps alleviate the whole, what the hell are we doing factor that accompanies eating Ethiopian food. They recommend one entrÃ©e per person and three sides per table of four, asking your server to suggest complementary sides if you're stumped. We each picked one entrÃ©e and ended up with one each of a vegetarian, chicken, beef and lamb dish. We asked our server to suggest sides and she looked a little dumbfounded. She ended up helping us out but wasn't outright endorsing certain sides over others. *Here is where I cheat and look back at the menu and guess at what we ordered: - Diffen Misser Wat: whole red lentils in spicy berbere sauce - Doro alicha: chicken and egg cooked in a sauce of onions, garlic, ginger and green peppers - Yeqay ferfer: beef and injera pieces cooked in spicy sauce with tomatoes and garlic - Yebeg wat: lamb stew in a spicy, dark berbere sauce Sides: - Qosta: spinach cooked with onions, garlic and spices - Ib: soft cheese made fresh daily - Tikil gomen alicha: mildly spiced cabbage, potato and carrot stew* *I'm not sure this is what we ordered but I can't for the life of me figure out what the last one was. Overall, everything was delicious. The injera was soft but strong and was a good utensil for all of the dishes. I could eat injera every day, I think. Yeah, I could. My favorite was the chicken dish, although I'm not sure how anyone expects you to eat a hardboiled egg with injera? I just jabbed my nail right into it and broke off a piece but that was only because no one else at the table wanted any part of it. So who knows? The table favorite seemed to be the lamb stew, the sauce it was in was really flavorful. My least favorite were the lentils but maybe just because I like the other ones that much more and not because it was necessarily bad. The service got a little weird at the end when they dropped off dessert menus and then didn't come back for a good 15 minutes. We were in a little bit of a hurry but just seemed to be forgotten about once the food came. And maybe it was because there was a little rush when we were ready to leave so I'm not going to complain too much. Overall, I would definitely recommend it for a unique meal in the city. It was reasonably priced too, with drinks it ended up being about $30/person with tax and tip. I suggest going with four people in your group to ensure you have an easy to reach to the plate while still having a good variety of dishes.
(4)
Val B.

Ras Dashen has super, super tasty food, which is a little tainted by not-so-great service. We had reservations for 6, which I thought would get us a table - but instead got us seated in low chairs around a small table. I wouldn't complain about this authentic eating style, but it was really crowded and there wasn't room for our drinks, which lead to a lot of precarious drink placement and general whose-drink-is-this confusion. We ordered a chicken dish, two veggie dishes, a beef dish, and a lamb dish, plus two sides chosen by the waitress. Everything was really, really tasty. Spicy, flavorful, interesting. However, our service was really pretty bad - I was without napkins for the entire meal since they didn't check in until the end, and even then she forgot to bring napkins. I also didn't get a refill on my soda, and our meal was rather spicy, so that was kind of difficult. I wouldn't knock a couple stars off just for that though. We went to a show in the back afterward, and according to the doorman it was $15, which got you 2 drinks plus some food or something (not that we were that interested in food at that point). Once we were seated, the waiter also repeated this. We didn't order immediately since we were so stuffed from dinner, but once another gent came by my mom tried to order wine. The new gent said that wasn't the deal, and then proceeded to annoy us the rest of the night - saying yes we could have it, then when we ordered drinks he said he'd have to charge us, then saying we could get 2-for-1s, then saying it was really 2-for-2s... it was so, so, so obnoxious. I wouldn't have even minded if the original waiter was wrong - stuff like that happens - but the second waiter was so incredibly obnoxious and bothered us approximately every 6 minutes. It became a running joke at the table that you could order a drink, but 1 min later he would come back with a new set of conditions for you to agree to, completely different from the set of conditions you originally agreed to. Ugh. Fire. This. Guy. Also, $15 for a show at an Ethiopian restaurant? I know cheaper hookers. If the food weren't so tasty this place would have 1 star.
(3)
Sayantan B.

This is the best Ethiopean food I have had so far in the Chicagoland area. And I have tried about 5 different restaurants till date. Each and every dish is exquisitely flavored and very very distict from one another...which is very important as in a few places the dishes tend to taste very similar. The grilled lamb dishes were chargrilled to perfection. Lamb dishes are the top even though the chicken Doro alicha was absolutely melt in your mouth delicious. We went there in a group of 24 people and they accomodated us in a private room they have at the back. We had a fantastic time and spent over 3 hours at the place until they were literally packing upto leave. I have come to this place for the 4th time now and whenever anyone wants to eat Ethiopean with me I'll take them to this place.
(5)
Robyn T.

I have come to the conclusion that I love Ethiopian food and Ras Dashen has helped to make me a believer. People always joke about "what kind of food do you eat at an Ethiopian restaurant?" But seriously, if you came in and tried it yourself, you'd realize there are a host of complex spices, textures and ingredients that make this an outstanding dining experience. The cozy surroundings and friendly staff at Ras Dashen make it the perfect place to try out Ethiopian food if you've never had it before. "Comfort food from the mountains of Ethiopia" is right. You'll feel entirely sated after a warming meal here. I highly recommend starting with the qategna (warm bread with a bit of a kick to it) because the dinner takes a while to prepare and you will be hungry. I'd recommend ordering one of the dinners because you get to try a variety of items. For the appetizers I loved the sweet and sour red cabbage and the yellow lentils. For entrees I highly recommend the doro wat. - chicken in the traditional Ethiopian sauce. The meal was rounded out with the traditional coffee. Of course it takes a while to prepare (as all good things do) but it was definitely worth it. The beans were eye-opening strong and I think I drink several of the small cups -- great caffeine buzz! The staff here is super friendly and the space lends itself well to larger groups and parties of two looking for an intimate night out. I wished I'd had the foresight to call ahead and reserver one of the smaller, traditional tables because that looked like it would have been made the experience that much more authentic.
(4)
Jeff A.

I write this review with the heart soul and rhythm of Ras Dashen still digesting inside me... I have eaten at this fantabulous abode more times then I can remember and for some reason, never have I wrote a review... As I sat in a state of bliss noshing on the best Ethiopian food in Chicago, I looked up at my buddy an Ethiopian food virgin, and said this is as good as it gets, this is 5 stars, 5 diamonds, two thumbs up, this is it! He was nervous at first; with the welcoming smiles and loving suggestions of the amazing staff his nerves soon settled! I felt right at home, surrounded by good tunes, good people, and an aroma that just makes your stomach dance in anxious anticipation of the feast it is about to get interactive with... We split three glorious meat preparations and three perfectly paired steaming sides... A beef and pumpkin weekend special, my favorite steak tar tar, and Doro Wat a delectable chicken and egg dichotomy that melts into your tastes buds bite after bite... The sides were just perfect; spiced and buttered spinach, a melange of stewed veggies from squash to carrots, and a wonderful rue of spicy lentils... It was all just wonderful both individually and amalgamated on my tongue and in my belly! We started to close the doors on this flavor explosion with perfectly brewed Ethiopian coffee and Etho bread pudding it was moist sticky not too sweet all under a creamy dollop of luscious vanilla gelato... This meal was so far my best of 2010 and one of my top 5 so far here in Chicago... I keep coming back and I am always awed by the amazing people, amazing food, and amazing atmosphere... Ras Dashen has proven to me over the years that the Amazing never has to stop!!! You ROCK!
(5)
Laura C.

On a rainy Sunday night, we rolled into Ras Dashen, not knowing that it was Brazilian jazz night. The dimly lit dining room with the live band made for an intimate dining occasion. The small wicker chairs and table were not the most comfortable or roomy, but I appreciated their aesthetic touch. We had to keep rearranging the side tables so we could fit our drinks and had to really squint to read the menu, but it was all part of the atmosphere. We started with the Ethiopian tea, which was reminiscent of a lightly spiced Chai. With a little milk and honey, I could have drank the whole pot. We did the Omnivore Dinner for two, and it was enough to feed me and my two friends. With a chicken, lamb and beef for our main entrees, we added the yellow split peas, beet salad and green beans to balance the meal. The meat dishes were a bit hard to pick away from the bone, especially when all you have is your fingers, so be sure everyone in your party washes up pre-feast. Service is adequate, and the food is a nice change from your familiar cuisines. Great place for a date.
(4)
Stella J.

Came here with some friends and we really enjoyed the mini buffet we essentially created at our table. This is a favorite spot of theirs, so they guided us through our menu choices. We would have really struggled on our own to narrow it down... I'm a huge fan of their injera. Reading some reviews here, I think some people keep expecting it to be naan, or roti, or something it's not. If you're not used to Ethiopian food, please don't expect the injera to be naan. It's not. It's something different, but very good. Like a big sour dough crepe. That's gray. I had the Temptations soy ice cream (cookie dough) for dessert and loved it!! Kind of the wrong cultural beat, I suppose, but a really tasty, creamy treat to end the meal.
(4)
Camille E.

I wish I could give Ras Dashen 100 stars, seriously. My husband and I are new to Chicago and being that my husband is half Ethiopian we HAD to find a decent place to eat Injera on a regular basis. We found Ras Dashen on Yelp (of course!) and we are sure glad we did. After our first dinning experience, we agreed that we would be regulars of Ras Dashen. Ladies and gents, this is as good as it gets in terms of finding an authentic Ethiopian restaurant in Edgewater (and really, in the north side of Chicago in general). Belly-filling Injera, diverse entrees/side-dishes, warm and friendly customer service, and an awesome, cozy atmosphere -- what more could you ask for? We've dined there twice now and while it seemed packed upon entering, we were seated immediately. Ras Dashen is definitely booming with business but preserving top-quality customer service. Menu Tip: The Omnivore Dinner for Two is an excellent deal. You can choose 3 entrees, and 3 side-dishes for approx. $40. The portions are an excellent size and you never run out of Injera. Also, if you're in the mood for a sweet treat try a glass of the 'Honey Wine" or the 'Bread pudding' -- absolutely mouth watering! Transpo Tip: Ras Dashen is conveniently located right off the Red Line (Thorndale stop) although I've seen ample spots for parking on street also.
(5)
J C.

I've tried a few Ethiopian restaurants in a few cities, including Little Ethiopia in LA, and this is by far the best food I've had. I always get a vegetarian platter, and usually at other places I like a few dishes a lot, and some not much. But I love every single dish here. My favorites are the misser wat and the red cabbage dish, but really, everything (including the greens and the tomato, onion, lime juice salad) is amazing. The honey wine is also delicious. I loved it so much that I drove 4 hours from Michigan to get this food. There, I said it.
(5)
Kate P.

I just love ethnic food. However, I never really had a chance to try Ethiopian food before, until a group of friends asked if I would like to join them here Friday night to see what it's like, and I said yes indeed. All in all we had six in our party and since I was a novice to this type of food I'm going to share with you what I learned. I learned that Ras Dashen when translated means comfort food from the moutains of Ethiopia. I learned that handwashing is very important because there are no utensils, you use injera instead. I learned that it's ok to pig out because everyone else is and I just loved the communal nature of this meal. It really brings people together. Plus, the live music made the night very lively and enjoyable as well. Then I finally learned the names of all the dishes we had. Here they are: * Ras Dashen Salad - similar to a garden salad but served with a light tangy dressing, this was a standard good choice. * Misser wat - red lentils in a spicy berbere sauce. Quite delicious. * Gomen - chopped greens slow cooked with mild spices. Milder in the spice category but good none the less. * Doro wat - this was my favorite dish of the whole meal and what it translates to is the chicken and the egg, cooked in a thick and spicy berbere sauce. I also learned from our server that this is the national dish of Ethiopia. I would recommend this one to everyone. * Yebeg tibs - lamb lightly cooked with onions, green peppers and seasonings. This too was a nice balance to our more spicy dishes. * Kitfo tere - steak tar tar, yes indeed. Most delicious and seasoned with kibe which is a spicy butter and a blend of crushed peppers. Scrumptiously seared to perfection. Also, just because my friends and I are carnivores doesn't mean you have to be. They also serve veggie friendly platters that will make you say yum. So, don't be afraid to come here no matter if you're a carnivore, vegitarian or somewhere in between. All in all the service was great and friendly. I can't wait to come back here again to try some of their other dishes, now that I know what to expect.
(4)
Edd F.

I can't believe how good this place is. I love it. The "50 year old Fashion" is the best Old Fashioned I've had in Chicago. The lamb dish that is just referred to as "spicy, juicy" is so good. Go there now.
(5)
Jennifer H.

This is another one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. My husband and I have been dining here for years and I can't say enough good things about this place. I tend not to be a huge meat eater and always order their vegetarian dishes which are so yummy. The Ethiopian coffee is very good too, I've also have never had a bad server. If your looking for a great ethnic food Restaurant, look no further and give them a try.
(4)
Bdizzy D.

Another in the long list of cozy, tasty restaurants in Edgewater. Service with a warm, genuine smile almost made up for the error with the bill and the long, long wait for the check after we declined dessert. Still, four stars for being the best of the Ethiopian places along Broadway and for their wide selection of imported African beers. Everything on the menu is flavorful and spiced to order. If you aren't familiar with Ethiopian dining this is the place to start. Bring new friends -- nothing like eating with your hands to lower inhibitions and stimulate conversation. When they offer you a choice of modern table or traditional mesob, I would take the table, unless you have amazing lower back muscles.
(4)
Da J.

Although I have not been to another Ethiopian restaurant, I can still confidently give Ras Dashen 5 stars because my Ethiopian friend took me here. I've been here a couple times, and each time we have been lucky to sit at the traditional table. The beer selection is also tasty!
(5)
Mary H.

I'm so sad to write this because I have always loved the food at Ras Dashen. But my family's (4 people) evening was ruined last Saturday night because it took 1 hour and 20 minutes to get our food--no lie! We would have left but were on our way to a late night concert and knew we had no other place to get food before the performance! Everyone around us was having the same issue and we saw tables get up and leave. I'm not sure if the problems have been addressed but we will not go back here...
(2)
Meghan K.

Loved it! Me and a friend from out of town decided to travel way up north to Edgewater to indulge in some Ethiopian food. I can't get my boyfriend to go near the stuff, so this was an almost once-in-a-lifetime experience! We found Ras Dashen to be exactly what we wanted! The staff was prompt and courteous and the food to be delicious! Some spicy, some mild, some rich and some light. We washed it down with Ethiopian chai tea and we were completely content!
(5)
Kevin J.

This place is great. The food is so different than anything I had before. It fills you up so much its like eating twice. The service is good and I think they have music on the weekends. I've have a great time and great food every time I have gone there.
(5)
Stephenie S.

This is the perfect restaurant for leisurely get together-es. They have giant dishes perfect for sharing with friends.
(5)
Kara M.

I'm slipping into a food coma right now, but of course I've mustered enough strength to review this AMAZING place on yelp!! we just got back from lunch and the food was great. We had a veggie lentil dish and the beef for me with a lentil, corn, and spinach as sides and it was too good! the spices were so amazing and the food was extra tasty. the injera was good and spongy and we ate and ate, and then ate some more. you get really good portions on the entrees, i feel the sides were a little skimpy but it was still too much food to finish! the ethio bread pudding dessert left a lot to be desired but i didn't go there for the dessert..lol...overall, i love this place!
(4)
Mel R.

we come here about once a year to use our NPR member discount. the food is good, the service is always great. we always order too much and take leftovers home :)
(3)
Ricky Z.

Delightful. Cheap. Really, really tasty, even (especially?) when vegetarian. I can split an appetizer and an entree with a friend and feel very full (with a couple extra plates of injera).
(4)
Patty C.

absolutely delicious! a little on the spicy side, but so good. the fish with vegetables was wonderful and i'd highly recommend the cabbage as a side. our food came out within fifteen minutes, which i was surprised by (we ordered a vegetarian sampler and the fish which came with three sides). it was more than enough and we had plenty of leftovers. one of the cooks walked by and looked at our platter right after the server brought it out and said, "beautiful." i would have to agree!
(5)
e j.

This is another favorite that I feel so lucky to be able to patronize. I want to try Ethioian Diamond, but I love this place so much I can never make the turn. We don't eat meat other than fish and adore their Tilapia with peppers. All of the veggies are wonderously flavorful. Indian used to be my favorite cuisine, but Ethiopian is as flavorful, but with much less fat. We usually get a tilapia and then a veggie combo, yum! I love the atmosphere, but agree it can be slow. Waiting can be hard when eagerly anticipating the delicious food.
(5)
Liz B.

Came here only once, for a vegan meetup, and they prepared a bottomless buffet for us hungry herbivores, complete wtih an injera history lesson. I learned all about the smallest grain in the world, but soon after forgot the name of it. Oh well, the food was amazing and I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Sarah E.

We had a great dinner on Saturday night at Ras Dashen. Fortunately we had a reservation (it was PACKED) for 6. I'm not too experienced with ethiopian food but it was fun to be with a group and all chow down with the food in the center of the table on one huge plate. They also had a nice selection of beers, including several ethiopian ones. We did sample the ethiopian style wine (made in Cali) which was pretty sweet, almost like a thick dessert wine. Only negative was the table size - very cozy for 6 people, but that did add to the ambiance. Overall it was a fun experience.
(4)
Karla N.

I love love the food. That is all I can say. Best Ethiopian food I have found not just in Chicago but anywhere else in the county. Ras Dashen, is bound to change your mind about Ethiopian food. I am hooked and can't get enough of their food. I still wish they didn't make it so difficult for big groups to order combo dinner meals by only allowing three side dishes to be share across the table, but I suppose I will jut have to get over it!
(5)
Jisha A.

Comfort food : that's what this is...we've never had a bad experience here 'n now I can't even remember how many times I've been here : 25+ would be a reasonable approximation. Spice alert for those with sensitive tummies and if you're not comfortable using your hands, well you're at the wrong place ! The place can get crowded : so be wise and make reservations. The ambiance : they do have live music (which is pretty good) most of the days, but I always prefer a table not too near the music as you'd end up having to yell at the table. The food : where do I start : my favorites - the chicken wat, the lamb in the berbere sauce 'n the sides : the spinach, the yellow lentils and the the spicy red lentils.. the chocolate molten lava for dessert is good but usually we're too stuffed at this point to order any and there's nothing particularly special about it, so worth the skip to focus on the main meal :D The Ethiopian chai might be good to start with..its well flavored and refreshing.. I eat like a horse at this place and feel good at the end of it.. the service is good if its not a very busy day as it might seem hard to get somebody to come around when you need them but they are really nice and offer good suggestions... I've tried an other Ethiopian place in the area : but I think this one wins hands down overall: food, ambience and service;the other place even charges for sharing an entree (is n't that the whole purpose of the way you eat : to share ??) Portions wise, we've had the omnivore for two shared among three and it was quite a filler meal..
(5)
Ben E.

Great food. Sloooooooooooooow service. Don't go here if you're actually hungry, because you'll die of starvation before you get your order.
(4)
Tom M.

Always heard how fun and tasty ethiopian was...well this place lived up to the hype. The place had a great atmoshpere with very friendly service. Were served the traditional style with one platter and ate using just hands and injera which is sour, spongy bread. Had great selection of beers three flyods, two brothers and some tasty African beers. Haven't had a Windhoek since being in Namibia, Hakim was good too!
(5)
Diana S.

Colorful Ethopian art decorate the walls and ethnic music plays in the back ground. This place sure feels authentic. Family style entrees are served atop festive wicker tables called messabs. Injera, a spongy sour dough pancake is used to pick up the food. The menu has a wide variety which includes ample choices for vegetarians. Items range from $3 - 16, an affordable price considering entrees come with three sides. Start out with the delicious sambusa appetizer, (lightly fried pastry wrappers filled with spinach). Lebleb tibs, a beef entree with sauteed onions and green peppers, cooked with Ethopian seasonings is oh soo savory. Several entrees are cooked with a robust spicy berbere sauce so beware if you can't handle the heat. The Asa tibs, tender tilapia fillets cooked with ginger and garlic, have a milder taste.
(4)
Gregory L.

Don't know what it is. The homey atmosphere, the personal service, or...oh, wait. It's the food, the incredibly wonderful food. This is a great place to take vegetarian friends to, as you can fill up on the shiro wot and the kik alitcha and be very very happy. So try the vegetarian combo for a change. But if you can't resist meat, the zizil tibs are very tasty.
(4)
John L.

I wanted to give three stars after my second visit to Ras Dashen last night, but the first visit was much better, so I know that I probably caught the servers on a bad night last night. Service was EXTREMELY slow last night. Our waitress took about 15 minutes to bring a coke to the table and then completely forgot my girlfriend's coke and took another 20 minutes to bring hers. In the meantime, we pretty much ate the whole meal with her not ever getting her coke until we were done. It also took the server a really long time to bring our check. The food however was very good. The meat dishes were pretty spicy which I love. All of the side orders are great. I think the place just got slammed when I arrived and there were only two waitresses working the place.
(4)
The Undertow W.

Excellent overall experience and a pretty authentic Ethiopian restaurant. Great assortment of choices, including fine vegetarian options. Beer selection is decent, seating comfortable, although some nights the place is totally packed (a good sign, admittedly) and the wait can be a while. It's worth it though. Don't expect to use tableware though: The food is served in traditional fashion and you use the injera (spongy flat bread that is delicious and filling, but somehow not TOO filling, so you don't feel totally stuffed, but satisfied). I've enjoyed everything I've tried there, but am partial to the gomen, misserana bowmia, and misser wat. I don't eat meat, so I can't speak to that portion of the menu, but it is extensive and plenty of customers look satisfied by what they are tucking into, so I can only assume it's all good. Also, try the groovy Ethiopian coffee that comes to your table roasted in traditional fashion (i.e. lots of smoke). A couple times I've encountered wait staff that have been somewhat overwhelmed by the crowds, and so the service was a bit slower than one might hope. But not too bad. And usually it's just fine. That said, better if you can carve out two hours for the Ras Dashen experience, since you're not likely to duck in and out (for dinner anyway) in 30 minutes. Enjoy!
(4)
Gretchen O.

I'd never tried Ethiopian food before, and the excellent reviews everyone wrote about this place made the selection process a lot easier. The restaurant had a very pleasant atmosphere - half the seating was American traditional, with square wooden tables and chairs. The other half was on lower, cushioned chairs, set around circular, brightly painted tables with woven lids. My boyfriend and I ordered the Omnivore Dinner for Two, which consists of three smaller-sized entrees and three side dishes. It all comes out on a huge, circular metal plate lined with injera, the sour, spongy bread you will use in lieu of utensils. It didn't look like that much food at first, but we were both ravenous, stuffed ourselves silly and still failed to eat it all. I know the lamb menu is mouth-watering, but I highly recommend you also order one or two vegetarian dishes! I really enjoyed the Yeqaysur salata, which was a chilled beet salad side dish. The ib, a fresh cheese, was something of a disappointment. I love cheese, but I didn't think it significantly enhanced the other dishes. I wouldn't order it again. Kitfo tere was the hit of the evening. It's an Ethiopian beef tartare-type dish; very spicy and delicious. We also ordered a pot of chai tea, which was aromatic and palate-cleansing. I recommend this place to anyone looking for a new experience, or for some tasty food.
(4)
Joy C.

The hardest thing about moving away from Edgewater was that I was no longer walking distance from this place. I tend to dine out alone a lot, and this restaurant, in addition to having fabulous food, is cozy and comfortable. The staff is very friendly, the food is delicious, and the portions are generous, not to mention their incredible honey wine (think mead). They often have live music, which is an especially nice touch. I brought a friend there once and our waitress brought us a complimentary dessert just because. It feels like family there. Family that cooks unbelievably good miser wat.
(5)
Erin M.

Fantastic food and atmospheric. We ordered 6 dishes and they all were delicious. They also have a good selection of Ethiopian beers, which adds to the fun. Yes, the service is a bit relaxed, but anyone who complains about that doesn't understand African culture.
(4)
Leang E.

I have always wanted to try Ethiopian food, and I'm sure glad I did. I really like this place. It feels authentic to the point as if you went to their home, and you'd experience or hear the music that they'd be listening to and eat the way they'd eat. There are some wicker seats and regular tables, and the weave table baskets are very original in the way they were used for the trays to lay in. I love that the place is BYOB, and it was perfect with our meal. I had the Asa Tibs, which is the tilapia with sauteed veggies recommended by the waitress. She said it was one of her favorites, and it could be mine too! My friend had the Doro Wat, which is the chicken with the egg and the berbere sauce. The was a little spicy, but really good. We had the Misser Salata, the chilled lentils and the Diblik Atkilt the carrots, potatoes, and green beans as the two side items. The food comes on top of the injera, soft spongy bread. It goes so well together! Thinking about it now, just makes me remember how tasty it was. The creme brulee was pretty damn good as well. It was all very flavorful and delicious. The food came out reasonably quick, and there was quite a number of people there already. There were some hot guys sitting in a large group. It was a great experience and I would love to do it again! You can actually order take out here as well!
(5)
Sarah F.

This place is amazing. It is super chill and the food is wonderful. There was a band playing on my last visit, which was a Friday night. The service is friendly and warm. It is not a speedy, grab a quick bite to eat kind of place. It is ideal if you want to make an exquisite event out of it. The prices are more than reasonable.
(5)
S G.

The food here is great with a good atmosphere, had a chance to try some Ethiopian beers which I really liked and my friends enjoyed the communal aspect of our meal. If eating with your hands is not something you or your friends are comfortable with better skip, otherwise it should be a good time.
(4)
Anonymous F.

Fantastic food, lovely environment, nice waitstaff. I just wish I lived closer.
(5)
Telly S.

Ras Dashen is owned by nice people, in a nice part of town, and the restaurant itself is nice inside. The food however, when my girlfriend and I went last week was not. We should should have known that the food would not be fresh when we saw a completely empty restaurant when we walked in, when the waitress tried to get us to order double the food we really could eat, and when the food came it was piled high and felt luke warm from a microwave. It wasn't fresh, it only took five minutes for our food to come. But we were hungry. And so we ate. Took food home that we had no intention of eating and I'm glad we stayed true to that intention. I don't think I have felt okay since eating there. It was the second time I ate their food and the first was good. This is why it is so hard to write these words about such a nice restaurant. If you go make sure your food is cooked well. If your food takes time to come (like some reviewers have mentioned) just take that as a sign that they are not microwaving leftovers for you. If your portions are small just know that they are not trying to get rid of unsold food. The two stars are for the first time I ate their food, which was good. The three absent stars are for the three weeks it will take my body to recover from their hospitality.
(2)
Stephanie S.

I would prefer to give this establishment four and a half stars (the seating area can be a bit awkward) for the stellar food and BYOB policy, but four will have to do. I've eaten nearly everything on the menu and enjoyed it all. As a rule, their food is decently spicy and they will happily make it as spicy as you can tolerate if you request it, which I highly recommend. I've been here on numerous occasions with numerous friends and every meal has been fantastic.
(4)
Gina D.

Ethiopian food is my all time favorite. Out of all the places I've been too, I really love Ras Dashen. A few weeks ago I brought my in laws to try it out and one of their friends could not eat the injera because of a gluten allergy. The owner was so attentive that she made up a special gluten free bread for him from scratch. It was really amazing and made him feel so much better. It made me happy to have brought them to such a wonderful place!
(5)
deb s.

Good solid place to go. Very friendly people. Vegan friendly - even with desert choices! 1st time eating Ethiopian, and the bf & I had a great time. We will definately be back!!
(4)
Leah V.

i love this place. the ambiance is great, the food is out of this world and the staff is friendly and usually quite prompt. my favorite ethiopian place in the city.
(5)
Sophie M.

I loooove Ras Dashen. It's great to go with a group of people to share the food. The vegetarian selection is astounding, and I think they have the best quosta I've ever tasted. I'm a bit sad that the past few times I've been, they've been out of the African beers I've wanted. I always try to save room for dessert, but it's impossible because there's so much tasty food and I don't stop eating til I'm stuffed.
(5)
Ananda I.

The atmosphere here is great, but it costs way more than Ethiopian Diamond and you get more food at the Diamond. The service sucks.
(3)
Tara M.

I'm no expert on Ethiopian food so I can't say much about this place other than the food is incredibly flavorful and varied. Kind of makes my mouth water to think about it.
(4)
Foodiegirl F.

Love love love this place! Great atmosphere, service and food! The Doro wat and the Yebeg tibs be berbere (a lamb dish nicknamed "Spicy Juicy") are my favorites, but I've not had anything I didn't like here! The food is consistently delicious and the staff is always friendly and accommodating. Ras Dashen is my 7 year old nephew's favorite Chicago restaurant, but then he's a bit of a foodie already! The Doro wat is definitely spicy, but this is his favorite! I've been several times, and look forward to many future visits!
(5)
Pang P.

I don't know anything about Ethiopian food. But it was good and the service was great. I went on a Sunday for lunch. Don't go here on a date if you want to impress anyone, though, 'cause you're going to get your hands dirty...
(4)
Michelle L.

Ras Dashen was my first encounter with Ethiopian food and it was quite a dining experience. The staff was very friendly and helpful...and willing to answer my first-timer questions of "what is this?", "how do you eat that?", etc. It was a delicious cultural experience for me.
(4)
Ji K.

I came here with a bunch of friends, and we were really excited about trying Ethiopian food. I'd have to say the most disappointing aspect of Ras Dashen was the service. It took so long to have our order taken, yet the place was only half full. Our waitress was very friendly when she got to our table, but that didn't quite negate the fact that we were starving. The food, though, was tasty and flavorful-- especially the meat dishes. The homemade honey wine was also decent (and quite potent), but I probably wouldn't get a full bottle again. Overall, this place was good, but not wonderful.
(3)
Nobi N.

Since this place has such great reviews, I had high expectations. I must say the food is good enough. However, the service was extremely poor. Our waitress was not at all friendly. She made a couple of mistakes on our order, and it took an hour to serve our food and one of our drinks, even though the restaurant was not crowded. She never apologized for making mistakes nor making us wait for a long time and did not really attend to us while we kept waiting (e.g., water was not refilled). It would have been nice if she at least acknowledged our long wait. I probably won't return to this restaurant since I had better experiences elsewhere.
(2)
sarah h.

best ethiopan in the city and surrounding area. have been to them all-it really is! try the komodoro fet fet! they make their own mead. tilapia! service is slow, but the food is worth every second.
(5)
Jack E.

Who wins the Edgewater battle for best Ethiopian Restaurant in Chicago? Ras Dashen or Ethiopian Diamond? The two are separated by a mere 4 blocks. Ras Dashen. No contest. Both places make really good vegetarian food, but Ras Dashen's meat dishes are WAY BETTER. Ras Dashen's decor is a lot more relaxing. Ras Dashen has a better beer list. And Ras Dashen has really great afro-jazz on Fridays. No Contest.
(5)
Rocky B.

I think this place was pretty good...tho in my opinon not as good as Ethiopian Diamond. Service was very nice tho a bit lacking. We ordered a few appetizers that never arrived and had a hard time flagging down someone as they was a very large party there that had the rest of the staff's attention. In the end we were very full and were actually glad they forgot the appetizers! Food was pretty good but for some reason I keep going back to Ethiopian Diamond even tho Ras Dashen is literally 4 doors down from me.
(3)
Tina C.

Came here on a Saturday night with a group of about 11. With a larger group like that, it takes a bit longer to order, eat, finish copious amounts of wine...! The staff couldn't have been nicer about it, I never felt rushed and they were pleasant without hovering. They did a great job of explaining and recommending how to order for that big of a group. Most importantly, though, the food was bursting with flavor. We sampled the Ethiopian steak, a lamb dish and the doro wat - which was so perfectly spiced I could have just had a huge platter of that, alone. I enjoyed the warm injera bread and pretty much all of the sides, and we finished it off with some Ethiopian coffee. It was also refreshing not to pay overinflated prices for what seemed like a good amount of food. I really have no complaints about Ras Dashen except I wish it were closer to my neighborhood ... but even then, a simple bus ride on the 36 and what seemed like plenty of parking alleviates the distance obstacle.
(4)
Mary A.

I love Ras Dashen. Every time I've gone there, I've had excellent service and delicious food. I recommend trying the Ethiopian coffee after your meal. It's the thick kind with grounds on the bottom like Greek or Turkish coffee, and it takes about 15 minutes to prepare. The combination of such yummy food, strong coffee, warm ambiance, and terrific music always leaves me totally peaceful and content by the end of each meal.
(5)
Erik R.

The food was pretty good. The service was pretty bad. I thought it was a fluke but since our experience seems to mirror other people's it seems to be an ongoing problem. Like the Diamond, I think it will impress anyone trying this kind of food out for the first time, but I think the new little Eritrean place on Elmdale and Broadway, The Peacock Cafe, has better food than both.
(3)
Beth G.

We were aiming for the one down the street but walked into this joint instead. Really liked the ambience and the food was tasty. It's not as spicy as the other places but was authentic and delicious nevertheless. We really liked how the seats were made and the overall decor. Nice service too, very friendly.
(4)
Kate W.

OK, there's good news and there's bad news. The bad news is, the service at Ras Dashen is usually lacking. The first time we went, we didn't get any injera on the side (only what was on the platter) and we got charged for beer that was never served. We've also ordered appetizers that never arrived (we didn't get charged for that). However, the boy and I are willing to put up with all this because the food is SO GOOD. I always go for the beef sambusas (with yummy dipping sauce) and doro wat ... the misser wat is my favorite side dish along with the ib. My boyfriend likes to do the meat combo entree ... usually yebeg tips de berbere and the Ethiopian steak tartare. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it all!
(4)
David T.

I went to Ras Dashen with my friend who lived in Ethiopia with an Ethiopian family for three months and she informed me that this place has the best Ethiopian food in Chicago. Indeed the food was delicious and it was a fun evening. The service was not excellent but was not bad either. If you love Ethiopian food or just want to try something new, you should check this place out.
(4)
Juliet P.

My husband and I LOVE Ethiopian food and have visited quite a number of restaurants in the city. As far as the food went, it was great! I started with a salad of lettuce, carrots, potatoes, beets, cucumbers, with little slices of jalapeno and a very light dressing. We then had the Omnivore dinner for two with Tikil gomen alicha (cabbage, potato, and carrots), Ib (homemade cheese), and Kik alicha (yellow split peas with other spices) for sides, and Misserana bowmia (lentils and okra in berbere-mildly spicy), Doro alicha (chicken on the bone cooked stewed in a spiced sauce) and Yebeg wat (lamb in berbere - moderately spicy) for entrees. I had a glass of the iced tea (unsweetened Chai), and my husband, a glass of the Ethiopian honey wine (yum!). Everything was very flavorful. The injera (the bread), was moist and tangy, just as we've had and have grown to love. For dessert, my husband enjoyed a warm, generous portion of baklava. I tried the bread pudding. It was made from the injera, and as a result was very, very moist, with a little bit of tang. It came with a side of berries, and was supposed to have had vanilla gelato on top, but apparently they ran out. Too bad: it would have perfected the dessert. The fusion jazz group in the corner sounded great, and provided just enough sound not to drown out the person sitting next to you. "Sounds like a great evening, so why only three stars?" The service. Sucked. We're not quite sure what was going on with our waitress, or why she appeared to be servicing tables from the very front to the very back of the restaurant. We waited for our drinks for ten minutes before finally having to ask for them. We placed various other orders with no less than three other waitresses (we added the salad late; she disappeared when it was time for dessert, and we gave our order to the woman who was working as the bartender.) Now, it's entirely possible, based on the interaction we observed between our waitress and the other staff, that she may have been new. But, by the time we sat down (we got a table in about 5 minutes at around 9pm), the dinner rush was subsiding. We had hoped that she would improve over the course of the evening. No such luck. So, our final conclusion was, the food and ambiance was really great (and the bathrooms were clean!), but the service was quite bad. We'll most likely return to our good-old Demera a few blocks south also on Broadway for equally good food, and substantially better service.
(3)
jason t.

yelp has done me a favor finally. i hadn't had ethiopian food in about six years when i went here, and never in chicago. i checked in here and decided on this place, it turned out to be all kinds of awesome. we ordered the doro alicha and the yebeg tibs be bebere. our waitress was really friendly and helpful, we let her pick our side dishes and she brought us some lovely collard greens, lentils and diblik atkilt. the ethiopian beers we sampled were excellent and i plan on finding a store which stocks them so i can drink them at home. i will certainly not be waiting another six years to go again.
(5)
Biz B.

Anyone who knows a thing or two about Ethiopian food or anyone who's eaten at as many Ethiopian restaurants as I have would agree that Ras Dashen is hands down THE BEST! Sure they are a little lousy with their service (hence the 4 stars instead of 5), even on a Tuesday night when you are the only one there, but boy, is the wait worth it! I can't say enough about their entrees. My personal favorites are Lebleb Tibs, Doro Wat, Doro Alicha and Sega Wat. The veggie sides you get are not bad either. The Molten Lava Cake, which by the way takes 20 minutes to be ready, is to die for. The Sambusas are OK but I've had better. Their beer selection is pretty good, especially African beers. Harar- my favorite, Bedele, and Castle lager are a welcome change from other domestic and imports you get at bars. I tried a red wine once- nothing outstanding but then I'm a beer person so I don't know. It's hard to recall the countless number of times I've had trouble walking out of this place because I couldn't stop eating until the last piece of Injera disappeared. God bless Ethiopia! And God bless Ras Dashen!
(4)
Scott J.

I really enjoy the food at this place, and have been there a few times. The food, simply put, is outstanding, and the people that run the establishment are very friendly. My wife and I are vegetarians, and Ras Dashen is very vegetarian friendly. We used to live in the Edgewater neighborhood and actually just stopped in one day when we went to Alice & Friends only to find it closed. I fell in love when I walked in and heard the Ethio-Jazz on the stereo. We've been back a handful of times since moving out of the neighborhood, and have enjoyed the experience each time. The closest comparison I can make for somebody who has never had food like this is that it's similar to Indian food, in that there are a lot of stews and spiced dishes and that you eat it communally with bits of bread and your hands. However the flavors and serving style are very unique. Injera bread is probably the most unique flatbread I've ever tasted. It's a spongy, sourdough bread, with a texture that kind of reminds me of a hearty pancake. The food is all placed onto a piece of injera, which is on a big round tray. You then share your food with the others at the table. If you go, I highly recommend sitting at a traditional low-lying wicker table if possible, because it condones itself to more conversation and a relaxed atmosphere. I highly recommend this establishment to anybody interested in the experience of Ethiopian dining. I would give that recommendation with a caveat though: give yourself plenty of time, avoid it on nights when you will feel rushed, and savor the experience. It's not something you should plan on doing as a prelude to the evening, but rather as an evening in and of itself.
(5)
Amanda J.

one must make a choice before they visit Ras Dashen--do you want to have a quick, good meal where they are waited on attentively? or do you want to have an EXPERIENCE? if you picked the first, please rethink that decision. :) because it's the most talked about component of Ras Dashen, i will address the service. it is not fast. it is however, friendly (not like a Starbucks barista "friendliness" style) and i have never felt rushed. my advice to those wanting to go to Ras Dashen is to go on a friday evening, have a snack before, and just relax. only then will you be able to enjoy the charm of this place. on friday nights, Magic Carpet, a North African/Middle Eastern/jazz fusion band plays wonderful music. now on to the food! this is hands down, five stars. i have loved everything i tried, with the exception of the soft cheese--ib (sp?). i highly recommend the tilapia--asa tibs. Sega wat and zilzil tibs are wonderful choices for beef-eaters. Make sure you don't leave here without having the misser salata, which is a cold lentil salad. I love this dish so much, I recreated it at home. Beer, wine, liquor, and coffee/espresso selection is wonderful. they offer a nice variety of imported beers and wine (try Husker, Hakim, or Xingu, if you haven't before). Save room for dessert! Baklava, molten lava cake, and coconut creme brulee (the latter is my favorite). Just relax and have fun (and don't forget to tip the band)!
(5)
jenny t.

so i used to hate ethiopian food. actually, that's not true--i used to hate the bread. the first time i had it, i thought i was eating a slice of a nerf football. but after eating some really spectacular, FRESHLY MADE injera, ethiopian is one of my favorite things to eat. the doro wat at ras dashen is the best in the city. it's spicy, but not fire-y hot with this... something that just makes it amazing. and you get an egg. it's worth it to order the zilzil tibs in addition to the combination platter, too. spicy flavorful beef with peppers. damn. and the lamb. the veggie stuff is amazing as well. my friends ordered this mushroom dish that just rocks. so go. and get a windhook.
(5)
Oscar the Death Cat B.

I would probably give 5 stars to any Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago, as I don't think I have ever had an Ethiopian meal which I did not thoroughly enjoy. For those not familiar with the cuisine, the dishes are combinations of spiced meat and/or vegetarian items which are ground, stewed and/or chopped and served on a bed of sour/tangy, moist, and spongy bread call injera. No utensils are needed, the injera is used to scoop up the meat & veggies (and it soaks up all the juices so you'll want to eat every last crumb!). The restaurant space is pretty pleasant, and this type of cuisine is definitely more fun with a larger dining party.
(5)
G G.

I love this place. I like to get the meat combination and the vegetarian combination (when with a guest). This gives you an array of dishes to try. Wonderful flavors and cozy seating.
(4)
Cristina E.

This restaurant is great and the food is addictive..I love the bread that has a bitter taste that mixed with the hot beef or chicken makes it a great culinary experience. I will recomend this place to anybody that is open to try new things...
(5)
Rekha S.

I thought the East Bay in California had awesome Ethiopian food, but I was wrong. This place is the best! We ordered the vegetarian items nos. 7-9 and 13, 15, 17. Sooo yummy and spicy. They have the most vegetarian options I've seen at any Ethiopian restaurant. The sambusas were excellent and the coffee is a must The service was very attentive and welcoming. All around win!
(5)
Oona B.

excellent! it encourages me to go vegetarian/vegan. . .
(5)
Karis F.

i had a great first visit to Ras Dashen. the service was very friendly and the food was delicious. you must try the Ethiopian beers. me and my friends tried several and they were fantastic. our group of 6 shared 6 entrees and 6 sides and there was a lot of food leftover. everything was really tasty... my favorites were the Asa Wot (tilapia in red sauce) and the Kik Alitcha (puree of yellow peas). i had the bread pudding for dessert - it was like a combination of carrot cake and bread pudding - and also had the Ethiopian coffee - which, if you like strong coffee, you MUST try!
(4)
Elisabeth A.

I'm surprised by the review that says Ras Dashen is much worse that Ethiopian Diamond. I have eaten at both restaurants several times and am convinced that Ras Dashen is better. The atmosphere is nicer and the service is faster and friendlier here. Not sure if the food is better, necessarily, but it's certainly equally good and I think the portions are more generous. The cozier atmosphere and the superior service are what do it for me.
(4)
gypsy b.

this is my first ethiopian food experiance and i must say im a fan! the food was fresh, the atmospher was fun and those sticky pancake things were fun to eat with. ill be going back for sure...
(4)
Elisheva B.

This is a fantastic Ethiopian restaurant. Very very good food and really nice people.
(5)
Ginger W.

I had never eaten ethiopian before Ras Dashen. I was so happy to see that the menu was very descriptive and contained an introduction explaining injera, the lack of utensils, etc. so that I didn't have to look like an idiot. I had lentils in spicey red sauce as my main dish but I can't remember what else I ordered. The injera was different but good, and I would like to go back and try some different items. They had lots of vegetarian options to choose from along with plenty of meat selections. I can't really judge how the food compares to other ethiopian restaurants since it was my first time so I guess I need to try a few others out.
(4)
Mrjustice ..

This was our second experience with Ethiopian Food, and it was even better than the first (at Queen of Sheba). Beginning with the ambiance, Ras Dashen's walls are decorated with interesting Ethiopian paintings, and a nice sound system plays pleasant Ethiopian folk music in the background. There are 4 or 5 'special' tables made of a large wicker basket which has a large metal round top where the traditional serving platter is placed. Around the table you lounge in cushened wicker seats. We ordered the Dinner for 2 for $29.95 which included 3 sides and 3 entrees from a good assortment of traditional dishes, from which we picked: Dora Wat - chicken and egg cooked in spicy berbere sauce - it was good but on the bone; Yebeg tibs -- Lamb in a spicy sauce of onions, garlic and rosemary -- Excellent; and, Sega Wat - beef in fiery berbere sauce - really delicious. Sides we chose were a yellow pea mixture, a kale collard and mustard green mix, and green beans with zuchini potatoes and carrots. All of the above were, of course, served on the traditional bed of injera - a spongy bread used in place of eating utensils to pick up and eat with all of the food. Additional Injera is also served separately so there is plenty. We absolutely loved each and every entree and side -- our only minor criticism of the food being the chicken was on the bone so there was less chicken to eat than we would have liked. Service was also delightful. Our only other criticism is that it is not really Inexpensive as one would imagine, in part due to it not being BYOB. (Meal with wine cost about $65). But, otherwise highly recommended.
(5)

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Address : 5846 N Broadway St
Chicago, IL, 60660
Phone (773) 506-9601
Website https://www.rasdashenchicago.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

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Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant

5846 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL, 60660

Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant Menu

Appetizers

Sides

Special Vegetarian Entrees

Chicken Entrees

Beef Entrees

Lamb Entrees

Fish Entrees

House Specials

Beverages

Appetizers

Sides

Special Vegetarian Entrees

Chicken Entrees

Beef Entrees

Fish Entrees

Lamb Entrees

House Specials

Desserts

Beverages

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ras Dashen Ethiopian Restaurant

Appetizers

Sides

Special Vegetarian Entrees

Chicken Entrees

Beef Entrees

Lamb Entrees

Fish Entrees

House Specials

Beverages

Appetizers

Sides

Special Vegetarian Entrees

Chicken Entrees

Beef Entrees

Fish Entrees

Lamb Entrees

House Specials

Desserts

Beverages

M M.

Christy L.

Patrick D.

Stephen S.

Jack D.

Jenny S.

Ashley E.

Talibah M.

Barb L.

Steven K.

Yohanese T.

Judith Z.

Nathan H.

Kurt M.

Melissa G.

Anupam S.

Desiree H.

Colin C.

Pete B.

Jennie T.

Ryan M.

Meredith B.

Nicky K.

Heidi D.

Green T.

Jeanne L.

Deborah C.

Ben N.

Gregory B.

Jacob S.

Partha A.

t l a.

Tricia D.

Monica J.

Ryan C.

Kari T.

Grace N.