The best Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago for sure! Out standing service, delicious, fresh food and relaxing ambiance!!!! Definitely recommend to everyone. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love Ethiopian food so I wanted try this spot near Rivendell Theater before a show. They use a QR code for the menu which is fine if you have had Ethiopian food before and have a idea about what you want. For people new to the cuisine you should definitely flag down the waiter to try and learn more about the food and what would be good as a starter order. I liked that they had mix platters that you could order for one since I was a solo diner. A lot of Ethiopian restaurant only do the mixed platters for 2 or more so I appreciated that. I thought the food was good but I wish had a bit more seasoning and flavor. The Injera bread was a little bland. It could have been more sour. The meat dish were pretty well seasoned but all of the veggies dished could have used more salt. The owner did come out and greet me and asked about my experience which was nice. If you are in the neighborhood this is a decent Ethiopian place to try. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Beer - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food, friendly service, and nice enough atmosphere. So why not five stars? The d**n ordering system, that's why! Ordering is by QR code and one person needs to create a "group" to place one order for the table. Then you can pass that phone around or tell the other person what you want. It's a serious pain in the rear and it's annoying enough for me to dock one star. Otherwise, the food is simply delicious. The selection is a little narrow but everything is so well prepared. All the legume dishes are so very good. I will definitely be back. I just wish they'd change the ordering method. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie Combo, Yeber Wot/ Beef Stew (Spicy), Lamb Stew/ Yebeg Alicha Wot (Mild) - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had an amazing dinner there on May 7th for 5 people. We were introducing friends to Ethiopian food for the first time as they were visiting from out of town and it was one of their birthdays as well. The team working there was so nice and inviting and kind, and shout out to Mary!!! It was her first day of work there and she made the entire experience!! She was pleasant, smiling, and somehow pulled off getting a small cake and candles for the birthday boy (someone ran out and purchased a small cake I think and that was ABOVE AND BEYOND what we have ever experienced). The ambiance was great! THANK YOU MARY for making the evening so special and for the shout out from the Chef as we were leaving. Definitely go eat here and if you get to have Mary wait on you, it is a special treat! read more

I got a sample platter and it definitely hit the spot. I felt the platter offered a nice variety of what Ethiopian cuisine has to offer. Everything tasted fresh and was nicely separated in the container. I appreciated the thought and care into prepping the carry out order. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The most amazing Ethiopian food I've ever experienced! The service was outstanding and treated us like celebrities! The ambiance was nice, immaculate and relaxing! I will definitely return when I visit Chi-Town in a few months read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Honey Wine that was freshly made! - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Came here after a play with my friend. We came in an hour before they closed and received great service. I like that you can place your order separately if you are in a group so you can just pay for your own food. With that said, the food was delicious. I had the veggie combo and everything was flavorful. I appreciate the side of injeru that also comes with it. I will say, looking at other pics uploaded here, it looks like I got less food than what the other photos of the veggie combo looks like. Maybe it was due to the timing we came in. Either way it was very good and I will be back again. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place was too good! The injera was so fresh, and the juices from the food soaked into the bottom injera perfectly. My friend and I were literally going, "ooooh" after every bite!!!! This place was recommended by my coworker's Ethiopian uber driver, who said it had incredible Ethiopian food. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian combo for two - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My friend from Chicago said this was one of his go to spots. The food and the service was good. mushroom wat was flavorfully .Normally I just get black Ethiopian coffee but I decided to try macchiato. It was good didn't need a lot of sugar and kept me charged tho not as much as if I would have just got regular Ethiopian coffee. The lentil samosas had a kick to them without the sauce. Definitely would say check this place out ! read more

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Disclosure that this is related to a ToGoodToGo (TGTG) order. However, with that said, I do not believe any business should treat any type of cusotmer poorly. I found this restaurant through TGTG and placed an order. I got there about ten minutes before the 9pm pickup window and told them I was here to pick up a TGTG order. I was told to come back in fifteen minutes. As I was early, that was understandable. I left and came back right at 9pm. I was then told by another employee to sit and wait for a bit until they could serve other customers. I sat there and patiently waited as I watched their two workers go in and out of the kitchen and serve regular customers (restaurant was only about a third full). After twenty additional minutes, I finally got up and asked the young woman if I had to wait much longer for my order. She simply said, "Yes." I asked how much longer. She responded "I dont know." At that point, I just said calmly, "you realize it's been over 30 minutes since I first showed up, right? You could have told me that you couldn't serve me so I didn't waste my time." She simply said "Sorry" and walked away... Of course, I just left at that point. TGTG is pretty good about providing a full refund. However, the time lack of respect for my time and poor customer service exhibited by this establishment was unacceptable. read more

A friend said her Ethiopian uber driver recommended this place and we tried it. Everything was flavored well and there was nothing that I did not like. We got the meat and veggie combo and it was very worth it. Their tea was good and spiced. If you need extra bread they'll give it to you too. Service is through an online portal so you order and pay through the Toast website. This is a good meal to have with a friend or date! read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Our go-to Eithiopian in Chicago. Replacing the legendary Ras Dashen in the same location, they have the most flavorful Eithiopian out there. Be prepared to wait, so bring your conversation and enjoy cocktails as everything is made fresh. Especially if Chef Tikel is there. This is not a rushed dining, turn tables restaurant experience. There's no bad dish here, be sure to be served traditional and get the sampler. While stopping in Addis Ababa, I had to admit Axum's Eithiopian tasted better than in Eithiopian in Eithiopia! There's only one other place I will go to in Chicago, but I wont share it here. Giving Axum its flowers right now! Picture doesn't show outdoor dining patio now open in the summer... read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Kids first time trying Ethiopian food, the four of us had a meat and veggie combo for three and we had more than enough. Stunning flavors, beautiful presentation, and guidance from the kind owner/chef. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and veggie combo for 3 - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing service, amazing food, amazing ambiance. Debrah was one of the nicest servers I've met and the food was on another level. I would definitely go back. read more

Well this is the second time going to axum Ethiopian restaurant. Prices are pretty reasonable there are a lot of Ethiopian restaurants around Broadway and I usually go to Ethiopian diamond or dimitrea I saw another one South of Broadway but I really like how axum prepares the injera bread for some reason demetra makes their bread oily when they put their kitful or their what stews onto the injera. Also they don't serve gored gored on any of the Ethiopian restaurant especially Ethiopian diamond they used to serve it. Service was pretty good I did the online instead of them coming up asking for my order I guess it was pretty efficient. Ambience was pretty classy since there was a musician playing his synthesizers or keyboard I did tip them on Zelle thank goodness despite that he had a tip container other than that I would have to try the other dishes the only disappointment is they don't have a dessert menu and then I was looking for drinking my traditional tej or sweet honey wine or mead. Isis were also not so crazily overpriced like some Ethiopian restaurants but then again the way the cost of dining out has gone up since 1998 when I used to go to Ethiopian or any ethnic restaurant read more

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Adding this comment literally right after finishing my dinner because this place is such a gem! So, I've always loved Ethiopian food and have been to quite a few restaurants in different cities but haven't tried ordering online. Saw that the restaurant does ubereats and decided to give it a try. I was a little concerned about ordering kitfo (raw beef) via delivery in this hot summer weather but it did not disappoint at all! The portion size is huge (among the most generous I've ever seen compared to dine in experiences), very fresh and beautifully seasoned. And, as an absolute meat lover, I must say that there was so much beef (in the best way)! In terms of the sides, they don't skimp on the injera either (4 big pieces just for the regular size, no "extra"). Was very glad to see that they use the real injera made from teff, which gives it the characteristic fermented sourness and the chewy texture. (I felt that this is worth commenting on since I was served whiteish "injera" last year at another Ethiopian restaurant and was very disappointed.) The collard greens and misir wot (lentils) as sides were very flavorful too, the spices were bright and balanced. Overall this was a beyond expectation ordering experience and now I feel compelled to pay them a visit in the near future :) Thank you for the amazing food! read more

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Great spot with nice decor. The owner is super nice and friendly, and he's clearly excited about people enjoying the food at his restaurant. I split everything with a friend, and here's what we ordered - Two veggie sambusas, which came with a yummy sauce. They weren't too big, honestly I could've had two for myself, but they were good. - One Meat/Veggie combo plate for 2, which was very colorful. It came with ~18 different samples, five of which I think were meat, and the rest were veggie. It also came with 4 rolls of injera bread, plus the one that came with the plate. My favorites were all the lentil/pea dishes, and some of the meats were pretty good too. Everything was really yummy! It was a bit over $30 per person, but the plate really fills you up, so I'd say it's worth it. I definitely want to come back and order some of the other dishes here. It also seems like they offer several wines and other drinks so I'd like to check that out too. Overall, very happy with the place. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - veggie 30. Meat and Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Absolutely outstanding from the moment we walked in until we left. You can feel the ambience and warmth of the owner who personally comes out to each table and immediately greets you with a smile, but when the platter comes out, the food is a delicacy that cannot be explained. He immediately asked what our dietary needs were and hence adapted by offering the veggie platter as I'm a vegan with strict dietary needs. The injera is the most unique part of the dish as most 'Westerners' won't use their hands. It is typical in certain cultures of the world for people to use their right hands to eat and the other hand to do other things. The unique taste of each individual dish on the platter made the experience even better! We were both pleasantly surprised, and my guest actually decided to take everything left on the table home to experience it once again! Thank you, thank you thank you for an amazing experience, but more importantly, healthy food ! read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie combo ($35 for 2) with injera a unique small grain - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Axum is amazing!!! Went in yesterday for lunch for the first time and I am obsessed. The owner Yared has the most authentic Ethiopian food in the city. He was so kind and welcoming and so knowledgeable about all the dishes. We had the meat and veg combo and it was out of this world. It had chicken and beef and a bunch of sides. The sauce on both meats was to die for. For the sides we had lentils, cabbage, chickpea, collard greens, salad, beets and green beans. They are available for delivery, pickup, and catering as well. The music and ambiance was so great. I can't wait to got back again soon and bring more friends. read more

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Our family absolutely loves this place! I've tried at least 4 other Ethiopian places here and 2 on the west coast and I can say with confidence that Axum stands out as being the best. Their food is not only delicious and fresh (the Kitfo is my absolute favorite), it's presented in a manner that is simply looks artistic. Full of vibrant colors and unique flavors to each dish. We come here at least once a month ever since we discovered this place (my 5 year old demands for us to come back weekly haha). You will definitely love their food and come back for more! read more

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This is one of the best restaurants in Chicago, been many times with a Too Good To Go order, and dined in as well. Really flavorful

The veggie combo was so good! My husband ordered a chicken entree and it was very delicious. The injera (bread) was perfect and the owner even showed us the package and it is organic and gluten free! I brought my 2 and 5 year old girls as well and they loved it. read more

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We had such a great experience here! I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food but prior to moving here last year, there was only one Ethiopian restaurant in my area. That's the magic of Chicago - so many cultures here brings so much diverse and delicious food options and several to choose from! We've tried a few Ethiopian restaurants in the Edgewater area and this one is by far our favorite. We had a chance to meet the owner as well and you could tell the pride he has in his cooking and this restaurant, as well as a genuine desire to make sure all of his customers have a great meal and great service. We shared the meat and veggies combo which was more than enough for us (and we're pretty big eaters). Our meats were cooked perfectly and seasoned well (it comes with beef, lamb, and chicken options) and the veggies were perfectly cooked too. I can't think of anything on this platter I would have preferred not to have, but if I were to add a small critique, I would have liked maybe one more roll of injera for the combo for 2. To be fair, we were offered the option of more but I didn't want to pay extra for it (according to the menu, additional injera incurs a charge). But not a critique to knock down a star from the 5 stars Axum definitely deserves. Looking forward to dining again there soon and getting the chef's combi. We'll need to come very hungry for that one though! read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - 30. Meat and Veggie Combo for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We had the vegetarian combo which was a sampling of all the vegetarian dishes and we were stuffed! It was delicious. The owner was very welcoming and the tables are well spaced out here. It's quiet but there room for a lively crowd. The lentils, spiced and mild dishes were amazing. The mushrooms were tender and meaty, and on the medium to spicier side. The injeera tender and so hearty, it's a challenge not to over indulge. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - The vegetarian combo for 3 - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Flavorful! I was excited to see that my previous Ethiopian spot that shutdown soon after the pandemic got a new Ethiopian restaurant in its place. I met the chef and he was very welcoming and made this veggie meat combo! The restaurant layout looks good and I'm glad they kept certain aspects of the old layout and added their own touch and identity to it! So happy to have a delicious Ethiopian place to go to again! read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie 30. Meat and Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food and service! Will definitely be back. We came for valentines dinner and was also really nicely decorated. Prices were very fair read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - 30. Meat and Veggie Combo for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Food is fantastic and the service is great. We got the chefs platter for 2. Quite a bit of food, but it still seemed rather pricey. With tip, no drinks(only water) we spent $145. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - The 31. Chef's Combi for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Young/Cool Crowd. Downtown fun. I had a wonderful time with friends. Must Order Item: Honey Wine!!! read more

Tried Ethiopian food for the first time and it was a nice experience! The place was clean and tidy, but the service was pretty slow. My husband and I ordered the Veggie and Meat combo for 1 (~$35) - I would say it was a good enough quantity for the both us. We were also served the complimentary spring rolls in the beginning. The overall taste was pretty good, would love to visit again and try out other items on the menu! read more

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I've never had such terrible take out. We had to throw it all out. Ordered the gored gored and zil zil tibs. The gored was raw, not rare, raw! The tibs were so over cooked they were burnt and we could barely chew through the piece we each tried. Also, the "sides" that supposedly come with the meat dishes were laughable at best. Maybe three spoonfuls each. These two takeout containers cost $60. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - 23. Zil Zil Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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My son and I ate outdoors and it was very pleasant. their dog friendly outside. The server was was excellent. we ordered the combination meat and vegetable platter and it was extremely well balanced and flavorful. we ate until we were stuffed and then left a little bit for the gods. we felt very welcomed and appreciated and we sent those feelings back to them I think. Great experience! read more

We had a delicious dinner. The service was warm and excellent. The food was delicious. Axum's portions on the vegetarian platter are more generously sized than other Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago. The salad dressing is unique and amazing. We met the owner and he was very charming. He said they just opened in May. We will definitely be back, because we LOVED dinner here. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had another outstanding meal at Axum. One of the benefits of living in Edgewater is the multitude of Ethiopian restaurants. We have tried most of them and always return to Axum for the succulent and flavorful dishes they serve. Split a veggie/meat combo with my niece and we were already pleasantly full half way through. The combo came with ~16 samples with 4 of them meat (primarily lamb) and the rest veggie (cabbage, lentils, beets, mushroom, spinach). Everything was delicious but the standouts were the yebeg alicha and the mushroom wat. The owner is invariably at the restaurant and it is evident how much pride he takes in the food he serves and in the enjoyment of his customers. Can't wait for my next visit. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - 30. Meat and Veggie Combo for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Stumbled across this spot and decided to try it since I LOVE Ethiopian food. Chose the veggie platter which came with a lot of food for a single diner. The food was amazing in flavor, with a good variety of dishes to try. Most of the dishes were warm, not piping hot. Service was attentive and prompt. read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie platter with lentils, cabbage, mushrooms, etc. - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have always loved slow braised meats in their juicy sauce. Their pulled pork is fantastic! Try the other sides to contrast (and appreciate the meats better). Lentils and greens were fine. Not a fan of the chicken although it was flavorful. read more

This place is EXTRAORDINARY! The service was attentive, but not intrusive, and the atmosphere was super inviting. But the FOOD! Oh, goodness, the food was stunning. As a vegetarian, I've been pleasantly surprised by the number of veg options in Ethiopian cuisine, but this is my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant. There is a quality to the simpler ingredients that just feels good mixed with a sophistication of spicing that is artisanally inspiring ingredients. Support this gem! read more

This food is amazing, the owner is SO helpful and really nice! I can't even tell you what I ate but it was ALL amazing! read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Perfect Ethiopian spot. The injera tasted great and didn't fall apart. We got the key wot and veggie platter - both delicious with distinctive flavors. The owner is such a nice man and gave great recommendations - like pairing the mushroom side with the key wot (a perfect combo). Will be visiting again! read more

This is the absolute most delicious Ethiopian food I've had. This restaurant took over a previous Ethiopian restaurant, which was my favorite, and I would say it's even BETTER than the previous one. The food is really flavorful, so much so, that my seven year old son requests to eat here. The staff is incredible friendly. We have had the chicken sambusa's , which were a new item to me and they are the tastiest thing I've eaten. This spot does not disappoint! read more

Axum Ethiopian Restaurant - The 28. Meat and Veggie Combo for 1 - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I liked it! It was a slow weekday afternoon so the food came quickly. It was delicious and service was decent. The interior is a little basic but the important thing is on point, which is the food. read more