The food was awesome. I recommend getting the messob, where you can choose a combination of dishes. Wait staff was very friendly, but a little busy so we had to wait a while for the check after we asked. read more

Four suburban ladies looking cute and wanting to broaden our horizons ventured out to the big city for a night out! I saw Demera on Check Please and added it to my long list of "I'm totally goin to the city to try that place!" One particularly savvy friend named Hollybear picked up a Groupon for four to Demera shortly after. So we headed down to Demera with rezzies at 7pm and got there about 45 minutes early. We decided to go in early and have a drink before dinner. Pre drinks didn't happen. Although there were only one or two tables occupied , once we were seated we weren't approached by anyone for what seemed like about 15-20 minutes. We were chatty and chatching up so it wasn't really inconvenient but we were wondering what was going on. Hollybears Groupon was on her celly and her battery was yellow. Not in a hurry but we wanted to keep it timely! Finally when our server approached us we told her about our groupon and she very minimally described our choices. The choices were vast, only the description minimal. Our server seemed alittle less than thrilled to have us over for dinner but we made things easy for her. Since we knew nothing about ethiopain food we let her choose everything for us. Thanks to the Groupon we had appetizers, two bottles of wine, a family style messob and dessert! With in no time the place filled up to the max as we continued stuffing our faces with everything wonderful. With all the choices I think we tried much of the menu. The honey wine was good but very sweet. The sweetness would have been much easier to handle if it wasn't warm. My favorites were the spinach sambussa, the beets, THE BEETS! YUM! Grab some friends and check it out, especially with the Groupon it was a great price! The portions were huge, I think we were only able to finish half of our plate. read more

After passing by Demera frequently, a friend of mine scored a Groupon and we finally checked it out. Everything was perfect! With the Groupon, we got an appetizer (sambussa sampler, excellent), wine, a messob platter and a dessert. Everything was excellent! We also had the strong, intoxicating coffee. Our desert included two nut-filled pastries on a plate of raspberry sauce, which we ended up devouring - it was difficult to refrain from licking the plate! And the staff was very helpful and friendly. Yes to everything read more

Came here on one of those coupon deals. This was my second time experiencing Ethiopian cuisine. I thought the restaurant looked good and the food was easy to follow. All of the food I had was plenty and flavorful, and their wines were delicious. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the service. The waitresses were attentive in the beginning of the meal but after awhile they stopped coming over. We waited a long time to get someone to refill on drinks and to bring over the bill.. read more

Delicious as always! My sister and brother-in-law were in town, and I love exposing my family to food they've never had before, so Ethiopian always comes to mind. I have a big heart for Demera, so we stopped in. It was really quiet, but it was a Monday, so that's not that weird. We were seated right away, which was great since I've come on Fridays before and there were *no* tables. Our waitress was nice and took our order quickly--we decided to leave everything up to fate this time and ordered the Sambussa sampler and the Family Style (chef's choice) dinner. The Sambussas were fantastic! These little guys are just so freaking great! When the food came out, we had more than we could imagine--we had about 8 dishes spread out in front of us, a whole bunch of injira, and it was time to go to town. The waitress gave us a quick overview of what everything was, but it was really easy to forget--though ultimately it was all wonderful. I especially loved the beef and the carrot dishes. I'm not the biggest lentil fan, so these weren't my favorite, but it was all delicious. We ate way too much! I felt so stuffed! It was really a wonderful meal. We also had some honey wine and a few beers with dinner--honey wine is such an odd beverage--on one hand it is amazing, but at the same time it is just so strange tasting. I had told my family to try it out, and they hated it, but I helped them drink it. It's definitely worth trying, but not something everyone will love, I guess. As always, a good experience, and I will be back the next time I want to stuff my face full of delicious, delicious food. read more

We went to Demera for restaurant week this year. I'd never had Ethiopian before and wanted to give it a try. The server explained our options and made a few recommendations. Everything was prepared very well and it was a really interesting combination of flavors. We ordered the three meats, three veggies. I think I liked the veggies a little bit more. $22 for a lunch prix fixe for 2 people. I'd definitely go back! read more

We went there last night with a bunch of friends on our usual Friday night dinning. My expectation was rather high due to the great review. Unfortunately, my experience there last night was just so so. So here goes; Ambiance:- Probably the best thing of the night. Great modern feel with a nice bar. Nicely lit and they have some really nice arts from Africa. Service:- Service was so-so. Our server was not very attentive and it took awhile to get their attention. However, when they are serving , they did a good job. For Example it took them 10 minutes to get their attention to get our check and when it came there was mistake in the check. Food:- Again, food is just ok. I never had Ethiopian but the food was not flavorful, portion was smaller and presentation was just ok. Nothing to write home about. But my biggest issue is how over-cooked the beef and lamb was. Bottomline:- I don't think I will be heading back to this place again because it;s just ok. If you have not had Ethiopian before and want to try, perhaps this would be the place. read more

I had never had Ethiopian food before, but the hubs and I were looking for an exciting experience while in Chicago. We were waiting to see the band Gotye and wanted a restaurant nearby. They had a great selection of beers which we were inclined to try. We started w ambasha which was amazing. For dinner out waitress suggested we get messod, a selection of items served on the pancake you use to eat the food. It was delicious. I wish I could go back, but we live in nj. read more

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First time here & tried the Vegetarian Messob 4 vegetarian sides Ye-Misir Wot, Ye-Shimbra Assa, Kik Alicha, Tikle Gomen, plus and extra free side Gomen & 2 meat dishes Ye-Doro Tibs chicken & Demera Kitfo beef & fir appetizer the chicken & Beef Sambussa. Beautiful & tasty dishes! read more

Demera - Beef & chicken Sambussa same taste as empanadas with different spices. Recommended! - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This was by far the best Ethiopian dining experience I've had. The place is much nicer than any other one. The food overall was just the right amount of spicy (tasty, but not burn your mouth off). Our server recommended #18 which is a 3 veggie and 3 meat platter, and with the exception of the spinach they were all delicious. We also got the #6 appetizer sampler, which was all 5 of its appetizers. The food took some time to prepare, but our servers were incredibly attentive to the whole night. The food was very reasonably priced for Ethiopian ($45 for dinner for two). The portion size and quality was such that we were full about halfway through the platter but kept eating because it was so good! I cannot wait to come back. read more

Demera - Appetizers-this is the sampler (#6) of the first five appetizers. Tuna & spinach ones were okay, but the others were SO GOOD. - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Best best Ethiopian food ever!!! We love Ethiopian food, all the restaurants on the this street are great... But demera was exceptional... We had a great server- she helped us quickly with the suggestions. Highly recommend- the menu has a meal for two (non-veg): some shrimp/chicken doro wat/ lamb spicy/ shiro/ misir wat/ tikle gomen... Looking forward to going back!!! read more

The beef sambussas and combo messob platers were delicious. Admittedly my experience with African cuisines is limited but the flavors here are amazing! Give it a try! read more

Demera - Messob platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here with some friends out of town. This was my first experience having Ethiopian so please take this with a grain of salt. The food just wasn't my cup of tea. :/ I was disappointed as I've heard many wonderful things about this place. Maybe next visit will be better! read more

Demera - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Betam konjo neow! I love Ethiopian food and this restaurant has some pretty great food. I like my wat's spicier so that would be my main complaint. Also, the food could be served hotter. Each time I have been there it has been cooling down rather than hot. The last time I was there, we order the red lentil wat (ye misir wat). When the platter came to our table, we had instead received potatoes and carrots (yatkilt wat). When we asked our waitress, she said they were out of the first dish and she brought us some of the yellow lentil wat (kik alicha) in addition. To be honest, after living in Ethiopia, it drives me crazy to pay these prices for this quality of food. I want more for these prices. However, I do understand how it is different to make and sell Ethiopian food in the States. To feed my desperate need for injera b'wot, I will, of course, return to this place. Also if the smells everyday around dinnertime don't convince you to come in, you need to re-evaluate your choices. read more

The first time I ever tried Ethiopian food, I looked at it with disdain. I mean, to be honest, it's not the most appetizing looking food out there. "I have to eat it with my hands too?!" I thought. Let me just say, it was worth it. Ethiopian food has one of the best aromas and boldest flavors. Just make sure you're not wearing anything when you eat that you don't want smelling like Ethiopian food for the next couple of days. Demera is, in my opinion, the best Ethiopian place in Chicago. The interior is a little more on the formal dining side. You can go in there with sweatpants, but you might feel self-conscience. They have many options to choose from on their menu. I honestly haven't been dissatisfied with anything I've ordered. Everything is perfectly spiced, and nothing is bland. The meat is typically tender and pulls of the bones easily. Even the vegetable dishes are cooked nicely. Surprisingly, coming from a carnivore, the vegetarian dishes are my favorite (especially the Quosta). The sambussas (kind of like a flaky empanada) are so incredibly delicious. I could really just go there and fill up on those. I'm not even a big fan of wine, but their honey wine is fantastic. I couldn't even tell how alcoholic it was until about two glasses in when I was more than feeling it. It's super sweet though, so if you're not into that then I would avoid it. Two things you should know beforehand. Firstly, the food isn't terribly expensive, but if you're looking for a cheap meal then look the other way. Secondly, the groupon is an amazing deal. However, if you get the groupon, then it greatly decreases the amount of options you can pick from on the menu. You still have choices though. If you haven't tried Ethiopian food yet, then start with the best. Go try Demera. read more

Best Ethiopian place I've ever been to. The vegetarian dish is incredible. Friendly!

I really enjoyed this restaurant, it was my first time having a legit Ethiopian meal and it didn't disappoint. Waitress was so sweet and attentive and I enjoyed the atmosphere. The staff doesn't rush you at all they're very accommodating. Definitely would come back and order their spicy chicken dish it has like a curry of some sort and it's soooo yummy great place read more

Not sure how anyone could not love this place. The staff members were sweet, lovely, and very helpful with figuring out the perfect sharing platter. Most of us had tried Ethiopian food in the past, and this went beyond what I've had before. I'm all about stews of varying sorts, and this place knocked it out of the park. Their vegetable stews are also amazing. Right off the L, so easily accessible as well. I'll be back for sure. Thanks guys, for a great evening. read more

Was a fan of this place! Ordered their special and the portions were pretty good for the price. The injera was quite sour, though, but it may just be an acquired taste. Service was great. read more

Visited DEMERA ETHIOPIAN Restaurant for Dinner I just want to say that, The food was absolutely wonderful in addition to a nice meal, we had a delightful waitress, Berha She had just the right balance of friendliness and efficiency. She recognized that we wanted time to visit and did not rush us. She and other staff members made certain that we had everything we needed. I recommend to anyone visiting Chicago to checkout Lidiya G. read more

This place is amazing. Exceptional service and food always. Just go. You will not be disappointed!! Thank you Demera!!! read more

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Our favorite Ethiopian place. They are family-friendly which is key with 2 little ones and the food makes it to the table quickly (also a bonus). Haven't had a bad experience yet and we go there quite often. The staff is very friendly (though sometimes you have to get their attention) and accomodating. Sometimes they have messed up an order of Sambusas (they really want to give you the beef one (maybe they own dairy stocks) over the chicken ones). But it's a minor problem and doesn't take away from the whole experience. And they also have Namibian beer (the land of the world's largest sand dunes) read more

I love Ethiopian food! This place is great... It was the first one in Chicago I went to and I have just kept going back to this one rather than trying new places because I am really satisfied with it. Great food (of course), good prices and good atmosphere... great place to take a group. The owner or manager (not sure which) is out on the floor a lot, which is both nice and slightly weird, since he is very NOT ethiopian...but he knows a lot and was able to answer questions we had about some art on the wall with good detail. read more

A group of five went here on a Friday at 7. We made reservations, but it really wasn't necessary, although the place was filling up around the time we finished. For 5, we ordered two messobs and it was the perfect amount of food. We had a nice mix of vegetarian and meat portions. I gave the honey wine a try and i'm not sure I would get it again, but it was worth a taste. The service was great! Decor wasn't creepy. We'll be back! read more

I will definitely visit Demera again! I never knew Ethiopian food could taste so good, exotic, and ethnic, lol. We did not have a reservation, but we were able to get bar seats. The service and the women were both beautiful. I had the kik alicha (split peas), gomen (collard greens), and salad with my ye-doro tibs (chicken breast). I felt as if I were in entirely different world. Each bite was better took my taste buds to a different level. I am a very picky eater, so if I like---it's a winner, lol. read more

Ate here on a Friday night and got a table right away without waiting. We opted for the patio which might be my only complaint. It was a gorgeous night out so the patio was packed and you could tell the waitress was overwhelmed, this being said she did a great job and was very apologetic when she was a little slow to get our order. We got the messob which in my opinion is the best way to try a little of everything for a great price. We asked for extra injera and for a few of our choices to be quite spicy. The food came out fast and exactly how we asked for it, I especially liked the kitfo or a tasty beef tartar. The servers assistant was quick to refill our waters which is great on a busy patio with spicy food. As I said earlier the patio may have been the wrong choice; the first being something that is out of any one's control. The corner or Lawrence and Broadway is loud with cars, sirens and the colorful people passing by. They did however have a nice planter box fence that made you forget that there were bums arguing fifteen feet away. The second was the table which was not balanced at all and would move a few inches depending on which side had more weight. Over all this is an ethnic place I would recommend to anyone with a curious palate. read more

Best Ethiopian Restaurant in Chicago! I love that they have the Messobs- a "sampler" combo of either veggie or meat options that you can order for one or more people. As someone who has traveled extensively around the world, I am always excited when a place that has really authentic food also lets a person who dines alone choose a sample of more than one dish without getting overloaded. They also have gluten-free injera. My sister's are gluten sensitive, so it was really awesome to be able to take them here since we all love Ethiopian food- and they could still enjoy the entire experience without having to forgo the joy of injera. A win-win situation. Dining alone, or taking people with dietary concerns, Demera can satisfy every need. read more

I had been in to Demera several months ago to check out the menu and talked with the owner/chef. I got a great vibe from her -- plus the place is very clean and has a festive feel to it. It is definitely an inviting atmosphere. Lots of color and life to the space. So, finally I brought a friend (who was a bit reluctant to try Ethiopian food) and we had a GREAT meal. I can't say enough good stuff about the friendliness of the waitstaff and the flavorful dishes. If you want to stay on a budget and still enjoy great food...do yourself a favor and give Demera a try! read more

It was my first time and it didn't disappoint in any manner. The beef, chicken, lamb, fish and veggies was so flavorful. The place is clean and service was good. What else does anyone want? I took One of my friend who never had Ethiopian ever, and he was more than surprised. He loved eating with hand and the spice soaked Anjeera at the end. read more

I love this place. I just went here again yesterday, and I knew the food would hit the spot. i went with a friend and we literally cleared our plate. Everything, gone. I really like the fact that they have gluten-free injera. You have to call ahead of time and let them know, but it was literally a non-issue. My friend and I did the 2-person combo with the veggies and meat, and everything was sooo good. I don't think there was a dish that I didn't like. Demera has a more flavorful taste than the one in Evanston (although both are good). Service was very friendly! I didn't catch the waitor's name, but he was also very funny! Great sense of humor! My friend and I also shared the volcano dessert, and that definitely hit the spot. I would come back again, and again, and again, and again. Loves! read more

Decent food, nothing exceptional... Had quite a few things from veggie menu - Collard greens was the best! read more

I came here with the SO on Valentine's Day and it was a really great experience. The Maitre'd, even though he was obviously swamped with customers, let us change our table to a more comfortable location, which warmed us up immediately. We're vegetarian and the fact that they had an entire section of the menu devoted to vegetarian food made it extremely easy for us to figure out what to eat. To start off with we had the Lentil Sambussa. It's essentially like an Indian Samosa except with the Ethiopian flavors and I have to say it was amazing. Perfect finger foods to start the meal off. I may be biased since it was exactly like a samosa but there you have it. For the meal itself, we had the Messob for 2. I won't tell you what we had since all of them were divine and the experience of picking what you want from that list is a pretty amazing one. It just makes you want to try the rest out the next time you show up. Overall it was great service. Great ambience and I would highly recommend this to anyone and everyone. Definitely classy enough for a date as well ;) Although you'd have to warn your date that Ethiopian food means communal style eating. But a great experience over all. read more

The food is beautifully prepared and so delicious. The service was great. This place is excellent or large groups,there were 14 of us. The server explained the food really well to us. We ordered three of the large group platters and still had some to take home. For dessert, we ordered the volcano and baklava. The baklava tasted like ginger bread to me, but it was good. (I may just be biased for Pita Inn's baklava.) The volcano was very very sweet yet the cake was plain at the same time. Beets and carrots were also great. They were sweet and didn't take like beets to me, but the average beet hater might disagree. Highly recommended!! read more

Demera - Starting at yellow going clockwise. Yellow lentils, lamb, collard greens, chicken, beets and carrots, lamb, lentils, tilapia. - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great food! I loved the idea of a custom meat plate (what I ordered). I recommend writing down your order so you can remember it without spellcheck. read more

Demera - Shai - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Would you believe you can go out on a Saturday night and not have to scream across the table? Hallelujah! The girls are I needed a catch up in a big way and we needed to get our chat on before we headed to the Green Mill - directly across the street. Delicious, shareable vegetarian cuisine, great service - exceeded our expectations in every way. read more

It's always delicious and so filling. Lunch is a great deal and the staff is always friendly! One of my favorite spots to eat!

Excellent. We like Ethiopian restaurants a lot and this is our favorite so far. We got a combo of lamb, beef, cabbage, and yellow peas. All very good. Nice place with good outdoor seating. read more

I went during restaurant week and they had the best deal! We had plenty of food and a bottle of wine. Def wanna go again!

Cute place. Great service. Food was clearly toned down, as ethnic restaurants are quick to do, in the US. The food was cooked well, but bland in comparison to an authentic Ethiopian restaurant. I would recommend to someone I knew didn't like spicy food. But not to anyone looking for the real deal. read more

Their food is simply delicious - and I lived in the DC area where there are loads of Ethiopian establishments! The staff here is so friendly and really make us feel at home. The combos can get a little confusing but you can do what we did: write it down and just hand over the list when it's time to order ;-) Come to think of it, this would make a great first date place. If your date has a narrow view of the world, this is a great way to find out. If your date does have opposable thumbs (needed for Ethiopian dining ;-) you've got loads to talk about. Ooooh - and try the coffee. It's the way coffee is supposed to taste! read more