There is a lot of delicious Ethiopian and Eritrean food in this beautiful city, and I've been lucky to try at least a few spots but Denden is definitely in the top tier (def top two or three) of the ones I've tried. I took my mom to this Eritrean restaurant when she was in town and we got the meat and veggie platter that comes with the injera and it was so so good. We had leftovers of course because it's such a generous portion but the leftovers still sparked joy. Definitely recommend this place and the service was great. read more

Den Den Restaurant - Meat and veggie platter - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Came in tonight for a post-workout dinner and had a really nice experience. The place has a cozy, neighborhood feel -- relaxed, welcoming, and perfect for a casual meal. The staff were friendly and patient, especially helpful for someone who doesn't eat Ethiopian/Eritrean food all the time. We ordered a beef dish and a chicken dish and both were flavorful and satisfying. The beef was tender and well-seasoned, and the chicken was nicely spiced without being overwhelming. Everything came out hot and fresh, and the portions were generous. And the injera... honestly, it was so good I couldn't stop nibbling on it. Soft, tangy, and exactly the right texture for scooping up the stews. The meal felt hearty, comforting, and different from the usual dinner routine in the best way. If you're anywhere near Devon/Broadway/Clark, this spot is a great walk-over choice for a solid, flavorful dinner. I'll definitely be back to work through more of the menu. read more

Den Den has been a favorite Chicago restaurant of mine for years. They serve Eritrean food. It features meat, vegetables and legumes served with injera. Injera is a fresh, whole grain sourdough crepe made fresh of teff and other ingredients --one side is more smooth, and the other side more bubbly to capture the food. The proprietress is named Eelen and she does a splendid job. I recommend the vegetarian sampler, of which there is a picture attached. Den Den also serves spiced tea, very different from the Indian variety as it has no milk, but completely delicious. This is a perfect restaurant for vegans since almost all the vegetarian dishes are vegan along wth the tea. I have eaten here over 100 times (not an exaggeration) and have found it consistently tremendous each time. Not every city is fortunate enough to have an Eritrean restaurant, Chicago is lucky to have Den Den. Five stars read more

Den Den Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food here was delicious and so filling. I came with a group of 5 and basically ordered one item from each section on the menu, trying a lamb, beef, seafood, veggie, and chicken selection. Honestly, I don't even know if we specifically got what we ordered; it seemed like the server just gave us what she thought was good for each section, which was fine by us. Eritrean food and Ethiopian food have a fairly large overlap, sharing the injera and eating style, but differing on certain sauces and use of tomatoes (among other things). The injera here wasn't as sour as I've had at other places, which I found I actually prefer, and I really loved its taste. The salad in the middle was a nice touch and the dressing was delicious. All the flavors of each item were rich and robust. My favorite was the fish-- it was tender and full of flavor; I felt the beef was pretty tough/overcooked though. Overall, it was a lot of food and we all were extremely stuffed afterwards; it was well worth the ~$30 per person cost. A family-owned neighborhood restaurant with very homey vibes and a spacious interior, our servers were super sweet and attentive. They kept bringing out more injera, various spicy sauces, and water for us. Though the food took quite some time to come out, it was worth it when it arrived. Overall, it's a great spot to bring a larger group, and if I lived closer I would definitely come more regularly. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.2/5 Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.4/5 Service: 4.8/5 Overall Value: 4.5/5 read more

Den Den Restaurant - lamb, beef, seafood, veggie, chicken on injera - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My first time having this type of food and it was amazing! Extremely friendly staff with great recommendations for the inexperienced, good portions too. The Denden Mes wine was also delicious. read more

Den Den Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very nice people and amazing food, you won't regret checking this place out. Everything was flavorful to the max

Clark Street up north has a lot of ethnic restaurants, and this is the only one I know of its kind. Den Den is Eritrean food, which is among the rarest known cuisines around here, even in a big ass ethnic metropolis. It's not that hard to find Ethiopian restaurants, which are similar but have slight variations between these. High prices are the biggest complaint. There's lots of vegan and vegetarian items to choose from. A lot of basically unknown cuisine to average Americans can be found around here. It's very rare to find an Eritrean restaurant anywhere but this is one. There's a slight difference from Ethiopian cuisine, but these are quite similar. It seems there's more meat used in Eritrean. Particularly seafood. Eritrea is along the ocean, while Ethiopia next to it is landlocked. They do have plenty of vegetarian choices though. It's about $15 an entree. The injeera is fluffy and spongy. Lots of vegetarian choices. The yellow lentils are the best protein. Also lots of vegetables such as greens. They serve it like Ethiopian where you use your hands and injeera. Got to make an update for this business. It seems to have changed hours so be sure to go when it's open. They're open daily except for only Wednesdays. read more

Den Den Restaurant - Veggie Combo - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We are grateful for the warm welcome, the excellent pescatarian (fish) and veg options, and the tasty injera. It's not fancy, but very pleasant and comfortable. There's always street parking when we go. We find the hours a bit challenging--last time we came the place was taken over for a party (congratulations!) but the sign still said "open." They are closed on Wednesdays--and you may want to call before you go. But for cooking this good, it's worth a little effort. read more

I'm kicking myself for not posting this review sooner. We've been here a few times and always experienced excellent service and delicious food. Authentic Eritrean cuisine with generous servings sizes. read more

Den Den Restaurant - What an awesome place! I'm so sorry that we haven't been here sooner! - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Amazing food and amazing service. You'll get great authentic food at Den Den and the owners are wonderful. My favorite place to dine for habesha food and a unique experience of feeling at home. read more

I'm a 30-year fan of Ethiopian food yet have never tried Eritrean food. It's quite similar and while I'm experienced and a little bit knowledgeable of Ethiopian food, I could not quite identify the subtle differences. Customer service at den den was top-notch. The owner and his team were so very polite, friendly and attentive. The restaurant was very clean. They were very conscientious about covid-19 protocol. Our food was so very fresh, flavorful, not salty, and presentation was a treat just like had an Ethiopian restaurant. I will return, and I will do a little homework so I'm knowledgeable of the differences next time! read more

Den Den Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I like this cuisine. So, not one of those reviews you read where the person says "I don't really like BBQ and am a vegetarian so did not really like this BBQ place very much" You know the ones. I just found it a bit bland. A little blank. It was all ok. We ordered the vegetarian plate. Comes with a half dozen different lentil, cabbage and greens dishes with a salad in the center. I liked the green salad and one of the lentil dishes was very tasty. The rest left me wishing for the days at Mama Desta's Red Sea. Many many years ago restaurant since gone. It all needed just a little more of something. It's a nice place. Is it Eritrean? Seems just like the Ethiopian food I've had. Whatever the difference, I was bored. Maybe the meat dishes have the pop of flavor I'm looking for. Hard to say. read more

Phenomenal & Flavorful food !! Eating this with the "sponge- y " bread ( as I like to call it ) is a wonderful experience.. just a tiny bit spicy and excellent quality . Casual atmosphere. Very kind people and service . I can't wait to bring everyone here .... ! read more

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Most times the food is SPOT ON. However, the last time I went the food was not hot hot and the lamb was EXTREMELY dry. This was a first.

While this restaurant had the tastiest injera I've ever had (something about the slightly toasted flavor and crispy edges, maybe?) the stews were a little bland and underspiced. Our server even took the time to ask if we liked spicy food and then, when we said yes, to recommend a specific lamb dish (the lamb ali'cha) and... it was zero level spicy, still. However, at least it was cooked to tenderness and it did end up being my favorite dish. The vegetable dishes were good enough, but the flavors blended together. No spice ever really stood out. I felt healthy at the end, but even only a half hour after eating couldn't really remember anything enough to crave it again and return. read more

My grandson's favorite place to eat. His brothers love the bread and I love to lamb. The vegans and the vegetarians all love to dishes. Some like it hot, some not so much. read more

Food is excellent. If you walk in here knowing Ethiopian food, the flavors will be familiar but the names of the dishes less so. We did have a slightly difficult time communicating with the server who sort of cut us off a few times, resulting in us only getting a few items we wanted, but we probably intended to overorder anyway. read more

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This my favorite Ethiopian Restaurant. The service is always great. Family owned buisness. They are always very gracious and nice. And once I needed a platter short notice and she supplied and also let me borrow a tray. I will always support them https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMe1Mv8jU/ read more

Den Den Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We got the chicken tibs, beef tibs, and veggie combo platter. It lasted us (2 people) a good 3-4 meals, so the $55ish spend for takeout was more worth it. Service here is very friendly, it's a place where people gather and has a family/hang out feel. I've been a die hard Ethiopian food fan for many, many years now, and have had Ethiopian around the country, and Den Den is definitely a solid choice. Not the best, but it comes less to flavor/grease, and more about personal preference when it comes to meat and veggie tenderness. The flavors are spot on. They can adjust your spice levels including having no spice at all. The portions are good. The injera is a little more sour and softer/mushier so it falls apart a bit when you eat it as a leftover. The only reason I gave it a 4 was because I would've preferred that the meats were more tender - they had chew to them. And the potatoes and some of the lentils still had some bite to them as well, and I prefer my veggies stewed and softer. read more

Delicious Eritrean food and great service in Rogers Park. I'm a fan of the chicken and my son always orders the lamb. Both are always delicious. The injera is so good, and we enjoy the tea. Note that they are closed on Wednesdays. read more

have been here several times over the years & have enjoyed every time; whether 2 or 6 people; always fed well; from vegan/vegetarian options to meat dishes (lamb, chicken, fish-we've tried) they're all distinct and enjoyable; like a tableside buffet of flavors. Feels like being welcomed to someone's very large extended dining room; sincere without being overpowering; hospitable & genuine. as long as your crowd is good with hands-on eating from a shared platter (to your individual plates), it's a good close-group experience. read more

While I appreciate locally owned neighborhood restaurants, and so do really want to rate this one better, it's just ok. My go to meal at any Eritrean/ Ethiopian restaurant is the veggie combo, and theirs had all the requisite dishes; three types of lentils, lots of greens, cabbage and potatoes, but nothing was truly delicious. Their food is under seasoned and uninteresting. The injera was good, and I appreciate the service and kindness. I just wish it was better. read more

Two friends and I thoroughly enjoyed our first visit to Denden, specializing in Eritrean cuisine. The food was delicious, hot, freshly-made and reasonably priced. We had almost exclusively vegetarian dishes, partly because one friend was vegan (don't be fooled by the "Lenten specialties" label--all 6 of these dishes are available year round. Favorites were the red lentils, yellow lentils and potatoes/carrots, all served together on a large platter. Our request for not too spicy was accommodated, yet it was spicy enough for my more spicy-tolerant palate. The seating area and restrooms were immaculate. Service was very hospitable and authentic. We definitely will be returning, hopefully soon! read more

Delicious delicious delicious Eritrean goodness!!! I have been here a trillion times and never tire of it! The food is authentic, flavorful and made with love and care by one of the most friendly and welcoming chefs ever! Tastes like home made mum's cooking (but only if your mum is a GREAT cook, if not then forget the comparison). I have tried most of the menu and still can't pick a favorite-that's how good everything is! If you aren't into spicy food, have no fear! It is all customizable to your little taste buds. The menu is well put together and the waitress is pretty good at explaining how it works if you have any questions. Have you ever been to Eritrea? No-why bother when you have Den Den to offer you Eritrean goodness without having to deal with annoying flights? Yes-Ahhh! Go here for some sweet reminiscing coz we all know how well Eritrean mama's cook! read more

Den Den Restaurant - Sorry, food is so good I got ahead of myself and started eating before taking pics. - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is really flavorful! The portions are generous. We have a go-to: the lamb tibs and veggie combo. This provides two balanced meals for two people (4 total). They adjust the spiciness of the food to order though sometimes "medium spicy" is more or less spicy--not always exactly consistent, but still tasty. I am embarassed to say this, but if you do take-out, you can eat with a knife and fork :) This place is a hidden gem! read more

So much food for what you pay! We liked the lamb a lot and the chicken was also great. Super flavorful food it's definitely worth visiting read more

Den Den Restaurant - 14. Zighni Derho 15. Alich'a Derho - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Having previously enjoyed eating at similar Ethiopian restaurants, I was a bit underwhelmed by my experience at Den Den. I came here with a large group of 8, which they were easily able to accommodate. However, a few things made me wary of returning. While our server was very sweet and eager to offer their recommendations, the food took quite a while to arrive (another table had ordered, received their food, and finished eating before we got ours). I'd also be wary of the portion sizes you get when dining with a large group- everything gets consolidated onto one plate, but that means less food per person (we had to order another individual platter after finishing the large one because we were still hungry, and that one was surprisingly large). On top of that, the flavor of the food itself was lacking and the meats were a bit tough. I did enjoy the injera though- that was my favorite part of the meal, and thankfully we got lots of it. read more

Den Den Restaurant - 4 entrees - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Everything about this place is amazing, except for how long it takes for food to come out. We came in on a weekend, around 2pm which is not peak lunch time. It was pretty empty, and very clean (bathrooms and all). We got seated and offered menus. Four dishes for four people was more than enough, we could have probably even done three. The food is extremely flavorful, both meats and veggies. When they say it's spicy, they mean it! Loved that. The hostess was extremely nice. We tried the spicy chicken dish, and both of the beef dishes. Really enjoyed it all. The injera was delicious, and they offer you more throughout the meal. Very filling and delicious meal, just be prepared to wait quite a bit for your meal if you order a few dishes. read more

Den Den Restaurant - Four dishes (one of them being the veggie combo) - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We can to this restaurant for mother's day. The food was more filling than I had expected. I ordered tilapia fried in olive oil. It was both delicious and healthy. I ordered a mango smoothie that was tastier than eating a mango. It was made of fresh fruit. The restaurant prepares meals for those with special diets. The gluten free and vegan meals are served separate from the other meals that are not special diets. The meals were healthy and well balanced. There are meals for children such as a delicious big plate of spaghetti with spaghetti sauce. Their atmosphere was pleasant and family friendly. Their was traditional art on the walls. Traditional music videos were playing for for entertainment. I had very good Mother's Day at this restaurant. read more

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Honestly, this is my first time ever having Ethiopian food, and I had no idea what to expect at all. Some friends of mine wanted to try this out since none of us have ever tried eating Ethiopian food before. We are so glad that we ended up trying it! Since we did not know what or how much we should order, our server was very helpful in deciding for us. We ended up ordering 2 beef platters, a chicken platter, and a vegetable platter. Woah, this was so much for 4 ppl and it was very reasonably priced also! It is a bit on a spicy side so it is recommended to ask for less spicy if you don't do spicy very well. We received this flat bread called injera and used it to scoop and pick up the food from this platter. This was certainly a new experience for my friends and I. Overall, the food is wonderful and the staff is very nice. The only slight problem is that the food make take a while to prepare but this just means that it will make you even more hungry when it finally comes out! This place definitely gets 5 stars and I will certainly come back here again. Next time, however, my friends and I may just order 3 platters for 4 people! read more

Den Den Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I honestly think I can attach physical qualities to love. They would come in the form of some wot, tibs, and vegetables on some injera bread. The first visit to Den Den wasn't enough, so I went back and then for a few more return visits. The service is out of this world, but that seems to be the case at all of the Ethiopian restaurants, so this gem of an Eritrean restaurant was no exception. What makes Den Den my favourite of all the Ethiopian restaurants is the food. I don't know if it's because the food doesn't drip with butter. Or perhaps there is some "enhancing" ingredients added to the food. It is just "that" good and I mean that in all caps. read more

Den Den Restaurant - Spiced Tea - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Went with my family of 5 (kids age range 9-15) on an early Sunday evening. Eritrean food was new for the kids. Everything was absolutely delicious and the kids loved it! Both the experience of eating with the injeera and the dishes. They were very accommodating with adjusting the spice levels of various dishes. The people working there were also delightful! read more

Had Eritrean Cuisine for the first time on V-Day. Felt like it was very similar to Ethiopian food. We really enjoyed it! Highly recommend this place! The food is good & so is the service. We ordered two #31 Vegetarian Combination which was great. It was A LOT OF FOOD for 4 people. The fun part is eating with you hands! read more

Den Den Restaurant - #31 Vegetarian Combination - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We tried Den Den last Saturday for lunch and I cannot wait to go back. We've always loved Mama Desta's Red Sea and Demera, and Den Den uses a lot of the same spices, but the textures and flavors were just a little brighter here. There was a bit of a language barrier so we named categories of food (veg, lamb, fish, beef) and the woman who served us decided what dishes to prepare. Some were spicy, some mild, and they were all delicious, especially the spicy fish. The service was pretty slow (we weren't in a hurry) and so was the wait for the food, but that's because there was one cook and she was preparing 8 different dishes for us--and they were all worth the wait. Some of us like a lot of heat, so our server brought out a side of the awaze spice paste. The whole meal was excellent. read more

Been here three times. Tasty Ethiopian food every time. I order the veg platter and once it came with Shiro... the other times, they didn't put it on the platter and said I had to pay for it separate. Inconsistent in that way but overall, flavorful. read more

I was in the neighborhood and had this place bookmarked as a recc from an Eritrean friend and it did not disappoint. I'm on a little vegetarian kick recently, so we got the vegetarian combination and wow it was delicious. Tsebhis on point. Great flavor and spices done well. About 7 different tsebhis to try on the platter with some salad. Affordable and the beer menu was inexpensive $3-4 per beer. You'll like this place. read more

Den Den Restaurant - Vegetarian combination - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

OH MY GREATNESS!!!! This was my first time here. And I'm typically a creature of habit and have been going to another Ethiopian restaurant for the last 15 years. But my chain is now broken. The food here is cooked fresh, the potions are great, and seasoned to PERFECTION. YUM!!!!!! read more

Den Den Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We love this place - definitely in our favorite Rogers Park restaurants! The food is delicious and affordable, the space is quiet and sunny, and the owner is very sweet - whenever we order coffee she always brings it out while it's roasting so we can smell it! read more

One woman cooking on a cold Thursday. "Eat with your hands," she reminds. We got: T'ibsi begi'e (lamb), spicy fish, veggie combo read more

What a really nice find! My girlfriend and I were in the area and decided to give it a try based on the Yelp reviews. We had a great meal! Service was nice and friendly and reasonably prompt. We ordered three dishes - Alicha Siga, Tibsi Derho and the Vegetable combo. It was plenty and we had leftovers! I worry because this is a great place and we were the only ones there on a Thursday night. Lets give these folks some business so they stay around! read more

Den Den Restaurant - Our feast! Vegetable combo, Alicha Siga, Tibsi Derho - Vegetarian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois