Excellent food. Nice and helpful waitstaff. Attentive without being annoying. If you've never had Ethiopian food, go for the combo tray. You get to try a bit of everything. read more

We stumbled upon this place after driving 30 minutes up North to find that our originally chosen restaurant was closed! This was a blessing in disguise because Tesfa not only felt authentic but the food was phenomenal. When we first walked in i was prepared to be disappointed because it appeared to be a carry out establishment but behind a curtain was a lovely dining area. We were welcomed with a delicious hot Clove tea which I absolutely loved. Our original waitress was polite and to the point but a waiter later came in to fill in and we felt very welcomed with his upbeat personality and hospitality. I'll gladly come back for a date night or my next girls night out here. read more

Tesfa - Lamb, beef cubes, catfish special, cabbage, collards, chickpea flour,a fresh salad, and injera. - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Two weeks ago, out party of ten comes through on a Saturday and sit down for a meal. Half of the party have had Ethiopian Food and love it. It's the first time for the other half. Upon walking in, the vibes were right AKA: The one TV playing music videos in the background. The hot tea was on point, and service was attentive and purposefully slow. Check, check, check. On to the food. The portions are huge. Some of the dishes are a tad too salty. This might be coming from a coastal elite (not really but roll with the reference for now) in LA where there are some amazing restaurants that serve Ethiopian food. read more

If you have never tried Ethiopian food before, the smells upon walking in should tantalize. Whenever I smell Indian food that reminds me of Ma's cooking, my nose begins to sweat with anticipation of spice and flavor. That's what happened the other night as we entered. A Friday night reservation a bit later for dinner, 8ish. The night was starting to wind down and tables were being freed. If you're looking for reservations, once 730 p rolls around, chances are you'll find many tables available. Just note, they close quite early (on weekends) and that can hamper your evening. This space they took over since Pearl's closed is a gem when you think of the interior decor. Ceiling, walls, bar, etc. There are enough reviews for the play by play. I'm just adding my two cents. The meal was tasty and I suggest doing anyone of their different platter options. The cost for sharing will not break the bank and after devouring that meal you should feel sufficiently satisfied. While the food and drink were good. The drop-off for us was in service. The waiter wasn't helpful. Not much banter regarding their food or in the form of suggestions. After being seated I had to flag down their waitstaff just to input orders so that food could come out in a timely manner. (In our seats by 8p and they close at 9p, we shouldn't have to flag them down to get orders placed.) It shouldn't be hard for staff to notice you. I get it. Wait staff not quite sure where to be, so they llama around the register. Instead, walk around with a hot pot of that Mama's spiced tea and make sure everyone has a cup. While it's still cold out, the patron's will remember and be thankful for a hot pour. Refill those water glasses or inquire whether they would like a glass of honey wine, etc. There should be some attention paid by differing staff to ensure a great experience for all. There were requests that were forgotten and the Mama's tea which is supposed to never go empty was. One refill in the span of 90 minutes is lacking. A waiter that is paying attention to a table can easily increase their spend so that the tip only gets better. For instance, once you realize children are done eating, simply ask if anyone is looking for dessert. Once wine or cocktail glasses start to go empty, ask if anyone is looking for another. I enjoyed the honey wine and we could have had more! We didn't because nobody asked. I would recommend this Ethiopian restaurant to be tried though for me & mine, I'm good. read more

I'm updating my review since the restaurant moved to a larger location in Edgewater. This is one of my favorite restaurants in the entire city. The food is always excellent, the service is always kind. If there is a crowd expect a 20 minute wait for the food, if fewer people, a bit less. My favorite is the yetimatim wot, yatkilt alicha and the asa lebleb (actually all the fish dishes) read more

While this is a Covid review for takeout, I will say that you should skip it regardless and to with Demerara. I placed my order to pick up a couple of days in advance. I was supposed to pick it up at 6:30. I show up at 6:35 and the woman behind the counter has no idea I placed an order. I show her my confirmation email and she states she didn't know about it. It would take about 10 to 15 minutes. Meanwhile, there are a ton of DoorDash and Grubhub delivery people getting impatient because Tesfa is running late. Everybody is very much on edge. She didn't even have the order so she had to copy it from my phone. It actually took them 30 minutes to get my food. I hurried home because I was supposed to be on a Zoom call with the rest of my friends. I learn once I arrive that two people are still waiting for their food so this seems to be a fail on all ends. As for the food, it was pretty good and they were giant portions. Not sure if that was the norm or if I got extra due to the wait. The beef was great and the wot was spicy! The Sambusas were ok except for the beef which was really good. Based on my experience here, I will likely not be back. It wasn't terrible, but the customer service was pretty lacking. read more

Tesfa - My own plate - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Tesfa is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago. While the food is great, I also love the family who owns and runs it. Nice people. Every time we go we like to get a variety. We always start with the Sambusas. Perfectly crispy and great fillings. This most recent time we had the Shiro (chickpeas), Yemisir Wot (lentils), the Key Sir Alicha (beets), Yatakilt Alicha (potatoes and cabbage), Yebeg Tibs (lamb) and the Doro Wot (chicken). All came out hot and the flavors were delicious and the meat dishes were spicy. The injera is excellent. I saw someone say it came out cold. The injera the food was served on was obviously hot, but the others that come with it were only room temp. I wouldn't want it to be piping hot though. All in all another great meal. People may be put off because it's not a fancy restaurant like some of the other Ethiopian offerings in Chicago. Don't let that deter you if you care mostly about the food and supporting a family owned restaurant with very nice people. read more

Tesfa - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have heard about this place for years and we finally made it. The atmosphere, decor and food was very authentic and the food was amazing. It isn't often I find food with not much to reference it to, but this was amazing in its uniqueness. Can't wait to go again. read more

Tesfa - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Excellent spot for Ethiopian food. Had the catfish. Absolutely fantastic. Perfectly seasoned. It's a small-ish spot. Makes sense for a relaxed lunch or a casual dinner. But you can't beat the food. But overall, a simple dining room, but also: they seem focused on the food. Ran out of injera, as I almost always do. Extra injera to finish the meal, no extra charge, so far as I saw. Lol: I would still pay for extra, but it's nice that they offered more. Have to come back for some lamb, kitfo, etc., the classics. read more

I was excited when I heard there was a new location to one of my favorite Ethiopian Food Restaurants in town. I have had a myriad of their menu items in their last location and it was always tasty and flavorful. The only thing that is different at their new location is that it is absolutely beautiful inside. The ambiance also matches the hospitality in the service. Now that this Tesfa location is a walking distance from my place, no doubt that I will become a regular. read more

Tesfa - Inside - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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First time trying this place was in an attempt to go to Demera around the corner for my usual to learn once I got in on a Friday that they closed at 9pm. I arrived at 9:18pm. Nonetheless, I had to satisfy my weekly urges so I decided to give this place a try since they closed at 10pm. I parked in the front to find patrons waiting on the outside for their pick up which was at first a really good sign. So I walked in to a small Mom and Pop shop, I approached the counter and I was advised that they were closing but decided to take my order anyway which I was most grateful for. I proceeded to the counter where the young lady took my order of a Messob for one (1 meat, 2 veggies). Doro Wat, Collards and Cabbage. The Doro Wat was in a ton a sauce...like wayyy to much for me to eat and 2 boiled eggs. The veggies were solid and the Injera was fresh. Flavor was spot on to any of the bigger fancier spots and the price was around $17 for at least three days worth of goodness. Overall, I would go back. Probably not at late in order to see if the batch of food changes but honestly I could not complain for about 5 bucks less and much better customer service made by loving hands...what else can one ask for?? Save your money if you frequent places like Demera and try this place. You will not be disappointed. read more

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Loved the deco of the restaurant and the staff was very friendly and responsive to our dining needs. I was so excited about introducing our kids to Ethiopian cuisine as we wrapped up our Kwanzaa celebration. We ordered the 4 meats & 4 veggie platter. We enjoyed 6 out of the 8 dishes. The two dishes we didn't like were a lentil dish and chickpea dish. Overall, it was a great experience for us to dine in a manner that isn't our usual style or type of flavors. read more

First thing I remember is that o loved the interior of the restaurant. Bathrooms were clean and modern. Nice Artwork and African modern music playing at a nice level. Started with the meat sambusa appetizer a fried dumpling. Like an empanada but with a filo dough. $10, 3 pieces. Then we ordered the meat combination which came with 2 meats, and 3 veggie selections: choose from the list. The waiter helped us pick all. Went with chicken and lamb for the meats. Then tried the red lentils, potato and cabbage, and the collard greens. This combination was $40. The tray had plenty of injeera, the spongy bread you use to scoop your bites of food. The waiter was really helpful, it's been over 25 years since my last trip to an Ethiopian restaurant so he made it easy. Next time I'll skip the lamb, it was mostly fat and bones. So I'll get the cubes of beef as the other meat option. The chicken was really good. Flavors were all amazing. My son and I will definitely come here again. read more

Tesfa is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago. Though Demera gets more attention, I think Tesfa has a slight edge overall head to head, and is a little cheaper in terms of prices. The ambiance here is very low-key, clearly a family owned restaurant and the staff are very friendly. The service can be a little slow, but everything is made fresh and with a lot of care. The food itself is absolutely fire! I would recommend trying a variety of the side dishes with the injera; my personal favorites are the catfish and goat dishes. Great value and a true gem in Uptown read more

Tesfa - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've ordered take out from this place twice now, and everything has been absolutely delicious! We love flavorful veggie options, and Ethiopian always seals the deal for me when I'm looking for that. I'm glad that I'm now in the Uptown neighborhood so this place is certainly walking distance from me compared to before. It would be nice to dine in here at some point soon to try that experience. Food would likely be a bit fresher too knowing that I've only down take out / at home with this place. Will be back to try it again soon! read more

This is the most wonderful family Ethiopian restaurant I've ever eaten in. Family run, amazing flavors and atmosphere. If you are looking for a fast food experience go to McDonald's, if you want a relaxing African, family meal experience, you must try Tesfa! Service was amazing, friendly and very relaxing! Ethiopian beer, and all parts of this meal are extremely memorable. read more

Tesfa - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is a great Ethiopian restaurant! The cuisine lends itself to many dietary types: whether you're vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or an omnivore, you can eat this food and exclaim, "I ate those food!" (Garfielf reference) We've ordered takeout and have dined in and the food works well or travels well either way. The yemisir wot (sometimes called misir key wot elsewhere) is cooked in a berbere sauce and the version at Tesfa is spicier and more flavorful than at other places. It's a great way to eat lentils! It's a great place to eat other veggies as well: stewed beets and potatoes, carrots and cabbage, greens or split peas. The shiro is stewed and pureed beans. They were all prepared above expectations. They're super friendly and quiet in person. They gave us complimentary spiced tea during lunch and that tea is wonderful. Ambiance is chill and relaxing, complete with incense. All in all, this is an impressive place and I recommend that you try it or go back soon! read more

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Absolutely incredible. When you first walk in you're hit with the most amazing smell of warm spices. When you're seated you get a cup of delicious tea to get started. Lots of combination options for dining in. We tried the doro nibs and the vegetarian combo which had all 7 veggie options. The platter said it was enough for 2-4 people and it certainly was! We took a lot of the food home and it was just as tasty cold. If you like Ethiopian food or have been wanting to try it. You MUST come here. read more

Tesfa - 28. Doro Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious Ethiopian food!! Loved my experience here. The staff are so helpful and excellent and the food tasted great. They were able to accommodate us despite not having a reservation (highly recommend making one in advance!), and gave us our choice of table. When we sat down there was tea and sugar on the table, which was very tasty. I ordered the Yebeg meat plate, and asked for the "chefs choice" of vegetable sides. Everything was so so so good. The lamb was extremely flavorful, and not gamey at all. I don't remember the name of it, but favorite side was the yellow one with carrots, potatoes, cabbage, etc. (bottom of my photo). Carrots were extremely tender and sweet -- so delicious. Everyone here was friendly and nice. The restaurant felt very homey. Would love to come back sometime! read more

Tesfa - Yebeg Plate - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Awesome food. I've eaten a few times when they were on Wilson. I went to where they relocated and preferred the Wilson vibe. New location is very nice. read more

This was my first Ethiopian restaurant. My son and I went here for his 20th birthday. The staff was super friendly and extremely helpful. We decided upon family style dining. We ordered the platter with two meats and three vegetarian dishes. Everything was delicious and very flavorful. I even had the traditional fermenting, honey wine. I will definitely recommend Tesfa to anyone and everyone. read more

A fantastic place has just gotten better with this new space! I canNOT wait until they open the roof patio in warmer weather. Terefech and Sam have brought over all of their classic, fresh dishes to Broadway in an even warmer, cozier, prettier space. The service is like being served by family. They are welcoming of everyone...Tesfa never fails to satisfy! read more

Tesfa - Freshly roasted and brewed Ethiopian coffee - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I love Tesfa! Got the meat shared plate with 10, 11, 12, 18 and 21. The lamb was delicious and so were the tibs. Can't wait to come back to try more. read more

Tesfa - 10. Shiro 11. Yemisir Wot 12. Yetimatim Wot 18. Key Wot 21. Zil-Zil Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Best Ethiopian food in Chicago area. The food was so delicious and the service was great. The ambiance is also nice. It can be busy in the evenings but you can call in advance to make a reservation. We had to wait for a few minutes (not too bad though) to get a table but the food was totally worth the wait. We got the combo for our party for 3 and it was more than enough. We got the three veggies plus 2 meat combo with: Shiro, Gomen,Doro Wot, Yeasa Wot and Yetimatim Wot. I would recommend Doro Wot and Yeasa Wot if you like spicy food. Yeasa Wot was our favorite. Highly recommend trying it. Everything else was incredibly delicious. The complimentary cardamom tea was also very good. The staff were so friendly and answered all of our questions. Highly recommend this place and will be back for more. read more

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Absolutely amazing experience! The ambiance was incredible! It's a family owned business and all of them were so friendly and professional. They had a large party of people the night we went (Sat), but we still got a seat and were well taken care of and the food was delicious!! I would definitely recommend!! They also have a rooftop that's open in the warmer months. Amazing experience!! read more

Well despite going to my familiar Ethiopian restaurants I usually go, I decided to try some other Ethiopian restaurant that was not too far. The Yebeg alicha was delicious. The injera bread that they use or made texture wise was good. It was soaked in alicha sauce like Ethiopian Diamond or Demera does it their competition. Ambiance since a bit crowded but is welcoming too. The service or how the the people are over here are amiable although I think sometimes I don't know if they really understand you when you ask questions on the menu which can be a negative. Selections on their menu seen very limited and I guess they don't have an alcohol license to serve tej a kind of alcoholic honey wine or honey mead next to Ethiopian Beer Harar or St George. Interesting to see American and Italian desserts like tiramisu and chocolate cake but again when I went to Ethiopia I didn't see too many desserts. Otherwise price wise it was affordable especially since it's just me craving for Ethiopian. read more

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We accidently walked in on a vegan meet up group and the place was packed. (Fun, friendly crowd, but there just wasn't any more room left...Full disclosure...I've dined with them before). Reluctantly, we left with the fragrant spices still in our nostrils. So of course, we went back the next day...and boy was it worth it! Upon our return, we had the Zil-Zil tibs(a Tesfa special) and a veggie platter. The Zil-Zil was cubed, tender beef in a tomato based sauce. Included on the veggie platter were cabbage/carrot/potato mix, yellow lentils and red lentils. The yellow lentils were hearty. The chickpea flour based dish was almost like a pureed bean soup with a smoky BBQ flavor. Overall, the dishes we tried were quite flavorful, just as we expected the night before when we were only able to enjoy the aroma. Here were experienced flavors we had not experienced at other Ethiopian restaurants. Loved complementary tea and it was perfect for the cool night. Also, if you need gluten free bread let them know in advance. This is a family owned restaurant, so the waiter was the chef's son. He was very attentive and personable. He also recommended reservations on the weekend, because it can get crowded. read more

We usually go with Ethiopian Diamond and this time wanted to try something new. We got Siga Wot, Key Wot and Yebozena Shiro for pick up. Except Siga Wot, there wasn't much meat in the dishes at all, but large bones (Key Wot). They also messed up one side order. Overall the taste was underwhelming or bland (side dishes). Wouldn't go back here. read more

We did the family platter where you could choose two meat dishes and three veggie dishes, it also came with a wonderful little salad. It was suggested for 2 to 3 people and it was more than we could finish for our group of three. I highly recommend this restaurant it was very authentic, delicious, and convenient! Five stars easily! read more

Tesfa - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Delicious! Ordered the vegetarian sampler for two, and while we absolutely demolished the whole thing, it really was good for two people. Made a reservation for a Saturday early evening and it seems that was the right call (I didn't think to initially, but the small space was crowded). Service was a bit slow and had to ask for water a couple times, but wasn't atrocious - just not great. Would definitely go back - think it's better than some of the other Ethiopian spots that get a lot of mentions. read more

First time coming here and I was honestly blown away by everything about this restaurant! First off, I have to give a huge shoutout to our server Sam who was an absolute pleasure and gave my friend and I amazing cinnamon and clove infused tea on the house to prime us for the incredible meal ahead. If I'm not wrong this place is family owned. I love how quaint and home-y it felt as soon as I walked in. I was hit with the smells, sounds, and art of Ethiopia. They have an Ethiopian music channel playing on the TV that is absolutely stellar. The inside decor and art is beautiful as well. After Sam's amazing tea, we started with Ethiopian samosas, or Sambusas, and he was nice enough to give us the option of having one of each type of filling, so we went with Lentils, Spinach, and Chicken. I think Spinach and Lentils were my favorite. The sauce it came with was friggin drinkable it was so good. And now on to the star of the show, the large plate with 2 meats for 2-3 people. We went with the Lamb tibbs and Doro wat for the meat, and an assortment of lentils and veggies for the vegetarian sides. All I have to say is my friend and I absolutely destroyed this. We cleaned the damn plate. If you have more self control/smaller appetites than we did, this would feed about 3 maybe even 4 normal people. But we were in hungry-hungry hippo mode and went to town. The lamb tibbs was by far my favorite. Absolutely delicous, chewy-er than expected, but the seasoning, flavor was stellar. The doro-wat was solid as well, I was mixing the sauce with so many of the other lentils. Lastly, the cabbage/carrot dish was amazing as well. Thank you so much for a great experience, will definitely come back here again. read more

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We usually go to Demera for Ethiopian, but I wanted to try somewhere different and I'm glad we did! Tesfa was delicious. My friend and I shared the lentil, spinach, and chicken sambusas which were sooo good. The sauce they came with was wonderful. Then we shared the vegetables, doro wot, and yesimir wot. The veggies were great. My favorite was probably the yesimir wot. The doro wot was great, but it only came with one (somewhat small) piece of chicken, even though there were two of us. I wish it came with more meat, which knocked off half a star. 4.5 stars. read more

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We love this restaurant and we order out from them ever 3 weeks or so. They are out go-to Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago and we chose them after having tried almost all of them. One thing we love about their takeout is that they package their ingera bread separately from the food. Other places foolishly mix the bread and the food, much like they would serve it traditionally in person, but this method does not travel well. This is why we appreciate Tesfa's improved packaging. One small issue, not every time but more recently, is that they have served up duplicate selections; not within an entree but within the same order. In the picture, you can see that 2 out of 6 slots are repeats. I think it was a fluke and we still love Tesfa. read more

Tesfa - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I tried Ethiopian food for the first time a few years ago and had not stopped thinking about it since. Tesfa came up when I looked for Ethiopian restaurants near Chicago and boy am I glad it did!! Tesfa is a super quaint cozy restaurant that immediately greets you with upbeat Ethiopian music, wonderful smells, and warm masala tea. There was one waiter working there when we went on a weekday, and he was so amazing!!! I went with three friends and we got a 3 meat 3 vegetarian sampler which was so. much. food. We asked the kitchen staff to pick which dishes they thought was best since we were so new to the food and it worked out perfectly!! I think my favorite was the beets which were surprisingly sweet and tasted like sweet potato. We also caved and got chicken sambusas which were absolutely delicious--crispy on the outside with a tangy sauce. And again, could not rave about our waiter enough!! He brought out extra injera, and an extra sambusa (since it only came with three and we have four people). He also killed a bug on the wall near me which I applaud him for. My friends and I absolutely LOVED Tesfa because of the delicious and hearty food, amazing service, and overall atmosphere. Definitely come here if you're looking to try truly authentic Ethiopian food and get a wonderful experience! read more

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Great food and a great space. We really enjoyed our dining experience at Tesfaye.we shared a large comb platter of both meat and vegetarian dishes. The flavors were superb and the service was good. read more

The place may not look the best from outside, but the food is really good. A definite visit for an Ethiopian experience. They welcome you with masala tea and help you understand the menu and what they offer. The food is very well flavored and comes with a variety of sides. The only down side, took too much time. Had to wait almost 45 minutes before the food was served. Really fresh, but a bit too long a wait time at a restaurant. Bottom line: amazing food but be there a bit before your meal time read more

Tesfa - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Tired of your typical dine-out experience? Craving novelty and variety? Try Ethiopian food at Tesfa!! This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, and it definitely won't be my last. First and foremost, if you're new to the cuisine, note that the dishes (notably the combo platter that we ordered) are meant to be shared family-style and eaten without utensils. I came here with a few friends and it was so fun to experience the food alongside them, ripping apart that delicious injera and digging into each of the meats and vegetables, but I probably would not have wanted to experience this with just anybody. What I discovered about Ethiopian food, Tesfa, and myself: - The complimentary tea that they serve was DELICIOUS. Not sure what type of tea it is but it tasted floral-y with spices. It is caffeinated, so beware if your party has caffeine-sensitive members. - Service is great- our waiter really helped us out with deciding what to order and was happy to make dietary accommodations. - I am a FIEND for injera, which is this spongy, tangy, crepe-like bread. Injera formed the base of our combo platter, and we received extra complimentary injera once we demolished what came with the platter. - Wasn't the biggest fan of the chicken Sambusa, but am interested to try the other fillings (beef or lentil). - I absolutely loved Yemisir Wot (lentils). It was one of the dishes recommended by the chef for our combo platter. Next time I might just order an entire platter of this for myself! - Because everything is made-to-order, wait times are a bit long. I believe our food took about 30min to arrive, so I wouldn't recommend dining here on a time crunch. Thanks to Tesfa for a great first experience with Ethiopian cuisine!! read more

Tesfa - Ethiopian Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious all around, great service, cheaper alternative to Demera (no shade, love them) and just about as good

I'm updating my review about phenomenal Tesfa! Was thrilled to learn that the restaurant was open on New Year's Day and just returned to Chicago's South Side with my scrumptious fare. Snagged a variety of vegetarian and meat dishes which we thoroughly enjoyed. Initially went to Tesfa's old location on Wilson and drive just a few extra blocks (north on Broadway) after realizing my mistake. The new location is beautiful and roomy. So glad to see this fantastic restaurant thriving!! Leesa A. read more

The food is very authentic Ethiopian. I had the beets and potato dish as a main course with a salad and 2 sides. I never hadit before and was very impressed. I have eaten at several restaurants like this, like Demera and the food is very similar but the price is much more affordable. I was very happy. The waiter chatted with me a little and is very friendly also. He spoke with me about Ethiopian dishes, even ones that they don't serve. The place is all aces to me. read more