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Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine

4.7 (355 reviews)
Closed • 4:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Order Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine Takeout or Delivery

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TESFA ETHIOPIAN CUISINE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine

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platter to share (yellow split peas, chickpeas, tomatoes, beef tibs, doro wot)
Sam L.

I was really impressed by this place. The ambiance is really nice to start. Service was a tad slow, but the food was totally worth the wait. Me and a friend got the platter to share, and it was completely delicious and actually a bit much for two. I wasn't crazy about the beef tibs, but absolutely loved the doro wot and the chickpeas. I was a big fan of the yellow split peas as well. I would totally come back here! Might be the best ethiopian place I've tried in chicago so far.

Inside
Tigui D.

I just love Tesfa and I was reminded of that tonight. I missed them being in uptown because it was so convenient. We've always had an amazing time when we dine here in uptown- you can feel the home cooking and family vibes. There new location is beautiful, spacious, modern and has a full bar. We ordered sambusas for appetizers and it's so fire!! And for our entree- we did the platter for 2, with two meats and 3 veggies: zil zil tibs, doro wot, red lentils, gomen, and beets = everything was cooked to perfection and fresh. It was a lot of food and DELICIOUS You'll have to wait for a bit for your entree because I suspect they're making things to order. It's worth the wait Our waitress was meh- she wasn't attentive, a bit aloof & she barely came to our table. The two brothers who run the place are the best and welcoming!

Bill Z.

A group of us showed up on a quiet Tuesday evening and had no problem getting a large table or food promptly. It is quiet and relaxing, with music videos on several TV screens. They feature a selection of beers and cocktails which includes Ethiopian beers and Ethiopian influenced cocktails, but we were content and satisfied to order several bottles of their tej. For a larger group, we found it convenient to order multiple combination platters. But we forgot to specify a level of spiciness, so everything came out somewhat spicy. Most dishes contained some amount of fresh jalapeno slices, which I appreciated. As others have mentioned, some of the meat dishes will have bones, so be very careful scooping and eating those. Among the foods we ordered, my favorites were all of the chicken dishes, and the beets. We did not order appetizers, which consisted mostly of sambosas. Everything came out quickly, with excellent presentation. Here, they separate each item on the platter with a roll of injera. While I liked that, it does mean the outer edge of the rolls will have some sauces on them already. Dinner for 7 of us, with tej, tax, and tip, came to less than $40 per person, a reasonable price for an enjoyable evening.

Tea on the house
Jennifer D.

I feel that the northeast side of Chicago has a concentrated number of Ethiopian restaurants, but Tesfa is now my go-to and the one I'll recommend to anyone. The space is large, and the staff was incredibly attentive. They welcomed us with some house tea and checked in to see if we needed anything else--like extra injera, which they happily provided. We came as a party of three and ordered the 3-meat, 3-vegetable combo, which was more than enough food--we ended up packing some to take home. The portions were generous, and the flavor profiles were fantastic. Everything had great spice, and the lamb was especially tender! A standout for me was the kitfo, a type of Ethiopian tartare. I was curious to try it, since I usually get tired of tartare after a few bites, but the seasoning here made it hard to stop going back for more. Everything was balanced--I've had Ethiopian food before that leaned too sour or too spicy, but here, every dish was thoughtfully prepared. Tesfa is truly a gem in the Uptown/Argyle area.

Family meal
Kathy M.

Came here on a Saturday at 2:00. Planned to go at an off time so not to deal with waiting. Walked right in. Seated and enjoyed the wood beams and painted brick. Sweet Christmas tree inside made it festive and fun. Both men who we spoke with were super easy going and friendly. We ordered the family meal for $85 for four people. Fish, chicken and beef. The platter is huge. Way more than enough for four people. Love this place. So happy we came. Such a fun place to come with your friends or family. Go support this gem!

Ethiopian honey wine
Jack F.

Had an amazing night out with my new friends, parents of children at my daughter's new school. We're looking to get some delicious Ethiopian food that would take it to the next level with flavor, and they did not disappoint. Very authentic ambience and vibes, and tremendous service. They had a very unique and delicious honey wine, which ended up getting a second portion of, while scarfing down any remnants of our large family platter. Whether you're going vegetarian or meat options, you can't go wrong. However, just be aware that many of these are much spicier than they may let on, which I do enjoy, but I would first confirm with the servers depending on your tolerance. Also, for those new to the Ethiopian scene, it's definitely a eat with your hands type of meal, don't expect any fancy silverware or plates to accompany it. Truly authentic. Can't wait to come back.

14. Gomen 16. Ater Kik Alicha 24. Doro Wot 26. Asa Leb-Leb 15. Yatakilt Alicha
Tiffany M.

Absolutely love their new location. While entering we were welcomed by all the delicious spices and meats cooking. It felt like entering a warm home knowing we were about to enjoy a comforting and delicious meal. The food was made with love and very filling. I tried something new this time and had one of the fish dishes. It wasn't as seasoned as everything else but eaten with the other dishes it was amazing, especially with the beets and tomatoes. The regular platters can easily serve 2-3 people with a hearty meal. My only concern was the speed of service, it was only 3 tables of people and 2 servers but it took longer than normal for everything but the main platters. We ordered appetizers that came after our platters and I had to give reminder for additional napkins and a straw. This was our 1st visit back since they've reopened and it is such a different feeling from the previous location. The food even tastes better, I didn't think that was possible. We will happily drive here from far south anytime if they continue to have this delicious food available.

Combo (starting from bottom, clockwise): Asa Leb-Leb, Yemisir Wot, Gomen, fresh veges, Yetimatim Wot, and Doro Wot (center)
Tony G.

Came here on a weeknight with a friend who wanted to try Tesfa out since they've moved locations. Have had Ethiopian before, but never at Tesfa so was excited to check this place out. Came in around 6 and it was pretty empty. Did pick up a bit by the time we left. We ordered the combo with two meats and three veges. We opted for Asa Leb-Leb (tilapia), Yemisir Wot (lentils), Gomen (collard greens), Yetimatim Wot (tomatoes), and Doro Wot (chicken). Also ordered a chicken rice dish. The combo was great. The injera was nice and fluffy/absorbent of all the food. My favorite was probably the Asa Leb-Leb. Found the fish super tender. The Gomen was probably my favorite of the vegetables. But all of it was really delicious. The chicken rice was also solid in terms of flavor, but I found the chicken to be quite dry. Service was kind of meh. It took quite a while (almost 30min) to get our combo and another 15 to get the chicken rice. Was only given one piece of silverware and when we asked for more water and napkins we were ignored. Also took a while to flag them down for the check. Overall, this place is a nice casual weeknight lunch or dinner spot. Definitely not super fancy by any means. And service is a bit slow. But food definitely really good so worth checking out!

Khusbu S.

The food service and ambiance were great the first time I went there. Whereas the second time I got it I door dashed it and it was very very mild. So maybe this is a restaurant to go to in person rather than DoorDash.

Serves 4-5 - 4 meat, 4 veggie . 80$ . Delish - all of it

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Loved the Ethiopian food here! We had a platter and tried various meat and vegetarian options along with so much bread

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Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine

Do you have gluten free/teff only injira as an option?

Not everyday and Thank you for reaching out. We only make gluten free injera when we have a big order, mostly on Mondays and we try to save some for our guest when they make reservation in advance.

Hello, I have not been to many restaurants since Covid started but I will be in the area tomorrow and I dream of eating at Tesfa again. Is it too late to request GF injera for tomorrow and do I need a reservation?

Ooooh, Yes it is too late, but you can reach out couple days in advance so we could let you know when we have a large order so we will save some for you. Hope we see you soon and stay safe and healthy.

Hi, Is this place still BYOB?

Hi! We are still BYOB! :)

I have eaten Ethiopian food before, but I cannot get into the Injera. To me it takes away the flavor of the dishes? I dislike the vinegary flavor, it's over bearing. Do you serve any other bread?

Hi L.J., Thank you for sending us your question! Unfortunately we do not serve our dishes with… Read more

I have a peanut allergy. Would it be safe to eat here?

Yes, it would be safe to eat here.

Do you have halal options?

We do! All of our Lamb dishes are halal. Those dishes are: Key Wot, Yebeg Alicha, and Yebeg Tibs.

Is your inerja gluten free? What is it made with?

Not all of it is, but we do have gluten free injera. If you are planning on visiting it is great to send us an email (or reservation) letting us know you are gluten free.… Read more

Would your veggie dishes be considered vegan? No dairy?

Yes, no dairy

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

La Malinche Coffee & Tea House

La Malinche Coffee & Tea House

4.6(118 reviews)
8.7 mi•Pilsen
•$$

A beautiful, eclectic coffee house just outside of Chinatown, La Malinche was the perfect place for…read morea casual late breakfast. With a cozy locals vibe, there was a mix of young professionals on laptops and families starting the morning. The bright aesethics of Mexican heritage and decor celebrating local artists make the space inspiring and energizing. The coffee was great. I got the horchata latte, which tasted even better than I hoped. I also ordered a El Chavo Torta, a deceptively simple sandwich that was incredibly delicious. I don't know what they put in the bread or what magical place they bought the cheese from, but my mouth is watering just thinking about it. When I'm in Chicago again, La Malinche is on my list of must visit spots.

Stopped by La Malinche Coffee & Tea House in Pilsen to try something new. Place is nice and quiet…read more Bright pink walls, little decorative hearts, alebrijes all around and full piano in the room. Felt cozy right away. The staff were really welcoming, for an early morning. I got the hot chocolate. Honestly that's exactly what I needed that morning. It had that real Mexican chocolate taste. Thick, creamy, smooth and rich. The cinnamon came through warm but not too strong, plus a little extra on top that hit your nose before the first sip. Sweet and it almost had this slight earthy note too... hard to explain but good. It even had that little design on top, like the ones they do on cappuccinos. Didn't expect that but it was cool. I finished it slow. Didn't wanna rush it. Just sat there taking small sips and enjoying it while it was still hot.

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La Malinche Coffee & Tea House - Beautiful colorful vibes

Beautiful colorful vibes

La Malinche Coffee & Tea House
La Malinche Coffee & Tea House - Horchata matcha

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Horchata matcha

Dolce Arte - Veggie Skillet

Dolce Arte

4.1(69 reviews)
10.5 mi•Bridgeport

Not sure why I had not reviewed this soot earlier, I come here often, in fact I'm here right now…read more Great spot! Set in an old warehouse that is now an art gallery event space and restaurant nestled in an older warehouse district in Bridgeport neighborhood of Chicago. Beautiful decor and laid out perfectly. The natural wood floors furniture ie tables chairs etc and iron work throughout sets the ambiance for old meets new. It works. The wide spacing between tables makes for a comfortable dining experience. So many folks come in to do their work and dine here. What a super addition to the neighborhood that less than a decade ago was essentially a street that was more a run down semi-truck alley. Great menu with neighborhood favorites leaning toward the old school Italian dishes. Sandwiches, soups, salads, and breakfasts just to name a few are all excellent. The pastries are insane and a must take home deal. I love the American Breakfast. Three eggs your way, thick diced America potatoes, thick cut bacon, and sourdough toast. Accompanied by what I believe to be home made jelly and for sure homemade gardiniera. Caruso's gardiniera actually. Diced into a relish unlike most standard gardiniera it's easier to eat with many dishes. Excellent flavor and just the right kick to it. FYI Dolce Arte also sells a to go line of homemade Caruso products from their gardiniera to past and past sauces and more. Yes, their coffee is really good too. Lavazza products I believe. The service is always on point. Casual but on point. Very friendly staff from diverse backgrounds. This is the place you bring people close to you, business lunches, meetings, formal ir informal, or like me, save it for myself as my own getaway spot. It's an artists dream and sets a positive time for any gathering.

The staff is amazing and so is the food! The twins and I…read moreate everything! There was so much left over we ate it for breakfast the next morning! Next time I'm adding photos! Sorry it was so good I forgot to take any .

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Dolce Arte - Pastries

Pastries

Dolce Arte - Stockyard Skillet

Stockyard Skillet

Dolce Arte - I have had their pastries many times (the BEST in neighborhood), only  2nd time having reg food.

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I have had their pastries many times (the BEST in neighborhood), only 2nd time having reg food.

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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