Awash Ethiopian Restaurant

Sooooo delicious! We ended up here by chance; we were out looking for Ethiopian food around 10:10pm, after a concert. The first one we went to, closes its kitchen at 10, so we found this wasn’t far and called to confirm they were still serving food. The ladies that served us, were great! They had great recommendations. We ordered sambusas; the lentil sambusas were so delicious, I ordered some to take home. My cousin enjoyed his beef sambusas. We shared the veggie combo platter; every item on it was packed with flavor; we cleared that platter! We also enjoyed the honey wine in the traditional glasses; what an experience! This was our first time at Awash and we agree that it won’t be the last.

We has a delicious birthday dinner here! It was a Friday night, but it wasn't busy. The service was excellent, and we really liked how the incense was served with the tea & coffee. The meat sampler was spicy, which is how I liked it. My vegetarian husband enjoyed his platter very much, especially the collard greens. I think food eaten with my fingers tastes better!

Awash Ethiopian Restaurant is hands-down one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a long time. The food is fresh, vibrant, and full of authentic flavor. I ordered the vegan combo, and every single item around the injera was seasoned perfectly, rich lentils, flavorful greens, perfectly spiced veggies, and beautifully balanced sauces. You can tell everything is made with care. If you love Ethiopian food, or you’re trying it for the first time, Awash is absolutely the place to go. I’ll definitely be back!

Food is really good and is highly recommended for you to visit Awash for an authentic Ethiopian food experience. They will roast coffee beans and burn frankincense from time to time. The atmosphere feels good. The waitresses are real nice and hospitable. Vegan friendly food too! Very special to me.

We drove from Lafayette to try Awash Ethiopian Restaurant and it was absolutely worth it! The food was delicious, authentic, and full of flavor. The service was warm and welcoming, and the atmosphere made the whole experience even better. Definitely worth the drive – we loved it and will be back again!

I tried the meat sampler plate and oh my goodness it was so delicious! It was full of flavor. I would recommend here to anyone trying Ethiopian food for the first time. Service was great, kind waiter. I will admit there is a pretty long wait from order to food on your plate but, you at least know it’s fresh! The place is quiet, and you can have easy conversations.

Excellent food. Been eating Ethiopian in this neighborhood for years....this is one of the best. Flavors in the vegan combo are robust and layered, exceptional service, incredible experience. Highly recommend.

This is our family’s favorite restaurant to go to when my father gets in town. Delicious food, nice atmosphere, and kindest waitress! We eat until we are full and then some even when we can’t take another bite. Our favorite meals to share are the meat combos for two and it is more than enough to share with the whole family. Best place to go to try Ethiopian cuisine 😊 also make sure to also try the Ethiopian tea! Picture of meat combo for one and then a strawberry ice cream for dessert.

Very nice, helpful staff with absolutely amazing food would definitely come again. Everything was very flavorful and left me satisfactory.

Incredible! Fantastic food, ambiance, and service. I really enjoyed dinner here. Our server went above and beyond

Peaceful vibes, very friendly staff and good food. Ethiopian spice tea really compliments the meat combo injera that me and my sister ordered. A bit slow paced but that's fine.

Walking up to Awash to grab my to-go order, I see the place is packed. A completely full house. Everyone dressed to impress, beautiful suits, gorgeous gowns, amazing hairstyles, fine jewelry. It's a private event, a graduation party, probably 100+ people. And 150 years from now, someone will look at photos of their great great great grandmother's graduation party, and see me, this solo white dude in the background, wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and a Bills cap. Leaning on the bar, bobbing my head, and enjoying the vibe. I'm a part of that family forever, now, and to me, that's special. When ordering, they told me, "you can get food, but we're closed." I didn't realize that meant the dining room was closed for a private event, but I certainly figured it out. Give me a heads-up next time, and I'll wear something nice. Was it a little awkward weaving between tightly packed tables and guests while in flipflops? A little. Worth it? Absolutely. Because that food was just what I was looking for. I walked a veggie combo for one out the door that must have weighed 10 lbs. All vegan. An incredible assortment of veggie dishes, all doing their own flavor thing, with a perfect pile of injera, for $20. A complete steal. Everything had a little kick, but I like it that way. I added a side of the hot sauce too, which was no joke. Be warned, go easy. I also snagged the Lentil Sambusas which were perfectly crisp and delicious, and completely unnecessary given the mountain of food I had from the combo. I absolutely want to come back to dine-in next time. Or maybe I'll just continue to crash random private events. Maybe if I show up to enough celebrations, I'll become an honorary member of the Ethiopian community. And then I can eat this food all the time, which I would gladly do. Nice work, Awash. Call me next time there's a party.

I forgot the name of the food, but if you are seeing this photograph then the food was that good. My friend group and I came to this restaurant looking for something to eat, and this restaurant epitomizes the diversity that this city provides. If you are not eating at this restaurant yet, you are honestly missing out. The meat was well seasoned. I am totally coming back when I get the chance. If you are reading this review I advise you do the same. Trust me, you will not regret your time eating the food. If you do sit down here, I will say that you will wait a while for the food, so be patient. Other than the wait, the food and place is amazing.

Delicious food, comfortable atmosphere, and amazing service. Will absolutely be coming back!

I went here with a friend and his coworkers. The restaurant was beautiful, and the waitress was wonderful, nice, and very helpful. The food was delicious and I can't wait to come back!

Delicious food, especially the chicken. The meat combo and the vegetable combo are great deals and a wonderful variety. Highly recommend.

Best authentic Ethiopian food in Chicago! Great service and space! It's clean and smells like incense in here! Will definitely be back!

So delicious! We ate in the restaurant. Very clean, clean bathrooms. Wonderful friendly staff. Listened to our preferences and made recommendations. Spot on! Highly recommend! Ps. Very random but their water tasted to usually good.. clean, crisp, cold. I know it's weird but, it was great! And they had local (Ethiopian) beer. Great flavor! :)

Delicious!!!!- we got the meat platter and a veggie platters, and they were both so good! Deff recommend getting both. Everything tasted so fresh and good for you. 5 stars :))

The customer service here is excellent, and the food is delicious. They also have a great bar with a variety of options.

D and I made a rare venture out to the Northside of Chicago on a random Sunday afternoon to satisfy a hankering for Ethiopian. We've only gone to Ethiopian Diamond but D suggested trying a different spot. It was a great suggestion as overall we received great service and delicious food from Awash. There was one server for the whole restaurant but there was only one other table so there wasn't a mad rush. Everything we ordered from the sambusa to the mixed meats and veggies were tasty. Overall we were pleased with Awash and will definitely add them as a place to visit again.

Food is like poop from a butt. All these good reviews are fake. I went and was the only table sat there. I got my "food" and was disgusted

Great service and delicious food. Definitely try the sambusas! We had the lentil and potato ones and they were both amazing. Veggie platter was great too.

Really delicious food. Be prepared for an extended dining experience, but it's well worth the wait. Servers really seem to enjoy sharing the cuisine of their homeland. First rate.

The restaurant was nice, clean and had a good ambiance. The servers were so kind and helpful. The chef was incredible. She wanted me to try more dishes so she served me a taste of all the vegetarian options so I could enjoy my meal more. The food was delicious with just the right amount of spice. We will definitely be returning soon.

Great Ethiopian food! The service is great! and the owner is super sweet. one of the greatest Ethiopian restaurant. I highly recommend !!

I love Awash! They have a parking lot which is a huge draw on a very busy street. The restaurant is spacious and the service is pleasant and prompt. I enjoy the vegetarian platter. Give it a try!

the food was incredible very tasty great traditional Ethiopian music and the waiters are very nice

Unlike others, I find a "language barrier," to be 1) a sign of ethnic authenticity and 2) more the fault of the customer than the staff. Since I love Ethiopian food, I really should know more of the language, right? Chicago has no shortage of good Ethiopian restaurants, it was in Chicago that I first discovered the cuisine at Mama Desta's Red Sea Restaurant. This place is better, but there's only one ever first experience. Awash is a lovely place, spacious and some of the tables and chairs are carved with the famous Ethiopian rock churches. Beautiful but not comfortable. There are also Ethiopian style tables, which are fun but also not comfortable for me. The service is great, faster than other Ethio place I've been, and the food is quite good. I got a meat combo which had too much meat and not enough vegetable choices (okay, I see how that reads, but I'm keeping it anyway), and I like that the waitress was perfectly fine with us ordering the entrée for one even though there were two of us. We of course still didn't finish. I always enjoy an Ethiopian coffee afterwards even though after 3pm that means I'll be up all night. I think the biggest plus is that they have their own little parking lot, parking in this area is worse than tight. Very close to the Hampton Inn, Loyola, and the Red Line.

Ethiopian food at its best. So one thing I learnt about Ethiopian food is they are diabetic friendly. The service was apt. The lady server who was serving us answered all our questions was polite and cordial. They had full bar with lots of options. I had chicken Wat mild and veggie combo which was cooked to perfection. Ambiance was quiet and was family friendly restaurant. For me the biggest selling point was they have a huge private lot for parking, which was insane on a busy street. Will definitely be back here.

This place is everything I love about Ethiopian restaurants. The ambiance is simple, clean, and inviting. The food was authentic and so flavorful! The service was excellent! This is a must try for Ethiopian food enthusiasts or newcomers alike!

Absolutely amazing food and service. Brought a large party of people who were new to Ethiopian food and the owner was so welcoming and patiently explained all the foods. We finished the meal with the coffee service which I highly recommend. They also served gluten free teff only injera when I asked for it.

Ordered delivery from here and was very, very happy with what arrived at the doorstep. The sampler plates, especially the vegetarian one, is much better in terms of offerings and flavors given vs other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. And while Ethiopian salad does not travel well, they included it as well, which was nice because I've been missing that fresh crunch (which ended up being half cooked, but I still loved/appreciated it). We ordered a few items: the meat sampler, lamb alicha entree, and the vegetarian sampler plate. The meat sampler (comes with gomen and yellow lentils) and lamb alicha (comes with yellow lentils and atakilt wat) were both solid choices - I would've loved more sauce with everything, but other than that, the flavors were all there. The lamb could've been more fall-apart, which I prefer, but it was quite tender still. The vegetarian sampler is what stood out to me and I would order again and again. It included most all the usual items including gomen (collard greens), yellow lentils, red lentils, atakilt wat (cabbage/carrots/potatoes), ethiopian salad, but also included a couple I've had in the past and have loved but are often not included, including the beet salad and some sort of white dip, I think maybe made of cheese? Such a great deal for $20. Everything was cooked to perfection, the injera was perfectly sour although a little harder than I would've liked, it stands up better as leftovers.

This is a delightful experience. One of my favorite things to do when I have people in from out of town who are interested in an intriguing, mildly off the beaten path of tourist things to do, it first check out the Bahai Worship Center and then head 5 miles south for Ethiopian food. These two are not related, at the same time the total experience is rather exotic!

I love this place! My partner and I always order the veggie combo for one and split it (with an extra order of injera) and it's some of the best I've had, plus the portions are big enough for 2 people even though it's technically for 1. The hummus on the platter is SO good, the staff is extremely sweet and friendly and service is always fast. Our go-to Ethiopian restaurant in our neighborhood.

amazing food and customer service and amazing culture free parking and just staff is always smiling and music made me feel I was in there world and culture

The service was amazing and the food was just as good. This injera was great while the Gulash had great flavor

Ordered delivery. Came promptly. Ordered a half dozen entrees not realizing how big they were. I'm writing enough to fill the minimum size for a review because all that needs to be said is "damn good".

One of the best Ethiopian restaurants in chicago. This gem is located in edgewater near the Loyola university. The place is big and staff is wonderful. We ordered the 24, Meat Combo and Vegetable Combo. The beef tibs were the best, super flavorful. The bread was super fresh as well. It's big enough to fill two people. When it comes to Ethiopian food, family style and eating from the same big plate is the way to go, so don't miss out by getting separated plates. The pic you see above has both meat and vegetables combo in it. P.S. surprisingly, the meat combo had some fish in it, which was decent but not as good compared to the beef tibs. Overall, great experience

I went here with friends, who were trying Ethiopian food for the first time. The environment was authentic. The incense was overwhelming. They did a coffee ceremony, which was honorable. We ordered a meat and veggie platter to share. It was okay, but not enjoyed by all. It was not the best I've tasted, but the experience was nice. The employees and other patrons were willing to share cultural information and explanations.

There is so much to really like about Awash. The servers are lovely people despite a serious language barrier. It's like trying to order drinks, especially, in a foreign land. We were there on a slow night so instead of a problem, we made a game of charades of it and pretty much got what we wanted. It helps to have a good sense of humor. Even though the place was almost empty that night, the ambiance was welcoming and attractive. The hand-carved chairs are from Ethiopia, and the back of each one tells a different story. A very nice touch. The combo vegie platter; kitfo leb leb--spicy raw ground beef, very lightly heated; and doro wat--chicken and hard-boiled egg in a brown sauce very similar to Mexican mole sauce, were all good, i.e., Just. Good. Not lay down and die for. But certainly enjoyable enough. My only complaint, and for me, a serious one: As another guest said in another review on another site, the injera (stretchy sour dough bread) was hardly sour at all and that's unfortunate. You might read this review and wonder why not three stars instead of four? Well, you had to be there. I couldn't turn a screw into these truly lovely, delightful, good-natured, eager-to-please folks from Ethiopia who can't make American drinks and don't know how to make sour dough injera. If they are willing and able to learn a few new tricks, these sweet pups can grow into major show dogs.

Food quality is amazing. Service is also great. I recommend getting kitfo. Friendly for vegans and all eaters. Top Ethiopian Restaurant with the Chicago area.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! You know the feeling when you kinda hungry, so you really picky over what you want to eat? Well, I was having one of them days. I started think of cuisine, and where, and looking at menus, and dismissing them because it was not really what I wanted. And then I came to my favorite: Ethiopian... yeah, I could do that -- but then the where?? ~ Ras Dashen been left the scene replace by Axom (they did not have fish; so even though I wanted to try it - I wanted fish) - they were a no so maybe a next time. ~ Tesfa - its okay ~ Diamond and Demera feel like they lost they soul -- and I looked in the kitchen and it explains a lot -- kinda sad cause the Diamond was a standard -- now its just standard. So I knew what I wanted a veggie plate with Asa Tibs and an order of samosas, an Ethiopian beer, and some coffee. BUT WHERE???!!!?? I hit up Yelp to see what I was missing. And I ran across Awash -- I was here all the way back in 2014; when I was still married and Dashen was still open, neither is still true. -- So it true that this place is still 4 stars?? Nope -- It is a solid 5 The ambiance is nice -- the music is nice -- The smell walking in was nice -- The service was what was expected - it was nice The food was very tasty! We got just what I wanted Started with the samosas - 2 spinach, 1 cabbage and potato, and 2 lentils -- a they were good with the squeeze of lime and some of the awaze sauce they were a hit with our favorite being the lentil. The veggie plate was the whole truth -- they still that cute separate portions and I can dig that -- but it did not stop my date from from finishing his portion reaching on my side. The veggies were fresh and the flavorful -- DELICIOUS! and a dip of mitmita before a scope had us moaning in food delight. A pleasant surprise was the garlic fava spread that we enjoyed way after all the end of the meal. The fish -- oh my goodness -- that fish was tasty -- it was perfectly fried and well seasoned. -- my guy said it tasted like fish bacon -- I know it was crispy and delicious! We enjoyed our meal with a Habesha beer - which complimented the food tremendously. We finished with a coffee -- perfect. This was some of the best eats I've had in a while -- AND at a reasonable price I am already planning my next visit. -- I found my new favorite Ethiopian spot. GREAT EATS!!!!

Great Ethiopian restaurant on Broadway and Devon, easy to get to from the Red line (Granville or Loyola) or Broadway bus. We had the vegetarian sampler which was really well portioned for 2. The highlights were the beets (room temp but tender from the cooking), the fava bean spread that comes with a mildly spiced sauce which looks like hummus but amazing in its own way, and the various lentil dishes. The meat dishes also looked amazing, the table next to us had a pile of short ribs that looked amazing. The service is friendly and attentive. The room is airy and the tables well spaced apart. There's also a bar menu and a small parking lot that was full when we went, but street parking is easy enough. Highly recommended

I drove a long way and they allowed me to order at closing. Here's a link to the menu https://www.awashethiopianrestaurant.com/menu. Pictures attached. Full bar experience, full menu meat and veggie.

We were a party of 4 for lunch. We ordered assorted sambusa as an appetizer and a meat combo and a vegetable combo. We met the chef and several servers all of whom were friendly and helpful in selecting our choices. The food was delicious and nutritious - we'll be back!

I just ordered the meat combo and the vegetarian combo - - the reviews were right. This place is fantastic. Portions Were plentiful, everything was fresh, and the service was exceptional.

What a great meal we had at Awash to celebrate Valentine's Day. The restaurant was decorated with flowers and red balloons. The 3 of us ordered one veg combo, one meat combo and assorted sambusa. Plenty of food and so, so good, especially the fava beans, shiro and the lamb. All we saw were our server and the chef (both women) and the service was great. Food came out quickly and was very flavorful and delicious. We walked out wanting to come back very soon.

The vegetable combination dish came with a fresh and cooked veggies/legumes on the injera bread. They were carefully placed in small portions and my friend and I had our own portion. Delicious, colorful, and flavorful! We started with spinach sambusa for appetizer and Ethiopian coffee to finish the meal. Servers are helpful with food choices. It was a calm Friday to have a meal in a sitting down local restaurant.

Delicious. Had 2 veg combos and 2 tilapia dishes for 4 hungry people. Left FULL. So flavorful. Wish we had taken pictures but we were too excited to eat.

I went to Awash for the first time this past Saturday. This restaurant could easily escape notice, tucked back off the street beside a much livelier pizza place with outdoor seating. I'm glad we DID notice it, because the food is delicious. We shared the vegetarian messob for 2, which was delicious and more than enough for us. The service was attentive and friendly. This spacious restaurant has plenty of room between tables and a QR code on each table to access the menu to ensure safety. Overall, a great experience and I'll be back.

Food was 5 star and priced well! Really nice servers and they have a parking lot! The food was hot a fresh. It didn't taste like it was sitting around. I've been here at their first location. The new spot is much bigger and they have a bar.

I always love to try all different kinds of foods and I am so glad I visited Awash Ethiopian Restaurant for my first time trying Ethiopian food. One step into the restaurant and the aroma made my stomach growl! You can literally smell the flavor. Since we went with friends who had gone there before, we let them help us with the menu. We did the combo so we could try everything. We ordered the Tibs Sampler for 1 Person ($21.50), Meat Sampler for 2 Persons ($41.00), and Mango Drinks ($4 ea). The samplers came with Sambusas and we tried one of each. My sister tried a sample of Honey Wine which was SO amazing and sweet, light, and flavorful. We were a table of 4 and the amount we received was just right! We even had leftovers. Our other friends ordered pretty much the same except they did each one for 2 persons- I really didn't notice that much of a size difference. Where do I start? My favorite sambusa had to be beef. For the platter, everything was bursting with flavor- each meat had a different type of seasoning. As a Filipino, some of the flavors felt familiar to our own kinds of dishes so that was cool to taste! The veggies were DELICIOUS. Seasoned well and light, they were the perfect compliment to the meats. You are given Injera bread, which is like a thin sourdough flatbread, to eat with the samplers. Everything paired so well, my taste buds were so happy! You eat with your hands: all you have to do is pinch a piece of bread and use that to grab some of the food and you're all set. They also have a sink outside of the bathrooms which is extremely helpful. I would recommend this place to everyone. I truly liked every dish, and even the drinks were just as flavorful. Divided among 4 people, each person pitched in about $20ish which is not bad at all. I felt like portions and prices were very fair. Service was outstanding, our waiter was so extremely kind and patient. Please show support and visit Awash Ethiopian!

Ambiance is nice service was terrible, honestly felt like it was because we were American black women the hostess was rude and had an attitude when we asked about the incredibly small portion of food they gave us when we asked if we could purchase more she said it wasn't an option. She also couldn't comprehend what we were asking for. It's not worth the bang for the buck. The injera was fresh and the tea was good however the food wasn't even all that hot! This was my second time coming the first time I came in with my East African husband and had a much much better experience for the same price. Maybe if she wasn't so busy running her mouth at the bar she could've took the time to understand what we were asking for. Never again.

Really great homestyle meals here are a favorite for groups and for dinners at home. Freshly prepared and great flavors in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Take out is also beautifully presented. Don't miss.

This place is horrible. The staff is rude and food is mediocre at best. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME. I have never had a worse experience.

Well it's been a long time since I ate here however despite Ethiopian restaurant being popular in north side of Chicago in Edgewater and suburbs of Evanston I decided to come here. Usually I go to Ethiopian diamond for their south or Demetra Ethiopian restaurant by Lawrence and Broadway but parking is usually difficult or challenging in both places and some of the restaurants despite going there for a long time before Awasha open is starting to get a little expensive than it was back in the late 1990s when I used to eat at Ethiopian diamond and later Demetra. Anyways I had a craving for Ethiopian cuisine and was getting tired with everything else. One thing I noticed about this place is that the portions they give are not as filling which is not a bad thing because in Ethiopia they really don't eat that much in regards of what the stews they put on there in Jara bread. They're injera tasted a little more fresher and texture than the other restaurants that are popular in Chicago. Lastly another unusual thing was that they had baklava for dessert despite the limits of what desserts they have compared to Ethiopian diamond although I don't remember having any unique dessert and Ethiopia in my travels to Ethiopia. Anyways the way they prepared their baklava as much different than how most Middle Eastern restaurants we prepare it. They put another crumble of a sweet dough with marzipano cherries giving it a unique sweet taste that was delicious. Do come here if you're craving for Ethiopian but is on a budget and does not expect to be too full. Beware when it comes to paying and expecting your check if you are in a hurry. Thus 4 out of 5 stars.