Mahider Ethiopian Restaurant & Market

The food is always wonderful. It is a special treat when I eat here. Very flavorful and healthy, my stomach is left feeling satisfied every time. The injera is just magical, the best I've ever tasted. I usually get the Taste of Mahider sometimes adding the Yebeg (lamb) tibs. The best of everything. The picture is of the Taste of Mahider takeout. It's a lot of food, great value!

Mahider was recommended to us by an acquaintance who is from Ethiopia and it did not disappoint! We got the samosas and the Taste of Mahider to share. The sauces with the samosas were actually spicy! All the food was great quality. The presentation was beautiful and all the curries and vegetables were freshly made and flavorful. We had never had ingera before this experience and thoroughly enjoyed it. The service was great too as the owner himself served us made us feel very welcome. I also liked the lovely painted murals all around the restaurant. We will definitely come back!

My girlfriend and I dined at Mahider Ethiopian Restaurant for dinner, and we had an absolutely amazing experience! As someone from Ethiopia, it was incredible to find a place that truly captures the authentic flavors and essence of Ethiopian cuisine. The food was delicious, with rich, traditional spices and fresh ingredients that brought back so many memories. It was also a wonderful opportunity to share a piece of my culture with my girlfriend. She loved learning about the food, how it’s eaten, and the cultural significance behind it all. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, and the staff were incredibly kind and attentive, making the evening even more special. I would definitely recommend dining in at this restaurant if you’re looking for authentic Ethiopian cuisine or simply want to explore a new and flavorful dining experience. Mahider truly delivers an unforgettable meal and a connection to Ethiopian culture. We’ll absolutely be returning!

Incredible! We did the two person Taste of Mahider shareable meal. I absolutely love that you get to try so many different dishes. It costs about $35, but is definitely two meals per person! Everything in the dish was amazing! They're injera (traditional Ethiopian bread) was amazing. Fast and friendly service. I highly recommend this place! They have a super fun market attached with spices, flour, and things you cannot find anywhere else.

This was our second time trying Ethiopian food, but the first time at this location. Everything was very good and so much flavor. Love trying all the different sauces and meat. It's a fun experience, since you don't use plates or utensils. Just your fingers and everyone eats off the same plate of food. Our family loves trying different ethnic foods. We got the taste of Mahider for 3 but was easily enough food to feed 4.

Absolutely delicious! The combo platter is well worth the price and gives you a good overview of the cuisine--everything is perfectly seasoned, slightly spicy, and there is plenty to go around. I personally love the tangy taste of injera and happily ate all the leftovers, of which we had plenty. It also is very nourishing and hearty without being heavy, and they have a good variety of vegetarian dishes. Great service, too! Wish I lived closer :)

My granddaughter and I went there for the first time. We shared a sampler for one. EVERYTHING was delicious and flavorful. I highly recommend this restaurant Gracious service

This is a quaint restaurant that is locally owned. I ordered the Mahider plate and tried most of their specialites. It is about $19 and worth it! The amount of food was over abundant and delicious. They have choices for meat lovers, vegetarians and vegans. My favorite is everything on this platter. I had a hot tea that had a nice spice to it as well. I ordered desert to top it off and there was more than enough for one person, it was the amount t for two people.

The food was amazing. I got the siga wot, my husband got the doro wot, and we got lentil sambusas to share. The portions were huge! We were both happy to take home half our food for another meal. Everything was delicious but the siga wot was my favorite. It was spicy and the beef was melt in your mouth tender. Our waitress was kind, attentive, and quick. She was the one who recommended the siga wot and I couldn't love her more for it. We loved the art on the walls and the informative stands on the tables that talk about Ethiopian food, coffee, and culture. Overall a fantastic choice for meal.

Wonderful hole in the wall Ethiopian restaurant. Food was tastey and service was efficient. Great vibe with Ethiopian decor and Ethiopian music videos playing on the TVs.

A great find for Ethiopian food in SLC. The injera was just right, and the kitfo was amazing, especially paired with quanta firfir when ordering their cornis. The whole group had a great time, and those new to Ethiopian cuisine got the Taste of Mahider, which let them try a little of everything. We also had the Ethiopian honey wine, Tej, which was a fun addition to the meal. The service was friendly and welcoming, and the restaurant had a warm, cozy feel that made it an especially nice place to be on a cold day. I'd love to come back and try more dishes, but my first choices were so good that it'll be tough to branch out.

Best cheap eats I've had, delicious food for a great price , had the sampler for two which had so many delicious portions and more than enough for two. The Injera was wonderful.

I hadn't been here in years and forgot how much I love this place! They have a bunch of vegan options here, which is wonderful to see. I've always gotten their vegetarian combination platter, which has a sampling of all of their vegan dishes and their tomato salad, served on top of Injera, which is a soft, spongey, Ethiopian bread that is served with all of their entrees. You can also get rice instead of the bread for a gluten free option. The vegetarian platter is large and could easily be shared. It barely looked like I made a dent in it and I was stuffed. They gave us some additional Injera to eat with our dishes, and both of us took home lots of leftovers. The Injera is such a unique flavor. It's a little bit sour/tangy, very light and easy to eat. There are no utensils at Mahider, so the bread acts as your utensils when you're eating your entrees. The service is quick, and the food came out fast. I definitely won't let years go by before eating here again!

This place is amazing! We got the Taste of Mahider for two people, and they do not skimp on portions. I love that they have this option that allowed us to try a good sampling of their menu. The vegan dishes were my fav! The injera had the most perfect fluffy texture and the iconic light sour flavor

This is the best African restaurant I have been too. Food is very delicious authentic tasting.

Listed as the best Ethiopian cuisine in Salt Lake City according to Eater. Very quality service and food turnaround time was quick. Portions are massive which I can appreciate with the price. Plenty of vegetarian choices as well. Highly recommend if you want an authentic Ethiopian experience and taste food that you do not normally try.

So fantastic. It's been a while since we have been by but man did it hit the spot. My favorite is the Doro Wot -which is just so flavorful and the Gomen - I dare say it stands up to any collard greens dish out there. Service is always fast and kind, you can really feel the passion for their restaurant by the way they carry themselves as well as take care of the customers. We will definitely be back!

Another hole in the wall gem on state Street. Mahider is an authentic Ethiopian restaurant offering a variety of authentic Ethiopian dishes. Service was friendly although a bit slow at times. Since it was our first time, we started off with the lentil sambusa and the Taste of Mahider for two. The injera which is a flat bread unique to Ethiopian cuisine was nice and spongey and not as sour as ones I've had before. The portions were impressive and the flavors were delicious! The sambusa and some of the veggie options were on the spicy side which I loved but can be a bit much for those not tolerant of it. The sambusa was stuffed full of lentils and came with a spicy green sauce for dipping. The Taste of Mahider was an impressive platter full of different textures, colors and flavors. The restaurant is small and very dim with paper covering the windows. For a taste of Ethiopia this is the place to go!

Great food. We tried the chicken sambusa and Beef & Chicken Combination / . We enjoyed the whole experience. The service was great. It's a small and comfy place. I will be back.

I recently moved to Utah from Dallas. The big D has many many Ethiopian restaurants and I am a big fan. Utah has just two (2). I decided to try one, so first went to Oromian, but it was closed (about 3 pm) so came on to Mahider. The service was friendly and fast. The food was as good as or better than the places in Dallas. I got the "Taste of Mahider" which had three small meat servings and 6-7 vegetarian ones. I got three meals out of it after taking home leftovers so the $19 price seemed quite cheap to me - less than $7 per meal! It was delicious my one and only complaint was that they only had beef & chicken for proteins. Back home we could get fish, goat, etc. which was great. If Mahider ever starts serving fish in addition to its other meals I'll up their rating to 5 stars. I loved it in any case and will be back again & again.

The food was great. The quanta firfir reminded me of my mother's dish. Service was decent and the place has a relaxed environment.

This was the first we ate here in person. Have been doing takeout before. Service was great. We ordered out usual taste of mahider and the yemisir alicha. Both were so good! The restaurant is small and the parking lot is even smaller if possible. But this place is worth it.

Best Ethiopian restaurant hands down! Great atmosphere provided by the owner and his staff. Owner has a great personality and good sense of humor. Food was so delicious, that I over ate We tried first Oromian across the street and just total garbage service, atmosphere, and a great ego trip from Esthe the owner of Oromian. To the point that I canceled our $100+ order and came here to Mahider.

The combination for two people was more than enough for three people, and we had leftovers to take home. Great friendly service and everything from yellow lentils to collards were delicious. Server brought more injera without us asking. Will definitely be back when we're in SLC again.

Ethiopian cuisine is such a treat for me. Found this by chance when in the area. Ordered the Taste of Mahider for carry out. The portion was generous for one person, but I wasn't going to share anyway! Everything was delicious and the injera was perfect. Looking forward to ordering again.

The food here is amazing and is a great experience. Everyone I take here for the first time becomes a fan. It's a fun experience! The service is great too. Love it!

Good food, fast service, and decent prices. If you're in SLC and your palette needs a break from chain restaurant fare, don't hesitate. We enjoyed our meal, and the homemade injera made by a family member in the kitchen was remarkably fresh and delicious. If you are a connoisseur of Ethiopian cuisine, you'll enjoy it more if you lower your standards slightly; after all, the spices and ingredients must be imported. It is Utah.

A small pile of undercooked beans, lentils, and rice. The service was nice enough, though she didn't wash her hands when she left the bathroom. So I ate almost nothing. Good thing...my friends got sick.

Great Ethiopian food! They import some of the spices from Ethiopia. Waiter took care to accommodate my food allergies. My very picky child even liked one of the dishes (more than the chicken nuggets a we ordered for him which looked freezer burned). Would def come eat here again if I lived in the area. That said, the strip mall it's in isn't very nice. Smelled like raw sewage in the parking lot the day we were there.

Seriously top tier! Definitely one of the most enjoyable restaurant experiences I've had in Utah. We ordered the meat and veggie combo - huge portion and a great deal for the four of us. The service was polite and attentive. I'd also recommend trying the Ethiopian coffee, super rich and fragrant.

I've been coming here in the last year and it never disappoints. Didn't have time to sit down, so I did take out. I'd prefer eating there just because the dish complexity has so many different stuff they put on the bread (not sure the name) consistency of a pancake/crêpe. All of the different stuff they put on the bread is so different in each bite it's mind blowing. From greens, to vegetables, to lentils, to meat. With cheese added. Yum!!!! Still amazing with take out.

The staff were so friendly and the restaurant had cool vibes with its heavily painted interior. It's one of those transport you to Ethiopia style places. I got the vegetarian sampler and everything was great. I like really spicy so I just added a lot of berbere spice on it. Next time I'll see if they have mitmita to make it spicier. Also drank the Tej and enjoyed it. I will definitely be back next time I'm in Salt Lake. Highly recommend Mahider.

I cannot believe I haven't written a review for Mahider yet! This is definitely one of my favorite restaurants in town, and holds its own against some of the best Ethiopian food I've tried. The restaurant is popular, so be prepared to wait if visiting at peak times. The food is so great, it's absolutely worth the wait though! And it is actually just as good via the delivery services or pick up, if you'd prefer to eat at home. The Taste of Mahider plate is an excellent place to start. I love pretty much all of the vegetable dishes, so this assortment alone is extremely satisfying. Their lamb tibs are absolutely incredible though, so my husband and I usually order one Taste of Mahider and one lamb tibs to split. There is almost always food left over, which is also delicious the next day. I just can't say enough how excellent Mahider is! I can't think of any other restaurant that I have to actively restrain myself from eating absolutely every last bite, every time. And on top of the fantastic food, the service is always patient and friendly. I'm such a fan and cannot wait to return!

Very interesting worth the trip just to experience Ethiopian food. This restaurant was recommended to me by an Ethiopian Chef friend. The food was unique and interesting but may not be my niche but would recommend just for experience

A "hole in the wall" with some of the best Ethiopian food I have had. Excellent and speedy service, quality ingredients and authentic flavors made for a great dinner. Place is what it is. You go there for the food and the kind service. I could not recommend this place enough. A true gem just off downtown SLC.

You can't really go wrong with having Ethiopian food, so when I was in Salt Lake City, I wanted to go somewhere off-the-beaten bath and Mahider Ethiopian is exactly what I needed. What I got: - Doro wot: Two (2) tender chicken legs marinated in lemon juice and ginger, cooked in a homemade spicy stew, served with freshly made cottage cheese and a hard boiled egg; $12.99. - Lamb Tib: Cubed pieces of marinated lamb sautéed in onion, jalapeño and spiced butter; my absolutely favourite dish - along with some injera, it's so comforting to eat; $14.99 Pro-tip: If this is your first time (or you just want a date night deal), the Taste of Mahider platter is what you should try out - it serves 2 people for less than $30. Their portions are pretty big - I was able to have leftovers for breakfast right out of the fridge; if you've never tried Ethiopian food cold, it's still really good too!

Very good Ethiopian food. We got the combo plate for two and we still had leftovers. Everything tasted great, but the beef tibs were my favorite. The server was very friendly and got us settled in with high chairs quickly upon request.

This was one of the best meals I have had in quite some time. Ethiopian cuisine had been on my radar to try to for quite some time. Whenever I travel out west I tend to be disappointed by the food. I find it all to be the same and sub-par. The reviews of this restaurant were positive so I decided to give it a go and I am so happy I did. I got the vegetarian combo which had all the vegan dishes on one plate so I could try everything. Everything tasted so good and flavorful and different. It was filling, but I also felt GOOD afterwards. I loved eating with my hands and the overall experience of the restaurant. The baklava (with pistachios) was absolutely amazing. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone that's looking to get something satisfying and delicious outside of the burger/pasta/taco options. The hostess was also very kind and it started getting really crowded when I was leaving (about 5:30/6pm).

First time trying Ethiopian food and this was a treasure in salt lake. Service was quick and friendly and the staff were quick to suggest what to try for new diners. Food itself is was as described on the menu. We had the the ater kik which was very mild in flavor but the turmeric seasoning was as the real star. We also had the shiro wot which was the better or the two as it was slightly more flavorful but yet still satisfying mild. The tomato is definitely the most over powering flavor in it. It was also my first time trying Injera which is a sponge like sour flat bread. I would say it's slightly more sour than sourdough bread in flavor. I would probably suggest rice substitute for those like me who aren't acquired to the sour flavored breads. Overall a cute little restaurant that definitely gives off a communal feel and the food and service is was good. Staff were really helpful and friendly, which made the food experience more memorable.

SO good!! If you've never had Ethiopian food before, you are in for a treat. It's served with injera (a sour-ish flat bread made of an indigenous grain called teff). We ordered the combination platter for two and were absolutely stuffed by the end of it. The injera was super tasty and they give you a side basket of it in addition to the injera that serves as a plate for all the variety of dishes. Everything we ate was great! I especially loved the lentil and split pea dishes. We also ordered chicken sambusa which was pretty filling and really crispy. Unfortunately, they were out of the Ethiopian beers and wines, but I'd love to try that next time. Overall, highly recommend :D

This was my first time eating Ethiopian food. The food and service at this restaurant was excellent. We ordered a platter of different dishes. All were delicious although I could have had some of the dishes a bit spicier. the coffee is to die for!! Our waiter explained each dish and how to eat the dishes (with your hands, scooping up the food with the Injera bread. A fun experience that I cant wait to try again!

I think this one of the best Ethiopian food I have ever had being that I am a driver and I travel all over United States. Any chance I get to Come to Salt Lake it's a must stop to get your Ethiopian fix. They are every courteous and friendly. Great customer service and nice atmosphere. I always order the Taste of Mahaider. Get a little taste of everything.

If you read my reviews, you'll know I swear by Yelp. There will always be a one or two star review, but if the average is 4.5 or higher, with a good number of reviews, we will go for it. We have never been steered wrong on dining. And Mahider is no exception. Based on the reviews and since we had never actually had Ethiopian food, we went with A Taste of Mahider. Oh. My. Word. So much food. So much flavor. It was amazing. It's not much to look at from the outside (it's in a small strip mall), but the food is completely worth it. And the staff was friendly, humorous and attentive. Just go there if you haven't already.

I was in the mood for something other than American food or Middle Eastern and I remembered there is a large Ethiopian diaspora in Salt Lake City so I decided to look for a restaurant and found Mahadir. The restaurant itself is in a little strip mall with ample parking (although I took an Uber). The first thing I look for when I enter an Ethiopian restaurant is the presence of Ethiopian diners because that is an immediate indication of the quality of the food and I was pleased to see a table of young Ethiopians having dinner so that held promise. I was promptly and warmly welcomed and seated by the owner and I can say from experience that Ethiopians are known for being very hospitable and friendly. I ordered the siga wot (beef in berbere sauce) and doro tibs (boneless chicken) which arrived on a traditional plate with injera. The injera was fresh and not bitter at all and the siga wot immediately hit the spot. The chicken was excellent too but for me it was certainly the beef that got my taste buds. Service was good and the owner was very attentive and it was appreciated. More so this is a family owned restaurant and I am a huge supporter of family owned businesses. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning on my next overnight in Salt Lake City.

This place is 100% spot on incredible!!! I order the veg combo and it's always absurdly amazing. It's enough for two people unless I haven't eaten all day. If I'm starving, I'll kill the entire thing and go full food coma. The flavors are truly unreal. There's no "best" and there's no "last". It's all equally extraordinary. I don't know what else to say. #getsome

This is a great place to eat. If you have not tried Ethiopian food, ask for the sampler that I posted in the picture. Their tea is great as well. Nice people, nice place, good food, worth a try.

Wtf is this?? $20 for a half full unseasoned bowl of meat??? SLC literally sucks with all cultural food. I just went to the only other Ethiopian spot here and they had a bad attitude and this one?? Wtf. I'm so passed I should've gotten Indian food.

Very kind and quick service. Delicious food. Love everything about this place. SLC gem.

Delightful. Delicious. Refreshing from the usual SLC scene. I felt transported from the mundane "new american" cauliflower and Brussel sprouts at every other location in town.

Wow! This place is fantastic. Today my boyfriend and I tried this restaurant for the first time and it was AMAZING! We got the Veggie Sambusas and the Taste of Mahider Platter and the flavor was spot on. All of the different meats and wot blended perfectly together and everything was so full of flavor. The sambusas had the perfect amount of spice and the lentil filling was very flavorful and all of the spices complimented each other perfectly with the sauce. Not only was the food terrific, the employees were also really wonderful; Very friendly and kind, and had a very positive attitude. The atmosphere of this restaurant is very relaxing and cozy! I will definitely keep coming back here and I can positively say it is one of my favorite dishes I have eaten, not to mention it is at a very affordable price point and filling. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of coming here.

Yum. Truly just delicious, hearty food. We love getting their 'taste of mahider.' It's a little sample of everything delicious!

Always love a good visit to Mahider. Food is great, service is fast. I recommend coming with four people and splitting the giant platter between you.

My friend Lei and I have been coming here for the last few years and it has been consistently excellent. The food is delicious: I recommend the Siga Wot. The service is warm and friendly, and the ambience is relaxed. Sleshi, the owner makes you feel welcome in his restaurant. We love Mahider!

Saw this place on Yelp and decided to try it out! We ended up getting the Mahider combo which ended up being perfect because my partner is Vegan. The combo has both vegetarian (vegan as well) options and some meat options. We got the two-person option which ended up being too much food for us! The restaurant itself isn't anything particularly fancy. It gives the feeling of being a small family owned restaurant that doesn't need to be fancy. It was casual and comfortable!

I'd been wanting to try Ethiopian food for years and I finally did in 2021. I often drove by Mahider and its colorful sign. It's in a plaza right off State St. that has a couple other restaurants, but those are stories for another day. I'll start this review off by saying the staff there was so sweet and kind, they added to a very pleasant experience. We started off with sambusas, which are similar to the Indian samosa but they have a little thinner of a dough. Very yummy. I liked the sauce served with them too. There were three of us and we all wanted to try the taste of Mahider. They had at least a couple size options of it, and we probably got the one too big, but each of us had some leftovers for the next day. I loved the variety of colors, flavors, and textures. It was my first time having and seeing injera bread. It looked like a basket of hand towels rolled at first glance. I LOVED the texture. So soft and spongey, kind of like a crepe, but fluffier. I didn't notice at first, because of all the flavors combined, but it's a little sour too. Just FYI. I did google about it and teff, the grain used to make it, is jam-packed with nutrients and no other grain on earth has more fiber per serving. I'm glad it's healthy because I ate A LOT. I just wish they had the Ethiopian Meade wine in stock when I visited, but I will be back!

WOW we ordered take out and everything was amazing!! The Doro Wot was so good that I wish I had a second stomach so that I could eat more of it. My husband got the taste of Mahider and loved it! The people that work here were very nice too. 10/10 recommend

Mahider was just what we were looking for. Their veggie combo plate has all the great Ethiopian flavors combined. Their bread is great with just the perfect hint of sour, and it absorbs all the flavors perfectly. Food came quick, and now I know where to come every time I'm craving Ethiopian. It's a communal dining experience, so please don't ask for a fork and just use the bread as your utensil to scoop up all the deliciousness in front of you. Salt Lake City doesn't seem to shave a whole lot of Ethiopian cuisine, and I'm so glad this place hit the spot. I'll be back!!