Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine

Ethiopian restaurant · Lakewood - Balmoral

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine

Ethiopian restaurant · Lakewood - Balmoral

5352 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640

Highlights

Family-run place offering classic Ethiopian specialties in a warm, low-key atmosphere.

5352 N Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640 Get directions

tesfacuisine.com

@tesfaethiopiancuisine

$ · Menu

Reserve

@infatuation

"Tesfa started as a small Ethiopian spot in Uptown but moved to this larger location in Edgewater. Their new upgraded space has white brick, sparkly chandeliers, and a wooden bar. But they've also kept some charming signature touches, like a TV that plays an endless stream of Ethiopian music videos, a mural of the restaurant's logo, and incredible Ethiopian food. Bring a bunch of friends and get ready to dig into large injera platters full of dishes like zesty tomato sauce, spicy fish filets, and a peppery doro wot with fall-off-the-bone chicken." - John Ringor

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine - Review - Edgewater - Chicago - The Infatuation

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@infatuation

"Tesfa does it all. You can have a relaxed breakfast of spiced scrambled eggs, or come for dinner and work through an injera platter full of doro wot, spicy catfish, and stewed tomatoes. And this Ethiopian spot in Andersonville is particularly fun at night. That’s when it’s in peak form—tables are packed, and upbeat Ethiopian pop blasts from a TV playing music videos." - john ringor

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@infatuation

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@infatuation

"Tesfa’s entrance is a tiny room with a take-out window, cramped with delivery drivers and people picking up dinner. But hiding behind a curtained doorway is a room full of people chatting while tearing injera, scooping up tibs, and popping open bottles of wine. That buzz and great food make this BYOB Uptown Ethiopian spot ideal for a fun, family-style meal. The dining room is sparse, decorated with drawings and a TV streaming music videos, filling the space with Ethiopian pop. That seemingly endless playlist is rivaled by a long menu of stewed meats and vegetables. But don’t commit to a single dish: Get a sampler plate. It’s the perfect way to try a bunch of stuff and get everyone involved: friends, family, and the occasional part-time lover. These platters are like a painter’s palette, with a choice of six to eight dishes laid out on spongy injera. But one should be front and center: the doro wot. Each bite of berbere sauce-covered chicken blankets you in warmth. The asa leb leb is also fantastic—the catfish is the ideal canvas for jalapeños, garlic, onions, and ginger. And vegetarian options like ater kik alicha, with cumin and turmeric-seasoned split peas, deserve a seat at the table (or spot on the injera), too. Tesfa doesn’t force you to make compromises. Want to sample almost everything without over-ordering? Trying to have drinks with dinner without paying $16 for a glass of garbage wine? Need a spot for meat lovers, vegetarians, and someone who wants a sundae that's a cross between a funnel cake and a Dutch baby? A.k.a the B-Tesfa? All roads lead here. " - John Ringor

Tesfa Ethiopian Cuisine Review - Uptown - Chicago - The Infatuation

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Makeba Kedem-DuBose

Google

My first visit was so nice with my youngest, that I returned with my oldest for my birthday on 10/22. The food is delicious and plentiful. The service is warm and timely. The atmosphere is warm and lovely. The owner is a delightful, and charming fellow Libra! This one is not just my favorite but a family favorite. Felt like home!

Jennifer Gies

Google

I have been to several Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago--all the way back to the old Mama Desta's Red Sea dive up on Clark and Belmont, which is long gone. I consider myself a connoisseur of Ethiopian: it's my favorite cuisine on Earth, and I actually make a few items myself occasionally. It is quite possible that Tesfa is the best I've ever had. This includes in Egypt. Their menu is extensive, and everything we picked was superb. Our server was also very personable and attentive. Don't wait to try this place if you haven't, yet.

Tiffany Moore-Jackson

Google

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.

Biz Melesse

Google

Recently we held an event for a few dozen people so needed catering. We knew of Tesfa restaurant for years and watched their growth so wanted to support them further by having them cater our food. We ordered about half a dozen dishes because it was pricier compared to other Ethiopian restaurants so we figured they would be of much better quality. But we were wrong. Doro wot is the main attraction of any Ethiopian ceremony so it’s the basis for judging everything else. What we got was just unacceptably bad. It’s what you would get if you described what doro wot tastes like to someone who has never had an Ethiopian food and told them to make it. It’s fine when you do that to feed those who have no frame of reference. And now I understand that Ethiopians are not the target customer for the restaurant. Here’s what was wrong with it: 1) the gravy was very light in onions. Doro wot is an onion gravy curry so you can’t skimp on onions. 2) the gravy was light brown-colored. When doro wot is slow cooked for hours (as it should), the color turns deep red, almost burgundy. Ours tasted pretty oniony. You shouldn’t taste the onion if it’s cooked properly. 3) there was no seasoning besides the pepper. This one is unforgivable. 4) it was very oily. Cheap vegetable oil and clarified Ethiopian butter taste drastically different. The butter is what makes it very savory and just full of so many flavors because of how it’s clarified. This didn’t have any butter. The doro wot tasted watery. 5) The eggs were pretty eggy. You’re supposed to score or slit all the eggs and let them simmer in the doro wot so they get infused with the flavor of the curry. Our eggs weren’t slit. It was pretty obvious they were added at the end after being boiled separately. 6) The meat was pretty chewy and white (see the picture). This is just unheard of. In doro wot, the meat falls off the bones and is smothered in the gravy that you can’t tell it’s chicken. The one we got was simply boiled in the curry and when you bit into it was just completely white meat. 7) The cheese was so bland and tasted like margarine. This was one of the easiest dishes to make. You simply have to boil the milk and separate the fat with an acid. But you’re supposed to filter it at the right time. 8) The injera was tiny. Typically injera is 16 inches long. The ones they sent us were 12 inches (see the picture) like a tortilla. I could keep going but the point is they failed badly on the most important dish of all. To give them some credit, the kitfo was decent and it’s the one people ate instead. We ended up dumping all of the doro wot because it wasn’t worth storing. I’m saying all these not out of malice but because I honestly want them to do better. I hope they keep expanding and find more success. Their target customers are not Ethiopians. I get that. Even though the people who do eat it have no frame of reference and would go on to leave glowing reviews, the restaurant should do better when it comes to catering. They should put more effort and have people who know what they’re doing make the dishes.

Alex Zhen

Google

This is hands down one of the perfect restaurant settings for eating with a smaller group. Nothing can beat eating comforting bite sized portioned food in a warm setting. All for a price that is better than any other place with similar atmosphere.

Tanya N

Google

Food was delicious ( a bit spicy)! You need to improve your service. It was our first time and server wasn’t helpful! I did my research here and I order what everyone else ordered! What matters is the food so we were pleased!

Claudia Amador

Google

Great taste My first time with Ethiopia meals I recommended but only if you’re not spicy friend you need to request not spicy I order Samusa spinach was perfectly make but was so spicy for me but still I recommend

L R Temp

Google

The Sambusa combo was a 10/10! Very hot and tasty. I’d literally come back again, just to have more of those! Surprisingly, the lentil was my favorite…well, that and the chicken. Then the spinach and beef! We got the meat and vegetarian platter and it was delicious. I am so happy to have tried Ethiopian food for the first time here! Lastly, the Ethiopian margarita was WAY stronger than I thought. It tasted like straight dark liquor to me, but other than that, it was gret!