Ethiopian in Denver

The vibrant exterior of the Ethiopian Restaurant -- painted with the red, green and yellow flag of the namesake country -- makes it clear what cuisine is featured here. Inside, the feast proceeds slowly as the kitchen turns out savory and spicy Ethiopian stews, accompanied by plenty of tart injera bread that diners use to scoop up the dishes. The lentils are a particular standout: garlicky green, spicy red and mild split peas harmonizing in combination. The only drawback to a dinner at the Ethiopian? You may have to wander the neighborhood in search of an ATM when you realize the place is cash-only.

5 articles

Konjo Ethiopian Food

5505 W. 20th Ave. Edgewater

720-310-5551

Ethiopian, Best Of, Readers' Choice

For years, Denver's best Ethiopian restaurants have been clustered along a slightly dilapidated stretch of East Colfax Avenue, or even farther east in Aurora. Now west-siders can finally get the same quality of Ethiopian fare without the trek. Konjo is nestled inside Edgewater Public Marketplace, and the counter-service setup means you'll be able to load up in mere minutes on tangy, springy injera flatbread (a gluten-free version is available, too); succulent beef, chicken and lamb tibs imbued with the flavors of niter kibbeh (a spiced, clarified butter); and vegan sides including a knock-your-socks-off misir wot seasoned with the perfect jolt of berbere. That's a vast improvement over the extended wait you'd face in some sit-down spots — though if you decide to linger over your meal, it certainly won't be a hardship, thanks to Edgewater's other offerings: people-watching and a roster of excellent drinks from Roger's Liquid Oasis, the food hall's bar.

8 articles

Mataam Fez Moroccan Restaurant

4609 E. Colfax Ave. East Denver

303-399-9282

African, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, Menu

Leave your shoes at the entryway but bring your sense of adventure to Mataam Fez, a traditional Moroccan-style restaurant that's given East Colfax some exotic culinary flair for decades. Diners sit on pillows and use their fingers to eat their way through five extravagant courses, which can include everything from game hen and rabbit to lamb, chicken and beef flavored with exotic spices. A meal at Mataam Fez is a sumptuous affair that can span three hours: Belly dancers, pre-dining rituals and informative servers fill the time with intrigue and deliciousness.

5 articles

Megenagna Ethiopian Restaurant and Grocery

306 S. Ironton St. Aurora

720-532-0266

Ethiopian, Grocery Stores, Recommended, Best Of

Megenagna serves Aurora’s Ethiopian community as well as other nearby residents who appreciate house-baked goods, meats and packaged Ethiopian specialties — along with fresh-made entrees that exude the welcoming aroma of spice blend. Every dish comes with tangy, spongy housemade injera, great for sopping up vegetable stews or wrapping up bites of spicy beef.

11 articles

Mesob Ethiopian

1422 Poplar St. East Denver

Ethiopian, Restaurants

3 articles

Nile Ethiopian Restaurant

1951 S. Havana St. Aurora

720-748-0239

Ethiopian, African, Critics' Pick, Best Of, Menu

Some Ethiopian restaurants in Denver are intimate and cozy — great for getting to know a cuisine without distraction. Then there's the Nile, which is so raucous on weekends, you almost feel like you stumbled into a family wedding. But with big sampler platters that arrive as a mosaic of colorful stews atop spongy injera bread (the deep color is a sign that Ethiopian teff flour is the main ingredient), you can explore the vegetarian choices made with lentils or soft-cooked vegetables while still getting your fill of beef, lamb and chicken dishes like spicy, buttery kitfo (similar to tartare); complex, brick-red doro wot complete with hard-boiled eggs; and fiery lamb awaze, with tender cubes of meat in chili-like sauce. The Nile is a celebration of Ethiopia you won't want to miss.

5 articles

Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant

7225 E. Colfax Ave., Denver Park Hill/Mayfair/Lowry

303-399-9442

Ethiopian, Recommended, Best Of, Slideshow, Readers' Choice

Denver’s thriving Ethiopian population supports a surprising number of restaurants devoted to the complex, spicy and warming cuisine of the east African nation. But none stand out quite as much as Zewditu Aboye’s Queen of Sheba, a one-woman show. Meals here start with tart, springy injera and progress through stewed legumes and vegetables into an array of tender meats in rich sauces. A shared platter loaded with miser wot, kitfo, doro wot and gomen (spicy lentils, seasoned raw beef, stewed chicken and collards, respectively) at Queen of Sheba is as integral a part of Denver’s diverse dining tableau as pho, ramen, enchiladas and red sauce.

15 articles

Ras Kassa's Ethiopian Restaurant

802 S. Public Rd. Lafayette

303-604-6885

Ethiopian, African, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

For years, Ras Kassa's was the only Ethiopian option for folks in Boulder County — but then the quaint eatery, run by chef Tsehay Hailu, was forced to close in early 2015 because of redevelopment (you can thank the Google office campus for that). Hailu limped along for more than a year in a temporary location at Boulder's Broker Inn with a takeout-only menu, and while the food was still great, we were glad to see Ras Kassa's settle in at its permanent home in Lafayette. Customers who've followed Hailu for nearly thirty years can once again enjoy Ethiopian hospitality with honey wine, tangy injera bread and some of the best vegetarian offerings around — no small feat in Boulder County. Meat lovers will also enjoy the spicy kitfo with collard greens, housemade cheese and rich lamb stew.

6 articles

Ethiopian in Denver

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