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Abyssinia Market Cafe Ethiopian Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Ethiopian Ethiopian [Edit]
4116 E Colfax AveDenver, CO 80220
Neighborhoods: Park Hill, Northeast
(303) 316-8830
- Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun 11:30 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
46 reviews for Abyssinia Market Cafe Ethiopian Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"I always get the vegetarian combo, but the meat dishes are..." In 5 reviews -
"The injera bread is really tasty too." In 8 reviews -
"...amazingly welcoming as Queen of Sheba but definitely more..." In 3 reviews
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Tory L.
Denver, CO
3/2/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Really happy with this place.
I visited with a Google Offers deal I saw and snapped up cause I was interested in checking out other Ethiopian restaurants in Denver (Queen of Sheba is my standing fav.)
I loved it, and thought it was about equal to Queen of Sheba (QOS) (food quality-wise), whereas my boyfriend thought it was almost as good. We both agreed that some menu items were more impressive then QOS, and vise versa. Depends on what you liked. In my opinion, the veggie dished were better here and the meat dishes a little better there.
I also like the ambiance here a bit better, and the wait isn't quite as long.
We will definitely be returning here. -
Review from Kevin K.
Colorado Springs, CO
5/2/2012
I had the $1.75 per scoop lunch that was already cooked and it was very tasty. I was happy that I was able to start eating within a few minutes of being in the restaurant as I didn't have much time but wanted to try this place out. The price was very reasonable for everything and the staff was friendly.
I would have liked to order from the menu though to see what they can really do. Maybe next time. -
Review from Laurie W.
I really enjoyed my dinner at Abyssinia. So did my two friends who went with me.
Abyssinia is adorable inside. Nicely decorated and homey feeling. It would be a nice place to take someone who is a little apprehensive about trying Ethiopian food for the first time.
We began by ordering the honey wine. What else would any good Ethiopian meal begin with? It was served in these cool glasses, something akin to laboratory flasks. And I think it was homemade. That honey wine packed a kick!
For the three of us, we ordered a vegetarian combination of 7 dishes and a meat combination of three dishes. The meat dishes were doro wot, which is a chicken leg and a whole hard boiled egg in sauce, a beef dish and a spicy lamb dish. All were excellent, especially the lamb. Of the vegetables, all were very good. I really liked the Atklit Wot, which is cabbage and carrots in a mild sauce, the Fosolia Green Beans and the Yemsir Wot, which are spicy lentils. But everything was so good!
With those two combinations, we had enough to eat our fill and have some left over.
For the meat combination, the vegetable combination and two honey wines each, we racked up a bill of $65. But, really, for three people, with two drinks a piece, I think that's pretty darn good. Now couple that with a Google Deal that I had and we had an awesome dinner for a great price.
I know I'll be back to Abyssinia. Mostly becase I really want to try the timatim fitfit (salad made of injera with onion, tomato, jalapeno and spices with an vinegar and oil dressing). -
Review from Kristen N.
Denver, CO
3/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I definitely wouldn't have known this place even existed without the forever trusty help of Yelp. A bit of a hole in the wall, but a total gem once you've wandered in!
So when I was up for the next pick for the monthly Yelp Book Club and we chose a book based mainly in Ethiopia, experiencing an Ethiopian meal during our discussion seemed only fitting. We started with some Ethiopian beers which were pretty interesting. Not strong, but still pretty dark. I would be interested in learning more about that beer and it's brewing process. But, that's just the beer nerd in me.
On to the food. Hot Dang! So good. The veggie platter, the meat platter, and the recommended sizzling Lamb dish were all so fantastic. Some options were definitely standouts with me, like the spinach and the sizzling lamb. I think I probably could have eaten my weight in injera and lamb that night. But I stopped myself.
The waitress was so nice and accommodating. The restaurant is TINY. Call ahead if you have a larger (3+) group. Even with just a pair, you may want to cover your bases and give them a call for a table.
I will definitely be returning to this little spot.Listed in: My Yelp 100 in 2012 List, Around the World--in Denver
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Review from Brittany H.
Denver, CO
3/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nearly 10 years ago, a group of friends and I had ventured to Denver from Northern Wisconsin. The adventurous foodies amongst them decided to go try Ethiopian food. Having never been exposed to anything "exciting" other than Chinese buffets, I was terrified at the prospect of African food. Seriously, what on earth is Ethiopian food? Needless to say, I did not join them in their culinary adventure.
Flash forward to the present: I am now eager and willing to try almost anything, thanks to Yelp and Denver's fabulous Yelpers! So when Abyssinia was suggested for our book club's gathering, I was excited about this prospect as I recalled my missed Ethiopian experience.
Located just east of Colorado Boulevard on Colfax, you'll find Abyssinia: a very small, but fantastic little restaurant. As I walked in, I felt like I stepped into a little piece of Ethiopia. Images of this beautiful country grace the walls while basket tables surrounded by chairs grace the dinning room floor.
Our group perused the menu for quite sometime because everything just looked fantastic! The veggie dishes to the beef to the lamb dishes. Since the majority of us were relatively unfamiliar with the cuisine, we decided on the veggie platter, the meat platter, and our server favorite lamb dish (which sadly I cannot remember the name of!). As you would expect from a mom and pop, the food did take quite some time to arrive, but the nature of the restaurant encourages conversation, so the wait wasn't intolerable.
You could smell the spices and hear the meat sizzling before our dishes arrived! Our server placed our large dish (everything comes out on one platter that accommodates everything you ordered) on our basket table and we dug in! This is family style and mind you, there are no utensils. Instead of a fork or spoon, you get to use injera (spongy bread that arrives rolled up in baskets). So since you'll all be eating off of the same plate, be sure to wash your hands!
Oh.My.God. Everything was phenomenal: the veggies, the lentils, the beef, the chicken, the lamb, the injera...everything! Every bite was flavorful and made my taste buds dance. We also tried the house Ethiopian beer, a stout, which I thought was quite tasty.
Oh how I pity my non-foodie self from years ago. So I submit to you: the next time you pass by Abyssinia, definitely stop in. From the intimate, friendly restaurant to the lovely, welcoming staff, to the amazingly delicious food, you'll be kicking yourself that you've waited *thislong* to try this fabulous African cuisine. -
Review from Ted O.
1/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Yum!
First things first, for those who haven't been to this restaurant before, if the restaurant is busy in the evening you do not put your name in with the server. Rather, you go to the waiting room (to the left as you walk in the door) and wait for the server to come in and call, "Next!" It can be a bit confusing if, like me, you don't understand why nobody is coming to take your name as you wait aimlessly by the front door.
Let me echo other reviewers and say that this is the best Ethiopian I've had in Denver. It seems to be a two person show, with one cook and one server, but once we got our table, the service was prompt and exceptionally friendly. The veggie platter was 7 very good, but very small (think tiny scoops of ice cream) samples of veggie dishes. The Fish Banatu was very yummy. The Belu-Ageru (I think!) was some of the best lamb I have ever eaten.
The Ethiopian Beer tasted a little worse for wear after it's trip across the Atlantic, but all in all it was a very fun night with very good food. -
Review from Mindy K.
Aurora, CO
4/10/2012
I love me some Ethiopian and this is the best place I've been to in the Denver metro area. I get serious cravings for this place. We always get the veggie combo. My favorites are the gomen, fosolia green beans, yemsir wot, and akilt wot. The injera is always fresh and perfect for sopping up ever last drop of tasty sauce. I always walk out of there stuffed and have a full container of left overs to enjoy the next day. Family members have gotten the meat combo and have liked everything on them. We usually do take out, but have dined in a few times. The service is always friendly and they make you feel very welcome. The only draw back is that they're closed on Tuesdays and for some reason I always want to go out to eat on Tuesdays.
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Review from Marie H.
Chesapeake, VA
3/3/2012 1 photo
Awesome food. My second time eating Ethiopian food. I have been to one other Ethiopian restaurant here in Denver. I can actually say I enjoye them both. Abyssinia Definitely has it's own charm that's very appealing. The restaurant is small and cannot seat but so many but who cares? The food is excellent, the ambiance supreme and the waitress was very friendly. I had the tomatim fitfit (I think that's how it's spelled) and something else I can't remember. Consisting of beef. I will say the beef I got was very chewy but seasoned so perfectly. I also had some of their honey wine--extremely tasty. Rhe injera was wonderful although a little more grainy than the injera i had at the other restaurant. No problem. Overall if you are looking for good tasting Ethiopian food at a decent price and friendly, efficient service, then you have to try Abyssinia.
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Review from Jacalyn S.
Englewood, CO
11/1/2011
My boyfriend and I had been to only one other Ethiopian restaurant in the Denver area and weren't really that impressed.
I found Abyssinia through Groupon and decided to give it a try considering the reviews from Yelp...we were not disappointed!
I went with two other people, and we shared all of the dishes we ordered. To drink I had the spiced hot tea, which was delicious. My two friends had the honey wine...interesting drink, somewhat sweet and strong, definitely something to sip!
We also ordered a tomato salad (tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and some type of dressing, really great to have as a starter or with your meal!)
Our main dishes we decided on were:
1. zilzil tibs (beef)
2. fosolia green beans
3. one of the lamb dishes (I can't remember the name!)
I really enjoyed all three dishes. I think next time I would try a different version of the tibs because this one didn't really have a sauce (which I love when using the injera!) But nonetheless, all were really delicious together.
I also LOVE that you get some kind of cabbage mixture, spinach, 2 types of lentils, and a small salad in the center - goes really great with the vegetarian dishes or meat dishes mixed altogether!
We went for dinnertime, and it was fairly busy for a Monday night, however the service was really good. The waitress was super nice, and I think even the owner (possibly) asked us how the food was and how we heard about the restaurant.
What I am intrigued by is the "scoops" that they offer during lunchtime. I like the idea of trying different items off their menu to see what I love the most without committing to a full order for dinner. I will be coming back to try the lunchtime scoops and will definitely be back for dinner!!! -
Review from Francis Y.
Brooklyn, NY
2/7/2012 2 photos
WOW I never new that Ethopian food is so good in denver. We had the Fish tibs on our plate which was recommended by the owner and it was much better than expected. I would suggest that if you try this place.
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Review from Levi L.
Arvada, CO
2/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've only had Ethiopian food one other time. This was better than that one, but it was still a little weird. Not my cup of tea I suppose. I like about half of the things on the mixed platter. My wife would give it a 5 though - if that helps. I just prefer Indian and Thai curries over Ethiopian food.
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Review from Jamie K.
1/18/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I am so glad I had my first taste of Ethiopian food at this place. It was amazing!!! I shared the chicken curry and veggie platter with a friend. This is true ethiopian food. The staff were so friendly, and showed us newcomers how to eat! I will definitely be back!
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Review from Ran T.
1/17/2012
My favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Denver. Delicious food and courteous service. I recommend the cabbage for vegetarians and lamb for meat eaters. Get a glass of their honey wine if you are feeling adventurous. It comes in a very cute, uniquely-designed bottle. The place can be a little bit on the cool side. I guess the owner tries to conserve energy for all of us. Dress warm and go with lots of people should solve that problem. :D
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Review from Linda P.
Denver, CO
12/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really good Ethiopian food. We've eaten here several times and usually order 1 meat combo and 1 veggie combo which come with spongy, soft bread which is both used to scoop the food in lieu of utensils and to eat. Today, we did our usual, but we also got an appetizer, sabosas. Not sure is that is exactly the name, or how it was spelled, but they were turnover- like fried pockets of dough encasing delicious lentils. Highly recommend those! For a drink, order their honey wine. If they're out, the Ethiopian beer is also tasty. Service is very polite and attentive.
Comment from gedion f. of Abyssinia Market Cafe Ethiopian Restaurant 1/10/2012
Thanks for the review Linda, those appetizers you had are… More » -
Review from Kelsey L.
New Orleans, LA
6/9/2011
Let's play a game.
Would you rather...have a waiter/waitress dote on you and pull out all the stops to make your dining experience "all about you,"
OR
be greeted upon entering a restaurant by wait-staff more concerned about efficiency than contrived rules of socially appropriate presentation, genuine without caring, asking not, "How many are in your party?" but rather, "Do you want $1.75 scoops (yes, "scoops," yes, $1.75) or did you want to order off the menu?" (lowering her voice with the second option, obviously attempting to convince us of the scoops by default)?
Perhaps the first option has its occasions, but let's be honest - the sappy treatment gets old after a while, and I think we all appreciate treatment that matches the environment, and that's exactly what you'll find at Abyssinia Market Cafe.
Abyssinia provides a fabulous dining experience complete with dishes delicious beyond description, a price that literally cannot be beat (that is, if you're doing the scoops), and an overall atmosphere that just makes sense (you may have to go to understand what I mean).
Venture out uncertain of exactly what you'll find, but I guarantee you won't leave disappointed. We can go out to one of those uppity restaurants if you do, on me. -
Review from Linda H.
Denver, CO
12/22/2011
Delicious Ethiopian place and welcoming service. I don't think we've ever ordered something we did not like. I definitely recommend this to others.
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Review from Christopher C.
Sunnyside, NY
2/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is hands down the best place to go. I have had Ethiopian food all over, and this is still my favorite because of one dish. Mitten Shiro
Mitten Shiro, is not at every place, and it's because of this among other things that sets this place apart.
I always get a meat combo and a vegie combo.. very delicious . It has basically everything on the menu.
The other thing that I love about this place is the salad in the middle of the combos. Not all do this.
Keep the ingera coming!!!!Listed in: my favs in denver
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Review from Scott P.
Chicago, IL
Came here yesterday for a late lunch- luckily they have continuous hours throughout the day (with a discounted lunch until three, I think). Seems like a good deal for lunch, but I'm always leery of buffets. Anyhow, they have a pleasant little dining room playing what sounds (to MY ears at least) like some pretty authentic Ethiopian music. By the way... did you know that Ethiopia used to be called Abyssinia? I didn't know that. Pretty cool. Also, Ethiopia has the oldest Christian Orthodox church... like, of ANYWHERE. That's pretty damned cool.
Anyways. I digress.
This is, so far, my favorite place for Ethiopian food in Denver. Why, you might ask? Of course you'd ask. You've read this far, so why wouldn't you want to know why I like it so much? Alright. I'll tell you.
FISH, BABY!!!
They have two fish options, I opted for the second. It's a couple small filets of fried fish in this goopy orange sauce that is just absolutely mouth-jackingly sense-assassinatingly spine-tinglingly awesome. I need to go back and read what all they put in it... but DAMN. This fish is the bee's knees. The crispiness contrasts incredibly with the spongy (and plentiful) injera, and the sauce... you'll want to suck it up with a straw, kid.
My dining companion opted for a lamb dish, I can't remember which one... but it was top-notch. tender cubes of lamb in a delicious sauce... I mean, what more can you really say?
I'LL TELL YOU WHAT MORE!
They have a salad there- it's basically chopped tomatos, garlic, jalapenos, olive oil, and injera. And it was incredible. Tingly, if I may.
I'll definitely be back. Probably not for lunch, but defintiely for their (very reasonably priced) dinner selections. -
Review from Annette R.
Denver, CO
2/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum yum. We're slowly making our way around all of the Ethiopian places Denver has to offer, we have found ourselves coming back to Abyssinia a few times now rather than continuing the journey!
The service here is fine, nothing as amazingly welcoming as Queen of Sheba but definitely more personable and friendly than Axum.
The food is why you're there though, so let me hit the high points. The Timatim fitfit is basically my addiction, it's just perfect, fresh, vinegary and slight spicy. Amazing.
The lamb curry should not be missed if you are a meat eater, and if you are not, you have GOT to try the greens, not sure what they are called on the menu but they are always included in my veggie combo and they are the first thing I finish.
Another huge plus is that this is the first place to tell me how good my leftovers would be if I would just take them home. And lordy were they right. If you have them roll up the injera with all of your leftover bits and bobs and then reheat the next day you are in for a treat. It sure won't LOOK pretty but oh lordy will it taste heavenly. And that's a good thing since even when we intentionally UNDER order here we always have too much food. -
Review from Susan C.
Denver, CO
2/27/2012
Wow...I came here with a friend (and a Groupon). The service was amazing, the food was great. I can't wait to go back. I agree with another post....it can be a little chilly (we visited in February). I wore a warm sweater, had their yummy tea and was fine. We shared the vegie combo and meat combo. Everything was wonderful. Just a note; if you bring kids, one item from each of these combos was pretty spicy. You might consider asking for a substitution if kids are involved. Enjoy this wonderful Ethiopian treasure here in Denver.
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Review from John H.
Denver, CO
11/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Best Ethiopian food in the the US! The food and ambiance are both very authentic. They have the woven "basket" tables, Ethiopian music, and the cook will even cook Kosher on request. It is the only Ethieopian restaurant in town that also has appetizers. Love this place.
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Review from Matt P.
Thornton, CO
4/18/2008 2 Check-ins Here
This is my second favorite Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant in Denver (see my review of the Red Sea for the number one spot). This was yet another place that I passed by forever before actually walking through the door. Located in a converted house next to a Subway Sandwich at Colfax and Colorado, it outwardly resembles any of the countless odd storefronts scattered along Colfax. But inside, there's some good cookin' going on.
The menu is pretty standard for Ethiopian. The veggies, chicken and beef are always great, but I have noticed the lamb to be inconsistent at time and can sometimes be kind of strong.
Abyssinia is literally a block from our old house, and we used to go here all the time. Our daughter was quickly taken under the wing of Mimi, aka the Best Server Ever. When we would come in, Mimi would run up to Josie, give her a big hug, and then whisk her into the back room or the kitchen to get her a glass of juice or a treat. Gideon, the owner and chef, would also always come out and say hello and see how we were doing. He used to make a special lamb broth for Josie that she could dip her bread in and eat when she didn't feel like eating what we were having. Like at the Red Sea, we felt welcomed here in a way that you don't often find.
Unfortunately, things changed a bit. Mimi left, and Gideon's sister in law took over managing the restaurant. She wanted to increase business and make it a bit more upscale, and the vibe changed a bit. Now don't get me wrong, she's a fantastic lady, and she's doing the right thing for the right reasons. But before too long, the prices went up a bit (it's still really reasonable, though), the decor was upgraded, and it started getting.... *gasp*.... crowded.
I haven't been in a while, but from what I can tell, they're doing well and I'm stoked for them. It's a great place, run by great people and I wish them well.
Cheers!
Oh, I almost forgot. The place is hella small, so I wouldn't recommend taking a large group. -
Review from Marina M.
Seattle, WA
5/6/2008
I'm a huge Ethiopian fan, and have been known to get an injera fix even in foreign countries. Abyssinia rates well.
This place is *really* small, but you eat in a more authentic setting (low round tables instead of "normal" tables). There was a single server but with four tables, service was fast.
The menu was extensive, and the three of us went with two veggie combos and one meat combo. All three combos were served on the same injera (yay) and bread refills are free (double-yay). Their injera was the perfect thickness, and the food was superb and not spicy (triple-yay).
Servings were smaller than I'm used to at other Ethiopian places, but really that just means that there wasn't much left, so I probably shouldn't complain.
Unlike most Ethiopian restaurants, they are open on Monday. That alone gets five stars. -
Review from Kelly T.
8/18/2009
There is something so absolutely sensual and romantic about eating food with your hands rather than using a fork, spoon and knife. Every time I have eaten at a restaurant that serves food meant to be eaten with your hands, I generally have an amazing experience.
To begin with, this was my first time every having Ethiopian food, so I can't really compare this to any other Ethiopian restaurant, but what I can say is that the dishes were incredibly flavorful, the spices beautifully played off each other and the variety on the menu was spectacular.
I went with three other people and one of them was very familiar with Ethiopian food and this restaurant's menu in particular, so we let him order our food for us. We had the vegetarian combo, a sort of steak tartar, a lamb dish (my fave) and another sizzling beef dish. It was all served in one dish and we all shared the different meals brought out to us.
While I couldn't have a full drink because of medication I was on, I tried a sip of some of the Ethiopian beer and it was pretty darn good. They also serve honey wine if that floats your boat.
The ambiance is spectacular. Dim lighting and traditional (so I was told) tables make this small restaurant feel incredibly intimate and romantic at night.
My only two complaints about this place was the amount of time it took in between visits from the server. I understand the food probably takes a while to prepare, but even the drinks took a little longer than I would expect, though the server was very friendly.
The I also found the chairs to be incredibly uncomfortable. Unless you have great posture, after about 30 minutes, you might find your back starting to hurt a little bit.
This place is located only a few blocks away from me, so I anticipate going back here on a fairly regular basis because the food is just so dang good.Listed in: Top Noms!, Are You Gonna Eat That?
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Review from Hans O.
Denver, CO
11/9/2008
This place improved a lot since my last visit 1 year ago - their food remains the same, which is a great thing because their has been good and still is, but inside they completely changed their visual of having dining tables into a place with artistic small Ethiopian tables that are friendlier for bigger groups.
We had a party of 8 people, had 2 big platters of veggies, beef, lamb, and fish. My favorites were Moja Beef - fastly speaking Ethiopian fajitas just because of being presented on a sizzling dish, but it was really well marinated, it had strong spice flavor that really brought the beef flavor out. The grilled fish was good too, first grilled than smothered with a sauce, not overpowering it but complementing it. -
Review from sarah o.
Denver, CO
1/25/2009
Abyssinia has been one of our go-to places for the last few years, always take the parents here or friends from out of town, but also come here when we just can't decide what we want to eat!
The food is delicious. I always get the vegetarian combo, but the meat dishes are good as well.
The service is very friendly. And, did I say the food was delicious? I've tried many of the other Ethiopian restaurants in town and Abyssinia always ends up at the top of my list. -
Review from gavin g.
Denver, CO
3/11/2008
This is a small, cozy restaurant on Colfax, a block East of Colfax (next to Subway) that I driven by hundreds of times and never noticed. Like most Ethiopian restaurants along Colfax, Abyssinia isn't overflowing with ambiance. But, the place is clean, the chairs and mesobs (Ethiopian basket tables) all match, and the staff (or at least the one woman we saw working) was very friendly. Most importantly, the food was delicious.
For the uninitiated when it comes to Ethiopian food, the dining experience is a lot of fun. The dishes are served up on a table-sized platter of injera, which is a large, flat, spongy, and slighty sour bread. You eat with your fingers by tearing off strips of the bread and scooping fingerfuls of the dishes.
We ordered the Vegetarian Combo for two ($10/person), which consisted of all 7 of Abyssinia's veggie dishes. I don't remember the specific names, but the standards were all there-collard greens, split peas, lentils, cabbage and carrots, green beans... Every dish was full of flavor and I would have wanted more, if I wasn't saving room for dessert.
Obviously an awesome option for vegetarians and vegans. Points earned for the hot, scented, pre-meal wash cloths. I have found that not all Ethiopian restaurants offer this. -
Review from David S.
Denver, CO
11/9/2008
This was my first time, and I was impressed. It's a simple place, but with great food. We had several dishes served family style, and everyone just grabbed whichever meat/dish they wanted with a piece of the sponge bread. There are some different tastes here, curry like you've never had, lamb, beef, chicken, lentils, etc. and they roast the coffee beans when you order coffee, not before.
I am not sure if you can find better service. The woman who waited on us, who I would guess is the owner, was always attentive, always smiling and ever ready to tell us about Ethiopia, about the dishes we ordered, etc.
As I said, it was my first time there, but I will be returning and taking more friends with me. -
Review from merry k.
Fullerton, CA
7/8/2010
In the past several months, this has become one of my favorite places to eat in Denver...
The restaurant itself is cute - it's like hanging out in someone's house and eating food. The food is amazing, too - I'm addicted to the kitfo, but the vegetarian combo is pretty awesome, too. I'll have to expand my horizons at some point and try other things, but for now, I just can't stop eating delicious spicy raw beef.
Oh, and the best part? It's cheap! Most dishes are $10, and they're large enough to fill up a big eater like me. My boyfriend and I can get two entrees, an appetizer, and two non-alcoholic drinks for $30. That's less than we spend at, uh, Chipotle.
Nom nom nom! -
Review from Monica K.
Denver, CO
3/11/2009
This Ethiopian is the best in Denver. It rocks! The food is so tasty and the staff is so friendly. Its just a cute little restaurant where you can chill out.
I was introduced to Ethiopian food through some good friends and always wondered what it tasted like. I think its very similar to Indian food.
I love how they bring the food on one big plate and you can share with everyone. The injera bread is really tasty too. -
Review from Micah and Sharon M.
Denver, CO
1/9/2010
While this was once my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Denver, I'll probably look elsewhere after my past two visits. Service seems to be nonexistent--our server left the restaurant for two half hour periods and our food took over an hour to arrive last visit--and food quality and quantity has declined--our last meal was merely reheated in the microwave (we could see into the kitchen).
Too bad, but I won't be returning. -
Review from David S.
2/7/2009
First off, I have been eating Ethiopian for years. Second off, I have eaten at Abyssinia for more than five years. That said, I ate dinner here last weekend for the first time in a few years. I am sorry to say that I think it used to be much much better. Don't get me wrong, it is still very good, but It was not as good as it had been back in the day.
The seasoning and portions were both reduced from the past. I was disappointed with both.
I used to eat here several times a month, often for the lunch buffet that was among the greatest in town, but apparently was stopped when 5280 named them best Ethiopian a few years ago. Why is it that 5280 loves restaurants so much that it wants to destroy them with "Best-of-Denver" rankings?
The bright spot, and I can still recommend to you is the Kitfo. I eat it raw for best flavor. That said, and as those who know me well know, I always try to expose my son to as many foods as possible. I DO NOT let him eat raw beef!
He ate lamb and veggies. It was good enough, just not great. I may try going back again, but I fear that another meal like the last and they may be downgraded. -
Review from Erin N.
Denver, CO
5/22/2011
Overall a great experience. The service was prompt and friendly, the food was very good. We've eaten here and the Queen of Sheba, I think I liked this one better. Very, very clean too!
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Review from Sasha R.
Denver, CO
2/13/2011
i am not a connoisseur of ethiopian food, but i have eaten at a couple of restaurants and once in a native's home.
i liked abyssinia a lot. the food was good, the service could not have been more pleasant, and the environment was clean, peaceful, and "ethnic", to use a slightly obnoxious term.
entering the restaurant was intimidating. it felt a bit like walking into someone's living room... "surprise! we're here! whatcha all talking about?"
this was simply due, however, to its small size. it is downright tiny, with trinkets, soft music, and 8-10 small wicker tables wearing red "hats" that are removed by the waitress when you are seated (you'll have to go or at least peek in the window to see what i mean). we were immediately and very nicely directed to a tiny corner right next to a man sitting at the bar. my husband and i hesitated, feeling a bit exposed and uncomfortable. but, we got over it and squeezed in.
we were not sure what to order, so we got the meat combo and the fish banatu. my husband liked his ethiopian beer and i loved my glass of ethiopian wine. i could have drank a bottle to be honest!
our food took a little while, but we've come to expect that with ethiopian, and frankly it was much faster than we've previously experienced, so we were very happy.
included in the meat combo was the yebeg alicha (curried lamb) and it was fantastic! i so, so wished i had ordered a full serving. the vegetarian dishes included in the combo were also very good (lentils, green beans, a bit of salad), and i liked the injera bread a lot, more sour than others i've had, although it could have been a touch thinner in my opinion. the doro wat included in the meat combo (chicken with red garlic and spices) was tasty, but logistically difficult for our amateur fingers. it was a whole chicken leg which we struggled to share without making too much of a mess. the fish banatu was also well prepared, but i didn't realize it was a lake fish, which i don't care for. my husband liked it.
when we were finished, a man appearing to be the owner brought around samples of honey wine, which i thought was so nice! i had wanted to try it, but didn't want to risk a whole glass. his offering was much appreciated.
the price was very reasonable, the bill was approximately $36.
we will definitely return, with a game plan in mind. two glasses of wine this time! a full serving of that fantastic curried lamb (i can't stop thinking about it), and perhaps a vegetarian combo. i will also be less shy about asking for more napkins. i have some serious practicing to do... -
Review from Hollie W.
5/2/2011
I love the inside of this restaurant as it has a really homey feeling to it. Shared a veggie combo platter with friends and it was amazing. I wonder if they will ever decide what color to paint the walls? LOL. Nice atmosphere, friendly service, and i would absolutely recommend eating here. Planning on going back next week :) YUMMM
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Review from Sarah M.
Denver, CO
11/14/2011
So I recently tried Ethiopian for the first time, and am now determined to try all the restaurants around! I came into this one late one afternoon. The inside had cool authentic decorations. It was a little cramped; not uncomfortable, but it didn't feel like a place to hang out for too long. We were unsure about the portions... the server told us that one dish was "kind of small" so we ordered the veggie combo and the meat combo, along with an appetizer. The appetizer was delicious, can't remember the name but it was a cold dish with lentils, jalapenos, onions... yum. Our food came and we were a little unsure about the portions. It was all on one big plate and we weren't sure which dish was which. I wanted to ask the waitress, but she disappeared. The veggie food was all really great, except the spinach one was very very salty. It ended up being way too much food for 2 people. I think we could have done ok with maybe just one combo and one other dish, or maybe more appetizers. We were a little disappointed. The food was good though. I'm curious about their advertised scoop deals, the waitress did not mention it and it was not on their menu... not sure if I'll be back yet, as I do want to explore all of the restaurants before I pick a favorite.
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Review from Matthew A.
Denver, CO
5/23/2011
Best place for vegitarian Ethiopian on Colfax.
If you want good (well, better) meat go to Queen of Sheba up the street. -
Review from Rob S.
Denver, CO
12/11/2010
Had an early Saturday night dinner here. Couldn't be more pleased. Price was right, no entrée was more than 13 dollars.
Fast service, delicious food. We had the Cornis(sp?) combo and the vegetable combo. So much good food. We still have another meal in the fridge.
I would recommend the grilled lamb, it was part of the combo and out of this world. I would go back just to get more of it.
We will be back soon. -
Review from Chelsea M.
Denver, CO
11/23/2009
Wow, I mean wow, the food at this place is AMAZING! I had never eaten Ethiopian food before and so we decided to take a chance on this place. We had an excellent waiter named Koki who was very attentive and selected two lamb dishes and a beef dish for us for our main course. He also took the time to explain how eating Ethiopian works and suggested an amazing appetizer for us (sort of a home made spiced cottage cheese dish). Overall the experience was even better than I could've imagined and the only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the restaurant itself somewhat resembles a 3rd world country and the bathroom was a huge mess. If they cleaned it up it would've gotten my 5th star.
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Review from Lenny M.
Denver, CO
10/11/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Great and inexpensive. Most authentic Ethiopian place I have been to.
