Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant & Bar Reviews

Ethiopian food seemed risky to me but I wanted to be adventurous on my trip to be with my daughter who is a northside local. O my!!!! Appetizers were profound. The gigantic platter of awesomeness that followed was astounding. Every single bit fresh and unique. Not a fan of the spongy bread as a whole that you need to use as a utensil. Hard to get used to, let alone the texture is a little off. Nonetheless, place is fabulous!! A delicious dining experience. A little warn in this place, my one and only complaint.

Well despite being Valentine's day. I'm celebrating by myself starting a new opportunity working again as a MEP engineering drafter on Valentine's day. I've been to Ethiopia before and it's been awhile since I've had Ethiopian cuisine. When I first tried it before I went to Ethiopia I was intrigued since I had a coworker I worked with in engineering who is Ethiopian and was just curious about what African cuisine specifically Ethiopian cuisine looks like and taste like. It's actually not bad. And this was one of my first Ethiopian restaurants I had that experience back in 1999. I didn't know that the etiquette for eating Ethiopian cuisine was very communal which was having a sour like pancake bread called "Injera". It was kind of exciting and I tried the stews. Right now I'm eating a "Kitfo" dish which is finely sliced minced beef with spinach and a cheese that you mix and pick up with the Injera bread. Drinking my tea or "Shai" to finish off and about to order a dessert called "My destaye". I had gone to Ethiopia before and it's amazing how Ethiopians could eat this almost on all their three meals and not get tired of eating Injera bread. This is my first time writing a great review about them since this was the first Ethiopian restaurant I've been since 1998 before I took off the Ethiopia. Hopefully any of my Yelp elite friends are willing to try something exotic.

Great Ethiopian food. It's great for a group of people who don't mind sharing and using their hands!!

Considering we are vegetarians, the variety is awesome and the food excellent. went there several times during my stay there and was really satiated in every visit. They also make a damn good Margharita...A must visit for everyone.

I actually prefer this restaurant to the other one. They both have excellent food but I found the service a little more personable here. I went in January though and found the place freezing. Easy to overlook though as I scooped up the nicely seasoned dishes.

I have been coming to this restaurant for the last 10 years with my family. The food is excellent! The staff is warm and friendly! This is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago.

the tibs sampler was perfect for trying both the meat and veggie dishes. the tofu dish was very good but spicier than expected.

Ethiopean diamond is a great place for a meal in a relaxed environment. The food is different from western food and you have to eat the food with your hands, no forks or knives. The quality of the food is good, lot of fresh ingredients. The best part of the food is all the spices which gives the food so much more flavor. Try their Ethiopian tea with your meal, it is really good Service is good and friendly, you never feel rushed. I will certainly go back.

What a wonderful meal we enjoyed! They even had black injera which is gluten free:) the owner drove to their other location to get this since they were out of it here but it was worth the wait. My husband had a variety of vegetarian dishes & thoroughly enjoyed his. I had the mixture of meats & vegetarian combinations that really hit the mark. Our server was very helpful in suggesting which combinations we should order & we were very satisfied. It was rainy heavily & the owner let us leave through their back door as that was closer to our car which was very kind of him. The place is very casual, not much atmosphere, but clean. This is a Super neighborhood find!!!

We had the veggie sampler and it was delicious. The portions were large and even though we got full, we wanted to keep eating as it was so good. The greens and the lentils are particularly tasty, but we genuinely loved it all.

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. I love their gomen (greens), Assa Tibs (orange roughy with green peppers and onions), Doro Watt (spicy chicken) and their shrimp. Delicious food!

great ambience!

We were told that the restaurant had good reputation, but our experience was very disappointing. Therefore we hope the restaurant will improve so we can enjoy good Ethiopian authentic cuisine. We had ordered one meat sampler, one shiro plate and wine and coffee. 1. Meat was overcooked and tasteless, inside of meat and eggs cold (freezer effect), 2. The "shiro" was not well cooked, 3. The enjera was cold and dry and brittle, instead of soft and flexible. 4. The wine flat, lifeless and, 5. The service was indifferent, 5. Consequently the price was too expensive

Ethiopian Diamond came highly recommended, so we tried it when we were in Chicago. It was our first time trying Ethiopian food, and the waitress was patient and make recommendations for the meal. The injera bread was great and I particularly liked the veggies!

We stopped into Ethiopian Diamond for a nice Saturday lunch and it was a wonderful treat. The food was absolutely delicious! My hubby and I each tried the Taste of Ethiopia plates (one Meat and the other vegetarian) and we had a great variety of dishes. The portions were right (we had lots to take home), everything was tender, and the flavors were excellent. I've had Ethiopian food where everything was just bombarded with chili; here, while there was a nice kick, the flavors melded together much better. To top it off, the service was quick and everyone was pleasant. Everyone at the restaurant was definitely enjoying their meal and having a great time (how can you go wrong when you get to eat with your hands?). Highly recommended!

Ethiopian Diamond is a great little local restaurant with a relaxed atmosphere. We would suggest ordering a sampler type platter if you have never tried Ethiopian food. The vegetarian dishes are fabulous. If you have friends or children with adventurous palates, it is a fun evening out. Kids get a kick out of using the injera bread with their hands to eat instead of using a fork. Ethiopian food has a great depth of flavor, but the ingredients are not unusual--meat, onions, peppers, split peas, chick peas, potatoes, carrots, etc.

In this place the food is about average for the cuisine. Bread is used to dine with and the food is tasty. It is easy for vegetarians to dine here. I had vegetarian this time and it was pretty good. The decor is appropiate and it would be easy to have a family meal here in a relaxed atmosphere.

I went with my son, daughter-in-law and grand children after visiting a Circus. I liked the food. Atmosphere was cool. Good service. Nice restaurant to visit and delicious food.

If you haven't tried Ethiopian food yet, you should. It's a very communal experience and is great to do with a group. On this visit, I was with one friend, but have been with larger groups before. The food is served on a large platter lined with the spongy-flat bread, injera. Because you're eating each bit of food with the bread, let me tell you that you will fill up on a smaller amount of food than you expect. We ordered the amazing spinach sambusas as an appetizer. The crispy fried dumpling is filled with a spinach and garlic filling and served with lemon wedges and a sweet dipping sauce. For our entree we had Doro Tips Alicha, which is chicken pieces in a mild garlic-ginger sauce. To compliment that we selected spicy shrimp wat and 3 side dishes: yatkilt wat (roasted potatoes, carrots and green beans), yemisir wat (red lentils) and shimbra asa (chick pea dumplings). Complimentary salad in a light, fresh vinaigrette was in the center of the platter. As we tasted each dish it seemed like one was more delicious than the next. Too full for dessert we finished the meal with strong, rich Ethiopian coffee. We dined at another Chicago-based Ethiopian restaurant twice last year. And whereas the food was as good, the service was sub-par. So I'm switching my allegiance to Ethiopian Diamond. They offer a number of different dinner combinations,which is great for novices. Highly recommended.

Been here several times and always had a good experience. If you are unfamiliar with Ethiopian cuisine, there a sampler plates that introduce the variety available. Wide selection of vegetarian dishes as well. Staff is friendly and informative.

You know you're at a good Ethiopian restaurant when at least half of the clientele in the restaurant is Ethiopian. We dined here on a Friday night, it wasn't too busy at 6:30pm. The staff was very friendly. We were offered water immediately and then were asked if we needed help with the menu. Both of us ended up choosing something from the Taste of Ethiopia section of the menu as that seemed to offer a nice mix of foods. I went with the Tibs Sampler, my friend with the Traditional. These also come with two Sambusas each, which was a nice appetizer. The main dish was absolutely delicious and the portions even larger than what I am used to at Ethiopian restaurants. I ended up taking the leftovers home, which were enough for one more meal for two. Anything spicy will indeed be very spicy so be careful about that. The red lentils, for example, are delicious, but they are definitely hot. The various meats were terrific, the chicken not as special, but still very good. The mix of options on the plate was staggering and fun. We each ordered Ethiopian tea to go along with the dinner, which was a nice complement. The wait staff kept refilling our water consistently, we were never with an empty glass. Our server stopped by several times to check in on us. Terrific food served in a timely manner with friendly staff, an overall excellent restaurant experience that I recommend highly.

This is the best Ethiopian food I have had, and I have eaten at 2 Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago, 1 in Houston, 1 in Cincinnati, and 1 in Columbus. The food is delicious. The service is very friendly but laid back. The only negative here is that it is seemingly expensive. It is always reassuring to me when at an ethnic restaurant there are ample patrons of that ethnicity eating there--this is certainly the case at Ethiopian Diamond. It's a great restaurant, and I will continue to be a repeat customer!

My husband and I, along with our three young children thoroughly enjoyed the very flavorful cuisine. It was the first time for our children and we all ate until we were at maximum capacity! The injera was light and fluffy, the perfect accompaniment to the various dishes. I loved the lentils and kale, the kids loved those and the meat dishes as well. Our server was wonderful, she recommended dishes for us and showed the kids how to eat the injera with all of the delicious tastes and textures. We'll definitely be back.

I was not all that crazy about the food to begin with. We had a person in our party order who was familiar with the menu and Ethiopian food in general. We had a large party and just wanted sampling. He gave the order and clearly stated that we just wanted to split the order between the two sides of the table (we had eight in our party). We nearly had a heart attack when the check came out! The waiter (and owner, I believe) had charged us twice! The person who ordered tried to explain the error to the server, but he only agreed to take off the amount of the tip. Not wanting to cause a scene we just paid the bill. We were not happy campers. It was clearly the server's mistake and we were made to pay for it. Not a good business practice. We had 8 witnesses to his error. Would not recommend this place to anyone.

Went with another couple on a Friday night. Big place with enty of seating. We had the meat sampler and out friends had the vegetarian sampler. Both were well prepared and good flavors. The apoetizets were also enjoyable. Wineist okay and theur by the glass selections were fine. The Ethiopian coffee with ice cream dessert was similar to Greek coffee and was great. The spongy bread to use to eat the entrees was as expected and fine. Service friendly The only thing not enjoyed was the music. It was too loud and interfered with our conversation and the ambiance of the place.

Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant is a wonderful place: great food, warm and inviting atmosphere and good people! I have eaten here quite a few times and always left feeling well taken care of, very well fed and happy. The injera is homemade and delicious! I usually make vegetarian selections ( which are always spot on). Once I tried and enjoyed the kitfo, which is the Ethiopian version of steak tartar. Make sure to try the homemade Ethiopian Honey Wine: unique and enjoyable. You simply must have the Ethiopian tea; it is my absolute favorite at Diamond (aside from the injera) ....simply divine!!! Definitely worth a trip - do try Ethiopian Diamond!

The food was excellent - authentic, fresh and tasty. The service wasn't very warm, but it was efficient so can't complain too much.

For a group of four, one vegetarian, to save time we ordered the vegetarian sampler for two and a tibs sampler for one. The quantity of food was just right for us, but not enough of the items we liked the best. Both the spinach and collards were very good, but only a small spoonful of each. Everyone's favorite was the dish the waitress described as chickpea dumplings - rich, brown, lightly spicy. The meat items were nicely seasoned but rather dry. Definitely, take the time to order individual dishes. Our waitress was friendly and knowlegeable but very quiet, and we would have liked more help. It was very busy and loud, I preferred Lalibella where we ate last time for atmosphere and service.

I have been to Ethiopia twice and used to live in Washington DC in U.S. (where there are the largest Ethiopian/Eritrean population in North America), so I am quite familiar with Ethiopian food. I especially love their "vegetarian messab" - a vegetarian combo plate that features at least 5 different vegetable dishes, many are spicy and all are flavorful. As a city of more than 2 million, Chicago does have quite a few Ethiopian restaurants (though still far fewer than Washington DC). Comparatively, Ethiopian Diamond may be the best one in Chicago. When in town, I usually come for lunch or dinner on weeknights. Thus, it never really feel crowded and I don't have to wait long to take my order or wait for my food to arrive. Like many Ethiopian places, they do have a vegetarian combo meal. Their vegetarian combo comes with 6 small dishes, with a lettuce salad (with chopped tomato and onions) in the middle. Aside from this main course, it also comes with two pieces of "sambusas" as appetizers (most other Ethiopian restaurants' "veggie combo" specials usually do not come with any appetizer.) Overall, all dishes in the combo are flavorful. The ones that should be spicy are not "toned down." Overall, their veggie meals are tasty. I cannot comment on their meat dishes (they do have quite a few beef, chicken and lamb dishes), since I have never order any non-vegetarian dishes here. One thing I like about their decoration is that: they have oil paintings of several popular tourist sites in Ethiopia. Because I have been to all these sites (Lalibela, Axum, Gondar...), looking at these paintings do bring back some lovely memories of that country. I guess these paintings may also make diners who have never been there feel more interested about visiting. If you live in Chicago and have never tried Ethiopian food, this is a food place to try!

One of the better Ethiopian places I've tried. Staff are all Ethiopian and so that adds to the authenticity. The decor is not over the top, and the food is really good. Fun to go in groups!

If you like to try and experience other cultures and food, give Ethiopian Diamond a night to explore. This is a great place for you to share foods. If you don't like to share, I would give it a pass as that is the fun; interactive experiencing food with friends or family. The menu has all sorts of regional favorites and can be spicy so ask for guidance. The server was very knowledgeable and helped our group order a great variety. They have several combination ideas as well. Food was more down home and authentic than fancy plated presentation. Very casual atmosphere and you do eat with your hands- silverware is optional. Also go next store to a neighborhood ice cream shop for dessert....

My wife, daughter, and I had never eaten Ethiopian food, but went with a friend who recommended this restaurant. The food was great, portions large, and prices reasonable for Chicago. We each ordered an entree, and they were all served on a large tray with some side dishes for communal style dining. Injera, an Ethiopian bread similar to thin pancakes is provided, and rather than use silverware, you tear off pieces of injera and use that to pick up the food. We'll go again the next time we are in the area.

Me and my sister ordered the "traditional taste" menu option. The food was really tasty and filling! We ate half of it and had to take the rest home. Go in August because they're running a special at 20% of food bill for the whole month.

Never having been to an Ethiopian restaurant I had no idea what to expect. Our waitress walked us through the different levels of spicy for the many dishes on the menu. We had an outstanding combination of lamb, beef, shrimp and vegetables. It was an outstanding dinner added to by two different kinds of salads. What an outstanding meal!

Very good food sometimes not the best of service.

Ethiopian Diamond is one of our neighborhood go-to restaurants. The servers are always very friendly. The food is delicious! It has vegetarian options as well as lamb, beef, chicken, shrimp and tilapia. We always leave satisfied but overly stuffed!

Went to this Establishment and before going I went on line ..On their Site there was a promotion of 15% off on orders.. After dinner when Bill was given I brought up the 15% discount offer ..She tried to say it only for pickups and not dine in .. I showed her the advertisement on line and than she said Oh!! Next Time.. Now food was good, However it's about " HONORING " Advertisement offers.. Anyway I paid the $56.10 Dollars for the 2 of US.. False offerings and or discounts just to get ppl into the Establishment and than not to Honor the promotion and 1st to try to say they did not to offer and when shown the offer just to say OH!! Next Time after proving what she said was not true .. Anyway this review is not about the food. Food was Great.. However its about Honoring You're Promotions .. You loose Customers over Not Honoring Advertisements ans really it was just 15% it would have still been made up with the tip..Especially since the bill was $56.10 for just 2 people... Sadly We Wont Return not over the food however just over the LIE... Thanking You ..

I'm a big fan of the "meat in a sauce" cuisines (okay, so maybe that's all of them...) and probably get Indian 4-5 times a month. Since Rickshaw Republic (Indonesian--another love) opened in Chicago, that's become a fast favorite. So why, when I live so close, am I not at 'Diamond' more often? There's no good reason. The Kay Watt was perfect, the kind of 'flavor party' in your mouth that warrants a weekly check-in. The Injera is good enough to eat by itself (so I do), and the veggies all have their own character and flavor. Seriously, it's just wonderful. What's really super about 'Diamond' is how *normal* the food is. Sure, it's spongy bread and lots of onion flavors, but generally speaking, there's nothing too bizarre. I'd highly recommend it to someone cautiously looking to try something new, maybe an out of town guest. The service is... unique? I really don't want to criticize, because it was pretty clear they were following their own etiquette. So, be sure to close your menu when you're ready to order (or they won't come over), and if you want more than one glass of water, let the server know. If it's your first time, take a look at the menu online first, because you are likely to get a server who isn't accustomed to providing lots of guidance.

My world traveling cousin brought me to this restaurant when I traveled to Chicago for business. Am I glad he did! Ethiopian Diamond was a wonderful first foray into Ethiopian cuisine. Everything, from the Ethiopian beer to the vegetarian platter to the doro wat (chicken in a savory sauce) to the injera bread, which did double duty as a utensil, was wonderfully flavorful, fresh, and delicious. If only I lived in Chicago, I would make a visit once a week, and everytime I hosted out of city visitors! You won't regret it!

1st time ever eating Ethiopian food. Lots of options for those that are vegan/vegetarian. It’s byob however there’s a $10 per bottle corkage fee. Restaurant is bigger than it looks from the outside. We had the traditional combination meal for 2.(I think that’s what it’s called). Even the food that was not indicated as spicy was too spicy for me. I did not enjoy any of the meat options in our combination. I only enjoyed the potatoes and the greens. The bread is spongy and has a sour dough kind of a taste to it. If I come back I would only eat potato options and the greens.

I was dining alone which meant to have any variety I needed to get a combination platter and the server was very helpful in describing the foods. I live a distance from the city and Ethiopian food is a rare delicacy for me. This experience did not disappoint!

At Ethiopian Diamond, not only do you get wonderful food, both meat and vegetarian, but you get the warm, gracious hospitality that is Ethiopian. While they make delicious food, they welcome you and your family as if you were part of their family. Children are adored, which makes it a relaxing and fun time for all. Everything is authentic, so it is a trip to Ethiopia while dining in Edgewater. We just went with a group of families and they accommodate very well.

You know when you are at the right place for Ethiopian food when the restaurant is packed with Ethiopian diners. Just walking into this unassuming restaurant, your senses are delighted by the wonderful food smells. We were greeted in a warm and friendly manner so typical of Ethiopian people and our service continued in this manner. The restaurant has a more extensive menu than typical found and everything we tried was delicious, equal to the best I have ever tried. Highly recommended is the vegetarian dinner for two which included wonderfully spiced stew-like dishes of lentil, collards, cabbage, chickpea, potato, and other vegetables served on injera. For protein we added two very tasty milder chicken dishes (doro tibs and doro tibs alicha) because one of the diners did not like spicy food. I cannot wait to go back and try the lamb wat. There was plenty of additional injera to go around. For the quality and quantity of food, the prices was very reasonable.

Ethiopian Diamond has the most delicious Ethiopian food. I believe it is black-owned and female-owned. The owner/ manager was very attentive and talked us through the allergen procedure and assured us that the food was gluten free and free from cross contamination. The entire menu is gluten free other than sambusa appetizers, wheat injera and deserts. Traditional gluten free injera made from teff flour can be requested. The food and drinks are authetic and delicious.

Ordered through grubhub and the order arrived earlier than scheduled...not a problem. Vegetarian here so I can't speak to the meat dishes. Love the tofu tibs and diamond cake (I'm not a chocolate fan, but must order this desert every time)! I like the spices and want to try to recreate these on my own. Love the beet salad, but there were fewer beets in this last order. Have plenty of left overs and it may take me a week to finish them off.

Their food is always delicious! On this recent visit we ordered the Tour of Ethiopia(?) and a lamb dish. Also, like their house wine - honey wine. My favorite place to go for Ethiopian food. Service is always friendly and restaurant vibe is relaxing. Street parking can be challenging but worth the trip. Always, enjoy coming here.

Besides food, one thing that determines if a visit will be good or bad is the service. Service was SLOW and HORRIBLE! The restaurant was fairly crowded so it took us about 10 min to be seated. Once we were seated, we waited about 15 minutes before our waiter showed up. When he did appear, he said it would take a while for our entrees to be brought out because there was a party in the back room. We ordered tour of Ethiopia. We patiently waited for our food to be brought out for about 25 minutes when the waiter came back to tell us they lost our order and need our order again. Sigh..... After waiting an additional 10 minutes, our entree platter was finally brought to us but our waiter somehow forgot to bring the appetizers. We waved him down to let him know we never got our appetizers and he asked did we still want them. Um...yeah we do because we are going to be charged either way. Overall, the food was very tasty and flavorful, but we won't be patronizing this place due to poor service. Parking: Metered street parking.

When I started going to Ethiopian Diamond a decade ago, it was a little-known restaurant with great food with great meal options for vegetarian food (their Simbra Assa is to die for!). What's great to note is that their food is consistently great. Today you will probably need reservations, and will find a lot of locals eating out there which speaks volumes for their food!

We have been coming to this restaurant for over 14 years! The food is delicious and the staff is so warm. I get hugs from the wait staff and owner every time we dine there. My twin boys have been eating this tasty cuisine since birth. They especially love the diamond salad and yellow lentils. I appreciate the heart and soul of this restaurant!

This is a must do place. Ethiopian Tour was fantastic, the waitress was so helpful in ordering for us, giving us a variety of speicialies. This was excellent and very fun!

This is a highly recommended place to try if you're looking to enjoy the best in Ethiopian food in town. We've tried a few other places and we keep going back to Diamond 1 and Diamond 2 (Clark/Howard).

My daughter and I looove coming here, so we decided to bring one of my students along. She hasn't had much experience with ethnic food and different spices/flavors but she got into it right away. Not only is the food yummy, but it's a new way to interact with your plate and the people you share a meal with. Always a good choice!

Large space that can accommodate a various sized parties. The food was delicious. Our party of four shared E1 & E3(?), which are preselected combination of dishes..one vegetarian, and one meat, and it was wonderful. Thanks for a great dining experience.

Great place to go if you want ethnic food, particularly if you want extraordinary Ethiopian food. The spicy food is a bit spicy but not too bad and there's plenty for vegetarians. My wife and I went there for our first anniversary dinner and it was totally worth it.

Whenever I eat at Ethiopian Diamond, I can't stop eating! The food is always serviced family-style, so it is good to have at least 3 or 4 people at your table so you can try several different dishes. They always add a few spoonfuls of items you haven't ordered, so you can try other dishes. I love everything on the menu. There is also an option to order milder dishes or spicier dishes, and they can bring some hot pepper sauce to add if some people like it hotter than others. I try to eat here whenever I visit Chicago.

Friends took us to this restaurant. As we had never eaten ethiopian food before, it was quite an experience! The food was really awesome and staff was so friendly! Will definitely go back next time we're in town. Huge selection of vegetarian dishes.

Friendly service and good food, tea and coffee. The doro wat could have been more flavorful and the injera bread was a bit dry.

Edgewater has a wide range of international cuisine. Ethiopian Diamond makes you feel like you've just landed in Africa. From the cushy pillows to the coffee served traditionally to the delicious food that can be eaten without utensils, it's a great experience.

Excellent Food, Great Staff. Just remember, no silverware!

The night before, in conversation the cab driver said he was from Ethiopia. I asked and he said, “the Diamond.” Authentic said he and his family ate there. The next night we were on the way to the Sox game which was weather problematic; we diverted to the Diamond. Worn wooden floor, serviceable tables and chairs, attentive servers who were informative for newbees, but not overly intrusive during our long stay, basic decorations, and a pleasant group playing light jazz. Actually the place seemed just right. A Saturday night with a 6 pm or so arrival and departure 2 + hours later. Tables filled when we left for the Sox restart. Lots of Ethiopian families if dress is an indicator and others who seemed familiar with the Diamond. We had the two samplers: 1 vegetarian, Ethiopian beers and the honey wine. Try the honey wine. Even if your sense of adventure is minimalist you ought to try it. Use your fingers.

We went to the Ethiopian Diamond with the vegetarian son of some friends, and understood before we went that the food is different and we're adventurous, so it was fine, but we weren't really impressed. And, we didn't like the 'bread' that is eaten with it at all.

Been here twice. First time was with my mother, aunt & uncle visiting from out of town. Second time was on a second date. It was a great atmosphere for both. Enjoyed hanging out here, and the food was fantastic! I thought the service was pretty good and staff was friendly.

I've been here three times and each time I love the food even more. You can't go wrong with any of the dishes (especially the tibs) but I like the meat and vegetables over the seafood. The bread is absolutely fabulous. It's like a sour dough pancake. I definitely recommend the food and beer here. However, the service leaves much to be desired. Don't get me wrong. The service is very friendly. However, it's also VERY slow. You have to flag your waiter down every single time you need something (order apps, order dinner, need a drink, need napkins, want the check). It can be frustrating and add a lot of time to dinner. Additionally, they don't look upon people who ask for silverware kindly. Two separate times I've felt awkward because of the needs of someone in our party. In the first instance, there were 6 of us and we couldn't all reach the plate (which is too big to keep passing back and forth). We asked for forks so we could put the food on our plates and then use the bread to eat it. They first brought us 3 forks for 6 people. We had to ask for more. The second time was worse. We had a sort-of germaphobe with us (why he came was a different story). To respect his feelings, we all would fork the food onto our plates and eat with the bread. When I first asked for forks, our server asked if I knew the food was meant to be eaten with our hands. I said yes. She came back with 3 forks (something out this place and 3 forks). I asked for more and she asked how many. I said 6. She said "You should eat like Ethopians." I said "Most of us will, but we're being respectful of others who would prefer to use a fork." She just nodded and walked away. I personally feel like one explanation is enough (just in case we didn't know) but I definitely felt awkward the second time around.

My Honey, S-I-L, & B-I-L went to this restaurant for my birthday,I was pleasantly surprised how good the food is. The staff is very friendly, the food was just the right amount . LOVED THE GREENS. And we ate with our fingers.

I was in Chicago as part of a vacation. I chose Ethiopian Diamond based on reviews, and because my other restaurant choices were all expensive. Ethiopian is reliably inexpensive, or mid-priced. My girlfriend and I are both gluten free, and Ethiopian Diamond's gf injera was the best I've ever had, easily. I've had gf injera two other times, both in Colorado, and both were just OK. When gf injera is not available, I'll usually get rice, which definitely is a lesser experience. Anyway, the servers were very occupied with a huge table for some church event. Regardless, our food and drinks arrived promptly. The food (I got some mix platter, can't remember which one) was very good and strongly flavored. The mead (honey wine) was excellent, and not too sweet. The atmosphere is genuinely ethnic, yet very comfortable. For anyone who likes Ethiopian, both my girlfriend and I would easily recommend this place.

First time in an Ethiopian restaurant, the food was delicious, the prices adequate, the service ok. Just prepare yourself that no silverware is used unless you specifically ask for it.

Our second visit was a tad disappointing. The lamb and beef cubes were not tender at all. We'll give it one more try, otherwise we'll go back to the other place just down the road.

Great on Friday nights when you have live music.

A friend and I went here for dinner on her suggestion. I hadn't been here in probably a decade and I'm sorry for that. It was DELICIOUS! We ordered the milder Doro Tibs (chicken) and it was moist, flavorful and I would have loved more of it (that being said, at first you think when you see your food arrive that it won't be enough, but I was very full afterwards)! We also had the Vegetarian Sampler and everything with that was fantastic as well. It comes with a nice amount of Injera bread to eat (no silverware at the tables, but I think you can ask for some if you so desire). It's fun to eat with your hands and not as messy as you might think. We had 2 servers and they were both delightful, friendly and efficient. Prices and portions are also spot on. I had an African beer (St. George Light Ale) and I loved it! What I loved even more (and will get the next time I go) was the honey wine that my friend got. A little bit sweet (but not overly) and very refreshing, it was awesome! I am going to make sure that the time between this visit and my next isn't as long as the previous gap. The food is too good to be missed!

We went on Nov 21st evening to try this place and used Groupon ($70 deal worth $150 for 4). Here is a narration of our nightmare: 1) First they pushed us to small tables which is kind of tight for 4 people. Knowing their serving plates are big they should have more spacious tables and sitting arrangement. 2) Our company ordered the same food as we did. Our attended didn't even checked what is going on. After 45 min, I had to go myself to the manager (Rob) to request if we can get our food as our company had almost finished their food. 3) After escalation we got our food which was almost 1 hour after we ordered our food. 4) Our company finished their food and then our food was served we had very tight space. No attendant came to check and take the plates away. Our company had to pick her own place to take it one of the attendants to take it away. Shame on you guys! 5) Lastly, we got our desert and only 3 people got their forks. I am not sure how to eat ice-cream with my hands! 6) At the end, insult to injury and kind of a slap on our face manager gave us 10% discount (I would keep minimum 20% tip) on the bill (Which was already paid). We had to go to manager how is he planning to give us that discount since it's prepaid. He had no answer. (Smart move Mr. Rob!) 7) Finally, manager (Rob) said maybe they can put it on the gift card. Does he expects us to come back to a place after such a bad experience? This money doesn't even pay food for 1 person's dinner. So, we had to ask him that we don't need that money and give that to our attendant. For a restaurant which charges $150 for 4 people is by no means qualify for a cheap restaurant. If you want to enjoy and have a better dining experience then this is definitely not a place for you.

Never having eaten Ethiopian food before, my wife and I were very excited to try this place on our visit to Chicago. We consider ourselves adventurous eaters and really enjoy trying things that are new and different. This restaurant definitely fit the bill. The first thing I noticed...no utensils. Who knew eating with your hands could be so fun though? I couldn't honestly tell you what all we ate, but we went with the "Taste of Ethiopia" combination suggested on the menu. It was great and your plate, made of a bread like substance with a very unique and sponge-like texture, was also conveniently edible. My wife absolutely loved the sweet honey wine and I enjoyed the Ethiopian and Kenyan beers they had. On the whole, we found the food delicious, the servers friendly, and the experience of eating with our hands a great deal of fun. I think it would be a great restaurant for a date night. What better way to enjoy an evening with your companion than the shared tactile experience of sinking your hands in to...well, you're not really sure what, but it tastes good anyway.

This place lives up too its name, it's one of edgewater jewels. The food is good, the atmosphere is celestial, and the staff is very friendly.

i like vee's down the street better, but this is good.

We have been going to Ethiopian Diamond for a number of years, and have never been disappointed. The staff helps walk you through the menu, making it easy to order even if you have never had Ethiopian food. We love spices, and try something a little different every time we go. We are now, unfortunately about 80 miles away, but if we are in Chicago we try to drop in, we are never disappointed. Have taken people here that have less adventurous spirit towards food, and they love it too!

We actually had this at a catering event elsewhere, but it's worth a review just to say how consistently good this place has been for over a decade. Prices have gone up accordingly, but the food tastes as good as it smells and has really raised the profile of Ethiopian food nationally, in my humble opinion.

I saw this restaurant reviewed on a TV show-Check Please. So we tried it....everything here is delicious and fresh! The atmosphere is authentic and the waits people are wonderful. They are so helpful and pleasant. They have amazing food too! I love the vegetarian assortment platter. You get spicy "Fish" and lentils and greens. The appetizers are excellent too! Children and large parties are welcome. And there are always several quiet nooks for couples to have a nice romantic dinner also.

What a fabulous find! In the Edgewater neighborhood midway between Chicago and Evanston is a place with absolutely delicious, authentic Ethiopian cuisine. (They also have another location.) My boyfriend and I had the "Taste of Ethiopia" Tibs Sampler, which came completely gluten-free with servings of lamb, chicken, beef, numerous vegetarian items, and injera (a sourdough pancake-looking bread made out of teff flour). We both like all kinds of "ethnic" foods from different parts of Asia and Latin America, but have seldom had the opportunity to experience Ethiopian (I've eaten at one other Ethiopian restaurant- in Boston- but Diamond was much, much more flavorful and delicious.) We both particularly liked three of the vegetable dishes in the sampler- the spinach, the collard greens, and especially the cabbage- all of which tasted different from and better than any other dish I've eaten made with those. The only spicy item in the sampler was the lentils- really good, but (or "and" if you like it hot!) really really spicy hot, with seasonings I didn't recognize. My only 2 criticisms are that some of the lamb pieces were tough, and the service was on the slow side.

Taking my Greek Orthodox husband with was the best idea as the Ethiopians are Greek Orthodox. We got the incense with our coffee just for sharing the culture. Nonetheless, the food was good. The Injera was the perfect bread for the food. I did not like the whole fried tilapia or the lamb, but the vegeterian dishes and the chicken rocked. Something to be said about African beer. Really good!

Delightful staff will serve you a delicious cornucopia of food. Very large menu. I highly suggest reservations. The meals are a bit pricey, but worth it. Try the mead, delicious spiced tea and coffee as Ethiopia is known as the mother of coffee. Many vegan dishes to choose from.

This is as much about an experience as it is about the food. You will enter into the Ethiopian culture during your meal. It truly is a lot of fun. In my opinion this is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Chicago. If you have never had Ethiopian food, it is very had to explain because it really is not like any other cuisine. I would recommend the either the Tour of Ethiopia or the Taste of Ethiopia. Both of these will come with different dishes so you can try a variety of options. I would also recommend the honey wine, tea, or coffee. All three are amazing. If you go on a Sunday, there is free street parking.

Oh my god! From the owners to the food you feel like you are at home. I have never eaten anything there I did not love. Another great place for vegetarians and non. When you are there you must have some home made honey wine...

I love love love Ethiopian food! In fact, so much so that I drive all the way from the South Loop just about every week to Ethiopian Diamond! The service is always great, never have to wait and the food is delicious!

Some construction and slower traffic on Sheridan on the way here. Parking is a challenge. We found a spot on the residential street by it on Glenlake avenue. We ordered the vegetarian sampler for two, diamond salad, chicken sambusa and lentil sambusa, dorot tibs wat and some cinnamon tea too. No hot cloth here, our waiter told us our food would be out shortly. The chicken sambusa was good with the sauce, the lentil wasn’t bad either. The royal salad is carrot, cucumber, leaf lettuce and their citrus dressing. The timitim is my favorite Ethiopian salad. The chicken tibs was good, greasy berbere, but flavorful as expected. The red lentil, cabbage were my too two favored dishes. The chickpea dumpling had an odd texture to me. The potatoes, cabbage, collard greens are all decent. Quite the friendly staff here. We were told which one was the chicken, even though it’s evident. The staff that took our order couldn’t believe we didn’t want any injera. He asked how we were going to eat our food, we said we would eat it with a fork or spoon.

This was the best experience I have had. The atmosphere, staff and food were excellent. Ordered a vegetarian sampler for 2 added a lamb dish and a chicken dish all served on a big platter for 5 of us to share. Ordered the Honey Wine, did not enjoy as much as others have but worth the try. Would definitely recommend and will return ASAP.

best african food in the city...especially if you like ethiopian. i used to live and work in africa and when i came home to chicago, this was where i always wanted my first meal upon landing. the service is fantastic and very hospitable. the food is always perfect from my experience. the shared dishes they offer have great variety of flavors. the ethiopian import beverages are still at a reasonable price. the only downfall i find, is the lighting is typically too bright for evening dining but it is a great lunch spot.

I love Ethiopian food and this restaurant did not disappoint. I thought that the chicken Doro Wat, Lamb Tibs, collard greens, and timatim salata (tomato salad) were particularly good. I do like my Shiro Wat to be slightly more garlicy and oniony and my injera to be a lot more sour, but the dishes were, for the most part, spot on. Service was very friendly and charming.

This is a great place to try various Ethiopian dishes and flavors. A very unique dining experience. Staff is friendly and attentive.

Ethiopian Diamond is our family's favorite restaurant! We drive an hour from the suburbs to come here as often as we can. We are vegetarian and the options for us are extremely delicious and also healthy. We've tried other Ethiopian restaurants but this one is by far the best!

Very good authentic Ethiopian food here. The imjera (bread) took a little getting used to but other than that the food was excellent and very well seasoned.

This is hands down my favorite restaurant. The food is incredible and the staff is wonderful. Kay Watt (spicy beef) and Doro Tibs Watt (spicy chicken) are my go-to favorites. The Yemesir Watt, or spicy veggie lentils are also out of this world. On the weekends it's crowded, but the wait is never long. They also usually have music on Fri and Sat, which makes for a great atmosphere, and best of all isn't so loud that you can't have a great conversation. I will return to this place many, many times for years to come!

Good service, Good food, GREAT place !!

The restaurant is big and tidy. we had a warm welcome. We ordered complete vegetarian food and the food was served in Ethiopian style of community eating. The food was tasty and injera's served were delicious. Eating with hands in a single big plate was a good experience and we enjoyed it. Honey wine is tasty and worth trying. Note: If you are an Indian, you will notice the items to be similar to some of the Indian dishes.

It was my first visit to an Ethiopian restaurant but the people I went with had eaten in Ethiopian restaurants before both in Chicago and other cities. The food was tasty, however, my friends felt it was overpriced. Also, we were a large group and there was some confusion about the bill, which was ultimately resolved satisfactorily.

Nice food, but too expensive for what it is and what it costs to prepare. Over $50 for lunch for two is waaaaaaaaaaay too much for Ethiopian, particularly given the fact that neither of us had any red meat, drinks, etc. Nice staff; good service--but the prices are too high.

Good food. The Ethiopian restaurant you want to go to if you have a large group of friends because it is quite spacious. The staff is always courteous and they will answer your questions. Try an Ethiopian beer or the honey wine, both are very good!

Best Ethiopian in Chicago. Child-friendly; friendly and prompt service. Lots of dishes to choose from. Many Ethiopians eat here.

We walked in and immediately felt like this space was one where you could take your time eating and where you could enjoy a great conversation. We were right. We ordered the spinach sambusas for an appetizer and the vegetarian combination. It had Shimbra Assa, Yemisir Wat, Kik Alicha, Gomen, Quosta, and Tekel Gomen. Every dish was so full of flavor and each was so different from the other. The Injera was so light and spongy. The wait staff was very nice. I was sad that they had run out of Ethiopian beer, but that just means we will be going back for certain to try it.

First visit. Great experience! Went with meat and veggie sampler. The lamb was our favorite overall. Their version of injera bread not as sour as others (a plus). The Tusker lager was very good. Very friendly and attentive service. Highly recommended.

Eating out with vegan friends will not be a problem anymore. Ethiopian Diamond offers a wide variety of vegetarian and omnivore dishes. If you don't know anything about Ethiopian food, they offer several tasting menus that are great introductions to the various flavors of the cuisine. Great service too.