Ethiopian Diamond makes incredible food that's brimming with flavor. It's well worth a visit to the north side of Chicago to try it!
Ethiopian Diamond is one of my all-time favorite restaurants anywhere, not just in Chicago.
I’ve been three separate times over the years, and each time has been just as good as the time before! One time was at the start of an epic road trip out to the Badlands, Yellowstone, and the Grand Canyon. And yet even with all that in view, this restaurant stood out.
Here's what to know if you've never tried Ethiopian food before, or have never ventured to this particular Chicago restaurant.
Getting There
The restaurant is on North Broadway in Chicago, just a few blocks from Lake Michigan. It's about a 20-minute drive from the downtown area.
There's a metro stop that's about a 5-minute walk from the restaurant.
The last two times I’ve visited, we drove and were able to find free parking in a nearby residential area.
What Does Ethiopian Food Taste Like?
Well, you’ll have to try it and find out! That said, if you love other heavily spiced foods, such as Indian curries, Thai curry or even Jamaican jerk food, Ethiopian food should be on your list to try.
(I have not found it to be “spicy” heat-wise, just heavily seasoned in the best way possible.)
Ethiopian food is typically eaten with your fingers instead of a fork. You use the spongy injera bread to scoop up the food. There's a gluten-free version of the bread available if you want it.
Our Favorite Dishes at Ethiopian Diamond
Check out the menu online for current pricing.
We start by ordering Ethiopian hot tea, which is black tea with added cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves — nice and fragrant.
There's also a range of cocktails and an Ethiopian beer brand (a lager) available.
We love the sambusas, which are similar to samosas: pastries filled with seasoned meat, lentils or veggies and served with a dipping sauce. They're a great appetizer.
For an entrée on my latest visit, I ordered the vegetarian sampler. It's beautifully presented! From all the options on the plate, the cabbage, lentils and collard greens are my favorites.
My favorite entrée to recommend to adventurous seafood lovers is the whole fried tilapia (Asa special). (This one was slightly spicier than some of the other menu items.)
Not able to make it to this restaurant yet? Some of our favorite at-home seafood recipes are tilapia tacos, fish coconut curry soup, and spicy salmon poke.
There are lots of other choices — I hope to eventually try more of them whenever life takes me to Chicago! If you get to go to Ethiopian Diamond yourself, please check back in and let me know what your favorites are.
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