Demera is an exceptional Ethiopian restaurant that offers authentic cuisine and inviting ambiance. From the rich aroma of berbere spices to the warm hospitality of injera bread, every detail reflects the country's rich culinary heritage. The menu showcases traditional dishes like doro wat, ye-beg wot, and vegetarian-friendly options like misir wot, all bursting with flavor and served with flair. The restaurant's cozy atmosphere and attentive staff create a welcoming environment for sharing meals with friends and family. Demera promises an unforgettable dining experience, celebrating the essence of Ethiopian culture through its delicious fare.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Arman Nazir
Not the best Ethiopian food I had. Portions were small and from what was told by my friends who have been there have gotten
Tried this restaurant for the first time. It was a culinary treat! As far as I know, authentic Ethiopian cuisine is served here. My dish was superb, and the tastes I had of others were also delicious. Some spicy dishes, many mild, all with a distinctive Mediteranian/African flavor. Plenty of choices for meat eaters and vegans. I will gladly eat here again, next time I am in town!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sambussa Sampler
Laurel Chen
I haven’t had Ethiopian food in nearly ten years (it was in Minneapolis) but what I had today was even more delicious than I remembered.Went with friends who forgot the name of what they enjoyed at Demera (a year ago) so we showed the waitress a photo and she was able to recognize what it was as well as recommend a larger size to accommodate our group.So much variety: spicy beef, chicken, lamb, spinach, potatoes and zucchini, red lentils, salad, yellow lentils (it was less flavorful than everything else but tasty nonetheless).The injera is something they’ll bring more of so you don’t have to worry about running out. And the “bottom bread” as we called it, the injera at the bottom of the platter, soaked up all the flavors.Staff are nice and friendly; the vibe is cozy and welcoming.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Appetizers Messob, Family Style, Injera Flat Bread
Rick Merola
The flavors were amazing; not too intensive so it would be acceptable to all pallets. Definitely check out the cocktails and desserts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Family Style
Dhruv Mehta
They are missing consistency in their taste. It tastes different everything and is a hit or miss experience. There are times when I have had good food at Demera and others where it was barely mediocre.The serive is however always good.Vegetarian options: Shiro, Yemisir Wat, Gomen, Sambusa, etc
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Injera Flat Bread, Vegan
Emily J.
Wow this was delicious! Our party of 3 shared a vegetarian messob, which consists of your choice of 6 veggie dishes. I'm not entirely sure what all we chose (I know one was definitely lentils, one was spinach, and one was beets) but everything was so delicious and very filling. We also shared the ambasha as an appetizer with the spicy cheese which was very tasty. Highly recommend for a casual, delicious, and novel dining experience.
Briana L.
To celebrate International Women's Day, headed to Demera in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. This women's owned, black owned business serves authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Highly recommend their Vegetable Bayanetu lets you sample 9 vegetarian dishes with their iconic spongy flatbread you use to eat your meal. Plenty for 2-3 people, only $48! Love how immersive the feel is from the baskets to the music to the decor.
Demera has been on my list of places to try for SOOO long now and it was everything I hoped it would be! We ended up going for an early lunch right when they opened so we had the whole place to ourselves for a bit but it started to fill up pretty quickly! The staff is super welcoming and provides incredible service and is super attentive! The inside of the restaurant feels very homey and authentic! We ended up ordering a few different types of sambussas to start off - we tried the chicken, beef, spinach, and lentil ones. Each and every one of them was perfectly crispy on the outside and super flavorful on the inside! The spinach was definitely my favorite! It was unbelievably delicious and went PERFECTLY with the sauce! Next, we got the vegetarian messob platter + the demera messob platter (includes meats + veggies). The vegetarian platter had 4 different dishes - some made with lentils and others made with vegetables. All of them were mouthwatering and were accompanied by their famous injera - which is used to dip into all the delicious dishes. The demera messob platter came with 2 types of meats and 2 veggie dishes. The beef and chicken dishes were delicious and literally fell off the bone. They were so tender and juicy! This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and it was an amazing experience. The dishes are filling and can definitely be shared by 2 people. If not, they make for amazing leftovers for the next day! The food is so authentic and tastes like it's made at home. Absolutely loved this experience and cannot wait to go back for more!
Michael Henry
Demera was excellent. Food was incredible, wait staff was friendly and accommodating of our group of 8, and the honey wine sangria was dangerously tasty. Will absolutely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Appetizers Messob, Sambussa Sampler, Family Style
Robert K.
Demera has really great food and amazing service. We tried the sampler and it was a perfect combination to try.
Colin Nguyen
Good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Isabel Jaffe
Best Ethiopian food in the city. Also, the service is always really fast and friendly. I recommend making a reservation. This place gets packed fast!
Demera always has great food. Staff can get overwhelmed though so it's good if you aren't in a hurry and just want to chill.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Demera Messob
Great food. Staff is amazing. I always go with the sample platter and mix it up every time so I can try everything. Always delicious.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Appetizers Messob, Demera Messob, Family Style, Sambussas, Injera Flat Bread, Doro Wot
Demera is an exceptional Ethiopian restaurant that offers authentic cuisine and inviting ambiance. From the rich aroma of berbere spices to the warm hospitality of injera bread, every detail reflects the country's rich culinary heritage. The menu showcases traditional dishes like doro wat, ye-beg wot, and vegetarian-friendly options like misir wot, all bursting with flavor and served with flair. The restaurant's cozy atmosphere and attentive staff create a welcoming environment for sharing meals with friends and family. Demera promises an unforgettable dining experience, celebrating the essence of Ethiopian culture through its delicious fare.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Not the best Ethiopian food I had. Portions were small and from what was told by my friends who have been there have gotten
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Sambussa Sampler, Family Style, Injera Flat Bread, Doro Wot
Tried this restaurant for the first time. It was a culinary treat! As far as I know, authentic Ethiopian cuisine is served here. My dish was superb, and the tastes I had of others were also delicious. Some spicy dishes, many mild, all with a distinctive Mediteranian/African flavor. Plenty of choices for meat eaters and vegans. I will gladly eat here again, next time I am in town!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sambussa Sampler
I haven’t had Ethiopian food in nearly ten years (it was in Minneapolis) but what I had today was even more delicious than I remembered.Went with friends who forgot the name of what they enjoyed at Demera (a year ago) so we showed the waitress a photo and she was able to recognize what it was as well as recommend a larger size to accommodate our group.So much variety: spicy beef, chicken, lamb, spinach, potatoes and zucchini, red lentils, salad, yellow lentils (it was less flavorful than everything else but tasty nonetheless).The injera is something they’ll bring more of so you don’t have to worry about running out. And the “bottom bread” as we called it, the injera at the bottom of the platter, soaked up all the flavors.Staff are nice and friendly; the vibe is cozy and welcoming.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Appetizers Messob, Family Style, Injera Flat Bread
The flavors were amazing; not too intensive so it would be acceptable to all pallets. Definitely check out the cocktails and desserts.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Family Style
They are missing consistency in their taste. It tastes different everything and is a hit or miss experience. There are times when I have had good food at Demera and others where it was barely mediocre.The serive is however always good.Vegetarian options: Shiro, Yemisir Wat, Gomen, Sambusa, etc
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Injera Flat Bread, Vegan
Wow this was delicious! Our party of 3 shared a vegetarian messob, which consists of your choice of 6 veggie dishes. I'm not entirely sure what all we chose (I know one was definitely lentils, one was spinach, and one was beets) but everything was so delicious and very filling. We also shared the ambasha as an appetizer with the spicy cheese which was very tasty. Highly recommend for a casual, delicious, and novel dining experience.
To celebrate International Women's Day, headed to Demera in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood. This women's owned, black owned business serves authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Highly recommend their Vegetable Bayanetu lets you sample 9 vegetarian dishes with their iconic spongy flatbread you use to eat your meal. Plenty for 2-3 people, only $48! Love how immersive the feel is from the baskets to the music to the decor.
Restaurantji Recommends
Demera has been on my list of places to try for SOOO long now and it was everything I hoped it would be! We ended up going for an early lunch right when they opened so we had the whole place to ourselves for a bit but it started to fill up pretty quickly! The staff is super welcoming and provides incredible service and is super attentive! The inside of the restaurant feels very homey and authentic! We ended up ordering a few different types of sambussas to start off - we tried the chicken, beef, spinach, and lentil ones. Each and every one of them was perfectly crispy on the outside and super flavorful on the inside! The spinach was definitely my favorite! It was unbelievably delicious and went PERFECTLY with the sauce! Next, we got the vegetarian messob platter + the demera messob platter (includes meats + veggies). The vegetarian platter had 4 different dishes - some made with lentils and others made with vegetables. All of them were mouthwatering and were accompanied by their famous injera - which is used to dip into all the delicious dishes. The demera messob platter came with 2 types of meats and 2 veggie dishes. The beef and chicken dishes were delicious and literally fell off the bone. They were so tender and juicy! This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and it was an amazing experience. The dishes are filling and can definitely be shared by 2 people. If not, they make for amazing leftovers for the next day! The food is so authentic and tastes like it's made at home. Absolutely loved this experience and cannot wait to go back for more!
Demera was excellent. Food was incredible, wait staff was friendly and accommodating of our group of 8, and the honey wine sangria was dangerously tasty. Will absolutely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Appetizers Messob, Sambussa Sampler, Family Style
Demera has really great food and amazing service. We tried the sampler and it was a perfect combination to try.
Good food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best Ethiopian food in the city. Also, the service is always really fast and friendly. I recommend making a reservation. This place gets packed fast!