Megenagna Ethiopian Restaurant

YUMMY! Ok so, the service was a little slow but the place was very busy when I arrived and there was only one woman holding down the fort. The menu was pretty simple so it was easy to make up my mind about what I wanted. Once ordered my food came out in a decent amount of time with plenty of injera. I’ve found at other Ethiopian restaurants sometimes they can be a little lite with the injera so I have to keep asking for more. The portion was enough to take home for dinner the next day. They also serve coke in a glass bottle which I love. This location is a bit of a drive for me but it’s definitely closer than colfax. I can’t wait to return!

If you stumble into the grocer next door don’t worry your close just use the side door. Awesome food and more than filling for the two of us. The range of spices was great! Also check back by the grocer on your way out for some pastries.

If you’ve never had Ethiopian food before, then this may very well be the best place to start. I usually evaluate a restaurant on four scales: atmosphere, service, food, and price… They nailed every one! TLDR; love the cabana feel, slow food revolution, nice people, try the veg plate, prices are just right. For those of you interested in a little more rounded review, here goes:
Atmosphere — It felt like I was stepping into a different world when I came in here with my husband. We seated ourselves under one of the indoor cabanas, admiring the tropical style and smooth wooden tables. Temperature was comfortably cool, suitable for spicier dishes that were soon to come. Lighting was dark enough for a romantic dinner setting, but light enough to see what you’re doing.
Service — going to ethnic restaurants requires some knowledge of the native culture. Luckily, we’d been introduced to Ethiopian culture before– its very «warm.» They take their time, and we had been urged before to slowly savor our food, sit and talk for a while– so it wasn’t surprising to me that they took a while to come by and take our order, and didn’t interrupt often so that we could enjoy each other’s company. When our waitress did attend to us, she made sure our waters were filled, and asked us if the food was alright. She was sweet and personable, and kindly dealt with my usual abundance of questions.
Food — Phenomenal. We ordered the vegetable plate and medium rare kitfo. The injera was tart and plentiful, and no, there are no forks and spoons just given. (Not sure if one could ask, but why bother– try using that injera!) I was blown away by the expert combination of spices, but also highly recommend the veg plate to newcomers to the cuisine. The varied flavors are easy to love, with cauliflower, garbanzo beans, salad greens and more.
Price — I apologize that I actually dont have the prices, as we ate here a few weeks ago, but I do remember thinking that it was a very good price, especially considering the portion sizes. I honestly had enough food leftover to feed us dinner for another night (what to do with all that leftover injera? Whip up your own dish at home with some tomatoes, onions, garbazo beans, and curry spice in a frying pan, then enjoy!)
BOSS BONUS — When we finished our excellent meal, we wandered over to the conjoined marketplace to look around. We had the pleasure of running into the owner, Ben, who was immediately interested in our experience. He was also warm and friendly, and shared some advice about how to use some of the spices for sale, including bereberie and mitmita.
Summary — excellent score all the way around, best for a night when you have some time to sit and relax. This is NOT a fast food place, so take your time! Highly recommend the vegetable plate, and also check out the bathrooms too– very nicely designed. (Seriously you wont be dissapointed.)

This was exactly the Ethiopian dining experience I had been craving since coming to CO. The atmosphere is casual and welcoming — nothing fancy. However, the food is outstanding.
We had the vegetable platter, mogne beef tibs and kitfo (rare — otherwise why bother?).
Everything was delicious and high quality — definitely above average. A few things exceeded expectations and will bring me back here again and again.
First, the injera was unlike any I’ve had before. It appeared to be whole wheat — darker than average in any case — and had a perfect sourdough flavor. The mogne tibs were new to me — a savory, spicy tomato and rosemary sauce that I’ve not tried before. The kitfo was fantastic. I’m a bit of a kitfo connoisseur and I rate this among the best, if not the best, I’ve had. (My bases of comparison are mostly DC and NY.) The beef was very fresh and had a beautiful balance of spices: cardamom, berbere, ?
I look forward to returning.

Authentic favors and wonderful service. My only Ethiopian restaurant away from home.

I work right across the street, so Meganagna is my go-​to Ethiopian place for lunch. The Awaze Tibs have never disappointed. Just the right amount of heat, just perfection.
I took my Ethiopian son and his friend for lunch there over Christmas break and my son and I ordered the Tibs and his friend ordered totally off the menu. I still have no clue what he ordered, but it was seriously the best thing I’ve had that wasn’t in Ethiopia. So, so good.
I stop at the grocery here and there for coffee and injera. I’m not what I consider a regular, but the cashier always calls out «Hi Kelley» when I walk in. I always have to look around to see who she’s talking to, because I can’t figure out how her memory is so good.
We really love Megenagna and I would highly recommend it!

Sharing a space in Aurora with the grocery of the same name, Megenagna Restaurant offers multiple varieties of two dishes which are much loved across the East African nation of Ethiopia.
Unlike the majority of Ethiopian eateries in town whose owners are members of the Amhara ethnic group, the proprietors of Megenagna belong to the Gurage group from the country’s southwest. And in fact, one of their signature dishes, Kitfo, is Gurage in origin. Besides the most famous iteration (consisting of ground, impeccably fresh raw beef, cottage cheese and mixed greens), Megenagna also offers a completely vegetarian rendition (greens and cheese only) and even a version (Tikur Kitfo) where the beef is stewed. Although usually served with the famed teff-​based flatbread called Injera, they sometimes also offer the equally tasty Qocho (bread made from fermented enset [false-​banana plant] starch).
Megenagna’s second selection, Tibs, is at times referred to as «Ethiopian-​style fajitas» and this is in fact an amazingly accurate description. You can choose from a number of meats (short ribs, rib-​eye steak, lamb…), preparations (sliced, cubed, chopped, left-​on-​the-​bone…), and sauces (Awaze [hot pepper], Senafitch [mustard], Niter Kibbeh [clarified butter]…), but no matter what you settle on, the ingredients of your choice will be lovingly combined with onions, tomatoes, jalapeños and a bit of rosemary before the whole thing is skillet-​sizzled, culminating in a very memorable meal. It’s a winner, and you can round things off even more nicely with some fresh-​roasted coffee and an in-​house pastry selection from Omonoia Greek Bakery.

My husband and I have regularly enjoyed Ethiopian food for the past decade and were excited to try Megenagna’s Kifto after reading the excellent review in Westword (where it was named in Denver’s 100 best dishes). When we arrived there was only one other occupied table, yet the server had no real interest in serving us. We shrugged it off and tried to be patient, even when she suggested that based on our appearance (see: not Ethiopian) we should order the kifto «medium», unlike the traditional and highly recommended «rare». We ordered it rare anyway and enjoyed it (although there was way too much for 2 people).
I’m writing this review the next morning because neither of us are yet feeling quite right. I don’t want to go so far as to say it was food poisoning because neither of us have been violently ill, but we feel less-​than-​great nevertheless.
I’ll never be turned off Ethiopian cuisine, but I will never go back to Megenagna’s.

Great atmosphere and reasonably priced. Got an order of awaze tibs and a selection of veggies and lentils. Everything was really nicely spiced. Generous portions too. The staff is very friendly and their grocery store next door is nice too.

Food is delicious, especially the collard green and cheese. They only disappointment is no lamb.

This place opened about one month ago as an extension to the Megenagna Grocery store. They have fantastic Kitfo; best I’ve ever had. They also sell some really good pastries in the grocery store. Limited menu at this point, but what they are cooking is exceptional.