Uchenna Ethiopian Restaurant — Restaurant in Colorado Springs

This restaurant is a true gem and an absolute must-visit in Colorado Springs. We dined there on a Tuesday evening at 6 PM after making a same-day reservation around 11:30 AM. Out of all the places we visited during our five-day trip to Denver and Colorado Springs, this was by far our favorite.

The food was exceptional. We ordered the Doro Wat (chicken) and Yebeg Alecha (lamb) as our main dishes. Each entree came with injera (Ethiopian bread), Misser Alecha (red lentils), Misser Wat (yellow lentils), and Atakilt (mixed vegetables). The injera had a soft and slightly tangy flavor that was delicious even on its own. We were impressed by both the Misser Alecha and the Misser Wat — rich, flavorful, and deeply satisfying. The chicken was tender, and the sauce was so good. I could finish the sauce with the injera alone. The lamb was well-seasoned and aromatic. Wrapping the meats and sides in injera brought all the flavors together beautifully — each bite was packed with spice, tang, and comfort. We also loved our drinks (Rose Water infused Lemonade and Orange Blossom Iced Tea), which had delicate floral notes. For dessert, the baklava was outstanding — crisp, flaky layers, a bold nutty flavor, and just the right touch of sweetness from the honey syrup.

The atmosphere added even more to the experience. The restaurant was filled with traditional Ethiopian decorations and artwork (out of respect for the artists, we refrained from taking photos), and soft music played in the background. The vibe was warm, cozy, and calm — ideal for a family gathering or a quiet meal with friends.

What truly made this place unforgettable, though, was the owner’s hospitality. From the way she interacted with guests, it was clear that many were returning customers. She took the time to share aspects of Ethiopian culture with us and even offered small samples to help us decide on spice levels. Since it was our first time, she also taught us how to eat the dishes properly — a gesture we really appreciated.

In short, this restaurant offers an unbeatable combination of flavorful food, a welcoming atmosphere, and genuinely kind people. The prices are also very reasonable. For me, this place became one of the most memorable parts of our trip — it's the first time I’ve missed a place because of a restaurant. I already can't...

My youngest son and I were on the first leg of our eight national park tour of the west. We drove from Chicago to Arvada Colorado; our initial base camp, then the following day we visited Great Sand Dunes National Park in Mosca. Heading home after hiking for five hours in 96 degree August Rocky Mtn. heat and sand, I asked Petar about looking for a place to stop on our way back to Denver. He located Uchenna Ethiopian Restaurant in Colorado Springs.

At first glance I wasn't so sure about the place. It's tucked into the corner of a strip mall with minimal signage to let you know, you've arrived. Once in the restaurant it's small but welcoming with a lot of ethnic Ethiopian artwork and traditional table cloths and napkins. The atmosphere Is more like coming home than being a guest in a restaurant. Maja came to our table to take our order and offer some direction about what meal would be best for two hungry men.

Petar had the Yebere Wat (beef tenderloin), while I enjoyed the Yebeg Alecha (lamb). Petar asked for silverware, but instructed by Maya that you use the Injera (crepe like Ethiopian flat bread) instead. Not any different than you might. sopp up a stew or yummy rue.

I chose to have mine spicy. I've read of others that thought their meals were really spicy. I like spicy... REALLY SPICY, although I felt the lamb was balanced and not all that spicy. That said, we both really enjoyed the meals which were filling and delicious. I've had great Ethiopian meals back home in Chicago, but this was unique and better than many others. I wish I had the foresight to take photo's before, although you can now see how tasty the meals were by how I cleaned the dish wear of my meal, LOL.

What's the best part of Uchenna? The food definitely shines. However it's Maya with her charm and willingness to share conversation about stories of her homeland and family that make our visit more than simply a great meal. She is engaging to know your story as much as sharing hers. As I mentioned earlier, it's like coming home to spend time talking with your Mom and having a phenominal meal as much as a memorable visit.

Now if there were a sofa available in a shady corner, after that meal to stretch out and enjoy being full and...

Not very nice. I asked this woman who answered the phone wether the injera was gluten free or not and she wasn't very nice. She questioned me by responded, "Teff is gluten free is it not?". And then I responded well, some recipes use gluten flours, and I'm new to Ethiopian food and I wasn't sure." And then she said something like, "We don't use this in my country so we don't talk about it..." As if I was offending her. I'm so sorry if I offended by asking what I felt was a simple question. I wasn't trying to be offensive. And then, because my daughter was walking in the door and it was a bad moment and awkward conversation, I hung up. Then I called today to see if I could order Injera and then she said, "You called yesterday and you hung up. .Hope you have a good day" and then hung up on me. This leaves me with an awful feeling in my stomach, body and soul. I feel bad but then I'm hurt because our cords were crossed and became miscommunicated. I wanted to learn about this culture but maybe it's for the best I not... :( I'm sad, disappointed and I feel like sometimes, I am discriminated against because I am white/american and sometimes we're just not liked because of that. I don't feel my phone manners are bad. I feel like we just misunderstood one another and now, this lady doesn't like me and so, while I cannot rate the food, I can rate that the service is kind of hurtful. Don't ask questions over the phone I guess..? I hadn't read about the website before I called but it's probably a good idea everyone do so before so you don't offend anyone. Good luck. I'm sorry for this review but I'm just so hurt...