Queen of Sheba Restaurant — Restaurant in Denver

We first went to this restaurant for two reasons: my daughter, and my daughter’s keen, joyful interest in research. It was her birthday, and we wanted to host a special dinner for her at the venue of her choice. And my daughter? She wanted to go to the best-reviewed Ethiopian restaurant in the city. She loves to investigate such things. As it happened, it didn’t take much research at all. The Queen of Sheba is the very best-reviewed Ethiopian restaurant in town. A cursory online search will turn up many laudatory articles published by every local media outlet - 5280 Magazine, the Denver Post, the Rocky Mountain News (RIP), and Westword. Actually, Westword had several articles about the Queen of Sheba, all of them full of praise.

I like Westword’s reviews usually, but don’t always agree with them. In this case, they were right on the money. The Queen of Sheba is a great restaurant, and my daughter had a very memorable birthday evening there.

Recently, my wife and I returned. It had been several years, but not much had changed. Still a small place on Colfax, still the odd assortment of figurines and folk art on the walls. Still run by just one woman (local legend Zodi Aboye) and her daughter. There is still the slower pace that one should always associate with Ethiopian meals, which are all still made to order. And there is still – still! – the aromatic, beautiful-to-behold, savory food.

We ordered the vegetable samosas (lentils, this time) and the meat platter for two. The large ceramic dish arrived like a work of art, both colorful and captivating. It held blackened chicken legs, soft and tender, and two servings of tibs (lean beef chunks) in a simmering brown sauce. There were small heaps of vegetables - spicy miser wott (red lentils) and smoky, garlicky atar wott (yellow split peas), tangy collard greens, and yatakelt wott (potatoes, carrots, and cabbage). Maybe there was more? It was a bit mind-boggling, so I’m not sure. There were rolls and rolls of nut-colored injera, of course, the spongy flatbread of the Horn of Africa.

I strongly recommend the Queen of Sheba, and I also endorse the slower, more personal approach practiced here. If you have time and interest, look up these two reviews from Westword, which are well-crafted and entertaining on their own merits: “Queen of Sheba on Colfax Offers a Royal Feast” by Laura Shunk (September 23, 2010) and "Wott's Happening at the Queen of Sheba on Colfax” by Mark Antonation (June 4, 2014). Excellent writing for an...

I don’t write google reviews but I feel it is my duty to share my experience.DO NOT COME HERE!!!! I live 30 minutes away from Queen of Sheba and the phone does not work so you have to come in person to place the order I guess. I drove the 30 minutes and was so excited to try this restaurant. I pre planned what I was going order so that everything would go as smooth as possible. I enter the restaurant and before I can reach the counter the owner looks me up and down (I was wearing sweats and a hoodie because I was planning on taking the food to go). I asked to place a to go order was she answered “Maybe. I can try.” I have a gluten sensitivity and selected this restaurant because the reviews and menu stated they offer gluten free enjera. When I requested the gf injera she immediately interrupted and said they don’t have that today (which happens at restaurants so sad but no big deal). I said that’s not a problem as I can just give the enjera to my partner that is not gluten free. She said she wouldn’t serve me at all because I’m gluten free. I explained to her that it’s a sensitivity and that I drove 30 minutes to try to food but was met with nothing but hostility. She said I couldn’t be trusted to not eat enjera and maybe if I bring my partner next time then she could trust me. I did start to tear up (I’m hungry and have never been treated with hostility in a restaurant to this degree) and she said “don’t be a comedian” .Take your hard earned money elsewhere. I recommend Nike...

I dream about this place. I ate there years ago with some colleagues while there on a work trip. They too LOVED the food and one told me he tried to ‘find’ the place again on his last trip to Denver but couldn’t. He should’ve asked me because I definitely remember and it’s the first spot I’ll go next time I’m in the city. What stands out most in all our memories is the AMAZING aromas. In the restaurant, as our food arrived, and when we reheated the leftovers for lunch the next day. The smell is just tantalizing. The taste was out-of-this-world delicious too. We all agreed. I had the vegetarian combo platter and I’ve used it as the benchmark for all Ethiopian food I’ve had since. No other has measured up btw, and I think I’m doomed forever to be disappointed now that I’ve eaten at Queen of Sheba. It was my first time trying Ethiopian food and it’s now one of my absolute favorites. I’ve even learned to cook one recipe myself and I make it at home for my family who loves it, although it’s certainly not as good as Queen of Sheba’s, plus I haven’t tried to make injera. The atmosphere was really nice as well. We appreciated the unhurried pace so we could talk and enjoy our food, and really ‘have a meal together’ rather than just eat.The owner/server was very welcoming and informative. You can tell how much I enjoyed this place as it’s been years since our visit and I’m still dreaming about it today, really wishing I could taste that wonderful food...