This is one if the decent Ethiopian restaurants in the area. Their food is good and this place is BYOB so don’t forget to bring your bottle. The place has average ambience, but food is worth trying for. Love their Katenga and most of all veggie entrees. Our server was sweet and engaging. Was suggesting when we asked for her input. I found this place little pricey than it should be but overall good food and good service

Amazing food. Fabulous flavors and SO many delicious dishes to try. Also so much food!! I brought 15 people here for my rehearsal dinner. Everyone enjoyed it. Recommend ordering the sampler plates for 2-4 people and letting the staff decide what dishes to include. That's what we did, and we tried a total of 10 different dishes at just one table of 8 people. We were stuffed with food leftover.

The best Ethiopian food around in NJ Each dish is unique and the platter serves as the best sampler to Ethiopian cuisine The staff are friendly and welcoming to talking to you about the food, Ethiopia and the culture

A friend recommended we try this spot for incredible Ethiopian cuisine and it did not disappoint. The ambience is relaxed yet well appointed and only slightly indicates the ethnicity of the menu. It's not overly decorated like a TGIF's etc. It's low key elegance adds to the coziness of the restaurant. The staff is friendly and attentive. The chef is on view through the glass working his magic. The food was both well presented visually appealing as it was flavourful and delicious. We enjoyed the three meat combo that was incredible. We've found our new goto spot when craving authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Highly recommend if this is on your bucket list to make reservations now.

Absolutely amazing food and best service. Everything from the appetizers to the entrees were freshly prepared. Service was prompt and friendly. Not the best dessert options but not the reason I came. Will definitely be back!

One of the best Ethiopian Food experience I’ve had in the East cost! Great service and great food! Coffee hit the spot also! Definitely a must visit in NJ!

Exceptional service and the best Ethiopian authentic food I ever had in the East Coast. Also has great range of vegetarian options. Not to forget the Ethiopian coffee, which was a treasure! Worth every penny! Can’t wait to visit again!

Absolutely wonderful! This was our first time experiencing Ethiopian food, and we all loved it! We ordered the entrée that serves 4 people, which were 9 vegetarian dishes for a reasonable price. We had asked the waitress and she gave us great suggestions and we loved everything! We will definitely be going there often!

I do not write review usually but this place forced me so much. Best place to eat left over food… morning food served with smile :) I ordered highly priced MEAT combo total bill 42$ ( including taxes) 3 VEG- 1. MISIR WOT - ( Yellow lentil daal without tadka) 2. DINICH ALICHA ( boiled ALU GAJAR sabji) 3. SIMBRA ASSA WOT( chickpeas paste without spices) 3 NON-VEG - 4. DORO WOT - ( warm 1 chicken drumstick with some bland masala) 5. DORO ALICHA ( Cold 1 chicken drumstick with half cooked onions with ok type masala) 6. YEHBEG ALICHA ( room temperature lamb taste ok ) Everything you have to eat with cold INGERAS ( Dosa)

I was passing through the city on my way back from Manhattan and decided to order takeout from here, as I love Ethiopian food. This restaurant did not disappoint! The injera was warm and tangy, and the tibs and the begi were so well cooked that they practically melted in your mouth. Everything was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The food is well worth the price. I will definitely be making the drive here again.

Food was good but portions were not worth the price at all. Service was mediocre. We were new to the place and asked for recommendations and the waitress was not helpful in explaining the menu. We were a large party and had a pretty large bill but we felt rushed the entire time with a 7:30 reservation closing at 9pm. Then before we can even finish our coffee the waitress comes and asks us to leave because they're closing. The charged a bottle opening fee, a sharing fee, and credit card fee. All on top of a pricey menu cost for barely enough to share in the 1st place. Although we enjoyed the food, haven't plans of returning.

Tried Ethiopian cuisine for the first time and it was refreshing and delicious. Must try their Samusa and I took vegetarian platter for two which included 5 vegetarian dishes.

Finally, good clean vegan food I can enjoy! Fast and pleasant service. Parking is challenging, but it's that area.

My wife and I don't eat enough to order two main courses. This is one of the few places where there is a $10 plate charge. They then calculate the tip so you tip on the plate charge. The food here is good.

Delicious!!! If you haven't tried it you should!! The coffee was delicious, like espresso shot but tasted much better, friendly service, you can grab meals for 2-3 at a reasonable price. I love the decor and vibe.

It was our first time trying Ethiopian Cuisine. I had heard a lot about this place. Last week I got a chance to visit this place and try their amazing food. The ambience is nice and simple. There are wide range of vegetarian dish options available. Their food is amazing. It was very tasty. Service is also quick and helpful if you’re new at this place.

OMG! This is honestly one of the best Ethiopian restaurants that I have dined at. I love Ethiopian food and consider myself somewhat a connoisseur. I’ve eaten Ethiopian food at restaurants in Atlanta, Washington DC, Houston, Dallas, Baltimore, San Diego, Las Vegas, Tampa, the Carolina’s, Connecticut and a few more. The flavor in this food is awesome. There is nothing canned or frozen about any of these vegetables. It is the best I’ve had! I was pleasantly and scrumptiously surprised!

My wife and I were in for dinner one night and I wasn’t that hungry and my wife wanted to have a veggie platter for one (which is a valid option on their menu) but then we were told that there would be a 10 dollar charge just because we were two people. The irony is that the for 2 option is only 8 bucks more. I’ve had ton of Ethiopian food and I love it. The food here is honestly decent but the service and atmosphere doesn’t really work. The waitress was visibly uncomfortable letting us know that there will be a 10 dollar charge. What’s the point? Let diners have their will. So what if people even end up sharing? It’s 8 bucks. Is that really worth killing the vibe? The place is smack in the middle of a busy street and the few times I’ve been here they’re never really that busy. It’s small wonder that it’s the case. One star for service because every time I come here, I don’t even get served water unless I specifically ask for it. For prices they charge, you could get much better service and atmosphere in comparable joints. Disappointed.

Fantastic food, lots of vegan & gluten free options. The ambience is really cozy and the service is excellent. Depending on the time of day you go parking might be difficult but there are nearby parking garages. When we went for lunch there was street parking around the corner, for dinner we parked in a lot.

It was my first eating Ethiopian food. It was very good and the service was perfect too.

Food was good overall but we brought our own wine and the uncorking fee was a bit wacky. Waitress said she had to charge a $6 uncorking fee per bottle. Our table had 2 bottles, 1 of which was a twist off cap. For the other, the waitress set a corkscrew down on the table for us to open and pour the wine ourselves. If the establishment is going to charge an uncorking fee, at least open the bottle for the table!

Overall a solid experience. Staff is extremely friendly and the decor is nice. One can dine indoors or outdoors. The food is decent to above average with the vegetarian dishes being better than the meat dishes. I felt the meat dishes were a little too oily. I would say that the top spots in Harlem and in DC are better… but this place will fix up any Ethiopian food cravings that you have. We tried the sampler dish that had a choice of 5 meat based dishes and 5 vegetarian dishes. I would go back for another meal.

One of the most unique dining experiences in New Brunswick and one of the few places for authentic Ethiopian food in NJ. We ordered the family platter for 4 as well as the Katinga appetizer (spiced Injera with cheese spread, it was delicious). The sampler let's you choose 5 meat and 5 veggie entrees to share with sides of Injera. My favorite veggie entrees were the slow stewed collard greens, the cabbage, and the chickpea with spices blend. Naturally ordered an Ethiopian coffee as well and it was a delicious and strong roast. Definitely a highlight of the food scene in New Brunswick and a unique dining experience, I'll definitely be coming again and bringing friends to introduce (and impress) them!

Was super excited to try this place while in town. Sat down and the service was excellent. The food tasted great too. But just a couple hours after eating here I got a violent case of food poisoning. Don’t know if it was undercooked or what. But I will not be back. Also, price for the size meal I had was a bit much. I love Ethiopian and eat it wherever I can find it but I don’t remember paying this much anywhere I’ve been.!

The food here is amazing. Service felt slow initially. We had ordered tea and while waiting for tea we had made a decision on what to order. We began to feel antsy when the waitress did not come over to take our order. However, she eventually came when the tea was ready. I will chalk it up to the fact that we made it clear that we were new and that she probably wanted to take our order when the tea was brought to us. Afterwards the food came quickly and our waitress came by multiple times to check up on us. She answered all of our questions and gave us recommendations based on what kind of food we wanted. The food was savory with the right amount of spice. Portions were good. We had a little bit to take home but did not feel inundated with food. Will definitely come back again. This is a hidden gem at Rutgers.

Dashen was a delight. I favor some of the dishes more than others...the shiro, yellow split peas, and salad are particularly good! Server was nice and cleaned a table so we could sit at our preferred spot. Soda is overpriced for being in a can.

"Dashen Ethiopian restaurant in New Jersey is a hidden gem that truly captured the essence of Ethiopian cuisine. As an Ethiopian myself, I was delighted to find a place that felt like a taste of home. The authentic flavors of the food transported me back to Ethiopia. The Kitfo was perfectly seasoned and had just the right amount of spice. The Special Tibse was a burst of flavors with its tender meat and aromatic spices. Both dishes were cooked to perfection, showcasing the skill and expertise of the chef. The service was impeccable, with the staff being attentive and friendly. The ambiance of the restaurant was cozy and inviting, making it an ideal place for both a casual dinner or a special occasion. If you're looking to embark on a culinary journey and savor the flavors of Ethiopia, Dashen restaurant is a must-visit. It has quickly become my go-to spot for authentic Ethiopian cuisine in New Jersey." ⭐⭐⭐⭐➕

Dashen Ethiopian restaurant provided a memorable dining experience that transcended our expectations. The combination of exceptional food, outstanding service, and a romantic atmosphere made it the perfect choice for our visit to New York/New Jersey area. I highly recommend Dashen to anyone looking for an unforgettable culinary journey. This restaurant truly knows how to create a special, memorable dining experience. We’ll be back for sure!