Delicious food, good conversational owner, great coffee at end, homey atmosphere... we will definitely be back!!
We decided to try this Ethiopian restaurant after reading the Zomato reviews, as we were in Footscray. While my initial expectation was pretty average, by the time I walked out of the place I could not be happier. Ras Dashen serves a variety of delicious Ethiopian foods and is also vegetarian friendly. I loved their barbequey lamb dish which came out with a bit of veges and injera. A cup of ginger tea after a feast of a meal was definitely a great idea and the whole thing only cost 30 bucks for 2 people. Considering the amount of foods served, friendly staff members, and the general ambience of the restaurant, it was a steal. Highly recommended!
A humble joint that makes extremely delicious food! As you enter the restaurant you are welcomed with a big smile from the host. We usually let him decide our fate on what to eat and he seems to always get it right. Just let him know of any dietary preferences or allergies and he will do the rest. The food is consistently tasty and you get a good variety of dishes and stews to go with the injera bread. The atmosphere is always warm and cozy. It can get pretty busy so I suggest to book ahead to avoid any disappointments.
Consistently great food, lots of it, and good value. Along with Konjo it is the best Ethiopian food I have yet found in Footscray, and I should go here more often.
Very friendly staff. Food came out real quick. Ordered four mains and they serve it all up with injera which is really soft. Kney wot is delicous however abit spicy. Tibs fir fir was very tender lamb. Highly recommend the misir wot and beyaynetu
Came here for Sunday lunch and was blown away by how amazing everything was. We got the fish and the beef combination dish both of which were 10/10 for taste and portion size. We also ordered the coffee which I wish I could keep drinking every single day. Service was great and the vibe of the place is so relaxing. Will definitely be back many times in future and highly recommend anybody who hasn't tried to get here ASAP!
A lovely authentic experience at Ras Dashen with Wondi (owner and waiter). We took the advice of a previous Zomato review and just asked Wondi to bring us a mixture of food for two hungry diners.
We got a mixture of meat and vegetarian dishes, alongside a variety of breads and everything was amazing. Finished off with a traditional coffee which not only tasted great, but was a nice little experience.
All of this with two alcoholic drinks for just $30 a head!
Looking forward to heading back already ☺️
Had a simply amazing dinner here last night. The whole menu looked so good so we just asked the waiter to bring us enough food for two hungry people. We got six small dishes and lots of injera and it was exactly what we needed! My standouts were the beef dish and the split pea dish while my partner loved the lentils. All round a great time with great service and a super cheap price. Will definitely be back!
One of the best spots for Ethiopian in Footscray. The owner is so sweet and the food is awesome. I always get the mixed veg platter, which recently increased in price but is still a steal at $12. While everything it comes with is good, the miser wot is my favourite. You can also order a big serve of this dish on its own (plus an abundance of fluffy, sour injerra and pita bread).
I came here with my husband for a date night after our usual Ethiopian diner had closed for the night. This place had a lot of turnover of diners in the time that we were there and 1/2 were like myself anglo-saxon here to enjoy the food, the feasts and feel of the place. All were good and although the wait for the dish seemed to take awhile, that was quickly forgotten as we filled our bellies with food. Will come again in the future
The food is amazing and the staff are very friendly! We had a great experience dinning there and will definitely go again! Highly recommended!
Came here for a late lunch with my partner. They have moved locations from Nicholson st to Barkly st. I ordered the shiro wot. Unfortunately they didn't have what I had originally wanted (tegabino shiro). Shiro wot tasted like daal (Indian lentil curry) and lacked flavour- do not recommend. My partner had the khey wot. This was very flavorsome and enjoyable. Both meals were served with 2 halves of injero (1 wholemeal and 1 white), Lebanese bread which seemed a bit stale and some salad.
First review 😊
Just had dinner here with some friends, the food is incredibly cheap, delicious and the portions are huge. The dried beef was my favourite.
Staff are incredibly friendly, welcoming and accommodating.
Will be back with friends and family for sure!
Thanks!
![Zomato]( "Recensione")
My score 4 stars. Had a late lunch at RD yesterday. Ate at the old premises a few years ago, so this was our second time. Place was 3/4 full just after 3pm & people were leaving & more groups were coming in - busy but a nice vibe. We were warmly welcomed by the owner & ordered straight away. Although we got our water & my beer soonish, our meals went a bit awol for a while. Upon realising the mistake the owner apologised & brought us a complimentary entrée while we waited for the food. The dish consisted of small squares of inerja "sandwiches" with maybe bean paste & crumbled white cheese? (whatever it was, it was delicious)! Soon after, our 2 share platters came out. Both had a small bowl of rice (don't know if that is standard as we asked for it)/small garden salad (excellent)/pita wedges & 2 large pieces of inerja bread. We asked for wholemeal inerja rather than the standard one, as we think it has more flavour. One platter had our Doro Wot which was rich & spicy - J had the boiled egg & I had the chicken. To be honest I could forgo the chicken & just eat the gravy with rice & inerja all by itself! The other platter was the Vego selection which had a beetroot dish (ok, very mild)/cabbage dish (nice texture) & 2 lentil dishes which were the stars - again could sit & eat them with inerja till the cows come home. We hate wasting food, but couldn't finish all the rice or inerja & didn't touch the pita. We took the LO inerja with us for ron.
I thought about how annoyed Spud Dutton would be seeing different cultures brushing shoulders & having a nice relaxed time in scary Melbourne - I suppose he would wriggle out of it by saying it wasn't "at night". Bill came to $31 - amazingly cheap for so much food & a beer!
This was actually a blind choice we made as the restaurant we planned to go to was shut for a private function. But what a great choice! The owner was accommodating. The food was very good. And it was a wonderful family place. Defo recommending this restaurant to everyone.
The owner was very friendly, restaurant had a nice vibe and the food was great. I ordered the vegan platter which was tasty and filling! Highly recommend the ginger tea :)
Great service and great food in an affordable price. Love the dinning environment. I will definately recommend to my friends. Will come again!!!
Great new location, fantastic food as always and such great value for money. Restaurants like this is what makes the inner west such a great place to live. Highly recommended!
This place is incredible! It is a rare pleasure to dine somewhere so warmly welcoming and the food is simply to die for. Bring your family or a few friends along and order a mixed platter - you won't be disappointed!
Love this place, no complaints! The food is always delicious and the staff are so friendly and go above and beyond. Definitely in my top 5 Ethiopian restaurants in Footscray (and I have tried a lot of them). The ginger tea is also delicious.
Absolutely love everything about this place. The food never disappoints, always fresh and delicious. The staff are always extremely accommodating.
Always happy to see the owner! Every time you go there the staff are smiling and give you space to enjoy your meal.
Food is pretty good as well
Incredible flavours, friendliest and most welcoming service, such good quality and quantity for a low price, left me feeling a very full and satisfied vegetarian :)
Delicious food and friendly service. Choose from white or brown injera to accompany your meal. The brown injera is even gluten free - made from a mix of sorghum and tef (chickpea) flour!
Amazing. We weren't sure what to order so the waiter gave us a great selection. Everything was delicious and the staff were very friendly. I had a slight cold so the ginger tea was most welcome. Can't wait to go back.
First time trying African/Ethiopian food, we honestly didn't know what to expect, but wow were blown away with the taste of the dishes.
We got 2 beef and 1 chicken curry dishes as recommended by the owner, and all of them were simply very nice, fresh and tasty.
Service was also great, everyone was just very nice, helpful and friendly. Highly recommended!
This is my favourite restaurant in Footscray and easily the best African place in the area. The food is always fresh and tasty. We always have a mixed platter with meat and vegetable dishes. If you're not sure what to choose, the host will recommend something. The service is excellent and the prices are absurdly low. For what you might pay for a so so avocado smash in a tedious Yarraville cafe, you can have a delicious meal here. Great place to unwind on a Friday night. It's often busy. Make reservations - and enjoy!
Delicious curries! We ordered a platter for four people and it was plenty. The combination of curries were chosen by our waiter and we loved them all. Very reasonable prices and nice atmosphere. Decent service.
Fantastic Ethiopian food served with heart and a friendly smile. The waiter (who i presume owns the place) I've had each time is super friendly and welcoming, and will cater to any dietary requirements. The beers are super cheap, too.
Ras Dashen was our second African food experience and we picked it based on reviews. No booking was required on a Sunday afternoon and we were seated quickly by the owner himself. We received our menus and water and ordered a mixed platter with bread. Two chefs prepared the food efficiently considering the number of guests on that day and we could dig in after 10+ minutes.
Our platter consisted of different stews made with beef, lamb, chicken, lentils/peas and veggies, two large injeras and naan breads. The stews were spicy and flavorsome and we literally cleaned up everything with the injera bread that soaks in the juices with ease.
The restaurant is quirky and clean with a caring and welcoming host. We can definitely recommend a visit.
Have tried many other options in Footscray but we keep coming back to Das Rashen. Loveliest people, most delicious food, could sit here all night.
Have celebrated many birthdays here.
My favourite is that you don't even need to choose from the menu, just let them know of any dietary requirements and you will be presented with a feast to suit!
Good food and price. But did not like that they served my friends meat dish with my vegan dishes as the meat juice was everywhere...next time I'll ask them to serve them separately. Also one of the waiters was a bit pushy and touchy..
Great Vegan options! Funky and upbeat atmosphere and the server was super friendly. I like that the menu is simple and easy to read - clearly states vegan/ vegetarian options. We got options 1,2 and 3 and left so full! Very delicious.
Great food with alot of flavour and spices. We tried the fried fish with some curry and was so delicious. Service is excellent and price is so much value. I will be back again!
Excellent service. This place definitely has a cool vibe to it. We've never had Ethiopian food before so this was something different. Probably wouldn't try it again only because it felt heavy, however definitely worth a try here.
First time trying this type of cuisine, didn't know what to expect - the previous good reviews were not off. As you walk in the door you get a good feeling from the aromas, get treated with kind service, and fed with generous portions that had been prepped with pride - felt as if I was at someone's home. Really impressed with flavours, not too heavy and over the top with oil - I'm still feeling fat (in a good way!) and happy 2 hours later, ate so much! Had a great mix of meat and veggies, waiter was happy to help us selecting a good combination. Looking forward to eat here again!
First time trying Ethiopian food and oh my! What a lovely introduction!
The flavours are beautiful, the gentleman that served us was very welcoming and you get so much value for money!
The beef dish with the injera was so tasty and the salad ..
😍😍
Healthier than I expected and will def be back!
Yum! The food was great and so was the service. We were given some recommendations on what to eat and we weren't disappointed. The beef combination dish was our favourite. We'd definitely go back here again, especially when it only cost $36 to feed the both of us including two beers.
Great food, great atmosphere, great customer service, and AMAZING Ethiopian coffee!!!!!! There is nothing to fault about Ras Dashen. My friends and I enjoyed literally everything.
Fantastic food!
Proper portions!!
Delicious dishes!!!
Culturally cool!!!!
Exciting eating!!!!!
Magical moments!!!!!!
Fair fare!!!!!!!
Gotta go!!!!!!!!
Absolutely amazing!!!!!!!!!
Charlie Daniels (Curious Charlie)
+4.5
The only African restaurant out west with atmosphere! Warm lighting, a bar, hut deco style with kitsch decor, relevant things and then xmas baskets with things in them hanging on the wall. While small and very cozy if full, there was actually another group of other patrons which is more than any other African place we've been to in this area. Normally when we're there on a Tuesday night, there's no one around.
I've been here 4 or 5 times now, with consistently amazing food and service. Staff are all friendly and professional, food is unbelievably satisfying and the price is great too. Best Ethiopian food I've had in Footscray! Highly recommend.
Amazing food, honestly best meal I've had all year. Great decor, friendly service and guaranteed to satisfy your belly and your soul. Can't afford a holiday? Come here for a meal instead and go home refreshed and happy. Love love love it.
Came with a few people who haven’t tried Ethiopian food before. I did have a few other places on my “to-try” list, but thought this one offered the best presentation for first-timers. What I did was simply asked the waiter to recommend us dishes and he delivered well.
Christian Eliab Ratnam
+4
First time trying Ethiopian food so I'm not the best judge, the food was good. The owner was polite, friendly and went out of his way to introduce me to what was good. I opted for lamb so he introduced Tibs (diced lamb) cooked mild spicy with Injera (sour-dough risen flat bread much like the Indian dosai). Good first exposure all in all.
Impeccable service, awesome decor and incredible food.
After our first visit, my friends and I have become regulars and have also spread the word to others. EXTREMELY well priced and just absolute quality food. The owner is also a beautiful man and really gives the place a homely feel.
Highly recommended.
Perfectly spiced not too hot not too oily (unlike few Ethiopian restaurants in footscray), food was great! The owner was so lovely and interactive made most of his customers feel welcomed. We had a platter for two which included one lentil, three vegies and doro wat-chicken stew (my fav) with four injera breads+ two labenese breads not bad for twenty bucks. Ethiopian coffee small pot was served in a traditional manner with some fragrant smoke on the side. From outside the restaurant might not look that appealing but once you stepin it has this amazing vibe with their local music, deco and most importantly native Ethiopian people enjoying their meals.
Had a birthday dinner here. Loved it. $10 for a pot of coffee that has five or six espresso-sized serves (and comes with a burning lump of frankincense). A whole baked fish for $13, beans and egg in a mild stew for $8, nice dark "Amber Beer" from Ethiopia like a porter or mild stout.
8 of us ate for $190 including alcoholic drinks and coffees. It's not silver service obviously, but the lady who looked after us was friendly and explained things we didn't understand. Definitely check this place out.
Authentic, simple, honest Ethiopian cuisine. Has a great atmosphere with absolutely lovely staff!
My brother and I shared a Doro Wot with a chicken tibs - the portion size was amazing especially given the price, and the food tasted great!
Oh wow this place is great! Another fantastic place in Footscray. The lady who owns and works here cooks everything herself, to order, in good time too. You can tell that the food is traditional. authentic and home made with care. The injera (traditional sourdough flatbread) was unusual to my tastebuds at first, but when paired with the meats (we ordered a lamb and a beef dish), and the selection of pickled and spice vegetables from the tasting platter, it was a whole new and enjoyable experience :) The format means you can eat as little or as much as you like, at your own pace. It's perfect for sharing also. Definitely would recommend - friendly, yummy, and casual!
Delicious food. Excellent value. 3 people walked away very full for $44. Extremely helpful owner who selected lovely dishes for us, as we were new to the cuisine.
Regularly eat here and the food and service is consistently awesome. Wandi is a great guy, loves kids and is always welcoming. He'll happily recommend or explain things if you're unfamiliar with the cuisine. We take everyone we know there and they all love it. $20 will get you stuffed to your eyeballs plus a couple great Ethiopian beers to wash it down. I don't eat out much but I'm a regular at this place. Go.
Very authentic experience from decor to food. Ordered veggie combo and two Ethiopian beers, followed by Ethiopian coffee. The host was friendly, introduced the food & drinks with a great story and a nice smile. Will definitely go back.
Delicious food, superb owner and staff, cheap, great atmosphere. Ras Dashen is my favourite restaurant in Melbourne! All the dishes are great, and best if you ask the owner to recommend.
Love this place, delicous food, super friendly owner, great service. This is our regular sunday lunch and always leave very happy. Our favorite is the chicken with egg dish.
I have there a few times recently - great and interesting food, very friendly service, Ethiopian beer (makes a change) and a very homely atmosphere. Injera bread seems to go with everything. I will be back. Very well priced.
Amazing flavors and great service. Owner really friendly and recommends great dishes according to what you are after.
Lamb is just beautifully cooked and the fish is spot on. Great Ethiopian food.
Awesome experience, highly recommended.
Very cheap, very good, very wholesome food. Friendly, lovely, and all around excellent people. The injera is always delicious and the food is always perfect for easy eating, never too oily or dry, never to mushy or hard. The spices are balanced and inviting, but certainly not mild :) Great comfort food, with lots of delicacies as well (like the gored gored). Great beers, teas, and coffee to have with or after every meal. Would eat here every day if I lived closer.
Weekend special beef wot with injera was massive, way too much for me to eat, and the spices fantastic. Great place and really friendly owner.
Incredible experience. I had dinner here with my friends for my 21st birthday and it was just beautiful! As soon as everyone arrived the boss knew exactly what to bring out and how much - we didn't even have to think about it! He was so accommodating and friendly and the whole vibe of the place was perfect. After dinner he brought out coffee and you could really tell he wanted us to have a lovely experience - which we did. The food was absolutely sensational and a fantastic price. 9 of us were absolutely stuffed with leftovers for $15 each. The care and accommodating nature of the whole experience will stick with me forever and I will definitely be coming back. It looks beautiful inside too!
Thank you Ras Dashen!
Yep this place is legit the best. So delicious ( just ask for the mix plate veg or meat). Super quick friendly service and so chilled out. NEVER CHANGE. Ps- 4 bucks a beer- yes please!
Amazing food, amazing service best Ethiopian restaurant in Melbourne!!!
Incredible food, friendly service. Ras Dashen is one of my favourite places to eat in Footscray.
The food is out of this world! I usually get the Beyanetu (vegie/vegan sampler) and a Shiro Wot to share with a friend or two. Also had a few of the meat dishes and they're all really, really wonderful. The owners are lovely and friendly as well- they always remember me and my friends when we come in. The hot ginger drink is great too, especially if you're nursing a cold. And finishing off with traditional coffee is always a treat- so delicious. LOVE this place.
Great food , friendly guy runs the place. Good feed at a good price.
Khey Wot. Best dish ever...
My local. Absolutely fantastic place! I come here every couple of weeks. The talapia fish is amazing. You can eat like a king at this place under under 15 bucks. The service is amazing and the owner is such a cutie. Adore this place!
Amazing food and great value. This is my favourite place to go for a traditional Ethiopian meal. Love it
Amazing service and food. We tried 5 dishes among us and everything was amazing, large portions and cheap!
Ate there last night and the food is incredible. Vegetarian menu is delicious and the dishes are a little bit spectacular when they come out. The serving sizes are generous especially given how inexpensive it is and the meals have really varied flavours. Such friendly staff, definitely going again soon.
Fantastic place. Definitely worth it!. I signed up to Urbanspoon just to give this place a review. Wonderful, interesting food, super friendly staff and very cool atmosphere. If you get the chance, go–you will not be disappointed : )
Footscray Gem. I almost don't want to write this review as the place is so good I want to keep it all for my self! but the staff have been so amazingly friendly and accommodating the times I have been here that I think everyone should know about it! the food is yummy, although i cant read the menu at all so i always just get a vegetarian platter. but the platter is always different and delicious! oh did i mention it is cheap too. try the Ethiopian coffee for a real treat.
Wow!! Such good food :) and the guy who served us was amazing!! I have no idea what he served us but it was so yummy. I can't wait to go back and try that amazing sounding beef and vegetable soup! Highly recommended!!
You must try this place!. Went to this place last night and it was fab! Really good service and great food!
We got the “khey wot” and another “wot” (a chicken and a beef one) which both had a slightly different flavour and the vegetarian plate (which was 2 lentil dishes and a pickled veg dish). It all comes out with these thin pancake/crumpet bread that you use like naan. They have well priced imported beer “st George” that goes well with the meals.
The service was great. The guy who owns the place greeted everyone like old friends and was very quick to make sure all was well with the meal and even stopped for a chat.
All in all a great little local spot to know about.
Best Ethiopian food in footscray!
My partner and I have tried a few different Ethiopian places in footscray but this was the best by miles! The friendliness of the host and the yummy food was great. Get ready to take home a food baby! Looking forward to our next meal already.
Vegan platter + a big smile.... Have been to Ras Dashen three times in the past month. So nice to discover somewhere amazing in such a familiar location. Can't ask for much more than a fresh and tasty vegan platter with genuinely friendly and attentive service. Really love it.
BEST RESTAURANT IN MELBOURNE.. Get yourself down to ras dashen in footscray, not only is the food absolutely delicious and something a bit different, the staff are extremely friendly and make you feel very welcome, i have tried most things on the menu, although i have not really familiarised myself with the dish names yet, i know i can point to anything on the menu and whatever comes out will not disappoint. one thing i had not tried was the fish, but i saw someone order it while i was there tonight, the fish was huge, came with salad and injera, in any other restaurant would have cost a minimum of $30 if not more, when i looked at the price on the menu it was only $12. food for 3(that could have easily fed 4 or even 5) and drinks only came to $36, but i left $50 because i feel the food is worth so much more. i tell everyone to go here, it is an awesome experience and once you come you will be back and back again.
Service is key. The food was great – as you may have come to expect from Footscray Ethiopian. But what really made my night was the excellent service. Warm, genuine, funny and considerate.
Definitely try Ras Dashen if you're looking for a lovely African meal in the heart of Footscray. My one request: turn off the big-screen TV! So distracting.
This is my favourite restaurant in Melbourne. Bottom line. This is for several reasons: The food is great, authentic and very well priced. The atmosphere is always pleasant and welcoming. The service is incredibly good and the staff extremely friendly. This killer combination keeps me coming back time after time. I recently decided to host my birthday party here. I am so glad that I did. Everyone loved the place and the food. The night was a huge success thanks to them.
I’d been meaning to make a trip out to Footscray to try some Ethiopean food for a long time and finally got around to it when I visited Ras Dashen. When I visited I had no idea what Ethiopean food was all about so ordered the dish in the photo, which seemed like it was quite popular with the other patrons.
Our go to spot for Ethiopian. The service is great, the beer is ice cold and the food is absolutely delicious.
What's Good! tip - ring up and book the fried fish so you don't miss out.
What a lovely evening! After reading lots of positive reviews I was so eager to eat here. My expectations were exceeded. The restaurant has a great ambience - nice lighting and incense. The beer garden also looked really cute although I didn’t eat there. The service was incredibly warm, we felt welcomed the entire time. The food was so incredibly satisfying. Fresh and hot. The food is so flavoursome and the vegetables in the dishes were deliciously flavoured and fresh. We also tried the honey wine which had a gorgeous fermented taste. Will definitely be coming back!!! 💚
Had a different restaurant that I wanted to go to but it was closed, so I walked a bit further and saw this place.
Definitely no regrets. Never tried Ethiopian food before and the food was great!
The lamb was cooked so well and the flavour was amazing. Loved how it was crunchy and charred.
The bread was sour and I had to Google injera to find out what it was. I have tried lots of different types of bread/rotis, but this was the first time I've tried this.
I would definitely come back to try other things on the menu.
Pictured:
Special clay tibs (lamb ribs, with veggies in a clay pot).
Sath Rasheed (Islandjunkie)
+5
It felt like going to your relatives place and being served food made with heart and warmt rather just being a customer. Loved the service, the food, coffee was amazing and most of all the people!!
Nice little family owned restaurant in Footscray. Went there for dinner had the vegan option with Shiro. The meal was delicious and satiating. The owner's son who served was friendly and gave good suggestions. The owner himself was polite and friendly.
The coffee is a must try. It is a ritual in itself. Very unique way of serving coffee.
The food is really affordable. We paid 30$ for a meal for 2 without the coffee.
The chef's who cooked the meal did a great job. This is food that satisfies the soul. Definitely worth a visit
This place is a great gem.
The owner is such a lovely guy and you can feel the love in the food.
We came in and asked for the owner a platter of what he would recommend.
He put us together a platter of 6 dishes, injera and a bit of salad and it was AMAZING!
The split peas, lamb, beef and veggies were deep in flavour, a hint of spice and not oily at all. The injera was not overly sour from the fermentation and was more then enough for us to eat all the dishes served.
Be sure to check out the painting on the wall of the owner and his restaurant and ask the owner about it.
This is the best Ethiopian cuisine in the West, possibly the state! Mundi and his wife are absolute champs dishing out the most flavoursome plates. Amazing beer garden. Lively atmosphere. Vegan/ Vegetarian friendly :)
What a great atmosphere and delicious food! So happy to have found this great place in Footscray. Just the thing for a cold winter night. Yummy food - probably the best Ethiopian I’ve had in Melbs - and also a nice, cosy and chilled out vibe. Can I live here please?
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes