Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant, Chicago

Tucked away along Ashland in Edgewater, Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant spins exotic spice blends and tasty sauces into authentic Ethiopian feasts. Fresh injera—a nutritious flatbread used in lieu of utensils—accompanies every entree, including the doro wat. For this popular dish, chefs marinate tender chicken in lemon, sauté it in seasoned butter, and stew it in a red-pepper sauce before finishing it off with garlic, ginger, and a pinch of nutmeg. Veggie dishes are available too, such as the inguday tibs, which consists of mushrooms sautéed with onions and a mild berbere sauce. Each colorful dish is served in Lalibela's cozy dining room, where guests can sink into throne-like chairs and sip their favorite wine thanks to the restaurant's BYOB policy.