Ethiopian Food in Salt Lake City: Platters at Mahider and Oromian
by Alex Urban on Oct 19 2026
Salt & Seek / Ethiopian Food
Choose a mixed sampler at Mahider or a clearly sized vegetarian platter at Oromian. These two State Street menus offer different ways to build a first Ethiopian meal.
A sampler with meat
Mahider’s $22 Taste of Mahider combines meat stews, vegan dishes, tomato salad and housemade ayib on injera.
A vegetarian platter to share
Oromian lists individual, two-person and four-person vegetarian platters, making the starting order clear for different group sizes.
Mahider: start with the combination you want
1465 State St #7, Salt Lake City
At Mahider Ethiopian Restaurant & Market, the first decision is whether you want meat and vegetables together or a vegetable-focused combination. Both put several preparations on one order, which is useful if you are still learning the menu.
Taste of Mahider, one person: $22
The official menu lists doro wot with one chicken leg, siga wot and alicha wot, accompanied by vegan dishes, tomato salad, housemade ayib and injera. The one-person designation matters: this is a starting order for one diner, not a promised feast for a whole table. It is the more varied choice if you want to compare meat stews with the vegetable preparations.
Vegetarian Combination: $20
Mahider describes this combination as all of its vegan dishes with tomato salad, served on injera. That makes it the direct alternative to the meat sampler. Keep the official dish name when ordering, and confirm ingredients with staff if you need to avoid dairy, gluten or another allergen.
Yebeg Lamb Tibs: $21
Choose this when you would rather center the meal on a single meat preparation. Mahider lists lamb cubes with onion, rosemary, jalapeno and kibe, a clarified butter. The butter is an important distinction from the vegetable combination if you are ordering around dairy restrictions.
Oromian: choose the platter size first
1522 S State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Oromian identifies its food as Oromo and Ethiopian cuisine. Its vegetarian section is particularly easy to navigate because the platter sizes and individual entrees are listed separately. The menu uses the name Budenna for the bread accompanying individual entrees.
Vegetarian Platter: $15.99 individual, $28.99 for two, $51.99 for four
The platter includes all vegetarian dishes, according to the menu. For a first order, select the size that matches your group and then decide whether you want an additional entree. The published serving sizes give you a better starting point than guessing how many separate dishes to assemble.
Alichaa Misira: $13.99
This lentil dish is simmered in a yellow sauce with turmeric, onions, green peppers, garlic and ginger. It is a focused order if those ingredients appeal more than a mixed platter.
Kochee Misira: $14.99
This is the red-sauce counterpart: lentils simmered in berbere red pepper sauce with garlic, ginger and serrano peppers. Ask about the current heat level when ordering; the presence of peppers is verified, but a personal spice rating is not.
What should you order on a first visit?
- Decide on meat or vegetables. Mahider’s Taste of Mahider includes both; its Vegetarian Combination and Oromian’s Vegetarian Platter offer vegetable-focused starting points.
- Match the serving size to the group. Oromian explicitly lists one-, two- and four-person vegetarian options. Mahider’s $22 sampler is labeled for one.
- Ask about bread and dietary needs. Do not assume injera or Budenna is gluten-free, or that every dish under a vegetarian heading is vegan.
Check opening hours before setting out. Oromian’s official homepage shows conflicting Friday and Saturday hours in different sections; call (801) 978-9673 to confirm your intended time, especially for lunch. That uncertainty does not affect the menu prices above, which come from its posted 2026 menu.
This guide is based on the restaurants’ published menus and location information, not a claimed firsthand visit. Restaurant photos may show other dishes or earlier seasonal offerings; the cover is an illustration.
Official sources: Mahider menu · Oromian menu · Oromian location and hours
