Marathon Ethiopian Restaurant
• 130 - 10 St NW | Calgary, AB | T2N 1V3
Average User Rating:
7.83/10
7.83/10
Recommended by:
80%
80%
Sort Reviews by:
"Top Notch Ethiopian"
August 2011 — "For those of you that love sloppy eating with some spice and some healthy options, check this place out. It's decorated with Ethiopian art and paraphanelia. We were greeted by a big Ethiopian smile and it continued until the moment we left.
They have an exceptional lunch buffet that gives a first-timer the option to try everything once....and most things three times. The meat selection is goat, chicken, or beef....none of which is processed. They are all simmering in unique sauces with some kick. There is also a wide selection for vegetarians which includes lentil stew, chickpea salad, sauteed cabbage, romaine lettuce with vinaigrette. The most crucial item not to underestimate is injera which is a spongy crepe. Injera replaces utensils by ripping off a palm-sized piece and using it to pick up a mixture of everything on your plate. Best of all, it soaks up all of the juices on the plate from the meat or veggies.
The only unfortunate thing is that the bathroom is upstairs where there are a few more tables. It's not very private if people were up there dining.
You're sure to walk out of Marathon stuffed like an injera so check it out....don't be afraid of something different."
User Rating
8.80/10
8.80/10
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"Fun Change"
Mary
February 2010 — "The Marathon is in Kensington district and is a small, brightly coloured space with two floors. The lighting is subdued and other than the poor fish in the fish tank that desperately needs a cleaning, the ambiance was nice. Ethiopian food is eaten with your hands - injer (sour bread) lines the plate and the food is placed in sections on top of the bread. The bread is used to scoop the food up, kind of like a wrap. Other experiences with Ethiopian food opened with the server presenting water to clean our hands - a trip to the washroom was the alternate here. If you are a vegetarian, Ethiopian is great because it has a good variety of very healthy foods, such as Split peas in a sauce; cabbage, carrots and potatoes in sauce; pureed red lentils simmered in a berbere sauce; and a cold lettuce salad with lemon and oil. I chose the traditional vegetarian combination (there are a couple of choices) for under $15 - the various foods came in little piles on top of the bread, accompanied by a plate of extra rolled up bread. By the way, the bread is sort of spongy and thick enough that it is relatively easy to pick the food up and get it into your mouth without too much mess. The service was great and the restaurant very clean. If you are interested in a change and don't mind eating with your hands, definitely give this place a try."
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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"A different dining experience"
Mary
June 2009 — "My friends and I went to this place for my birthday. They never told me where we were going so I was a bit skeptical when we showed up there. I have to say it was very interesting. We asked them to help us since it was our first time ever having Ethiopian. They were helpful in explaining and suggesting that we get a platter that would give us enough to share and try all the different dishes. I'll be honest, I was not a big fan of the bread. I don't remember what it was called but it was really filling and had a weird texture to it. It was not like typical dough, it was almost sticky. It is really difficult to explain, it's not undercooked but it's not the typical dough like bread that one expects. That combined with the thick chunks of meat was very filling. The price was pretty good considering how full I was but the service there was very slow. Oh, and after we left and I looked at my credit card, they overcharged me. I guess that's a one time bloop but it was annoying nonetheless. Unfortunately, I have to say that I won't be going back just because the food did not do it for me. "
User Rating
6.17/10
6.17/10
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"Different But Really Good"
Jill
March 2008 — "My boyfriend and I like trying different restaurants and neither of us had tried Ethiopian.
We tried the Ethiopian lager and it was very tasty with a hint of honey. We ordered a little bit of everything, lamb, beef, chicken. It came in this large bowl and you eat with your hands using bread. The bread is soft and more like a crepe, not much flavor but the meat has lots of spices!
It was a unique experience and we'll definately go again, plus it was very reasonably priced- I think our bill was $40!
The restaurant is smaller and there was only 2 servers, so be prepared to wait a little. But if your looking for a unque experience and are not affraid to eat with your hands then go and enjoy!
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User Rating
7/10
7/10
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"When you get bored of the regulars"Claire
January 2008 — "If your looking to get out of the typical burger, steak, spaghetti rut, Ethiopian food is the thing to try, and Marathon is the place to get it. It is a small, authentic restaurant with traditional Ethiopian decor and food. You get a large platter of meat and vegetable curries and their traditional sourdough bread (it looks sort of like a pita) that you use to pick up and eat all the food with. It is a fun experience as you eat the entire meal with your hands."
User Rating
8.67/10
8.67/10
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DescriptionA simple, basic decor with African travel posters In Kensington, this spot specializes in traditional vegetarian, beef, lamb and chicken Ethiopian dishes served with iujeia: a flatbread made from African tef flour. Open daily.
Location Information130 - 10 St NW
Calgary
AB
T2N 1V3
