Ethiopian Restaurants in Edmonton, AB

“The food, the flavours, the communal experience, it was so much better than we anticipated. This set a new high bar for us. Will definitely take in another dine in - take out event.“

“We tried a new restaurant last night and it was fantastic! I love Ethiopian food, and wanted to try a place I hadn’t been to before. First thing to note is that the word “Bete” is not the french word “bête,” meaning “beast” (as in animal). It is an Amharic word meaning house, similar to “Beth” in Hebrew and “bayt” in Arabic, as I was told. All this just to clarify that the restaurant’s name is more closely translated as “Africa House,” not “African Beast,” which I ignorantly thought prior to learning this from the owners. We told the host that it was our first time there and that we were willing and eager to learn from him and try new things. He was very helpful and guided us though the menu. Before making a decision, we noticed that some other guests were eating fresh banana with their injera (the ubiquitous crêpe-like sourdough bread served with virtually all dishes), which piqued our interest, Lindsay in particular. When we asked which dishes came with banana, he laughed and told us that they don’t serve bananas, and it’s a common way of eating injera for Somalians, and that those guys arrived with their own banana. Apparently this is a BYOB restaurant. So, with no bananas to be had for us, we decided that the $99 mixed plate was the way to go. As you can see, there is a wide variety of food in this dish. In the middle, ground beef topped with their homemade cheese (similar in texture to feta, not as strong in taste, yet oh so fresh). At first, I was convinced there was mint in this, then I realized it was rosemary. It made it very refreshing. Bottom left is a perfectly spicy lamb tibs in the most delicious red sauce. Next to that is a mild lamb tibs that was juicy and yummy, with a couple jalapeño accents just for fun. To the right was a fried beef strip dish with onions called cha-cha tibs. Up top, a variety of lentil and chickpea mashes, plus pickled beets and cabbage. We ate like the locals, with our hands, using small torn off pieces of injera as temporary, edible utensils, and were endlessly satisfied as we worked our way around the platter. The only problem was, we just couldn’t finish it, so we ended up with a takeaway box of a couple pounds of leftovers (aw, shucks). We had a wonderful conversation with the husband and wife team, who shared so much about their culture, including the beautiful artwork and artifacts throughout the space. We even got to meet their baby, who, I am proud to say, reached out for me to hold her. She was adorable! We also learned that the wife occasionally offers cooking courses. Would you be surprised to learn that my name is on the waiting list? One can’t help but salivate I’m thinking about such a culinary experience. I wish I had discovered it sooner, despite having driven past it countless times (it’s on 111 Avenue across from Tony’s pizza). To be honest, it’s not the classiest part of town (I reported a needle to 311 on our way out), so if you’re leery of that sort of thing, now is the time to get over it and see what rewards await you when you step outside your social and gastronomical comfort zones. Just be sure to invite me along when you do.“

“I needed 12 bags of injera, and when I noticed the sign for free delivery, I asked the gentelman at the counter if I could get them the next day by 8:45 am. He said no problem. Next day at 8:40 am the driver called me to say he'd arrive in 5 minutes. HE DID. The people running Family Injera are kind, friendly, and great at what they do.“

“The food, the flavours, the communal experience, it was so much better than we anticipated. This set a new high bar for us. Will definitely take in another dine in - take out event.“

“Callingwood market today I bought vegan spicy samosas ! These are delicious! I wish I picked up more than one batch . Yum ! Try these you will love them !“

“very clean, great atmosphere, friendly staff, great food!“

“Absolutely amazing food! love coming here. The veggie combo is my absolute favourite!!“

“Best Ethiopian restaurant in Edmonton, the seasonings are deeper and there's so much more flavour than just spiciness. Very friendly people too, definitely recommended.“

“What makes Zembaba 2 truly special is the way it brings people together. Families gather around generous platters, friends reconnect over fragrant coffee, and newcomers are welcomed like long-lost relatives. The staff serve with genuine warmth—hospitality that doesn’t feel rehearsed but heartfelt, as though each guest is an honored visitor. Their kindness pairs beautifully with the food: tender meats marinated with care, vegetables cooked to perfection, and spices blended in the way only experience and love can create.

The dishes at Zembaba 2 celebrate the deep heritage of Somali and Ethiopian cuisines—flavors shaped by tradition, carried across generations, and shared with pride. Whether it’s the comforting taste of injera, the bold richness of suqaar, or the soothing warmth of a perfectly brewed cup of Somali or Ethiopian tea, every bite carries the unmistakable feeling of home, even for those discovering these cuisines for the first time.

Eating here feels less like dining out and more like being welcomed into someone’s family. Zembaba 2 is a place where memories are made, stories are shared, and cultures are celebrated with every meal. It’s a restaurant with a heart—one that invites you to sit down, slow down, and savor not only the food but the sense of belonging that comes with it.“

“All the food is so amazing here! The Shiro and the vegan platter are the best though! 💖💖💖“

“Love the food and the atmosphere! I never get tired of the jollof rice!!“

“The atmosphere here is warm and cozy. You can sit on the sofa or the chairs. It is very clean and they manage to control their interaction with unruly customers.

The food is very tasty. I ordered Shiro, a vegetarian dish served with injera. It came with a good helping of fresh and green lettuce.

The service was great. They show a lot of respect and tolerance when dealing with their customers.“

“At first, we were slightly hesitant about trying Ethiopian food. Our servers made it so easy to approach a novel cuisine and then truly delivered a fantastic experience both through the service we experienced and the food we tasted. We tried a couple of different things to share and were truly thoroughly impressed. I will be talking about and sharing Mesob Habesha much much more :)“