This place is phenomenal!!! You have to try their food, of you already havent
Ed U.
I'm glad Ethiopian cuisine, at least one aspect of it, has been so embraced in the Bay Area, especially the East Bay. I don't think it's really about any exotic combination of ingredients but the simple fact that it's really about ladles of down home comfort food on a plate. Instead of buttermilk biscuits, it's injera which frankly is a more practical means of scooping up the goodness without the need of a fork. This particular place is in the same orange-hued strip mall as Gangnam Tofu across from the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station. Except for all the colorful basket decor, the place was empty. Front and center was their menu for the $8.99!Lunch Special which allowed a choice of four items, salad, and a flat of injera. I likely couldn't have gone wrong with any of the six items offered - but I was inclined toward the collard greens, green beans, and cabbage like a good Southern boy. I ordered the Yemisir Wot (split red lentils simmered in berbere sauce), as well as the Gomen (collard greens), Green Beans, and Altakelt (cabbage, carrot, ginger & tumeric) (photo: It was hearty good stuff. No complaints. True home cooking...if your home is near Addis Ababa. FOOD - 4 stars...nothing all that different from other Ethiopian spots but the execution was quite good AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...nice decor, very orange walls SERVICE - 3.5 stars...good, a tad invisible TOTAL - 4 stars...Ethiopian done well next to BART RELATED - Looking for other Ethiopian restaurants? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed:
Jairo G B.
There was a roach on the injera that was brought to me for my vegetable sampler. This was disgusting and I stop eating my food right away. The last inspection for this restaurant was on November 2019 and it was 58 out of 100. This is already a red flag. On top of that, I had to paid because the person in charged said it wasn't a roach, yet you can clearly see it on the picture. I am not planning on coming back to this restaurant ever again. I gave them a second chance since the last time I went I got sick right after. Finally, the customer service is not the welcoming. Glad I won't be giving my business to this restaurant anymore. I highly recommend Enssaro Ethiopian restaurant in Oakland, CA by Lake Merritt.
Deadass B
They had really helpful waiters (Kiru/Eyo) young kings respect to them.
Californify
Not the best ethiopian food i've had around, but decent.
Kimya Mcfadden
Very tasty food. Nice people. Clean and inviting. I'd go again being vegan and they have a vegetarian menu!
Aasiyah Berhane
Go and enjoy
cc Blue
I am a regular of Ethiopian food. My fave type of food to splurge on so it breaks my heart to write a negative review. I got the Veggie Combo. Lentils, split peas and greens undercooked. Potatoes and greens beans just ok. The enjere was pretty good. But I didnt pay over $16 for teff. Extremely disappointing experience.
Victor O.
The injera was like a dry sponge The beans and the potatoes were undercooked and everything was oily I hope that it wasn't corn or canola oil I gave love to the food to avoid as much damage to my body as possible As a Ethiopian food lover I am disappointed cause it's close to my house and my parents just started eating Ethiopian food
Michael E.
I recomment the ultimate meat and veggie platter. Excellent quality. Our 4 year old loves this place.
They do not offer a sampler of meats with veggie sides like most other Ethiopian places. If you want meat and veggie you have to buy two meals. My meal was un-noteworthy. I recommend traveling to Berkeley for better ethiopian options.
Angela G.
My daughter and I drove her from vallejo, excited to find a place closer than Sacramento or oakland. disappointing to get there and after placing our orders, I came across a picture on Yelp that mentioned roaches. I decided to proceed as the sign said 'under new management'. So imagine our shock when we saw a roach crawling across the floor in front of out booth. At that point I got up and told the server to cancel our order as there was a roach in the restaurant. She appeared unauthentically surprised.If anyone decides to give this place a try, I would highly suggest that you inquire as to if it has been recently inspected.
April K.
This place has amazing food! My friends came to town and we usually travel to SF for Ethiopian food, but e tried Taste of Ethiopia and were so glad to find an amazing place in the East Bay. I highly recommend this place!
Heather K.
This is a neighborhood gem. Wonderful attentive staff. Excellent food. Fantastic injera, which they keep coming for as long as you need. You can sit low (Ethiopian style) or at regular table (American style). Authentic decor.
This place is phenomenal!!! You have to try their food, of you already havent
I'm glad Ethiopian cuisine, at least one aspect of it, has been so embraced in the Bay Area, especially the East Bay. I don't think it's really about any exotic combination of ingredients but the simple fact that it's really about ladles of down home comfort food on a plate. Instead of buttermilk biscuits, it's injera which frankly is a more practical means of scooping up the goodness without the need of a fork. This particular place is in the same orange-hued strip mall as Gangnam Tofu across from the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station. Except for all the colorful basket decor, the place was empty. Front and center was their menu for the $8.99!Lunch Special which allowed a choice of four items, salad, and a flat of injera. I likely couldn't have gone wrong with any of the six items offered - but I was inclined toward the collard greens, green beans, and cabbage like a good Southern boy. I ordered the Yemisir Wot (split red lentils simmered in berbere sauce), as well as the Gomen (collard greens), Green Beans, and Altakelt (cabbage, carrot, ginger & tumeric) (photo: It was hearty good stuff. No complaints. True home cooking...if your home is near Addis Ababa. FOOD - 4 stars...nothing all that different from other Ethiopian spots but the execution was quite good AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...nice decor, very orange walls SERVICE - 3.5 stars...good, a tad invisible TOTAL - 4 stars...Ethiopian done well next to BART RELATED - Looking for other Ethiopian restaurants? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed:
There was a roach on the injera that was brought to me for my vegetable sampler. This was disgusting and I stop eating my food right away. The last inspection for this restaurant was on November 2019 and it was 58 out of 100. This is already a red flag. On top of that, I had to paid because the person in charged said it wasn't a roach, yet you can clearly see it on the picture. I am not planning on coming back to this restaurant ever again. I gave them a second chance since the last time I went I got sick right after. Finally, the customer service is not the welcoming. Glad I won't be giving my business to this restaurant anymore. I highly recommend Enssaro Ethiopian restaurant in Oakland, CA by Lake Merritt.
They had really helpful waiters (Kiru/Eyo) young kings respect to them.
Not the best ethiopian food i've had around, but decent.
Very tasty food. Nice people. Clean and inviting. I'd go again being vegan and they have a vegetarian menu!
Go and enjoy
I am a regular of Ethiopian food. My fave type of food to splurge on so it breaks my heart to write a negative review. I got the Veggie Combo. Lentils, split peas and greens undercooked. Potatoes and greens beans just ok. The enjere was pretty good. But I didnt pay over $16 for teff. Extremely disappointing experience.
The injera was like a dry sponge The beans and the potatoes were undercooked and everything was oily I hope that it wasn't corn or canola oil I gave love to the food to avoid as much damage to my body as possible As a Ethiopian food lover I am disappointed cause it's close to my house and my parents just started eating Ethiopian food
I recomment the ultimate meat and veggie platter. Excellent quality. Our 4 year old loves this place.
Restaurantji Recommends
They do not offer a sampler of meats with veggie sides like most other Ethiopian places. If you want meat and veggie you have to buy two meals. My meal was un-noteworthy. I recommend traveling to Berkeley for better ethiopian options.
My daughter and I drove her from vallejo, excited to find a place closer than Sacramento or oakland. disappointing to get there and after placing our orders, I came across a picture on Yelp that mentioned roaches. I decided to proceed as the sign said 'under new management'. So imagine our shock when we saw a roach crawling across the floor in front of out booth. At that point I got up and told the server to cancel our order as there was a roach in the restaurant. She appeared unauthentically surprised.If anyone decides to give this place a try, I would highly suggest that you inquire as to if it has been recently inspected.
This place has amazing food! My friends came to town and we usually travel to SF for Ethiopian food, but e tried Taste of Ethiopia and were so glad to find an amazing place in the East Bay. I highly recommend this place!
This is a neighborhood gem. Wonderful attentive staff. Excellent food. Fantastic injera, which they keep coming for as long as you need. You can sit low (Ethiopian style) or at regular table (American style). Authentic decor.
The food beer and honey wine was great