Aunt Yvette’s Kitchen

Best Ethiopian I've had.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Two of my friends and I wanted to try Aunt Yvette’s restaurant for a while now and we finally managed to grab a table tonight. We read many great reviews and wanted to see for ourselves. It did not disappoint. The delicious veggie combo, coupled with steak tartare and refined marinated lamb, was served in generous portions full of delicate flavors. Our hands were washed with rose water. The atmosphere was moody and cozy, and service was excellent. I love small restaurants (I believe this one has eight tables) that make you forget the outside world when you enter. I warmly recommend this place.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

The vibes inside are great. There is a parking lot, and while I can see it filling up when it gets busy, I was able to find a spot easily. I highly recommend making a reservation on Resy. The place is small, and on a Friday they were not taking walk ins because they were fully booked with reservations.

Be ready to use your hands, especially with the vegan combo. That is part of the experience. They do have forks if you want them, but I recommend embracing the culture. They start the meal with a hand washing ceremony, and they give you towels at the end to clean your hands.

I ordered the vegan combo with the kitfo ayib and everything was amazing. The flavors were incredible. My favorite part was the Ethiopian style potato in the vegan combo. I honestly did not even know exactly what I was eating, but once everything comes together it tastes so good.

I also had the banana split at the end and it was great. The torched sugar on the banana was a really nice touch. I would definitely come back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Fantastic meal and service! Perfect date spot! :)

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Superb food, drinks, and service. Can’t wait to come back. Just make sure to make a reservation because it’s busy!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Injera, Veggie Combo

It was our first time having an Ethiopian dinner experience we could not stop smiling it was so enjoyable the front of restaurant was so professional and accommodating, we came for the full culinary experience so we ordered quite a bit and we so enjoyed meeting Auntie Yvette a beautiful and kind woman as she explained the history of,.. and conducted the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony . Auntie cooked everything to perfection but the fried fish, Lamb stew , Tofu tip, the floral water and all the vegetarian dishes all perfect and a delight we will definitely go back my 20 year old Daughter , about to receive her Masters Degree was honored with the first cup of coffee. We will definitely go back and I fully recommend Aunt Yvett's Kitchen it is a full Dinning experience, you should not miss and a must try. We did not regret this beautiful experience.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Veggie Platter with Lamb Stew, Whole Crispy Trout, Injera, Tofu TIBS, Doro Wat, Injeta Bread Ethiopian Food, Ethiopian Salad

Amazing atmosphere and great people, food was solid but way too expensive for what it is.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5

Too dark.
Too loud.
Too expensive for food that isn't as good as that on Fairfax. Merkato is the best!!

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 3

Service: 4

Aunt Yvette and Chef Russell have done something unique and spectacular in Eagle Rock. From the food through the dessert (see attached), your life will be forever changed! The service is beyond impeccable!
Reservations are strongly encourage.
Enjoy!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

very cool that there’s ethiopian on this side of town and it’s delicious! the fish all the lil fermented veggies and more yum yum

Aunt Yvette’s Kitchen is truly one of a kind and easily the best Ethiopian restaurant I’ve ever experienced.
From the moment we arrived, everything felt authentic and welcoming. The food was absolutely outstanding—rich in flavor, organic, fresh, and clearly prepared with passion and care. I’ve been to many Ethiopian restaurants over the years, but nothing comes close to the quality and depth of flavor here. Every dish told a story of tradition and craftsmanship.
The coffee deserves special recognition. It was my first time trying Ethiopian coffee with black seed. I usually drink regular coffee, but this was on another level—smooth, natural, incredibly flavorful, and surprisingly healthy. It wasn’t just a drink, it was an experience.
Our server, Samer, made the visit even more special. He was knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely passionate about Ethiopian cuisine. He explained each dish in detail and helped us understand the culture behind the food, which made the meal even more meaningful. We also tried the dessert with berbere—unforgettable and easily the best Ethiopian dessert I’ve ever had.
This place is more than a restaurant; it’s an experience you remember. Highly recommended to anyone who appreciates authentic food, great service, and something truly special. I will definitely be coming back.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Amazing food amazing service favorite spot in LA ❤️

Visited this restaurant last month and I'm still thinking about it, so I had to write a review! I've been to several Ethiopian restaurants in LA, and this has to be my favorite hidden gem. The service was wonderful and the atmosphere is very charming. They provided a hand wash prior to the eating and also a wet towel at the end of the meal - truly a small detail that stood out to me. It brought the service to a whole different level.

We ordered the Veggie Combo and Tofu Tibs, which was exceptional and the perfect amount for two to share. We had no leftovers, although next time will probably end up ordering some injera to go (it was so good!). The staff is incredibly hard working and great at what they do.

If visiting on a weekend, I do recommend making a reservation before arrival. We arrived without a reservation on a Saturday and needed to wait 1.5 hours for the next available table. No worries, the hostess was very kind and I appreciated the transparency. We told her we would be back. I didn't see her taking names for a waitlist so we ended up making a reservation online for the available time she mentioned, and by the time we returned we were seated immediately.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

This place is a GEM! ♥️ The people, the food, the desserts (and I don’t ever care for dessert), the ambiance… I eat everything, but the vegan dishes are insane, and I would be on cloud 9 with them alone. If you eat everything though, eat everything!!! It’s all so, so, so gooooood…

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Veggie Combo. All day, every single day.

I really could eat here daily, I think. At least one meal. There's nothing that satisfies quite like Ethiopian food, and Aunt Yvette's is doing everything right. I used to live on the edge of Little Ethiopia, and I hate to admit I took it for granted. Now, I'm in the burbs, and not one proper Ethiopian restaurant in Pasadena. It's shameful. But Aunt Yvette's is well worth the drive to Eagle Rock and then some.

I love it here. I love the tables and chairs, and the art. I love the lighting and the small, chill, yet bustling space. I love how attentive and friendly the staff is. And most of all, hot damn do I love the food. I get a little giddy just thinking about it.

The Veggie Combo is vegan, it's my go-to, but don't sleep on anything the menu has to offer. We had a tofu dish a few visits back that was incredible. What impresses me is that all the dishes of the combo taste completely different. I dive in and every bite throws my tastebuds through a loop. They have a house-made hot sauce that kicks it up a notch if that's your thing.

This place has date night meal written all over it. It's located in a generic strip mall but once you step through the door, it's another world. They have takeout via their website, but I've yet to find them on the delivery services.

It's just too good.