This is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Omaha. I am glad to see that other reviewers love it as well. This is fantastic Ethiopian food. I have eaten here dozens of times over the past 15 years or so. The vegetarian injera platter is amazing! The meat entrees are great too, but keep in mind that the goat and lamb is chopped bone-in and might not be what you're accustomed to. Injera is amazing, it's a soft pancake made from teff, you tear it and use it to eat with. Utensils are provided if you want to use them. There isn't anything else that tastes like this, it is SO GOOD. My husband always gets the chicken gyro plate, which is rice, chicken meat, gyro meat, sauce, and salad. The rice is delicious, with a gentle, aromatic spice. The hot tea is similar to a chai, there's not milk in it but that's made up with a ton of sugar. I love it. The decor and signage - well, it's perfect for here. It might seem run down. It's fine. Once you get the food you will only be looking at your food. Portions are huge. TIP: the injera is a high-histamine food, like a lot of restaurant food is. I have to take a Benadryl after eating this (and other kinds of) food. Otherwise, sometimes I will have a headache, itch, stomachache if my overall histamine load is high. I'm pointing it out because a lot of the time when people go out to eat, they have a stomachache later and think it might have been something wrong with the food. I think this is why Chinese restaurants were criticized. It's not the food. Look up "histamine intolerance" for more info. There is a chess club/tournament that meets here on Thursdays and Saturdays. They seemed very welcoming. They enthusiastically invited me to join them but I don't play chess. Check out RCTO.us for more info. Parking is not great. There are meters out front, but there is free parking on the west side of the building, there is usually space available. You can enter through the door there as well.
Daniel R.
Best Chicken Gyro I've ever had! At a great price too. Friendly staff. Will be coming here every time I'm in Omaha!
Owliyo M.
The food was decent. The salad looks really old, I personally did not like the red sauces, the should've put it in a little cup so people can decide wether or not to put it on the rice. The meat was cooked really well, very tender, the rice was decent.
Sherri Schumaker
Simple building. People as so nice. The food is so good. Very affordable. Just the right amount of spice. This is what we picked for our Christmas dinner! So
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mitchell Laferla
Like most people are saying it may have an unassuming look, but the food speaks for itself. We got the Gyro and Injera with Lamb and both were delicious. This was an awesome find.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Teareal Davis
This used to be my favorite restaurant til they became inconsistent with making the food hot like it’s supposed to be. It’s always cold then warm than hot
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Addison B.
Compared to the other Ethiopian Restaurant in Omaha, this is not good. Their combination plate has less than what Lalibella's would have while also being more expensive. I had visited there about a month ago and received tibs and cabbage. Then i went there last night and they didn't do tibs and the white cheese that is given with Duro wot was not an option either (even though there was a picture of it up). It also doesn't make sense, since they literally have a store full of all the ingredients to make any Ethiopian food option! The guy who took the order was not very nice. While I ate there, there was a woman who came in that paid for an order, cancelled it and the guy refused to give her money back. As far as the quality of food goes my boyfriend makes better ethiopian food than them! Lol. Their greens were not good, the duro wot didn't even have the chicken leg, it was jus the sauce and an egg. Feel like that shouldn't be considered duro wot at that point! I do not recommend. Go to Lalibella's instead.
K.M. Farmer
Injera with Goat. Delicious. Will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Randy C.
I had the Injera plate and let me tell you that it was so good. In fact, it was so good that I went back the next day to have it again. It is so flavorful, and the lamb is tender. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a very unique place with really great food.
Ali Ali
The food was expensive the guy very rude i will not go back no more
My first time trying lamb. I’m a flight attendant, and when I have a layover in Omaha, there are usually lots of choices to chose from. However, today is July 4th, and all the food places are closed downtown. Except, International Cafe. I enjoy exploring new foods, but lamb and goat were a little out of my comfort zone. I decided to give the Lamb Plate a try, and really liked it! Not to mention, the place was busy. Lots of locals coming in and out, so I felt that was a good sign. The quality of food was really fresh and I loved the flavor! Omaha, you are very lucky to have a taste of quality Ethiopian food in your neighborhood. My order came with a little green sauce on the side, and it was delicious! Restaurants like International Cafe offer variety and a chance to explore other cultures’ cuisine. Glad I tried it, next time, maybe I will try the goat!Vegetarian options: Veggie options were available.Kid-friendliness: I saw a kids menuParking: Plenty of parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rice with Sauce
DeeAnn Myres-Magboul
Wonderful customer service. Halal food. Must have tibs and injera are the best.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Celeste Timberlake
Incredible food, good price, really laid back atmosphere. I enjoy going out to try new cuisine and this was my first time here. Before leaving the man behind the counter offered us hot sauce. Usually I’m not a hot sauce person at all but I still like to try them because why not. WOW!!! I’m absolutely hooked. 10/10 will be back
Rahman
This restaurant will always have a special place in my heart. I live in the Miami, FL area, however my wife is originally from Omaha, and years back when I used to fly into Omaha to visit her, she had introduced me, for the first time in my life, to Somali/Ethiopian cuisine. We have a very small community of these phenomenal cultures back home in South Florida, so I didn't have any exposure to the savory and rich flavors their cuisines have to offer.Automatically, Somali food has become one of my favorite kinds of food, and my foodie journey has never been the same.I always order the goat with rice whenever I pay International Cafe a visit.
Thurston White Jr
Not what I was expecting. I tried to support a local business an the food was not good.
This is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Omaha. I am glad to see that other reviewers love it as well. This is fantastic Ethiopian food. I have eaten here dozens of times over the past 15 years or so. The vegetarian injera platter is amazing! The meat entrees are great too, but keep in mind that the goat and lamb is chopped bone-in and might not be what you're accustomed to. Injera is amazing, it's a soft pancake made from teff, you tear it and use it to eat with. Utensils are provided if you want to use them. There isn't anything else that tastes like this, it is SO GOOD. My husband always gets the chicken gyro plate, which is rice, chicken meat, gyro meat, sauce, and salad. The rice is delicious, with a gentle, aromatic spice. The hot tea is similar to a chai, there's not milk in it but that's made up with a ton of sugar. I love it. The decor and signage - well, it's perfect for here. It might seem run down. It's fine. Once you get the food you will only be looking at your food. Portions are huge. TIP: the injera is a high-histamine food, like a lot of restaurant food is. I have to take a Benadryl after eating this (and other kinds of) food. Otherwise, sometimes I will have a headache, itch, stomachache if my overall histamine load is high. I'm pointing it out because a lot of the time when people go out to eat, they have a stomachache later and think it might have been something wrong with the food. I think this is why Chinese restaurants were criticized. It's not the food. Look up "histamine intolerance" for more info. There is a chess club/tournament that meets here on Thursdays and Saturdays. They seemed very welcoming. They enthusiastically invited me to join them but I don't play chess. Check out RCTO.us for more info. Parking is not great. There are meters out front, but there is free parking on the west side of the building, there is usually space available. You can enter through the door there as well.
Best Chicken Gyro I've ever had! At a great price too. Friendly staff. Will be coming here every time I'm in Omaha!
The food was decent. The salad looks really old, I personally did not like the red sauces, the should've put it in a little cup so people can decide wether or not to put it on the rice. The meat was cooked really well, very tender, the rice was decent.
Simple building. People as so nice. The food is so good. Very affordable. Just the right amount of spice. This is what we picked for our Christmas dinner! So
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Like most people are saying it may have an unassuming look, but the food speaks for itself. We got the Gyro and Injera with Lamb and both were delicious. This was an awesome find.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
This used to be my favorite restaurant til they became inconsistent with making the food hot like it’s supposed to be. It’s always cold then warm than hot
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Compared to the other Ethiopian Restaurant in Omaha, this is not good. Their combination plate has less than what Lalibella's would have while also being more expensive. I had visited there about a month ago and received tibs and cabbage. Then i went there last night and they didn't do tibs and the white cheese that is given with Duro wot was not an option either (even though there was a picture of it up). It also doesn't make sense, since they literally have a store full of all the ingredients to make any Ethiopian food option! The guy who took the order was not very nice. While I ate there, there was a woman who came in that paid for an order, cancelled it and the guy refused to give her money back. As far as the quality of food goes my boyfriend makes better ethiopian food than them! Lol. Their greens were not good, the duro wot didn't even have the chicken leg, it was jus the sauce and an egg. Feel like that shouldn't be considered duro wot at that point! I do not recommend. Go to Lalibella's instead.
Injera with Goat. Delicious. Will return.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the Injera plate and let me tell you that it was so good. In fact, it was so good that I went back the next day to have it again. It is so flavorful, and the lamb is tender. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a very unique place with really great food.
The food was expensive the guy very rude i will not go back no more
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
My first time trying lamb. I’m a flight attendant, and when I have a layover in Omaha, there are usually lots of choices to chose from. However, today is July 4th, and all the food places are closed downtown. Except, International Cafe. I enjoy exploring new foods, but lamb and goat were a little out of my comfort zone. I decided to give the Lamb Plate a try, and really liked it! Not to mention, the place was busy. Lots of locals coming in and out, so I felt that was a good sign. The quality of food was really fresh and I loved the flavor! Omaha, you are very lucky to have a taste of quality Ethiopian food in your neighborhood. My order came with a little green sauce on the side, and it was delicious! Restaurants like International Cafe offer variety and a chance to explore other cultures’ cuisine. Glad I tried it, next time, maybe I will try the goat!Vegetarian options: Veggie options were available.Kid-friendliness: I saw a kids menuParking: Plenty of parking
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Rice with Sauce
Wonderful customer service. Halal food. Must have tibs and injera are the best.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Incredible food, good price, really laid back atmosphere. I enjoy going out to try new cuisine and this was my first time here. Before leaving the man behind the counter offered us hot sauce. Usually I’m not a hot sauce person at all but I still like to try them because why not. WOW!!! I’m absolutely hooked. 10/10 will be back
This restaurant will always have a special place in my heart. I live in the Miami, FL area, however my wife is originally from Omaha, and years back when I used to fly into Omaha to visit her, she had introduced me, for the first time in my life, to Somali/Ethiopian cuisine. We have a very small community of these phenomenal cultures back home in South Florida, so I didn't have any exposure to the savory and rich flavors their cuisines have to offer.Automatically, Somali food has become one of my favorite kinds of food, and my foodie journey has never been the same.I always order the goat with rice whenever I pay International Cafe a visit.
Not what I was expecting. I tried to support a local business an the food was not good.