I'm so happy that we had the opportunity to dine there this week, meeting the celebrity chef owner and celebrating Chanukah! Looking forward to many more meals at Tsion Cafe!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Thompson times
Tasty,
Food: 5
Joan Dean
Good food! Friendly environment!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tracy Kaplowitz
I brought a group to meet with chef and owner, Beejhy Barhany. The food was scrumptious. Beejhy was generous with her time, hospitality and warmth. It is inspiring to listen to the pride she has in her heritage.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anthony Venturini
I ordered what I thought would be enough for 2 people, especially considering the price. When I got home and unpackaged everything, there was barely enough food for 1 person. I paid $60 total for 3 things. The portion sizes were infuriating. And also, we’re talking about vegetables here. Food was tasty enough but nowhere near worth the exorbitant price I paid. I’ll never go here again, which is a shame because I was excited about it.
Food: 4
L Elizabeth
Fantastic local spot! Great atmosphere and amazing food! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Loop E
I had the Duba wot with jollof rice and the malawach with silan for dessert and it was all delicious! Excellent service as well, the waitress was patient and kind.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Judith Vasquez
The cravings for their dishes hit me at random times. Tsion Cafe gets my recommendation every time. Their busy atmosphere never affects how they treat customers. This restaurant maintains high standards in food and service. I felt truly welcomed here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Eden Anolick
I ate at Tsion Cafe this past weekend and it was delicious! By far some of the best Ethiopian food I've had! The waitress was so kind and helped my parents, who are less familiar with Ethiopian, make a decision on their platter. Everything tasted so good and I hope to come back soon with friends!
The weather was super nice so we sat on the gorgeous back patio space!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alem John
Best Ethiopian Food in NYC by far, atmosphere, staff are all extremely up to par. Will be returning soon.
I was recommended Tsion Café by my parents and was surprised to see that it was in Harlem! I believe it is the only ethiopian restaurant in the area.
Tsion Café offers a unique take on the Ethiopian dining experience with fusion appetizers that I’ve never seen or had at other Ethiopian restaurants. The injera chips with hummus and fava bean dip, to name a few, were excellentz
The entrées here are also comprised of very unique offerings. The mushroom tibsi and pumpkin were phenomenal. I wish more ethiopian restaurants experimented with stuff like this. The traditional ethiopian entrées are were Tsion Café lacks compared to other spots like Bunna Café. While the food is up to par, serving sizes are small and each order only comes with one of each type whereas other places double up on the various types of bites.
Overall, I was surprised by Tsion Café. It stands out among New York’s other Ethiopian restaurants in location and its unique appetizer and entrée offerings. On top of all this, the host was very ready to answer our questions and was a joy to talk to after the meal. Although I may not come here for my next Ethiopian fix, no one should shy away from coming here if they are in the area and are looking to try something new.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Rachel Buxbaum
Delicious food, great music and vibe. We're so glad we came and are excited to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Yehuda Kirschenbaum
I really enjoyed Tsion Cafe, everything was flavorful and tasty. This was some of the best injira I have ever had. Most things were not too spicy but for someone who is sensitive there are still options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sarah Safeer
Dinner at Tsion Cafe was a beautiful fusion of Ethiopian and Israeli flavors in a cozy, welcoming space. The meal was perfect for sharing, with every dish bringing something vibrant and comforting to the table.
The Sambusas were crisp and savory, filled with warm spices and paired with a bright dipping sauce that added just the right zing. The Hummus with Silsi was creamy and rich, topped with a spiced tomato sauce that gave it depth and warmth, served alongside soft pita bread.
The Fik’re Lover’s Combo was a standout—a colorful platter of stews and vegetables over injera, each component offering unique spices and textures. It was a perfect introduction to Ethiopian cuisine, with lentils, greens, cabbage, and split peas all complementing one another beautifully.
The Duba Wot with Jollof Rice was hearty and full of flavor, with the sweetness of the pumpkin stew balanced by the spice in the rice. The Ful (fava beans) was earthy and satisfying, brightened by fresh diced vegetables and served with warm bread for scooping.
The Tel Aviv Quinoa Salad was light and refreshing, a welcome contrast to the richer dishes, with Mediterranean herbs and citrusy notes. The Shimbra Asa, a spicy chickpea stew, brought a lovely kick and deep flavor, perfect for fans of bold spices.
To end the meal, the Malawach with Silan—a flaky Yemeni flatbread drizzled with sweet date syrup—was delicate, comforting, and an unexpected treat. The Redd Foxx cocktails were strong, fruity, and a great match for the bold dishes.
Service was warm and attentive, and the space had a relaxed, intimate vibe that made the whole experience feel like a special gathering.
Ernestina Otoba
I came into Tsion Café because I appreciated its beautiful ambiance and wanted to support a local business by hosting a small repast there for my father who passed away a week ago. The bartender/waitress was kind and helpful, and mentioned they’ve hosted events before. She brought out the owner for me to speak with, and that’s where the experience took a turn.
The owner was shockingly rude and dismissive. She didn’t offer a single word of sympathy when I explained I was planning a repast. Instead, she immediately asked for a date. When I said June 14th, she interrupted with, “What? What day even is that?” I told her it was a Saturday, and she snapped back, “No, we’ll probably be busy,” and that was that.
No compassion, no professionalism, and absolutely no interest in being accommodating. I walked out. If this is how they treat someone coming to them during a time of grief, I can only imagine what other interactions are like. Would not recommend.
I'm so happy that we had the opportunity to dine there this week, meeting the celebrity chef owner and celebrating Chanukah! Looking forward to many more meals at Tsion Cafe!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tasty,
Food: 5
Good food! Friendly environment!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I brought a group to meet with chef and owner, Beejhy Barhany. The food was scrumptious. Beejhy was generous with her time, hospitality and warmth. It is inspiring to listen to the pride she has in her heritage.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I ordered what I thought would be enough for 2 people, especially considering the price. When I got home and unpackaged everything, there was barely enough food for 1 person. I paid $60 total for 3 things. The portion sizes were infuriating. And also, we’re talking about vegetables here. Food was tasty enough but nowhere near worth the exorbitant price I paid. I’ll never go here again, which is a shame because I was excited about it.
Food: 4
Fantastic local spot! Great atmosphere and amazing food! Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had the Duba wot with jollof rice and the malawach with silan for dessert and it was all delicious! Excellent service as well, the waitress was patient and kind.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The cravings for their dishes hit me at random times. Tsion Cafe gets my recommendation every time. Their busy atmosphere never affects how they treat customers. This restaurant maintains high standards in food and service. I felt truly welcomed here.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
I ate at Tsion Cafe this past weekend and it was delicious! By far some of the best Ethiopian food I've had! The waitress was so kind and helped my parents, who are less familiar with Ethiopian, make a decision on their platter. Everything tasted so good and I hope to come back soon with friends!
The weather was super nice so we sat on the gorgeous back patio space!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best Ethiopian Food in NYC by far, atmosphere, staff are all extremely up to par. Will be returning soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I was recommended Tsion Café by my parents and was surprised to see that it was in Harlem! I believe it is the only ethiopian restaurant in the area.
Tsion Café offers a unique take on the Ethiopian dining experience with fusion appetizers that I’ve never seen or had at other Ethiopian restaurants. The injera chips with hummus and fava bean dip, to name a few, were excellentz
The entrées here are also comprised of very unique offerings. The mushroom tibsi and pumpkin were phenomenal. I wish more ethiopian restaurants experimented with stuff like this. The traditional ethiopian entrées are were Tsion Café lacks compared to other spots like Bunna Café. While the food is up to par, serving sizes are small and each order only comes with one of each type whereas other places double up on the various types of bites.
Overall, I was surprised by Tsion Café. It stands out among New York’s other Ethiopian restaurants in location and its unique appetizer and entrée offerings. On top of all this, the host was very ready to answer our questions and was a joy to talk to after the meal. Although I may not come here for my next Ethiopian fix, no one should shy away from coming here if they are in the area and are looking to try something new.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Delicious food, great music and vibe. We're so glad we came and are excited to come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really enjoyed Tsion Cafe, everything was flavorful and tasty. This was some of the best injira I have ever had. Most things were not too spicy but for someone who is sensitive there are still options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dinner at Tsion Cafe was a beautiful fusion of Ethiopian and Israeli flavors in a cozy, welcoming space. The meal was perfect for sharing, with every dish bringing something vibrant and comforting to the table.
The Sambusas were crisp and savory, filled with warm spices and paired with a bright dipping sauce that added just the right zing. The Hummus with Silsi was creamy and rich, topped with a spiced tomato sauce that gave it depth and warmth, served alongside soft pita bread.
The Fik’re Lover’s Combo was a standout—a colorful platter of stews and vegetables over injera, each component offering unique spices and textures. It was a perfect introduction to Ethiopian cuisine, with lentils, greens, cabbage, and split peas all complementing one another beautifully.
The Duba Wot with Jollof Rice was hearty and full of flavor, with the sweetness of the pumpkin stew balanced by the spice in the rice. The Ful (fava beans) was earthy and satisfying, brightened by fresh diced vegetables and served with warm bread for scooping.
The Tel Aviv Quinoa Salad was light and refreshing, a welcome contrast to the richer dishes, with Mediterranean herbs and citrusy notes. The Shimbra Asa, a spicy chickpea stew, brought a lovely kick and deep flavor, perfect for fans of bold spices.
To end the meal, the Malawach with Silan—a flaky Yemeni flatbread drizzled with sweet date syrup—was delicate, comforting, and an unexpected treat. The Redd Foxx cocktails were strong, fruity, and a great match for the bold dishes.
Service was warm and attentive, and the space had a relaxed, intimate vibe that made the whole experience feel like a special gathering.
I came into Tsion Café because I appreciated its beautiful ambiance and wanted to support a local business by hosting a small repast there for my father who passed away a week ago. The bartender/waitress was kind and helpful, and mentioned they’ve hosted events before. She brought out the owner for me to speak with, and that’s where the experience took a turn.
The owner was shockingly rude and dismissive. She didn’t offer a single word of sympathy when I explained I was planning a repast. Instead, she immediately asked for a date. When I said June 14th, she interrupted with, “What? What day even is that?” I told her it was a Saturday, and she snapped back, “No, we’ll probably be busy,” and that was that.
No compassion, no professionalism, and absolutely no interest in being accommodating. I walked out. If this is how they treat someone coming to them during a time of grief, I can only imagine what other interactions are like. Would not recommend.
Service: 1
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