I feel like I'm being wrapped in a warm blanket of cozy deliciousness when I walk into Zemeta's. Both times I got the veggie combo to go. It. Does. Not Disappoint! The flavors are so rich and a mouth-watering contrast to the tangy injera (which taste like I'm eating a fluffy cloud - trust me, it's a good thing); perfection. The owner is the loveliest, kindest individual who always greet everyone with a smile. I can't believe I've been missing out this whole time but glad I found a new go-to when the craving hits.
Michelle B.
Excellent service. Great ambience. 5 stars. The food is wonderful, quick, and fresh! And if you are having a bad day, Zemeta will cheer you right up with her smile and good cooking :)!
kevinchan_NYS
Zemeta is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in Rochester. The restaurant doesn't look much from the outside or fancy inside, but they serve varieties of delicious food. Doro Wet is always my favorite. They serve all you can eat on the weekends. If you have no idea what to expect for the all you can eat, you enter the restaurant, wait to be seated, and then go to the food counter and pick what you want (the owner will serve you the food). You can go back to the food counter for the next round of food. This is the best way to try different dishes available on that day. The owner roasted her coffee beans herself. The coffee beans were imported from Ethiopia, and yes, you can buy the coffee beans from her, and she will roast them for you. If you like strong coffee like me, don't forget to order her coffee too. The owner is charming and welcoming.
Jean B.
This was our family's first time trying Ethiopian food, and it did not disappoint. We got four dishes for takeout for four adults and one child. I wish I remembered the exact dishes, but we asked the person taking our order with assistance and recommendations. We got one chicken, beef, lamb and vegetarian platter. The bread is so good and it is amazing soaked in all the flavors of the sauces. We can't wait to come back for more, will try more types of dishes!
Kevin C.
Zemeta is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in Rochester. The restaurant doesn't look much from the outside or fancy inside, but they serve varieties of delicious food. Doro Wet is always my favorite. They serve all you can eat on the weekends. If you have no idea what to expect for the all you can eat, you enter the restaurant, wait to be seated, and then go to the food counter and pick what you what (the owner will serve you the food). You can go back to the food counter for the next round of food. This is the best way to try different dishes available on that day. The owner roasted her coffee beans herself. The coffee beans were imported from Ethiopia, and yes, you can buy the coffee beans from her, and she will roast them for you. If you like strong coffee like me, don't forget to order her coffee too. The owner is charming and welcoming.
Mark P.
The last time I visited Zemeta was probably 5 years ago, long before COVID upended restaurants worldwide. I always enjoyed the home cooked flavors and relaxed ambience of their primary vegetarian buffet. I decided to revisit it today, and was not disappointed. They have expanded the menu to include beef, chicken and lamb, and have a number of appetizers and other options. I chose a vegetarian plate to go, and the owner enthusiastically filled it with every option and many fresh, tangy rolls of injera. I added a freshly brewed ethiopian coffee as an afterthought, and I am so glad that I did. The coffee was delicious and strong, and all the vegetarian options were really fantastic. If you haven't experienced it, the style of food is sometimes a bit oil rich and heavy, but so deeply flavorful. The owners are friendly and welcoming. The interior is oddly laid out, but the seating in front is comfortable and offers some great light on a sunny day. This is a solid Rochester recommends.
Olivia B.
Came back again for the new year, still love this place, great portions, fast and friendly service. Food is delicious and filling.
Amy B.
If you've never tried Ethiopian food, if the idea of what to order intimidates you...this is the restaurant to go to! The owners are amazing people! Their level of customer service is above and beyond amazing! They are so kind and friendly, they'll put you at ease straight away. The food is so delicious you will definitely go back again and again.
Grace R.
Absolutely incredible Ethiopian food! It's all you can eat buffet style (served by the staff there who are masked). We went for dinner on a weekend and per person it was like $15-16 which is incredible for the quality! The staff was so sweet and there were a handful of tables for seating, so we had a great time with our friends! They sell bottled drinks/water separately. Definitely will be coming back!!!
jakb1984
I was looking for local restaurants and they found I found a couple others besides this one in around the same location. But for some reason I had just settled on this one and I'm so glad I did. I walked in and it was just so adorable very seemed to the type of restaurant it is. The lady behind the counter was just sweet as can be and explained everything the best that she could. There is a small amount of seating in the front which was fine, because there was really only one other couple that was sitting down to eat and they were sitting down on the other side of the restaurant by the door, and the other couple of people that came in took their food with them. We didn't know that there was a buffet going more into the building but it was fine because she offered us a buffet anyways of everything that was right there behind the counter. She offered everything there and might I say that is a great deal for the price because the food was so spectacular. I've never had Ethiopian cuisine before and it legit filled me up before I even finished it all. So of course I asked for container to take the rest with me because I was not about to waste it. I'd like to emphasize that out of my 37 years I've been alive, I have never enjoyed eating lentils but this is the first time I did. And the injere bread is so perfect for soaking in their sauces. Never fell apart at all considering how soaked it would get. I got everything behind that counter except for the lamb. So the split peas, the lentils, the rice, the beef and chicken, the red pepper sauce with the egg, the spinach, and I think the other dish was potatoes?! My husband only ordered the beef, chicken and the rice, but he almost finished it, and then the next day he did finish the leftovers. Their pepper sauce was a bit spicy like other visitors have stated in their reviews, but personally, it was very edible for my semi-sensitive tongue. I will be honest, I do love some Frank's hot sauce on my food so I do love spicy, but this is a different type of spicy and it really pairs well with the foods that were mixed in. Some versions of spicy elsewhere do not have flavor as they are just too hot in a bad way, but Zemeta's version absolutely did have good flavor. And the tea---- it did take a while to come out as they make it fresh, but it was so worth it because it was the best tea I've ever had in my life and I've drank a lot of tea over the years. My husband usually doesn't drink hot tea and even he finished it. I don't remember everything she said that they put into the tea, but the flavor really was just on point. I totally and utterly highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for something different and you love small businesses. Service was perfect and the food was phenomenal. The restaurant was very clean and like I said very nicely decorated. I was not nearly expecting that much food on one plate when I first walked in. I did not see anything about a buffet when I was first looking into this restaurant. And to be honest, I was having a hard time picking just one thing because it all just sounded so yummy. So that just made it really great. Thank you so much to everyone that was there working that day that just really made it a spectacular experience, and really makes me wish there was Ethiopian cuisine here in Detroit. Restaurants like this one are the reason that I always look for a small restaurant over top of the chains, even if the chains are cheaper and easier to find. Big chains almost never have the same quality of service and food as small local restaurants.
Only a buffet was offered. The lady serving had to strain through the dishes to try to find any lamb of chicken. Very disappointing.
Nathan P.
So good!!! You'll go home full! They give you lots of food when you ask for something, so make sure to ask for just a little if don't want to get SUPER full. They have lamb, chicken, beef, and lots of other options including vegetarian. I would highly recommend.
Ricky Z.
I love Ethiopian food and Zemeta never fails to disappoint. I have been a number of times and always like what I have tried. On my most recent visit, I was surprised to see their business model change to only now do buffet style dining (served by their staff). While at first I was a little wary of the new format, I actually really liked the flexibility to try whatever looked good and then go up for more of my favorites. Everything was still good, though the tibs options were a little dry. The injera was still as good as I remembered it too. This is a very approachable way to try Ethiopian food and I would highly recommend checking them out!
Suzy R.
I had their lunch buffet. It was good and fresh. The price was worth the food. More vegetarian - bean choices then anything. The bread wasn't as fermented and fresh as I recall, but it wasn't bad. The service was friendly, but the bathroom needed some cleaning. I'd go back.
BillK455
Nothing fancy, stopped in for lunch before going to the Art Museum and I thought it was a good lunch though my girlfriend thought it was too spicy. With the pandemic, they served the food behind glassed in area as we chose what we wanted. They had vegetarian items like mixed veggies and lentils and various beef, chicken and lamb dishes and served with Ethiopian bread. I didn't think anything I tried was overly spicy but there was a slight kick to some dishes. Just make sure ask if want to be careful. It had been awhile since I had Ethiopian food and I did enjoy coming here. Hope to come back again.
I feel like I'm being wrapped in a warm blanket of cozy deliciousness when I walk into Zemeta's. Both times I got the veggie combo to go. It. Does. Not Disappoint! The flavors are so rich and a mouth-watering contrast to the tangy injera (which taste like I'm eating a fluffy cloud - trust me, it's a good thing); perfection. The owner is the loveliest, kindest individual who always greet everyone with a smile. I can't believe I've been missing out this whole time but glad I found a new go-to when the craving hits.
Excellent service. Great ambience. 5 stars. The food is wonderful, quick, and fresh! And if you are having a bad day, Zemeta will cheer you right up with her smile and good cooking :)!
Zemeta is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in Rochester. The restaurant doesn't look much from the outside or fancy inside, but they serve varieties of delicious food. Doro Wet is always my favorite. They serve all you can eat on the weekends. If you have no idea what to expect for the all you can eat, you enter the restaurant, wait to be seated, and then go to the food counter and pick what you want (the owner will serve you the food). You can go back to the food counter for the next round of food. This is the best way to try different dishes available on that day. The owner roasted her coffee beans herself. The coffee beans were imported from Ethiopia, and yes, you can buy the coffee beans from her, and she will roast them for you. If you like strong coffee like me, don't forget to order her coffee too. The owner is charming and welcoming.
This was our family's first time trying Ethiopian food, and it did not disappoint. We got four dishes for takeout for four adults and one child. I wish I remembered the exact dishes, but we asked the person taking our order with assistance and recommendations. We got one chicken, beef, lamb and vegetarian platter. The bread is so good and it is amazing soaked in all the flavors of the sauces. We can't wait to come back for more, will try more types of dishes!
Zemeta is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in Rochester. The restaurant doesn't look much from the outside or fancy inside, but they serve varieties of delicious food. Doro Wet is always my favorite. They serve all you can eat on the weekends. If you have no idea what to expect for the all you can eat, you enter the restaurant, wait to be seated, and then go to the food counter and pick what you what (the owner will serve you the food). You can go back to the food counter for the next round of food. This is the best way to try different dishes available on that day. The owner roasted her coffee beans herself. The coffee beans were imported from Ethiopia, and yes, you can buy the coffee beans from her, and she will roast them for you. If you like strong coffee like me, don't forget to order her coffee too. The owner is charming and welcoming.
The last time I visited Zemeta was probably 5 years ago, long before COVID upended restaurants worldwide. I always enjoyed the home cooked flavors and relaxed ambience of their primary vegetarian buffet. I decided to revisit it today, and was not disappointed. They have expanded the menu to include beef, chicken and lamb, and have a number of appetizers and other options. I chose a vegetarian plate to go, and the owner enthusiastically filled it with every option and many fresh, tangy rolls of injera. I added a freshly brewed ethiopian coffee as an afterthought, and I am so glad that I did. The coffee was delicious and strong, and all the vegetarian options were really fantastic. If you haven't experienced it, the style of food is sometimes a bit oil rich and heavy, but so deeply flavorful. The owners are friendly and welcoming. The interior is oddly laid out, but the seating in front is comfortable and offers some great light on a sunny day. This is a solid Rochester recommends.
Came back again for the new year, still love this place, great portions, fast and friendly service. Food is delicious and filling.
If you've never tried Ethiopian food, if the idea of what to order intimidates you...this is the restaurant to go to! The owners are amazing people! Their level of customer service is above and beyond amazing! They are so kind and friendly, they'll put you at ease straight away. The food is so delicious you will definitely go back again and again.
Absolutely incredible Ethiopian food! It's all you can eat buffet style (served by the staff there who are masked). We went for dinner on a weekend and per person it was like $15-16 which is incredible for the quality! The staff was so sweet and there were a handful of tables for seating, so we had a great time with our friends! They sell bottled drinks/water separately. Definitely will be coming back!!!
I was looking for local restaurants and they found I found a couple others besides this one in around the same location. But for some reason I had just settled on this one and I'm so glad I did. I walked in and it was just so adorable very seemed to the type of restaurant it is. The lady behind the counter was just sweet as can be and explained everything the best that she could. There is a small amount of seating in the front which was fine, because there was really only one other couple that was sitting down to eat and they were sitting down on the other side of the restaurant by the door, and the other couple of people that came in took their food with them. We didn't know that there was a buffet going more into the building but it was fine because she offered us a buffet anyways of everything that was right there behind the counter. She offered everything there and might I say that is a great deal for the price because the food was so spectacular. I've never had Ethiopian cuisine before and it legit filled me up before I even finished it all. So of course I asked for container to take the rest with me because I was not about to waste it. I'd like to emphasize that out of my 37 years I've been alive, I have never enjoyed eating lentils but this is the first time I did. And the injere bread is so perfect for soaking in their sauces. Never fell apart at all considering how soaked it would get. I got everything behind that counter except for the lamb. So the split peas, the lentils, the rice, the beef and chicken, the red pepper sauce with the egg, the spinach, and I think the other dish was potatoes?! My husband only ordered the beef, chicken and the rice, but he almost finished it, and then the next day he did finish the leftovers. Their pepper sauce was a bit spicy like other visitors have stated in their reviews, but personally, it was very edible for my semi-sensitive tongue. I will be honest, I do love some Frank's hot sauce on my food so I do love spicy, but this is a different type of spicy and it really pairs well with the foods that were mixed in. Some versions of spicy elsewhere do not have flavor as they are just too hot in a bad way, but Zemeta's version absolutely did have good flavor. And the tea---- it did take a while to come out as they make it fresh, but it was so worth it because it was the best tea I've ever had in my life and I've drank a lot of tea over the years. My husband usually doesn't drink hot tea and even he finished it. I don't remember everything she said that they put into the tea, but the flavor really was just on point. I totally and utterly highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for something different and you love small businesses. Service was perfect and the food was phenomenal. The restaurant was very clean and like I said very nicely decorated. I was not nearly expecting that much food on one plate when I first walked in. I did not see anything about a buffet when I was first looking into this restaurant. And to be honest, I was having a hard time picking just one thing because it all just sounded so yummy. So that just made it really great. Thank you so much to everyone that was there working that day that just really made it a spectacular experience, and really makes me wish there was Ethiopian cuisine here in Detroit. Restaurants like this one are the reason that I always look for a small restaurant over top of the chains, even if the chains are cheaper and easier to find. Big chains almost never have the same quality of service and food as small local restaurants.
Restaurantji Recommends
Only a buffet was offered. The lady serving had to strain through the dishes to try to find any lamb of chicken. Very disappointing.
So good!!! You'll go home full! They give you lots of food when you ask for something, so make sure to ask for just a little if don't want to get SUPER full. They have lamb, chicken, beef, and lots of other options including vegetarian. I would highly recommend.
I love Ethiopian food and Zemeta never fails to disappoint. I have been a number of times and always like what I have tried. On my most recent visit, I was surprised to see their business model change to only now do buffet style dining (served by their staff). While at first I was a little wary of the new format, I actually really liked the flexibility to try whatever looked good and then go up for more of my favorites. Everything was still good, though the tibs options were a little dry. The injera was still as good as I remembered it too. This is a very approachable way to try Ethiopian food and I would highly recommend checking them out!
I had their lunch buffet. It was good and fresh. The price was worth the food. More vegetarian - bean choices then anything. The bread wasn't as fermented and fresh as I recall, but it wasn't bad. The service was friendly, but the bathroom needed some cleaning. I'd go back.
Nothing fancy, stopped in for lunch before going to the Art Museum and I thought it was a good lunch though my girlfriend thought it was too spicy. With the pandemic, they served the food behind glassed in area as we chose what we wanted. They had vegetarian items like mixed veggies and lentils and various beef, chicken and lamb dishes and served with Ethiopian bread. I didn't think anything I tried was overly spicy but there was a slight kick to some dishes. Just make sure ask if want to be careful. It had been awhile since I had Ethiopian food and I did enjoy coming here. Hope to come back again.