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    Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.5 (184 reviews)
    ModerateEthiopian
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    ABYSSINIA ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant

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    Doro Tibs
    Danielle S.

    Amazing food! My friends recommended this as the best Ethiopian food in the area and I can see why. We ate in for lunch and I had the Doro Tibs (chicken with onions in berbere sauce and other spices) with two of the split lentil veggie options as my sides. Everything was delicious and so flavorful. The injera has a perfect tangy flavor. I'm going to be making this a regular spot!

    Cha Cha
    Sara D.

    We came as a group to celebrate a co-worker's birthday. As appetizers, Sambusas. They are similar to an empanada, the consistency of a spring Roll. They had two types, beef or veggie. We ordered both. I prefer the veggie ones, crisp and flavorful. The beef has a very strong seasoning of cumin. Our table ordered an array of dishes; a vegetarian, combination dishes with different kinds of meats, chicken and beef dishes. Mine was called Cha, cha. Of course, I had to try it. Not bad, strips of beef in a non-spiced sauce. Everything was accompanied by Injera(a crêpe sour dough) bread rolled up. And St George Amber Beer. It seemed to be a family-owned restaurant with very nice people, attentive.

    National flag of the Ethiopian Empire from 1270 until 1974, when Haile Selassie was deposed. ("The lion of Judah").
    Susan S.

    My family loves this place! Kind, cheerful service, excellent food and drink. Wine and beer available, as well as spiced tea, or coffee service. This is communal food: The more people in your party, the better! The entrees arrived on a platter, placed in the middle of the table, and you scoop up the slow-cooked vegetables or meats with pieces of injera bread. This is like a sourdough buckwheat pancake; the grain is called teff. This is vegetarian and vegan heaven; omnivores are also very happy. Everything is delicious. There's a TV in one corner playing classical Ethiopian music, on a loop with photographs of the country and it's people.

    Beyaynetu
    Ari K.

    I got takeout from here so I don't know what the vibe of the restaurant was like, but the food came in a plastic bag which helped keep all the liquid from getting everywhere (which was much appreciated). The food was still warm also. I got the Beyaynetu with key sir wet, misir alicha, bozena shiro wet, yatakilt wet, and kik wet. It came with a perfect portion of injera to scoop all of the yumminess up. Everything tasted so good!! I didn't know what to expect at first as I've never had Ethiopian food before, but I will definitely be having more of it!

    Gayathri M.

    A cozy warm place to grab a weeknight dinner! Sometimes the wait can be longer so if you aren't a fan of that take out is a good option for you. The people are very nice and kind. They are very welcoming as well. The menu has a good variety including dinner menu options for more than two people. I love ordering a list of items and sharing amongst each other and this menu caters to people with that in mind.

    Sumbusas
    Allister M.

    A fantastic friend of mine is vegan. We were trying to decide on a spot for lunch, and he suggested Abyssinia. I've never tried Ethiopian food before, and I was excited for something new. We headed over when they opened, and my mind was absolutely blown. The flavors, the spices, everything is married perfectly and packs the best punch. I enjoyed every single bite and can't wait to come back and try some of the non-vegan options as well! The people are fantastic too! Excellent, courteous, and kind service! I also loved the vibe of the restaurant. Very comfortable and low-key. Can't wait to go back!

    Lamb Yebeg Awaze Tibs
    Britta F.

    This place from the outside just looks like your average food place in a strip mall, but it far exceeded that reputation. I've been to Ethiopia and have tried Ethiopian food all over the U.S. because I travel for work. This place is really good!! The injera is less pungent/milder than what you get in Ethiopia, but otherwise just as flavorful. I typically eat alone, so haven't been able to experience the family style experience, but I do order the Yebeg Awaze Lamb Tibs. Pictured is the collard greens, but I usually get cabbage and spicy lentils! Wonderful family owned business and exceptional food. I'll be moving soon and totally going to miss this place.

    Cups for coffee
    Austin R.

    I didn't think I could enjoy an Ethiopian restaurant in Rochester more than Zemeta or Addis Ababa, but this one might take the cake. Although it lacks a buffet (on the Sunday afternoon that I went, at least) and I didn't see an option for gluten-free injera, it was still excellent in many ways, ranging from the quality service, the varied menu options, the attention to vegetarian options, the coffee, the artwork/decor and the overall atmosphere, not to mention a cool display featuring intriguing artifacts and objects from Ethiopian culture. I visited with a group of at least 12 people and we were seated at a long shared table. For $12 plus tax, I had the vegetarian combo, which featured samples from 5 dishes: shiro we't (a spiced split pea dish), tikil gomen (sautéed spiced cabbage), mesir we't (berbere-spiced lentils), yatakilt we't (fresh carrots, potatoes and string beans sautéed with turmeric, garlic and onions), and timtim salata (tomato salad with onions and green peppers), served on injera bread. If you haven't had Ethiopian food, be warned, it can be a little spicy for some tastes. I loved it and thought it was comparable to anything I'd had at the aforementioned Ethiopian establishments in town. We also received coffee poured from a distinctive vessel, which was delicious. I'd highly recommend this place to anyone interested in Ethiopian food, delicious food in general, and/or something new and different, especially since the price point is very decent. Check it out!

    Dinner for 2, Abyssinia II
    Sandy J.

    Highlight: Ethiopian restaurant right by the Hospital and undergrad UofR that serves excellent food. When I say Ethiopian food, the first things i your mind should be gravy meats, sour pancake Injera, and spiced vegetables. Ethiopian food is heavy- and the sour pancakes really balance out the oils. Ethiopian cuisine is only something I have recently revived and this place is so good, that it was something I craved for a couple of weeks but couldn't go alone because I craved for their Dinner for 2 option. If you got a pal, order the Dinner for 2 option- that way you've got a balanced meal and can sample many dishes. I don't really take lamb, so I took option 2 (tibs for steak, Doro chicken, and Tikil Gomen). Ethiopian food. When you say Japanese food, you think of sashimi, ramen, and tempura. Well, when someone is to say Ethiopian, you think of Injera, Tibs, and Tikil Gomen. I'll explain these dishes. Rice goes with everything in Asian cultures, bread for any European or American place, and Injera for any Ethiopian dish. Seriously- this gray fluffy spongy sour pancake that is super tangy comes in endless rolls. The first time I had Ethiopian food, I didn't know how to eat that stuff and we ordered 10 dishes and each dish came with 10 Injera- that we had to take it to go. This fluffy spongy pancake requires you to dip your gravy meats, vegetables, and beans with it. Prepare to get MESSY. Not a place to go to if you expect to keep your white coat pristine before seeing patients btw. Tibs is basically stewed beef. Ethiopian food is super oily btw- you MUST use that injera or prepare to take pepcid afterwards when you get home. The weird thing is the Injera is tangy and addicting b/c when you pair it with greasy sauces, it's some crazy crack like addiction that makes you go, dang, I need to go back to Abyssinia to get more of that Injera (wait, did I just say that?). A lot of Tibs at Ethiopian restaurants are usually too dry and too charred. I like the one here at Abyssinia b/c it's actually tender and comes out in a gravy stew dish. Doro is chicken. The one that comes on this platter is 2 fat drum sticks, still tender and not overly stewed. It is highly garlicky in an almost thick chicken soup gravy thing. Mild and very pleasant. Tikil Gomen is a cabbage dish that is yellow from turmeric, onions, garlic. You also get a vegetable (garden beans with potatoes and carrots) There is a dish with mashed yellow lentils that reminds me of Dal at Indian Restaurants. Friendly people- a little reserved but polite and nice staff.

    Mango lemonade
    Henry P.

    The food was excellent. The flavors were exquisite with many nuances and changed over the course of the meal as the bread absorbed more of the flavor. Best Ethiopian food in town! The interior may not look like much, but it's elegant in its own right, and a nice environment for the meal. There is easy parking in the lot. The service was fast and pleasant.

    Combo for two
    Kelsey P.

    My favorite Ethiopian restaurant! This was the first place to introduce me to really delicious Ethiopian food, and I always have to come when I'm back in town. I'd definitely recommend choosing one of the combination plates. Instead of paying full price for a single entree, you can try a bunch of different ones, which are all incredible, and it turns out to be really cheap for however many people you're sharing it with. The only thing is that you can't substitute anything; once we had one that had lamb, which neither my mom nor I are a big fan of, but we weren't able to switch it to another meat, although it really wasn't a big deal. They give you plenty of injera to go with the meal and will give you more if you ask. The meal comes on a huge platter that takes up the entire table, so you eat with your hands family-style, which I always really enjoy for a meal. I think it used to be a carpet store or something else before Abyssinia, so the layout is a bit strange for a restaurant, but it has a really nice, home-y feel to it. All of the staff are very warm and can provide helpful suggestions if you're not familiar with the cuisine. Whether or not you've had Ethiopian food before, you have to come to Abyssinia for an authentic, delicious meal!

    Abyssinia Special 1 Abyssinia Special 2
    Davin M.

    Delicious food! Cozy interior, but unfortunately we got takeout and didn't get to dine in. Food was ready in 15mins. I recommend the specials if you're like us and don't know what anything on the menu is so you can try a bunch of different things

    Veggie platter

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    Ask the Community - Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant

    Are there gluten free options?

    All of our dishes are gluten free. The injera we make can be gluten free, just let your server know and they'll make it fresh for you. Calling ahead is preferred.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    People searched for Ethiopian 166 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

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    Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant

    Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.6
    (207 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Cozy, friendly, neighborhood-building community restaurant where the owner/proprietor, a…read morewife-and-husband team, are also the cook and server team. And they remember patrons after one visit and greet you with a warm smile and *delicious* steaming plates of healthy food that makes your body happy. Try not to make this a staple of your diet. It's a foolish goal to have!

    My favorite Ethiopian food in town. Everything I have eaten has been delicious, and for…read morevegetarians, the variety of options is really great. On my most recent visit, during lunch time with friends, we all had the all-you-can-eat buffet, which is a great value at $13.99 (current price). The woman serving us was very generous with the portions and also made sure we had plenty of injera bread to eat with it (though there is also rice on the buffet if you prefer.) Although I don't know the names of any of the things I ate, there were mild and spicy options, several kinds of lentils, a kind of pureed chickpea dish, sauteed/braised greens and two kinds of mixed veggies - one with carrots and one with cabbage. Although the buffet is all-you-can-eat, we were all stuffed and just managed to eat what we were served. A few side notes: -- Hours here on Yelp say they open at 11 am which is incorrect. They open at 12 pm each day of the week. -- There is street parking and in this section of the city, it is still free! -- Seating in the front room inside can accommodate approx 20 people. On the day we visited, we were a group of 4, and several singles came in, and two other groups of 4, and the place was packed -- There are also several meat options on the buffet; if you want the meat the buffet price increases by $1 -- Beverages are all in bottles - water, sodas, etc -- This place uses disposable paper plates and plastic cutlery -- Don't forget to ask about the samosas! They have a veggie one and a meat one, and though we forgot and were too full, they looked and smelled amazing!

    Photos
    Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant
    All you can eat buffet meat
    All you can eat buffet meat
    Vegetarian Combination  Delivery ...yummy

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    Vegetarian Combination Delivery ...yummy
    Hawi Ethiopian Restaurant

    Hawi Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.0
    (217 reviews)
    73.7 mi
    $$

    Second time here, and it did not disappoint. From the quiet and calming ambiance to friendly staff…read moreand an extensive menu of Ethiopian cuisine, definitely one of my top restaurants in Ithaca. The lamb (Yebeg Alicha) is so so good & tender. Everything is very flavorful and made with a lot of thought into the flavor profiles and high quality ingredients. I will say that the chicken (Doro Tibs) was kind of dry, but the other components (Kilt was my favorite) made up for it. The spicy (Misir) can actually be quite spicy, but the hints of sweetness help mellow it out a bit. The portions are huge, and perfect for sharing! Overall, I love coming here and highly recommend checking this place out!:)

    My friend, who's extremely well cultured, and I, driven by equal parts hunger and curiosity,…read moredecided to feast like royalty on the special combo for two ($39.50) at Hawi. We chose Misir Wat, a glorious heap of red lentils stewed in onion and tomato sauce, and Kilt, a turmeric-kissed medley of potatoes, carrots, and cabbage that made me briefly consider adopting a vegetable-based lifestyle (briefly). We also got the Hawi Special ($6), an iced blend of sesame powder and honey. Imagine the rich, nutty taste of tahini and the comforting hug of honey -- but in liquid form, and with occasional hard bits that feel like nature's own attempt at boba. It was delicious and slightly mysterious. I liked it! 4/5. The food? So. Good. The kind of good where you're halfway through the meal and already regretting how full you're going to be but refuse to slow down. The kind of good where you consider getting extra injera just to prolong the experience. Now, full disclosure: I love Ethiopian food. Unconditionally. Irrationally. My Ethiopian friend, in their infinite wisdom, tells me this place is just "okay." But do I trust their expert opinion, or my own food-induced euphoria? I think we all know the answer. 10/10, would happily waddle out of here again. Thank you Anan for coming here with me!

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    Hawi Ethiopian Restaurant
    Injera
    Injera
    Spreece

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    Spreece

    Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant - ethiopian - Updated July 2026

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