Stopped by with a few friends to introduce them to Ethiopian food and had a phenomenal meal. I have been trying to find Ethiopian food as good as when I first had it in the DC area and this spot is it! Considering everything between taste, price, convenience, cleanliness, and ambiance, this spot is easily one of the best I've had so far. Service was friendly and the food came out pretty quickly. The restaurant is well decorated with traditional pieces. Parking in the rear is a huge plus! We ordered the veggie and meat combo with the addition of Doro Wot. The taste of every component was super flavorful and the meat was tender. All but the raw protein options are halal! The Tej (honey wine) was sweet and very strong. The Tela was similar to a sweet beer with coffee notes. Really glad we got to try both drinks. Overall, a really good spot! I can't wait until my next visit! read more

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I've been to Addis Ethiopian for their traditional food and coffee a couple of times; therefore, this is legit 5-star review. It's centrally located in San Diego on El Cajon Blvd, where Normal Heights meets City Heights...easy to get to plus there's a mini parking lot. I just looove this Ethiopian restaurant! I feel right home when I'm there especially when I participated in the coffee ceremony. The restaurant is nicely decorated with unique furniture, tableware, and portraits from the culture. The owner and staff are super friendly...ready to answer questions about the menu or accommodate your needs. The service was always greaaat and the food was always deeelish. I highly highly recommend this family-owned restaurant to the Yelp Community :-) read more

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This little gem in the heart of North Park is truly something special. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff make you feel right at home from the moment you walk in. I had the pleasure of being served by Kadu, who I later learned is also one of the owners--he was incredibly humble, kind, and attentive. What makes this place even more special is that it's family-owned. The food is made with so much care and love by Alem, Kadu's wife, and you can truly taste that homemade quality in every bite. Everything we had was absolutely phenomenal. If you're in the area, I highly recommend supporting this beautiful family business. You'll not only have an excellent meal, but a genuinely heartfelt experience. read more

FOOD: Since it was our first time, we decided to order 2 combos: veggie and meat. Meat combo had Lega Tibs, Derek Tibs, Awaze Tibs and Veggie combo had Misir wot, YeAter Kik Alicha Wot, Selata, Gomen, Teikil Gomen. All served on injera. They also give you several injeras on the side. Everything was so delicious and flavorful. The spices blended so well in all the stews. I would give it a 5/5. SERVICE: There were two people who assisted us. Very friendly folks. AMBIANCE: Has traditional décor, complemented by soft Ethiopian music in the background. PARKING: Street parking only. read more

Addis Ethiopian - Meat and veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Wonderful local gem! I got the sambusas and veggie combo, both of which were excellent. The sambusas are made to order and arrived hot and crispy. The veggie combo is a great way to sample a variety of dishes, especially as a solo diner. My favorites were the teikil gomen and yeater kik alecha wot. Good service and nice ambiance. I will definitely be returning! read more

Addis Ethiopian - Sambusas - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

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My husband and I decided to try some Ethiopian food in San Diego. We had loved previous Ethiopian restaurants we had been to in NY. We chose Addis because it had a good vegan platter, good reviews, good prices, and it is a family small business. Everything was true and we were happy with our selection of sambusas and the variety in the vegetarian combo platter. The inside has some Ethiopian decor and the service was just great. Plus, there is a parking lot in the rear, which is a plus. read more

Addis Ethiopian - Sambusas - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Hands down my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in San Diego! This place is a must if you are looking for great food and warm hospitality!

I cannot express how much I LOVE this place! The owners are so friendly and you can tell they really care. I've been to multiple Ethiopian restaurants around San Diego but I keep coming back to this one because it is my favorite. It's the perfect place to introduce friends to Ethiopian food for the first time as well. The decor inside is so cute. They have chairs and tables and art all from Ethiopia. You can choose if you want a standard table or more traditional Ethiopian seating. I recommend the traditional seating. It really adds to the experience. I always get the meat combo and the veggie combo and maybe add one more item (if we have a 3rd person). It's more than enough food for 3 people. My favorite dish, however, is the Derek tibs. It comes in the meat combo or you can get it on its own. GET THE DEREK TIBS!!! you will thank me later. Everyone I take, agrees that it was worth ordering! read more

Addis Ethiopian - Meat combo and veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

This remains one of our favorite restaurants. We've been going regularly for years, and it has only gotten better. The food is always on point, the couple that owns it remains kind and welcoming, and they did a great job redecorating read more

I came here on a Monday evening around 8 PM. There's convenient parking in a lot behind the building, which was a nice bonus. We seated ourselves, someone brought water right away, and then our waitress took our order. We split the veggie and meat combo, and both were absolutely delicious. I'm very sensitive to spice, and nothing was spicy at all. It was incredibly flavorful too. This is the third or fourth Ethiopian restaurant I've tried in San Diego, and this one is by far the best. We also had a couple glasses of wine, and the price point was phenomenal for the quality and portions. Our waitress was so friendly. She noticed we didn't eat the collard greens and told us that next time, just let her know and she'll substitute it with something else. Everyone we interacted with was warm and welcoming. Highly recommend this place. read more

Addis Ethiopian - Veggie Combo & Meat combination - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

My first time here and the food was amazing! We had the Veggie Tray and OMG loved and devoured all of it. I'm definitely coming back here, and often. You definitely have to try this one out! read more

Addis Ethiopian - The shareable Veggie Tray (I forget the name) - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

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We came here for dinner and had a family style meal consisting of meat and vegetable choices. read more

Addis Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

3 - Food was amazing but I ended up being overcharged We went here last Sunday and the food was sooo good! The flavor of everything was incredible - we were literally so happy while eating. We got two meat combos, one veggie combo, three sambusas, three sodas, and one honey wine. Everything tasted delicious, no complaints there at all. When I went to pay, the total on the card machine showed around $108, which felt kind of high, but I didn't think too much of it. I gave him $120 and left a $12 tip, then we left. Later, my husband asked for his change, and when we added up the prices, we realized the total should've only been around $87-88 after tax, not $108. We called to double-check and then I actually went back. I told the guy I thought I was overcharged - he acted unsure, but after I asked him to redo the transaction, I ended up with $32 left, which confirmed I was right. I get that mistakes happen, and I was nice about it, but it didn't feel great that he acted confused about what I saw on the screen. The food really was amazing though! Just a friendly heads-up - double-check your total before paying. read more

Addis Ethiopian - Menu - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Mom and pop market and restaurant. Prepare for a dining experience. Plenty of tables and chairs. Many parking spaces in the rear. Read the menu and try as you go. Wash and clean your right hand and enjoy the injera with genuine Ethiopian dishes. Ordered meat combo and veggie combo and raw meat gored gored . Enjoy the honey wine tej or fruit beer tela. You can ask for spice and salt and more injera to fit your taste. Spice is toned down a notch here so you don't get shocked. Ask the server if you can tolerate spicier level. Give it a try. Don't forget your Ethiopian coffee. Service is slow but ok. read more

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Love this place so much! Family owned and run spot with really good energy and food. Very accessible! read more

Addis Ethiopian - Veggie combo and meat combo - family style - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Great food and the staff are always lovely. We enjoy the derek tibs and kitfo. Worth the wait for your meal - more time to enjoy the ambiance & company before getting to share a communal meal together. Would recommend and will always be back read more

Addis Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

I've been wanting to try Ethiopian food for years! We finally got a chance to head down and try Addis out. I was a bit nervous because didn't know what to order (as mentioned, I've never tried Ethiopian food before) however I quickly found the veggie combo which had a sampler of items Misir wot, YeAter Kik Alicha Wot, Selata, Gomen, Teikil Gomen. I'm not vegetarian but to tend to eat dishes with little to no meat. My husband had the Yebeg Tibs which consiste of lamb sautéed with onion, garlic and a special blend of spices. Everything was delicious! My favorites were Misir wot which is a stew consisting of spiced whole red lentils simmered with a spicy sauce and YeAter Kik Alicha Wot which is a Yellow split pea stew with onion, garlic, ginger root, turmeric and curry spices. Everything else was very tasty as well but these two really stood out to be. The staff is friendly and happy to make recommendations. I can't wait to return and try Dero Wot. Ethiopia's national dish :) read more

Addis Ethiopian - Tej and coffee - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Service was good, the ambiance was nice, and the food tasted okay but somewhat lackluster. The biggest issue we had was the portion sizes. The beef portions were very small, and the $18 chicken dish came with only one small chicken leg approximately 3-4 oz and a single hard boiled egg, which was extremely disappointing. What made it worse was the explanation we received after bringing this to the owner's attention. We were told that because the chicken takes a long time to prepare and the sauce is time consuming, that is why the portion is so small. As a chef, restaurateur, and former restaurant owner, that explanation does not make sense and I have to call BS. In my restaurant, we slow cooked meats and sauces, some taking 12 to 18 hours with very tedious prep, and we still served proper portions. Chicken is a relatively inexpensive protein to cook and serve. The beef dishes were also underwhelming in quantity. Our final bill came to $72 plus tax and tip for lunch with no beverages for two people. Paying that much for lunch is fine when the experience feels worth it, but this time it simply was not. The value was not there. The owner, who was a very nice gentleman, could have easily salvaged the situation by bringing us another piece of chicken when we voiced our concern. Instead, it seemed that saving the small amount that extra chicken would have cost was more important than customer satisfaction. Overall, it was a disappointing visit. The small portions and the weak explanation from the owner left us feeling unsatisfied. Needless to say, we will not be back. read more

Addis Ethiopian - Example of the $18 chicken portion. - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

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Will be coming back! Sweet, cozy, and delicious Ethiopian food from a sweet family owned business. Felt like going home to your mama's house - made with love, fresh, comfort food with great flavor. We got the lamb dish, and the veggie combo. If you like lamb, it was great to pair it with the veggie combo because the juice soaked into the injera bread and was SO good to eat with everything else. The veggies were all great too. Would recommend to anyone looking for a comforting bite and new experience for food. Also the fact that it's family owned since 1985 also was really comforting. Looking forward to going back and for their coffee ceremony Saturdays read more

Addis Ethiopian - (My photo doesn't do this food justice - but this was the Lamb dish & Veggie Combo. It was SO good. Highly recommend both! - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

A Masterclass in Flavor and Hospitality From the moment you walk into Addis, you feel like you've been invited into someone's home. The atmosphere is warm and authentic, with beautiful traditional decor and low-seated mesob tables that set the perfect stage for a communal meal. The Food The food is nothing short of spectacular. We had a spread served on fresh, tangy injera that was the perfect vessel for the rich flavors on the plate. * Doro Wot: The star of the show. The chicken was incredibly tender, and the spicy berbere sauce had a deep, complex heat that was balanced perfectly by the hard-boiled egg and fresh cheese. * The Tibs: Perfectly sautéed with onions and peppers, providing a savory, juicy contrast to the stews. * Freshness: Even the side salads were crisp and bright, offering a refreshing palate cleanser between the bold, spiced bites. The Experience What makes this place special is the attention to tradition. The menu even explains the custom of gursha (feeding one another as an act of friendship), which adds such a beautiful layer to the dining experience. It is clear that the family who owns this takes immense pride in their heritage and their cooking. Verdict Whether you are a longtime fan of Ethiopian cuisine or a first-timer, Addis is a must-visit. The portions are generous, the spices are authentic, and the service is incredibly welcoming. read more

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This is the most authentic spot you can find in SD. I have been to MANY Ethiopian restaurants. This has the best decor ambiance music and most importantly FOOD. I food here is the most tasty I have found in the city. The service is fantastic. Family owned restaurant. The owner is a gentleman and you should go meet him and try the food. read more

This is a restaurant run by an Ethiopian from Africa, which has been in business for many years. The shop has a very unique style, full of local cultural characteristics. The owner is very enthusiastic and will guide you on how to order. Traditionally, Ethiopian meals are served on a large injera--a type of flatbread--topped with various stews, meats, and vegetables. You eat by tearing off pieces of the injera and using them to scoop up the dishes, which is a distinctive experience. If you've never tried Ethiopian food before, it's worth a visit. However, the injera has a sour taste overall, and neither my friend nor I were quite accustomed to it--but it was all part of the experience. read more

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This place is some of the best Ethiopian food I have ever eaten! The owners are very nice and you can taste that the food is cooked with love! I don't know why, but even the little side salad that comes on the plate tastes amazing! Everything is seasoned just right and it tastes very homemade! I think they actually cook each meal to order. At least it seems like that and tasted like that! If you like Ethiopian food I guarantee you you'll not be disappointed here. It has a very peaceful and relaxing feel to it the moment you walk in. This is one of my regular spots to eat! read more

Food is mediocre compared to other Ethiopian restaurants, and the portions are quite small. Even after ordering 2 dishes, we were still hungry ... both of us are average-sized adults (around 5'8", 160 lbs), so this was't an issue of large appetites. The seasonings and overall taste were not the best. As someone who enjoys Ethiopian food, this was is not good food. There was no A/C running ... it was around 80 degrees outside, and the door was left open. If you are not used to hot indoor conditions, this can be a problem. I felt uncomfortable. There is a 4% PENALTY for paying by credit card, labeled as a 'Non-Cash Adjustment' on the receipt, which you see later, because they do not print the receipt (text or email only). Tipping options on the payment terminal starting at 20% and going up to high percentages. The tip then is calculated on top of both the tax and the credit card penalty. This means you are tipping on fees and taxes. Tips should be calculated based on the subtotal only. The bathrooms were not inviting. No paper towels available. A place where you eat with your hands, your mouth gets greasy: having a proper way to dry your mouth after washing it is essential. Street parking is metered, but there is a lot behind the restaurant. It appears to be reserved for the shop, and there is constant traffic moving through it. The signage is unclear and marked 'Shopping Customers Only,' which adds to the confusion. Staff is very friendly. But, we will not be returning. There are several other Ethiopian restaurants in the area that offer better food, more reasonable portions, and a not this kind of a shady pricing. read more

Disappointing - here's why. I've eaten at dozens of Ethiopian restaurants in Manhattan, DC, Dallas, Buckhead, Austin and so on. I've had it enough to know a bit. This is in the middle of that pack on food, bottom on service. Yegeb Tibs were salty and chewy, Dero Wot ok but not much flavor. Tekil Gomen not flavorful. Went on a Sunday - first table yet service was poor. Guy at counter ignored us until we asked for him to take our order. Even with another table, he stood at counter. C'mon. No reason to try again. read more

This Ethiopian restaurant makes really good food. The vegetarian combination is very high quality. Also, I recommend the shiro wat stew, which is delicious and comes out piping hot. The restaurant is clean and it is good for a relaxed family meal or even a date. The service is relaxed, but professional and polite. read more

My husband and I did the coffee experience here and it was really cool. We got to hear about the coffee tradition and ritual in Ethiopia and try authentic Ethiopian coffee brewed three different times. Each brew was good in its own way and very distinct from each other. The person brewing the coffee was super friendly and answered all of our questions and let our little one roam around while we tried the coffee. They had popcorn and bread to eat with the coffee but I was so full from lunch the coffee was all I needed. I will definitely come back to try the food and bring some friends with us to try the coffee experience. read more

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It's nice to try a new place, we normally go to Muzita. The family is super friendly and accommodating to the kiddos with the level of spices. We called ahead of time for a party of 9 but the restaurant was not busy on Sunday morning, just a few locals having their coffee and breakfast, there were lots of available seatings. Got the recommended veggie and meat combo, added the National chicken dish, string beans and sambusa. Thank goodness for the lot parking behind the restaurant and drop by the little grocery store next door to get some goodies home. read more

Addis Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Addis is my favorite Ethipoian restaurant in San Diego. The team here is wonderful, I feel like I am at home, the food is consistently good and the servings ample. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and beverages that include beer, wine, honey wine, Ethiopian coffee and tea, juice, butter milk and more. My go-to order is to start with a sambusa (the red sauce served with it can be quite spicy and bursting with flavor), which is packed with dry lentils and spiced perfectly. I like to either get the vegetarian combo and add Derek tibs or, if I am with others, get the vegetarian and meat combo together. I've heard people say they prefer Awash, but I find that Awash is a bit slow in comparison and the food doesn't have the smooth flavor I enjoy at Addis. Here, the food is perfectly seasoned and spice. I've never had a bad or off dish or meal. One of my absolute favorite dishes is Doro Wat. Once, they were out when I placed the order. Chef Alemtsehay told me to be patient, that she would make the dish just for me. How kind! And, of course, it was absolutely delicious with a perfect egg on top. There is street parking out front, and a private lot in the back. There is also a market next door to the restaurant, which sells all sorts of food items and textiles, including berbere and injera already made. So, yes, a San Diego favorite. I always love to see Chef Alemtsehay and Fekadu. They know what I like without me asking. The service is so loving and attentive. I feel right at home. read more

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This food! People it is delicious. The Doro wut, Awaze tibs, and kitfo were equally delicious!! I imagine they marinate these meals for days okkaaayyy, each bite is full of flavor. And the kindness, I just adored our host. A++ for the ambiance as well. I can't wait to come back. You're welcome.. oh and they have honey wine yall read more

Addis Ethiopian - Doro wot, awaze, kitfo and some red lentil goodness - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

As a first-time visitor to San Diego, trying Ethiopian food here was such a great experience. The food was incredibly tasty, well-seasoned, and felt very authentic. Everything was clean and well presented, which really stood out. Highly recommended for anyone visiting San Diego or locals looking for authentic Ethiopian cuisine. read more

Easily the best Ethiopian food I've had in San Diego! Highlights: 1.) Sambusas- flaky, almost buttery layers of dough with a spiced lentil filling. Comes with a (not too) spicy red dipping sauce that really compliments it. 2) Veggie combo with injera- their injera is light and fluffy, and goes perfectly with the veggie dishes. My favorite was the YeAter Kik Alicha Wot (im pretty sure its split yellow peas). Full of flavor, reminds me of southern dishes I grew up eating. 3) Hot tea- I honestly dont know the name, but if you ask for their hot tea served over a flame (to keep it warm), they'll know what you mean. Ive had it twice and its the best tea I've ever had. Its spicy, gingery, and goes really well with their dishes. 4) The service- the staff is always kind and helpful, and theres a laid-back vibe that makes you want to spend your afternoon there. Its a great place to go and kick back. 10/10 would recommend! read more

Food: We ordered the meat and veggie combo. The meat combo was okay as the meat was a bit chewy, as well as needing more seasoning if you did not eat it with the injera (Ethiopian flatbread). The injera was so soft and fluffy, which definitely made the meat combo taste a lot better! The veggie combo had amazing flavors- definitely a must get. Service: Staff was very attentive and polite, although it did take time for your food to get to your table as it seemed that there was only one cook in the kitchen. Ambiance: Restaurant was spacious and even had authentic Ethiopian mesob tables so people could gather around and eat family style, making it a unique experience. read more

Addis Ethiopian - Meat combo and veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Great food. Even better service, very hospitable. Enjoyed immersing my self into their culture.

Amazing Ethiopian food, great service, and beautiful decor. Highly recommend this place!

Loved this place. Very authentic and true to the cultural food. Nice atmosphere and they were burning incense which was calming. The food was so tasty and hearty. We got the veggie plate and then added two meet entrees. We added doro watt and kitfo. Doro watt is my all time favorite ethiopian dish and this place didn't disappoint. It this savory thick spicy stew/curry with tender chicken and hard boiled egg. So delicious, will be back to Addis again read more

Addis Ethiopian - veggie combo, doro watt, kitfo - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

I love Ethiopian food and decided to stop for dinner at Addis on the way home returning from Mexico via CBX. I know that Ethiopian restaurants down in San Diego tend to offer dulet (my favorite Ethiopian dish) more so compared to the restaurants in my area, yet I still called ahead to make sure they had it available for dinner since it is listed under breakfast on the menu. There is a small parking lot behind the restaurant in case you cannot find street parking. The interior is spacious with some traditional seats off to one side and regular tables/chairs on the other. Service was friendly, but a bit slow (it took quite some time to flag someone down to order and again to ask for a box for leftovers). We were checked on periodically throughout the meal though. The menu is standard and actually quite competitively priced. We ordered the meat combo, veggie combo, and dulet, all of which were very tasty. Injera came cut into smaller rolls. Overall, a solid Ethiopian establishment! We also checked out the related Ethiopian market next door, which had a few food items but mostly sold objects. read more

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really delicious and authentic ethiopian family-owned restaurant! i was surprised it was not more busy - my friend and i were almost the only customers on a tuesday night. the interior is nicely decorated and the staff was very friendly and hospitable. i wish the meat combo had a bit more food, but everything was incredibly yummy. we also tried to order the sambusas but they were unfortunately out. i would highly recommend! read more

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Great food! The meat combo, injera bread, and sambusas were delicious. Service was also very friendly

Such a great vibe! The food is absolutely delicious and I feel so good after eatingThe spiced tea was to die for, I got two teapots fullService was incredible, the people are extremely welcoming and friendly. I love the atmosphere and will be returning so so soon!! Thank you Addis Ethiopian restaurant read more