Top notch ethiopian. The vegetarian combo plate is gorgeous and filling, with a delectable assortment of preparations, including all the classics. read more

I am a huge, huge fan of Ethiopian food. Since moving to Greenville 5 years ago, I've gotten used to driving 2-2.5 hours just for one meal at an Ethiopian restaurant. A crazy joy spread through my heart when I heard about Addissae "coming soon" to Asheville. Our first trip to Asheville since they opened... Of course we had only one dinner destination. Wa arrived at 5:30pm, and there was already a huge crowd...a good sign! We ordered the family style meat platter and the lamb special. Let me first say it was quite good. We stuffed ourselves, eating almost every bit. Of interest is their injera. It is darker (suggesting more teff flour) than most injera I have had. It also had a milder, less sourdough-like taste to it. I don't know if this by choice, or if it was not as fermented. Not bad, but not what I expected. So why only 3 stars? We got 3 meats (beef, chicken and lamb). All were spiced the exact same way (Kay w'at, with a spicy berbere sauce). Very good, don't get me wrong, but Ethiopian food has so many unique spice combinations, I hope they expand expand their variety of flavors and styles to reflect that uniqueness. I'm looking forward to seeing them mature...one more reason to drive up the mountains to Asheville...not that I need an excuse :) read more

If I were on death row (unlikely, since I'm a pacifist), I know exactly what I'd order up for my final foodstuffs: a vegan Ethiopian platter, complete with my weight in injera. My dedication to this unique cuisine was such that I used to drive four hours from Miami to Orlando just for a mouthful of mesir wot. The spongy injera, the colorful spices, the singular flavors -- it's just the best food EVER. Given my affinity for this particular fare, I was beyond stoked to see that Asheville had Addissae. I've been without a local Ethiopian option for far too long; my stomach was oh so sad. Accompanied by two friends from out of town, I hit up this eatery for lunch on a Thursday afternoon. Like me, my pals only eat plants, so we ordered the vegetarian (which is also safe for vegans) platter. It included miser wot, kik wat, gomen, alitcha veggies, shiro, and salad, all for $10 per person. Injera is my obsession, and I was mildly disappointed with Addissae's incarnation of the stuff. It was dark, and lacked the sponginess and sourdough tang of traditional injera. Normally I could eat the stuff till my stomach distends, but I didn't feel that way about this version. As far as the rest of the food, the kik wat (yellow split pea stew) was by far the platter's star. I also dug the gomen (collards). Alternatively, the miser wot made me breathe fire, and the shiro was really heavy on the cloves and cardamon. While I think Addissae has room for improvement (I'd give 'em a 3.5), I'm sure they'll keep getting better. Please support this spot, because Ethiopian cuisine is everything, and we need a little Addissae in our lives! read more

Yes please. We came here for lunch for the first time ever today. I had the meat lunch sampler special and she had the vegetarian. Delicious. Clean. Fresh. Spicy. We will be back. read more

We went for the soft opening and were really impressed. I moved to Asheville from the DC metro area and was missing the diversity in food selection. The food at this restaurant was very fresh and craft-fully prepared. We'll definitely come back! read more

Addissae - Vegetarian sampler, Ethiopian tea and spicy red lentil dish. Nommms!!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

The food here is amazing, the service is great, the owners are present and so warm and welcoming. This is the kind of business you feel good supporting in Asheville. The location, tucked behind the main Patton thoroughfare also keeps traffic to the restaurant light. A great place for locals to escape the massive summer crowds for good eats and company. read more

I love Addissae. Such delicious food and suchhhh nice staff!! That really makes a place. Always very quiet. A great place to have a fun and different dining experience. read more

On our first trip to Asheville, NC (definitely not our last!) my Honey and I had big expectations for the food scene. Asheville is well-known in our neck of the woods for its diverse and eclectic eateries, and we happily laid over for a few days to soak in some local culture. We stayed in a terrific B&B (see my review for Asheville Green Cottage) owned by a truly delightful couple who just happen to own this fabulous Ethiopian restaurant. One of the owners - Neeraj Kebede - is a native of Ethiopia, and the restaurant is named for his lovely mother, whose portrait graces one of its walls. I won't claim to be knowledgable about this type of cuisine, but as a former resident of the California Bay Area with an adventurous palate, I have eaten and enjoyed Ethiopian cuisine before. My Honey was a first-timer. We were both blown away. We asked owner Vicki to choose our meals for us, and she chose a combination platter containing several dishes that were savory and delightfully spiced. Our platter included dishes containing beef, beets, chicken, lovely greens, and potatoes. Utensils are not traditionally used; the meal is served with and on a spongy crepe-like bread that is torn into pieces and used to scoop up the food. I can't begin to tell you how good this meal was for us! Every single dish was outstanding! People of Asheville, I hope you know how lucky you are to have amongst you such a gem of a restaurant! We are already planning our next trip to Asheville and there is no question that it will include a visit to Addissae. read more

Yes! In the somewhat underwhelming ethnic downtown Asheville food scene I have found a gem. Comparable to Ethiopian restaurants in big cities with a large diaspora, Addissae brings a much welcomed respite from the monotony of New Southern and Fusion joints that adorn the downtown area. I had an incredible lunch here today with my vegan fiancée, with whom I shared a veggie platter. Everything vegetarian here is also vegan (should be like this everywhere!). The owner was very warm and welcoming, and our waitstaff was as attentive as ever. There is of course a selection of locally loved drafts, as well as some intriguing cocktails boasting Ethiopian flavors! yum The food of course was amazing, wonderfully complex flavors complimented each and every offering of vegetable dish on our platter. I especially enjoyed the red lentil and split pea wats, next time I will be sure to try some meat dishes! The injera was definitely also a highlight and we had to order another basket! My only complaints are slight: I was looking for some more tang and acidity in the greens, additionally the food overall, while complex, was lacking in the spicy heat department (this second one is admissible when keeping in mind the general local palate). This is a business that I will wholeheartedly support, not only for the delectable comestibles and sumptuous quaffs, but for the staff, and the owner who was incredibly kind and made us feel more at home then any other Asheville based for-profit host. We will definitely be back! read more

What a shame that my first Ethiopian cuisine experience was here. My friend, daughter, and I walked in, enthusiastic about the delicious aromas, and were greeted and immediately seated. That's about where the goodness ended. It took a long time for someone to talk to us. We ordered our drinks and food at the same time. After our drinks were about 3/4 gone, they came to tell us that one dish we ordered was out of appropriate ingredients (which didn't really bother us except that we were hungry), so we ordered something else. After our drinks were empty for a while, our food finally comes out, and we dig in. The food's alright but extremely spicy even though we ordered mild. We asked, and it turned out that they brought us the wrong version. They tell us the correct version will be out in a few minutes and leave the spicy version at our table. As we're finishing up our meal they brought the correct version. One of the management (or owners?) asked how everything was so we told her we'd like to be comped for not getting the dish we ordered until we were pretty much done eating. She said no, their way of rectifying it was to give us what we ordered. That sounds really reasonable, except for the fact that we choose to go out to eat for the whole experience, not to just technically receive food. When they bring out the correct dish as all other patrons are wrapping up and leaving at closing time, somehow it falls short of being classified as "what I ordered." I ordered food to be shared all at once with my friend and daughter. We didn't even eat the corrected dish they brought out, beyond a bite apiece to taste it, because we'd been there 2 hours already. Come on! read more

Flavors were good, the waitress was really nice. But I'm still hungry because the meat platter had so little meat. For each person there was only one scrawny chicken drumstick and mayyyybe 1 or 2 tablespoons of beef. The rest was all filler/sides - injera bread, a small salad, collards, an egg, and vegetables (aka, a couple bites of carrot and potato). I don't see why it costs $12 per person to have like three mouthfuls of meat. But like I said, the flavors were good - I might come back for dinner and try something else. read more

We have eaten in multiple Ethiopian restaurants all over the country. This one was terrible and smelled of 3 day old sausage wrappers. Our food was cold. Really cold. It was not fresh. It tasted like it was made last week, yanked out of the fridge, and slapped on the plate. The fat in the sauces had come out of emulsion. The server was nice and the drinks were good but we came there for the food; the food was disgusting. read more

We went Valentine's Day evening. From the street, the restaurant doesn't look like much, but inside is quite a bit more inviting. The staff was marvelous and all went so smoothly! Really can't say enough about the great staff. The food was just wonderful! I have had Ethiopian food a couple of times before, and the food at Addissae was right up there... we did a 1/3 meat family style, 2/3 vegetarian. My husband said he would have liked a little more meat on the plate, though. Also, they do not take reservations. For that reason we went about 5:30pm. I really wish they took reservations... I would have given them a 5 star if they had! They had a nice enough wine list, too.... loved it! read more

I am an Asheville local and this is hands-down my favorite restaurant in Asheville. EVERYTHING here is amazing. I love the ambiance, the music, the decor. It feels very homey and safe inside, and it's on a much quieter street than the typical downtown restaurant, so Addissae is it's own kind of oasis. I tend toward the Veggie Messob or Tempeh tibbs but really, the meat is great too. They use local meats which I love! The portions are huge and really really filling! You can easily get 2 meals out of one dish, or do what I do which is eat everything, get super full, and then eat a light breakfast the next day :). This last visit I had Tej, which was an Ethiopian Honey Wine. It was AMAZING! Really, really tasty. ALSO, I've recently had to switch over to gluten-free eating which is VERY hard for me, as I love all carbs and other glutinous things. But Addissae is a predominately gluten-free (and dairy free) menu, which is sweet! I can and will continue to go here again, and again, and again. The owner is always there cooking and will personally visit tables to make sure everything is tasting good. Whether Ethiopian food is something you've never had or something you've had a lot of-- Addissae will not disappoint. I absolutely love this place and highly, highly, highly recommend it! read more

The food at this restaurant is beyond amazing and the atmosphere is so relaxing. The flavors of their food are impeccable and service is always so warm and kind. Every time we come here the owner always remembers us. Authentic Ethiopian cuisine at its finest! A special treat for us always. Highly recommend this place! read more

Addissae - Excellent! - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

I've had Ethiopian multiple times over the years and this stacks up to them. Great atmosphere and service, even for a business lunch. I will be back. read more

For years now, one answer has risen to the top every time someone asks "What kind of restaurant does Asheville still need?" Every poll, every year: Ethiopian. Well now we have it. Addissae has been open for a couple of months now, and just recently started seating for lunch. No reservation required, and it wasn't crowded at all. We were seated right away by a friendly hostess and the menu was explained thoroughly to us. Our order: One each of their vegetarian and meat "sampler platters" because I've already forgotten the actual word for them. They came mingled together on the same large platter. Taste: All pretty tasty. To be honest, a lot of it, even though I know these were all different things, tasted very similar, sort of like a curry. Reminds me very much of Indian thali plates. Included chicken, beef, lentils, chickpeas, split peas, some vegetables, collards, and some traditional fermented bread. All with a little bit of a kick, all very flavorful and cooked very well. Cost: Not so bad, really. Without the bread, you'd feel like it wasn't a lot of food for what ended up being $22 for both of the platters, but I left satisfied. Service: Very friendly, very knowledgeable, a little on the slow side. There were only about three tables seated, but after we got our food, we didn't see the server anymore, and it took quite a while to get our check. Nothing that's going to prevent me from going back, but a little on the slow side for a quiet lunch. Overall: Definitely tasty. I don't regret going, and I'd gladly go back if someone said they wanted to try it. That said, I'm not sure how often I'll specifically crave it, but it's not disappointing by any stretch. read more

It's off the beaten path and we were thrilled to have stumbled upon it. Great vegetarian plate - lots of variation, spicy, sweet and everything in between. Affordably priced and filling. Nice atmosphere and awesome service. read more

Addissae - Vegetarian for two - anything vegetarian is also vegan. - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

AMAZING food. Amazing Service. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for an excellent meal off the beaten path.

Such a warm and hospitable place! The couple that owns it couldn't be nicer, the food is great and the coffee amazing! As a side note, my husband walked in hours before they opened-not realizing they hadn't opened yet- for some amazing coffee. The lady welcomed him in, asked if she could prepare lunch for him even though they weren't open and got him coffee all without him realizing they were still closed! At other restaurants you would have been told "we don't open until 5", but not here-genuine kindness! I hesitate telling you they got him something g without even being open-bc I certainly don't want to encourage it-but if you want to support a good business with great people for dinner, please do so here! read more

The night we went was really busy- had a 30 min wait. Only downside was that the restaurant was full to capacity so we were asked to leave & come back. Was absolutely worth it though! We love Ethiopian food & it was a definite bonus to eat the gluten free injera bread. Our waitress was super sweet & helpful. I had a lamb dish, my husband had chicken. SO flavorful, rich, spicy & delicious. Warm ambiance...will definitely be back! read more

We shared the three person meat platter. The beets, veggies, spicy beef, etc was so flavorful and spiced perfectly. The bread was interesting, not my favorite flavor but really glad we tried it. Very yummy way to try Ethiopian flavors. read more

I have had Ethiopian in two different cities (I lived above an Ethiopian restaurant in Portland, OR and ate it at least once a month) prior to Asheville and hate to learn that this restaurant has missed the mark completely. My husband and I both agree that the Meat Mesob looked familiar (except for the salad on the plate, what's up with that) but didn't taste anything like what we have experienced in the past. Where is the fenugreek?? Very bland taste and not an authentic experience. Something to take notice of, the reviews you see with less than 4 stars come from people who have had Ethiopian prior to their visit to Addissae. Pardon my curtness but I LOVE to eat the real deal, hence my reason for being so sad this just isn't it! read more

We showed up exactly at 5 and were immediately and enthusiastically greeted by Andrew who showed us to our seats and provided drinks in under a couple minutes. We had not eaten all day and when i asked about appetizers he said they didn't really serve any but was more than happy to get us popcorn with seasoning, which was amazing! I then asked if we could purchase some of the spices and he came back to the table with a "to go" cup of the spice for us!! Have not even had the food yet but based on service alone this place is 5 stars. Update - just got our food no more than 20 minutes after we arrived and everything was made to order. Hands down the best beets that Ive ever had and the beef is out of this world! Totally lean with the perfect amout of spice and flavor! read more

Addissae - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

It smells amazing as soon as you walk in. The service is excellent- the whole staff was great. The tables are comfortable. The food was better than OK but not my favorite Ethiopian meal ever. The beef was great, and the veggies were pretty good, but the chicken and the injera were not that good. I'm no expert on this kind of cuisine so I REALLY recommend giving it a shot and deciding for yourself. It's def worth a try! read more

Addissae - Dinner for four - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

An enjoyable restaurant in the heart of downtown Asheville, serving exotic (to most of us) dishes with deep flavor. The restaurant is clean, bright and comfortable for families. It was a great place to introduce our kids to new cuisine. My 5-Point Rating System [adjusted for Casual Full Service restaurants] Food: 4.5 of 5 Service: 4 of 5 Efficiency: 4 of 5 Atmosphere: 4.5 of 5 Overall Value: 4 of 5 The Messob trays are a great way to get started if you haven't tried Ethiopian food before. The vegetarian dish is fairly mild on the heat scale, but warm, fragrant spices infuse all the dishes. The meat Messob is spicier, but we did not find anything that required an immediate water chaser. The spicy beef Kay (it comes with the meat Messob) is worth the trip. These Messob trays include a very large portion of food, and the Injera bread accompanying it expands in your stomach to increase the full feeling. Injera is Ethiopia's signature dish. It is a style of sourdough bread made from an African grain called Teff. Injera is strange the first time you experience it. It is a spongy, purplish bread that looks and feels like a deflated pancake. Injera is served beneath the food, so that it soaks up the juices. Save those bits for last - it's like that last bite of a good roast beef po-boy at Mother's, when the french bread has soaked up all the flavor. Injera bread sponges up beef juices and spices perfectly - trust me on this, it's what makes the whole meal worth it. Ethiopian with kids is a bit of a gamble - the flavors are pretty far outside the envelope of most American kid's palettes. But, if you have a sense of adventure and kids willing to follow your lead - Addissae is a great place to make the introduction. I recommend the Vegetarian Messob for kids because it is generally mild, and they will have no choice but to eat their veggies. As a selling point, it is traditional to eat with your fingers in Ethiopian restaurants. Who doesn't like to go out for dinner and eat with their fingers? It's a win-win. read more

I have wanted to try Ethiopian food for several years but have not gotten the opportunity. After eating at Addissae, I hope I can find Ethiopian food in Charlotte! The service alone was worth the 5 star rating. We were seated quickly and had our drinks in hand almost immediately. I wish I had written down the name of the drink. It had the word Tej in it. It was a very simple pairing of Champagne and Honey Liquor with Raspberries as garnish. I wonder how it is I have never had anything like this before. I also have every intention of having that as my signature drink anytime I have company to impress. But I digress... The food was spectacular! We ordered the Meat Messob and were shocked by the amount of food on the platter. You will not leave here hungry! And, unless you intentionally leave room for it, dessert will likely not be an option. The meat was incredibly flavorful! Warning: You will be eating with your hands. I really enjoyed that part of the experience, but I know some people who would see that as less than desirable. Also, the food comes served on top of Injera. So, when you think you have run out, you haven't! read more

Addissae - Meat Messob - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Ethiopian food is a rare treat in Asheville. This seems to be the only one this side of Charlotte. Having lived in DC for many years where there are many Ethiopian restaurants. I'm very familiar with the cuisine. This restaurant was different in a number of ways from the ones I've been to before. Normally everything is served in a big round platter covered with Enjera and it's pretty much family style. Here they've gone a little of market and used plates with a presentation to make it look a little more fashionable. I actually prefer the way. However, I'm very pleased that they have a vegan menu, and that the food was very good. It is not quite the other cultural experience of other Ethiopian restaurants I have eaten at, but it is still quite a different cuisine from anything else you'll find in Asheville. Some of the food can be very spicy a.k.a. hot. So be sure to ask about that if you are not want to love space. However, it is a comfortable place with friendly staff, and in all good food. It was a first time for my dining companions so they had to learn the eating etiquette, using the bread and fingers. They loved it. They loved the food as well. The staff do provide forks for those who are on accustomed to, or reluctant to do the traditional method. read more

Delicious, unique and fun. We enjoyed sharing the vegetarian and meat samplers. A new favorite.

So glad we came here! It was a nice, comfortable place. I'm not experienced with Ethiopian food but I was impressed by the incredible flavors. And try the coffee! I've never had anything like it. I'd love to go back and try more dishes. read more

Slightly off the beaten path but well worth it. 5 minutes walk from several of the breweries and shopping. The big plus is that the food is awesome! read more

This was our first time trying Ethiopian food, and we were not disappointed! I got the vegetarian lunch plate (I can't remember the word the actual name of it's the family style lunch option), and everything was delicious! The mango margirita was also exquisite. The service was a little slow, but there was only one server who was also making drinks. To be fair, it was a Sunday morning and she had gotten two tables in a row ordering cocktails. Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed our experience; the art and music were interesting, the food was good and filling, and the service was friendly and helpful! read more

Their food is GREAT! And the owner stopped by our table when we were finishing, which I personally loved! He talked us through the dishes and the preparation, and was just an all around great guy. Their vegetarian option was OUT OF THIS WORLD, and I'm not even a vegetarian! read more

This is one in my favorite spots in Asheville! It recently reopened under new management and the food is amazing!

Fun and delicious evening! Being our first time we did two samplers, one with meet and vegi and the other all vegi. It was a fun way to glory everything. Defiantly try the Ethiopian inspired craft cocktails! I can't wait to go back and order entrees. The beets, kale, and cabbage/potato mix were my favorites! The owner/server was so patient to explain all of the options and different preparation methods, but service was a tad delayed and scattered. Will defiantly be back! read more

Great Ethiopian food experience with great staff and owner hitting our taste buds at every point. Traditional family platter, beer and coffee service. Hard to believe we're not in New York read more

11/10/22 very disappointed , we went in on a drizzly night for dinner, greeted promptly and ordered dinner.....brought beer but informed BYOB not allowed. ok can deal with that. ordered beef Tib, tougher than an old shoe, not very flavorful and gristly.....not good. also ordered tempeh Tib ,burned and I mean charcoal burned. sides were a small blobs, portioned like you would give to a fussy kid...pathetic. The injera was overly fermented not a pleasant sour... I love Ethiopian food normally but this was inedible. my advice....don't eat here. read more

So so so so (how many sos was that?) good! We took our 9 and 11 year-old girls with us, got the meat platter and ate like champs! Food is amazing and the Ethiopian coffee is like liquid crack. This place touches my happy button on the food dial. Owner is a super good dude too. Get in there and eat! read more

Great food tonight! We had the family platters - lots of great food and lots of it!!!

The food was just okay. We have had better. We had the meat platter and the chicken was not good. Overall average.