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    Alem's Coffee

    4.5 (169 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Alem's Coffee Takeout or Delivery

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    ALEM'S COFFEE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Alem's Coffee

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    Kicha fit fit and mocha
    Sydney J.

    I decided to give Alem's a try since they are just across from the DMV where the Temescal farmers marekt is held. Kicha fit fit: A little spicy, but the clarified butter helps offset this. I like that the texture is more on the firm side. It reminds me of stuffing with the texture and savory flavor profile, except a little spicier. Mocha: This was pretty good, I can definitely taste the chocolate and the coffee is not too bitter. Definitely stands out compared to other Eritrean restaurants because of its menu items, many of which are either smaller bites or more breakfast/brunch types of entrees which I haven't found at other restaurants I've been to.

    Fata and Tibsy Sga
    Miguel O.

    Had the Fata and the Tibsy Sga and I all I can say is amazing. The Fata was made on the spot and was crunchy and chewy at times with a since savory spice to it. The tibsy was tender and well seasoned, a little less spicy than the Fata. Very well balanced meals.

    Tibs/injera
    Bob A.

    Food was great, service is really attentive. It has an ethnically Eritrean ma/pa hole in the wall feel. I think they cater more to breakfast so you won't get the big injera platters but they do have one person equivalents of that as well as simpler bread + soup/stew type meals, as well as coffee

    Shihan ful
    Vanessa S.

    I was at the dmv taking care of my registration. Enjoying the wonderful 4 hr wait . I hadn't eaten breakfast and it was past lunchtime.So I decided to go grab a snack nearby. I see a coffee shop across the street. Perfect! Little did I know I stumbled upon a hidden gem. Mind you I have only eaten African food once in my life prior to this. I have been craving it all of my life (hence being part Egyptian and Ghanaian) . Oh what a feeling to eat "your" food for the second time in your life! When I tell you my mouth, brain and tummy all did a happy dance! Very simple ingredients. So fresh so delicious and a very humble place, but it felt like I was eating home at home. Love love love this! Will be coming back very soon with my daughters. Also the staff were very friendly and kind. I can't wait to try something new on the menu. I had the Shihan flu! Sooo good!

    Ribs
    Amy L.

    This is probably better for a coffee shop or a quick bite to eat, since their food menu wasn't very expansive. We got the tibsy and ful. The tibsy was on the blander side, at least compared to other Eritrean or Ethiopian restaurants. The ful was a bit better but also fell a bit flat as it was served closer to room temperature. I also was a bit disappointed in the lack of side options. I'm used to getting cabbage, spinach, lentils, and potatoes as sides for Ethiopian dishes. I would come back if I lived in the area, but since I don't live nearby, I would rather check out other Ethiopian or Eritrean options in the east bay

    Iced Ethiopian coffee
    Steph G.

    My kid came here as a freshman when she started Berkeley and we've made one last visit on her last day in the city after she graduated. It was very sentimental for us. She wanted to show me this place for a very long time. We opted to share the lamb stew. I think it's called the Tibsy. Now, bring your patience because it does appear that everything is cooked to order. Once it was ready, the lamb stew was served on top of injera bread. Although this dish is meant to be eaten with your hands, I opted to have a spoon. My kid did eat it with her hands. I enjoyed it better when the meat was soaking on the bread and I eat it that way the sour balance of the bread balances out the meat stew. Before we left, I got an iced Ethiopian coffee that would knock your socks off. Just cool, casual vibes here with plenty of outdoor and indoor seating. Street parking available.

    Shihan Ful
    Maian T.

    One of those places that took me waaaaaaay way way too long to visit after passing it by so many times and knowing it's been there so long - since 1999 - iconic. For $14 the Shihan Ful comes with two large perfectly toasted baguettes and a nicely spiced, fava bean stew and two lemon wedges. Do not deny yourself the sensory pleasure of cracking open toasty bread, inhaling the yeasty vapor and enjoying the crackly crunch and creamy bean combo. The vibes of this place are so nice. Friendly people, kids playing, people chatting and playing games outside. I swapped tables with someone who needed a wall charger and she told me you can order a coffee brewed with tea water, which I will definitely have to try next time. I hope this place remains an institution for years to come.

    Tibsy/Tsebhi Sga

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    Friendly server and comfortable indoor and outdoor seating plus good coffee and food equals a great little cafe.

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    1 year ago

    I just come for the ful which is delicious and comes with awesome fresh bread. I can't comment on the coffee

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    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and Veggie Sampler for Four

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$

    came in on memorial day bc I was in the area, and a family friend recommended this place :)…read more Quickly seated for a party of one, average sized lunch crowd Servers were great, helpful, and kind Food & drink: - Sampled the classic honey wine! Def sweet & kinda strong for me but still loved hehe - Another server said her fave was the honey pineapple cider wine and it fsho didn't disappoint; came in a cinnamon-lined glass and tasted more apple than pineapple haha but not complaining at all, just noticing - small plate of chicken w/ red lentils -- came w/ injera and salad --- HELLA SHMACK (usually at Ethiopian restaurants, I get the samplers to split w/ friends) since I came in solo, I got the small plate today. I thought I'd need more injera, but the serving was actually a perfect size bc I even needed a to-go box **can't wait to visit again!! though they did note their moving locations soon

    I had dinner with my best friend tonight on May 15, 2026. We were seated promptly and offered water…read moreright away. I ordered the veggie sampler, featuring spiced lentils, yellow split peas, kale greens with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots, all paired with a basket of tangy injera bread. The injera was fluffy with a pancake-like texture, perfect for scooping. The service was attentive and kind with our waitstaff continuously refilling our glasses of water without us even having to ask. The atmosphere was relaxed, making it easy to linger and chat. Overall, a positive experience with flavorful dishes, great bread, and prompt service. A lovely spot for a satisfying Ethiopian meal with a friend.

    Photos
    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - Menu

    Menu

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - DORO WOT ( chicken stew ), BEEF Tibs, LAMB Tibs

    DORO WOT ( chicken stew ), BEEF Tibs, LAMB Tibs

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - Amazing Cocktails: Espresso Martini, Honey Wine Pineapple Cider, Honey wine, Campari

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    Amazing Cocktails: Espresso Martini, Honey Wine Pineapple Cider, Honey wine, Campari

    Cafe Romanat - Buticha

    Cafe Romanat

    4.4(472 reviews)
    2.1 miGrand Lake, Lower Hills
    $$

    Go for the food and service, not the ambiance. The food was…read moreamazing. I'm not an expert on Ethiopian cuisine, but I enjoy it and would not hesitate to go back to Romanat. In fact, it would be at the top of my list if I was hungry for Ethiopian. Service was friendly and attentive. Helped guide us to a platter for our small group and it was the perfect choice. It's not a beautiful restaurant, but the food is the star and the reason to go.

    So this place is Ethiopian cuisine. Not many of those around these days. I've only been to the one…read moreother one before this one. But it's got all the flavors and bread that I had at this other place that belonged to the Queen of Sheba. I think the food was great. That 'bread' was sour and also tasted as expected, which was yummy. All the meats which were chicken and beef were very tasty. And so were the veggie option which was made out of eggplant. This eggplant was not oily but still tasted very good and not strongly bitter. Service was very nice and friendly. They gave us an extra samosa bc they wanted everyone to have a piece. And the place is very cozy and well decorated. We had a party of 9 and they fitted us. Prolly bc we reserved ahead of time. If you want this type of food, I'd would recommend it. Until I find something Mediterranean or more similar and better.

    Photos
    Cafe Romanat - Wall decor

    Wall decor

    Cafe Romanat - Combination plate with chicken and vegetables.

    Combination plate with chicken and vegetables.

    Cafe Romanat - Ethiopian beer

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    Ethiopian beer

    Admas - They call it Veggie combo ,what a combination . & we add one delicious mild stew ,yebeg kikil (lamb)

    Admas

    4.4(86 reviews)
    2.8 miEast Oakland

    My experience at Admas never fails to amaze me. Even though it was my second visit, it felt just as…read moreexciting as the first. From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed with amazing service that made the entire experience even better. The first time I visited, I tried the veggie combo and loved how flavorful and well-prepared everything was. This time I decided to try the veggie meat combo, and somehow it was even better. One thing I really appreciate about Admas is the variety of options they offer--whether you're a meat lover or vegetarian/vegan, there's something for everyone. Beyond the food, the restaurant itself is very clean, spacious, and family-friendly. It's the perfect place for both small dinners and larger groups. I'll definitely be coming back again soon!

    First off, I ordered for delivery…read more I love Ethiopian and Eritrean food, so I was excited to see this spot finally open for deliveries in my neighborhood! I think I've eaten at the majority of Ethiopian restaurants in Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco, so I'm a fan. Sadly, I was NOT a fan of this spot. :( (For context, I tried to go back to the delivery app to give a review, but the window for leaving a review had closed.) I looked over the menu and I was suspicious that there was no standard Doro Wot for delivery, but, whatevs --sometimes restaurants leave off certain items on delivery apps. I got the Chicken Tibs and Beef Tibs. The beef was spiced, but the chicken tasted bland and watery. Both seemed to be missing salt. The beef tibs was tougher than I'm used to. Maybe it was an off day. The Yemisir Wot (stewed red lentils) was flavorful. The vegetarian combo was a complete miss for the price and the portions were super small. The Tikil Gomen (cabbage, carrots, potatoes) looked like one tablespoon had been scooped out and put on the injera. It came with Yemisir Wot, Yekik Alicha (yellow spiced lentils), beets(???), Gomen (collards), and green salad (though I don't remember getting the green salad in my combo). The Gomen (collards) were super bland and tasted like reheated frozen collards. My last issue is that the a-la-carte items are photographed with a small salad and injera, pretty standard (see attached image from site). Unfortunately, the a-la-carte options came singularly in a container with a side of injera. Bummer. If I hadn't included the vegetarian combo, I probably would've been even more upset. What I did like: --- - The Tikil Gomen and Yemisir Wot were well spiced and tasty. - Plenty of injera, almost too many. I think my biggest issue is that given the portion size, most items are between $16 - $24, so if you're looking to have a rounded meal (injera, vegetables, meat), you're going to have to order multiple items and that adds up fast; it will be cheaper if you just eat in or call them and order for pick-up. (I'm also kind of bummed because I was rooting for them since they are in the space where Casa Vallarta used to be.) If you plan to go, I'd suggest sticking to the vegetarian options.

    Photos
    Admas - Dining room area. We forgot to take a picture of the food. Ate it too fast.

    Dining room area. We forgot to take a picture of the food. Ate it too fast.

    Admas - Gored gored, disappointing chicken doro wot, vegetable combo, & lamb tibs

    Gored gored, disappointing chicken doro wot, vegetable combo, & lamb tibs

    Admas

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    Cafe Colucci - Injera (wheat combo)

    Cafe Colucci

    4.2(1.4k reviews)
    1.3 miNorth Oakland
    $$

    So many vibes. I've been here but it's been a long time. In fact it was in their old location. Met…read moreup with some friends. They are vegetarian and we eat meat. So 3 of us ordered 2 meat dishes and they 3, ordered vegetarian dishes. We also ordered samoses (2 orders) and 2 lattes, and 2 baklava. Oh, they also ordered the stuffed jalapeño dish, which surprise was hot. All the food was delicious, even the two teenagers with us liked the food. It's got a good vibe inside and despite there being a pretty constant line we were seated within 15 mins. I would absolutely go back. Also - order the coffee, was hit with wonderful flavors served in this awesome ceramic mug.

    My first time trying Ethiopian food and I LOVED IT!!…read more The dishes are FULL of flavor! This family run cafe has been serving up East African cuisine in Oakland since 1991! Each dish was loaded with spices and I'm going to say it again, soooo much flavor. To be honest, we had no idea what to order or where to even start, so we got the sampler that our server recommended and it was soooo good. It was also a fun experience because we got to eat with our hands lol. If you're like us and completely clueless, go with the meat sampler because for $23, you get a HUGE portion and then can figure out which items are your favorites for next time. What we ordered: Meat Sampler ($23) * Doro Wot - spicy, slow simmered chicken stew * Doro Alicha - chicken stew in turmeric-based sauce * Sega Alicha - spicy beef stew * Minchet Wot - minced beef stew * Gomen - stewed collard greens We also got their Sambussas (half lentil and half beef), which were similar to samosas. Both their mocktails and cocktails were really well made too. I loved how they incorporated spices into the drink too, which was pretty unique.  So if you're looking for a fun date night or just to try something new, definitely bookmark this place!

    Photos
    Cafe Colucci - The outdoor table decorated for a private party

    The outdoor table decorated for a private party

    Cafe Colucci - Vegan Combination Platter (VG) & Meat Combination Platter

    Vegan Combination Platter (VG) & Meat Combination Platter

    Cafe Colucci - Tej and a lemonade mocktail

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    Tej and a lemonade mocktail

    Alem's Coffee - coffee - Updated May 2026

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