The way to Vivian's heart is through Africa, by way of Ethiopian cuisine. I have yet to physically make it to Ethiopia (I will sooner or later), but my stomach has definitely been spoiled by all the good Ethiopian food that has made its way to the US. Because there are large pockets of Ethiopian and Eritrean immigrants here in the US, I feel so lucky to be able to eat this food right here on the East Coast. Almaz Cafe serves many things here, so whatever your fancy, you can definitely find something yummy here. They serve up fresh Ethiopian coffee and you will not be disappointed once you have your first sip. The menu was interesting, as they serve up everything including coffee, pastries, smoothies, ice cream, desserts, wraps and yes Ethiopian food also! We opted to sit upstairs and while it is a bit high up and could be challenging for staff to make it up here, we had no complaints on service. We were greeted by friendly staff with big smiles. I opted for the vegetarian sampler and my companion had the Keye Wot (beef stew). My vegetarian sampler was excellent, and it came with 6 different veggie dishes including Misir, Gomen, Shiro, Kik-Alchia and a few other surprises. The beef stew was also well cooked and we both finished our meal with nothing left on our plates. A very relaxing place in the heart of Philly to enjoy excellent Ethiopian food. I will definitely come back here when I am in Philly again. Thanks Almaz Cafe for a wonderful New Year's Day lunch. read more

Amazing! Veg combination has lots of flavor at a reasonable price as well. Most Ethiopian places are very expensive. The staff is super friendly and there is small seating outside and plenty of room inside. read more

First, I stopped in just for coffee when they opened. I was so excited to find Ethiopian food on the menu in my neighborhood! The owners were friendly and sweet. I went back on a weekend morning and found a chef in the middle of the TINY restaurant cooking omelettes to order over a portable burner. It was a little strange but fun. I got breakfast and it was okay. Finally went back recently for Ethiopian dinner. I got the vegetarian combo, and it was delicious. It was my favorite Ethiopian food in Philly so far, and I'm a BIG fan of the cuisine. Surprisingly, our food came rather quickly despite all the tables being filled and only one person waiting tables and handling the register. It's a small space and not fancy, but it's great for a casual meal with friends or for hanging out alone. I don't have a laptop, but I suppose the wifi is a plus if you do. UPDATE: the owners, Solomon & Almaz, are incredibly friendly. I found out that if you make plans in advance, they'll do traditional Ethiopian coffee. My friends and I had a great time watching Almaz roast coffee beans for us and make amazingly delicious coffee. further update: I think our experience made them realize the space is too small for traditional Ethiopian coffee. But I SO appreciate that they accommodated us. The restaurant is really a labor of love for them. They worked hard to find a way to serve fresh food (not sitting in a steam table all day) without making customers wait an hour, as is the case with most Ethiopian food. Solomon also gave us an education on injera. Turns out many places skimp on the teff, but at Almaz they don't. That's great, because teff is REALLY good for you. read more

As any keen eyed reader will observe, we in the Publius household enjoy Ethiopian food. I first enjoyed Almaz Cafe way back in the spring of 2008 (I believe it had recently opened). Imagine our surprise when we found it was still there and serving delicious, home style Ethiopian cuisine. Of course we recently stopped in- we had beef tibs (forgetting the name) and a combination of their vegetarian dishes. If you eat meat, I recommend ordering this way. Food was delicious- fresh and flavorful. Injera was nice and sour but not at all dried out. The service was warm and welcoming. The place is very casual but honestly I've never been to any formal Ethiopian restaurant, so no concerns. Recommended! read more

I know a lot of people consider moving to the city but hold back because nowhere has a bodega that blasts also happens to have a few tables to sit down at an be served Ethiopian food. If only there was an establishment that blasted Christmas music, had single servings of Special K and Fruit Loops prominently displayed but also was a tiny Ethiopian restaurant! Good news anyone near 20th and Chestnut! Pam S suggested we go to Almaz Cafe because she heard good things about their vegetarian platter. She asked our waiter if it had any dairy. He said it did not so we both tried it. Wow! Five separate vegetarian dishes on the same plate and that awesome Ethiopian spongy bread. Its the same as getting a Beef Tibs except you get more things and you don't feel bad the next day. Its the next day and I'm feeling downright spry! The vegetarian platter joins the list of outstanding vegan plates in Philly. read more

Almaz Cafe - The vegetarian special. Wonderful! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Can't really think of anywhere else to get Ethiopian food in Center City; it's not half bad here. If you're on the University City side of the bridge, I would try Queen of Sheba or Dahlak. We had the key wat (spicy beef stew). It's pretty solid. Served with cabbage/potato and sour cream on the side. The portion is definitely shareable with two people, though smaller than what some of the other restaurants in University City serve. I would avoid the salads, they're not special and really overpriced ($7-$8 for some romaine lettuce and tomatoes). The service was really great, very friendly and attentive. Waters were always kept full. Decor is pretty bizarre. There is an interesting fascination with metal wall panels. Overall, really cozy and plenty of seating (upstairs available too). read more

My first Ethiopian experience in Philadelphia. Stopped here for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised. First of all, it's not just Ethiopian food; they do breakfast (omelettes and the like), hoagies, wraps, salads, etc. Of course, I didn't try any of that and went straight for the enjera and stews. All of the ethiopian dishes were within $9-$12, if I recall correctly. BF had dorowat and me, being indecisive, got the vegetarian combination. The stews came on one huge enjera plate, split down the middle, and they gave us tons of extra enjera on the side (we ended up taking some home). I loved the misir (red lentil stew). Just a bit of a spicy kick. The tikil-gomen and kik-alchia were good, but a bit bland for me (I'm a spice addict). BF highly recommended the dorowat, it came with two pieces of chicken and a hard-boiled egg. Flavorful chicken-y goodness. We were both extremely full and satisfied at the end of the meal. The service is pretty friendly, too. Would definitely return. read more

Almaz Cafe - Dorowat (above) & vegetarian combo (below), piled on top of a huge piece of enjera with crispy edges. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I visited this place because I was in downtown philly for one day and needed some Ethiopian. The restaurant is small of course it is in center city so most places are, but the food was amazing and there was no wait to eat. I had the vegetarian combo as I usually do when I visit Ethiopian restaurants and the owner who was our cook really made each part of the dish incredible. The beets we had as a special side dish were unexpected and also incredible. I will absolutely be coming back on my next trip to philly. read more

Almaz Cafe - The vegetarian combo - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

It's been many years since I had Ethiopian food. Last gf got bad indigestion from trying it, and I once took a date to a place in W. Philly where a roach crawled up the wall behind her. I've bookmarked Almaz for like 2 years, and passed by many times. Wanted to try Sunday after work, but they are closed. On my way to Trader Joe's lunchtime yesterday, I finally decided to try some Ethiopian take away. Kudos for wrapping my container in plastic wrap. Why don't more places do this? The place itself is small, charming, and the couple manning it are very nice. The food , however was a bit disappointing. The vegetarian combo(listed as $9.95 online for lunch) was actually $12.95. The lentils, peas, and veg were pretty bland. I remember Ethiopian food bursting w/flavor & spice; anchored by berbere sauce. The platter itself was a bit lean on the amount of veg/ proteins. The injera was good; pleasantly sour and spongy. 3 huge pieces were provided on the side, plus. one more underneath. That is usually the best part, as it soaks up all the juices.The platters that I saw served inside looked bigger than what I got. I really wanted to like this place. Unfortunately the price point does not match the quality/quantity of the food. Probably should try it again, but most likely will not. read more

I don't come here often enough. And it makes me sad... :( Things I love: EVERYTHING. Okay, more specifically... - The food. Whether Ethiopian or their lunch menu, everything is delicious!! We get wraps once a month, and breakfast every other month or so. And we don't get dinner as often as we would like here, but there has been nothing we have not LOVED. - The drinks. Coffees, smoothies, YOOHOOS! (Yes, I realize they don't make YooHoo, but the fact that they have it blows my mind and the inner child in me rejoices upon seeing it.) - The OWNERS/STAFF! Friendliest, nicest, most wonderful people ever. Half the time I think I go there just to hear stories and chat it up with the owner. Then I realize it is best to do so while stuffing my mouth with the delicious food. - The prices. Everything is so reasonably priced. And the quality is above and beyond. - The coziness of the place. They have upstairs settings too, but altogether the place just has an amazing welcoming feeling. I have nothing bad to say. Except about how I don't go often enough. :( read more

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I dig this place. That's for several reasons: 1) The owners are realllllly nice. I love that they some how are psychic enough to know if I'm getting coffee to go, or getting coffee there and hanging out for a bit. 2) The food is reallllly good. The vegetarian sampler is awesome, but since I love the misir the best, I usually just get that. The veggie wrap is also delicious. And I hear the soup is also really good. Their smoothies also rock. 3) They have cheap and good coffee. And big mugs to drink it out of. 4) Their credit minimum is only $5. Totally reasonable. read more

Almaz Cafe - Veggie Wrap. 600% delicious. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My very first time eating Ethiopian food. And I was not disappointed. Everything the had a good spicy flavor. The chicken was tender and tasted fresh. I'm not crazy about the bread, maybe I'm just not use to the texture is very strange and I'd imagine they be warm and not so cold. read more

Adam and I were craving Ethiopian food and happened upon Almaz. And I'm so glad we did. The food was so thoughtfully prepared, and so rich with flavor. The menu has a mix of standard cafe fare and traditional Ethiopian dishes. I had the veggie combo and Adam had a chicken stew. We both were so pleasantly full. The food came out quickly and was perfectly prepared. The restaurant itself is cozy, making for a great date night. read more

Almaz Cafe - Veggie combo. So yummy. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

My first Ethiopian food, so I don't have a comparison. I order the kitfo, very yummy but I just love raw meat. My husband's order the meat was dry. The main reason that turned me off was we got a corking fee, but we opened up the wine ourself!!! I didn't think that was fair. I won't go back to eat, I'll only order for pickup. read more

This was only my third time eating Ethiopian food and I got to say it was the best. The place is small, very charmingly so. We called ahead and asked if they have room for 5 of us in the next 15 min or so. Load and behold, when we got there, the tables were pulled together, all ready for us. Being that it was around 3pm and that we had class at 5:30pm, we were hankering for some alcohol. Yes it made total sense. They don't have any alcohol but is a BYOB. To the corner Wine & Spirit we went, and a bottle of wine later we were all very happy. The food was flavorful and delicious. We had a variety of Ethiopian dishes on one big platter. I particularly liked the chicken stew, very flavorful and tender. I'm still not used to the slightly sour spongy "bread" so that was my least favorite part of the meal. FYI there's wifi available if you decide to come and sit around a bit. read more

I thought the food was average, though I'm no expert on Ethiopian food. My date and I shared the firfir and doro tibs. The portions were large, but we did not enjoy the injera and found the food underwhelming, although delightfully presented. The service was slightly confusing. No one greeted us at the door, so we shuffled towards the cash register. Then a waitress came down the stairs and led us up to the high table. She seemed to take her time, even after we let her know that we were in somewhat of a rush. At least she was nice enough. This was actually the first date with my current boyfriend, so I definitely remember that the restaurant was quiet enough to have a nice dinner conversation. Obviously, this was very important for me in hindsight, so thanks, Almaz! read more

Best Ethiopian food around! Injera is excellent. Good bang for your buck. Veggie sampler awesome.

I was excited to come here and try Ethiopian food, unfortunately I was not impressed by the food. I got the zibzib tibs which was basically pieces of beef with onions and peppers served with enjera. Enjera is a thin pancake that is extremely sour. As my friend described it, it taste the a spoiled dosa. The meat itself was very dry. I can't comment too much on the flavor because the sourness of the enjera was so overwhelming that I couldn't taste anything else. The cafe itself is a cozy place and they do serve wraps/burgers/salad for those not interested in Ethiopian food. read more

Almaz Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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That vegetarian platter everyone is talking about on Yelp is worth the hype. It is absolutely delicious! And the lady who works here is so friendly and kind. The wrap is quite sour however, just as a warning to those who were expecting something like naan. It pairs well with the food though! read more

Almaz Cafe - Vegetarian platter - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Love this spot- this is the second time I've been here and the food never disappoints. Heart of center city, with prices that are justified for the food and location. We had the vegetarian combo, the chicken Doro Wat and the Foule - all three were fantastic and we left feeling super full and happy. A must go if you're looking for a delicious and filling meal. read more

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Um seriously YUM. I cannot rave enough about this place. Super neat setup for a cafe. One person platter of enjera with veggie combo was incredible. If i lived in Philadelphia, I'd have a hard time not going here multiple times a week. YUM. read more

Almaz Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1. I ordered pick up and my order was NOT messy. The container was wrapped with Saran Wrap, came with plastic utensils, napkins,AND after meal cinnamints. I will be frequenting this spot often in the coming autumn months. read more

Good ambiance, very cozy and great service. All the patrons seemed very pleased and happy, and one of them seemed to be greeted as a regular by the staff. Nice feel to the place! It's a nice mix for the menu - American style breakfast and lunch dishes (i.e. sandwiches and wraps, coffee drinks), as well as Ethiopian food! This review is for the Ethiopian food. Always the follower of injera and Ethiopian food, I had to try this place. Since I am a snob, I can say I was pleased. However, the injera was more rubbery than I'm used to eating. Also, the yellow split peas were a bit undercooked. The greens were tasty, but the flavor wasn't what I was looking for - it tasted more Caribbean than Ethiopian spiced. Still good, but, again, not what I had hoped for. If in Philly, I might give them a try again because of the service. For Philly, I bet it's pretty gosh darn good, though, for Ethiopian! read more

Great place, my first introduction to Ethiopian food. Their enjera is the like the Indian pancake/ dosa and very filling. The veggie platter is quite a mix of spicy stuff, lentils, sauces, spinach, etc. Finally, the owner/ host is so sweet and helpful, she cares so much. I went with my family and my daughter fell in love with the place and their hospitality. Fun times. read more

Not a big fan of Ethiopian cuisine.. My bf and I shared the veggie platter.. You get enjera with every entree you order.. The portion/ serving was large enough for us to share.. i only loved the cabbage potato veggie.. read more

Reasonable prices, quick & friendly service, cozy & low-key. Shared the Vegetarian combination ad Firfir with two friends; the amount of food was just right. It was so delicious and flavorful we devoured the entire platter pretty quickly. The Tikil Gomen in that was part of the vegetarian combination was really good, and the Firfir was a tad too spicy, but actually really good for a cold snowy day. Sealed the meal with a divine cup of café Voltaire. Definitely recommended if you're looking for a low-key, decent priced Ethiopian joint. They also have other American foods like sandwiches, wraps, and salads- but you can get those anywhere. The Ethiopian dishes at this place are the real gems. read more

Almaz Cafe - Vegetarian Combination & Firfir - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I couldn't agree more with the idea this place is a little gem. The inside is quiet and offers a great place to study, read, or just people watch out the window. They have tons of options for coffee and tea, which is nice on a colder day or an early morning. The options vary from ethnic cuisine to your average american breakfast and lunch food. Of course I believe in the philosophy that when in Rome do has the Romans do. Also, being a vegetarian when they actually label the menu with an option for me I absolutely must try. I would say the vegetarian combo was a little steep in price. However, it was delicious and well season. I felt full, but I didn't get the greasy feeling that people below have mentioned. I was glad to try to try Ethiopian food because I haven't been able to in the past. It will for sure be a place I plan on retrying. Furthermore, The wait staff pretty much leaves you alone if you come alone to work or something. But, you just pop over to the counter and they are extremely pleasant. read more

Almaz Cafe - vegetarian combo. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

If you haven't been to Almaz Cafe yet, you need to go immediately! After hearing rave reviews from multiple people, I had high expectations for the Ethiopian food coming out of this cozy spot nestled on 20th street. It certainly didn't disappoint! The vegetarian combo platter was the perfect dish for my indecision in choosing between the plentiful vegetarian options. Each dish was well-seasoned, wonderfully diverse in flavor, and paired perfectly with the addicting injera--each bite was as delicious as the next. You cannot beat the amount of tasty food that you get for the price too. This should be your new go-to spot for Ethiopian food in Philly! read more

Service = 4 Cleanliness = 3 Food = 3.5 Value = 4 (DISCLAIMER: My standard for Ethiopian food is the Blue Nile in Ferndale, Michigan. I have yet to meet a restaurant that can come near it in quality. My bar is high!!) The restaurant is cozy and the layout is odd. Not great for big parties. It looks a bit run down which is OK for a "hole in the wall" vibe. The service was fine but slow. I'm not sure why since the place was empty the whole time we were there. The bathroom is tiny. The door does not close all the way. Because you use your hands to eat, it's important that they're clean. I didn't get that feeling because you have to touch so many surfaces just to navigate the bathroom. Hand sanitizer! (The Blue Nile brings wash cloths to your table.) We ordered the vegetable sampler + chicken tips. The food was just OK to us. It was great to have Ethiopian but we have had better in terms of flavor and freshness. We took some home but didn't eat leftovers. This was our 1st try. My hubs is a 3-try proponent so we may be back when we're in town. read more

Best Ethiopian food in Philly! Almaz is always fresh, delicious and full of flavor. I have had the vegetarian platter as well as several of the individual vegetarian dishes. Each has been so delightful. The Injera is warm and fresh out of the oven. The women at the restaurant are so nice and accommodating. For takeout they wrap the container so well that it can withstand any trip home! read more

Meat portions are too small for almost $20 a plate. Also the chicken was super dry. What's going on? This is like the only Ethiopian restaurant in the neighborhood so they can get away with it but it's very disappointing. Please do better. read more

Incredibly delicious Ethiopian food as well as a great cafe! Who knew? I love the vegetarian combo - it is large enough to share for 2 and comes with a ton of spongy bread (injera), red and yellow lentils, potatoes, spices, greens -- just delicious. The coffee is great, and the homemade milkshakes are fantastic! The owners are a married couple from Ethiopia and are very friendly. The cafe is named after the wife (Almaz). You can tell that they take great pride in their cafe and in serving you. Good place to hang with friends or sit alone for reading or people watching through the large front window that looks out on 20th Street. I also like the decorations throughout, and the upstairs bathroom decor, which always makes me feel like I am in a submarine. read more

Had this place on my list for a while. Finally went and tried the veggie combo platter. Was disappointment with the food, the crepe base was too sour to eat. Platter comes with 5 veggies and a side of beet salad and cabbage salad. The veggies were good but the base was too sour and didnt go well with veggies. read more

Almaz Cafe - Veggie combo platter with side salad - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I'm torn between a 4 and a 5 on this one, because it's not the *best* Ethiopian I've ever had, but it is among the best in Philly. I've tried 5-6 different places in Philly, and although Abyssinia is a clear first, this place takes second without a doubt. read more

Decent Ethiopian food, but not astounding. The injera was overwhelmingly sour, which threw off the whole meal. The lentils were good, but the other vegetables tasted more or less the same. The night we went it was a bit short staffed, so we walked downstairs and paid at the counter. Overall, wouldn't go back again. read more

I was pleasantly surprised when, pressed for time one day, I poked my head into Almaz Cafe to check out the menu. Enticed by the vegetarian options on their Ethiopian menu I stayed for a quick lunch. The owner was incredibly friendly when I explained that I didn't have a lot of time. He assured me that my food would not take long to prepare. I had a seat and surveyed the interior while waiting for my food. The bright green walls and modern metal accents and bi-level construction give the space a warehouse like feel, yet it is small and intimate. My food arrived shortly and I was impressed with the size of the dish. The flavors were simple and fresh and just plain good. The Injera was thin, spongy, and just the right amount of sour. When I asked for my food to be wrapped up, I was offered more bread to take with me. Getting offered more food to go is unheard of, but much appreciated. Everyone there was incredibly friendly, with good solid food in a very casual atmosphere. I will be coming here again. read more

A favorite of mine in Philadelphia. Staff is so friendly and food is amazing. Great date location as well. I always order "vegetarian combo, lamb and that chicken that is chopped up" (see photo). read more

Almaz Cafe - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

First of all, thank you fellow yelpers. I work about 2 blocks away from this place and have never even thought about going in for lunch because I just assumed that they didn't really serve food. Obviously I should be a little more observant. Not only do they have food but they have relatively cheap Ethiopian food. I got the Foule. Delicious. Large portion. I also really enjoyed the service and decor. It seems kind of crazy to give any place a five star rating based on one visit but I plan to go back there often and I am pretty confident that it will hold up. read more

Guys, I had a rough day. I had to think long and hard about how to turn it around. So I went searching and landed on Almaz Cafe. From the outside, it don't look like much but the inside triggers a smile. Bright green paint patched with shiny tin panels. Super modern, super huge light fixture. Non-pretentious tables and chairs. Friendly employees. The menu is eclectic: American breakfast and lunch items, ice cream, espresso, Ethiopian platters. Anyone who orders a turkey and cheese sandwich here has no sense of adventure. Rough days call for a break from the mundane. My first bite of Ethiopian foule (spiced beans smashed with tomatoes, onions and peppers accompanied by a side of sour cream, vinegar-tinged pancake-textured bread and turmeric-hued cabbage) was just what I needed and when it was gone I wanted more. If it didn't take so long to prepare (really, it was only 15 minutes but I was stressin'!) I would have ordered another. Next time I'll call ahead, as the pleasant guy behind the counter suggested. read more

When I think about it Almaz and little cartoon birds with rolls of injera in their mouth start flying around my head. I don't come here on a daily basis or anything, more like every other week, but it's my favorite place to pick up dinner on nights when I'm on my own after work. Here's my ritual. I call in my order from my desk at 4:45. At 5pm I leave my office and walk four blocks to Almaz. I pick up and pay and then walk another four blocks to the bus. I exit the bus about 15 to 25 minutes later and then I walk three blocks to my apartment, where I put on my jammies, unpack my veggie combo, grab a sparkling water, put on my glasses, turn on the TV and enter a fugue state in which I eat about two-thirds of the contents of the styrofoam container housing the vegetarian combo. Afterwards, I use the provided moist toilette to clean off my hands and then drift into a food coma while watching COPS. The food here is really good, seriously. So is the iced coffee, so is the sevice, so is the ambiance, so is the everything. Another five stars. read more