Nice spot with a calm, relaxing atmosphere. It's run by a husband and wife team, and while I was there, an Ethiopian political discussion was playing on the TV, which added to the feel of the place. The food was good and flavorful. The spices definitely came through without being overly spicy. I did ask for some sauce on the side for a little extra flavor. Overall, it's a cute place to stop by after work, wind down, and enjoy a good meal. read more

Tiny family-run spot with very affordable well-spiced food. You may need to wait for quite awhile if they are busy, or make a reservation. The lamb wat is especially good, as is the larger veggie combo. read more

Amsale Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Very tasty. very fresh. Excellent service. Polite patient and informative! Authentic decor and small but small space. Recommended 10/10 read more

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I got takeout to try this place for the 1st time. It was very good, EXCEPT, the portions are small. The meat sambusa was $3.50 for a single tiny dumpling. At that price, it should've been more than one or it should be the size of an empanada or a beef patty or something. That was really disappointing once I received the food. also, I think it's the first time in history when eating Ethiopian food and I could come completely finished the entire meal on once. I fully expected to share it with my life and I did it before she got home. I got the lamb tibs- yummy. I wish I could choose my side dishes. I'm used to being able to choose from different types of lentils or greens and cabbage and they don't do that. You order your entree and you get what you get I guess. But It was tasty. I can't say I'll never return because the food was good, but it was just knowing these things now I would move differently. read more

Loved the food here! We ordered delivery and got a meat combo platter and it was enough food for two people and then some. We were able to choose the vegetable side dishes to customize the meat combo platter and it came with plenty of injera. We had good amount of food left over and the portions were enormous. Definitely want to try this place in person sometime, but I've heard that it's a pretty small space and that I can get a bit crowded and difficult to find a table, so we decided to get delivery on a Saturday afternoon and were not disappointed. Will be ordering from here again. read more

Delicious food in a cute little restaurant! We came here after seeing them on the Inquirer 76 list and left fed and happy. We got the 7 item vegetable combo and ordered two orders to share between three of us, but it was actually a ton of food and we came home with lots of leftovers. The owners were very friendly and service was good. I would come back! read more

Amsale Cafe - Regular Veggie Combo 7 items, we got a double order so the servings are twice as large - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

More people need to know about Amsale Cafe. This place is easily overlooked or underestimated. The food is outstanding and consistent. I've come for the Kitfo (I get it "medium rare") three times now and it's always been a hit. A very filling hit. Service can take a long time, so come when you have the time, or a dining companion you want to hang with for a while. The lights are too bright, and you do have to be proactive about letting them know you're ready to order. But the food is like 7 stars so it all balances out. read more

We went to Amsale cafe on a Friday night. From what we could tell, the restaurant was an old house turned restaurant. There are a few steps to go down when you get through the door. The restaurant is BYOB and very casual. Luckily, we didn't have to wait and were seated right away. The server was diligent and kind but FYI service is a little slower if you are in a rush. The general vibe is laid back and feels almost like eating dinner at a dinner party at a house. We each ordered a meat combo and they were massive! They laid out everything on one large injera and there were I think about 5 extra injeras on the side. The meat combo came with three beef dishes, two lamb dishes, and two vegetable dishes. Everything was amazing and we ended up having leftovers to take home which also ended up being delicious! I don't even usually like lamb, but found the flavors really good! I'm really happy we tried this restaurant and excited to go back! read more

Amsale Cafe - Meat Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Don't let the rundown neighborhood around fool you, this place is amazing! Neat, homey and tidy inside -- but the reason you come here is the delicious food. We skipped appetizers, the combo entrees are more than enough. Loved the server scooping the items from the individual serving dishes to the tasty Injera based flatbread plate. The regular veggie combo (7 items) and the meat combination were satisfying. The Ethiopian Tea was a delight. Friendly service. read more

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The hospitality, service and food are top notch. One of the best Ethiopian restaurants in the city. The combo is recommended, as it is a bargain for the amount of food that you receive. The rating is high for a reason........ read more

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I was over a friends getting tattooed in West Philly when we suddenly were overcome by hunger. Maybe not so suddenly..... we did watch the entire Transformers animated movie before ordering. So we ordered and went back to work. A really long time passed and I look at my order like what's going on. It's 7:55 and the app says it was delivered at 7:01. Oh snap we run to the front porch! Luckily it's still there. I don't blame them though. We were on the second floor so maybe we didn't hear the knock. So if you read my reviews often you'll remember me complaining about the Ethiopian around me not giving you enough Injera (Ethiopian Flatbread). Now forgive me but this place gave me too much! We couldn't figure out where the food was in the container? I got a veggie platter and it was not a lot of veggies. For the price I'd have expected a bit more of actual food. Taste wise it was decent. I'm starting to think the Ethiopian places I used to go set the expectations too high. Maybe I'm not a huge fan of Ethiopian but rather of those particular spots. Abyssinia & Queen of Sheba are just untouchable. I'm gonna do a 2 even if it is due to the fact that I may not like Ethiopian food because the value just wasn't there on this purchase. I would maybe try and go there but I wouldn't do take out again. read more

Amsale Cafe - Under the piles of Injera there were a few vegetables. - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The food was delicious, most definitely one of the better Ethiopian restaurants in Philadelphia. The food was so fresh can't wait to come back. read more

Amsale Cafe - Regular Veggie Combo Tematim Salad - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Awful place. Waited over 1.5 hours for a delivery order. Then they decided to cancel the order. Completely unacceptable and unprofessional. If you are incapable of handling online orders, do not put your restaurant on a food service app. read more

Had a taste for Ethiopian food on my recent stay I Philly and decided to try Amsale based on the reviews and ratings. Owner was really nice. I stopped in and ordered takeout. Food was good, tasted fresh and the restaurant was super clean. A bit more flavor would have given it a better rating. But still very good. read more

Amsale Cafe - a plate of ethiopian food - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This little sweet place really delivers! The food was delicious, well prepared and our whole table was delighted by our meal

Service was nice and quick. Very small and intimate atmosphere. Food was just ok. I was really looking forward to trying this cuisine for the first time. Drove 30+ miles just to try it. Cabbage was probably my favorite dish and had the most flavor. Only issue was that everything served, was COLD even the injera. The meat was the only warm item. There wasn't much flavor which was surprising. The beef was a bit tough and the lamb was fatty. I tried everything and then tried it with salt which was on the table which didn't help much. Maybe because of the temperature of the food. I figured I would just take the rest to go and try it heated at home. Left a nice tip and maybe will try Ethiopian food again somewhere else in the future. Update: the food was better after warming at home. Wish I had the experience at the restaurant though. read more

Amsale Cafe - Lentils, greens, green beans, shiro, cabbage, lamb and beef tibs with Injera. - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A cute homey hole in the wall located If you can't handle a little bit a spicy, I would definitely tell the owner. They do a good job of making it spicy and flavorful with all the different spices. Even the non spicy dishes were so full of flavor and umami. Everything is run by a husband wide duo. They only been open for 8 months. This gem is definitely worth checking out and supporting! read more

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Meal at Amsale Cafe was great.  Between the 3 of us we shared a meat combo (5 meat dishes and 3 veg) and a veg combo (7 veg, 2 of which overlapped with the meat combo), plus 3 samosa-like appetizers.   We were all stuffed when done, with little leftover.   We all liked everything we were served except one bean or chickpea dish (shiro or shiro wat?) which was an orange smooth paste that none of us cared for.    We're all family so often have similar tastes, and I'm sure others might like it. Restaurant was small and clean, nothing fancy. Server was helpful and attentive when asked, but otherwise left us alone while we ate and talked. And price was roughly $65 including tax and tip for 3 people (including 2 drinks and appetizer for 3), so quite affordable too.    5 stars. read more

The food was delicious. The dishes are served on this delightful Ethiopian bread. Service was exceptional. I'd highly recommend this for anyone wanting to enjoy Ethiopian cuisine. read more

We visited Amsale Cafe, recommended by the son of the friends we were visiting as the best place for injera in Philadelphia. Frankly, that's not super high praise. The best injera we had was in Louisville at a place not much more elaborate than Amsale. Its spices were hotter. Amsale is close in quality and a whole lot closer in distance. Once I ate at a place called Red Sea in Washington D.C., an upscale Ethiopian restaurant that, were it still open, would knock a star off this review. But that was forty years ago and it has been closed for some time. I suppose there are no longer upscale places that serve injera. But, for the sake of this fabulous teff based pancake and the traditional stews that adorn it, putting up with plain tables and chairs is a small price to pay. For the four dinners at the table, the spicing was perfect. If I were to come by myself, I'd ask for the hot sauce. Finger licking good. read more

Amsale Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Amsale serves the best Ethiopian food I've had in Philly. Very small and casual. We had the Door Que Wat- which for me was the best. I couldn't stop eating it and I'm still thinking about it. The flavors were deep and well developed. We had the lamb tibs, which comes with a dipping sauce. We also ordered the Kitfo- raw, but with spices and ghee- which is served with a side of farmers cheese. You can also order it cooked. We also got a ton of veggies- cabbage, lentils, peas, carrots and beans. And tons of Injera which tasted like it was really made with teff. Dinner for 4, plus a 2 year old came to $87- so affordable these days. I wish I remembered to take pics. We will definitely be going back. read more

Tried Amsale bc of the nice Yelp reviews and it was amazing! Belew, the owner was welcoming and explained to my friend, who had never had Ethiopian food before, the different vegan dishes and she loved it. We shared the 7 veggie platter and it was delish! Highly recommend Amsale. read more

The best Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia. We went to Amsale cafe last weekend on a Sunday ordered the Vegetarian combo, Tibs (sauteed beef), Doro Wat ( Chicken Stew), Kitfo (Steak tartar) and cottage cheese. The food was amazingly delicious. We also had home made honey wine. Service was great and the restaurant was very clean. Overall the best restaurant experience we had this year. read more

Amsale Cafe - Vegetarian combo, Tibs ( Sauteed Beef), Doro Qey Wot (Chicken Stew), Kitfo (Steak Tartar) Regular Shiro, Shiro Bedist, Cottage Cheese. - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

West Philly has a ton of Ethiopian places, and this time we wanted to try a place new to us. We picked Amsale Cafe on the basis of strong recent reviews, and it did not disappoint. For three adults, we got the 7-item veggie combo, the meat combo, and yetibs fitfit. All of it was excellent, and it was more than we could finish. Prices are very reasonable and everything was delicious. I would definitely go back there, and I've alerted friends who live in West Philly that it's a gem. We went on a Friday night, but early, arriving at the restaurant at 6pm. We were the only ones there when we arrived, but as we were there several other parties came in. The place is small, so if you want to go at a peak time you might want to get a reservation. read more

Very clean inside nice Ethiopian aesthetic. Food delivery was very fast. Food was a bit cold tho and server (man) didn't look enthusiastic but was very helpful. read more

Amsale is a great mom and pop hole in the wall. We live around the corner so we come frequently. A veggie combo + a meat entree usually feeds 2-3 + a hungry toddler who loves injera. I particularly like their Awaze Tibs. They also have a meat combo which gives you a chance to try a little of everything to figure out what you like. Dining in with a toddler is super easy. Take out is also quick and frictionless. BYOB. read more

Great food. Quick & friendly service. Great value. Six of us went to eat here and asked them to bring us whatever they thought was best. The variety of dishes they brought us were tasty and were the perfect amount to quench our appetite. Highly recommended. read more

We ate here tonight for the first time and really enjoyed it. Came with my family and shared a vegetable combo with yellow peas, lentils, cabbage, and a bean whose name I can't remember. Very yummy! Also got a terrific lamb dish and a few other dishes whose name I didn't catch. Very good injera and they have gluten free. A kind owner, who served us the food. read more

I have been to Ethiopia several times and have tried Ethiopian restaurants in Philadelphia and New York but none held a candle to Amsale Cafe. The food was very authentic and tasty. Portions were generous and service friendly and quick. We had the vegetarian platter with seven vegetables. The variety was good and well done. The chicken was authentic which means a little chewy by American standards but very tasty. I highly recommend Amsale and will be back soon. The owner is friendly and informative. In fact, the very vibe of the restaurant was good. Although, we were the only nonEthiopians, everyone was very friendly read more

DELICIOUS food!!! Everything tasted fresh, made to order. The restaurant is bright, clean. This is a great family run business. The best Ethiopian food in town. I will definitely be back. read more

Found this wonderful restaurant today. Been looking for a nice Ethiopian restaurant since moving here. Service was prompt and nice. Food was tasty and filling. You get a good value for your money. read more

Good ethiopian food for us locals in the area. Small family business with good people working the back end .

This new entrant to the Ethiopian culinary scene is a gem. Came here with a friend to celebrate our shared birthday month. Mmm...fresh buckwheat injera. The 7-dish vegetarian combination (all vegan) is off-the-charts delicious and hand-served with care and elegance. I enjoyed a delicious cup of strong coffee and my friend enjoyed "the best cup of tea I've ever had." Amsale has a bright, friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Already looking forward to the our visit. Thanks to our new friends at Amsale! read more

I am absolutely grateful that I found this place! After searching the city, near and far, I was starting to think delicious and authentic Ethiopian restaurants weren't a thing. The food is always yummy. The owners are delightful and the tea is IT! read more

Really good Ethiopian food! A little hole in the wall in west Philly, clean and bright inside, and friendly service. Favorites: raw kitfo, and ground peas read more

Clean good service good food and probably the best Ethiopian traditional food in philly

I was expecting a better experience since I saw the 5 star reviews. With great anticipation I ordered my go to. The meat combo. It arrived, the injera must have been made by a novice, there was no seasoning on anything. Although I was not expecting authentic Ethiopian food, like what I'm used to from Ethiopia, or even Buna Cafe, also in Philadelphia, I was at least expecting something that represents Ethiopia positively. This was not the place! I should've requested a refund through Uber eats, but I didn't. Food was tasteless! Do better.! read more

Amsale cafe is fantastic! I've tried many of the Ethiopian restaurants in West Philly over the last few years and this is my new favorite. Everything I've tried here has been amazing. The injera is fresh and made with real teff flour. The vegetarian platters are mouthwatering and I definitely ate more lamb yebeg awaze tibs than I should have in a single sitting but they were so good I couldn't stop. They don't have a liquor license, so you may be able to BYO. I haven't asked yet, but I'd love to see a BYO Ethiopian place in the neighborhood. read more

Just tried amsale cafe for first time last night, and think it may be my favorite among Philly Ethiopian places. great vegetarian platter especially the SHURO -- highly spiced in a good way. will return! read more

My new favorite for Ethiopian food. I got take out with a friend; we both had vegetarian plates. The injera was perfect and all of the vegetarian food was delicious, flavorful, cooked perfectly. The people were very friendly. And the inside is cozy, intimate and clean. I look forward to eating in next time. read more