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    Amsale Cafe

    4.6 (41 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM

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    Regular Veggie Combo 7 items, we got a double order so the servings are twice as large
    Mia M.

    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!

    Meat Combo
    Jackie W.

    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!

    7 item Veggie Combo
    Harold M.

    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.

    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........

    Regular Veggie Combo Tematim Salad

    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.

    Under the piles of Injera there were a few vegetables.
    Justin B.

    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.

    a plate of ethiopian food
    Mike E.

    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.

    Lentils, greens, green beans, shiro, cabbage, lamb and beef tibs with Injera.
    Teri A.

    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.

    a menu for a restaurant
    Yia-Ming L.

    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!

    Lamar F.

    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.

    Vegetarian combo, Tibs ( Sauteed Beef), Doro Qey Wot (Chicken Stew),  Kitfo (Steak Tartar) Regular Shiro, Shiro Bedist, Cottage Cheese.

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    6 months ago

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    Alif Brew & Mini Mart

    Alif Brew & Mini Mart

    4.9(52 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    When I first walked by this place I thought it was just a coffee shop and convenience store. I was…read moreabsolutely delighted when I discovered it was also a full-on Ethiopian restaurant. I've been wanting to try Ethiopian food for the longest time and I've heard there are some great spots in West Philly. If they are even half as good as this place is, I'd be shocked. I had the beef wrap and loved it. It was a bit spicier than I'm used to eating but not overwhelming and I could use a bit more kick to my meals. I also one of each of the sambusa flavors they had. The flakiness of the pastries was exquisite. I liked the chicken one but the veggie might be my favorite. I'm actually planning to come back and enjoy the coffee house aspect of it. It seems like such a cozy place to hang out and read. The folx that work are so kind too!! West Philly has always been my favorite part of the city and this is just another reason to adore it.

    This place? A whole vibe. Half mini-mart, half café, all flavor. I originally came through on a Too…read moreGood To Go haul, and now I'm here constantly--sometimes for a deal, sometimes just 'cause I need it in my life. Let's start with the mini-mart side, aka my happy place. They carry these crack-level addictive injera chips in rosemary, mild, and spicy--YES, I've tried them all, and YES, they're all elite. I keep saying I'll pace myself, but nah. Also obsessed with their zero-sugar digestive cookies?? I don't even know where else to find these, and honestly, I don't wanna know. Alif is my plug now. On the café side, the hot Ethiopian food is consistently . My all-time fave is the yellow split pea dish (Kik Alicha)--so flavorful, creamy, and comforting, like a warm hug from someone's grandma. It comes with two glorious rolls of injera, soft and tangy, perfect for scooping up every last bit. If you know, you know. There's a cute little seating nook to the right of the register, plus a few outdoor tables for soaking up some sun with your sambusa. The staff? Super quick and helpful whenever I ask questions--they always know what's up and don't mind me geeking out over new snacks. Also came by during the Dollar Stroll and tried their Ethiopian wraps, and--whew. How do I describe them? Imagine rich, spicy, savory magic wrapped in injera and handed to you for ONE DOLLAR. I was shook. It's no wonder I've been back like five times... and probably forgot to check in at least half of those visits. Oops. ‍ TL;DR: Alif Brew is my comfort café + snack haven rolled into one. If you haven't been, GO. And grab me a bag of spicy injera chips while you're at it.

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    Alif Brew & Mini Mart
    Alif Brew & Mini Mart
    Alif Brew & Mini Mart - Menu (specials and coffee)

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    Menu (specials and coffee)

    Haraz Coffee House

    Haraz Coffee House

    4.3(50 reviews)
    1.4 miUniversity City

    I was introduced to Haraz at a Yelp elite event I was attending a few weeks ago and I knew I wanted…read moreto make my way there to check their location out. We ordered our drinks on the walk there and we hoped they would be ready when we arrived. When we walked in the time changed to add about 15 min on which was a bit annoying however we were not in a rush so we calmly waited. I got the hot matcha latte and it was really good. I like only a drop of sweetener bc I like to taste the matcha. I like it served temperature hot (not warm)- and this drink arrived exactly the way I like it. Would def come back for another one. My bf got some kind of coffee w cardamom in it (sorry I forget which kind - I'm not a coffee drinker and they all sound the same to me ha). He really enjoyed his drink. He had a BOGO coupon so we each actually got 2 drinks. I planned to take my second one home but the drink was so good I drank both of them ha. Will def be back again.

    So Yelp suggested Haraz Coffee House a few weeks ago and it's been on my radar ever since.... What…read moreI appreciated about Haraz on the day I visited was the late hours they kept, I visited on a Saturday night and it was buzzing. It's the fanciest looking coffee house I ever visited, there's outside seating which is nice and the inside is lit up with warm yellow lighting throughout, very spacious with tables and wicker like chairs. It seems like a great spot to meet up with a friend or to visit, find a corner read or work. It looks like a family establishment, as I noticed there were children behind the register, a young man, maybe 10 years old took my order and did a great job doing so! Bravo! I purchased a vanilla hot matcha latte and a pistachio milk cake, the total was about $21!!! This price was expensive, visiting establishment like this often is not feasible to my budget but there's so much more I need to try so I'll be back. The matcha was amazing, actually the most authentic I've tried!!! And the pistachio milk cake was delicious, being a person who literally puts milk on cake lol, this was amazing!!! It wasn't too sweet and the pistachio gave balance! The slice is enough to share or split for 2 servings, which is what I did. Bottom line, I'll be back! I'd love to try their coffee and another pastry and possibly sit outside on a nice day. Please visit and enjoy!!!

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    Haraz Coffee House - Kadak Adeni/Karak Chai Harazi Latte (16oz)

    Kadak Adeni/Karak Chai Harazi Latte (16oz)

    Haraz Coffee House - Zaatar croissant

    Zaatar croissant

    Haraz Coffee House - Saffron Latte (16oz)

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    Saffron Latte (16oz)

    The Green Line Cafe

    The Green Line Cafe

    3.5(216 reviews)
    0.7 miSpruce Hill, University City
    $

    I swung by w/ friends one morning after a run in the area, and I rather appreciated it overall. I…read moreappreciate the discount they offer for bringing your own container, similar to other local shops, and the prices on black coffee are really reasonable to begin with! Good quality coffee as well, tasted good. Very charming spot, not huge, but some good space to hang out and chat. Service is right at the counter, like most coffee shops, and some others there ordered food, but I stuck w/ just coffee. I wouldn't be opposed to coming back if in the area.

    Solid coffee, excellent location, and great bean value!…read more Great Bean Value sounds like the hottest new punk band from Philly. Anyway, I stop in here all the time for a little pick me up when I'm out and about with fam around Clark Park. The space can be a little cramped, but the coffee is always on point, there's outdoor seating for when weather cooperates, and again, they sell their beans and give you a free coffee along with! The bean variety (Bean Variety is the smaller pop punk group that split off of Great Bean Value in the 00s, they went corporate it was totally lame) is solid. Small batch stuff from all over Lat Am, in a variety of roast levels from blonde to espresso. They can also grind the beans for you. $16 for artisinal beans and a coffee on top is pretty good if you're the type who can stick to one or two cups a day. A neighborhood fave of mine.

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    The Green Line Cafe - Inside

    Inside

    The Green Line Cafe
    The Green Line Cafe - Strawberry Matcha Latte

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    Strawberry Matcha Latte

    Amsale Cafe - ethiopian - Updated June 2026

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