This place is amazing! It was my first Ethiopian cuisine experience and it was the best one I could've imagined. Our party of 3 came in on a Saturday evening and got seated immediately. We ordered the shiro and derek tips. Both were SO GOOD! The shiro was so thick and creamy; it was delicious. Derek tips was the best lamb I've ever had. Something about the way this lamb was cut and cooked was so tender and tasty. I also loved how it came with onions, jalapeños and tomatoes!! The sauté was just perfection. We also got extra injera to eat with it all. It's spongey greatness! It was also awesome how the other half of the restaurant was a bar! We went after our meal. It had a ton of people and we were treated so well there. Great vibes all around. We'll definitely be back! read more

Asmara Restaurant - left side is the restaurant, right side is the bar! - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

My favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Berkeley. We go here every few months when craving for an Ethiopian food. We like the food and its ambiance. The service is pretty quick. I love their honey wine after a great meal. Enjoy! read more

My favorite Thing about Ethiopian restaurants is how much food they give you. This was my first time trying this place and I am very satisfied from the customer service to the flavor of the food. There is no parking in the front of the place so I had to park across the street in the plaza which wasn't too bad there were a lot of open spots and normally there isn't. When I walked in I was greeted immediately, very sweet and very good customer service, he then handed me a menu and I looked it over and placed my order. I got the doro wat , which is a piece of chicken and some red sauce and an egg, it came with veggies and salad. I was in a rush so I was very pleased that the food came out within 10 minutes. I went on a weekday in the afternoon and the place wasn't crowded at all a quick in and out. I was happy because I drove 20 minutes away and when I got home it was still hot and fresh. I am adding this place to my list of Ethiopian restaurants. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Doro Watt (Chicken) - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Have enjoyed Asmara for many years. Nice vibe and the food is very tasty. The interior has a vibrant atmosphere with pictures and seating style. Their tea is one of my favs plus the honey wine. I strongly recommend you trying out this restaurant and see for yourself. read more

Delicious food, friendly service Asmara is a great place to get your Ethiopian/Eritrean food craving satisfied. I tried the veggie and meat combo and every item was delicious and distinct. Thinking about my dinner here is making me hungry. Come with friends or on a date for a fun, shared meal. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Very good food! We (two people) had the beef and lamb tibs with the vegetable combo. It was a pretty good amount of food but all super-flavorful. I especially enjoyed the different lentil / spice combinations in the veggie combo. It can be a little loud so we asked to move out of the middle section to a booth and the server was happy to move us. Still, 5 stars because the food was fantastic! Last note, you have to ask for forks if you need them but they're readily available. read more

This restaurant is a must eat stop every time I'm in the Town!!! I get the Assa (Fish) tibs and veggie combo. Best fish tibs I have had in the USA. I have tried the food all over the country and I prefer this magnificent restaurant! Service is excellent and the ambience is excellent. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Assa Tibs (Fish) with veggie combo and salad - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

I ring Eritrean and growing up on this cuisine it's hard for me to find a restaurant that tastes like grandmas. Out of all the places I been to in the bay, specifically Oakland, Asmara is truly the most authentic. The injera is perfect every time and they have the Teff version upon request for my gluten-free folks out there. Vegan? No problem! There are many vegan options in Eritrean/Ethiopian cuisine (during Tsom/fasting time the orthodox Christian's eat no animal products). However for my meat lovers the chicken in the doro wat is amazing! the kitfo is fantastic and for my vegetarians I highly recommend my favorite, Shiro! It is even served in a mini clay pot (tsah'li) which is traditionally used to make it back home (holds flavor the more you use it kind of like a cast iron pot does). For one-on-ones or group events always eat family style to get the full experience. Next door is a bar too so you can eat and have a drink or hop over next door after to continue your plans. The staff and owners are always friendly, definitely home away from home. They also have take out! For people who are too shy to eat with their hands in public. read more

Food is excellent, service is good, ambiance is traditional. I can't wait to go back.

Super large portions and a unique serving style. They serve unrolled injera for eating your food, which I wasn't a huge fan of but it was still usable. Service was polite if a tad slow. Ambiance was rustic, with normal sit down tables, bathrooms were clean and well maintained. They have local IPA on draft which was nice. I really enjoyed their collard greens and really loved the way they serve the dish with some yogurt and salad throughout the platter. The lamb tibs were also very good. Less amazing was the eggplant tibs, which was good but not amazing. The chickpeas were pretty bland, so I wouldn't order them again. Again, the portions were huge, definitely worth the price and overall the platter very tasty. read more

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Go else where it gone downhill and is a ripe off for the prices. I was so embarrassed I took a vegan friend here for dinner and was shocked for 2 reasons 1. The selection is very limited for vegetables dishes that come with each meal . 2. The portions were shockingly small the were appetizer size main dishes and tiny potatoes were uncooked and it's not cheap. You get 1 table spoon of vegetables for $20-23.00 I was shocked how they have gone downhill as a restaurant. The service was poor as well. I won't be returning as there are several Ethiopian restaurants in berkeley on telegraph ave and Oakland that are 10x better and you get your moneys worth with good service. read more

Was going to Temescal today and we picked out Asmara based on Yelp reviews. That was a great steer because Asmara was EXCELLENT! I had the Zilzil tibs which is my favorite thing I have ever had in an Ethiopian restaurant. Steak and onions are already one of my favorites in any cuisine, and that buttery sauce was more complementary and less overpowering than the meat at many places. And those jalapenos are really more like spicy green bell peppers... so nice. My wife had the vegetarian combo and also enjoyed it quite a bit. The owner came by to check on us and said that the photo of the beautiful woman in the back was his wife and the chef! They've been there for 38 years... hope the newer clientele in Temescal continue to come. Nice big TVs had the 49ers game playing on the bar side. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Zilzil Tibs... so fantastic I will come back just for this again! - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

I like to try new cuisines, so I tried Eritrean food at Asmara and the chicken drumstick curry called Doro watt and the curry was delicious with rich flavors! Pros: good meat options and rich flavors in curry Cons: most of the veggie options were bland, a bit on the more expensive side Ambiance: 3.5 Taste: 4.5 Value: 4 Service: 3.5 read more

First time for an Ethiopian restaurant and did not disappoint. Great food and very friendly staff!

Amazing Ethiopian in Oakland! Always happy when we have a good excuse to be on this side of the bay. We always order the same things: kitfo (raw, of course), shiro (chickpea) & gomen (mustard greens). Best Ethiopian in the East Bay, as far as I'm concerned. Sorry for no pic, I get too excited when the food arrives and forget to take one. Lovely restaurant with friendly staff and great ambience. We'll be back soon! read more

Great flavoring & preparation for both the meat & vegetable combinations. It was a hit with our 12- & 14-year olds and we'll be back!

Four stars because I've always had good service here. When craving Habesha food, this is top choice. It's a staple in the area and has been around for awhile. The lady wanted Habesha food so we went here. She ordered the vegan combo -- that too is delicious. I ordered the meat combo, was a bit disappointed, all I got was a chicken bone and NO chicken. Had I showed it to them, I know they would have made it right. But I've as hungry. The beef and lamb ware good and tender. It was a bit spicy. But it didn't take away form the flavors. You know you always eat with your hands, so make sure for you folks to always wash your hands. Their honey wine is also good. Not too sweet. Just right. But I like mine ice cold. This family business is one I love to see last long in the now gentrified area. Authentic Habesha food! read more

Asmara Restaurant - Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Asmara now requires proof of vaccine upon entering. Still the best Ethiopian Restaurant in The Bay Hands Down! Try EVERTHING because it all tastes so amazing! I never had a bad experience here and the flavors are out of this world! Come hungry! read more

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After years of my sister from another mother telling me how wonderful this restaurant is and how it's her favorite, I finally met her there for dinner with sleepy toddler in tow. Since I was running late, no parking in a very busy area and I had left my stroller, I was really hoping that they would have booths, unfortunately they don't. During dinner the restaurant is also dark inside which lends to a mysterious feel with the cloth screens between tables. Staff was super sweet and put us in an end table which was a plus when my little angel woke up and wouldn't stay grounded. Staff kept checking on us and provided a non spicy kids plate for free! We ordered the meat combo and the veggie combo and shared. I was surprised how quickly the veggie combo went, the lentils were YUMMERS! My fave Ethiopian place in SF closed, so glad to discover this place. Price was great too, both were about $15! read more

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I loved this place. The staff were really friendly and the food was delicious. The atmosphere was nice, chill and low-key. I would recommend checking it out, plus it's in a cool part of Oakland. read more

Put aside the friendly staff and the quaint, family-friendly setting, Asmara's catfish special is an epically delicious meal. It's the best tasting dish I've had at an Ethiopian restaurant. Period. Thanks! read more

The servers were incredibly nice and consistently checked up on us. I ordered the meat combination, and the food was wonderful and was full of unique spices. I was able to share a nice meal with my good friends. There was even a lamp at every table that turned different colors to really help set the mood. read more

Service was friendly but food took a while to come. The combo meat was too spicy for me but the flavors so good I finished it anyways. Ordered exact same thing to go for my husband and he liked it. Even my daughter who doesn't eat spicy enjoyed it. Ordered non-spicy goat and that dish was dull - seems flavors only come with spice. It's within walking distance of Oakland's Children Hospital so much better than waiting or eating in hospital cafeteria. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Combo meat lunch with tea - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Greeting was fabulous. All smiles and pleasantries. The ambiance was nice and quiet. It was a cute little spot. The service was great and things were going well. Nevertheless, the main reason you patronize an eatery is for the food and it wasn't my favorite. Not certain if we came on an off day and it happened to be a fluke, but our food wasn't hot, the portion was much smaller than anticipated, and our choice of dishes were extremely subpar. I love Ethiopian food and have had my share, so I can say that this wasn't the best; however, since everything else was good (including their honey wine), I might try it again to ensure that it wasn't just an off moment. Sometimes it happens, so stay tuned... read more

Asmara Restaurant - Honey wine - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Best Ethiopian food I've had, and that's saying something in Oakland. The meat combo is my go-to, but everything we had was truly excellent. I've already been back several times since my first time, and I'm sure I'll be back many more times. read more

I've been wanted to come here for a while since I saw great reviews in Check Please Bay Area and live nearby. I finally came and it was fantastic. My friend and I shared the meat combo and the veggie combo. Everything was fantastic and super flavorful. I really liked the beef and lamb. The lentils and greens were also great. The injera was fresh and they come around to bring you more. We had the honey wine too which is delicious. The service was great. The staff came around to make sure we enjoyed and were just so friendly and lovely it made us feel welcome. Very busy and lively with families and other diners made it a great atmosphere. Definitely a favorite for me. read more

I had the pleasure of dealing with the owners today and got the opportunity to try their food. It was my my first time having Ethiopian food and it was delicious. The food was fresh and flavorful. The lamb was tender and cooked perfectly. Customer service was above and beyond and inside was very clean and maintained. Highly recommend. read more

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Food is always amazing customer service is always top tier! Meets the vibe check definitely a place you will visit frequently!

I have been a long time Asmara fan and have eaten there many times. I haven't been in the area for awhile and decided to order delivery tonight. Unfortunately, the lamb was dry and unseasoned. Not a spice to be tasted. The veggie combo is different than it used to be, and the quality has gone down significantly. Unseasoned, bland, and unappetizing. I don't know what happened, but this restaurant really took a nose dive. read more

Omg. This place is SO good. Nice ambience, good service, and fabulous food. We stumbled upon it looking for lunch. We will be back!

Wow. I came to Asmara to try Ethiopian food for the first time and I'm so sad I didn't try it sooner. I had the meat and vegetarian combo with the gluten free injera. Everything was so very flavorful and hearty. You can tell they put high quality ingredients and take their time with the food. The service was great and the restaurant has a very relaxing feel to it. Will definitely be going back! read more

I was visiting a friend who had just moved to the neighborhood and we decided to try Asmara because it was Ethiopian and it was there. I had never heard of it. I think it has just dethroned my long time previous favorite Ethiopian. Pleasant vibe, very friendly staff. I always order the same thing, veggie combo, but the guy who waited on us (an owner?) suggested that instead of two veggie combos we might try one combo and one other dish that is not part of the combo. His recommendation was delicious. The food was fantastically fresh and flavorful. The other staff were very friendly as well. I look forward to going back again soon. read more

Great Ethiopian food!!!! We got the vegetarian combo and the lamb curry - sooooo good. Came with lots of extra injera and potatoes. Flavors were on point and I couldn't stop eating. Honey wine was also really good and a fun treat! Beautiful interior and really friendly service. Will definitely be back! read more

We have been trying various Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants around Oakland for the last several years (both pre- and post-pandemic). But we keep returning to Asmara, as it remains the best of the bunch. There is enough street parking most of the time (unlike Lemat/Berkeley, which is equally good but parking is flat-out horrible). We especially love that Asmara has not fallen prey to the use of healthy-but-tastes-wrong olive oil, instead of the wonderful niter kibbeh; and that dishes have distinct flavors, and are not just varying levels of red chiles/harissa. The stews have the long-simmered, rich flavors of a good braising, rather than the slapdash stir-frying with bell peppers one finds all too often, elsewhere. The veggie combo is one of our standards, as we love all three lentil dishes so much we can't bear to omit one. Then we'll add a couple of meat dishes - the Doro Watt with its almost-black sauce; one of the buttery Tibs stews, especially the Chef's Special, the spicy Assa Tibs made with juicy chunks of catfish or swai. If you are a lover of good espresso drinks, the cappuccinos here are PROPER dry cappuccinos, not the Starbucks-latte-type. The mochas are also very fine, and you can request them sweet or not-too-sweet, the latter being very rarely found. Asmara may be the oldest of the Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants in Oakland, I believe. They remain, thanks to the family ownership that cares intensely about it, the best IOHO. read more

Asmara specializes in ethiopian eats. they have been here for years. interior hasn't aged thruout the years. eats: lunch special vegeterian combo (12.95) -a variety of red lentils, yellow split peas, brown lentil, & mustard greens in mild sauces. asmara's spices, spicy sauce..tasted fresh nothing special -2 pieces of fruit and fresh green salad too. -injera tasted mild, not bitter as other places 3.5 stars for freshness, blandness. leftovers: -wanted to order meat combo, i asked if it was very spicy. waitress hinted yes, recommended i order vegeterian which also had a spicy sauce. -checked meat menu later. same spicy sauce used on both menus. -waitress couldn't handle 5 tables in a timely manner. read more

This place... I mean, I really don't even have to say anything else because the rating says it all. BUT... this is what I do! Run my mouth about exceptional food, and Asmara will be no exception to that rule! Not only is the food amazing, but the drinks.... oh my gizzaaaawd! Can I just have another one right now puhlease? I can't believe that I've passed by Asmara for so many years and have never stepped foot inside until now. I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that this is some of the best Ethiopian food that I have had in Oakland! I haven't tried every single Ethiopian spot out there because let's face it; there's just so damn many! However, I've had my fair share and I even have my favorites. But, Asmara ranks extremely high in my book! I had just gotten off work on a Fri-YAY and was craving for some African goodness! I have a favorite spot that I usually go to in Berkeley, but I was just too lazy to drive that far and figured that I'd try something that was closer. That's where Asmara came in, and I decided to give them a go. I noticed that the space had a lounge area that I didn't remember seeing in the past. I walked into the main dining area where I was greeted promptly. At first I thought about dining in at the actual restaurant, but once I took a peak at the lounge in the back room, I knew I had to get back to that bar! I was lucky because the lounge was new and still in its' soft opening. Andrea my bartender was an absolute hoot! This girl was so friendly and super entertaining! And might I add that she whips up a mean cocktail?! They were so good that I ended up having THREE of them! Can you believe that?! My cocktails of choice were: -The "Banger": Rum, lime, and Brazilian Banana -Cucumber smash: Gin, elderflower, cucumber, and lime -Spice baby: Tequila, lime, cucumber, and jalapeños (I also had a glass of honey wine... I know, my alcohol tolerance is light weight off the chain). I loved all of the cocktails, but my absolute favorite was the cucumber smash! The lime and cucumber mix was just right up my alley! So refreshingly good! I also really enjoyed the spice of the jalapeño in the spice baby cocktail. The food here is just something else! I love me some meat, but I usually almost always try out a combo plate during my first visit to an Ethiopian restaurant, and usually the vegetarian platter offers the most variety and is small enough for me to enjoy by myself. Trying out a platter really allows me to evaluate the quality of food more so than just off of one entree. The veggie combo here was simply amazing! The lentils and veggies were hot and bursting with flavor, the the salad was fresh and delicious, and the injera was spongy with that subtle sour goodness that I oh so love! Between the injera and the surplus amount of food given, it took me two extra days to finish this meal! It was absolutely delicious and tasted even better the next day! Service was impeccable! I got the pleasure of meeting the owner who was super kind and a server by the name of Yoyo who was extremely pleasant as well! I can already tell that this will be a spot that I will be frequenting on the regular. After operating for nearly 30 years, Asmara gratefully deserves the amount of 5 stars and praise that it has been given. read more

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My all time favorite Ethiopian restaurant. Excellent customer service. Highly recommend the lamb stew plate

My first time trying Ethiopian food and I have to say it was pretty tasty ! I tried the platter with three different types of meat, but boy was I tempted to go healthier with the veggie options. But that just gives me a reason to come back ! The meats were quite tasty each stewed and cooked in its own way. At first I enjoyed the lamb the most, but then the beef started to really shine the next day. The portion sizes are so big theres no way I could have finished the dish myself. The sourness of the injera was quite prominent. Not really my palate, but I can understand why some would like it. Overall a good meal and not too shabby for my first taste of Ethiopian food if I say so myself. read more

Wonderful restaurant! Been coming over 20 years. They mentioned that business is slow these days so just wanted to encourage everyone to come support. Yummy! read more

This place is great! Best Ethiopian food in Oakland. It is family run and has a great traditional atmosphere. There lounge/bar next door is very modern and has a great vibe for watching sports games. Huge flat screen and great cocktails. Will Come back read more

Asmara Restaurant - a bar with people sitting at the bar - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California