Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant

4.3 (647 reviews)

ModerateEthiopian

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Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - The sampler platter. Awesome. All vegan. - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Giant Plate of Food! - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Menu photo 1 Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant Austin, TX

Menu photo 2 Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant Austin, TX

Menu photo 3 Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant Austin, TX

Menu photo 4 Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant Austin, TX

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ASTER'S ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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Casual

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Good for groups

Good for kids

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Anthony M.

Found this place on Yelp when a friend and I from NYC were craving Ethiopian here in Austin. Asther's is fantastic Ethiopian food! The food is really good and matched anything I've had in NYC. It's family run and they were very nice. If you're craving Ethiopian food, come to Asther's.

Delicious merlot and healthy on the pour too

Sarah F.

Asters, like all Ethiopian spots, gives you so much food it's insane!! I always order a veggie combo because "you gotta eat your colors kids"! And then my extra greedy self diced to order Beg Wot as well (I think that's what it was called) but basically if you so for stewed lamb, they'll know what you mean!! All the veggies were delicious by the yellow lentils and the cabbage were my favorite. The meat from the stew was soooooooo tender. Not a bit of fat anywhere in sight. The stew itself was perfectly earthy and warm, with a deliciously thick consistency!! I was in love!!

Hannah K.

After working intensively on a large project focused on dessert, I would do terrible things for salty, savory, and spicy foods to balance it all out. Thankfully, I don't have to commit any atrocities here because Aster's CAME THROUGH . I've never seen such a beautiful vegetarian (AKA vegan) sampler platter in my life, let alone one delivered. It's absolutely loaded yet lovingly arranged in neat little segments. Each different stew is distinctive and unique, richly seasoned with flavors that range from mild to fiery. I will absolutely not pick favorites because you simply need to get the full fleet. I think I'm ready to call it: Overall best Ethiopian food in ATX. If you disagree... Well, you're wrong.

Natalie K.

Hubby and I were happily on our way to the awesome Yelp Elite Blue Man Group Perk, and I immediately Google mapped restaurants close to the venue! We happened upon Aster's, and I saw that the reviews were stellar, so here we are! We're always up for an adventure, and neither of us have ever had Ethiopian food, so let's do this, y'all! When we walked in, the staff was so adorably welcoming! Even though there may have been a tad of a language barrier, we felt right at home! Ironically, the whole restaurant is built inside of an OG house, and we were sat at a cozy booth in what must have been the patio of that original home! My husband ordered me a Cabernet and himself a Dos Equis. For our appy, we went with samosa because I can never ever turn one down! My obsession is Indian samosa, though, and this was not Indian samosa, obviously, but my mouth sort of expected that, for some dang reason. It was more of a meat pie, with no sauce, but Chris devoured them both! They were spicy and delish, but they did read a tad dry, in my opinion. That's probably just my expectation problem. For our meal, we went with the Meat Combo. Neither of us have ANY idea what we're doing with this, but we LOVE it! For the combo, we decided on Keyi Siga, Alicha Siga, Doro Watt, and Alicha Menchet Abesh! And, for veggies, we went with Gomen, Alicha Miser, Atakelt Wott, and Bedergan! All of this comes with Traditional Injera! Here's what I'll say about the Injera! The texture is pancake-y, and it reads a bit sour, but I've googled it, and we get it now. We totally get it. Hubby dipped and grabbed every single meat and veggie with this as a utensil, and it was all so dang good! Everything on the meat combo was an ABSOLUTE winner! Totally outstanding! We've just loved learning about this culture, and my military husband is particularly enchanted, as he's been respecting and exploring cultures for thirty plus years in multiple deployments around the world. This place was honestly a win-win for us, and we LOOOOVED it! We will be back, for sure! Thanks SO much, Aster's!

Teal H.

Asters has the best food I could imagine. I've never had a better meal around better people! Thank you!

Tracey Z.

A super hole in the wall kind of restaurant but definitely worth checking out. It's this little cute house that was turned restaurant- but you can really see how the eating area used to be a living room. The food is pretty good - tons of options to try, my eyes and stomach got overwhelmed by all the options. I really enjoyed the spicy lentils and the spinach and the eggplant. The injera was very sour in my opinion though. Overall the staff are really kind and I left very full. If you come for the lunch buffet it's such a good deal. only $13!

Kitfo with Fasolia Wott, Alicha Miser, and Keyi Miser

Andrew L.

I've ordered takeout from Aster's a few times and had consistently good experiences. I've been particularly impressed with how well their food travels given the relatively messy nature of Ethiopian food. For those who haven't had Ethiopian food before, or are just not super familiar with the offerings, I think this is a great place to start. Their combination platters give a wide variety of flavors and the descriptions make it very clear what kind of flavor you're in for if you have a sensitive palate. Even if you only order a dish designed for an individual, each entree comes with two or three side dishes, so you're able to get a fairly diverse experience. The dishes I've enjoyed the most are Doro Wott (spicy chicken), Alicha Begg Wott (termeric lamb), and Alicha Miser (mild garlic lentils, absolute must try for one of your vegetable options). There have certainly been some misses, I didn't love the Kitfo (steak tartare) and people I've dined with have found a significant proportion of the dishes to be too spicy for their taste, but I'm sure the staff can help point you in the right direction if that's a concern. I haven't dined in, but the last time I picked up from them the indoor seating looked pretty comfortable and they've opened up quite a bit more seating since earlier in the pandemic. The one downside I've experienced with them is the pick up time estimates are not a great indicator of when your food will be available. I've had times where it was ready when I arrived, and others when I've been stuck standing in the restaraunt for quite a while. Not a big enough issue to ding them a star, but certainly worth keeping in mind

Wow!! Coming from LA I didn't think I'd find good Ethiopian food anywhere else and boy was I wrong. We spilt the meat combo and it was still too much (great) food! Cheap and delicious!

(bad photo)The bottom is the lentils, next up is the lamb stew, up is the national dish of Ethiopia, and there's the collared greens on top.

Maxfield R.

First off, the food is great. I've always wanted to try African cuisine and the Ethiopian spot is an amazing introduction to the continent. All the meat was incredibly tender, the sides were super flavorful, and the hot tea made me feel like I was doing something good for my body, like a tasty gingery wellness shot or something. My favorite entree was the lamb stew, and the side of lentils were phenomenal. The service was alright, nothing to write home about, but our waiter seemed like a super nice guy, just a little soft spoken. The only thing mildly negative I have to say is that the restaurant itself is quite dingy, BUT I found it pretty charming. Some of the seating is in a seemingly diy converted patio where the ground is fake turf and the indoor gutters are painted green. It all really felt like a family passionate about their food trying to make it in downtown Austin. Overall I would definitely go again to try the lunch buffet!

Nihilaa K.

Had good reviews so wanted to try this one, outside looks broken down but was good inside . Good food and the main Ethiopian dishes were flavorful but only downside was that injera was very sour and because of that we didn't enjoy it that much . Would still give 4 stars for the great side dishes and service .

Dan A.

This spot is the original Ethiopian restaurant in Austin and has been around since my UT days. They've been in Austin for over 20 years. A smaller spot with smaller tables and buffet area in front and a larger area for bigger groups in the rear of the restaurant. We stopped here for lunch and had some Kitfo and Beef Tibs-both excellent and some of the best I've ever had. Love their Doro (Chicken) & Key Siga (Beef) Wotts as well all of the Veggie dishes! Many were here for the buffet which is popular with students and locals. The Buffet pretty much has it all from meat to veggie dishes and is reasonably priced. They carry a variety of Ethiopian Beers which are not easy to find and the Honey Wine is definitely one to try. Service from beginning to end of our visits has always been excellent! This is the place for Ethiopian food in Austin!

Keith T.

In my many years, I've traveled to many countries. Most memorable are those countries which I've wandered into a local restaurant, typically situated in a part of town that only the fortunate know about it, and was blown way by its simplicity, food and culture curations. Immediately, before entering, the aroma of wat kissed my nose and told me to keep progressing into what seemed to be my uncle's automotive shop situated next to the highway. Weary at first, my culinary senses said you will be rewarded. This place, even before I walked in, took me back to places like Acre, Hurghada, and Jericho. Though the spices may be different, the ambiance is as warm and comforting as the food. The feeding of being in a hot seaside eatery was so real, and memorable. Yes, Ethiopia is land locked but the feelings are none the less real. Muted light, rows of booths, one feels that family recipes are being shared with those who have been anointed and are culturally adept. If you want a simple bit nourishing Ethiopian lunch that will make you run home, dust off your passport, and say, "Addias would be a fascinating place to see." This place will baptize you and speed your journey, nourishing you for the upcoming trip.

Bowen R.

Okay, I had to twist some arms to get the fam to come eat here. The chicken was CHEFS kiss and the ground beef. The veggie platter - not my fav because to be honest I don't get along with lentils, so that isn't really their fault. I LOVED the Teff - it was perfect and GF for the losers that can't stomach wheat (aka me). The beer was flat, I'll say it. Maybe we came on an off day though, or a restock day. All together I would go back, my family said prolly not but I would. I did feel a bit of a brick in my tum afterwards but that could be due to my lack of chewing who knows?

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Barb B.

3 years ago

My boyfriend and I went here together he is GF and I am vegetarian. They had so many great things we could both eat! I got the Vegetarian Combo with Fasolia Wott, Gomen and Cold Lentil Salad. The food tasted to fresh and healthy. I'm constantly looking for a place to eat that serves Whole Foods and healthy meals. This is it! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - 2 Alicha Siga - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Veronica Y.

Elite 26

214

302

555

6 years ago

I love this place so much. Back pre-COVID, it was one of my go-to delivery orders to my office at UT (and the occasional dine-in lunch... their AYCE is just a ridonkulously good deal). But alas, dine-in is no longer an option. But that's also the beauty of Ethiopian food - it travels really, really well. The flavors of every thing is delicious and loading up on all the veggies and spices feels really healthy. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, I don't care when the food tastes this good. And, love the injera here -- wonderfully spongy and just slightly sour. And since we're in COVID and it only makes sense to order too much food at once, here's another tip: Ethiopian leftovers are THE BEST. My favorite thing to do is to throw ALL of my leftovers into a pan (yes, mix it all up INCLUDING the injera), cooking it all until it's kind of mushy (like stuffing) and then adding in scrambled eggs. It sounds weird, but is the most delicious and most satisfying breakfast ever! read more

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Sasa P.

Elite 26

524

605

500

6 years ago

Really great amount of food for the price. 5/5 on value. 4/5 on taste. We really enjoyed the spicy and mild lentils and the eggplant. I didn't love the cold salads, and the other vegetable dishes were good but not the stars of the fish. If I could choose specific dishes to combine, I probably would just go for the yellow and red lentil dishes and the eggplant and that would make me pretty happy. But for $15, this was quite a good amount of food with lots of different dishes to try. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Kristine G.

2 years ago

I'm up at 4:00 am writing this in tears and pain, unable to sleep!! We heard rave reviews about this place and decided to try. I have celliac as well. Being our first ( and Last ) time eating Ethiopian food, I called and confirmed that they have gluten free options and injera. We went tonight. We ordered all injera to be gluten free. I've never had or seen gluten free injera before, and little did I know, the platter served to us apparently came with regular injera TOUCHING my food. Needless to say, within a half hour of eating, I was doubled over in pain. I spent the entire night in pain and crying, and will be for the next week. If you are gluten free/celiac, please be aware of the blatant cross contamination and non compassion the owners have toward you. I will now be sick for a week but the internal damage will stay forever!! !Thanks for nothing Asters Ethiopian! read more

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Richard B.

Elite 19

169

172

4 years ago

Great food. Awesome taste, great portions. Service is great. Most definitely recommend this establishment. read more

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Joshua R.

4 years ago

Each one of the stars above represents 1000 stars each. Maybe 2000. This is the coolest most original Ethiopian place in town. Comparable only to Addis Ababa. Which is the deepest you can get on a spice level but this Asters made my mouth fly just the same. Since Ethiopia I have mostly dined in the haunts on Fairfax in Los Angeles. Asters whooped them all. Had all the sides and they were the best. Especially the greens and lentils. Bombdiggity. We had all the entrees but the doro watt and the alicha begg wott were like hugs from momma. 3 sides per platter should give you and your babydoll plenty of experimenting. Look I am not going to waste another moment of your time. If you are in Austin and looking to do Ethiopian you have found the perfect place. Take it from me. I am a professional. read more

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Olivia G.

Elite 22

4 years ago

My friends adore this place and when they took me there I saw why. I hadn't had Ethiopian food in a long time and I was excited to try it again. This place didn't disappoint. The building and dining room look very unassuming, in fact it almost looks like you're in someone's home kitchen and dining room which I think adds to the authenticity. We went on a Sunday for lunch and got there in time for the lunch buffet, which I highly recommend. I think everyone ate at least two plates. I had two favorites: The Doro Wott was incredibly tender and the spice was a slow burn that fully kicked in once you'd eaten your fill of it. The Menchet Abesh was also spicy, though a little less so, and still very good. There were also plenty of vegetable-based sides to fill me up. If you like Ethiopian food and you can eat a lot, go for the buffet you won't regret it. read more

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Eddie F.

5 years ago

1st time having an Ethiopian meal, had tried something in a "taste of dallas" food truck taste. The service was great, we told him it was our 1st time and when we ordered our meal he suggested a better way to approach it and get to try everything. We had 5 diff meats, 6 sides. Absolutely loved it all, but some better than others. Still the two of us polished 99% of it off. The collards were great probably some of the best ive had. Id recommend this place to anyone and will go again when back in Austin. Note: Do not let the outside deter you from dining in and enjoying it fresh. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Sample of meat and veggies - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Bob G.

3 years ago

Excellent food! Went in on the 5th for an early dinner with my friend and loved it all. Excellent quality ingredients, well balanced seasonings, and a great variety of dishes. Highly recommend! read more

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Allison C.

Elite 26

626

313

5 years ago

I really enjoyed the lunch buffet at Aster's. They had a large selection of vegetarian and meat options for everyone's dietary restrictions within my group. Everything I tried was very flavorful and nicely spiced. For the price, I think it's hard to beat Aster's when it comes to Ethiopian food in Austin. read more

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Ashley B.

Elite 26

535

238

325

9 years ago

When I first moved to Austin, I noticed the little blue building on 35 pretty regularly. It did not look like some place I would like to order food, as the building definitely needs a face lift. Thank goodness my friend highly recommended it--otherwise I may never have ventured inside and experienced the amazing food they serve here! There's not much else to say except the portions are huge (split with a friend!), the food is so flavorful and delicious, and the family who runs it is so sweet. Make sure you wash your hands and bring some hand sanitizer if you are a germaphobe because there's no utensils here, only the slightly sour tasting inerja bread that you use to scoop up all the tasty stews. It's definitely a unique experience and if you haven't had Ethiopian food yet, make this your first stop! Anything with berbere sauce will be spicy but in the best way possible and a very tolerable heat level for most Texans. Vegetarians will find so much here as well, but my husband and I liked the chicken and beef dishes best (we weren't huge fans of the lamb). I love coming here for an inexpensive date night and tasting all the wonderful food they put out. I need to check out the lunch buffet, it seems like it's an even better deal than the meat combo I got! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Summer S.

6 years ago

The veggie sampler is AMAZING. I loved every curry, even the eggplant one and I am usually not a fan of eggplant. It's a lot of food for a good price and actually took me 3 days to eat bc it's so filling lol. And the gluten free injera is sooo yummy :) love this place!! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Atakelt Beyaynetu - veggie combo with gluten free injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Coleman E.

5 years ago

This is how you run a restaurant...the food is probably the best Ethiopian in Austin, the service is amazing and the employees are nothing but friendly. But to top it all off they have one of the best lemon pound cakes I've ever had. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves Ethiopian or wants to try it. read more

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T. D.

458

210

3 years ago

Really tasty food, especially the vegetarian dishes like the spicy lentils and eggplant. Compared to Taste of Ethiopia, which I also really enjoy, the dishes have stronger spicing and the Injera seems thinner. But Taste of Ethiopia serves free refills of injera and has a nicer atmosphere. Honestly, I don't know which I like better since they're both delicious. Worth trying even though service can be a bit slow. read more

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Fay G.

Elite 22

133

5 years ago

Was so impressed by this hole-in-the-wall! We came around 3:30 on a Tuesday and we were the only ones in there for most of our meal. The three of us ordered the dinner specials (lunch ended). You have a choice of a meat entree and three veggie sides. We ordered the kitfo (raw meat), Tibbs (beef cubes), Keyi Begg Watt (lamb), Fasiola Watt (potato), Attakelt Watt (cabbage), Keyi Miser (spicy lentils), and Timitan Fitfit (mixed salad), Bedergan (eggplant), Gomen (collard greens), and Alicia Miser (yellow lentils). They were ALL delicious & such an amazing different taste than I'm used to. I would say my "least" favorites out of those we ordered would be the kitfo, Aggakelt Watt, and Alicia Miser (not that these weren't tasty, it's just personal preference!! The kitfo just got a bit too much since it's all the same texture, and the cabbage and yellow lentils just weren't as mind-blowing as the other sides). I will definitely be ordering the Keyi Begg Watt again - that was my favorite, along with the Keyi Miser. The timitan fitfit is interesting because it's a cold salad made from the injera bread, other veggies, and vinegar. This is, from what I could tell, a family owned & operated restaurant. We could see the family all working and cooking which was pretty cool! They were so kind and friendly to us too. Wouldn't change a thing here! I will definitely come back again and try the lunch special. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Dinner - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Brooks E.

5 years ago

I ate here often when I was a student at UT. After graduation, I moved to Asia, where I lived for eight years. I just moved back to Austin, and Aster's was the first restaurant I wanted to revisit. It did not disappoint. I have dreams about doro wat and kitfo. read more

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Vera R.

3 years ago

Very authentic and delicious Ethiopian food! Large portions and very filling. Will return when I'm in Austin again

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June K.

4 years ago

The food was really flavorful. It was really well seasoned and the portion was HUGE!!! I had tons of leftovers. The server was very friendly too. Very welcoming atmosphere. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian combo Lamb - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Kirsten S.

3 years ago

Amazing food, lots of vegetarian/vegan options. This place never disappoints, and the staff is very friendly and helpful.

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Rebekah C.

Elite 20

109

7 years ago

Always down to come to this place for lunch buffet but this was the first time I stopped by for dinner. This place is pretty near UT campus. It has a very homey feel and the owners are friendly. I love how they separate the menu into vegetarian and meat items. The vegetarian sampler was what I ordered and came on a plate with injera and various other dishes that were super yummy (don't remember the names). My favorites were the dishes with collard greens and eggplant. If you like Ethiopian food, I highly recommend this place. Dinner menu is great here but you can't beat the lunch buffet deal. Next time id like to try their honey wine. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian sampler for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Azelia L.

Elite 23

102

5 years ago

I was quite surprised there was no one inside but I felt very safe ordering from a very friendly waiter who walked us through the menu. We got the 4 meat combo platter that also come with 4 veggies to sample everything because it was our first time eating here. I recommend the lamb and the lentils, they were my favorite but everything else was extremely good too! The eggplant veggie side dish was super flavorful too! read more

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Paloma B.

3 years ago

The food here is beyond delicious! Asters has the warmth of a family run restaurant and a casual atmosphere, being in an old East austin House. Be ready for an adventure with unique Ethiopian spices, fresh homemade dishes and the thin but sturdy and slightly sour injera "bread", which is used as your utensil for grabbing bites and popping them in your mouth. I could eat the eggplant and greens all day every day... the meat dishes are extravagant and wonderful... And lunch buffet is stellar. Everything on the menu is magical! read more

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Miranda N.

4 years ago

I had the lunch buffet and it was the best food I've ever eaten. There were a ton of options and every dish was delicious and tasted like it was homemade read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Lunch Buffet - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Hope D.

4 years ago

I had a lovely time today nibbling on the scrumptious and wholesome fare on offer here: injera and wat not being as familiar to me as others, I went into the experience not knowing much. The subtle ginger, cinnamon, and pepper flavours in the dishes they serve up here break through the nutritional content, and insist that you eat all, yes every last morsel, of your cabbage dish. Will be going back for more! read more

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Michelle H.

5 years ago

Got the meat combo platter which is great as a first timer for 2-3 people. Came with 4 injeras which were well made and 4 vegetarian sides. The spice level is pretty low and my favorite was probably the Doro Watt. read more

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Priyesh V.

5 years ago

Ordered 3 times here- 2 times dinner and once lunch- every time same "meat combo" I ordered which included good variety of non-veg and veg options. Both dinner orders were great, good quantity and meat and veg well cooked and fresh. Last order for lunch had lesser quantity and also Doro Wot was kinda frozen chicken cooked immediately or chicken cooked again due to which the meat was black in colour and not flavourful. Couldn't eat chicken piece but rest all were good. Giving 5 stars considering earlier experiences which were really satisfying. read more

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Clara T.

173

5 years ago

We stopped by after a sad football game, and the amazing food immediately cheered us up! We got the combo plate, every single dish was so delicious. For veggies, I personally recommend the potato, cabbage and lentil. For meat, tender lamb and chicken. read more

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Shawn O.

Elite 21

254

8 years ago

Let me tell you something. African food is food that feeds the motherland soul. Ethiopian cuisine is really one of the most underrated types of food and Asters is the best ethiopian food ive ever tasted. The second you walk in, you are welcomed by warm smiles and welcomes. The atmosphere is so home-y and you just get a sense of home cooking. We went for the lunch buffet which was the best bang for your buck-$10 for all you can eat ethiopian food. The food was so well spiced. The most popular dish is Doro Wott, which is a chicken dish that was great. But even if you dont like chicken or are vegetarian thats the beauty of this restaurant and this buffet there are so many other options. There spiced beef is delicious and i could really eat these potatos alllll day. Injera which is like a fermented tasting soft flat bread is a staple of ethiopian food but i was never fond of it so I just ate all the stews and meats with the available white rice. Definitely go for the lunch buffet. I will surely be back at my next trip to Austin! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Potatos on left side of plate 2 types, both so tasty - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Doro Wott on right Spiced beef dish on left - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Lindsay L.

3 years ago

So flavorful, cozy atmosphere, and they completed my online order in about 25 minutes. No complaints!

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Holly W.

Elite 26 All-Star

353

903

8 years ago

Friendly, cozy Ethiopian restaurant serving authentic delicious food. Inexpensive, generous servings. Beautifully presented. Everything has lovely spices like cinnamon, curry, turmeric. Lots of healthy vegetarian options. Entrees of chicken, lamb and beef. There is a lunch buffet available. Very efficient service. If you don't like eating the traditional way, with hands scooping the food up with the native bread, injera, they will give you a fork! My daughter in law wanted me to give this review only one star so that people don't discover it! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Curried lamb - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Doro Wott - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian assortment - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Vicky K.

2 years ago

Cute aesthetic at the restaurant itself, and the lovely food with big portions deserves another visit, especially for the vegetarian audience read more

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Maritza M.

Elite 26

107

7 years ago

I came for lunch as I had an appointment at the medical complex next door. Pretty easy to find off the frontage road, with more parking than I expected. They have a nice and efficient lunch buffet. Sit anywhere you like and go! Napkins and water were brought to my table. The nice thing about the buffet is you can avoid the items you often get with a platter (for me that's the salad) and I was happy to see there were at least half a dozen vegetarian items. I tried it all plus the sauce for the doro wat. There is a big basket of injera as well. I thought the injera was great and everything was cooked well. My only issue is that most of the dishes were too sweet for my taste. They have some desserts as well, and the pound cake was excellent. Paying was quick and efficient as well, so this is a good spot if you need to be able to manage your time on your lunch break. Note that the price is now $12 for the buffet; a bit steep if you are only eating vegetarian, but I think probably reasonable given the array of items on offer. read more

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Jennifer W.

2 years ago

Highly recommend this place! probably one of the best Ethiopian food we have had in the Austin area! The service was great and the staff was very friendly. We will be back anytime we are in Austin.! read more

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Santiago R.

125

3 years ago

Good food here overall. I like that they use a lot authentic spices and flavors. A good variety of sides to choose from as well.

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Joey R.

6 years ago

Right now Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant is for to-go orders only. The food and attentiveness are just as grand and five-star gold as if for dine-in service. We ordered dinner this past Fri. in the late afternoon, July 3rd, and our food was warm and ready. Also, Ms. Aster Kassaye was there with smiles and warm, delicious food for her new and loyal customers. She cares about her customers and their well-being. Tell me, which business in Austin still has the proprietor present and knows the foods prepared, cooked, and served to customers? Aster's does! The food is healthy with a perfect serving amount and aroma of spices. Indeed, the food is from the cradle of our civilization. The injera is sponge-like and warms the heart. Pick up your phone and order already, and then point your car to Aster's for a heavenly meal. Ms. Aster Kassaye and her team await you. Get going! read more

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Shaun S.

4 years ago

Food was authentic and delicious. Lunch special buffet has variety of great choices for a good price. Food was hot. Customer service was excellent. read more

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Alyssa C.

Elite 22

187

223

186

6 years ago

Oh Aster's, you truly never disappoint. We've been overdue for takeout so we loaded up tonight. We got the Doro Wott and Vegetarian Combo and couldn't be more satisfied. The Atakilt Wott (a turmeric cabbage and veggie dish) is our favorite but we also really enjoy the Gomen (collard greens dish) and Bedergan (stewed eggplant). The injera flatbread is a must and works as the perfect eating utensil. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Doro Wott, Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Chelsea R.

Elite 21

147

166

5 years ago

This was our first time trying Ethiopian, it was quite an experience. Our waiter answered all our questions and helped us pick our meat and veggie sides. The food was fresh and so good. read more

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Christine P.

156

6 years ago

Five stars in every way. I'm a huge fan of Ethiopian food but not all places do it well. This place has delicious savory and spicy flavors making every dish outstanding. I recommend you get the vegetable combo to try a bit of everything!! If you're extra hungry, add in beef tibs for a delicious meat dish to go with all the veggies! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetable combo (18) and a meat dish (2) - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Samantha Y.

Elite 21

130

270

8 years ago

Such an affordable lunch buffet ($9.99!!) and everything was jam-packed with flavor. You have to get the injera to pick up the food with. This was my first time trying it, and it went with everything! The service was great too! We were greeted enthusiastically right when we stepped in, and our waiter was really polite. I will definitely be coming back! read more

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Back

Page 2 of 17

2804 N I-35
Austin, TX 78722
University of Texas
Directions
(512) 469-5966
Call Now

Full menu

Hours

What time does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant open?

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant opens at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant opens at 3:00 PM on Sunday.

What time does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant close?

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant is closed on Monday.Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant closes at 10:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon ClosedTue-Sat 11:00 AM - 10:00 PMSun 3:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Payment methods

Does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant take Bitcoin?

No, Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant does not take Bitcoin.

Does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant take credit cards?

Yes, Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant takes credit cards.

Food & Alcohol

Does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant have catering options?

Yes, Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant does have catering options.

Does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant serve alcohol?

Yes, Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant serves alcohol. Beer & Wine Only

Indoor Amenities

Does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant have TVs?

No, Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant does not have TVs.

Outdoor Amenities

Does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant have bike parking?

Yes, Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant has bike parking.

Does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant have parking?

Yes, Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant has parking options. Private Lot Parking

Other Amenities

Does Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant have free WiFi?

Yes, Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant has free WiFi.

From the Business

Specialties

Welcome to Asters Ethiopian Restaurant. An Austin tradition since 1991. We are a family-owned business and provide unique and authentic cultural dishes for the whole family to enjoy. Come join us for an incredible and tasty meal with so much variety. Both meat and vegetables dishes are available. We are well known for our Vegan, Gluten free and veraiety of vegetarian cousiners.

History

Established in 1991.

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant originally opened in 1991 at the intersection of Rutland & Parkfield in North Austin. The owner's husband was transferred to Virginia State, and they moved to Richmond in 1996. After four years, she returned to Austin, and with the support of her wide clientele, opened a catering business. She re-opened Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant in 2006 at 2804 N I-35. With more than 20 years of success, we at Asters look forward to serving you soon!

Meet the Business Owner: Aster K.

Aster Kassaye is a mother of two girls and one boy, as well as blessed with three beautiful grand daughters and one grand son. She opened and ran the first of her restaurants in North Austin at Rutland & Parkfield from 1991 to 1996. Aster has built a city wide clientele and is well known for her smile and gracious reception. When her spouse, Bekele Kassaye was transferred to Virginia She, closed the business and moved to Richmond with the family. Aster and her family returned to Austin after four years and started catering, selling the food at Farmers market, Wheatsville Coop and Whole Foods market. Aster is involved in community activities and is always willing to help others. Since she opened this Restaurant in 2006, her husband and children have been the driving force to keep the business going.

More Info

Health Score

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

Danish
1 Review

Ask the Community - Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant

Is the vegetarian sampler vegan?

Yes

View question details

Do they have gluten free injera? Or do they use gluten/wheat to make it?

Yes. You have to ask for it and they make it fresh. When I went they seemed very knowledgeable about gluten and the server showed me exactly which dishes on the buffet I could eat (most of them) and which ones I could not. I have celiac so I can not… Read more

View question details

What time is the buffet?

I know that the buffet was available when I went there when the restaurant opened on Saturday at 11am, but I'm not sure how long it's available until.

View 1 more answer

Do they have a lunch buffet on weekends?

YES we have lunch buffet 6 days a week including week ends. We are closed on Monday's.

View question details

View All 6 Questions

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Student Of East Africa U.

12 years ago

On behalf of Students of East Africa from University of Texas at Austin, We would like to say thank you to Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant for catering our "Feast from the East!" event this past Saturday !!! The food was AMAZING and a HUGEEE hit with all those that attended our event!!! Everyone's favorite entree was the Doro wet ( the spicy chicken stew), which won a lot of people over. The vegetarian options were equally popular for those who were Vegetarian/fasting for Easter! We loved food and the fact that they were able to take care of everything for the event! It made it one less thing for our organization to worry about when throwing such a major event! We highly suggest that everyone try Aster's Restaurant!!! read more

John W.

4 years ago

The restaurant is very small and basic. I went with coworkers for their lunch buffet. The food seemed authentic and smelled good. I tried a few things but had no idea what they were or what was in them due to no description or labels. Most of what I had was tasty. I wanted to try more but there was a ton of flies taking advantage of the open food. The chicken drumpstick I got of the buffet was cold and I could tell it had been sitting out for awhile. I'd like to try it again but not go for the buffet. read more

Gary J.

4 years ago

First time here, and I was very happy with the flavors of each buffet dish, but there weren't any dessert options, nor any fruit. ...Lots of seating, but not really the best A/C. The staff are friendly, and the place has a unique atmosphere. I ate 3 plates of food, and although I overate, I was happy to do so and plan to visit again in a week or so. read more

Andrea S.

10 years ago

Vegie sampler was really good, especially as I could not decide among the dishes. Also, the vegie dishes are all vegan, which can be tricky at some vegetarian places. I haven't had the meat dishes for a long time, but I do remember them being tasty. The lunch buffet is really worthwhile. read more

Solomon M.

4 years ago

Love the food here! I always order the veggie/vegan platter to go and they are very generous with the portions. It's definitely shareable! The staff is also friendly every time I come in. Highly recommend if you enjoy Ethiopian food as much as I do or are curious to try. read more

Sarah P.

12 years ago

We've been here many times -- our go to place when we need this kind of food. The buffet is awesome; you get to try out everything that you may want to eat for dinner. The seating outside is comfortable -- but sometimes a bit noisy. Great waitstaff. read more

Cathy D.

494

1 year ago

I am not sure if this true or not, but Google says that Asters is permanently closed. If this is true, it's so sad because this is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant here in Austin! read more

Wing K.

11 years ago

Amazing food. The only thing that concerns me is the visible black mold on the walls of the adjacent dining area. Mold can be deadly to inhale. Just be careful. read more