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    Awash Restaurant

    4.4 (545 reviews)
    ModerateEthiopian
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Awash Restaurant Photos

    AWASH RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Awash Restaurant

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    Spicy beef
    Alan B.

    Came here to celebrate a sister's bday and felt so blessed because I've been wanting to try Ethiopian food. There's metered parking on the street and praise GOD it's a Sunday so it's free :) We got here around 2:30pm and there's enough space to accommodate 10 people. We ordered veggie plate, spicy chicken, spicy beef and mild chicken and beef. Everything was good. The spicy beef and chicken wasn't that spicy but really flavorful. We also got this rice wrapper that taste like sourdough sponge bread. The only thing we couldn't quit do was eating everything with our hands especially with all the grease. We ended up asking for spoons. Overall: am really glad I finally got to try Ethiopian food and service was really friendly.

    Zil Zil Tibbs
    Denzel L.

    The service was quick not too much talking just straight to it lol. Our Server was kind and efficient, the ambiance is between sports bar and restaurant, the soccer games and news were being broadcasted. The food came out fas, hot and sizzling, we ordered the Zil Zil Tibbs with salad. The injera wasn't my favorite it had a weird after taste but the steak was fireee. Charred to perfection. 7.5/10!

    Special Kitfo
    Jonathan C.

    If this is your first time trying Ethiopian food, I'd recommend the combination platter (its located on the poultry section but it specifies that it comes with the beef options too #1,2,8, and 15). Combination for two was definitely a good chunk of food. I would also highly recommend the Kitfo. You do get the option of doing raw or medium rare and we were recommened the raw (I'd recommend it too). I would also suggest choosing the specical Kitfo over the regual because of all the other spices and aromatics that are included in the special. If you are a little uneasy trying raw beef, then the additions in the special willl definitely help. I love how it was a little spicy like there was chilli oil in it. Make sure you mix it up real good. I think i enjoyed the Kitfo a little too much here. Last time I had Ethiopian food was in DC and I have been craving it ever since. I know there are other Ethiopian places that are known for their Kitfo as well but regardless this is still super solid. Highly recommend. A bunch of metered street parking right outside so parking shouldn't be an issue.

    Veggie combo and awaze tibbs.
    Jonathan D.

    Awash isn't on Little Ethiopia's main drag but rather is a few blocks away on Pico. The dining room is spare, but the one woman who seemed to be doing it all in the front of house was welcoming and to seat ourselves. We always go with a veggie combo as the "base" for an Ethiopian meal, so we did that here. While doro wat would be our normal go-to--want to see how a new place stacks up against the others--that didn't seem to be on the menu, so we opted for the awaze tibbs, another classic dish (beef with a bit of heat to it). After a brief wait, the food arrived. By and large, the veggie combo had the standards on it, with various lentils, collards, carrots, etc. We particularly loved the collards, and the salad was refreshing. All of the other items were solid, with one exception: there was a cold item, some sort of lentils with mustard that, at least for me, gave almost mayo vibes. We weren't a fan of that one. The beef was also tasty, though the dish had a bit more oil/grease than we might have wanted. As it got later (we came in fairly early), the dining room filled up, which made service a little slow but still very kind. All in all, this was a very good experience, and I'd certainly be happy to come back, though at least on this one day, wasn't quite at the level of Lalibela or Meals by Genet on Fairfax.

    Whole fried fish

    First time trying Ethiopian food. Great service and food. The portions are so big we split an entree and still had leftovers!

    Combination for 2 people
    Jill C.

    This is our first time trying Ethiopian food, we didn't know what to expect but everything tasted amazing! We ordered the combination for 2 people as shown in the photo (I believe the meats are #1, 2, 8 and 14 on the menu) and we can't finish! We were surprised there's so much meat! Flavor is on a more sour side. We arrived before 6 on Saturday evening, there were only 2 tables and a couple sitting by the bar. Restaurant was at capacity when we left around 7:30. Half customers are Ethiopians, and the other half is mixed ethnicities, meaning it's universally excellent!!

    Kitfo Special (comes with garlic, onions, and jalapeño)
    Fortuna N.

    This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and it didn't disappoint! We got the Combination meat platter that feeds two and it comes with 4 types of meat and sides of salad and ingera. The combination dish had: 1) Awaze Tibbs: Tender beef cooked in spice and Awaze sauce, onion, tomato, jalapeños and clarified butter. 2) Alitcha Tibbs: Milder version of Awaze Tibbs with tumeric. I liked this one the best as the tumeric seasoning added so much more flavor and depth to the meat! 3) Special Zilzil Tibbs with onion: prime beef seasoned with garlic, black pepper, and clarified button with onions. I liked this one the second best as the beef was tender and flavorful with a char! 4) Special Chicken: Cubes of chicken breast sautéed with onions, soy sauce and garlic. Mixed with spices and veggies. I liked this the least as it was quite bland the chicken but the veggies were super delicious. - the salad had a tangy dressing over it that helped with eating the meat platter and ingera together as it balanced the heaviness and spice with crunchy greens and dressing! The stand out dish though was the Kitfo Special! This is Ethiopian steak tartar (raw beef) that is mixed with seasoned clarified butter, chili powder, cardamom and with the special it has garlic, onions, and jalapeño. I would definitely recommend the special as the aromatics inside added more texture, crunch, and balanced the rare meat taste although still super delicious! It melted in your mouth. We were stuffed at the end of our dinner and had another full meal of leftovers to take home. The next day eating these it tasted even better as the flavors got to sit over night. I would come back again!

    Veggie combo with fish and awaze tibs - so much food and sooo good
    Rachel C.

    We loved Awash! We came on a Wednesday around 6:30 and it was busy but not full. The food was absolutely delicious and seemed pretty reasonably priced. There were three of us and we ordered the awaze tibs and the veggie combo with fish - we had a lot left over and probably could have done without the fish, but it was SO good so I'm glad we tried it! This was a perfect spot for dinner and I am so glad I got my Ethiopian food fix. We will definitely be back!

    Brooke M.

    Last time I had done a review here for Yelp was a decade ago! Wow! I've been coming here since the late 90's for a reason. Incredible food and great prices. The best Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to! I need to come more often. I was craving it and decided to take the drive. It was well worth it! Family owned and loved! Casual ambiance. Service was great and friendly. I even got an extra injera.

    Ron L.

    Awash restaurant is one of those joints that epitomizes the saying you don't judge a book by its cover. Although I love restaurants like this when I am looking for darn good food at a mom & pop home style meal. I've eaten at a number of the Ethiopian restaurants on Fairfax's Little Ethiopia row and they are excellent. Awash is on Pico a couple blocks west of Fairfax and comes in a plain package with some ceiling art. We chose the Combination for Two that had numbers 1, 2, 8 & 14. The platter that arrived with gluten free injera for me on Gluten Free injera, veggies and salad, regular injera for my son, was enough for four people. The Awaze Tibbs, Alitcha Tibbs were delicious beef stews and the Special Zilzil Tibbs consisted of prime tender seasoned strips of beef that were flavorful and substantial. The Special Chicken was excellent with each tear of a piece of injera assembling different combinations of the various dishes creating a different flavorful explosion in the palette. We were awash with an abundance of good food and friendly vibes.

    This is the veggie plate with double red lentil, trout and red wine.

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    17 days ago

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    16 days ago

    Excellent food. Slow service, but they're kind and the food is delicious. Will always be coming back.

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    3 months ago

    Excellent Restaurant !!! I have never eaten such delicious Ethiopian food in America. I am happy to eat the delicious food of my country.

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    4 months ago

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    10 months ago

    One of the best Ethiopian restaurants in LA. Food is always delicious and consistent. Try veggie combo and Derek tins

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    2 years ago

    Very tasty food. The wait is little long but it is worth it. Big portion and nice people

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    Page 1 of 14

    Ask the Community - Awash Restaurant

    As of Nov 11, are they open for lunch and dinner OR just dinner? How many tables outside do they have?

    I'd call them fir current hours other than lunch. There aren't any outside seats.

    As of June 28, are they open for dine-in and if they are not open, approximately when will they be open?

    They are open, at least for lunch. But I'd call because things can change quickly.

    Are they often closed during the posted hours? I'm craving it but there's no answer there and we've gone before to find them closed. Not sure if it was a one off or a regular thing... if anyone knows

    they are consistent Tue-Sun from noon

    Do they have gluten-free injera?

    No but my friend bought her own in from an Ethiopian market on Fairfax and Awash used it beneath the vegetarian plate.

    Did this restaurant close? The last few times we've tried it was closed! Closed again today, Monday 12/10/18

    they open noon tuesday-sunday

    View All 8 Questions

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    Aunt Yvette’s Kitchen

    Aunt Yvette’s Kitchen

    4.8
    (374 reviews)
    11.2 mi

    Right away, the service was great. Small and intimate spot with one available table outside. We got…read morevery lucky to get that one table since there was a large party which had booked pretty much all the tables up. The infused water carafe is $5 and definitely worth it. Very very refreshing. We opted for the Vegan Sampler and the off menu, ribeye tibs. It was honestly perfect! The only thing we noticed was the portions on the sample platter were a bit small. Delicious with a wide verity, but we had to order two à la cart lentil dishes to balance it all out. Not a deal breaker by any means. We were glad to bring leftovers home. The prices were comprable to other Ethiopian restaurants we've been to, so no concerns there. Only thing I won't be ordering is the 12 dollar Pellegrino. That seemed excessively marked up considering the same bottle is $2.69 at Target or $3.50 at 7/11. We will definitely be back because the food and service were THAT good.

    My first experience with Ethiopian cuisine, and easily one of the best meals I've had in 2026 so…read morefar. We ordered the vegan platter with beef tibs, which was a fantastic introduction to the cuisine. The flavors were vibrant, comforting, and unlike anything I've had before. The staff was incredibly knowledgeable and took the time to explain each dish and how it was prepared. Combined with the beautiful ambiance, it made for a memorable dining experience. I'll definitely be back.

    Photos
    Elegant interior
    Elegant interior
    Banana split and berberae ice cream
    Banana split and berberae ice cream
    Ethiopian Tej (honey wine) to cheers @brunch

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    Ethiopian Tej (honey wine) to cheers @brunch
    Meals by Genet

    Meals by Genet

    4.3
    (830 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    I took my daughter here to celebrate a new job. We ordered two vegetarian sampler plates at $27…read moreeach. The waiter asked if we wanted tofu with that, and we said yes. When we got the bill, I was shocked to see that he had charged us for four (4) entrees !!!-- an extra $54 to add tofu to our plates! When we brought this up to the waiter, he didn't apologize or act as if anything was wrong, so I spoke to the owner, Genet -- and she was equally unapologetic! Her solution was for us to throw away one of the two containers of leftovers. I felt as if the waiter had been intentionally deceitful -- and when Genet backed him up, it seemed as if she was in on it, too.. (Apart from that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you enjoy the play?) The food was good and the atmosphere was good -- Just be careful if they ask if you want to add tofu to your plate.

    Love this place- we had not been here since pre-pandemic…read more The dining room recently reopened and we don't mind the trek to the west side. Great service and willing to assist, as all items appear to be out of regular dining options. Trust their recommendations! We had the vegetarian platter, a great way to sample all the side-mixing and matching. Our go/to is the dorowaht , similar to Mexican mole with a delicious taste profile. Tried the ribeye beef but it all honesty, the stars are the veggies.

    Photos
    Meals by Genet
    Ordered the beef tibs, was shocked at how small the $25 portion size was.  A complete ripoff.  Save your money and go anywhere else
    Ordered the beef tibs, was shocked at how small the $25 portion size was. A complete ripoff. Save your money and go anywhere else
    Menu - December 2025

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    Menu - December 2025
    Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant & Market

    Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant & Market

    4.0
    (874 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    We have been going to Merkato for years and generally had only great experiences, but our latest…read morevisit this past weekend revealed that a lot has changed for the worse. We arrived around 6:45 on Saturday and didn't get our food until nearly 8:30 and had to manage a hungry four-year-old during this time. The restaurant was busy but there was only one server (more are definitely needed!) and most infuriating is that tables of Ethiopian diners would receive their food first despite arriving and ordering significantly after non-Ethiopian diners. If Merkato wants to discriminate against the non-Ethiopian diners who make up a core of their clientele, they should know we will gladly take our business to other restaurants on the block. Although the food was quite good when it finally did arrive, the service and the overall shabby condition that restaurant has deteriorated into over the years makes it unappealing to return to.

    Ever ordered a fish & veggie combo and have a buncha veggies and injera leftover?? Me neither! I…read moreusually have to order an extra veggie combo for this to ever happen. A lot of places have me wondering why they'd include so little veggies for the size of this trout. (...I suppose a good tactic for making you order another entree). Well, this experience at Merkato was exceptional. Especially for the price. An enormous amount of food for two hungry people to share. Great flavors. More than adequate amount of pillowy delicious injera. We thoroughly enjoyed leftovers the next day. Would happily order again and recommend to others.

    Photos
    Merkato Ethiopian Restaurant & Market
    Fresh & Tasty
    Fresh & Tasty
    Menu as of October 2025 (p. 3)

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    Menu as of October 2025 (p. 3)
    Rosalind's

    Rosalind's

    4.1
    (802 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Full bar
    Grab-and-go

    For 5 people we got the Emperor and 3 meat sampler and the food was plentiful! The miss who does…read morethe dinner shift was handling the whole restaurant on her own effortlessly. She made sure we always had our bread plate filled and waters. They play soft music while you eat so it's a great place to have a chatty dinner with friends without it being too loud. Parking a little difficult in the neighborhood but they make up in that there's plenty of seating to get to your meal as soon as possible.

    Wednesday night dinner with friends. Arrived a little after 6 and the restaurant was empty. By the…read moretime we left around 8 the restaurant was filling up, but not packed. The place is simple and the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming. The waitress was friendly and helpful. We had the vegan sambusas which were crispy, flavorful, and perfectly spiced -- a great way to start the meal and share with friends. We also ordered the Vegan Goodness platter for 4 and it was very generous and delicious, with a variety of hearty vegan sides that gave a great taste of traditional Ethiopian flavors. All of the sides were well-seasoned, and packed with textures that make each bite interesting without feeling heavy. It was served with an overwhelming about of injera that was delightfully soft, spongy with that nice sourdough flavor. Overall, a solid place with excellent vegan options and authentic tastes -- I'll definitely be back for more.

    Photos
    The works!
    The works!
    Vegan combo
    Vegan combo
    Introducing the Sheba Bowl!

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    Introducing the Sheba Bowl!
    Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine

    Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine

    4.2
    (711 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$

    We went for a friend's birthday and it was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine. The place was…read morevery easy to find and Sundays street parking is free. However, it can be hard to get a parking spot since it is a busy street/area. They have live music when you walk in he's playing on your right hand side. They have a decent amount of sitting; however, if the group is larger than 6 I can see it being a bit cramped. Service was okay, they seem like they had once server. We did wait about 20-30min before they took over order. But no big deal, it is a small business. Onto the food! We got jack fruit appetizer which was pretty good no notes. My friend got strawberry mango juice he liked it. I also got the shay latte, you need to add some honey or else it doesn't taste like much, the tea in it was a bit weaker than I expected it to be. We also got the family special for 4 and vegan dulet. Vegan dulet was really good, the family special had these greens not sure what it was we think it was collard greens I didn't really like. However the rest of the items on there were very good imo. I think overall it was a good first time experience. But I have to say based on two others in our group it could be an acquired taste since they were not a big fan. Not to forget they have very yummy vegan cookies, make sure to have those!

    April 3, 2026 | Little Ethiopia on Fairfax | While on the go with my Vegan Private Chef friend, we…read moredecided on lunch in Little Ethiopia! I have dined in the area plenty, but this was my first time trying Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine! Sambussas | Yummy! Each bite was filled with lentils, jalapeños, and onions! Loved it! The look immediately reminded me of Indian Samosas, which I also love! We requested a spicier version of the dipping sauce, and it was incredible, as well as homemade right on the spot! Thanks again! Vegan Platter | Shared | Delicious, flavorful, & plentiful! I truly enjoyed all the different veggies and it's such a colorful plate! The Injera bread was perfect as well, as we used our hands to scoop up each bite! I'm not Vegan, & appreciated every flavorful bite! Pineapple Non-Alcoholic Wine | I wanted to try something new and refreshing and the pineapple wine delivered with a subtle flavor! Customer Service | Incredibly friendly, service with a smile and helpful with the menu! I appreciate going the distance by requesting a spicier version of the dipping sauce, and it was met with the smile, as well as heat to the tongue! Hahaha! Decor | Deep colors throughout, and there's also a store where you can buy home decor, clothing, jewelry, including food, products! It's a warm and inviting setting, with cozy seating, which was great to catch up with my chef friend, who is like family, when our availability aligns! It always turns into a fun food adventure! Haha! I'm grateful that he introduced me to this restaurant! Note | As we stepped outside of the restaurant, I looked up and saw a banner: All You Can Eat Buffet from 11-3PM on Saturday and Sunday, including the salad bar & dessert! Sounds like a great deal! Overall | Yes, Please! I'm looking forward to returning and trying more of the menu! Thanks again for both delicious food, as well as excellent customer service!

    Photos
    April 3, 2026 | Decor | Inside | Friday |
    April 3, 2026 | Decor | Inside | Friday |
    April 3, 2026 | Vegan Platter | Shared | Friday |
    April 3, 2026 | Vegan Platter | Shared | Friday |
    Buffet set up!

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    Buffet set up!

    Awash Restaurant - ethiopian - Updated June 2026

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