So many Ethiopian restaurants on this stretch of Telegraph! We were planning to go to Addis since we had good meals there before but the recent reviews were not great. Appears that they have new owners and the service had gone hill so we pivoted to Barcote. We've been here before but that was 2 years ago. Had a great dinner here so I was hopeful! And they delivered! When we walked in, we smelled all the amazing spices. Lots of beautiful Ethiopian decor inside. So much to take in! There was an event on the patio, so we sat inside. The best food here! We ordered the beef samosas, the ultimate veggie and meat combo platter and shrimp tibs. We had the option of getting smaller platters or one big platter. We chose one large platter. They give us a basket of injera. And we all dug in with our fingers. We loved all of it! They come by with baskets of more injera to top you off. We didn't need any more but great to hear that it's complimentary. Will definitely come back next time. Love Barcote! read more

First time here & had such a great time! Right after leaving the restaurant, me & my friend already made plans to come back. It was my friend's first time trying Ethiopian food, so we got the Meat & Veggie combo. The food was so flavorful & even though I was full, I couldn't stop myself from eating. The service here was so lovely & I had a fun time talking to the staff. read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat & Veggie Ultimate Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

I took my friend to this place today. It was her first time trying Ethiopian food and she loved it. We ordered a vegetarian combo and the chicken platter. Our collective favorite was the misir wot. We sat outside since the outdoors was beautiful and the weather was very pleasant. Our server was funny and got me when I picked up the mint and had me convinced I should've paid before he burst out laughing. Highly recommend checking out this place. read more

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On July 3, I went with a friend and her best friend to eat Ethiopian food for dinner. It was my first time eating Ethiopian. We got seated quickly. My friend had been to the restaurant before so she did the ordering. The waitress came over to take our order. My friend ordered us the meat and veggie ultimate combo to share. The waitress asked if we wanted it just as is or all mild since some of the dishes on the platter already came with a kick. We got it just as is to experience the original flavors. The platter was huge with different lentils, salad, pickled veggies, meats and came with injera. The platter had different/unique flavors, spiced to pickled to spicy. The platter was more than enough for 3 of us, we had leftovers. I wouldn't mine coming back again. read more

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We got the combo plate with the meat and veggies. I really dont know the names of what we had but I felt the meats were too spicy and some of the veggies, especially the Grey ones on the side weren't my type of flavor. I'm so used to Walia in San Jose so maybe I compare that flavor profile to other Ethiopian restaurants. Service was very hard to come by, we had to flag the waitress for every thing from napkins to more water and we we're literally the only table there. Lukewarm water also, and again waiting for the check. This was not the best experience for me or my friend for either the food or service. Barely 3 stars. read more

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Some of the best and most flavorful Ethiopian food I've ever had! A truly amazing spot that's also Michelin recommended (I didn't know until we went there). Service was really friendly and fast, and the ambiance was warm and wonderful as well. If you get a chance to stop by here, I would highly recommend it, whether you've had Ethiopian food before or if it's a first-time experience, this is definitely the spot to have some authentic Ethiopian food! read more

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My friends and I are huge fans of Ethiopian food, and we booked a table at Barcote for dinner. We were one of the first diners around 6 PM on a Monday evening, but by the time we left a couple of hours later, every single table was filled. The restaurant was a bit chilly inside since the door was left ajar, but the space quickly warmed up as more diners trickled in. There were four of us, so we shared a Mixed Veggie + Meat platter and ordered the veggie samosas to start. For four hungry people, this was the perfect amount - we almost finished our entire platter. Barcote's samosas were filled with lentils cooked in a savory spice blend and served alongside a delicious, subtly spicy dipping sauce. We were tempted to order more, but we also wanted to save room for the platter. The mixed platter was a beautiful rainbow of stews and dips, including many varieties of simmered lentils, vegetables, and stewed meats. We inhaled every last piece of injera as we worked our way around the platter. In fact, we probably could have benefited from another basket of injera. On the night of our visit, it seemed like only one server was managing the dining room herself - yet she managed to take care of all the tables. This was our first time at Barcote, but my friends who've visited other Ethiopian restaurants in Berkeley/Oakland remarked that this was their new favorite spot. read more

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If you like variety on a plate and communal gathering this can be a spot. I like variety so my brother and I went for the vegetarian and meat combo platter. You get a little bit of everything more or less and you get injera bread with it, all meal comes with injera which is amazing. The presentation is eye appealing. Colour is there. You get a bed of a large round of injera and you get all your goods there. My favourite was the yellow lentils and the cabbage-carrot-potato vegetable in turmeric I think. Service was direct nothing special. I heard we can get unlimited bread but a basket of just 1 round was more than enough for 2 people. Ambiance is nice. There's incense and a lot of colourful art. Nice patio for the summer time. I think this is a nice place for an intro to Ethiopian food. It's also in the Michelin world, maybe that can say something. AC transit bus 6 and 22 come near here read more

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I ordered ahead takeout for pickup from Barcote. I got the shiro combo: ground chickpeas simmered with fresh garlic and oil, served with gomen, buticha and azifa. As usual, Barcote did not disappoint and all the dishes were delicious, well-flavored and seasoned, and fresh-tasting. The one thing I wish they would change is that the last two times Oakland Restaurant Week was happening, I called to ask if I could get their specials to go, but they said it was only for dine-in, which is a bummer. read more

Update 2 years later - was promised to get refunded for the messed up item and never did. Ended up getting a $6 credit from grubhub since the business didn't follow through. read more

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Had delivery from them. Love the fermented grain but their sides all tasted really similar. I was hoping to have an array of flavor.

Great cozy spot. First time here. Every is so nice feels like I'm eating at someone home. And the backyard patio is very nice too. And of course the food is top notch too. Because why would you feed your home hug eats anything else read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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For $24.00 for a veggie combination they give you such a small amount of food!!! This is the first Ethiopian place where I end up still hungry after eating the measly little amount that they gave me! And I'm a petite woman who doesn't eat that much! Usually I have left overs when I get Ethiopian. So if you want a decent amount of food and not just a tiny little bit, go somewhere else. There's plenty of other places that don't skimp out on the food for the high price. I'm STILL HUNGRY!! read more

The only restaurant on the street that would let me go pee prior to confirming that I will be a customer . The staff served us our food, in a timely manner and did not rush us out of the restaurant. There is both inside and outside seating, which are both pleasing to the eye. If you have not tasted doro wat before, know that it is tasty, but rich and sweet tasting. read more

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Came here because of the great reviews. The spot is small but they have an outdoor patio which is nice. Inside they burn incense and it's really strong so if you're sensitive to that I'd choose to eat outdoors. We ordered the veggie samosas to start and the combo plate. The samosas were probably the best I've had at an Ethiopian restaurant. They were crispy and so flavorful. The combo imo was just okay. I didn't really fall in love with any of the dishes that were served but the portions were good. Service was really slow as there was only one waitress and there were probably about 6 or 7 tables total indoor and outdoor. I probably wouldn't come here again since there are so many other great Ethiopian restaurants in the area but I'm happy I tried it at least once. If anything I would come back just for the samosas. read more

This is a great restaurant! We were warmly greeted by the team and had a wonderful meal. Very clean, great sanitation practices and amazing food! We found our best Ethiopian restaurant now! read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Shrimp Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Wowieee!! What a delight for my first time eating Ethiopian food! I got the meat platter and my lovey friend got the veggie platter. Such wonderfully tasting meat stews. The injera was really great, so spongy and tangy. The staff was friendly and the food was delivered fairly quickly. While we originally sat outside, we were asked to go inside while they cleaned. A must try! read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Delicious and satisfying lunch, with the spiced tea, beef samosas and meat sampler. These flavors and spices are beyond words! We sat on the quiet back patio due to our reactive dog. (We usually sit on the front patio.) it was super mellow. Note that service in Ethiopian restaurants can be less rapid and adapt to that reality. Enjoy not feeling rushed. It is a delightful experience that will leave you feeling satisfied and relaxed. read more

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Quality has gone downhill the past few years with the owner seemingly being less present and seeing different cooks in the kitchen. Often the yellow peas or lentils will be undercooked to the point of being hard, the portion sizes have shrunk and prices have gone up. Most recently, I ordered on Uber Eats and was supposed to receive a free item as advertised. I contacted the restaurant and sent them a photo of the offer and they didn't honor it or even offer an apology. I've been eating here for 6+ years so now I feel like they don't really care about their customers. If you're looking for good vegan Ethiopian, Desta is the spot. The food is better and there's no up charge for gluten free injera which is how injera is traditionally made. read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - They didn't honor the special on Uber Eats - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Did takeout from here recently. Got the veggie combo. The food was great and was enough for two hungry people. Didn't have time to take a photo before digging in. The person at the front who did the transaction named "K" was very friendly and conversational. Shiro was not included in the veggie combo but based on another review I would want to try it next time. Would definitely go back! read more

This is one of my favorite Ethiopian Restaurants, Micheline recommended and deserved. The food is all flavorful and delicious! Not pictured here but equally delicious is their salmon dulet (I highly recommend). The mango spritzer isn't much of a spritz but is very tasty. There is ample seating inside and outside. The service was friendly, though a little slow, but they were happy to help when you requested. read more

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My friend and I had a delicious lunch today! The ambience was relaxing although the inside of the restaurant was on the cool side since the back door was open. My friend ordered the lamb with spiced butter and I had the veggie platter. Both were absolutely delicious! We will be back for sure. I would like to go again when the weather is warmer so I can sit on the back patio. Our waiter was prompt and helpful. read more

We randomly wanted to try an Ethiopian restaurant while we were in the Rockridge area. The restaurant was easy to find and there was a lot of street parking available during lunch. The entrance was somewhat dark and upon entering we were led to the back room where we were told to sit anywhere we liked. The back room was brighter and was decorated with cultural art work. We noticed a cute outdoor area which would be nice for a cozy dinner date. As we were seated I told our server that we were new to Ethiopian cuisine and have never been to the restaurant before. We were handed menus and luckily each dish had a pretty detailed description of what the ingredients were. We went with one of the specialties, the meat and vegetable platter. We also tried a bottle of Ethiopian beer along with the stuffed Jalapeno appetizer which was delicious! When the large platter of food arrived, we were in awe. However, we were also clueless as to what we were eating and how we were supposed to eat it bc we had no utensils on the table. We quickly gathered and we were supposed to use pieces of the injera bread to pick up the saucy foods. It would have been nice to have a short explanation of each dish and a little lesson on the proper way to eat everything. Our favorites were the lamb, chicken, and simmered cabbage and potatoes. It didn't take us a long time to realize that the bread was filling and we couldn't finish the platter! We would definitely return to try other dishes next time! read more

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My order of gomen was nothing better than just making your own collard greens at home. In fact, gomen was very ordinary and substandard. Their ambience is good. Service is good but food wise nothing wow. read more

I mean what can I say that hasn't already been said. The wait staff was relaxed and casual but still efficient and attentive. The ultimate combo was perfect to give my boyfriend a great example of Ethiopian food! So delicious, plus they did NOT skimp out on extra injera which is always a pet peeve of mine. read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat & Veggie Ultimate Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Amazing place. The minute you enter you smell the yummy goodness. So sooooo good. The staff is friendly and efficient. We sat in the cute back courtyard. It was peaceful and sweet. You'd never know you were sitting just off busy Telegraph. We will definitely be back. Authentic food. Perfect spice level. Yummmmmm! read more

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We ordered the vegetarian combo and meat combo for 4 people and it was so much food! This could have served 5 people easily. Service was super slow, it took quite a while to order and get water. They have a great outdoor area in the back and allow dogs which is great! This is definitely a more healthier version and less spicy compared to other Ethiopian spots I've been too. Overall it was delicious though! read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Frequented for the last few years. I've had their doro wot, every kitfo variation, salmon dulet, and their fish goulash, all of which I'd recommend. Their quality is mostly consistent, though occasionally their injera comes out too dough-like and their portion sizes and food texture differ between visits. The taste however is consistent and quite good, and their tej is some of the best I've had. The setting is odd at first, as I always feel too close to one of the entrances/exits or the bathroom, but I quickly forget about it when dining volume is light. The service is amazing with perfectly timed appetizers and entrees, and swift injera refills. read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

The food is delicious and the staff was awesome. I highly recommend the combo platter. I had the vegetarian combo platter and everything on there was delicious. A lot of variety. Tried the honey wine, which is really good also. Definitely will come here again. read more

Great, fresh food! My party ordered the vegetarian combo and shrimp tibs and the portion was huge, we had leftovers. They also come by to give you more injera as well. The service is relaxed, they let us sit, eat, and catch up without rushing us. Will definitely be back to try the coffee service and honey wine! read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combo, Shrimp Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Amazing! You'll just have to try it for yourself to experience the hype! The food was amazing and it tasted authentic to me and my family!

The food here is always fresh and has many organic options as well. The spices, flavors are bold and not wimpy watered down Americanized versions of Ethiopian food. This is the real deal with a clean kitchen and fantastic owners and staff! read more

WOW such incredibly nice staff, fantastic food, and a lovely restaurant. We had such a wonderful experience at Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant! The meat and veggie ultimate combo is the perfect feast for your family. I also highly recommend the fish goulash. We will be coming back to Barcote many times. Thank you for the great dining experience! read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat & Veggie Ultimate Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Visited this beautiful restaurant. Cute outside patio. Very friendly staff. We wanted to sample as much as possible so ordered the Meat and veggie ultimate combo. Tried the very healthy homemade flax seed drink. Not my favorite because it is pretty bland, however very happy that it is offered and I was able to give it a try. read more

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If my experience was based on food only, I'd give Barcote 5 stars! The food is flavorful and most of the flavors are from the variety of spices, not just salt! Everything that I've eaten is amazing and I would highly recommend doing take out from here! I ordered the veggie samosas, meat combo, and veggie combo. The meat dishes with the dark red sauce were my favorite meat dishes so I'd just order those in the future! Everything on the veggie platter was outstanding. I especially loved the cabbage and brown cold lentils, but I'd have to order all of those again! Unfortunately my experience eating here is not great. The restaurant feels like there's no heat inside, which makes for a pretty chilly and unpleasant experience in the winter months. Also, my meal was ruined by the scent of pine sol cleaning chemicals. They cleaned their kitchen with highly concentrated chemicals, so that smell carried out into the dining area and ruined the taste of my meal. Luckily that happened after I was almost done eating, so it wasn't the worst and I still enjoyed my food. Overall, I would 100% come back and carry out or eat outside. But eating indoors leaves a lot of room for improvement. read more

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I really can't wait to go back to the Bay Area, I will be visiting there again. Hopefully my trip will be longer. Love Ethiopian food. I can now say I've had Ethiopian food in three different states and each one slightly different but yummy. Service was great and I love the cozy ambiance of Barcote. read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Inside restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Service was great, food came out very quickly. I tried the meat spread and it was all delicious. Super flavorful.

Great service, fresh food & quaint ambiance. Ordered the combo veggie & meat platter- would return!

I heard so many great things and was excited to finally come try. It was a pretty busy night, but we waited a long time to get water, and then a table who got sat later than us were accidentally served our food. When we did get our food everything was good but just the service and long wait times for everything kind of filtered down the rest of the experience. read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Samosa - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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I usually order veggie combo through Uber Eats but this time I decided just order Aatalkilt because it included a side of green salad. When I picked up my order, there is no salad included, I went into the store to notify the owner show her Uber eats app shows what's included. She insisted there was no salad included, what I ordered was an appetizer and refused to give me the salad. I left and I'll never return again. I have been there for many times and love their vegetables combo plate; to lose a customer over a small side salad wasn't really a smart move. Please make corrections on your menu description and pictures on Uber Eat!! read more

Barcote Ethiopian Restaurant - Uber eats app shows what exactly what's included in the order. It served with injera and side salad - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California