Wow! It was my first time having Ethiopian food today with a friend who wanted to show us and it was such a wonderful experience! The owner is such a wonderful human being and really cares about his culture and food! He did a wonderful job telling us about the menu and then suggesting the party platter to split between the four of us. It was wonderful eating everything here and my experience was great! Everything was so fresh and I think one of my favorite things was the doro wat! The entire plate was a wonderful rainbow of flavors. I also got some Ethiopian tea post-meal and it was sooo lovely and spiced, they traditionally drink this after a meal and it was such a wonderful way to finish the food off. Highly recommend! Thank you for a lovely meal! read more

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So excited to finally find Ethiopian cuisine in OC! We came for a casual lunch. The staff was kind and welcoming. We ordered the Veggie Combo with Awaze Tibs - both packed with bold, delicious flavors. I do wish portions of veggies and legumes were a bit bigger. That said, still a great spot to switch things up and explore something different! read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie Combo with Awaze Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Beteseb is a family-owned establishment serving Eritrean/Ethiopian food, and I think my first time having African food was here a couple years ago. I've been here around five times by now and have had great service every time, so I've been meaning to write this review for a while. The owner and his family/employees are super warm and hospitable, always greeting you with a smile, and very helpful with explanations of the menu. My sister is vegan and they were able to accommodate by removing dairy products while preparing the food. Each wot dish or veggie combo comes with injera, which is a soft, slightly spongy flatbread with a flavor reminiscent of sourdough. I was introduced to injera at Beteseb and loooove it because it's so unique! This time around, we got the veggie combo and shiro but veganified, which means they remove the butter and (what I think is) cheese. Shiro is a chickpea and bean dish that kind of reminded me of Indian dal, which I love. The veggie combo was delicious like always; you can probably just eat it without ordering anything else. For meat options, I've also had the doro wot, sega key wot, awaze tibs, and beyaynetu with tibs/meat (the last dish might only be available on DoorDash). It's been a while but I think I preferred the doro wot the most, then the key wot (although the spices and flavors are on point for every dish I've had so far). Every dish I've had was well-spiced, creating heavenly flavors. I think the tibs might have been better in person (if my memory serves me correctly) because it was a little chewy/tough when I ordered the beyaynetu on DoorDash recently, although the flavors were as perfect as usual. Fair warning: my bf can't handle spicy food and did struggle with heat from one of their dishes, so ask about that if you're like him. Ultimately, Beteseb is a place I would recommend to anyone looking to try a more unique cuisine in SoCal, as there are not that many African food spots around. The interior and exterior are unassuming, but don't let that fool you. The service and food always gets an A+ from me! read more

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While visiting So Cal from out of town, we took the opportunity to find some authentic Ethiopian food. This little place is tucked away in a small plaza, but the interior is clean and spacious. Don't expect anything too fancy, but the hospitality from this family-owned staff was so welcoming. Our server was very patient explaining some of the differences of their entrees and he was super accommodating to put together a platter that met our desires. The food was delicious. Clearly, authentic spices and recipes. They do not have the ability to adjust spice level, so be prepared. But as a self-proclaimed spice-wimp, it wasn't too bad. The flavors made up for this and we loved our meal. Highly recommend supporting a small business who delivers excellent service and an amazing repertoire. read more

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My go to for Ethiopian in OC. Have been to this location a few times in person, but saw it on DoorDash, so I had to get my Ethiopian food fix. Everything is so flavorful and consistently good. Got the beyayenetu with meat. Will be back soon to hopefully convert a few others on Ethiopian food. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Beyayenetu With Meat - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

My friends and I were coming from a visit to an orthodox monastery, and K was so gracious to introduce us to this place. What a joy. What a delight. What a genuine gift. The food , especially a party plate, is perfect to share in a group setting. The injera is delicious and made fresh. Service has been incredibly kind and attentive. God bless you all+ read more

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Our 2nd time here and we just love this place for traditional Ethiopian food that just hits the spot! If you love the sour taste of the injera (spongy flatbread) it's so addicting and delicious! We had to get two baskets. The make the food fresh! Service is excellent, seated right away on a Friday! Intimate and warm vibes. Everything tastes homemade! Not a single crumb was left!! read more

Yum! First time trying Ethiopian in the area and it was worth the drive from up south. The interior reminds me of every family Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to... meaning you go for the food, not the ambiance. The cashier and waiter were both so kind and helpful, great at checking in and bringing things when asked. FYI water is bottled and they charge. The cashier recommended one dish per adult in the group so with a group of 4 we ordered 4 items: the veggie combo, the shiro, the awaze tibs, and the alicha wot (for which we subbed lamb, it usually comes with beef). Every item was so good! Sometimes at Ethiopian places I like some veggie dishes but not all, but here every single dish was delicious. The red lentils, tibs, and alicha wot in particular were all outstanding! It was the perfect amount for 4 hungry people and one toddler. The one quibble I had was the injera. It didn't taste like it was freshly made in house which I understand is labor intensive and often places will purchase it from a vendor.. but the fresh injera I've had before is super fluffy, pliable, thick, and still warm... This injera was cold, variably thin and thick, and didn't quite have the level of sourness that I usually enjoy. Service was so warm and friendly. Would definitely return to support them!; read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie combo, shiro, tibs, alicha wot with lamb substituted - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

First time trying Ethiopian food. Came here Saturday about dinner time and it took about 30 mins for the food to arrive. The place was pretty much full by the time we got our food. I think what we ordered was a good spread of food to try. The veggie combo sides were all different and unique in flavor. The spice was a bit much for others in the party but i think without the spice i think there would be less flavor. The chicken leg meat fell off the bone and was super tender. The portions are also actually quite bigger than expected. The food isn't something I would usually go for but Beteseb is a great place for Ethiopian with both rustic and authentic flavors. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Doro Wot Awaze Tibs Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Life changing! First time trying Ethiopian food with my gf too. Amazing experience and we definitely recommend!

Stopped by on a Tuesday night for dinner, and while the eatery was empty, we still enjoyed the fantastic food. We ordered the veggie combo and doro wot, and we were enjoyed everything on the platter. The food was served on a large injera and still came with a side basket of injera. Each serving was flavorful and (although a little salty) paired amazingly with the injera. I did find the doro wot a little too salty on the flavor profile, but everything from the veggie platter was fantastic, especially for those who love chickpeas and lentils. The staff was super accommodating when we had questions about the food, and I will for sure be back for more of the veggie platter. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Doro Wot Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

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Our previous favorite Ethiopian spot has sadly closed its doors so I wanted to try this place out. The outside sign says restaurant and market. It's a very spacious area, located in a smaller plaza next to a nail salon, neighborhood market and water store. You place your order at the counter then the food is spread out on a large injera topped tray. We got kitfo (think of steak tartare with butter and spices) and doro wot (spicy stew of chicken drumstick plus hard boiled egg) . There is a veggie special (many kinds of stewed beans and lentils, (Kik alicha split pea, Shiro (puréed split pea) plus sautéed cabbage and one finely chopped crisp greens that was quite citrusy. Overall quite good, although with distinct differences from what I've had. Extra injera is an added charge, but that's necessary these days to stay in business! Also got the best cups of coffee, without the ceremonial roasting and grinding. I don't usually take sugar with my coffee but adding it made the coffee taste even better. Very friendly chef/owner and his family served us. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie Combo plus kitfo and Doro Wot in the center - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

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We had a wonderful experience enjoying flavorful Ethiopian food at Beteseb. The food was so fresh and the injera was delightful. This is only our second time eating Ethiopian food and the owner was so helpful at making recommendations. The food was delicious! My favorite part was the warm hospitality and especially learning about Ethiopian traditions like Gursha. We had a great time and we will be back. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

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My favorite Ethiopian restaurant of SoCal! I tried their miser wot, yellow split peas, and they very kindly gave me a bit of chickpea to try too as I had been curious about it on the menu. The red lentils had a striking, spicy taste packed so much flavor, the yellow split peas were really filling/satisfying, and the chickpeas were well blended and almost smoky in flavor. I would recommend those three dishes 100%, or getting the veggie combo to get a wider array of options. Will be returning! read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Miser wot (red lentils), yellow split peas, and chickpeas - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

Visited for the first time and it was great! The key wot was nice, flavorful, and juicy. 10/10 spices, and the veggie combo was also solid with so much variety. This was my first time having injera and it did not disappoint! Loved how light, fluffy, and fresh everything was, while being so flavorful and hearty at the same time. We were kindly helped, super welcoming service. The place is very casual but still enjoyed dining in. Will definitely be back! read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie Combo, Sega Key Wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

This was truly Homemade heart on a platter If you want a meal that feels like you've been invited into someone's private home, Beteseb is the real deal. True to its name (which I found out mean "Family"), it's owned and operated by a mother, father, and their children. That family warmth comes through with everything you taste. They are incredibly welcoming and take immense pride in what they do. The food is on another level: Freshness: Everything is cooked to order. Its refreshing to find a place where the meal that is genuinely fresh and never "leftovers from the previous meal or day". The Platter: The variety, flavor and color on the platter are incredible! Even the cheese is made in house and crumbly, and the stews have a deep, slow-cooked richness! They have a veggie and a meat platter! There were 4 of us so we got them both! Sooooo GOOOD!! The Injera: The injera is completely homemade and has been fermenting slowly for days... The makes it not only gluten free, but also gives it that perfect flavor and soft texture that I havent experienced anywhere else. THE COFFEE!!!: Even the spiced coffee shows their care; the blend of ginger, the spices they add is distinctive and flavorful. It's rare to find a place that feels this honest. I'll be back for the people and the food every single time. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie platter, Meat Platter and a side of Misir Wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

Great friendly service. Tried the family platter plus the Tibs. It was all so very good. The Doro Wot and Key Wot were my personal favs. We'll definitely be back! read more

I love this restaurant! The food is excellent, healthy, and rich in flavor. The flavors and textures are unlike any I've tasted in other cuisines. Delicious! The family that runs this restaurant is absolutely wonderful. Rarely have I experienced such warmth and hospitality in a restaurant. They truly make you feel at home. Highly recommend! read more

Everything was so delicious! The staff is very friendly and attentive. Strongly recommend trying this restaurant. I drove from Victorville to eat here in Anaheim. And it was also surprisingly affordable. read more

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What an amazing family owned and run Ethiopian restaurant that serves delicious food!! This was a hit and I enjoyed everything I ate there. Beteseb means family in Amharic and you could tell this is home cooked food at its finest to be enjoyed with friends and loved ones. The waitstaff was super helpful in explaining all the different dishes seeing that we were all newbies in trying Ethiopian food. We ordered the veggie combo, the doro wot, key wot, and alicha wot. It came with injera bread (and you could get extra) which was spongey and tangy, the perfect vehicle to sop up the delicious stews and lentils. I think my favorites were the alicha wot and the collard greens in the veggie combo - I couldn't stop eating even though I was so full. There was so much food, we barely made a dent and had plenty for leftovers. I came all the way from Los Angeles and this place is worth the drive and definitely should be on your radar whether you are a local or come from further away. read more

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Came here to introduce some of our vegetarian friends to Ethiopian food, but honestly should have checked it out before getting guests. Disappointed. Pictures seem to show a very clean bright modern hygienic place but it didn't feel like that in reality, much more smaller and very basic with plastic covered tables. The desk/owner people who attended to and took our orders were rude. I was asking questions for understanding and they just seem to be irritated. I also asked for the chicken to be served separately in a bowl because we had vegetarians and for coffee and tea at the start. Once they took our order, there was radio silence for about 30 mins at which point we began checking in with them. They got irritated about that too and quoted freshly made food. When the food came, it was cold. Not warm not luke warm, cold. Except the chicken which was smack in the middle of the vegetarian plate touching all vegetarian entrées. It made the vegetarians very uncomfortable. They forgot tea and coffee. We asked for water they gave us bottled water and took it back saying they charge for it. Then came to apologize for the chicken issue and said they'd comp something we may request only to charge for everything later. He also got us a coffee after the fact quoting it was on the house but it didn't feel like a gesture because we genuinely wanted coffee when we started and having it at the tail end of a disappointing never ending long meal only made it worse. Coffee also tasted really bad so we didn't finish/have more than a tasting sip. Overall, would not recommend read more

Every time my family and I travel out to the mainland from Hawaii we always try to find a Ethiopian restaurant! This place serves the BEST Ethiopian food I have ever had. The service was amazing and the atmosphere was very warm and welcoming. I recommend this restaurant to anyone who is craving some good quality Ethiopian food. What makes it better is that it is a family owned restaurant! read more

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What a pleasant experience! This was my fiancé's first time trying Ethiopian food, and I chose to bring him to Beteseb based on the reviews of great service. I will always choose a no frills hole-in-the-wall bomb food spot with homey service over the contrary. And Beteseb delivered! The tall gentleman at the counter who took our order seemed to be the owner, and he lived up to the great service reviews; I felt like I was talking to an uncle of mine, truly made felt like family. Highly recommend for a homey feel with delicious food! read more

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What sets Beteseb apart is the cohesive experience. The owner explains the dishes and traditions. The meal, conversation, and ambiance work together as authentic cultural immersion. The Veggie Combo is a must. Lentils, collard greens, cabbage, and cottage cheese, all served with injera. Pair it with Awaze Tibs in the middle. The fried whole fish is crispy and has quite a kick. It's hearty and leaves you feeling good when you leave. In their Shiro Wot, it tastes like there's a slow-cooked onion base and the berbere is actually bloomed in oil, so the flavor comes out warm and deep instead of sharp. Overall, the strength here is in the cooking timing, balance, quality, and spiciness. It preserves firmness and lightly caramelizes the vegetables instead of turning them soft. The Fosolia, Atakilt Alicha, and the Shiro really show that cooking consistency and precision. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Veggie Combo with Awaze tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

Veggie combo is my go-to. Lots of flavor, the injera bread is perfect. Super friendly staff. The Lord bless you!

I originally gave this restaurant 5 stars and was excited to share my experience with others (when they first opened). I recently visited with a family member from out of town, and was saddened by the portions. The injera bread seems to now be cut in half and rolled up in a basket to accompany the food. The issue is when we asked for more injera we were charged! Moreover, the portions of food were significantly less than what was provided in the past; however, the price has seemed to increase! I was really rooting for this place given Ethiopian food is my favorite cuisine. Owners, please make sure to keep the customer first. We pay attention. read more

Food was delicious and staff were very friendly. Will continue to come back in the future. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Vegetables, shiro, and spicy beef - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

We had yet to try Ethiopian food so my friend and I found this place on Yelp and finally decided to try it. The employees/owner were so welcoming and kindly gave us the rundown of the ordering process and the different traditional Ethiopian dishes after informing them it was our first time. We opted for the Doro Wat and veggie combo. When our plate was brought to our table, the owner mentioned he also included a bit of the shiro wat to try which was so kind!! During our meal, he also brought us a small portion of the key wat to try. All in all, the service here was amazing and it's a good restaurant to try something new! read more

After moving to the OC from LA (walking distance from Lytle Ethiopia), I was looking for a good Ethiopian restaurant to go to, and Besteb did not disappoint. The restaurant is unassuming like most similar Ethiopian restaurants. We ordered the veggie combo, Awaze tibs and asked for a chicken version of awaze tibs. Everything was delicious and the friends we brought with us that never tried to eat. Ethiopian food loved it too! The owner was there is super nice. We'll be back for sure. read more

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My wife and I wanted to try this place for a long time and finally took the leap. First off before I get to how great the food was, the service was incredible. The owner explained everything to us and was attentive to our experience. It truly made our first time eating Ethiopian food amazing. Now for the food, the food was so unique. Had nothing like it before. The Injera bread is a fermented flatbread that goes so well with all the main dishes. We got the Key Wot (spicy beef), Alicha Wot (non spicy beef), and the veggie combo. All were so flavorful and delicious. Highly recommend if you are looking for a fun date night. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Key Wot, Alicha Wot, Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

Amazing dinner of key wot and veggie platter. Wonderful spices. Our third time here. Always great food and friendly people.

Really good, fresh and tasty food. Also really nice, friendly people who work there. I was looking forward to this all week since I just discovered that there is an Ethiopian place close by. It was everything I was hoping for. Would definitely come back and recommend! read more

My first time trying Ethiopian cuisine so it was a great idea to try a little bit of everything. The food was packed with flavor and the bread that came with it was delicious! It is also refillable so the meal was altogether filling. The owner had such a positive vibe and was very helpful in answering all our questions. Great experience overall! read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Meat and veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

This review is for delivery. I ordered via Door Dash. Originally, Door Dash said that it would take 35-45 minutes for my food, but ultimately, it was closer to an hour. I ordered the Beyayenetu with meat. Basically, a sample of different vegetarian dishes and a small serving of the beef tibs. The injera was very good. I thought the meat was tough and dry. The veggie dishes were generally good. I enjoyed the collard greens and the green lentils, but I thought the other dishes were very underseasoned and bland. Nonetheless, I appreciated that there was a mix plate that included meat, and the food certainly helped sooth a craving. read more

Beteseb Restaurant - Beyayenetu with meat - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

Ethiopian food and the owner was ABOVE and beyond welcoming and friendly, really made the experience!! We got a couple items served family style with plenty of extra injera on the side (injera was good and not too tart) ---doro wat: chicken stew with a boiled egg, flavorful! This was my favorite ---key wot: beef stew, also delicious ---awaze tibs: more beef cubes than stew Nice portions! Will be coming back, the hubby enjoyed too read more

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I have been going to Merkato in Little Ethiopia in LA for 30 years and I have always been disappointed when I tried other Ethiopian food. This is the first exception. This is a fantastic restaurant. Their doro wot and injera are particularly awesome, but the entire order was phenomenal. We will definitely be going back! read more

Second time of trying Ethiopian food. Friends recommendation. 1st time was in LA and it was horrible but this is not a far drive so it would interesting to check this out. Parking is extremely limited and it's right next to a barber shop. Inside decor is a restaurant but it's first come first serve. You order like a fast food restaurant and you pay afterwards. That's odd. Watch out for dine N' dash customers. Cashier explains the bread is suppose to be sour and you eat it your entree with your hands. Because the bread is too big and you don't have a lot of sauce or variety to cover it that sour taste, your options is either fried fish or salad. Got the fried rich. Takes about 30 minutues. Was it worth it? No. You are given a whole fish that's heavily season and that's it. No rice...nothing. How about the Ethiopian food? Well...it's meant suppose to be healthy so you are not going to be full from this. If you are heavy eater, then I don't recommend this place. Nothing wrong with this place or the food but you don't have a lot of options if you can't handle that sour bread. First and last time going here. read more

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This place is FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love it. So good, guuuuuud. They are so nice and happy. The food is full of flavor, awaza tips are the GO TO. read more

Great place! Their veggie combo is delicious, and the injera is perfect; not too sour, not too sweet. We always get the veggie combo and the tibs, and it never disappoints read more

Beteseb Restaurant - There was a lot of food for just two of us; we almost cleaned our plates! - Ethiopian Near Me - Anaheim, California

I saw this place on Instagram and decided to try it out. In the past, I've had really wonderful experiences with Ethiopian food. This is no exception. The restaurant was smaller than I thought, but plenty of seating. There was one person behind the counter and one person in the kitchen. However, they were able to provide the food quickly. I did hear the microwave quite a bit, though I won't judge. Since the flavor was still wonderful. Initially, I ordered the a veggie trio. With a side of a beef. But the beef was so tasty. I decided to order a second order of this. Over all the flavors or wonderful and one of the few Ethiopian restaurants I was able to find here in Orange County . read more

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