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    Blue Nile Cafe

    4.3 (365 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

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    BLUE NILE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Blue Nile Cafe

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    9. Veggie Combination Dinner
    Sabrina S.

    10/10 -- So gooooooood! The sampler is definitely enough for 2 people. The sambosas were also delicious.

    Sampler Platter
    Becks M.

    Excellent food and good service! The ambiance is bright and clean enough. I would have loved some spicy dishes, but overall the food did not disappoint.

    Dinner Meat Combo
    Elle M.

    TL;DR: If you haven't had Ethiopian food before, this is a great place to start. Blue Nile has plenty of both vegetarian and meat options that come with injera (Ethiopian bread) that's used to sop up all the sauce as well as a few other sides, usually lentils and some vegetables. It's a great combination of tangy and savory, with just a little bit of heat. My personal favorite is the meat combo, which includes Doro Watt (chicken) and Tibbs Watt (beef) with red lentils, collard greens, and cabbage and potato sides, but the Yebeg Watt (lamb) is also great if you enjoy lamb. Only thing to note is the service can be a bit slow in general, so prepare to wait even if the place is empty.

    19. Sampler Platter Dinner
    Peyton C.

    One of the best Ethiopian restaurants I have tried thus far! Our waitress was kind and attentive, and we ended up splitting two platters between the 4 of us. It was plentiful, and we had leftovers! The food was so fresh and had great variety, and the value was unbeatable. It's in a nice central location if you're already downtown, and it's fairly easy to get to. Definitely will be back!

    Ryan D.

    The food at Blue Nile Cafe was not very good. I had a hard telling what I was eating. The server was nice and friendly. The food was very expensive for the quality of food we received. The atmosphere was very cold and uninviting I will not be going back here.

    Navita P.

    Very elegant restaurant ! Service was very good. Portion was a bit small in my opinion but maybe that's because it's a bit of a fancy place. I would visit if I was ever in the area.

    A ginger cocktail
    Stacey-Ann M.

    Food was good. Service was a little slow but my friends and I enjoyed ourselves. The servers were really nice. The portions are generous and they have good vegetarian options. They are near one of the stops on the free cable car and there are plenty of other restaurants in the area. I ordered a chicken dish with rice. I opted not to get the injera because I'm not a fan of it. The chicken was tender and everything was delicious.

    Christine V.

    Loved it loved it loved it. I must see stop by for lunch after an afternoon at the market. The only downside is parking, but please do not let that stop you from stopping here and eating this delicious Ethiopian cuisine.

    House made Mead (honey wine)
    Guerard L.

    I was out on a stroll exploring the local spots and I knew I had to come and check out blue Nile cafe. I've had the opportunity to try this type of cuisine when I visited San Francisco. I was hooked by the flavors and I live to eat with my hands. I came on a Saturday looking for a special kind of drink and I was so excited that they have Mead (honey wine). House made mead which is an alcohol beverage made from fermented honey. Truly one of the original medicine made with ingredients from Mother Earth! Give it a try and have a taste of the nectar of the gods.

    Bill Z.

    I'm in the heart of barbecue-land, and the first place I visited was an Ethiopian restaurant? If you know me, you'd know the answer is, "Of course!" plus I have the rest of the week to hit all the great bbq here. Actually, a friend who had been to KC a few years earlier had been here and highly recommended it, so off we went, taking the trolley from Union Station - very convenient since the restaurant is at one of the stops. The menu is pretty simple and straightforward but included all the basics and combinations. In fact, there was one item on their platter that I'd never actually had at any prior Ethiopian restaurant, a mushroom dish. It was delicious, and now I wonder why most Ethiopian restaurants don't carry it. Injera is thick here, and they evidently have 2 types available, with regular flour or teff. While it wasn't listed on the menu, a sign out front said tej was available, so we asked - yes, indeed available by the glass or bottle, so we ordered a bottle. It's evidently made here; it was served room temperature (I would have preferred chilled), but it paired great with the food, which had, for us, the right level of spiciness. I have more friends coming to the area later this week, and we hope to get a large group here for dinner some night. Fortunately, they can accommodate a reasonably large group easily, and reservations can be made online.

    Meat Combo - Gomen, Misir Watt, Atikeltt, Doro Watt, Tibbs Watt
    Caroline L.

    If only Blue Nile wasn't so damn far from the house....*sigh*...anyway. My man and I had been craving Ethiopian for a while but had been unsuccessful in satisfying that craving. The place by our house changed ownership AND wasn't open. So we googled and found Blue Nile...it was too late for us to make it so we made reservations for the following week. Really that was the only way we would have remembered to make it :P. We came in on an early Saturday evening in June and immediately realized - didn't need a reservation. But still it's better to have one than not right? You never know how busy it can be at any given time. Of course, as Ethiopian is among out favorite cuisines we had to try the honey wine and their meat combo....OMG soo goood. We opted not to do family style...again because my guy eats much faster and doesn't leave much for me at all. So no giant platter to share. My only complain was the injera bread - we've been used to the brown injera which is gluten free, but these were white. Again no big thing, just not what we were used to, still delicious! Only downside - it's so bloody far from us and parking in the Rivermarket is horrendous. Otherwise I'm sure we'd be back much more frequently.

    Veggie Combo - from left to right: Shimbera Watt (#8), Atiklet (#3), Yekik Watt (#4), Misir Watt (#2)
    Erica J.

    Finally made it into Blue Nile after several recommendations from friends. There are 8 vegan entrees and a handful of entrees available with meat. If you're struggling to decide, there's a combo option where you can sample smaller portions of up to 4 different entrees. I went this route and ordered the Misir Watt (#2), Atiklet (#3), Yekik Watt (#4), and Shimbera Watt (#8). All entrees are served with injera, a spongey pancake-like flatbread (there's a gluten-free option available for a small upcharge).

    Brekay C.

    Today we checked out Blue Nile Cafe ! I honestly thought there were only vegetarian options , but learned there is more options for those that prefer meat . I ordered the Meat combo sample platter . I was very impressed by the flavors . The mango juice was fresh ! This place was very good and definitely worth a second visit !

    19. Sampler Platter Dinner

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    African Dream Cuisine

    African Dream Cuisine

    4.7
    (46 reviews)
    14.5 mi

    Stella is amazing, very friendly, very good fufu and egusi soup. First time having it, and won't be…read morethe last. Great place!

    A TRUE HIDDEN GEM!…read more If you haven't discovered African Dream Cuisine inside Lenexa Public Market yet, DO NOT miss this place! Seriously. This is one of those little gems that deserves WAY more attention. African Dream Cuisine offers traditional West African flavors and recipes inspired by generations of culinary tradition, and you can absolutely taste the love and care that goes into the food. (Lenexa Public Market) And let's talk about the people because the food isn't the only thing that makes this place special. The staff are some of the nicest, warmest people! From the moment we ordered, we felt welcomed and taken care of. That kind of genuine hospitality makes the whole experience even better. For my meal, I ordered the braised chicken with yam fufu and egusi sauce and WOW. The chicken was incredibly flavorful and so tender, the kind of meat that practically falls apart. The egusi sauce was rich, savory, and packed with flavor, and the yam fufu was the perfect pairing. My husband ordered the chicken with Banso-seasoned potatoes, and those potatoes were TO DIE FOR. Seriously, so much flavor! I may or may not have stolen more than a few bites. And whatever you do... DO NOT SKIP THE SWEET PLANTAINS! They were cooked to perfection, golden, caramelized, sweet, and absolutely delicious. They were the perfect way to finish the meal. Another HUGE plus for me: they have great gluten-free and dairy-free options, so it was really easy for me to find something delicious that worked for me. And guess what? They cater too! Do yourself a favor and go try it. Get the fufu and egusi, get the chicken, get the seasoned potatoes, and PLEASE get the sweet plantains... Don't miss this gem!

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    J&K

    J&K

    4.7
    (11 reviews)
    8.8 mi

    Driving up left us leery. However, the entrance was inviting. The food was delicious and the…read moreservice was kind. I would recommend!

    J&K is truly a hidden gem, hidden behind a small gas station in North Kansas City. From the moment…read morewe walked in, we felt welcomed and felt cozy inside. The restaurant was clean and had plenty of seating. The walls were simply and beautifully decorated with hats, Ethiopian artifacts, and other cultural pieces, which added a warm and authentic cultural touch. They offer an extensive menu with many rich and comforting dishes. We started with Macroni soup which was a part of our main orders - included a very comforting overcooked pasta with lentils and minimal spices. For appetizers, we ordered the lentil sambusa since the chicken ones were sold out. For our main course, we chose the all meat combo platter with two sides. It included beef tibbs, lamb, and chicken, along with red and yellow lentils. Our friends ordered the all veggie combo platter, which came with red and yellow lentils, greens, cabbage, and beetroot. All the veggies, lentils and meats were served on super soft, tangy, and very flavorful injera. The beef tibbs was the clear winner among the meats. It was hearty, rich, and had a nice spicy depth. The other meats were also cooked well, with mild spices and comforting flavors that felt light and healthy. The vegetables were mostly chopped into small pieces and lightly steamed/ blanched, then tossed with salt, pepper, or minimal seasoning. The lentils balanced the plate perfectly with their mild taste and buttery, smooth texture. Overall, the food felt very wholesome, healthy and well balanced and colorful with a generous spread on the platter. The service did not feel rushed and our server was very sweet and attentive. That said, it did take about 30 minutes for the food to arrive after ordering, as everything was being prepared fresh. If they improve the wait times then it can be a win win situation for everyone. Take out can be faster option for you if you do not prefer to wait or are short of time. Overall, J & K offers an authentic and traditional Ethiopian Cuisine taste and thats why this is a must visit restaurant.

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    Blue Nile Cafe - ethiopian - Updated August 2026

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