I love this place so much! I feel like I've been once a week for the past month, so I'm long overdue to write a review about why you need to come to Bole! To start, the space is nice, spacious, clean, and thoughtfully decorated. Dark wood tones, colorful artwork, scenic landscape screensavers on the TV screens near the bar, and Ethiopian music pumping through the speakers (but not so loud that you can't hear the people you're with). The staff is also so sweet with great energy. There's a full bar with great drink prices, and I still need to try the honey wine. One thing to note is that the food is made to order and does take a little time (like 20 minutes or so), but when you dig in and start eating you understand why. I will wait every time, no problem. My favorite dish is the Fish Dullet and my favorite side is the brown lentils. My partner gets the Awaze pretty much every time. If you haven't tried Ethiopian food before, this is your sign to do so. If you already like Ethiopian food, make sure to stop by if you haven't already! read more

Beautiful decor! Delicious food! Attentive service! Those are just three of the reasons that Bole received a five star rating. This amazing restaurant located within proximity of the airport is truly a gem in the Metro Atlanta area. The exterior is well lit and encompasses a wraparound porch that has ample space to potentially host a party. Not sure of their outdoor intentions as it was fairly cool when I visited, and look forward to checking out again in the warmer months. Parking is available at no cost, with ADA compliant entry. From the moment I entered, I was impressed with the art in various forms throughout the restaurant. This include included pictures, sculptures, and even a traditional Ethiopian coffee set up. Our party was fairly large and sat to the right of the entrance where tables were pushed together to form one table with chairs on one side and bench on the opposite. I did notice that the other areas had tables that were spaced in the very larger room, as well as a bar area with television and would appear to be an area for music/Dj set up. The food was amazing as well. Amazing is the word of the day regarding ballet! I ordered the Bole Awaze Tims signature platter with lamb, other meat options were available. I also ordered the Timatim fitfit salad, a side of beets and had the hot spice tea as my beverage. The portions were ample and included a basket of njeri, the traditional spongy accompaniment used to eat the contents of your meal. The Timatim salad was extremely good, and a meal in itself. My food was seasoned well, and I enjoyed each and every bite! My tea was delicious too! A traditional us brand teabag was placed on the side for addition, but not necessary at all. The spices which I believe included cardamom were more than sufficient and truly warmed me adequately. Despite having an a large party, our server managed all orders like a champion, and made sure that no one had to guess on menu selections. She provided information in educated in the process. The overall vibe was that everyone was impressed and enjoyed their meals. As previously mentioned, I look forward to returning to share the extremely personable ambience and great food selections with others. Definitely a great location to celebrate a special occasion or for a delicious meal with a long layover. read more

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I have frequented Bole multiple times because the food is typically good and the staff has always been beautiful & pleasant. Unfortunately, my experience on Wednesday, February 24th around 2:15 PM completely changed my perception of this establishment. I placed a to-go order totaling $20.68. The woman at the counter initially greeted me warmly, so out of appreciation I wrote in a $6 tip... even though this was a takeout order. once I received the food... I briefly opened my container to check my food before my 30-minute drive home. I was politely told that since it was a to-go order, I couldn't eat inside. That was understandable, and I immediately packed everything up without complaint. However, I decided to adjust the receipt... Only because her tone had went from warm to cold. Almost like I was trying to get over by ordering to go but opening the Togo order inside the restaurant. Since I was not being served in-house anyway, I swapped the signed copy for the customer copy and left no tip. When she asked for the original receipt, I calmly told her I had written something incorrectly and was using the other copy instead. What happened next was shocking. Her tone went colder, instantly. She stated, "That's fine. We don't need your money." The energy shifted so dramatically that I requested a refund. You don't need my money, darling... I don't need the food. I was then told I could not receive a refund and was asked if I wanted to "go outside and fight." Yes. Those were her words. At that point, this was no longer about food or tipping. It was about basic professionalism and safety. I left feeling shaken, uncomfortable, and genuinely concerned about the escalation of behavior over something so minor. I have never experienced such hostility in a restaurant over a receipt correction. Management should be extremely concerned about having someone on the floor who escalates situations instead of resolving them. A single staff member can undo years of customer loyalty. Until this is addressed, I cannot recommend this establishment. read more

Needed a late-ish dinner option around 9pm and Bole was a great recommendation. Now I am not one for spicy foods & the waitress was able to make palatable suggestions and modifications for a delicious dish. Everything from the meal to the honey wine was delicious. Service was great and we weren't rushed despite the timing. There was also no problem splitting the check (evenly for 2) which some spot refuse to do still. Nice and simple decor. Decent sized free parking lot. read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Fish goulash - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Atlanta. I have been eating here on and off for about eight years. They've moved into a larger location just a block or two away from their original building, but still on Virginia Avenue. The ambience is pretty swanky... Ethiopian and jazz music in background, beautiful, cultural pictures on the walls, large screen TV, African decorum, and plenty of seating.... Both booth style and tables/chairs. The food is always delicious as is the authenticity! Service is good as well. I'd highly recommend the sampler platter (veggies, lentils and meat). The plate looks small, but I can never eat it all. It is all authentic and oh sooo delicious... I would highly recommend Bole! read more

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Decided to dine here on Mother's Day. Nothing special about the restaurant. Just hoping for something different. I ordered the spicy Cajun chicken with rice and salad with a side of cabbage potato and carrot medley. Nice flavor and the dish was served warm and wait time was short. The dining area was clean and comfortable. Will return to try other items on the menu. read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Spicy Cajun chicken and rice and salad. - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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My first time trying Ethiopian food. The place was nicely decorated with pictures and Ethiopian nick backs. There was a steady flow of people picking up to go orders. The restaurant itself was empty apx 7p on a Thursday. I enjoyed the experience, however the flavor was a little lack luster for my partner and I. read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Simple Sampler platter with an extra side of chicken - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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Very cool restaurant with the most friendly service. While I like eating with my hands, I still wish I got a bowl and a spoon/fork. Highly recommend! read more

This place is what I can say 'Going beyond and above'. Excellent food, great atmosphere and superb service!!. read more

I absolutely love this place. I ordered mine to go and it was fabulous. The food is always fresh and delicious. read more

If you're looking for amazing Ethiopian food and a warm, welcoming vibe, Bole Ethiopian Restaurant is the place to go! We go at least once a week, and the food never disappoints. Every dish is flavorful, fresh, and made with so much care. It truly feels like having a little piece of Ethiopia right down the street. There's something so fun and authentic about eating with your hands -- it makes the whole experience even more special and memorable. The people there are just as incredible as the food. Betsy, Kay, and the cook always make us feel right at home. They're friendly, welcoming, and genuinely kind, which keeps us coming back again and again. The prices are fair, especially for the quality and portion sizes you get. I wish I had taken pictures of the food, but honestly... we ate it all! I'll try to remember next time. 10/10 -- highly recommend! read more

The veggie platter was delicious, I just wish there were more veggies and less injera. I will definitely be eating here again soon. Good job read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie patter - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

As Ethiopian this food was so good. It's not often that you find a restaurant that makes a veggie platter that has actual flavor.. everything was absolutely delicious. And they had autism friendly foods as well like the fried chicken wings gluten-free. read more

My first time being there with my girlfriends was an amazing experience I had from the ambience to the food and service was really great, what I loved most was the owner himself checking on us periodically throughout our stay made it even more special, I would love to be back again and will definitely recommend it to my friends and family. Thank you read more

Excellent!!! The food was delicious and the service while slow was very pleasant. We started with orders of Sambusa and then had the Bole Combination as our entree. Both were excellent. The Sambusa was served vey hot and had a nice mix of spice and heat that was a great way to begin our meal to get our taste buds working. We themn enjoyed beef and lamb tibs as a part of the combination that also came with Lentils, Chickpea stew, Cabbage, Ethiopian style collard greens, and green beans. We also decided to order a side of Doro Wot which is a spicy chicken stew. The only downside was the wine selection which was very low. They had a full menu but most were not available. So, they must not get a lot of requests for wine. Overall, this has become a place a will visit when visiting Atlanta, read more

Delicious and fresh food with great service! The restrooms were also very clean. I would be here every week if I lived in Atlanta! I can't wait to come back. read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Bike is a very spacious and beautiful space to dine. We were greeted with holiday decorations as we walked in and were greeted by the hostess. My friend enjoyed their Lamb Bole Tibs. I had the vegetarian combo which is vegan and plant-based by default. Every part of the dish was delicious. The combo comes with lentil and chickpea stew, cabbage potato and carrot medley, Ethiopian style collard greens, beets, and a green bean and carrot stir fry. The honey wine is always a highlight of my Ethiopian meals. I do have a bit of feedback to add; it is not safe to put plastic straws in extremely hot water which was the case with my to-go spice tea. I recommend give the straws separately for when it cools, though the straws aren't necessary at. read more

Meet with my family there when my niece celebrates her birthday. It is her restaurant of choice. We are always pleased with both the food and service. My dad served at the base in Asmara, Eritrea - then a part of Ethiopia from 1969 - 1974. We loved the food there. And now we love it again here. read more

Bole is my brother and sister-in-law's favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Atlanta. Pretty restaurant with a spacious outdoor patio. Staff is friendly and welcoming. Helped walk us through the menu as it was my first time there. Food came out quickly and the presentation was beautiful! Finished the meal with a delicious and flavorful traditional Ethiopian coffee. Overall, this was a fantastic experience and I would highly recommend to anyone that loves or has never tried Ethiopian food. read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Taste of Bole platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Food is hot fresh and has great flavors. We went on a Friday night and it was not too busy or overcrowded. Services quick and efficient. Be very mindful of your spice levels because they will give it to you! Overall, I will be back. read more

I have wanted to try Ethiopian food for the longest! While visiting we were able to give this place a try! Met up with a friend who suggested this gem and I am so glad he brought us here! We ordered the Taste of Bole sampler so we could taste everything. The platter was more very filling and more than enough for me and two men with leftovers for later. Everything was freshly made to serve and the spices were phenomenal! The injera was better than I expected as well. Service was great and the establishment was beautiful. Definitely keeping this place on my list of places to eat when in Atlanta. read more

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This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, and I was NOT disappointed! It's a very family-type vibe in there, which is already very comforting. I wish i remembered our server's name but she was lovely. As for my food, for starters I ordered Sambusa and the Chickpea Wot, and for dinner I ordered the Vegetarian Combo (more details in the pics) When I first looked at the plate, I thought, oh maybe I'll have some to take home. After that first bite, I wiped that plate CLEAN. Looking back I don't even know if I was that hungry, I think I was so taken aback by how delicious and rich in flavor everything was. I left feeling so full and happy, there's nothing better than trying something for the first time and it tasting better than you expected, looking forward to going back. Btw: This is right by the airport for anyone traveling to or through ATL. read more

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aroma of incense, wood carved doors, Ethiopian tv on behind the bar, only thing missing was a fire. i sat at the high tables in the bar area, ordered a glass of tej an got the veggie sampler. the tej was very good, i liked the Ethiopian characters on the glass & platter. i could do without the americanized salad, and the portions were much smaller than i am used to, but everything was on point with flavor, and i will definitely go back. read more

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The food was really good! I got the Awaze beef tibs (May be spelled wrong) in the special Ethiopian sauce. Spicy but tolerable as long as you have salad and injera. Service is a bit slow but it's all made fresh! The honey wine is also very good! read more

Super cute established. Clean and put together nicely. The food is amazing 10/10. The efficiency of the service could use some work. We waited a little more than 30 minutes for our order, and our servers didn't check on us as frequently as I would've liked. Granted they were very nice when they did, and there were only two ladies taking care of a lot of customers, so I get it. We will definitely return, but my advice is to not wait until you're on E to stop in because you'll go from hungry to hangry before your food arrives lol. read more

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First-time visitor and the food was amazing! This is a must-visit. Service was impeccablele.

I've enjoyed this place, but the food vibes were off today. I ordered the chicken nibs and veggie samosa, and both were delivered very dry and tasteless. There was too much injera served and a spot of salad that was even less palatable. Very disappointing! read more

Our first time at Bole. We met my second cousin who just was in town for 6 hour layover. He had never had Ethiopian so it was decided, and no better than to order Bole's Taste of Ethiopia, which was enough for the four of us. We had a couple of ginger beers for spice. Man I just love how filling inerja is and how you can roll all of the dishes into it. When we entered there was a strong scent of incense, which is common in traditional Ethiopian restaurants especially after coffee ceremonies. Host was super friendly. read more

Had a wonderful experience and the vibes were warm and welcoming. The food tastes like home

Listen! This was my first time eating at this clean and quaint restaurant! I truly enjoy eating here! The customer service was great! The food was fresh and hot! The vibe and music was so good, which makes for a good first date place. I will definitely try this place again. read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Single Order Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

We were so happy to find an Ethiopian restaurant here in Atlanta. It was very tasty and they even have many of the beautiful traditional items that I haven't seen in California for years. The restaurant is spacious and everyone is very friendly and helpful. We can't eat spicy all the time so we have to ask for help. read more

I have eaten from this place many times, typically to go and everytime I order the Beef Tibs, they always add so much injera and so little meat. They make the box heavy with injera and give you $12 worth of meat but sell it for over $20. I usually just accept it because it's the closest Ethiopian restaurant to me. Today, I was starving and ordered the beef tibs and shiro wat/yellow chickpeas and it was disgusting. Oily, soggy and down right unappetizing. They threw a whole spring of rosemary in the soggy beef and it was overpowering and not enough at the same time. Both the beef and the shiro wat had POOLS of oil. Now, I expect a pool of oil when I eat West African food that is cooked with palm oil but this was atrocious. The meat tasted like a cheap cut and the shiro wat had no flavor, which was disappointing because it's a very simple dish that I typically love. I will never eat here again. I'd rather make the drive north to Desta or another Ethiopian spot where the food is better quality. If you love Ethiopian/ African food, spend your money somewhere else. read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Chickpea - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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The best Ethiopian food in Atlanta!!! The doro wat was phenomenal. We always order ours with extra eggs. I could NOT stop eating it, that's how good it was. You know those dishes that you're sad to see leave your plate because you just want to indulge forever? Yeah, this is one of those. The Bole combination was another winner with the best veggies I've ever tasted. 10s across the board!! read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Dining area - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

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This was a place I'd had on my list and never got to it. Finally a reason to celebrate & try out a new place - my friend's 50th! We went on a Thursday evening which wasn't busy so no reservation required. We were fortunate enough to get seated in the section where Ethiopian Coffee Ceremonies are done. So traditional with the wood stools and woven baskets! For dinner we went for The Taste of Bole sampler to experience everything and share. To drink - we shared a bottle of honey wine that's made in house. My friends said it was sweet and like nothing they'd had before. The sampler includes a mix of their greatest hits - Kitfo, Doro Wot, Shirro, Veggies, Beef Awaze Tibs and Lamb Tibs. Served with injera and salad. The flavors, spices, different textures and variety are a must have. The location is right of I85 and Virginia Ave. Drive past the chains and hotels to eat at Bole which is across the street from the cemetery. The bar is decorated so nicely, plenty of seating, private rooms and a wrap around outdoor patio. I'm excited to try the rest of their menu! I would have given them a 5-star review but the women's restroom was pretty horrible. A stall was overrun with toilet paper, another had no toilet paper and last one wouldn't refill the tank to flush. No more soap or paper towels so that was disappointing. A easy fix to service the toilets and this place is golden. read more

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I've heard many great reviews about Bole so I was looking forward to having flavorful food and a good time. Unfortunately it was not as soulful as expected and although I ordered the Sampler platter, none of the dishes stood out. My husband ordered a "chef special" of beef and next time I will get that as the spices used were tasty. We ate outdoors, the service was "ok" - while pleasant, it may not have been a great day to serve. We had to ask for many basics(napkins, utensils) and the table was cleaned while we were sitting. I will try it again as it was a Wednesday at 7pm - I want to try a lively weekend. read more

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The place looked clean with lots of cool decor on the walls and tables. Got a friendly greeting from the hostess/waitress doin it all. She recommended a sampler platter and showed me how to scoop with the bread. I did not master the technique, but the food was tasty. Especially the cabbage and yellow lentils!Always nice to experience another culture, and I'd be glad to come back :) read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Sampler platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

This was my first time eating Ethiopian food. I had a veggie plate. It wasn't bad. There were a few things on my plate I thought was good, but not good enough to buy again. I received this thinly rolled bread that has a texture like a sponge. Unfortunately, they gave me too much of it so I wasn't able to finish my meal. I had it delivered so I'm sorry but I can't tell you about the ambiance or service. Although I didn't eat anything that stood out to me I still recommend you try it. There are so many choices that may be appealing to you. What I will say was amazing was their sweetened Iced tea. My son who hates tea took a sip and said it was really good, which was a shock coming from him. read more

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and when I tell you, it was so good. I have been back to this restaurant two times and I want to go again. And I am going to go again just because it is so good. Everything was so flavorful and fresh. The food is absolutely amazing. If you have never tried Ethiopian before you have to try this place. The lady that is helping in the restaurant is so sweet and is very patient and she also will give you ideas on what to try. This dish that I had pretty much had two types of meat in all the vegetables that they offer and they also put a little bit of salad in the middle. It is just enough if it's your first time trying it. Everything was really good. If it's your first time experiencing this type of food you do use your hands but once you start to dig in, you ain't gonna wanna stop digging. The atmosphere is nice. They do have a patio which is shaded and seems like it would be nice to sit outside on a beautiful day. I have sat inside both times and it's quiet. They have music playing and it's clean. If you're in the area, you should definitely try this out if you are wanting to try something different or if you really enjoy Ethiopian food read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

Best food, best service, best ambiance, best people. I came in with 3 friends of mine and ordered the taste of bole platter. The food was delicious and was more than enough for all of us. The Ethiopian beer is incredible! Family owned restaurant serving delicious food with a smile! Best Ethiopian food in Atlanta by far! read more

Bole Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Atlanta, Georgia

I hadn't been to the new location. It was warm and inviting. Service was great server was willing and able to explain and suggest what was good. I always order Lamb Tibs. I order an appetizer stuffed with jalapeños and lentils. the pocket was delicious but too hot. So I unstuffed the pocket and ate it. I love their Lentils. read more