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Bole Restaurant

4.5 (193 reviews)
ModerateEthiopian
Open • 12:00 pm - 10:00 PM

Bole Restaurant Photos

Business Info

BOLE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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

Recommended Reviews - Bole Restaurant

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Reviews With Photos

The veggie combo is the way to play it.
Andrew A.

Add this to the many Portland Ethiopian restaurants and carts I've tried over the years. Maybe it's difficult to mess up this cuisine because once again the meal was very satisfying. I craved beef tartar, but you only get the one dish for $20. So I opted for the veggie combo which was a good value and excellent variety for $17. Unless you're very partial to a specific dish, the combo is the way to go. Sadly, they were out of honey wine, a staple at any Ethiopian restaurant, so that was a bummer. The service was very pleasant and the atmosphere very homey and inviting. A definite recommend.

Habesha beer
Sean R.

Been here a few times now and always been happy. I've tried their classic Ethiopian spread with Injera (the spongy bread that you use as a utensil) which has a mix of mushy meat and vegetable piles which admittedly doesn't sound appetizing but it is. I couldn't tell you what any of the actual ingredients/meats were on my plate but it was all tasty and colorful. I've also tried their Awaze Tibs which is a grilled meat dish (beef I think) reminded me of a fajita plate sort of. Though I haven't eaten enough Ethiopian food to be able to decide between which out of the few nearby Ethiopian spots is the best but I've enjoyed them all. I think even your white grandmother could enjoy this if she's a bit of an adventurous eater. The flavors here are all very mild while still tasty nothing spicy or too new flavor wise. and not just here most Ethiopian spots I've been. The thing that makes this one my favorite is the very cozy vibe in here. Only a few tables and not very good for a group larger than 5 (at least without calling ahead so they can rearrange tables). The lady here is also very nice.

I had the veggie combo platter, with injera.
Marc K.

Of all the Ethiopian restaurants in visited in Portland, this by far got my eyes rolling to the back of my head the food was absolutely delicious. What was interesting was the injera was unique, it was a tab bit sweet, with a hint of sour blends and perfectly sticky enough to help grasp at the food when eating with the hands. This place is definitely my favorite and my future frequent visits from me. If you haven't tried traditional Ethiopian cuisine, GO HERE NO JOKE

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7 days ago

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1 year ago

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3 months ago

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6 months ago

How delicious. Very warm server. I loved the vibe. Perfect portions. Well priced. Lamb and beef... holy yum

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5 months ago

Amazing Ethiopian food in cute restaurant on Alberta. Cannot recommend highly enough!

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3 months ago

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3 years ago

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6 months ago

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3 years ago

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8 months ago

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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1 year ago

No flavor in the food everything tastes like nothing.doesn't even taste like authentic Ethiopian cuisine.very disappointing.

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Delicious, authentic Ethiopian food. We had a variety of plates, each was a slice of heaven. Will come back again.

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2 years ago

Colorful, modest, and incredible yummy food. We loved all the combo meat dishes they served us! So good!

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2 years ago

Absolutely the best Ethiopian food I've had in the U.S. Fresh, smoky, spicy, tangy--the whole flavor array. Very kind proprietor.

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1 year ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Bole has great food and generous portions. It is a sweet and intimate spot on Alberta!

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Fantastic food, fantastic service, and great bang for your buck! Go here now please. I

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9 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

The food was delicious. Language barrier messed up our desire to get seconds but it kept us from spending more money.

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4 years ago

Small restaurant.good service. We really enjoyed the food. The vegetarian combo is a great deal.

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3 years ago

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

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2 years ago

Great meal great service! Would recommend especially if you're in the Alberta/MLK area.

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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Page 1 of 5

Ask the Community - Bole Restaurant

Is this business still open for business? I went there today Wednesday afternoon the door was locked and it looked empty

It is open now. Apparently they changed owners. It was delicious!

Is this restaurant closed or did I relocate? I tried to go there a couple times last week and over the weekend and it looks to be gone.

Looks closed to me! I just tried! 7/26/18

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Sisters Ethiopian Restaurant - Combo

Sisters Ethiopian Restaurant

4.7(131 reviews)
6.7 mi•Mill Park

I loved this place so much. The service was impeccable and the food was as good as I've had. All…read morethe positive reviews about Sisters are true to form. I truthfully didnt read any reviews but we had nothing but good to say about the total experience so i can't really report on negative reviews..only positive. So truthfully i had no idea what to expect but i can say i was pleasantly surprised with how authentic the flavors were. Ok ok, keep reading if you want to get deep into it.. I was there because Ethiopian food is by far the most romantic and intimate cuisine I've discovered to date. And I frequent it. The flavors are bold and original. The staples range from safe, to raw seasoned beef and curried lamb. An American fair ground of new flavors to explore. We opted for the raw seasoned beef with Ayib, which is a wonderful cheese that adds all the good things that anyone could ask for to the dish. If you wanted more because you need an endorphin release they've got you covered there as well. Primarily because they asked the spice level and delivered perfectly, but second fiddle was the small pile of additional party spice that they place on the side rustically so that you can add it yourself. Its not offensively hot whatsoever so please do experiment with it. You wont be disappointed. Or bring a small container and bring it home. Im only disappointed i wont have any tomorrow lol So raw beef, ya, get that. The other dish we had was an amazing red beef curry with all the right accompaniments. Perfectly cooked peppers and onions paired with just the right amount of heat and sweet balance. We investigated a medium heat level and it was safe. Very safe. Very good. Like so comfortable they should just go with one option lol Hot was an option and next time i will probably try that. I'll probably recant my medium argument. The ways spice was used as a paintbrush was so thoughtful, and im pretty sure we didnt even get into the good stuff. Whoever is in the kitchen creating this experience really hit all the keys just right tonight. The last thing i wanted to mention was the honey wine. First of all its extremely reasonably priced. Like less than many of the drinks i frequent, for the whole bottle. At first its..different.. and somewhat jarring when taken back without food. Not unpleasant, just different. But when its consumed with the food it makes, oh oh oh so much sense. It really turns the meal into more of an absolute symphony. This place would be on repeat if i lived closer. The locals are really lucky to have this around. Im not so lucky to be as close as they are but i hope ill be back soon. Thanks for a wonderful night sisters.

1) We walk in and we were the only customers there. 2 male employees were having a conversation at…read morethe host stand. It took over 5 minutes for the host to walk over and drop off a menu. He started to walk away but stopped when I asked to order. It's not like they have a large menu and we were ready to eat. During the meal I waited for the host to look over but my dining companion called out to him to get my water glass refilled. I was a little put off by the slow service. We're your only customers and you're not happy to see us? You're not going to give us your undivided attention? You're going to slowly serve us like we're an after thought? 2) Why is it called Sisters when I see no females working there? 3) The food did come out quickly as it seems everything is already made. 4) The food tasted good. It was our first Ethiopian experience but unfortunately did not leave a positive, lasting memory. We will not be back. 5) After our meal we waited and waited. It seemed we were required to pay at the host stand rather than at our table. This was difficult for my friend who uses a cane, but we had no choice. 6) I've been to a Moroccan restaurant before where it is also customary to eat with your hands. That place started the meal by offering a bowl of water to wash your hands. This place did not and I was surprised.

Photos
Sisters Ethiopian Restaurant - Cute little decor on the table!!

Cute little decor on the table!!

Sisters Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie combo and doro wat. Delicious!

Veggie combo and doro wat. Delicious!

Sisters Ethiopian Restaurant - Doro Wat, (like chicken curry)  delicious

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Doro Wat, (like chicken curry) delicious

Bole Restaurant - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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