Sometimes the best restaurant finds are spontaneous. We were cruising down Magazine looking for a tasty spot for dinner and Abyssinia presented itself, and we gave it a whirl. Five solid stars! Ethiopian cuisine is best enjoyed family style. My wife and I each ordered an entree (hers was fish based; mine was chicken), and each of our entrees came with tasty sides. And, of course, the injera bread that is part of any Ethiopian meal. We ended up with enough food to make two tasty dinners out of our meal, with the reheated dishes being just as tasty. The service was polite and prompt, and we especially enjoyed the sign that said, "when you support a small local business, you support a big dream." So true! read more

The service was very welcoming. The food was extremely delicious & exceeded what we expected trying this place. I am very particular in trying new things and this spot hittttt the spot! keep doing a great job, thank you. read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Abyssinia has been consistently great Ethiopian food for at least the last 10 years I've been going. I appreciate the prompt and efficient service, I appreciate the outdoor seating, and I appreciate the communal experience of eating with friends here. Haven't had a bad thing yet, but the fish was especially tasty when we went a couple of weeks ago! read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Fish Goulash - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I brought my students here because they requested Ethiopian food. They enjoyed it. The space was very home. Colorful, bright walls. There's also outdoor seating. I would say the price points are great. Our total came out to 312.30 including tip for 11 entrees, six hot beverages, and one appetizer. The food was well seasoned and the portion sizes were decent. We all got an ample amount of injera to accompany our food. The food did take a while to come out, but there were so many of us, and it's a small restaurant with a small staff. The owner took our order, prepared the food, and closed us out. I thought it was interesting that we weren't asked what sides we wanted. Everyone ended up with something different. That made it fun! read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

When we arrived, there was no one else there. That quickly changed and by the time we left, most of the outdoor seating was filled. Very attentive staff - the service was excellent and the food was amazing. I just moved here and hadn't had Ethiopian food in years and this is such a great place and not too far from my house. We ordered the veggie combo and the meat lovers combo, extra injera and the beef sambusa. Every bite was packed with flavor! We really enjoyed ourselves and had a great time. BYOB - we brought a few bottles of wine to share. I will definitely be back! read more

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We ordered the Special Veggie Combo. The food looked so good, we forgot to take pics! And it did not disappoint. Every dish was tasty. The injera was delicious as well. Bonus points because the injera is gluten free - which means it's the real deal and not cut with wheat flour to save money. I highly recommend the place. read more

If you want to feed a family of 6 off of 2 entrees with some injera, veggies & levels of deliciousness then you're going to definitely get it here + leftovers on the side. The food is so filling, tasty & deliciou. I've been coming to this restaurant for over 10 years & when I tell you the ambience is always welcoming & like a breath of fresh air; every time I visit the service is always hospitable. Every person that you encounter when you are ordering & super kind & welcoming. The best thing that ILove is that it's a hidden gem. The food is so tasty ou'd love to keep it ass best kept secret but yuu can't help but share because it's a hidden gem. You can BYOB + there's a wine store across the street that's called a Really Really Nice Wine. I'm always left with leftovers to take home because it's impossible to eat the entire entree. We had the derek tibs, my husband had like a chicken named dora wat with eggs, alongside of greens, carrots cabbage sweet potato and injera; soaking in flavors. I revisit every time and every time I revisit it gets better & better. You have to try it & thank me later read more

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We were actually trying to find the Ethiopian restaurant where we ate in 2016 during our last time in NOLA, and accidentally came here - but are we glad we did! We even came again a few days later to repeat our great veggie combo dinner - $19 serves two people. It was flavorful with only one item hot-spicy but berbere sauce is worth it. Also tried the sambusa appetizer which was flaky and tasty. Waiter was very friendly. Restaurant is basic but nice, with good music playing quietly. Both times we arrived too late to go to the sno-ball place in the same lot - but we probably would have been too full from the well done food! read more

Overall Thoughts: Hidden towards the back of other restaurants/shops without a clear sign, this spot was empty when we went for lunch at 12pm but gradually got a bit busier later on. The interior is comfortable, homey, and modestly decorated; I loved the designs of their bowls and cups. Granted I don't have Ethiopian food often, but this is the best I've had so far-- the food is delicious, bursting with bold, robust spices and flavors, and extremely filling. We paid ~$24 per person, which was very reasonable for how filling and excellent the food was. The service was also great and very friendly! Food I tried: - Sambusa with Collared Greens (4.1/5): This appetizer was just okay-- it is very similar to Thai spring rolls, even with the same sweet and spicy sauce. The collared greens gave it a bit of a unique flair, and it had a very crispy exterior. - Ethiopian Coffee: Definitely more of an acquired taste that I don't yet have-- it's extremely strong / concentrated and tasted herbal. They combined all the entrees into one family-style plate with a side of injera: - Split Red Lentil Stew (4.7/5): This was super good-- the lentils had so much flavor and I loved its soft, mushy texture. The sides of women and cabbage were flavorful and delicious as well. - Fish Gulash (4.6/5): The fish pieces were crispy, flavorful, and well-sauteed. - Lamb Alicha (4.3/5): This was good, with a distinct lamb flavor balanced out by the other veggies and spices. - Kitfo (4.3/5): This was quite good too, with very pleasant flavors and spices. - Injera (4.6/5): The injera here is thicker than other places I've been, but with the same slightly sweet and sour flavor and light, spongey texture. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.4/5 Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Service: 4.9/5 Overall Value: 4.6/5 read more

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I went vegan for the month of January, and I was searching for something filling and delicious and locally made. Cafe Abyssinia checked all the boxes! I got a Veggie combo, and it was so good that I returned 3 times! The food is rich and flavorful, and it came with plenty of injera. The folks in the restaurant were so nice and welcoming, and the prices were very reasonable. The portion size was good, and I ate twice off of one plate! A beautiful spot to check out the next time you're on Magazine! read more

The best spicy red lentils I have eaten in ages. I was very impressed with the taste. I wish I could've had more Berbere on the side, but this was very good. The waitress was very attentive. I was very cold that morning and she gave me a hot glass of water to warm my hands up with. Excellent service. read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Spicy red lentils - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

I came here for the lunch special, each entree was only 9.99! A great restaurant! Food was great and well seasoned. I wouldn't eat the bread on its own since it's pretty sour but with the meats it tastes very good. The main draw of the restaurant, at least for me, is how filling it is. It's incredibly filling and I was stuffed even after being starved the whole day. The outdoor seating is very nice as well and it's in a nice location. Overall a very pleasant and aesthetically pleasing place to eat and I recommend it to everyone. The waiter was very good and attentive as well. read more

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Our last night of the Nola tour and we opted for Ethiopian. It's a smallish place with indoor and outdoor dining. No frills here just very nice people and the largest plate of Ethiopian food ever. Piglets that we are we ordered all the vegetarian stuff plus the Lamb Tibs and Salad. Yes wayyyy too much for two peeps but no Ethiopian food where we reside in PCB so we had time to make up. The portions here were bigger than all the other Ethiopian places we have been including a trip to Ethiopia in 2000. Small business at its best. read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Enough food for a herd of piglets but this two ate it all. - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The veggie combo is so so good! I love stopping by whenever I visit. Great service, prices and the food comes out pretty fast.

The beef tibs were horrible! They were not seasoned at all and not tender! The injera was hard and tasted horrible. The vegetables were ok but not good enough for me to eat here again! I guess New Orleans doesn't know much about Ethiopian food because the previous reviews are misleading! read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Lega tibs, not very good! - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Awesome food and friendly staff! I had the spicy beef aware tibs, red lentils, and split peas, with a generous amount of injera. Spicy but not so that you can't taste anything else. It was served hot and the aroma was amazing. read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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We ate outside, lovely New Orleans day. Other diners came and enjoyed the food and the pretty day outside too. I did not go inside so I can't comment on that. There was plenty of street parking at late lunchtime, but that was luck--not alw the norm for the area. The host family-owners have a quiet, gracious spirit & the restaurant has a good feel because of it. Very strong presence and very good food. Ethiopian tea is alw delicious but super sweet so keep that in mind. Very casual, laid back vibe with good food, that draws nice people--win win. read more

Cafe Abyssinia - sign for ethiopian cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Came here right before opening on a Sunday and had the whole place to myself. Ordered the special veggie combo: Lentils, cabbage & carrot, potato & carrot, shiro (chickpea), collard greens, yellow split peas, salad, green beans, azifa (cold lentils). Yummy and enough good for 3 people! Will be enjoying these leftovers for dinner later. Nice vibe in a great neighborhood read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Exterior patio - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Notes: 1) been here once 2) had a good amount of seating Pros: 1) great food 2) great service 3) had a unique atmosphere Cons: 1) took some time to get our order out (only 1 main server) Rating: 4.5/5 This place was amazing. This place is packing and is deserving of it. The service was a little slow but that was due to having one server and also having a lot of tables ready to order. Aside from the service, the food was very good. The beat salad was amazing. The doro wat, the veggie combo, the sponge bread was awesome! Personally, I'm not too big a fan of the bread but this one works well with the food. There was plenty of it and it serves a lot of people. If you're looking for good Ethiopian, this is a great place to start! It was so good that I didn't even have a picture! read more

We were looking for another restaurant and couldn't find it and we ended up in the delightful restaurant. We were on our way to the airport and ordered Togo. Everything on my plate down to the salad was delicious and flavorful. I ordered the chicken n rice plate. Sooo yummy. The service was great too. Everyone was really kind. Thank you for the amazing food. read more

My first time eating pure Ethiopian food. It was delicious! First time eating strictly with my hands outside of tacos haha. I got the doro tibs and it was so fresh and juicy and I loved all the veggies. I tried to binge and eat it all my it was too much. My friends each got something different, doro wat, lamb tib and I forgot what else. I will definitely be back. read more

Very good Ethiopian food at modest prices. Pleasant covered outdoor patio gets hotvin the sun tho. Inside is cool dark and spare - feels authentic. Both the fish and beef were great. And the injera was tart, soft, and delicious. The server was very friendly and competent. We had a great inexpensive lunch and took home leftovers Which by the way reheat beautifully. What's not to love? read more

I go there EVERY time I'm in New Orleans! The food is amazing! The staff is very friendly and attentive. Did I mention that the food is amazing? The ambiance is warm and comfortable. They have indoor and outdoor tables. Ermias the owner became a friend over the years. If you haven't tried this please you have to, for a date or with friends or alone! I love this place! read more

As of today, they do dine-in! Call to reserve a spot, though. This place was sensational. This is one of two Ethiopian places in the city, and I can't speak for the other one, but Café Abyssinia was amazing. We went for lunch and split an entree and appetizer - we were filled. They give ample portions for all their food, so I would say an entree feeds two. The young waiter we had was so kind and friendly! He struck up a good conversation with us. The food was delicious - we had the Injera Fish Roll and the Doro Wat. It came with plenty Injera bread. Amazing texture and flavor. There is limited parking but they do have spaces of their own in a small lot. Definitely recommend! read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Injera Fish Roll - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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The best Ethiopian food I've had and I w had ALOT! from Los Angeles to New Orleans hands down my favorite .. we had the veggie platter with dorowat and Tibs.. DELICIOUS we will be back again tonight read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Veggie platter with Dorowat and Tibs (chicken) - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Excellent Ethiopian food and dining outdoors on Magazine street at reasonable prices are all good reasons to try Cafe Abyssinia. We dined there on Easter evening after seeing the play Moulin Rouge. We had two different fish entrees, greens and lentils. I thought I'd never like fish better than the one with the berbere spice, but the fish with onions and tomatoes changed my mind. Typical with Ethiopian food, expect a small wait to get served. They prepare each meal carefully, and that takes time. We prefer our food well prepared and plan ahead to have time for them to make it and us to enjoy. read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This was our first time trying Ethiopian food, and we really enjoyed it! We ordered the Derek Tibs, Doro Alicha and Sambusas, and they were all amazing! Service was very nice as well; will be coming back! read more

Highly recommend this place for a casual date night! The waiter was very friendly and helpful and provided us with recommendations that did not disappoint. We loved our fish gulash and lamb tib. We will definitely be back. read more

The owner, Ermias, gave us the great suggestions! Food was amazing. 1st Ethiopian food experience and will definitely try again!

I loved this little place. My first time trying Ethiopian food and I can't wait to go again. I lucked up on this place when I was visiting one of the little shops across the street. I started with an appetizer of Sambusa, one was collard greens and the other was lentil. I loved the sauce. My entree was Lamb Wat which is cubes in a spicy stew. I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere. read more

The service and food is excellent and the staff is very polite. Will definitely be back soon! read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

Pros: One of the few authentic African restaurants in the New Orleans area. The menu had a decent offering with descriptions that helped make the dishes less intimidating. And the bread was interesting: thin, spongy, and served in little rolled bundles. Cons: The chicken in my doro wat was overcooked/dry. My mother got the derek tibs, which the waitress said would have kinda crunchy meat, but my mother said it was just overcooked, leathery beef. My father was the only one with no complaints about his dish (lamb awaze). read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Bread rolls (literally rolled up bread). - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

The food here was so good. First of all, the injera (bread) is perfect. This is Teff flour made into perfectly rolled spongy bread. I LOVE IT! The collards were amazing. One of the problems with getting a "plate" is you can't eat it all. But oh my word-the food here is amazing. The shiro (chickpeas) were also excellent. One of the things I'm improving at is eating with my hands and a native bread. As an American, this has been a hard transition, but I'm learning! The vegetarian platter has golden and red lentils and I'm not sure which I prefer - they are both really good. The potatoes with carrots are flavored perfectly. read more

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This is a welcoming casual restaurant with terrific, reasonably priced food and great service. Both indoor and outdoor dining options. Will be coming back! read more

It was great! We ordered several dishes and they were all delicious. The staff was friendly and understanding when we cancelled an order we decided we didn't want. read more

Food was incredible! What a great, authentic experience. Had a lamb dish as well as the vegetarian combo. Got to taste eight different items. All very unique and flavorful. Owner was on the spot and very helpful with advice and guidance. Added a great cup of Ethiopian coffee, also. read more

I love Ethiopian food so definitely had to stop here. My bf used to come here all the time when he was living in NO but now that we split our time in other cities, we only get to come here when we are in town. The food is amazing and the injera is 100% teff flour, everything is so authentic. I love the Ethiopian tea with some honey. The lamb tibs is to die for and if you're vegetarian, you can't go wrong with the veggie platter. Service is amazing and welcoming. The place is own by a lovely family. If you're in NO, it's so worth a try. read more

As someone who grew up eating Ethiopian food I Loved this place. Authentic for sure. Food was great! Friendly customer service. Definitely visiting again when I return to NOLA. We had Derek tibs - dry cooked meat Kitfo - raw spiced beef (say leb leb for slightly cooked) With it comes Ayb - Ethiopian home made cheese Awaze tibs - spicy stir fry beef or lamb "awaze" makes it spicy with berbere the spice of kings as Anthony Bordaine called it. Lentils and greens come on the side as complementary orders. These are just few of surprisingly many options offered here. read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Middle Kitfo, left Derek tibs, Right is awaze tibs (spicy). The white is Ayb homemade Ethiopian cheese lentil and some greens. - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

This may be, dare I say it, the best Ethiopian food I've ever eaten. And I have eaten a lot... in San Francisco, LA, New York... and I've finally found my favorite in this hidden corner of Magazine Street. Their flavors are superb, bold yet so fine-tuned, and their injera is milder and less sour than most, which I quite enjoyed. I ordered the veggie combo--more expensive than the other entrees, but well worth it. The portions were plentiful, though I confess I devoured nearly everything. The red lentils and collard stew were my favorites, but there wasn't a bite I disliked. The folks who run the place seem like a nice bunch, too. I was meeting a friend for dinner, and having accidentally arrived very early, they kindly offered me a seat and a water while I waited. Just try it. Anyone who isn't a pretentious ass is liable to have a good time. read more

Cafe Abyssinia - Injera. - Ethiopian Near Me - New Orleans, Louisiana

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Got it Doordarshan. Lamb awaze, chicken doro wot, veggie sampler and meat sambusa. All delightful and they gave a lot of bread.