If you've never had Eritrean, I recommend it! Cafe Aurora was my first taste and it was refreshingly full of new textures and flavors. I wrapped some delicious flavors in unforgettable Enjera (soft bread) and the flaxseed drink was a light and delicious surprise. Location was spotless and the staff's very helpful with recommendations and very nice. Thanks, Yelp for helping me find something I'd never have seen from my normal commute. read more

This restaurant is great! I had the lamb and beef and spinach, which was delicious. I know Ethiopian food is very similar to Eritrean food, and I've had some Ethiopian food that was not that great so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. The customer service was excellent. We were here for a couple of hours. This place has a very cozy feel which I loved! After our meal we had some hot tea which was pretty tasty. I will definitely return to this restaurant. read more

I may be rating this a bit low due to a few factors, one of which is that I have nothing to compare the Eritrean breakfast items to. Also, service was probably fine if one is Eritrean (and don't like to be bothered while eating and who like to eat leisurely), but not to the typical rush rush American (like we happened to be today). We came around 2:00 pm or so, and the place was bustling, mostly Eritrean patrons. Hubby and I appeared to be the only ones eating breakfast, which was completely understandable at this hour. Hubby ordered the Egg Silsi. Quite good, one could tell that the spiced tomato sauce had been cooked with the egg, not added afterward. Also full of diced jalapeno or other similar pepper, this dish had some heat on it. If one doesn't ask, it's served with a couple of French rolls - no butter, niter kebbeh, or olive oil. Only $7.99, it's a relatively small bowl. I ordered the fu'ul, which turned out to be some really nice pretty much mashed delicately spice beans. If you don't like hot, skip the "green peppers," which are really diced jalapenos or similar. While the menu says feta or yogurt, I got both. I also didn't specify niter kebbeh or olive oil, so got the latter - but since I said I didn't like hot, wasn't too suprising since the niter kebbeh can be fiery depending on how it's made. It's served with French or whole wheat bread, but if you don't specify, it comes with the rolls, as above. The Eritrean tea (Shahi me'amer) didn't have enough of the cinnamon and other spices in it to really distinguish it from any other regular tea - and the tea bag, while not Lipton, not anything from Eritrea. Anyway, at $1.79 a cup, not really something I'd go for again. Another negative was the Belgian waffle. Not anything different than one can make at home. The waitress didn't ask if we wanted ice cream or strawberries or plain; it came out plain with absolutely no butter on it. We had to ask for some after getting her attention. But she did bring plenty of butter and, when I asked also for a fork, did so ungrudgingly. I wish I could try some of the other dishes in order to be more fair. But the tea and the waffle plus the service tipped the scale to a three star rating. read more

Really good coffee and pastry they serve. A small cafe it is..!! read more

Cafe Aurora - Café Latte and Almond Pastry - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

I came in after. Rich Dad Poor Dad conference with a girlfriend of mine for espresso, that's what she wanted. I ended up ordering the flax seed drink and the lentil soup because they came highly recommended and I had never dined at an Eritrean cafe. The service from Meley and Adeis, the mother was so wonderful. The lentil soup was perfect full of flavor and love. Highly recommend as I had a wonderful experience and the flax drink is great. read more

Cafe Aurora - Adeis lentil soup, mama's recipe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Alexandria, Virginia

Disgusting, dirty, and overpriced. Not only was the food disgusting, I also witnessed two of the kitchen workers wiping their posteriors with their left hands (very authentic). To make matters worse, neither employee washed their hands after such a disgusting display. If you are a dung beetle, this is the place for you. read more

This place is amazing from service to the food.The cleanest and freshest in the DMV area. The pound cake tastes just like my aunt's in Asmara...If you're in Alexandria go give them a shot... read more

The Sunday breakfast combo is very aromatic and filling. Good price and can easily split between 2 people with leftovers.

We ordered the Breakfast Platter and it was absolutely amazing. Great flavor and nice diversity. Macchiatos were also great, although not American sized. :-) Service was also enjoyable. Highly recommend checking this place out. read more

Most of the other reviews here are spot on....my friend and I arrived around 10:00am on President's Day and the cafe was doing a brisk business. I ordered a latte and the Eggs Silsi and my friend had the flax seed drink and the Fu'ul. We enjoyed our drinks (the coffee was killer, I ended up ordering two lattes because coffee of that quality is hard to find...) and chatted for quite awhile while the sole waitress tended to the entire, albeit small, cafe. Definitely arrive with plenty of time and expect to wait for your food. That being said, both of our dishes were great. Really flavorful and the perfect breakfast portions. The Eggs Silsi had just the right amount of heat. I disagree with a few other reviews that say that the French bread doesn't add anything - it was a nice side as the eggs didn't come with any starch. Overall we had a slow, but delicious meal. The lone waitress was courteous, even while being run ragged by a full house. I wasn't in a rush so it earns 4 stars in my book. read more

The best Eritrean food especially their breakfast. I love their fu'ul (the best in the DMV area), egg silsi, kitcha fitfit (get it with spinach) and flaxseed smooth. The staff are super nice and friendly. read more

This place is consistently very good and a clean breakfast place. The food is great along with the professional service that comes with it. Love to eat here! read more

This place has really good food but horrible disregard for customers and staff. On their door, it says the usual covid-19 recommendations (masks are required, six feet apart, etc.) and they will also provide masks if you need one. I thought that was a nice touch. When I went there to order lunch, the owner was not wearing a mask and there were two patrons sitting at the bar and they were not wearing masks. They were not eating, just chatting with the owner. A woman saw me enter and quickly put on a mask. But the owner and the two patrons did not. I ordered my lunch to go and the woman told me it will be 15 minutes. I left to run a quick errand. When I came back to pick up the food, the woman has taken off her mask and didn't bother to put it back on. The owner still didn't wear a mask. Makes me wonder if the kitchen staff wears masks or not. read more

Was really disappointed in the food. I was so in the mood for habesha food, and I got word this cafe maybe a good candidate and I made the journey. Went to the place and it wasn't very welcoming the food was pretty cheap which in theory kind of makes sense because the food tasted just as cheap as well it was like I ate dry cardboard it had no taste whatsoever. I threw out the box after a couple bites at minimum the lady was somewhat nice but that doesn't really do me any justice with Bad food read more

I went there for brunch with two friends. The decor was nice and had an African theme. They had some African news on a TV hanging on the wall and most of the people inside seemed to originate from there. The inside was a little small and the seating limited, but we found a table for four. Parking is also limited. The waitress was very friendly and helped us choose items out of the menu and answered any questions we had. She also made suggestions. The menu items looked great, but I had my heart set on French toast and eggs, so that's what I got. The French toast came on a long dish, with the toast cut into triangles and had powdered sugar lightly spread over them. The scrambled eggs were on a separate dish and syrup was provided. The French toast were great, if a little greasy; the eggs were fine and the servings were generous. My friends got the Fuul (fava beans) dish, which was mixed with veggies, yogurt and came with a side of French bread. I tasted it and it was great. The other friend got the Ga'at (traditional Porridge) with a side of yogurt, which I didn't taste, but he enjoyed it. The service was great and the prices normal. I would return the next chance I get. read more

Disclaimer: I went here for breakfast and have not tried lunch/dinner dishes. I enjoy Eritrean and Ethiopian food, but my breakfast was more typically all-American. So...my friend and I are always looking for the best places to do breakfast on Saturday mornings. We decided to give Cafe Aurora a try, just for something different. We both ordered egg dishes and mine was their "everything" omelet. I had chicken, cheese, spinach, onions, and jalapenos. I wasn't expecting much--I mean, it's eggs, which aren't complicated and can be hard to mess up. Being a born-and-bred Southerner, I usually douse any egg dish with enough ketchup and hot sauce for 4 people. I was a little uneasy when neither of these were within my grasp and decided to *gasp* eat the omelet without them. It was...delicious. Not overly cheesy or meaty (a la IHOP) with a delicate blend of the heat from the jalapenos but nothing overpowering. They served it with a baby loaf of crusty French bread, which I discovered was lovely if you put a piece of omelet on the fresh-baked bread and ate it sandwich-style. The coffee was also quite tasty and fresh-brewed. The cafe is quite small, so you will more than likely be close to your neighbors. The service was good and the warm colors inside made up for the close quarters. read more

I came here for breakfast with a friend. I started with a cup of coffee. I was a bit disappointed when I realized that they don't provide free refills. For breakfast, we ordered the fu'ul and egg silsi. The gg silsi had a nice flavor and was very light. The French bread that accompanied it wasn't very good to me and reminded me more of Cuban bread. The fu'ul was bland. Our waitress, Eden, recommended that we mix everything together to bring the flavor out and that helped some. I wouldn't order this again. I would give this place another try, or come in when wanting to casually meet up with a friend. The service was good. Prices were reasonable. Cleanliness could be improved, although it wasn't bad either. read more

Went here for dinner and EVERYTHING we had was amazing! Per another reviewer's recommendation I had the Shiro (chick pea sauce). My husband ordered the Qulwa beef with spinach and our friend ordered the lamb. We shared all the meals. Each one was fantastic in its own way- really it was hard to choose a favorite. Is it possible to recommend them all? (I don't usually even like lamb but it was incredible.) Some things I read referred to Eritrean food as bland- compared to Ethiopian food it's less spicy, but it certainly isn't what most people think of when you hear 'bland' (cause I think of cream of wheat or something). This was full of SOOOO many spices- but not a hot-spice, just herbs and curries and things like that. And don't miss out on the coffee! I ended the night with a cappuccino and it was also amazing. As someone who works from home and thus makes her own coffee at home, I would consider making a special trip out once a week to treat myself to a coffee from here :) read more

Good food and service. We came in for dinner and it was dead. Loved the experience, because we were watching Eritrean tv so it felt like we were traveling. The coffee was amazing and cheap! Wished they had more traditional food options and it could be a little bit cheaper. read more

ive not had ethiopian cuisine much so i really have anything to compare it to, but I was pretty impressed. We actually wanted the breakfast items. Egg silsi was definitely the best of all the breakfast items we ordered. fuul was ok. if you arent as experimental with food and trying new dishes, the panino is essentially a breakfast sandwich. qulwa beef tender with spinach was also good. but be warned, they dont use utensils. the bread is also a bit sour. last thing we ordered was the belgian waffle. not worth ordering. overall, friendly staff, good food. id definitely go back. read more

Came in today just because of the reviews but was disappointed. It's incredibly overcrowded and small, my food took awhile and it was just ok. The beans were very bland....Won't be back. read more

We had brunch here Sunday morning and it is not your usual brunch. Egg Silsi has a special spicy flavor and fu'ul is on the mild side. The food is good but I am very disappointed about the coffee. The food is worth of trying. read more

The Good: The Food - We ordered the Fatta and the Egg Silsi. They both had a nice flavor and spiciness to them. Both are vegetarian (not vegan) friendly and would definitely recommend the dishes to anyone who goes there. The coffee was brilliant --strong, Italian style coffee. The Service - very friendly and helpful -- they answered all of our first-timer questions. They also brought out part of the order when we asked. The Portion size - Between the two of us, we ordered three entrees and that was too much food, resulting in some very tasty leftovers. The Bad: The Food: French Toast - there was too much egg and it was burnt. The Service Speed - it was quite slow. When you go... get your coffee, relax, and you will have an enjoyable experience talking to the other folks at your table. The Strange: The restrooms are in the adjacent medical building and you need to pick up the key card by the front door to gain access to the building. Helpful Tip: Pick something light to share and your coffee. The waitstaff will bring that to you while the kitchen works on your entrees -- this way the table has something to enjoy and keeps your hunger at bay while waiting for the main course. read more

This place was just horrible. I waited 30 minutes to get my starter salad when only three of us were in the restaurant. Then I watched the cook prepare my food by grabbing a plastic tub (alfredo sauce inside) and put it in the microwave. I can understand waiting a long time for fresh food, but to just microwave it-that's where I draw the line! I left (after 45 minutes of waiting) and will never come back to this place. My waitress sat on a stool with her back against the customer and could care less that my order was taking forever. Poor customer service! Good luck if you dare. read more

Very good! We came here for breakfast and were delighted. This is not an expected American breakfast but rather something different. I haven't been "wowed" by a breakfast experience in a long time. I was here. Even my toddler loved the food; but to be fair we eat very spicy food at home so this was actually mild for her. read more

I think after about 3 months of brunch here at least one time a weekend - you could call me a regular at this point. I almost always opt for the Fuul - it is delicious along with the whole wheat pita bread. My boyfriend will rotate between the Egg Silsi and Tuna Silsi along with some yogurt. The only thing that he had that we didn't like was the omelet but I think it was because he made too many personal adjustments to it ;) The wait staff is awesome and it only took 2 visits before they knew our order and had our coffee (also delicious Lavazza drip) at our table before we would even ask for it. Awesome. We kid that we "go to East Africa" when we go to Cafe Aurora as it feels so warm, welcoming and authentic to us. High marks - the only issue is seating - sometimes its kinda tight on weekend mornings. Try to hit it up before noon :) read more

Went after working a night shift for brunch. I had the french toast and my wife had the fuul. It was a good meal. We had good service and I would go back for more complete meal sometime. I wish I could have had an espresso drink but I wanted to sleep afterwords read more

Warning: On weekends there appears to be no way to get in through the door because everyone wants to be here. The wait staff is friendly and helpful. The patrons are usually friendly and fun. The food is friendly and delicious. Egg silsi with french bread, fuul with french bread, and french toast are some of my favorite things on the menu. Also they have a great cafe mocha and the cafe aurora signature drink (with kahlua) is pleasant. Seating is tight, sometimes when alone I might have to share a table while waiting for something to open it up but this has never been a big issue. Wifi is fast, there are a few outlets but generally don't expect to plug in right away unless you get lucky. There is a bathroom for the shopping center. It isn't in the restaurant but next door. There is also extra parking on the other side of the building. The main lot can get pretty hectic during the afternoon. read more

Ordered breakfast to have delivered was supposed to take about 40 minutes, waited over 2 hours for it. Food was cold and didn't taste good.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this place? The food is excellent and the restaurant has a very cosy and comfortable atmostphere. The staff are great and treat regulars such as myself like family. You really cannot go wrong with any item on the menu but the Fitfit and Egg Silsi are my favorites. The French Toast is also fantastic! They are really busy on Sundays but not so crowded other days. Highly recommended! read more

Nice staff, good prices, and good food. Not a true breakfast stop like I thought but they do have some breakfast items. Get there early or plan on a wait because the place is small, and seating is limited. Also the restroom is not in the restaurant but within the complex where it is located. You will need the gas station style key hanging on the hook by the door to use it. Didn't go but you can tell who the regulars are. LOL read more

I'm not that into enjera, but you can sign me up for the qulwa beef all day! The service can be a bit slow at times, however the food on your plate will go faster. read more

Amazing food. Really. I just wish the service was a little better. I have been going there since they first opened and the owners couldn't be nicer. Such care in all they do to make sure that the customers are happy. I really really want to give them 5 stars because their food deserves it even though the service is slow. but knowing the there are cultural differences between American and Eritrean service, there service on par. I seem to mostly get the fu'ul and the Qllwa with spinach and chicken. This is always a sure stop for visiting friends and family. I think they really have the best Eritrean food in the area. My only complaint is they do not have a good dessert selection. But then again, I have always been soooo full after every meal there I have never had any room for dessert. But knowing me, if they had something remarkable, I would make room for it. read more

Ordered the Sunday breakfast special, a platter of most of their specialties, to split with my wife. Delicious! Also their cappuccinos were very smooth. read more

The food was delicious and the staff was very friendly as were the other patrons. The only downside is you have to go to another building to use the restroom. read more

We had an American style breakfast. The French toast was very good but the scrambled eggs were sad. Coffees were cold and it took the waitress an eternity to heat them up. By the time she came back we were done with breakfast. Very slow service. Wouldn't return read more

I was here under not so great circumstances as I was meeting a former friend at his request to talk. Because of that, I didn't get to really enjoy the Egg Silsi that I ordered as one really should. I like spicy and this dish had a bite to it. My eggs were very flavorful. I'd love to go back and try more of their menu. read more

Delicious! I recently moved to a new place near Aurora and I have heard such a good thing about it from friends and family. So, I went and ordered Qulwa beef tender spinach (Tibsi), which basically is a fried pieces of meat mixed with spinach. It was just delicious. Not too much oil and butter, it was just the way I like it. Anyways, I highly recommend trying the food and be the judge of it. read more

I have used Mr. Reyes for several projects in my home and he has pleasantly surprised me with his skills. My most resent project was replacing the rotting wood in around my bay window. This bay window has been a constant problem and has been repaired many times over the years. This time, Mr. Reyes suggested using building composite materials that would withstand the weather elements. This bay window looks better than it looked almost 30 years ago when I bought the house. It is very satisfying to have a professional who thinks beyond the immediate task to ensure lasting results. read more

Solid array of veggie offerings & legitimate Eritrean offerings= worth a left hand turn. Leave room for dessert.