I like Cafe Colucci, but I agree it's a bit pricey for what you get and a lot of what you fill up on is that delicious injera. A little more of the food that you're paying for would go a long way. And, it's true - gluten free injera costs more! However, I love me some Ethiopian food and Cafe Colucci is one of the best. Service is nice, although this place tends to be always so busy. I usually stick with the meat and veggie sampler and it's so good. This last time, I went with the Shouro Combo (vegan) and the mushroom tibs. We did not enjoy the mushroom tibs. Very earthy, too earthy if you ask me. You have to really love those woody mushrooms to enjoy. The shouro combo was delicious. Their gomen (collard greens) are the sh*t! I wish there was more of that! Again, a nice amount of food, but ya definitely expect a little more when only eating veggies. I think they do rely on ya filling up on that injera. read more

Cafe Colucci - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

My coworkers and I went here for lunch and it was amazing food. We had the begue wot, shrimp tibs, eggplant tibs, and sega tibs, plus appetizers denitch tibs and meat sambussas. Everything was super flavorful, my favorite was the begue wot lamb and the sega tibs beef. Really well seasoned food, it is a lot of food per person too for each entree, and our server was incredibly friendly and helpful in deciding food amounts for our group and stuff. The inside is really nice and charming and the smell of the berbere and other seasonings really make the spot feel incredibly authentic. I highly recommend the place for anyone looking to foray into Ethiopian food. Get the house blend injera too! read more

Cafe Colucci is one of the great joys of my life. We've been going here for about 20 years now and the food has been consistently delicious. The owner is so nice and hospitable, and the new location on San Pablo is just wonderful. read more

Love this place. The veggie and meat sampler combo is all we ever get but it's so good we don't feel the need to try anything else. Great cocktails, too. Excellent service and ambiance. read more

This restaurant would be 4 stars if there weren't so many other options for Ethiopian, some with better prices like Balcote across the street. My friend was pretty bummed they wouldn't let him substitute one of the meats in the meat combo for lentils (kind of strange since lentils are much cheaper). Service was good, but unremarkable. Here's the rundown of the food: Red lentils: spicier than many restaurants around these parts and seemingly heavy on clove flavor. It was fine but I wasn't satisfied and excited to scoop more. Yellow lentils: these probably had more flavor than is common, no complaints Stewed cabbage/carrots/potatoes:we both agreed was the best dish, and the most flavor I've had in the Berkeley/Oakland area Injera: blended grains and 100% teff available for an extra cost; nice to have the option, especially if you're gluten free Over all, food was fine, but it doesn't stand out in metro area with plenty of Ethiopian options... it's possible to find cheaper, more flavorful, and bigger portions of Ethiopian nearby read more

Go with a group! The servings are really generous. It was just my son and me today, so we tried the beef sambussas and the vegan sampler. The sambussas were piping hot and came with a really good red dipping sauce. The sampler was really good as well, with excellent injera. We had enough of the sampler to take home to my husband. Highly recommend. read more

Amazing place!!!! Owner is fabulous!!! Loved the food the atmosphere the fact i can bring my dog outside and him getting a bone and staff attention! The owner makes you feel like home! Try the phenomenal food!!! All you do is coming for more!!! read more

I've always heard about this place and finally made it here to try Ethiopian food for the first time! For a party of 3, we shared the Veggie Platter and the Mushroom Tibs. It was more than enough food for us, especially with the injera bread! The flavors were unlike anything I'd ever tasted before, with spices that probably touched my tongue for the first time that day. The injera was fluffy but unexpectedly acidic, which surprised me at first but it complimented the food perfectly. Eating with my hands was a fun experience! The restaurant itself is quaint, and we all admired the spices(?) displayed under the glass of the table. My only complaint would be that it took a while to get the check but we weren't in a hurry so it wasn't a big deal. read more

Cafe Colucci - Veggie platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

I went here and loved the food a few years ago. Went last night and the food was lackluster at best. The vegan plate was just heaped full of bean sides, not enough cabbage, or greens. I have to say the service was good, but the food was lacking. I think a lot of people might not notice or care. I do care because I like going back to places that have good food. Consistency. I tried some of my friends meat platter and again the flavors seemed off. I know you can do better Cafe Colucci. read more

A must visit! Coziest restaurant with consistently delicious food and drinks. I find myself trying new favorites each time - as of now the shrimp and vegan sampler are in my top rotation. There are options for everyone and the vibes are great for both small and big groups. This is such a special place and I love their food and the seasoning spices - thank you Colucci/ Brundo and see you soon! read more

After having seen Cafe Colucci on Check Please, I had been waiting for a chance to eat here. Finally made a reservation to eat there, and even though we arrived earlier than we had expected, the staff were already prepared for us, and whisked us to our seats. The interior of the restaurant is warm, inviting, and very friendly, high ceilings and an open view to the kitchen. Each of the tables had great elements displaying spices and information about the different spices. The wait staff were very helpful, friendly, and informative, really giving us great information and expectations regarding the dishes. Having only had Ethiopian food a few times in the past, it was great to order the vegan Sampler and the meat Sampler to get a broad arrangement of flavors, spices, textures, and tastes! We also tried both the traditional injera and the house blend, the house blend being slightly less sour, if that is your preference, I was pretty pleased with the traditional injera. Another great point, both our samplers were served with injera under the meals, soaking up the excess juices and soupy goodness of our plates, and making for a wonderful way to appreciate the meal in several different ways! The coffee and tea were both superb. Definitely looking forward to coming again! read more

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Those lentil sambussas /samosas are outstanding. You hear me??? The best I have ever had. The veggie sampler was great too but I have literally been thinking of those sambussas ever since. I even ordered the same Ethiopian food two days later from another restaurant when they were closed just because I needed to scratch the itch! Not surprisingly, it was fine but wasn't nearly as good as Cafe Colucci's. So! Now I have a new addiction, they have a new review, and you have a new warning: Enjoy at your own risk! read more

Delicious! Ordered on Doordash and the food was wrapped perfectly. We ordered the Veggie & Meat combo plates. I loved how I was able to order gluten free injera! read more

Very fresh food. I got the vegan sampler. The injera was also not sour, which I liked.

Solid first experience with Ethiopian food. I came in with a very open mind, having not known anything about Ethiopian food. I left with the understanding that the food is very rich in spices and enjoys using various textures. I ordered the vegetarian and meat platter and was instantly taken aback by how much food it was for 3 people. I felt like it could've easily served double the amount of people. Something I really appreciated about each part of the platters was how different it was. Not only in appearance, but also in taste and texture. Being able to blend them together under one wrap of dosa really made it an enjoyable experience. Overall, I would highly recommend this restaurant if you are interested in Ethiopian food. From what I understand, it is a little bit pricier than comparable restaurants in the area. However, I think the attention to detail with the spices and service strongly outweigh that. read more

I can't believe I've gone my whole life without Ethiopian food! What an awesome dining experience this was. I walked in knowing next to nothing about Ethiopian food and walked out feeling cultured! And full. SO VERY FULL. The menu was not surprisingly very foreign. I was extremely appreciative of the GLOSSARY I found on the back page!! Some important expressions to know... -- Wot = sauce or stew with Berbere sauce (spicy) -- Tibs = sautee usually with onions, fresh rosemary, garlic -- Fitfit = mixing fresh injera pieces in sauces, stews, & salad mixes -- Injera = Ethiopian bread, AKA your only utensil for the meal! From what I understand, if you're in a group and you intend to share your food, they will put everything you order onto one glorious huge round plate. But, if you want to order your own, I saw individual-sized dishes as well. I would highly recommend the group-eating experience - it was just so fun! I was in a group with 4 other girls and we ordered the Veggie Combo (a little bit of each of their veggie offerings), Mushroom Tibs (mushrooms sauteed with bell peppers & onions), & the Saga Alicha (lean beef in tumeric & ginger). It came on a huge platter and we dove in....hands first of course! I enjoyed some of the veggie types more than the others, but I don't know the names since it was all on one plate. I would not order the mushroom tibs again because it came with wayyyyy more bell peppers than mushrooms. Overall, the spices and flavors of the food went REALLY well with the sourness (almost like sourdough) of the Injera bread. PROTIP: I'd definitely come here for a date! I can just imagine your hands accidentally brushing as you're scooping up some sauce on the injera ;) read more

Cafe Colucci - Picture perfect! The Veggie Combo, Mushroom Tibs (~9'oclock), and Sega Alicha (~6'oclock) - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Cafe Colucci was introduced to me by a friend of mine who worked for an Ethiopian spice company. I've tried Ethiopian food all over the bay area, and this is by far my favorite. The fish is always fresh and perfectly seasoned. The vegetarian platter is one of my favorites because it's a little bit of each of the best veggie dishes. I like that their portions are big so that IF i feel like sharing, there are still leftovers. There isn't a dish that I've tried that wasn't seasoned to perfection. If you are in the mood for some authentic Ethiopian flavor, this is the place! (I moved to Oakland in August, and I'd be lying to you if I said proximity to this place wasn't a factor) read more

Consistently yummy. I've been going here over the years and order in via DoorDash. Great options for vegans.

This is my favorite Ethiopian place. It's a small family business. But out of 5 visits, it was amazing 4 out of 5 times. I think the 5th time was a fluke. Their chicken is amazing. read more

Truly a gem in the area. The flavors are bold and the space is unpretentious. It is among my favorite places now.

Best Ethiopian restaurant in the area!Veggie platter has the usual items plus two unique and delicious salads.

I've tried a few Ethiopian restaurants already and one that's highly recommend the famous one in San Jose called Zeni's. I've tried Cafe Colucci and can now say I don't really like Ethiopian food, it's just ok to meh to me. Friend and I got the Veggie Combo. It comes in a huge platter with the Ethiopian spongy bread which is kinda sour plus little mounds of vegetarian food: Azifa, Buticha, Messer Wot, Kik-Alicha, Gomen & Atakilt. Dinner $11.95 each. Remember: You eat with your hands!! I don't like doing that either. We're in America..we got utensils here. I wanted to try Shouro Combo but the waiter thought we wanted 2 veggie combo. Oh well. Doesn't matter. I did like the 2-top table with the different kinds of beans inside it. That's cool. One unisex bathroom in the back. Cross street: Alcatraz. Wet nap given with bill. read more

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the Bay Area. I've been to a few of them around, but this is the best. I found about this place 10 years ago. A friend of mine was organizing a trip to Ethiopia and took us here to introduce us to the cuisine. Ever since, I've been hooked. If you've never been tried Ethiopian cuisine, then you're in for a treat. First of all, you should only come here with close friends or loved ones. The food is served on a single large platter, family style. You are given bread called injera, which you use to pick up the food off the platter. Some people are weired out by this, so you've been warned! Cafe Colucci is very vegetarian friendly. But their best dishes are, IMHO, the meat ones. I always get the Begue Tibs, which is lamb cooked with onions, jalapenos and rosemary. The meat is very tender and has enough spice to make your lips tingle, but not so that you have to dunk your head in the sink. This is my favorite lamb dish anywhere, and on my list of Last Meal Foods. And the other night, my wife & I tried the Assa Tibs special, which is their whole fried fish. I think we found another one of our favorites! The skin is flavored with a variety of spices and the meat inside was flaky and delicious. The injera won't help you here, so you'll need to get really down and dirty to pick off all the fishy goodness. But it's totally worth it. If you want to top off your authentic Ethiopian experience, try a glass of Honey Wine. It's very sweet, so it's not for everyone. But if you want to try some thing different, come to Cafe Colucci and taste a bit of Africa. read more

Food was great, we ordered begue tibs and vegan sampler. However, there was a miscommunication with our order. Our intentions were to have two dishes, but they just combined the begue tibs with the vegan sampler, rather than both having their own platter. We were still charged for two though. On the scale of the 1-5, I would rate the drinks 3.5/5. We ordered the spice tea, coffee, fat belly, golden mango, and two kava drinks. Of them all, the one that stood out the most was the Ethiopian spiced tea. The fat belly was served when we were already on our way out, and that was a bit disappointing. The service wasn't the best, 2/5, because as first timers, we weren't fully explained how the menu works and what was the best way to order for our group. Again, the food was great and could tell everything was fresh, the service just wasn't there. read more

One of my favorite Ethiopian spots in the Bay. My bf and I always share a meat combo and a vegetarian combo, with extra injera. One thing that makes Cafe Colucci stand out is there Berbere sauce - it's absolutely delicious, not just on Ethiopian food, but on all kinds of cuisines (we've tried it on pizza, tacos, even Georgian food). I highly recommend getting a bottle to go. Portions are generous. We don't go here as much as we'd like because it's in Oakland, but I'd be in trouble if I lived nearby. read more

The best Ethiopian food ever healthy too. Best vegetarian place around there sampler plate is wonderful. Definitely on my list of must do regularly. read more

Hands down My favorite Ethiopian food in Bay Area. They are the only place I've found with a gluten free (traditional teft flour injera) option for the base. All of the toppings, meat and veg are perfect. I dream about this place, and I get their takeout whenever I find myself back in oakland/berkeley since moving to the north bay. I usually get the veg meal and the meat meal; every bite is wonderful. And every time I add anything outside that, I'm impressed and happy. I like spicy, so recently I bought both of their hot sauces. I love them on everything. Yum. read more

I love Cafe Colucci! Friendly staff, reasonable prices, good portions and most importantly - delicious food. They also have a store where you can buy their spices and try making Ethiopian food at home. Their new location has convenient parking making it easy to do a takeout run. read more

Oh man is Cafe Colucci delicious. I had it Doordashed since I hate eating alone in public. I ordered too much. Vegan platter, doro wat and extra injera. I ate for days! The food was packaged really nice, sealed with a tamperproof seal. Arrived hot and delicious. I LOVE Ethiopian food and Cafe Colucci reminded me exactly why. This food is made with love. It fills your soul with happiness and dances on your tastebuds like some sort of magic. read more

ETHIOPIAN FOOD FIRST-TIMERS OVER HERE!! :) Ambiance: I love the ambiance at Cafe Colucci! The table is a display of different types of lentils and grains under glass. How cool is that?! Also, I love the artwork all around the walls. It was super busy and packed for a Friday night. Thankfully, we didn't have to wait to be seated, but we did wait more than 30 minutes for the food to come out. Service: Great service! They're so friendly and nice!! Food: Veggie combo - It was a fun experience. But I didn't really find the platter to my liking. The veggie platter came with collard greens, yellow cabbage, yellow lentils, spicy lentils, garbanzo beans, and some other veggies I can't recall. Great variety! I would not order this plate in the future. Doro tibs - YUM! This is a delicious plate of chicken cooked with onions and spices. (Don't worry it's not spicy.) I don't know how to describe the flavors. But it was the best thing we ordered! Injera - Everything is served with injera, the bread they use to eat with (like naan or roti in Indian food). Injera is so cool! It comes in a roll shape and you have to roll it out, rip a piece off, and then grab some of the main courses. It was good the first few bites and then it got sour...I guess it's something you just have to grow accustomed to. Kinche - For my group of friends and I, we couldn't handle the injera after awhile so we ordered a side dish of kinche. Kinche looks like steamed cracked barley, but it has a semi-sweet taste to it. It's like nothing I've ever tasted before. I don't know how to feel about it. Price: ~$35 Tip: - Go for the meat dishes! Conclusion: I'm so happy that I came here for my first Ethiopian experience! Although I didn't become too fond of the food except for the door tips, I had a wonderful time with my friends here. Also, GREAT SERVICE! They're so friendly! I would come back here just to try other things && their friendly service! :) read more

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Such a cute find! My regular Ethiopian spots haven't been open during the pandemic so I was super happy to find this place! There are a couple tables that you can sit at outside, otherwise they offer take out! Both times I've sat outside and enjoyed my lunch! Before 1:30pm the tables are directly in the sun so just be aware of that! I always get the veggie sampler no matter where I go and I looove the one that they have! I also always get the fried potato appetizer! (They're like potato chips and really good!) read more

Confirmed: Cafe Colluci really is the best Ethiopian restaurant around. I thought maybe I felt that way because it was the first Ethiopian restaurant I had ever been to (13 years ago). Now, 13 years later, I still think it's the best. The vegetarian sampler is great. I could eat the lentils all day. The eggplant is wonderful as well. And for those meat eaters out there, their chicken tibs are savory, full of flavor, and juicy. The sauce on them is just so good. My favorite part, the springy injera on the plate that has soaked up all the juices of the food. Ooh, finger-licking good. read more

Amazing. Food is so flavorful and healthy, friendly staff, and great vibes. Large and spacious interior with lots of color! They also host the famous Brundo Spice Company, which makes their food 1000x more flavorful. I always bring friends and visitors here, and it's always a hit. Can't go wrong with the vegan and meat platters + sambusas. 10000% recommended!!! read more

My friends and I came in before closing and they were very prompt and accommodating. The food was great. We got the meat and vegetarian platter. It was more than enough food to feed a party of 4. read more

Cafe Colucci - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

So good! I like the new location. Much roomier. That means I don't have to wait to be seated. There is also plenty of parking.

Food is excellent. Every time. Open til 10pm. Authentic cuisine with consistent rich spices and flavors.

Magnificently delicious vegan dishes! The gluten-free injera was amaaaazing. We got a big catering order for 15 and the process was super smooth and easy. The food arrived promptly, with great service. Can't wait to find another reason to order catering from them again! read more

Our first time at the new location and we really enjoyed the spacious patio. We brought friends for a graduation party and everyone just loved the food and the experience. It was a perfect way to kick back, celebrate, and have fun eating after all the ceremonies. And my cocktail was delicious! read more

Delish. Ethiopian is always a winner for vegans!!! Takeout is def less food than dine in. Very friendly staff.

Veggie combo was the best today! I've been a loyal fan for many years and never have been disappointed. Ordered take out and enjoyed every bite with my mom in the park while listening to Ethiopian Jazz. Thanks to the chef for an incredible and delightful meal:) read more

Cafe Colucci - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California