This new location is bright and has much more space. Staff is very friendly and attentive and explained the spices and drink profiles to help us make our selections. I don't usually pick lamb as a dish but the lamb included in the Meat Sampler was good - not gamey , with the right amount of flavor and spice. The meat sampler included chicken and ground beef , both flavorful but not overwhelming. I recommend the Vegetable Sampler to get a variety and all the vegetable and sauces were delicious. We also added the Eggplant Veggie Tibs. The eggplant was slightly sweet and cooked perfectly- not too soft and not too firm. I appreciated the additional of a cocktail menu - oh so good. The Addis Ababa is similar to an old fashioned. The National Fruit is refreshing. Come with a group to share more dishes and more cocktails ! read more

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I absolutely love introducing friends and family to something they haven't experienced before. Especially, those loved ones who live in an area that doesn't have the sort of options we are blessed with in Oakland! Cafe Colucci is at the top of that list. This was my first visit to their new digs. It's missing a bit of that funky, lived-in, charm the previous location has but it's open, clean and inviting. The scent of spices wafting at you is magical and amazing from the moment you walk in. I love the grocery area with the books and spice area you can experience the blends. I didn't get a chance to check out the patio area, I'll have to do that next time. The service is still exceptional! The neighborhood is prime for a variety of new businesses and I sincerely hope the empty shops fill with other local, diverse businesses that keep Oakland interesting. I don't know what the yellow lentils are called but I could survive on them and the veggie sambussas! Don't miss read more

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I love it here! The vegan sampler is my go to - the veggies are tender and perfectly spiced. The lentils are so tasty and the injera is melt in your mouth just the right amount of sour. I order here on my lunch break about once a week - I call, ten minutes later I'm there picking up and shortly after I have a happy tummy, lulled into post-spice bliss. The tea and hot chocolate are also delicious, and the ambiance for eating in is relaxing (smells amazing, too). Love the decor (learn about spices and Ethiopia while you're there!) and the staff are so nice and attentive. read more

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I can see this place getting packed quickly. Friendly service with dynamite food, the history of its food on the walls, open kitchen and easygoing vibe, would reccomend. Come with an appetite. read more

Cafe Colucci - Meat and Veg Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Oh my NOMS! Yes times a million! First thing I knew was the heavenly waft of spices carrying me in from the sidewalk. Like what?!?! There's no way that's legal. My mouth instantly watered! Love the atmosphere. From how clean it was to the set up. Everyone was so amazingly kind and explained all of the food to me. Let me tell y'all if I lived here I would be eating here way too often. This was an absolute joy. read more

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Food was some of the best Ethiopian food on the west coast. The service was prompt and timely. They really take their time to explain the best menu options. The mood and vibe is casual with a variety of people that meet the Oakland expectations. Don't hesitate to make your reservation! They do small and large table setting. Bring your family and enjoy! read more

Cafe Colucci seems to be a very popular date night spot. I discovered Cafe Colucci among the great number of delicious Ethiopian and Eritrean options within the Berkeley/Oakland area. Wanting to try and taste everything, I ended up coming here to sample their veggie combination. Ordering was very efficient and the folks were friendly over the phone. I did notice that they asked if I wanted to 'upgrade to whole teff injera for extra', which means that their detail injera is a mix of teff and another type of flour. Note for all the folks that are gluten intolerant. Their ports are perfect for one person, with a great sampling of various vegan/vegetable options. Pick-up was fast and packaged very nicely. Really appreciated the container which kept my food warm and sealed during the entire way home. read more

Cafe Colucci - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Food was meh. There's way better Ethiopian spots nearby. Service was bad. We arrived at 7 and requested a table for 3 adults. The hosts do not take your name down which resulted in two different parties of 3 and 4 people to be seated before us who arrived 10 minutes after us. As a result we waited an extra 40 minutes. Not a major issue but the hosts are unapologetic and just blame each other for not knowing who was next for a table. Just a lousy system with a simple solution. Plus they watch you fill out the tip on the card reader which is so lame. read more

First time trying Ethiopian food and Cafe Colucci did not disappoint. The staff is incredibly friendly and willing to help out. We asked questions about some menu items and the waiter was able to give suggestions. I love the interior of the restaurant and everything was very organized. The food came out pretty quickly, and it was great being able to try out all the different dishes in each of the platters. The injera is super filling so we got full pretty quickly! Will definitely stop by again if I am in the area. read more

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I went to Cafe Colucci with some friends as we explore various East Bay lunch options. For nice weather months (of which we have many), Cafe Colucci has a lovely back patio. For the three of us, we couldn't decide between all of the various options and we ended up ordering too much: - Sambussas (samosas) as an appetizer (half vegetarian, half meat) - Vegan sampler - Meat sampler - Side of teff injera We ended up with tons of leftovers; the right amount probably would have been sambussas and one of the samplers or just the two samplers (as it was too tough to choose between the vegan and meat samplers). Both samplers were delicious, both in different ways; the vegan sampler had lots of delicious and inventive lentil dishes while the meat sampler seemed to have a much greater variety of flavors between the spicy and mild meat preparations. Our server was helpful (and patient) as we grappled with our order. I thought the food was reasonably priced, particularly given the quantity of food. read more

Absolutely amazing experience!! I love Ethiopian food and of course the East Bay has the best Ethiopian food in the bay area. Have been here twice now. Highly recommend!! We each got a veggie combo, and then we shared a mushroom thing. All was phenomenal. The injera is delish! Also their coffee cocktails are phenomenal and DANGEROUS!! read more

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We ordered the meat combo and the vegan combo plater. It was a feast! It came with 6 different meat dishes and 6 different vegan dishes. The level of heat from the spices was just enough for our taste. The sourness of the injera paired perfectly well with this savory and spiced meal. Although this meal is eaten without utensils, I really wanted to ask for a fork to eat the salad that comes in the middle of the platter. I felt really inappropriate to stick my fingers in it without a piece of injera to grab it with. But no one was using any utensils, so I kept quiet. Didn't want to be odd or rude. Although our server seemed like a nice guy. He probably would have helped me out if I had asked. Next time! read more

Cafe Colucci - Injera (wheat combo) - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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I've been waiting to review this location for some time now. I'm not a connoisseur with this delicacy but I have had my share of Ethiopian from all over the bay area and I was so happy to have found this place! A few fellow colleagues of mine have over and over again recommended this place because of it's authenticity and consistency. When I mean authentic, I can only take it as face value because my colleagues originated from Ethiopia and Eritrea and they swear by the food here. I've dined here, taken to go, and ordered for delivery at both their new and old location and each time has been that consistent. I've researched a lot of previous reviews and a lot of other yelpers say that the food can be too spicy but earlier this week I dinned in with a group of colleagues and were pleasantly surprised that you can in fact ask for a milder spice. On the tables, they also had additional spices if you need to add to your food but their food came out perfect just the way it was. Usually, I ordered the vegetarian platter with the teff injera but my last order I decided to try their mushroom tibbs with regular injera. Let's say I'm a creature of habit and was blown away with the mushroom tibbs. It was delicious! Also, their Mango drink was perfect and refreshing. Of course you aren't forced to eat with your hands (unlike me, a Neanderthal that I am), you can request cutlery and they're more than happy to bring them to you. The new location is awesome because it's closer to where I work and the street parking is free (at that time). so I have absolutely nothing negative to report back. The service was friendly and they pretty much left us alone, which I appreciated. Being able to try the spices on the tables was a great added benefit because you can try the spices that they sell in restaurant. I really need to try their coffee next time I visit. read more

I've been going to cafe colucci for over a decade and they have ALWAYS had the best Ethiopian food in the Bay. Period!

I drove by this place quite often but didn't get to try it until a couple of friends came to the Bay for our annual meet up - we decided Ethiopian food was the way to go for our first dinner share with each other in a little over a year. I parked on down the street on San Pablo Ave., where minutes before getting out of my car, a small sideshow happened - keep in mind that this is the edge of Oakland and Berkeley, so it's pretty common! I waited for it to be over before getting out to meet with my other friends. We were welcomed into the restaurant with bright lights and a vibrant atmosphere, but were led to the back where the patio was at (this was absolutely great because the space was a lot more bigger than I expected, plus the patio offered a bit more privacy). The patio has a more intimate setting with warmer lights and an outdoor heater. Service was good and staff were helpful and accommodating when we needed things like an extra chair or more water. We ordered the following: - Meat sambusas - Polpetti - Vegan Sampler - Meat Sampler All of the food was tasty and filling, and it was such a wonderful experience to have a more interactive and shared meal with friends in a public setting! As a Filipino, eating with my hands is quite the norm in my culture, so having that opportunity to do so with Ethiopian food was such a refreshing experience. Our group of four agreed that this kind of meal is quite intimate, and a great way to bond without explicitly speaking; it truly brings folks together. I'm excited to come back! read more

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Decided to give it a try for dinner because I was in the neighborhood, I was hungry, heard good things about it and hadn't had Ethiopian food for a while. Exceeded expectations in every way. Seating and service was fast, ambiance was cozy and the food was excellent. Got the Meat Sampler which was just enough food for one person. Plenty of injera to scoop everything up and good portions of everything. The bill ended up being super reasonable as well, only a little over $20 including the tip. Would definitely recommend, possibly the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Bay that I've had so far. read more

My family needed a quick meal before a long trip the next day. Takeout was a must and hearty! My family got a variety of dishes. The appetizer and vegan assortment plate was my favorites. Huge portions! Downside, a tad salty for my liking. Some dishes just weren't for me. My picky husband even liked his dish! Staff was friendly! A little pricey but makes sense for the portions. I'd go back and I recommend read more

Every time I'm in the East Bay, I make it a point to stop by Cafe Colucci. They moved to a new location on San Pablo Ave. from their original location on Telegraph. The new location is far more spacious indoors and out. Their new outdoor patio makes for a perfect setting, especially on a warm day. The service at this restaurant is ALWAYS excellent. I'll make it easy for you, order the meat combination platter and if you're really hungry, also order the vegetarian combination platter. Can easily feed 2-4 people and both platters are the perfect blend of meat or veggies amazingly spiced. Before you go, make sure to get some coffee. I mean Ethiopia is where coffee originated, so it's only fitting. Also make sure to pick up some of the spices they sale individually. Perfect for the cabinet at home. read more

Cafe Colucci - Meat Combination Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Good incredible food Beautiful. Friendly I would always recommend This is the best Ethiopian food in the east bay read more

It was my first time going to Cafe Colucci and I had a great evening and a wonderful dining experience. The food was absolutely delicious and well seasoned with just the right amount of spices. I enjoyed everything that I ordered. The staff made me feel at home and was very welcoming, super friendly, and accommodating. If you like a friendly atmosphere and food with bold flavors that is seasoned all the way through then you will not be disappointed. read more

Such good quality! One platter can be shared between two people. Very authentic, amazing service, high quality ingredients. We were happy to find our new Ethiopian spot in the bay. read more

Been going here since 2007 and my what a change for the worse. Service has gone down the drain where servers don't care at all. Flavors are always inconsistent now. Was really excited for their new location and took my whole family there. My kid kept saying the salad is moving and found multiple bugs all over the food!! It was in the veggie combo and sega tib that I've ordered for years. What finally made me decide not to come here anymore is we showed the bugs moving to the manager and advised there's nothing she can do!!! ‍ read more

Cafe Colucci - Look at the black bug in the middle!!!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Excellent food and teff injera. A little on the spicy side. Place was crowded and was a wait for a table. read more

Cafe Colucci - Veggie combo with 100% teff injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Haven't been here in ages and got a craving, perfect on a rainy day (honestly, I would eat it any day). First time I've been here since they moved to San Pablo ave, the place is so spacious. Super filling, nourishing, and delicious food. We each got a vegan sampler on one large platter. Friend had never had Ethiopian food before and was skeptical, but she loved it. The injera was soft and the perfect texture and all the dishes hit home. I am happy it's all just as good as it was over a decade ago. I actually was trying to go to Lemat for the first time and it wasn't open 20 minutes after they were supposed to be, guess it was meant to be. The staff is pleasant and parking was easy. Price is great for the amount of food you get. Pros Spacious Kind staff Yummy drink options if you don't want water Vegan options Flavorful food Cons: None that I can point to in this visit read more

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I chose Cafe Colucci as my birthday dinner several months ago. My husband and I have had Ethiopian before but we don't think we've taken our kids out for Ethiopian before. We ordered 3 dishes to share among the 4 of us: Sega Alicha (cubed beef), Assa Tibs (fish) and veggie combo platter. The veggie combo platter is the way to go! There are legume dishes, cabbage dishes and so many yummy things I can't remember. We wish we knew that the Assa Tibs was a bony fish. It was hard to eat and just not what we expected. We should have asked more questions. Sega Alicha was just good but not excellent. The flavors were just not great. The house injera were so good. So fresh with just the right tang! I'll definitely go back! read more

Service: 5/5 Food: 4/5 Ambiance: 5/5 It's great that this place is open until 10! I liked that we had the option to keep the plates separate or opt to combine them as we came with a party of 6. My favorite from the combo platter was the beef. For the meat dishes they would bring them freshly heated on a small skillet and pour it onto your dish in front of you. The lamb dish was good but take careful bites as the rosemary twigs were broken up in the dish. read more

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I've been on an Ethiopian self-food tour since early this year. The goal is to visit most, if not every, Ethiopian restaurant in the greater SF Bay Area. A few Saturdays ago, I stopped by Cafe Colucci. I ordered the vegan combo platter and the mushroom tibs. Both were tasty and as expected. The mushroom tibs had a slight kick when eaten together with the sauce, which you can opt for mild or spicy. The service was good. The manager (or owner), visited every table to say hello. He said they're moving locations relatively soon, near Ashby and San Pablo Ave. I'm looking forward to visiting them at their new location! #25/2022 read more

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This place is so GOATED! Came here for my sister's birthday in June. The food was delicious and the folks serving us were so kind and attentive. They seemed to genuinely enjoy their jobs. The owner and staff really know how to set a vibe for their customers. Love this place sm Will absolutely be coming back :) read more

This is one of the first restaurants I tried when I moved to the east bay over a decade ago. I am happy to see that they are doing well and that they have expanded to a bigger location. It's a very "Berkeley" crowd if you get my gist...but the food is delicious. Get the vegan platter sampler. For a group of 6 we had to get 3 of them as they are pretty small. The messer wat is my favorite. I love the red lentils that are spicy! They give you unlimited enjera bread so don't be shy! This is a great healthy and tasty place for vegans and meat lovers alike. read more

First time back since the move and the new place is impressive. I am familiar with the flavors that keep bringing me back. We got the lamb and chicken doro tibs with the combo vegan veggies. Family size with honey wine. We're used to the home made honey wine which is so much better but they no longer have it. Off street parking is available and they have a patio. read more

Cafe Colucci - Honey Wine - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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This review covers the food that was prepared for my office for a catered lunch. I have not been to their physical location. This was my first Ethiopian meal, and I was favorably impressed. Cafe Colucci supplied several trays of food, with 10 different dishes, several of them being vegetarian. I tried all of those. Injera is a well known staple of this cuisine, and it was also the strongest to my pallet. Like a biting into pool noodle, and discovering that it's edible, and easy to chew. There was a regular and also a gluten free option. I also had a vegetarian Misser Wot, a lentil stew prepared with ingredients I've never heard of, while there were beef and chicken versions available for my meat eating comrades. Served over white rice, this was fabulous. I don't know if I preferred that, or the AtaKilt, the vegan stir fry with cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Hey, why choose? Finally, I tried the veggie sambussa, which was the most familiar dish for me, similar to a samosa, but with a filling based on lentils. I definitely will not hesitate to try more, and if I'm in Oakland, will stop by Cafe Colucci. read more

Cafe Colucci - Sampling of veggie dishes. - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Food was very good, we had the meat combo and the veg combo. Both excellent. They have different injera. Both the traditional and wheat were good. Half and half sumbussa was crispy and tasty. Tori recommended this amount of food for the 5 of us and was just perfect amount. Service: Tori was such a great waitress, very warm, smiley, knowledgeable. Always attentive keeping an eye on her tables but not hovering. Twice I looked for her and twice she was right at our table to see what I needed. Great service. Thank you, Tori. Ambiance: Nicely decorated, people talking but not very loud. Definitely I will go back. read more

This is my go-to spot for Ethiopian food. I went recently with my cousins, and everyone really enjoyed the food. We ordered the vegan sampler and meat sampler which really gives a good variety. They also serve fun cocktails, and I ordered a coffee which was great. We went for dinner and the restaurant had a great ambience and decor. As soon as you walk in you'll be greeted with a lot of spices that they sell, and it gives off a great aroma. The service was also great, the food came out pretty quickly, and they made sure everyone had enough injera throughout the meal. If you're looking to have Ethiopian food, you can't go wrong with Cafe Colucci. read more

It's no secret by now that Cafe Colucci is a must visit, when in the East Bay. A wonderful introduction to Ethiopian cuisine if it's your first time. Their new location is quite spacious and includes a patio area with out door seating. The service is just as good as the food. Bring a friend or appetite to truly get the full experience. read more

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Cafe Colucci proudly serves boldly spiced Ethiopian food in a lively dining room, along with super sour teff injera flatbread. The sampler plates were great for trying a lot of different items, and the Vegan Sampler came with misser wot (red lentils), kik alicha (split peas), ataklit (cabbage, carrots, potatoes), gomen (collard greens), buticha (blended chickpeas), and azifa (blended lentils). The Meat Sampler came with doro wat (chicken in berbere wot kulet), doro alicha (chicken in turmeric kulet), sega alicha (beef cubes in turmeric kulet), minchet wot (ground beef in berbere wot kulet), and gomen (collard greens). Finally, the Shrimp Tibs were made of shrimp sautéed with onions, jalapeño, tomatoes, garlic, and spices, and served with a side of shiro (puréed spiced chickpeas). Each item we had was distinctly spiced and delicious in its own way, though I was especially a fan of the buticha and the boldly spiced shrimp tibs. The restaurant proudly makes and showcases its own spice mixes, which you can buy on their own too! read more

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Wonderful service & delicious food. Nice place with a small area in the front that sells Ethiopian spices & a cook book. There is a outside patio area to dine in that is heated & dog friendly as well. Our service was excellent! Our server was very knowledgeable and they have a excellent selection of cocktails, beer, and wine. I tried the Ethiopian honey wine & it was so good. We had a meat sampler & doulet. We also had injera regular & gluten free. Yummmm! I definitely recommend this place. read more

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This was my first time at Cafe Colucci and I couldn't have loved it more, this place is a gem. The food was amazing. We got half/half sumbussas, begue tibs, and a hot chocolate and it was all so flavorful. The vibe is really great too. You can tell that a lot of love has gone into this place. It feels good to support a local business that is mission driven and feels like such a cultural hub. Shout out to Daniel for a great evening, we will be coming back! read more

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This was my friends and my first time trying Ethiopian food and the experience was amazing. The drinks food and servers were incredible. The waiter was so attentive and the atmosphere was so friendly and warm! read more

Great friendly service, nice family-friendly atmosphere, and amazing food. Zero complaints!!

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. Ethiopian food is something I'm not really familiar with, but every time I had it, the flavors packed a punch and it didn't feel too heavy for the stomach. My girlfriend and I decided to try the beef sambussas as a starter. The sambussas reminded me of a samosa with a wonton texture. It was very golden and crispy on the outside. The inside is beefy and rich in their seasoning. The sauce that came was tomatoey and a little spicy. We decided to get the veggie platter to share that came with injera. The injera has a good funk to it due to the fermentation and was very soft. It was used to scoop up the variety of dishes that come in the veggie platter. The veggie platter itself had a variety of dishes to try and they were all amazing. Each dish had it own unique flavor and all went well with the injera. Overall, glad I was able to step out of my comfort zone and try Ethiopian food because it was amazing. Will definitely be coming back! read more

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