This place is special. This evening 4 friends who are loved like family and myself sat down to eat and share our recent experiences/discoveries in this thing we call life. We were quickly seated. Shortly after we were given our water. As we pondered the delectable menu one member of our group brought our attention to the beautiful artwork surrounding those eating. The images are breathtaking portraits of individuals who look to be part of the Eritrean community. Sounds of laughter from the surrounding tables and feelings of safety from the peaceful internal environment embraced us as we looked. Then the food came out. It was full of color and there was clearly intentionality behind the presentation. Upon tasting the dish, flavors of savory seasonings, fresh vegetables, and soft injera filled the mouth. It was more than enough food for us all and we ended up taking left overs. If you are near the area I HIGHLY recommend paying this spot a visit. read more

Came here for lunch with some friends on our break. We ordered the sampler that included both the meat and vegetarian versions of dishes. We also ordered a side of injera (sour flatbread). The food took a bit of time to come out but we didn't mind since we were chatting. This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. Eating the food was interesting and fun. Ethiopian food is made to be eaten with your hands and no utensils. My favorites on the platter were the salad, Dorho Chicken, and Potatoes. I wasn't a big fan of the sourness of the injera, but I did love the softness of the flatbread. read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Subtly spicy lamb tipi!! Yummy :) Decent service Cozy dim place Good for sit down chats ! read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - 12. Tibsi (Lamb) - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

One of the best and our favorite Habesha restaurants in Oakland. The food is authentic, injera is always good and not heavy. The prices are fair and the portion is a lot more than most restaurants. The service, ambiance, everything is great and the art is beautiful. it's a gem and must try! 10/10 read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - COMMNTATOR - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

One of my favorite of Oakland's many habesha spots. I have been coming here since the mid-90s and it NEVER disappoints. Had lunch here today for the first time in several years (I moved out of the neighborhood); the menu has changed a bit and it is as delicious and welcoming as ever. read more

When you enter, there are 2 tables then a small bar (Warriors game was playing) with ~8 barstools, all of which were taken by men on a Saturday evening while the Warriors game was playing. To the left of the bar, is the dining room with ~10 tables. Service was pleasant. The lentil samosas were quite hearty, perfectly crispy on the outside and smooth and mild on the inside. The hot sauce served with them had sufficient heat to spice them up, but the flavor was flat. Still, these were the best part of the meal. We also ordered the vegetable platter and it was okay. The injera was thin, cold and fell apart too easily. read more

Delicious food I always get the veggie plate. Always delicious my favorite is the spicy lentils

Unfortunately this was a disappointing experience! My partner and I love Ethiopian food and we regularly go to a couple other restaurants here in Oakland. This was on our list to try but we won't be returning. We ordered the house sampler plate, so maybe that was not a great choice, but big plates tend to be a hit with us elsewhere. All of the meats were pretty dry and tough. Everything, including the potato/veg portion, was bland. This is normally the kind of food we scarf down but we couldn't even finish this plate between two people. read more

Came with a party of 10. delicious, with a series of options for all dietary needs. Get lots of the honey wine and plates to share!

This is my second visit to this Eritrean Restaurant. I always get the same item, the special house sampler, which has a good amount of house meats and vegetables. My favorite is the beef marinated in specially seasoned chili sauce and butter(ziggni), potatoes and salad. The lamb is great too and the Dorho Alicha (stir friend chicken breast in butter, hot pepper, onion, garlic and mild curry spices) is good. I just have a preference for the beef. The injera bread is always great and I relish eating the whole injera plate that has soaked up all the juices from the overlying dishes. The food is obviously similar to Ethiopian however I prefer the beef (ziggni) to the Ethiopian beef tibs. The server, Luwam (?) is the sweetest! Her bright smile lights up the whole restaurant and she is always checking on us. Will definitely be back! read more

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I thought the service was pretty good, although when it got busy I had to wait for 20min for the check and got up to pay at the counter. food for vegetarians is decent, I wouldn't say the absolute best ethiopian for vegetarians in oakland but I think it gets the job done and is delicious! they have a fun bar feel and proximity to bart is convenient read more

I recently checked this place out with some Eritrean friends and it really hit the spot. It's in Temescal, pretty close to MacArthur Bart. The ambiance was warm and relaxing, with traditional Eritrean art adding rich texture to the dining experience. Also the service was really friendly; when I told them it was my first time at a Eritrean restaurant they were super eager to help me go over the menu. I ordered the delish Vegetarian Combo, which had a nice flavorful spice ratio, where it had some kick but didn't set my mouth on fire. I'll definitely be coming back again soon. If you're a fan of Eritrean cuisine or just wanna try it out for the first time, trust me you can't go wrong with Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique! read more

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Food: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Fresh made to order food. I knew I wanted to order to go and placed my order then went next door to Ancient Ways to get a few items from there. Timed this perfectly. The wait time is usually about twenty minutes. The server was nice and allowed me to substitute extra greens or anything else in the vegetarian platter for the potatoes without an up charge. It was warm this day so I asked for a cup of ice and was provided one in a to go cup of regular size. That was nice. Many places give you a smaller/smallest cup for ice. I find their artwork to be unique and vibrant in color. There is a bar and they promote their own honey wine. One day I will dine in and give their libations menu a try. Especially the honey wine. Sounds yummy. I loved every bit of my food. The vegetation platter has regular lentils, spicy lentils, mixed veggies, hummus, collard greens (special name I can't remember) and a red spicy paste I can't recall the name of. You get plenty of enjera which is a doughy like bread used to eat your food with. Similar to sourdough but mildly wet. If you enjoy trying new foods and restaurants or love Eritrean food give this one a try. read more

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I haven't had much Eritrean food but my tummy and tastebuds really liked what I ate here. I have had injera before and wasn't a big fan because it was super sour. But the injera here was delicious and not overly sour! I shared this combination with a friend and we both were definitely satiated after. I could probably have eaten the whole thing on my own, but I think it was much healthier for me to not have! I'm not super familiar with everything that was on the plate, but I can tell you that everything was delicious. The friend that I shared with and I went one by one trying each dish and we both loved every one of them. Everything was super flavorful and there was such variety in textures and veggies. Definitely a great meal choice! read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - 4. Vegetarian Combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Food was good. We ordered the meat sampler. Service was ok. Plenty of parking on the street. read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Definitely the least best East African food I've had. Meat was a bit mushy. Service was poor (no napkins, infrequent water refills, had to ask for things). The combo platter was a good deal but the added lamb platter didn't add that much meat? Very little injera provided compared to other places. read more

I was really excited to try this place as my go-to Eritrean restaurant Assab closed a few years ago in SF. On a weekday afternoon, we got lucky and found a parking spot across the street. My SO ordered takeout and said they charged a credit card fee. We split the house special sampler and the vegetarian combination. It would have been nice if there was an option that combined the meat and veggies. The injera was great. I enjoyed the flavors from the chicken the most while my SO preferred the lamb and beef. Unfortunately, I found some bones and a hair in the meat sampler which was... not great. Hopefully that was a one off and not a regular occurrence but it put me off of the meal. read more

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One of our family's very favorite restaurants! The food is consistently amazing, offering both vegetarian and meat options. Highly recommend the samosas as an appetizer and the veggie combo. In addition to the great food, the service is warm and friendly. read more

Really good latte. I got the fish sandwich it was really good, a little spicy just the way I like it

My first time eating Ethiopian food and it did not disappoint at all! We ordered the mixed platter and it was big enough to share between 2-3 people. That being said, it's priced pretty fairly. I also ordered the peach smoothie and it was one of the best smoothies too. It's rare to have a peach smoothie not be anything but artificial- this has peach pulp and was very slushied, super good on a hot day! The only thing is that the food and drinks did take a while, but that's okay because this was family owned and the food made everything worth the wait. read more

Very very good! Everything was well seasoned plenty of food will definitely come again! read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Combination and veggie platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Have been coming here for wonderful food since the early 1990s. This restaurant NEVER disappoints. The food is always excellent. The owner is a wonderful, swewt and generous person. Over the years have tried just about every dish. But we keep returning for our favorites: lamb tibis, kitfo and the veggie sampler. Come try, eat family style. Just bring clean fingers cauae eating with fingers is required. read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Veggie combo, lamb tibis and kitfo family style. Yum - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

We took our 5 kids, ages 1 to 15, at about 5 p.m. for an early dinner. Staff was gracious about putting two tables together to accommodate our large family, and a high chair and booster seat were available. We ordered three meat entrees and a vegetable entree--of course, everything was served family-style in one large platter. The food took a while to come out, owing to an enormous carry-out order that was placed before ours, but when it did come it was delicious: fresh, flavorful, and not overly greasy or saucy. The ziggni was my favorite, spicy but not unbearably so. Our preschooler loved the hummus, very lemony and heavy on the tahini for a creamy texture. The big kids and my husband favored the lamb tibsi. Everyone had their fill and we still took home a full take-out container. The bill was under $100, not bad for a family of seven! read more

My favorite neighborhood spot for Ethiopian food in the East Bay. Typically order combination plate of veggie and meat which is plenty enough for two people to chow down. I also love to order a cup of hot apple cider which is both tart and sweet. Service is usually good and food comes out within approximately 10-15 minutes depending on your choice of order and how busy. The restaurant is always busy and filled with East African people so you know it's authentic and good ! There is also a bar which stays busy and primarily filled with men hanging out watching tv and partaking of their favorite beer and spirits. read more

l have had a good share of Ethiopian food over the years and even the very sweet hostess said there's really no difference between Eritrean and Ethiopian food, but theirs was better than virtually any other place! Went with the house sampler. Fresher spices, more unique flavors, and a packed dining room within an hour of opening! The salad was super crisp and fresh, too! read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - House sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Food is alright but the service is bad. This place is only a five minute walk from my apt. I went to go pick up an order. I paid and waited for my food to be brought over. The server / cashier didn't say anything to me. I waited for about 15-20 minutes before asking when the food would be ready. She went behind the counter and checked a bag that had been sitting there the entire time I was there and handed it to me without saying a word. Of course, the food was cold. There's plenty of Ethiopian places in the area with better service and better food for more affordable prices. read more

I'm so tired of the "hit then miss" routine with these folks. If I do ever come back it won't be for a long while. A couple weeks ago, the food was really on point. Today I ordered take-out.... Half of it wasn't edible. The RED LENTILS definitely didn't taste fresh (looked like 2 different batches swirled together). The YELLOW SPLIT PEAS & SHIRO were indistinguishable. The GREENS were really potently bitter ...again, not very fresh tasting and the cabbage& carrots looked dehydrated. Total disappointment . read more

Have been coming here for at least 20 years. They may have different owners; not sure. Prices have gone up but food is still great!!! One of the best eastern African restaurants read more

Had their food catered at a wedding and OMG - so delicious! Everything was seasoned perfectly, meat was tender, can't say enough good things. I highly recommend trying this place out! read more

Hands down my favorite Eritean food in the Bay. It's cozy but lively, the food is amazing and the staff has always taken care of us when my partner and I come. We usually get the Meat Combo and/or Vegetarian Combo. read more

i have loved cafe eritrea for as long as they have been open. i lived in eritrea for 2 .5 years. but my latest visit was a huge disappointment. the injera was mixed with flour and thusly not sour, and it was so dry it crumbled you could not wrap any food with it. i was so sad. read more

This is one of my fav places to go when I'm hungry! Food always delicious the salad is Yummy I can't wait to eat the food I just ordered!

Love, love, love this place & im not even Eritrean. My sis introduced me to this place & I just can't leave it alone read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

My cousin raves about this place all the time! She kept inviting me to eat here all the way from Vacaville, I finally came and I cannot wait to come back. This is the first time I ever tried this food and it was SO GOOD! So fun to eat no utensils needed. And super tasty!!! We got a meat platter combo with another combo with different kinds of lentils and hummus and collard greens. So delicious! Service was a bit slow but the wait was totally worth it. Highly recommend. read more

Cafe Eritrea D'Afrique - Not so sure being that it was my first time. Combo of meats lamb, chicken, beef, lentils, hummus, collard greens was amazing. - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Over friendly staff, the young lady who works inside the bar area is always drunk and everyone seem to be friends with the workers. Food is a 4 out of 10 2 Words to describe this place: Bland taste Overly comfortable staff read more

A very solid 3.5 stars for cheap and fulfilling Ethiopian food! I came in on a Friday night to order some dinner to-go. The prices are standard at around 12-15 dollars, but the portions are huge! I got 3 meals for 15 bucks! While I personally believe the quality at Finfine is one of the best, this place beats it in terms of portions and price. That day, I ordered the House sampler of 3 meats: lamb, beef, and chicken with a side order of collard greens. The beef and the chicken were slightly dry, but the sauce was fulfilling, soft, and flavorful with a hint of spice. The lamb was really moist. I'm not sure what the dishes exactly were, but they were still quite fulfilling. The injera bread was extremely porous and thick compared to other Ethiopian places but I thought it was still a great, sour bread for the rich meat. Since I forgot to order the meal spicy, the waitress was very generous in giving me a huge to go container for their wet berbere hot sauce. Service was relatively quick. It took me 10 minutes to get my food, but the older generation of workers seemed to be paying more attention to the TV than welcoming customers in. The cashier who took and got me my order was in her 20s and she was way more attentive. But, for the portions and the price, I would definitely be back! FYI: the $8.95 lunch buffet ends at 3:30 and it's vegetarian. read more

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Best I've tried so far since Fin Fine closed. I'm mostly vegan but still order their delicious Kitfo. Also love their hummus and shiro. I always order the vegetarian combination, Kitfo & extra hummus and injera to go. read more

Update: they found a design and decor budget!! They've gone for tastefully subdued and in keeping with the culture. Very well done. And the food is still great. read more

North Oakland staple! Smackin ass Eritrean food. Love the seasoning & spices here. I'm sure there's an old Habesha woman cooking in the back. Don't sleep on the honey wine aka Tej here. It will creep up on you.. read more

Food was awesome Service and ambiance was like a family of friends I was being welcome into. read more