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    Cafe Ethiopia

    3.8 (512 reviews)
    ModerateEthiopian
    Closed 5:00 pm - 8:30 PM

    Cafe Ethiopia Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE ETHIOPIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Ethiopia

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    Trigger warning: trypophobia!!!
    Andrew R.

    WARNING: do not come here if you have Trypophobia!!! I came here with some friends and we ordered a bunch of different dips to try. I'm not the biggest fan of eating with my hands, but really wanted to try this place. There were definitely some dips that were great (like the lentil ones and the potato/carrot ones) but some of them were lacking in flavor and tasted pretty similar to one another. I would also say the portions are a bit small given the price, and I left still a bit hungry. Service was good, and the restaurant is pretty neat.

    Maddy Van H.

    My favorite restaurant in SF and favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the Bay. I love eating here. The vegetarian combo platter is amazing. I love getting it with either the tofu tibsie or the fish. With homemade cottage cheese on the side. The restaurant is also nice and quiet. Service is great. No nonsense. I wish I could eat here everyday!

    Becca H.

    This is not a bad spot for some Ethiopian food. I had never had it before and really enjoyed it. The lentils were great and the beef had good flavor. We grabbed for takeout, but you can also dine inside!

    Isaac A.

    Portion size was absolutely amazing! Huge plate took up the entire table - the additional order of tofu and chicken was added and also tasted great. Spicy but not too much. Staff super friendly, polite and kind. Felt very authentic and neighborly. Also appreciated the tofu options because ya boy needs his protein

    Meat & Vegetarian Comb with #2, #6, and #16! All were delicious!
    Serina A.

    I'm so glad I came here with friends! I split a Meat & Veggie combo with #2, #6, and #16 with a friend and it was the perfect amount. I highly recommend and will definitely be back!

    6. Zigni beef, 9. tsebhi begee (lamb), 14. Bersin, 25. Shrimp & Hamli
    Sandy L.

    Some items were good and others not so much. Service was slow and not the friendliest. Good place to get a decent Ethiopian fix in Mission though. Casual restaurant, brightly lit. We came for dinner on a Friday. No issues getting seated. While there were many tables it was strangely quiet. We tried their meat and veggie combo (with Zignia beef stew, tsebhi begee lamb, and bersin red lentils) and shrimp & hamli. The zigni was the favorite. The lamb and red lentils were unremarkable, but the beef was incredibly flavorful and tender. I would skip the shrimp, not good.

    Veggie and Meat Combo Platter
    Andrea Z.

    Walked in on a Friday around 8pm as a group of three and were seated quickly. I'd say half the restaurant was full so easy spot to walk into. Food: order one veggie platter and one meat and veggie platter which came on one large injera to share with additional injera on the side Tsebhi Derho - a stewed spicy chicken drumsticks with warm spices, the sauce was thick and flavorful, chicken was slightly dry but still tasty Hamili - stewed collard greens with onions and a light broth, a nice veggie option that adds contrast to all the heavily spiced dishes Ater - split peas stewed in lots of spices and seasoning reminded me of a yellow dal, this was spicy but good Bersin - lentils cooked with tomatoes, flavorful and rich Whole lentils - similar to the Ater we thought this had an added nuttiness which was really nice Zigni - beef stew with lots of rich warm spices, also really saucey Service was fine, a little bit slow since there was only one person serving but understandable. Overall a decent Ethiopian spot in the mission, limited menu of mostly stewed items. Wish the injera was warmed up, the meal ate a bit cold but not a deal breaker. There's a 4% service fee for credit cards FYI.

    Vegetarian Combo for 6
    Anna Z.

    4.5 / 5 Amazing Ethiopian food, one of my go-to restaurants in the mission! Interior is modest and has plenty of space, feels as if you're sitting in your grandpa's living room with a comforting home cooked meal. I really recommend the vegetarian combo, there's a good variety of flavors and always consistently cooked with generous portions. You can get it for as many people as you have in your group, but I think it's better to get one size smaller if you also want to get a meat dish on the side. The lamb and the fish are really delicious. Of course, everything pairs well with the nice fluffy injera. Try their honey wine if you like sweet drinks, and they have some interesting Ethiopian beers as well. Service may be slow sometimes (there's only been one server when I've gone) but it's a family run restaurant after all. Prices are standard for SF

    Vegetarian combo (also is vegan) with personal three choices of ater, alecha ater, and atakelt kilkil. Injera is included with the order
    Casey C.

    Cafe Ethiopia serves traditional Ethiopian food. Customers will be awed by the authentic flavors. It is located in the San Francisco Mission District. Right on Valencia Street, this establishment is conveniently central. The menu is mainly meat, but there are vegetarian or vegan upon request dishes. This place feels cozy and casual, despite it being a bit plain. There is not much decorations, but some Ethiopian decor up on the counter. There are a ton of seats for all types of group settings. There was just one person holding down the restaurant when it was busy, so the service was slow and steady. The man did a great job juggling multiple orders all the while giving great service by himself. I ordered a veggie combo plate with three options of my choice being ater, alecha ater, and atakelt kilkil. Personally, nothing really stood out. Although this plate on the menu said vegetarian, it is vegan as well. I have to say that the plate was $20, but it was simple and filling that satisfied my cravings. Otherwise, there are plenty of other similar places but cheaper in San Francisco or in the Bay Area.

    Italian soda vanilla
    Savan D.

    Give me a spicy drumstick curry on injera bread and bury me with it Chief. The spices are so good- I love the man who's always serving us there too. Don't skimp out on the Italian sodas too- they're so tasty.

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    1 year ago

    This food is SOOOOOOO flavorful !! They also have the seating for a traditional coffee ceremony.

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    1 year ago

    Delicious! We had a great meal after a long day. Friendly and efficient service. Thanks!

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Cafe Ethiopia

    Are they providing outdoor dining?

    Is their injera gluten free?

    Theirs is made from teff and wheat

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    Radio Africa Kitchen - Catering

    Radio Africa Kitchen

    4.4(366 reviews)
    3.8 miBayview-Hunters Point

    Sorry to have to do this, but arrived on a Thursday (today!) at or before 2 pm and the place was…read moreclosed. Posted hours on website, Google and Yelp all say they close ar 2:30. Came out of my way to try and support this place. Major let-down and waste of my time, and adversely impacted my entire plan for the day. Was excited to try, but unlikely to give another chance under the circumstances.

    I had been meaning to come here for the longest time because beyond Auntie April's, it was the only…read morerestaurant I had really heard of in Bayview. I remember reading about chef/owner Eskender Aseged's back story in an old SFGATE article - how he escaped Ethiopia on foot with his family, how he started as a busboy at the legendary Square One, how he worked his way up at the tonier restaurants in town like Boulevard and Campton Place, and how he managed to open this place nearly a decade ago. It's quite an impressive journey, and I didn't know I was meeting him when I walked up to the counter to look at the menu. It was after 2PM, and he was busy in the back washing the dishes. He didn't hear me come in, so I cleared my throat. Yes, I know that was a rude passive-aggressive move. Although everything was tempting, I selected the $15 Saffron Prawns over Couscous with Vegetables and Chermoula (photo: https://bit.ly/3DPe4Fh). I didn't know chermoula was a North African variation on a cilantro-olive oil marinade with a discernible chili kick. The combination of flavors was quite delicious and surprisingly familiar, a bit like a Cajun-style seafood stew. The $3.50 Iced Hibiscus Lemonade was a refreshing complement to the homestyle dish, more compatible than a Coke Zero would've been (photo: https://bit.ly/3ran6aB). I heard he changes up the menu, but I hope the chicken jambalaya and pistachio baklava are still around for me to try. The ride on the T Line was pretty easy, as the restaurant is right at the Oakdale/Palou stop in front of the portrait mural of Barack and Michelle (photo: https://bit.ly/3uSJPsQ). FOOD - 5 stars...the saffron prawns clearly reflected a broader palette worth trying AMBIANCE - 4 stars...contemporary concrete and clean SERVICE - 4.5 stars...Eskender was doing everything himself TOTAL - 5 stars...a proud accomplishment in Bayview RELATED - Exploring Bayview/Hunters Point? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AOvRKv

    Photos
    Radio Africa Kitchen - Prawns with harissa sauce, spinach & couscous. Soup and Beets salad! Soo GOOD.

    Prawns with harissa sauce, spinach & couscous. Soup and Beets salad! Soo GOOD.

    Radio Africa Kitchen - Prawn Prawn Prawn

    Prawn Prawn Prawn

    Radio Africa Kitchen - Chicken jambalaya

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    Chicken jambalaya

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and Veggie Sampler for Four

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    9.7 mi
    $$

    came in on memorial day bc I was in the area, and a family friend recommended this place :)…read more Quickly seated for a party of one, average sized lunch crowd Servers were great, helpful, and kind Food & drink: - Sampled the classic honey wine! Def sweet & kinda strong for me but still loved hehe - Another server said her fave was the honey pineapple cider wine and it fsho didn't disappoint; came in a cinnamon-lined glass and tasted more apple than pineapple haha but not complaining at all, just noticing - small plate of chicken w/ red lentils -- came w/ injera and salad --- HELLA SHMACK (usually at Ethiopian restaurants, I get the samplers to split w/ friends) since I came in solo, I got the small plate today. I thought I'd need more injera, but the serving was actually a perfect size bc I even needed a to-go box **can't wait to visit again!! though they did note their moving locations soon

    The food was delicious and prices were reasonable for the large quantity. Deducting a star because…read moreit's so loud here I could barely hold a conversation. I'm glad they've moving locations in a week. Wait staff was friendly. We got the veggie sampler for two ($40) and the meat sampler for one ($23). The veggie sampler was very filling, and each dish was flavorful. My friends enjoyed the meat dishes. The dishes came with plenty of injera. The spicy red lentils were my favorite as well as the carrot/cabbage/potato mix. I can't stomach onions so I was happy none of the veggie dishes included chunks in them. They were probably in there but blended or cooked down to nothing. My friend is diabetic so he couldn't eat a lot of the injera. We asked and the wait staff brought him eating utensils. When we entered, we stood around for a while and then figured out we were supposed to go to the back right where there's a few chairs put together for a waiting area. I flagged down a staff member and they had me put my name on a wait list. We were there early on a Friday (around 6pm), so we only had a short wait. Although this place has a decent amount of tables, I can imagine long waits during peak times. I'm glad they're moving to a new location in about a week and I hope it's quieter. We sat in the semi enclosed outside area and even there was loud. Voices echo throughout and since the restaurant is near a stoplight outside, cars and motorcycles blaring music go by constantly. Many were so loud just about the entire restaurant turned their heads to look at what was so noisy. As soon as we finished eating I suggested we leave since I could barely hear our conversation.

    Photos
    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - Menu

    Menu

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - DORO WOT ( chicken stew ), BEEF Tibs, LAMB Tibs

    DORO WOT ( chicken stew ), BEEF Tibs, LAMB Tibs

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - Amazing Cocktails: Espresso Martini, Honey Wine Pineapple Cider, Honey wine, Campari

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    Amazing Cocktails: Espresso Martini, Honey Wine Pineapple Cider, Honey wine, Campari

    Udupi Palace - Bhatura: Puffed Deep-Fried Bread | $4.95

    Udupi Palace

    3.9(1.6k reviews)
    0.1 miMission
    $$

    This was my first time having dosa, and I loved it! Not sure how much this is a review for Upudi…read morePalace as much as it is for dosa... but Udupi made my first dosa, so they deserve some credit! Idly ($8): I love idly. So glad to have a place in the city serving idly. That is all. Medu Vada ($8): I think this was also my first time trying vada! It was good, but not as good as idly. It was fried but not oily, which is always a win. But it was drier and denser than I hoped for. Not overly so, but I think I just wanted it to be like fried idly but in a donut shape. In that case, I should have just ordered fried idly and let go of the shape. That's on me! Podi Masala Dosa (~$15): Super yummy. I loved the crisp and chew of the dosa. Potatoes are always amazing. And the podi added a wonderful flavor. The portion was great, and I was definitely full. Service was prompt and friendly. I would definitely come back. It's a cute spot with dosa and idly, so what's not to like?

    I've ordered takeout/delivery from here a dozen or so times, and this was the first time I actually…read moredined in. Food quality was better eating in the restaurant than takeout experiences. Authentic South Indian flavors and the food was served with a nicely hot temperature -- so it felt fresh. Delicious thali. The chole/channa taste was excellent. Our main server was helpful and friendly/courteous. The room for improvement is: The bathroom to go wash your hands in is very dirty. Also the filter coffee was over-extracted and tasted bitter.

    Photos
    Udupi Palace - Inside

    Inside

    Udupi Palace - Inside the Special Rava Masala Dosa (made w/ cream of wheat) filled w/ curry spiced mashed potatoes + onions.

    Inside the Special Rava Masala Dosa (made w/ cream of wheat) filled w/ curry spiced mashed potatoes + onions.

    Udupi Palace

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    Bissap Baobab

    Bissap Baobab

    3.8(985 reviews)
    0.2 miMission
    $$

    I had been wanting to try fufu for a long time, so I decided to check out Bissap Baobab. The…read morerestaurant has more of a cocktail lounge vibe than a traditional dining spot, with eclectic decorations that make the atmosphere fun and unique. The service was friendly, but nothing extraordinary. Unfortunately, they didn't have fufu--which was the main reason I went. That was definitely a bummer (and a bit confusing, since it's such a staple dish). On the bright side, the food I did try was tasty. The fish, Senegal's signature dish, was fried perfectly, though it could have used a bit more salt. The rice tasted like it might have been a day old, and the sauce reminded me of marinara more than anything else.

    I haven't had much Senegalese food, so I was really excited to try this place. I was lucky enough…read moreto score the last order of the Ceebu Jen ($26), which is the national dish of Senegal. Just a warning that this fish has bones in it -- I'm used to eating fish like this, but some people may not be. The fish was super tender and the outside was nice and crispy. However, this dish was lacking lots of flavor. The fish didn't taste seasoned and there was no sauce to add anything additional.The jollof rice felt the same as it was lacking a lot of the tomato and spice flavor. My friend felt similarly about her dish being pretty bland too. Overall, I may be willing to go come back here again to try a different dish, but the place was lacking some of the flavors that I was expecting.

    Photos
    Bissap Baobab - Spirit of The Baobab

    Spirit of The Baobab

    Bissap Baobab
    Bissap Baobab

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    Cafe Ethiopia - ethiopian - Updated June 2026

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