This is the first time I've had Ethiopian food. It was really great! Thank you Yelpers! So if you are new to Ethiopian food like me, be prepared to use your fingers to eat, scooping the pieces of deliciousness into the yummy crepe-like bread. And don't ask for rice. You will get a really weird look. Lastly, don't order to go. The woman convinced me to eat here and I'm glad she did. The whole experience was beautiful, from the way the food was served to the music and smelling the incense. I got the lamb combo. It was really super good. I don't know which I liked more, the stew or the sautéed lamb. And the spinach and green bean dishes were so yummy. Some Yelpers complain of the lamb being spicy. I didn't think it was. The green beans were. But totally delicious. I ate them all. To be fair to the other things on my plate like the lentils and cabbage, I don't eat that type of food so I can't comment. Overall it was awesome!!!! I'll be back. read more

Cafe Ibex - Get the combo!!! It's worth every bite!!!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Top 3 best Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle. Everything is so flavorful and goes together perfectly. The beef platter is great. But you honestly can't go wrong. read more

I love Ethiopian food. Love. It. I have now ordered three times from Cafe Ibex and just reviewing it makes me want to order again today. Their green chicken is bomb. Like, so good. Like maybe I won't go anywhere else for green chicken again good. The greens are cooked perfectly, the chicken breast chunks are substantial, it has just the right amount of spice and oil and the injera is thick enough to handle all of the above. TBH I haven't ordered anything but green chicken from Cafe Ibex so I can't say anything else about the menu but if their green chicken is any indication I'm thinking the rest is pretty bitchin' too. Also as a note - I haven't actually eaten in the restaurant so I can't comment on atmosphere, I always order to go or through delivery. read more

Ordered beef tibs, it was good. Menu said it came with salad, got all the way home and no salad included. Very disappointed because really wanted the greens to go with the meat. If the dish no longer comes with salad they need to update the menu. That's what I get for not checking before o left the resting read more

Wow wow WOW! So delicious! I can't believe we found this hidden gem. I have been to some Ethiopian restaurants and this place is by far the best. They give you so much food! Also the kids (3 and 6 year old) devoured the food. The owner is so generous and even gave the kids dessert. We will be back! read more

Cafe Ibex - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This review is primarily a heads-up for anyone looking to eat gluten-free. In case you didn't know, not all Injera is gluten free, in fact, most isn't. In addition to the teff, small amounts of gluten is (very often) used to make the texture more appealing. That being said, we went here the other day and called ahead and confirmed that they had "100% gluten free injera available." Which in perfect english they said they did (usually a confidence cue for us). After we ordered, we confirmed with our server and the food runner that all the injera on our table was gluten-free. Now for the grey area. Half way through eating I felt my stomach expand and send signals to my brain that it's full... I had definitely not eaten enough to feel this way. Normally I don't have the feeling of being full until 10 minutes after I eat so I knew something wasn't right. Luckily - I keep some emergency gluten-ease on hand and this was my first time trying it. I believe it helped but I definitely still had symptoms of a gluten reaction. We had ordered gluten-free injera for the base-bread and for myself and a regular for my partner. When the food came out it was the base-bread and only 1 side injera. We asked what it was and she said gluten-free, I said I still needed our second piece and to just make it gluten-free also (this may have been our mistake because then we couldn't compare the two versions - gluten-free is historically markedly less elastic). Additionally, I think we were overcharged. We ordered the $11.95 veggie combo and somehow racked up another 8 dollars in possible gluten-free upcharges? Not entirely sure. The food itself was alright, about as good as any other I've had in Seattle and still about 25% as good as Bunna in New York so if anyone has some suggestions I'm down! So just a heads up for my GF friends out there. read more

amazing food, atmosphere, service, thank you for having us. all the food looked amazing but we split an Ethiopian beer and the beef combo platter between two people and still had lunch leftovers. 10/10 .5 stars. a new favorite when we're in the Seattle area! read more

We continue to love Cafe Ibex. We've been ordering takeout. They're great at having it ready, and it's consistently good. Our favorites are the veggie combo, beef stew (it's spicy), and dry lamb (small lamb cubes with onion and spices. Any leftovers? I love to rip up the leftover injera into small bits and mix it with everything. (Use the injera that has soaked up all the sauce/flavor. Heat it up the next day for breakfast or lunch. Per a friend, I've put a fried egg on top... delicious! I love that nothing is wasted. read more

I love this place so much. It was the first place I ever discovered Ethiopian food (I'm from Hawaii--so forgive me for being a little backwards since there were literally no Ethiopian food places around where I was growing up.) The only pro-tip I would give is that you should definitely eat there if you're getting a combo, rather then get food to-go because you'll get twice as much food if you eat there. (By no fault of the staff; because you will get A LOT of food if you eat there and order a combo.) But either way--the food is awesome and you will get your money's worth. Plus the waitresses are super nice. Tldr; good food, nice staff, great restaurant Photo: What you will probably get to-go (not counting extra injiera; you'll get three or four extra pieces), vs what you'll get in-house. The photo is of a lamb combo. read more

Cafe Ibex - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Haven't been here in a while and wow how things have changed! Portions are smaller while the prices have gone up. Flavor is lacking these days, not sure if it's the change of customer demographic. Went for lunch today and ordered two small plates and a combo @ $50. I will say that our service was good but i'll most likely not be returning :( read more

Cafe Ibex - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

If you haven't been here yet, the food is amazing and the service is just as great! Our server was beyond friendly and very helpful. Coupled with some live jazz, this was one of the best nights out in a long time! Would give more stars if I could! read more

Been here so many times! I really enjoy their combination platters but the other entrees we've gotten are good as well. Plentiful injera, nice service, quiet dining environment with some soccer in the background. Otherwise, there is good Ethiopian music to keep you company. read more

I passed by this place so many times without noticing that it was a restaurant! But I am so glad we ventured in one day pre-covid. They have plenty of seating indoors, so you never have to wait long to be seated. More recently, we've been getting take out from this spot pretty frequently. It's quick and the place stays open later than a few other spots nearby, so it's always a great option for us. The lamb combo plate is our go to order and it is just the right amount of food for 2 people. In terms of the flavors... the flavors are amazing!! The combo of all the different items in the lamb combo go so great together, and I just get hungry again thinking about it. Go check out this place! read more

This is the best Ethiopian place I've ever tried, though I've only been to a handful. The injera is perfect, not too sour or bland. The kitfo has the right balance of fat (butter) and spice; I always get it raw. Veggie combo is great with the usual variety of sauteed veggies and pulses. I've also had the fish and tibs dishes. All really good. Service is friendly though slow at times. read more

Cafe Ibex - This ain't Starbucks. Great unfiltered coffee! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We came here with high hopes on a Monday when our favorite Ethiopian place Ras Dashen was closed. We got one meat combo which was mediocre at best, with tough meat and none of the spices that we usually like. The vegetarian combo was what really disappointed. The lentils were flavorless and watery, and lacked salt or spices. After the meal our group of 7 had stomachaches. We hoped to find a new good place but we will stick to Ras Dashen. read more

Great food and very friendly waitress. Prices should match but Would come back again.

Absolutely delicious and big portions! Highly recommend the veggie combo. Amazing flavor and enough to feed two people. Will definitely be coming back to try other dishes! read more

First, great service. But really, how do you gentrify a restaurant?!? I've been eating Ethiopian food at home and out at restaurants for decades, it is a staple. I have been gone from Seattle for a while, so I haven't been here for a couple years (went the last time because an Ethiopian friend recommended it). We ordered the meat combo (25.95), the veggie combo (11.95) and chicken doro wat (11.95). Starving, we dug in. The first reaction was the screw face...where's the spice? Where's the flavor? We understood when two other tables came in, got their food and started to comment on how "spicy" it was, and how"spongy and tart" the injera was (*hard eye roll*, if you can't handle spice and heat...don't eat cuisine that is inherently spicy!). I can only assume they toned down the spice and flavor for this type of clientele. After a few moments I started looking at the sparse platter, and wondering aloud where the rest of the food was. I have been eating at Ethiopian restaurants long enough to know there was no way that I was looking at $50 worth of food on this platter, I could SEE the injera in between the food, it should be invisible with that much food. The lamb tibs consisted of three meatless bones and two small (end of your pinky small) sized pieces of meat. The doro wat that came with the meat combo was the exact same as the full order of doro wat (and although there may have been more sauce, the sauce had no meat in it, so....). The kitfo was plentiful (we got more kitfo than the combined orders of doro wat???) although, again...where is the spice?!?! There was about 2 tablespoons of ayib, I feel like that's an appropriate amount for one dish, it certainly wasn't enough for three people with three food orders. Although tbh, the food was hella bland and the ayib is there to take some of the heat off, so I guess we didn't need it anyway. I didn't even feel like eating after the first few bites, I brought the food home, I'll get out the berbere and put some flavor on the leftovers. read more

Good execution of the standards. Green Chicken was new to me, and it's a favorite--a bit less heavy than the wot stews, and easy to modulate the spiciness by just working around the jalapeño chunks. Very friendly and relaxed. read more

Cafe Ibex came up on a Yelp search when searching for food at 10pm. We ordered the $25 Plate of Nations that included chicken, beef, lamb, a variety of vegetables cooked in different ways, injera, and dessert afterwards. We knew it was made for sharing, but had no idea it was enough for 3-4 people. It was a lot of food. Everything was delicious. I did not have the lamb but my BF said that was his favorite. I especially loved all the different veggies, including the spinach, lentils, and chickpea sauce. The injera was not as tart as I have had before, which is a good thing. We were stuffed and ended up taking leftovers home. The desserts were like baklavas and were delicious. They are open until 2am so it is a good spot for a late dinner. read more

Almost thought this was a smoke shop at first but my friend promised it was the best. Stopped in for my first time and was not disappointed. Great device and delicious! read more

Ordered the lamb combo.... First of all where is my lamb?.... I really don't want to give them a 1 star so I'm giving it a 2, last year when I came here there was a lot more in the combo, I will post the photo for today and please do check out my photo from a year ago, seems like they are skimping out on the meat... So sad I use to love this place... Not sure how I feel, the food was pretty cold.... Yikes ... You can tell the injera was not fresh, the sides of injera was deflated and not puffy and spongy like it usually is, the sides are hard and crunchy... The lady that served us was not to friendly... Which is sad because usually the other ladies are super friendly.... Maybe she's tired? It is kind of slow in here right now. I'm not sure, this place use to be my favorite and I've recommended everyone to come here.. I will stop my recommendations from here and move on. I might come back... But there is another place that serves it piping hot and more meat. One more thing.... My meat was veryyyyyy dry! read more

Cafe Ibex - Where's my meat? Looks good doesn't it? Well the sides are dry meaning old injera!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is great and the staff is very friendly! I always get beef tibs to go after a long work :) food is consistently solid

I have been coming here for years. Maybe 10?? This has always been my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. I have noticed the last two times I have been, they have shrunk their portions by almost half. You used to get big servings on a platter but now it's little spoonfuls of each item. It's really disappointing actually, and will keep me from picking this place over somewhere else again. read more

Simply for the fact, that the wait time for my food was horrendous, and I truely did not appreciate how the salad amount that came with my order was insufficient. I have to SMH at this restaurant. I've come here a couple of additional times in the past, and most of my experiences here, are fairly annoying i.e. The two previous couples that ordered after me, received their food prior to myself. Also, I was told to order the extra salad in the start of my other, not after I have received my food hahahahsh, smh. read more

I came in with a big party (11 people) and they seated us without any issues at 1pm. The service was a little slow but the waiter was very nice and easy to work with. The food came out quick and it was overall a pleasant experience for how much everything cost! read more

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Part 2 of my late night munchies craving - with no certainty of finishing both meals, BUT, alas, the spontaneous night continues. Like Dahlak, they play some pretty jammin' cool music at night. The lady helping me was fast, yet friendly at the same time, if that makes sense. I called about asking for chai, and she kept saying "No, we don't have Thai tea". I decided to just go and ask about it inside... and get more food, lol... No one greets you but walking towards the bar she approaches and asks me to take a seat with a menu. I told her I called about the chai and she smiled. She went back to grab what she thinks and comes back with a tea bag pouch, kinda red in color and I saw the words "...noir chai" on it. I think, after a quick search, that it's pukka? Hmmm, not sure... Anyway, it was nice! And she recommended some sugar with it. Super hot, though, careful. I got the same similar thing as at Dahlak, a lamb dish with injera... their lamb was more tasty and the injera had a smoother tan color to it. SO much injera, what do people do with it? I'm not into it that much, so I guess that's moot. I also agree with the atmosphere. Soft wall lighting, jammin' beats and nice service. They also have a small bar with flatscreen. read more

So yummy!! I'm picky with my Ethiopian cuisine, and this place surpassed my expectations. The food came really quickly, and in general the service was great. The atmosphere feels authentic- tons of Ethiopians gathered there on the Friday we ate there. Check this place out if you're a fan of Ethipian cuisine, or if you're in the mood for some delish and unique spices and dishes. Also, be prepared to eat the traditional way- no silver wear, you grab your food with this thin sour-dough-ish crepe-like bread called injara. It's made with a healthy grain that's from Africa and it's gluten free! Added bonus- it's SO reasonably priced! My bf loved how cheap the beers were on top of everything. Moral of the story... Eat here! read more

Cafe Ibex - The Ibex plate- SUCH a good deal, and you get to try a lot of the dishes - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cafe Ibex has delicious food! They have vegan and gluten free Injera. Their prices are affordable and 2 people can definitely split the veggie sampler. The restaurant is cute and the staff are so nice. Great place for vegan Ethiopian in Seattle! read more

My wife and I have been to close to a dozen different Ethiopian restaurants, in DC, Ann Arbor, and Chicago, and this is probably our favorite one. The food is as good as any we've had, the service is extremely friendly, and the value is unbeatable. We got way more food than we should ever try to finish (though we just about did), with a beer, and after tax the total was less than $20! We just moved to Seattle and Cafe Ibex is already at the top of our favorite restaurant list. read more

I have tried many many Ethiopian places in the Seattle area. While none of them have been bad, they generally have the same menu options, with very little variation. While Cafe Ibex does not have a huge menu, their dishes are amazing. I tried the spicy lamb cooked with Injera, as well as a crispier lamb dish. Before ordering the former, the waitress asked if I had had it before. She warned me that it was pretty spicy, and told me what it was --and she was correct, it was very spicy, but I loved it. We got cottage cheese to compliment the dish, which made the spicier one bearable to my husband. He could take about three bites before he stopped eating it, but wanted to keep trying because the flavor was so good. Out of all the places I've been, I've never had anything like it, and will be returning for the sole purpose of being able to eat this dish again. The crispy lamb dish was something I had never seen at an Ethiopian place before. Usually the meat is soaked in stew and served over injera. This dish was like that, but without the stew. It was nice to have the contrast between those two textures. This dish, like the other, was also flavored excellently. I would recommend this place to anyone who loves Ethiopian food. This place just outshines the others. read more

My very first time trying Ethiopian cuisine!! Since it was my first, I don't have anything to compare it to. The combo plates have a good sampling of a bunch of dishes that are served in little scoops atop injera (a fermented pancake like flatbread). We tried the veggie combo, beef combo and lamb combo. All three combos were served on a single platter with additional injera bread on the side. My most fave was the spicy beef stew. Only gripe and reason for knocking off a star was that I wish the food was served hotter (temperature). It seemed like everything was luke warm like it sat awhile before being brought out or like the stews aren't kept very hot if they're made in advance. Amazing introduction to Ethiopian food. $50 after tax for 3 combos, a coffee and soda. read more

Cafe Ibex - Veggie, lamb, beef combos on one platter! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Pleasantly surprised by this out-of-the-way place for dinner this week. No sambusas to start, but at least they don't try to pass off frozen goods as freshly made. Got the Yelp-recommended veggie combo along with a spicy chicken with spinach. The veggies were a hit, especially the lentils, corn, and string beans. The chicken with spinach could have used a bit more kick, but I would still order it again and let them know to take it up a bit. Injera was among the best I have had, more crepe-like then some places that tend to be a bit thicker. Beers are cheap: $3 gets you anything in the house, which is not many but good enough to pair with spicy food. One server for the whole floor--including being the bartender and barback--is stretching her a bit thin. Adding someone on busy nights would be helpful. Will return. read more

The food here is amazing! (But I like every Ethiopian restaurant I've tried in Seattle). Beyond that, this place earns 5 stars because of the friendly staff, their tolerance for our large group of people, great prices, and the free ice cream cake that we were surprised with after our meal. read more

This was a great find. The veggie combo is insanely good. Our go to is also the green chicken and you can't go wrong with the chicken tibs. This place is great for our kids too who can be picky when it comes to vegetables. read more

I live nearby but don't come here often enough! Staff is very friendly and provide great customer service.

I love this place! I have been to just a couple of Ethiopian restaurants and ny far this is the best!.. I love the spicy lamb. Only get if you truly like spicy foods. Steamed cabbage and vegetables good! Portion is more than enough! Very filling..also the beef is good and tender as well. Nice, clean environment. And price is right! My husband and i love this place read more

Cafe Ibex - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Ima start this by saying don't go to ibex. Today I went to cafe ibex to pick up food right before they closed and the service was terrible. They refused to serve my food w powder berbera bc they didn't believe it went with my dish. After offering to pay for it extra the server still refused. I was upset bc I enjoy my injera with the powder. After going back and forth about it for 10 mins she finally calls the owner who simply gives me what I asked for. When I got home the injera was dry and had white spots on it ( and you know white spots only happen when the bread is old) the meat was lamb even though I strictly asked for beef. This was my second time at ibex. The first time consisted of them over charging us for our food. Basically, I'll never go there again. BUT CHECK OUT AGEIGIL ETHIOPIAN RESTURANT! They are always good, service is always great, food is DELICIOUS read more

Fav! Best Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle by far and I've been to nearly all of them. I love the lamb combo, also the Beef zil zil tibs are great! I go with my friend who gets their veggie combo & loves it, especially their Shiro! Would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

Cafe Ibex - Lamb combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the Seattle area. Ethiopian food is something I really look forward to when visiting Seattle and Portland and I enjoy exploring new restaurants. Despite visiting numerous Ethiopians restaurants Cafe Ibex is the one I still return to and call my favorite. The food is very authentic and reasonably priced. My go to dish is either of the ibex combo's. I find that one combo feed two people. Since my initial visit to Cafe Ibex in 2006 the neighborhood has improved and now boasts a light rail stop just a few blocks away. read more