I'm typically really really forgiving when it comes to seemingly incompetent waitstaff - and rarely do I ever base a review on this kind of experience. However, last night at Dahlak was bizarre. A waitress I know has been working there for a long time made one of those egregious errors. Let's do maths: Total Bill: $98 Total with 20% tip: $117 Payment: $50 on one card, $25 on another, $55 cash ($130 total) Any reasonable and experienced waitress would have brought back change in cash - which we would've then tipped her with. But oh no, she brought ZERO dollars back, giving herself a 32% tip. Had the service been phenomenal, over-the-top, amazing, maaaybe this would've flown...but the presumptuousness aggravated the bejesus out of me! When my friend went to the register asking for change, she said, "well what about my tip?!" Are you kidding me? I can't say whether she's just really really lousy at math or if she fancies herself the Rolls-Royce of servers. Either way, it sucked and ruined the otherwise satisfied feeling I would have had after such a delicious meal. read more

I met my friend here for her birthday with a few friends. We were seated by 9:20pm, our order didn't get taken until 9:35ish and by 10:25 we still hadn't gotten our food. The place wasn't crowded when we got there and was semi-empty. I got a salad but it was DRIPPING in dressing so much that the lettuce was soggy and gross. I left early cause I had a schedule to keep and my friends asked for their food boxed up and they STILL didn't get their food until 10:50pm. They received a bit of attitude as they got their food and still had to pay for everything! Even after I had left! My friend and I have decided never to go back there as the service was so bad. I have never walked out of a restaurant until now but there is no reason a meal should take longer than 30 minutes AT THE LATEST. read more

Dahlak remains my first and so far, my only Eritrean food experience. For whatever reason, I haven't been to Abyssinia or the umpteen other places in town. That's ok, I like Dahlak. The food here is great, and quite affordable. You order a bunch of random stuff and it all comes out on a big flat basket thingy lying on top of injera bread. It's this spongy crepe-like bread that you rip off little pieces of and scoop up bits of the main dish with. It's delish is all. Trust me. Don't plan on eating quickly here, as service is slow. And I mean slow. Especially if you're with a big party, you will wait and wait and wait. So order your drinks and get to talking, cuz your food ain't coming out in a jiffy. The best thing about Dahlak though, aside from the food, is the little bar out back. Tucked behind this restaurant is the randomest little hole of a bar with a crazy jukebox, and even crazier characters. They don't have beers on draught here, it's all bottles and cans, but also cheap. There's also a ghetto ass outdoor dining/bar area out back, so when it's nice out, you can chill with your West Philly homies and enjoy a cold brew and some Eritrean cuisine. I like this place. I didn't even mind when I was here one night and the owner held my coat hostage until I would play something on their piano. Good thing I can half-ass my way around a piano. It was cold out. read more

If you'll allow me to speak in plain blurb for a moment: Generous with the injera, but not so with the heat. What's with Dahlak of spiciness?! Erm, sorry. They did hook us up with plenty of injera though, that was cool. The divey backroom bar is an inexpensive good time, and there's Summer fun to be had with that outdoor patio space. A return trip would be more so inspired by that cheap-beer-drinking scene, than memories of our recent meal there might. Service was smiley and attentive, and though we were prepared for our food to take a long while, as these were the reports we heard tell, our food actually showed up rather speedily. We were surprised by the blandness of many of the components, piled atop the tray lined with thin, spongy injera. The yemisir wat, the vegetarian tibs... yebeg kay wat (lamb in spicy berbere)... Very plain. The berbere was tasty enough but very tame... All the preparations seemed to be, especially as we ordered the hot and spicy-sauced selections from the menu, and in addition requested that they be made extra extra so. That didn't happen. Sad trombone. I ordered the Mesob Vegetarian combo, and while the portions were good, and the vegetables were fresh (except for some triflin' okra- those reviewers who described it as okra in spaghetti sauce, yup yup, accurate), it's just that they were not packed with the overall flavor, spice and heat that made me so enamored with the cuisine when I was introduced to it during my D.C. years. I know, I'm sorry, I just did that annoying thing where I name-dropped a region snootily as if to suggest, "That's where you get the good stuff, rubes." No, no, no... I'm just saying, there's some really good Eritrean and Ethiopian cookin going on there. My favorites so far, but I haven't been to all the jernts in West Philly or Eritrea, or Ethiopia yet. OK. I've mentioned this before in life, repeatedly, that I wish that there were some kind of world-recognized card that could be obtained... through test or trial or whatever... that when upon flashing it, a person could be instantly taken seriously as one who is looking for, and who can handle the heat. You're not playing around, you see? You're a card-carryin' member. Think of it, you'd be like a modern day Telly Savalas, presenting that Players Club International Card, with flourish and style... except this card isn't about swingin' casino nightlife deals or whatever, and you most likely have a hairdo. This card guarantees your spice needs will be met and more, you special spicy one. Anyway, let's get to work on that. Maybe the mention of, "Mitmita," is the answer? I asked an Ethiopian friend of mine, and he agreed that I should have ordered that too, as a condiment. Mitmita... Maybe if I had asked for some of that powdered hot chile powder and spice mixture too? Mitmita...keep that in mind... if we return to dine in that darkened room, to rest upon worn cushions around the traditional basket-like table, beneath the Corona promotional palm trees. read more

If you want to bring a friend or three to a Dirty Frank's version of an Ethiopian restaurant, you go to Dahlak. The atmosphere is indie cinematic, you can have a quiet chat in a quiet dim nook near the front door or delve deeper into a lively bar, and apparently there's more--a patio even further back and a bar downstairs, neither of which I've even seen or had any inkling of! The bathroom is painted floor to ceiling with a mural of a man in a forest and is one of the finest dive bar art pieces I've ever seen. The food is great; I love the injera rolls and the gored gored. It's generally agreed that Abyssinia is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia, but if Abyssinia is too noisy, or you want your food a bit faster with a delicious tropical (or viciously spicy, they have both!) cocktail to wash it down, Dahlak is a great choice. read more

My first experience eating Ethiopian cuisine can be summed up with one word... Whatever. I was all sorts of excited to go to this restaurant... Well, I was mostly excited just to try Ethiopian/Eritrean for the first time, so any place would have aroused similar anticipation. That said, maybe it's my fault for getting too worked up beforehand, but I was let down by this experience... I had hoped to be sweating from the berbere, but the only reason I was sweating during our meal was because the A/C--located directly above our heads--kept sputtering but never starting. Seriously, this was one of the hottest restaurants I'd ever eaten in, which made for a lovely experience in the bathroom: Felt like a steam room, smelled like a toilet. The food was certainly tasty but it didn't pack the punch I was expecting. For meats we ordered lamb with berbere sauce and beef with onions, peppers, and tomatoes. Both were pleasing, but both failed to wow me... I had devoted considerable energy to mentally preparing myself for that spicy lamb and, unfortunately, it wasn't spicy at all. On the vegetable front, we picked chickpeas and lentils... The chickpeas were watery and flavorless, while the lentils were more gratifying: They had a good amount of texture and an interesting flavor. All said, I'm glad to put a new notch on my belt after trying Ethiopian food for the first time, but I can't say it was everything it's cracked up to be. The flavors and spices at Dahlak didn't blow me away, and I expected them to... I'm not ready to write off all Ethiopian food, though. I definitely want to hit up the other joints Philly has to offer, and perhaps even return to Dahlak... You know, I hear they have a great bar in the back. read more

Dahlak: A review in haiku Patio chillin', Outdoors on a summer's eve, What could be better? I know! Perhaps if Your bathrooms were easy to find And not so filthy. Labyrinthine walls made of mirrors confuse me And the jukebox!: lame. Sketchy men inside Leer and try to grope, so I sit out with hipsters Under surreal lights, A thousand conversations And plenty to watch. :) read more

I personally love this spot. I like the dim light and the vibe. People are nice there. The food was amazing. Downstairs is a hookah bar.

You know when you reach that point where you're SO SO hungry that basically anything you eat tastes absolutely amazing? That was not the case with Dahlak. Arrived here hungry and ready to eat... but had play the waiting game. Waited to get our drinks, waited for our server to take our orders... waited for the food.... it was a neverending wait period. Waited and waited and waited... As one table finished their meal, another tabIe would finally received their meal. I would understand if the restaurant was crowded, but it was only 4 tables! 4!!!!!! So the whole time you're waiting, you can't help but stare at the ONE table that is eating... all annoyed and salivating. By the time my food came out, I wasn't even hungry anymore. I was beyond that point but decided to eat the food anyways. So how was the food itself? Ummm, not worth the wait that's for sure! Ahk, never again. read more

I went to Dahlak (named after an Archipelago off Eritrea's main land - don't ask me how I know that...) the other night after listening to Archbishop Desmond Tutu speak at St. Joseph's University. We found parking along the street and I was stoked to see that Dahlak was actually just a couple of doors down from Fu-Wah (which I haven't made it to yet, but because of the reviews can't wait to try their tofu bahn mi). We walked in to a very dim restaurant that was divided into three rooms. The first room you walk into is the "Americanized" dining room, right next to this dining room is the "Eritreanized" dining area, the walk back down a hallway and that's where you will find the bar. We decided to sit in the "Eritreanized" room where the tables and stools were made of thick woven straw (?). There were about seven tables or so when we sat down and considering that it was a Sunday night, I saw it as a good sign. There were little wooden tables that drinks are placed on next to your stool. My boyfriend and I decided to order the Bozena (my pick...Choice lean beef simmered with chickpeas cooked with garlic and special sauce) and the Chicken Watt (my boyfriend's..Chicken in berbere sauce). The order came on what I can best describe as a huge pizza plate with the two orders just kind of poured onto the plate. The order of course came with the spongy like bread, kinda like the naan you would find at an Indian restaurant, but with a spongier texture that is kind of hard to pick the food/sauce up with. Everything was absolutely delicious! Each one of our orders came out to about $10.50 - $11.50 each and we decided that because it was kinda spicy, we would get beers to cut the spiciness. They had an awesome selection of beer! I ordered a lager ($3.50) and my boyfriend ordered the Golden Monkey ($5). On the front cover of the menu it said that Eritrean cuisine is to be enjoyed by having others feed you. Well, I thought that this was a grand (and romantic) idea, um, but when I saw the food, I definitely thought differently. There was no way I could have fed my boyfriend the spongy bread with the various food/sauce inside. Haha, it would have been a disaster with Khakis and all. The service was so fast! Um, well, maybe because we were also the last customers to come in (we got there around 8:30 pm). Anyways, the food was so great that my boyfriend and I sat in silence as we pretty much inhaled the entire dish. It was nice to sit and relax with our beers afterwards too. Definitely affordable and very filling! The bill came out to about $33.00. I did ask for more hot sauce though, and they gave me this paste that was very curious. If anyone knows what the paste is, drop me a line...I can't really describe it, but would be interested to know what spices were in it. NOT recommended for a first date, well, unless your date knows how to have fun with food! It may be a little confusing to people that may have never had Eritrean/Ethiopian cuisine. The bread isn't as solid as naan, so it's hard to pick stuff up. If your date happens to love this type of food though, it is definitely a great place to hold conversations and the lighting is quite romantic. read more

Just as we finished our meal a HUGE cockroach pranced across the table. Our server was standing right next to the table and clearly saw the roach as I jumped up and screamed "Roach!" Our server did not say a word. She merely gave a half smile and presented us with our bill. I think that pretty much sums up my experience at Dahlak. read more

DISCLAIMER: this is NOT a review for Dr. Thunder Karaoke. I REALLY wanted to love Dahlak; believe me, I did. Many of my friends raved about their weekly Tuesday night karaoke. While I'd been in the neighborhood for around 2 1/2 years at that point in time, I hadn't gotten around to checking it out until I heard that particular night's karaoke theme was both Disney and "Weird Al" Yankovic (both have a special place in my heart) so that made for a perfect reason to finally see what the hype was all about. I arrived fairly early and had some time to spare before karaoke commenced, so I figured I'd get some food and a drink while I was waiting. I walked in and there was no one at the door to greet customers, so I was a bit disoriented. When someone finally did come up front, they did not take it upon themselves to direct me or show any semblance of hospitality. I managed to find my way to the bar in the back and due to the humidity, I had no desire to hang out on the patio. I squeezed myself into a seat at the bar, ordered an Angry Orchard cider and a lamb dish off the menu. It was very busy that night so it took my food a bit long to arrive. By the time karaoke was about to start, I hadn't finished eating yet so I closed my tab and headed into the main area where I set my plate down on a table before going to select my songs. Unfortunately, when I returned to the table, my plate was gone and I did not want to make a fuss about it. At the very least, the bar service was decent and karaoke was enjoyable. As far as the overall atmosphere, the decor, while authentically Ethiopian, seemed a bit worn out, and the bathroom was small and cramped but clean enough. The moral of this experience? I'll go anywhere else Dr. Thunder does karaoke, but I won't be returning to Dahlak. read more

I must confess, I don't eat here much. But I love drinking here. This part of town is saturated with Ethiopian and Eritean joints. So I couldn't really tell which one is better foodwise. So just know if you plan on dining at either one the many West Philly Ethiopian and Eritrean spots, be prepared for slow service, filling food and an interesting experience. Look for Dahalk owner immortalized on the mural in the parking lot. Now the bar is another story, stocked with Yards and all the good stuff, the bar features an outside seating that makes a great happy hour spot in the summers. Great people watching too. read more

Great Ethiopian food, a bit lighter than at the NYC places I usually frequent (why doesn't NYC have better Ethiopian food?? Could ask same question about Mexican or Thai...Philly, DC, and Boston all have better options). Can consume massive amounts of injera without the belly expansion discomfort. Very affordable, including the drinks. Convenient municipal parking lot nextdoor. Will come back for a hookah sometime! read more

Disclaimer: This was my first Ethiopian food experience, I think sriracha sauce is medium-mild spice, I don't eat meat and I'm short. My friends and I sat on low stools (very comfy for me, less so for my taller friend) around a large bowl shaped table by the window. We shared a vegetarian platter and indulged in spinach, lentils, okra, couscous, chick peas & vegetarian tibs (mixed veg w/ potato) with berbere sauce that was served on top of injera bread. Our injera bread on the side was warm, a little sticky, spongy, slightly sour & delicious. Our waitress brought the delicate bread out in small increments. I'd like to think she was doling it out in bits to keep it fresh, but my cynical side tells me she was gently hinting that we should stop eating so much. Either way, she was polite and attentive. I wish I could eat all my meals this way! I loved the sharing aspect, injera bread, great company & laid back atmosphere. I only wish the berbere sauce was spicier. In the end the meal cost us $22.50 each (tax, tip + drink included). read more

As you all know, one of my mini-informal goals for this year is to eat through all the Ethiopian restaurants in Philly. I am completely addicted! I have eaten at Abyssinia quite a few times, and could not bring myself to go anywhere else. I just did not believe that it was possible for there to be such heavenly food elsewhere, and was afraid to be proved right. But for the last few seasons, I looked for opportunities to be less entrenched in my mindset. The first opportunity came when I picked up my mom from the airport. It was around 1:30pm on a Wednesday when we found Dahlak's and parked the car, only to be shocked by the fact that the door wouldn't open. It was closed!?!?!?!?! A friend and I met up for dinner, and he very generously agreed to try Ethiopian food. I was stoked to get to try to hit up Dahlak again. This was especially true since we (really I) picked Dahlak's which is probably the other "big" Ethiopian restaurant besides Abyssinia. Upon arrival, I started sizing everything up. The place was probably decades younger than Abyssinia, and it was decorated much more nicely. The waiter was friendly, and the service was a few notches faster than Abyssinia. For the first time, I sat at the traditional straw woven Ethiopian table. The ottomans were cute. There was mood lighting in several colors, and even a wooden floored area that could theoretically be turned into a dance floor. The possibilities ran through my mind. I felt myself starting to unwind from the day and start to just soak in the atmosphere. After some time, our food finally came. I deliberately ordered a variety platter with some items similar to what I usually order at Abyssinia. Must purport with the scientific methods! I noticed that they put my friend's order on the same plate as mine, with a stream of lentil stew running down the middle as the demarcation line. I eagerly took my first bite. EGADS!!!!!! UGH!!!! Disappointment. The food was acceptable, but really bland. At Abyssinia, one generally wonders how many hours the food stewed in the spices for. The food at Dahlak's by comparison was barely seasoned on its way to the table. Even the sourdough bread was less sour and flavorful than Abyssinia's. So, what is a girl supposed to do in the face of such insurmountable disappointment? Well, if you are me, then there is only one thing to do! Wolf down the food, pay the check, and get the heck down the street to Abyssinia's! Yup, I washed down my horrible disappointment with more Ethiopian food. Mmmmm I had 2 dinners that night. A few related notes, the portions at Abyssinia are over 2x more, and the prices are cheaper. Abyssinia = 11, Dahlak's = 15. I ordered the lamb at Dahlak's and aparently there was only one piece of lamb in my order. I say aparently because I did not eat any, however, my friend informs me that he had a piece. Yes, I am still a little bitter. Hahaha read more

There are certain establishments that seem so certain of one aspect of their business that they completely let other aspects slide. Dahlak falls into this category. Apparently they've won awards for their food, and I won't argue with that - the platter of vegetables and whipped beans and amazingly fluffy flatbread that my date and I enjoyed was definitely worthy of praise. But the fact that I was sitting on a tiny block right next to a cobweb-covered radiator with peeling paint made me wonder if there would be flakes of lead in my food. Our food platter was perched precariously on a wicker stand that was really wobbly. I get that the seating arrangements are authentic Eritrian, but my chiropractor would certainly scowl at the setup. It would have been nice to have been offered a choice between that or one of the normal tables. And it seemed like the hostess/server was rushing to get everyone out the door within 20 minutes of being served. If you're a successful restaurant already, why not just throw us a bone with regards to cleanliness and decor? read more

When some friends suggested that we go eat Ethiopian food, I presumed this meant we would be eating sand and sun-bleached animal bones. While the food here was okay, the bathroom was a completely different story. I took one look into the women's bathroom ("oh sorry, the men's bathroom is closed, but you can use the women's") and conceded that I would probably be leaving with at least 2-3 types of communicable diseases (dengue fever and scabies came to mind). Bring your own hand sanitizer and encourage everyone in your party to use it. I'll gladly accept your taunts that I'm a germ phobe, but I'll be the one laughing when you unknowingly contract legionellosis from the guy who you didn't know well because he was your friend's friend. read more

A crowd of rough-looking travelers are milling about on Baltimore Avenue, a little frantically, having just been disgorged from Dahlak. A favorite of unfussy locals and petty criminals, the back patio has the ambiance of a Brussels hostel far from the city center. "Is the bar still open?" one of the travelers asks against all odds. It's half past two. I ask a lanky blonde boy with a large pack where he's traveling to. He shifts the pack uncomfortably. "Here," he says. My friend and I return to our conversation. We watch with mild interest as the travelers bounce forced cheer off of each other, trying to get something going. Their night is far from over. "Where are you coming from?" my friend asks the traveler, trying a different tack. After a beat, he says: "Jail. The hospital. New Jersey." Three lines, very succinct. Could be a poet. My friend and I exchange nods, satisfied. "Not in that order," he adds, before vanishing. read more

The food here is OK. There's definitely better Ethiopian/Eritrean in the neighborhood. If you're looking for a good bar, though, this is a place to keep in mind. Drinks are cheap, the atmosphere is a little dive-y, and the characters are sometimes pretty entertaining. If you smoke, or just like hanging outside, there's a good sized patio. It's my go-to spot when I want to drink locally. read more

The only reason that this place gets three stars is because I've been whiling away the early summer evening on their back patio for years, and the people who run it are chill. The food, eh. . While the food is perfectly satisfactory, they don't have a single spicy dish featured (and the spice sauce you can ask for on the side" doesn't add much kick) and they leave out my favorite dish - the green lentils with jalapeno. Also, at about $15, the vegetarian platter costs more than others in the neighborhood. I say this with love and full support of my community businesses, but with so many Ethiopian restaurants in West Philadelphia, Dhalak either needs to step-up the flavors, or lower the price of their platters. read more

I'm much more partial to Dahlak's bar than Fiume - more room to actually move, cozy seats, and best of all, the awesome outdoor patio in warmer months. If you live in the neighborhood (and in my case, also work in the neighborhood), it's likely you'll run into people you know, or the crazy old guy rambling at the end of the bar. It's not necessarily a bar worth traveling to if you live elsewhere, but it's a great place to stop in after eating at the restaurant, a nightcap, or general hanging out. A perfect West Philly bar, indeed. read more

I had a pretty good meal at Dahlak. The service wasn't as bad as many of the other reviews indicate, but it wasn't great, & there was a guy at the next table who was incredibly loud & annoying, though that's not the fault of the restaurant. We sat outside, which was nice, though inside was a lot cuter & I feel like places with outdoor seating should work really hard to keep their patios super clean. They wiped down our table, but even my chair was kind of grody. The biggest disappointment, though, is the fact that their combo only has 3 options. As opposed to Almaz which has like 7 options in the combo. Also, I like Almaz' flavors better. I felt like the flavors of all 3 of my items were basically the same at Dahlak. I'd maybe go here again if I'm in West Philly, because yay for vegan friendly, but there are many other places to try for good Ethiopian food. read more

Dahlak is great on 2 fronts. When you want a legit Ethiopian meal, this is where to go. Their injera is great. It's nice and tangy and they always serve a lot of it with the food so you're never wishing that they had given you more. The vegetarian options are all really tasty. The tibs are my favorite, but anything I've gotten has been really good. Dahlak also has an amazing little outdoor seating area in the back with a bar. The drinks are pretty cheap and strong, and the vibe is really chill. This was my go to spot when I worked in the area. Highly recommended. read more

I went to Dahlak for dinner at around 5:30 pm on Friday... very un-crowded. The "Eritrean-style" dining room was nice to sit in and the atmosphere was relaxed. My friend and I got a lentil dish and chickpea dish... my chickpeas were this kind of bland paste that wasn't all that good, but my friend's lentils were much better. The bread was good, it was spongy and kind of sourdough-y. Our waitress was friendly and serviceable. A good, cheap, casual dinner spot, although next time I'd like to try a meat dish. read more

I got this craving for Ethiopian food late on a Friday night. We googled ethiopian restautants in the area and found Dhalak. Although it is an Eritrean joint, the food was extremely similar to Ethiopian. I could not tell the difference but I am sure there is. It was quite late and we were probably the last people to arrive, the service was slightly slow but we were treated nicely and the food was excellent. I ordered the yedoro wat and my wife ordered the yedoro tibs. Excellent choices in my mind, I will definitely go back for more. read more

Ah Dahlak, Good food. Actually its pretty great. It's a great place to take an out-of-towner especially if they haven't had Ethiopian before. I've never had to know what I want, and I've always gotten delicious food. Just tell the server you want a platter with some of the good stuff on it and seriously she'll bring out a big ol' platter for you and your peoples to enjoy. The Bar kind of sucks. I like it okay in the summer, but in the winter I'd rather drink elsewhere. The crowd at the bar isn't the friendliest if you're not a regular and there is often this woman in there who gets really plowed and is loud and unruly. I've stopped going to the bar unless its summer. Some of my favorite memories are sitting out back, drinking cheap beer, and snacking on some appetizers. The dinning area is quaint and I really like it. The bar area is a bit trarshed the way a dive bar should be, and the back yard could use an upgrade, but hey, that would change the ol' beater bar dynamic. 3 stars for food 3.5 stars for summer ambiance 2 stars for the back bar I'll throw another star at the servers and bar tenders, they are always really nice. 3 stars over all. And I'm still bringing my out-of-towners because I think everyone needs to try the food. Its fun. read more

Love this food but it doesn't love me! They opened another one on Germantown Ave that also has Indian food. My fav is the Yebeg Key Watt Succulent lamb meat cooked in berbere sauce. I'll just take a charcoal pill before I go.. :) read more

The food was good, the Chicken fell off the bone, the mixed vegetable dish was great especially to eat with the hands, the cous cous was however dry and therefore a pain to eat with the hands, I ate very little of it as a result. I will probably order 2 meat sections and one vegetable next time. The bar however is great. Though a bit crowded if you are stuck inside on a rainy night. The bartenders are smiley and nice, even going so far as to having an honest conversation with you, something that seems often a lost art. The jukebox is great, and seems to default to reggae after everyone else plays their songs, which is fantastic. The patio is spacious and seems to alway have a few local dogs around drinking out of their own water bowls. CASH only. read more

Best place to come eat late at night. Authentic food and the staff was great. They accommodate service dogs and groups. It's a dark environment after 10, but I like it because mood lighting! It makes a great place for a date. Only bring kids in the daytime. Also Injera is the best invention. Who needs a fork?! Very conveniently located to neighborhoods and hotels both and very worth trying at least once. Ethiopian food is my all time fav so we will come here for my birthday every year. The food is savory and I can never get enough even though I'm so full! read more

Still one of my favorite restaurants anywhere even though some days are better than others and there are often long waiting times (which after 30+ years of Dahlak addiction I have learned to avert to some degree by calling ahead and letting them know when I will arrive to eat) In any event the Eretrean Entrees are all yummy but there are a few standalone dishes that you must try if you eat there: Shrimp Alicha- is so tasty I dream about it at night- buttery, oniony, garlicky with a hint of sweet (ask for extra sauce) Shrimp Wat - the shrimp in berebere is also delicious and is a great contrast to the Alicha Yeungudia Wat used to be my favorite but in recent years they have added tomato sauce- so I simply ask for berebere spice on the side to give it the kick I miss) Tomato and Potato salad (influenced by Italian salads but with jalepeno in the raw) IF you like spice try the Senig Karia stuffed pepper (used to be stuffed with marinated onions but more recently stuffed with tomato as well and is delish either way) The spiced tea is yummy, but the coffee is mediocre (if you want amazing coffee go to Almaz cafe in town) There are a few menu week spots, however these things have allowed me to take foreign food phobic kids here to eat, otherwise I would avoid the spaghetti. Forget about coffee, go to a coffee shop after if you need to kickstart after literally stuffing your face. But the specialties here far outweigh the weekspots so definitely indulge yourself and simply avoid whatever you don't love. read more

Hands on the floor, the best bar in West Phila. This bar is a church, and its where i go when i need to pray. Though, if you don't live in walking distance, just stop reading. You don't want to come here, and you'll only get angry when you show up. If you live in west philly and you've been here, you know what im talking about. So, bascially this is an insiders reveiw for anyone living in west philly who doesnt know about the bar - or - someone planning on moving here. The inside of the place is pretty tight, and when its packed, you feel it. The outside is basically just a bunch of patio furniture strewn about this way and that. They're always out of they're good beer, and the bartenders can't hook you up with booze because they use an ez-bar system that pours out exact drinks mL wise. Also, half the older regulars are half crazy, and if you get locked into a conversation with them your nights over. After you go a few times, you'll start to get it... need it. Its the kinda place that makes you happy to live where you live. read more

I've been to Dahlak a couple of times, including last night. It was pretty dead but it was a Thursday night. Quality of food- My bf and I split the Dahlak Mesob with lamb and vegetables. The lamb was good but not the best lamb I ever had. I was more impressed by the veggies than I was by the meat. For veggies, we had lentils, spinach, beets and they also tossed in collard greens with potatoes. We asked for the spiciest available and although the food was all very tasty, none of it was as spicy as I would have liked. The food is eaten by picking it up with Injera (flat Ethiopian bread) which is a lot of fun instead of utensils- it can get messy so it may not be the best choice for a first date. Ambiance- It's nice that they have American style tables and chairs and also the shorter tables with stools available. Food is served on one large plate so it is great if you like to share your dish with others at your table. The place is pretty basic with African art work. The bathrooms need some work. Toilet paper was sitting on the floor and there was little water pressure in the sink. The music coming from the bar in the back was a litter louder than I would expect. Service- It was as expected, good but nothing phenomenal. Price- Prices are reasonable, about $9 to $11 for an entree or for $14-$15 you can get smaller portions of about 3 different entrees. This is the only Ethiopian restaurant that I have been to so I don't have anything else to compare it to. Overall, the food is very tasty and it is reasonably priced. read more

The food was delicious and satisfying. I asked the waitress to recommend a dish for us and she did; it was wonderful. The service was gracious and accommodating, and the restaurant has a relaxing vibe. read more

Dahlak - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Summary: don't eat here. We arrived as a group of 5 at 8:30 on a Friday night. Ambiance: Kitschy, with doily table covers that are a little gross. The seating is like grandma's garage sale. Food: Not good. I'm not an aficionado, but I've enjoyed enough tasty Ethiopian that I was looking forward to a meal here. The okra was more like 'frozen okra thawed in Prego.' The 5 dishes we ordered were pretty tasteless. The lentils were fine, but how do you screw up plain stewed lentils? Service: Rude. That seems strong, but it's true. Our server was perfunctory at best. She seemed annoyed when we asked for another couple of minutes to order. She brought the check before we had even finished eating (maybe she knew we didn't want to eat it?). We asked to order another round of beer, and she brought it along, but then she laid down the updated check and demanded (I am not exaggerating) that we pay immediately. When one of our party seemed put off, she explained that the restaurant closes at 10pm. Mind you this was at 9:30 (!!). So we paid, because what were we going to do? She did not bring back any change, nor did she ask whether we needed any. 10 minutes later, a guy from the bar in the back came up, turned off the lights, and pulled a screen down from the ceiling, and began changing the channels around. It seems our time was up! This place was empty on a Friday for a reason. I can't think it's anything other than some sort of money laundering enterprise. How else could Dahlak remain open? Lest you think I'm being unfair: we were seriously a super relaxed group. I've worked at restaurants before, including cheap ones, and I can't imagine providing a customer with this sort of experience. read more

It was cool! My first time coming here... I had drinks and hookah! The single shot was little looking a sip only smh the hookah was okay! Good musics and the people there was okay ! I may come back but it's not dope but it's cool for a few friends or with a boyfriend! read more

I love going to this place for reggae night! Dj Tsiga is my favorite! He really knows his music and how to get good vybz going! The food looks amazing here even tho I haven't tried it yet! Unique Ethiopian dishes smell and look deelish! I also like that they have a dance floor near the dj and a separate place to sit down and eat and another room for the bar and other music being played. So anyone can have a good time here. Also the drinks are yummy and great prices! Love this place definitely a one of a kind s read more

I love going to pubs in the neighborhood. Dahlak recently made the list of one such pub that I really like. You have to walk round to the back of the restaurant. The decor is dated and the service is painfully slow but the crowd is what makes it great. And it's your usual west philly mix of everyone dancing to whatever is on the juke box. I guess I can't explain why I like it here so much, you just have to go to see what it is. PS: I haven't eaten here. Didn't get round to it because the service was just so slow that i left. read more

used to go here alot in my single days, one of my best friends uncle owns the joint and of course he is Eritrean. So he introduced me to kitfoh and all its finger eating glory. Amazing food, and interesting crowd. good beer list. looses star for smelly hipsters read more

For my first time eating Ethiopian food, I found this experience very enjoyable. We ordered two combo platters so we could try a little bit of everything. It was much more food than two people needed, but perfect for a first time visit. The prices are incredibly reasonable too. The staff is very helpful and the food was great. Full bar available, but no Ethiopian beverage choices. Come early, this place gets packed. read more