Ethiopian cuisine at its best - East Africa Cafe is definitely open. The hours need updated, so call or drop by if you have a hankering. The food here is very well done, with a lot of variation in flavors and deep, rich spices. Ethiopian can be. But one-note if not done well, so I was really pleased with the variety of preparation. Nice staff too! read more

East African Cafe - Mixed plate with lots of veg and lamb - Ethiopian Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

Tried for the first time. Portion was huge. Taste was amazing. Host was welcoming. Mood was great. Presentation was unique. read more

East African Cafe - Veg & Non Veg Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

This is one of my favourite restaurants in the KW region. I'd say that the only downfall is the heavy amount of spices that hits you in the face when you walk in. Other than that - this place was like finding gold in a hidden cave. If decor matters to you, then this isn't the place. However, you should stay for the food. I've had the vegetarian sample platter which is pretty damn good, but there are some things you'll like more than others. My go-to plate though are the Lamb Kay Tibs. Perfectly seasoned on soft inerja bread guaranteed to leave you full by the end of the meal. It's slightly pricy at $14 for one the Tibs, however, it's definitely worth the price for the food and experience. Note: you won't be using any utensils except for your hands. read more

I sampled all of the vegetarian dishes and liked them all. Nothing is extremely hot, though the "shiro" is worth getting if you want a little more heat. I love the ability to sample all of the dishes for extremely cheap. The vegetarian platter + shiro fed 3 of us for dinner. The injera is good, but not the best I've had. The atmosphere is okay - clean, bright colours, and thematic paintings on the walls. The proprietor is extremely nice. read more

East African Cafe - The vegetarian platter (shiro is in the dish behind). - Ethiopian Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

Super friendly owner, takes time to make so be sure to order ahead and give yourself 20 mins minimum for the veg platter. Never had a bad meal at this place. Happy to support the locally owned individual business downtown. A+++ read more

I love Ethiopian Food and I was a loyal eater at M & B Yummy in Toronto until it closed down. We since relocated to South Western Ontario, and I have been longing for Ethiopian food ever since. Taite has been trying to convince me on trying East Africa Cafe in Kitchener for some time so this weekend I took the plunge! I regret nothing, well... Except not trying the food sooner! The Vegetarian Combo was delicious! The Tusker Beers (Kenyan Import) were flowing, and were ice cold. The injera was fresh, plentiful and delicious! The man who served us was courteous, smiling, and he brought our food out very quickly. I would have given East Africa Cafe a 5/5 but I felt the two person vegetarian platter was small. We ordered a second Vegetarian Platter so we could both leave full (small portioning is a really rare thing at an Ethiopian restaurant) our bill was $55.00. I think that would be considered quite pricy for a lunch for two, especially at Ethiopian in downtown Kitchener but it was very fresh, and we each had a beer. 4/5 for fabulous food I do not have to go to Toronto for. read more

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4.5 stars! Both the food and prices were great at East African Cafe. The owner was very friendly and courteous, and my friends and I agreed that we would definitely return. In fact, it was so good that I am writing a review now after being there 2.5 hrs ago and having spent 1.5 hrs driving back to Toronto. We went on a Monday evening for dinner so it wasn't very busy, although there were people trickling in and out during the three hours we were there. The atmosphere is very casual and it's a fairly small restaurant with approximately 6-7 tables at most. The food menu is not extensive, but it doesn't need to be as the large vegetarian sampler comes with six items including a salad and injera (unique Ethiopian flatbread). For those who also love meat, there are beef and lamb options too. Between the three of us, we ordered a large vegetarian sampler and a lamb dish, which came to a total of ~$26 including taxes. The food was delicious and the lamb was not as gamey as I had anticipated. The food quality at East African Cafe is definitely comparable to the fancy, modern Ethiopian restaurants in downtown Toronto, but it's half the price! read more

The perfect example of don't judge a book by its cover! My SO and I decided to give this place a go because of its great reviews. We were the only customers at the time, because we had lunch at 4pm. Otherwise, the owner (I presume) just had some regulars or friends sitting at the bar, talking to him. They were really kind people too. As we sat there, I admit we had our doubts. The restaurant itself has seen better days. It was in the heart of Kitchener and people stared at us through the window, then at the restaurant sign. We didn't know what to expect and I feel a bit guilty, because now I do genuinely like this place. He could tell instantly it was our first time trying anything of this sort and tried to walk us through it a little. We were definitely surprised at the size our platter was. We ordered the beef and lamb tibs (which was delicious). It came with so much injera - the absorbent sourdough flat bread. No cutlery, you just pick the meat up with the bread. The meat was so good. You could tell they were lean cuts of meat, but they weren't tough. It was cooked well and the sauce kept it from going dry. Now, we don't like the taste of sourdough bread, so that was just our own fault for not doing research. But by what we saw, everything was really authentic and well-made. It came with a simple side salad of shredded romaine. I don't know what was in that oil-based dressing, but it was really good and I ate all of it. Since it was just him working, it was sometimes hard tracking him down because he would be cleaning something behind the bar or in the back. But when he had his back turned, a friend would always see us and tell him we needed something. I thought that was really nice of them. We ended up having to take the rest home. The owner helped us pack it up and the box was so heavy! He told us he really appreciated us coming. read more

Very intersting authentic African dining experience. You are encouraged to eat with your hands but they will give you utensils if you want. The food is enjoyable, the wine is average, the swrvice is a bit slow but very genuine. read more

Aw yea, best Ethiopian food in town. They have 3 meat dishes and rest are vegan friendly including the bread with gluten-free option. Lamb is really good! read more

East African Cafe - Veggie platter with lamb, mmm - Ethiopian Near Me - Kitchener, Ontario

Don't judge the place by the dingy look, it's actually pretty good Ethiopian food. The vegetarian platter is more than enough for two and quite tasty, and includes lots of injara (the bread like stuff you use to scoop up the lentils and salads). Not quite as spicy as I've had in Toronto. The service is nice, but slow so don't be in a rush! read more

A little bit pricey but the food is filling and the owner was very friendly. Also quite unique for Waterloo/Kitchener food variety, which are mainly middle eastern, south Asian and East Asian food. Not many people there when I went. It's a quiet place to enjoy your meal. Also totally vegetarian friendly! read more

The food that they do make here is really good and there are interesting vegetarian choices. The menu however is pretty limited and doesn't include any Ethiopian curries so don't expect anything extravagant. The owner is super nice and friendly, but the atmosphere is a bit dingey. I usually get takeout and eat the food at home - and it lasts two meals! read more

Ordered a vegetarian combo for take away. They also serve meat like lamb so no worries meat lovers. The food was unique and very good. Don't be fooled by the exterior of the cafe, or the inside decor of the cafe :) read more

There are so many positive things I can say about this restaurant, I don't know where to start. I guess I'll start at the front door. While some other reviews have complained about the spicy smell, I just get a warm, relaxed feeling as soon as I open the door and smell that heady mix of east Africa. It's a very positive experience. There is no pretension at this restaurant. The facilities are modest and the decor similarly modest. If you're out to impress a date it will be because of the awesomeness of the food and not the establishment.. I originally came to this restaurant, perhaps 6 years ago, because it served vegetarian food and proudly claims to be the best of it. And it is quite good. But I eat meat and while advertising itself as vegetarian, it does a great job of carnivorous food as well. The beef tartar is exceptional, perhaps unique, in all of KW. Where else can you eat raw beef? Is that even legal? Anyway it tastes great. The operator, Afwark, and his wife Helen, go out of their way to explain and adjust the spice of your order. They understand that some people's palate may not be adjusted to the conventional way of cooking. Afwark and Helen are happy to cook your meal without spice, or with some, according to your request. Just ask! I usually get it spicy and Afwark will bring you red pepper/curry in a separate dish for you to season your food yourself. The food is not expensive. A dinner for two can be had easily for $30 + drinks. It's a good idea to understand how hungry you are. Again, Afwark is the best judge here, just ask him for advice and he will help you. Tusker beer, Amarula, available at fair prices. In fact, there are also lots of off-menu items. Are you interested in Doro-wat or an Ethiopian coffee ceremony for special occasions? They do those, even though they are not advertised. Just call ahead to make arrangements. Both Helen and Afwark are so friendly and if you engage them in a conversation, they have many adventures to share with you. read more

If you want something different, out of the ordinary, this might be something to check out. Watch out, some of the portions seem "smaller" than what they really are. I remember starting a meal thinking, I probably have to order more later but half way through the dish I was absolutely full. read more

Food is OK. Ordered Lamb TiBS-Alicha. It came with two Enjira breads and a salad on the side. It was tasty, but not mind-blowingly amazing. I have had better in other restaurants. One major complaint is that they take waaaaaaaaaaay too much time to make the food. After ordering (8 of us) they took almost two hours to serve the food. If you are in hurry or you get angry when you get hungry like me, this is not for you. read more

I love Ethiopian food and I sometimes stop in here on my own when I'm craving injera. The vegetarian plate for one makes a perfect lunch and it's a chill place to eat by myself. I also enjoy going with friends and sharing food, as that's how it's meant to be eaten. The staff are friendly and I always feel right at home. read more

I have loved this place for a long time. As a vegetarian, it can be difficult to find healthy and flavourful food that goes beyond a sandwich when it comes to restaurants. The vegetarian platter is the perfect date for two. I usually order it with mango juice or a coffee. They make a nice cup of coffee there. The atmosphere is that of the neighbourhood cafe where people go to watch the match and chat about politics with a coffee or Tusker, as the hour permits. Decor is simple, but the (excellent) paintings of far off horizons and a large world map puts the whole experience in perspective. This is a place to eat good food and share. So, tear off some fresh injera and scoop up your favourite mouthful. East Africa Cafe is my ultimate pick for a quick lunch with friends. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the city, there is no substitute for the genuine Ethiopian food East African cafe serves. Perfectly flavored and spiced dishes, and no shortage of injera to help you eat your fill. Excellent value for price. I like them so much that I was genuinely sad when they disappeared from Just Eat, as I don't live close and would love to eat their food more often. read more

Delicious food!! Takes a little while for it to arrive at your table but that's due to it being run by a husband/wife team. I always get the vegetarian platter, gives you 5-6 small dishes to have with the amazing bread. Normally busy at night, staff are very hospitable. read more

We went to this restaurant, when we went to see Oktoberfest in Kitchener, Ontario. We found the food too good. It was the first time eating Eritrean-Ethiopian food. Its billboard emphasising as 'special for vegetarian dishes' attracted us as we are vegetarians and everything exceeded our expectations. It looked as if it is run by a family, who have come from that region and started this restaurant more than 10 years ago. The manager Afework Girmayie (as stated on his business card) seemed to be the owner as well, who was kind enough explaining to us the mystery of east African food and making us comfortable. He was polite and humble. The food was reasonably priced. He displayed a picture of the scientist Stephen Hawking who had visited his restaurant. We highly recommend this restaurant and will definitely be going there again on our next visit. In fact this restaurant created a desire in us to eat Eritrean-Ehtopian food whenever possible. read more

This is one of my favourite places to eat in dt Kitchener. My husband and I usually split the Vegetarian platter- the flavours are incredible and it's affordable. Also, have brought lamb to family gatherings and everyone loves it. Only problem is when they say 20 min to pick up I'm usually waiting an additional 15-20 minutes. I dunno why they don't just say 40 min p/u time... it's worth the wait anyway. read more

I absolutely love this restaurant! The vegetarian combo is always delightful! I crave it all the time! The owner is also super sweet! If you have not tried Ethiopian cuisine, you must give it a chance. It's a wonderful experience and who doesn't want to eat with their hands? read more