This was our first time trying Ethiopian food. We liked it. The service was also nice, paired with good interior decor and calming live music. The meat sampler was big enough to share for our party of four. The tea was delicious. We'll be back to try more things. read more

Meat Platter (B Tier) - Really good seasonings. - My only gripe was the meat was a little tough/dry and I think it could've been taken off the grill a little bit earlier. The service was great and our servers were really attentive. I would definitely go here again. read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Meat Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

I've eaten here many times over the years, since the time they were located down on El Cajon Blvd. Then they closed for a few years, then finally reopened in an industrial area in Mira Mesa. About 6 months ago they reopened at the current location, right on Mira Mesa Blvd. Their new restaurant is beautiful and a larger space than they've ever had! As for the food, it tastes like some different recipes than they used to have back in their El Cajon Blvd days, which I miss. But it's still great and the furthest north Ethiopian food I can find in San Diego County, so I'll take it! I always order their lentil sambusas and the Vegan Platter. They gave us plenty of injera, which I always appreciate. The platter today had some different things on it than I've seen from them in the past, and some of regular dishes tasted a little different than I remember, so I wonder if they have a different chef or recipes or ingredients than they have in the past. This has always been a 5 star restaurant for me, but today I'd give it a 4. Will return to give it another shot though. read more

See all

New restaurant on Mira Mar Rd. It's actually quite large inside with ample parking. Went for lunch and had no wait. We ordered the meat sampler for two and honestly that was enough for three to four people. The meat was tender and well cooked. Could have been a tad more spicy but good flavors. The inside was nicely decorated and clean and had some people but not too crowded for lunch. read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Meat Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

My family came in and we really enjoyed the food, ambiance, and service. We got the meat sampler with injera. We hope to come back! read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This was fine. Ethiopian option that is closer. It got really hot in the restaurant though. I wasn't really impressed, but it's a good place to try ethiopian. read more

See all

Date of Visit: 4.11.2026 Location: Miramar Cuisine Type: Ethiopian Vibe: Door dash order N/A Cost: $$ Service: N/A Food/ Rating: -5/5- Its like colorful vegetarian slop that is delicious with this kinda ace bandages that will scoop up this delicious slop. I think it is delicious because it covers all sorts of flavor profiles, sour, earthy, umami i have no idea what I'm eating but i know its flavorful and adventurous. Overall Thoughts: Best Thing I ate: Just this vegetable combo Something to Improve: Maybe more ace bandages to scoop the slop (its rly good guys) read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Injera (Ace bandages) - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Food Tried this place right before they moved to their new location and omg the food was delicious. There's dishes for both vegetarians and those who love meat. Both are seasoned and marinated well so that you can taste individual flavors of the ingredient. My favorite was the pastes made of tofu. Unfortunately, I don't recall the names of it :( LOL I have slight trypophobia and had no idea the bread would be so holey. But it was so delicious and I survived Service Very kind. An employee continued to check on all guess to see if they needed refills of anything and she even brought out a little water bowl for my pup. Ambience I haven't checked out the new location. But the old location appeared to be in a co-share type of kitchen and the seating was mainly outdoor. I am sure it is different now read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Came here for dinner on a Friday night at 7:30, and we were the only customers which is not a good sign. For the 3 of us, we ordered a 2 person vegan combo and a lamb meat dish. We also ordered sambusa as an appetizer. The sambusa came out first and it was okay. For $9 it came with only 2 pieces, but she brought out two orders even though we didn't agree, but whatever. The food came out shortly after, and it looked good. However, most of the veggie dishes had very small portions so we only got a small taste. The lamb well spiced and tasty, but again only a few bites. My wife and I have been to many Ethiopian restaurants and this was the most expensive by far, $100 for 3 people. The portions wete small and none of us were full, and we all agreed that it was not very tasty. There are better options in San Diego. Will not return. read more

2nd time here, just as good as the first time. Tried the goat tibs and veggie combo. Amazing!!

Came here in the middle of the afternoon and it was quiet. We ordered the vegan platter and tea. It was pretty good. Each side was flavorful and we were given extra injera to enjoy. I thought the tea was nothing super special. Inside was clean and the service was very friendly and efficient. Parking was easy too. Overall, this place is definitely better than other (similar) restaurants in San Diego (where hours are limited and reservations have to be made in advance). Check them out! read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Vegan Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Best Ethiopian I've had. Vegan options! Each different curry /pate on the vegan platter was super flavorful and perfectly balanced. So many flavors in one meal! New dining is comfortable with plenty booths. The service was excellent. She even offered me more after I was done to make sure I would be full. Going back soon! read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Vegan Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Updated review of their new location - the location is great and parking is so easy. Interiors and space are very well done and the food I delicious as always. Only suggestion is that ordering your food can take awhile because of only one person taking orders which I totally get but might recommend maybe they change it to ordering at the counter. That might go better for them. I am a huge fan of their food -!; lovely people so pls do give it a try. You won't be disappointed read more

This is a new restaurant in Mira Mesa where a Mexican restaurant used to be. They have plenty of parking. We were seated right away. However, they only had 1 server available. So, our order wasn't taken right away. Server was very nice though and apologetic. We ordered the beef Tibs and Vegan platter. Beef was very tasty and tender and I really enjoyed with injera. the vegan platter was just as delicious. Will definitely come back here again to try other dishes. read more

See all

Due to an ongoing dispute with the landlord at their North Park address, Gihon has moved into an industrial kitchen in the Miramar neighborhood. The suite has been used by multiple vendors over the years as a facility to get their sea legs before branching out and establishing a brick-and-mortar location. There were a few outdoor tables in front of Rotisserie Affair Catering for on-site dining, but the setup was primarily for takeout. The one-page menu contained a healthy number (8) of vegan choices. They were supplemented with two starters, two combo plates, and one dessert. You could also build your own signature Tibs entree by selecting one of five proteins, one of seven vegan sides, and one of three carbs as a base. I requested an order of Sambusa which came as two fried dumplings. One was filled with chicken and the other with lentils. They were triangular in shape and quite crispy from being freshly fried. I also created a Tibs entree with Lamb, Fasolia, and Rice as the three components. The brown rice came in its own round container while the lamb pieces were in one side of a two-compartment box. The fasolia filled the other side and consisted of green beans and carrots stewed with a berbere spiced sauce, caramelized onions, garlic, and ginger. The meat was cooked to a nice degree of tenderness. The stewed veggies were not spicy at all and had a hearty flavor. It's too bad the owner had to resort to such an arrangement because I think Ethiopian cuisine is best consumed in a dine-in setting. The food quality and price were both good enough to earn a four star rating for Gihon. read more

See all

I have been craving Ethiopian food, and I'm so glad that Gihon opened up. Our waiter Esu gave us iced water with lemon, and patiently explained his recommendations when I asked about the menu. I decided on the filet mignon tibs entree ($24). The meat was very tender, and sautéed with tomatoes, onions, jalapeños, and Ethiopian spiced butter. This entree came with a vegan side of your choice, so I chose the tikil gomen (spiced stew of cabbage and potatoes). I enjoyed the contrast between the meat and my side. Included with the entree was a choice between injera, pita, rice, or half and half. I love injera so that's what I picked, and my friend chose half and half (injera and pita). They brought the injera and pita out on one shared plate. As we almost finished the injera, Esu asked if we wanted more, and then refilled it for us. My friend chose the vegan platter ($22) which was beautiful. It was colorful, and had such a nice variety of sides. She really enjoyed each one, and it even had injera at the bottom. I sampled a few bites, and loved trying the misir (red lentils). If you're going for a vegan variety, this platter is most definitely the dish to get. We ended the night with vegan baklava that came with two pieces. We loved the dried rose petals. The seating options were three outside tables, and luckily the seats had cushions on it. I recommend bring a jacket for sure if you're eating at night. All in all, we loved the food and the service here. Thank you Esu for your cheerful service throughout the night. If you are craving Ethiopian food, I'd recommend visiting Gihon for dining in or for takeout! read more

See all

It's a little hard to find but they are located inside the Rotisserie catering business. There's only 3 tables and they are all outside. When we arrived all the tables were full so we had to wait quite a while for a table. The service was quite slow even after we got a table, but I think it's because there's only 1 or 2 people working there. The food is really good and affordable! We got the vegan platter and the meat sampler and they told us for the 2 vegan of the meat sampler they would give us more of which ever ones we liked. The meat dishes were a little dry but the chicken was my favorite out of the beef and lamb, though I could totally do without meat since the vegan dishes are so flavorful and not dry. They also gave us 2 basket-fulls of injera for the 4 of us, which was plenty. We also got the sambusa, and the chicken one was again kinda dry. I saw a lot of people get takeout from here so I'm probably going to do that for next time! We were all stuffed at the end and still had leftovers, for the price it's great value. read more

See all

Very happy that an Ethiopian dinner option is closer to us in North County. The location is INSIDE the rotisserie catering entrance, there are signs to guide you but it does take a little deciphering. Food was wonderful, the beets and split pea were a top favorite. Plenty of injera supplied, we were stuffed as two people sharing the vegan platter. Service was phenomenal, very warm and accommodating. We were checked up on multiple times. Things to note: very limited seating, and you order inside, then sit, food is brought to you, and then walk back inside to pay once done. read more

See all

Incredibly warm service and food that is unique, tasty and visually pleasing make Gihon a must try. Other reviews mention how to find the spot, as it still lacks its own signage. Upon entering the Rotisserie shop, I was geeted very kindly by Gihon staff and seated at one of the three outdoor tables. I chose the vegan platter while my friend got the steak tibs. You can choose injera, pita, rice or half/half which I appreciated. The tibs was delicious, and my vegan platter was a visually stunning palette of different colors, textures and flavors. Some of my favorites were the eggplant, tofu and lentils--all fresh, healthy and thoughtfully seasoned whole foods. The vegan baklava with dried rose petals was an excellent sweet touch to end the night. Service throughout was attentive and friendly. A couple notes for diners that can impact your experience but are no fault of Gihon's-- starting around 8 pm a few incredibly noisy aircraft from Miramar Base flew overhead, which messed with the vibe a bit. Also sprinklers turn on around 9:15 pm so be sure not to tarry after the 9 pm closing time. read more

See all

Super small portions even the salad and I could tell it was store dressing Italian and the other veggie was in a tiny bowl sitting on top of the bread should be placed on bread the beef taste was also tiny portion and basic taste I like Red Sea way better more authentic read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Bread - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

It was really yummy!! Best we have had so far in CA. A good variety as well shared the meat and veggie platters with our friends. Kudos to the chef! Looking forward to going back. The sweet lady that served us was helpful when we had a question and made sure we had everything we needed. The place had good amount of tables and at night the lighting isn't harsh like some places. Very peaceful and easy to talk with your friends. read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Meat and veggie combined. - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

What a great addition for Miramar/Mira Mesa! We no longer need to drive all the way down to North Park for authentic Ethiopian cuisine! Generous portions and lots of vegan options! read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Vegan platter with eggplant wot - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

I like this restaurant a lot. The vegetarian plate is an excellent value, and healthy and super delicious I love getting to try different Ethiopian vegetarian dishes, and the portion is huge. Good injara too. Yum! Glad to have a place like this north of the 52. read more

We had the vegan combination. Everything was delicious. Service was calm and friendly. It was nearly empty for Saturday lunch. Highly recommend this spot. read more

I had a craving for Ethiopian and my normal spot was a little too far for me to drive. On a whim I decided to try Gihon because it was closer and I was SHOCKED to find an Ethiopian spot in North County. I took my son to try Ethiopian for the first time and realized I was really gambling on this . The service was extremely pleasant and the staff was nice. It felt like a meal cooked by one of your friend's mothers. The restaurant setting is nice and open. You can even see the woman cooking in the kitchen. I loved it here and can not wait to go back!! read more

See all

I was completely and pleasantly surprised by Gihon. I expected good food based on the reviews, but I did not expect the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. Feels and tastes homemade. Service was excellent as well. I highly recommend Gihon. read more

So glad to have Mercy and family back on the Ethiopian food rotation, this time in a much better location on Miramar! She now has a mega space to host, large groups and event events. The menu has expanded to include goat unfortunately she was sold out today, but I will be back to try it very soon. read more

See all

although it doesn't look like much, it's very filling and generous in the portions. It was very flavorful and good. had fun eating it with my fingers. I wanted to finish the whole thing but I couldn't so I think it might be a good plate even for two on a date. went there at noon and the place was quiet. staff was kind and tentative but they have a sign saying they take their time in preparing your meal so keep that in mind. overall a nice experience. read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Vegan Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Very nice and comforting ambiance, great service and food came out fast, very good tasting

Food was delicious and the service was quick! I'm so glad we have a good Ethiopian restaurant in Mira Mesa

Got this for takeout. The food was well packaged and I actually like that the awaze is separate so I can control the spice of my ribs. Everything was well portioned and flavorful. Glad we don't have to hoof it down to Normal Heights to get some quality Ethiopian! read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Beef ribs with lentils - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Had to make sure we were in the right place - the building has a different business name with only a small sign letting you know it's Gihon. But altogether a great experience. The host was extremely welcoming and very helpful. A simple, effective menu, though no pictures so definitely leaned heavily on Yelp for context. The meat sampler was a fantastic deal, could easily feed four and the meat was perfectly seasoned and cooked. We liked the sides. The sambusa was good but a touch dry, perhaps that was intentional though. We all agreed it was a unique and tasty experience worth stopping by again. read more

This used to be Tony's Mexican restaurant right along Miramar. We wanted to eat something different than the usual. What a pleasant surprise. While the ingredients are familiar (tomatoes, spinach, garbanzos, collard greens, lentils, butter, meat) the preparations are delighful. Not knowing what to select, the two of us ordered the vegetarian platter for two. Mind you, we're solid carnivores, and my Marine date can eat like a horse, but this platter fed us to the top. The injera-- tangy, soft wraps served alongside, made from a tiny grain called teff, felt familiar (we kept referring to them as "Ethiopian tortillas" bc we forgot the actual name). The interior is simple. No-nonsense. Focus on food. The lady behind the counter had a kind smile and was very patient with our clueless selves. If you drive past it, you'll have to drive a ways before you can turn around. Look for the big weed store in the same parking lot. Wish this place was a bit easier to access, that's my only complaint. I went to Lucy Ethiopian restaurant the following night for comparison and prefer the fresh flavors and friendly service at Gihon. I'm definately going back. read more

See all

What great food and service! I went today and ordered the chicken tibs with eggplant wot. Everything was super fresh. It was my first time having Ethiopian food and I will for sure be coming back. read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Chicken Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

This place is fantastic. Very good service. There's an outdoor patio with shading that's nice to eat at. The food with some of the best Ethiopian food so far. Highly recommend. The vegan plate and the samosas were great It is in the rotisserie affair, catering, and deli section, because there is no outdoor sign for the restaurant at least at the time of this post read more

I am so glad we stopped in. I had been craving Ethiopian food for a while now and I was not disappointed with this restaurant. I had the vegan platter planning on bringing some leftovers home with me but I ate the whole thing! The flavors were fresh and fantastic. The injera is so flavorful. I will be back and I'll probably have the same platter but because I got to test so many different items there's no way I can choose a favorite so this is a great way to go! read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Vegan platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

First time enjoying Ethiopian food and the vegan platter was full of flavor. I feel so healthy and the injera is so fluffy and delicious. read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Vegan Platter for 1 and Hot Spiced Tea - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Wow. This place is amazing. Believe the other reviews. The flavors were spot on. The vegan platter had nine different items plus injera. Plentiful and delicious. This is the first restaurant in a long time that had exceeded my expectations in quality and quantity of food. The service was super quick and friendly as well. Can't wait to visit again soon! read more

The food was delicious. The service was nice. Lots of vegan options. The samosas were great! Note: The place was a little hard to find as it appears to share space with Rotisserie Affair Catering. read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - The Vegan platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California

Went to this location! It may be difficult to find because they don't have a storefront sign yet. There are signs around that point to where the Ethiopian kitchen is though. They're in the Rotisserie Catering building, but on the side where there's outdoor seating. The only seating available is outdoor with metal grate outdoor furniture, so would not recommend to wear shorts or skirts. The parking is not bad, there is space around. There was a kind gentlemen that caught us looking around trying to find the kitchen and he waved us over. He may have been the chef or staff! He was nice enough to also take time to tell us about what's what on the vegan platter we ordered. We also ordered the chicken Sambusa. When I went, the vegan platter was $22 and the chicken sambusa $6 for 2 of them. The sauce with the sambusa is very delicious and the dough is very flakey. I do warn that the chicken one had chicken juice eventually seeping out when you bite more into it, but still very tasty. The vegan platter was very much worth the price and I shared it with a friend. It basically has sample amounts of what's on the vegan part of the menu and I wasn't missing meat at all. I enjoyed all of the items! Would definitely recommend paying this place a visit. read more

Gihon Ethiopian Kitchen - Vegan platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Diego, California