This was a real find. I've eaten Ethiopian food regularly in Oakland & Berkeley, California where theres a large Ethiopian & Eritrean community and I was thrilled to find Habesha in Manchester. Delicious food served with friendly, gracious Ethiopian style. Thank you! PS. It's easy to miss: Climb the spiral staircase on Richmond St @ corner of Sackville St @ you're there... read more

Tastes and looks better than the menu, portions are good so would recommend, share a platter and nibbles. Make a nice being of it and get coffee or tea experience you won't want to miss that. Ask if you want it spicy they will pump up the heat and we love to see it. Good food and good people. read more

Habesha is easily overlooked, residing up a spiral staircase from the below takeaway, but its worth making the effort to seek it out. Now the surroundings aren't plush but there's a certain charm in the simplicity, just don't expect fine dining. The menu continues the simplicity being 7 meat dishes in sauces of varying levels of spice, and a vegetarian dish which included lentils, spinach, carrots in separate portions. All these dishes included a pancake type 'injera' which is both plate (for the vegetarian dish) and cutlery! ( I did say don't expect fine dining! ). Although thin they are surprisingly filling! Now in terms of taste the lamb dish which I tried resembled a chilli in taste but with a vinegary overtone which doesn't resemble anything I've had before. I really enjoyed my meal (the Awaze Tibs) and being able to try something new but for the western palate it took a few bites to come around to the taste. Lastly the drinks - Ethiopian beer was tasty and only £2 a bottle ( going up to a massive £2.50 at the weekend!) but I was disappointed that both the Eritrean beer and the Ethiopian wine were off the menu and my husband had wanted to try the raw meat dish Gored Gored which was also unavailable. Overall a great experience and a cuisine not commonly found, for around £11 each including drinks. T'chen chen! read more

Habesha - Awaze Tibs and Injera - and yes, Saint George beer is Ethiopian! - Ethiopian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

For my first (and only!) night in Manchester I chose to go here because the other reviews were good, I love Ethiopian food and I know I can always trust East Africans to be nice. I felt a bit awkward eating alone and I had to wait quite a long time to order but the waiter was kind enough to allow me to order a smaller vegetable dish along with my meat dish so I wouldn't have too much food. I got the kitfo (raw) which was really delicious, it was quite oily which I'm not sure I've noticed other times I've had it, I liked that though. I got red lentils too which blended really nicely with the flavour of the meat. If you're in Manchester & you like/have never tried Ethiopian food, I suggest you go here immediately. Thanks Yelpers for a great recommendation! read more

It was a colleague who mentioned Habesha to me and how they'd enjoyed eating there, so when it was on the list for Yelp Manchester's World Food Tour I couldn't say no. As other reviews have mentioned, their 'kerb appeal' is seriously lacking - you have to enter through a toughened-glass door from the street which looks like it belongs to a takeaway, then head up a spiral staircase to the restaurant on the first floor. Once up there though, you're in a different space altogether. The ethnic decorations are just enough to whisk you away to the Horn of Africa. The restaurant is narrow but long, with seating for at least 30-40 people. The menu isn't extensive (nine meat dishes - beef, chicken and lamb - and one vegetarian), but that was more of a help than a hindrance, as you could be more confident that they'd make these few dishes very well, instead of many dishes not so well. There are no starters or desserts available. We were amazed at the cheapness of the beers - Ethiopian or Eritrean options - at only £2 each (£2.50 on weekends), though we found out the Eritrean one wasn't in stock. They also have mainstream choices such as Budweiser, but the majority of us opted for a local tipple. I think almost everyone opted for lamb dishes with a couple trying the vegetarian. They all range in price from £5.90 to £7.50 and all came with baskets of injera - sourdough-risen flatbreads which had a slightly spongy texture and hint of vinegary taste to them. An unusual bread but it worked well to soak up the tasty sauce that my lamb was cooked in. Everyone enjoyed what they had, I could probably say that we weren't blown away with the food, but it was great to try a unique cuisine - there is nowhere else in the city like this. read more

Habesha - Basket of Injera (sourdough-risen flatbread) - Ethiopian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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I have been looking forward to my Habesha debut for some time. I have passed the entrance (which is concealed in the corner of a take away) many times and been curious what delights might await at the top of the stairs. On a Sunday afternoon, the atmosphere in the restaurant wasn't completely what I expected. The place was full of men watching a soccer match, with all the associated shouting and jeering that goes with that. That aside, we received a warm welcome from the barman/waiter and were presented with menus. After some deliberation, my dining companion and I ordered 3 dishes between us which was slightly too much but the prices were so reasonable we just wanted to try the different options. In simple terms, the menu offers beef, lamb or chicken in either mild, medium or spicy. The imported Ethiopian beers tasted great and we both ordered another one. Reasonably priced too at £2.50, during the week they are even cheaper. All the dishes come with a flat pancake-like bread called Injera, which you use to pick up the food rather than using cutlery, as is the Ethiopian way. I enjoy this style of eating, however for my palette, Habesha's Injera had a slightly sweet taste which I didn't totally enjoy. I would, however, happily return to try them again on another day. For those who have a tastecard, this takes 50% off the food bill, making an already cheap meal even cheaper! Hopefully my next visit won't clash with a soccer match, and I might get a slightly more authentic experience. In summary, good food, great service, atmosphere somewhat lacking. read more

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So, I've been a very naughty boy - living the Yelp high life - taking the largesse of you wonderful people and giving nothing in return. Too long this state of affairs has been allowed to continue - today is the day that I put my foot down against the tyranny of... er.... Myself and give back to Yelp what you've been wanting all along. I do, of course refer to tasty, tasty, reviews. First up on my list of making up for lost time is Habesha... For those of you who don't know Habesha, or only know of it from that one, really weird, review on another reviews site, it's an Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant in the middle of Manchester's Gay Village. In the grand scheme of restaurant camouflage, I'd have to give Habesha a solid 8/10. Nestled above a kebab shop it's a little difficult to find, even if you see the sign! If you're making your way there, look for the spiral staircase which has its own door. I'll make sure that I post a picture for you for easy identification. Making our way upstairs revealed to us the delightful aromas of the African continent, and, more specifically, Ethiopia... It's a basic place, with limited creature comforts, so if you're more at home amongst the chandeliers, then maybe steel yourself for a bit of a comedown. If you like your dining a little more down to earth, then this is just the place for you. The menu is a little limited, and the choice on offer boils down to a selection of what are basically curries with different meats, but it's all good. I plumped for the Yebeg Wot - a red, spicy stew like curry which packed enough of a punch to keep me happy, but wouldn't put off those of you who prefer your spiciness a little toned down. It's all served with injera, which is a kind of savoury sour pancake which looks a bit like a cross between a crumpet and a dishcloth. The appearance and texture are a little odd, but there's nothing better to mop up the juices from your bowl of Wot. All this washed down with a local St George beers - nothing could be more authentic! I'll be meandering my way back to Habesha in future... There's no good reason not too! read more

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Not quite the usual positive experience as a change over of waiters left both with the impression the other had taken our orders leaving us waiting half an hour for even a menu. Hiccup over, the sour, hot and spicy chicken, minced beef and lamb dishes were typically satisfying. The injera bread is the star for me. Traditionally made of gluten free Teff flour (though here a 70-30% rice to wheat flour) it is left to ferment for 6 days giving it it's trade mark sour flavour before being poured on a hot plate like a pancake. It's porous texture and dimpled surface soaks in all the sauce and flavour, and is such messy fun to eat. Check in with Yelp and you get a free drink - I went for the Ethiopian wine, earthy and quaffable. read more

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You'd think because Habesha is the only Ethiopian restaurant in Manchester that they wouldn't try so hard because, hey, there's no competition anyway right? Wrong. This restaurant produces the most authentic and high-quality Ethiopian food you can find outside of Addis Ababa (according to my Ethiopian friends). I've been several times now and the food and service has been nothing short of superb every time. The menu isn't all that extensive, but I only see this as a good thing as more time and effort is put into what is on offer. Ethiopian food comes on a shared platter which centres around a kind of thick bread called Injera. You can add a number of dishes to your platter, using the Injera (and your right hand, no cutlery needed here!) to scoop it up. One of the specialities here is the Doro Wot: tender chicken leg or thigh marinated in lemon sauteed in seasoned butter and stewed in red pepper flavoured with onions ginger and cardamom. My other favourite is Derek tibs: cubes of lean lamb, dry-fried with onion and Ethiopian spices. It's simply outstanding. I love to wash it all down with a mango juice or an Ethiopian beer which come highly recommended. At under £20 a head, Habesha is true value for money. Add to this a great atmosphere, friendly staff and traditional decoration and you have the perfect meal and very unique experience. read more

Habesha - From official website - Ethiopian Near Me - Manchester, XGM

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Wonderful and tender chicken and lamb with the perfect blend of spices! We were visiting Manchester for the day and stopped in for dinner. We highly recommend. read more

If you're stood outside a dingy looking takeaway on Sackville Street thinking 'there's a restaurant in there?!', then yes there is. Inside and straight up the stairs. Even inside it's a fairly unassuming place, but it seems clean and tidy and has a welcoming cosy atmosphere. For a drink I went for the obvious choice of Ethiopian lager. This was perfectly drinkable and very cheap at £2/2.50 a bottle. (Different prices during the week as at the weekend.) Ethiopian food was a total mystery to me so I was thankful for a small menu - presumably made up of classic dishes, and/or the dishes that the chef can create best. On recommendation of the waiter I opted for Yebeg Wot, a medium spiced lamb dish. This came, as did everything else, with a side of injera (a type of pancake). Yebeg Wot was delicious - richly spiced, with sweet, sour and spicy flavours. I felt that there wasn't a huge amount of meat in the dish and what was there was in very small pieces, but at the price I can't complain much. It tasted great wrapped in pieces of injera - which tasted a bit odd on its own. Those sitting next to me had Yebeg Alicha Fitfit (mild lamb stew) and Kitfo (spicy raw beef). The stew was similar to mine but less spicy and a bit more fruity. The raw beef was great, delivering a lot in terms of spice. My meal plus drinks came to around a tenner, so even after throwing in a few quid for a tip I was looking at a very cheap meal. While I don't think I'll rush back to Habesha I really enjoyed it and it's great to know it's there when I'm in the mood for something different. read more

Came here with the yelp crew..and didn't really know what to expect..after stopping at a dodgey looking kebab place bearing a smashed window I cowered . Luckily this place was hidden up a spiral staircase. Inside it was well decorated and was busy for a Wednesday evening..which I thought was a good sign... Sitting down a hard worked waiter eventually took our drinks which were surprisingly cheap for a restaurant..I tried the Ethiopian beer for £2 a bottle..which wasn't bad! Turning to the food menu..I did shake it upside down to see if there was more to it..as it is very limited... If you eat meat then you have a choice of three to four different types of chicken, beef or lamb dishes..if you are pescaterian then you will be disappointed as there is no fish...if you are veggie..then you have a choice of a single dish.. Not to be disheartened I chose the veggie one...when it arrived I admit it did not look like much.. it was presented on a large silver tray covered with a large dosa pancake thing with five different scoops of veg.. once I teared some bread off and dipped some in the fillings it was suprisingly good. The spinach, lentils and carrot dish was especially tasty... Overall its a very cheap and cheerful place to go..but i personally won't go back for awhile..because I've had the only dish that's available to me....definitely worth a go though read more

Amazing Ethiopian food, central Manchester, spicy, great prices, choice of beef, lamb, Chicken vegetarian, great wine, friendly staff, central location, definitely recommend it, been here a few times. read more

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Find yourself a doughey takeaway on Sackville street - head up the spiral staircase and find yourself in a different place all together. The restaurant is a slim but long, simple in its design and well run. On to the food then, as people have said it small menu but that made my life a little easier as I have never had Ethiopian food before. I when for the Kitfo, a spicey beef dish, all the food come with injera bread (it more like a pancake) which goes very well with the spice of the food. This place is a great place for getting a group and sharing around the food and bread. The food and the drink here is a great price - my drinks and meals cane for £10. read more

i used to live next to little ethiopia in LA, where there are a zillion ethiopian restaurants in one block. okay, maybe a slight exaggeration. i can't proclaim to be an expert of ethiopian food, cause i only eat the vegetarian items. but boy oh boy, they are good. habesha is solid, the veggie combo here is solid, it's all reasonably priced. the tea (ethiopian style, with some spices) is wonderful as well. read more

I went with a friend on a Friday night at about 7pm. The place was half full and all the people in there seemed to be having a good time. I'd heard about this restaurant from a friend and immediately wanted to try it, but I'd purposely kept my expectations low as I'd never tried Ethiopian food before. I was a little bit nervous as the entrance is up a spiral staircase in a Turkish take out that is located down stairs and it didn't really look like much from the ground, but upstairs was a completely different story. I thought it was fantastic. The staff were smiley and pleasant, the beer was cold and ridiculously cheap and the food was excellent. I had the Yebeg Wot, which was lamb in a spicy sauce and it was delicious. My friend had the Special Kitfo, which I don't think he really enjoyed, but then there's no accounting for other people's taste. The restaurant is quite small, probably only about 10 or so tables, but the decor was lovely and the whole meal was extremely good value for money. The menu is very small, only 10 items, and there were no starters, sides or puddings, but it didn't really matter as the main course was plenty and they give you more than enough injera to mop up with. I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to try something different, don't be put off by the dodgy take out downstairs and give it a go! read more

Being Mexican a love spicy food. I never tried Ethiopian food. But when in the U.K. If you are not into Fish & Chips. This was one of the best meals I ever had. read more

If you need to get away from the weather or the city, or you're just in the mood for some delicious, inexpensive and authentic food, do yourself a favour and go on holiday to Habesha. You have the challenge of climbing the spiral staircase through the shop below, but this (very minor) mission rewards you with by far some of the best Ethiopian food outside Ethiopia itself that I've ever tasted. Not only is the injera good, the wot spicy (and they have kitfo!) and the coffee delicious (hipsters take note), but you can easily forget that you're in Manchester, not Mekele; Lancashire not Lalibela; England, not Addis Ababa. I admit to some trepidation in visiting, as I've spent a lot of time in Ethiopia, and the slightly sour injera which forms the base of most meals seems to call you more strongly the longer you stay away. So I was very excited, but worried that some small disappointment would take the shine off my visit; but in fact Habesha never missed a beat. We had the bayeyentu (the 'vegetarian' option of several lentil, chickpea, cabbage and spinach stews) and yebeg tibs (strips of lamb in a light sauce), and they were both lovely. We drank a couple of St George beers for the bargain basement price of just £2.00. And we had a couple of coffees, which were tasty indeed. And the entire meal was less than £10 each. Amazing value! Seriously, Habesha is ploughing a lone furrow of Ethiopian excellence in the north of the UK that you shouldn't miss. Just go and enjoy. And revel in using your hand to pick up the food with the injera before popping it in your mouth--not many restaurants I'm Britain encourage this behaviour! read more

Habesha Restaurant & Bar is an Ethopian Resturant situated in Manchester City Centre the food is second to none and something I have never sampled before which I can not believe as i really have been missing out!! Habesha Offers a massive Meat and Vegetable selection which is simply melt in your mouth, excellent service in wonderful surrounds a visit to Habesha is a must!!! read more

This is the best Ethiopian you'll find in Manchester and I'm Ethiopian. I definitely recommend them especially for Vegans even though I only eat the meat dishes! Do yourself a favor and try Ethiopian! read more

Visited last weekend - absolutely terrific! Had 2 lamb dishes - hot one for my BF and milder one for me served on one big injira with another cut up served with. Lovely waitress asked if we wanted serving together - didn't know quiet what this entailed but said yes - means you share the injira we think. Showed us how to eat with folding the edge over and ripping little circles out of the injira. Had read up a little on customs and really enjoyed eating in traditional way and feeding each other! Had ethiopian beer and wine (Very mead like) with and finished with an ethiopan coffee - wow that stuff wakes you up! Bill under £30 - will definately recomend to friends (In facet i think one is going on Sunday!) and be back! read more

The food here is incredible! This was my first experience with Ethiopian cuisine and i was not sure what to expect but i would defiantly recommend it to anyone. If you are looking for a unique Manchester Gem Habesha is definitely it! ATM everyone can get 10% for free, just go to this website http://www.ballooncard.co.uk/Deal.aspx?id=678 read more