I'm not sure where to begin--this place was absolutely fantastic! I came here with a friend, and even though we had to wait about 30 minutes for a table (they were super busy), it was totally worth it. We shared everything and tried both the Meat and Vegetarian combinations. Each vegetarian combo came with three veggie dishes. For the meats, we got Ye Siga Alicha Wot (stewed beef with sauce) and Doro Wot (chicken legs with berbere). Personally, I preferred the beef--it was very flavorful and tender. For the veggie choices, we had: Fasolia: Sautéed string beans and carrots Shiro Wot: Chickpea sauce Yemisir Wot: Red lentil stew--one of my favorites Ater Kik Alicha: Cooked split peas, very tasty Yatakilt Alicha: Cabbage, carrots, and potatoes Key Sir: Red beets, carrots, and potatoes--another favorite The portions were really generous, and everything came with injera, their spongy sourdough flatbread made from teff flour. The bread was a nice balance and paired perfectly with all the food. The service was great--friendly and attentive without rushing us out, so you can relax and hang out after your meal. It was also really fun to eat with my hands, which added to the authentic experience. The food tasted so good and genuine. Bonus points: the restaurant is close to public transport, and they accept both cash and card. Overall, I give this place a 10/10. Highly recommended! read more

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Fantastic Ethiopian cuisine with superb service and even better wine. Be ready to eat with your hands which offers an authentic atmosphere with strong, foreign flavor. Portion sizes large but what's positive is no one in the restaurant will judge you for hand eating given there is a mutual understanding of the quality of each dish. I would highly recommend the honey wine which pairs perfectly with the Doro Wat poultry dish. read more

I love Ethiopian food and have frequently been to numerous restaurants for 25 years around NYC, Washington DC, Austin Texas, Milwaukee, Seattle, London, Chicago, Boston, and this was my worst experience by far. My family and I were truly exited to try this establishment but we all felt our skin color didn't fit their regular clientele. We didn't receive the same service as the other patrons and the food wasn't as tasty as I would have expected. It's unfortunate that I had to write this review,but we traveled a long distance to celebrate a special occasion to have experienced such a disappointment in customer service and food experience. read more

Came here with a party of 4 on a Sunday evening. My friend called in to reserve a table because I heard it gets popular. The restaurant is tight (typical NYC) and it got loud with the cramped space. One of our friends was late and we noticed that they timed the food to come out after she arrived (so it didn't get cold) which was a nice detail. Although the food took quite a while to come for the people around us. We got the vegetable and meat combo as well as the kitfo. Maybe it was because I was starving, but I would put it at one of the top five Ethiopian spots I've had. The portions were perfect. My favorite items were the sauteed lamb and the kitfo, which had a nice spice. I would say the injera here is not very sour. Some vegetable items were a bit bland, but it was fine when paired with the meats. The service was decent. The cleanliness of the bathroom could be better. We ended up paying $21 after tax and tip per person. Quite a deal in the city. I'd come back! read more

Haile Bistro - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

Amazing flavor. The spicy beef and lamb are must haves. The chickpeas and lentils were my favorites vegetables. Everything is so good. The service is wonderful too and there's a family atmosphere. read more

Haile Bistro - Meat and Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

Must try the lamb!!! I'm obsessed with the flavor! Also tried the Ye Siga wot. Flavor was good but the beef was a bit dry. Will be trying another entree when I come back My favorite vegetarian entrees: (ranked top is my most fav) Yatakilt alicha Yemisir wot Gomen Fasolia You eat with your hands! It was so much fun! The injera is definitely filling! Doesn't look too big but we couldn't finish all of the injera with the entree. I def recommend trying if you've never tried Ethiopian food:) read more

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Absolutely delicious! We had the Doro Wot and the Lamb dish. The chicken was cooked perfectly and so well spiced and flavorful. All the vegetarian side dishes were equally flavorful and the injera bread was perfection. The two ladies running the front of house were so sweet as well. Cannot wait to come back and try more! read more

Haile Bistro - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

Stopped by here to try some Ethiopian. Overall, liked the food, but giving 3 stars for service. The food was really tasty! I liked the variety of dishes, really would recommend the getting the meat combo, the beef dishes were the highlight for me. Additionally the veggie dishes were great! I recommend the cabbage and the green bean sides. My issue was they made us order full entrees for each person in our party of 3 when we asked to order only 2 as we each cannot finish our own entrees. This would be understandable if we had made a reservation or there had been a spend minimum per table but we walked in and there were other tables available as well while we were there. If you are hungry and can eat, def stop by for some yummy Ethiopian. read more

Haile Bistro - 3 person meat, veggie, and chicken combo - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

We ordered in from Haile. This was my second time ordering from them. Both times I have gotten the vegetarian combo. Given that I like Ethiopian food a lot I order from various restaurants. Compared to other places their food is a bit more flavorful. The spice level is a little inconsistent. Last time the lentils were extremely spicy and this time they were more tolerable. The portions are significantly smaller than other Ethiopian restaurants. The first time I thought it was a mistake. This time we called and they told us they put the same measured amount every time, so I guess the portion size is just quite small. The unfortunate part was that the smallest portion was for my favorite lentil of the vegetarian combo. It will be tough for us to order from them again mostly due the portion. The food itself is pretty good. read more

Haile Bistro - Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

The Sambusa was absolutely delicious. I don't think I've ever had a better appetizer. It was so crispy and well seasoned. A truly savory amuse-bouche! The tea was incredibly warming and soothing, too. Unfortunately, the meat and veggie entre was a little bit disappointing. Many of the portions seemed to lean toward being oversalted, save for the collard greens and beef. That was a huge bummer because I was really looking forward to tasting my first time eating Ethiopian food, let alone Beyaynetu, and the main course was a major let down. But hey, if you love oversalted foods, you might love it! read more

SERVICE - located in alphabet city in a quieter area - limited indoor seating - easy to do takeout through postmates or doordash - servers are friendly MENU - ethiopian appetizers, entrees, and combos - vegan options available - well priced ($20 per entree) FOOD - vegetarian combo (7/10): two big pieces of injera topped with five of the vegetarian entrees: gomen, yatakilt alicha, shiro wot, yemisir wot, and ater kik alicha. I got this for takeout and I liked how it was neatly packaged in the box such that none of the dishes mixed with each other. The dishes were flavorful and spicy. I liked how the gomen was fresh and retained some of the earthiness of the greens. I was not a fan of the injera as it was sticky and not very sour. WOULD I GO BACK? Yes! I would want to try it in person before making a better judgement. read more

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I love New York City so much because the world truly is around you, at least when it comes to food. I was just walking down Ave B when I saw Haile, a small Ethiopian restaurant. I did some research on the reviews, and it passed the vibe check. Haile is an intimate hole in the wall restaurant, but it was JUMPIN. I was eating alone like a nerd loser so I was really shy walking in. It's run by two Ethiopian sisters, Abbey and Selam, who were actually jokes. They are just in here vibin. I started with an Ethiopian Honey wine as wine-making is an important part of Ethiopian tradition and history, and I'll try anything once. and it tasted exactly how you would think honey wine would taste. When I told Abbey it was my first time having Ethiopian cuisine and wanted something authentic, she recommended the combination plate with chicken, beef, and 3 vegetarian dishes. She told me to be ready to eat with my hands. I also got the beef sambusas to start. They are triangular with a pastry shell and filled with beef. GAS! The combination plate came with injera, which is a type of sourdough flatbread that is a staple in Ethiopian cuisine. I don't have trypophobia, but this bread lowkey made me think I might. Spooky. The beef and chicken were phenomenal, but the veggie sides weren't my favorite thing ever. I know myself and should have just got the meat combination platter, but that's on me. All in all, this felt like a home cooked meal, made with soul and love. I'll be back for that meat combo platter. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov__ read more

We loved the food. We've tried other Ethiopian restaurants, and this is now our favorite.

I went here the other night with my friend for dinner and had a wonderful experience! We shared two orders of the meat and vegetarian combination as well as a bottle of the honey wine Tej. Everything was so delicious and excellent. The stewed meat was sensational, and I really loved the red lentils as well as the cabbage and potatoes. Honestly, I wished I was hungrier after the fact because I wanted to eat more. I am officially obsessed with Tej. It was so gooooood! I love wine and I've never had a honey wine before. It was sweet, smooth, and golden. I would honestly come back just for that! The service was quick and exactly what we needed! We met both sisters Salam and Abby, they were funny and kind. We were the last people at the end of service and had a chance to talk to them. Me and my friend will be going back just for those wonderful women. One of my favorite things about the space was all the Ethiopian art on the walls. Absolutely beautiful. read more

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Amazing service and food at this charming spot. The food did take some time to come, but it was so worth it. I got the meat and veggie combination and it was so good, so flavorful. I'd describe the food as a bit mildly spicy. One combo is a large portion, although it says it feeds one. I had a good chunk leftover. read more

Haile Bistro - Meat and Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

I went to this Ethiopian spot a while back with a group. We went there primarily for a vegetarian night though I have usually had a mix of meat and vegetarian dishes at most Ethiopian spots. As the glasses are nine bucks and a bunch of us went to split, we went with a bottle of the Tej/Honey Wine which was slightly sweet and tasty. The women here were friendly and I would go back to order the meat/veggie combo. We started with the Sambusa which is the Ethiopian version of samosa. The version here was alright. It was a bit dark in some places and the filling was just OK. This is the weakest of the things we had but we didn't really have much outside of this and the platters. The Vegetarian Combination Entree however was outstanding which comes with your choice of five of the vegetarian dishes. We got the first 5 listed dishes; Gomen (collard greens,) Fasoulia (string beans and carrots,) Shiro Wot (chickpeas,) Yemisir Wot (red lentils,) and Ater Kik Alicha (split peas) and also got an extra serving of Yatakilt Alicha (cabbage, carrots, and potatoes) which of course was all served on top of Injera. The mix was delicious with my favorite being the Yatakilt, the Fasoulia, and the Gomen but they were all tasty. The spices here were just better compared to Awash. Wouldn't mind going back before for another combo platter I leave them with a 5 but this is easily the best of the Ethiopian spots in the area in terms of their stews. Closest to the DC stuff and closest to the excellent but much further away Benyam. Tentative 5. read more

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A cozy spot for Ethiopian eats tucked into the heart of East Village -- it's a fairly small restaurant, so would recommend coming with a smaller group. They have vegetarian options and the platters for one are super filling. I really love that you get such a large variety. Easily one of my new neighborhood go-to spots! read more

Haile Bistro - Lentil Sambusa - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

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We didn't have a reservation, but were seated within 15 minutes--we definitely got lucky, so either get a reservation or be prepared to wait. the food is 100% worth the wait--the veggie platter was incredibly flavorful, and the portions were more than enough for dinner read more

Haile Bistro - Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

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Haile was a fun experience! We got the meat and veggie combo and it was plenty of food for the three of us. The veggies were good but I wish the meat dishes had more meat. The kitfo is very spicy (even for my friend who can tolerate spice much better than me) and we couldnt finish it lol. Honey wine was pretty good too! Would recommend getting a reservation as we had to wait upwards of an hour after putting our name down. But staff are very nice and they squeezed us in close to closing time! read more

Haile Bistro - Meat and Vegetarian Combo Kitfo - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

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Quaint restaurant, friendly service, great food. Not a ton of seating so you might end up waiting for a table to open up. The service is extremely friendly and patient. The food is really good. It takes a while to come out but I don't mind. read more

Haile Bistro - Key Sir(beets, top left). Ye Siga Tibs (sautéed beef, top right), Yemisir Wot (red lentils, bottom) - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

I've never had ethiopian food before but was totally blown away by my experience here! Yes, you'll have to eat with your hands and no that does not detract from the experience. We ordered a combo platter and (2) orders of sambusas to share. Restaurant was decently packed on a sunday night but not crowded with steady in and out of customers. Everything was super freshly made, warm, smelled and tasted delicious. 100% will be back when in the area just for their doro wot! read more

Haile Bistro - Sambusa - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

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Great local spot for some Ethiopian food! Got the Timatim Fitfit and it was so good! I wish it was a little bit more acidic but it still hit and is a must. I got the vegetarian combo and it was really good! Lots of food though I left stuffed but so worth it. I found the shiro to be a bit watery and bland but loved everything else I got. Definitely recommend giving this place a try! read more

Haile Bistro - Timatim Fitfit - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

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The food is fantastic. I have been here 3 times. I've had the chicken with eggs and the lamb. The sides are all really good.

I have never had Ethiopian food before and I am definitely a little picky so I wasn't sure what I would think of it. The menu is a little confusing but our waitress was amazing and explained everything to us! I ended up getting the meat combo which essentially comes with 3 meats and 1 veggie side. They then give you a side of this crepe type thing which is what you use to eat it (no silverware)!! I honestly loved this and it was something I've never experienced. The food was also so flavorful and really good! The chicken was a little spicy for me so beware for those who do not like spice. Overall 10/10 experience!! read more

Haile Bistro - Meat Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

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Pardon me, I do not eat this food regularly. I may get things wrong with this cuisine, and I will get this out of the way early, I did cheat a bit to finish this by using a fork, and I did use two hands to eat some of this. There, if you want to judge me for my transgressions and sins towards this cuisine, I will not be offended. I guess that would be like seeing you eat pizza with a knife and a fork. My eating habits notwithstanding, this restaurant, which does not seat many people, has some tasty food. All the stews are beautiful and have some superb flavor, the injera is easy to digest and works well (albeit the amount I received is fairly minimal). Even the honey wine pairs up well, but take your time drinking this. The staff is nice, but a tad judgmental. Again, I do not eat this on a regular basis. Forgive me for I have sinned against some of this food, and perhaps may have offended people because I eat this like a slob. However, work with me and show me how I can improve. Small criticisms aside, all in all it is a tasty dinner and have no real qualms about anything in particular. read more

Haile Bistro - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

Came here to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday with his friend and I -- I'd never had Ethiopian food, and Haile was so amazing and has made me absolutely LOVE it! There is an amazing selection of vegetarian and meat dishes. We also tried the honey wine and ethiopian beer. They were maybe not my favorite drinks but very cool to try! It's a very intimate ambience and would highly recommend making a reservation in advance, as there aren't many tables. Tables are also a bit small, so big groups could be hard to accommodate. We shared a massive platter of food. Because it's customary to eat with your hands, I didn't get a picture of it! But the food was truly delicious and the service was really special. My favorite meat dish had been the Doro Wot (the chicken just melts off the bone), though my boyfriend and his friend really loved the lamb. I generally try not to repeat restaurants to go to given there's so many places to try, but I would love to come back again! read more

It's arguably unfair to compare Haile to places outside of NYC, but it doesn't quite stack up with epic Ethiopian feasts I've had in DC, MSP, and even Buffalo. The portions weren't large enough for leftovers, but each dish was distinctly flavored, more onion forward, and dishes featured more peppers than I've typically seen, which was interesting and exciting. Skip the green beans--they were overcooked, sadly. The lentil dishes were all strong. I needed some extra injera with my veg combo, and I'd recommend adding that on if you're dining with a group. The space is small but warm and lively: even on a Tuesday when every other restaurant on the block was dead, Haile was bustling. Prices were quite fair. I'll be back to this affordable and friendly gem! read more

Haile Bistro - Veg Combo: Skip the green beans in favor of more lentils - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

Some dining experiences simply leave you without words. Everything else tasted great, with spices outside my usual selections. I enjoyed everything about my visit. Their customer handling was remarkable again. I can't understand anything less than top ratings. read more

First time having Ethiopian food so I can't compare it to anything else- but the food was delicious! Favor flavorful and the honey wine is INCREDIBLE! What an experience. My friend and I each ordered a combination dish: one vegetarian and one meat and asked to combine onto one thing. ALL components of our dishes were delightful, full of flavor, and super enjoyable overall. My only qualm is that the portions are pretty small for how expensive it is. Maybe it's the quality and amount of spices? The okay service and the restaurant setting wasn't enough to justify the price per portion for me personally, but it was a great first experience overall. Undoubtedly the food is amazing, and the honey wine is to die for! read more

Haile Bistro - On the plate are two combination dishes: one meat and one vegetarian - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

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The restaurant delivers quality consistently, and the area around it has charm. Their drink preparation excels and their food preparation delivers. The staff operated with outstanding quickness and each team member appeared pleased to serve. Their dishes are excellent and cost appropriately. I'm drawn to this restaurant and believe you will be too. read more

This crew delivers on their promises without fail. The dishes left a memorable impression. You'll appreciate the beautiful surroundings. The staff's performance exceeded expectations. Staff delivered quality service and dishes were superb! I'm returning soon. read more

We hold Haile Bistro in high regard! This place delivers consistently in food and service. Moreover, the team maintains a welcoming attitude. The team here makes customer care a priority. Overall, it's amazing and impressive !!! read more

If you're looking for Ethiopian food, I would say, sure, go here. You'll get your Ethiopian fix. But if you're looking to go out for a great dinner in New York City, no, don't go here. I ordered the vegetable combination platter, and the combinations were lacking texture; they were all just a bit too soggy. I understand this is the style of Ethiopian cuisine, but it was just crossing the line into being too much like baby food. read more

Haile Bistro - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York

The food tastes exactly as it should. Nothing here disappoints on quality. All staff members perform remarkably well. You'll notice the convenient spot and pleasant mood. I'm intending to return to this restaurant. read more

Great little restaurant in a more residential neighborhood. The food was amazing. We got the sample meat and veggie platter and honey wine. The service was great. read more

Their popularity means planning ahead for a table is smart. The staff and kitchen both exceeded expectations. The workers' timely service delivery was valuable. You'll find a spotless, bright environment here. The area benefits from this quality restaurant. read more

I thought it would be forgettable but it wasn't at all. This place has a relaxed feel. You can discover entirely new culinary sensations. People working at Haile Bistro go out of their way to assist. I'm ready for my next meal here. read more

I had the vegetarian combo which came with five vegetable dishes - gomen, yemisir wot, yatakilt alicha, shiro wot, and after kik alicha - and plenty of injera. I loved the different flavors coming from every dish and the variety of vegetables. My favorite was the yemisir wot due to the distinctive flavor from the berebere. It's an enormous quantity of food for just $20. This restaurant is absolutely worth the visit. read more

It was our first time having Ethiopian food in NYC, and it was good. It fails to shine compared to Ethiopian restaurants in DC, but that's probably an unfair comparison. We ordered the meat+veg combination (chicken, beef, and your choice of 3 veg sides), kitfo (comes with 2 veg sides), and honey wine. Our favorites were the doro wot (stewed chicken) and shiro wot (chickpea sauce)! The kitfo had a spice flavor we weren't big fans of unfortunately. The injera was delicious but you don't get much of it. Still, we were stuffed by the end of our meal! The service was fine. When we first arrived with a reservation, there was no one to greet us. There was only 1 person working the dining room, and she was busy serving guests. After we were seated and placed our order, the food took almost 45 minutes to come out, which was frustrating. Our waitress said it was bc the kitfo takes a while, so keep that in mind if you decide to order it! Also fyi, you must call to get a reservation, which is ironic bc the restaurant has a whole electronic set-up in the dining room with multiple tablets for delivery orders. read more

1 of two Ethiopian spots in East Village. It's run by this sweet lady who was super nice. It seems like it's a popular casual dinner spot for mid 20's. Service was a bit slow as the restaurant was packed, and it seemed like there were only two people working the front. However, despite being very swamped she still managed to brew a fresh pot of coffee for us! Food wise, it's pretty reasonably priced for east village although the portion is slightly smaller. If you're really hungry, expect to finish everything. The tables next to us all had empty plates. They also offer free refills of the injera which is nice. Only the appetizers has gluten and they specifically have a gluten free Injera on the menu! I would recommend this for a casual catch up as it's a friendly local spot but not for a more formal dinner. read more

Haile Bistro - Ethiopian Near Me - New York, New York