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    International Cafe

    4.5 (74 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order International Cafe Takeout or Delivery

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    Business Info

    INTERNATIONAL CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - International Cafe

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    The entrance on 24th and Farnam
    Jen M.

    This is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Omaha. I am glad to see that other reviewers love it as well. This is fantastic Ethiopian food. I have eaten here dozens of times over the past 15 years or so. The vegetarian injera platter is amazing! The meat entrees are great too, but keep in mind that the goat and lamb is chopped bone-in and might not be what you're accustomed to. Injera is amazing, it's a soft pancake made from teff, you tear it and use it to eat with. Utensils are provided if you want to use them. There isn't anything else that tastes like this, it is SO GOOD. My husband always gets the chicken gyro plate, which is rice, chicken meat, gyro meat, sauce, and salad. The rice is delicious, with a gentle, aromatic spice. The hot tea is similar to a chai, there's not milk in it but that's made up with a ton of sugar. I love it. The decor and signage - well, it's perfect for here. It might seem run down. It's fine. Once you get the food you will only be looking at your food. Portions are huge. TIP: the injera is a high-histamine food, like a lot of restaurant food is. I have to take a Benadryl after eating this (and other kinds of) food. Otherwise, sometimes I will have a headache, itch, stomachache if my overall histamine load is high. I'm pointing it out because a lot of the time when people go out to eat, they have a stomachache later and think it might have been something wrong with the food. I think this is why Chinese restaurants were criticized. It's not the food. Look up "histamine intolerance" for more info. There is a chess club/tournament that meets here on Thursdays and Saturdays. They seemed very welcoming. They enthusiastically invited me to join them but I don't play chess. Check out RCTO.us for more info. Parking is not great. There are meters out front, but there is free parking on the west side of the building, there is usually space available. You can enter through the door there as well.

    Rice with Goat Plate

    The food was decent. The salad looks really old, I personally did not like the red sauces, the should've put it in a little cup so people can decide wether or not to put it on the rice. The meat was cooked really well, very tender, the rice was decent.

    Lianna N.

    There are pros and cons here, so depending on what matters to you and what day you come, you might feel differently from time to time. In general, this place has great food. I like the rice platters and the anjera platters. The service is usually ok, but the pace and attitude of the ladies are pretty chill...which means it might take a few minutes for them to address you standing awkwardly there and take your order. I have never had any issues with the food taking a long time though- dine in or take out. Recently on a few visits, the whole menu was not available (bummer since they didnt have My #1 and #2 choices available) and there were flies buzzing around inside. Everyone has that thing that grosses them out and for me it is flies. I would eat off an unwiped table and use a less than par bathroom but flies-they really weird me out and make me do this spastic flinching movement as they go by. The dining area was also quite warm and kind of humid. Overall it is super hit and miss here-I have had 5 star days and more recently 3 star days. I would still recommend it to people to try it, but please manage your expectations appropriately!

    Rice with Lamb Plate
    Candy B.

    This hole-in-the-wall is an absolute gem for authentic, home-cooked Ethiopian meals. I was greeted the moment I walked in. I had some questions and the woman working the cashier was very friendly and helpful! I ordered the Lamb Rice plate and it was delicious! Real lamb, cooked and seasoned very well. The stew on the side was very honey and I've never even had it before! So yummy. The side salad came with sauces and was a nice refreshing touch to the combo plate. I'd come back here in a heartbeat!

    Ben T.

    The International Cafe is a small, hole-in-the-wall type restaurant, located on the corner of Harney and 25th street. There is a good amount of parking out front, but you can only turn in from 25th. The outside is a little run down (because of construction), but they definitely make up for it with the food. I ordered the Rice Gyro Plate as recommended by one of the workers. The food took about 5 to 10 minutes. Included in the plate was a small salad, a kind of short grain rice with a tomato-based sauce on top, and finally some thinly sliced beef. The whole plate was topped with a creamy, savory sauce. The meat was tender, moist and tasty, while the sauce and salad added a nice complement. It was definitely worth the price ($10) for some delicious Ethiopian food. If you are in the mood for some ethnic food, this is the place to be. As one of the only Ethiopian food places in the area, I was really excited to visit because of the excellent reviews- and I was not disappointed.

    Gyro Sandwich
    Saif S.

    International Cafe is a hidden gem that is absolutely fantastic. Such great authentic food that is reasonably priced! I highly recommend the gyro sandwich, very fulfilling and delicious too. Definitely will be back!

    Gyro and lamb plate
    Katarina R.

    After seeing pictures online, I gave International Cafe a chance despite the run-down look of it. The staff messed up my order but was very friendly and gave me an additional entree free of charge. I took off two stars because of the quality of the food. The meat was mostly bones and fat. The vegetable dips and bread were delicious. If the prices were cheaper (less than $10.50) I wouldn't mind as much. The portions were mostly rice however with the sparse meat.

    Doro Wat with gomen kifted and salad. Served with injera and lots of napkins.

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    7 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Really great authentic food and refreshing atmosphere. The service was so kind and considerate - really felt welcomed. I will go again!

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    12 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    Very good food! I had the lamb, rice and salad mix. Very good authentic food! Not your typical American restaurant.

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    8 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

    I love the Zambusa here, stop in for legit Ethiopian food

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    12 years ago

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    11 years ago

    I've eaten here probably 20 times. I've only ever gotten the gyro sandwich. It's always been awesome. The bathrooms are super sketchy.

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    11 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    7 years ago

    The gyro sandwich was amazing! Great food, affordable price. I love supporting local businesses.

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    7 years ago

    Best damn Gyro I've had! Place looks a little sketchy, but it is so worth it! And cheap!!!

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    10 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Great Ethiopian food, huge portions. Get the injera!

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    13 years ago

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - International Cafe

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    Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant

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    I've driven by this spot countless times and finally stopped in - and I can't wait to bring my…read morefamily and others back with me. This spot is definitely underrated. Their menu is limited and specialized for sure, with only a few main dish options, but this is because everything is super fresh. As a vegetarian, I was pleased that they had a combination of all their different lentils and veggies that they had to offer all put together in a giant plate - and I mean GIANT. Each lentil dish, green, red, and yellow, had a distinct difference in flavor profile. The yellow was my favorite, being the creamiest, and the red was richer and deep - warming me from the inside out. There was also a variety of vegetables from a fresh salad to cooked greens, and then a cooked cabbage. I couldn't believe that everything was so unique from each other! The mind chutney (maybe?) was a perfect way to add freshness between bites. One piece of the experience that makes it truly unique is that everything is served on their bread rather than with utensils, and you get additional on the side to pull apart and start dipping and grabbing and mixing up every bite. I left truly stuffed to the brim feeling that every bite had been worth every penny! The ambiance is casual, with pieces of Ethiopian pottery and tapestry hung around. The service was kind and personal, with the chef herself coming out to check on how we were doing and what we liked best!

    Last time I had Ethiopian food was in Denver,CO. When multiple people recommended the restaurant,…read moreit was a no brainer. Hands down, best dinner I had in a long time. And the tea...I had to stop by myself at 3 cups it was that good. I ordered the sample platter, which is enough to share. I would recommend the sample platter for anyone trying Ethiopian food for the first time. You get a little of everything.

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    Hooyos Kitchen - Fu fu with goat

    Hooyos Kitchen

    5.0(4 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Someone was kind enough to bring us some sambusas from Hooyoos and they were truly exceptional…read more Complex, spicy, and so satisfying. I'm eager to stop by in person and check out their other offerings!

    Don't let the area of this restaurant fool you. It's very clean and the atmosphere is friendly and…read morepeaceful. I love immigrants and for bringing their food and culture to our community, otherwise there is no way I could ever experience Somali cuisine. My all time favorite is their lamb shank with rice or spaghetti. Their spaghetti is far more delicious than many restaurants. It's my all time favorite because I love lamb. I always purchase a meal that comes with soup, salad and beverage and because you get a lot of bang for your buck. Last week I had their gyro meal and today I had their goat with fufu. There are several kinds of fufu depending on the culture. I guess you can exchange the side for rice or spaghetti as well. I have. I try to eat here as often as possible, one 1) because you get a large amount of food for what you pay for, and two 2} there are several dishes you have to choose from. I've eaten their salmon dish, their goat, their gyro's and, of course my all time favorite, their lamb shank. With money becoming tight and portions getting small, you can still get a lot of food for your money. And, as always, you can't beat their kind service and constant attention to make sure you are enjoying the meal and if everything is okay. High end service in a small family run restaurant hidden in the back of a strip mall waiting for curious customers to seek them out and enjoy authentic Somali cuisine. Yes, I will go back as I have many, many times over the last three years. Enjoy the food, enjoy the culture by stepping outside your box. I already know what I want to eat on my next visit. Thank you Hoyoo's for your service to the community. Always an experience when you eat outside the box. Experience a clean and friendly place to eat and to bring your family.

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    Getting some takeout

    Hooyos Kitchen - Loaded Fries

    Loaded Fries

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    Menu

    International Cafe - ethiopian - Updated September 2026

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