We came as a group of five and were surprised to find the restaurant completely empty during typical dinner hours. It might be the location, but honestly the food deserves way more customers, everything was fantastic. We ordered the Meat Combo, which came with Kitfo and Ayeb, Key Wot, Alicha Wot, and Gomen Besiga. The Kitfo, an Ethiopian-style steak tartare seasoned with coriander, mitmita (hot chili powder), and herbed butter, was incredibly flavorful. Most of the meats leaned on the spicy side, but when you mixed them with the veggies and injera, everything balanced out perfectly. My favorite was the Key Wot, a spicy stew of slow-cooked beef with onions, garlic, cardamom (korerima), berbere, and Ethiopian herbal butter. My second favorite was the Gomen Besiga, made with boiled beef cubes flavored with spices, onions, and garlic. The texture was surprisingly tender, almost like fish. We also got the House Combo, which includes a mix of meats and vegetables. It only comes with two meats, but it's a great option for first-timers because you get to try a wider variety of flavors. The waitress was very helpful and thoughtful, taking the time to explain each dish to us. And bonus, they have some parking available, which is super convenient. Overall, the food was amazing, and I really hope more people discover this local gem. read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Hoping to try every Ethiopian spot in Rainier Beach and the south end this year and this was a strong start! We were the only people in the restaurant and the kind owner explained that was because Ethiopians are fasting during their Christmas time. She also explained all the dishes that we got in the house combo including that her mom had just brought her spices back from Ethiopia! I really enjoyed the red lentil dish which was nice and spicy as well as the shiro and the beef tibs and of course the salad that is so simple but always so good. We also tried the Ethiopian coffee ceremony and the coffee was both delicious and strong! It also included this burning incense that filled the restaurant with a wonderful aroma. It made me wish that we had more Ethiopian coffee shops in Seattle. Would definitely return for the food and the people :) I love the south end read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Cafe jebena with incense and the Jebena used to brew the coffee - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Food: Kitfo- medium raw: flavorful and sharable (for 2) Service: fast, friendly, and efficient. Ambiance: cozy but enough room to fit comfortably. Drinks: Ethiopian wine (sweet) and beer (light) I look forward to coming back and trying something new!! read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Kitfo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First time trying ethiopian food and Kebena blew my mind. we got the veggie combo and meat combo and all were so good!! service was also great. it was definitely a diff experience eating with my hands but it made the food so goood. read more

Hawaii doesn't have Ethiopian food, so I was really excited to try some out here while visiting family. I'm not from WA, but when you've got bars on windows, sometimes you wonder (note that multiple business in this area of Ranier beach is like this). Upon walking in, is a totally different story, so don't judge the book! One is greeted by bright, yellow walls, energizing music, and clean facilities! The owner is also the cook (and when we were in, server and cashier). She was so friendly and helpful, teaching me what to order and how to eat, given it was a first for me. We got the meat and vegetarian combo; the meat had to be cooked since I can't eat raw stuff but it didn't diminish the taste: bright and savory meats surrounded by hearty sauces. Spicy lentils with berbere seasoning that had just enough heat to keep you entertained. The injera was also so fluffy and had enough twang and structure to last the entire meal. For 3 people, we were stuffed and it was about $20 each, which is not bad at all these days. If I'm ever in town, I'll be back here for sure. read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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We came in for dinner a few months back, wanting to try a new Ethiopian restaurant. The inside is very bright and clean, and there was one table of ladies drinking coffee in the corner when we walked in. We were served right away. I wanted to try a few meat dishes, so I ordered the meat combo with a couple of vegetarian sides per the waiter's suggestion. Well, the meat dishes were super greasy (see picture), and the cubed beef was tough; flavor is not bad though. Overall, I wasn't impressed by the food (2.5/5 stars), particularly the meat combo. It's also a small store selling things like spices and kitchen accessories. read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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In general the area is not the greatest but usually that means the food is . Clean and friendly lady helped us, we have never eaten true Ethiopian/African food so my expectations weren't high. Just due to my own taste buds I Cldnt tell u what the finger food bread was called but it was amazing with the fish and beef tibs we ordered . We were given a side dish of spices or dip , the sweet lady kindly came over and mixed our spices so we wld taste it and eat it properly, the spices separate were good but mixed all together was amazing . The honey wine was delicious! Mothers day afternoon was quiet but i enjoyed the peace Will definitely return read more

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This is a cute smaller restaurant with really homey vibes. We haven't eaten Ethiopian food much, but the staff was really patient and explained each dish well. The food was delicious, we especially liked the Key Wot, Gomen Wot, Shiro Wot, and the Gomen Besiga. read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combo and Meat Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We had planned on eating at Sunset Cafe but it was closed. Since we were in the mood for Ethiopian, we decided to try Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant which is just up the road. We were not disappointed. The atmosphere is clean and friendly. All of the vegetarian dishes were delicious, but none stood out. The injera was delicious, though we did have to order extra (for a nominal charge). My wife thought Kebena deserves 5 stars, but I was on the fence and decided on 4-stars since there is not a meat and vegetarian combo on the menu. That said, we will be back to see if I need to adjust my rating : ) read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combo Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

There are so many great Ethiopian restaurants in the area, but Kebesha has the hands down best food. I order the vegetarian combo which is a HUGE portion, enough for two meals, and everything is always fresh and perfectly seasoned. The Yemiser Wot is my favorite, so rich and spicy. My husband gets a meat dish and grazes on my vegetables and we STILL have two more meals for day-after lunch. The space is clean and the service is so lovely and sweet. We will return again and again. read more

Decent restaurant. Clean. Flavorful food. I would have given four stars except that we had a "bait and switch" situation with our party of 8. Across us, we ordered 5 glasses of honey wine. The menu listed this as $6/glass. We ended up being charged $10/glass. We weren't told it was incorrect in the menu. Overall, this was a $20 difference in our overall bill. They had other items whited out and written over. They could have made sure the menu was correct. When I called this out, it was met with shrugs and a "whatever" attitude. It's not abt the money, it's abt the principle and fair advertising. read more

delicious ethiopian spot! we got the veggie combo plate #1, the meat combo plate, and an order of tibs. this family run restaurant was just what we were looking for. the flavors of everything were delicious and the owner/chef was so sweet to us. she kept checking in and made sure throughout our meal that everything was as we wanted, combined our veggie and meat plates for us, and gave us an extra side of their spicy mustard for dipping. it was overall a great meal and we left very full and satisfied. read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - House Combo (Vegetarian and Meat) - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First time having Ethiopian food and it was an amazing experience. The food was so delicious and the server was so polite and helpful. Good price and you'll have leftovers for sure!! read more

This restaurant has consistently had delicious traditional food for the last 4 years I've been eaten here. The meat dishes are tender and flavorful. The vegan dishes are just as delicious. There isn't a single thing on the menu that hasn't surprised me every time I eat here. The owner is such a friendly and warm person who goes above and beyond to connect with all her customers. She truly makes the community what it is, on top of the amazing food !!! read more

Amazing restaurant amazing food and costumer service is great!! Love the atmosphere and music have been here multiple times and food was always great. read more

First of all, I am a shirot wot connoisseur (lol)! Kebena has The Best in Seattle. I have eaten at many restaurants. And whatever however they prepare this dish has me returning for more! Trust on this review. If it were open on Sunday (closed Sunday and Monday) we would be there now. Thank you for listening read more

This is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants I've ever visited. I took four friends there for an after-hike lunch, none of whom had ever tried Ethiopian food, and we unanimously agreed that it was not only delicious food, but excellent coffee. The injera flatbread was perfectly spongy, and the vegetarian dish portions were very generous. Our server was also very generous with her time, explaining the tradition of Ethiopian coffee service. We will be back! read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I loved this restaurant! The food is delicious and the service is great! I highly recommend! read more

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I went here for the plate of nations. I've never been here before it doesn't look like a restaurant - it looks like a small house or an office. Inside, the decor is bright, clean, and nice. Most of the other customers were Ethiopian. I got the jebena coffee, which also felt very authentic. They also brought it out with some incense. We got the meat platter, which was tasty. Next time I wanna try the veggie combo, which looked beautiful. read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Jebena coffee - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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What a great place! The food was outstanding: flavorful, each dish had a different set of spices, it looked as good as it tasted, and the injera was soft and a little sour - just like it's supposed to be. Also, the decor was really lovely, with paintings and beautiful baskets. And the staff members were helpful, attentive, and kind (as was the chef/owner - what a lovely woman!). We will definitely go back to our new favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle! read more

Absolutely phenomenal dining experience! We had sizzling beef tibs and veg combo #2. So delicious, we could not stop eating : ) The injera is top-notch and made in-house; all teff. Perfect taste and texture. Also, Kebena has Habesha beer - so tasty and refreshing. Thank you for an amazing meal. We will be back very soon to try more of the menu! read more

we were a table of 5., They treated us really well and it tasted great. I live on the other side of town but I definitely want to come back again. read more

I love this place and drive out of my way to eat here. The food is amazing, so fresh, tasty and not greasy. Injera is 100% teff and always fresh (unlike some other places that give you old injera). Service is friendly and attentive. And on top of this, the place is nicely decorated and clean, playing gentle Ethiopian music at a comfortable volume. read more

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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This looks like an authentic Ethiopian place. When I walked in, there was a lively table of patrons who had plenty of drinks together. They were surprisingly loud, and I was already a little shaken up. The table I was sat at still needed to be cleaned so I wasn't super thrilled by that. I ordered a beef dish and when it came out it was sizzling fajita hot. I could still see the oil bubbling. I was actually not comfortable touching my food for a while because of how hot the cast iron was and how much of Ethiopian is eaten with your hands. Luckily I was given tongs and a knife. The meat was kind of tough so to help myself, I made a point of always cutting against the grain. That made it easier to chew. This place is truly designed for folks who are already familiar with this genre of food. Don't come looking for a learning experience, this is for the advanced. read more

I love this place! I think it's the best Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle. I was really happy with the vegetarian combo and it's so filling and sooo worth it!! read more

Traditional Ethiopian food but with interesting accent flavors of a skilled chef. AMAZING! Now it is in the rotation of regular restaurants to bring out of town guests. read more

The food was incredible! I've eaten at maybe two dozen Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle, Chicago, and LA. This one is in my top 3 overall. I can't tell you exactly what is so much better about the food, just that it was delicious. And the injera was definitely the best I've had. The owner told me she makes it all in house and uses only teff, instead of a mixture with teff and white flour. It was darker and much thicker than others I've had. The staff was very warm and friendly too. I'll definitely be back. read more

We took our three kids here to try Ethiopian food for the first time. They were thrilled with the meal. Outstanding service and wonderful food. We had the veggie combo and beef stew and would order it again and again! read more

They serve Dorot with one small chicken drumstick and an egg for $20. Need to look for another Ethiopian restaurant with the same quality seasoning but with better servings. read more

This restaurant has the best Ethiopian food in Seattle. The Veggie Combo is fantastic. It is freshly made that day, not just heated from last night (like other places). The place is immaculately clean. The bathrooms are literally sparkling. The waitress was so kind to us and patient with our small kids. The owner is so welcoming and kind. 5 stars doesn't do this place Justice. I'll be back again. read more

Great traditional food, especially loved the tibs! The place is beautifully decorated and with lots of parking/accessible by bus too. Highly recommend read more