I've been wanting to try Ethiopian food for many years but never knew where to go until one day, a coworker suggested this restaurant. We arrived at around 2pm so it was more of a late lunch and the restaurant was quiet save for a party of four. We were tossed up between the Lalibela Platter and the Family Platter but opted for the Family Platter since it offered more meat options. I was also pulled between the Special Hot Tea and the Ginger tea... this time I opted for both. The Ginger tea has a nice Ginger bite to it but the Special Hot Tea is really quite special. I would probably just order that one next time. Both were really good though. Everything available on the platter was delicious and I'm glad that we were able to try such a variety of items. Although I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, one thing I did learn, I'm not very good at eating with my hands. The cuisine seems to have a mild to moderate heat, nothing too extreme, at least in this platter. Oddly enough though, it did leaving me wanting something sweet. The desserts on offer were carrot cake, ice cream and baklava. I just wanted something small and sweet that I could share so opted for the baklava. In fairness, when I asked how big it was (trying to decide if I needed to order one or two) she did say it was like a slice of cake but I guess I still didn't expect to be... like a slice of cake! I have never seen such a large piece of baklava before. It was fabulous! Our server was quick, attentive and friendly. I would definitely recommend this restaurant is you're in the area. read more

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Had dinner here last night and enjoyed the vegetarian platter, which is the dish I always get at an Ethiopian restaurant. The cooked lentils were each flavourful and hearty, and I enjoyed the salad and vegetable forward dishes. The platter was $18 plus tax and tip. The restaurant was entirely empty on a weekday night, not sure how busy they are otherwise. Our waitress was friendly. I liked that the doors leading to the washrooms all had foot handles so you don't need to use your hands. Tasty meal to enjoy with friends or a quiet date. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Vegetarian platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant does not lie when they say they offer the BEST Ethiopian dishes in Toronto. I visited this restaurant probably 15 years ago. That was my first time trying Ethiopian food. Not sure why I waited so long to revisit this restaurant. It was a beautiful day so the front doors were open to allow the warm breeze to blow through the restaurant. The first thing you notice is the beautiful art the decorates the restaurant. We were immediately acknowledge and shown to a table. Our server was very friendly. The smell of frankincense is burned and permeates the air. Incense is burned to cleanse the air, the smell was intoxicating. We ordered the Lalibela platter which came with red lentils, cabbage, kale, split peas, beets, spicy chicken and beef with Injera a traditional Ethiopian flat bread. We also ordered the fish special which was fried Tilapia which came with bread and salad. To drink my friend ordered the honey wine which is the world's oldest wine. I wish I tried it myself but I was on medication. The food came out quickly and was hot. We ATE. The food was delicious. The veggie accompaniments were a nice balance to the spicy chicken and beef as you scope up all the yumminess with the injera bread. You eat with your hands. Very traditional way of eating which allows you to really get in there and savour the food. The fish, I mean look at the presentation; it was perfectly fried leaving the fish tender and juicy. I enjoyed just picking off the flesh of the fish and enjoying it with the bread and salad. Simple, yet delicious. We finished our meal with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony. The coffee beans are freshly roasted until they turn a nice caramel colour. It is then brought to the table with sugar and burned incense and usually served with popcorn. Now the coffee is unlike any coffee you've ever had. It is simply amazing, full bodied, you can taste the caramelization of the roasted beans and just smooth not bitter at all. Amazing coffee and worth taking part in the coffee ceremony if you eat at any Ethiopian restaurant. Overall. An amazing dining experience. Definitely not waiting 15 years to revisit this place again! read more

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I was very surprised of my experience here based on the reviews. I waited for 2 dishes for an hour. The lalibela platter and ribs. Those tasted average but still a one hour wait. I also ordered the fried fish and that took an hour and 20 minutes to arrive. I was so excited when the fish finally arrived but it was still raw. Even though it was fried brown and toasty, it was very raw. Which can only happen if the fish was not thawed before frying. The service was not friendly. Anytime we asked for something it seemed like the server felt bothered. Won't be back. They only accept cash or debit. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Typical ethiopian restaurant! Polite staff and decent food. We got #31 family platter for one... I would say this is enough for 2 people to share! For dessert, their baklava is cinnamon and almond based, very much like a crispy sticky cinnamon toffee! Street parking is limited so I'd park on a residential road nearby. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - #31 Family platter for 1 person - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Authentic recipes and beautiful aromas at this place from Ethipoia! Last time I had this cuisine was years back when I was a student on campus, but this time certainly brought alot of memories! Their food is just great, very fresh and authentic! I went with the obvious choices and names I could recognize, but i's certainly love to go back and try more items from the menu read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The food is amazing here! Highly recommend this to anyone who wants to try Ethiopian cuisine! read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I wish SO much that I could have loved this place. I heard so many good things about Ethiopian food, and I love eating locally... But our experience was just not great. I planned the dinner as a surprised for my boyfriend's birthday but we will not return. Food - Sambusa - ok, some of them were still frozen in the center - Lalibela Special - many of the items are similarly named "Special Platter", "Lalibela Platter", "Lalibela Special", etc, so we were confused and ordered the platter with egg, cheese and a variety of meat sides. They came out cold and unappealing. The flavours were acrid and we did not enjoy it. The cheese was also forgotten from our plate. I'm not sure what happened. Perhaps we should have ordered the vegetarian platter that's often mentioned? Drinks - ordered 2* mango cranberry drinks, got 1 mango-cran, and one mango. No big deal, restaurants are busy and people mishear. She offers to fix it by bringing a cranberry juice, and we said ok. We ended up being charged for a mango-cran, a mango and a cranberry. I asked for this to be corrected to the price of our actual order, which the lady did without issue. - literally just two juices in a cup. Would not order again. Coffee Ceremony - Stellar, 5/5 - great tasting coffee. Best part of the visit. - incense is really strong, but the lady was very sweet and removed it when she saw that we were not enjoying it - comes with popcorn read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Coffee Ceremony - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I once had Ethiopian food and I found it to be quite Bland but this place, the food was very flavorful. Nice decor with lots of seating inside. They stated that the meat was halal. They have that kind of uncooked meat dish called kitfo. I had the mixed platter and the "doro wat" (chicken stew). The meat on the platter included "cha cha" which I believe was basically chunks of lamb. But the seasoning made it taste like a hakka chilli beef dish which I liked. The meat platter also had dulet (which is animal guts/stomach lining). So if you have a Discerning tongue, make sure that you ask what each dish is before ordering. With the platter, there is also a little serving of seasoning and condiments on the side for you to dip your food in before putting it in your mouth which is cool. Adds a more spice! As for the Spice level, some of the dishes are spicy and some of them you will be fine. You could always advise them as to your spice level preference. The dishes are a little bit expensive but nevertheless enjoyable. It's nice if you're looking to try something new and you're open-minded. By the way there is some street parking and there is cheap meter paid parking lot across the street behind a building diagonal from the restaurant, on the southwest corner. read more

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Got here today for our Sunday dinner. Parking was a bit of problem. Very limited spots. A couple of things which bothered us, there were honey bees and flies and a few shady people near the restaurant. We were sitting in patio since it was such a good weather but maybe inside will be better option for next time. Bathrooms are super clean as well. Food was great! Service was good too! We ordered veggie platter for 2 and honey wine. Everything was fresh and tasty. Will definitely come back. read more

I love the food at this place. Before coming here I thought I didn't like European food. The service isn't always the best (which is where is loses the star) but the server is very sweet and I think just has the whole restrained which would be hard for anyone. That being said, you need to come!! The food is wonderful and very filling! I always get the 15$ one that is lamb with spices, butter and onions that comes with a bit of salad on their yummy flat, savoury crepe like bread. Imagine you rolled out a crumpet like a crepe. Sort of like that. Also, fun that you get to eat it all with your hands! read more

Lalibela Cuisine - 15$ lamb and salad - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I love Ethiopian food and Lalibela never disappoints. Whatever you order on the menu is going to be good. My personal favourite is a sharable vegetarian platter. The non-veggie platter is also good. If you've never tried Ethiopian cuisine, Lalibela is a solid choice for quality Ethiopian food. Oh yeah, Ethiopian coffee is the best. I've tried all sorts of beans in my life and lemme tell you, nothing beats Ethiopian coffee with a bit of cream, of course. I can't handle black coffee. read more

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Atmosphere: Had a wonderful dinner on a Friday night with my mother in law and husband at Lalibela. The inside is super cozy and inviting. There is a strong Smokey smell/ haze which I believe is from believe is form burning incense and the coffee ceremony. Initially it was overwhelming but once you sit for a bit you get used to it. The restaurant is small but we had no issues getting a table for 3 around 7:00pm Food: Upon arrival we were offered the most delicious cinnamon tea and then shared the sambusa to start although they were cooked perfectly I would not get this again as they lacked salt & flavour. We then all shared a veggie special and Special Chicken dish. Both were very good! Tasty, seasoned perfectly and the injera (bread) was soft and lovely. We really enjoyed the variety you get in tHe veggie special - a little bit of everything. For dessert we had a piece of Baklava which was also delicious. I found the portions to be very generous. The veggie special states it's for two but alone it could have easily filled all 3 of us up alone. The chicken dish was also huge. Service: zero complaints. Our servers were very attentive, offered us tea refills and also additional Injera. I would absolutely come back to this restaurant and would recommend to anyone. Next time we'd love to try the coffee ceremony also. read more

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They do amazing takeout wrapped in Injera. Nice socially distanced counter and friendly service. The Lalibela Platter for two was $35 and enough for 4 meals! So good and fun to eat. Help these guys out and go visit! read more

Cozy Ethiopian restaurant with a variety of dishes and an authentic feel. The food was the delicious and the service excellent. As a first timer, try the veggie combo and/or meat combo to sample their most popular dishes in one platter. Loved the honey wine served in a handcrafted wooden wine glass. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Veggie and meat combo, plus honey wine! - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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One of several Ethiopian spots in the area; came here Saturday night with a group of four and was immediately seated. Cozy interior with padded seating, dim lighting, and traditional decor. Wasn't really in the sharing mood, so ordered the "Special Ethiopian Chicken" ($18) and a goblet of honey wine ($9). Drink comes out first, deserving of its name as it was certainly sweet and some decent strength. Entree consists of a moderate sized bowl of two tender chicken legs swimming in a thick dark-brown broth, accompanied by a platter of injera and salad. The curry is super flavorful considering all the garlic, ginger, and onion you can taste. Chicken is essentially fall-off-the-bone, which all goes well with the sour injera bread provided. Hard boiled eggs were the "icing" on top. Service goes above and beyond, as they serve you from the bowl onto the injera. Love the fact they have a coffee ceremony here as well, maybe can come back for that. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Special Ethiopian Chicken - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

My first time trying Ethiopian cuisine, so this review would be slightly skewed. We came across this place from a Groupon and decided to try it out! Walking into the restaurant, the place was very clean and it had a nice open window - perfect for a nice summer day in Toronto. We were given our menus and drinks right away and the staff member was also really nice. Coming for the first time, we decided to go with what we thought was a signature dish - the Lalibela Platter. This consisted of 5 or more of their famous vegetarian stews and it is served on a platter of injera. The food came very fast and the presentation was amazing! The staff member also came with several other small injera for us to eat the dish with. My first time trying injera, it's a spongy dish and it tasted a little sour to me. We didn't look at how Ethiopian dishes are eaten, but since there are no spoons and forks provided, we figured we were to eat with our hands. The vegetarian dishes were really delicious. They were all chopped up finely, so it was very easy to bite into and the taste was delicious. If you're not a spicy eater though, I would be a little careful when you eat the curry dishes. The chicken was a little spicy for my liking, but still fairly tender. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This was my first time at an Ethiopian Restaurant. went to this intimate place on a Saturday night around 8pm. Very cultural (wall décor with actual hand painted walls, etc.). We were seated right away (even though the place was packed). We parked across the street in a paid parking lot behind the building. There was one server for the entire restaurant and although she was incredibly busy, she was still responsive. This restaurant is intimate and the washrooms are down the stairs. They're quite cramped. Vegetarian Sampler (for 1 person) I ordered the Vegetarian Sampler (for 1 person). This comes sprawled on a type of "roti" that is spongey and a cool temperature. On top of this layout are a variety of vegetable curries - is it safe to say? A lot of taste! I couldn't identify which curry was what but all of them had a different taste and so I like the variety. This will fill up a person. I'd recommend: Use the rolled dough to eat the curries with your hands. In the end, roll the entire bottom and make it into a burrito to finish it off. We asked for hot sauce and got one with a very interesting taste. We were told it was house-made. I could have sworn there was some sort of alcohol in it...that's how bitter (not spicy) it was. It wasn't appetizing. There is a whole page on the menu of vegetarian options to choose from. I can't say I would come here again...the food wasn't as epic according to expectations. The hot sauce lost them stars as did the washroom. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Beautiful wall-paintings. - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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No cutlery used here so you better wash your hands! We ordered a Lalibela platter and shared the plate eating with our hands. We should have ordered more food as it is very tasty. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food and had an all around decent experience at Lalibela Ethiopian! The restaurant is located on Bloor street with seating that is open to the street. This compliments the decor and makes the space feel very open! We ordered the lalibela platter and a fish soup. The fish soup was pretty bland and not that memorable. The lalibela platter for two came with two servings of each type of stew, which made sharing the platter very easy! The stews all had unique flavours: some nutty, some tomato-ey, some spicy which made the platter enjoyable even though they were mostly too salty. Might be back if I'm in the area! read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Lalibela platter, came w/ injera on the side - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I dined here last night with my sister and a Groupon in hand. It was her first, and my second Ethiopian cuisine adventure. To be able to try a few different dishes we opted for the meat combo for 2 for $38. This was perfect because our Groupon was worth $30. There was a lot of food, more than enough for two people. Service was quick and friendly and water was provided and refilled without asking. We both really enjoyed the flavours of everything and would definitely return to try some other dishes on their extensive menu. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Meat combo for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This was our first time trying Ethiopian cuisine so would recommend you to take this review with a grain of salt. Visited them for dinner last night. We walked in with very few expectations. My wife being vegetarian tried the vegetarian platter which we liked. The injera bread was very soft and nice. It was a combination of Split Peas, Lentil, Chick Peas, cabbage, collard green and vegetables served on top of Injera bread. (12 $) I tried the lamb curry which was pretty good too. It was very close to Indian lamb curry. And it was served in a wrought iron pan, piping hot. It was also served with Injera bread. (14 $) We also tried their coffee service which we found very much overpriced at 14$. It was a small pot of coffee (maybe 300 ml-350 ml), served with pop-corns. The coffee was alright. But considering the prices, we feel it wasn't worth at all. The food portions are big. So don't order too many dishes. The service was good. However, in the end the waitress tried to enter incorrect amount in the credit card machine twice and we had to ask her to correct it. We would have overpaid if we didn't check. I would give a benefit of doubt once, but not twice. Overall, it was a decent experience for the initiation to Ethiopian cuisine. We'll definitely try some other places to develop our palate. read more

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We LOVE Ethiopian food and get it whenever we can as we are full time travelers. The Veggie sampler platter was very good and server was quite pleasant. read more

I'm sure many of you have not had Ethiopian food. You are probably deciding right now if you want to give this place a try. Stop thinking and go! This experience was unlike any other I've ever had. There is something so primal, yet enjoyable about eating with your hands. The soft injera combined with spicious stews made the meal really unique. The Groupon made the price really affordable and a great bang for your buck. Make sure you come hungry because the portions are big! read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Vegetarian Sampler Platter for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is the 1st time to this restaurant. The furnishings and decor is relaxing and the food is wonderful. I ordered the vegetarian platter mix with lamb and chicken. It was wonderful..... read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Excellent service and the food is delicious! We destroyed the platter! The best part the people at the next table for paid for our bill!!! The atmosphere and the people are so great! Definitely recommend this place! read more

Another way to find new places to try is Groupon. I thought this would be an interesting experience and came here with a group of friends. We shared the Lalibela platter, Goden Tibs and Chiko. Portions were generous, and food was very flavourful and delicious. The server recommended all the above dishes and I'm glad we ordered it. The platter offered a variety of meat and non-meat options, perfect for larger parties! Aside from the location being away from downtown core, it's not a bad trek to visit Greektown for delicious Ethiopian food. It was also very fun to just eat with my hands, I felt like a kid again. Here, I finally won't be yelled at by my parents for playing with my food. It's fun! read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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My friends and I went here to try authentic Ethiopian coffee. To get this service you have to call in advance or let the waitress know as soon as you order your meal. It ended up being a really unique experience. The waitress first brought out the beans as they were being roasted and let us smell them. Then she went back to the kitchen and brought out incense, coffee cups and a big bowl of popcorn. We aren't sure why they bring you popcorn but it was really good! Then she brought us our coffee in a ceramic coffee pitcher. The coffee was really good and the price was unbeatable. For four of us, the coffee ritual came to $3.00 per person. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wants to experience an authentic Ethiopian coffee ritual. Unfortunately we did not try their food since we had already eaten. read more

Food is always great here, and service is always friendly. We always come with a Groupon deal, and leave feeling completely stuffed with good food. The platter is the best option if you want to try a variety of flavours, but we recently discovered the lamb tibs, and this is our new favourite dish! read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

A small but cozy place to have Ethiopian food. Friendly service, reasonable price, generous portion. Food? hit or miss We got a meat platter (four different "dishes" to sample, cottage cheese, and salad in the middle). Hit or miss. My boyfriend and I liked two out of four. The salad was SO sour (almost inedible). The beef dish was inedible (too rare, no seasoning, and I tried to mask that unpleasant raw beef taste with other stew but didn't help.... that's how bad it was). I never ever leave any meat on my plate...what a shame :( We both liked injera (made with teff which is considered to be one of those healthy ancient grains) which has this soft texture to it. Overall, it was fun eating with our hands. Good for an experience. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Meat platter for two - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Everything good you could possibly want in refined and exquisitely prepared food is RIGHT HERE at Lalibela. None of this thrown together nonsense - this is food which is prepared with care. Had the vegetarian platter ... with injera ... and had the coffee with a presentation of incense. What a lovely place. Nice owners/staff - low key environment. I love, love to spend time at a restaurant which reminds me of growing up on the Continent. Thank you, Lalibela! read more

On a stroll down Danforth, my wife saw this and had to try it. We didn't know what to expect so we went with "sampler" plate for 2. It is finger food eaten with a type of soft flatbread (that looks sort of like a thin pancake). There were a lot of different flavours and spice levels to experience on one plate. Very delicious. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Sample platter for 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Food is fantastic. The seasonings are out of this world . The staff is so friendly. Place is very clean . Thumbs up on all counts !!

Very nice place. Nice decor, very comfortable seats Clean place (except for the bathrooms) The food was very tasty, full of flavour. The coffee ceremony was very nice. Coffee and popcorn tasted very good. Very satisfying. Friendly staff. read more

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Cute casual Ethiopean/ Eritrian restaurant. Ordered their gluten free injera, veggie platter for 2, and was given a delicious tea upon being seated. I really enjoy eating with my hands and the injera. There was a variety of approximately 6 different things for each person plus a salad to share, and all comes on a large injera for 2 people to share. My favorite is the 2 lentils and their salad..likely because I'm kind of addicted to a well dressed sour salad even if it is made iceburg lettuce lol. The deep green dish was just ok. All in all I would give the food 3.5 stars, and yes I would go back again. But do expect the service to maybe be slow, or expect that you may need to be intentional in getting the servers attention, even if no one else is in there. read more

I've had Ethiopian food before, but after this experience I realize it was westernized. And that's a good thing. Me and my girlfriend had the meat platter for two, and I have to say some of the selections were left almost untouched (I am looking at you trip-something-curry-something). Not for the faint of heart. Only the chicken drumstick curry selection can be called truly tasty, the rest was hit and miss, from the inedible tripe selection, to the only a bit more edible something-green-with-rice, and completely inedible something that looked like raw ground beef. Some reviewers recommended one first start with the veggie platter - I guess we should have done that. Not coming back though (this stretch of the danforth has multiple Ethiopian places, mostly frequented by Ethiopians). read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Meat platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This place has become my favourite Ethiopian spot. We were a group of four who ordered 1 vegetarian sampler and 1 non-vegetarian sampler and it was perfect. We were able to try over 10 different dishes and each one was unique and delicious. I being partial to the non-veg platter loved each dish, including a slow cooked lamb dish and the chicken being the highlight. There was just one lady who was acting as hostess and server so if you are in a rush it might not be the best place, however if you want to catch up with friends over a meal for 2-3 hours it works just fine :) Will definitely be back for more! read more

Amazing food. Definitely out of my comfort zone so it was fun to try something new. Servers are very kind. Also they bring you free delicious tea that tastes exactly like cinnamon hearts- it was perfect for Valentine's Day. I'd recommend the spring rolls and the vegetable platter. Only complaint was that the food took a while to get to the table. read more

Lalibela Cuisine - Ethiopian Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Excellent Service and greatest fun and great lavish foods. We call it Mini Ethiopin in the heart of Toronto. Really delicious my wife and kids first choice of restaurant in the best side the city. Thank you team Lalibela cuisine. Keep it up. Torontorians are lucky to have such a great taste in our city. Papasinose. read more

Full disclosure: this was my first time trying Ethiopian food, but I did read up on it and go with someone who'd had it a couple times. I didn't find the injera to be sour at all, although it was certainly spongy. They didn't give nearly enough napkins considering you eat with your hands - like seriously, one napkin and one wet wipe per person? Am I supposed to use the injera? The food. I got the Mama in the Kitchen with chicken and I didn't like it. The flavors were unappealing and not nearly as intense as they should have been (food smelled MUCH better than it tasted), the textures were weird (grainy, saucy stuff just smeared on the injera), the vegetables were really limited (just starches and legumes, basically), and they didn't give nearly enough injera. I also felt that the stews and such were watery enough that the bottom piece of injera was basically inedible after you finished one or two samples of food. I wanted to leave right away when I tasted this, but I hate paying for food and not eating it. Service was fine, if brusque and inattentive. Place is clean but has mainly booths. Outside seating area looks really annoying and meant there were a lot of bugs around. Would I come back? Nope. read more