The visit was very pleasant all around. The waiter was nice and helped me and my partner since it was our first time eating Ethiopian food. The food itself was delicious and very flavorful, eating with Injura is a great experience (and a bit messy). I'd highly recommend eating here! read more

We absolutely loved it. The vegetarian options were simply amazing and the owner was equally as wonderful. We were visiting from out of town and missed Ethiopian food so much. You will not be disappointed read more

Exotic, delicious, and satisfying meal. A friend of ours introduced my wife and I to this restaurant. It was our first time eating Ethiopian cuisine; I ordered the lamb on the injera bread, she ordered the spicy beef on injera. Injera is a bread that has the look and consistency of a French crepe but is thicker ,much bigger, and more savory to taste. The meal was served on the injera, which is eaten by tearing the bread to use to pick up the meat and veggies. You essentially eat your meal in little wraps of injera. The owner is from Ethiopia and was very friendly. We topped off the meal with some ethopian styled coffee and ginger tea. Will definitely go back! read more

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Stopped by this place on a trip from Black Hills. I got a mixed beef plate: key wot and Alich wot. Both were yummy but key wot was spicier and more to my liking. Travel partner got two vegetarian choices which looked great and were promptly eaten. Would definitely stop here again. Great food and excellent service. read more

We got the combination for 4 people and it was fantastic. First time getting Ethiopian so we didn't know what to order, so the server suggested what to get in the combo and it was spot on. We had some left overs we took home even with 4 people. FYI their injera is delicious it but if you are gluten free they have rice. The rice isn't plain and has a nice garlic taste to it. Will recommend. read more

Lalibela - Combination for 4 people - Ethiopian Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Best Ethiopian food I have had in Sioux Falls. Recommend the tibs dishes, in particular, and all of the vegetable dishes. Have Ethiopian beers as well. The service is friendly and accommodates large groups. read more

I'm not an expert on Ethiopian food, but I do like exotic food, and this place is fantastic! Super clean restaurant with friendly service and minimal wait time for a fresh meal. I was actually surprised that it was as speedy as it was given that it was basically a husband and wife doing all of the cooking and serving for about 6 tables while I was there. That being said, the owner took his time explaining the menu to us as if he had all the time in the world, and his suggestions were excellent. My wife and I had the beef and chicken tibs, which were served on (and eaten via) injera. The injera was wonderfully sour, which I appreciate as a kid from the Bay Area; everyone outside of California seems to think they know what sourdough bread is, but when they make it, its really not sour at all. This (quite unexpectedly) met that standard, and I found it extraordinarily delicious. The meat was well seasoned and perfectly cooked: warm, tender, juicy. Perfection. The bread that soaks directly below the meat is worth fighting for. My wife was a bit put off by the lack of utensils, but I am not as afflicted by cleanliness as she is, and it was quite fun eating with my hands at a sit down restaurant. Definitely bringing the kids next time to participate in the break from traditional table manners! read more

HEY SIOUX FALLS!!! This restaurant should be on your short list. What's Ethopian, you say? How about perfect, soul-warming stew, served on a slightly sour crepe-type flatbread? Earthy and exotic spice blends? Eating with your hands? Spicy food (and other options)? What about creamy, fresh espresso, served by the man who runs the place? What if you asked that man where he's from and what brought him here? Sioux Falls (and the travelers it brings), you need this. you need to bring in a big group and slow down and have a meeting of a big plate of Doro Wat and Tibs. You need creamy, fragrant espresso to finish off your meal like a small ceremony. You need to sit on the bar and watch soccer, and chat with the family about how they landed in our beautiful city 15-some years ago. Forget what you hate, sit down with those you love, and remind yourself that the world can stop for awhile. PS, My previous review questioned the cleanliness of the restaurant and i couldn't have been more wrong: the health department consistently gives them scores in the high 90s- 97 & 98. Go. Enjoy. read more

This is easily the dirtiest restaurant I've ever been to. The carpet looks like it was stolen from a house used by squatters. There was trash, gum, and VISIBLE dirt on the floor of the hall to the washroom. If this is the part of the restaurant they will let you see, I can't even imagine the condition of the kitchen. Though I've never done this before, I apologized and we went elsewhere. Too bad, cause I love Ethiopian food. read more

I am a missionary to Debrezeit, Ethiopia. I recently returned from Ethiopia after being in the country for seven months. Naturally, my heart (and stomach!) soon began yearning for some Ethiopian cuisine. I was up in Sioux Falls, SD for an amazing Christian musical festival called, "LifeLight Festival." In the midst of all the rockin' my stomach started calling for Ethiopia...... But could I really find a place in the midwest that served Ethiopian food that tasted authentic? The answer is.... Ye....well, Sorta... Lalibela is a wonderful site to see in Sioux Falls. Its location isn't hard to get to and there is plenty of room inside. There are various forms of Ethiopian artwork on the walls and traditional table settings throughout the room. The owner was very kind and he was interested in getting to know each of us. I ordered "Doro Wat", which when i've eaten it in Ethiopia is my all-time favorite. When it was served, it was served on traditional injera. The injera wasn't exactly the same, but it wasn't bad. It was the right color and just a little "too fluffy". The wat in itself wasn' t bad either. It wasn't really in the same league as the Doro wat I'd eaten in Ethiopia, but, I didn't expect perfection. I would say that the food is a great exposure to new diners of Ethiopian cuisine, and an "OK" meal for those who have had the "in-country, real thing." All in all. Pleasant atmosphere. Decent food. Good prices. Worth your time. But, I must say... if you get the chance to go to Ethiopia.... GO. If you can't, check out "Lalibela" its not bad. read more

Delicious, authentic Ethiopian food and warm, friendly service. My favorite place in SF! Try the #7 if you like it a little spicy - delicious! Don't be put off by the less than enticing exterior - the food here is way more than worth it. This place is always ranked among the cleanest kitchens in Sioux Falls' food service inspections. read more

I had the beef tibs (22), boyfriend had the lamb ygeb. Both were amazing! Love the injera. Such great flavor, spice to everything. Tender meat. Not so exotic that a less-than-adventurous palette would be overwhelmed. A must-try! Great value, too. read more

Lalibela - Ethiopian Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

This is my favorite place to eat in Sioux Falls. Having lived here for 6+ years, I have eaten at Lalibela many times and each experience is more enjoyable than the previous. The food is delicious and very authentic. The decor in the restaurant celebrates the culture of Ethiopia and the positive influence Ethiopian refugees/immigrants have had on Sioux Falls. Art from Ethiopian-American artists give the interior a great local feel. The owner is very friendly as well. Many days you can see his little daughter running around and entertaining the customers. The owner makes the customer feel as if you're in his home having a meal with him and his family. It's a very personable atmosphere and the flavors never disappoint. I strongly recommend Lalibela to anybody willing to expand their culinary horizons. read more

This restaurant had been at a different location and had closed for a time but THEY ARE OPEN AGAIN! Their new location is at 10th and Kiwanis. I had never had Ethiopian Food before going to Lalibela but I had always wanted to try it. The first thing that I noticed upon walking in was how open and inviting the building and decor was. The owner quickly greeted my wife and I and then sat us. He asked if we had ever had Ethiopian food before and once we said no, he took our drink order, gave us some time to look at the menu, and then came back to see if we had any questions and to offer suggestions. One of the things that is different about Ethiopian cuisine is that it is eaten by hand with a flatbread called injera. The owner even explained how the meal is traditionally eaten! If you are looking for a break from the same old steak and potatoes then Lalibela is the place to go! My wife had a vegetarian combination plate and I had the lamb stew and collard greens. It was an experience that we will not soon forget and we will be back as soon as possible!!! I highly recommend it!!! read more

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I have no idea why I am the only person eating here right now? This place is awesome, amazing flavors, great portions and unbelievably low prices. Don't expect lush surroundings but do expect to be treated courteously and well fed! One other reviewer says he left before ordering due to the cleanliness of the place, I must say that reviewer missed out on a really great food experience. Do yourself a favor and try this place, if you're like me you've never heard of anything on the menu but don't panic. Just tell your waiter that you need advice, I have no idea what I ended up with, it was spicy and beefy and one of the best dishes I've had in a long time. In a word - GREAT!!! read more

Absolutely fantastic! Delicious food, reasonable prices, and the proprietor is the absolute nicest guy! Most times there's people in the game room, and they are always friendly as well. I love eating here, their kitfo is awesome and their injera bread is always fresh and fabulous. Highly, highly recommended! read more

Went to check out Lalibela last night. The decor was nothing special but the food was great and the service was excellent. Beyond the polite young server, someone who I believe was the owner also came over to check on us several times with a cheery smile. I got three vegetarian dishes and the veg sambusas which were particularly incredible. I also tried the red Ethiopian wine and enjoyed it a lot. I was stuffed by the time we left. I'd definitely go back and bring people with me to share the entrees with me next time! My only complaint was the TV playing loudly front-and-center with gameshows. read more

The food here is so good! As someone who does not eat meat, I could still order most of the menu! The bread they serve is unique and delicious. I need to go more often because this place is a real treat. It's affordable as well read more

Food was great Injera was to die for. I enjoyed the combination platter which gave me a little of everything.

Delicious Ethiopian food and very warm service. The owner and the young man serving us were great. They explained how to eat this type of food and how to navigate the menu in a very non-intimidating way. Wish we would have visited on another night though...it was a Friday night and the bar next door was extremely loud. There did not seem to be a door between the two spaces and people with beers would wander into the restaurant. It did take away from the restaurant's unique cultural experience a bit. I highly recommend the #8...VERY spicy but absolutely tasty! read more

Lalibela - Ethiopian Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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My Dad and I were in town visiting and decided to explore what else the city had to offer. That led us here and I could not have been more pleased. Great casual vibe and excellent service. Easily the best Ethiopian meal I have ever had. I cannot say enough about how courteous and helpful the owner was in his recommendations and conversation. If it is your first time trying Ethiopian food I would recommend getting the combination. It provided a fantastic assortment of different flavors and foods. Honestly if you try one restaurant in Souix Falls, make it this one. read more

Incredibly delicious! Even with only one FOH worker, the service was relatively prompt and the food came out very quickly. To start the meal, we enjoyed chicken sambusas. Fried crispy and delicious, the chicken inside was well-seasoned. While the meat inside was a bit dry, the spicy peanut sauce that accompanied them was actually the highlight of the meal, we couldn't get enough of it! I'd happily buy a jar of it anytime. For our entrees, we had alicha wot and yebeg wot. I found the alicha wot to be a tad bland, but my boyfriend really enjoyed the savory flavors of onion and meat. We both wished it had a bit more spice - although to be fair, it wasn't advertised in the menu to be spicy, so that can hardly be a valid complaint. The yebeg wot, however, was incredibly delicious. We both loved the warm, savory spice of the tomato sauce and the tender lamb. The injera was superbly soft and spongy with great aeration and well-defined bubbles and was served gratis in a generous quantity. The salad that accompanied the stews was also a treat, still crisp but deliciously vinegary, with a hint of pepper and the crunch of red cabbage and carrot. Just lovely. The hot tea was warm and delicious, with the aroma of korerima coming through strongly and rounded out with a really delicious floral finish. The Ethiopian tea was the best part. Intensely fragrant and a little foamy with cream. I added a touch of sugar and it made for a really perfect finish to my meal. read more

3 months ago via Zomato for iOS RATED We really enjoy Lalibella East African Restaurant. Combination plate, Injera, Tibs are all good. It is traditional to eat with your Right hand only as this restaurant will bring silverware on request. Tear the Injera with your Right hand, placing meat, eggs, vegetables or garnish inside the bread. Service is unhurried but pleasant, cmon, where do you need to be in such a hurry? A definite cultural experience that's also very, very tasty. read more

Tried the veggie combo with gomen wot and red lentils. Delicious. On par with stuff I've had in Little Ethiopia in L.A. and Cafe Desta in Tucson. There is an odor from the cleaning solvent used in the hall that I caught occasionally but the service and food is decent. read more

I highly recommend this restaurant. Very clean, the owner was so courteous and helpful with explaining the cuisine. My food was out of this world and will definitely go back again. read more

This place is awesome. The service was perfect the beer was cold and the Ethiopian food was terrific. I will return. read more

Lalibela - Porter and the menu! - Ethiopian Near Me - Sioux Falls, South Dakota

I came to Lalibela with a friend looking for something tasty, adventurous and different in Sioux Falls - and they delivered! The food was fresh and had lots of flavour, with generous serving sizes. The style of dining is perfect for sharing, so you can grab some food with friends and have a taste of everything. We ordered the combination plate, which had portions of other items on the menu. Our meal was delicious and left us both full at the end. The owner also recommended an Ethiopian wine (dry red) and Ethiopian lager which were both really nice and complimented the meal well. We finished off with an Ethiopian tea, which is light and refreshing with a herbal flavour. The restaurant had a cool authentic vibe and the owner was really friendly and genuinely interested to talk. I'd have to rate it as the best meal I've had in Sioux Falls and would recommended it for people looking for something different. Will definitely return before I leave! read more

Yummy and authentic Ethiopian food! I live in CA and this food is comparable to our restaurants here. I'd recommend getting a combo platter. Check it out to expand your food horizons! read more

Okay, in the interest of full disclosure, Lalibela is the first Ethiopian restaurant I've eaten at. However, I really really enjoyed it. If you're not an adventurous diner, this may not be your thing. BUT...if you get tired of homogeneity and chains, then Lalibela is a great respite! Their Injira bread is great, and they give you plenty of it. The collard greens are always my favorite. The coffee is potent--it's no folger's crystals. The decor is interesting, with old Ethiopian tourism posters alongside other African artifacts. It's been pretty quiet every time I've gone, with a soccer game on the tv. Overall, a great place to go when you're in the mood for something different! read more

Wow. What a suprise that we have such a great ethiopian food place. We are great fans of ethiopian food and this is one of the best places we have eaten in the country. The restaurant is clean and the service was spot on. You must try the chicken sambusas and the combination platter is a great way to try out their greatest hits. We especially liked their vegetable stew. They also serve wine and beer! We will definitely be regulars!! read more

yum! we were surprised to find an Ethiopian restaurant in Sioux Falls. My boyfriend and I are both fans of the cuisine, and we were more than ready for something different after a few days of hamburgers for him and grilled cheese sandwiches on the road. We were the only customers, and the owner chatted with us. He was very friendly and excited for us to eat his food. It was all delicious! Especially the collard greens and the lentils. And the Ethiopian beers were good too! read more

I was extremely glad to discover Ethiopian restaurants in South Dakota (not generally the best state for vegans with diverse palates) and Lalibela is the first one I've tried here. On the whole I really enjoyed it and will definitely go back next time I'm in town. I think I'd likely give the place 3 stars in DC/SF/LA where the competition is a bit stiffer, but this is South Dakota and the food at Lalibela's is easily the best restaurant meal I've eaten anywhere in the state. The Good: as I said - Ethiopian with good veggie options in South Dakota. The lentil dishes were especially fantastic and the the greens and the potato and cabbage dish were also solid. The injera was excellent. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal. A Bit of Room for Improvement: Compared to other Ethiopian places at which I've eaten around the country, the veggie menu is a bit limited. This may be a product of location (I notice the other Yelp fans seem mostly to be beef enthusiasts). The veggie platter had 4 dishes plus salad - not bad, but my experience elsewhere is typically that platters will have 5 or 6 dishes plus salad, with other vegetarian dishes available a la carte. Not a big deal, but an expanded veggie side to the menu would push my review to 5-stars. Also, the salad wasn't bad necessarily, but was definitely weak compared to other Ethiopian spots. Not a big deal, though, and I will be back to Lalibela's the next time I'm in Sioux Falls. read more

Great food, floor was dirty, and we weren't sure how to order. However, the food was awesome!

Passing through the area with my wife and kids, we stumbled upon this little gem. The food was great. I do have to say that I found it with my Yelp app on my phone. The owner was very friendly and the helpings large. I do like a little more heat in my food, but the wife and kids loved it. My son begged us to stop again on our return trip back. Try it you won't be sorry!! read more

I was looking for someplace unusual to take my wife and her daughters and found this place. We were very impressed and enjoyed the whole experience immensely. The food was great, spicier than I anticipated but I count that as a plus. Everyone had fun sharing and eating with their fingers. the presentation of the food was very appealing, with the foods arranged on large platters lined with the lovely light foamy injera bread. The service was excellent, with a smiling friendly host that really added to how much we enjoyed the place. Also some of the other clientele was obviously ethiopian and as a tourist of sorts listening to them chatter in their native languages also added to the experience. It may not be PC and I hope I don'e offend anyone but I take it as a good sign when an ethnic restaurant is actually frequented by people of the ethnicity it promotes. I would suggest to you single folks that this would be a great place for a first date. A supper atmosphere at lunch prices and you would learn a lot about your date by how they had fun with the unusual foods and eating style. Friendly people, good food, a clean establishment and good service.. what more could you want? One of our party was experienced with Eth restaurants and missed the floor/pit seating, but for myself I appreciated having a chair. read more

Fantastic food and service!! Definitely eat here!! We eat Ethopian food in many places we visit but this place is the best by far! Place is clean, service is friendly, food excellent, and food served quickly. read more

so glad for some ethiopian food in the middle of the midwest. lalibela serves up great food that brought me back a couple times. the service was great and they remembered my order from one time to the next. the restaurant seems to be a gathering place for ethiopian men who play pool and watch t.v. i was often the only girl in the place but still felt totally comfortable. definitely definitely suggest stopping here and grabbing a bite. read more

AMAZING! I got the #25 and it was amazing! A coworker and I went for dinner on a Saturday. It wasn't very busy but it took a while to get our food. We didn't mind since we knew it would be coming out hot and fresh. The prices are very reasonable and they offer platters for larger groups. I recommend picking up a little of the veggies and meat then picking up a little of the salad that comes with it. You have to rip off pieces of the "pancake" it comes on in order to eat. You do not get utensils unless you ask for them or the dish comes with a spoon. We decided we are definitely going back! read more

Delicious! I like that you can pick two, three, or four vegetarian dishes to make a combo. A great way to try different things no matter how hungry you are. The service is also very good. Be sure to get an Ethiopian beer, too! read more

This place is the real ting. Excellent! I eat a lot of Ethiopian, and this one is fantastic.