LeYou is located right off the N First St exit towards San Jose and is located in a very unassuming plaza. What I love about LeYou is, not only is it Michelin guided, it lives up to its recommendation. The food here was fresh and delicious, service was kind and attentive, and last the space was charming. I can totally see this place being a cute place for a first date or a special occasion. Now let's talk about the food, at most places they serve their tartare thats beef but at LeYou they take a unique take on that with fish instead. I believe you can pick between tuna or salmon and we opted for the tuna and it was hefty and delicious. You can even adjust the spice level on this and we opted for medium which actually felt like medium. Most places are heavy on the spices even if you ask for less. As for the rest of the meal you must try the gomen which is the collared greens. It's seasoned well and works good in combination of your other dishes. Of course you must order the shiro which is mashed chickpeas and various beans. This one is a little spicy and a slow burn which is pleasant because it won't cause instant tummy aches. Overall highly recommend LeYou if you're ever in town or wanting to try Ethiopian for the first time! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Gomen/Collard Greens (V) Butcha/Cold Chickpea Salad (V) Shiro (V)/Chickpea - Keywot Kitfo/Tartare Four Vegetarian Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Tried: meat combo with one wot style stew with chicken (1/5) and the other onion stew with white fish (3/5). I love Walia's doro wot but don't love the location and ambience so hoped LeYou would offer similar taste but better ambience, but sadly, the doro wot (chicken stew) was extremely spicy even for me, and didn't taste good either. It could upset your stomach. The onion stew was alright but not a fan of the overpowering sweet flavor of the onions. When I crave Ethiopian food, will just do take out at Walia. Also one of the female servers was a bit pushy in trying to make us order more drinks, sides, dessert. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Meat combo 2/5. The wot stew is incredibly spicy and upset my stomach. - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

The waitress was very nice and accommodating to us and allowed us to store the cake in the fridge ! She was very patient in helping our party order and recommended her favorite dishes. The place is nicely decorated and chill ambiance, but as the sun was setting, it was difficult to see the table. I really liked that there is a separate handwashing station right next to the restroom for ppl to wash before or after eating ! My group and I are not entirely new to Ethiopian cuisine, however for a 3-year Michelin restaurant, this place takes the cake for being the blandest we've had. There was basically no flavor in the fish, the beef was alright and the chicken was just there. Comparing to other reviews on here, the eggplant dip and okra appetizers were served on our meal platter, not separately as others have posted. Perhaps it's because we ordered two appetizers, but for the price we paid, it was not amounting to what we got. My friends favored the eggplant dip the most, i liked the beef and salad. Overall, not the best but not the worst. For a highly advertised Michelin, this was a really average restaurant. Many thanks to the kind waitress though (: read more

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We celebrated a birthday party here, since we were a large group we got to share several appetizers. They were able to accommodate our large group and allowed us to cut a cake at the end of our meal as well. For appetizers we got sambusas, eggplant dip and kitfo bites. The dip and kitfo came with toasted bite sized injera. They were crisp enough to be like chips. Both the eggplant dip and kitfo were severely lacking salt, and were just difficult to eat. For mains we got injera with an assortment of curries and sides. The chicken and shrimp were the best while the rest were okayish. The injera wasn't too sour compared to other places. Overall I was disappointed by the food especially given this has been a Michelin guide recommended place. read more

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Dropped in a reservation and Lyia took care of us. We ordered a leyou special sampler and I specifically asked for okra and asa fish and Lyia was like "oh there definitely be fish in it" We got our food and was delighted that we got a sample of a lot of dishes, 3 small scoops of lentils, 2 types of protein, a couple cubes of tofu, collard greens, salad, beets, and others read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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First time having Ethiopian food. I definitely want to try more from LeYou. I ordered my food to go , so I am sure there is much more to experience enjoying my food there sitting down. I look forward to that next time ! To start things off all staff was extremely friendly and welcoming. LeYou is a hidden gem , beautifully designed interior. Great place to go with a group or with a special person. I ordered a IPA beer while I waited for my order. I was offered an Ethiopian beer which I have never tried before and it was so good ! Light ,crisp, and refreshing! I ordered the Sega Key Wot , it had great flavor and good spice. Paired with the Gomen- collard greens. My order came with sponge bread (not sure of the proper name of it). Quality of the food was great and everything was very fresh. I will definitely eat there next time and also go with their recommendation of trying the Doro Key Wot next time! Cant wait for the experience. read more

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LeYou's dishes were delectable! We ordered kategna, kitfo bites, and got the chicken+beef tib with sides of okra and collard greens. All pack a punch and can be a little bit on the spicy side for those with low spice tolerance (like me). There were plenty of food and we enjoyed some affogato for dessert. Debbie was an attentive server and gave us great recommendations. There is a minimum dining cost for dinner at $25 per person or $10 fee per person for split entree. Having a minimum is a bit of a deterrent. read more

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Super great Ethiopian spot with tons of options. If you're vegetarian, more than half the menu is veg so there are soo many good choices! We ordered the veggie sampler with four items and added two meat dishes on the side, which was perfect for trying a bit of everything. Since there were so many options and we weren't sure where to start, the servers helped us choose and gave great recommendations. The amount of food ended up being just right for four people to share. The flavors reminded me a little of Indian food, if you like South Indian cuisine you'll love it! The injera is similar to dosa and works so well with all the dishes. For dessert we got the flan and was super creamy and sweet, though the portion was smaller than we expected. The ambiance inside is really pretty and well decorated, with a cozy, homey vibe. Definitely will be back! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Four Vegetarian Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Minimum $25/person. Well-rounded dishes. Everything was solid. Stuffed jalapeños were very spicy but so much more than the sum of it's parts, it was vegetarian but for a sec I thought there was ceviche or something in it. Kategna (toasted spiced injera) had paprika and came with yogurt with honey, lightly sweet and rich. Stews were solid and not too salty. They ran out of fish, but chicken and especially beef were a tad dry. The injera didn't have too much of a taste, but also not too tangy and had a good texture. Probably best nicer Ethiopian resturant around. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Stuffed Jalepeño - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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LeYou Ethiopian was such a wonderful find! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt calm and inviting. It has a nice, quiet vibe inside--perfect for actually enjoying conversation and taking your time with the meal. One of the biggest highlights is how vegetarian-friendly the menu is. There are so many flavorful plant-based options that it's hard to choose just one. We ended up ordering the family-style injera platter with eight different curries, and it was absolutely the way to go. Everything was beautifully spiced, rich, and comforting without being too heavy. Sharing it made the experience even more fun--there's something special about eating together off the same platter with fresh, soft injera. The staff was incredibly kind and helpful, patiently walking us through the menu and making thoughtful recommendations. You can really tell they care about making sure guests have a great experience. On top of all that, the pricing is very affordable, especially for the generous portions and quality of the food. Delicious, welcoming, and budget-friendly--LeYou Ethiopian is definitely a spot I'll be coming back to! read more

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I'm glad I did! It was definitely a fun eating experience. I believe this is a Michelin spot, so I was excited. The ambiance was cozy, and located in a spot w a small parking lot. The staff are super sweet and give my party recommendations on what to get. What I got: Stuffed Jalapeño appetizer Tuna Kitfo Bites (MUST GET THIS WAS SO GOOOOD) 2 meat stew combo items ( fish and chicken) vegetarian combo platter ( tofu, lentil, 2 other ones that the server rec but i don't remember) Sega beef stew I thought it was cool how everything we ordered was served all in one giant platter. I did enjoy the meal, my favs were the chicken, fish and lentil. It makes a good pairing w/ the injera too!!!! Overrall, would recommend this place for Ethopian food!!!! read more

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great food and the servers were so nice and attentive we brought our 1-year-old and everyone had a lovely time read more

LeYou Ethiopian - the injera is kid-approved - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

We went Valentine's Day dinner. We had to make a reservation and the place was packed! The vibe was very romantic and the service was great. We had the platter win lamb tibs. We paid $100 all in. It came with some fantastic sambousas, a main course and desert. read more

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This is my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant. The food was excellent and the service was phenomenal! We wanted to try something, so we asked the manager, Kiya, who served us, what she recommended. She suggested that we try the make your own four veggie combo and a meat. She thought the restaurant's portions were small and that we should order a lot. On this, she was wrong! That's a good thing to be wrong about. We had plenty of leftovers. Kiya said her favorite dish was the white fish, which was tasty. I think it was my favorite part of the meal. LeYou has more options in its vegetable offerings than any other Ethiopian restaurant. We ordered misir, gomen, atakilt, and fossolia, a green bean dish with tomatoes, onions, and spices. I'd never tried fossolia before, but I will definitely have it again. In fact, it was my favorite of the vegetables. We had leftovers and I'm full even after the second The best part of the experience was Kiya, who was our server and the manager. She was patient as we took our time to order; made conversation, answering our questions about Ethiopia and the art in the room; and was just overall friendly. She even asked her aunt, the owner, about our question of how the Michelin people find out about a restaurant (undercover diners). As for ambiance, it's casual. The restaurant features Ethiopian art of various types. There were also coffee table type books with pictures of Ethiopia and Ethiopian food. We had fun looking through them while we waited for our food. All-in-all, it was a very fun experience. read more

I had such a wonderful experience at LeYou last night! My boyfriend and I decided to try it, and we were both so impressed. The food was absolutely delicious--full of flavor, fresh, and clearly made with care. The dish we tried was amazing and beautifully prepared. We both love East African food so we are adding this restaurant to our favorite spots now. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the service made us feel comfortable and appreciated as guests. It was the perfect place for a nice evening out. If you're looking for authentic, flavorful Ethiopian food and a great dining experience, I highly recommend LeYou. We will definitely be coming back! Don't forgot to buy a bottle of their Tej Honey Wine read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Beautiful and clean. One of the most upscale Ethiopian places we've tried in 3 different states. Owner was there, friendly. Food was flavorful and authentic; a bit milder than we've tried- could be family or regional difference. We tried the full sample including meats and salads- all tasty, wat was sour and bubbly. We left stuffed. Mead wine was crisp and sweet. Nice to clean the pallet.Only surprise was some things were cold that we didn't expect. But maybe that's our ignorance vs an issue. read more

This restaurant is so beautiful inside and food was amazing! It definitely had more of an intimate vibe, great for date night. Decor is super chic too. I love the communal experience you get with Ethiopian food and this didn't disappoint! My friend and I shared a two meat combo and four veggie combo. I'm not super familiar with the specific dishes but the staff were very eager to help and recommend dishes. We got the spicy chicken (doro) and fish for the meat combo and the okra, spicy lentils, house salad, and tofu for the veggie combo. Everything was such a "flavor explosion" as my friend called it. We were super stuffed by the end. It was under $30 per person. Staff was very courteous and refilled our injera without us asking. Parking available in the lot. Will definitely be back! Note to myself: I think the combos all come with salad already! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Four Vegetarian Sampler and Two Meat Stew Items - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Amazing dinner! My friend was actually trying Ethiopian food for the first time and I don't think there's a better place to take her! Debbie was so patient explaining the menu and recommending stuff so thank you to her! Great place, great ambiance! We'll be back soon! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

We went for lunch. I told my son I wanted to try something different. He suggested this place. I've never had Ethiopian food before. After being seated,the owner asked if we ever eaten here before. We said no. She suggested that we try the sampler plate. It comes with two protein,and four vegetarian plates. She explained the many different plates. We took her suggestions and allowed her to pick what she thought we would enjoy. We ended up getting a beef item,and a fish item. All of the items are served on a giant plate. You eat family style,(just use your fingers and pick off the plate). Everything tasted great,not spicy at all. I guess next time we can ask for the spicy version. There's plenty of parking.(It's next door to shark boy fish and chips) read more

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New favorite Ethiopian spot in the bay. Truly a hidden gem!! We got the Sega tibs, doro wot, and the four vegetarian sampler combo. The food is seriously authentic and DELICIOUS! You simply cannot go wrong with what you pick, it will all be yummy. The overall experience was superb and I cannot wait to come back to this cute restaraunt! The owner was the only person taking orders/serving tables and it felt like a really special experience to hear from her talk to us about how she developed recipes with healthy ingredients and makes sure all food is gluten free! Super nice owner. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Very delicious vegan options. Ordered the mushrooms & the 4 choice plate: Tried the okra, collard greens, cabbage/ potatoes & chickpea purée Their injera is gluten-free! Appetizer pictured is the eggplant. Our beautiful waitress was Leya. She recommended the mushrooms and it ended up being the best thing we tried. Loved it all tho. Everything together was perfect Romantic & spiritual setting. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Eggplant appetizer - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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One of my favorite places I tried this year! I love the kitfo (tuna tartare) and chicken tibs. My favorites are the green beans and the kategna appetizer. The Ethiopian spiced tea is delicious, staff is friendly. Food sometimes takes a while but is well worth it! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Kategna - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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The 2 stew + 1 side combination + 1 order of tibs was enough for two of us to be pretty full. The injera wasn't too sour and did well to absorb the dishes on top. The spicy beef stew was excellent. If I could handle my spice better, I would have devoured it quickly. I really liked the interior design of the restaurant. The presentation of the dishes in a giant platter was pretty cool too. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Clockwise from top left: chicken stew (not spicy), beef stew (spicy), lamb tibs, chickpea salad - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Quiet, classy ambiance perfect for a quiet date night. The service was also quick and pleasant. My partner and I are frequent enjoyers of Ethiopian cuisine but it was nice of our server to explain what we were getting. As for food, it was absolutely sublime. I had the spiced tea which was delicious and we split the Kategna as an appetizer. For our main course, we got the Leyou special which had two meats and all of the veggie sides. It's tailored to the amount of people at the table and ran about $25/person. The food was phenomenal and we cleared our plate in 14 minutes. We just couldn't stop-- it was too good! Our favorite restaurant was closed for MLK day so we tried LeYou on a whim to satisfy our Ethiopian craving. This is our new favorite place and is absolutely worth stopping in! read more

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I've been searching for Ethiopian food that comes close to the flavor of a little deli dish I got from Berkeley Bowl in 2018 and while this restaurant doesn't quite get there, it comes close. I ordered the misir wot (lentil stew) which came with the fermented injeera flatbread and I added a side dish of cooked green beans and carrots. The stew was labeled spicy but as a white girl with low-medium spice tolerance, I'd characterize it as flavorful with mild throat burn- just how I like it! The lentils and veggies were soft and flavorful and contrasted with the spongy tangy injera. I had bites of my friends beef, lentil, and fish stews and everything was insanely buttery and rich. I washed it all down with some honey ginger tea (since I had already tried the Ethiopian spiced black tea at another place) and holy cow I wish I could buy this tea by the gallon. It was the perfect blend of ginger and honey and it just begged for some whiskey to adulterate it into a hot toddy. I remember now that the menu listed some alcohol, I shoulda checked for some whiskey! Logistics: - indoor seating only. I thought the website showed pictures of a patio seating area but that might be outdated because it looked to belong to a fish and chips restaurant - parking in front, and some more in the lot for Danbi Korean next door - menu listed that injera was 100% teff flour (it's oftentimes cut with wheat flour for cost purposes) but I would double check for cross contamination read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Miser (V)/Lentils - Keywot - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Server and service was amazing! Saw bugs Stews were good, I enjoyed the fish one however beef one had good flavor but the meat was tough. Wasn't a fan of the apps (jalapeño & eggplant dip) - maybe sambusas would be better. read more

So glad we stopped by LeYou! Learned about it on the SF Chronicle Best 100 Restaurants list of 2025 and it did not disappoint! Generous portions, flavorful. We had the chef's special for two, the spiced tea, and the lentil sambusas. Liya was a wonderful, attentive server! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Food: Enjoyed the Veggie Combo Recommend going with 4 of the stews. We ordered the sambusa for an appetizer Service: prompt Ambiance: Ethiopian Deco. Give this place a try. Especially if you are seeking a vegetarian menu. Highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

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Amazing food and ambience. Liya's service is so welcoming and friendly. Such a great experience! Will definitely come back. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Finally got to try LeYou and their reputation precedes them! We ordered one of each appetizer as well as all of our own entrees. Service was amazing. They accommodated our entire party's dietary restrictions: Chicken & Lamb is halal & many many vegan options! It is so cozy and was sooo in love with the herbaceous smell in the air. I cannot wait to go back (: read more

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In the mood for good Ethiopian food? Check out Le You. Last time I came back in 2020 and have missed it. Went with a couple of friends for lunch and everything was still amazing. Ordered the egg plant dip and meat/veggie combo. Food was warm and very flavorful. I enjoyed everything I ate. Won't wait another 5 years. read more

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This was my first time having Ethiopian food. I'm glad I did since it was so good! I was surprised by how tender all the meats were here, and it went very well with the Injera. Our waitress was super kind and the ambiance was nice and laid back at the place read more

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Layou Special $25.00. 2 proteins - chicken and beef. Every side except the Jalapeño. Arrived at 11:26 on a Sunday. She saw us outside and let us in early. Very appreciated. Ordered. Food arrived 15-20 minutes later. Everything was thr appropriate temperature. Chicken was the clear winner. The flavors in the beef were nice, but the meat was cooked hot so it was on the tough side. The food come with and is plated on top of injera bread. For that last piece at the bottom, it's strongly suggested that you don't leave it on the plate afterwards. It has absorbed all those flavors and is tremendously delicious! As we were finishing our meal, the one side of the restaurant was filled. The music the was being streamed was at a background level, but at one point was having a problem with their internet provider. On the other side of the restaurant they lit some incense, opium scented, so if you have an aversion to smoke, this might not work for you. After a while the place looked like the inside of Spicoli's van (Gen X movie reference). Oh a side note, there's only one bathroom. Please be a team player there.... I would absolutely dine there again, but while I would recommend the combo for the introduction, I wouldn't do it on the next visit. read more

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I recently took my wife and mother in law to Le You Ethiopian for lunch and it was fantastic!! The place is immaculate, beautifully decorated and clean with a mellow and welcoming atmosphere. The young lady who was our hostess was very friendly and helpful as well. We are no strangers to Ethiopian food & have high standards as we've visited more than a few local spots for Ethiopian cuisine . Having said that , Le You has captured the adoration of our palates! We each had a variation of the vegetarian options ; Gomen, Misir Wat , Atakilt , shiro , etc . They were outstanding! I especially love the Misir Wat , a spiced lentil stew made with berbere seasoning and a hint of heat . Berbere is unlike anything you've tasted in a spice and I highly recommend any of the dishes spiced with it ! The injera , which accompanies the meal as a tangy , sour dough-esque crepe like vehicle for scooping up the food, was delicious. The gomen , which is seasoned collard greens was a fantastic palate cleanser between the other dishes. The Atakilt ; cabbage, potatoes and carrots , sautéed with onions , tomatoes , turmeric and ginger is mild , flavorful and delicious! I also had Shiro ; a smooth, velvety stew made from powdered chickpeas or broad beans, garlic, onions, and berbere. This dark , rich stew is another of my favorites as I love the complexity of berbere spice and the mild heat . I could go on and on about how much I loved the cuisine, but I think that whoever is reading this should take the leap. Be adventurous and try Le You ! Their menu includes delicious stewed meats, salads and appetizers. Their food will transport you from the mundane flavors of every day fare , to another world of flavor. I'm sure you will find dishes to suit your adventurous tastes ! Cheers ! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Here is the menu , which offers many other options such as meat dishes , salads & appetizers. - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Great Ethiopian restaurant. Get the combo. You won't be disappointed. The staff was also super friendly. Overall a very enjoyable experience. read more

While everything was good, I found that I enjoyed the ambiance more than the food! What worked: -- they have these little call buttons that you can use to request your server, and it saves you from having to flag them down. Amazing. -- the decor, lighting, and incense in the space felt so cozy and welcoming, I really enjoyed being there What didn't work: -- I ordered the spiced tea, a few veggie stews, and one beef stew. While good, every other Ethiopian restaurant is in the area is better! -- compared to other restaurants in the area, the prices were a smidge higher Overall, I'd come here for the environment but I think that the other Ethiopian restaurants nearby have better food. read more

Back again and great atmosphere inside as well. Vegan food was top notch. The flavors and quality were there and they did not rush us after dinner. We were able to sit and enjoy company. Our server, Leya, made the experience special with her helpfulness and competence. we will be back! read more

Thank you Debbie for being our server. The good you suggested "chef special " was really good. Like you said, a little of everything. :) read more

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If your new to Ethiopian food give this place a try. Our server Liya was amazing and answered all our questions clearly. She recommended the Leyou special which had two proteins and 4-5 veggie dishes which I liked. *I occasionally have Ethiopian and would recommend this place. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

LeYou Ethiopian food-where do I start? I do not recommend going here if it's your first time trying Ethiopian food. Overpriced food, small portion sizes, and food was not very warm and not very flavorful..... **I don't understand how the food could have not been warm enough when I got there right when they opened?? Chicken Doro Wot has never tasted like this at any other Ethiopian restaurants in this area and I've been to 4 of them now. Injera was ok but too light in texture and not enough for an entire meal. White fish stew was weird looking and weird tasting too!!! I don't know if I should have eaten even half of my meal due to everything said?? Luckily I didn't get sick from it. Dessert was ok and unsweetened Ethiopian tea was delicious. Kategna was very good but a little greasy. Loved the yogurt dipping sauce though. Restaurant seemed to be possibly fusion or they are really not making it right!! Not authentic or homemade Ethiopian food at all!! Pretty disappointed about this place and experience together. I will not be going back and sticking to my favorite Ethiopian place nearby called Kategna. FYI: I ordered to go as well. It was just a small portion of the Sega diced beef and a few triangle pieces of injera. I tried it later in the day for dinner and it was really bland. I personally think most of there dishes are lacking enough berbere in them and they are using different spices that are like having a twist on Ethiopian food and trying to be "contemporary" and lighter to get customers to maybe go back again?? It's sad to say that I don't think they deserve Michelin 2023, 2024, and 2025 ratings. Plus, on Google reviews it gives a 4.5 stars!!! I'm very surprised by all this recognition... I wish this business well. I was only trying this place out and thought it was going to be more upscale and beautiful ambience but I really feel it's lacking a lot of things and the website seems to be a little deceiving now that I checked it out again after eating here recently. read more