After a grueling arm and cardio day at the gym, my body was craving carbs, fats and you guessed it PROTEIN. I decided to stroll down the street and see what was nearby. I saw a pizza joint and thought "naaaah I just had pizza on Sunday for Game of Thrones, better not." Then I stumbled upon a small slider joint that I've been too once before and thought "not feeling patriotic enough at the moment to sit down and enjoy a good ole' fashion burger." And then I saw it.. This beautiful place on the corner of San Carlos and Irving. I was very skeptical at first because of the facts that I've never heard of the place and I've never had Ethiopian food before. When you walk in you don't really know what to think. You look to your right, left, behind, in-front and all the walls are a light red which clashes with the lighter then light blue ceiling. The walls are somewhat bland due to the fact there is only 3 posters/picture on them, but the content of the photos are what make up for it, "13 months of sunshine - Ethiopia". Sooooo lets get to the good stuff. Like I said I have never had Ethiopian food before and I had no idea what to expect. I was somewhat expecting to see a huge menu with a enormous list of basically the same items with one altercation that makes them different, for example, this plate comes with chicken and rice while this one comes with chicken and salad. It wasn't that at all. There was about 5 meat plates, 5 or 6 vegetarian plates, and about 10 combo plates. Me, being the carnivorous monster that I am decided to sprawl and stick to the meat portion of the menu. Now let me tell you there's no chicken or fish here (from what I saw) it is just beef or lamb which I was somewhat disappointed with considering I stopped eating red meat 3 years ago buuuuuut I was hungry so I didn't even consider leaving, and boy am I glad I made that decision. Now I say I stuck to the meat section but I wanted to check out the combo plates to see how much food I could get. I read the #18, I believe, and it was the kitfo sandwich which was a steak tartar with chili, spread onto a French roll. This was one of the most simple, yet delicious and sensational sandwiches I've ever had. To me, this sandwich was like that sloppy joe you used to get in elementary school that your lunch lady made for you and nobody, not even my grandma, whom called herself the cooking queen, was able to recreate it. This sandwich was exactly what I was looking for and it was even more delicious then the elementary school sandwich! And to top it all off the owner made me a free latte which is the perfect pick me up I needed before I started work. I recommend this place to anyone who is open to trying new foods! I remind all readers that I have only tried the kitfo sandwich but I will be coming back soon to tell y'all about the other items as well! read more

Lunch Box - The owner gave me a free latte to finish off my delicious meal! - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

This is my new favorite place to eat now. Everybody is very friendly and welcoming like if you're stepping into their homes. I love the layout of this restaurant, it really does look like you're having dinner at your mom's house. I had the Godden Tibs, which I HIGHLY recommend. Fanny was very sweet and made some great suggestions. If you're looking for a mom and pop type of restaurant, which you should because the food always tastes better... this is the place. They definitely have new regulars! read more

Unassuming from the outside, humble and homey on the inside. This place handles spices *perfectly* -- spicy with explosions of flavor and heat on your tongue, but not overpowering the rest of the food. And not the sort of spicy that will be rebelling against you for the rest of the night. Just. Completely. Perfect. Passed the kitfo test with flying colors, possibly even setting a new high water mark for the many Ethiopian places in the area that I've tried. Oh yeah, and it's really affordable too. Two of us ate like kings for $20 total, plus tip. Highly recommended! read more

ATMOSPHERE: A little intimidating. Truly. This place really feels like the family opened it for themselves and a few friends to have a place to watch soccer and drink beer all day. And while Im a fan of both of those activities, I really felt like I didnt belong and I was kinda intruding. The place is full of Ethiopian men and I am neither Ethiopian nor a man. BUT they were friendly and started chatting with me almost immediately. NOTE: They Dont Have A/C! So, its HOT. Really, Really Hot. But, I guess if you are from Ethiopia, you dont mind so much. But me? Im a big baby and it is a little difficult if it a really hot day. But spicy food and cold beer really helps with the heat! ;-) SERVICE: The one waiter guy is very nice and attentive in his own sort of way. He does not, however approach you and ASK if you need anything. IF you look like you need something he is right there. I dont mind the different approach at all. WHAT I'VE HAD TO EAT: The first time I went I had the veggie curry platter and a beer. OMG! So good! And its true, you dont actually get to choose which ones you get, if you want the platter, you get whatever they have that day. It was all SO good tho, so I was OK with that. The second time I had the lamb stew. Oh Wow. So Wow. Good. Really really good. Spicy and yummy and meaty. Good fatty bits of lamb that wasnt gamy at all. All in all I really love this place and wanna eat here all the time. Its super authentic, and unpretentious. And, you should ALWAYS get an Ethiopian beer with the dinner. SO good. Really. read more

Flavors are good, but one of the dishes was way salty. Ke wot is nice & spicy. I like the combination meals that they offer. The injera is a bit cold and dry here. Good if you're in the area. But ambiance is a bit lacking. read more

Lunch Box - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Amazing food! Great Tibs dish and excellent vegetable combo. Wonderful service and best Ethiopian food in the area.

Least expensive option in town.. veggie combo left something to be desired. I realized I'd prefer to pay $3 more elsewhere and get more than lentils only... cabbage, carrots salad? It mentions a salad on menu but none came with it. They're using dark teff for sure in injera so it's not as soft or sour, which is cool cuz its traditional. Service was fast and courteous. read more

I eat Ethiopian food about once a week or so since getting pregnant because it has become my favorite food. My husband brings it home for me for a special lunch since I work from home and cant leave much during the day. Today he brought this food home and I could barely eat it. I understand that when it is brought home, it will not be as warm as it would be in the place, but to have freezing cold food because it had been reheated was gross. We get the vegetarian platter from other Ethiopian Restaurants, like Gojo and Muday and it is always freshly made and yummy! Our Injera was really cold and tough. It wasn't tasty at all. Usually if something is too spicy, I just nibble on the bread mostly, but it had a foul taste to it. The potatoes and cabbage was FREEZING!! and the other food in the to go box was luke warm(expected) but super solid... I didn't really get to eat lunch today, which was a good thing because when my husband was finishing up, there was a grey hair in the bottom....YUCK!!!...and neither of us have any grey (like a mustache or beard) hair.... :/ I will stick to Gojos! I cant go wrong there!! read more

Best Ethiopian food I have ever had in my life! The owners are super nice and friendly, service is top notch! read more

never attempt again. I came in and nobody was there from staff to interact with. I stayed several minutes at the register until a man came out and gestured to me to have a seat. Then I stayed seated for another 12 minutes, during which another worker saw me and didn't acknowledge me, didn't offer a menu, and ignored me every time she entered and exited between dining area and kitchen. I looked at my clock and realized that I couldn't allow myself to be ignored anymore, so I left. read more

I bumped into this place on a whim while visiting the BMW shop nearby with a friend. I love this place and make the trek down the Peninsula at least once every two months. The owner and his family treat me like royalty, and the food is always the best of the various Ethiopian restaurants that I have visited from San Jose to Berkeley. The atmosphere makes me feel like I am a reporter in Mogadishu. They have a vegetarian platter as well as both beef and lamb. The injera is always very fresh and delivered in great quantities. Make sure you try the very good Ethiopian Beer. read more

After dining at each of San Jose's fine Ethiopian establishments I give The Lunch Box the Blue Ribbon. The portions are the largest, and they also have the best injera. Not sure what I wouldn't eat here. All the old dudes who hang in front are really friendly. They have a bunch of bottled Ethiopian beers from ale's to dark stouts that are awesome with different foods. read more

The restaurant looks right out of Africa from my travels there. This is the most authentic Ethiopian food I have had in the Bay Area. The ambiance is chill and the owner is utterly gracious. Lunch specials are the best deal and the neighborhood gets a bit sketchy at night. The place seems popular with San Jose's large Ethiopian community. read more

What a wonderful find. Where else does one get home cooked Ethiopian food? Your cook is your cashier and the owner of the restaurant. Friendly service. Minimal decor, but why would you expect anything more in this part of town? I like this place because it reminds me of all the mom and pop places I have loved. Food is delicious. Will come back for more. read more

This place is seriously really good and cozy. I felt at home and very comfortable here. We got the veggie combo and the beef dish and they were both delicious!! We didn't even come close to finishing. If you're in the area be sure to stop by and try this delicious food! :) read more

I've seen this place whenever I go to Just Laziz next door. One day when Just Laziz was closed, we decided to try it out. We ordered something common (maybe a veggie lentil and ye dora tibs or something). It wasn't busy, maybe two other tables, but the service was slow. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon with Ethiopian restaurants. After maybe a 20min wait, we got our food. The food was not bad, but I've never had bad Ethiopian food. Of those that I've had (maybe 4 other places), this was probably the least good. Everything were a little over seasoned, and the injera was dry. I would go again only if I'm craving Ethiopian food and too lazy to drive two miles to Zeni. read more

This place rocks. If you can actually find the place you will be in for a treat. This whole in the wall serves cheap excellent Ethiopian food in large quantities. If you have never had Ethiopian food before it has similarities to Indian or Moroccan food. The married couple that owns it literally cooks the food in a pan in a small little kitchen in the back that you can see. The food is very rich and flavorful and is served with Injera which is a pancake like(not sweet though) bread that is used to dip into food and eat with your hands. After reading review here I tried the place out and I have been back at least 7 times so far in the last two months. read more

Used to be my favorite spot to take friends to try Ethiopian food, but recently raised prices and served less food. Consistency of dishes was also an issue, sometimes injera or food would be cold and it wouldn't always taste the same. Not like I'm expecting it to be perfect every time, but I want my food to at least be tasty. Atmosphere is a little strange, but cool and cozy. Beer and coffee are a plus...but I don't come by anymore because of the prices and inconsistent deliciousness of my food. read more

I recommend the vegetarian combo platter! Portions are bigger than expected so it is more than enough for 2-3 people. Be prepared to eat with your hands! read more

My spouse and I think the Lunch Box has the best Kitfo in town. We like the chunkier kitfo with a little extra spice. We feel like we are eating in a run down restaurant in a 3rd world given the interior but the food is fantastic and the owner has always been good to us. read more

We enjoyed the food from the Lunch Box. The meat quality didn't quite seem as good as some of the other Ethiopian places around town, but the flavors certainly weren't lacking. It all seemed very homey to me. I really liked the injera here. read more

I live right down the block from this place, and it sure is a treat. I've had ethiopian from several different places, and of all of them this one is superb on all levels. The owner's very nice, and will go out of his way to make sure you enjoy your meal. read more

Little ambiance, but this place has heart, and what do you expect for dinner under $10? Seems authentic, cause when we were there we were the only non-Ethiopians. Food was pretty good to me, I had the fava bean stew called foal / fowl(?) My husband loved his dish, which was a spicy beef stew of some sort over a thick spongy bread, similar to a crepe. The owner was our server and was very friendly. read more

I have been a huge fan of this tiny, unassuming place since it opened, back in '02? I have enjoyed Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine for over 20 years, all over the globe, and the food here is the *best* I have ever had. My favorite dish is kitfo lebleb (steak tartar,) served with homemade cheese, peppers and spices. All of the vegetarian and meat dishes are delicious, and their injera (wide, round, unleavened sourdough teff bread) is consistently of superior quality. The owner, Ferede (call him "Fred") greets me with a big smile and a handshake, even if I haven't visited in many months (I live far away now, unfortunately.) Atmosphere: 1. Food: 11+!!!! read more

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in San Jose so far. Authentic home cooking, from what I can tell as a caucasian North-American, the quality of the food higher than expected for the reasonable price. I go here for the food, not the (lack of) decor. The injera is deliciously homemade and sourdough-tasting like it should be, though some folks will prefer less sour-tasting versions of injera found elsewhere. Likewise, some have commented that Lunch Box's flavoring style is bolder than some other Ethiopian restaurants, and I'd agree with that. For me, that's a plus, but I've read comments from people who thought that their seasoning was heavy-handed. So it's a question of taste. I love Lunch Box's collard greens. They have a smoky taste that I've never been able to define, and that I've not found at other Ethiopian restaurants yet. One reviewer thought it tasted like BBQ sauce had been added, and that it didn't belong. Maybe, but to me it's a signature vegetarian dish at this hole in the wall that other restaurants do not duplicate. Their coffee is excellent (and strong); they roast it on the premises. Forget Starbucks, stop here for your morning coffee! The menu is very short (beef, lamb and vegetarian, but no chicken or fish), and that's probably what keeps things fresh here. If you like your food spicy (would you be here if you didn't?), make sure to ask for hot sauce on the side when they serve your food. I didn't know about the house hot sauce the first year or so that I went here, and they don't advertise it. read more

I walked into Lunch Box and immediately felt very welcomed. It was a family setting, where the owner was quick to make me feel comfortable. The service was great and filled with laughter. The food was also great. The spices blended perfectly and created a great harmony of flavor. I also love the fact that this restaurant stays open late so that I can satisfy my late night appetite. I will definitely be a regular. I had an amazing overall dining experience! read more

Very simple menu, less than remarkable setting and decor, but without a doubt very delicious, very cheap, very friendly, very authentic, and well worth eating if you enjoy East African cuisine. Service is always good, it typically draws a small crowd of the local Ethiopian working community who congregate there and talk politics, watch sport, drink a few beers or some coffee, and, of course, eat. Good amount of vegetarian dishes as well which is traditional fare for Ethiopian Orthodox followers who do a good bit of fasting. read more

I really, really, really like this place. Really... You get good service, good conversation, and awesome Ethiopian food at a good price. Their vegetarian combo is enough to feed 2 people to satiety. My favorite dish is the stewed lentils. The spices are uniquely combined making it unlike anything I've ever had. The injera is good here as well. It's not as tart as some other places I've been to. I order extra so that I can freeze it. It microwaves nicely. read more

Food is good, they have meat dishes that are too die for! I would take it togo though place is a little depressing and dark. Also it is a little pricey, well compared to places in oakland it is, and the portions are perfect per person but not sharing. read more

Instead of going to Gojo my husband ended up at The Lunch Box to pick up our to go food. My husband was told his order was given to another couple waiting by a waiter who could barely string a few english words together. Waiter tossed a menu at him and my husband ordered the veggie combo and the lamb. A sleazy unwelcoming place with Ethopian men lounging in a few tables drinking beer and watching TV as he waited for the food. I couldn't help but wonder how yelpers had given this place such high ratings until i checked the receipt and compared the addresses - (GOJO - i still wait to taste your delights) We opened the 2 boxes to find the veggie combo. The bean paste thing tasted foul it had gone bad and so had the cabbage/carrot/ potato. I bit into and tasted the stink from vegetables gone to rot. Occasionally you wander into a restaurant and are bowled over by their food and service. Not the case here. THis place should be shut down by the health department. read more

Well I ordered some yebeg tips to go. It was pretty slow service, but based on the sounds coming from the kitchen it seemed to be because my food was being made fresh, so I didn't mind too much. The ambience is nothing to write home about. I did enjoy the Ethiopian programming on the big screen tv in the restaurant while waiting for myk food. And I"m not being sarcastic even though it sounds like it. The food was quite good. Not a whole lot of lamb, but a whole lot of injera and sauce. I shared it with some folks at work and they all liked it. What did strike me as odd was that on the menu the lamb tibs was 8.75, but the lady (presumably the owner) asked me for 10. I was in a bit of a hurry and figured that was just the tax, and paid her 10 and a buck tip and left. Now when I think about it it doesn't really add up, but whatever. I don't think I'd come here for a dine in experience - the chairs are like what you'd find in a dentist's lobby, and service not too warm. Decent for take out, but next time I"m gonna be more discerning about what they charg me. read more

Delicious food! Great local restaurant with friendly service. Perfectly cooked vegetarian meals although there were only about 6 vegetarian options. The injera was very good but I've had better. Overall, very tasty and I'd recommend. The prices were reasonable, about $9-$10 per dish. read more

I took a pilgrimage to all the other Ethiopian restaurants in the area and Lunch Box's kitfo is STILL the BEST. Next best IMO is the place on Business Circle, up the street. read more

I think this is my favorite place for dinner I have been to lots of places and I have to say I was impressed with the people and our server John he vas very quick read more

Definitely not the best Ethiopian in the area, by a long shot. Some of our dishes were oversalted, and while some had some intensity in the spices, there wasn't any complexity. I like that they have 3 kinds of Ethiopian beer, and the espresso was fantastic (+1.5 stars!), but I don't think I'll be back for food. There's better Ethiopian within 10 minutes (Mudai, Zeni) and several better holes-in-the-wall for different ethnic food within about 2 blocks. read more

My wife and I went there for lunch and were blown away by the food. I have eaten Ethiopian food in many places and have never had better. We had Kofti and a the vegetarian sampler, not only was it very well prepared, but the portions were extremely generous. One other thing I found really appealing about the totally unassuming place was that they were playing ethnic music, not some local pop stuff. The Lunch Box won't impress you with it's decor, but the food was really first rate. read more

This place is disgusting...Ive never had bad Ethiopian place besides this one. The 2 times i went they always tell me they don't have a certain item. Everything was cooked with garlic.......zeni or walia would be a much nicer choice. read more

Went there last night for dinner and got the veggie combo, LOVED it! The staff was friendly and helpful. I would highly recommend this restaurant!! read more

I live in Willow Glen/Campbell. A must try for the family and friends. The new owners are making remarkable changes dessert menus extra dishes and Bar. You will definitely enjoy this Loki very great personality and very good service with the food and explaining the dishes. Don't let other spoil this and try it yourself. read more

Great authentic food that is flavorful spicy and fragrant, and it appears to be more designed towards "get down and dirty" rather than being showy or fancy. Hence the presentation is simple, think the Ethiopian equivalent of taco food trucks. Compared to other Ethiopian places, the food here seemed more brothy and wholesome. read more