What can you say? Ethiopian and Eritrean food is the best in African soul food. Anything called Wat is a rich stew. The okra is the best as are any kind of lintels. Make sure you get it all served on injera which is a spongy slightly sour flat bread that serves as plate an utensils. You can get rice instead, but your missing out! read more

Hidden gem on the Eastside. Love this place. Yellow lentils are always excellent. It's small and unassuming but the food won't disappoint

Injera, shiro, gomen, doro wat! You haven't tried anything until you try a few of these savory offerings from one of Athens' newest and most welcome additions to the restaurant scene. Haregu (actually from Eritrea, Ethiopia's neighbor) had a dream that she was supposed to run a restaurant. After serving food at the farmer's market on Broad Street for about a year the opportunity came to open her own restaurant near Kroger and Publix on Barnett Shoals Road (just north of College Station Road--left at the end and about 1/2 mile on the right, near Omni fitness). Her husband, Ron, originally from Chicago and her daughter, Winta, a delightful fourteen year old both help out in what can only be described as a family business in the classic sense of the word. The food uses a sensational blend of spices and herbs, many of which are unique to Ethiopia, and while some dishes are spicy (though nothing radical to spice lovers), others are simply savory. A wide variety of beans, peas and vegetables are cooked into stew like dishes while beef, chicken, fish and goat are cooked into dishes somewhat like curries or stews but distinct from either. This cuisine has become so popular in Atlanta that there are now more than thirty such restaurants. Mount yourself lucky that Athens has now been fortunate enough to attract such an offering. Do yourself a favor and pay them a visit but be sure to be patient as they explain the dishes to you and to others. Your patience will no doubt be rewarded. read more

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Finally went here after years of wanting to and it was good. It was much more expensive than I expected ($17 for tibs with meat and 2 sides). The meat was a let down but the sides were great. I wish it was cheaper and had better meat like I've had at other Ethiopian places. It's locally owned and the service was great. 3.5/5 stars read more

It's neat to have an Ethiopian restaurant in Athens. And, surprisingly, they're not really americanizing everything. I had a combination of a beef dish, a mixed veggie dish, and a split pea dish. All three were tasty. The prices aren't cheap for lunch but they aren't outrageous either. And a small should be enough for most people--I ordered a large, which proved to be too much food for one sitting. I'll certainly look forward to coming again. read more

Manna Weenta - Lunch (large) combo. - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

est Ethiopian food I've had in the south! Tucked away in the corner of a shopping center on East side of Athens, this place is a must visit. We have lived in NYC where there is some competition f Ethiopian, but Manna Weenta is right up there with the best. Great prices, staff, and experience! Go here now :) read more

This is a nice little place located on the east side of Athens at a strip mall. The two of us ordered a small vegetarian plate and large chicken plate with Injera for takeout. The lady who took my order over the phone was very helpful, and they could not have been sweeter at the front counter when I came for pick up. The Injera is simply the best. My vegetarian plate with 3 veggies (spicy okra, lentils, collards) was fine but not as great in flavor as I expected. Husband enjoyed his curry chicken. The small order was just right for me, and the large order was just right for the man. Fair prices. We'd go back. read more

Manna Weenta - Comfort food! The injera is where it's at, fluffy and authentic. - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I love Ethiopian food and this place was very good. I ordered the lamb dish and it was excellent. I will be traveling here once a week.

This is a hidden treasure on the east side of Athens. Authentic Ethiopian cuisine, created by a local chef. It's a small hole in the wall in a strip mall but don't be deceived, the food is very tasty. read more

Great Ethiopian food and great staff. If you're looking for authentically delish Ethiopian food you've got to try this place!

Unimpressed. Average food and slow, slow service. Food: 2/5 Have had some good Ethiopian meals before, but found the food here was uninspired, minimally flavorful, (other than jalapeño heat), and vegetables were cooked until they were mushy. Choice of rice or injera bread. Cubed meats are not always tender. Vegetarian and vegan plates available. Soup is available but may not arrive until u have finished your plate dinner. Service: 2-3/5 Orders taken at the counter then brought to your table. Server seemed friendly but food was very slow to arrive even though the place was practically empty when our group arrived. Hot tea was not available, and left us wishing for the aromatic hot tea enjoyed in other Ethiopian restaurants in other parts of the country. Facility: 3/5 Small restaurant. . Seemed clean. Wasn't noisy while we were there, but also there were few customers, so . . not sure what it's like with a crowd. Mostly tables for 4. Location : 5:5 Conveniently located in a small strip mall on a busy street, so . . plenty of parking. Summary: It's nice to have diversity in types of foods available around town, but we will probably go to a larger city to seek out a better choice next time we want Ethiopian food. read more

Best, authentic Ethiopian cuisine! Great service. Fresh food. A place local Athenians know and love.

Really great experience here. The wide variety of vegan options got our attention and it didn't disappoint. Staff was extremely friendly and great at explaining the options. This was my first time eating Ethiopian and you can tell the staff was proud of their food. Will come back again soon. read more

This food is INCREDIBLE. Lentils are truly unmatched. Injera tastes like a sourdough pancake. These people KNOW their spices. read more

Manna Weenta - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Everyone talks about this place so I had to try and I was definitely not disappointed! The staff is very friendly, it's really nice to see a business take covid seriously and I'll definitely be back for some more delicious food! read more

Walking into Mannaweenta feels like a warm hug. The food is delicious, and while you're waiting, visit the side room with decorations from Eritrea. The food is delicious. I recommend the Aterkilt Alitcha and the Ater Alitcha as sides for a lamb dish. I also like to order extra injera because it is so good. read more

I was introduced to this place by a friend and I was surprised at how a restaurant like this slipped past me. It's located in a small shopping mall on Eastside but was worth the drive. I ordered the small meat plate with injera and okra & lentils and it was very tasty but not too spicy. It was a very natural spiciness and every side had its own unique flavors. The portions were very sizeable for the price and greatly filled me up. Overall, I would HIGHLY advise this food for both its overall tastiness and to support a small business. The owner is very kind and very much worth a visit if in town. read more

Well worth a trip to the east side of Athens. It is unlike any other cuisine offered in athens, with unique flavors and friendly service.

A gem in a non descript strip center. Fairly authentic, good menu, good prices and very tasty. Yebeg Alitcha Lamb, Kei Wot Beef, Yemisser Wot (Vegan), and Gomen Wot (Vegan) are favorites. Doro Wot Chicken is a hit too. Ethiopian Spiced Tea or coffee a must. read more

The food is delicious and portion is a good size. But the service is very slow, especially at lunch time. There is usually 1 or 2 people to get orders, prep, cook. Even though most of the dishes are ready, it still can take a good 30min to be served during busy hours (and by busy I mean 3 additional tables). I do love their food, but it is not ideal during your lunch break. read more

Love to come here. The staff are so nice. The food is exotic and flavorful. I like the injera. It's messy to eat traditionally, because you are supposed to mix everything up on a piece of injera and eat it with your hands, but it's really good. If you didn't know they were there, you may never find it. read more

I am vegan, and I loved this place! I had the the vegetable plate with ater alitcha, atakilt alitcha, and the yemsir salad. They were all delicious! I especially liked the atakilt alitcha, which was fresh vegetables in a curry sauce. The breadlike stuff that comes with everything, the injera, is very porous and fluffy. You eat everything with your hands. It's very easy to find parking, since it's in a strip mall, and it's open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. read more

Oh my heavens. This is delicious. I've eaten here multiple times and all the vegetarian meals are incredible. A few recommendations: ater alitcha, lentil soup, and the coffee. read more

This little hole in the wall is a treasure! The food is delicious with some flavors that I was obviously unaccustomed to but which still felt very familiar and comfortable. They have a lot of excellent vegan options, and the owners are wonderful and interesting and warm. The restaurant was clean and decorated with presumably Ethiopian art and crafts. I am very much looking forward to becoming a regular. I cannot recommend this place enough. If you haven't dined here yet, I suggest jumping on the ball, because after you've eaten here, you'll be kicking yourself for so much time wasted not eating here. read more

While completely unassuming, tucked away in a shopping center with Aldi, don't let that fool you. This place is warm, welcoming, and clean. The people are wonderfully upbeat and super helpful navigating around the menu. Granted, I couldn't pronounce a single phrase except Spiced Tea (delicious, btw). The food.... I went traditional and used injera (a type of bread) and got the amazing experience of eating with my hands. The food was absolutely delicious. The spices were so different, yet so stunningly amazing. I HIGHLY recommend this lovely establishment if you're looking for a break from the mundane. read more

Went here for the first time yesterday and will be back again very soon. Do not expect to get your food quickly just because they have some prepared food at the counter mostly the vegetarian dishes. Some of the meat dishes need to be cooked but they are well worth the wait. Prices are great a small plate of food is only $7! The young lady behind the counter is very friendly and will guide you through the menu if it is your first time experiencing Ethiopian food. Exciting to have a place like this in Athens! read more

When I was growing up in Athens back in the '70s and '80s, exotic "ethnic" cuisine was a single Chinese-American restaurant whose food, in retrospect, was about as authentic and fresh-tasting as a "Chun King" frozen entrée. (There was also a Tex-Mex restaurant that leaned hard on the "Tex." Think "Taco Burgers.") Obviously, one of the ways in which the United States has changed significantly for the better in the intervening years is in dining options, even in small-ish cities like Athens. This town has exponentially better and more varied food than it did 30 years ago. I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure this is the first-ever Ethiopian restaurant in Athens, and it's another great addition. I'm a relative newcomer to this food myself--first had it only 8 or 9 years ago--but have had enough of it to see that Manna Weenta does a couple of things differently from most other Ethiopian spots: Whereas most Ethiopian dining is a communal affair, with everybody at the table eating from the same giant plate set in the center of the table, this restaurant has individual plates. They come in regular and large--which is indeed VERY large--that you order with either a meat and two veggies, or a three veggies. All come with injera, the spongy, sourdough flatbread. Also, although some of the veggies on offer seem to be served pre-prepared from a buffet table, they didn't suffer too much from this treatment, although the yessimir wat (red lentils) seemed somewhat dry. Beg tibs (a pretty common lamb sautee on Ethiopian menus) was terrific here: Very tender, succulent bits of lamb, seasoned fragrantly with rosemary and ginger, which in my (limited) experience is unusual. The owner was very warm, welcoming, and helpful. No alcohol. That's not a plus, because both beer and wine go well with Ethiopian food. read more

I have been here three or 4 times . The food is really good. The service is very nice , feels like home. Today I tried a lamb dish served with 2 vegetables. They selection is very nice From spicy to not spicy. I think every one should try this place out. I am not comfortable speaking the names So I recommend you try all of it! How's that! I had hot tea with my meal , which was spiced with cardamom perhaps. I like to see people trying food from other cultures. I just love food period , but Mannaweenta Is a cozy change . read more

How can you not love this restaurant? A beautiful owner with a heart of gold. I met her, first, at the West Broad Farmers Market. And now, she has transformed her stand into a spectacular little restaurant! The food is so delicious, and what a variety! It is exactly what I need whenever I want to satisfy my Eritrean/Ethiopian craving. My meal was a tasteful combination of the injera and doro wot. Flavorful, bite after bite. Somehow, the meal transported me into Ethiopia for just this one moment. If you have a little extra time, try the coffee. Ethiopians are known for their coffee, where the entire community of women gather to roast coffee beans. It's a perfect end to a perfectly delightful meal. Visit this restaurant, you will not be disappointed! :) read more

We very recently had our first Ethiopian experience in DC. We were skeptical if this would be as good. Not disappointed! It was awesome. Sweetest people! Definitely will be back! read more

Manna Weenta - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

It's always good and SO filling. The family that runs this place is always so kind and helpful.

Excellent choice! Just arrived to Athens for the night and we were searching for a delicious spot for dinner - family of 7 with 2 of our kids vegetarians. This was a perfect choice. The owners daughter was our server, she described all the dishes and made recommendations. We ordered the lamb dish with Acura and red lentils - so spicy and flavorful. The kids had beef and vegetarian plates and everyone enjoyed their meal. All that, under $50! We would love to visit again. read more

Such a precious find in Athens! I think this might be the only Ethiopian restaurant in Athens. The food tastes awesome and you can tell that it is home cooked. Their food isn't too spicy either. My personal favorites are the okra, lamb curry, and the lentils which have a slightly sweet twist to them. The meat is always tender. The injera has an incredible taste, do not be afraid to try it! Sometimes if you get there a little later in the day they run out of some items. Nonetheless, the serving sizes are quite large and you will leave feeling very satisfied. Everyone who works there is also very friendly and obviously very knowledgeable about the food. Very clean too! read more

The food here is absolutely delicious. I always pick up enough for leftovers! Go to items - the spicy beef, greens and okra! read more

Best vegan food ever!!!! And it's great because it's not processed and incorporates properties of a Whole Food Plant Based Diet! I order to go here several times a week. Just a note of warning so you can plan your time accordingly, the service can be a little slow compared to other restaurants. I don't mind because I know they are making my food fresh and always are so kind and peaceful. It reminds me to slow down and stop rushing through life. I can't get enough of this place. read more

I love this restaurant! I always find myself craving it (especially on Sunday when it's closed). There are so many options here and the food is very authentic. About half of the menu is vegan and the staff is very helpful when helping you decide. Their portions are awesome, a lot of food for a decent price. The owner is a sweet lady and will explain each dish for you if you have any questions. I definitely recommend Mannaweenta! read more

This injera was amazing especially the fresh ones. This was our first Ethiopian restaurant and we're satisfied. A small plate was actually a large plate. There were big portions. Wow. Service was amazing and definitely recommend. If you want to learn more and eat more Ethiopian food, come here. Shoutout to the cashiers for the great recommendations. We ordered the Yebeg Alitcha and it was fantastic. read more

A local gem in Athens! Delicious food that tastes homemade and great prices and staff. This is some of the best Ethiopian food I've had between Los Angeles (little ethiopia) and the South. Will definitely be back! read more

so delicious. stopped by with my boyfriend one night during a game day weekend and wanted to get away from the crowds. we shared a large portion and it was enough for both of us (i do think most people would want maybe another side, as we basically licked our plate). authentic and delicious. not a gorgeous restaurant but you'll be too busy stuffing your face with inexpensive but flavorful food. read more

We finally made the time to try Manna Weenta and we are impressed! Everything is very savory and delicious, and the service is excellent. People in Athens need to check it out and experience something really different! The kei wot is wonderful and not too spicy. All of the vegetables are really tasty and seasoned to perfection. We will definitely return! read more