I always get the veggies here and absolutely LOVE them. I will keep coming back for the greens and lentils and injera!! I hear that the meat dishes are tasty to as my family orders every time I go. read more

I really liked this food. It was very ethnic, authentic, and healthy! It had a great flavor I will definitely go back to this place. read more

Manna Weenta - Lamb, potatoes, and lentil salad!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

I have eaten Ethiopian food in Atlanta and NYC several times and tried this place's food at the West Broad Farmer's market so I was looking forward to checking out the restaurant. The place is clean, minimally decorated and quiet. So quiet that I just hope enough people come here to allow them to keep it open. You order at the counter and they bring out your plate when it is ready. Drinks are also self serve like at a fast food restaurant. I have met the owner at the Market several times and she always was very out going and friendly but when i went to lunch today there was a young woman behind the counter who didn't interact with me at all except to take my order. You can get a plate with chicken and 2 vegetables for $9 or beef or lamb for $10 (for small portions, $12 or $12.50 for large) or you can get 3 vegetables for $7 for small $8.95 for large food was very tasty but not very spicy. I was expecting much hotter food as i have had elsewhere. Selection is limited but Tues and Wednesday they have a couple of additional items. The 3 "Wot" dishes are hotter but the red lentil wot was still very mild to my taste. I wonder if they have toned it down for American tastes? Anyway there is nothing like this in Georgia outside of Atlanta. Eat the stews with pieces of Injera a soft spongy and slightly sour bread which is traditional or you can get a side of rice. I'll go back when I want a change from the usual read more

Every time I eat here I tell myself to not wait so long between visits. Great food at a great price. Yeah it is a strip mall restaurant, walk up counter, quick service, plastic table cloth, self serve beverage and limited dine in area restaurant. BUT the food is great! The staff are awesome! read more

Manna Weenta is the hole-in-the-wall that you've been looking for. They are very generous with their portions, so go when you're hungry! The menu does have a bit of a learning curve, but the friendly staff will point you in the right direction. As it happens, you can't really go wrong here. read more

They were out of many dishes the day we went, so we were limited in what we could order. We had the spicy beef dish, veggies, lentils and okra. The food was good. Service was average, maybe because we were there at an off time, mid-afternoon on Saturday. read more

Really good and a very peaceful and content atmosphere. The "cashier" is nice. Very good.

If you're seriously hungry and want an inexpensive, delicious meal, check this place out. The five of us tried the lamb and beef specials, as well as the vegetable plate, and we were well satisfied. Be sure to check on spice levels of what you order, as some of it is spicy. Healthy, hearty food and delightful family owners. read more

It's hard to find this place because it is in the corner of the shopping center, but well worth the effort. The injera is delicious and even a "small" plate allows you to try three different items. read more

I'd never had Ethiopian or African food before, but based on the great Yelp reviews, I had to try it. I've been twice now, trying different menu items, and both times the food and service were excellent. Some of the dishes are very spicy, but not in a hot way......just very flavorable. I will go back this week for sure. The owner/cook is very nice and she will allow you to sample before ordering. read more

The restaurant smells delicious as soon as you open the door!The owner was super nice and helpful with my food allergies. She was quite accommodating to my gluten issues. The chicken curry and mixed vegetable were delicious. I did ask for some hot sauce, and when they brought it out they warned me to be careful. They were correct! A little of their hot sauce/paste was very spicy... but it was so good. Can't wait to eat here again and try something new on the menu. read more

Very pleasant cashier who took the time to explain everything. Delicious meal and even though I am not a injeri-lover everything was tasty especially the red lentils. read more

Manna Weenta - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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Not to mimic the only other reviewer so far, but I am so excited that there is finally Ethiopian fare in Athens. The owner, Hergu, and her staff are SO great and the food is right on the money. SO GOOD. I had the lamb tibs and I can't wait to go back and have them again and again. read more

Athens' only Ethiopian spot, and the food is great. The spicy chicken with a hardboiled egg is delicious and actually spicy. The lentils are amazing. The service can be slow, and they should just put the menu on a big chalkboard because some dishes are not available. read more

This is my first time trying Ethiopian food and it was fantastic! The flavor of both dishes we tried were great. Definitely will be back!

Had the most delicious vegan meal today. The food is outstanding and I love how passionate the owners are about their restaurant. I loved the collards and the spicy red lentils were so tasty. Wednesdays, they specialize in vegetarian cuisine so don't miss it! Can't wait to introduce friends to this gem of a restaurant read more

Manna Weenta - Vegetarian plate! - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Been to alot of different Ethiopian restaurants. It was great to hear that Athens has one now. Went for dinner yesterday. The place does not look fancy hence the price list. Loved the place. Wished all places looked like this and food would taste great. We had the Doro Wat, Yebeg Alitcha, salad and sides. All the food was excellent. The chicken was cooked so good, it fell right off the bone. The lamb was cooked well and not chewy. Will be going back on regular base. Will introduce people to it too. Only bad thing was the Injera was cold and it needed to be hot. read more

Ethiopian food in Athens is overdue, and I'm excited to see it - even more so to see it almost within spitting distance of my house on the east side. The proprietors are friendly people who will tell you anything you want to know about their dishes. It seems clear that they are first-time restauranteurs, as not everything here runs all that smoothly; sometimes they come to your table for traditional service, and other times it seems expected of you to order and pay at the counter. Not a big deal, but they will hopefully figure out the best way to run things down the road. There are also few menus on hand and no carry-out menus you can take home with you. Fortunately, the one thing that I really care about in a restaurant - the food - is worth the price of admission and then some. This is quality Ethiopian fare, with very good injera (I had some recently in Atlanta that was a sore disappointment) and a subtle twist on several of the standard dishes. I particularly liked the mixed vegetables - besides the normal potatoes, carrots and cabbage, there was a whisper of an unusual seasoning that one of the owners happily informed me was cinnamon. Everything I've had at Manna Weenta has been at least as good as your typical Ethiopian place, and a couple of things were better. If you've never had Ethiopian food, this is a good place to experiment with it, as the food is great, the owners are friendly, and the prices are exceptionally reasonable (e.g. a small dinner is $10 for meat, two sides, and bread - and you'll definitely be full when you reach the end of all that). And if you have had Ethiopian before, I recommend it for all the same reasons. Let's keep this place in business, Athens; east side needs more good and unusual restaurants, and the city in general needs more food that isn't pizza or BBQ (much as I love those things). Manna Weenta should be able to join other distinctive local establishments like Kelly's Jamaican and Cali 'n Tito's as must-visit joints in Athens. read more

Best restaurant in Athens. Absolutely love this place. Great portions, great prices, great everything.

The food was excellent as well as the service. I've had Ethiopian 5 times before and this was definitely the best as well as cheapest. I can't wait to return read more

Fresh and flavorful as can be. Rivals the Ethiopian food Adams Morgan in DC. Wonderful service.

YES!! Finally an Ethiopian restaurant in Athens! I have been craving Ethiopian food ever since leaving DC. I know that some people hate injera bread because of its texture, but I absolutely love it. The restaurant was tiny, but very tidy. The owner was there and was a delight to speak to. The food was solidly good. I've already been telling my friends about this place. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in Athens. read more

I love this place. It's cozy and comfortable, and the employees are pleasant and personable. The food is really good, and you get a lot of it! I've only ever gotten the small plate, and I've never finished the whole thing. I also love that you get to pick three different things to make up your meal. It's great for trying different things. Very vegetarian/vegan friendly. Would recommend! read more

I love that there is finally an Ethiopian/ Eritrean restaurant in Athens. Family run business with family packed taste! They have all the traditional wot dishes, meat and vegetarian options for a great price. Ranges from $7-$10. BOTTOM LINE; I highly recommend it for all people. read more

If you enjoy deep, layered, developed flavors in your food, then do yourself a favor and visit this Athens gem ASAP. I'm not a vegetarian, but I could be swayed by the deliciousness we had there. So good! The meat lovers in our group tried beef and lamb dishes as well and couldn't praise them enough. One friend said she hadn't had such perfectly cooked lamb since going to her Nigerian grandmother's house. read more

Great food! Local mom & pop that you will want to frequent! Huge portions and great value! Tell them Mama Bird sent you!

Oh man! Where do I start. The food was excellent. Before you even get to the door you can smell the food from the parking lot. The lentil soup was absolutely wonderful as well as the curried mixed vegetables and the stewed okra. The injida bread is a bit of an aquired taste and most definitely something I must get used to only comparable in taste to sourdough bread but flat and very moist. Overall I had a wonderful experience the staff is very nice and the food was cooked over a prolonged period of time making it more like a home cooked meal rather than out to eat. I always say little family owened restaurants are my favorite. read more

I love this place. A hole in the wall atmosphere with great food!!!! Highly recommend it!!

This is food that -- if you're not careful -- will have you waddling to your car after your meal. You will probably eat too much of it, since it is devastatingly delicious and wholesome and the portions are incredibly generous. So maybe skip lunch altogether and visit for dinner. And whatever you choose, don't miss out on the delightful injera -- as fun to eat as it is scrumptious: the perfect way to eat perfectly seasoned lentils and okra and potatoes and tomatoes and greens and peppers. I'm vegetarian, so I can only speak to the vegetarian options on the menu, of which there are plenty. This place is veggie nirvana. Before Manna Weenta opened a couple years ago, I'd long dreamed of having an East-African restaurant in town. I am so happy it turned out to be this one. If you're not already on the Eastside, it's worth the trip all by itself. If you are on the Eastside, I'm jealous of your proximity. read more

Finally able to try this place after coming back to Athens for Thanksgiving and it does not disappoint! Haregu was so helpful and nice for my family and friends and every single dish we tried was on point. The shiro, kitfo, tibs, gomen were all perfectly seasoned and spiced. Great to have Eritrean/Ethiopian cuisine in Athens and a definite must to try! read more

Wow. Have been meaning to try this for months and finally stopped in today. Staff was extremely friendly and you can tell it's home cooking. Will definitely be back soon read more

My friends and I have been loving this place. Can't help but keep coming back great authentic Ethiopian food.

I love the food here! There is a range of chicken, beef, fish, lamb, and veggie dishes. The air is aromatic and the tastes are as unique as they are delicious!!! I will be back!!! read more

Not only is the food fantastic, but the family that owns this place is so lovely. I absolutely adore them and am so happy to support this business. I have now tried 3 of the meat dishes and 6 of the veggie dishes and they were all yummm. Spread the word about this place!! Athens is lucky to have such delicious Ethiopian food!!! read more

I can't afford to travel to East Africa, but thankfully Manna Weenta has made it to Athens. My second trip there tonight brought oohs and ahhs from both of us. I enjoyed the large plate of seasoned ground beef, okra, collards, homemade cheese, and fermented lentil bread. I don't have the menu with me for the dishes' proper names. Suffice it to say, it was awesome and worth the $12.50. Enjoy! read more

A small restaurant tucked in a strip mall and it's nothing special too look out. We went on a Saturday for lunch and there was one woman who was both taking orders and cooking the food. However the predicted 10 minutes to cook our meat was accurate and the food was delicious. Just plan to go with the flow and don't be on a schedule. The food is worth it. read more

I ate here last night....been violently sick since 6am and continue to feel awful. I do not recommend this place for anyone. I had the spicy beef with sides and it is truly one of the worst decisions I've made in my life. I feel like I am in hell right now. read more

Great food and atmosphere! They give you a lot of food so be sure you come in hungry! Staff is friendly and personable. I'll be back again soon! read more

My taste buds are tingling and alive with delight. The warm spices scented the air with immediate anticipation of deliciousness. I was not dissapointed. Warning there are two sizes if "plates" one is called small and one large, perhaps renaming is in order, I suggest regular and giant. read more

I love this restaurant, the food there is amazing. I went before in the late afternoon, it was great. This time I ordered online for pickup, 45 minutes before closing, but when I got there (30 before) the place was shut down. I'm not going to rate low because the food is good and I had good service last time. I would just suggest that you come in well before closing, like an hour+. I'm definitely going to in the future. read more