Excellent food, great service, nice atmosphere and reasonable price. What more could you ask for in a restaurant? read more

My friend had Ethiopian food on her bucket list, so we decided to treat her for her birthday. I've always been a fan of Ethiopian food. We ordered a sample platter and added in a meat dish. I don't really remember, as I forgot to write this review after we went and now it's been a month of so. I really enjoyed the meat dishes. The staff was really nice and we asked if what we ordered would be enough for us to share and she let us know that we should def add on. It ended up being the perfect amount. read more

Trying Ethiopian food has been on my bucketlist for a long time now, and my friends decided to treat me to some for my birthday! So after a camping trip, we came here for dinner around 6:30pm. Street parking is free after 6pm, and we found parking not far from the restaurant. We were seated immediately and the staff were super friendly. We ordered: - Meat Sambusa (5/5 stars): very much like a samosa but with different spices! Delicious, and has a kick to it. The sauce on top was delicious! - Meat Combination(4/5 stars]: the lamb was my favorite. I love lamb and well spiced food. If I came back, id probably just get the lamb, I found the other meats a bit underwhelming, but if you don't love lamb, I'd avoid it because lamb does have a very strong taste. - Vegetarian Combination(3/5): the vegetarian combo plate was unfortunately underwhelming for me, the only one I really enjoyed was the spiced cabbage. The center salad is delicious though, and offers a great palate cleanser in-between the different dishes. Overall, this was a great experience. I do prefer eating with my hands, so ethiopian food encourages a method of eating that I enjoy. The staff was friendly, the service was quick. Since it's my first time having Ethiopian food, I don't have any prior experience to compare it to, so I'm not actually sure if this is good or bad Ethiopian food. In the future, I do plan on trying other Ethiipian restaurants, for now, I'll rate it as 4/5! read more

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We went to Messob for lunch for the first time on Mother's Day and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves. The food was delicious and the service was warm and inviting. Would definitely recommend. read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

The food is excellent! I drive from Antioch when I have a craving since it's the closet one! (Yes I'm serious about my Ethiopian food). The woman at the front is always so sweet! It's my go-to now. Parking is a bit challenging but I usually just call it in, drive up and double park somewhere for just 5 min to go in and pick it up. I always get the Veggie Combo with injera. And they always include an extra portion of injera on the side. The spices and flavors they put into the food are healing to my soul! The dishes are always superbly- made and beautifully plated. It's very clean! Also if you pay attention - you'll taste the most amazing ingredient ....LOVE. Thanks Messob! P.s. re: next-day leftovers: the injera bread appears to harden in the fridge. But I promise you it reheats and regains its beautiful, tender soft texture easily in a gently oiled pan with a little water steam. bonus: it develops the most delightful slight crisp. Like a crepe. I save mine and make it last. Making the injera last in the fridge is worth it. It reheats well and goes with many things. Tummy friendly too. read more

my favorite ethiopian restaurant!! i come here every chance i get, for quality food, kind service, and overall homely vibes. it's a small restaurant and the same familiar faces each time. i highly recommend the sambusas. then are so hot and flakey, and the green sauce pairs perfectly either way it. you can't go wrong with the meat or veggie. i also share the veggie combo with another and it is more than enough food for a meal. messob is so close to my heart. read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - samba - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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A friend of mine recommended this place and I've been back 3 times in the last 2 months! The lady in the front is incredible and the environment she creates makes me feel Im eating out of her kitchen. I had the meat combination and it was delicious! I was pretty hungry so I wouldn't recommend that specific plate if you had some snacks prior to eating. The bread is amazing and the seasoning in the food makes everything so flavorful. Price is decent for what it is. If I'm in the area again I won't doubt to come back here! read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat Combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Our family loves Ethiopian food and we're excited to try Messob on Piedmont. A few patrons decorated the restaurant enjoying conversation and their meals. From the Ethiopian spiced tea to alicha to injera we enjoyed everything. There were no leftovers, thanks to our refills on the injera basket. Flavors were authentic - not at all subdued to please the American palette, which we fully appreciated. read more

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Very underwhelmed. Nice atmosphere, but the food left a huge amount to be desired. Had the Sega Wot (beef) and Beg Alicha (lamb). Lot of sauce, very little meat. Will never go again. read more

Small family restaurant, fresh food, fast service, and delicious. We ordered 3 items and the Zambia's appetizer and finished it all with a second serving of injera. They also have a few tables outside for outdoor eating. read more

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Found this little place by accident Very nice smiling service Good food - they gave me the amazing red sauce once i asked for it Lots of veggie options as predicted The place could have used nice music and could be a bit better decorated but it is perfect when you want a good solid lunch! read more

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Overall, this restaurant is fantastic!!! If you're looking for exceptional food, warm hospitality, and an atmosphere that makes you want to linger a little longer, this is the place. Highly recommend--you'll want to come back again and again! Abi read more

Wow! I have no words...the food was great the service is amazing. The price is so reasonable.

The food is so good I keep going back. The owner is so nice and very kind. Also the place so clean. I Highly recommended. read more

ordered for delivery a dish gluten free with gluten free injara. they sent the lamb wrapped in non gluten free bread, rendering it inedible. Only got a partial refund from Doordash. The restaurant wouldn't give a refund because it was doordash. You'd think the restaurant would be smart and not mess with people's health. read more

My wife and I love Ethiopian food and with the help of Yelp found Messob. We needed a quick and delicious lunch because we were on the way to a matinee at the Berkeley Reparatory. We enjoyed two orders of the Vegetarian Messob with the injera. We ordered an extra side of injera to finish all the wonderful food. My wife had the spiced tea which complimented the food. The service was attentive and great! The restaurant is petite with a few tables. We'll definitely be back :) read more

Ordered the vegetarian combo with everything! Portion size was amazing to share for two people. We left quite full and very happy. We also split an order of the sambussa - they were super kind to let us do 2 veggie and 1 meat. Superb customer service and very accommodating. My friend the meat eater (as she's known in these parts) also ordered the Alicha Firfir. She's Ethiopian and said in total it was the probably the best Ethiopian food she's had in a US restaurant. Quite the praise so definitely check it out! Everything from the apps to the entrees to the coffee was really delicious. read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combination with Buticha and Mushroom - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

We stumbled into Messob off the street -- we originally wanted to go to another restaurant in the area, but they had a long wait on a Friday night so we had to look elsewhere. This turned out to be our good luck: this was the best meal we've had in ages. We started with the vegetarian sambusas, which we loved (especially with the green sauce that comes on the side). For our main course, we got the Kitfo and the vegetarian combo, both of which were great. The food was a little spicy for me, but in a good way. Everything came out nice and warm, and the flavors were really savory and delicious. The staff was super nice, and we had an excellent time. We'll definitely be back...on purpose, next time. read more

Food was very good. We also had the tej. The honey wine was very sweet. I highly recommend vegetarian dishes when eating Ethiopian food. Service was good. Ambiance is a small restaurant with an outdoor area. I would eat here again. read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Beg Tibs Vegetarian Combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Friendly and consistent service. We order for pickup and take out on a regular basis and are never disappointed. The restaurant is on the smaller size but it is never too crowded in there. Great place for little ones, they are always very kind and patient with our daughter. We usually get the veggie combo (my fav, so flavorful) but have tried some chicken and lamb dishes that were great. They are also generous with the injera which our little one loves! read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie combo (to go order) - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

The food was amazing and full of flavor, and the service was excellent. The staff were very friendly and welcoming, and everything came out quickly. Great atmosphere too! I'll definitely be coming back. read more

This restaurant serves delicious Ethiopian food, and the hospitality is so comfortable, too .

Outstanding customer service where anyone feels at home. The assortment of dishes ensure there is always some choice for a customer. I highly recommend this place! read more

I love Messob enough to get it twice in a row for dinner, once with a vegetarian platter with buticha and mushroom wot, the other time with a mixed vegetable and meat platter. My favorite of all the options served was definitely the buticha for the spices and creamy texture that goes well with the injera. There is such good value and it was enough to share between 2-3 people. The tej or honey wine was also a nice plus, kind of like mead with some more carbonation. The vegetarian sambussa was perfectly fried and crispy with a spicy sauce. read more

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Food was too good for photos! It came hot and smelled so good. The injera bread was perfect. I ordered the vegetarian combination with buticha and mushrooms. I think the only thing that I should have asked was to make it spicy! It was hella good. read more

I think my ancestors are from Ethiopian cause this food spoke to my SOUL! I don't have the DNA proof to show it but my taste buds a firmly on board with the idea. Now if you know anything about Ethiopian, you know it all starts with injera. It is what you eat with and lines you plate (we WILL come back to the plate lining ) My previous experience with the cultural cuisine had me thinking I hated it because the bread was SO sour you could not taste to food Messob's is perfection. Sour enough to bring real character to the party but knows how to showcase all the amazing flavors on offer. Now that plate lining. If you get your own platter (which I advise for a happy marriage ) you get all the spoils. After you eat your food you will have a piece of injera soaked in the nectar of the gods!!! EAT IT and be blessed with a happy stomach! read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Combination with mushroom Wot & Doro Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Fish babaganoush and Kitfo is definitely worth coming back for! The fish was such a great crispy texture and amazing flavors for all dishes ordered Don't sleep on the honey wine read more

Went here last week and was blown away! Really solid Ethiopian food and a lovely atmosphere. The staff was helpful and friendly even when it got busy. Would certainly come here again! read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Sambussa - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

I've only had takeout experiences here. I enjoy the veggie combo plate here - the variations/options of ordering the plate is a little confusing at first. But basically you can add more of what you like to the plate for a fee. The veggie combo is good and flavorful. They cook with canola oil they say and that's a little bit of a turn off for me. But I don't eat here all the time so it's ok. The injera is good - usually fresh tasting. My favorite is the buticha- it's so good, I can't get enough of it... literally. Every time I ask for more or extra it seems to still just be a spoonful of deliciousness! Anywho - I'm looking forward to maybe dining in one day if they offer it again. But I've tried a lot of veggie combos in the area and this one stands out. Try them and enjoy the buticha. read more

YUM. Doesn't look like much - bit of a hole in the wall tucked in a corner of Piedmont Avenue - but the food is great. Customer Service is warm and welcoming. And we've never had a bad dish. We tend to go with the veggie platter; it's a huge plate of food, enough for 3-4 people depending on your appetite. (full disclosure: we've nearly eaten the whole thing just the two of us on a few occasions, don't tell anyone.) We never feel rushed and there's always a place to sit. Reasonably priced and a great lunch or dinner option if you're in Oakland. Support small businesses :)) read more

Amazing food and the sweetest hospitality! This place is a real gem. Had the Vegetarian Combination with Buticha and Mushroom and it did not disappoint. Will definitely be back the next time I'm craving some Ethiopian cuisine! read more

On a Sunday stroll, smelled something delicious and the scent lead us here. We weren't hungry at the time but couldn't resist the aromas wafting in the air around this place so we went in for a snack. Dining was empty but the to-orders kept flowing it seemed. Ended up getting a meat and veggie combo to share for 3 ppl- The best way to taste what they have to offer. The meat was tender and full of flavorful spice- cumin and cinnamon I think. Chicken fell right off the bone and the goat meat was not gamely at all. My favorite veggie was the cabbage and carrot dish. They gave a generous basket of injera, which was helpful to clean up the plate! For me, I like there to be more sauce, so perhaps less thick in constancy than it was served, but that by no means would deter me from returning! read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Combination plate (meat and veggies) - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Their food is just so. good. The folks here are kind and gracious; and I love that I can get a veggie combo + mushroom wot (or another option) and pay only a few dollars more for additional variety instead of having to throw down another twenty and commit to a full plate of something. Really glad Messob is in our neighborhood read more

***3.5 Stars*** Ya know... I've tried my fair share of Ethiopian Restaurants in Oakland, and I've gotta say that Messob ranks just average in my book. It just didn't live up. I discovered Messob a couple of years ago when I was on the way to one of my favorite Thai food restaurants located right next door (Infinite Thai). I had been eyeing it for a while but never made the stop in until recently. I was in the area for lunch and decided to finally pay them a visit. This is probably one of the smallest Ethiopian spots that I've ever been too. It's like, you step inside and that's it. Maybe about 5-6 tables inside and a couple of tables in front. The lady who I think might have been the owner was very sweet. She appeared to be by herself and she was also the one who prepared my meal. They don't offer any lunch specials here but that's pretty common with many other Ethiopian restaurants in the area. In looking at the menu, the prices are actually pretty fair. I was excited to see shrimp tibs on the menu because not many Ethiopian restaurants have this dish. I decided to order the shrimp tibs for lunch. Since the interior is quite smallish, you'll get to smell the sweet aromas of the food being made as you sit and wait. It definitely smelled amazing in there which was a good sign. When the food arrived, I dug in anxiously. What I noticed first was that the shrimp tibs were prepared differently from what I'm used to. I've had shrimp tibs marinated in a spicy sauce previously. These shrimp tibs appeared to be marinated with onions and peppers, but didn't have any sauce on them. This is totally fine of course, just different from what I was expecting. The flavor was good but too subtle for my taste. I would have loved more spices added to it. The shrimp tibs came with a side salad and injera. Portions are definitely on the smaller side, including the injera. There was no side of lentils included with this dish either. So essentially, you're paying for injera and shrimp which isn't the most filling combo in the world. I just expected a bit more I guess. All in all, it's not a bad place to get Ethiopian food by any means, but I've had much better. I wouldn't be opposed to giving them another shot in the future, especially since the owner was really sweet and cordial. read more

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Muy buen aroma! The place was recommended, it smelled delicious from the outside and lured us in. Smiling woman took our order and answered all of out first-time here questions. Ordered the Messob platter that was hearty, spicy and delicious! My favorite was the beef dish and partner liked the Lamb. You eat with your hands. I can still smell the exotic spices on my fingers. Very good. One clean restroom, good decor and outside seating. OJO. Paid street parking until 6pm; store ALL of your belongings. I watched a Young man in a double parked stopped car, get out and hit a car and was gone in minutes! I realized later, that there was a smashed window on the car with out-of-state license plates. No bueno for the area. read more

Lovely service and absolutely delicious food! We ordered the vegetarian combo and one of the fish entrees. Portions were large, and I wanted to eat it all but had to stop because I was full. read more

Love, love, love this place! The owner is so kind and her Ethiopian food is amazing. It's great going in the winter because they have the heater on and it's so nice and cozy (I find that so many restaurants in Oakland do not turn their heat on in winter...ugh). The food is super comfort food, I love the veggie platter combo and my boyfriend likes the fried fish. They also serve a yummy Ethiopian hot tea. The decor is beautiful with Ethiopian art. Just hope that in the future they use planet friendly take out containers. Highly recommend!!! ;) read more

First time eating Ethiopian food and was very good we went there for lunch, the lady she was very nice I can't wait to go back read more

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One of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants is Messob. They stick with authentic Ethiopian spices without any fusion, in my opinion, it tastes just like home. I love that it's not too greasy. I always get the chicken tibs, however, due to fasting today, I tried the vegetarian combo and was not disappointed at all. read more

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

We've enjoyed their delicious vegetarian combo with mushroom wot and buticha many times! It's always tasty, with great service and excellent value. Nice outdoor seating area in front of restaurant as well. read more