I was keen to try Mudai because they open a little earlier than other Ethiopian restaurants, and serve North African breakfast items like ful and scrambled eggs. I mean, what sounds better than Ethiopian breakfast? It's a little out of the way, in an industrial corner of downtown San Jose, but it's a sweet spot, worth seeking out. The place is charming. I like the open layout and the excellent service. There's a hangout kinda vibe. Soft, jazzy music makes it a relaxing space. I paired tomatoey scrambled eggs with a velvety, rich shiro hotpot, and brown injera, for a divine breakfast. On another occasion, I tried the veggie combo. The food is hot, wholesome, homey, fresh, tasty. Misir wot and shiro were my favorite dishes. Portions are ample. Food was served fast, which I appreciate. read more

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3.5 stars. Delicious Ethiopian platter. This was shared between our party of 4. It also came with additional injera (we also dug into the sauce soaked injera under the food, yum!). I think it would have been plenty even if we had one more adult. The restaurant space is clean, plenty of seating, and street parking was not too hard to find. Service could be a little more attentive, but I would say still worth the visit. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - S1. Platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Authentic Ethiopian flavors and generous, shareable platters. Food was flavorful injera and hearty stews along with vegan/gluten-free options. The staff were very welcoming and attentive. Very clean and spacious. Ordered: meat combo, vegetarian combo, honey wine, and lamb Derek tibs. Free parking lot next door. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie and beef platter - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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I liked it! There were really good portions and the food was hearty and flavorful! Inside it was very clean which is important.

While I may not be the best judge of ethiopian food, wow! This place was delicious! Parking was easy to find on a Saturday late lunch. We ordered a meat combo, a veggie combo, and an additional beef derek tibs, all served in a large platter, and a bottle of the Tej. The four of us easily demolished the plate, and ordered an extra plate of injera to sop up all the remaining sauces and flavors. My favorite was probably the derek tibs and the curried potato/cabbage, but every dish had excellent flavor. The atmosphere was nice and homely. I'd say the loudest thing was when they were making coffee/steaming the milk. With a sleeping baby, I was a little wary, but we survived with minimal tears. Service was pleasant, and it seemed there may have only been one server. While they did check in on us twice, we did have to flag them down for the check. Although, it was also nice they didn't want to rush us. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and veggie combo platter, with additional beef derek tibs in the SE section of the plate - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

After going to bigger more famous places, we discovered this gem! If you want to avoid waiting, tight spaces at those bigger joints I highly recommend this place! It's on the other side of the highway amongst car shops. Highly recommend the traditional seating on the left as you enter. Will be returning for traditional coffee sometime during the day. Now lets talk food- We got vegetarian combo with beef key tibs and lamb wot. This lets you have whole experience of complete meal with veggies and meats. This would be enough for ~3-4 adults. Order extra injera. Veggies were well flavored- cabbage (Alicha Atkilt) was simple but delicious, mild chickpeas were delicious too. Miser was the best!- well flavored spicy, garlicky and has good amount of spiced butter. Gomen (collard greens) were perfect juicy,buttery and just enough spiced. Now the meat- lamb and beef were both well cooked, tender, juicy and well spiced. Loved it! One minor complaint- the injera had lots of wheat. I completely understand that teff is expensive but please offer teff only (major ingredient) injera may be at a higher price. I am sure people will be glad to pay extra for teff injera ( definitely gluten-free enthusiasts). But definitely will be back here! Extremely welcoming, they have a full bar. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie V10. Vegetarian Combo, L3. Lamb Wot, beef tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

This is absolutely my goto Ethiopian restaurant (there are 5 within about a mile of my house). Every time I ask a can driver on my way to the airport, they have ALL said Mudai. Service is friendly and attentive, you can see that the owner has been using the profits to upgrade the interior. They have ethiopian beers and a classic menu executed very well. No charge for more enjira. Great meat and veg options. read more

We were going to try Gojo but it was closed so Mudai was close by. The dining area was unfussy and clean. The seating was all regular tables and a small bar except one area where you can sit on small stools and low table. The young lady who served us was quiet but polite. We shared a vegetarian combo and a sambussa each and even tried the honey wine. All part of the experience! I'm not well versed on this cuisine but I enjoyed the lentil dish and the injera. Not a big fan of the collard greens but I don't really care for them to begin with. If I was craving Ethiopian I would probably go back. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - V10. Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Excellent Ethiopia Foods served hot, spicy and perfectly delicious with reasonably priced and fast service next to the best, new Marriott Town Place. It's a great way to get introduced to the authentic Ethiopian cuisine. It's rare to find a clean, inviting and delicious ethnic food in a new town. We really enjoyed this small restaurant with a new type of food that we have never tried before. For $15 -$22 the food was exceptional and savory. We recommend spicy beef. The gluten cake was something new and strange but with meat on it, was palatable. We enjoyed it very much. read more

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Mudai was a recommendation, and it did not disappoint! The restaurant is located off San Carlos, near downtown San Jose. It's in a more quaint part of town. The service was welcoming and attentive. There was only one server but it wasn't too busy considering it was a Saturday evening. There was only one other party dining when we arrived. However, we were there for the food! The food was delicious! We were so happy that everything was well-seasoned and the portions were abundant. We ordered the Veggie Platter and Beef Kay Tibs, both of which came with injera. The red sauce that accompanied the beef tibs was incredibly tasty--it's the best red sauce we've found in the South Bay! read more

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One of my favorite spots! The food is always delicious and the portions are generous. Love that they serve gluten free injera. The servers are quick and always super friendly. The restaurant is super relaxed and I always enjoy taking time to sit and read or chat with my friends for a while after my meal. I cannot recommend this place enough. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - B2. Special Kitfo YUM - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

My friend and I had been meaning to try this Ethiopian spot after driving past it once but not being able to stop since there wasn't a parking spot available. We'd ordered in from here before and really enjoyed it, so we finally decided to check it out in person and we were not disappointed! The flavors were incredibly authentic, and the meat was so tender. We tried both the chicken and beef dishes, along with our all-time favorite: the lentils. Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious, honestly, the whole menu looked very tempting. The place is a bit tucked away from downtown, which we actually liked. It's spacious with plenty of seating, and they even have a bar. While there was a bit of a wait for the food, it was totally worth it. The service was friendly and attentive, we asked for rice, that they didn't have and were very polite and apologetic about it. The injera was soft and perfectly tangy, so good, we ordered an extra round just to soak up all those rich, flavorful curries. We left full and super satisfied. So glad we made here, it was the nice Ethiopian dinner experience! read more

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We drove to San Jose from Fairfield as we had a baby shower to attend. We pre-planned to eat here after looking at the reviews of other ethiopian restaurants...and we were specifically looking for a place that served gored gored. The location is not far from downtown. There is no parking directly in front. But we found a spot not too far away. There was a parking lot behind the building but it said "no parking" so I assumed that we could not park there. The interior of the restaurant is large and open. There is a space to the left thst could hold a larger party. They also have a bar area. Everyone who we made eye contact with, greeted us warmly. There were no other patrons in the restaurant other than my daughter and I. The other people there appeared to be friends and or family as they all sat in the larger area with the owner, watching the football game. We ordered gored gored and the veggie combo!!! Absolutely delicious. We also got the berebere and a hit sauce on the side. It was so good with the perfect amount of heat. The owner said it was too spicy for him, but it was perfect for us. We like spicy. I would definitely come next time I am in the area read more

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I was staying at a hotel near by and craving some tibs. I ordered a take out for tibs and gomen. Unfortunately, tumeric was added to the tibs that I never asked for. Luckily, it was still pretty good. Shoutout to Helen, for being so kind and accommodating. Will be back for sure. read more

We got the party platter where you could get 2 veggies and 2 meats. As a group of 4, we picked out the shrimp and lamb. The food was delicious and fresh. Another friend got the veggie sandwich and sambussa and thoroughly enjoyed it. We all raved about the freshness and quality of the food. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

I'm so happy I was finally able to take my daughter here! She's 9 and an avid foodie. I used to come here often but we moved down to Gilroy 8 years ago so this is my first time back. It was great to see that the food is still excellent and probably even better (maybe it's bc I've been starved of any good Ethiopian food LOL) but we really enjoyed it and plan on being back soon. It's worth the drive, the customer service is great and warm and it's clean and inviting inside. The portions are generous and we had leftovers to take home - we had intended on sharing it with her brothers but she ended up eating it all! She's so impressed that she insisted that I post her review of the food - 5 stars! read more

I got take-out today. They only had one staff, so I had to wait a few minutes to order. After a couple of questions, I decided on a meat combo with a side of collard greens (Gomen?). When I got home, I saw that the meat combo only had 3 items instead of the 4 that was listed in the menu. Also, the staff said it would come with a salad, which it didn't. Overall, the food was good, but either they forgot some items, or the takeout version of the meals are different, which they neglected to say. Otherwise, I would have given them 4 or 5 stars. read more

Mudai is located in midtown on San Carlos St. It's easy to miss when driving down the street. They have a dirt parking lot in the back. Street parking is very limited in the area plus there was construction when I visited. The staff were friendly and very attentive. They have the classic Ethiopian food offerings. The price point is competitive to the other local Ethiopian restaurants in the area. We ordered the vegetarian combo platter which comes with 4 dishes, their traditional salad, and of course lots of delicious injera. Their injera is probably one of my top favorites! It tasted super fresh and was soft and bouncy. Unfortunately, the food wasn't warm :/. It almost felt like some of the food was just taken out of the refrigerator. The spice level is more on the mild side, which I didn't mind but my boyfriend didn't get the spicy kick he was craving. Overall, good tasting food and I would return. read more

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Went to Mudai last Saturday night with my two teenagers who never had Ethiopian food before. The server was very nice and the ambiance was very welcoming. Many of the regulars can tell this was our first time and gave us all a smile. Fairly busy with only one server, the food took a little while but once it came out, it looked and tasted delicious. We had a lot of fun eating with no utensils. Although the water was cold, it would be nice to have it served with ice. Overall, a great experience. We will definitely return! Looking forward to trying the sambussas and lamb next time! read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Chicken and vegetables! Yum! - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Such a great place to try some Ethiopian food for the first time. The people here helped me picked out what to get since i've never had it, they helped me even show me how to eat it properly. Amazing place with great scenery heavily recommended. Go try something new and local!!! read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Mudai is such an underrated Ethiopian restaurant! Tucked in an unassuming part of Downtown with its surrounding of construction and residential areas, it's very easy to miss. However, the portions are incredible, more than other Ethiopian places I've been to, while retaining its rich spices. My platter of beef combo ($21.50) and side of alicha atkilt ($8.99) were absolutely delicious, you could demolish this plate amongst 3 people. The injera is sooo sour and soft! More sour than other places I've been to, AKA more fermented. To me, that shines brighter given the cooks put effort to make the dish as authentic as it is in their country. It's a fluffy flatbread with sourness that compliments the intensity of the meats. The doro wot and lamb wot are iconic in Ethiopian cuisines. Meats were tender and not too spicy. The stew is comforting and is fantastic wrapped around some tasty injera. The lamb alicha is flavorful with tinges of ginger and turmeric, definitely worth venturing off to if you enjoy lamb wot. As for kitfo, I personally am not a fan of raw meat, so this is definitely an acquired taste given it's chewier. However, it'd be absolutely delicious if you like the texture and a little bit of creaminess from the cottage cheese. The alicha alkilt were mellow flavors of potato, cabbage, carrot, and onions which provided a neutral balance with all of the meats you're inhaling. Service also amazing! They brought out the dishes in 10 minutes, especially when I was on a time crunch during lunch. I believe it was the owner, who had welcomed us with a smile and answered all of my questions. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat Combo and Alicha Atkilt - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

While there are a lot of Ethiopian options in town, the doro wot here is my favorite! It's super flavorful and it's a good portion size. I've also had the vegetarian platter which is tasty, though a little more on the oily side compared to other restaurants options. Their service is typically friendly. This spot is on my rotation for takeout. read more

I'm conflicted, because Mudai has been our go to Ethiopian spot for years (a decade?). The extra love I have for Mudai rounded this up to a 3. It was just different, and mostly in ways that were disappointing. The injera was very light in color and more mild in taste. (It looks like this change happened within the past year based on photos.) It was fine, but I prefer a stronger flavor. I guess I didn't notice this on our last visit because the other dishes were all what we'd become accustomed to. Tonight, the lamb wot was quite different; it used to be more stew like (fall apart tender) and tonight it was in smaller and less tender square cubes. The sauce used to be dark brown and more strongly flavored. Although a bit lighter, the sauce flavor was still tasty but the meat was firm and chewy. One dish that we liked a lot tonight was the doro wot, it was very tender and flavorful. Probably the best version we've had lately! The kitfo situation was confusing; we typically order rare in our meat combo but we were told that the version included tonight was "different" and like a stew. (It just seemed like very well done saucy kitfo to me.) We prefer the standard rare style. If I had to guess, I'd say that perhaps someone else was cooking tonight. Each local Ethiopian restaurant seems to do standard dishes a little bit differently and it seemed like we were at another restaurant tonight eating someone else's versions of our Mudai favorites. We may take a short break. If it IS a new/different cook- keep their doro wot but go back to basics on the rest :-) read more

Mudai is awesome! The food was super tasty and fresh. Everything had great flavor, and the injera was soft and just right. You can tell they really put love into the food. The place feels cozy and the people there are really friendly. It's a nice, chill spot where you feel welcome. If you've never had Ethiopian food before, this is a great place to try it. And if you already love it, you'll definitely be happy here. I'll for sure be coming back! read more

Everything went well. The staff-very welcoming, the meal was differently wonderful. We had a Sambussa -Thin dough shells stuffed with lentils, onions, hot green peppers and herbs. Thismeatless dish is lightly fried in vegetable oil to golden perfection. Lamb Wot - Hot and spicy lamb stew made of lean lamb and simmered slowly in berbere and kibbe (purified and seasoned in butter) Beef Kay Tibs - Spicy beef stew simmered in hot red sauce, seasoned in butter, and our exotic spices. Everything was outstanding. Will be returning. Are you here yet? read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Inside before 4pm sunday - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

I went with a group of 7 before heading to a Sharks game. It's about a 15 min walk from the SAP Center. Not much parking around the restaurant. I did call in about 25 minutes before getting there to make a reservation, and they were very accommodating. The restroom was very clean, and they do have high chairs for the kiddos. As for the food, we ordered a variety of dishes, chicken ribs, lamb wot, a couple of veggie platters and a couple of meat platters. The injera was wonderful. The star of the show was the chicken wot. So savory and the seasoned wonderfully. They do have a mild or spicy choice with most of the dishes and we went for the mild, next time (there will be a next time!) I will go for the spicier option. We also ordered tea, which was great. The only minus on the experience was the lack of a lazy susan under the platter so it would've been easier to share the food. It smelled so good that I forgot to take photos! Price: $164 (includes a 20% tip) read more

Very cute little hole in the wall. The owners were so sweet and patient with us as it has been at least a decade since we had Ethiopian food and I couldn't remember the names of things so I had to describe them to her. She brought out our food and it was WAY more food than my son and I expected. I mentioned that I liked something I saw in a picture and would try to remember to order it next time. She went back into the kitchen and brought out a small sample of it for us to try. Seriously went above and beyond. Its great that its down the street from Caio Terra BJJ Academy where I train when I'm in town. I wish them the best and hope to visit again next time I'm in the area. read more

I have been coming to this restaurant since I was a kid. I have never been treated with so much disrespect in my life. I was ordering food for me and my friend. Everything was fine tell this older gentleman came in and ask me and my friend to go outside. I was simply putting my friends hair up on a ponytail. The older gentleman came up and said take that outside while I was in the middle of finishing. I told him that's fine, I am close to finishing. He just stood there and looked at me and said, "NOW". I understand it is a restaurant but he made a bigger deal out of something he did not have to. While everyone else is not where any hair nets and how do I ever now if they washed their hands. I really don't not appreciate the hospitality. read more

Veg combo + GF injera = deliciousness. I've been coming here once in a while for the last 8 years and they are consistent with the food, menu options, & pricing. Very filling! read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - V10. Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

I absolutely love Ethiopian food- And I am always looking for some delicious veggie combo or beef tibs, Gonem (the greens) and delicious hummus, this place is it all. I love their veggie combo, and I also loved their beef curry- it was very flavorful. I don't care too much for their injera- usually the injera I have had is a bit more texture, less rubbery, browner(maybe cooking time varies, Different flour?) but this injera is a bit whiter than what I am used to- it's not terrible but it's just different. Their service is on point, and the food is super tasty. I have only been here twice and loved it both times. Will definitely be back. read more

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Generally solid Ethiopian restaurant with more of a casual sports bar vibe/setup with portions and pricing in line with other similar restaurants in the area. Notably they have teff injera on their menu as an add-on option ("gluten free injera"), but they do charge for extra regular injera. The place was quite spacious and service was good, though it was not terribly crowded for a Sunday night (only 1 waitress). Parking situation is mostly street parking in the front or an unmarked lot in the back of the restaurant (it's not clearly labeled so disclaimer: I'm not certain whose lot that is but a Mudai food truck was parked there). The menu had a variety of dishes I haven't seen too often, like shrimp tibs, mushroom tibs/dulet, kitfo and tibs sandwiches. Being the boring lot, my brother and I opted to get their vegetarian combo and meat combo (but hey wide variety of sampling!). These came with respectively: a spread of red lentils (miser kik), chickpeas (ater kik), collard greens (gomen), and cabbage/potato/carrot (atkilt); and chicken (doro wot), kitfo, and two lamb dishes (lamb wot and lamb alicha wot). Combos came with a house salad and two injera each. Generally I'd say I was satisfied with most of the dishes, but their vegetable game is pretty good (generally punchier with the flavors, especially the collard greens). The lamb wot and doro wot were very well spiced and flavor was on point. However, the lamb alicha wot came off remarkably weak relative to the other meats and felt like the weak link there. Kitfo and the cheese was good, though didn't feel as strongly spiced nor as tender as I usually prefer. The atkilt could afford to be a bit more thoroughly stewed though, as the potatoes were still quite firm, but flavor wise it was also on point. The injera was noticeably different from most of the other places I've been to. I'm no expert, but my gut tells me it's more of a hybrid injera, with a bit of teff flour and wheat, since it was slightly more sour than typical of wheat injera (but not approaching teff injera levels of sour either). read more

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I called Mudai to ask if they offered gluten free injera, which luckily they do. I placed an order for pickup through Grubhub and checked the option for gluten free injera to come with my platter for an extra charge. I am not sure if I am completely under the wrong impression, but to me that means ALL the injera will be replaced with gluten free only. I even called after placing the order to confirm that it would come with gluten free injera and the person confirmed. I received 2 bags of injera that looked exactly the same. Opened the first one and even though I thought the injera looked lighter than I've seen before, I knew I had done my due diligence to make sure I had requested gluten free injera and decided to trust they had provided it and proceeded eat. Once I was putting the leftovers away was when I noticed that inside one of the injera bags there was one piece of darker injera, which most likely was the gluten free one. I was in shock that 1. They were packed together with so little regard to avoid cross contamination and 2. That the additional charge was for an extra piece of gluten free injera as add on instead of an additional charge to replace all the injera in the order. At this point, I had already consumed a significant amount of wheat laden injera and I am still paying for it. I want to make a couple clarifications: I am not complaining about the quality of the food or how tasty it was, though I've had better Gomen elsewhere. I am also not complaining about the amount charged for the gluten-free injera. In fact, if it had cost more to replace all the injera in the order, I would have probably sucked it up and gone forward with it. What I am appalled about is the lack of clarity that your order will still come with all the regular Injera that you're not able to consume anyway. If they had the option for all injera or a portion of it to be replaced (e.g. half and half) for variable fee, that would be great. But as someone who has ordered from other places making the same exact request, it has always been that all the injera is swapped for the gluten-free kind. If I may also add, as someone who has worked in the food industry for over a decade, you need to understand about these dietary nuances to be able to serve a broader audience, otherwise don't say you have then. Thankfully I don't have a full-blown allergy, but I'm intolerant enough that I'll be dealing with the aftermath for at least a few days. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - 2 kinds of injera - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Definitely one of the better Ethiopian restaurants in the Bay! I ordered the Meat Combo which had plenty of food for one person. The Alicha Wat had a nice hit of turmeric and a hint of sweetness. There was good oil separation which is probably why the depth was so rich. The Kitfo was more cooked than I would've liked it even though I ordered it Leb-Leb - I'll probably do straight raw next time. I also wish they chose a beef that's more beefier since the beefiness was a tad light. The seasonings didn't overpower it which was good. The meat in the Doro Wat was very tender and cooked perfectly. The spices came through and paired well with the injera. My favorite of the 4 was the Sega Wat. It was extremely rich in flavor and had a nice kick of cardamom. If I came back, I'd definitely get a big bowl of this. The meat was cooked perfectly and it had the most depth out of all this dishes. The customer service was very friendly and I loved how sturdy their plastic utensils were. They were also packed and sealed which is great during covid. I'll be back! read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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First time trying Ethiopian food. The lady who was waiting on us was very friendly and recommended a mushroom dish with the veggie combo. They were served with injera. Since the two of us shared, she had the food served on a larger injera plate with rolled injera on side (see photo). Food was delicious and service was quick and efficient. The restaurant itself was quiet, save for a few customers hanging at the bar. It was chill/ laid back/ family friendly vibe. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Injera V10. Vegetarian Combo V2. Sineg Karia (2) - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

We ordered the veggie combo and Sambussa . The combo included Injeera bread. We found the veggie combo to be quite up to the mark. But the Sambussa was quite different as it was filled with lentils which was very different for earlier Sambussa that we have had at other Ethiopian restaurants. Anyway we liked them as well. We will try other items from this place the next time read more

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Delicious even with delivery! Doro wat 5/5 Meat sampler and veggies sampler were great, would have been nice served on top of injera Lamb tibs good too read more

Mudai's been one of our staples since we've lived in the bay. We've since left but come back every time I visit my in-laws. They remember my wife's order every time (Kay Tibs, no onions) and are so friendly to our little ones. Gets a little warm in there sometimes for my liking but they've always been super friendly and turn the fans on. Food is excellent - we don't have any Ethiopian restaurants where we live so we always make time to make it there - usually multiple times in one trip. Miss seeing you guys! read more

Non-descript outside, but welcoming and clean inside. We shared the meat sampler and the flavors were fabulous. Service was great. Price was very reasonable. If it were closer to home, we'd be regulars! read more

Delicious, filling and great service! My friend and I went here for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and we got lucky in finding a table quickly. The entire menu was filled with great authentic food. Once the food arrived, it was as delectable as the photos online. Our server was also attentive and nice. Would definitely recommend to others who are more adventurous and looking for great cuisine. read more

Mudai Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

If you have been a patron there in the last 7-10 years just know they are under new management and the food tastes complete different.