Everything went well! Their raw kifto is my fav! The…read morerestaurant is like a well maintained machine. Everyone knows what they are doing! One of cool things living in Oakland is that you can have authentic food from all over the world. Sorry forgot to take pic before eating. Finish too quick.

I was introduced to Ethiopian food for the very first time here on one of the early dates I had…read morewith my ex of over 10 years of mine. The food is absolutely delicious and using your hands is an absolute must! You definitely get to control your portions and just get in there and it's absolutely delicious. My favorite are the lentils within the Veggie Platter. Absolutely delicious try it today. This spot is my absolute favorite and I've been to several Ethiopian restaurants. Enjoy

Very nice cafe had a great latte and california croissant and was a warm inviting atmosphere. Way…read morebetter than Starbucks down the street so surprised people don't come here instead. Also cool ethiopian coffee available as well.

Delicious Ethiopian food…read more Typically get the veggie platter with some tea and it's on point every time. Samosas are delicious as well. Enjoy!

There are a lot of Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants in the SF/Bay area and particularly in the east…read morebay. I've been to most. Asmara is my favorite. I have been going since it first opened in 1985. I met the owner, Kesete then and he is still the owner. Great food, lots of dining space and as of 2026 they have an expanded bar in the adjacent space. Check out the rest and then come to the best.

The guys at Jerusalem Coffee recommended for my friends & I to walk over to Asmara for dinner when…read moreI said I have not had Eritrean food before. They said Eritrean is very similar to Ethiopian food so we finished our beverages & headed down Telegraph to Asmara. We were delighted when we were told to wait at the bar next door until they have a large table for our group. I asked the server to bring us their popular dishes, enough to feed 7 adults and she told me not to worry, that she would take care of it. She brought out the Meat Combo and the Beef/chicken/lamb tibs along with platter of veggies and eggplant. She gave us enough injera to keep us munching away. The food and service were Fabulous so naturally we had a great evening.

have passed this place a thousand times and never tried it before. absolutely delicious! food…read more(veggie combo, curry chicken "kilwa dorho") was well-spiced and abundant portion-wise. tried a habesha beer which was refreshing. server was kind and friendly. lots of people were watching the world cup in the bar room in the back. i will come again!

They've Always delivered the Best Grub via Doordash. Had…read moretheir Combo Plates, and the Sebi DORO a couple of times. The latter is a sorta Chicken in Gravy with 2 Boiled Eggs. Delicious INJERA Ethiopian Flat Bread always Included with the Entrees !!! Love Ethiopian Cuisine, Culture, Art & Dress !!!!!!

Good Foul Breakfast Tea has spice…read more Great outdoor ambiance The owner is alright Pasta is delicious

Love this place every time I go, quality Ethiopian food, small and quaint, relatively casualread more

I've been coming here for years but I forget to take pictures and write a review…read more This picture is the veggie combo which is my go to order. It's from 2019. Love this dish here! Their injera is the best! The service is warm, the restaurant is very clean and decorated well. Can't wait to go babk!

My brother was excited to try something different. I went with him to support. This place has its…read moreown parking lot which is a plus. Service was good. We were the only ones there on a Saturday at lunchtime. The Ethiopian black tea with ginger and clove was good since it was cold inside. The waitress let us sit near a heat lamp. My brother really liked the tartare sliders. We shared the combination plate which was basically a sampler of all their meats and lentils. It was served on top of injera and included extra rolls of injera. I would say it's like their version of rice or naan. It's what they eat all their food with. U eat with your hands. The injera is spongy and a little sour. It was all very filling. It tastes healthy. The spices were interesting and had some heat that made my nose run. The Bathroom was very clean fyi. Food was interesting, but maybe just an acquired taste. it's worth a try!

This is one of those iconic mom and pop Oakland restaurants I absolutely adore, and it is what…read moremakes the diverse Oakland culinary landscape flourish. Located at a corner across from the DMV (on Sundays the DMV transforms into a lively farmer's market) off of Claremont, its sleepy vibes have attracted its own cult of regulars for years. Moreover, it's a quick bike trip from where we live in Jack London Sq, and I always make it a pit stop whenever we ride up Telegraph. An affordable bowl of shihan ful - a nice savory, spiced bean dip served with airy bread - can keep two hungry bellies satiated for hours. I've even tried to replicate shihan ful at home (SF Chronicles had posted a recipe) but honestly have not been successful. Best to just leave it up to the pros at Alem's. It's hard to describe the flavor but the bean dip is nourishing and bursting with umami-ness that lights up my brain, in a good way. Recommend stopping by for a bite after a leisurely stroll at the Sunday Temescal Farmer's Market.

Ethiopian cafe that serves breakfast and lunch. Come with a friend to share their tasty…read morespecialties. I came by to try the Shihan Phul. First mistake was coming alone! The stewed fava beans come out with the density of something like baba ghanoush. It is served with two rolls of crusty French bread that you'll want to scoop and spread the phul over. The stew would be thick and heavy on its own but the bread lightens it up. Squeezing the lemon over the dish cut through some of the heaviness as well. Together, the bread and phul complement one another to make an excellent dish. The fava beans were topped with diced tomatoes, jalapeños, and farmer's cheese -- all covered generously with berbere and cumin. The effect was a rich spice that touched all parts of your mouth. (Maybe it needed a bit more salt to bring out the subtler flavors.) Spread over the crusty bread, the warm, gentle stew was met by the crunch of the bread that was delightful. If only I had realized why the bowl comes with two rolls! The stew is rich enough to need both. Fortunately, this is the kind of cafe where you can spend an easy lunch hour in the shade and visit. Bring a friend to share!

I had never tried Ethiopian food before, so this was a completely new experience for me. The reason…read moreI finally decided to give it a try was because I work in the same building and would often catch the aroma drifting through the hallway--warm, rich, and incredibly inviting. Every time I smelled it, I told myself that I have to try it. When I finally stopped in, I was not disappointed. It was flavorful, comforting, and it actually tasted like Thai food a bit. I honestly don't even know the names of the dishes I tried, but I enjoyed every bite. This first visit has definitely made me excited to come back and explore more of the menu. I can't wait to try my next dish!

Go for the food and service, not the ambiance. The food was…read moreamazing. I'm not an expert on Ethiopian cuisine, but I enjoy it and would not hesitate to go back to Romanat. In fact, it would be at the top of my list if I was hungry for Ethiopian. Service was friendly and attentive. Helped guide us to a platter for our small group and it was the perfect choice. It's not a beautiful restaurant, but the food is the star and the reason to go.