What a great spot to get a vegetarian meal in Portland. We were excited to see two Eritrean/Ethiopian restaurants in town, and we picked the Red Sea because their food looked great in photos online. It has a definite hole-in-the-wall aesthetic, but as soon as we stepped inside and smelled the food, we knew we were in the right place. We ordered the veggie combo for two people. Of note, it did not include shiro (ground chickpea curry), so we had to add that for an extra $10. We also wanted to add ful fava, so we could try every single veggie option, but they were out that day. The food took awhile to come out, so we were ravenous by the time it arrived, but it was worth the wait. We loved every bite. Unlike many other Eritrean/Ethiopian places we have tried, the Red Sea did not put excessive salt or oil on the food, just enough for it to be really tasty. In particular, we loved the lentil/okra dish, which we had never tried before. Just delicious. We also asked for the food to be extra spicy, so they brought us a little side of extra berbere powder. It did the trick! The injera was very fluffy and fresh. Of note, they sometimes close early if they have a rush earlier in the day, so keep that in mind before you go. read more

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Red Sea is a lovely family-run Eritrean restaurant on Washington Ave. I'm a big fan of Eritrean food and have had it in several cities, and this place does not disappoint! The interior is small but has a decent amount of booth seating. The service is also very warm. Came here for dinner on a cold day and ordered a veggie sampler and beef tibsi for two people. Everything was exceptionally tasty and well-seasoned. The tibsi was served together with the veggie sampler (in the middle of the injera), and the whole thing was plenty of food for two. The bill came out to about $60 after tax and tip, which I think is moderately priced for Portland given the portion size, and we left happy! We'll certainly be back. read more

Red Sea Restaurant - African Near Me - Portland, Maine

Food is always amazing! Good portions , homemade from scratch . Service is great ! No regrets going back there as many times I can. Very well recommended. read more

We love Ethiopian and Eritrean food and hands down we loved this place!! We had the veggie combo and zigni. I personally like my collards done really soft and the greens were the perfect texture. You can tell they cook it on the stove for a long time to get that melt in your mouth texture. Zigni was also really soft and the meat just came apart in the mouth. The sauce also was seasoned very well. The owner came and talked to us and he was really kind. When we come back to Portland we'll make sure to visit again! Pro tip: bring cash just in case, they couldn't take card the day I came read more

Very good food, big portions that can be shareable. Unassuming hole in the wall atmosphere

Had the veggie sampler for lunch, delicious with wonderful flavor. Service friendly & helpful. read more

Red Sea Restaurant - Traditional Ethiopia Coffee - African Near Me - Portland, Maine

I was very pleased to discover Red Sea. A group of us had walked past it on our way to another restaurant in the area, but because it was a busy evening, the wait would be lengthy. We were immediately able to get into Red Sea, and the entire experience was very positive. I was hooked the minute I walked inside and inhaled. If you are already familiar with Ethiopian cuisine, the addition of Eritrean into the mix will not be an issue at all, it will still look very familiar. The menu was not necessarily as extensive as I have seen at other Ethiopian restaurants, but it covered all the necessities. I also liked that you are able to purchase your own injera here, and if I lived locally, I would do that. Beverages are limited to a few brands of soda, I believe a few beers, one type each of red and white wine, and bottled water, and of course coffee. Mead is not available. Your meal is cooked to order, and the ingredients are quite fresh. The chicken came out spicier than requested, so if spice is a concern, speak up (I was fine with it, others at my table had to limit how much they ate). You get a reasonably large amount of injera with your meal, but if it is not enough, you can request more at a nominal fee. The owner quite friendly, and it was enjoyable conversing with him. I expect Red Sea to become a regular place of dining whenever I am in Portland. read more

Fine example of Eritrean food in a homey dive. The Injera is fluffy, spongy, and tangy. The beef curry has tender chunks of meat, deep earthy flavors and has a medium heat. Lamb curry was mild. And the chicken curry with egg was amazing--almost mole like. The mustard greens was neutral tasting, cabbage carrot and carrot was also mild. Yellow lentil curry was our favorite. Simple, small dining room. Extremely friendly owner and cook. Prices are higher than what I am used to paying for this kind of food, but thrilled to have this example in Portland, ME. read more

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The staff was friendly and made me feel welcomed. All the vegetable and legume dishes were uniquely seasoned.

I ordered beef tibsi that came with red lentil beans and a salad with green leaf lettuce, owner is very kind and he gave great service. The meat was spicy and good quality beef with onions, tomatoes and peppers plus a hot pepper sauce / oil. It was served on a large like flat soft brown pancake (my best description I'm sure there's a better out there). You can use a fork but I chose to eat using the pancake to eat as was optional. Highly recommended. It was really great and unique. read more

Red Sea Restaurant - Hot tea. - African Near Me - Portland, Maine

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Ya know, we wanted to like the place. We love the texture of that injira bread. But here's the situation: Got the beef zigni, for $17 you think you would get more than one small ladle of stew. There was some gravy and about 4 little pieces of gristley meat. Way over priced for what this place is. Which takes me to the second point. When you go in, peek around the back and take a look at the cleanliness of the kitchen. I'm surprised the Board of Health hasn't shut this place down. I'll look to get my Ethiopean food somewhere else. read more

First time we came we were impressed with the tea but was still full from our morning breakfast. But when the server saw that we were not ordering food; he BECAME VERY RUDE!!! Even though we were thinking to order food later to go; after his attitude we decide not to. We will not be returning here! OMG, his service will keep anyone from returning ever again. RUDE!!! GROUCHY OLD MAN!! read more

I love the owners. Kind hearted and friendly people. I am glad there is another Ethiopian food restaurant here in Portland. My family and I have been going here off & on for the last 4 years. But they need to fix some things: Orders take way too long. About twice the time as other restaurants. The recipes are good and authentic, (I know bc I am from Ethiopia myself & grew up eating this food) But the ingredients seem to be of low quality. For example; the lamb used in the zigni & tibsi are very chewy and can be tough. So I suspect it's do to low grade meat. When we do take out, most often than not, we are missing both side dishes or one side dish. The menu is not very clear and I am still confused about their stances on sides even when I dine in. We have asked multiple times for the meat to be cooked medium rare, (hoping it wouldn't be as tough & chewy) to no avail, we always end up with will done. So they don't seem to take order & directions very well. This could be a problem of language as they are foreigners and don't speak perfect English. However, maybe hiring somebody that does speak the language of the people they are trying to serve could make their service better..? Lastly the prices are unjustly high! We put up with it bc we don't have many choices for east African food around here. But knowing the ingredients they use and the typical cost, I am not sure why the food is so pricey. I hope they continue to be successful bc they are loved in the community, but they really need to upgrade & improve. read more

A meal at the Red Sea Restaurant is a very enjoyable eating experience. The food is beautifully prepared and presented. There is an array of flavors that tantalize your taste buds. The waitstaff is courteous and knowledgeable regarding the menu. There is Ethiopian artwork and music to enhance the experience. An additional visit in the near future will definitely happen. read more

Two of us shared the veg sampler for lunch, and it was delicious. The owners are delightful. The ambiance doesn't have a lot going for it, but it's clean and we didn't need bells and whistles. read more

Ate here by myself one night, having never had Ethiopian food before. The place is small, and when you walk in there's not much of an atmosphere, but don't let that stop you! 4 stars is only because of the ambiance. Food gets 5 stars! The owners were very nice and helped me decide on a menu item. Highly recommend the spiced hot tea! The food was excellent and I learned how to eat it with my hands and the injera bread they serve with the meal. The food was perfectly spiced and they serve a good sized portion. I found it to be very similar to Indian food in the flavors. Would definitely come back and try it again with my husband! read more

This was my 1st time eating this cuisine. I had the beef tibisi it was excellent! The owner and his family are very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance, well the food and service is excellent. The place was clean. I highly recommend the red sea. If I'm ever back in Portland, it will be on the itinerary. read more

Delicious, fresh food. Humble, family run restaurant with no frills. It almost feels like you are in someone's home. I got take out and for probably the first time in my life wasn't able to eat an entire dinner portion. I got the shiro which is ground chickpeas and spices but it is warm and smooth like a sauce, not like hummus. It's my favorite Ethiopian dish. Of course had to get the injera. The portion was HUGE! The box was heavy. Came with a side of potatoes and cabbage and a small salad. For $13.50 with tax, it was a steal and the perfect Friday dinner. The shiro was a little spicy for my taste and the potatoes and cabbage were very garlicky.... and I love spice and garlic. My stomach is feeling it a bit today. I've had this dish many times but it was my first time at Red Sea. Although delicious and fresh, it wasn't my favorite. Love that they are vegan and vegetarian friendly! read more

Delicious, homey tasting comfort food, with just the right amount of spice. Their tsebhi dorho with a side of lentils is my favorite. I tend to eat large meals, and am often unsatisfied with portion sizes at restaurants. Red Sea's dishes, however, always fill me up (and at around $14, are very reasonably priced). I will say that I usually get the food to-go, as the ambiance is only so-so. If you're looking for a place with cool vibes to eat out, this might not be the place for you. If you're hungry and just looking for a good meal, give this place a try. read more

We stayed close by at an airbnb and walked to see dinner options on this road which there many good choices for veggie or rice based foods. Awesome Ethiopian food here. We used to go to Abyssinia in RI but they closed so was nice to get these flavors. Had the veggie sampler entree shared with wife and kids had lamb and red lentil entrees. Super good meals. I also had the traditional coffee infused with ginger which they brought out the hot freshly roasted beans first to taste. Great experience here and nice people. read more

Red Sea Restaurant - African Near Me - Portland, Maine

We stopped in for dinner and were greeted by the owner couple and their delightful toddler grandson. Very pleasant and welcoming atmosphere.We ordered a few dishes and were asked if we wanted it family style. Said yes and the food came on a large rotating dish that was covered with a thin layer of a spongy bread and also rolled up bread. The various dishes were placed onthe bread. No utensils needed. Dug in with our hands and had all kinds of delicious delights. WE will be back. read more

Hole in the wall with excellent service. I love Ethiopian/Eritrean food and this place was perfect. There are so many great restaurants in the east end and this is easily one of the most tasty and satisfying read more

Went for the first time and it was a wonderful experience, Had the vegetarian Alicha and falafel, both excellent. The meal came with injerra, a fermented wet bread made from teff flour. This is a very modest restaurant, not fancy at all. The staff and owner were very friendly. Eating Ethiopian/Eritrean dishes is very different where you use your hands to scoop up the dishes. I've eaten in a lot of Ethiopian restaurants in Wash. DC and this seemed slightly different. read more

Very nice people and delicious food. Absolutely no complaints. Never had a bad time here.

I enjoyed my meal at Red Sea and would recommend it to anyone visiting the area! I visited back in the winter with a larger group. We were shown great hospitality and were served quickly. The casual atmosphere and tasty menu was perfect for our mix of eaters. I've had Ethiopian food in Boston, DC, and Michigan and this was my favorite! read more

The best African restaurant ever! Delicious, fresh, vegetarian option and really nice owner and wife. We will come back 100% read more

My girlfriend and I went to Red Sea at the recommendation of... Literally nobody. That's a goddamn shame. We walked in early. Five or six. We ordered some sambusas. Who couldn't? They were amazing. I had a traditional coffee, at the owners request. It was great. We split a meat platter and a chickpea dish. We ordered too much. They were great hosts, and we'll be back for more soon. Ignore the off-putting facade. Come here for dinner! Who can beat $30 for too much great food? 5 stars read more

Red Sea : I never expected such a small place will have such a beautiful and amazing food. I loved their food and its taste. They have very fresh " Enjera" traditional Eritrean/ Ethiopian bread served with amazing traditionally prepared souse of Tibsi, shirto and vegetables. I also served traditional coffee which is beautiful and very nice one. If you travel to Portland Maine, I recommend you not to miss this well prepared amazing food and the traditional coffee of East Africa. read more

The food was very good. The owners didn't hesitate to serve the food and pitch in to clean up. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone. Very good. read more

Basic eating. Very little ambience. Incredibly tasty food. So if it's hip you're looking for, there's plenty of other options on lower Washington Ave. Meanwhile this is very authentic Ethiopian food. read more

The best Ethiopian/Eritrean food I've ever had anywhere. Don't let the appearances deceive you (the dining room is small and sort of shabbily decorated) -- the food is truly extraordinary, as is the service and conversation. I highly recommend the ful. Takeout service is fast and easy too. Don't miss this place. read more

One of my FAVORITE restaurants in Portland! The owners are super friendly and the food they make is mouth-drooling delicious. Eat here!

I liked this place the first time I went earlier this year. I thought the food was superior to Asmara in downtown Portland. I made a special effort to stop there again yesterday when traveling from near Bangor to my home in New Hampshire. But my second experience was unsatisfactory and I won't go back. When I first went I got a vegetarian sampler even though there was no such item on the menu. I appreciated the flexibility and loved the food. I prefer to get samplers when I eat Ethiopian/Eritrean food because I like to try a variety of dishes (that always seems possible, except in Portland!). Since I went the first time a few months ago, Red Sea's menu has changed. It now includes a sampler for two people for $26, but the man who waited on me (the owner?) said they could not do a sampler for one person. I explained to him that they did previously, only a few months previous, but he didn't seem to believe me and was completely inflexible about it. How hard would it be to take the larger vegetarian sampler and simply cut the portion sizes in half? After going out of my way to stop at Red Sea at the end of long and tiring day, I was disappointed and annoyed, so I left and ate elsewhere. There was nobody else in the restaurant at the time even though other restaurants on the street were full of people. Me thinks that if Red Sea doesn't develop better customer service, it won't last. read more

This is a hidden gem!!! The food is Amazing!!! The couple that owns the restaurant are super sweet and always welcoming. Def give this place a try, you will be hooked!!!!!!!!!!!!! read more

Hidden gem! Despite it's small size, this restaurant packs a lot of flavor into everything they make. The portions are more than fair for the price, and you can tell that those cooking here really know and love what they do. Had a chance to talk to the nice man who made my dinner, I definitely have a lot of respect for those working here. Hard to find good Eritrean cuisine, outside of Red Sea! read more

One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Portland. The sampler platters are great to share with a group for those who have a hard time choosing just one menu item! Good variety for veggie and non-veggie options. The owners are very friendly and service is always quick and smooth. Nice laid back atmosphere. read more

Delicious food! Fun atmosphere. Fast and friendly service. The owners are kind and funny. I recommend Red Sea to all of my friends! I love the vegetarian platter, but I'm sure it's all fantastic. read more

We LOVE this food! Best Eritrean food in American! Highly recommend! Our best friend is from Eritrea and this food is by far the best of the best he has ever had (other than his moms) read more

Excellent food, welcoming owner. Thank you so much fir sharing your wonderful foods with those of us new to your culinary traditions. Highly recommend fir people who love spicy foods likes Indian. read more

Wandered in on our vacation to Portland. It's definitely a more casual atmosphere, but very authentic. We had incredible meat and vegetable platter, some of the best Ethiopian/eretrian food we have ever had! Very nice family running the restaurant, and very friendly service. It can take a little longer because they cook everything fresh (we only waited 15-20 minutes for food though). A wonderful change of pace to the normal more upscale seafood dining in Portland which can get a bit tiresome. Can't recommend enough!!! read more