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    Sekela Ethiopia Restaurant

    4.9 (60 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 8:00 pm

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    SEKELA ETHIOPIA RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

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    Doro Wot, 2x Order
    Jasmeer O.

    Found a hidden gem tucked away in a small shopping center in Riverside. I am so glad it's a mile from where I live. Picked up Beef and Lentils Sambusa, 2x of Doro Wot and 1x Kikil Lamb. The food is amazing. Talked to the owner/chef and service was 5 stars. Please try this as you won't be disappointed.

    Lunch menu as of Dec 2025
    Linda N.

    My husband suggested we try this place for lunch with some friends. None of us have ever tried Ethiopian food and we were not sure what to expect. We came on New Year's Eve and it was relatively empty inside with maybe two other patrons. The interior was decorated with Ethiopian decor like curtains and artwork all along the wall and ceiling. We were given a menu and I decided I wanted to share the veggie combo with my husband because I wasn't too hungry. The food came out on a huge plate! The veggie combo had "Red lentil stew split yellow pea stew whole lentils string beans, Greens,mixed vegetable(cabbages, carrots)Chicken pea stew, injera mixed with red pepper sauce tomato salad with house dressing served with injera." I didn't know what injera was so I looked it up and it's a fermented sour and spongy flatbread. The combo plate can with extra injera on the side. We tore that and used it to scoop up the food. There were no utensils - just your hands! My favorite was the mixed vegetables. It was really flavorful and good texture for a stir fry. The cabbage and beets were also tasty as well. I'm glad we decided to share because it was a lot of food! I got pretty full. After we were done eating, the owner asked if everything was good and we told her it was delicious! We told her it was all of our first time and she was surprised. She was very sweet and offered my friend complimentary coffee because he was on the fence about getting some or not. She also offered us herbal tea and I took her up on it. It came out piping hot and she gave us some sugar to add to it. It hit the spot on a rainy day and warmed me right up. She was so hospitable and so happy to hear us enjoying her food. I highly recommend checking this place out - especially if you've never tried Ethiopian food before. She told me they opened about 4 months ago. Go support small businesses and check this place out! I'll be coming back if I'm in the area again.

    George W.

    I have been waiting to try Ethiopian cuisine for a while, and Sekela was the perfect introduction. This hidden gem has a wonderful, homey atmosphere that makes you feel like you're in your favorite aunt's living room. The owner's hospitality is truly the heart of the place. I ordered the veggie combo with injera, and because everything is made to order, it arrived incredibly fresh and flavorful. The asparagus and carrots were really flavorful with garlic and the lentils are delicious. Please try this hole in the wall, you won't regret it!

    SHEKLA TIBS and VEGGIE COMBO Excellent!
    Daniel A.

    Finally, Riverside has an excellent Ethiopian restaurant that rivals the best Michelin recognized Ethiopian restaurant in Washington DC! We had the vegetarian combination platter and the beef Shekla Tibs. The flavors were excellent each one of the vegetarian dishes had its own spice and character. Everything was unique. The service was excellent. We met the owner and she was very happy that we were familiar with Ethiopian cuisine. The restaurant is very simply decorated but comfortable the food is absolutely fantastic. I can't wait to try everything on the menu. Highly recommended.

    Doro wot
    Brian N.

    One of the challenges of living in Murrieta is the embarrassment of riches that we get to choose from any time we travel north toward LA or south to San Diego. I just so happened to be in Riverside last week for a doctor's appointment, when we learned of the opening of Sekela. I love Ethiopian food. My wife loves Ethiopian as well. Perfect time to try a new place and have a cuisine we haven't had in quite some time. Got a myriad of dishes. The vegetarian combo was amazing. The doro wot was really, really good, as were the awaze tibs. But I think our favorite was the kikil. So good. My recommendation to anyone new... get the vegetarian platter. It's an awesome mix of different flavors. Due to my cancer diagnosis and subsequent need to social distsnce, we chose to order to go. The owner was very kind in providing us some bread and tea while we waited. Also, for those that like a lot of injera... The owner gsve us plenty for all of our different meals, including for the remaining leftovers. So glad to see Sekela in Riverside, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

    Anna C.

    I have been wanting to try Ethiopian food for a while and came across this place. I am so glad I did. It was delicious. The host is not only the host but the waitress and the cook. She was pleasant and helped us decide on what we should try for our first time. The restaurant is small yet cozy and has cultural art displayed. I will definitely be returning!

    Veggie Combo Plate
    Maeve-Darly D.

    I loved this place! It was my first time having Ethiopian food and I will definitely be back. Everything is made to order and feels very authentic and made with love. It's a small restaurant but has enough space to feed multiple families. I got the beef sambusa and the veggie combo plate. I loved the dip with the beef sambusa. This platter is huge and I had enough to take home for my brother to try. We LOVE the red lentils and everything was delicious. Amazing service and I can't wait to come back to try the doro wot next!

    Ethiopian Coffee ceremony pot
    Gina B.

    All the above, location is great ! The room is clean, decorated with taste, by an Ethiopian, full of her memoirs of it, colorful and beautiful pieces, the service is friendly and can explain you whatever you need to ask about everything , food was Glorious! I felt moved by the spices to another time and space. Even my husband was surprised by the presentation and the level of love put in the details even on the food. The photos match the food AMAZING! And yet the food smell and taste better than them. Whomever read all this please let's make this a successful restaurant in the IE RIVERSIDE area.

    Veggie combo
    Yareli O.

    I'm so glad to see an Ethiopian restaurant open in the IE! It's a small family owned and ran restaurant with a cozy welcoming atmosphere. Both the service and food were wonderful. I ordered the veggie combo which was both delicious and a great size. The sambusas were also very tasty. It was a wonderful warm comforting meal on a cold rainy day :)

    Some of the best most flavorful food! It was more than enough for 4 big guys!
    Rock T.

    Amazing food! Service was great and while it did take some time for everything to come out ( only 1 nice lady working) that meant everything was fresh! Will definitely be coming back!

    Veggie plate, and 2 different beef dishes.

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    4 days ago

    Excellent!!!! Genuine - authentic food . Clean small family place. Been here couple of times already . Now I call In advance if with kids

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    5 months ago

    Food is very fresh and tasted awesome! Owner is very personal and proud of her authentic Ethiopian food.

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    Ask the Community - Sekela Ethiopia Restaurant

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    GS Cafe and Ethiopian Cuisine

    GS Cafe and Ethiopian Cuisine

    4.8
    (744 reviews)
    26.5 mi
    $$

    Been wanting to try Ethiopian food for the longest time and finally got the chance to! We ordered…read morethe beef and veggie combo platter. It says it feeds 2 people but honestly this could've easily fed 4 people. We had a good amount of leftovers. The beef and veggies on the platter were delicious! They were all well seasoned, flavorful and tender. The only thing my flavor palette couldn't get used to was the sourness of the injera. It's supposed to have a slightly sour flavor from the ingredients that it's made with. It's healthy though! Has a lot of probiotics and fiber. Service was excellent. He was kind and attentive. Our server was the only one working and all of the tables were full. The restaurant is a bit on the smaller end, with about 10-12 tables. It can get packed quickly since this place is popular. There is parking out front in a shared lot with other businesses. Would recommend if you've been curious about trying!

    First time having Ethiopian. Can be easily missed in a random strip mall environment. Plenty of…read moreparking so no need to worry. It was a bit stuffy inside and they had the door open with a fan on. Went with the Beef and Veggie combo. Really delicious food. I asked for chilis, hot sauce or something spicy. They had some spices and warned me to put a little on the plate and dab. And yes, it was really spicy. But added a different flavor profile. The mother and son are really nice and explained everything. Would definitely try it out again.

    Photos
    Inside dining
    Inside dining
    Beef tartar
    Beef tartar
    Veggie platter

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    Veggie platter
    Abyssinia Restaurant

    Abyssinia Restaurant

    4.5
    (485 reviews)
    27.9 mi
    $$

    A Feast to Remember…read more A symphony of spice upon the plate, Each bite a gift, each flavor great. From fragrant stews both bold and deep, To recipes tradition chose to keep. Soft injera, warm and light, Carried every savory bite. Lentils rich and vegetables bright, Blended perfectly in pure delight. Every seasoning found its place, Creating layers of warmth and grace. The aromas lingered, rich and sweet, A masterpiece in every treat. The meal was more than food alone-- It felt like comfort I had known. An Ethiopian feast, so fresh and true, A dining experience I won't outgrow. With every taste, my smile grew wide; Pure satisfaction, served with pride. A meal I'll gladly seek once more, For flavors I'll forever adore.

    The best Ethiopian and Eritrean food I have had in a long time. Dare I say, ever! I have eaten at…read morenumerous Ethiopian restaurants in Los Angeles (some gems known only within the local Ethiopian community), as well as multiple venues in the San Francisco Bay area. This restaurant surpasses them all. We came to celebrate my friend's birthday (she eats here all the time, has lived in Africa for years, and knows the owner and his family) and ordered the vegetarian combo, okra, Awaze Tibs (beef), hot bubbling Tegabino shiro, and a fried sambusa (lentil filling) appetizer to share. The flavors and seasonings used in the veggie dishes and beef had a nice balance and went exceptionally well together. The injera bread was fluffy and had a good mouthfeel, with enough bounce and texture to pick up and hold the delicious food and sauces together into the perfect bite-sized morsels. Injera bread was so good that I would eat this plain. As a sourdough flatbread, their injera was not overly sour nor dry. We also finished 2 bottles of Ethiopian honey wine, which was less sweet than I expected and closer in profile to a light Chardonnay, than a sweet wine. Wine was a perfect pairing for the food. As far as beverages go, they have a small selection of beer and wine in the menu, along with Ethiopian coffee/tea which is freshly brewed to order. They also have a nice traditional coffee/tea setting in one corner of the restaurant and I was told they provide a special freshly brewed coffee service on weekends. Definitely a top recommendation from me, for authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean food. My friend informed me that this restaurant is a labor of love/care from the owner, who had a very successful engineering career before he opened this restaurant, which was a dream of his to share the foods he grew up with to the local Ethiopian and Eritrean community. Even more reason to love and support this restaurant! We went on a weeknight for early dinner and it wasn't crowded. Plenty of parking as they're located in a small shopping plaza.

    Photos
    Partial photo of inside of the restaurant
    Partial photo of inside of the restaurant
    Inside lentil filling of fried sambusa
    Inside lentil filling of fried sambusa
    Signage  03-22-2025

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    Signage 03-22-2025
    Mama Wale’s Rice

    Mama Wale’s Rice

    4.2
    (199 reviews)
    14.0 mi
    $$

    Absolutely amazing food I still think about it to this day! I ordered fufu and a soup I don't…read moreremember but it was amazing (i got beef tho and it was a little tough). I don't have much to say about the service but it was average (average is nice though). I ate in the mall, it was quiet and empty because it was pretty late. The price was a little over what I like to pay for but the food is memorable. First time trying fufu, great experience.

    We had the traditional plate with selections that included the yam, egusi, and beef for protein…read more Waited about 10 minutes for prep and I was excited to try some authentic Nigerian food! The collared greens was tasty, the yam reminded me of Hawaiian poi that was starchy and earthy. The beef could've been cooked better, though. It was really hard and tough to chew: I was a little disappointed. If the beef had been served tender and juicy (soaked in the collared greens sauce) I would've given 5 stars only because I don't think it was worth what we were charged for our dishes. Two pieces of beef that wasn't serving standard in my honest opinion. The store front is located in the food court of the Moreno Valley mall. There's a lot of dining tables and chairs throughout the food court and other food shops surrounding the dining court. There's tons of parking spaces and the mall wasn't very busy so parking is easy. I love African food and compared to my favorite spot in San Diego, this one is not on my list to revisit, unfortunately. Not for the price or quality.

    Photos
    Patiently waiting
    Patiently waiting
    Chicken fried rice bowl
    Chicken fried rice bowl
    Ewa & dodo( beans & plantains)

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    Ewa & dodo( beans & plantains)
    Tana Ethiopian Restaurant

    Tana Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.2
    (460 reviews)
    27.2 mi
    $$

    I've been coming to this spot for a few years now, bringing people with me whenever I can. This is…read morea quiet joint, tucked away in a very unassuming strip mall. The food is always made with love and the staff is always respectful. I'm not sure if they will see this but I wanted to express how much I enjoyed the food and the restaurant itself. Sambusas are always freshly made, and the injera plentiful. My go to is always the platter. I never get tired of the variety and I'm sad to see them go. If you have a chance, please give them a visit before they close !

    Still writing as a fellow vegetarian-- ordering the classic vegetarian special and Ethiopian…read morecoffee-- couldn't try that the first time as it was too late in the day. But this time they roast the beans fresh in a hot little skillet and brought it out for us to sniff-- ever so nutty aroma-- by the cutest little lady. The coffee was so smooth and creamy without any added cream or sugar. She's the grandma I never had and want. After having just watched or anticipating to watch the Book Of Mormon, this seems strangely appropriate. I honestly can't tell what the difference is between the vegetarian delight and the special other than slightly more serving on the special?? But I have no complaints one way or another. This hole-in-the-floor is definitely worth jumping into just to see what Ethiopian food is like and should be like. Something you actually crave and priced in such a way you won't break pockets and also getting to see a cool original painting on the wall next to the bar/cash register. Walking in also feels like you've left California and stepped into another continent's restaurant except they cater to English speakers. Not to mention this super weird plaza and area-- not at all murdery but I also wouldn't bring my best friend's wedding reception whatevers to tour here.

    Photos
    Tana Ethiopian Restaurant
    Tana Ethiopian Restaurant
    Veggie Delight (maybe it looks more like a painter's palette than a clock?)

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    Veggie Delight (maybe it looks more like a painter's palette than a clock?)
    Aunt Yvette’s Kitchen

    Aunt Yvette’s Kitchen

    4.8
    (381 reviews)
    43.7 mi

    A meal with intention, respect to tradition, warmth and refinement and nothing unnecessary or…read moreextraneous!!! I am in love with this restaurant and I can't wait to go back. S/O and I shared the vegan combo and dereq tibs, a pitcher of their infused water, an Ethiopian cream coffee, and a glass of palm tree (their arnold palmer). The food was fantastic. I loved every bite we had, especially the gomen (braised greens), cabbage and carrot, and the kik alicha. The dereq tibs, though? That was AMAZING. Tender beef, sweet stewed onion, the perfect amount of spice from the serranos. I loved that the dish is accompanied by senafich (a spicy, horseradish-y mustard) and mitmita (a DELICIOUS chili powder that I want to put on everything lol). The beverages were delicious, I love an arnold palmer and this one is probably the best i've ever had with their spiced tea. Their coffee was decadent and strong and perfectly balanced. And the banana split! I am not usually one for dessert but I knew I needed to try this and I'm SO glad I did. A symphony of textures and complex flavors. We may or may not have used our fingers to get the last bits from the dish. The place itself is like a little oasis from the hustle and bustle of the strip mall outside. Vibey music, beautiful furniture and decor, and all attention paid to the little details. Can't wait for them to reopen so we can come back!! Parking - strip mall was crowded, but street parking wasn't too bad to find.

    My first time having Ethiopian food, and it was fantastic!…read more We ordered the vegan combo, doro wat, and beef awaze tibs. The vegan combo came with a bunch of flavorful things like stewed red lentils, stewed yellow split peas, Ethiopian salad, et cetera. I'm not vegan, but I would have been more than satisfied with just the vegan combo as it was delicious and filling. The doro wat - spicy braised chicken with a hard-boiled egg - was tender and tasty. I thought the beef dish was even better. The beef pieces practically melted in my mouth. And everything went great with the injera, which had a spongy texture that I found absolutely pleasing. The service was also wonderful. Before our meal, our server performed a hand-washing ceremony with rose water. And after we finished eating, we were presented with wet towels to clean our hands. Throughout lunch, our server kept our glasses of water filled. This place is a small intimate spot with very few tables, so reservations are strongly recommended.

    Photos
    Elegant interior
    Elegant interior
    Banana split and berberae ice cream
    Banana split and berberae ice cream
    Ethiopian Tej (honey wine) to cheers @brunch

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    Ethiopian Tej (honey wine) to cheers @brunch
    Lynda's African Delicacies

    Lynda's African Delicacies

    4.2
    (222 reviews)
    24.5 mi
    $$

    This small shop is worth visiting to have some delicious Nigerian food. If you're looking for an…read moreinteresting place to take a friend, this is a great choice. Portions are generous and there is plenty of outdoor seating and parking in the area. There are a couple of indoor tables, but I'd recommend going when it's nice out so you can sit at the picnic tables in the middle of the traffic circle out front and watch the planes on final approach to SNA. It does get a bit loud since the airport is so close by. You order at the register and the food can take a little bit to come out depending on what dishes are ready to go. I decided on goat as a traditional option and went with the non-spicy jollof rice. The cashier also offered their habanero sauce with a warning about how hot it is. I'm not sure what the greens were, but they were mild and not bitter like collard greens. The plantains were a nice sweet treat to round out the meal.

    I've really wanted to like this place more…read more I don't usually give bad reviews, especially to small local businesses but here we are. I came here because I've been wanting to try Nigerian food for the longest time. I ordered through doordash their beef egusi that came with fufu. It was about $28 for one portion. They put the beef on the side and it was dry AF. The flavor was okay but it was difficult to swallow since it was so dry. The egusi unfortunately had a strong fishy smell to it that was off putting. The fufu was probably the best thing there. I also gave some to two other girls to try and they felt the same. Unfortunately I was very disappointed in everything and didn't even finish my meal. That is rare for me. I also didn't like that when I came my order wasn't ready. I think they didn't even see my order. This place is small and casual. The two ladies working there were nice. The foods look pre-made. They also sell some grocery items in store. There is a few tables and chairs inside and outside. It's located in a business area by the round about.

    Photos
    Rice
    Rice
    Suya Kabob ($5). This was spicy and very flavorful. I recommend it! 9/16/2023
    Suya Kabob ($5). This was spicy and very flavorful. I recommend it! 9/16/2023
    Fish (Talapia)

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    Fish (Talapia)

    Sekela Ethiopia Restaurant - ethiopian - Updated July 2026

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