Ethiopian cuisine is one of my favorite things to eat, and I was excited to find out that Lucy's…read moremarket conducts lessons in cooking injera as well as traditional Ethiopian dishes. Signups and information is on their Facebook page. In addition to a delicious restaurant and cooking lessons, this is also a market, selling commercially produced packages of injera, as well as lentils, and many other staples. There's a large open kitchen, a small retail market area, and a decent sized dining area. The service was top notch, and I learned a lot about the history or Ethiopian food in Minneapolis, during the checkout process. Whether looking for some food, lessons, or ingredients, you really can't go wrong coming here.

Lucy's is consistently delicious. We have gotten take out many times. We almost always get the…read moreveggie sampler and then a meat dish. The two of us are big eaters and we always have leftovers with this ordering combination. -Have had beef tibs wot, the key wot (a little more spicy/smoky), and the tilapia. All great. Want to try doro wot next! -If you're not sure what you like yet, try the Lucy's combo (meat and veggie sampler). Honestly I have never had anything I didn't love. You can taste the love and care that goes into this food. -Their cottage cheese is a super fresh, tangy, amazing complement to their smoky and spicier meat dishes. -Samosas are yummy especially with spicy green sauce on the side! This place is such a gem and we love it!

It has been a very long while since I have had Ethiopian, and I heard that Dilla's was the place to…read moretry in the Twin Cities. After a brief adventure thanks to Apple Maps, we arrived. There is a large paid lot right next to the restaurant, so parking was easy. We did arrive early--right at 5, so that probably helped. We were seated pretty quickly as well. As others have noticed, the service is quite slow (there seems to be only one person working the front of the house), though that felt like it was part of the experience--there was a distinct "gathering place" vibe, and there were plenty of regulars who were engrossed in conversation... it seemed like everyone was family there. The decor added to the family/community feel, with art, textiles, and wicker ware all contributing to a homey feel. Of course what you're really wondering about is the food. It's quite tasty. We started with the veggie sambusas, which were hot and crispy and came with a spicy tomato chutney that was just delicious. We also ordered the fule, which was quite tasty and filling. I loved the seasonings and textures. My favorite dish, though, was Dilla's Mix. It was absolutely beautiful to behold thanks to the jewel-toned beets and golden squash, and the juices of the veggies combined with the spices to create a glorious sauce. It was very comforting and oh-so-satisfying. Of course, all was served with springy injera to scoop it up with. Their injera is a bit lighter and milder than some that I have had elsewhere, but it does the trick nicely. As others have mentioned, Dilla's serves entrees in their own dishes, which is great if you are a group that likes to share.

Small spot for good Ethiopian food. Pros: Good flavors, friendly servers and appreciated they were…read morewilling to create a veggie+meat combo for me - the menu only has veggie or meat combos. Cons: only 4 parking spots and their catering van was in one of them. Server disappeared for long periods of time though there were few tables. The injera was very cold, which made the food get cold fast. Especially since the room was very cold (the server was wearing a down coat).

Before commenting on the food taste and quality, I want to emphasize how important it is for this…read moreestablishment to exist in such a neighborhood. Normally, daily Ethiopian food that's not in the US are vegan, so what is offered here is closer to what's authentically made in Ethiopian culture. I enjoyed pretty much all the dishes I had, and I would recommend this spot to anyone who wants good vegan food. My friends had the awaze tibs, which contained seitan, a high protein meat substitute, and it was seasoned very well, having an adequate amount of spice. I ordered the mushroom tibs, and it was okay, because it tasted as if the only seasoning was salt, and it was a bit dry, which indicated that the mushrooms were overcooked. In addition to such, we had a few veggies on the samplers, including miser, ater kik, gomen, fasolia, and keysir. They all had a good amount of seasoning and in general tasted good with the injera. I would say, though, that they may have all needed a bit more mekelesha, because I have had more vibrant-tasting versions of all of those veggies elsewhere. One thing worth noting was that shiro wasn't one of the options for the veggie sampler, so I had to order a separate portion of shiro, since I considered it necessary when consuming Ethiopian food in general, and it tasted good, in a conventional manner. It seems like per the menu that they have a shiro wot now, which indicates how popular it is among customers.

Lulu's is casual, family owned, and full of flavor! I visited for the first time with friends who…read moreare vegetarian - and it was such a treat to be able to order anything on the menu and know that nothing would contain meat! The Wot and rice are the definition of comfort food, the falafel were crispy, and the mushrooms came out of the kitchen sizzling. Service was quick and incredibly kind. Next time you're looking for a new, vegetarian/vegan bite - definitely come to Lulu's!

They bake their own fresh bread and fresh "Iraqi kabab"…read moreTheir prices were very reasonable and the people were super friendly. Alot of middle eastern grocery options.

Iraqi bread (Samoon) is a must have! Fresh-baked daily, every day. I make sure to stock up every…read moreweekend! Deli in the back has legit, Iraqi kebab. Take it from me who has tried just about every kebab place in the metro, this place has the best. They have various size options, from individual to family size. I typically get the individual size which comes with two skewers. The staff who runs the store are some of the nicest folks you will ever interact with!

When your wife and in-laws are Lebanese and make the best authentic versions of the food you've…read moreever had there's always the quest to find something close to that bar, and going to many different Lebanese restaurants around the world looking for that same quality never stops but is never met.... until that one night and one restaurant knocks you out of your chair and you can't stop thinking about the amazing cuisine right in your own backyard. This was that such night! The Awaijane family has brought their family tradition in great Lebanese cuisine since 1973 and maintained by their children generation after generation, and through their fresh grape leaves, perfectly pan baked Kibbeh (OMG and the raw!!!!), lemon kissed Tabbouleh, & authentically cured Labneh, we intended to take it to go but it was so irreisistable we sat down and ate half of it on site. Don't let the quaint store front on University pass you by, the the truly authentic food amaze you, and the family friendly service bring you back!

How is it that I have never reviewed Emily's before now? I have been a loyal customer for over 30…read moreyears and have always enjoyed this small, yet mighty restaurant. For ambiance, well, let's say it's authentic in types of a typical Middle Eastern Restaurant that is in the Middle East (not the US) meaning that it is sparse. Whatever, that's not why you come here. There used to be a woman who occupied one table peeling about 10,000 garlic cloves. Again, typical (sadly, I have not seen her lately). Service is good. There are not very many tables, so it's not much of a challenge to see the entire restaurant at one time. However, they are attentive and happy to answer all questions. Food: This is why you here. They literally (and I do mean literally) have the best Tabouli salad I have ever tasted anywhere in the world. The menu says it is made fresh every day and it is. Freshness is the absolute key to good tabouli and if it's not fresh, it's not worth eating. Let me say this again: This is the BEST tabouli you can find and if you think you don't like tabouli, at least give theirs a try. But Emily's has much more than tabouli. I love their lamb shish kabob. If you are not a fan of lamb, their chicken kabob is also excellent. Both of them come with an excellent rice pilaf. Pro Tip: You can get a full portion that comes with soup or salad, just a skewer, or half a skewer. Their humus is good, but perhaps not as favorable as other versions I've had. I can also vouch for their spinach pie, which is a great price too. And of course, you can't go wrong without a piece of baklava for dessert. They do have an upstairs eating area that is used for groups. I had not seen this until I went upstairs to use their restroom and saw it on the way. This is a neighborhood gem of a small, family owned quality restaurant. I hope they stay in business for another 50 plus years!

The wife and I spent our date night at Ertale. The restaurant has a warm and cozy feel that makes…read moreit easy to relax and enjoy the evening without feeling rushed. We shared Kikil (slow braised bone in lamb) and Firfir (pieces of injera soaked with seasoned sauce and beef) both dishes a definition of comfort food. What stood out just as much as the food was how genuinely welcoming everyone was. They made us feel right at home from the time we arrived until we left. Whether you're introducing someone to Ethiopian cuisine or planning a special night out, Ertale is a place. We'll definitely be back with the kiddos soon.

As an Ethiopian, I have high expectations for Ethiopian food, and Erta Ale absolutely delivered…read more The food was incredibly authentic, fresh, and full of flavor. Every meal on my plate was outstanding. Specially the Kitfo and Doro Wot. Beyond the amazing food, the hospitality and atmosphere made the experience even better. Without a doubt, one of the best Ethiopian restaurant in the St.Paul, MN. Highly recommended!

I've been here twice now and I've been thoroughly satisfied both times. The food is amazing, and…read morethere's a great variety to choose from. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the decor is lovely. This is definitely going to be a regular spot for me!

My go-to Ethiopian catering spot in the Twin Cities and I finally had a chance to eat here in…read moreperson. Huge plus is the dietary accommodations. I ate here with someone who needed gluten free options & they make GF injera here so was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed the Super Veggie Sampler. I saw someone mention getting the Ethiopian coffee or tea and I didn't want too much caffeine so opted for the tea but was a little disappointed that it didn't come in a cool tea pot I saw in other Yelp photos. It was ok tasting after putting some sugar in but I would pass on the tea next time. The server was nice and there were enough tables for a late lunch on a Thursday but it felt a little humid inside. The food is so good that I can overlook the other things. Def come check out this neighborhood gem.

The food was amazing! So much flavor! We shared the biggest meat platter with started of the…read morerolls. Sooo much food! The rolls were delicious. . The waiter was very kind and friendly in explaining the food and with our service in general. The only thing detracting was it was a cold night and no way to avoid the cold air blowing in, every time the door opened. Therefore, I can't wait to go back in summertime and sit at the patio tables out front!

Great Ethiopian food, and beautiful restaurant. They also have a few tables outside and a bar in…read morethe back. The service was great and friendly. Very attentive. Wish they didn't use one use plastic ramekins when we dine in. And would love if they added some Ethiopian coffee to the menu. But the rest was fantastic.