Wow! It was my first time having Ethiopian food today with a friend who wanted to show us and it…read morewas such a wonderful experience! The owner is such a wonderful human being and really cares about his culture and food! He did a wonderful job telling us about the menu and then suggesting the party platter to split between the four of us. It was wonderful eating everything here and my experience was great! Everything was so fresh and I think one of my favorite things was the doro wat! The entire plate was a wonderful rainbow of flavors. I also got some Ethiopian tea post-meal and it was sooo lovely and spiced, they traditionally drink this after a meal and it was such a wonderful way to finish the food off. Highly recommend! Thank you for a lovely meal!

So excited to finally find Ethiopian cuisine in OC!…read more We came for a casual lunch. The staff was kind and welcoming. We ordered the Veggie Combo with Awaze Tibs - both packed with bold, delicious flavors. I do wish portions of veggies and legumes were a bit bigger. That said, still a great spot to switch things up and explore something different!

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.

This was my first time eating Nigerian food--I loved! We ate in and had egusi with beef and fufu…read moreand coconut rice with plantains and fish. The egusi was amazing and the fufu ball was perfect consistency, light and moist, a wonderful cloud to accompany your egusi. The egusi was my favorite, but the rice, fish and plantains were good too. There are plenty of tables, seating and parking. I loved the small but private parking lot. There is pretty are on the walls and a TV playing if you want entertainment. The ambiance is peaceful and tasteful. Service was kind and friendly. There was a man who was very helpful and considerate of our lack of knowledge. He made recommendations and we asked for low spice--and the spice level was perfect in the egusi! The egusi had just enough spice for flavor but not too much to ruin out meal for us (spice wimps!). We are thankful. This weekend we were just passing Long Beach, but we will definitely return again, looking forward to more Nigerian food - worth the trip just for the food. This review was not requested.

This was our first time trying Nigerian food, and first time at Omalicious/Sumputous…read more We ordered the beef egusi with fufu and combo with coconut rice plantains and fish. Both super delicious we cleaned our egusi plate clean!! Very generous portions and service was really great. They were very nice! We loved the food so much we ordered okra soup (made to order fresh) and another egusi to-go but we decided to try with the goat meat. Normally we aren't goat meat people but we're down to try it! Everything was super delicious. We would definitely come back, excited to try the beef Patties in the future they were sold out when we came. Highly Recommend to others!

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.

After being so curious about trying Ethiopian cuisine for so long, this was my first time trying…read moreit! I imagined it to be very rich in flavor and it sure exceeded that and made me feel so happy and full. So much gratitude As a Mexican American I yearn for spicy food and the doro wat was something up my alley! The dish had layers of warming spices that were so pleasant to my taste buds. And the injera- it's unlike anything I've had before and it was a delight using it to feed myself... dipping my injera into all my dishes was very ritualistic and I look forward to coming again! The iced tea had subtle tones of spices which was a pleasantly refreshing surprise.

This was an amazing meal and experience! Parking is quite accessible in a strip mall where this…read morerestaurant is located. The customer service was great when we arrived and it was empty which was surprising however many groups did show up by the time I was finished eating and pretty much the whole establishment was filled. The waiter was kind enough to let us smell the coffee beans which was a unique experience for me and I loved it! The food was exceptional we only got a vegetarian combo and an order of sambusas and were filled up! I would definitely come back here and try the Kitfo and Doro Wat. (BTW this was my first ever Ethiopian meal)

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.

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.

Messob Ethiopian Restaurant's food service and ambiance is 2nd to none!!!! Getahun, Berhanu, and…read moretheir staff are amazing. My family and I had the honor of celebrating me and my wife's 30th anniversary over a phenomenal heavenly delicious assortment of gourmet creations that would've been an 8 course meal in a normal sitting. Thank you Berhanu and Getahun for an enlightening historical lesson, and thank you Messob team for making our dining experiences extraordinarily enjoyable!! My family and I love you all!!!! 10 STARS FROM Derrick, Allison, Peyton, and Ashton :-)

The food was delicious, and the staff were incredibly friendly. I highly recommend this place to…read moreanyone looking for a great dining experienc