Great African food for a reasonable price. Very cosy and intimate ambience, due to it being quite a…read moresmall space. We came on a weekday night and it was not too crowded, but comfortable. We started with the Cramped Cauliflower (fried cauliflower) entree, which was quite good, but nothing amazing. Basically deep fried cauliflower with some herbs. Then came the mains. The outstanding dish was the Genfo African Fufu (gnocchi of toasted barley flour). Unique in flavour, the gnocchi had a great consistency with some holding a little crunch from the pan frying. It's topped off with a big dollop of cream, and was very filling yet satisfying. We added chicken to it. Our other main was the Molokia (spinach and lamb with rice), which was decent but lacked a little flavour compared to the fantastic gnocchi.

Absolutely delicious, well priced, authentic and a fav of mine in Melbourn for something different.read more

I've tried several Ethiopian restaurants in Melbourne -- both in Footscray and in other suburbs --…read moreand Ras Dashen has been the best by far! The owner is an older gentleman who's so nice and helpful. The food tastes amazing, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the prices are good. Really, nothing to fault here. The menu has the usual suspects like ful, tibbs, and injera bread with a variety of platters, both meat and vegetarian. There were also a few surprises on the menu too (like Lebanese bread). They have a small variety of beers including Ethiopian ones, and they also do spirits. People who don't think they're a fan of injera bread might want to try the bread here, because it tasted way more mild and less "fermented" than any other injera bread I've had. (Or you can get your platters with rice instead of injera bread, if you prefer.) We went with the vegan tasting platter for two people (and yes, they totally know what "vegan" means here) and it was so delicious and filling. It came with injera bread and several little dishes to scoop onto your bread -- three different kinds of lentil dahls, one beetroot dish, some potatoes and greens, and another dish of mixed veggies. Everything was seasoned with different spices and each dish tasted completely different -- and there wasn't a single dish we disliked. The brown lentil dish in the large bowl in the middle of our platter was my favourite, but honestly, everything was delicious. I wish I could cook like that -- with everything perfectly seasoned! Atmosphere-wise, it's a narrow little place, dimly lit, with interesting art on the walls and a TV in one corner showing Al-Jazeera. Clientele is a mix of backgrounds, some Ethiopian folks, some not. Prices are about the same as other places in Footscray (i.e., cheaper than most suburbs in Melbourne -- I think we paid around $35 for our MASSIVE platter for two as well as two Ethiopian beers) but in my opinion the value for money is much better than a lot of places because the food quality here is so high. I probably still want to try other Ethiopian places in Footscray, but it's honestly hard to go past Ras Dashen!! If you've never had Ethiopian food, or even if you've had it heaps of times -- give this place a try!

Ethiopian food is my jam. I have tried it in many states back home in the US and I make it my…read moremission to find an ethiopian restaurant and market wherever I travel. Imagine my excitement when I found Saba's within driving distance of my Aussie family's home! As a women-owned/run restaurant, Saba's is full of lovely decor and warmth. Both times we went, Saba herself gave us great recommendations (we are vegan) and the food came out quickly- good thing since we brought along the kids! I liked everything, though many of the dishes were milder in spices than I've had before in the states (usually the kik alicha I've had comes with raw jalapeño slices on the side for example!). I think the only thing I didn't like was the injera. It was much darker and had a very different taste and texture than other injera I've had. All in all we obviously loved Saba's, as we returned only a few days after our first visit!

Saba's Bridging the Cultural Divide-…read more Being caught up in the cyclonic whirlwind of today's technological age is a blessing and a curse in the way that it slowly separates us from core belief systems we are afforded during childhood.The simple pleasures in life.. like the touch from a loved one, having a laugh and sharing precious moments become lost in the daily routine, lessons learn't become background noise and softly fade into the past.But do not fear as"Saba's Restaurant"will help rectify that! Realizing family friends community are all central to living a fulfilling happy life Saba invites us back to a time before we became so self absorbed and disconnected, through the simple act of sharing food.Although this simplicity can sometimes be confronting, especially if you mix in today's"social norms"it is well worth it.So take your social medication! What is Saba's and what's on the menu- Saba's is an Ethiopian restaurant hosting a varied range of food species including Vegetarian Vegan and Meat dishes all gluten free,served inside a woven round wicker basket called a"Mesob".When the lid is lifted off the traditional Ethiopian basket you are presented with the Injera Bread which forms the basis for many of the meals at "Saba's Restaurant".The menu remains constant throughout the year incorporating specials from time to time but unlike the typical specials from a normal restaurant (i.e yesterday's leftovers) these truly are special akin to capturing a rare Pokemon and should be snatched up straight away as to not miss them.The specials sometimes include the most popular meals from Ethiopia; offal based dish called "Tripa" and the Ethiopian version of Steak Tartare the "Kitfo" if you're lucky. Humble Beginnings- The idea of "Saba Restaurant"didn't appear by sheer happenstance,nor did it merly pop into the imagination like a comical light bulb, infact it was a series of events which lead up to the opening of Saba's first Ethiopian restaurant.In the days before "S.R" Saba Alemayoh invited friends to try her mother's cooking all made from her country's traditional recipes,these were such a great hit she decided to sell the main cooking component "Teff Flour"to numerous health food stores,coinciding with the operation of a small catering service.The driving force behind the opening of Saba's was not so much the food in and of itself but the chance to share her proud cultural heritage with the people of Melbourne.With the help from her friend Sebla Afewerk and her mum Tekebash as head chef they started Saba's and the rest is history. We ordered the White Spiced tea as a starter for the night... Spiced White Tea ( )The tea consists of black tea brewed in milk, combining cardamom cloves and cinnamon tasting similar to chi ,but has a skin on the surface similar to one formed on a custard hmmm delicious. Dorho Sebhid )Main component being the slow cooked Chicken that slides so easily from the bone accompanied with a hard-boiled egg.For people who enjoy a V-Hot spicy Chicken Vindaloo esk dish this one is for you(ask for extra heat)it has a very dark satisfying flavor.It is one dish I would gladly come back for. Vegetarian Combination ( ) Vegetarian combo is a selection of 3 separate Vego dishes from the menu.My eating partner found the expierince to be exciting When Saba personally delivered the two treasure trove baskets to our table similar to the traditional Filipino way of eating In using your hands this at first may seem uncivilized but you will quickly adapt and you may also find it stimulating. Teff Brownie( )And then followed up by the final act. One must know their lines before committing their taste buds to the full onslaught of this sticky sweet chocolate devil made from Teff which gave it a heavier feel but adding to the experience at the same time.

Incredibly tasty food and friendly service. The African eggs are a must.read more

Great place where you can eat a great combination of vegetarian and african food which is tasty,…read moredelicious and yummy. I have discovered this place by pure coincidence and were amazed of how good it is.

Eat here, and you will never need to eat again. There is that much food and it is that delicious…read more The incredible lady behind Moroccan Soup Bar has taken over the old nut shop in Brunswick East and transformed it in to an incredible Moroccan Deli AKA your next lunch destination. Now, it can be a little confusing for a newbie so let me help you out. Upon entry, head straight to the back and ask for a plate with the lot. The staff will ask you about your dietary requirements or if there's anything you don't like and then they work their magic. Expect a giant plate of salad, haloumi, falafel, rice, tabouli and all sorts of other deliciousness that will keep you full until next Saturday. Their food is so flavoursome that their are frequent "Oh God, this is so good" heard mumbled between mouthfuls. In the words of Molly Meldrum, do yourself a favour and get there ASAP.

Morocco is one of my favourite places in the world. From the sands of the Sahara, to the snowy…read morepeaks of the Atlas Mountains, through to the waves on the Atlantic coast, it's a mysterious, fascinating and rewarding destination. Moroccan Deli-cacy similar to its name sake has a slightly chaotic vibrancy, with relaxed friendly service. The cafe used to be an old nut shop and alongside tagines there are spices and raw ingredients for sale. There is a spoken menu and dishes are constantly changing. I ordered the second of the two options offered (the other was a tagine with cous cous), going with the mixed plate. My coffee was short, black and delicious, it even arrived with a sweet on the side. The food was amazing! Bread with zaatar, hummus, garden salad, pickled vegetables, fried haloumi, falafel. It tasted home made with love .. like you'd been lucky enough to be invited into someone's home and their Aunt and Grandma were cooking. Exotic, colourful, fresh, vibrant .. I used the chips to scoop up the cous cous. Just like a visit to Marrakech this cafe is unexpected and wonderful, it will leave you wanting to return .. a real neighbourhood gem. Newspapers - no Music - low and trance like. Space is not quiet given there's plenty of people plus lots of hard surfaces but you can still chat easily.

Was highly rated by my Mum so, we went and we were not disappointed. The staff were great as was…read moreour seat/s. We were a table of 5 and can't work out why we couldn't do a 2 per "meal deal" and a 3 person "meal deal". There is no extra benefit for the customer or the restaurant. You just have to put the food on the table and then we eat!!! Despite this, we had a great time. So much so, we forgot to take photos!!! (Apart from desert) We are coming back

Great food Great service…read moreGreat ambiance Had a selection of entree and mains sharing with a work colleague We enjoyed everything that we ordered. Food was served promptly Great experience and will be going back next time in the area.

It's been a long time since I wrote a review, but this restaurant deserved a Yelp rating so it can…read morebe discovered by other people. Mesob is spectacular, homemade, comforting and delicious Ethiopian food. Attentive and fast service from staff. Highly recommend the share plates for a good sample of the best dishes on the menu. Vegetarian options are plentiful and flavorsome. I doubt anyone leaves Mesob hungry. Definitely make sure you call to book for dinner, by 7pm this place was packed.

So delicious! Lots of interesting and tasty vegetarian options presented in the most delicious…read moretangy flatbread.

I loved this place. I ordered the Vietnamese Roll for entré which was really good, the dipping…read moresauce was magnificent. For main I had the Roasted vegetable crispy pide, which came with the best hand cut chips. This was also really really good. Portion size was very generous (excluding the dipping sauce for the chips, this was the only negative I could find, but I like to include one in any feedback). The staff were attentive and friendly and service was quick. All in all a great experience and I've already made plans to return with family next week. Relaxed and comfortable surrounding, even has some board games if you're looking to pass the time

Vegelicious is a classic restaurant which is a place to go if you're vegetarian. They offer various…read moremixes of food types which is acceptable for tourists as well. The staff is polite and price is within a affordable range.