Cozy, friendly, neighborhood-building community restaurant where the owner/proprietor, a wife-and-husband team, are also the cook and server team. And they remember patrons after one visit and greet you with a warm smile and *delicious* steaming plates of healthy food that makes your body happy. Try not to make this a staple of your diet. It's a foolish goal to have! read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

My favorite Ethiopian food in town. Everything I have eaten has been delicious, and for vegetarians, the variety of options is really great. On my most recent visit, during lunch time with friends, we all had the all-you-can-eat buffet, which is a great value at $13.99 (current price). The woman serving us was very generous with the portions and also made sure we had plenty of injera bread to eat with it (though there is also rice on the buffet if you prefer.) Although I don't know the names of any of the things I ate, there were mild and spicy options, several kinds of lentils, a kind of pureed chickpea dish, sauteed/braised greens and two kinds of mixed veggies - one with carrots and one with cabbage. Although the buffet is all-you-can-eat, we were all stuffed and just managed to eat what we were served. A few side notes: -- Hours here on Yelp say they open at 11 am which is incorrect. They open at 12 pm each day of the week. -- There is street parking and in this section of the city, it is still free! -- Seating in the front room inside can accommodate approx 20 people. On the day we visited, we were a group of 4, and several singles came in, and two other groups of 4, and the place was packed -- There are also several meat options on the buffet; if you want the meat the buffet price increases by $1 -- Beverages are all in bottles - water, sodas, etc -- This place uses disposable paper plates and plastic cutlery -- Don't forget to ask about the samosas! They have a veggie one and a meat one, and though we forgot and were too full, they looked and smelled amazing! read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Single serving off the vegetarian buffet - everything was delicious! - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Ordered delivery to a medical office while visiting Rochester for the afternoon. Vegetarian combination platter was delicious, delightfully hearty serving of injera (as plate, food & utensil) hit the spot & was @4 servings! Also ordered Ethiopian coffee which was fine. Yelp delivery fees, taxes, service fees & tip made a super reasonably priced meal quite pricey, but the combo meal was worth every penny. read more

See all

delicious vegan combo platter and she can make inera with teff flour (gluten free!) upon request. soo much yummy stewed highly nutritious food and warm spices. good for the body, good for the soul. the owner is also so so sweet and friendly. the dining room is very relaxed and earthy decor. i always love to see the tea / incense ceremony & altar they have going. i recommend calling ahead so she's ready for you! read more

Place is straight fire you will make the injera disappear. All you can eat, no misses, standouts include the peppered beef and the potatoes in that wot sauce. Insane buttery flavor from the beef I can't explain. And the couple there are very nice, chill ambiance read more

Tiny place with great service, apparently by the woman owner, and the real ethnic food.

Everything here is amazing. There's spicy stuff. There's homemade vegetarian stuff. Unfortunately, I don't know the name of most of the times. I wish I could share the dishes. I like the lentils, the stewed cabbage, and the pretty much all the vegetarian sides. The injera (bread) is heavy and fresh out of the oven. The people who work here are so nice and friendly. There's delicious cold beverages from Egypt. I had a fruit juice (Guava flavor!) Which was super sweet and delicious. How could I not go all the time? It's located in Rochester. That's why. read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - A little of everything - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

This was a perfect restaurant. Ambiance, service, food... it was just amazing. You get an all you can eat authentic Ethiopian buffet for less than 16$ The dishes range from mellow lentil stews to spicy lamb curry. 10/10 would recommend! Don't miss this gem! read more

See all

Wow. This was my first time ordering from Zemeta and trying Ethiopian food and everything was amazing! I ordered the Tibs Firfir (cubed beef, bits of injera, soaked in spiced red pepper sauce and sautéed with red pepper sauce) and lentil sambusas. The portions are HUGE and I truly had enough for 2-3 meals. The interior of the restaurant has bright, colorful decorations and small tables. They are currently only accepting to-go orders and delivery, but I could see this being a great place to enjoy a meal. The staff was very friendly and made me feel welcome right away. The food is phenomenal. The tibs firfir was wrapped in injera, which is a fluffy, spongey (and gluten-free) bread. I also received more on the side. I chose lentils and cabbage for my sides. The tibs has a great spicy kick and so much flavor. The pieces of beef had a crispy outside but soft interior. The sambusas (or samosas) were my favorite. They are big, about 3" in diameter, and perfectly crispy outside with deliciously spiced lentils inside. They also have a beef version. Highly recommend them. This was one of the best meals I've had in a long time! So much flavor and friendly service. I will definitely be back. read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Tibs Firfir (wrapped in injera bread) with lentils and cabbage - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Might be the best Ethiopian spot in the Rochester area. My girlfriend and I decided to have our date night here; this was her first time having Ethiopian cuisine. At the door, we had to ring the bell for service, but was quickly served in no time. We were greeted by the owner herself! She brought so much warmth and comfort as she walked us through the menu. We felt like we were dining at her house! The dinner buffet is what we chose, allowing us to try many new things. Favorites include: the chicken and potatoes, lamb, veggie spread, and the spiced tea. Stuffed and satisfied was the outcome after 30 minutes of dining! We were offered to-go boxes for the food we didn't eat, which was great!! (buffets usually don't allow diners to leave with food). If you're looking for a warm and welcoming restaurant with flavor-filled foods, this is your place to go! Not to mention; the buffet is so affordable!! read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

This might be the first review in which I would have liked to use an interrobang, at the end of the following sentence: "Your meal here is served to you buffet style" (? and !). It's true, and it's also a rare fine as far as Ethiopian restaurants go. The woman who works here (I'm guessing one of the owners) is one of the friendliest and nicest people you will ever meet, and she lets you pick which items you want - and how much of each - for your plate, with a generous amount of injera too, of course. Everything was very well prepared, the meats were tender all each entree was wonderfully spiced. I was disappointed greens weren't available, but that I was easily satisfied by having both cabbage and spinach available instead. And it's very reasonably priced as well. It's going to be difficult to get me to want to dine any place else in the area. read more

Came back again for the new year, still love this place, great portions, fast and friendly service. Food is delicious and filling. read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Sooooooo much food!! Veggie plate - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Zemeta is my favorite spot for Ethiopian eats in the city. In all honesty, I've really only ever ordered two things: the vegetarian combo platter (this is a must), and one of the meat combos. The vegetarian platter is large enough for two people to split and be completely full. To me, their injera and service is what sets them apart. I love how homey the space is and the food feels like comfort food to me. I've never tried their buffet though I would like to! I tend to get nervous ordering the meat options now after a bad experience with a completely uncooked piece of meat being served one of the last times I was there. This is my fault entirely for not understanding the cuisine and what the server was explaining to us, so I think the buffet would really help me to better figure out what I love and don't love, making for more confident ordering in the future. I'll keep going back for the veg platter in the meantime, and 100% recommend you do the same. read more

The food was amazing! There is more than 10 options you could add your plate with unlimited amount of indri. So yummy! I haven't had the chance to be there for more than 10 Years. And it tastes so good! The owners are so welcoming! You know it's authentic when it has their boiled eggs marinated The buffet is unlimited. And can take to go afterwards! read more

I love Ethiopian food and Zemeta never fails to disappoint. I have been a number of times and always like what I have tried. On my most recent visit, I was surprised to see their business model change to only now do buffet style dining (served by their staff). While at first I was a little wary of the new format, I actually really liked the flexibility to try whatever looked good and then go up for more of my favorites. Everything was still good, though the tibs options were a little dry. The injera was still as good as I remembered it too. This is a very approachable way to try Ethiopian food and I would highly recommend checking them out! read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Love the vegan lunch special here. I am unsure of the names of all the dishes, but the yellow split peas is dynamite. The flavors are consistent and the lunch is so well priced. Literally cave into getting this once a week! Owner is so nice, and she cooks/prepares all the food. read more

We came to visit our daughter and she brought us to Zemeta, best Ethiopian restaurant I have had in decades. Absolutely amazing food!!!

Zemeta is the place you go to introduce one to Ethiopian cuisine. Everyone running that place are amazing welcoming people. Food is always warm and yummy. Their injera is to die for. All their vegetarian dishes are simply amazing. The meat is great too! It's a small dining area but a very cozy space! read more

Amazing food and service. I love going into the restaurant and getting it delivered. I absolutely recommend the vegetable combo plate, so filling and the spices are excellent. read more

I've dined here many times with different people - all who loved the place as well. There is always the same woman serving tables. She's super friendly and accommodating. The place has never been busy when I've visited. There's no parking lot, but park on the street next to the market, two buildings away from Zemeta. There's always parking there! During the summer, they have two tables on their outside patio for customers to dine at. Besides the friendly and quick service, the food is genuinely amazing. I regularly eat at 3 different Ethiopian restaurants in ROC, and this is hands down my fave. They always have vegan options on the (very cheap) buffet and their menu is full of options as well. They offer both mild and spicy items, which my pallet really appreciates! Everything is packed with flavor and super fresh tasting. I've never had anything I don't like. The coffee is strong and yummy as well! Affordable and delicious food with friendly service. Definitely worth a visit! ... or 10. read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - vegan buffet - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

Wow! This place is small and cute. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was the best Ethiopian food I've ever had! The owner is so welcoming and sweet. We had such a great experience. I'm from out of town and so glad I stumbled upon this restaurant. Give it a try- you won't be disappointed. read more

This is the BEST Ethiopian I have ever had ANYWHERE!!!! I've had Ethiopian in DC, NYC, Buffalo, Syracuse, etc. and this place is AMAZING!!! The dinner buffet offers a lot of options, the portions are generations, the flavors are rich and the service is kind and prompt. They have vegetarian and meat options. Many of their dishes are not spicy but some are (just ask). Their tea has a nice delicate spice to it. The place itself is much bigger than the front room presents, there is additional seating up a couple of steps and in the back. The bathrooms are small but clean. Parking is free and easy in the street (on a Friday night we parked right in front of the place). Prices are very reasonable, we paid about $25 total for all three people. read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all

The last time I visited Zemeta was probably 5 years ago, long before COVID upended restaurants worldwide. I always enjoyed the home cooked flavors and relaxed ambience of their primary vegetarian buffet. I decided to revisit it today, and was not disappointed. They have expanded the menu to include beef, chicken and lamb, and have a number of appetizers and other options. I chose a vegetarian plate to go, and the owner enthusiastically filled it with every option and many fresh, tangy rolls of injera. I added a freshly brewed ethiopian coffee as an afterthought, and I am so glad that I did. The coffee was delicious and strong, and all the vegetarian options were really fantastic. If you haven't experienced it, the style of food is sometimes a bit oil rich and heavy, but so deeply flavorful. The owners are friendly and welcoming. The interior is oddly laid out, but the seating in front is comfortable and offers some great light on a sunny day. This is a solid Rochester recommends. read more

Charming, unpretentious neighborhood place with excellent homestyle Ethiopian cuisine. Injera to die for; just beautiful. Very friendly staff and great service. We had the buffet; my friend was very happy with the meat offerings and I can vouch for the delicious vegetarian menu. read more

This place is amazing! All you can eat and you should eat it all!!! Perfect for those who have never had Ethiopian food and perfect for those who have! The staff here is super friendly and nice. The inside of the restaurant is small and comfy. Definitely a place you have to check out! read more

Came here for a date night after my partner came home raving about the food and service he experienced eating there with work colleagues. The place was clean and we didn't have to wait to be seated. The woman behind the counter remembered my boyfriend and was so lovely to us throughout the meal. She seemed to be running the front and back ends - food prep and service, so we were amazed. There was so much variety to choose from and we got heaping plates full of many different curries and starches. I loved the lentils especially. Very vegetarian friendly and plenty of meat options as well. Will be back for more! read more

Zemeta is one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in Rochester. The restaurant doesn't look much from the outside or fancy inside, but they serve varieties of delicious food. Doro Wet is always my favorite. They serve all you can eat on the weekends. If you have no idea what to expect for the all you can eat, you enter the restaurant, wait to be seated, and then go to the food counter and pick what you what (the owner will serve you the food). You can go back to the food counter for the next round of food. This is the best way to try different dishes available on that day. The owner roasted her coffee beans herself. The coffee beans were imported from Ethiopia, and yes, you can buy the coffee beans from her, and she will roast them for you. If you like strong coffee like me, don't forget to order her coffee too. The owner is charming and welcoming. read more

See all

Absolutely incredible Ethiopian food! It's all you can eat buffet style (served by the staff there who are masked). We went for dinner on a weekend and per person it was like $15-16 which is incredible for the quality! The staff was so sweet and there were a handful of tables for seating, so we had a great time with our friends! They sell bottled drinks/water separately. Definitely will be coming back!!! read more

See all

This place has always been a favorite of mine. The service is amazing. The workers always are friendly and helpful. And the food is great.

Great food and friendly service! We got the vegetarian platter and one beef main dish and that was more than enough for two people. The food was ready fast and was very tasty. I'd like to try the buffet sometime read more

If you're new to Ethiopian, Zemeta is a great place to start! As a newbie, I have always gone with the dinner buffet so you can get a taste of everything! However, recently we ordered the vegetarian plate for 4 and were blown away by the delicious display before us! You won't be disappointed or leave hungry! The staff are always wonderful to interact with answering any questions you may have. Fun tip: you can bring in your own beer or wine! Check out our meal!! read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian dinner for 4! - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Best Ethiopian food I've had in Rochester! The buffet style is incredibly indulgent, allowing me to get extra of my favorite items, and a feature I'm surprised I've never encountered before. read more

Speaking for the vegetarian lunch buffet (came on Saturday) as it has been hyped by locals and from reviews. Overall, 4/5 because it was all very good, but due to the cold weather, lack of heating/air movement, and slower business, I think I had less fresh than usual food and a kind of "economic" experience, if you will. Buffet is on Friday and Saturday all day and price is 9.99$ without tax. This is a vegetarian buffet. For those who are unfamiliar to Ethiopian food, you must have injera (sour pancake like roll that is the bread/rice of Ethiopian cuisine). Most foods are stewed and baked- the flavors are very mature and very well blended because it just takes time to brew such concentrated and authentic flavors. Doro W'et, an onion-y chicken dish, for example takes can take a whole day to brew. There are about 8-9 veggie options today. The beans, lentils, veggies today were all very well flavored. You have about 3-4 lentils dishes stewed in different ways. They go super well with the injera. We had a cabbage/carrot dish. There was a stewed greens onion dish that was nice and added a different texture. Potatoes were nice in stewed gravy. The back dish with the beets, potatoes, and onions that tasted like french fries was a good dish- well baked/flavored and just added a nice dimension of texture was great. On your end of your trek, you'll see cut fruits (pineapples, oranges) which add a nice touch of tropical. There was romaine lettuce salad and some other cold cuts. But the reason why I didn't love my experience, was bc based on the crust formed over the lentils gravy like dish, you can tell the food had been sitting out for a while and had low turnover rate. When you come in, it's not even clear who you tell that you're here and where to be seated. We must have wandered all over the lobby and had to go up the stairs and someone told us to start eating and sitting down. Until now, I'm not even sure who was the waiter/hostess because our dishes were never cleared either. There must have been about 6-7 customers today including us, 3 tables filled. The lights were off and it is a cold day, so taking off a jacket is tough b/c you don't want to freeze while you're eating, but eating injera with your gravies and stew is a messy process. So having an "economic" experience already made you feel the food is less fresh than usual. The flavors, don't get me wrong were very very good and I recognize a good cuisine when I see one b/c one cannot cheat time in brewing a good dish, but just the economic experience made me feel like I was getting warmed up leftovers. read more

Not so good. There's no difference with fast restaurant. The plate is paper made and all the dishes come together, which blends all the flavor together. Also, the injera is too thick!!! And the food is a little too sweet read more

See all

Always a great experience here. Owners are onsite and couldn't be more friendly. Brought a friend who has eaten at more Ethiopian restaurants than I ever will and he loved the food. Buffet style, and they scoop for you. All you can eat incredible food. Vegan/Veg/Carnivore options. read more

I had their lunch buffet. It was good and fresh. The price was worth the food. More vegetarian - bean choices then anything. The bread wasn't as fermented and fresh as I recall, but it wasn't bad. The service was friendly, but the bathroom needed some cleaning. I'd go back. read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Buffet selection - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Possibly the best injera I've ever had. But seriously if you're intimidated by Ethiopian food come here order the tibs and the veggie sampler. You won't be disappointed. Also their prices are so affordable. They are also doing take out and delivery right now. read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

Zemeta is a real gem of Rochester - an Ethiopian restaurant open for lunch and dinner where you can stock up on amazing vegetarian Ethiopian food for $8 monday-Wednesday and $10 Thursday-Saturday. The available options are fantastic, ranging from spiced lentils to a cooked carrot dish to turmeric rice, all served with classic Ethiopian injera bread. Everything on the buffet is delicious and well worth getting. This is a great place for couples, larger groups, even kids. To top it off, at night, you can get your food from Zemeta and hang out in the Ethiopian hookah cafe that is part of the same building, which has its own Yelp page (Un Hookah Cafe & Lounge). It's a fantastic and winning combo. Where else can you get amazing authentic inexpensive food, hookah, DELICIOUS Ethiopian coffee, and play cards while listening to awesome African music? Honestly, although the food here is not as interesting as Natural Oasis or the nearby Addis Adabba, the hookah parlor and low key vibe make this possibly my favorite Ethiopian place in town. The people who run this business are friendly and accommodating. This is definitely my go-to-place to eat on South Clinton Avenue, and I highly recommend you give it a shot! read more

If you ever live in Rochester​ or stop by in Rochester, yall cannot leave without trying this place! Back when I was in college, this was my go-to​ spot literally almost every other week or every weekend whenever I knew I'll be needing to stuff myself before I go out at night or if I'm craving for that homemade meal. I'm Ethiopian​ myself and I approve this place 10x more than I've tried in other Ethiopian​ spots in Rochester. The lady that owned this place was so sweet (her smile will definitely​ make you feel welcomed) and she always knew my usual order which is either Doro Wot or the Veggie Combo. Mind you, she's a hostess, waitress, owner and server all at once - so bravo on her part because her restaurant has been a success for years. And a major plus about this place is that you can bring your own beer or wine to go along with your meal. They also do a ​veggie buffet on weekends only, they're​ vegan too for I believe ten bucks and its unlimited servings! Its a really relaxed​ environment​; it can be hectic​ on some days/nights when more people come in and the place is pretty small itself but that what makes the experience​ so warm & family-like. I decided​ to get Doro Wot but since I don't eat chicken anymore, I asked her if they removed the chicken​ and egg (its still practically​ vegan!) She was able to accommodate my desire. Every meal comes with veggie side and injera and it only costs me about 11 dollars for the entire thing. It was very fulfilling & DELICIOUS; you'll be stuffed by the time you have your 5th or 6th bite - or you'll probably devour the whole thing because it's that good. This is a true gem in the city of Rochester. read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Doro Wot (w/o chicken & egg), veggie sides and injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

I have been wanting to try this restaurant out for a while. I finally got the chance a couple of weeks ago with a friend. Another mutual friend had told me there are 3 Ethiopian restaurants in the area but this one is the most authentic, she was right. We were seated right away and the place was cozy. Our waitress was very attentive. We decided to not do the communal plating since my friend needed to have vegetarian. She ended up ordering the vegeterian platter and I ordered the mix of meats combination of beef, Ethopian pot roast and lamb. The best part of the meal is that it also came with a side of salad and mixed veggies, certainly a well-balanced meal. The meal was rich and flavorful with lots of leftovers to take home. We also enjoyed our after drink of Ethopian coffee and tea. Would highly come back again! read more

Zemeta Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Rochester, New York

See all