Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant

Restaurant · King

Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant

Restaurant · King

1

438 NE Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97211

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Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null
Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant by null

Highlights

Injera, kitfo, & veggie combos served in a bright, welcoming room.  

Featured in Eater
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438 NE Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97211 Get directions

@aberusethiopianrestaurant

$10–20 · Menu

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438 NE Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97211 Get directions

+1 503 284 6434
@aberusethiopianrestaurant

$10–20 · Menu

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Last updated

Aug 8, 2025

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The Best Ethiopian Food in Portland | Eater Portland

"This homey Ethiopian spot comes with welcoming and attentive service from the get-go. Ethiopian incense looms throughout the restaurant as the family-run kitchen turns out traditional platters, like the Aberus combination sampler with a taste of the most popular meat and vegetarian options. The Killingsworth restaurant with bright red walls and Ethiopian art also offers a variety of preparations of kitfo — a traditional raw version, one mixed with sauteed collard greens, or dulet kitfo, which combines the dish with other offal, jalapeno, and onion." - Eater Staff

https://pdx.eater.com/maps/portland-ethiopian-restaurants-habesha-abyssinian-eritrean
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Susan M

Google
The food was awesome. I had the Vegetable Combo #2 & the Doro Wot. I love Ethiopian food & this is some of the best I’ve had. The Injera was perfection. The lentils were wonderful. The collards (gomen) was almost creamy with a great flavor. Beets were mild & good texture. The Doro Wot “sauce” was perfectly spiced. The owner was really nice. My husband & I ate about 65% of the food, so we had plenty of leftovers. Our two friends had the Vegetable Combo #3 which seemed like less food than the #2, and they ate about 80% of the food but still had leftovers. Looking forward to eating my leftovers tomorrow. It was a 40-minute drive for me & I’m still really glad I went. I originally planned on visiting for my birthday in February but things got in the way, and I’ve been looking forward to this meal ever since. If I lived next to this place, I would get takeout once a week.

David Deierling

Google
My wife and I love the veggie combo 1&2. Delicious plant based (vegan friendly) meals. The twin sisters are very friendly and welcoming. Don't miss out on this gem. Oh yeah, the Ethiopian coffee is to die for!

J B

Google
Portland is blessed to have a large Ethiopian and Eritrean community. There are so many incredible places to eat, and so many people with big hearts and incredible recipes sharing their foods and culture with us. I honestly haven't eaten at an Ethiopian restaurant in Portland that wasn't good. I will say that Aberus is our new favorite. Particularly, there are some combo plates that they have that include meat dishes and vegetable dishes that is enough for three reasonably hungry people to get full on, that are under $30. Often at Ethiopian places, you order veggie combos, and then meat dishes, but we really like being able to just order one combo and get all of those things. Everything we've tried here has been amazing, excellent flavors, well balanced between mild and spicy, not overly salty, very fresh and an incredible value. The people running the place are very sweet and kind, and we really enjoy supporting them.

Seth Horrigan

Google
My wife and I think this is the best Ethiopian restaurant in NE Portland, which is saying a lot because there are so many delicious Ethiopian restaurants here. Ethiopian food is probably our favorite cuisine overall, and over the years, this has become our go-to option for consistently delicious food. The sisters who run it are delightful and welcoming. While everything on the menu is good, we particularly enjoy the veggie combo #2 and the lamb tibs.

Abbie Lu

Google
If you are looking for or interested in trying good traditional Ethiopian food I highly recommend this restaurant. The food was delicious and they were very helpful with talking through what was best to order based on preferences. She explained spice levels and vegetarian versus meat options. The coffee was very good as well and served in a traditional manner. Yum.

Odaa Tube

Google
Absolutely delicious! The injera was perfectly spongy, the food was delicious and the kitfo was rich and comforting. Warm, welcoming service and an authentic taste of Ethiopian culture. I’ll definitely be back!

Gloria Wu

Google
Looking for an authentic and delicious Ethiopian restaurant in Portland?? This is it! Good vibes all around. Love the fresh roses. The server who took my order was helpful and patient with my questions. We enjoyed both of the vegetable combinations and the lamb Derek tibs. So good and reasonable prices for the amount of food!

CK OnePlus

Google
March 2024: Still deliciously honest Ethiopian food. Flavored and spiced so well. Always top notch food with neighborhood pricing; amazing. August 2023: Awesome locally owned restaurant. Wonderful Ethiopian food served hot and tasty.
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Rachel L.

Yelp
I heard this was THE spot for Ehiopian food, and I was not disappointed. I came with 4 coworkers, and we shared this huge plate of 2 combos. It was just enough! Everything was so delicious, and the staff were super friendly. We got seated quickly and our food came out hot, fresh, and fast. Happy 10 years, Aberus!!!
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Natalie G.

Yelp
This was one of the most expensive Ethiopian restaurant I've been to. Usuallt a vegi platter would be enough to feed 2 adults. Their portions feed maybe 1.25 to 1.5 adults. The platters were about $5 more each than places I go in Seattle which I think would be a comprable city. The food took a while to arrive although my kids were entertained by finding different things around the restaurant. There was a lot of fun decor and real flowers on the tables. The food was ok. Some of the vegis were better than others. It didn't include very much injera to eat the amount of food on two platters combined and I wasn't sure if we were able to get extra or not without an upcharge. I ordered both vegi platters to be able to taste all the different ones. The beets, yellow lentils, and green beans were my favorites.
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Meike C.

Yelp
Delicious, authentic food and always get my order right. I believe this is a woman owned business so that's a plus too!
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Sean R.

Yelp
Im not an Ethiopian food expert so can't really talk about the food quality compared to the many other Ethiopian places around as they've all been good to me. One of the specialties of this place is the kitfo, which is a bit like beef tartare but a bit more spiced. I enjoyed it (and I usually don't like tartare much) definitely but I ate that one by myself and wished I went with a friend to help me with it. My one complaint about this place would be the interior isn't that cozy.
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Roy M.

Yelp
Delicious food, wonderful service. We enjoyed the vegetable combination (whole lentil) with derek tibs lamb. And I had an Ethiopian coffee. Didn't think to take a photo till afterwards!
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Andrew B.

Yelp
The food at Aberus is amazing. We've had almost everything on the menu and it is all worth a try. It has quickly become our go to spot for Ethiopian food. My kids even love it. The service is great as well. The folks who work there are super friendly, informative and attentive without being over your shoulder. They are appreciative of your patronage and that shows in their service and the quality of their food. The Ambiance is fairly sparse but in all honesty I don't really care about how nice a place looks as long as the food is delicious and Aberus has delicious food. I kind of like to how unassuming the place is and what it's lacking in bells and whistles it excels in taste and customer service. I can't recommend this place enough.
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Tajahnae S.

Yelp
we tried Aberus Ethiopian Restaurant last week and y'all i'm still full i ordered lamb awaze tibs, collard greens with beef, and doro wot! obviously with extra injera! this is my dream!! service was so kind! they make the food to order so they ensure that we have our drinks and everything we need while we wait (we did have to wait, but we didn't mind!) come hungry but expect authentic food!! the place is tucked away near the bus stop. beautiful music is playing and there's enough seating for a big family dinner!
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Tony A.

Yelp
One of our favorite Ethiopian restaurants in Portland. At our last visit we had the excellent doro wot (chicken simmered in spices and onions served with homemade cheese). Aberus was generous with the amount of chicken offered, and the berebe sauce was spicy and flavorful. An absolute go-to item on the menu. We also shared the vegetable combination platter (red lentils, cabbage, carrot and potato, yellow peas, and salad). Again, excellent, tasty, though we missed the usual inclusion of gomen (collard greens). Compact, lovely restaurant. Delightful service. Portland is indeed lucky to have so many outstanding Ethiopian restaurants to choose from.
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Ariel C.

Yelp
Delightful ethiopian food! I came here after hiking at the Columbia gorge, and the food hit the spot! I got the veggie combo and the owner let me add lamb to the dish, which I totally appreciate! Delicious food. Lovely tasting injera. Friendly service. Nice honey wine. Flavorful meat and veggies. Do not skip this place, you can taste the love in their food!
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FoodSnot S.

Yelp
Want warm, comfort Ethiopian food that is run by a family with love then do yourself a favorite and come hungry and order everything on the menu.

Kimberly T.

Yelp
Congratulations on 10 years! Aberus had such authentic food and loving service. Such fresh and delicious food consistently. Fabulous coffee too!
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Camille G.

Yelp
The best Ethiopian food in Portland. I love this place. The food is so good and very reasonably priced. The owners are so welcoming and I love coming here.
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Versie Lee M.

Yelp
This restaurant is wonderful. I ordered the vegetable combo and it was delicious. This customer service was great. The young lady who took my order was very nice ,patient and Professional.
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Matt B.

Yelp
Really solid, filling Ethiopian food. We ordered some lunch take-out during the week and our order was ready 25 minutes later. Both my wife and I each got their veggie combo for 2 ($16 each). It comes with green salad, red and yellow misir wot, gomen (collard), and minced beets. Surprisingly, the beets were the highlight -- I had never had a beet dish in Ethiopian food quite like this, but it was impressive. You get plenty of injera to scoop it all up with, leaving you very full at the end. Maybe not world-class Ethiopian food, but it's very tasty.
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Angel F.

Yelp
I do not know how this place went under my radar for so long! I met a friend here for dinner, we ordered 2 seperate combination plates, added a beef dish, and had them combined on one platter (which is how most Ethiopian meals are served). Everything was amazing! The food was vibrant in colors and flavor, the hospitality waa so warm & inviting that we felt as if we were in someone's home. I must say that i am not a beet fan, but they were soo good! I am already looking forward to returning.
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Caroline F.

Yelp
DUDE. GO. GO NOW. SO GOOD. We have been lost in our spiritually unfulfilled Ethiopian cuisine needs since we lost Jarra's. We'd almost given up hope. Then we found this exquisite dining experience. Holy moly. Flavor heaven. The service was charming, attentive, and much speedier than expectations. They have parking. They have fresh flowers in the table. And they have... most importantly...a GLORIOUS MENU. Two of us shared the Aberus Combination; it included beef dish varieties, veggie dish varieties, a chicken dish ... all together on delectable spread of injera. Two of us were over full, uber satisfied, and carrying leftovers (for $22!! ) Delicious insanity.
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Ryan H.

Yelp
I've had a lot of Ethiopian food all over the world, and this definitely ranks as some of the best. Get a couple friends together to get a big sampler plate to share, and everyone will be happy. Every single item is perfect. The St George Ethiopian lager they sell is pretty great too.

Thomas K.

Yelp
Wow! What a find here in the PNW! We moved to our newly adopted home of Olympia last year from Silver Spring, MD, home of dozens of truly good Ethiopian restaurants, and had hoped we'd find something close to what we'd had back East. Unable to find local Ethiopian, we decided to try Aberus while we were on a day trip to Portland ...so happy we did! The food is extraordinary! The Vegetable Combo was transcendent! Virtually every item prepared to perfection: the two lentil dishes, the collards, beets, and even the salad were really terrific. Have to pause here and say that the delicious beets, such a little thing, bore witness to the care and attention to detail this restaurateur devotes to every dish! And there was none of that muddiness you sometimes find in Ethiopian food wherein all the items taste the same. The Doro Wot was equally delectable! Spiced perfectly, the chicken was fall off the bone tender, and even the egg was perfectly cooked. Even the injera was exceptional...we think it was 100% teff, rather than the teff/wheat flour blend you find at some restaurants, and you could certainly tell by the flavor. Really very, very good. The atmosphere here is utilitarian. Nothing fancy, just exceptional food and service. Don't be in a hurry...they prepare much of their food to order, so be patient...it's worth the wait! Highest recommend.
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Steve C.

Yelp
Wonderful experience. The staff was very friendly and thoughtful. The food was excellent. I find that at most of the Ethiopian restaurants I've been to, the flavors overlap and the different fitfits tend to taste much the same as each other. Here, the flavors were distinct from one another and very diverse. Very delicious collard greens, and a beet dish that I have never had before, but will now seek out. Very reasonable prices.
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Brittany W.

Yelp
Cold, mushy, and underseasoned food is what I picked up yesterday The veggie combo was not good. The Doro wat was pretty bad too. My search for good Ethiopian food in Portland continues!
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Teresita A.

Yelp
Excellent food. We came here after realizing our usual place was closed. Will definitely return. The vegetarian combo is a must and the dried beef dishes were delicious.
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Amanda C.

Yelp
The most delicious Ethiopian food we've ever had. The ladies who work here are really sweet too. Gave great recommendations and we will be back.
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Don B.

Yelp
We ordered the Aberus Combination which has three beef dishes, a leg of chicken, a few vegetable dishes and green salad. One of the beef and one of the veggie dishes are spicy, the berbere sauce I suspect. All were excellent. We're taking some leftovers home!

Rick S.

Yelp
Food was excellent! We ordered Key Wot, Doro Wat , and vegetable combination. Will definitely be back!
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Kayleigh C.

Yelp
Amazing! Best Ethiopian I've ever had. Everything was so rich with flavor and the service was excellent. Also loved the Ethiopian style honey wine. I can't wait to come back.
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Linna N.

Yelp
BEST ETHIOPIAN FOOD IN OREGON!! The food here tastes Just like home and the most authentic hands down. Friendly women who serve and are sure to give great portions and flavor. I've been coming here for over 4 years. The Kitfo, dorowat and veggie combo will NEVER fail! Packed with flavor and cooked with love. Thank you.
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Katie C.

Yelp
I was craving some filling and comforting Ethiopian food, so I decided to check out a spot in the neighborhood that I haven't been to yet. I got the sampler with some veggie options and some meat options and - YUM! I usually only get vegetarian options, but the key wot was my favorite! The doro wat was so tender and delicious, too. Generous portions and the injera was perfect - very fluffy and not overly sour. Definitely the best I've had on Killingsworth so far!
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Kelsey G.

Yelp
Delicious food! We got the vegetable combo #2 with spicy lamb and it was all so delicious. The owners are kind, patient and hospitable.. I will be back.
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Megan L.

Yelp
Had some really awesome take-out from this small Ethiopian restaurant. Don't ask me exactly what we ordered as I couldn't tell you beyond the fact that we tried the 3 platters. All the food was flavorful and different, albeit slightly spicy. I would recommend that you try one of their platters especially if you're not as familiar with this kind of cuisine like I am. The platter can be split easily between 2 people. They provided plenty of Injera (bread) that went well with the meal. Additionally, though I was 15 minutes early, they had my large orders ready which was a bonus! Parking can be tight so you might have to park elsewhere.
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Mike P.

Yelp
We visited a Black owned business today on Juneteenth. Truly awesome Ethiopian food. We ordered the Aberus combination and the vegetable combination (Vegan) and it was very authentic and filling. Best Injera (Ethiopian flatbread) that my family has ever had! There was a festive and peaceful Black Lives Matter car and bike parade which made it a great experience. They only had takeout, so we improvised. I ordered some fajitas across the street at Pig Patas Tacos, and they let my whole family eat our meal on their patio! So two five star experiences in one evening.
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Prima B.

Yelp
First time to eat Ethiopian food. It was flavorful and authentic. It was weird initially coz they don't provide utensils and I felt bad asking for one. The lady smiled and was very nice about it. Food came out in a reasonable amount of time. We all enjoyed our food and the experience. There have vegetarian options too. Definitely coming back!
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Arati U.

Yelp
Their whole menu is gluten free. Which is super nice since most places you have to call ahead.
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Alex B.

Yelp
Had the beef combo plate and veggie plate. They were both very good although the beef would be my favorite of the two. The collards? in the beef plate were SO tasty! The bread? that came with the dishes (which served both as the plate as well as rolled tortilla-like to eat with was spongey and made for an interesting array of textures. It can get messy to eat with it, especially once you start tearing into the plate version of the 'bread'. Ethiopian coffee was very strong, mild flavor.

Rebecca F.

Yelp
Excellent Ethiopian food. My family favorite is the vegetarian combo and Aberus combo. The spices are perfectly matched to each dish and the beef is tender. The amount is ample and one combination platter is enough to feed 2-3, especially with the injera. They serve amazing Injera & it is more than enough! Perfectly sour, spongy and delicious. The women who work there are so kind and generous. Aberus is our favorite Ethiopian restaurant!
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Adam F.

Yelp
This place is seriously legit. I've had a lot of really good Ethiopian food in a lot of different cities, and while this isn't quite the best Ethiopian food I've had, it's up there, and absolutely by far the best *value* Ethiopian food I've had. We always go for the combo-iest combo at a new Ethiopian place, to try as many things as possible, or if there isn't a single meat-and-vegetarian combo, and there are separate meat combo and vegetarian combo options, we'll usually do that. Either way, I expect to pay in the neighborhood of 40 bucks for food for 2. Their $19 meat-and-vegetarian combo was food for 2, which made me question its quality a little bit, but nope: everything we tried, absolutely everything, was great. Everything was spiced perfectly (i.e. not toned down for all of us boring white people), plenty of meat in the meat items, meat was high quality, injera was fresh, really every dish was solidly like at least 90% as good as the best version of that dish I've had, but for half the price. Unusually quick service for Ethiopian food, too. Oh, and an extra very important bonus: they do have a wine license, which means they had tej! $6.50 a glass feels fairly standard these days, and while it looked and tasted too "perfect" to have been made in-house (which is more fun), it was still pretty delicious tej. Really wish anyone would sell good bottled tej for take-home purposes.
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Nicole H.

Yelp
This place is the real deal. I almost don't want to leave a review because I don't want people to know my secrets. Aberus is only open for takeout right now because of the pandemic but their to-go food is still spot on. The vegetarian combo #1 is where it's at. The injera is delightfully sour and spongy. The portion sizes are large. You could easily split a combo with another person, but I have no self control so I devour it all.

Kjersti B.

Yelp
FANTASTIC!!!!!!! I will be stopping in again, great food and great honey wine. Big portions and great to share

Olivia G.

Yelp
I went here for a friends birthday celebration and it was great! The food was well seasoned and delicious; I'd never had Ethiopian food before this but I would definitely have it again! The portions were large and the staff was very kind, attentive, and helpful. Good food and atmosphere!
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Mihal F.

Yelp
We started coming here because our old Ethiopian fav came under new management and started to kind of suck. And I'm so glad it did! This place has become a regular part of our rotation, specifically the 2 veggie plates. The owners and staff are so kind, and especially during COVID, we make it a point to support and show love. So much flavor and richness all around, and always consistent!
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Shelley M.

Yelp
I called in an order Wednesday. It has been almost 2 yrs since I have had Ethiopian food. I ordered the Kifto and it was delicious as was the Injera bread plus it's gluten free. I was pleasantly pleased with the food and definitely wished you all where closer to Beaverton so I could get my Ethiopian fix more often. Definitely will come back.
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Rashi T.

Yelp
This was the best Ethiopian food I have had In Portland . Stopped by for a late lunch and had a very good and satisfying meal. Located at a strip mall, this place doesn't look at all like an unusual place however the food sets it apart. We had the Doro wat and the veggie platter and boy, were we pleased !! The lentils were cooked to perfection and the greens were soft yet still fresh , and the chicken was amazing too. The service was a tad bit slow and we kind of waited for quite some time before our food arrived but the amazing spread in front of us more than made up for the wait . I am totally coming back sometime soon .

Edna N.

Yelp
So far, some of the best Ethiopian food in the Portland area that we've tried. Hubby and I shared the veggie combo and the Aberus combo. Our favorites were the vegetarian dishes. Nice flavors and well prepared. The spice level for all including the doro wat was milder than we've had at other Ethiopian restaurants, but we'll definitely be back.
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Regina I.

Yelp
I love this place I can't seem to get enough of her fantastic food. You know when a restaurant runs out of injera that they are the go to place in Portland. I have found that Tuesday's and Wednesday are the best days to go for late lunch or dinner. The crowd is not as heavy and it makes for a relaxing meal. Friday Saturday and Sunday this place is packed ! Also if you ask she will make you gluten free injera . My hat is off to the owner and the chef.. she is the best !
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Kim B.

Yelp
The combination veggie/meat platter is the bombbbbbbbbb. I love the different flavor and texture combinations. But The simplest dish, sautéed cabbage, was my favorite! And who doesn't love eating with your hands? It feels like grandmas home right when you walk in. Perfect ambiance for comfort food.

Kori B.

Yelp
I've been coming to this women-run restaurant for years, I travel cross town to eat here, one of my fav restaurants in the city. The kitfo is EXCELLENT, the bread is a perfect accompaniment. I often get the Aberus Special and eat some there with leftovers for several meals, it's humongous. The beef combo is a great choice for a meaty variety. The women are very nice, too.
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Alex B.

Yelp
Small mom and pops. First time having Ethiopian Cuisine and was not disappointed. The Asian in me was looking for rice though but that is definitely not their fault. One of those restaurants that we will go back to when we are in the area.
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Michael V.

Yelp
I love this place. Excellent food, lovely owners and service. Support you his place and enjoy some tasty comfort food .
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Maro S.

Yelp
This has become our favorite Ethiopian restaurant -- we go at least once, usually twice per month. The Aberus combo is perfect and the Gomen Besiga is our favorite. All the veggie dishes are vegan, for those who need that. Service is always friendly -- we love them!
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Kali H.

Yelp
This spot is lit. No cap. Best Ethiopian restaurant in Portland hands-down. And if you wanna challenge me on that I will fight you.