Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine

Ethiopian restaurant · Temescal

Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine

Ethiopian restaurant · Temescal

2

4929 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609

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Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by Janelle Bitker
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null
Abesha Ethiopian Cuisine by null

Highlights

Storefront eatery offering traditional African plates, plus lunch specials & outdoor seating.  

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4929 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609 Get directions

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4929 Shattuck Ave., Oakland, CA 94609 Get directions

+1 510 653 8383
abeshaoakland

$ · Menu

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Last updated

Mar 4, 2025

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@eater

"There are a few Ethiopian restaurants to choose from in this stretch of Oakland, but Abesha has the edge for its exemplary kitfo — raw beef tartare with cottage cheese, greens, and spices — and is even open during the lunch hour. And while you’re at it, don’t miss out on the mushroom tibs." - Eater Staff

Where to Eat and Drink in Temescal
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@eater

"The atmosphere is 'contemporary, minimalist, and quiet,' perfect to enjoy the 'fiery, berbere-tinged' yemisir wot (lentils) or the mushroom wot with 'a meatiness that few vegan options offer.'" - Andrew Dalton

Michael Bauer Tasted Evolution on Saison’s ‘Primal’ New Menu - Eater SF
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Imon Candelaria

Google
My oh my! There are meals that fill your belly but there are seldom meals that fill your soul. This is one such place that serves delicious Ethiopian fare that tantalizes your taste buds and fills your heart. Please visit Abesha, they deserve more recognition!!❤️

Carleen Mandolfo

Google
Really pleasant little space in Temescal. Not the most complete veggie combo I’ve had, but great value and very tasty. Service was awesome. Full bar. They weren’t sure how to make a lemon drop, so they gave it to us gratis. Will definitely return.

Christopher Chung

Google
A centrally located Ethiopian eatery, with bar, doling out a streamlined menu of classics. Yebeg alicha wot — lamb stewed in savory, mild sauce — was served alongside a wonderfully tangy, housemade injera and salad. An added plus are its selection of Ethiopian beers rarely seen elsewhere.

Olivia Falk

Google
First time trying Ethiopian and I had a great time! Not only was the service quick and friendly, the food came piping hot and was absolutely delicious. Couldn’t ask for anything better :)

Pathik

Google
This place was recommended by an Ethiopian friend, during our conversation I told him that all the European restaurant in the Bay area serves a very bland food which I feel is Indian food without spices. but a friend how you recommended that I should try this restaurant. This is a small place in an Oakland we loved this place since it's gives you the feel of an authentic Ethiopian cuisine. probably this would be run by an independent owner. There was only one server on a Saturday night serving all the tables so service might be little slow but no complain about the host she was really helpful. The food here is totally different than what you get in other Ethiopian restaurant in surrounding areas. I never been to Ethiopia but at Abesha restaurant has very good decor showing Ethiopia culture and love the food. I would definitely recommend this to any registry and out there. This place is definitely vegetarian vegan friendly.

Yining Chen

Google
Veggie and meat combos were both good but not beyond expectation. Highlights were mushrooms and split peas. Chickpeas were too oily. We ate with our hands which was an interesting experience.

Ali Anwar

Google
I've been to other restaurants serving Ethopian cuisine, but unfortunately I wouldn't say that Abesha was my favourite. The injera came out cold, when I asked the waitress to warm it, she refused and said that it was fresh. I don't doubt that it's fresh, but typically injera served at other restaurants is room temperature, not cold. Additionally, I had ordered the Sambussa and it was dry inside and came with no sauce. I'm giving Abesha 4 stars because the spicy beef tibs I ordered was nice and so was the salad. Injera was good but would have been nicer if it was slightly warmer! Follow me on IG, I do food reviews! --> @hungry_prince1

Gopi K.T

Google
Injera was very good, but thin though. Nonetheless I asked for more! Will go there again if I get a chance!

Nneka O.

Yelp
I love Abesha. They have been my go to Ethiopian restaurant for a decade. I hate that they closed.

Winter B.

Yelp
I dislike when businesses say they're open and go their closed. What the ***. Update your site.

Rich L.

Yelp
Ordered take out. Handed young female behind bar my card to pay. She disappeared and came back with my receipt to sign. I left to fill up the truck with fuel and returned to pick up. I got the chicken beef combo. Food was so-so. I was very disturbed however to learn that my credit card info had been stolen from this young female at this restaurant. This was the only business I handed my card to and on this very day unauthorized charges started coming through. The first was a "Foreign Transaction Fee" of $4.59

Robi D.

Yelp
Amazing food would highly recommend to all lovers of East African cuisine! You can't go wrong with pretty much anything on the menu and customer service is great

bethel y.

Yelp
The food was sooo good! Great service. We got the meat combination. Definitely coming back

Jay F.

Yelp
I was walking past the place saw mice coming out from this place and the lady there was acting like it was normal. Had the front door open blocked by chairs.

Dominique B.

Yelp
I've been wanting to try Ethiopian food for quite some time. So I said what the heck I'll hop on yelp and find a few Ethiopian cuisine's and read the reviews. I came across this gem which was in the area so I decided to go Check it out. At the time I wasn't eating meat so I I was super excited to find vegetarian options . I ordered Veggie combo Sambusa Honestly I didn't care too much for the veggie combo but it was pretty tasty.... I was saddened when the waiter informed me that the mushroom wot wasn't available , it was Definitely one of the reasons why i was so excited to try this place. Anyways I came back for the sambusa and spicy sauce that they serve with them. I made sure I ordered two orders of sambusa this time. Overall this place is Delicious and I will indeed come back to try other items on the menu..... until next time folks!

Michelle K.

Yelp
I love Ethiopian food. I have been to a LOT of Ethiopian (and Eritrean!) restaurants in Oakland/Berkeley and Abesha has my favorite vegetarian menu. Please please please try ordering from here. You won't regret it! Backstory: I first tried Ethiopian food in 2007 and was NOT a fan. Cold and sour injera was not something I liked. But then I kept going to different restaurants with my friends and it started growing on me. Now I need to get my fix at least once a month. For me, a huge reason why I love Ethiopian food is the community. You order and eat the food together. It's delicious!

Omer I.

Yelp
The food is amerzing thanks for having you in oakland . From kitfo lover a d benatu na awaze tibis and all other goodies and the qibe besmeam they so good yummy

Shayla B.

Yelp
Two words: FISH TIBS! Do, do it, doooo iiiittt bay-beh! They make some of the best fish tibs that I've had in Oakland! Would love to rate them 5 stars but the service is kind of wonky. I mean, super pleasant staff, but inconsistent service. Vegetarian combo: Solid! Not the best that I've had but very good nonetheless. Fresh and flavorful lentils, an ample amount of spongy injera, and a refreshing side salad. They have an excellent vegetarian lunch special where you can choose up to 5 vegetarian sides. I was recommended to try their mushroom wot which I actually wasn't a huge fan off, but all of the lentils, peas, and veggies tasted great! I really like their collard greens. I tried them for the first time recently, and I love the way that they're spiced. I would personally choose this over their mushroom wot any day. But those FISH TIBS, though! YAAASSS! I would rate those fish tibs like 50 million stars. I'm not a fish connoisseur so I wouldn't be able to tell you what kind of fish is used to make the tibs here. But what I can tell you is that they use a generous amount of fish and they marinate and season the hell out of that thang. They must use a large fillet of fish because the amount of fish cubes that they gave me was ridiculous! I knew I wasn't going to finish it when once I saw it! It was incredible and it had me licking my fingers in pure pleasure. Now about that service; no sense of urgency whatsoever. Come to think of it though, I've experienced this at most Ethiopian restaurants that I've been to. I don't expect for a server to be at my every beck and call, but I always hate when I have to get up to let a server know that I'm done when I've been sitting there with my plate pushed back for several minutes. But I swear this has happened almost every time. And more often than not, there is always only one person working the front who is usually preoccupied doing other things like talking on the phone or eating. But other than that, this Abesha is excellent! The quality of their food is top notch and that will be the main reason why I will keep coming back.

Gin C.

Yelp
We came by for dinner and got some recommendation for non-spicy food. The service was excellent and the food came fast. The food was not spicy but it did lack something although it is not bad by any means. It may be our fault for asking non-spicy so next time will have to try the regular spiced food.

Doug C.

Yelp
Wow this is the one of best Ethiopian restaurants I have experienced in the bay area. Worth the drive from the south bay. Street parking and there is a shopping center across the street where you can park. Make sure not to park in the 20minute spaces. The rent is too high in the south bay and SF for smaller family run restaurants to save up enough money to start a restaurant. Fish Tibs: Spicy Fried/braised fish in berbere spice served with salad and injera. No utensils. Eat with your hands. Wrap the salad+fish in injera and eat. No need for additional dipping sauces. Extremely large portion size. Enough for 2. Tastes like you are eating in someone's home kitchen in Ethiopia. There is a sink in the hallway before the restrooms which you can use to wash your hands with. Fish was not overcooked. Tender inside; slightly crispy on the outside. Roughly similar to blackened catfish but more moist and much better flavor. Contrast the warm/spicy/fish with crunchy/cool/romaine leaf salad and tomato. Eat with freshly made injera. No fishy taste. There is a slight sour flavor; not Americanized where everything is sweet or overly salty. Might be sumac on the salad. Ordered a side order of veggie; like a stewed collard greens. Could barely finish. Enough for 2. Clean; newly remodeled interior. Very nice owners. Go in a large group 3+ so you can try different dishes. They serve all the food communal style on a big metal plate. Stunning presentation. No dishes necessary. There are so many good ethnic restaurants in Oakland. The quality of the food is much higher because the rents are cheaper. Seems like the best place for family owned restaurants is Oakland. Dinner wsa $14.00/ would be 3x in South Bay/SF. In the SB this restaurant couldn't exist bc of housing prices. There is xfinity wifi. If you are a comcast subcriber you get free wifi.

Ananda D.

Yelp
The people that own the place and that work there have great customer service but the delicious food is inconsistent. Some times it's great, sometimes ok but yesterday pretty bad. Which is sad because often they have satisfied a huge craving. However as of yesterdays purchase I will no longer purchase one of my favorites, the fish tibs. There was actually a backing soda flavor and I didn't finished the meal. Pretty upset about this last visit.

S. G.

Yelp
Maybe same great food. But- no more lunch special? Vegetarian plate going up DOUBLE In price?!?!!??!?? Walked out. Don't insult my intelligence. That plate costs $2.00 at most to make. That includes rent and employees. Done.

Connie I.

Yelp
I love Ethiopian food and this place doesn't disappoint, complete within chill vibes and friendly hosts. Veggie Combo (my half).

Alberto G.

Yelp
Today it was my first time trying Ethiopian food. I am always open to new experiences and this kind of food did not disappoint. I went with a group and learned that it is the custom to eat with your right hand. This made the experience a lot more interesting. Everyone dug right in since my portion was made to be shared. There were so many flavors involved in this platter which matched really well with the lettuce. You really get a whole range! It's like a party in your mouth. We had the vegetarian dish and by the end everyone was very context with their portion. I am glad that this place stays true to their roots of Ethiopia in regards to the flavor of the food and custom of eating it. It was a great place and I am glad I decided to try it out! Ethiopian food is on the map in Oakland thanks to this restaurant. Service: 5/5 Food and drinks: 4.5/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Overall: 4/5

Cynthia S.

Yelp
Veg platter is great. Injera is amazing. Portions are tiny for $14. For $2 more go to Cafe Coluuci and get 4x the food and a bit more variety in the veg platter

Craig G.

Yelp
Parking CAR-MA again. Parked right out front, inspite of warnings it would be tough. It's quiet, it's intimate it's quite the find! I looooove Ethiopian cuisine. What's not to love you get to eat with your hands! I was headed to Oakland to a place I booked marked, dead set on Spicy variety plate and maybe a cold beer after a hellish round of golf. I completely Forgot it was first Friday in Oakland! Couldn't get near the place I intended. I Passed this place on way down and based on my fellow yelpers pics and reviews, gave it a go. This will demand a repeat visit and will likely become my #1 destination. Everything was so awesome. I had the potatoes carrots and cabbage, not spicy but D-lish. The collard greens were yummo! But the hit was the red lentils and the mushrooms tomatoes and jalapeños. So good, I had to order more of these. The veggie sampler was just right for one person and the price was excellent value for what you got. The mood set by African music in background featuring one of those lengthy jams by Fela Kuti that took me through most of the meal. I don't know if they do the coffee ceremony with an order of Ethiopian Joe. Because I was so stuffed, and satisfied With the spicy goodness, I wanted the tastes to longer on my palette. It's hard to argue parking when you park in front. There was no wait on a Friday at 7,maybe because of first Friday. In and out totally happy and full. So good I wanted to kiss the waitress.

Jean K.

Yelp
Costs seems to be catching up with the Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants these days. Stews are flat tasting, lacking those rich complex flavors from a good long braise. The only difference between dishes seems to be how much heat is added. Abesha has always had better veggie food than meats, but the meats were good enough to pass. We had not been back in a while so thought we should try them again. Veggie Combo (any five). Mushrooms and shirro (pureed chickpeas) were good. Yellow lentils (YeAter kik) were bland, needing salt (and I'm a low-salt person). YeMisir Wot: Red lentils were good, spicy altho no depth of flavor. Tikil Gomen Dinish: Sliced cabbage, carrots and potatoes, was also okay, altho cabbage was crunchy and potatoes MIA. Meat Combo: set trio of: YeDoro Tibs: Chicken breast in spicy yellow gravy. Good but nothing exceptional. YeDoro Wot: Spicy chicken. No cheese, but spouse got an entire hard-boiled egg, which surprised us. Most restaurants have omitted the whole egg these days. Abesha gets bonus points just for the egg, LOL. Beef Wot: Spicy beef in red gravy. Good, and we'd order it again. It doesn't quite have the depth that Red Sea's beef wot has, however. Portions of the above were very small. We added: Fish Tibs. A generous helping of catfish fillets, dusted with spiced flour and fried. The fish pieces are cut into manageable size, then dry-floured, which is how we prefer it. No dip, Spouse loves fried fish and would come here just for this dish. Abesha remains one of the better Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants in Oakland/Berkeley. We liked Lemat/Berkeley the best, but need to make a return visit to confirm consistency. Parking can be difficult these days on this stretch of Temescal, even in the day time. Be aware there is street sweeping on one side on Fri mornings, so don't get a ticket!

Ellen C.

Yelp
Food: Not that great, there are a TON of Ethiopian places in the area and this was not one of the top notch ones. The flavors were okay, but most were blander than I'm used to. I got the meat combo and the veg combo to go, and maybe the portions are smaller for take out, but it was pretty measly. Usually after having eaten at an Ethiopian restaurant and then taking the food home, even then it's pretty heavy. Picking this food up, it was big containers that were surprisingly light. Also, the injera also tasted different, fell apart, and didn't really work that well as a carrier, like it traditionally does. Price: Okay, less expensive than other local Ethiopian restaurants, but not by much. And if that's because there's less on the plate, I'd rather pay a couple more bucks for more value and more flavor. Service: I got take out so I wouldn't know, but they were fast when I ordered take out and it was ready by the time I got there. They were also very quick in giving me my order when I arrived. Parking: 3 out of 5 stars. It's off 51st, so off a pretty busy street. It's not easy but it's also not terribly hard. Bonus, it's free street parking.

shro t.

Yelp
This was a regular spot in the before times. Got take out for the first time since COVID-19 hit, and it was just as good. Definitely recommend if you're getting a lil bored and looking to spice up your take out routine!! Got my usual pre COVID order -- beef tibs spicy & saucy plus a veggie combo. Delicious and generous meal for 2 ppl. Ordered thru Yelp/GrubHub without a problem. food was ready on time, neatly packed and wrapped in delicious injera packets. Put it on a big tray to try to mimic the in restaurant experience. Perfect Sunday meal.

Roark G.

Yelp
Very friendly staff. The restaurant itself is very fitting of Ethiopian food. The best part is obviously the food. Stunning & diverse taste! This restaurant is incredible for adventurous eaters.

Monica B.

Yelp
Very disappointed in the amount of food. Usually when i order a meat dish in Ethiopian restaurants, the plate also has a few spoonfuls of greens and lentils. Not only did they not offer that, instead providing a tiny mound of "salad" (iceberg mix from a bag), the chicken was 2 scrawny legs with just a bite of meat on each. Not enough for even a child. There was a ridiculous amount of injera though. Just nothing to eat it with.

Tammy F.

Yelp
The food was delicious and the service was excellent. I have been to several Ethiopian restaurants and this is by far, my favorite. The restaurant isn't packed which is really nice. Prices are great too.

Katie P.

Yelp
There are tons of Ethiopian places in Oakland and Temescal/Elmwood, but this one is still my favorite. Always fast service, reasonable prices, friendly customer service. Their veggie combo platter has the most generous servings compared to other Ethiopian restaurants, and they always get my special requests right (extra gomen, don't skip the cabbage). =)

Song K.

Yelp
Oh so good! I could eat at Abesha 5 nights a week. The service mirrors the food and atmosphere. We almost always order the vegetarian sampler and one meat dish. You really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. The servers take their time answering questions about the menu and make you feel like you're in their home, not a restaurant. Eat at Abesha! RAAAAWR! You're welcome.

Christina R.

Yelp
Veggie. Lunch. Special. I challenge you to find a healthier, more filling, more delicious, quality lunch anywhere for this price. Why is there not a line 2 blocks long, I have no idea. I walked in on a Monday maybe. Only one other couple seated but several takeouts were picked up during my lunch. I devoured every last scrap of injera and drop of berbere. Veggie combo includes your choice of 5 out of 8 or 9 options on a very large platter sized to feed an entire family. I had the milled chick peas in berbere, stewed cabbage with carrots and potato, golem=stewed collard greens, mushroom wot (spicy stewed), timatim selata, and injera tossed with tomato. All were fantastic - a mix of tart and tangy, savory, spicy, stewed and fresh. Spiced tea was Lipton with their proprietary mix of cinnamon etc. Great balance of flavors, and I don't even like cinnamon. Ice cold water, sodas or beers are also available. 2 hrs later I am still thinking about that scrumptious spicy mushroom wot. I was referred here my an Ethiopian co-worker and everyone who came for takeout was Ethiopian judging by their fluency with the staff. Pretty good evidence of authenticity and quality.

Andrew C.

Yelp
Abesha is next to Sacred Wheel cheese shop across the street from the Walgreens / Genova / Post Office parking lot. I was planning on a grilled cheese from Sacred Wheel, but Abesha's sidewalk sign and my ADD got the better of me. They have one lunch special of a Veggie Combo for $7.99. The rest of the menu is the same for lunch and dinner with Veggie dishes @ $9 and Meat dishes ranging from $10-13. Dinner Veggie Combo is $11 & Meat Combo is $14. The lunch combo platter comes with (R to L in picture) Red Lentils, Split Peas, Collard Greens, Potato & Cabbage, Pureed Garbanzos (Shiro), and a small salad on a piece of injera (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/wRAAdTdvJ0GKudZp3HMc4w?select=fEVPhxzJdO5uuyoCP5jVdw#QzaJQAxnYE7yfJ_EkSewqQ) along with a basket with a handful of additional injera rolls (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/wRAAdTdvJ0GKudZp3HMc4w?select=fEVPhxzJdO5uuyoCP5jVdw#f67ixXhvgAV72ATC9VIDYw). The injera was not overly sour. All of the items had distinctive flavors and nothing had been overcooked giving some different textures from the cabbage & greens vs. the peas & lentils. The lentils and shiro were moderately spicy with the berbere. I was stuffed and satisfied with good food. Great value for lunch! Friendly waitress. Extra napkins available upon request :)

J W.

Yelp
Lamb curry was pretty good. Not spicy at all but had a hint of curry aroma. The dish wasn't salty at all. lamb was tender.

Cynthia C.

Yelp
I was roaming around the Temescal area looking for a late lunch. Nothing was open. Parked in the Walgreens lot, almost got run over by a guy who ran a stop sign at the Salami Co., so I decided it was a sign, no sando for me today. I passed Round Table and Peet's, finally ambling my way over to Abesha, discouraged and frantic for a meal. I was welcomed into a friendly sanctuary. Seriously, it's calming and clean. I even got work done after my meal. The veggie combo was delicious and priced at $10 for 5 items of my choice. I love when I can customize my meal. Gives me a sense of ownership. The only item I didn't like out of the lentil, collard greens, chickpeas, mushrooms, was the cold tomato/injera. I packed half to go and it's a mini meal for later.

Stephanie P.

Yelp
We fell in love with this place on our first visit (in spite of the terrible service). We had a #1 go-to favorite for years, and occasionally we branch out and try others, but each time, our favorite is still our favorite. This time we were intrigued, and we were WOWED by the tofu tibs--delightful, unusual, great mix-up to the usual veggie routine. So we loved the food and and the decor, which feels more like a real restaurant and less like a casual dining hall like so many other Ethiopian and Eritrean places. But the service was super-slow: it took forever to get our order taken, and then to get drinks--maybe 15 minutes from ordering a beer or water to receiving it. And just all-around slow compared to their competitors for food, check, etc. So we went back a second time to mix up the routine again, and this time the service was even worse than the first time. This place is a real restaurant, with tables and wall hangings and just generally a touch nicer than similar spots. But it's completely ruined by the empty tables full of other people's dirty plates. We overall left just really offended that this is a sit-down, service-based restaurant at all. Same painfully infinite amount of time to get our order taken, our drinks, our food, our check...and the empty tables of dirty plates and finished diners around us surrounded us. REALLY super unprofessional and just ruins the dining-out experience. They need to hire another staffer here, clearly. The ONE server disappeared to the back enough times for enough time that I wondered if she's also cooking. Definitely don't come here if you're a stickler for a neat environment and/or in a hurry.

Kathleen S.

Yelp
Ohhh my gosh! I've only ever had Ethiopian food twice in my life and this was the second! I ordered the combo meat order and it was amazing! This included lamb, chicken and beef. I'm not a huge fan of lamb, but I will say the way they cooked it made it tolerable. My favorite portion was the chicken! They even add a whole boiled egg there. I would just order the chicken by itself the next time it's so flavorful and juicy! I will come back just for the chicken dish alone.

kristin s.

Yelp
This is the beat Ethiopian food I've found in the area! So delicious. Clean. Friendly staff. It never disappoints! Try out their veggie combo plate. You will NOT be disappointed.

Sarah R.

Yelp
Heads up: as of Sept 2019, Abesha no longer has their famed vegetarian lunch special for $8.99 :( I walked in around the time the restaurant opened at 11 AM to request a to-go lunch special and was told that it no longer existed. Lunch veggie combos are now full price ($11.99). At that point I was craving Ethiopian food so I still got it but with tax + tip it came out to about $17. I docked a star because I had no idea the veggie special was gone until I walked in - even on their Yelp page the restaurant says it's available! The waitress was very apologetic though and the kitchen was very quick with putting together a veggie combo for me to go. Food was delicious too! I would come again if I was in the area, maybe just not for lunch.

Nicole C.

Yelp
Their fish tibs are exquisite, perfectly spiced, the portion is enough for lunch and your dinner. The salad is fresh the guy there is always nice and friendly. I just love the fish, it's some of the best I've had.

Rici S.

Yelp
Super underwhelming take out experience today. The person was not terribly friendly when I arrived, and gestured to my bagged up food. I ordered a veggie combo and sambusas for take out. My veggie combo came with only 4 of the 5 items I selected and didn't have the salad. The sambusas were really bland and they forgot to give me the sauce. I did enjoy the mushroom tibs, and in theory I like the idea that you get to choose what you want in your combo plate. There are so many great Ethiopian places right in the area, I would just go somewhere else where I get what I order.

Victor O.

Yelp
This place has the best Ethiopian food that I have tasted and if anybody disagrees let me know cause this Ethiopian food Lover is has plenty of love to go around

Keith H.

Yelp
I will admit something that might freak out a lot of Oakland residents-I'm not a big fan of Ethiopian food. I know people rave about the various Ethiopian restaurants in the East Bay, and I will say their are a lot of options for folks who can't get enough of injera or honey wine. However, it's just never been one of my go-to cuisine options when looking for dining possibilities. Yet, Abesha might start making me an Ethiopian food convert. I decided to try it after walking by it one night and hearing some diners rave about the food (and explicitly warn me not to try a close by competitor on Telegraph). I've enjoyed their injera the 2 times I've been there, thinking that it had a great combination of sponginess and tanginess without being too overpowering or mushy. I've also tried all of the items on their veggie platter, and I was happy with most of them (although there was one item with injera pieces that got mixed reviews from the diners at the table). For meat lovers, I've enjoyed both of the chicken dishes that I've tried (one with ginger as a main component and another entree with a smoky, red stew surrounding a tender piece of dark meat). In terms of the honey wine, I'm not an expert but it tasted pretty darn good to me, especially if you like your libations on the sweeter side. I tried their house red Cabernet, and thought it was just ok (but honestly, who is going to a local Ethiopian joint expecting the finest of red wine vintages?!). This is great place for large parties, and I also love that the waitress didn't rush us to pay after she cleared out plates. If you are looking for great Ethiopian good in the North Oakland area, definitely put Abesha on the list!

Maria L.

Yelp
I love this place! I come here from time to time. It is definitely one of my favorites. I still have been here recently during COVID and bring food home to eat. I usually order the meat and veggie combo. Thank you for the amazing dishes!

Mon T.

Yelp
My first Ethiopian spot in the Bay area, and it was delicious! Split a combo meat and veg platter with 2 friends and it was the perfect sampler. Great flavor and just enough spice. To be honest, I have few Ethiopian spots to compare to...but I'd recommend it! Does it help that my Ethiopian friend said it's her favorite spot?

Leslie B.

Yelp
The service was excellent, the food was excellent. We had the Beef and Chicken Tibs combined with a 5 vegetarian dish sampler. Wow. Truly fantastic. What a gem.

George W.

Yelp
Friendly and helpful service. Willing to accommodate special requests. I get the veggie combo: best collard greens I've ever had and the injera isn't too sour, like it can be at several restaurants I've been to. Very clean and open environment and is definitely among the top few of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants in the East Bay.

Nick S.

Yelp
This place is amazing. My go-to has been the vegetarian combo plate and each dish is delicious and is the type of food that gives me energy instead of making we want to nap immediately afterward. Before the pandemic, we ate in a few times too and the service and wine selection was great. Can't wait to go back!

Mike O.

Yelp
An Ethiopian coworker took a small group of us here for lunch and I was very impressed (I had never tried this cuisine before). The samplers are amazing....generous portions and great flavors. The wait staff was attentive and helpful. Calm, quiet atmosphere with wonderful flavors. Will definitely return.

Alexa W.

Yelp
NIce atmosphere, not too many tables cramped in and I like the dividers between the tables, they make for a somewhat private feeling. The food was great (kitfo, tibs, mushrooms, lentils, super fluffy injera with just the right amount of sourness). Service was quick and very friendly, plus the prices are right! What else do you need? I was only here for lunch so far, but will definitely try to come back and check out the dinner service.

Senoli B.

Yelp
I'm sooooo freaking disappointed!!! Not only did they get my order wrong, but the portion was so small I'm still hungry after eating it. I ordered a veggie combo and they swapped out my mushrooms with shirro!!!! I freaking hate shirro!!!!!! And the mushrooms are my favorite item in the veggie combo!!!!! Wtf!!!! I used to love this place because of the good quantity and quality and now it seems they're dropping the ball on both. I was so looking forward to this meal and now I'm just pissed and unsatisfied. Do better!!!

Nkosazana N.

Yelp
I'm an avid lover of Ethiopian food. Name a restaurant in the Bay Area and I've most likely already tried their food. The last time I ate at this restaurant was a few years ago. I recently returned because Asmara was closed. I was not disappointed! Their veggie combo was the bomb! Each dish had the perfect balance of spices. It was so good that I ate here two days in a row! My favorite veggies are the cabbage and potatoes, the messir wot and the gomen. If you're ever in the Temescal area I highly recommend grabbing a bite to eat here.

Paul R.

Yelp
My friend and his wife took me to this place for a late Saturday afternoon lunch. I ahve to admit I really enjoyed it. We had the veggie platter and one of the chicken dishes (I didn't order). For those of you that haven't eaten at African restaurants in the past you eat with your hands. The experience reminded me of my Morocco trip from a couple of years ago. Go you'll love the food and you'll feel good about supporting the little guy.

Michele N.

Yelp
I went here today for the first time to get takeout--it's been way too long since I've had good Ethiopian food. The service was friendly and fast and, oh my, the food was lovely. I got the vegetarian lunch special and it was everything I'd hoped for and more. The Mushroom Tibs was particularly wonderful. I'll be back.