Addis Ethiopian Restaurant

I’d like to start by saying the owner is wonderful and the staff. I frequent this restaurant on many occasions, but I fear I must stop. On each occasion the food is undercooked. 1. Everytime I order to go the order take the chef 5-10 mins to cook it. Which leads me to believe the food is sitting, not fresh, and not cooked to order. I am being generous with the 10 mins. Although I love that I don’t have to wait long the quality is continuous compromised. 2. The food is always undercooked and void of flavor. The lentils are raw, hard, and crunchy. It’s nearly impossible to cook lentils in 5 mins. Undercooked lentils is not healthy and can result in health issues. 3. The injera is not gluten free. Each time I eat it I became bloated rather quickly. An Ethiopian friend of mine suggested I ask for the authentic gluten free injera. When I asked the waiter he quoted it as an $11 up-charge. I have no issue paying an up charge but $11 is quite excessive. I am also perplexed as to how an Ethiopian restaurant is not serving their authentic bread. 4. My potato and carrot dish came with potato’s only which were just as raw as the lentils. The knees was soggy and mushy. The collards taste like they came from a can. The cabbage was crunchy like a salad not soft at all. As much as I love Ethiopian food and make it a point to support Black Owned Businesses I can no longer purchase food here. I am deeply disappointed by the past free orders. The second to last time i ordered I made it a point to ask them to cook the lentils all the way through. I told the waiter I am not in a rush. Yet and still the food was finished in 10 mins and undercooked. I truly hope the improve. I am also concerned they may be engaging in health hazards.

Took a day trip to Richmond to meet a friend for lunch, and was looking for a great Ethiopian spot and this place did not disappoint! The food here is absolutely amazing! By far my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Richmond. The food is well seasoned and portion size is just right!

Holy cow. This place was amazing. The waitress was incredibly kind and helpful with explaining the options so we could get a good selection. The food flavor was absolutely incredible as well. It’d been years since I last had Ethiopian food and Addis far surpassed expectations. Highly recommend this place!!!

We went there for dinner and ordered Katenya and Chicken tibs for main. The food was good. The Katenya was Injera bread toasted with filling. The chicken tibs were a little dry with only cauliflower salad and no more accompaniments. Service was slow and quiet and the ambience was ok.

Oh how delighted we are to have found this delightful place. You must start your meal out with a Sambussas. We ordered one for the table to split and not a drop left. We ordered a vegetarian plate to gets lots of veggies and a assorted meat plate to include Lamb Chicken and Stew! We will be Back!!!

Great service, food and an amazing atmosphere. If you haven’t been on a Tuesday night, I must fill you in. They host Tuesday Verses; a long running open mic night for performers. The feeling you get around room full of creative people, can’t be felt like that often.

A completely new experience — went with friends and we pretty much ordered everything on the menu. Every single dish was delicious. If you’ve never tried Egyptian food before, just pick anything — you can’t go wrong.

The photographer they hired for their website is one of the most talented people it seems. This place looks nothing like their pictures. It is absolutely filthy, dead roaches and old food on the floor in plain view. We didn't even sit down before walking back out.

The food is absolutely divine. I ordered the vegetarian platter. The only downside was the fact that my delicious cabbage contained two large portions of the core. I trust that this oversight will not happen again. I will definitely return, and I will invite some guests to accompany me.

This review is going to be a bit myopic. I order the vegetarian sampler every single time. Not only that, I bring larger parties (family, friends, et al.) and order the sample for all of them too. It's a lot of food, it's not expensive, and you can eat injera to your hearts content. I do recommend their honey wine for some variety. Service is slow. Always slow. This is not a place you go to be in, out, and back in the car in under an hour. Go here if you want to tell a long meandering story or are hangry in a way that no Snickers could hope to fix. You can park on the streets, if you'd like or park in nearby pay parking. If you opt for paid parking, add 3-5 minutes to figure out how to pay and use their apps to do so. There's also a nice ice cream place not even a block away so an easy dessert before you move on with your day.

Delicious food! Everything was very flavorful and came out hot! Seated quickly with a reservation!

Delicious! Amazing experience, great food. Definitely a fun spot for date night. If trying to make a reservation, id definitely call them by phone, they don't seem to use the open table reservations from google

Went there for super early dinner on a Sunday. Restaurant was empty so can't say much for the ambiance or atmosphere when it's more lively. The food though was great. Injeras were the right amount of sour to be super flavorful. Ordered a sample platter, and while it didn't look like much to start with, it definitely left me very full. I've been craving Ethiopian ever since!

As an Ethiopian something I do in any city and look for Ethiopian food. Even though there are not a lot of Ethiopian places in Richmond I was excited to find a little place that reminds me of home. The food is great and they have a variety of my favs like the quanta firfir (must try) and the owner is so kind, it seems like it's family run. Also the honey wine is really nice if you like something on the sweeter side. I've had family dinners and lunches with friends or just injera runs when I need some quick. The place is great and I hope more people get to try it and support this local restaurant!

Ethiopian family owned restaurant, serving authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Meat and veggie dishes were flavorful and portions are generous. Owner is almost always there and very friendly.

Wowowow the food is sooooo so good!! We decided to come here for a birthday lunch with a big group. They accommodated us so well. The honey wine was super good and complimented the food well. We got various meats and veggies. Let me tell you, all of them were delicious. You cannot go wrong, every dish is just so flavorful. The injera was nice and spongy. Make sure to eat with your hands! Everything had a wonderful blend of spices. The veggies were curried and seasoned to perfection. They split our orders into two plates with our big group, and it was perfect. The staff were all very kind and helpful. Thank you so much! This was our second time, and it was wonderful both times. Thank you for bringing Ethiopian food to the area!

Worth the visit, for sure, especially since Ethiopian options in the city are few and far between. A bit expensive for my liking, but overall had a great experience - our server was super patient with our group of 12 or so people, and gave some good recommendations of what to get. If I could highlight two things to get, I would say the Yebeg Awaze Tibs and the Ye Doro Wot were my favorites - such tender meat in the lamb dish that went super well with the spongy texture of the injera and the chicken from the Ye Doro Wot was fall-off-the-bone, delicious, and complimented very well by a hard boiled egg - begging the ever debated question of which came first... the chicken or the egg!? Some of the other dishes were just fine - reference my photo for some visuals, but just know that anything green was delicious as well :) This place is just about as authentic as you are going to find in Richmond with a large indoor space in a really cool part of town so overall I say it's worth a try!

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and it was phenomenal! The owner answered so many questions and made fantastic recommendations. The ambience of the restaurant was calm and inviting. We had such a nice evening trying new food. We'll definitely be back.

Went for Valentines day. The restaurant is so homey feeling. Food was excellent. Definitely will be coming back.

The food was delicious and the man who served us, who I assume was the owner, was very friendly. We got the 6 plate vegetarian option and had decided to double up on one of the options, but he gave us a sample of the one we decided not to get (it was also very good. we just didn't initially get it due to a lack spice tolerance). I would definitely like to come back if I am in the area!

This was my first experience trying Ethiopian food. The owner was helpful and provided suggestions for us as beginners. Overall the food was pretty good, though we were expecting the flavors to be a bit more bold. The other reviews are correct in regards to expecting service to be slow and food taking some time since it is made fresh. I wouldn't come here if you have limited time. Also, we made a reservation on OpenTable but it didn't seem like they were aware so it might be better to call them instead.

Such delicious flavorful food! We ordered a lamb dish and shrimp tibs, both which come with a vegetable dish, and unlimited injera (a spongy simple tasting Ethiopian bread). Oh man it was hard to pick a favorite.. the cubed lamb tho - chewy and so flavorful. The prices are a little high, but you do get a quantity of food. We ordered two mains for us two people, and had ~1 serving of leftovers. The staff is very sweet too. Overall highly recommend if you haven't Ethiopian food before or just looking to try a new spot! We're big fans, and have now been multiple times! (Good amount of seating inside and outside too)

Went on Superbowl Sunday and there was only one other party in the entire restaurant. Service was prompt and frequent. Overall service staff and quality was excellent. The food was amazing. Had the Beef Tibs which was very good. I travelled to Ethiopia for 3 weeks and had authentic food while there. This was very comparable in quality and taste. Prices of food have gone up, which you feel in the prices for the main entrees. It was well worth it as they do give you a good portion size. I had enough left over for the next day that I took home. Overall experience was great and I can highly recommend this place for authentic Ethiopian, excellent service and taste!

Our meal was good, def glad we came. Neither of us cared for the spongy bread though and about 1/2 of the items on the platter we got weren't to our liking. The other half however were SO good! Server was very helpful in explaining the menu. Place was mostly empty and our food came quickly. It was 5:00 on a Saturday so we were in/out fast.

Wonderful food and great service. Great twist on Ethiopian cuisine focusing on traditional breakfast and lunch flavors.

As usual being here makes me feel like home in Addis Ababa, try the Kitfo it's made by a Gorgi chef if you're Ethiopian you will know what that means Much love

Best experience in terms of dining Our waiter was amazing and definitely gave us some of his recommendations. Each bite was an experience to remember for. The injera was soft, fluffy, easy to pick up, and really absorbs the flavors of the dishes you pick up with it. Our favorites were the ground chicken, tilapia tibs, and the lamb. This was our first Ethiopian cuisine experience and I feel like anything after this would be subpar compared to Addis. Hats off to the really good waiter there

I have eaten Ethiopian food around the world including in Ethiopia. The food really stood up and was very very tasty. If this is your first time getting Ethiopian I highly recommend getting the vegetarian sampler because vegetables are when the things they do the best in Ethiopia. The one young lady who was doing all the serving was really hustling and I don't know how she did all she did. They have a nice outside area if it's a nice day. The interior was very very fresh. And we really enjoyed our experience!

Amazing authentic Ethiopean food. I've love this food so we've ordered in Washington, DC, New York, New Jersey but nothing compares to this restaurant. On my way from NYC to Norfolk two hours out of my way but I always have to order even if it's sometimes to go.

The parking situation in this neighborhood was atrocious. A lot of tiny cobblestone streets with no sign of movement. I ended up walking from a ways up the hill. Despite notification that my food was ready fifteen minutes before I arrived, it took a bit for them to actually get my order, which was a bit of a head-scratcher, but it did taste fresh. My veggie combo with three stews was pretty standard and the best element was predictably my spicy red lentils. More intriguingly, I ordered an appetizer of bread with chili covering and a dusting of ayib cheese; this fresh cheese isn't common at restaurants I've visited, but even in moderation it did add a fantastic flavor note. The place was surprisingly busy and a bit understaffed, but they did produce quality food.

Love the atmosphere, good food and prompt service. Been here on multiple occasions and never had an issue. No complaints

Addis has been on my ever growing list of places to try in Richmond for quite some time now. Finally made the trek downtown to check it out and it did not disappoint. The vibe is pretty laid back. There is a small offering of cocktails and such but we focused on the food for this trip. We decided on a lamb dish that came with two sides and the two veggie plate so we got to sample a lot of the veggie options and everything was delicious! We also started with a deep fried pastry filled with lentils and accompanied by a simple salad that we were totally obsessed with! The lamb was perfectly cooked, very tender. The cabbage dish was also a huge standout. And for the amount of food you get I feel it's all pretty reasonably priced as well! Definitely will be returning!

This restaurant should have more than 4 stars. I ordered delivery and the food was thoughtfully packaged so the injera wasn't soggy. The flavors were delicious. It would be my preference to have the cabbage and one of the lentil dishes cooked a little longer to be softer. I'm giving 5 stars to balance the lower scores--in my opinion this place should be a 4.5 or higher. So tasty and filling.

The food was terrible. It was barely warm and tasted like it was made days earlier and just heated up. The service was fast. The restaurant ambiance is more of a bar with some tables off to the side. I do not understand the high prior reviews for this restaurant. We would never return.

Solid yummy Ethiopian cuisine in shockoe bottom. Lots of TVs which detract from the atmosphere but the food was delicious and the service was good.

While I have been to Addis many times for their open mic night on Mondays, I've always enjoyed the atmosphere and drinks, but this was my first time actually trying their food. And my first time trying Ethiopian food. I was beyond impressed -- Addis definitely exceeded my expectations! Not only was the service great as always, but the food was spectacular. Each dish was perfectly seasoned and everything paired well. Our server (who I believe was also the owner) was very accommodating to our large group and even took the time to give personal recommendations and answer all of our questions. He went above and beyond and offered us an appetizer and sample spices to try on our dishes. 10/10! I ordered the Shrimp Tibs and enjoyed every single bite! The spice level was perfect.

Addis is the 2nd Ethiopian restaurant we've checked out in the RVA area. Server was helpful in explaining the various dish differences since this cuisine is not super familiar to many folks. We were 4 people and ordered the special chicken tibs, the yasa awaze tibs (tilapia), the bozena shiro (a beef dish in a thick sauce served in a little "cauldron") and since each meat came with 1 veggie, we added the 3 item veggie. Portion size is fair and in fact we had too much for the 4 of us. The injera bread really fills you up. We probably could have skipped the beef dish which the beef cubes seemed to be a little small/light. Overall the food was really good though. If you like Ethiopian and need to scratch the itch, this place does the job.

Lamb and vegetables were tasty! Injera spongy bread is unique. The potatoes with carrots were buttery and tender.

They were not open when we got there because they were running a bit behind. However, they honored our reservation and sat us down. By the end of the meal, the restaurant had a good amount of people. The staff was very friendly and attentive. We ordered a beef dish and a chicken dish. Both were mild on the spice scale. The flavors of the meats were delicious, but both were a bit overcooked/chewy. The bread was delicious. I really appreciate that the menu explains some of the key ingredients as well as expands on Ethiopian culture. My friend liked the cabbage a lot and neither of us would order the collard greens again.

My favorite restaurant in all of Richmond, I love eating here whenever I'm in town. Although I am not a fan of injera (it's a personal/texture thing, so I just use a fork), the food is always delicious, with excellent vegetarian options, and the staff is always welcoming and friendly. The Ethiopian honey wine is a particularly decadent treat.

He stepped into the spot from the brisk night's air; the place filled to capacity with his people. Snaps from fingertips echoed in adoration of the powerful words spoken that caressed the ears of the yearning audience. The bass player strapped up. The pianist twiddled his fingers. The guitarist strummed a few chords as the drummer counted off with the clicks of his sticks. "1...2...3...4." The groove took over while the crowd moved to the swelling rhythms. Wait a minute...this wasn't Tuesday Verses and the stage was empty. But it was Wednesday's Eve and Mr. RVA was in pursuit of his next dining excursion during Richmond's Black Restaurant Experience Week. Nestled in the heart of our beloved Shockoe Bottom, lies a staple in the Black Community. Though this notable establishment is commonplace to my people, I couldn't help but observe the diverse patchwork of the American diaspora present that evening. A smirk crept across my face, remembering a quote from Chef Wan, "I believe that food can unite people from all walks of life and cultures." Above, strands of neon green lights illuminated brilliant canvas art pieces; reflecting off mahogany wood tabletops. I wonder if owner, Mr. Bitew, ever thought that cravings of food from his native land of Ethiopia would be the genesis of this establishment; whose doors first opened in 2008. Their menu boasts of authentic Ethiopian cuisine sure to take your palate on a trip. Ladies and Gentlemen of Discovering RVA, allow me to unwrap a verse, for Addis. @addis_ethiopian_rva. . Appetizer- Sambussas~A deliciously golden Pastry stuffed with Spiced Lentils & fresh Spinach, pan fried crisp & served with a Garden Salad. . Entree- Yebeg Awaze Tibs~ Tender, cubed Lamb sautéed with a melange of freshly chopped Onions, Tomatoes, Green Peppers, & pressed Garlic, simmering in their pleasantly spicy Awaze sauce, served with curried Tikel Gomen & resting on a bed of housemade Injera. . Wine Pairing- a glass of 2020 Malbec, Siete Fincas Secreto, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina . Nick- Thank you for your hospitality, recommendations, & service. Much Obliged. . Please, if you haven't already, follow me on my official Instagram page @Discoveringrva and take a journey with the Gentleman, "Mr. RVA" and uncover the hidden gems of our noteworthy city. . #discoveringrva . #804 #rva #richmond #richmondva #rvadine #rvaeats #Rvafood #food #foodies #foodshare #foodstagram #foodiesofinstagram #yummy #foodblog #foodblogger #foodlover #foodpost #foodography #delicious #lifestyle #foodpic #eating #foodandwine #foods #foodie #eeeeeats #foodiegram #igfood #forkyeah

The staff was kind and helpful. The food just tasted bland and not like it was made with live. We got tubs and they were tough.

Great food, great prices. Often lots of tables available. I'm surprised it's not busier.

My parents have been talking about trying Ethiopian food for years and we finally did. I was worried but they seemed up for the challenge so I did the ordering. I haven't been eating much meat but since it was their first time I ordered chicken, two kinds of beef and shrimp along with beef sambusas to start. I wanted lentil but they were out, that's my favorite but my family loved what they had. Once the food came I was sort of disappointed with the portions but they didn't know the difference and portions are shrinking everywhere right? I haven't had beef in ages but this time it was really good but not as good as the cabbage. Yes with this platter full of meats, I preferred the vegetables. Service was great. The wait staff was working! I'd give the food a 3.5 but because of the service 4 Stars.

Love the food and the vibe is on point. Attending The Writer's Den Poetry Slam. Entertainment and good food..:who could ask for more!!!

ATMOSPHERE: Large area with booths and tables. No frills full bar. Classic African vibe and not smoky from all the late night parties ;) Super accommodating with amazing food. FOOD: Possibly the best Miser Wot I've ever had and the injera was crazy fresh. Properly washed lentils and excellent spice. SERVICE: Asked for special salad with oil and vinegar dressing as well as sliced jalapeños. Server didn't bat an eye and was happy to do it. I wanted to come back everyday.

Food was ok. Maybe Ethiopian food is not my jam. Place was nice. Service was good. Ask for silverware lol. It's Ethiopian food they eat with their hands apparently. .

It was great. Personally, I prefer everything a bit more spicy and the sambusa interior was cold otherwise the flavors were all there. Unique, healthy and delicious. Their injera was by far one of the better recipes out there and the service was on point and extremely friendly. I'd go back when I'm craving Ethiopian again

My husband and I went here for lunch. We ordered Awaze Chicken Tibs, Chicken Keye and Chicken Sega Wot. It came with tik ganen (cabbage), and music wot, (spiced red lentils). We got their lentil appetizer too. This was some of the BEST food I have had in a long time. I have never had Ethiopian food before but I'm in love! The servings are so huge! We could barely put a dent in how much food they gave us. We took it home, the. It fed us and our children for dinner. Our kids even loved it. Our kids are ridiculously picky. The food is kid/teen friendly. Both our kids ate their full. Much to my annoyance, they made it into a burrito instead of eating it piece by piece with the bread. My kids like the cabbage and the spiced lentils and all of the meats. I can't wait to go back.

The bartender always looks out for me. Can she get a barback tho, she's too gorgeous to be working that hard Great drinks, great food, patio space if you want to relax outside.

Fantastic! We didn't see what we wanted on the menu (meat and veggies for 3 people) and our server helped us find it! Injera was soft and fresh, the Mesir wat was better than mine, and the service was spectacular. All the meat dishes were amazing. There were no leftovers and it was about $65 including tip. Wonderful place to find a great authentic Ethiopian meal.

Food was fantastic. We ordered a platter with meat and veggies. So good. Staff was helpful and friendly.

Good ethiopian restaurant in the richmond area! I had ethiopian in the past, so I knew what I was expecting. My boyfriend, on the other hand, never had it! We ordered the meat special plate, which costed about 22 dollars with tax. It was definitely filling and I think this meal can feed about 3 people. Its a really good price for the amount of food you get. My boyfriend and I were stuffed and had to take the rest home. We tried the awaze tibs, keye sega wot, and beef lega tibs! Everything tasted so amazing and extremely flavorful. The meats aired well with the injera! With the meat special plate, it came with also a vegetable called tikel gomen which is cabbage. My boyfriend approved of his first time trying ethiopian food and is looking forward to going back! The service was a bit slow, because I think there was only one server (who I also think was the owner). Also, the womens restaurant may need some work. One of the bathrooms door does not close, and the other toilet was clogged.

I ate here about 30 times between 2014 - 2020 and it was amazing every time -- my favorite restaurant in the region. I just went back for the first time in almost 3 years, and it has *really* gone downhill since then. I ordered several of my old favorites, and was sorely disappointed by almost all of them: (1) The bozena shiro (chickpea stew with beef). The "shiro" they served was definitely *not* shiro. They used to serve the most velvety, nutty, chickpea stew. I don't know what they're serving now. It tastes like canned gravy maybe? I suspect it no longer even has chickpea in it. It was absolutely disgusting. (2) The misir wot (spicy red lentils). They've *severely* toned down the spices in this dish. It used to taste of delicious, aromatic berbere. I could not detect the berbere in it any longer. It is super bland now. (3) Gomen (collards). They've removed all the spices from this dish too. The collards used to be so flavorful and delicious. Now, they're just serving them bland, American style. Maybe a little salt added, but I couldn't detect anything else. Boring. (4) Ayb (cheese). The cheese was so bone dry it was almost like sand. It used to be much creamier and delicious. This cheese tasted like it had been sitting out, unsealed for days. Inedible. (5) Kitfo (raw, minced beef). The kitfo was the only dish that was actually still very good. I do think they've cut back on the mitmita (chili powder), but it was still brimming with the smell and flavor of korerima (Ethiopian black cardamom), and seemed to still have a decent amount of kibe (spiced clarified butter) in it. (6) Tej (honey wine). They serve a different brand of tej than they used to. (It is now made by Negus Brewing out of Virginia.) It was delicious, even if overpriced. And kind of cool to support a local tej-maker. (The old brand they served was Enat Tej out of California, which I think has gone out of business.) What happened??? I don't know, maybe they've made their food increasingly inauthentic to cater to the taste of the locals as this area becomes increasingly gentrified? Or, they've had issues getting authentic ingredients due to pandemic-related supply issues? Whatever the case, I am SO sad to see this place serve food that is so vastly inferior and less authentic than what I know they are capable of. I am so, so sad to say that I will never be coming back. (But hey, it frees me up to visit other delicious places whenever I am in Richmond, like Perly's! Previously, I refused to eat anywhere else in town except Addis.)

Best Ethiopian food in RVA! Love the atmosphere and staff is friendly. Great downtown location near parking, other shops, and restaurants. I recommend Addis Ethiopian Restaurant.

Okay, this was not a great dining choice for us. Place looked nice and clean. Chose to sit looking out the window which was pleasant. Service was mediocre. He was pleasant but not much else. I got the shrimp and spouse got beef. Chose the mild dishes from the menu. Shrimp dish was okay. I bit into what I thought was a green pepper and it was a Jalapeño. Suddenly my mouth was on fire. I had to spit it out. Was not expecting that. I picked each one out and moved it to the side. I really can not take the spice. Younger days yes but not anymore. The beef dish was fatty. So not all that good. The sides that came with each dish were good. The menus were left at the table so we checked the menu for desserts but didn't see any desserts. Server never came back to check on us. So we had to call him over to clear the dishes and get the check. We paid and left. No one was in the restaurant at that time so maybe when they are busier service would be better. Not a place we will go back to.

On Tuesday nights, there's an event called "Verses" where they host open mic for poets, singers, dancers and artists to come up and share their talents. It's been a long running event for the last 19 years! I was blown away to hear that. The full menu is available for ordering while watching the show. It would be my first time dining on Ethiopian cuisine and I was excited! I ordered a glass of cabernet and the Addis Specialty Meat Plate so I could get some variety. It consisted of Chicken Tibs, Beef Lega Tibs and Keye Sega Wot with Denech Alicha Wot. All very tasty. The chicken was a little on the dry side but had good flavor. Alicha wot dish had potatoes and carrots and was so good! I even grubbed with my hands for the full experience so I could get down like you're supposed to. It's was a fun night to say the least. I want to go back and try more things on a night when there isn't anything going on so the food can be the focus. Looking forward to returning.