This cozy eatery serves vibrant vegan and vegetarian Ethiopian dishes, alongside refreshing smoothies and desserts, all in a welcoming atmosphere.
"This Santa Monica gem serves Ethiopian staples that happen to be vegan. First-timers might want to experience the breadth of chef-owner Tezeta “Tete” Alemayehu‘s cooking with the “Wish Meal,” a composite plate melding shiro, azifa, and tofu tibs served with the usual rolls of injera for scooping. Teff tortilla tacos come packed with berbere-spiced mushroom lentils and roasted potato; a plant-based burger gets smeared with awaze, a spicy, earthy Ethiopian condiment. Wash it all down with shai, hot tea with ginger, cloves, mint, and cinnamon." - Oren Peleg, Eater Staff
"This Santa Monica gem serves Ethiopian staples that happen to be vegan. First-timers might want to experience the breadth of chef-owner Tezeta “Tete” Alemayehu‘s cooking with the “Wish Meal,” a composite plate melding shiro, azifa, and tofu tibs served with the usual rolls of injera for scooping. Teff tortilla tacos come packed with berbere-spiced mushroom lentils and roasted potato; a plant-based burger gets smeared with awaze, a spicy, earthy Ethiopian condiment. Wash it all down with shai, hot tea with ginger, cloves, mint, and cinnamon." - Mona Holmes, Rebecca Roland
"Berbere is the best (and only) Ethiopian option in Santa Monica, but also one of our favorite places to get a vegan lunch in the area. This bright counter-service spot is BYOB (if that speaks to you) and serves incredible plant-based dishes like tofu tibs, Shiro full of tender garbanzo beans, and, our favorite, the Eat The Rainbow platter. This combination comes with a few rolls of injera, plus creamy lentil stews and various sauteed vegetables that smell like a well-stocked spice cabinet." - sylvio martins, jess basser sanders
"This BYOB counter-service spot in Santa Monica fills a massive Westside hole in LA’s Ethiopian restaurant scene. They’ve got a bunch of incredible plant-based Ethiopian dishes for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In addition to tofu tibs and creamy shiro full of tender garbanzo beans, Berbere serves Ethiopian twists on tacos, sliders, and breakfast burritos that’ll make you want to show up about as often as a mama bird returns to its baby’s nest. " - nikko duren, garrett snyder, sylvio martins
" Berbere, the BYOB counter-service spot run by chef Tezeta Alemayehu (the person behind T&T Lifestyle at Smorgasburg), is home to incredible plant-based Ethiopian dishes that are easy for just about anyone to love. There’s no dramatic view or lush garden patio—it’s just a laid-back spot in Santa Monica where you can drink your own wine and scarf down stewed legumes, steamed vegetables, and a few rolls of injera. " - nikko duren
