Cafe Abyssinia

The food was absolutely delicious. Full of flavor in every bite and they are absolutely generous with portions. Great service and seating outside was very spacious, clean, and no bugs. Will definitely be back!

It was our first time eating African food. I was nervous at first. But our server helped guide us. We had the Doro Wat. Which was an amazing. Has a little heat, but not unbearable. The service was good, got our food quickly, and the taste was amazing.

such a lovely experience! the food was excellent and the service was even better. our group of five split the lamb tibs, goden tibs, and split pea stew. all our food came with a lot of injera, which was absolutely delicious! our server was so kind and attentive and offered us lots of extra injera and potatoes! would recommend 10/10 AMAZINGGG food

So delicious, extremely kind and attentive service, overall amazing experience! The food also came out very quickly. My group of 5 ordered family style and cleared the meal so quickly because it was so delicious! Perfect dinner experience.

The food is SO GOOD! Lamb tibs and goden tibs were absolutely amazing, really flavorful and juicy. Customer service was top-notch—very very kind and generous, even gave us an extra serving of food we wanted without us having to ask. Extra injera comes at no cost. Absolutely recommend!!

THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD OMG!! I was like man, I’ve tried Asian food, Latin American food, European cuisine but never African and this was an amazing introduction. Great vibe in the restaurant too.

I have eaten here on multiple occasions and all have consistently impressed me. This restaurant is unique to the area and it's atmosphere is very relaxed with respectable service. My partner and I do very much enjoy this spot and it's awesome Ethiopian food. We started with Veggie Sambosas that are perfect: crisp fried creamy potato and carrot. For our entree we shared the Lamb Wat which has just enough of a kick if you are looking for that slight heat.

Easily the best Ethiopian food in NOLA and slightly more affordable. Awesome friendly vibe. Safe neighborhood. Easy parking. INSANE flavor! Loved the vegan combo! I’ll be back with my buddies tomorrow!

Abyssinia has been consistently great Ethiopian food for at least the last 10 years I've been going. I appreciate the prompt and efficient service, I appreciate the outdoor seating, and I appreciate the communal experience of eating with friends here. Haven't had a bad thing yet, but the fish was especially tasty when we went a couple of weeks ago!

When we arrived, there was no one else there. That quickly changed and by the time we left, most of the outdoor seating was filled. Very attentive staff - the service was excellent and the food was amazing. I just moved here and hadn't had Ethiopian food in years and this is such a great place and not too far from my house. We ordered the veggie combo and the meat lovers combo, extra injera and the beef sambusa. Every bite was packed with flavor! We really enjoyed ourselves and had a great time. BYOB - we brought a few bottles of wine to share. I will definitely be back!

We were actually trying to find the Ethiopian restaurant where we ate in 2016 during our last time in NOLA, and accidentally came here - but are we glad we did! We even came again a few days later to repeat our great veggie combo dinner - $19 serves two people. It was flavorful with only one item hot-spicy but berbere sauce is worth it. Also tried the sambusa appetizer which was flaky and tasty. Waiter was very friendly. Restaurant is basic but nice, with good music playing quietly. Both times we arrived too late to go to the sno-ball place in the same lot - but we probably would have been too full from the well done food!

If you want to feed a family of 6 off of 2 entrees with some injera, veggies & levels of deliciousness then you're going to definitely get it here + leftovers on the side. The food is so filling, tasty & deliciou. I've been coming to this restaurant for over 10 years & when I tell you the ambience is always welcoming & like a breath of fresh air; every time I visit the service is always hospitable. Every person that you encounter when you are ordering & super kind & welcoming. The best thing that ILove is that it's a hidden gem. The food is so tasty ou'd love to keep it ass best kept secret but yuu can't help but share because it's a hidden gem. You can BYOB + there's a wine store across the street that's called a Really Really Nice Wine. I'm always left with leftovers to take home because it's impossible to eat the entire entree. We had the derek tibs, my husband had like a chicken named dora wat with eggs, alongside of greens, carrots cabbage sweet potato and injera; soaking in flavors. I revisit every time and every time I revisit it gets better & better. You have to try it & thank me later

I went vegan for the month of January, and I was searching for something filling and delicious and locally made. Cafe Abyssinia checked all the boxes! I got a Veggie combo, and it was so good that I returned 3 times! The food is rich and flavorful, and it came with plenty of injera. The folks in the restaurant were so nice and welcoming, and the prices were very reasonable. The portion size was good, and I ate twice off of one plate! A beautiful spot to check out the next time you're on Magazine!

Overall Thoughts: Hidden towards the back of other restaurants/shops without a clear sign, this spot was empty when we went for lunch at 12pm but gradually got a bit busier later on. The interior is comfortable, homey, and modestly decorated; I loved the designs of their bowls and cups. Granted I don't have Ethiopian food often, but this is the best I've had so far-- the food is delicious, bursting with bold, robust spices and flavors, and extremely filling. We paid ~$24 per person, which was very reasonable for how filling and excellent the food was. The service was also great and very friendly! Food I tried: - Sambusa with Collared Greens (4.1/5): This appetizer was just okay-- it is very similar to Thai spring rolls, even with the same sweet and spicy sauce. The collared greens gave it a bit of a unique flair, and it had a very crispy exterior. - Ethiopian Coffee: Definitely more of an acquired taste that I don't yet have-- it's extremely strong / concentrated and tasted herbal. They combined all the entrees into one family-style plate with a side of injera: - Split Red Lentil Stew (4.7/5): This was super good-- the lentils had so much flavor and I loved its soft, mushy texture. The sides of women and cabbage were flavorful and delicious as well. - Fish Gulash (4.6/5): The fish pieces were crispy, flavorful, and well-sauteed. - Lamb Alicha (4.3/5): This was good, with a distinct lamb flavor balanced out by the other veggies and spices. - Kitfo (4.3/5): This was quite good too, with very pleasant flavors and spices. - Injera (4.6/5): The injera here is thicker than other places I've been, but with the same slightly sweet and sour flavor and light, spongey texture. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.4/5 Food: 4.5/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Service: 4.9/5 Overall Value: 4.6/5

The best spicy red lentils I have eaten in ages. I was very impressed with the taste. I wish I could've had more Berbere on the side, but this was very good. The waitress was very attentive. I was very cold that morning and she gave me a hot glass of water to warm my hands up with. Excellent service.

Our last night of the Nola tour and we opted for Ethiopian. It's a smallish place with indoor and outdoor dining. No frills here just very nice people and the largest plate of Ethiopian food ever. Piglets that we are we ordered all the vegetarian stuff plus the Lamb Tibs and Salad. Yes wayyyy too much for two peeps but no Ethiopian food where we reside in PCB so we had time to make up. The portions here were bigger than all the other Ethiopian places we have been including a trip to Ethiopia in 2000. Small business at its best.

Came here right before opening on a Sunday and had the whole place to myself. Ordered the special veggie combo: Lentils, cabbage & carrot, potato & carrot, shiro (chickpea), collard greens, yellow split peas, salad, green beans, azifa (cold lentils). Yummy and enough good for 3 people! Will be enjoying these leftovers for dinner later. Nice vibe in a great neighborhood

Very good Ethiopian food at modest prices. Pleasant covered outdoor patio gets hotvin the sun tho. Inside is cool dark and spare - feels authentic. Both the fish and beef were great. And the injera was tart, soft, and delicious. The server was very friendly and competent. We had a great inexpensive lunch and took home leftovers Which by the way reheat beautifully. What's not to love?

I came here for the lunch special, each entree was only 9.99! A great restaurant! Food was great and well seasoned. I wouldn't eat the bread on its own since it's pretty sour but with the meats it tastes very good. The main draw of the restaurant, at least for me, is how filling it is. It's incredibly filling and I was stuffed even after being starved the whole day. The outdoor seating is very nice as well and it's in a nice location. Overall a very pleasant and aesthetically pleasing place to eat and I recommend it to everyone. The waiter was very good and attentive as well.

Awesome food and friendly staff! I had the spicy beef aware tibs, red lentils, and split peas, with a generous amount of injera. Spicy but not so that you can't taste anything else. It was served hot and the aroma was amazing.

We were looking for another restaurant and couldn't find it and we ended up in the delightful restaurant. We were on our way to the airport and ordered Togo. Everything on my plate down to the salad was delicious and flavorful. I ordered the chicken n rice plate. Sooo yummy. The service was great too. Everyone was really kind. Thank you for the amazing food.

The beef tibs were horrible! They were not seasoned at all and not tender! The injera was hard and tasted horrible. The vegetables were ok but not good enough for me to eat here again! I guess New Orleans doesn't know much about Ethiopian food because the previous reviews are misleading!

I go there EVERY time I'm in New Orleans! The food is amazing! The staff is very friendly and attentive. Did I mention that the food is amazing? The ambiance is warm and comfortable. They have indoor and outdoor tables. Ermias the owner became a friend over the years. If you haven't tried this please you have to, for a date or with friends or alone! I love this place!

We ate outside, lovely New Orleans day. Other diners came and enjoyed the food and the pretty day outside too. I did not go inside so I can't comment on that. There was plenty of street parking at late lunchtime, but that was luck--not alw the norm for the area. The host family-owners have a quiet, gracious spirit & the restaurant has a good feel because of it. Very strong presence and very good food. Ethiopian tea is alw delicious but super sweet so keep that in mind. Very casual, laid back vibe with good food, that draws nice people--win win.

My first time eating pure Ethiopian food. It was delicious! First time eating strictly with my hands outside of tacos haha. I got the doro tibs and it was so fresh and juicy and I loved all the veggies. I tried to binge and eat it all my it was too much. My friends each got something different, doro wat, lamb tib and I forgot what else. I will definitely be back.

Notes: 1) been here once 2) had a good amount of seating Pros: 1) great food 2) great service 3) had a unique atmosphere Cons: 1) took some time to get our order out (only 1 main server) Rating: 4.5/5 This place was amazing. This place is packing and is deserving of it. The service was a little slow but that was due to having one server and also having a lot of tables ready to order. Aside from the service, the food was very good. The beat salad was amazing. The doro wat, the veggie combo, the sponge bread was awesome! Personally, I'm not too big a fan of the bread but this one works well with the food. There was plenty of it and it serves a lot of people. If you're looking for good Ethiopian, this is a great place to start! It was so good that I didn't even have a picture!

This was our first time trying Ethiopian food, and we really enjoyed it! We ordered the Derek Tibs, Doro Alicha and Sambusas, and they were all amazing! Service was very nice as well; will be coming back!

Highly recommend this place for a casual date night! The waiter was very friendly and helpful and provided us with recommendations that did not disappoint. We loved our fish gulash and lamb tib. We will definitely be back.

The best Ethiopian food I've had and I w had ALOT! from Los Angeles to New Orleans hands down my favorite .. we had the veggie platter with dorowat and Tibs.. DELICIOUS we will be back again tonight

The owner, Ermias, gave us the great suggestions! Food was amazing. 1st Ethiopian food experience and will definitely try again!

Excellent Ethiopian food and dining outdoors on Magazine street at reasonable prices are all good reasons to try Cafe Abyssinia. We dined there on Easter evening after seeing the play Moulin Rouge. We had two different fish entrees, greens and lentils. I thought I'd never like fish better than the one with the berbere spice, but the fish with onions and tomatoes changed my mind. Typical with Ethiopian food, expect a small wait to get served. They prepare each meal carefully, and that takes time. We prefer our food well prepared and plan ahead to have time for them to make it and us to enjoy.

I love Ethiopian food so definitely had to stop here. My bf used to come here all the time when he was living in NO but now that we split our time in other cities, we only get to come here when we are in town. The food is amazing and the injera is 100% teff flour, everything is so authentic. I love the Ethiopian tea with some honey. The lamb tibs is to die for and if you're vegetarian, you can't go wrong with the veggie platter. Service is amazing and welcoming. The place is own by a lovely family. If you're in NO, it's so worth a try.

As of today, they do dine-in! Call to reserve a spot, though. This place was sensational. This is one of two Ethiopian places in the city, and I can't speak for the other one, but Café Abyssinia was amazing. We went for lunch and split an entree and appetizer - we were filled. They give ample portions for all their food, so I would say an entree feeds two. The young waiter we had was so kind and friendly! He struck up a good conversation with us. The food was delicious - we had the Injera Fish Roll and the Doro Wat. It came with plenty Injera bread. Amazing texture and flavor. There is limited parking but they do have spaces of their own in a small lot. Definitely recommend!

This is a welcoming casual restaurant with terrific, reasonably priced food and great service. Both indoor and outdoor dining options. Will be coming back!

It was great! We ordered several dishes and they were all delicious. The staff was friendly and understanding when we cancelled an order we decided we didn't want.

The service and food is excellent and the staff is very polite. Will definitely be back soon!

Food was incredible! What a great, authentic experience. Had a lamb dish as well as the vegetarian combo. Got to taste eight different items. All very unique and flavorful. Owner was on the spot and very helpful with advice and guidance. Added a great cup of Ethiopian coffee, also.

I loved this little place. My first time trying Ethiopian food and I can't wait to go again. I lucked up on this place when I was visiting one of the little shops across the street. I started with an appetizer of Sambusa, one was collard greens and the other was lentil. I loved the sauce. My entree was Lamb Wat which is cubes in a spicy stew. I enjoyed the food and the atmosphere.

The food here was so good. First of all, the injera (bread) is perfect. This is Teff flour made into perfectly rolled spongy bread. I LOVE IT! The collards were amazing. One of the problems with getting a "plate" is you can't eat it all. But oh my word-the food here is amazing. The shiro (chickpeas) were also excellent. One of the things I'm improving at is eating with my hands and a native bread. As an American, this has been a hard transition, but I'm learning! The vegetarian platter has golden and red lentils and I'm not sure which I prefer - they are both really good. The potatoes with carrots are flavored perfectly.

Pros: One of the few authentic African restaurants in the New Orleans area. The menu had a decent offering with descriptions that helped make the dishes less intimidating. And the bread was interesting: thin, spongy, and served in little rolled bundles. Cons: The chicken in my doro wat was overcooked/dry. My mother got the derek tibs, which the waitress said would have kinda crunchy meat, but my mother said it was just overcooked, leathery beef. My father was the only one with no complaints about his dish (lamb awaze).

As someone who grew up eating Ethiopian food I Loved this place. Authentic for sure. Food was great! Friendly customer service. Definitely visiting again when I return to NOLA. We had Derek tibs - dry cooked meat Kitfo - raw spiced beef (say leb leb for slightly cooked) With it comes Ayb - Ethiopian home made cheese Awaze tibs - spicy stir fry beef or lamb "awaze" makes it spicy with berbere the spice of kings as Anthony Bordaine called it. Lentils and greens come on the side as complementary orders. These are just few of surprisingly many options offered here.

Th this is some of the best Eian food Ethiopian food you will get next to go to Ethiopia. Samson was amazing, extremely professional, and the restaurant was clean and very price friendly. Do not be afraid when you look down the alley and see the restaurant you will have an amazing time while there. The food, that taste, you couldn't ask for anything more. I would definitely go back.

Got it Doordarshan. Lamb awaze, chicken doro wot, veggie sampler and meat sambusa. All delightful and they gave a lot of bread.

This may be, dare I say it, the best Ethiopian food I've ever eaten. And I have eaten a lot... in San Francisco, LA, New York... and I've finally found my favorite in this hidden corner of Magazine Street. Their flavors are superb, bold yet so fine-tuned, and their injera is milder and less sour than most, which I quite enjoyed. I ordered the veggie combo--more expensive than the other entrees, but well worth it. The portions were plentiful, though I confess I devoured nearly everything. The red lentils and collard stew were my favorites, but there wasn't a bite I disliked. The folks who run the place seem like a nice bunch, too. I was meeting a friend for dinner, and having accidentally arrived very early, they kindly offered me a seat and a water while I waited. Just try it. Anyone who isn't a pretentious ass is liable to have a good time.

The food was delicious! Service was great, the guy there recommended me what to order based on what i was in the mood for. The ambiance was nice, bgm not too loud, outside sittings are available too. It's unfortunate that the place is not packed with customers when it has good food at decent price.

A search for something a little different on Magazine street lead me to this little Ethiopian place that is in fact a bit removed from the road. Like most Ethiopian places, the way to go for me was definitely the veggie combo. It was not a cheap dish, but it was really quite substantial, and I had more than enough of the songy injera bread on the side. Of the items proffered, the spicy chickpeas were by far the best, but I enjoyed all of them, and there was a very nice chili powder available at the table that improved some of the milder dishes significantly. The injera was less sour than others that I've tried; I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but it was definitely easier on the American palate. It was a nice little place with picnic tables outside for warmer weather, and between the peas, lentils, greens, carrots, and potatoes, I felt I got a well-rounded and interesting meal.

This is my first time getting Ethiopian food. With the help of an Ethiopian friend, we got the beef awaze tibs and lamb tibs. There's a lot to describe. So you get a box of the lamb tibs meat which comes with red lentil stew and boiled cabbage. The beef awaze tibs came with collard greens instead of the cabbage. Then you get a box full of injera which is a very sour spongy flatbread. The meat was tasty, cooked well, and plentiful. The quality is like chewy stew meat. To me it felt like the cuisine's emphasis was on the oil and spices. The spices seem a bit like Indian with mild curry cutting through, even for the spicy beef awaze tibs we had. And the oil coats your mouth and acts to deliver the spices. The vegetable sides were well cooked and tasted exactly like how they would at any restaurant. The red lentil stew is hard to describe but I would just say it tastes warm, wholesome, and nourishing. So I was told that you wrap the meat in the injera and eat it that way. It was like eating tacos with extremely fluffy tortillas and way too much lime. It wasn't really my thing. It was very filling, and the meat was good enough to make the package decent but I wouldn't say I enjoyed the injera. Overall to me, it felt like I was getting fajita meat seasoned with some curry. The injera didn't hit it off with me, maybe it's just not to my taste. And the sides were there, nothing special. It's good, filling food. I don't think I would try again, but at least now I can say I tried Ethiopian food.

We just had an excellent meal here. The veggie combo platter is a perfect meal for twoto enjoy when you're walking around Magazine and don't want to be overloaded with heavier fare. I've had a lot of Ethiopian from around a the country and this stacks up with the best I've had.I also highly recommend the lamb. A+

We really love this place! We have been quite a few times and everything we've enjoyed has been amazing. Our favorites are the Doro Wot, Doro with Gomen, Lamb Awaze Tibs, and Kitfo. Every order comes with two vegetable sides of the chef's choosing, my favorite vegetable dishes are the collards, special shiro, and the cabbage with carrots. The collards and cabbage are cooked until they are melt in your mouth tender, same with the collards in the Doro with Gomen entree! I love the cheese that you usually get with the Doro Wot, as well. One major highlight for me is that their injera is gluten free. Some places use a mixture of teff and wheat, but here they do not. The only dish with gluten is their sambusa appetizer, that I'm aware of. Make sure you get coffee while you're here. Obviously, they brew Ethiopian coffee and serve it the traditional way, with coffee and a cinnamon stick to stir. It's wonderful! Right now, due to COVID, they are takeout only. I haven't had it take them any longer than 20 minutes to have our meal ready for pick up. The staff has always been very nice and more than happy to discuss their dishes with you!

This is a great Ethiopian restaurant that is perfect for anyone who loves good food and great service. The server was extremely polite and helpful in explaining what the different dishes and spices were, as I had never had Ethiopian food before. Ended up settling on the Doro Wat, which is the national dish of Ethiopia, and the Kitfo. Both dishes came served on the same plate, and a side of rolled up bread-like stuff came with it. There were no utensils but it was really fun to eat with my hands! If you've never had Ethiopian food, I would highly recommend giving this place a try. They also have an Ethiopian espresso which was pretty good!

Edit - I have fallen in LOVE with the red lentils! My sambusas have been PERFECT, and the service is still amazing. While living in Washington DC for over 10 years, I fell in love with Ethiopian food. Since I don't eat meat, I tend to get the veggie platter once a week. One can imagine my excitement when I discovered this cool spot on Magazine Street. My first visit was great, but they don't sell alcohol, so they didn't have Ethiopian Honey wine. The food was perfectly seasoned. The injera wasn't my favorite. It isn't as spongy and sour as I know it to be. After many, many visits I had disappointing food last night. The injera seemed really chewy, and the look of it was off. Some parts were really hard; other parts had dark brown creases. The food was ok, but you can tell that it had sat for a while. I love lentil sambusas, but theirs always seemed to be overcooked. One time I had to throw away the outer layer because of all the grease and burn. I would have taken it back if I didn't live so far. What makes the restaurant a 4 instead of 3 is the servers. I have only had a younger lady and gentleman, and both are sweethearts. I also enjoy watching the music videos from Ethiopia. It reminds me of my time in DC. Overall, I will continue to come here. Hopefully, the sambusas will be less burnt and the injera more fresh like my earlier visits.

WOAH!! Who would have thought there was a magnificent Ethiopian eatery tucked away on Magazine street? This place is open 7 days a week, from 11a-11p and offers a huge menu including poultry, seafood, lamb, beef, and veggie options. Our party of three ordered the chicken with spinach ($14) as well as a lentil special ($11) and each dish came with a side dish. Each of us was stuffed and we had leftovers to take back!! So delicious. Will def be dreaming of this meal for a while. Our server Kaeyli (I think that's how you spell it!!) was so wonderful and accommodating. Truly excellent service. We will definitely be back.

Potentially the best meal we had in New Orleans. Feels like you're eating a home cooked meal at a friend's house. Definitely will be returning!

A couple of weekends ago, I met a group of friends here for lunch. I had the beef tibs. Others had lamb and two different chicken dishes. We were all impressed by the food. Everything came out rather quickly and it all tasted good. Although the food was great, the overall experience left a lot to be desired. Our server was polite but not really welcoming or concerned about us. We sat outside since the weather was nice and it kind of reminded me of a a backyard. I never made it inside so I have no idea if I missed anything. When I first arrived, I did go inside of the shoe repair business that sits right on the street. The restaurant is on the side and in the rear. There is a parking lot but none of us knew this so we all parked on the street. The food was good and all but I'm not sure if there is reason to return.

I drove all the way from Baton Rouge to get some Ethiopian food. I had been searching for Ethiopian food since I moved down here. When I found this restaurant on yelp I had to go. My boyfriend and I drove down here the day before thanksgiving in traffic and I was not disappointed. We found street side parking and walked. I would definitely be vigilant as it was a house set back from the street and easily missed. Once we walked in we were promptly greeted and seated. It was a full house but not exactly packed. The menu was not hard and spectated by the type of meat that was in it. We ordered two meat dishes one lamb and one chicken. Each came with a vegetable dish as well. Each dish cost about 12-14 dollars which was reasonably priced. The dishes are served family style on a traditional Ethiopian bread which is also used to eat with. We had enough to feed three and be full. As we needed it the attentive waitress would bring us more bread and by the end we were more than satisfied. The food was amazing! I can't wait to go back and I will be back. Such a good bang for your buck. I can't wait!

This is one of my favorite places to eat in NOLA. Pushed back from the Main Street (Magazine) it is easy to miss but unfortunate if you do. It's great as a BYOB so bring your favorite bottle of wine to elevate your dish even more. They have a small outdoor seating section. The food is absolutely the best which is why it's the sole Ethiopian spot in town. The veggie platter is a great portion for 2 people but the flavor will force one of you to hijack. Six amazing veggies on a bed of injera. The greens and red lentils are my personal favorites but you really get an amazing combo of goodness with all six. The chicken dor wat is a favorite, the lamb tips are tender and well cooked with a hint of spice. The cubed fish (tilapia) is also packed with favorite. Overall, this place is a true hidden gem. With great owners and chill atmosphere you are guaranteed to be fulfilled.

I've only had Ethiopian food twice before this, and admittedly, both of those experiences have been within the last three weeks. After first trying it, I fell in love with the cuisine. After some other dinner plans changed, a friend and I decided to come to Cafe Abyssinia last minute. And while it wasn't necessarily up to par with my more recent Ethiopian experiences, the autheniticity of the food is hard to beat. Cafe Abyssinia is tucked behind a couple shops on Magainze Street, so it is actually fairly hard to just come across it if you weren't looking. The interior dining set up was okay - nothing too appealing, and it was actually very dark where we sat, to a point where it was a little difficult to see our food. The waiter we had was great, being kind and responsive to our questions, and being patient with us when we were taking a little while to choose what we wanted to eat. I eventually ordered the Lamb Tibs with the injera and a side of lentils. The injera was not as spicy as I was hoping, but still delicious. The lamb tibs were a little wetter than when I initially had tibs, but still savory and nutty. The lentils were fantastic, and probably had the most flavor out of the entire meal for me. While Ethiopian food is still fairly new to me, I'm starting to build a pallate for it. Cafe Abyssinia may not have hit exactly as I had hoped, but it's still fantastic, as foundational Ethiopian food is, and I'd recommend to anyone wanting to give the cuisine a first time try.