Cafe Ethiopia

Absolutely loved every dish! I tried the Zigni, Tibsie beef, and fish, all were packed with flavor. This was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine and it definitely won’t be the last!

Warm, no frills, delicious Ethiopian food! Service was just one guy, so a little slow to take our order, but food came out quick. Some of the best Ethiopian in SF! I got a honey wine / mead to go with the dinner. Been going here for the last 10 years, and will be back again soon!

Comfy place with a wide variety of Ethiopian dishes with good descriptions of each. Nice variety of vegetarian and meat dishes, and nice to have the option to order dishes individually or as combos for one person. They also seem to have a good selection of Ethiopian beers although none were available on my visit.

I am being introduced to Ethiopian cuisine with this restaurant. I absolutely love the experience. A shout out to all Indians - TRY Ethiopian if you haven't started already! Biriyani is love but exploring is better 🙏🏼

Summary of my experience: * The food was not fresh. It tasted like preheated food. * The service was not good, server got mad when asking questions. * Also they got our order wrong. The server was told to have one separate vegan order (fasting), and another meat combo. The server ends up bringing it all in one plate and doesn't correct the mistake. The only nice thing about the place is it has great art around the restaurant. Outside of that, the food is horrible, I wouldn't recommend this place.

The main dish for the dinner was amazing. Kudos to the generous quantity as well. Taste: 5/5. Quantity: 5/5. Freshness: 3/5, Value: 4/5 , Wait time: 4/5. I felt the injera bread was not that fresh. It wasn't served hot. However it goes very well with the main dish. We ordered a mushroom and alooo peas main dish. It was really flavourful!

The fish tibsi was jaw droppingly good! well spiced, deep flavor, tender and envigorating. also had the whole lentils, house made cottage cheese, beef, and lamb. The place was quiet, and the one guy was serving all the tables, but the vibes were right. I'm coming back for the fish!

Yummy! Delicious and authentic Ethiopian food in the heart of the Mission. We opted for the Vegetarian platter for 2 and enjoyed everything very much. Prices are reasonable, they have beer and wine (both Ethiopian and American), friendly staff, and the food is great.

Walked by this restaurant with a group of friends while waiting for a table at another restaurant. Due to hunger we decided to change our plans. This place had a diverse menu with many options including vegetarian. I have had many experiences with Ethiopian food and would say this place did not blow me away with their quality. I felt it was good with a variety of options on their menu.

WARNING: do not come here if you have Trypophobia!!! I came here with some friends and we ordered a bunch of different dips to try. I'm not the biggest fan of eating with my hands, but really wanted to try this place. There were definitely some dips that were great (like the lentil ones and the potato/carrot ones) but some of them were lacking in flavor and tasted pretty similar to one another. I would also say the portions are a bit small given the price, and I left still a bit hungry. Service was good, and the restaurant is pretty neat.

This is our go-to spot for Ethiopian food in the Mission. It is conveniently located and close, and the food is generally decent to good. We came here for dinner at around 6 p.m. on a Monday, and were promptly seated since there weren't a lot of customers. We ordered a meat and veggie combo (Tsebhi derho, Tsebhi Begee, Bersin, and Hamili) for each of us and a side of veggie (Ater). The food came out quickly. The chicken seemed a bit dry, but the dish itself was flavorful. The split peas and red lentils were tasty, and the lamb dish was good too. The meat was juicy and the sauce was flavorful. Overall, this place offers decent service(at least on weekdays) and decent food (if you like Ethiopian food). The place is clean and quiet.

This is not a bad spot for some Ethiopian food. I had never had it before and really enjoyed it. The lentils were great and the beef had good flavor. We grabbed for takeout, but you can also dine inside!

I'm so glad I came here with friends! I split a Meat & Veggie combo with #2, #6, and #16 with a friend and it was the perfect amount. I highly recommend and will definitely be back!

Portion size was absolutely amazing! Huge plate took up the entire table - the additional order of tofu and chicken was added and also tasted great. Spicy but not too much. Staff super friendly, polite and kind. Felt very authentic and neighborly. Also appreciated the tofu options because ya boy needs his protein

Some items were good and others not so much. Service was slow and not the friendliest. Good place to get a decent Ethiopian fix in Mission though. Casual restaurant, brightly lit. We came for dinner on a Friday. No issues getting seated. While there were many tables it was strangely quiet. We tried their meat and veggie combo (with Zignia beef stew, tsebhi begee lamb, and bersin red lentils) and shrimp & hamli. The zigni was the favorite. The lamb and red lentils were unremarkable, but the beef was incredibly flavorful and tender. I would skip the shrimp, not good.

The place is in a good location and the food is adequate but a little boring. Honestly, the restaurant is pretty dirty (there was graffiti on the outside window for example ) and the service was underwhelming. It's as if the whole place was depressed and would rather not be there.

This food is SOOOOOOO flavorful !! They also have the seating for a traditional coffee ceremony.

Walked in on a Friday around 8pm as a group of three and were seated quickly. I'd say half the restaurant was full so easy spot to walk into. Food: order one veggie platter and one meat and veggie platter which came on one large injera to share with additional injera on the side Tsebhi Derho - a stewed spicy chicken drumsticks with warm spices, the sauce was thick and flavorful, chicken was slightly dry but still tasty Hamili - stewed collard greens with onions and a light broth, a nice veggie option that adds contrast to all the heavily spiced dishes Ater - split peas stewed in lots of spices and seasoning reminded me of a yellow dal, this was spicy but good Bersin - lentils cooked with tomatoes, flavorful and rich Whole lentils - similar to the Ater we thought this had an added nuttiness which was really nice Zigni - beef stew with lots of rich warm spices, also really saucey Service was fine, a little bit slow since there was only one person serving but understandable. Overall a decent Ethiopian spot in the mission, limited menu of mostly stewed items. Wish the injera was warmed up, the meal ate a bit cold but not a deal breaker. There's a 4% service fee for credit cards FYI.

Delicious! We had a great meal after a long day. Friendly and efficient service. Thanks!

Delicious Ethiopian food! The veggie combo is solid, and each item is amazing. -0.5 stars for slow service but it's still not bad for a family owned business.

4.5 / 5 Amazing Ethiopian food, one of my go-to restaurants in the mission! Interior is modest and has plenty of space, feels as if you're sitting in your grandpa's living room with a comforting home cooked meal. I really recommend the vegetarian combo, there's a good variety of flavors and always consistently cooked with generous portions. You can get it for as many people as you have in your group, but I think it's better to get one size smaller if you also want to get a meat dish on the side. The lamb and the fish are really delicious. Of course, everything pairs well with the nice fluffy injera. Try their honey wine if you like sweet drinks, and they have some interesting Ethiopian beers as well. Service may be slow sometimes (there's only been one server when I've gone) but it's a family run restaurant after all. Prices are standard for SF

Cafe Ethiopia serves traditional Ethiopian food. Customers will be awed by the authentic flavors. It is located in the San Francisco Mission District. Right on Valencia Street, this establishment is conveniently central. The menu is mainly meat, but there are vegetarian or vegan upon request dishes. This place feels cozy and casual, despite it being a bit plain. There is not much decorations, but some Ethiopian decor up on the counter. There are a ton of seats for all types of group settings. There was just one person holding down the restaurant when it was busy, so the service was slow and steady. The man did a great job juggling multiple orders all the while giving great service by himself. I ordered a veggie combo plate with three options of my choice being ater, alecha ater, and atakelt kilkil. Personally, nothing really stood out. Although this plate on the menu said vegetarian, it is vegan as well. I have to say that the plate was $20, but it was simple and filling that satisfied my cravings. Otherwise, there are plenty of other similar places but cheaper in San Francisco or in the Bay Area.

Give me a spicy drumstick curry on injera bread and bury me with it Chief. The spices are so good- I love the man who's always serving us there too. Don't skimp out on the Italian sodas too- they're so tasty.

I love Ethiopian food, so in every city I visit, I feel the need to find an Ethiopian restaurant. This place was just okay. The flavors were a bit muted for Ethiopian, which is all about spices and stewed goodness. I ordered the veggie combo. Not much to say. Lots of people have commented on the server and I didn't think he was rude but he wasn't friendly either. Just "here's your food--eat it" energy. I wouldn't go back. Probably would explore other Ethiopian restaurants in the area.

The service here is terrible. It doesn't cost anything to smile or be friendly to patrons. Because the host was so rude, we didn't even stay to try the food. It turned out well, cause we found a bomb ass Senegalese place elsewhere.

Been going here for years Love the meat combination plate! And at $20, it's a great deal, too Very nice owners

This place is super authentic & you can feel it from the moment you step foot inside. The ambiance is very nostalgic to Ethiopia & the service was phenomenal. Our two year old especially liked our sever interacting with her. We ordered the Vegetarian combo platter for 3 with extra injera & extra spicy lentils because that's our favorite. First off, the presentation took our breath away! The food was all hot, fresh, & flavorful. There was an abundance of each dish but, we pretty much polished off every last bite. Glad we have found yet another gem here on Valencia St & we will definitely be back soon.

Such a cute mom and pop type restaurant, the type with one person managing all the tables. The food was amazing and the quantity was so good for the price. We ordered the veg platter for two. The food was so simple and homey, will definitely be coming back!

Recently went to Cafe Ethiopia with some friends. I have been a fan of Ethiopian food for a long time. I am a longtime vegan of 21 years so know that Ethiopian food always has tasty & nourishing plant based options. My go to at Ethiopian restaurants is usually the veggie combo. At Cafe Ethiopia when you order the Veggie Combo you choose three items of the half dozen available options for the Veggie Combo. Went with: 1. Ater- Split peas in spicy sauce 2. Bersin- split red lentils in a medium spicy sauce 3. Atakelte Kilikil- potatoes, carrot, & cabbage not spicy It was served w/ these three items along w/ a salad w/ a nice dressing along w/ heaps of injera bread. My friends also each got a Veggie Combo. We all enjoyed it. I feel Cafe Ethiopia is a solid option to experience Ethiopian food in San Francisco & in the Mission district. I lived three years in the East Bay & tried a lot of different Ethiopian restaurants in Oakland along w/ Berkeley so my favorite Ethiopian restaurants might be in the East Bay yet can never go wrong w/ Ethiopian.

my two friends and i stumbled upon this place when walking down Valencia st. The interior is pretty spacious, with a very cozy feel to it! we ordered the meat and veggie combo, but did two veggie and one meat with the Tsebhi Begee (lamb), Ater, and Atakelt Kilkil. The curry that the lamb came in was absolutely delicious and the lamb just melted in your mouth! The Ater is similar to Dal if you've had indian food, but also was amazing and the Atakelt Kilkil is a combination of potato, cabbage and carrot. All yummy and amazing! they are served all family style on top of a large injera, with extra injera on the side. They have you order per person, but it doesn't have to be the number of people you came with. Had we known that, we would have ordered 2 meat and veggie combos as that would have been the perfect level of food for the 3 of us. Regardless, the food was very tasty and full of spices- definitely would come back!

My favorite Ethiopian place in the city. Their hours are a bit limiting, which is disappointing because there have been times I've wanted to go and this place is closed. Otherwise this place is a must if I have a friend visiting.

Such a beautiful space! Lovely friendly staff. Yummy food. A big welcoming bar. Must eat here.

Still the best Ethiopian spot in the city highly recommend getting the chicken drumsticks as a choice of meat- everything is fantastic

Service was fine but there was no one else there when I came in. The restaurant was clean and quiet. The tables were fine. I chose the Vegetarian Combo for one. I had 13. Ater, 14. Bersin and 16. Atakelt Kilikil. They were all disappointing. The two that were supposed to be spicy did not taste spicy to me at all. Honestly all three were the blandest and most boring Ethiopian food that I have ever eaten. I even got up and asked for some sauce or condiment that would add some spiciness. I'm not sure what it was. It added the tiniest bit of spiciness. Plus he only gave me maybe a tablespoon of it. Anyway, I doubt that I will ever eat there again.

The veggie combo is super yummy. Service is no no none sense no frills... the food is well done and we usually get more injira bread! Family style with no forks... enjoy!

Great food and wonderful service I highly recommend going here Nice place to eat and drink

I've tried almost every Ethiopian restaurant in San Francisco and this one is my #1 on the list! HIGHLY RECOMMEND this restaurant to everyone !

Amazing food, consistently delicious. Been going here for years and I'm never disappointed. Love getting a glass or two of tej with the veggie combo!

Best customer service, very good food, and a very clean and tidy restaurant. Also, kid-friendly.

The Ethiopian food is good here, not an expert. But big fan of the ingera bread thing. Got the meat and veggie combo. The stewed lamb thing they had was very tasty. I thought the service was good.

Love this place. (This should be 4.5 stars.) Potatoes and cabbage are always perfectly done and seasoned, not too much and not too little--just right. I always start with these and expand the flavor profile out with some other dish. The other vegetable and lentil dishes mix well into the potatoes, as do the meat dishes. Try the lamb! The restaurant is a nice cozy little spot, too. This isn't a wow your friends and IG kind of place. Rather, I've drawn for hours and slowly enjoyed my meal there. Wish they would up their tea selection. But the warmth and smell of the food feels just right inside. SF needs more of these humble places. Like most restaurants, I wish there were an option for half the food and half the price, but I guess you get leftovers to make it more affordable. But this place is well worth the SF inflation prices, unlike other restaurants in the neighborhood that charge the same or more for significantly inferior quality. Happy eating.

Cafe Ethiopia is a hidden gem on Valencia. We got two meat/veggie combo platters that were super flavorful and filling. Would definitely come back again!

3.5 stars Ethiopian food might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of SF's Mission District, but this inconspicuous restaurant on bustling Valencia St turns out delicious home cooking in a friendly, humble setting! Everything you order on the menu is served on injera, a sourdough flatbread made with teff flour, and you simply rip off pieces of the bread and scoop up the different stews, meats, and vegetables! For meats, I tried the chicken doro tibs (chicken sauteed with tomatoes, onions, and sauce) and tsebhi begee (a delicious spicy stew with bone-in lamb). My favorites items on the plate were actually the vegetarian selections--the Atakelte Kilikil was a stew of potatoes, carrots, cabbage, and we also had the Ater (spicy split peas), the whole lentils in a spicy sauce, and the hamli (sauteed collard greens). All of the elements were just spiced so perfectly, with just the right balance of flavor and texture! Simple, homey, and no frills!

We ordered two cups of $3.50 "Ethiopian spiced tea" and got Lipton "America's favorite tea" Could have at least taken the labels off to make us feel better at getting totally jibbed

We love their vegetarian platter!! It comes in two plastic takeaway containers, and each container has 3 different veggie dishes on top of injera, along with salad. Our favorites are Ater (kik Wat) - Split peas in berbere sauce Bersin (misir Wat) - Split lentils in berbere sauce Alecha Ater (kik Alecha) - Purees yellow split peas It's definitely enough food for two with the vegetarian platter. We've always had leftovers for lunch the next day, except one time when my husband was crazy hungry and just scarfed everything down. But that was really unusual... Highly recommend if you like Ethiopian food OR if you're looking for something new and different to add to the COVID-delivery-mix.

The food was okay at best, but there was one waiter for the whole restaurant and it took 30 minutes for me to place an order. The food took another 30 minutes and was semi-cold. It tasted okay. I wish we had better service. If you go here, expect mediocre food with sub par service.

We were looking forward to getting take out while staying nearby. Saw all the great reviews. They don't post hours or have a message when you call so we struck out getting food on Tuesday, calling and even walking by to see if they were open. Tried again today, Thurs, and ordered a combo for take out. 2 meat/1veg. #2 Tsebhi Derho--chicken bits with nothing, no tomato, nothing as mentioned on menu. #9 Tsebhi Begee--bone in lamb with tomato was all bones very very little lamb and no tomato, #14 Bersin Red lentils with tomato--flavorful but very spicy (but menu doesn't say spicy). Maybe stick with the vegetarian menu. Injera was nice. Our chicken was disappointing and the lamb inedible. Really hoped for better and maybe it was an off night.

Great food. The two of us ordered combination plates giving us six dishes to eat, all of which were good.

got good poisoning and the owner was extremely rude :( it seems like the building also has a mouse problem, so i don't recommend coming here!

I ordered to go food. Called in advance, the food is ready when I got there. Shrimp dish is really good , well seasoned.

The food here is amazing and full of flavor! Must visit this place if you are in the area. Family owned and operated. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed... well maybe, if you are in a hurry because the service is a little on the slow side, but trust me it's worth it. The folks are friendly, the food is great and who doesn't like to eat with their hands.

This place is literally my favorite restaurant. I have not found a restaurant with better food. I feel so lucky that my favorite restaurant is a block from my house, but my wallet certainly doesn't XD We eat mostly veggie, and this place has a ton of delicious vegetarian options. I do love the chicken kitfo for when I am feeling like eating meat, but my go-to is the shuro. I also love the azifa, so fresh and delicious. In this time of COVID when everything needs to be take out, I highly recommend this place. They give huge portions and offer a salad and a side with any entree meal. We usually get 3 entrees for take out which I split with my partner. We can usually make two full meals out of three dishes. We save the extras for lunch the following day and it heats up great in the microwave. We LOVE Cafe Ethiopia and you will too! (Seriously my mouth is watering just writing this review XD)

Solid Ethiopian food. Don't have to trek to the TL or Oakland! We got the veggie combo and beef tibs. Tibs were solid. Loved the cabbage, carrot, and potato (by far my favorite veggie Ethiopian dish). The red lentil dish was too strong on the spice, so it wasn't as flavorful. Collard greens solid.

Over all we really love Cafe Ethiopia. Normally we go on quieter week days but this last time we went on a busy Saturday. I loved my choices, I got the mushroom chicken and the vegetarian options that go with it. My partner had a spicy beef dish, but his wasn't cooked quite enough and wasn't as tender as the last time he'd had it there. But honestly, most of the time we've been there it's been perfect. This was just a one off. They also have a nice selection of beer and wine, that we usually enjoy as well.

The Mission is a wonderful place to dine. You would be missing a lot of what the mission has to offer if you did not dine in the Ethiopian tradition at Cafe Etheopia. My favorites are 7. Chicken and Collard greens, 12. Fish for gluten free alternative if you ask they will serve over rice. Lots of vegetarian dishes to choose from. Most of all you will not be rushed out the door. To relax dine with family or friends taking your time to savor a bit of Etheopia.

This was my second time having Ethiopian food, first for many of my friends that night. They said they enjoyed the experience. But personally, I thought it could've been better. Ethiopian food is meant for sharing (family style), so we asked how big the portions are. We were told that one order is big enough for one person. Given that we had 7 girls, some who ate less than others, we decided to order 6 entrees to share. Our server kept insisting that we order more. But his aggressive attitude made us remain firm about our 6 dishes (diced drumstick, beef cube, tender lamb, sautéed fish, pureed lentils and sautéed eggplant). The food was good. Each person had their own favorites. However, I was very disappointed with the portions. Our platter was huge, covered in ingera. But each entrée was only a handful size serving. How is a scoop of meat and a piece of ingera a large enough portion for one person? One thing I didn't like was how they moved us to the back of the restaurant because a larger party arrived and wanted our table. How rude. It really wasn't that bad until I thought I was going to pass out from the unbearable heat back there.

I love the Mission for what it is... youthful & vibrant. But overcrowded restaurants come with the turf, and I think at this point in my life I'm too old to wait around in a 5'x5' standing area. Walking around Valencia, my partner and I were craving something specific but we couldn't put our fingers on what it was. We definitely did not want a long wait, and given it was a weekend, we were up for the challenge. After a little wandering up and down the street, we glanced up and there it was, revealing itself like Grimmauld Place. Everything was so delicious, especially with some cheap(ish) wine. The injera on our plate was huge, and we had chicken & eggplant tibsie. We were stuffed and satisfied to say the least!