Desta Ethiopian Cafe

I came here with my father for the first time yesterday and the way Sirgut and the other two woman treated us and prepared food was as if she was having us over at her home for lunch. Phenomenal food and service. We had the vegetarian combo and it was amazing. We then tried amazing espresso which was pan roasted right in front of us. We will definitely come back ❤️

One of the most flavorful experiences I’ve had. I would highly recommend the combo platter to share with another person so you can get a taste of all the flavors they’ve got to offer. The hibiscus tea was perfect for a hot day. Incredibly quick and lovely service.

Food is amazing and service is incredible. The owner is super friendly and nice. Out of all the Ethiopian food I've had, this is by far my favourite! Amazing value and quality. Will be coming back again!

This might be the best meal I've ever eaten in my life. So tasty and I ate SO much food and did not feel heavy afterwards. Bright & sunny, super friendly staff, smells so good. They make their injera fresh - everything was fresh. So, so, SO good!!

The food here is absolutely amazing. Best Ethiopian overall ive ever had. Their collard greens and green lentil dish are both seriously the best ive ever had for those dishes in Ethiopian cuisine. Everything else is still show stopping. When we first went here, there was a dish with red sauce and I wasn't a huge fan - but i also am personally not a dark meaty-taste sauce person, and all the dishes here have otherwise been amazing. Even the sambusas are great! They could use a little more variety, maybe served with the green lentil dish as a side even or with a sauce- but even by themselves are amazing. Long story short, Desta is a must visit!

We have been coming back here for a few times since we found this place last year. It's fantastic vegetarian Ethiopian food served family style. I highly recommend starting with the combo and then order more of what you like best. The food is ready and will be served quickly. The atmosphere is very cozy and friendly as the owner (?) is super nice and always has a smile for the guests. There are no meat options but I bet you won't miss them.

This place is amazing, I'm so happy that pretty much everything is vegan. The food is extremely delicious, everyone there is friendly, the portion sizes are huge, and the price is quite reasonable. I'm already excited to come back. I didn't get a picture of the sambussa, but it's the biggest one I've ever had

Absolutely delicious Ethiopian food with great service and wonderful vibes! A cozy little place that will guarantee a satisfying and filling meal. Highly recommend for vegetarians since everything is veggie. The flax drink is also incredible, and the coffee is well brewed and not bitter at all!

The best Ethiopian meal of my life! This place truly left a mark on me. Not only is the food unbelievably delicious, but the staff make you feel genuinely welcomed. My experience felt so warm and heartfelt, it was as if I were being served by family. I've never felt that kind of care in a restaurant before. You can taste the love and pride they put into every dish, and it really reflects the spirit of the restaurant. I live in Los Angeles, but I will definitely make it a point to return every time I'm in the Bay. This is officially my new favorite restaurant. Thank you to the for your kindness and talent. I can't wait for my next visit!

After teaching a workshop, I took my assistant out to celebrate and he suggested Ethiopian food. A quick Yelp search led us to 5-star-rated Desta, a small neighborhood spot. The owners are warm, attentive, and it felt like being welcomed into someone's home. We shared the veggie combo: Atakilt Wot (cabbage, potatoes, carrots), Gomen (greens), Misir Wot (spiced red lentils), Alicha Ater Kik (yellow split peas), and Azifa (zesty green lentils) served on soft, airy not too tangy teff injera (gluten-free). Every bite was vibrant, comforting, and perfectly seasoned. The injera had just the right tang and sponginess for scooping up every last bit. Service matched the food: friendly, thoughtful, and fast without rushing us. Portions are generous, enough for two. Let's just say the platter was so good my assistant left the plate spotless (see pics!). For plant-based and gluten-free eaters, Desta is a dream For everyone else, it's simply outstanding Ethiopian food. Cozy space, fantastic flavors, lovely owners. Desta is an absolute must. I'll be back soon and bringing others!

Came early for their amazing Ethiopian Ginger Tea! Service is slow but it's one mama handling it all so bring something to keep yourself company while the amazing food is being made. Definitely whole in wall place with very homey vibes. The spices in the food made the vegetarian combo mouthwatering delicious. Will definitely be back for dinner Street parking sucks, but there's a bus stop right in across the street from the unassuming restaurant. Thanks!

I can only complain that they don't stay open a little later. Absolutely spectacular veggie platter! One day I'll get something else, but you can't mess with perfection. My favorite lunch or early dinner spot!

Normally, I don't go for vegetarian only places. I was craving Ethiopian food and Desta was the closest location to me with stellar ratings so I drove in with the family. First, it's a smaller place. Maybe a total of 6 tables including the outside. It felt like being invited into someone's home to eat their food. The service was excellent! I was originally going to order individual items before the owner stopped me and advised me to order the combo instead. I couldn't have been happier with the recommendation! We also picked up some veggie Sambussa's to go along with everything. To be up front I wasn't as big of a fan of these as I was hoping it's overwhelming on the lentils and the flavor just wasn't there. The combo plate, however, was outstanding from the first bite to the last. If this was nearby in Contra Costa I'd order it multiple times a month. Lentils were cooked perfectly. Injera was delightful! Again, service was fantastic. Combo plate: 8.6/10 Sumbussa: 4.7/10

In the rarefied circles of oakland cuisine, desta sits in my top 3 of the east bay, with ensarro the only other ethiopian spot that competes. Chef Sirgut and her coworkers imbibe their food and drinks with the same positive vibes and beautiful smiles that they greet you with. The Azifa is a clear winner, deeply rich and exploding with flavor, a fulfilling meal paired with some extra injera. The telba drink is a total delight, served in a nice large beer mug, and after draining it the next thing I did was to go buy a bucketload of flax seeds and make it myself (it's not hard). Their version of the butecha is hearty and quite different from the butecha at Ensarro, another incredible ethiopian spot on Grand Ave (shoutout Surafel and Solomon). The gomen and misir wot are unsurprisingly excellent too, excellence is taken for granted in the work that Chef Sirgut and co do.

A fantastic restaurant that happens to be vegan and kosher and some of the best, most affordable Ethiopian food I've ever eaten. Desta is a cozy cafe just off of a couple major commercial streets, so it's easy to overlook. A friend and I recently got the sambusas and the veggie combo for delivery and it was ready exactly at the arranged pick-up time. The staff were extremely friendly and made pick-up easy. The sambusas were hearty, stuffed with a large portion of perfectly cooked and well-seasoned lentils, and the dough was fried well with a good filling-to-dough ratio. Although a bit on the saltier side for me, the veggie combo was outstanding. There were substantial portions of everything, some of the veggies were prepared in ways I hadn't seen before, and everything was deliciously spicy. Desta also gave us the right amount of injera to eat everything. The veggie combo was only $18, significantly cheaper and tastier than I've had at other places. I highly recommend Desta and look forward to going again!

Sooooo delicious!!!! Already can't wait to return. Appreciate the attentive service! The ladies working there were very kind. Probably the best Ethiopian food I've had before. - I highly recommend the Veggie Combo! Looking forward to trying more menu items. Thank you Desta!

Kosher! Has a Hechsher! Phenomenal and interesting food! Definitely a new experience and I'm glad I went.

Incredible food. Generous portions. The telba was super good, but very filling, don't fill up on it and not be able to eat the amazing food. We got a sampler and it was enough for 2 people. The people working there were very welcoming and friendly and thoughtful. Other customers stopped by just to say hello. You can tell this place is a loved part of the community. The whole vibe is welcoming. Fully recommend eating here :)

I've been here twice so far, and it's been fantastic both times. Shiro is my go-to when trying a new place, and I've found my new favorite! The flavors were deeply developed, the dishes lovingly spiced. Today we also tried the Azifa, which is lentils, lemon, and jalapeños. Bright and green, it was the perfect complement to the shiro. The owner and staff are lovely and so friendly, and the restaurant smells amazing before you even enter. New favorite restaurant!

We love Ethiopian food and the reviews were so good we had to try Desta. Wherever we eat this delicious cuisine we always get the vegetable combination. The food was tasty. We noticed the red lentils was a little oily and the injera was a bit thinner than we were used to. Desta has two really hard working ladies that do it all . They greet , wait on guests , cook and buss the tables. The restaurant was cozy and we liked the decor. We're looking forward to trying other Ethiopian restaurants in the East Bay.

I. Love. Ethiopian food. I feel so lucky to live in the Bay Area where there is a fair amount of it and a fair number of like, really good spots and that I've been to enough of them to have my favorites in both the East and South bay and now I have a new favorite that's like a 5 minute walk away from where I love. Hashtag blessed? Hashtag blessed. I'd been meaning to try Desta because it's so close to where I live, but unfortunately the hours don't always work with my schedule. We finally went today and tried their vegetarian combo and the tofu scramble (pictured). Desta really stands out from a lot of the Ethiopian places I've tried for a couple reasons: 1) The Injera is less sour than other places, but pleasantly so! It's softer and I really like the texture. I actually feel like the milder flavor complements the different dishes a lot better because it's milder in flavor. 2) Each dish is SO well flavored and seasoned! Everything on the veggie combo platter had such a unique and delicious flavor from sweet, hearty, and tart. The tofu scramble was excellent- a really nice blend of I think tumeric and some other spices that was unique and satisfying. I feel like some Ethiopian places the flavor skew too tart or maybe too salty, but everything at Desta is just right 3) I love Gomen (stewed collard greens/kale) and Desta's is the perfect amount of softness and bite. A really satisfying texture all around that went really well as an entree with Injera and mixed in with the tofu scramble. Standouts for me were the Misir Wot (spicy, savory, hearty), Gomen (see above), and the Azifa (spicy, sour, refreshing), the last of which I hadn't had before. The tofu scramble was also excellent, and the sides with carrots and potatoes complemented it nicely- the carrots were really flavorful and the potatoes cooked to perfection. For drinks we got the Ginger tea and a cappuccino. The ginger tea in particular was very strong- you can ask for sugar to flavor it to your liking! Great if you like ginger, probably way too gingery if you don't. The cappuccino was fine. It's a really cute and cozy, well-lit joint in a place that gets plenty of sun throughout the day. It's family-run, and the lady who cooks and serves is extremely kind and welcoming. When we came in, it looked like family was also there for a bite to eat before going about their Sunday which gave it a really homey vibe. As other reviews mentioned, it's a little out of the way, but it's like a 10m bus ride on the 33 from downtown Oakland and, imo, absolutely worth it if you want some really wholesome and delicious Ethiopian food. The bus stop is literally right across the street (the crosswalk takes you straight to the door!) so whether you drive or take transit, it's pretty accessible. Please support this absolute gem of a spot! They're so so so worth it!

Went here with a friend who lived near by and had already read the amazing reviews and they are all correct! It is a teeny, tiny place but there was plenty of tables for lunch. Was welcomed warmly, and checked in on often, so you feel very at home and taken care of. Had a delicious ginger latte and the veggie combo and let the owner choose the options. It was so yummy, and plenty for the three of us. Highly recommend Desta! And pretty close to public transit, it took us 10 minutes to walk there from our 51a bus.

Best food ever Service outstanding : kind ladies Food fresh witness amazing flavors Decor: authentic

Literally the best veggie combo ive ever had, this is my new favorite ethiopian place!!

Wow, this place is a hidden jewel tucked away in a residential neighborhood. My partner and I have mainly come here for weekend brunch/lunch and gotten the combo. One combo feeds two adults without us leaving too full. Everything has been wonderful. The injera is especially good, as are the split peas, gomen, and atakilt wat. Our favorite dishes have to be the yesimir wat (red lentils with bebere spice) and the azifa (green lentils with jalapeno). Those are some of the best I've had in Oakland, which is a bit of a haven for delicious Ethiopian food, so that is saying a lot. Service is attentive and the owner/chef is extremely kind, interactive with her customers, and proud of her wonderful cooking. People often stop in just to say "hi" to her, so she has many loyal customers which is a great sign.

The best Vegetarian Ethiopian Restaurant in the Bay Area EVER and I'm delighted it's right in my backyard in Oakland! The owner is a very friendly and welcoming person and she's there ALL the time. This is her baby

First off, this review is coming from an Ethiopian cuisine connoisseur whose favorite cuisine is Ethiopian. I have tried all the Ethiopian restaurants in Oakland, Berkeley and San Jose. Not only does Desta have THE BEST Shiro Wot I have ever had (thick, smoky, and rich), their whole veggie combo was very very high quality and flavorful. Their 100% teff injera bread is super fluffy and soft and not too sour like most other gluten free injera breads. On top of all the great food and vibes, the owners are such sweet lovely ladies that treat you like family. Everyone eating there was having an enjoyable meal.

Food is delicious and this restaurant has the feel of a neighborhood gem. I have been 3x and recommended others to Desta. Note that while food is not in short supply, portions are slight smaller than other Ethiopian restaurants that I have been to.

Ordered the vegetarian combo. It was incredibly delicious! The best Ethiopian food I've had so far. Parking can be a challenge but worth the effort.

This place is wonderful! My brother brought us out to this restaurant last weekend and let me tell you- it was a treat! It is located in a residential area on Oakland Ave. There is little parking available and the shop is small. We ordered the sampler plate and it was delicious. It was made right there and it was very flavorful. Now, I'm not an expert in Ethiopian food- I've only had it 4 times in my whole life. But I can tell you, that I loved the flavors, it tasted fresh and I loved being able to try many veggie dishes at once. I loved the yellow lentils, the cabbage dish and I believe the kale dish. The orange lentils and the jalapeño ones were far too spicy for me. Now, you won't get as much food as you may get at other local Ethiopian places a couple blocks away... but the hospitality and service here are incomparable. The lady who cooks and I believe owns the shop is so warm and kind. She made us feel like guests, not customers. I would 100% drive back to Oakland to eat here and to bring friends along. Come try, you won't regret it!

Food and Service are always excellent! I'm always very grateful to eat at Desta because I know the Chef always prepares high quality, homemade and delicious food. Going there is such a nice treat because the food is freshly prepared (not old or frozen) and along with excellent food, the environment is pleasantly warm and family friendly!!

Do yourself a favor and check this spot out. Words can't describe how pure and soulful both the food and the ambiance is. Best restaurant in Oakland hands down. You can't get more high quality food in terms of ingredients love preparation for their affordable prices.

I went here not realizing it was a vegetarian/vegan restaurant but I was not disappointed by the amazing flavors and masterfully cooked veggies. I got the 4 combo plate and it was phenomenal. The inside of the restaurant is lovely, beautiful vibrant colors. The 2 seater tables have gorgeous plates. The server is warm, welcoming and attentive. Our food (for 2 people, technically 5 different items, 4 combined in 1 plate) was ready in a manner of minutes. The portions are generous, I have lunch for tomorrow.

Treat your taste buds to Desta's delicious veggie combo! Each component is uniquely seasoned and I have yet to decide which one is my favorite because they are all soooooo good!

Hard to not give this place 5 stars. I love Ethiopian food but this restaurant is another level. Initially dissappointed that it was vegan, the flavors were incredible. Very intimate setting rounds up this wonderful dining experience.

DELICIOUS food from a women-owned family business. Very sweet lady running the place. And very beautiful decor, flowers, pots, etc. Amazing experience every time and cannot get enough of the veggie platter.

Oakland has a good number of Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants in the area. You really can't go wrong. But this one is THE BEST. I am not vegan nor vegetarian but it doesn't matter. The food here is AMAZING. I come at least once a week, if not more, for lunch. I am addicted. You get ample portions of fantastic food made by a local small business owner. Make this part of your regular lunch rotation. Order takeout before you go home to reheat for dinner. Trust me. You won't be disappointed.

Desta is a bright small cafe on Oakland Ave that offers a homey ambiance. We got a veggie combo and was pleased with the amount of injera it came with. I loved the decor in the space and witnessed the owner interacting with a number of customers they seemed to have known throughout the years. It felt very positive and I'm glad to find this new addition to the community. I felt the food was pretty on par with other options around Oakland, but the menu is definitely smaller here. A suggestion may just be for the food to brought warmer. The breakfast options appeared to be unique and would definitely try those out next time!

I want to introduce you to a small neighborhood family run restaurant that deserves to be experienced as much as any restaruant in the Town. Desta Ethiipian (https://destaethiopiancafe.com/) is founded and run by Sirgout Aga Badana. We came on a Friday right after the rains with the sun just coming out. Desta is a small restaurant--there are about 6 tables inside and 2 tables inside. The interior is bright and clean and decorated with traditional Ethiopian baskets and pottery. Most immediately what we noticed was the three sisters -- and a cousin in the space. They ALL greeted us and made us feel welcome. We eat Ethiopian food often, but I would say we are still novices at knowing what to order. New to us were sambussas which are a deep fried triangular filled pastry akin to an empanada or samosa. We got one of each. * Lentil Sambussa: lentils cooked in a blend of spices, onions, garlic and jalapeno pepper * Sweet Potato Sambussa: carrot, rosemary, onion & garlic Both were delicious--the pastry is closer to a samosa skin--nice and crispy without any oiliness. The lentil sambussa had some kick. The sambussas are bigger than they look and quite filling. We had to take one home. As our usual, we ordered a combo plate that was $18. It came with two rolls of injera. * Misir Wot - Red Lentils cooked in flavorful berbere sauce, ​a blend of red onion & garlic * Atakilt Wot -Carrots, potatoes and cabbage cooked in a ​blend of spices, onions, garlic & turmeric * Gomen - Kale (or Collard Greens) sautéed with garlic, ​leaks, olive oil and spices * Alicha Ater Kik - Split peas cooked in a blend of spices, onions, ​garlic & turmeric * Shenbera Assa - Baked chickpeas sautéed in spices, berbere, ​onion, garlic & ginger Every dish was bright and delicious. The plate was beautiful to look at as well as to eat. The Atakilt (potatoes, carrots, cabbage) is my personal favorite and it feels like a homey stew of potatoes, carrots and cabbage. It's the kind of dish that if I poured over a dish of jasmine rice, it would be soul filling and comforting. The dish that surprised me and my taste buds was the Azifa (green lentils, garlic, jalapeno). It was bright, herbaceous, and spicy. When eaten with injera with its soury undertones, the azifi is a delicious medley of flavors. It reminded me a bit of a lentils with a Mexican flair. For the two of us, it was plenty. I tapped out before we finished everything. Such an amazing amount of food for about $30. Sirgout offered us freshly brewed coffee at the end of our meal. Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee and Ethiopian people know their coffee. It was smooth and full bodied--better than most of the gourmet coffees I've had in the area. In short, please give Desta a try if you are in the neighborhood during lunch. It's located on Oakland Ave near the 580 overpass. Desta is not too far away from downtown Oakland or Piedmont so if you regularly go, drive a bit further and taste some of Sirgout's magical cooking. Two important things to note - all dishes are vegetarian and the restaurant only open for lunch. Go support this wonderful restaurant serving wonderful food that is highly elevated and homey at the same time. Your stomach and soul will thank you.

Delicious, healthy veggie Ethiopian food. Portion was generous. The owner was gracious and thanked us several times for dining there. The only drawback is that it wouldn't be good for very large parties. Also, parking was a bit challenging, we found a space 2 blocks away. One more thing, get there early as they ran out of food and hour or so before closing. All in all an excellent find, and I'm hoping fellow Yelpers support a great small business such as this.

Deliciously warm, bright & fresh. Phenomenal Ethiopian food. There are some cuisines that feel like big gracious hugs. Ethiopian food is that for me. And in particular, Desta Cafe. The freshness of the ingredients is evident by the bursts of color that arrive a top of pillowy injera. It's all about the vegetarian combo. Spice-forward and aromatic red lentils (yemeser wot), comforting cabbage, carrots & potatoes (ataklit), yummy kale & leek (gomen), and my kids' favorite, creamy and rich turmeric split peas (aterkik). There was this fresh jalapeño spice blend that came with the plate that elevated the whole meal. We devoured it. The space is bright and modern with beautiful Ethiopian baskets and decor. Incredible freshly roasted coffee completed our meal. Sirgout, the owner, greeted us with the warmest smile and service. Needless to say, we are smitten and will be back for this dreamy brunch many times.

Had the gomen and the double veggie combo and it was delicious. Injera is 100% teff (no wheat). Definitely the best vegan Ethiopian options in the bay area, even better than Kaffa was (I liked Kaffa). Can't get extra injera to go so plan accordingly. They do Telba but I'm not sure it's on the menu Street parking but pedestrian stairs mean parking on a parallel street if you have to is still a quick walk away.

Finally, a vegetarian/vegan Ethiopian restaurant in Oakland! My partner's vegetarian but we tend to avoid going to restaurants that only serve vegetarian food coz fhe experience had always been disappointing. Desta Ethiopian Cafe in Oakland is an exception. We will keep going back! The chef and owner Sirgout used to have a stall in one of the farmers market in Berkeley and I remember hoping she'll open her own brick and mortar spot. This weekend her fans from the farmers market came in droves to support her for the soft opening. So happy for Sirgout!

Absolutely amazing satisfying divine & culturally authentic Chef ietef. I would definitely suggest coming all the way to Oakland just to try this. Trust the Gut.

Stunning food. I'm from LA and stumbled across this place on Yelp while visiting Oakland. I am so glad I found it. The lunch veggie sampler was perfection. Each dish was exceptional. Wonderfully spiced. A culinary delight. The service was equally wonderful. Warm smiles and quick service. Thank you! I loved it.

Best shiro in the bay area. I think so. Yelp wants 85 characters but what more can i say after BEST SHIRO in the bay?

Sooo yummy and delish always amazing and perfect! Perfect nice people and I always get two meals out of it. Get the veggie combo

I like Ethiopian food, but I love Desta cafe. I have been going for dates with my wife and we love meeting there for the vegetarian combo plate. It is so delicious and very affordable. The service is great and we love the atmosphere there.

Words and pictures don't do this little hidden gem justice. The food and service is excellent! I'll be back for more

Easily my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the bay area. Desta is a cute little cafe with great service and a wide diversity of flavors that just recently opened. Get the veggie combo plate. It lets you try a bit of everything for a great price and two people can easily split it. If you only try just one thing, try the azifa. Theirs is really unique and has a distinctly fresh, pesto/chimichurri vibe to it. But seriously, don't try just one thing. Get the combo.

Desta is a gem. The food is the best-flavoured food from the region that I have found. It's a lovely place too. The atmosphere is friendly, the space is cheery and well lit, parking is no trouble. I haven't tried breakfast, but lunch is great and it's a nice cafe to hang out at between mealtimes. Sirgut, the chef de cuisine is sweet and humble. There's no meat served here, but I don't miss it at all. I wish dinner were served here, but it closes too early for that.

Welcome to Auntie's house! This woman got here at 6am to make everything from scratch, took our orders while and serving food for the other patrons, and bussing and washing the dishes as well. She made the injera as we waited, roasted the coffee, and made everyone feel warmly welcomed. The place is a small cafe with limited seating, so it was a total surprise that it was a full menu of what I would assert is my favorite Ethiopian food I've had in oakland, maybe anywhere. There were some classics like the veggie sampler, which you find at a lot of restaurants (which was rich and delicious, the red lentils were off the hook) and there were a few dishes that I've never seen on any menu before. One of them was a very garlicky spread, I forget the name (had a z?) when I asked her about it she said that she just made it up after a few tries. Thats what I mean, this food is different- it's imbued with her love and creativity. Portions are generous and epically seasoned. We all got full to the brim. Even my 7 month old, who just started solids, was chowing down on injera. Also, just FYI the place got pretty hot once the sun hit it. Can't wait to go back to this neighborhood gem!

10/10 experience at Desta. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the food out of this world delicious. Portions are generous and great value for money. I'm a regular at East Bay Ethiopian restaurants and must say this one immediately shot to the top of the list. Food: 10/10 Value: 10/10 Service: 10/10

Food and presentation was good . Very small but cozy space. Service was very pleasant. Parking is a problem!

So grateful to be sharing this review... I finally had the time to stop by Desta and grab some takeout. The cafe is in my old neighborhood, and I have watched about five other businesses at this location come and go over the past 10 years. Desta is located in a residential neighborhood with limited parking available. Upon entry, I was greeted by the warmest energy from what appeared to be the owner. That is always the 1st indicator that I need to determine if I'll be returning. It is a completely vegetarian restaurant (yay). I ordered my go-to selection when I dine at Ethiopan restaurants; the Veggie combo ($18). I also grabbed a sweet potato sambusa ($5). The combo was delicious and standed out from any other one I've had. The spice blend was unique and satisfying. It kept me going back for more. The sambusa was a mix of savory & sweet and fried to perfection. Overall a great meal, which I highly recommend.

If you need FLAVOR, this is the place to go. Food is really tasty and fresh. Injera is perfectly sour. Fast. Friendly service. Nice seating.

Had a lovely, tasty lunch at Desta Ethiopian Cafe. It's a vegetarian Ethiopian cafe in an unexpected residential neighborhood between Lake Merritt and I-580. It's quite small and casual with several inside tables and a couple outside ones. We sat outside in the sun, but the chairs were a bit uncomfortable. We ordered the combination plate, a "greatest hits" of Ethiopian veggie foods. The Kik Aliicha was the best I've had in a while, with the yellow peas cooked to full tenderness in the yellow gingery sauce. I also really liked the red peas in the berbere sauce - so rich and a bit spicy. Less successful from my point of view was the potato, cabbage and carrot stew. Unfortunately some of the potato's were undercooked and still crunchy. The injera was plentiful. It was also more tender than I'm used to, making eating messier - and funner- than at other places. If you want Ethiopian coffee, they have it but save some time for it 'cuz they roast it on the spot for you. I look forward to returning soon.