East Africa Restaurant

This Restaurant is wonderful and the owners are very kind. I give them 5 stars because the food is simply delicious and I have no issue with the service system. For Caucasians expecting chain restaurant service, this place isn't for you. The service is kind and functions at its own pace: its all worth it, trust me. If you get 'hangry' like me, take a quick snack before getting to the place. Sometimes they run out of a kind of meat, especially late at night: Michelin star restaurants do the same. I recommend getting one more dish than the party size, for example: If you're 4 people sharing a platter, get 5 dishes and share them. All the options are delicious, have fun exploring. I've been here with groups of 4 and even 11 (Drop by early and let them know you'd like to host a group, they'll let you know if they can do it and when in the evening).

My favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Montreal. They make homemade traditional Ethiopian food, the dishes are served in a large plate, ideal to share with friends or family! Prices are very fair for the amount of food and the quality, much more so than other Ethiopian cuisine restaurant in the city. I suggest looking up the menu on the website and making a reservation and ordering ahead of time so that they can start preparing the food ahead of time. These dishes are full of flavour and spices and require time to prepare and simmer. It can take some time for the food to arrive, sometimes over an hour but you expect it and know it is worth the reward at the end! I'm so happy to have found this restaurant, my family and I always leave with a full belly and a huge smile!

My fiancé and I are literally addicted to this place. We go every two weeks to get our Ethiopian fix. Dining here literally feels like you're dining at a family members house; they are beyond welcoming, make us feel comfortable, and prepare their meals with love and passion that you can taste. The restaurants ambience is very low-key, nestled along the Sherbrooke strip in the heart of NDG. There are several occasions when they sometimes don't have what we'd like on the menu, as they're a very small operation, and I can only assume that materials run out fast, especially given how tasty things are, but they always make up for it by making us custom dishes and sides for us, which we always love. We have a running gag about going - "they're not going to serve you what you want, but what you need" - and this motto, the quality of their food, and the fact that it feels like eating with family makes us come back religiously every two weeks to have their amazing food. We have been to several Ethipoian restaurants across Canada, and this is the only place that we consistently go out of our way to go to on a consistent basis; it's not sophisticated, has modern seating, etc, but it doesn't need those things, because the food is that good. Something to note however that other reviewers have mentioned as well; you need patience to eat here. All the food and dishes are made to order, and sometimes it can take quiet long to come out, but trust me, it's worth it. In addition, the fact that two grown adults can eat handsomely for 30$, including a tip, seems like a dying phenomena right now. For the cost alone this place is incredible. I'd you're reading this are you haven't already made your way to their restaurant and gotten a dual order of 18 and 20/21, this review hasn't done their rest enough justice! Go support a small local business, and enjoy! FYI - they also accommodate BYOW as well, so if you're so inclined to pair the injera with a nice bottle of wine, that's a nice option as well! Enjoy!

Horrible experience. I should have read the negative stars instead before picking this place. They seem to have a pattern and rip people off with their orders by combining them into 1 plate. We ordered a vegetarian platter and a beef platter and they combined both...When I tell you the portions were insanely small... we were under the impression that our other order was coming out. Tiniest portions ever. We thought maybe a second plate was coming since we were 3. They charged us for both plates as if they brought us both orders, the appropriate portions and injeras. So for a tiny scoop of beef cubes added onto the vegetarian platter they charged us the whole price of the beef platter of $17.99 (price of the beef platter)… What platter? It was a half a scoop of beef that was added to the tiny vegetarian platter. What a rip off. Shocked they did that so shamelessly. I told the lady and her attitude and response was shocking. I left no tip. Undeserving. Never coming back. Paid 40$ for supposedly 2 platters, one Vegetarian and one Beef. They brought us 1 platter with not enough food. It looked like a personal order and not a combination platter. When I tell you I am never coming back and making sure everyone I know that wanted to try this place will not be going. You don't do that to people and their customer service is complete garbage. Shame on them.

The food was awesome! It doesnt taste like anything I ate before, so many rich flavors et textures. I think it’s a family owned restaurant and the vibe is heart warming. Staff were really nice and so kind, i definitly wil lcome back

We were group of 8 people. Service was slightly slow, but food was delicious. We allowed hosts to decide on menu for us all . Everyone agreed it was some of the best food we had in a long time. It's BYOB so bring lots of wine & enjoy. Great evening and delicious flavors

My new favourite restaurant! I tried Ethiopian food only recently and fell in love with it, since then I tried all of the restaurants in Montreal that serve it and East Africa Restaurant is by far the best because it is the most flavourful. It is also seemingly the most authentic. I could eat this food everyday!

What a great experience. It took a bit to get the food out but we drank and had a good laugh and then devoured the amazing food when it arrived. Different then most dining experiences, you eat with a group off of one big communal plate, but every bite was a great surprise.

Always, always, the best food on earth! These are some of my favourite dishes ever!!! From the succulent beetroot salad to the homemade cheese to the sultry spiced lentils; I'd eat this luxurious and mouthwatering food everyday for the rest of my life if I could and I'd still look like a hot snack. This resto is like a one-way ticket to Addis Ababa to have dinner with Mulatu Astatke and the Queen of Sheba. We eat our feast along the Blue Nile and listen to Yekermo Saw on repeat!! Then we are served the ancient and elaborate coffee ceremony. I see the Lion of Zion ! blessings of the Almighty unto thee in the name of the One and Celestial. Legend has it that the fabled lost Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia and with one bite ... it'll be all up in your mouth! Seriously, you will be talking directly to G-d her/him/it -self when you eat this food. As you saunter into the deliciously holy temple that is East Africa Restaurant you'll be ensconced in a warming red glow and a most enchanting scent which will undoubtedly transport you to a faraway spice market somewhere along the Eastern Rift Valley at the cradle of civilisation in the Horn of Africa. We are all African. We all come from Africa. Our ancestors were all borne into being ... right here in Africa. As you take your seat you will melt through space and time. This is the culminating point of the Spice Route. This is the terminus of the spice trade. This is where all things delicious come to be eaten. This is the sanctum sanctorum; the holy of holies, where the magic happens. Ethiopian cuisine is probably my favourite food in the entire world. This is an historic account of true fusion; ancient fusion. This is where spices from the four corners of the world reach their scrumptious confluence. This is the meeting point of global flavour. The amazing Jewish Ethiopian/Eritrean mom and pop dynamic duo who run the show here are some of the best people in the world and they are the proverbial mom and pop of all humanity. Mmmm scrumptious and delectable humanity. I always order my vegetarian platter. This comes with a beautiful stew of root vegetables like carrots, potatoes and turnips simmered to perfection in a sort of "curry" sauce. There are also two kinds of lentils on this platter; one oh so sumptuously flavoured savoury version and a more piquant spiced version. There is a beautiful tomato salad that'll knock your socks off. Then the spinach; I don't know what they do to that spinach but it's the best I've ever tasted. All of this is served on a pillowy soft and spongy sourdough-leavened flatbread called Injera; somewhat similar to a crêpe. You absolutely must order the beetroot salad; you've never had beets like this before. They also make a special Ethiopian cheese but if you're a keener you'll order it a day in advance because it goes fast. Finish your meal with Ethiopian tea or coffee. This is the best coffee you'll have at any restaurant like this. The tea is beautifully flavoured with a delicious and special African cinnamon. Wow, you can almost see the ancient ruins of Lalibela in the distance. Is that a civet stalking some prey? No, is it a gazelle or kudu? Yes, folks, rediscover your African roots here; you'll remember your ancient heritage with that first mouthful of glory and it only gets better. Humans became human beings in Africa and through Africa we will once again rediscover our humanity. Remember at the end of your day and at the end of each meal that countless men, women and children across the African continent lack the bare minimum of necessities for survival; abject poverty, malnourishment, drought, famine and starvation are the reality for so many people. Whilst this may seem inconceivably unfathomable to some of us living in Western opulence ... it is sadly all too true. Instead of buying materialistic Christmas gifts this year ... think about making a charitable donation to the CHF -- Canadian Hunger Foundation -- they have been ceaselessly engaged in the fight against poverty, inequality and hunger across the globe for the last fifty years. Don't buy some empty bauble, toy or iThing this season ... instead give the gift of a dairy cow, goat or vegetable garden to a family in dire need. Enjoy.

Still amazing. Perfect warming food for this bitterly cold winter. Keep in mind there is a long wait for your food, but that just gives you more time to hang out with your friends and you don't feel like you're being rushed out like most other restaurants!

There is 3 Restaurants that serve Ethiopian Food in Montreal, East Africa, Nil Bleu and Queen Sheba. This is the order from worst to best considering different factors such as food quality, service, ambiance and decor. I am African myself and my girlfriend is Ethiopian, she grew up on ethiopian food. We have tried food from almost the entire continent. I rate restaurants on Service Quality and food quality mostly. EAST AFRICA: The food is good, but they sometimes do not use the right concentration of spices, however this is a minor point. However their service is the worst of any African restaurants I have been too in North America. Sometimes they do not respect their opening hours or even lack food availability. I tried to eat there for more than a year and always something was missing on their menu (example: #1 and #2 are never available) It is not run like a cute family business, it is run mostly on the whims of the owners. As stated elsewhere it takes forever to receive your meal. Putting together the time it takes too make the food, the service quality, and the menu availability, I can only rate this restaurant as the lowest of the three. Food wise: Queen Sheba #1, East Africa #2, Nil Bleu #3 Service: Queen Sheba #1, Nil bleu #3, East Africa #3 Ambiance: Nil Bleu #1, Queen Sheba #2, East Africa #3 Accessibility: Nil Bleu #1, Queen Sheba #3, East Africa #3 Time to get your food: Queen Sheba #1, Nil bleu #2, ........, East Africa #3

The food can only be described as perfect. Every time, every bite - it's an experience. You feel like you are eating in someone's kitchen, someone that has worked all day to serve up all these original and exciting dishes and ingredients. This is far and away the best Ethiopian in Montreal. If you haven't been, I can't recommend this place enough.

Ordered take out and was very impressed with ease of ordering and friendliness at pickup. We were able to order the night before. The food was ready on time, well presented and delicious. The proportions were as large as or larger than eating in. By far the best take out in a long time.

This is a BYOB and here they take it literally you bring what every you'd like to drink not just alcohol. This was my first experience eating Ethiopian food and eating with my hands. They have literally no utensils. But the experience was amazing. Food was really good, seasoning was unique and they even make their own injera bread. A spongy pancake-like bread that you tear and pick up your food with. In other words everything is literally made from scratch. This is a family run business, very well run by Husband and Wife and they did serve the best Ethiopian food in Montreal.

You think that only Indians know their spices? You're wrong. Since it was my first time trying Ethiopian food, each element on the plate felt like an unique, exciting, and delicious adventure of different spices. We ordered a lamb dish and a mixed vegetarian platter which was served to us on the same plate along with some injera bread. So soft they were! I could see myself relaxing in a spa with a sheet of injera over my face. But of course, the real purpose of the injera is to use it as a scooping vehicle for the food. The service was on the sloppier side. Somewhat slow and inattentive but very friendly. There were only two people working in this red lit restaurant equipped with a minimalistic kitchen. If you're going to eat with your friends then I recommend each picking a different dish because it'll most likely be on a big sharing plate. Also don't forget to wash your hands unless you also want to share some of the colonies of bacteria living on your hands. Why do that? Because there aren't any utensils so don't bother asking. For me, any food eaten by hand is almost guaranteed to be fun. Enjoy your messy fingers and have a good meal!

After all these years I finally lost my Ethiopian food virginity to East Africa Restaurant. Mom and Pop run hole in the wall establishment. Pop takes orders - Mom cooks - You eat. Simple as that. Every review here says bring a bottle of wine. I'd say bring two. Service is SUPER SLOW. Took almost an hour to get our food. But again its not a fast food place. Everything is made fresh. About the food, Its served on one big plate and you share. Another thing, You need fingers to eat this food. No cutlery here. The meat and the veggies are spread on a soft Ethiopian bread (Ingera). Everything we had was delicious. Can't wait to try out other things. Food : Great Service :You gotta be kiddin me Ambiance : All in all it's just another hole in the wall Worth the price : Yes

I want to love this place. It used to be my favourite Ethiopian restaurant in the city, but the wait this time was over an hour to get our food and the quantity was too small for the price. The owners are very nice and I feel very bad writing this, but if I hadn't read reviews before coming and didn't expect the wait to be so long, I would have been very upset. The other 10 people in my group thought something was wrong. In terms of quantity of food for the price, I'm used to all the Ethiopian restaurants on Bloor Street in Toronto where you order one dish per person and you always end up with too much food and a stuffed belly. The prices are the same. Normally there's a per person price for combo platters, either meat or vegetarian. I liked that here you just created your own platters, but the Ye Doro Kye Wott (chicken) is $12.99 and comes with one chicken drumstick and one hardboiled egg. My friend took the whole drumstick and ate it, then realized there wasn't any chicken left for anyone else. The Ye Begg Kye Wott (lamb) is $16.99 and the was the only dish of the 11 that we ordered that was a decent portion. It's not huge, but it was bigger than the rest. It still wasn't enough. I know the restaurant is trying to run a business, but we should have been warned that what we ordered wouldn't be enough. Afterwards when I went to talk to the owner, he said of course one dish per person wouldn't be enough and he thought we knew. He said the server was new. To be fair, I had ordered for our group and I think the server assumed I'd been there before and knew what I was doing. But the owner was staring at our table from the kitchen came all night and saw the order and could have checked in. He also told me that the vegetarian dishes aren't as filling and are smaller. They're a few dollars cheaper, but I've been plenty full on vegetarian dishes before. Why not make them a little more expensive and a little more substantial? Or why not write on the menu that they suggest two dishes per person? Or the meat dishes will be bigger than the vegetarian dishes? Really, there was just a lack of information, which led to disappointment. I take some responsibility for the confusion, but with two other Ethiopian dining experiences in Montreal, I won't come back here. Maybe we're impatient, but I don't think most North American diners will willingly wait an hour in a restaurant for food when their competition will bring the food faster. And there was no way we could order more food after because it would take another hour or more. The food itself was good, what little I ate before it was all gone anyway. It's incredibly oily, but that's traditional I think. I'd recommend the lamb and beef dishes, but skip the chicken and vegetarian, which were fairly bland, from the split pea dishes to the gommen. The injera was very good and supposedly 100% teff, though.

OK so this is not really a restaurant... It's not really run like a business, per se. And yet it's AMAZING. A delightful couple will serve you a to-die-for-delicious home-cooked meal that you just happen to pay for... They prepare everything once it's ordered so there's no scaling or volume or time-saving like you'd expect from a standard "restaurant." Consequently, expect to wait at least an hour, in bigger groups closer to two+ hours, for your order. But it's worth it!!! (If you know to expect that). The food is stunning, it's truly home-cooked, and you can really taste the difference. My absolute favorite mom and pop joint in Montreal, hands down. If you want to go to a "restaurant" that's run like a business, that's got the semblance of decor, a reasonable wait time and serves Ethiopian food: go to The Blue Nile. If you want to go to a place that is the real deal, this is it: I lived in Addis Ababa for two years so I know a good Kitfo, and it's the only place I'll take others who lived there for dinner. It has soul, they serve the BEST Ethiopian food in Montreal, and you'll be supporting a local, family-owned gem. I remember Au Messob d'Or, Abiata and the old place on Bishop so I've seen Ethiopian places come and go in this city. I'm so glad East Africa has been thriving, as I'd hate to lose such an authentic spot. It's all delicious, but my favourite dishes, in order of preference are: - The Kitfo (beef tartar - although I ask for it very lightly cooked) - The Fish - The mixed vegetarian platter - Lamb Tibbs - Doro Wat (chicken & egg) You will probably need to ask for extra injera (the bread) if you're in a bigger group. My general rule of thumb is 1.5 dishes per person (or 2 if there are lotsa people with big appetites) and bear in mind the vegetarian platter counts as 2 dishes in servings. So I'd say order 3ish dishes if you're 2 people, 6-7 if you're 4, and so on. If you have smaller appetites I know couples that just share the vegetarian platter between them, but I could never ignore my other favorites! I've been countless times over the years, and I often go in groups of 8 - 12 people (because Ethiopian food is the best to share!) All of my friends are basically regulars now, it's just that kinda magical place. I do "brief" people before I bring them here, thusly: - Have a snack before you go, we will wait 2+ hours as a large group. - Bring whatever you want to drink: it's not just BYOB, they only have water so if you want wine, beer or even soda/juice you have to bring it. - The decor and bathroom are... rustic :) - The food itself is OUTSTANDING. - The family running East Africa are awesome, kind, genuine, hard-working peeps. I often order the food for group outings the night before or when I make my reservation. This has no impact on the serving wait times (LOL) but it does generally help ensure they may have the things we want to order in stock (not a guarantee though, again: LOL). Note that people I know who are less used to spicy food (think proper middle eastern, Indian, etc., not tamed versions) tend to find the Kitfo a bit spicy, and sometimes other dishes as well, so do let them know if you want it toned down. But for those of you who love spicy food, you'll be in heaven! You can even ask for a little extra berbere on the side if you want even more kick :) Bring friends, lots to drink, plan to spend a good few laid back hours there: you'll eat well and have a blast!!!

Great place. One of my favorites in the city. Great food which you share from a single plate, delicious, good prices, great people.

Best Ethiopian in Montreal! Reserve and be prepared to wait- but it's worth it! Great food and BYOB.

To me, what makes or breaks an Ethiopian restaurant is their Kitfo - their version of steak tartar. It's what keeps me coming back; that primal toothiness of raw beef thoroughly blended with spiced butter into a harmonious whole. I always look forward to the feeling of the fragrant butter coating my lips, the sensuousness of it makes me all dreamy. This night however, was a complete bust. Me and the Missus both know that service was very slow here. We've eaten here on over ten occasions and have always made allowances because we know that the cooking starts after you put in your order and that the food is worth the hour wait. Tonight, not so much. Despite being the second couple in the place and having placed our order immediately we didn't see service for one hour and forty five minutes. Our bottle of (BYO) wine barely survived the wait and it was only with grim determination that we we able to reserve the last quarter for meal. When the meal (beautiful as ever) was set down in front of us were were almost manic with glee! I tore off a soggy piece of injera, scooped up a dollop of the piece de resistance and wrapped my taste buds around a violently over-salted, over-cooked tartar. Let me repeat that for you: Over. Cooked. Tartar. :-/ The rest of our order was okay-ish.

Loved it! Get the no. 4 ( some lamb curry) the best imo. It is a small homey family owned restaurant. The couple does everything. Food is delicious but can be a little spicy. Get ready to eat with your fingers. For some reason, it felt really humid inside. It was not a cold day either (about 15C). Will definitely go again when im in the area.

Yes you have to go all the way to NDG and find this place that does not look fancy and yes you might need to wait for an hour and half for your order to be served, but is the food worth it? Absolument! The sour dough flat bread injera mixes so well with the well spiced meat and veggie dishes that we finished everything in 11 minutes, and kept thinking about the flavour for days after.

If you're looking for authentic ethiopian food look no further. It reminds me of eating over at my ethiopian friend's place when her mom would cook. Everything tastes fresh and homemade, you won't believe you're actually eating at a restaurant and not someone's home. It's BYOB which is always a plus and even a necessity in this case as the service is VERY slow. Keep in mind there are only two people managing the restaurant though, the wife who cooks and the husband who seems to be doing the service. So get a bottle of wine (or 2) and just take it easy - the food is worth the long wait trust me !

Food ok. Customer service horrible. Will not be returning. Group of 6. Ordered 1 salad right away - took 40min to arrive. (40min for a salad?!!) Ordered mains within 15min of arrival - took 2 hours (I am not exaggerating) to arrive. Yes, resto was full but that's only 15 people! The gentleman serving clearly doesn't give a flying fig about customer experience. The wife's cooking is decent. During our dinner, the next table were a couple with 2 kids. We saw them bring dinner for the kids in tupperware containers which the kids ate while waiting for food to arrive. They also brought toys and books for the kids. So, the long wait seems not to be unique to us. Previously we had tried calling on 3 different occasions over the course of 7 months to order pick up... but the gentleman just picks up and says today we are closed. Unprofessional. Do not go to East Africa if hungry - you will grow old before your food arrives.

Incredible, affordable home-cooked Ethiopian food, and the owners could not be friendlier. They will guide you through the menu if it's your first time and accommodate whatever dietary needs/spice levels you may require. Portions are very generous! As others have mentioned, this is not a 'restaurant' per sé, so don't go in with the expectation of rushing in and out. There's only two people working and they're cooking for you from scratch, so be patient--it's so worth it. Bring some drinks, good friends or a date, enjoy the atmosphere, and the food will come. You'll be happier (and drunker) that way. For people knocking this place for the service, what do you honestly want? Stop complaining and go to A&W or KFC, or just pick up some ramen from the dep across the street. More injera for me!

This is the real deal. True soul food. The setting is not unlike your average street-side restaurant in Africa proper: informal, haphazard and slow. Do not expect a Western style restaurant experience here. In East Africa Restaurant, you are clearly not in Kansas anymore. Do be patient and open minded. When the food does arrive, it is simply the finest Ethiopian cuisine there is. Period. Frankly I'm addicted to the cuisine and I've eaten the stuff in dozens of cities across North America, Europe and the Middle-East. I've even stopped over in Addis Ababa a few times - simply for the food. This place serves the best I've ever had. I'll even admit to being hesitant about writing a review because one thing this place can't handle is more customers. But nonetheless I feel obliged to set the record straight on this place: it is totally eccentric and outrageously good. I'm truly grateful that such amazing cooking can be found in Montreal.

Ethiopian reviewer: the food is amazing. Authentic and good pricing. However, the wait times are unreasonable. Waiting over 2 hours for a plate coupled with poor service is unacceptable. The owner refused giving an extra napkin to my friend because one was originally provided. Poor customer service. They can do a lot better. If you don't mind the poor service, would highly recommend. The food is unbeatable. But the service was a deal breaker.

Delicious authentic Ethiopian food. Choice your meat and chops you spice level. Lamb, chicken, ground beef or steak. The menu also includes a variety of vegetarian versions with lentils and chickpeas. The ensemble is served on the traditional flat bread that reminded me of a thick spongy crepe. No forks can be found on the table, just a napkin. Get ready to use your fingers and use the bread as your food delivery vessel. My buddy and I got the mild and medium spicy lamb plates. It was delicious. I highly recommend. The owner is very friendly and accessing. Reservations are recommended. Great spot for a date!

We literally waited 2 hours+ for our food. It seems like the owners were just going waaay out of the way to try and save as much money as possible, so they serve everything on one plate, start actually cooking anything when you order, and have no utensils. They didn't even have take out boxes for us when we didn't finish the food.. lol There's a difference between not wanting to waste food, so you don't over prep.. vs being stingy. Not a good way to run a food business.

Terrible experience! We arrived 2 hrs before closing time. But they said they dont have enough material to make us anything. Then the lady changed her mind and said they can serve one of their plates so we sat. There was maximum of 4-5 cubes of potatoes with some sauce in a dish they served for 2 people. It was a shame to serve that lame plate and charge for the full price.We should have not trusted them

Love this restaurant! It's owned by a lovely Ethiopian couple who cook and serve you as well. The food is extra delicious, and the atmosphere very cosy. I've been many times and tried practically everything on the menu, it's all excellent. Be prepared to eat with your table mates from a shared large central dish & scoop the food using the injera bread. This adds to the authenticity, uniqueness & fun of the experience. Also recommended: try the Ethiopian coffee - it's a whole process/ ceremony, and it's probably the smoothest coffee you've ever had. It takes a long time to prepare so it's best you ask for it early. Also a good idea to call & reserve and give an idea of what you might want to order to ensure that you will get everything you want.

Year ago there was a small Ethiopian place in Monkland Village called Messop D'Or; I literally mourned the day it closed. So, I was very excited when East Africa came highly recommended by a friend that also loved Messop D'Or. They were right! East Africa has absolutely delicious food! The Ingera is perfect, the berber dishes are spicy and savoury, and the vegetarian plates are just plain yummy! I am a huge fan of East Africa now. It is BYOB and you can bring any drink you like (wine, beer, soda). The people that own the place are kind and genuine. You get the feeling that you are invited guests at someone's home; The small size of the restaurant adds to the charm (you are in the same room as the chef). I have two pieces of advice for anyone who would like to dine there: 1) Make reservations (the place is not big, and they have lots of fans)! 2) Give yourselves LOTS OF TIME, this is not the type of restaurant that you are in and out of. The food takes time to prepare, and there is one person working the kitchen! Go with people that you enjoy to converse with, then have a delicious and authentic meal!

Many years ago, there was a wonderful little Ethiopean restaurant in NDG. Sad day when it closed down. So when East Africa appeared a few years ago, it was a happy day. It was an even happier day when we went to eat there. The food is excellent, just as good as the old place that I still miss. If you like Ethiopean food, East Africa will not disappoint. A word of warning: this is a classic mom and pop restaurant. Pop takes the orders and mom cooks them. Do not expect fast service. If you want fast food, try elsewhere. Also, I doubt this is the place to go with groups larger than four.

We just came back from this place tonight. We really enjoyed our dinner at this tiny Ethiopian restaurant. The food was full of flavour. They offered extra Injera for no extra charge. We had the veggie combo and a lamb dish which turned out to be a little too much food for us- we are stuffed right now! And the cost, $31 including tax! It was really reasonable for the huge portion we got. The 2 staff were so nice. Food came out fast and we were impressed with the quality of it. We will be back! Disclaimers and other notes: Decor is basic, but it seems like they have outdoor seating. We would have taken it, but it's too cold tonight. They did not really have dessert options and there is no alcohol, so you may want to opt to plan drinks/sweets into your evening outside the main meal. This is not food that poeple eat with utensils- A lady near our table suggested many times to the owner that they MUST get forks. And when he tried to explain his cultural tradition. She was all: Ya, but you really need FORKS. It was kind of hilarious. Enjoy!

This place is great. Went again last night and spent a couple hours here. So many awesome dishes. Just explain what kind of dish you want and the guy should know exactly what to make. Everything made fresh to order. Again, this is a family restaurant, just the mom and dad working, so it's not really "service" but just a way to hang out and drink BYOW and eat amazing food.

The only reason I'm not giving 5 stars is that we waited 2 1/2 hours to get our food. I kid you not. I have never waited so long for dinner in all my life and it can be hard when there's no bread on the table and the waiter doesn't come check if you need more water. But the food... my word...... worth every one of the 150 minutes we waited. Fresh, homemade,seasoned and stewed to perfection (which explains the long wait), simply amazing. I would definitely go back - but next time I'll order in advance!

This place is a low-key, neighbourhood restaurant that serves up delicious home-cooked Ethiopian food in satisfying portions. It's well worth a try. For people with allergies or who do not eat animal products, I noted that most dishes are prepared without dairy and many would be vegan-friendly. As other reviewers have noted, the time to receive your order is slower than average, but this is not problematic if it is your expectation. Several other people noted that it is a BYOB but I did not see a license. It would be best to confirm. I would also recommend reservations for busier nights. After coming here twice I have two tips: 1. The vegetarian platter is a great bang for your buck (although you're missing out on some nice salads that are also available.) 2. Take home leftovers! The portions are very filling.

This isn't a review of how the food is. We didn't get to try the food because I called to order take out at 7:50 pm, 2+ hours before closing, and was told that they could not take an order for food over the phone after 4 pm because the customers that are there at the restaurant will be upset and complain if they see someone come in and pick up food without having waited "in line" to get the food. What on earth?! I explained to the gentleman on the phone that we had spent the entire day in the ICU where a family member is being treated and we have a 6 month old baby and are exhausted and would just like some nice Ethiopian food to take home. He said we could come and order there and sit at a table and wait for it. Wtf?!

Super charming little spot in NDG. Flavorful and delicious! Will be coming back :)

Food was good and relatively inexpensive, for the amount you get. Doesn't quite match up to the now closed Messob d'Or on Monkland, but I'd take this place over the overpriced Nil Bleu any day. Service can be SLOW. I would strongly advice ordering in advance: go for the veg combo plus as many meat dishes as you have additional people (4 people = 1 veg + 3 meat). A table of 3 ordered just before us, a table of 4, and we received our food 50 and 65 minutes after ordering: not a pleasant wait on water alone. Sadly, if you want any sort or service aside from ordering, you have to go to the counter to get anyone's attention. All that being said, I'd still go back.

We waited an hour and a half before we even got our food and we were the ONLY ones in the restaurant :( We ended up having to take it to go, everything was mush and mine was overpoweringly dosed in ginger to the point that you couldn't taste anything else. It was a sad experience :( I'd be willing to try again but apparently you wait a long time for your food and you aren't offered anything to graze on while waiting.

I had the vegetarian combo (about 3-4 variations of lentils, potatoes and green beans, and a cucumber salad with sliced jalapeno pepper) and this review is commenting on this specific dish which I have compared to other Ethiopian restaurants I have been to. For those who are looking for a quality meal with appropriate range and use of ingredients and spices, freshness and flavour (including spiciness) then you would enjoy the food here. The decor is simple and there is, as other reviewers note, a very long wait. It took almost an hour for my single order to arrive. However, you could tell that certain dishes were being made to order and had a very home-cooked feel making the meal very satisfying. What I like particularly about this restaurant is their Injera bread. Other restaurants I have been to in other cities seem to use seemingly store bought bread which is quite porous. But the bread here which they generously provide you with is lighter, you actually see them make it, and doesn't have as strong sour taste which I personally liked. I recommend this restaurant if you want to hang out with friends, or on a date and don't mind spending some time with your company while waiting for your meal. But not if you are in a rush.

We arrived at 7:10 pm. It is now 8:45 pm. The restaurant is packed. As I write 2 people who arrived after us are eating. A previous reviewer noted that a party of two could expect a 1 hour plus wait. A party of 7 was in the restaurant prior to us. We were served at 8:50 pm. The food was wonderful but the wait was far too long. This is a 2 person operation. They were attempting to cater to 24 people. Mission impossible. Unless I can order prior to my arrival, I will not return. Tom Tom

I used to be a regular at the Messob d'Or. I also liked Magdala/Mekdala on Bishop especially when it first opened and Teshome (the former co-owner and chef from Messob d'Or) was in charge of the kitchen. Sadly since both of those places closed I had not been able to find a satisfying Ethiopian experience in Montreal. The Nil Bleu's cuisine is too variable and the flavours just aren't right for my tastes. I have to say that I am extremely impressed with East Africa. The Minchet'Abish (fenugreek based stew - #10 on their menu) is the best I have ever tasted (yes even better than the one at the Messob d'Or). I highly recommend it. Their Key Sega Wat (#4- spicy beef cube stew) is also amazing. Note that their Boutitcha (#25) is more the traditional Boutitcha (i.e. made with chick pea flour instead of mashed chick peas) you find in Ethiopian cookbooks than what the Messob had gotten us used to but it is delicious. Other dishes I would highly recommend are the gommen (#21 - spinach in spiced clarified butter) and azifa (#24 - cold lentil salad). For the kitfo addicts out there, it is available if you warn them a day in advance or if they are not too busy. In the latter case they will actually go out and get the meat so that it is as fresh as possible. The restaurant is tiny (4-5 tables) but if you manage to go on an off night then you will get the chance to actually chat with the owners. They are a mom-and-pop operation (literally! ) and are waiting to see if they can get a regular following before investing in a larger space or hiring actual staff and who can blame them in the current Montreal restaurant market. It's probably not the best place to show up without reservations with a party of 8 people! Also this place is BYOB. I strongly urge any fan of Ethiopian / Eritrean cuisine to try this place. It's the best food of this genre in the city right now and easily rivals what the Messob d'Or used to serve. Please be indulgent on the owners if you get there on a busy night and they are slightly overwhelmed. In any case if you get your food under 30 minutes in ANY Ethiopian restaurant then there is something seriously wrong. Do be prepared to wait 30-40 minutes for your order, more on the nights they are very busy because there is only one cook cooking on a single stove but boy is that wait worth it! Right now they are closed for lunch unless you ask them to open (i.e. make reservations). The phone numbers also are their personal cell phone numbers which is why sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. I have no fear that given a regular clientele they will be able to invest in a larger restaurant and hire staff to help them meet the growing crowds.

My friend and I went to this restaurant for lunch (it's not usually open at this time, but the owners are thinking about opening during the day) and it was frankly one of the best experiences we have ever had. The mom lit up candles and incense, which made the ambiance absolutely marvelous, and the pop came to talk to us about Ethiopian culture and how every meal they make is made with 100% traditional ingredients, all imported from their home country. They then proceeded to roast the coffee (then green) in front of our eyes right after they gave us our main meal, a sort of spicy breakfast that I still dream about at night and crave. The meal and coffee were absolutely delicious, and it would be great if more people called or shared their opinion to make lunch a regular thing at East Africa, as it was a great experience. Even though you have to call beforehand to reserve a place there, the meal and conversations are totally worth it. Without a doubt the best restaurant of its kind in Montreal, definitely worth your time

Love the food and the ambience here. The flavors are rich and fresh and this is a resto with great veggie options. The service is very slow because everything is made from scratch. I keep going back because it's worth the wait. Don't go when you're really hungry or expecting your meal to appear in 30 minutes or you will be disappointed. Bring some friends and a bottle of wine and settle in for an evening of good conversation delicious food.

A small hole-in-the-wall restaurant run by a couple. As other Yelpers have noted, service is slow but worth it. The food is delicious. Be warned that sometimes they improvise with ingredients and dishes may not fit the description in the menu. Portions vary too. It's helpful to call in advance to place the order.

No question, my favorite restaurant in the city. This tiny little mom-and-pop affair. Everything is made fresh to order, no microwaving or reheating. Not that cheap, but you'll usually have to skip lunch to make room. Don't come here for the quick service; you'll be here for a while. You can call ahead with your order, though. BYOB.

Deliciously fresh and tasty dishes. Tiny and intimate, the restaurant and servers are perfectly lovely.

As others have stated, the food was absolutely delicious ! I do not have any complaints, everything was great and the flavors were top notch. However, the wait was tremendously long. We waited 1 hour for our food. It was kind of worth it cause the food was excellent but even then, an hour is far too much. If it wasn't for that, I would have given the place 5 stars

I had the vegetarian combo plate, a delicious, filling bargain at $12. Served on a big Injera pancake, a wonderful way to eat. BYOB. I've been to a dozen Ethiopian restaurants and this one seems typical: good quality food in copious quantities at excellent value. Pleasant staff.

Bring a bottle of wine because you will wait an hour for the food. The service is atrocious. But the food makes up for it all the way.

delicious! intense flavours that leave the mouth watering for more! it is a small resto, seating no more than 14 at a time so make sure you take reservations. husband seats and serves you while the wife cooks in the back, therefore if it is a packed night you will be waiting quite some time for your dish but believe me it is worth the wait. reasonably priced as well byow just adds to the experience

The food here is delicious! Had the vegetarian combo plate and loved it, everything was perfectly spiced. (Came out to $27 with tax for 2 people.) This place is also BYOB which is great because it does take a long time to receive your order, so it's nice to have something to drink while you wait. Don't forgo the reservation - when we went there wasn't a single table that hadn't been reserved and we watched a couple of groups get turned away for that reason.