Embilta Cafe & Restaurant

This is my absolute favorite Ethiopian restaurant and I absolutely need to come back now that I've moved out of state and eat here. EVERYTGING IS FRESH not sure if it's cooked to order but it sure feels like it is. Feels like eating at families house that you love that's the ambience Everyone is so nice and the portions and price are chefs kiss I recommend EVERYONE make THIS you spot of choice ( just make sure I can still get a table)

Quaint location in this busy section of Buckhead, and a welcome array of healthy food options. Parking available in front of restaurant, and was plentiful as other businesses in mini plaza were already closed when arrived @ 9:45 PM. Embilta has several tables for dine in, and was equally busy with takeout orders. Greeted upon arrival and someone came promptly to see if we were ready to order. I was able to get answers regarding items not familiar with and place order. I ordered the Awaze beef tibs (Awaze was a semi-hot sauce to my palate and that is definitely subjective as my server stated it was considered hot) and my companion had the vegetable special. My dish came with Jasmine rice and injeri. I was able to share the ample veggies that came on the platter including yellow lentils, green lentils, red lentils, greens and a carrot/potato mixture. The flavors were amazing as expected - was surprised with takeout from the same place last week. The dine in experience was highlighted by ability to converse with other diners and get insight from our server Richel (sp) who came from Ethiopia about 2 decades ago. I believe she was also the owner or manager and extremely knowledgeable on history of the country and details on ingredients including curry in the yellow lentils and ginger as integral ingredient in most of the beans. Happy to have an additional authentic Ethiopian restaurant to add to my roster. The food does not disappoint and looking forward to my leftovers due to ample portions. Looking forward to visiting again soon.

Get the Embilta Large Special. Substitute the Kitfo for dry tibs. $27 - feeds 1.5 people.

Great find while visiting Atlanta! Love the different varieties of meats and vegetable side dishes. Flavors were on point and was better the next day!!

Private parking here, that's very important around these parts. We wanted to order the Embilta special large for a food variety, but the staff said we could not replace the tibs, kitfo, awaze tibs for the chicken tibs at all. It's always nice to try out Ethiopian restaurants on our travels, since there's only a small handful back at home to pick from We ended up ordering the veggie special, 2 sambusa and the chicken tibs and a topo Chico sparkling water. Added an order of the red lentil after eating our veggie special platter. $38. We really wanted the special large platter to try out of all of the non-meat dishes. The food smells good at least. The sambusa is crispy, but more greasy and there is less lentil filling in this version. The dipping sauce is just a red chili. The sambusa and the dipping sauce was so-so. The injera tastes less tart here, nice and cushiony. The chicken is good, tender too, just a tad greasy. The beets are good, different. The red lentil is my favorite out of all of the vegetables. We ended up getting another separate order of the red lentil. The bowl of red lentil was not as intact if lentil beans as the platter, it looked more like a chili actually. The collard greens with the stems aren't bad, a bit more flavoring than I am used to. The yellow, potatoes and green lentils are just okay, not my preference. The tomato salad, jalapeño and red onion is pretty good, would be better with some lettuce for me. Had a wait for our food to come out as well as our bill. Not a place to come for a great customer service experience.

So good! I ordered take out, so I can't say much about what it's like to eat there, or the service. The food, however, is bomb and I would definitely come here again! Portions are big.

Got takeout from this Ethiopian restaurant and I am genuinely surprised by how great their food quality was. The fish dulet is amazingly aromatic and soft, which makes it a must-have in my opinion. Everything went well with injera. Would love to dine in next time for the complete experience.

The food was fantastic and the service and atmosphere was very much akin to dining with family. Initially we were the only diners eating in on a Friday afternoon but others soon arrived. There was also quite a bit of take-out business. Our server, who could have been one of the owners, was extremely gracious and made sure we had everything we needed before enjoying our meal. The veggie platter was great and the flavors of the lamb stew were outstanding. Leftovers the next day were equally satisfying. I think this is our new favorite Ethiopian restaurant. Definitely a must try!

I came to Embilta for lunch and ordered the Embilta Special Large and the Sambusa. I was able to substitute the Kifto for additional Beef Tibs and was very happy with the meal. The large was shared between two people and we still had a decent amount leftover to take home. The food was flavorful, hot and made fresh so there was a little wait, but absolutely worth it. The injera was not as tart as I was hoping for but in lieu of Ghion being closed down I'll take it. There was one woman servicing the dinning area and and she was also helping in the kitchen. So I would go if you can be flexible with time and don't mind being patient. It is a smaller restaurant with a small dining area. Maybe about 10 tables that seat 2-3 people. Or tables could be brought together for larger parties. There is free parking in the lot, but it's shared with other business and is kind of tight. Overall Embilta is a great option for Ethiopian food, reasonably priced and fulfilling portions.

Food was absolutely amazing. The atmosphere was nice and quaint, no frills. The lady that owns the place was cooking, serving, and cashing out all by herself. She made sure we had food in a timely manner and would always keep checking on us to make sure we were doing good. Highly recommended, 9.2/10.

Visiting from LA and we stopped in for dinner. We ordered the special large plate that came with 3 meats and 4 veggie sides. It was me than enough food for 2 people. Everything was flavored well and the meat was not overcooked. She gave us extra injera too.

Second time around was just as good as the first. This time I have pics. This Ethiopian food is so delicious. It's hot , fresh with mild hint of spice. It's always served piping hot. The ingredients are fresh and you taste that the food is made with lots of love. So if you're ordering a meat dish be prepared to wait a little. The veggie platter is quicker and just as fresh. If you luv Ethiopian food, this place is a must try. Oh, it's not really a sit down type of restaurant but there are tables for dining. And while you are waiting for your order, enjoy the Ethiopian music videos. They are so fun to watch. The owner is very nice and about serving her customers. Again, highly recommended!

This place is wonderful - the owners are so friendly and the food is absolutely fantastic. Highly recommend!

This place was amazing. The lady who served us helped me with the food, showed me how to eat it, and gave me food recommendations for my preferences. Not only was the service amazing, the food was spectacular. Full of flavor and authentic. Ambiance was great, quiet and comfortable. Prices very reasonable. I highly recommend!!!! We will be coming again. Thank you!

Don't tell me you like Ethiopian food in Atlanta unless you have been to Embilta. This is 100% one of the best restaurants in the area. My partner and I came 7 years ago when we wanted a lowkey restaurant for our anniversary dinner, and it has since become a staple in our restaurant list. To get a taste of how amazing this restaurant is, order the Embilta Special Large with ginger tea. You get perfectly cooked veggies, deliciously spiced meat, and the softest injera. It feeds 2 very hungry people (as we often are when we come) or 3! The price point has gone up a little over the years but it is still such a deal. The chef/waitress/owner is so nice and remembers us every time we go. Don't be turned off by the unassuming look from the outside. Take a chance and you won't be disappointed.

I receive takeout here from time to time and the food always tastes amazing! I usually order the red tibs and veggies

I came here for an office lunch, we had the best time! The food was hot and cooked fresh by the owner chef and her assistant. She got every order right and was able to accommodate all of our requests. I had the vegetarian platter and the tomato salad and samosas for the appetizer. Everyone enjoyed their food. Its a small space located off of Cheshire Bridge with plenty of free parking in the front. The owner takes her time to cook to order but it was a reasonable amount of time. Try it out for yourself, you wont be disappointed!

"Finding your tribe" - in a world where we pass by each other with cordial greetings and social conventions there is a road to take to break the facade. The owls on the power lines at night, the neon lights across the bayou, and then Embilta located where the road ends. Legend has it that Belinda Carlisle found her "heaven is a place on earth here" and I agree. The owner of this mom and pop establishment has the nurturing and care of that which only a parent could provide. She looks after you like you are one of her own even running out to find a patron's car in the parking lot to make sure their boxed dinners are not left behind. We partook in the tibs and awaze. Both dishes came with injera. It is a family style platter for both dishes that can only truly be enjoyed while sharing. The flavors are bouncy, you go from spice explosion to saucy tomato goodness. The meat is cooked to a perfect tenderness and the injera had a perfect level of tang. The portions are like your aunty serving you who only believes you are way too skinny every time she sees you. And the vibes? They vibe. There is a community present where strangers have a discourse with you and treat you like family. The generous servings of food are prepared with love and care. The flavors coalesce around the meat scooped up by each piece of injera. It's a rare moment to find your tribe, but I think everyone can find it here. It's the water of the desert oasis, the light at the end of the tunnel, it is simply home sweet home.

I get the Veggie Special and it is AMAZING!!! The service is great and so nice. This is my new regular spot.

Great food & service Nice ambiance with home style Ethiopian cooking vegan friendly...

The food was so good we forgot to take a before picture so here's a pic of what was left, barely anything!! This was our first time here and it did not disappoint! The service was good, our server was so kind. And the price was great for what we got. This is definitely becoming our new go-to Ethiopian restaurant :)

I've had this place delivered many times and it's always so delicious. Veggie platter for the win. And as a nut-allergy person, I appreciate that they don't use any nuts in their cooking so I don't have to worry.

If you like Ethiopian food, you need to run here. Now. I'm 100% serious. I've eaten Ethiopian food on both coasts and in the Middle East and this is some of the best I've ever had. The spice is SPOT ON - not too hot to taste the perfect blend of seasoning but also not too mild. We ordered the veggie combo. I order this at every Ethiopian restaurant I go to and this one came with everything it should - 3 kinds of lentils, tomato salad, collard greens, and potatoes with carrots and cabbage. Then there was also a beet dish I haven't tried before. I don't like beets 99% of the time because they taste like dirt to me. These were tender and sweet and no dirty taste whatsoever. Chicken awaze tibs were a generous portion, mostly white meat, and perfectly cooked. The family running the restaurant is so warm, thoughtful, and kind. The food is cooked with care and love. Although the ambiance is not fancy and they're tearing up the parking lot adjacent, it's super clean and everything was fresh and hot. This is authentic Ethiopian food. Other places in Atlanta may have a patio and drinks or whatever, but the food here is light years better.

This was our first time eating Ethiopian food and I enjoyed it! The food was amazing I got the dried lamb and my daughter got the ground beef dish! Next time I go we will get the dis that comes with 3 meats! This place is a must go too the owner is very friendly and so was the other guests.

I must say, this was an incredible experience! The Ethiopian cuisine served here is simply the best I have ever tasted. The owner herself took care of us, serving and cooking all of our dishes with so much passion and love. Her genuine smile and the flavors she created made the whole experience even more memorable. I apologize for the late review as life has been quite busy lately. I visited this place a few weeks ago and tried the mouthwatering chicken awaze tibs. Additionally, I savored a delectable brown lentil dish (unfortunately, I can't recall the name), while my friends enjoyed the flavorful beef tibs. The food was fresh and bursting with flavors. The staff was friendly and welcoming, generously providing us with plenty of injera to accompany our dishes. I wholeheartedly recommend this place to everyone. Be prepared for some fiery spiciness in the food! The casual ambiance adds to the charm, and it's no surprise that this place is always buzzing with people who share the same love for it.

Amazing food. Went around ATL finding the best injera. And I think I found it here. Came here about 5 times and did not disappoint every time. Food is amazing and the owner is just as amazing. Her hospitality and smile makes the food taste even better.

This was an amazing experience. The food was absolutely the best Ethiopian i have ever had. The owner served us and cooked all of our dishes herself. She loves what she does and it shows in her smile and in her food. We came around 6 on Saturday night, the restaurant was approximately half full. We only had to wait a short time for beverages and our order. You will wait for your food, as the owner cooks it to order herself. Relax, enjoy the music, know the wait is more than worth it. We ordered the Lamb Awaza Tibs, Veggie Plate, Sambusa, and Kifta Special. It was all insanely delicious. When I say you can taste the love... All of our items were fresh, hot, spiced perfectly and had such depth of flavor. Our incredibly picky 15 year old declared it was on of the best meals he has ever had. I couldn't agree more. I cannot recommend this small business enough. Give her all the love. This place is on our rotation moving forward.

Amazing Ethiopian food, can't wait to be in the area again and get some more of it. Tasty and reasonably priced.

BEST ETHIOPIAN FOOD EVER!! we are from CA / DC and nothing there tops the food here. Imagine?! The owner was also most sweet person we have ever met! Her energy is beautiful & she is very homey, made us all felt like we are at home. wish she was our aunt lol!

Oh my God, this was SO good!!! My date and I had the vegan platters with chai tea last night. Neither of us could stop eating. It was heartbreaking to not finish my plate. This is truly spectacular Ethiopian. The best I've had in Atlanta, and so far I've been to four other Ethiopian restaurants. I can't wait to come back.

Comfort food! I ordered pickup through doordash tonight on the way home from work, and I am very happy! Pickup was easy and fast, and the food is delicious! I got one order of Sambusa and one Emblita Special! I will definitely be back!!!

If you are looking for Embilta and your GPS takes you to Ghion, don't worry. Look to your right. See the Blue Rat sign. Drive towards that sign. Go into the next parking lot behind that sign, and literally on the edge of that building sits Embilta on the corner. It truly is a separate Ethiopian restaurant that is near another Ethiopian restaurant. Embilta stays open late which is good for me when I am in the area later in the evenings sometimes. I ordered the veggie plate. They offer beets and cabbage with potatoes on theirs which is a little different from the other place. It was a pleasant surprise because I love red beets! The food is a little more spicy but in a subtle way. I enjoyed my order. I recommend eating here if you need a late night dinner. They are only doing take outs right now, but give them a call and place your order. You will love this take of Ethiopia on your plate!

best Ethiopian food I've had in Atlanta. homey vibes and delicious food. you might miss this place driving by but If you ever get the chance you have to go in and I promise you will be back. everything is so well season and well cooked all by the super nice lady that runs the restaurant. such friendly service as well and pretty quick especially considering she's doing everything herself! this photo is from my most recent visit but everything I've ever ordered from here was incredible! A Hidden Gem!

We love the food from Embilta Café!!! The best Ethiopian in Metro Atlanta. Don't be fooled by all the hype around Desta! Embilta Café blows them away. The kitfo is always rare and well-spiced, the shiro warms the belly, the Derek tibs tender with a generous dollop of awaze, and the vegetables fresh and delicious. Most importantly, they give you plenty of Injera--don't nickel and dime you for it--and they serve the food family-style the Ethiopian way. A little hard to find at the moment due to the collapsed bridge ... just keep driving until you can't go any further. Then it's on the left.

I love Ethiopian food and an Eritrean friend recommended Embilta as their favorite in the city. We had a couple vegetarian specials and the beef tibs and everything was delicious! Huge portions! And the food was as good as I've had in the city! Service was quick and helpful. Ambiance is humble and homey. If you're looking for Ethiopian food, Embilta should certainly be at the top of the list to consider.

Pretty delicious Ethiopian food in Atlanta! My husband found this place maybe 20 minutes from where were staying in Atlanta. There was no outdoor seating so we ordered our food to go. When we got there no one was wearing masks. The lady that was getting our food started to put on her mask. We were kind of glad we were taking it to go, but seems like Atlanta in general are less covid safe? We got the Awaze Beef Tibs, which was delicious and filling. The injera was also good and plentiful. We of course overate and was stuffed, but happy!

Y'all first I would like to say clap it up for me because this is my first yelp review since I've been using this app for years!! Second I want to say how amazing this restaurant is not really for aesthetics but for the best Ethiopian food I've ever had in ATL and really anywhere else I've tried Ethiopian food. The service there was awesome my food came out in a timely manner, the ambiance of this place for me was very VERY welcoming I wanted to cry because I felt like I went to my favorite aunties house and got a awesome home cooked meal, the ladies that were working there were especially sweet to me and when they had a difficult customer of the phone the lady was so sweet and patient (please don't give them a hard time ya'll they DONT deserve it!) I give this place 10000/10 that goes for the food & the ladies working there definitely will be back for more! I would've taken a picture of the food but I forgot and I ate it all up

Love the dedication and the explosion of flavors!! The wife and I go here regularly! I'm getting hungry while writing this!

This restaurant is a jewel. The food is excellent, the portion size and price are right on point. And the tea is great too. I always get cinnamon, clove, and ginger. You will not be disappointed. It's better to call your order in ahead as there can be a little wait if not. However, it's totally worth the wait if you must.

Whenever I miss a good home cooked meal I come here. The best fresh food and such great service. Forever will be a favorite of mine. The embilta special is such a good price for all the food you get. I recommend ending your meal with tea or coffee. So delicious.

Best Ethiopian place in Atlanta!!! My boyfriend and I have recently become obsessed with Ethiopian food. We tried both embilta and desta in the same weekend and I personally think this place is better. The restaurant is so much more cozy, less busy, and food tastes just as good, if not better. We were originally planning to go to desta but came here instead because wait time at desta was too long. We were seated immediately and given menus and water. The interior design was so cozy and beautiful. We ordered a special #1 and a lamb. The special was $18 and the lab was $15. The lamb came out first. It was cooked so tenderly... Very flavorful. I just wish that they used a little less oil in cooking they'd meats. I loved the special. Even though we got it for me, it should have definitely been a plate to share for two. It had all the vegetables plus three (!!!)types of meat. Really really amazing. The injera was also so soft and spongey. I can't wait to come back!!

Id love to recommend this place - home cooked meal vibes, friendly staff, authentic food. But please get rid of the roaches it's impossible to enjoy a meal when you see them crawling all over the place.

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in atlanta. 10 stars. Embilta Special Large is fantastic

So let me set this thing up... I ordered 3 Veggie Platters, Awaze Lamb Tibbs and Fish Awaze for 6 people and when the damage was done, my bill was $72 with a 20% tip... Booooooom!!!!!!! Now, I can go in on the food... The veggie platters were AMAZING! The right amount of heat complimented the robust flavors on the trays. Incredible. As for the Tibbs and fish - OUTSTANDING!!!!! Everything was extremely flavorful, and 2 members of our party new to Ethiopian cuisine, didn't take any time in getting up to speed, when they walked out, they thanked me for the experience. Who were they? My mother and eldest son. Good to expose family, especially when they see my pallet as extreme. Opportunity? The lady there had never heard of Sorrel. Also, they only offer bottled drinks, not fountains, and at $2 a bottle, ain't too much drinking going on but water. Last, any chance for a liquor license, could help too. Nonetheless, the food is why we were there, and so were other Ethiopians which supports my opinion of the food quality.

This place was great! Took my daughter there before the Noah Jahan concert and we had the vegetable plate times too. i highly recommend! The mitmita spice was intense and flavorful. Staff was friendly and efficient.

Embilta Cafe is one of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants. The food is authentic and everything is seasoned to perfection. The serving size is great for the price. They have everything I love on a veggie platter and it tastes great.

Seriously delicious. I've been trying a couple Ethiopian places in Atlanta to scratch an itch and I'm in LOVE with the food I got here. The veggie special included a huge portion of all the classics, and each and every one was fresh and well seasoned. I also got a lamb yebeg tibs and really enjoyed the flavor and generous jalapeños. I got it as take out, and it was ready on time and with about two pounds of injera... so much fluffy goodness!! And for a very reasonable price too - I got about 2.5 meals out of that. Will 100% be back.

Food was extra fresh. You know the food is going to be good when the waitress tells you it'll take 20 minutes to prepare. I had the vegetarian spaghetti ($9). I'm not a pasta lover but decided to try it and I was not disappointed. The sauce was absolutely hot and well seasoned. They put whole pieces of spice in the sauce. Definitely not the average spaghetti. Portion was huge! It doesn't come with anything. My only complaint is I needed more sauce to go with all the pasta. The restaurant is small so I wouldn't advise this for large groups. Be patient because there arr only a few front of house people. I look forward to returning.

I was excited when my friend said she wanted some Ethiopian food and she knew just where to go! Tons of free parking right in front and as soon as we walked into this cozy little cafe, they welcomed us and immediately recognized my friend as a regular. We were seated immediately and given menus and beverages. Because this food is part of my bestfriends' culture she knew exactly what to order...the Embilita Special and Veggie Special and the rolled injera. She asked if we needed silverware but we all said no, I wanted to enjoy this experience the way it was meant to be eaten, with your hands! The food came out so fast and it was all on one big sharable platter. Talk about beautiful! I was in awe of how good everything looked. The aroma that was coming from the platter was sweet, spicy, savory it was EVERYTHING! My tastebuds were definitely dancing! My friend explained what everything was and then it was time to dig in. When I tell you we ate everything....please believe me or refer to the pictures. It was all so delicious. My favorite were the derek tiBs, greens and lentils. I even ate the beets and I don't really eat beets but these were so fresh and just yummy so I went for it! What a beautiful and perfect way to experience another culture. If you are ever in the area please try this hidden gem. The service and the food is a 5 star experience for sure. I can't wait to go back!

Holy crap. This place is SO GOOD. Call in advance to make sure they've got the gluten free injira if you need it. Their food is some of the best Ethiopian food I've had, which says a lot, because I've eaten a ton of Ethiopian food. It's our fave spot in Atlanta!