Ethiopian Cafe

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and I am kicking myself for not trying it before! The food was delicious and it was such an amazing experience! The staff was so kind and very tentative, they answered any questions we had. Everything we ate was delicious, I don’t think you could get anything that wasn’t

Great food, great people, at a reasonable price. We tried the veggie combo and sambosa, and it was all very delicious. We’ll certainly go back there.

The food was fine, the service was terrible. We received only 2 glass of waters for 3 people at the table and noone ever bothered to bring the missing one. It took very long time to have our appetizers served. The mango juice and giner tea did not arrive until after the main meal, and a prompt about them was needed. Finally, two meals were mistakenly added to our bill and it took long minutes to sort it out. I enjoyed the food, but the service spoiled the experience, and the place does have pretty underwhelming ambiance. Overall, I am not looking forward to be back.

I have nothing but praise for this restaurant. The food is absolutely delicious, the prices are good, and the location is adorable. I've gone to sit many times, and I love eating at the restaurant. Takeout is always fast, and they give you large portions for one dish. I'll keep going here for as long as I can!

Food here is amazing. It's a whole experience as you eat the food without utensils. Really loved the lamb. The kitfo is good but spicy. We got the meat combo for 2 and asked to pay extra for the lamb, which they accomodated for. It was a good amount of food and we had a few leftovers despite not getting appetizers. Definitely recommend and would go again

Wow! I was so impressed with the food! We got the meat combo for 2 and the amount and quality of food was so satisfying. All of the vegetables were well prepared and the meat was delicious. $35 for 2 people to eat a healthy and hearty dinner was a great value. The lady working there was very nice as well. I wish I lived in Boston so I can come back frequently! Excellent place!

A very small eatery that easily compensates for the space with delicious food and service. The wait time is long -30-40 minutes if you don't prebook. Ordered food for 4 and shared the same from a single plate. A unique experience and would certainly recommend it if you want to try Ethiopian food in a fine dine space.

Great little spot! We really enjoyed the lentil sambosas. We also tried the spinach sambosas but the lentil ones were the clear stand-out! My wife had the yebeg tibs and I had the vegetarian combo. The misir wet was absolutely amazing!

On a recent weekday evening, I ventured to Ethiopian Cafe in Jamaica Plain for a late dinner, and it turned out to be a delightful experience. As I stepped inside, the warm welcome immediately set the tone. The restaurant, with its cute, small, and cozy ambiance, exuded a charming atmosphere heightened by the delightful aroma of burning incense. To start, we opted for two lentil Sambosas, and they were nothing short of delicious - warm, flavorful, and a perfect start to our dinner. Being unsure about the meat dishes, I sought recommendations from the waitress. She suggested the beef Lega Tibs and the chicken Doro Wet. The chicken dish, with its rich and nuanced flavors, reminded me of Mexican mole. Both recommendations, along with the vegetable dishes, were a true delight, with the lentil vegetable and chicken dishes standing out as real highlights. While we dined, we had the pleasure of witnessing the intricate process of making their traditional coffee, and the delightful aroma promises a future visit for that experience. The combination of amazing food, good service, and a very reasonable price point made my visit to Ethiopian Cafe an absolute pleasure. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking an authentic and flavorful Ethiopian dining experience. I can't wait to be back!

Small cafe was empty.... they were friendly and welcoming. There is NO ambiance. Food was solidly good! Service was good as well. We were the only ones. I think I might try another place before going back just to compare. One of the beef dishes was very chewy, but all had great flavor. There were 3 staff/ probably owners... and one sat at the bar listening to some kind of program loud enough so we could hear it at our table... : ( Overall good food!

Very good Ethiopian food. Nice small quaint dining room with about 10 or so tables. Comfortable dining experience and enjoyable experience.

Wonderful kitfo. Just went here back to back after Blue Nile, and felt they hit all the right notes flavorwise, Injera was nice soft spongy and ever so slightly sour, a nice complement. Kitfo is one of my favorite dishes so it was so nice to A) see it on the menu, and B) have it be executed well. Definitely a tier above Blue Nile, which felt relatively disappointing. And may be a touch below Asmara, though it's certainly close.

We enjoyed dining here. It's a cozy spot, and we almost had the place to ourselves. We sat down at a table and chairs that were lower to the ground, with what resembled a colorful inverted woven basket atop the table. The waitress took this off when the food arrived. Started with lentil sambosas, which were quite tasty. Buttery flaky exterior and nicely cooked (not mushy) lentils inside. It seemed that the combo was the way to go, based on previous reviews we had read. We got beef and chicken. I was partial to the chicken, which had a flavorful and tangy sauce, with a kind of molé consistency. I was happy with the array of veggies we got too. Keep in mind this was all served atop injeera bread, a kind of spongy, very thin, bread great for scooping up sauces. We had to order extra injeera to finish all our scooping. I think we were both partial to the lentil, although I remember enjoying all the vegetable sides. It was a nice array of textures- some mashed, and some whole. We also got to see an interesting coffee preparation, with smoking coffee beans. The coffee must be excellent.

nice place to go to experience ethiopian food for the first time. the sambosas appetizer - AMAZING. the meat combo for 2 was plenty of food. you eat with your hands and each side had unique flavor profiles. wasn't the biggest fan of all of them so having multiple options was nice. the chicken was super tender. i can't say for sure but it felt very authentic. only downside was the service was very slow despite there only being 2 other tables occupied.

Unbelievable food! There is no picture because we came from a yoga class totally famished and we couldn't wait long enough to take a pic. We shared two orders of sambosas to start. The sambosas here are stuffed with either spinach or lentil filling. Both were amazing! Then we shared a vegetarian combination of shiri wet, gomen wet and a mixed vegetable wet and all three were delicious. The shirt wet was a little spicy but not overpowering. I cannot say enough about this place and hope to return here when in the Boston area again. I recommend it!

I was in boston for one night and used uber eats to have veggie combo delivered. I requested that my food doesnt have too much spice on it. I was so impressed by how fast it was made and how good it was. I love Ethiopian food and have had the range from ok to great. This was a 10/10 & will be my go to place in Boston from now on. I wish I took a picture before diving for it.

Favorite spot for Ethiopian food! I've ordered from other Ethiopian spots but this place is the best. I get it through Ubereats and it arrives quick. I like the Yebeg Tibs and Veggie Combo. The dishes come with a lot of injera. If I'm craving for something fruity, I get the mango juice but it can be overly sweet.

My favorite Ethiopian food in Boston. Everything about it felt very home-y. Extremely fair prices. The Ethiopian coffee is a must try!

Was craving some Ethopian, so we ordered delivery from here. Delivery came in a reasonable time and was still hot, portion size was solid (had enough for the next day, even), pricing was reasonable, and the food was very flavorful. I got the meat combo, and I will warn you: their version of Doro Wot is a lot spicier than I've had elsewhere, very heavy on the berbere (was a vibrant red vs. the yellow color I usually see), and consisted of one chicken leg with one egg, plus a tonnnn of sauce to soak up into the injera. You also get a choice of 3 side veggies, all of which were very flavorful and delicious (was hoping I'd get a potato piece in the Tikil Gormen but no such luck). The lamb was also solid, and the lentil sambosa was crispy and delicious.

Small intimate restaurant that we were excited to try. Very slow service so don't come if you are time limited. Portions are small. The lamb tibs was delicious but the veggie dishes were bland and the lentils undercooked. There are better restaurants in JP so would not recommend.

Their vegetarian options are really good. I mean REALLY good. And the portions are huge! My problem with Ethiopian places I've tried in the area is that a lot of their vegetarian dishes end up tasting the same, but Ethiopian Cafe does an amazing job with their seasoning and execution that each vegetarian dish has its own flavor profile and texture. I got the meat combo for 2 ($32.99 on Uber eats). It came with 3 huge pieces of injera-- one cushioning the various dishes, then two more folded on top. The container was super hefty. I have a pretty high spice tolerance so I didn't find any of the dishes to be very spicy, but they were all very flavorful. I got to try one of the chicken dishes and one of the beef dishes and the beef was cooked super tender. The chicken wasn't dry at all. The order also came with a small salad on the side (lettuce, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, a bright vinaigrette) which acted like a palate cleanser between the various flavors. The meat combo for 2 can definitely feed more than 2! Possibly 4?! Highly recommend this place. The quality and quantity for what you pay for can't be beat.

I've been to several Ethiopian restaurants in and around Boston. This one definitely is top two. The one in Malden (Mulu) is also very good. This one is at least as good as Mulu. A league above the other ones! Will go back often :)

Amazing gem with home made injera and friendly owner who also runs a convenience shop with imported Ethiopian groceries. Great flavors. BYOB. Can't wait to go back!

I got a vegetarian combo for 1 for takeout, and it was ready in just 10-15 minutes. Each item was completely delicious and flavorful! I'm sure the Berbere red lentils are great, but I can't currently eat spicy, so they just subbed more of the other good stuff. The portion was HUGE (enough for 2 meals) for $18, and it came with a small salad, and 2 large injera bread (one soaking up all the great juices underneath, and one folded on top). I particularly loved the Tikil Gomen (cabbage), Yata Kilt Wet (veggie combo of green beans/carrots), and Yekik Alicha (split yellow peas), and Gomen Wet (collards). I will definitely be back for more of my new favorite Ethiopian food in Boston.

Back at it again with another Black Owned Business in Boston! I ordered Lega Tibs & Sambosa. My first time trying Ethiopian food & so happy that I did. The beef chunks were juicy and the veggies were so flavorful. Owners are super friendly & welcoming. Loved the cozy setting especially with incense lit in the background. Definitely a hidden gem. Side Note: Normally there aren't any eating utensils so you would use little pieces of injera and eat it with your hands.

***To my knowledge, this is currently one of only three legal BYOBs within Boston city limits.*** A tiny ~25 seat restaurant hidden on a busy block of other restaurants and businesses in Jamaica Plain. But well worth seeking out for eat-with-your-fingers, tasty, filling and inexpensive Ethiopian cuisine that goes well with a variety of wines or beers. And I'm sure they'll give you a fork if you insist, but what's the fun in that? The spartan interior features a sink in back where you can wash your hands before eating with your fingers. This is of course done with the traditional spongy injera flatbread made from teff grain, which you break into pieces so you can scoop up various vegetable and meat stews (lamb, beef, chicken, never any pork no matter your religion in Ethiopia). Apparently it is traditional to do this with your right hand only (sorry lefties lol). We started with a couple of the spinach-stuffed sambosa (sambusa?), which were very much like the ubiquitous deep-fried spanakopita triangles you see at Greek restaurants and did not seem very authentic from what I can read online. But tasty. Also available with lentil (and possibly meat?) fillings. We followed this up with a meat and vegetable combination plate (or you can order individual dishes), which can be customized for any number of people to share and arrives on top of several large injera (more injera on a side plate to rip up). Each meat and veggie was delicious, but very different from each other (a pleasant surprise), particularly the modestly spicy chicken stew, which was almost American BBQ in flavor and featured a couple of legs as well as pulled meat. Our combo featured all 6 of the available vegetable dishes, the 1 chicken, 1 of the 5 beef and 1 of 2 lamb dishes, plus a salad. With so many vegetable dishes on the menu, this would probably be a good restaurant for vegetarians, and they offer a vegetable combo plate as well. Ethiopian meat dishes are traditionally spicy, and can be extremely spicy. But since this is a BYOB, don't worry, none of the dishes were spicy enough to be wine destroying or requiring only the traditional spicy food wines like Riesling or Gewürztraminer. We went with an Italianate orange wine from Pennsylvania (my favorite wine from the East Coast) and a Cali cabernet, both of which worked well. Bring your own if you want to use real wine stems as they just have tumblers. 2011 Va La Vineyards La Prima Donna 2014 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles They also serve traditional, made at the table Ethiopian coffee, which smelled wonderful, although we didn't try it. No dessert offered. Service was friendly and well-meaning, but we did have to ask for explanations when they were not forthcoming. $51 + tax for a filling meal for 3 people. And the free parking on the street was fairly easy at 5:30PM on a Saturday. Although small, at no time during our visit was the restaurant more than half full (we had a phone reservation, but you probably don't need one unless you have more than 4 people so they can pull some tables together). They also have a couple of traditional mesob woven round wicker basket tables, although the seating around them didn't look as comfortable. MORE ABOUT BYOB: If you are interested, I have created a Yelp "Collection" of legal BYOBs in the Boston area (I define Boston pretty liberally lol): https://www.yelp.com/collection/RL6TtTE-DzBofaIDxyGJeQ In case you don't know, Boston's rules for byob are as follows: Permitted Types/Sizes of Alcohol: A. Patrons may only bring wine and malt beverages into the licensed premise. B. Patrons are prohibited from bringing distilled spirits and/or liqueurs/cordials into the licensed premise. C. Patrons may only bring malt beverages in containers no larger than 64 oz., and may bring in no more than a total of 64 oz. per person. D. Patrons may only bring wine in containers no larger than 750 ml., and may bring in no more than a total of 750 ml. per person. E. Patrons are prohibited from re-entering the premise with additional alcohol. Miscellaneous: A. Licensees shall not charge a "corkage"or any other fee or surcharge for permitting BYOB or providing any service or amenity relative to BYOB. B. Licensees are not prohibited from providing glassware and/or a bottle opener. C. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a licensee from discarding an empty or abandoned alcoholic beverage container or its content. Hours of Operation: Licensees shall only allow BYOB between the hours of 5:00 P.M. and 11:00 P.M. https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/rules_and_regs_amended.pdf

Incredibly good lentils, meat is pretty solid too. Really great value with large portion sizes and low prices my favorite takeout in Boston

Food and portion sizes were way better my second time ordering! The combo is a great value for the amount of food - we have leftovers often!

Updated review: I visited other ethiopian restaurants and their food was much better than ethiopian cafe. This one was an awful place and a mistake for having ethiopian for the first time at this place . The food was stale and old. DO NOT VISIT THIS PLACE. It seemed that no one had entered the place since ages. Old Review: When we entered the restaurant, it was empty and smelling weird as if no one has come to this place from long time. Regarding the food, it was totally bland and no flavors, so not the kind that I would like. Either the food was tasteless and bland or its just my taste that makes authentic Ethiopian food unsuitable for me. I do not have much experience with ethiopian food so I cannot comment on this but probably this was the first and last time I am visiting this place.

This place is delicious, you can never have too many Ethiopian restaurants! I was skeptical to try this restaurant at first because Blue Nile is incredible, but similar to another Yelper, I have had trouble getting in touch with the restaurant to order take out repetitiously, so I thought I have nothing to lose trying the Ethiopian Cafe! Called ahead and they answered the phone, took my ordered and had everything ready in 15 minutes. Portions are large and similar to Blue Nile, BUT cheaper. #winning The flavors were incredible and the injera was delicious and not as heavy. I got the veggie combo for one where you can pick your veggies and they serve it with a small side salad which has an incredible light garlic oil dressing. I love having two Ethiopian restaurants in town! You can BYOB if you choose to eat in :)

I had been craving Ethiopian and was happy to find this place in JP. When my friend and I went, the place was essentially empty. Compared to blue nile, this place isn't as popular which was fine with us bc we didn't have to wait! The decor is lacking in comparison to blue bile but I care more about the food anyways. This place is a little bit on the pricier side of Ethiopian but hey, it's Boston, you gotta pay up! My friend and I split the vegetarian sampler as well as the lamb meat and chicken. To no surprise the injera was delicious. I'll be back again!

First time trying Ethiopian food and this was by far the best first impression we could have had!! I was pleasantly surprised by how flavorful and filling this was! Definitely exceeded all expectations. The service was also excellent. You definitely get a "home" type of vibe in this place. I will absolutely be back again!! P.S...try the berz (honey/water drink)...it is amazing!!

We ordered a meat platter for two and it was more than enough food! We called ahead to see if they had gluten free teff - and luckily, another party had ordered it that day so the kitchen had extra. If you have a gluten allergy, call a day before so they can make it ahead of time! The owner was really sweet to explain the process to us. Also, the coffee (jabela) was delicious.

My girlfriend and I got the Vegetable Combo Plate for 2 and it was amazing! Will definitely eat here again.

The veggie combo and injera range from good to amazing as we've ordered several times. Veggies have a nice spice and texture- especially like the cabbage and red lentils. It's definitely family run and staff is always very friendly for take out and accommodating hot sauces/powders. To date, San Jose area places are our favorites but this one is very close, if not better at times. We order the injera gluten free as that is the traditional way it's prepared. If dining in, we have brought our own bottle of wine before which is a nice option.

After trying 3 other Ethiopian restaurants in the greater Boston area (including the one down the street from this place) this has become our go-to for Ethiopian! Please don't be put off by the initial interior look of the place because the food will blow you away and it's all very reasonably priced! The way I see it, it's the hole in the wall places that are usually the best! Also, please keep in mind that Ethiopian food is very spicy and flavorful, so if that is not your cup of tea try something else. Also, you eat the food with you hands and by using injera (a spongy flatbread made with teff). The do have a sink for you to wash your hands. They allow you to bring your own wine bottle and they now have a traditional mesop available. I usually don't find the mesop seating as comfortable to eat at when compared to a regular table so keep that in mind. I've had all of the vegetarian dishes. All of them are very favorable. I will add that my least favorite is the #9 gomen wet. As for the meat dishes, I've had the chicken, 2 of the beef, and 1 lamb dish: -#10 doro wet (chicken) -#13 siga wet (beef) -#14 ye siga alicha (beef) -#16 yebeg tibs (lamb) You can't go wrong with any of these. It will all come down to personal flavor preferences to determine which one is the best for your palate. #13 is my favorite. If this is your first time I would really recommend getting the combination plates so that you can try a little of everything!

I grew up on great Ethiopian, and I've tried others around here. Hands down the best Ethiopian in Boston. Great local inviting atmosphere, the server was welcoming, the food was phenomenal: the lamb and chicken had the perfect spices, the veggies were so fresh and the injera was perfect. Also amazing that you can stop at the local liquor store down the street and grab beers to bring for byob. Will be coming here regularly!

I've ordered the vegetarian combo for 2 several times and been overwhelmed with the amount of food for the price! The platter also comes with two extra pieces of injera so you don't need to order extra. They give you enough food for 3 people, but if you're super hungry then it's perfect for 2 ;) AND it's always delicious and leaving me with plenty of leftovers that I look forward to eating the day after. Really special place and I hope it remains part of our community!!!!

The food here is delicious! The injera was soft and tart and the spice was perfect. I found this place on restaurant.com and was not disappointed! We ordered some lamb and lentil dishes, so good! The place is small but it wasn't busy (we went on a weekday) there's only street parking which was a little difficult to find but I'm used to that coming from NY. The only downside is that it's not in a good part of town so either park close or come in numbers.

Very good prices and quality. Every thing tried so far has been amazing. The meat combo is especially good. One of the best choices in Boston!

I've eaten at many Ethiopian restaurants both in the Boston area and elsewhere. This place gave us one of our dishes as the wrong thing, and most of what we got was disappointing compared to what we've had from every other Ethiopian restaurants in the area. Will not go back.

AMAZING AND DELICIOUS! Great veggie combo for 2 for any vegans looking for something different that's hardy and filling to eat. Also usually last us 2 meals.

The best Ethiopian food in town in my opinion! Really good kitfo, miserwote, cabbage, gomen. If they make a mistake they will give you a new order with no questions asked. The best services!

Wholesome, heart food with great variety! This place gets packed on weekend evenings. You can BYO wine (I'm not sure I if there's a fee).

Wow I begged the couple to adopt me and or let me move in here! Not only did they make me two different types of gluten-free teff, FYI done specially because I called a day in advance, they greeted us with the biggest smiles and more were more than accommodating in every single way! Delicious meal the only thing that's better than the food was the company and the owners delightful dispositions!

Mouth watering! Their Veg options are great. This was a must during Covid. I will definitely be back for more.

We came here for lunch. The space was small and a little plain, but the food was fantastic! I recommend getting either the "meat combination" (your choice of one meat dish and three veggie dishes) or the "vegetarian combination" (four veggie dishes). Everything was perfectly seasoned and flavorful. Best Ethiopian food I've had in the Boston area. Service was fast and the people who own this place are very kind, friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend!

Great injera! The food is delicious. Friendly service. The decoration can be improved, it is very simple but very clean. The portions are generous. We paid 20 per person.

My favorite place to eat Ethiopian food in Boston. The owners are very nice couples. Warm welcoming, authentic food, especially the coffee served in the traditional Ethiopian coffee container. They just opened a few months ago so quite new to foodies in Boston.

Just fabulous. A simple clean bright restaurant with luscious authentic Ethiopian food. I went in really late (called and they stayed open for me). They just st couldn't have been sweeter, snd made me up a fsntastic combo plate, beef tibsi plus 5 veggies snd a salad, for $12. Doesn't get any better than this.

We finally tried the Ethiopian Cafe last night and it was fantastic. It is still a hidden gem as we were the only patrons (and Blue Nike which is a few doors down was packed). The owners were so kind. We ordered the lamb tibs and the veggie combo. I highly recommend this authentic restaurant. Everything was cooked traditionally and spiced to perfection. The injera was also perfect. I'm so glad I have leftovers for today!!

First time visiting and last. Ordered the Doro Wet which is an overpriced dish with a small chicken wing in the center with sauce spread. The lentil dumpling is preheat in microwave and no accompanying sauce. The place was empty and indicator to not stop.

Major Food safety issues. I ordered take out today using DoorDash. The food arrived very quickly but arrived cold. When I cut into the chicken it was raw. Not slightly undercooked, but RAW a few millimeters below the surface. Every piece of chicken in this dish was like this. My meal also came with a salad which was brown. I tried to report this to the restaurant but no one is picking up the phone. This lack of quality control could really make a lot of people sick. I ended up throwing the entire meal out. I will not order from this place again.

A hidden gem in JP! Their food is incredible, and the cost is quite reasonable. They also do a very authentic Ethiopian coffee ceremony that can't be missed. People often pass it by because of the small front window, but that is their mistake. Go there before the secret is out!

Excellent authentic Ethiopian food. I have been a fan of Ethiopian food since the '70's. I have enjoyed it at many locations on the east coast, including Washington DC, Philadelphia and NYC. Ethiopian Cafe not only has wonderful fresh food, the hospitality is so typical of the Ethiopian culture, warm and welcoming. They accommodated our special requests without issue. It you are looking for traditional Ethiopian food, visit the cafe and enjoy dining at the Messob.

Fast service, delicious food, good sized portions. I usually share the vegetarian combo with someone. Plus a side that they recommend trying.

I love this place! Ethiopian vegetarian food is a long time favorite of mine and this place serves up very generous portions, spiced intensely and perfectly for my palate, and packaged very neatly wrapped inside the injera in the takeaway boxes which is an elegant solution for the inability to serve on trays on top the injera if we could eat in the restaurant. Based on my order I realize I'm going to be eating red lentil dhal and collard greens for a couple meals and I couldn't be more delighted. Thank you Ethiopian Cafe!

I came here twice and the food flavors were amazing , very authentic. So I said let me try their delivery. I have ordered a delivery through DoorDash. The food was prepared promptly, and the veggie combo was packed SO NEATLY. Not a single leak ! Even their sambosa, which is deep fried doesn't have any excess oil ! I love them.