GS Cafe and Ethiopian Cuisine

Absolutely fantastic food! I’ve been here countless times over the past couple of years and am constantly recommending it to friends. All of their meats and veggie dishes are great, and their tea is fantastic! Lots of people come for the honey wine, but I think the tea is even better! This place is unassuming from the outside but is POPULAR (rightly so). I recommend getting here right when they open for their lunch or dinner hours to guarantee a taste. They sell out sometimes, so no guarantees if you get there at the end of the day. It’s also a smaller team, typically just the chef and the server (who is super sweet), so bring your patience with your appetite, I promise it will be worth it!

I am away from home and haven’t had injera for a couple weeks so I decided to give this place a try. Upon walking in, I was greeted by the server and seated promptly. The restaurant was clean and had a nice ambiance with traditional Ethiopian items displayed and Ethiopian music videos playing on a tv. The restaurant was easy to find and located right off a Main Street with plenty of parking. I ordered the awaze tibse with a side salad. Craving satisfied! The food was delicious and fresh. The portions were perfect. I’ll be back when I’m in the area to try out a few more of their options.

This was first time at this restaurant and it was absolutely delicious! The place is clean and nicely decorated. The prices are good and the employee is kind and attentive. I left full and happy. I definitely recommend it here!

Very good service. Good food. One platter fed the whole family of 4. We just ordered one extra curry and an extra order of injera. The spiced tea was the best thing to end our meal with. Would highly recommend.

A place to get good authentic Ethiopian food in SG valley. The staff is helpful & friendly. Only about 8 tables tho since it's a small place. Interesting for someone not familiar with it to try.

Very cool restaurant with really good service. I’ve had other Ethiopian places in little Ethiopia that were marginally better, but this place has more variety and interesting combos. Solid choice if you like Ethiopian cuisine.

This is the perfect place for anyone looking to explore Ethiopian cuisine. Chef's kisses! We ordered the special house combo, and everything was well-seasoned, with each dish complementing the others beautifully. The bread was served fresh, soft, and spongy, with the perfect texture for scooping up the food. Yes, you use your fingers as your main utensils—just wash your hands well and enjoy the meal! The tea was delicious, and the layers of smoothies were a nice touch. If you're a fan of Moscato, you should definitely try their honey wine. The coffee had a woody, bitter flavor, which I enjoyed. Be prepared for a wait of about 30 to 45 minutes during lunch and dinner hours, but it’s worth it. The food was so delicious that I ordered two additional meals to take home and share with my kids. They loved it too!

Wonderful people! Wonderful food! A gem! 💎 We are soo lucky to have such delicious Ethiopian food in the community! My friends and I LOVE the veggie platter and it’s always AMAZING. The spiced tea and coffee are delicious and nice to experience in the restaurant, and the smoothie is so fresh! The quality of the to-go food is 💯 and the portions are really generous- usually at least 3 meals if it’s just me 😈

Ambiance - It's small and cozy here. A very casual atmosphere that makes hanging out and sharing food easy. The decor is fun and colorful. There's a little spice and souvenir corner that I think you can buy stuff from? But there wasn't much there. It's clean and kept cool with a strong fan. Medium noise level due to the music and the fan. Service - Friendly and personable. They kindly asked the chef if we were able to switch the beef to the chicken for the platter. Food - Super fun to eat together. The sourdough tang of the injera goes well with all the side dishes. It has a soft and airy texture. My fave dish turned out to be the fasolia on my mom's plate!! The green string beans were yummier than I thought so I even ordered extra to take home. Second fave was the atkilt and then the kik wot. They all have a soft sweetness to it that goes perfectly with the injera!!! I don't know why my mom expected dry chicken but she said the chicken meat for the doro wot was fall off the bone soft!! Not dry at all. She's usually bad with spice but she could eat it just fine! You can replace the beef with the chicken on the plate combos if you want. An amazing lunch! I had such a good time eating and I ate until I was full. There was plenty enough to take home even though I got the small veggie combo. I haven't been since my last review and I'm so happy I got a chance to finally go back. I highly recommend this place!

GS Cafe is somewhere that I would want to eat at every single day if I could. I've been coming here for the past 4 years, and the food never disappoints. Every curry/stew/side that you are served alongside rolls of injera is hearty, healing, and rich in flavor. The interior has a homey vibe with loads of cultural decor and music playing. Not to mention, Nate & his parents are some of the kindest people you will ever meet. You are missing out if you haven't yet experienced this incredible Ethiopian spot. Their highly rated spot (#4!) on Yelp's Top 100 restaurants list is extremely well deserved.

Tldr: This is some of the best food in the greater LA area, full stop. If you're reading these reviews to decide if you should eat here today the answer is yes you should. I love everything about this restaurant. The ceiling is decorated with gorgeous tile art and the general atmosphere is welcoming and cozy. I believe its family owned, i always see the same people working there, a super friendly gentleman at the counter/waiting tables and an older woman cooking, and cooking she is. Not only does GS have the best ethiopian food that i've found in LA, it has some of the best food ive had period. You can taste the love that goes into it, the care behind every single aspect of the food. It feels homemade in the best possible way. Its the kind of food that makes me upset when i inevitably get full and can't stuff anymore in my face. They also have mead that they make in house and its absolutely delicious. If i could give this place more stars I would. If you haven't experienced Ethiopian food before this may be the best restaurant to do it at. They have a few platter options that give you a bit of everything and you honestly cant go wrong with any of them. Bring a friend or two, grab a big platter, sit and watch some Ethiopian music videos, drink a little mead, admire the cool little tables, eat some of the best damn food youve ever had, finish it off with a tiny cup of delicious coffee and scream to the heavens in satisfaction. This is what lifes all about

I drove 1.5 hours to try this restaurant after having it bookmarked for a while. They don't seem to the phone so I took a chance checking the hours of operation on various websites. They must know it's not only local people that support them. They don't even a sign saying there was an emergency or anything. Minis 10 for this place. Never again !

I had seen this spot on one of those Yelp lists - I think it was Top Places to Eat or something like that. Thought it was interesting because most Ethiopian restaurants are in the Little Ethiopia area in LA...one in SGV?!? Can I trust it? But if it's on the Yelp's list...it must mean something...so this place always stuck out in my mind but somehow, there's always something else to eat in SGV and this spot fell by the wayside until a few months ago. Finally came here to try it out with a friend. The spot's located in a plaza in Covina. We were the first to enter the restaurant as I had a mix-up about the hours (apparently, weekday hours and weekend hours are different) so we were just sitting in our cars waiting for the restaurant to open for lunch. Inside, the spot is pretty spartan but its decor is true to its Ethiopian roots. Service is prompt - we only saw someone in the back cooking and there was one server who handled everything in the front - but more about their service later. We opted for the GS Special because it has the most variety, seem to offer the best value and would give us an adequate assessment of their food. Food came out pretty good and boy was it on a big platter and they provided extra injera also...very generous portions overall. Everything on there was so delicious. A bit oily but so flavorful. Injera was delicious too...the tang, the soft fluffiness. So much food that we couldn't finish it and had leftovers to pack home. After paying the bill, we sat our table chatting for quite a bit. Our server brought over both of us a cup of hot spiced tea...ON THE HOUSE! They were hospitable and nice enough let us overstay our lunch visit with us sitting there beyond finishing our food and paying the bill...but they went the extra mile with this gesture of kindness and generosity. If I'm craving Ethiopian food again, I'll definitely be coming back to Covina vs. the LA area now that I know GS is a solid spot for service and food!

My cousins and I decided to try this place because it has been on my list for a while and thank goodness we came! The food is delicious and the service is great! Nate was such a great server and showed us all the ropes! From how to order to how to eat to how to package up the leftovers, he was great! For food, we got the veggie and beef platter. It says it feeds 2-3 but there were 5 of us and we had enough for leftovers! Huge portions. And everything on the platter was sooo good!! We also got the beef tartar which was spicy and flavorful. Will definitely be coming back here!

If you have not tried Ethiopian food and want to have a delicious and flavorful cultural experience, I highly recommend trying GS Cafe and Ethiopian Cuisine. This is my fourth attempt at eating Ethiopian food in various cities and this was definitely one of my best experiences. I completely understand why this family-run restaurant has such a high Yelp rating. I would recommend the Veggie Platter because you have an opportunity to try a variety of 8 veggies. We ordered the Beef and Veggie Combo which includes 3 veggies and all the items were flavorful and delicious. You eat with your hands with the spongy Ethiopian sourdough bread and it is part of the enjoyable dining experience. The tri-colored smoothie resembling the colors of the Ethiopian flag is also refreshing. The server was friendly and went above and beyond, so kudos to his excellent customer service. The interior of the restaurant is also decorated with traditional Ethiopian artwork that compliments the delicious food. Do understand that they occasionally can run out of food once it sells out because the items are made with care (which can take hours to make.) Definitely a little hidden gem in Covina!

The food here is excellent--high quality compared to other Ethiopian restaurants. Prices have gone up, but that's understandable given the quality. Customer service, especially from the young gentlemen working there, is outstanding: polite, professional, and patient.

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I absolutely loved it! The bread, injera, a crepe-like sourdough bread, served as a great vessel for all the sides and meats. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious! The Ethiopian Smoothie had layers of real fruits of strawberry, mango, and avocado! This is a cute cafe restaurant with a fair amount of tables and seating, full of its culture. The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable.

The food was very flavorful and the service provided was satisfactory. A minor area for improvement lies in the initial guest experience. To enhance clarity upon entry, it is recommended that a clear visible sign be implemented, indicating whether guests should wait to be seated or seat themselves. We just stood there for a while, and finally just took it upon ourselves to grab some menus and just seat ourselves lol. Furthermore, the post-meal process should be clarified as far as obtaining the bill and settling the payment at the table, or get up and pay for it at the counter. The tibs sampler platter, which my spouse and I ordered, was delightful, although some of the meat exhibited a slightly tougher texture. We anticipate returning for future dining experiences

Apparently they don't like to answer their phone. I tried calling several times to place a take out order before they close but no one answered

This spot had been on my bookmarks forever, and we finally made it out on a recent Saturday night with a group of four. None of us had tried Ethiopian food before, so we weren't quite sure what to expect in terms of portion size, but the staff was spot on when they said the #13 platter would be plenty to share. It came with a variety of veggie dishes, a couple of meat options, and a generous amount of injera flatbread made from sourdough. My husband, always worried there won't be enough food, added an extra chicken dish and more veggies. Traditionally, Ethiopian food is eaten without utensils, using your hands and injera to scoop up the dishes. It's even customary to feed one another as a sign of love and friendship. The worker did brought out a couple of sets of utensils for us after seeing how awkward we were trying to eat our dinner. We were all pleasantly surprised by how much we enjoyed the flatbread and actually found the veggie dishes more flavorful than the meats. If you've never tried Ethiopian cuisine before, this is a great place to start. And don't miss the delicious tri-colored rainbow smoothie. It is both refreshing and a photogenic drink.

If you have not been here, YOU HAVE TO COME HERE! I've tried quite a few other Ethiopian spots in Little Ethiopia but they all lacked something compared to the spots I've been to on the east coast and in London. But GS Cafe nailed it all. I ordered the combo and added tibs. And let me just say, everything was packed with flavor. Not a single dish was disappointing. From the beets, to the lentils, doro wat and tibs - every item had their own distinct flavor but it all worked so well with each other. And then the service - omgoodness. They were so friendly and helpful from the time I ordered to even helping me pack up my leftovers. If you're looking to try Ethiopian or have Ethiopian, do yourself a favor and come here!

I haven't had Ethiopian food in over 20 years since I dined at a restaurant in Little Ethiopia on the west side so I was excited to see that there is an Ethiopian restaurant near me. My son and I decided to come here and pick up some food for lunch. I called in ahead and ordered the GS Special, the Awaze Tibis, Ethiopian smoothie,and Ethiopian coffee for takeaway. Upon arrival, the staff was so friendly and promptly greeted us. It was bigger inside than I expected and can proabably fit about 30 people at a time. There's also merchandise for sale in the corner of the store. We were probably the first customers of the day so we did have to wait a bit for our food, but the man was so nice and gave us an extra smoothie for the long wait. My whole family loved the smoothie. The coffee was ok. I really enjoyed the GS Special, especially the doro wot (chicken stew) - the chicken was so tender and flavorful! However my son said the key wot (beef) was dry and didn't really have any flavor. He liked the Awaze Tibis better. The portion size of the GS special was more than enough to feed my family for 2 meals - I think eating it with the injera bread really filled us up quick. They line all the dishes with the Injera, in addition to using it as a vessel for eating your food, it was there to absorb all the oil from the dishes, as they were all pretty heavily covered in oil (Which probably was the root cause of the indigestion I experienced afterwards). If you've never had Ethiopian before, give this place a try, I think you'll enjoy it!

Finally got to this spot and it's great! The veggie platter for two is a good size portion and packed with flavor. The lentils are well seasoned, and if you prefer a more mild flavor you'll definitely love it. The food was not spicy, but you can ask for a spice mix on the side and dip your food in that for some spicy kick. They do not make their own injera but that's fine. As far as what comes on the plate it's red lentils, yellow lentils, green beans and carrots, white cabbage, spinach, and I actually forget the last veggie option on the plate, but it was all pretty tasty. We also tried the beef tibs and those were good. The meat was tender and juicy. Also, not spicy but well spiced. The service is good and comes with a friendly vibe. The ambiance is basic no frills, yet it offers a welcoming vibe. The coffee is unique and worth trying. I will definitely visit again in the future. They have a parking lot, but make sure not to park in the subway parking spots. Check hours before visiting as they close after lunch and reopen later for dinner service.

Family-owned! Been twice already! The ambiance is homey, not flashy, and doesn't need to prove anything more. Parking is ample, in a plaza. I have to admit the service is a bit slow because only the But it's worth the wait. Every table is full both times I've been there. We got the Awaze Tibis, which is a good addition. They provide plenty of injera! The balance of flavors is on point, the leafy and pickled veggies. The dish is saucy and colorful.

Amazing atmosphere, food and service! The host was friendly attentive and considerate making sure we had everything we need and checking in on us. The food was absolutely amazing

First time coming here and it will not be the last. Orders the gs special and everything about it was amazing! I really enjoyed the vegetarian options on there as well. I would come back to get just the veggie platter, meat was not needed . Place had plenty of seating . Will be back!

Arrive early because good food from a mom & pop shop takes a while to cook! When we arrived 10 min after they opened for dinner on a weeknight, there appeared to be only 1 person in the kitchen. There were 3 other parties of 2-4 people already seated before us. Our order took about 45 min. During that time, someone walked in for a to-go order but the server stated that it would be about an hour wait. Beef & Veggie Platter (5.0) I've never had such a wide variety of veggies that taste this good in my life. Nor have I ever liked the veggies in the dish more than the protein! But that's not to say that the beef wasn't good, it was so well-spiced. The beets were my favorite of the platter--sweet and a little juicy! It doesn't look like a lot of food but my husband and I were stuffed! The injera really fills you up. And it has such a nice, sour flavor that I found myself eating it by itself. Awaze Tibis (4.5) I loved the spicy flavors on this, but felt that the beef was a bit dry. Other than that, it was really tasty. I wish I could pinpoint the spices they use because the flavors linger on your palate! Since it was our first time, the server explained the menu very thoroughly and patiently. When the food came out, he explained how to eat it with injera. The conversations he had with regulars, the small & intimate dining space, and the decor are some of the many endearing qualities of this restaurant. I love places with simple charm because that's really all you need when the food is so good. This place deserves its high spot on any Yelp list.

Simply hands down best Ethiopian food we ever had! Even my daughter loves it and we have to come here at least once a week! We get the veggie platter. This dish has an assortment of perfectly spiced, fresh, and satisfying vegetarian dishes. Each component of the platter--be it the savory lentils, rich chickpeas, or the tangy collard greens--is meticulously crafted, offering a delicious balance of flavors and textures. The herbs and the aroma makes it so tasty! The injera, a traditional Ethiopian flatbread, is soft, slightly tangy, and the perfect for scooping up the rich stews and sides. Beyond the food, the ambiance at GS Cafe is warm and welcoming, making it a great spot for both casual dinners and special gatherings. The friendly staff and excellent service further elevate the dining experience.

This is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant I've been to - not only is the food the best, but it's also the best value by far. Even though it's far for me, it's well worth the 1 hour drive every time. My two to-go dishes are the #3 veggie combo (select 4) and #18 awaze tibis. For the veggie combo, the dishes I selected are: #8 Atkilt - carrots and cabbage - well seasoned, the veggies have a nice crunchy texture and not over cooked like at some other places #9 Fasolia - string beans - excellently cooked with good spice blend #10 Key Sir - beets, perfect balance between natural sweetness of the beets and the savory seasoning #11 Gomen - greens, out of the 4 this one doesn't stand out as much but it's still good #18 Awaze Tibis - I love how the flavor of the onions and butter integrates excellently with the beef. The beef can be on the lean side and tough occasionally, but still overall good It can take upwards of 20-30 min for the food to arrive after ordering, and it can get crowded during weekend peak hours, so I usually go weeknights or off hours. The atmosphere is rustic with a TV in the corner playing what I assume are Ethiopian music videos. The music can get too loud sometimes, but this wasn't an issue for my most recent visit. None of this factors into my rating, the rating is just for the food.

Everything was delicious and the service was spectacular. I like being able to try the variety of sides. Our favorite was the string beans!

Our third visit to GS and it was excellent as usual. Two of our three kids hadn't been yet so we decided to take the family. We ordered the GS Combo and an additional meat dish, the Awaze Tibis, which was fantastic. My wife, Gwen, and I enjoyed the Tej (mead) as well. The menu says the GS Combo is for 2 to 3 but we probably could have been fine splitting it among our family of 5. If you're big eaters then order an extra dish or two. You can also just start with the Combo and order more as you go if you're uncertain. It being a holiday weekend we were lucky to only have about a 10 minute wait for a table. If you haven't been before, it's in a strip mall and you can easily pass it and you might even miss it when you're looking right at it. Also, inside, it's a small room and not a ton of tables, but the service is friendly and you feel quite welcomed. It's not a fancy restaurant. Instead, it feels comfortable and non-hurried. If you're new to Ethiopian, give it a try, as I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. The dishes and wonderfully made and perfectly spiced. There's a reason so many others rate GS Cafe so highly and why it's so distinguished in terms of its Yelp awards. It's not due to being a perfectly buttoned up high end restaurant. Instead, it's a small restaurant with a ton of charm. It's a place that feels warm and welcoming. And the Ethiopian cuisine they serve is just plain delicious.

This was first time at this restaurant and it was absolutely delicious! The place is clean and nicely decorated. The prices are good and the employee is kind and attentive. I left full and happy. I definitely recommend it here!

A coworker and I both happened to be working remotely and Yelp roulette managed to land us into one of the highest rated Ethiopian restaurants with a Michelin. The food is always colorful and tasty. Also, how have I lived this long and not known of honey wine. The traditional bottle looks like a health potion too! It's recommended you get there early if you have a party of 2 or more, otherwise the wait can be a bit long due to its popularity. They definitely try to make the inside look like a restaurant from Ethiopian, complete with various music videos from the region playing on TV.

Sometimes a great Yelp isn't always warranted but this place is worth every single 5-star reviews that other patrons have left before. We got to the restaurant right at opening for early dinner and it's a good thing because within half an hour, every table was filled. We had the GS special since there was 4 of us and it was a great combo of vegetarian and protein dishes. The menu had stated that it would feed 2-3, for the four of us we were filled to the brim and took the leftovers home for another serving next day. Who knew the best Ethiopian food was in Covina, CA? Come early and stake out your spot or prepare to wait.

We were really looking forward to trying Ethiopian food for the first time and made a special trip to this restaurant. The sign on the door and Yelp both said they were open from 1 PM to 8 PM, but when we arrived and waited until 1:30 PM, the doors remained closed. We tried calling several times with no answer. Another group was also waiting outside, unsure if the restaurant would open at all. It was incredibly disappointing--not just because we were hungry, but because we were genuinely excited to try something new. A simple update online would have made a big difference. Unfortunately, this experience left us upset and still starving.

I don't know how I have not written a review for this place. The praise on yelp for this place is not without reason. It's a go to spot for great food and a welcoming atmosphere. Be ready to take some time here and just relax, chat, and eat as the intention here is for one to have a good time, not rush to finish food and go on tot the next thing in life. The injera and the combo platters can look intimidating at first but once you dig in you will not regret it. I'm not a veggie person but the veggie platters here are amazing and bursting with flavor. It's probably best to come in a group of 2 or more. Or, come through on your own and take some to go for your meal the next day. Amazing service, high quality food, great price point. It's not just good Ethiopian food, it's good food period.

Absolutely fantastic food! I've been here countless times over the past couple of years and am constantly recommending it to friends. All of their meats and veggie dishes are great, and their tea is fantastic! Lots of people come for the honey wine, but I think the tea is even better! This place is unassuming from the outside but is POPULAR (rightly so). I recommend getting here right when they open for their lunch or dinner hours to guarantee a taste. They sell out sometimes, so no guarantees if you get there at the end of the day. It's also a smaller team, typically just the chef and the server (who is super sweet), so bring your patience with your appetite, I promise it will be worth it!

The service was great, very attentive. The food was tasty. If you like Ethiopian food or want to try it, I recommend this place. I got the Kifto and the lentils. They brought me a wonderful tea at the end of the meal-cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and cardomom. Yummy!

Incredible food, vegetarian platters always hit and this one was filled with delicious flavorful sides and lots of fluffy injera. Wonderful service (friendly and they are happy to explain anything about the food or how to eat it) and the vibes are cozy and comfortable inside with decor and music. Definitely worth driving from LA to try this spot! Hope to be back soon.

It has been quite some time since I've had Ethiopian food and I wanted to venture out and eat something that's not in the usual rotation for me. This spot in particular has high ratings and for a good reason. I got here around 5:45pm on a Saturday and there were a good amount of diners. I only saw two staff members working when I was there, and they were very friendly and welcoming. My friend and I shared the GS Special which is a combination of the Doro Wat chicken stew, key wot beef stew, 8 vegetarian side dishes, served with injera (the thin sourdough bread). Also, I could not pass up on the Ethiopian smoothie (strawberry, mango, and avocado). It's made with literally just freshly ripened fruits and this is what the epitome of a fresh all natural smoothie is. When our platter came out I was in awe of all the colors and textures that lay before me. Everything was delicious. The stewed meats were so tender and juicy, the lentils were bursting with spices, and the veggies were incredible. I got full really quick because I was eating way too much injera in proportion to the stews. Just a side note, you are supposed to eat with your hands so make sure they're extra clean before you start digging in. Overall, I was very impressed with the quality and generous portions of food you get for the price. It is one of the most unique dining experiences you can have and I recommend any foodies or adventurous eaters to check this spot out, you won't be disappointed.

Been coming here with friends and family several times, I wanted to update a review since it's been a while. Very wholesome staff! They make you feel welcomed and attentive even though they get really busy (we hear the phone calls and people coming in for takeout!). Although when it does get very busy, please be patient!! They will definitely take care of you and will make sure you eat well. Please understand and do not rush them, make sure if it's busy then you have time to wait for a table, it is worth it! You can also order take out as well. You can sit in the dining tables or the Gursha Corner. They don't have as many tables but every time I've come we were able to be seated. We usually order beef and veggie platter, enough for 3 of us. Given we had 5 people, we ordered the GS special as well which came with an additional dish of chicken (boiled egg and chicken drumstick). Each platter comes with extra injera on the side plate. Very delicious, we were almost able to finish both platters amongst the four of us, but we only had some injera left. Bathrooms are clean and single gendered, located in the back. I do want to order their smoothie next time when I come back again.

This was my very first time having Ethiopian food. I'll admit, this cuisine never really stood out to me and after seeing it on Yelp's top 100 restaurants this year I knew it was time to give it a try. We came on a weeknight evening and had to wait briefly for a table. Between the three of us we shared the GS Special which has a combination of chicken stew, beef stew, and 8 vegetarian side dishes. This was the PERFECT introduction to Ethiopian food and I was completely blown away. The bread is a bit difficult to describe, but is very light and spongey and absorbs the sauce and flavors of the dishes so well. We also ordered the Ethiopian smoothie (for aesthetic purposes of course) and the fruit flavors were extremely fresh. It might be tough coming here with a larger party especially since the seating area is limited. It took a little bit of time for the food to come out, but it's a small family-owned place so please be patient- it is 100% worth the wait! I was surprised to stumble upon this hidden gem. If you've been hesitant about trying Ethiopian food, this is your sign to come and try!

The food was amazing! Great flavors. The service was great also, very home and welcoming vibe . A cultural ambiance inside. Definitely recommend this spot!

Great service and food in a casual setting. Bring vegetarians too for a wide selection of dishes.

The food here was great! Service was fast and the coffee was one of my favorites! GS special was very delicious

5 stars for taste, price, and portion. Our party of 3 came on Sunday at 11:30 am, and we did not have to wait. We tried to pick a table father inside because the sunlight bounced off the cars out front and straight into our eyeballs (facing the door). Service was a little slow, but friendly and helpful. We reviewed the menu and chatted for awhile. I later walked to the front since I saw a payment kiosk, but the employee said he would come to us. He explained that the bread should be used to pick up various dishes and eaten with the hand. Since I had a cold, I requested a fork and was given an additional spoon for communal use. DRINKS ORDERED - Ethiopian Spiced Tea ($3). I enjoyed my hot black tea brewed with cinnamon, cardamon, and cloves. It was made plain without sugar. - Ethiopian Smoothies ($5.90). The drink was gorgeous! I watched jealously as everyone else took a sip and exclaimed in excitement. I heard it was delicious blend of strawberry, mango, and avocado. FOOD ORDERED We shared the newly added GS Special ($35). The menu said it serves 2-3+ which was accurate. We actually had two more servings left over! Here's what came out on the platter: - Doro wot stew (chicken leg & hard boiled egg) - Key wot (beef stew with berbere spice) 8 vegetarian dishes corresponding with menu items 4-11: - Misir wot (red lentil stew) - Misir alecha (yellow lentil stew) - Kik wot (yellow split pea stew) - Shiro (chickpea stew). I don't think we got to try it on that day. I heard our server tell another table they were out of shiro, and there were only 7 dollops of veg on our platter. - Atkilt (cabbage and carrot) - Fasolia (string bean, onion, and carrot) - Key sir (red beets) - Gomen (simmered collard green) Every dish tasted great! My top 3 were the doro wot, misir alecha, and fasolia. The spongy and sour injera soaked up the sauces. I could be wrong, but I think the niter kibbeh (seasoned clarified butter) provided an intense umami flavor. If I had to nitpick, I would have preferred the injera warm. The injera was cold, even the piece covering the plate. The curry stews were also quite oily.

First time trying Ethiopian food and it was such a great experience. The combo is definitely enough to share with 2, maybe even 3 people. It's a great little family owned place and you see the whole family helping out. Everyone is very friendly and will give you tips if it is your first time. The food is so fun to eat as you use your hands to grab the bread and sides to combine flavors. All of the sides are full of flavor and it was great to try everything in one platter. Would definitely come back.

Very good foods and ambiance And all the workers are very nice and friendly I will return 100% best foods See you next week GS Cafe Ethiopian cuisine

Came out to check out GS Cafe & Ethiopian Cuisine which was also featured on Yelp's top 100 of 2024 and is ranked number 4!! Located in the city of Covina this place was packed for dinner time. We came in early to beat the rush but while sitting here tables of friends and family were coming in to also enjoy a tasty meal. Ethiopian food is nice because it is a large platter of food that you share with the people who are at the table. You also eat with your hands and use this interesting bread called injera which is sourdough made, to put either meat or vegetables in it. Fun times and a must just to try some traditional Ethiopian food! Bring a few friends or family members with you because the platter is large and very sharable.

I was running errands in the area when I drove by this place and looked it up on Yelp. I was excited to see so many great reviews, so I popped by here with my husband and a couple friends the next evening. To be fair, this was my first time trying Ethiopian food, so I don't know much about the cuisine, but it was delicious. We tried the GS Special and Awaze Tibis which was plenty of food. It would have been nice if they told us what each item was on the platter, but we just dug in with the injera and tried everything. For the most part, we all liked with the exception of one or two sides. I was surprised that I was so full. I was bummed that they didn't have any of the Ethiopian beer, which I think would have been fun to try with dinner. I did try the honey liquor, which was very similar to mead. I wasn't a huge fan, but I don't like mead very much either. It wasn't too busy when we came on a weeknight, but the service was friendly and the food came out pretty quickly. It's a pretty casual spot and good for a fun group of friends looking to try something different. I'd definitely go back.

It is located in a non-descript strip mall in Covina. My suggestion is to go right at opening. We were there by 10:45am and we were second in line. By the time they opened at 11:03am, there was a long line behind us. Minutes after we were seated, four more parties came in and it was a full house! The restaurant has little touches of Ethiopia here and there. I'm unfortunately unfamiliar with their culture and I intend to remedy that soon. They sell fabrics and little knickknacks from the country in a small corner of the restaurant (see photos). I'll check it out more throughly the next time I go. We weren't that hungry but as it was close to noon, we ordered the GS special. They offer no utensils as you're supposed to eat with your hands (although I'm sure you can request them) - you use the injera (soft sourdough) to pinch the food with. The injera serves as the delivery system. It was a sizeable plate that was perfect for us 3. We even had leftovers to take home. It had chicken, beef, beets, vegetables, and just the most delicious things I don't even know the names of. I just kept eating, man. Every bite was different from the one that came before it. It was a flavor explosion! For $35, all that yummy goodness? And you eat with your hands? It was such a great experience. So much bang for your buck. The server was kind and attentive enough despite the crush of people at lunchtime. He kept our water glasses full and checked on us every now and then. It's a great place to grab authentic Ethiopian food and parking is not a problem. If you're adventurous and want to try something outside your comfort zone, dine at this place and thank me later!

I have tried Ethiopian dishes from only a handful of places and they were all great. I would say this place is delicious as well! Their flavors were mild and the injera was not as fermented as other places I had tried which means the injera was not too sour. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my food! I ordered take out and the food was ready in about 20 minutes. I really liked the gomen and the red lentils. I am open to trying their other vegetables next time. Veggie and beef combo comes with beef and 3 choices of veggie. I selected the red lentils(misir wot), split peas yellow colored (kik wot), and collard greens (gomen). The combo was around $26

Fantastic gem of a neighborhood restaurant that feels family owned and operated. Now, I have eaten Ethiopian food a few times in my life, but I can't say I'm too familiar. That said, I felt like I was enjoying an authentic home cooked meal here. The person that was serving me was very helpful in helping guide me to make up my mind what I wanted. Also, keep in mind that because this feels like a family operation, the food doesn't come out super fast. So if you want a quality home cooked meal feel and are not in a hurry, this is the spot. Of the few times I've been to an Ethiopian restaurant before, I usually get the variety platters that come with the bread or injera. I was really close to ordering the veggie platter here (looked really good), but it was more well suited for multiple people. I ended up ordering the doro wat or the chicken stew (I do love a good stew). There was tons of flavor and spices, without being too spicy in terms of making sweat, haha. Each bite was fragrant and very enjoyable. It was fun soaking up all that flavor into the provided injera as well. I also ordered the tej. The server let me try a little before I committed to ordering a whole glass (which is more like a mini bottle with a cup on the side). I appreciated that because it's similar to meads in other cultures, but mead isn't for everyone. I enjoyed the flavor, so I ordered the glass. There was a slight effervescence and a little thinner that I expected. Almost like a soft drink, but not really... the flavor was delicious and I enjoyed it a lot! Coming here is like a full on cultural experience. There was TV playing music videos from what I assume is Ethiopian culture. There was plenty Ethiopian decor that adorned the walls. Parking was easy. This place is located in a strip mall with plenty of parking (I came on a weeknight so it's possible it just wasn't busy)

I'm a neophyte when it's comes to Ethiopian cuisine, but I'm also not someone who has been living in a cloister or stuck in catacombs. The little that I do know is that I like it and GS Cafe has one of the best offerings of Ethiopian food in the area. There actually aren't a lot of restaurants in this area that serve this kind of food, which makes this a uniquely significant place to dine at. I would highly recommend the veggie platter as that is what I have gotten every time I have come and it hasn't disappointed. The staff are kind and hospitable and the decor is classy and dignified.

Last week, driving down Fairfax, aka Little Ethiopia, had me craving some Ethiopian cuisine. And what the stomach wants, the stomach gets. And the stomach got some for lunch today. Made the trek out to Covina, to the Palm Center shopping plaza - corner of Citrus and Covina. Standalone building. Right next to Subway. Plaza parking lot. Free. Parking wasn't an issue today (Sunday) for lunch. Great service. Especially considering the host/server/cashier was a one person operation. Attentive and friendly. Answered questions. Refills. Not much else can be expected. Then there was the food. My friend and I split the GS Special. Comes with both Beef and Chicken Stew (Wot) and eight of the veggie side dishes, on the menu, it's number four thru eleven. Call us nuts but we both preferred the veggie dishes over the meats though we did polish off just about everything except the Injera that was used to line the platter. I would have polished it off but I was so full to the point that it felt like it would pop like a balloon if you poked me with a needle. The Injera wasn't too tangy or sour. Cooked just right to be able to scoop up the meats and veggies. I enjoyed everything except the Atkilt and Key Sir. Not that they were bad, I simply didn't try them. I was too busy inhaling everything else, especially the Fasolia and Gomen. Not that I'm a vegetarian but the dishes today were just vibing with my veggie taste buds. Not just the flavors, but also the spice level - not spicy but a little kick. I'll just say the GS hit the spot. Covina isn't close to home or work for me but you can definitely count on seeing me back here again.

My favorite restaurant!! The food and service are always top notch. I came on a Saturday at 5:30pm with 9 people. We were seated right away. We all shared 2 GS Special plates and it was enough for all of us. We also got the mango smooth (delicious) and their hot tea. The hot tea was good just a bit on the too sweet side. Great ambiance.

#1 rated on Yelp for a reason! Really enjoyed my first experience trying Ethiopian fare at GS. This place is family-owned so you know you're getting that good good. Highly recommend the beautifully presented GS Special platter! The stews were fantastic alongside the veggie sides. Also enjoyed the beef tartar, Kitfo with the accompanying cheese. If you love your beef on the rarer side, get this. Huge parking lot so you don't got to worry about parking. Loved the great food and drinks and friendly service! Definitely deserves #1 on Yelp for a reason.