Lalibela Restaurant & Bar

AMAZING Ethiopian food!! We went here for dinner and it was a nice, laidback environment. This was our first time trying Ethiopian food and our server was so great helping us find what we would like! We got the Lega Tibs and Doro Wot over the injera and everything tasted SO amazing. My mouth is watering thinking about it! Cannot wait to come back again.

Yummy and delicious. First time here. So glad I tried the food. The veggie platter and 4 meets were excellent for two people. The flavors popped. Such comfort in the food. The service was excellent. The honey wine was so good. The coffee was also a nice finish to the meal. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Second time here & it was even more amazing. Our first trip we tried the tibs which were the best in town we’ve had & the waiter recommended the ribs for our next visit. We got the ribs this visit & loved them even more then the ribs (which we didn’t think was possible). Absolutely great date night vibes, atmosphere & service. A must try in Dallas!!! 👍🏽👍🏽💜

I ordered from this place on DoorDash tonight, tried to give them a 2nd chance and I got TERRIBLE FOOD! I don’t know if the people in the kitchen be drunk or under the influence of some drug or what, but I ordered kitfo and it said RAW. They gave me freaking taco meat fully cooked. Now why would yall screw up my order like that? Do you know how much money I spent on DoorDash ordering from this place? This is like the 3rd time yall have messed up my order so bad and I will not be eating from here again. YOU KNOW good and well that this is not how KITFO is supposed to look or be made, kitfo is made RAW or leb leb and it was neither. Yall need to shut down at this point. Your food is terrible and so is your service.

At late night , I ordered the Meser wot and wanted it spicy, they sent me spicy sauces and also did give me lettuce as a side. The server ( I ordered on DoorDash but the one who picked up the phone was nice and understanding), so thank you Lalibela!!!

We tried this Ethiopian restaurant late Friday night, and it was great! Everyone was friendly and the waitress helped walk us through the menu. We got the vegetarian combo and gomen besiga to share, and everything was delicious! There was also more than enough food. We took plenty of leftovers for the next day.

It is the most comfortable place to try something new. Most authentic Ethiopian cuisine in Dallas l. 1st the waitress was great and the food was even better. If your a first timer I suggest the Veggie Combo and the chicken tibs = delicious.

Another great Ethiopian restaurant. Was a little disappointed they didn't have the meat combo. But the veggie combo and the chicken doro wot was authentic and delicious. The tej wine was different, I liked the fermented and the hoppy flavor.

I've eaten a lot of Ethiopian food and I imagine this to be the best in Dallas. Awards bestowers agree! Thanks, Yelp, for leading us to this spot. The lunch Veggie Combo came with Shiro which is generous. The beets, lentils (Misir Wot) and yellow split peas (Kik Alicha) were so deliciously spiced and balanced. Something special is going on here. They brought out a beautiful floral milk cake surrounded by rose petals and played Happy Birthday for the birthday girl on their sound system. So sweet! If I found myself in Dallas again I'd come back for the warming spices and warmer welcome. Ooh, and order the coffee service!

Yummy and delicious. First time here. So glad I tried the food. The veggie platter and 4 meets were excellent for two people. The flavors popped. Such comfort in the food. The service was excellent. The honey wine was so good. The coffee was also a nice finish to the meal. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is my FAVORITE Ethiopian place in Dallas. While the ambiance isn't as nice as the other places, the parking situation may spotty, and the entire general area isn't as good, I'm overwilling to overlook all of that for the FOOD and the portions. This is your "hole in the wall" Ethiopian food, far outweighing its nearby sisters of Queen of Sheba/Desta/Addis Abeba. Highly, highly recommend getting the Vegetarian combo all the time, and then pair that with your meat choices, whether it's another meat combo, the lamb (Yebeg Wot), or chicken (Doro Wot), you cannot go wrong. When you're low on injera, the waitress will bring you some more. There seems to always be a few people sitting near the bar who drink coffee/beer and converse with each other who are silently judging you based on how you eat...so wash your hands, roll up your sleeves, and get ready to rip the injera, scoop your fixings, eat and enjoy!

This was my first time visiting this location. I visited 7:30pm on a Friday night. The ambiance is simple, with Ethiopian pictures on the walls. Off to the corner there's a coffee ceremony station, which adds an authentic feel to the place. Parking is scarce at the location because it is in a shared plaza. The service was good, they had a single server the entire night . The young lady was friendly and still attentive while juggling multiple tables alone. The food was just okay. I'm a huge Ethiopian food fan, so I'be tried several places in various states as well. Although, Ethiopian food is generally spicy, you can still taste the savory flavors.The food at this location fell short on flavor, you only felt the heat. The portions in the veggie combo was ridiculously too small. It was more of a sampler plate.

I went back, because I couldn't stop thinking about how good the food was, and I picked up some beef tibs firfir. Who doesn't love injera on injera? I don't think I ever want tibs without firfir again (let's be honest--I still wouldn't turn it down even if there was no firfir). These pieces of injera cooked in the deliciousness are everything. Also the portion. I came home and opened up my container and there was enough to feed 3 people. Of course I ate like half of what was there because I have zero self control when I have Ethiopian food, and I spent the next few hours being uncomfortably full but not regretting a thing. I knew this was going to be plenty of food so I didn't also order kitfo even though I would have loved to. I can't wait to go back with some friends so we can order multiple things and share. I'm not exactly comparing apples to apples because this was to go whereas my last visit was dine in, but I will say that this second experience I had by myself proved that the food is solid even when I'm not with my habesha friends. I'll definitely keep going back.

This is my second visit to Lalibela and it is by far the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Dallas area. A quaint lil restaurant which offers a homely feel. They have a full bar with a limited selection of wine. The menu has a lot of options but its best to go with the recommendation of the owner. She was great in suggesting the veg platter with an addition of lamb. You can order more injeras if you have the appetite. The veg platter has a good selection of flavorful sides and the lamb was cooked to perfection. Service was very personalized. The owner kept checking with us if everything was to our liking and if we needed anything else. Plenty of parking available right outside the restaurant. Pricing : Moderate Will I return? : Absolutely!

The best Ethiopian food I've ever had. And the only Ethiopian food I've ever had. I had the lamb tibs. They were great. The beets, as the veggie, rocked. Cool little place. Super friendly service. Don't let the exterior scare you off. Life's about adventure! I'll be back!

Their famous ribs are addicting! Eat at your own risk. Perfect amount of spice/heat. I wish I knew what is included in this marinade. I prefer my beef medium rare but allow 30 minutes before you pick it up ... they are better when cooked to well done.

You'll need to learn how to say ämäsäggnallähu after you dine at Lalibela. Just wow! The lamb is incredible as were the sides and I I washed them down with a couple of Asmara beers. The injera is a sourdough type flat bread you use instead of utensils and it was a delight. ämäsäggnallähu means I commend you, an Ethiopian term for thank you. I commend you is a better way to describe my dinner.

This restaurant is in a strip mall next to what appears to be a gentlemen's club so I was a little concerned at first. The operator who also appears to be the chef, hostess and waitress was delightful. She came and cleaned and sanitized our table again even though we could tell it had already been cleaned. We ordered our food and I expected in true African fashion that it would take it a while to arrive. Not the case. The food was prepared quickly and was hot and fresh. My companion loved the lamb. Said it's the best he has had and I encourage him to try Ethiopian food regularly. My veggie combo had just the right portions and the salad was a highlight. I ordered Tej and it was soooooo good. Shiro is my favorite dish and I found this one to be just ok, but everything else made up for that. Five stars for overall experience.

We got the rib plate and the lamb tips and the chicken, beef, lamb combo plate; with Egyptian honey wine, which was amazing. The rib plate was also amazing. The rest was average. Nothing spectacular but definitely good food. Considering this was our first time trying Ethiopian food it was a really enjoyable experience and we would definitely try it again. The customer service was also pretty good.

I loved the lamb, the collard greens, and the freshly baked injera most of all. Very authentic and very well prepared all around! One Yelp star docked for the shabbiness of the facade -- it's kinda sad looking from the street. Friendly service and fairly reasonable prices.

Great food! Very reasonable prices for the quality. Love the cabbage and the tibs and injera were perfect. I'll definitely return because the wait was not too long and the food was great.

DALLAS, TX: came in on a rainy night, the food was delicious, lots of flavor, great service. My favorite was the mild meats and chicken!

Whenever it comes to Ethiopian food, lalibela is our go to place. Delicious Ethiopian food especially their vegetarian platter and nice employees who will throw in extra injira bread whenever I will ask them. Just one suggestion: It'd be nice if they updated the interior of the place as it looks old and dingy.

This is another really great Ethiopian restaurant in Dallas! One of my favorites. I really enjoyed the veggie combo. They make beets taste so amazing and I never thought of truly eating them before this! Really amazing bartender here who is so friendly and amazing people that come thru and eat here.

Right next to a Thai place and a weird cult business, this is a small restaurant with well decorated walls, neatly crafted menus, and a nice vibe. My friend and I arrived on a Thursday night and there were maybe 4-5 people there other than us (two couples and a random old guy who may or may not have been the owner). The hostess poured us two glasses of uniced water (odd) and took our order. We got the chicken, lamb, beef plate, and it came with plenty of injera. The food was good and the meat all had great texture and was well spiced. We also got the deceptively strong honeyed wine. Everything was good, but check the bill carefully before paying. They forgot to add our drinks to the bill and I almost walked out without paying for them, but luckily it was noted and we managed to get squared away. Very affordable, and kinda fun to eat with your hands, so I'd bring a date. A bit offput everything was only warm rather than piping hot, and a little embarrassed by the bill snafu, but everyone was good humored so I'd definitely come back again.

AMAZING Ethiopian food! I'm so glad we visited! From what I'd heard, this restaurant is family-owned and operated - gotta love supporting small local businesses! We got their vegeterian platter and lamb tibs. SO SO good. I am getting hungry just writing this review! The injera (flatbread) was so tasty! The cute, quaint atmosphere of the restaurant also contributed to the whole dining experience. There's nothing quite like it - I certainly recommend trying out this place when you get the chance!

Solid Ethiopian in Dallas. We lived in DC the last 8 years and really enjoyed the Ethiopian food there. Quick fact: DC has the largest population of Ethiopians in the world outside of Ethiopia. This makes for some delicious Ethiopian cuisine. We had our favorite (in fact we got 2 orders!) of doro wat, the doro tibs but got it with chicken, and the lentils. Everything was good but nothing to write home about - enough to write Yelp about - see what I did there? The injera was a bit thinner and more 'watery' than we were used to but definitely serviceable. I also had a glass of the honey wine which was good. Grandpa got a whiskey on ice and the pour was quite generous. Service was great and the restaurant is definitely toddler friendly as we had our 2 year old in tow and he had a blast running around after he had enough of the high chair.

I'm lucky to have a boss that takes care of me whenever I visit our home office. How does she do that? Many ones, but one of them is that she takes me to Lalibela every time I'm in Dallas. I know a bit about Ethiopian food from attending college in Washington DC with access to nearly 100 Ethiopian restaurants before actually making a handful of visits to Addis Abbaba. Lalibela holds its own in comparison to those other reference points. The restaurant is mostly unassuming with some traditional decor, some floor seating, a traditional coffee ceremony set up and a lot of Ethiopian artwork and photos lining the walls. Most patrons here converse in Amharic and seem to know what they're doing when it comes to eating and drinking. That's usually a pretty good sign. As with most great food/restaurants, the food here is best enjoyed with a group of at least four people. The staff are quite helpful with what to order particularly if you've never tried Ethiopian food before. For a group of 4-6, w usually opt for a double portion of the vegetarian combo with a lamb dish, a beef dish and a chicken dish (usually at least one meat per person). My favorite is the lamb and I prefer it a bit spicy. The veggies are just as good as the meats. I dream about the beats and the cabbage. There are small portions of half a dozen or more veggie dishes all with such distinct and rich seasoning and flavors that somehow all work together so well in a mindblowing way. Everything is spooned out onto a big platter of injera bread, which is a spongy naan/pita/tortilla like starch that is central to all Ethiopian foods. Injera is naturally gluten-free when prepared authentically, but is often not GF in the US. They may be able to prepare some GF if you call a day ahead (that has been my experience at other US-based Ethiopian restaurants). Ethiopian food is peak communal eating, so if you're a germaphobe, be warned. Injera bread is also provided at the table for you to pinch pieces off and scoop up meat and veggies from the platter. The injera under the veggies and meat soak up all the flavors and seasonings and serve as a delicious interlude between the meal and coffee/dessert. They have some authentic Ethiopian beer which is kind of fun, but it's not lifechanging beer. I am usually here on work meals, so I don't know too much about the bar. I love Lalibela and my boss does too. It's a rite of passage for me anytime I'm in town and it's one of my favorite Dallas traditions. The owners and staff are fantastic, sweet and helpful. Lalibela is a must try both for people who love Ethiopian food and those who've never had it before.

Cozy Ethiopian establishment that has been here 22 years the owners make the traditional flatbread that's served with the meal from teff it has a high iron content and low sodium

Vegan Friendly meal that feeds 2-3 people awsome if you love your veggies! The costomer service is also 2nd to none I felt at home as soon as I walked in. I'd give it 10 stars if i could. Love this place!

Tasty, authentic Ethiopian food. Their bread is out of this world good. Service was great! The atmosphere is a little dark, but I think that's what they are going for. Alcohol is served. It's listed as a dance bar in some places but it isn't, no where I'd personally dance. You'll enjoy your time here.

I ordered 2 hours in advance and got charged but when I arrived the restaurant had never received the order so I had to wait for them to prepare it and pay again. Update on this review. The staff was super. They did not charge me again and the food was awesome. I suggest going to their website to place a carry out order.

Not crazy about the food flavor. Cool experience but a one and done. We were the only table inside was sat next to the huge Bluetooth disco speaker near the front that was activated and turned up on our party of 4 while sitting there talking, apparently to have us move out even though there were 4 native fellows sitting at the bar chatting it up with the younger lady hmm. $10 was added on top of the paper hand written bill to my credit card signature receipt odd. Definitely a forgettable culinary experience.

Food was authentic and wonderful!! The staff was kind and very helpful. We will definitely be back!!

Food is always fresh and authentic. My husband and I travel from the Fort Worth area just for this particular restaurant and we are never disappointed! Good food and friendly service.

Lalibela is really delicious, and cheap. I spent under $20 and that included two glasses of wine and tip for dinner. I've been here twice, but the first time was so long ago that I don't really remember the experience. I just remembered how much I liked it, so I'm glad I finally came back. Service was pretty slow, but we were in no hurry so a two hour dinner was no biggie. We ordered one of the platters that had chicken, beef, lamb and veggies. I'm still not sure what some of the stuff we ate was, but everything was great. The chicken was my favorite, and my least favorite was the potatoes. The greatest thing about this place is that you use spongy bread as your eating utensils, and the bread is yummy. The inside of this place is nothing fancy at all, so don't go for ambiance, but go for the food.

The best food here. Friendly family business. Very welcoming and inviting. I enjoy every visit. Will be back again and again.

This small mom & pop style restaurant embodies the heart of the American spirit. Dining in here I felt as tho I was in Ethiopia. The customer service from walking into the store, the history lesson my waiter provided me on the countries origins and the best part of tasting authentic Ethiopian food was mesmerizing. Rich in flavor, reasonable in pricing and a filling meal. I would recommend to anyone stepping out and looking to try different foods.

I visited Lalibela for a weeknight dinner with some friends. We were there for a long time - from around 6 PM to probably 9 PM - and were the only customers in the restaurant during most of this time. The food is a great value: we shared the vegetarian combo and ended our meal with tea, and each paid around $12 before tip, if I recall. And each of the vegetarian dishes was absolutely scrumptious! (I assume the dishes were vegan, as most Ethiopian food is, but I didn't confirm.) The injera (spongy sourdough bread you use to scoop up the food) was good too, and they brought us more when we needed it. The service was very non-obtrusive; they let us talk for hours, which was nice. This did mean that I had to go to the bar and ask for someone so I could order tea, but it wasn't a big deal. I'm looking forward to returning!

The last meal I ate in a restaurant before the pandemic was Ethiopian food outside of New York. I didn't know how much I missed it until scrolling through GrubHub after an aborted hotel stay in Fort Worth and coming back to Dallas. Lalibella hit the spot, and I don't think I can go another week without ordering again. The injera was the right amount of tangy and sour and paired perfectly with the lentils and chicken. Truly a special place with lots of love in every bite. I can't wait to order again and go through the entire menu!

Oof! It's been wayyyyyyy too long since I've had habesha food. To think I lived down the street from Lalibela most of my life and never visited makes me sad. I got the vegetarian combo for one person and it was more than enough and I came here around 6pm having not had any food all day. Price is reasonable for the amount of food you get ($14.06 total with tax). If I'm ever back in the nawf, I will definitely visit Lalibela's again.

This is hands down one of the best Ethiopian restaurants I've ever been to! The food was delightful and the service was impeccable. We ordered the veggie platter with Lega tibs! Highly recommend!!!!

Oh my insatiable appetite, phenomenal doesn't even come close to describing how incredible the food is. Mama is an amazing and talented chef. I ordered the vegetable platter with lamb tips. Everything from the beets to the lentils, collards to lamb was melt in your mouth, eyes roll back, soul touching!! It's a hole in the wall treasure. I highly recommend you break your conventionality and give Lalibela a try. You will not be dissatisfied!!

Delicious, fresh ethnic food in a simple, relaxing ambience. Good prices. Friendly hosts.

Upon entry we were welcomed to take any seat we wanted. The ambiance in the evening is a bit dark, but the hospitality is nothing short of bright. We were a group of three and we ordered the vegetarian platter. I have had Ethiopian food only about 3 times, and I must say this was the BEST experience I have to date. I can see myself heading back to this restaurant again, even though the drive is 30 minutes for me. The food was fresh and cooked to order. Try the special tea with cinnamon and if you're fighting a cold, get a shot of ouzo in your tea!

Great service and food! Lalibela herself visited us during our meal to ask how it was. Very good hosts and helpful guidance if you have never had Ethiopian food! The only down side was that the TV's were really loud and made conversation kinda hard. But overall great place.

Been here twice now, and I can confirm it was just as good, if not better, the second time! I do have to add in some of my experience from the first though, since my first impression certainly had a large range of experience to it. We found this place on Yelp (of course), and came here after going rock climbing over at Summit Climbing Gym right next door since we'd never ever had it. Walking in, it certainly seems like a small shop with standard construction. But somehow once walking in I felt like I was in another country, in an interesting way. The woman who served us was very friendly and warm, and although she didn't say too much, she did give us some recommendations as far as things we might or might now like. Both times we got the vegetarian combo, so that we could try everything. As we found out, this involved getting a huge plate layered with spongy thin pita-ish bread, with a small portion of many vegetables and legumes around the edges. Then, the meat was placed in the center a few minutes later.... SUCH FLAVOR. Seriously, the beets, the legumes, the potatoes, even the random bit of normal lettuce and tomato salad seemed extra flavorful. Amazing. And the meat that came in the center went very well with everything, juicy and tender. The chicken tibs we had the second time was placed from a searing cast iron pan, making it seem a bit like fajitas, but the flavor was nothing like that, it was unique. I've never had food like this and I love it already. It might be one of my new favorite food styles, along with Peruvian and middle eastern.

Stopped in here by default because the other Ethiopian Restaurant I was going to try in this area was closed on Wednesdays. Sooo I got on yelp and saw the reviews and sooo sooo glad I decided to come in. Do not judge or be fooled by the outside of this place. It is truly a GEM! I ordered the Lentil Sambusa (the absolute best I've ever had)! I ordered the veggie combo with Yemisir Wot & Gomen. They were seasoned to PERFECTION. Those collard greens are to die for! I'm not a newbie to Ethiopian food and this is one of the BEST I've ever had. The cook/waitress Genet was SUPER sweet. Her cooking will remind you of Grandma's cooking! Stop here! You will not be disappointed!

Hands down, one of the best food places in Dallas! Everything here is delicious!! I'm looking forward to the next time already and I just finished eating there today.

Ethiopian food is one of my top 5 favorite cuisines and my goal is to try every well-known Ethiopian restaurant in DFW! So, here goes my review of Lalibela... The restaurant is in a very nondescript strip mall (so Dallas) with pretty plain signage and tinted windows, so there isn't much curb appeal to draw people in. My boyfriend and I stopped in around 6 pm on a Sunday and it was deserted. I hate seeing little businesses so empty, so the ambiance was a bit somber for my taste. However, the interior of the restaurant is decorated with fun artwork and you could tell right away it had that hole-in-the-wall authenticity that inevitably hints at good food ahead. We went for the vegetarian sampler platter with Doro Wot added. The vegetarian sampler was so good and the perfect portion for two people! So many delicious veggies - lentils (spicy and not spicy), collard greens, stewed vegetables.. I could go on! The Doro Wot included one chicken leg and a hard boiled egg stewed in a traditional spicy sauce. Everything was so flavorful, we nearly licked the platter clean! The prices were very reasonable and we felt satisfied afterwards. The only downside of the experience for me, other than the empty restaurant, was that the meal left me very thirsty. I did feel like the Doro Wot especially was on the more intense, saltier side compared to other versions I've had. I spent all night gulping down water. Otherwise, we loved Lalibela and I really hope this place sticks around. It is so good and only 10 minutes from where I live!

This place is amazing. It's sooooo good. I got the Doro Tibs and the husband got the Asa Dulet. This is a must try even if you aren't in the area. I'm in love and can't wait to come back!

I've been here a few times and have yet to be disappointed. The food is authentic and it's family owned, where the mom still does the cooking. It's a little hole in the wall place, but usually packed with Ethiopians and other culturally inclined folks. That's how you know is a foreign restaurant/cuisine is good. When alot of their own people eat there. I loved all the meat and veggies. Very similar to Indian food. The price is good and don't be scared to eat with your HANDS!

Genet, the owner welcomed us just like one of her lovely family! Thought she might cry when I told her how much I enjoyed her fabulous food, efforts and the hospitality of her and her children. She offered a huge hug and asked if I really enjoyed it? Yes, yes I did! The collard greens and tibs(the beef bits) when combined into one bite were exceptional. My favorite, the misir (lentils cooked down to almost a moist paste with a special Ethiopian spice called berbere, sauteed onions, tomato paste and olive oil) had just enough kick to be tasty without the usual burn you get from a typical pepper-type heat. The injera (what is used like a tortilla or pita in other ethnic foods) was perfectly prepared - thin, light, tender and moist. Some of these can can be thick and tough and a bit heavy. This injera had a slight citrus taste that was just perfect with each of the samples we enjoyed. In traditional Ethiopian form, we enjoyed the waft of slightly burning beans to clear the sinuses followed by a traditional sipping coffee that smelled ever so lightly of cloves and cinnamon. Very comforting coffee smell and taste to close out a beautiful meal with a wonderful family. Genet asked me if I enjoyed it enough to come back? Why, YES! I did and I will. The only thing I wish I had was a proper napkin for my hands and lap. Outside of that the service was excellent and left no glass (even those wine glasses of homemade honey wine) empty! Genet - Your foods are wonderful and your family as beautiful in spirit as they are in the pictures we shared. Thank you for having us. Thoroughly enjoyed my evening.

I've never really liked Ethiopian food in the past, but Lalibela was great! From the moment you walk it, you feel like you're not in Dallas anymore. The decor makes you feel like you're in another country. Which country that is, I'm really not sure, because it's not like what I imagine Ethiopia would feel like. It's kind of like what I imagine a restaurant in the Caribbean would be like, dark with lots of beads and casual decoration. There were a lot of North Africans eating there and kind of just hanging out with drinks at lunch hour, which was a good sign. The lady running the place was really nice. I got the impression that she was the only one working there and acted as the waitress, cook, and busboy. Service was pretty slow because of this setup, but I didn't really mind, since I wasn't in a hurry. Don't go here if you're trying to get a quick lunch. Their menu said something about how Ethiopian coffee was god's gift to the world, so I was sure to order a cup. I didn't think it was worthy of their title. It was ridiculously strong, especially considering that it was lunch hour, and I wouldn't order it again. After the coffee, everything was great. We ordered a chicken, beef, and lamb combo platter for lunch, and every part of it was delicious. The Ethiopian food I've tried before was kind of bland, but the food at Lalibela was hot and spicy and wonderful! It was an assortment of curries that reminded me a lot of Bengali curries. It was served on a giant, spongy tangy piece of bread that resembled a dosa, and there was more bread on the side. In addition to the beef, lamb, and chicken, there was also some salad and a hardboiled egg curry, which is one of my favorite things in the world. Portions are huge. our combo plate was $15 and fed two people plus leftovers. This is way too much food for one person to eat. I will definitely go back to Lalibela, and I highly recommend it. Just don't go if you need to get in and out within an hour.

Like other reviewers have mentioned, it doesn't get any more authentic than this. It's someone's mom in the kitchen doing all the cooking -- she came out and checked on us occasionally and was absolutely precious. Someone asked, "You don't have forks here?" And she laughed and said, "No, I'm not gonna give you a fork...you eat with your hands!" in this lovely Ethiopian accent. Our waiter, who surely was her son or nephew, also was incredibly nice and great at walking us through the menu, which was especially helpful for those in our group who hadn't tried Ethiopian food before. I've eaten at several Ethiopian restaurants after discovering this cuisine in California, and Lalibela might be on par with my gold standard, Zeni's in San Jose. Honestly, it's been so long that I can't remember. Everyone in our group RAVED about the food at Lalibela. Someone commented that everything was so fabulously spiced and nothing had the same flavor -- it was all just a little bit different. We ended up splitting the vegetarian combo (favorites: homemade cottage cheese, beets seasoned with some awesomeness, and some absolutely divine lentils) along with several meats. Everyone's hands-down favorite meat was the lamb stew. We asked for "mild" spiciness, and it was just barely tolerable for me, so if you're a spiciness wimp like me, you might want to seriously emphasize MILD!! We were the only non-Ethiopians in the entire restaurant, and I think that's a good sign that you've stumbled upon a rare gem. The price is incredibly reasonable for the quantity of food that you get, and they bring you as much injera as you can eat (some places charge extra, which annoys me since I can't ever get enough injera...mmmmmm). It's in a super shady strip mall, but be brave and check it out!!! You will love it. The format of the meal makes it a great place for a group, and we all ended up sharing from two large platters. Such a fun communal experience.

This is going down as one of my favorite restaurants !!!! I had never been exposed to Ethiopian food until a friend and I visited this place. Completely unassuming and unpretentious you will be pleasantly surprised. Family owned and operated for over 20 years. The mother / son team made my experience one to remember. We ordered the vegetarian platter with the lamb tibs. I loved how fresh and flavorful everything was. The lamb was some of the best I've ever tasted. Aside of a pleasant dinner I also got to hear about some of Ethiopia's rich history. I will return and strongly recommend this place to others.

For sure the best Ethiopian restaurant in Texas. The service is A-1 another huge plus, you don't have to wait hours for your food (which is almost nonexistent when it comes to Ethiopian restaurants) the amount of flavor in their food is unbelievable you literally have to force yourself to stop eating. I don't like bones in my food, but I completely disregard that for the ribs OMG I cannot even begin to explain how amazing the ribs are. This place will forever be one of my favorite spots to eat my favorite food.

I came here for an early dinner with a friend for the first time the other day. Staff was warm and friendly and the place was homey, quaint, and clean. We ordered the vegetarian combo and a delicious chicken dish I can't remember the name of. This was my first time eating Ethiopian food and it was great. I wish I had know everything I was eating, but I can't really say I disliked anything. We got plenty of injera and service was good. Most of all I found this place to be really affordable. It was a great experience. I see more Ethiopian food in my future.