LeYou Ethiopian

LeYou was added to the Michelin guide in 2023. Love myself some Ethiopian food. I was not familiar with LeYou tho... Da Wahini suggested LeYou after noticing it on Social Media somewhere. I'm not going to argue with that. I liked the interior decor, it's one of the nicest Ethiopian restaurants I visited. We chose to try one appetizer and then opted to share everything family style. Our main course was the Meat Combination & Vegetarian combination served family style. #EthiopianEats: ~ Kitfo Bites (Ahi Tuna) - 5/5 Medium Spicy I wasn't aware of an Ethiopian dish with seafood, let alone raw fish until I tried this. Very tasty. Packed with flavor. I haven't had a raw Tuna dish like this before, best way I can describe it is ground Poké with an extra flavor burst. (A.) Keywot: Two Meat Stew Items: ~ Sega (Beef) - Keywot - 4/5 Your standard Keywot. Tasty and not too spicy. ~ Asa (Fish) - Alicha - 5/5 The Fish was on point! Cooked to perfection with flavor galore. I'm guessing some kind of light fish with white meat. Deliciousness... (B.) Four Vegetarian Sampler: ~ Okra - 4/5 ~ Miser/ Lentil Stew - 4/5 ~ Shiro / Chickpea Stew - 4/5 ~ Kay Sir - Cold Beets, Carrots, Potatoes, Peas - 4/5 Everything was delish! Although we did enjoy the meat dishes here better than the Vegetarian options. We thought they were tastier. No issues with the service. Staff were brilliant; helpful, patient and friendly. Will return and try other dishes. L'-TAY-nah-chin!

A couple of weeks ago, we decided to be spontaneous and explore cuisines we don't typically indulge in, such as tacos, steak, or sushi. Although I had previously savored Ethiopian food in Little Ethiopia in LA, I hadn't sampled it here in the Bay Area. We discovered LeYou, while browsing Yelp. Upon our arrival, we were warmly welcomed by an attentive and amiable server. She recommended an array of different dishes, and we happily agreed to try them all, resulting in a delicious feast. We also ventured to taste some Ethiopian-inspired beer, even though it didn't align with our preferences, which is likely a matter of personal taste. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our meal and service, and left satiated. This experience was particularly memorable as it was a spontaneous act, not a planned date. We went with the flow, remained open-minded, and it turned out wonderfully. We especially enjoyed the unique experience of eating with our fingers, a departure from the traditional Western style of dining. Parking was hassle-free, thanks to a spacious lot right in front. Moreover, the affordability of the meal, considering the generous portions, was a pleasant surprise.

The Michelin star is well deserved! We tried two combination platters. Very flavorful very delicious. The waiter was very supportive to help us make the right decision. We also tried their special tea and baklava. The tea was an explosion of flavors like the food was too. I did not expect much from the baklava and was positively surprised. It had pistachio and walnut and the seasoning was very good and different to Turkish seasoning, which I am used to. We will definitely come again.

Tasty Ethiopian food at a very reasonable price for the area. Quick service and lots of food for each dish order. Tables also have hand sanitizer bottles at them, buttons to call a server, ordering online in the restaurant, and cozy decorations.

While on a business trip to Santa Clara, I decided to explore an Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant, and it exceeded all expectations. The decor and cleanliness were exceptional, and the service surpassed what I anticipated. I ordered the lamb dish Awaze Tibs, which came with a generous portion of lentils and salad on the side, along with GoJo Ethiopian beer brewed in the US. Although the beer was just okay, I tried it nonetheless. Overall, I highly recommend this establishment. Kudos to the outstanding service and cleanliness maintained by the restaurant. Keep up the great work!

The food was amazing but my favorite was the chicken drumstick and beef. It has a cute atmosphere and has hand washing sinks available which was nice. Utensils were available at each table if needed. Friendly staff but food came out very slow. Overall would recommend.

Decor: Lovely paintings, decent interior and clean bathrooms. Food: Everything was delicious. I loved the appetizers. They have good options for vegetarians. Service: The hostess was very sweet but service was a bit slow because only one person was handling all the orders, drinks etc. One thing that I found strange is that we ordered extra injera and the hostess told us that we could order only 2 injeras. That’s strange because if I’m ready to pay extra, why limit the number of injeras? I was not happy with that. I will go there again because the food was good and I like to support family owned businesses.

- good food compared to all other neighboring ethiopian places - service is quick - lesser portions compared to the price charged - they compel and mandate number of entrees to match the number of guests. So if you want to eat lite or share- this is not the place to go - place is clean and lite compared to other whole in the wall ethiopian places

Amazing and very different food (to me), with great service. Our server took the time to explain everything on the menu and made very tasty suggestions. Everything we tried was so so good, it would be impossible to pick a favorite. Our server recommended the 2 sample plates for the 3 of us, meat sample and the vegetarian sample plates. We also ordered the Ahi Tuna Kitfo Bites (it also has a salmon option instead), nothing like expected, a bit spicy but Fantastic. We had never tried Ethiopian food, and we were pleasantly surprised at all the very different flavors and spices incorporated in these dishes. The bread texture and sourdough taste was also a surprise! Le You restaurant is small - maybe 12 tables, but very well decorated, and welcoming atmosphere. Because of the limited tables, I'll bet that reservations are likely needed at dinner time. Next time in San Jose we will be back. It's no wonder that Le You has a Michelin recommendation.

Love myself some Ethiopian food. I was not familiar with LeYou tho... Da Wahini suggested LeYou after noticing it on Social Media somewhere. LeYou was added to the Michelin guide in 2023. I'm not going to argue with that. I liked the interior decor, it's one of the nicest Ethiopian restaurants I visited. We chose to try one appetizer and then opted to share everything family style. Our main course was the Meat Combination & Vegetarian combination served family style. #EthiopianEats ~ Kitfo Bites (Ahi Tuna) - 5/5 Medium Spicy I wasn't aware of an Ethiopian dish with seafood, let alone raw fish until I tried this. Very tasty. Packed with flavor. I haven't had a raw Tuna dish like this before, best way I can describe it is ground Poké with an extra flavor burst. (A.) Keywot: Two Meat Stew Items: ~ Sega (Beef) - Keywot - 4/5 Your standard Keywot. Tasty and not too spicy. ~ Asa (Fish) - Alicha - 5/5 The Fish was on point! Cooked to perfection with flavor galore. I'm guessing some kind of light fish with white meat. Deliciousness... (B.) Four Vegetarian Sampler: ~ Okra - 4/5 ~ Miser/ Lentil Stew - 4/5 ~ Shiro / Chickpea Stew - 4/5 ~ Kay Sir - Cold Beets, Carrots, Potatoes, Peas - 4/5 Everything was delish! Although we did enjoy the meat dishes here better than the Vegetarian options. We thought they were tastier. No issues with the service. Staff were brilliant; helpful, patient and friendly. Will return and try other dishes. L'-TAY-nah-chin!

Everything here is just delicious. Full of earthy flavor. My favorite is the Kategna with its yogurt and spices, but the main event is the meat and vegetable combo. Using the injera (similar to crepe but softer and spongier) as your "utensil," you wrap your choice of meat and vegetables. We had Doro (chicken) stew, Sega (beef) stew, Tibs beg (lamb), as well as Okra, atakilt (cabbage and potatoes), and stuffed jalapeños.

Food is always good and tasty. Service is mixed. We've had good experiences and also some not so good experiences. Sometimes it's really good and it's quick and easy and some times it's not and we've had a long wait or mistakes were made. One of my biggest pet peeves was that we ordered the veggie sampler for the vegetarians and a meat (regular) one for the meat eaters and they brought them all in the same injera. And they didn't seem apologetic or anything. Next time I went I specified to please not do this again and they were confused that someone had done this in the first place.

What an incredible meal! 5 of us jumped on an opportunity to try this gem. We were excited to try Ethiopian and didn't know what to expect. Absolutely amazing food with incredible flavors! My favorites: collard greens, lamb, been, lentils, lemon square, flan, and baclava. Everything else was very good as well, but those were my favorites. And the honey wine was very refreshing and delicious. A little like Prosecco and a desert wine. Not too sweet though. Very good! The decor of the restaurant was very cool! Not what I was expecting for the neighborhood. A really cool vibe that really added to the experience. They have a large family table (really cool wood table) as well as smaller tables for smaller groups. I think this would be a great place for friends to get together for an amazing meal. The service from the staff was incredibly hospitable. Very prompt, attentive, offered suggestions, and made it feel like you were being fed by family. Top notch for sure! My group left incredibly satisfied and will probably be talking about our meal for days. We will certainly be back and I'll be sure to recommend LeYou to all. Do yourself a favor and try this gem out. You will not be disappointed!

I couldn't be more excited having LeYou Ethiopian Restaurant within walking distance from my hotel. It literally has been years since I last ate Ethiopian food and picking this place was a no brainer! Given that Ethiopian food is mainly vegetarian I picked the Vegetable/Meat combo with Chicken and Fish as my protein. Upon checking in I was offered a free spiced tea by the owners which helped me warm up from my walk over here. Now to the dish itself, let me start by saying that this was huge! The one dish that stood out the most was the white fish which was very savory and unique. I also enjoyed the okra and the lentils tremendously but found the collard greens to be flavorless. The chicken was also very good but I probably would opt out for the beef the next time. Needless to say that there was so much food and I was unable to eat it all. Overall this was a great dining experience and I can't wait to come back. 5 stars for reasonably priced and tasty food plus friendly service! Enjoy and Bon Appetit!

We came here on a cold day for lunch. We were promptly seated. Some seats are metal-bottomed, and some have cushions. We chose the table for two with cushioned seating. The Walls have artwork depicting Ethiopian religious and cultural life. To me, this always reminds me of visiting churches in the 1960s. Each table has a little button that you can press when you are ready to order or otherwise need to call the servical over. Nice touch. Since you are expected to eat your food with your hands, there is a double sink, outside of the bathrooms, which is behind the curtain. We tried the latte and hot ginger-honey tea. The tea was a little sweeter than I like and I think it upset my stomach a little. Or Maybe I was just very full as the food is very good and we tried a few dishes. I started with the raw tuna kitfo. They describe it as Ethiopian ceviche. It has Ethiopian bird chilis, diced into chopped raw tuna in olive oil and comes with lightly toasted injera. You use the accompanying spoon to put some of the tuna mixture onto the injera and then pop it in your mouth for a delightful morsel. The Arian sampler came next. The way it works is you can choose for a vegetarian items, excepting the mushrooms, and your choices will arrive on a bed of Injera with a little salad in the middle. I like that you can choose which ones you want rather than being stuck with a fixed set. Also, some of these choices I have never seen in other Ethiopian restaurants. For example, they had a beet dish. We included that in our selection, along with chickpea and yellow lentil dishes. It was all quite good. They have a $25 per person minimum dinner so be aware of that. For the two of us at lunch, we still spent nearly $70. For a change of pace from the usual Ethiopian dishes, I would come back again.

First time ever trying Ethiopian food! Our waitress was extremely nice and very helpful with suggesting menu items. We ended up choosing the two meat stew (chicken and beef) and their veggie sampler (green beans, chickpea, zucchini, and tofu). We were accidentally given a spicy chicken dish, and our waitress provided us with the non spicy dish on the house. Each dish had a unique medley of spices. My favorites were definitely the chicken and tofu options. Already plan on coming back here to try their other food options! Quick tip: check in on Yelp to receive a free coffee or spiced tea! (The tea was really yummy and a great palate cleanser)

Service was decent, although it's a little strange because you have to press a call button to get someone to come over which just feels odd. Ambiance is amazing! So warm and inviting inside, the decor feels authentic as well. Food was delicious!!! Eggplant dip was phenomenal, i got a tofu entree that was mediocre but the green beans side i got with it was fantastic! It is strange though that the whole main menu is Ethiopian but then all of the desserts are pretty standard desserts you might find at any restaurant in the US (lemon bars, flan, i believe there was also ice cream, etc) Definitely will be going back

Really excited to have this place in town, always loved Ethiopian but couldn't find it living in Monterey. Great flavors and they braught extra bread. Also had the eggplant appetizer which I enjoyed but my partner wasn't as much of a fan. Very excited to come back and get to know my faves at this spot.

Terrific Ethiopian food, superb ambience, super friendly hostess They've nailed the lentil that I had with the injera and this was the first time I had seafood as one of the side dishes for the injera and it didn't disappoint The beer flight was great but the chocolate mousse they make in-house stole the show

A Teff Act to Follow Ethiopian cuisine is underappreciated and hard to find here in the South Bay. However, with that said, despite the small pool of options, we can undeniably say that we have quite the quality selection with not one, not two--but three, Michelin Guide recognized "excellent" Ethiopian restaurants. With the West Side's Zeni and Walia being the old hands in the Ethiopian game, the North Side's LeYou joined them earlier this year in being recognized by Michelin as a "new discovery" with their unique take on this age-old cuisine. The Good: *LeYou features a modern, chic décor with chandeliers, wood accents, and brilliant Ethiopian folk art paintings adorning the walls. *As with all Ethiopian spots, the vegetarian/vegan options are plentiful with lentils, chickpeas, eggplant, and collard greens. *Good spot for pescatarians, as well, as there's fish substitutes for almost all their normally beef/lamb sauce options. *They also have local beer from Hapa's Brewing Co., wine, and Ethiopian honey wine to help round out the menu. *Dog-friendly outdoor patio *Order and pay via a QR code at the table *Friendly service *Generous with the Injera, but feel free to order extra to take home for a nominal $3/extra. *For the carnivores, I highly recommend getting a sampler plate to do a deep-dive into their unique offerings. The Meh: *On our last visit, the patio/oitdoor space wasn't available. I'm not sure if they were short-staffed or what, but if that's important to you, then I'd recommend calling ahead. The Ugly: *Very small parking lot that's shared with a handful of other businesses, so parking could be at a premium depending on when you visit. There's no parking on N 1st St, but there is on N 2nd St (directly behind them), but you'll have to get some steps in and walk around the block. TLDR: Fantastic Ethiopian food in a beautifully decorated restaurant with excellent service. If you like Indian food, then you'll love Ethiopian.

LeYou has been on my list of restaurants to try in the area. I went there for lunch on a weekday (note: only certain days are open for lunch). Upon entering, I was surprised it was not very busy. The ambiance is very welcoming and clean with eye catching cultural artwork throughout. Service was friendly and pleasant. The platter we ordered along with the injera flatbread was tasty and satisfying. After reflection of this meal, it was okay. I really thought for the amount paid, the portions were not very generous and not spectacular. I have had Ethiopian food in distant past. I think maybe dinner served maybe more impressive and generous compared to lunch. I will try again for dinner in future plans. The tea was good! Parking was not an issue for this visit. Decent parking lot shared with few other businesses.

I'm always craving Ethiopian food, but it's hard to find friends who enjoy eating it and also difficult to find any Ethiopian restaurants along the peninsula! Luckily my foodie friend Diana C. was excited to join me last Thursday (10/26/23) for lunch! We came right when they opened at 11:30am! We were seated inside and scanned the QR code on the table for the menu. Rang the little call button when we were ready to order! Everything looked delicious! It made it hard to decide what to order! Our server, Aida, was very helpful and answered al of our questions! We finally decided! We ordered: - Two meat combo (Sega beef keywot & Doro chicken alicha) $21.95 - Lamb tibs $21.95 - Veggie sampler (Gomen, okra, miser keywot, kik alicha) $21.95 It was a lot of food for 2 people! Probably 2 meats & 4 veggies would've been just enough! We didn't really need that extra meat dish! haha Everything was delicious and well presented! The beef was slightly dry, but it was fine when combined with the veggies! The food did take a bit of time to prepare, but it was fine since my friend and I had a lot of catching up to do! Can't wait to come back to try more Ethiopian food! Thank LeYou for a very delicious and food coma induced lunch! haha Parking is very easy since there's a small private lot! And be sure to check-in and get a free tea!

Overall pretty good Ethiopian food with nice dessert menu. We tried Sambusa, Stuffed Jalapeño, Doro (chicken), Beg (Lamb). The restaurant seating is very weird, sometimes they have a long table that you have to share with another party. Not a dealbreaker but odd. The food took a long time to arrive. Everything was good but the portions were small. We have had bigger portions elsewhere. Sambusa was spicy, may not be good for kids. Our kids loved the Caramel Flan. We may visit again, just for the desserts.

3 star bc the food was 4 star while the service was 2. There was 1 server for the whole place. She did her best given the situation and we had a party of 10+. The owner should try to get more help bc the slowness of the service doesn't deserve a michelin recognition.

A couple of weeks ago, we decided to be spontaneous and explore cuisines we don't typically indulge in, such as tacos, steak, or sushi. Although I had previously savored Ethiopian food in Little Ethiopia in LA, I hadn't sampled it here in the Bay Area. We discovered LeYou, while browsing Yelp. Upon our arrival, we were warmly welcomed by an attentive and amiable server. She recommended an array of different dishes, and we happily agreed to try them all, resulting in a delicious feast. We also ventured to taste some Ethiopian-inspired beer, even though it didn't align with our preferences, which is likely a matter of personal taste. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our meal and service, and left satiated. This experience was particularly memorable as it was a spontaneous act, not a planned date. We went with the flow, remained open-minded, and it turned out wonderfully. We especially enjoyed the unique experience of eating with our fingers, a departure from the traditional Western style of dining. Parking was hassle-free, thanks to a spacious lot right in front. Moreover, the affordability of the meal, considering the generous portions, was a pleasant surprise.

This is my first time trying out Ethiopian cuisine. The whole place is a vibe! There are a bunch of murals on the walls, which got my attention as it is beautiful and appealing. The staff, especially our server (I should've asked for her name), is very friendly and welcoming. They are patient and attentive, making it such an enjoyable experience. We ordered 1 Alicha (Sega [Beef] w/ Cabbage, Carrots, and Potatoes), Kitfo bites w/ Ahi Tuna, 1 Tibs w/ Sega, and 2 meat stews (Doro [Chicken] - Keywot & Asa [Fish] - Alicha). The food is extremely tasty and delightful. It had lots of flavor and spices, which I loved the most about it. Our server also checked up on us and made sure that everything is going well, which is why I gave this place a full 5 stars along with the food. If this is your first time trying out Ethiopian food, I would recommend coming here because they will never disappoint! I will definitely be coming back here and I also want to give a huge thanks to our server for an outstanding experience!

This modern Ethiopian restaurant in a San Jose strip mall rivals some of the best Ethiopian food in the South Bay (and I've been to a lot of them). The highlight for me was that I actually enjoyed the meat entrees; usually, I find the meat less pleasant and coated with sauce to mask the quality. Here, the meat had a healthy flavor. But the stunner - the Ethiopian-style tuna tartar - an original, creative, and flawless dish. It was like a handroll from a good Japanese place, but with a unique new flavor. Service was incredible. We went during the Super Bowl so we were the only patrons, and service was attentive without being intrusive. I'd go back for the tuna...

My favorite restaurant in San Jose. The food is fresh and delicious. The stuffed jalapeños are not super spicy; they are bright and crisp. The shrimp and white fish are deeply flavored and the injera is chewy and firm. I appreciate the parking lot and easy access from the freeway.

If you've never had Ethiopian food, you have to add it to your must try list. It's also very fun to eat with your hands. There's so much spice and flavor to each dish, it's hard to not eat one thing when you're here. Our group opted for the meat and vegetable combination which is about $21 each. Not too bad as you can choose two meat dishes and three vegetables. I absolutely love the spice lentils. It's probably one of my favorite. We also did the white fish and it was really good. I thought the sauce for our chicken was amazing and by the end of the meal I wanted this sauce to go on other proteins and chicken. You really can't go wrong with what you choose here but if you're not sure ask for some recommendations from the staff. The one thing I like with Ethiopian places is their set up for washing your hands. It's always so clean and pretty. This place wasn't crowded at all on a Thursday evening but they do take reservations if you'd like to call ahead. For some reason the website listed on Yelp does not work so I wouldn't count on it. They're super friendly so give them a call to reserve.

After passing by this place many times, I finally decided to have lunch there. I don't regret my decision. The staff is friendly, and the space is spacious, clean, and well-lit (they also have a patio area). Since it was my first time, I decided to have the "Four vegetarian samplers." I choose Kay Sir (beets, red onions, jalapeños & peas, tossed with lemon vinaigrette), Kik (split pea stew), Miser (lent stew), and Shito (toasted chickpea simmered with basil and jalapeños). The flavors and textures were so varied and delicious that I didn't even feel the need for any extra spiciness or salsa on the side. I was so focused on savoring every bite that I almost forgot to take pictures. Give this place a chance; you won't regret it.

First the good things dessert was super nice tiramisu, flan were really good. Fish appetizer was also pretty good sambusa alright.. but we are not a fan of the food, we felt there was no flavor to the dishes. They were pretty bland and portions small. The Tritip was decent though. Service was good, ambiance also pretty decent.

Came by for lunch the other day and it was a unique experience. LeYou has been recently added to the Michelin guide. Parking is available in the private lot and/or on the street. Dining was available in the outdoor patio only during my visit and it appeared that the dining room was closed. It does get breezy in the patio so it's best to bring a light jacket. There are numerous trees which makes it tricky to eat around tree droppings. Ordering is done via a QR code and staff was on hand to provide guidance and check up throughout the meal. Started off with the sambusa and they were excellent. Flavor profile as many have noted is excellent. It was a bummer that both the beef and chicken sambusas were out the day of my visit. The sambusa was like an Ethiopian version of an egg roll with a crispy skin and contents on the inside. For the entree, opted to share the sega tibs and Ahi Tuna Asa Kitfo + Gomen/Collard green. The proteins came over a bed of starch and also included a side of start that was light and fluffy as well as slightly fermented for a slightly sour taste. As my second time having Ethiopian food, this was a unique opportunity. The tri tip was flavorful and cooked to perfect and the ahi tuna was nicely chopped up and flavorful too. Two entrees and an appetizer was plenty for a party of two for lunch as we had plenty of leftovers. ~$32/head after tax and gratuity for lunch.

I'm on a mission to find some of the best Michelin star food in the bay area . my friend and I stopped here to try some Ethiopian food. Neither one of us had had Ethiopian food before so the experience itself was novel. Food I highly recommend the sambusa (rolled pastries) , the non spicy doro and zucchini Service : top tier they had a button place to every table for when you needed assistance Ambiance : Unique

My partner and I came here on a Sunday around lunch hour. The restaurant was surprisingly quiet; maybe because most of the customers come from businesses in the area. Let me start by stating what an amazingly lovely patio area LeYou has. As a forewarning, I have only tried Ethiopian food a few times in my life and had not eaten the cuisine in years; so may not know what good versus great Ethiopian food tastes like. With that said, I enjoyed the food at LeYou very much! We started with the Kategna which was a baked injera with spices. It was served with a sour cream mixture; which was nice way to cut into the spices. I loved the spices and the crunchiness in every bite. My weak stomach couldn't handle all of the spices, but I would definitely eat it again. From my understanding, injera is a staple food. It is a delicious flat bread that has a texture similar to a slightly chewy pancake. Injera is used by your hands to pick up other foods like curries. I could eat injera on a regular basis! It went really well with our other dish. For the main course, we ordered the combo two meat stew: chicken (keywot, spicy), and beef (alicha, non/spicy). I personally preferred the spicy keywot; it went really well with the chicken, which was super tender! The beef was not bad too; it was just over-shadowed by the chicken.

Food 6/10 Portions were pretty small. Food was also cold but idk if that is how it is supposed to be. Service 7/10 Since Ethiopian cuisine is pretty new and unknown to most Americans, I figured we'd get more help in understanding the menu and food options. Otherwise service was good and standard. Hygiene 7/10 Pretty standard but we ate outside where there were some flies. Ambiance 9/10 Cool outdoor environment to eat and drink with lights and mural on the wall. Overall recommend trying it out if you've never had Ethiopian.

Visit this nearby place after it is added to Michelin recommendation list. The place is packed on Friday dinner and the wait for the food can be long. The indoor space can be pretty crowded. The food has lots of spice in it but the flavor profile can be lacking sometimes.

We came here on a Friday around 7pm with no reservation. They only let walk-in customers sit in the back patio, so make sure you bring a jacket. We ordered and paid through scanning a QR code on the table, and each table already had a bottle of water on it, so we didn't get much interaction with the waitress. I'm taking off a star based off that experience. Food is definitely solid! We tried the cabbage, collard green and the Ada (fish) tibs. Family style means each dishes in individual plates and sharing means everything on a large plate. I liked how the dishes were well-seasoned but not heavy. The injera was fresh. Definitely a great spot for a lowkey but nice casual dinner.

I don't know much about Michelin star restaurants, nor Ethiopian food, but this place was delicious! Definitely recommend getting the meat and veggie platters. I forgot which sides I chose, but I just asked the waitress for her recommendations. The ambiance is great here and lots of cultural decorations. Don't forget to check into Yelp for your free Ethiopian tea

- wanted to come here after hearing they were on the 2023 Michelin Guide + there's not much Ethiopian food in the Bay! - plenty of indoor and ourdoor seating. we opted for outdoor, and had to walk outside around the building. it was cute, but there were quite a bit of gnats/flys unfortunately, so i would recommend sitting inside - there wasn't much explanation of the menu, but i had done my research beforehand to figure out what everything was - i wanted to get the most variety, so we opted for the 2 meat combo (key wot w drumstick, alicha w beef) and 4 veggie combo. everything was pretty good, though the beef was dry and some of the choices tasted similar. - the injera was HUGE, it took up nearly the entire table (2 seater) photos do not do it justice! there was also some extra injera on the side. - we were pretty stuffed by the end of the meal, so this could definitely feed 3-4 people! overall a solid place for ethiopian food! -

Great food! Loved the beef stew. Salad dressing was herbal-y lavender. Spiced tea is heavily cinnamon flavored. Loved the okra

Tried LeYou for the first time, very happily surprised. I've never had Butcha before, mashed chickpeas served cold, and they're delightful. Everything had excellent flavor and presentation, service was terrific. Next time I'm definitely trying the shrimp!

One of my all time favorite Ethiopian spots in the bay area. I've been here on multiple occasions with friends and family and have loved their food. I don't have a personal recommendation on the menu because everything I've tried has been vegetarian friendly and super delicious. Parking can be a bit of a problem sometimes especially on the weekends. With regards to seating, they have ample seating indoors for small and large groups along with patio seating as well during the summers. While our servers have been super friendly and courteous, they do have a rule in place that requires each group to order at least one entree per group member and not share entrees across the group

I caught wind that this was added to the Michelin guide and I had to try it out. I made a reservation the same day on a Sunday night incase they were busy but we went an hour early. It seemed like they only had outdoor seating for walk-in customers which we were okay with at first but it got quite chilly and none of their heat lamps worked. Thankfully, the workers were kind enough to let us move to the table we originally reserved when it was closer to the time. Tuna kit to bites- 5* this was so amazing, super refreshing and spicy and fresh. The injera chips were fun, some could have been more crispy but it was all incredible Lamb tibs - 4.5* super flavorful and lots of fragrant rosemary. A few of the smaller pieces were a bit tough but mostly were juicy. Vegetables- 3* we ordered the collard greens and atakilt. I definitely preferred the cabbage over the collard greens but I didn't feel like the flavors stood out in particular for these and the collard greens were a bit bland to me. Fish Alicha- 5* I loved this one, this was buttery slight sweet and the fish was perfectly tender. This was one of our selections and I wish we just opted for a full order of this instead Beef Keywot- 4* this was pretty good but it was not my favorite out of the dishes. I was also a bit disappointed as it was not as spicy as I expected. (We were told the keywot is spicy and Alicha is mild) Ethiopian honey wine- 3.5* a very sweet wine, nice for the cultural experience

A vegetarians dream. Leyou's vegetarian dishes have a very distinct aromatic burst of flavor. Every Ethiopian restaurant has a base seasoning that represents the vibrant cultural so well. However, at Leyou the earthy, spicy, tart, sour, and pungent flavors really marry together effortlessly and leave a lasting impression on your tongue/heart/senses. Even more than the amazing flavors, there is something to be said about the beautiful, friendly, and dedicated owner. I automatically got a sense of hospitality and warmth talking to her. Its evident that she is dedicated to Leyou. From the the effort that's put into the outdoor patio to the unique dishes, there is an abundance of devotion all around.

Spur of the moment trip to San Jose had me going over Michelin guide for restaurants to try. Found LeYou listed under Bib Gourmand so I had to try it. I have tried Ethiopian food in Los Angeles but I cannot really remember how they tasted. I just remember having them in a big platter and that we ate with our hands.so, had to revisit this cuisine. We were greeted by a lady that actually happens to be the owner. She personally seated us. The restaurant only has a few tables, small but cozy. Kinda gives you a lanai feel with the colorful prints on the walls and some indoor plants. I liked the table cloth with, I assume, I also liked that they have sanitizers on them each table. The owner herself handed us our menu and helped us with several recommendations based on our preferences. We wanted to try the beef sambusa but they have ran out of it. We settled for chicken but that was actually good. It kinda is similar to the Indian Samosa. A little warning, though, it is a little spicy. We are not black tea drinkers but we had to try their Ethiopian spiced tea. It has cardamom and I actually loved it. Then.came our main dishes. It was served in a big platter, with our choices on top of the bread, Injera. The Tibs-shrimp was good. We had the spice toned down a little as somebody in our party cannot handle spicy food. I'm sure it would have been more tasty with its original spices. I really loved the sautéed okra and the Alicha-white fish. The fish especially was cooked just right and was flavorful! We had such a wonderful time enjoying every bite. Will definitely be back when in the area.

I really love the injera here! It is very thin, spongey, and tangy. The staff here are kind and respectful, but the food did take a little while to come out. I definitely recommend the Tuna Kitfo Bites. It is spicy and flavorful. It resembles a poke nachos. The injera chips are SO GOOD. Thin, slightly crispy, and still has that delicious fermented flavor. The vegetarian combo is decent! I appreciate that you can pick which 4 dishes you want. The Alicha was my favorite! Paired perfectly with the injera. The Miser and Shiro were pretty spicy, but they had good texture.

Nice food (Just like indian but not too spicy) .They use a lot of interesting spices which is actually good taste wise and health wise . Nice staff. Overall nice place to eat .

Food was really tasty! Best tasting injera I've had for sure. Service was really nice and attentive and food came out fast.

What an amazing find!!! Been looking for a great Ethiopian place with good food, ambience (and their incredible tea:) and LeYou checked all those boxes. Just loved this place. Their veggie combo was beyond great with their shurowat taking top honors. For a party of 4 your need about 3-4 entries OR 2 veggie sampler plates and 1 entre (We did the stew with shiro wat, and 2 veg samplers) Can't wait to go again!

I was really excited to try this place since I haven't had Ethiopian food for a while. We were a group of six there, and it took us a while to order since no one came around. The food came out in good presentation, a big place with different foods to try and a basket of the bread. The bread was a bit too sour for us. The patio was pretty, but also cold, even with the heater on. The thing that I was disappointed most was that a friend had really bad allergies after dinner, he's allergic to nuts, and we asked the staff if there's nuts in our dish, but she told us no.

I like Ethiopian food and LeYou Ethiopian does a great job. The quantity is huge and they have outdoor patio seating. I loved the whole vibe of the place. Definitely going back to try some more things on the menu.

Decor: Lovely paintings, decent interior and clean bathrooms. Food: Everything was delicious. I loved the appetizers. They have good options for vegetarians. Service: The hostess was very sweet but service was a bit slow because only one person was handling all the orders, drinks etc. One thing that I found strange is that we ordered extra injera and the hostess told us that we could order only 2 injeras. That's strange because if I'm ready to pay extra, why limit the number of injeras? I was not happy with that. I will go there again because the food was good and I like to support family owned businesses.

This was my first time eating Ethiopian food and it was incredible!! We started with the honey wine; it was very sweet but still crisp and refreshing. I had the eggplant appetizer which was smoky and zesty. For dinner, I ate the chickpea stew and the flavors were so rich. It was filling and warmed me right up from the rain. The inside of the restaurant was very cute with rustic decorations and fairy lights. The service was ok, but it was a little difficult to get prompt response with the server button.

Recently added to the Michelin Guide, it was a coincidence we were in the area and had planned to eat here weeks ago. I can see why it was featured, as this was the best Ethiopian food I've had (I've had it 5-6 times, always enjoyed it, but this place was particularly good). We ordered: Meat combo ($18)- we chose the Key Wot Beef, and Alicha Wot Beef. They were both excellent, but the star was the Alicha Wot. Its more mild, but has a subtle sweet flavor from the caramelized onions. Definitely get it. I noticed the beef was very tender, which was great because sometimes I find meat at Ethiopian restaurants to be on the chewy side. You could tell it was stewed slowly. Veggie Combo ($17)- we got the chickpeas, collard greens, lentils, and...something I can't remember. All the items were tasty. My girlfriend liked the collard greens the most. It came with a stack of fresh injera bread (about 10) and a nice salad. I loved the bread, was really moist and it seemed slightly less sour than other places. I liked how they separated the portions into different bowls, rather than putting it all together on the injera bread like other places do. Portion sizes were good, we had plenty of leftovers for home. Plenty of parking. Seating was outside patio only, and it was nicely decorated with hanging lights, murals, etc. Service was excellent, we were there for lunch on Thursday and there were only 2-3 other tables, so not crowded at all. Highest recommendation!

From the food to the ambience, LeYou does not disappoint! My kids love Ethiopian food and we usually go to their former favorite on the other side of town. We decided to try LeYou given their recent Michelin star achievement as well as the closer proximity to home. We ordered a bit of everything and even added more dishes to the tab once we determined our favorites! Our servers were great and the owner even came to our table to check on us. We sat outside in their very cute courtyard dining area but I'll sit inside next time to enjoy the very cool ambience vibing inside this spot!

My friends and I came here because we heard it was on the Michelin guide. When we went, only the patio was open so had to go to the far right where it was outdoor seating. There were murals of the outdoors so that was a nice touch. So you sit down and scan the code to order. Use the yelp check in and tell the server before you place a tea into the app. When I went I showed it after and they told me to do it before next time to avoid manual work on their side. We had two lates and one tea. My friends and I did a 2 eat combination (Sega Alicha and Asa), a 4 vegetarian sampler plate (Atakilt/Cabbage,Kay Sir/Beets, Miser/Lentils, Bolok'ey/Tofu), tibs, and the Asa Kifto Bites. Everything was delicious Total for 4 people was around $110 after tax and tip. The only sad thing I would point out is that they charge for extra injera and you have to order the salad. My other Eritrean friends and I go to some other places that have never done that and there isn't an option to add on after you've already placed the order so you have to ask the server to manually do it on their end. I personally think that could be improved because logistically that gets hard, especially when it gets busy making it hard to track a server down.

Food was good. Not outstanding. The ambiance is nice but that's probably the best thing about this place. My sisters and I took our dad out for Father's Day. Maybe there were a lot of people who were sitting on the patio but we had trouble getting service from the staff. We had to ask for water twice, after realizing the button on our table (that they told us to ring) didn't work. We also checked in on Yelp to get the free tea or coffee but it was charged in full . The waitress said she never saw that yelp thing before so don't bother using it. As for the food, the chicken, fish, chickpeas were good. The injera was light and fluffy- less vinegary than other places. Feel free to try this place, and maybe the service was just bad for us today.. or try the other Ethiopian restaurants nearby which have great service and food. Depends what you care about.

The place is located in a strip mall next to Bail and bond. It looks pretty festive with string light on. When you enter the restaurant it was unexpectedly nice. The ambiance is warm and inviting. The servers are nice and friendly. Menu is a bit confusing so we just asked the waitress to give us suggestion. We ordered 4 kind of veggies, 3 kinds of proteins, an appetizer that resembles more refined poke (Kitfo). The food is great. All come in one gigantic plate. Bread is made of Teff flour so it's gluten free. A little understaffed. Need to keep asking for water.