Little Africa Cuisine

I’ve enjoyed this place every time I’ve visited. The first thing they always bring out is bowls of water to wash your hands before eating, as this is very much finger food! I always bring a friend and always get the group platter. 🤤 All of the salads are delicious, and I LOVE the injera bread. Teff bread is also available for an up charge. I always get the hot tea- it’s spiced and sweet- super delicious and I’ve never had anything like it before. It is lightly caffeinated, in case you’re trying to stay away from that. The decorations are very much Ethiopian, and there’s a tea service set up in the far corner of the restaurant, although I’ve never actually seen it used, so it might just be for display, but it really adds to the authentic African experience. The staff is always so kind and nice. The booths are comfortable. I’ve never had to wait any time I’ve visited, but it’s also never been empty. Make sure to bring cash, as they do not take cc’s 😉.

Without a doubt, some of the best ethiopian food I have ever had. The tea was delicious and sweet. The tomato soup was spicy and comforting. I shared a combo platter with my partner, and everything was a 10/10. The injera is more crepe like then what I've had in the past, and I really enjoyed it. Didn't get a photo of the food, but I just loved the orange and yellow Hughes of their glassware.

Great delicious authentic food! It felt like you were eating a meal at someone’s house. Little hidden dive close to down town. Very kind sweet woman who ran the restaurant. We went with our kids and friends. Other families were there too. Highly recommend for an authentic. Ethiopian experience. Thanks for a great lunch!

When they say its mild spiciness levels it is NOT mild! Otherwise pretty good, I’m quite picky so I disliked most of the dips, bit the injera was amazing! All the food is vegan and the injera (similar to a sour crepe) was soo stretchy, after a lifetime of dealing with non-stretch tortillas it was so fascinating finding stretchy bread!

I was recommended this place by my fitness trainer, and I'm glad that he did. The food was great, and I'm in love with season tea. Will go back

Delicious and amazing vegan food just off Wealthy street! We ordered the vegan platter and were so happy to feed the two of us lots of yummy hot stews and delicious injera. We loved the water bowls for dipping our hands-- such a fun place to eat!

ALL VEGAN!! CASH ONLY. We got the spicy tomato soup and one person platter (4 choices). The food was good. I’m glad we got takeout because the soup was a little too chunky for my liking so I put it in a blender.

A small joint, but the flavor is massive. Got the group platter and tried everything--wanted more of everything by the time I was done! The staff are sweet, and the prices are entirely agreeable. Oh, and get the tea--just trust me on that.

Updating my review to note that as of October 2024, you can use a credit card to pay at Little Africa! This is really convenient and I hope it gets them more business. I met with three friends for dinner recently and we got the group platter for 4. It comes with all of the different dishes, including lentils, soy curry, greens, salad, and even two seasonal dishes - one with beets and one with squash. We all agreed that the squash was one of our favorites! I also got the Ethiopian tea, which is a warm fruity spiced tea that is perfect for fall. The ambience is homey, and service can be a bit slow as it is usually just the owner working and maybe one other person. That said, it's a wonderful spot and I always love the food, which is all vegetarian and vegan friendly. I'm not vegan but I'm always satisfied and I love the variety. I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Little Africa! (Sidenote, I would still recommend calling ahead to confirm they're open.)

Cute little restaurant with about 10 tables. Cash only. Tea is sweet and delicious.. a fall drink for sure. The guy working was super nice, somehow handing the front and the back of the house at once.

My favorite restaurant in GR. Hands down. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and dairy free, super affordable, and packed with delicious flavor you can't find anywhere else. I've taken my whole family here on multiple occasions, and ask friends to meet me here whenever I'm in town. Even the carnivores are excited to come back! The folks who work here are lovely, and the cozy ambiance matches the food perfectly. I'd give 10 stars if I could! P.S. Don't skip the tea! It's sweet and soothing.

Yaaaaaaaas. I'm so glad Little Africa exists in GR and serves up excellent Ethiopian food. I happily shared a platter with friends and would happily share one again. It's the best way to try all the things! Also, the tea is *incredible* and cannot be passed up. I was so impressed that I ended up buying a bag of loose tea (Iwas informed it was a different blend, but it was still worth $15).

It's smaller inside, 8 tables, 7 of them are booths. Non-descript exterior. Odd to hear country station playing in the background. Very odd. The waiter came or our table with a tray with two glasses of water, he didn't put them on our table and waited for us to grab them ourselves. He asked if we wanted something to drink. I asked ro confirm the deluxe combo platter is the group platter with added soup and a drink. He replied yes. I asked the female staff member to make sure they accept credit cards, since we heard and saw several customers pay with cash. We ordered the deluxe combo platter with lentil soup and seasoned tea for me and a seasoned tea for my husband and a spicy tomato soup for him. We ended up ordering a one person combo with 4 items: Mesir, Shiro, Azifa and Soy Curry. It comes with more injera. The first deluxe platter was not enough food. The one person combo portion was almost double the portions of the deluxe combo platter. The seasoned tea is intensely sweet, not for me. Have a whole pot even. I will stick to water then. I asked if I could get an unsweetened seasoned tea. The unsweetened is leas sweet, but still not so good either. The spicy tomato has a nice kick to it, it's good. It's more flavorful than the lentil soup. The lentil soup is super green, has a couple of bay leaves in it. The taste is distinct, takes some getting used to, but it's okay. Miso bowls of warm water to wash your hands before the meal comes out. 5 pieces of a quarter of an injera. The entree portions are super small here, half of what we get back at home even and for two people too. Don't come here hungry and of course there is no refills at all. $18.50 per person for a platter of what looks like would be enough for one person, not two people. Seems crazy that each item costs $8 a piece. The injera is good, nice and spongey and slightly sour too. Some parts of it is a bit crusty, but still good. The Mesir, Shiro, Azifa and the soy curry were decent, a double portion would have made more sense for the two of us. The rest were so-so and not so notable. We are both finally full after a deluxe combo platter and one person combo platter. Food wasn't too bad, would stick to the 4 items for a repeat. Service was okay, the woman was much warmer and friendlier to us. Get the spicy tomato, it's flavored packed and worth the try. Skip the seasoned tea. I would probably give it 3.5 stars, not quite a 4 since the portions are super small and I wasn't a fan of the lentil soup, seasoned tea and only 4 of the dishes was notable.

I am so happy we came here! This experience has been nothing short of incredible! I feel honored to have shared not only in this cuisine but that this person is sharing their culture! I am so grateful! As for the food... they have a gluten free option for the bread!! I am so over the moon about this!! I had every intention of putting up and shutting up so I could just enjoy experience so when I opened the menu and saw gluten free I was so excited!! We ordered the dish for two with a portion of all entrees. The food was flavorful and rich! The spices were on point for each but didn't overshadow the star of each. The dominant flavor was always the main ingredient and the spices complemented each one. Some were cooling and some warm and spicy. Come with your senses prepared because you're going to want to enjoy this full experience! Including eating with your hands! The bread is your utensil my friends just enjoy it! Food freshness and quality gains 5 stars! Ambiance gains 5 stars since I'm pretty sure I walked into a little Ethiopian street cafe straight off the streets of Grand Rapids, Michigan! It was warm, cozy, and intentional. Service gains 5 stars! There is no wait to be seated sign so I took the cue and took a seat. I made eye contact with the only person in the kitchen and gave her a smile and a nod. She came out with water and menus within a few minutes. After this we placed our order and enjoyed some thick rich black coffee reminiscent of a cafe in Paris. She then went to preparing our food. She was so sweet and kind. Cleanliness gains 3 stars. The tables are clean but there is some definite room for improvement in the dining area. It felt a bit dark and dusty. This brings the overall rating to 4.6 which means 5 stars!! I'm leaving full and blessed!! I can't wait to share this experience with friends!!

I took a break from Ubering, and I always wanted to try this place. The restaurant could very easily be missed. It's a small, unobtrusive storefront in an older section of town. It is very informal. As soon as you walk in you are able to smell all of the Ethiopian spices. There is steam coming from the kitchen so much that it steamed up the windows. You walk up to the counter and get your menu. You can either order at the counter or sit and order. Strict carnivores beware. There is absolutely NO meat on the menu, but once I started eating I didn't miss it. I had the Ethiopian lentil soup, a beet dish called Key Sir, and the spongy bread known as injera. The lentil soup was comforting but not hardly spiced. This was probably to balance out the spicy mess of the key sir, which was spicy enough that I had to take water breaks. The injera had a light, fluffy, slightly sour taste. The meal is designed to eat with your fingers by tearing off some of the injera and using it to pinch some food from the plate to place in your mouth. A bowl of warm water and a handful of napkins is also brought out to the table so your fingers can be cleansed. In all, it felt like I was at an Ethiopian home partaking in family dinner. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants to go on a "foodcation" and not live in Grand Rapids. This restaurant is cash only.

The food was good but I felt like it was not as big as we usually get in other Ethiopian restaurants..the cleanliness was deplorable. The service was okay, they serve you the food and that's about it.

Great place, great food, great people. The sample/combo platter is always a favorite.

A great find. I'm in Grand Rapids for the day and so glad that I found this place. I'm a fan of vegan Ethiopian and Little Africa is perfect. It is a small restaurant with only a handful of tables. It was empty when I arrived but filled up quickly. The owner was the only one there but was able to handle the tables well. I had the 4 item combo with the Goman, Shiro, Mesir and Soy Curry. I also added Duba for a small upcharge. All the food had great flavor and tasted homemade. My two favorites were the soy curry that had a great spice and the Duba was sweet and tasty.

Best 100% vegan restaurant in Grand Rapids. I love being able to just walk in, try something new from the menu, and feel confident it will be delicious and vegan!

What a neat little gem of healthy food. The food is tasty and healthy and the teff based flatbread is gluten free. The sweet tea is tasty and the food filling. I'd definitely recommend this place and hope people will support this small business. And Vegan to boot for those of you who find it hard to find vegan options.

We really enjoyed our experience at Little Africa. Excellent food and I think there was only one person serving, cooking, etc. We were surprised that it is a cash-only establishment... but there is an ATM across the street. Love the atmospheric here and location.

Amazing food! Pro tip, cash or check only. Also, call to make sure they are open before going. Very friendly service. Gluten Free injera available with extra cost. All around I thought the prices were very reasonable. Vegan options available. BYOB. Can not wait to go back.

Amazing food! We have been going there for years and have always had good service. Two of my favorites are the Soy Curry and Ethiopian Salad but there are sample platters to try everything. It's a small casual place yet comfy. It's also cash only and there is a store on the corner with an ATM if needed.

Friendly owner who was very welcoming when we walked in. He let us pick a table and quickly brought us menus and water. We instantly knew we wanted the combo for 2 and he brought it within 10 minutes. The flavors taste just like every Ethiopian place I've ever visited and the injera was fantastic. The cabbage was by far my favorite, which tends to be the case whenever I find an Ethiopian restaurant. He only accepts cash and the menu doesn't have meat, which is a down side. Overall, it's very similar to other Ethiopian options without the meat. The service is friendly but they never want to intrude on your meal. When you're finished, head to the counter to pay.

What a delightful surprise. Just down from a boutique toy store and walking distance to ice cream for dessert, Sits Little Africa, a little rundown, but oh so relaxing, yummy and healthful. We trend towards vegan, and there were abundant options. We had the sampler plate for three people - all vegan - and had leftovers to take home. Our only regret is that we don't live closer.

I love the food here! It's so flavorful and plentiful. We got the tasting platter and it was enough for two. The injera is wonderful. I love that it's vegetarian but you don't miss the meat at all! You eat with your hands which you wash in the bowl of water provided. The service is kind and helpful. I like the cozy atmosphere of the place.

There are no words. One of the best meals I have ever had. The tea....so delicious. I will definitely be returning

I really wish I could rate the customer service at a 2 star but since I know the person running it is literally doing it all I have to be compassionate and understanding. The food makes it up. The tea? Amazing. I used to have some Ethiopian students and they would bring me their mom's home cooked meals and compared to Little Africa I could tell you that there is ZERO DIFFERENCE. The food is amazing. I got it all. Lol great amazing food. The location is old and the hours are iffy but PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE check it out.

The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. I highly recommend this charming place. The spicy tomato soup was fantastic and I would definitely go back!

Very easy to miss but this would be a huge mistake. Was very nervous going into it because I had never had Ethiopian food, I was amazed by the food, atmosphere and service. 10/10 would recommend to anyone looking for something new to try!!!

First time here, had the combo platter. Food was delicious! I am not a tea drinker, but I absolutely fell in love with the spiced tea. They now accept credit cards as well!

Jeff from Sacred Springs highly suggested we give this place a shot and boy are we glad that we did! The place is very humbling and run by one woman (or least there was only one woman running the show when we were there). It's a vegan friendly spot and they offered gluten free bread. If you have a party greater than 1, go for the platter. Everything was absolutely delicious! My fav was the beet dish. Hoping to make another visit soon!

As a fan of Ethiopian cuisine, Ive enjoyed my share of injere and mesir wat, and other favorites in Africa & across the states. Little Africa gives the one in search for Ethiopian fare, a "little" taste of it. The hospitality and relaxed nature of the owner welcomes you into the establishment as if you were welcomes you in a guest in his living room. The classic Ethiopian spiced tea (pre-sweetened) was aromatic and flavorful. The coffee was the classic Ethiopian blend, robust and rich. Our group of 5 ordered the deluxe platter to share. It comes withh drinks, and soups. The lentil soup was mild ann's subtle in its flavor and texture. A sharp contrast to the spicy tomato soup which had a kick too strong for two of our guests. We were glad for the soup because there was a long delay before the entree came out (we came in early so the customers after us had less of a wait). There was the usual, colorful array of lentils, beets, carrots & cabbages, etc, all on a bed on injere to share with your friends family style- the only way to truly eat Ethiopian. The dishes though were just okay in the spectrum of Ethiopian food I've had the opportunity to try. There was a tangy-ness that was a bit off. The portions were generous and to the novice, it's a solid Ethiopian spot. Get the teas, coffees and lentil soup, they were the stars.

First time trying African cuisine and was not disappointed! Had the tea and platter. It was all so good and flavorful. Happy to have so many vegan options. I'll definitely be back! They are cash only so keep that in mind.

What a fantastic little spot! A wonderful and kind man, who was dancing in the kitchen, served us up some delicious food on perfect sponge bread! And the juices are divine. We'll be back!

I'd say this place made for a great first time trying Ethiopian! I ordered the sample platter, which I thought was a great deal. It's a sample of if not all, most of the entrees on the menu. My one complaint was that they ONLY take cash and checks, so I had to go to the ATM across the street in the party store to pay. Thankfully that ATM existed because I didn't have enough cash on me to pay!

Probably my favorite restaurant in the state. We come here whenever we're in GR, and sometimes drive up from Kalamazoo even if we're not. The quality and service has been consistently excellent since we first moved to the west side of the state 23 years ago. And since adopting a plant based diet, we cherish Lou's excellence, even more.

I did carry out one day. and it was near closing time. The food they gave me was rancid. I've had Ethopian food for over 30 years... this was definitely spoiled food he gave me. It's smelled so bad when I open it up. I had to throw the whole thing away!! They simply packed me up their spoiled food and sold it. Terrible place. Not a nice person that serves their spoiled food to customers.

Oh my word. So so freaking good. Found this little gem on yelp and decided to try it. So glad we did. We ordered the group platter with soup and drink so we got to try a little of everything. Highly recommend this if you're new to this type of food. They only take cash to be prepared! Highly recommend this place. We'll be back for sure.

An unassuming storefront, but don't be fooled, the food here is phenomenal. Relaxed atmosphere and excellent service from Lou. I'm still dreaming about the mango juice and combo platter. Just really solid fresh, nourishing, delicious vegetarian food. I don't know what else to say other than that. It is cash/check only, so make sure you come prepared. Don't miss out on checking this place out!!

The most cozy, authentic-feeling atmosphere. Exactly what you look for in a hole in the wall experience - feel transported to another place. There was one woman there doing all the serving and cooking when we were there mid-afternoon and it was great food - delicious anytime but especially comforting on a cold day. We got the group platter for two and it was plenty of food and a world of flavors.

My wife and i had wonderful meal at Little Africa the other night. Lou, the owner was very friendly. It wasn't busy so he spent time chatting with us which we did not mind at all. We ordered the dosa combo platter for two. And we loved it..i also had the tea which i recommend. Our conversation took us to Ethiopia and their culture. We would go back again to get our dosa fix.

Delicious. Service isn't fast but totally worth it. Food is amazing. Would go back in a heartbeat.

My wife says this was perhaps the best lunch she's had in 5 years, and I would agree. We got the platter for 2, which has samples of all the entrees, all delicious. She ordered the tea, I had the Ethiopian coffee, will be back as soon as we are in town again.

Delicious food, kind owner. Very apparent he cares. Nice decor and always smells wonderful. Highly recommend.

When I walked in, the guy in the back more or less ignored me until I flagged him down 5 minutes later. He slapped a glass of water down for me but didn't bring me a menu. When the other lady eventually showed up, I had to specifically ask for one. I then ordered a soup and platter for 1 (choice of 4 dishes plus injera). It took nearly an hour for even the soup to come out. When the food finally did arrive, it was... strange. I've visited a decent number of Ethiopian restaurants now. The collards were decent, but all my other dishes were strangely spiced - almost like they were overly smoked / burnt or just over-spiced in a way that wasn't tremendously palatable. I wasn't impressed. The spicy tomato soup, however, was tasty -- "Ethiopian hot" was definitely hot, but not too much for me. If the service wasn't bad enough, they are cash only and do not display that anywhere, forcing you to run to the ATM across the street that has a $3 withdrawal fee. So: 2 stars for the food, 1 for the service and everything else. I certainly wouldn't return.

I've been here many times, and the quality has always been variable. Sometimes it's delicious, and sometimes the food tastes like charcoal (minus one star). The owners seem to only open when they feel like it and it is often closed when a normal restaurant should be open. They also only take cash and will send you to the ATM at the liquor store across the street to get cash if you don't have any (minus one star). Their shared platter prices are absolutely nonsensical. For one platter (NOT all-you-can-eat, mind you), they don't charge a flat rate, but a price per person ($11.50/person). This means that ONE platter can cost $11.50 if one person is eating it alone. Or the SAME platter can cost $23.00 if two people are eating it, or $34.50 with 3 people, etc... Yet it's the same total amount of food no matter what. I recently went here with 3 other friends and we shared one platter and pot of tea. The total was over $65, which, in my humble opinion, is absolutely preposterous considering we could have paid the same amount and quadrupled the amount of food and tea if all four of us had ordered our own individual platter! (minus two stars)

I came here for lunch with my mom, and it took a surprisingly long time for our food to come out, depsite the fact that we were the only ones in there. The waiter brought us bowls of water with some sort of soap in them, so we could clean our hands--this was convenient to be able to clean our hands so easily. I asked if he had any milk to go in the tea, and he mentioned that they're a vegan restaurant, so there's no dairy. The tea was flavorful, and definitely did not need any sugar or milk to go with it. After perusing the menu, I asked for a recommendation on which items to pick for the combo platter, and he said that everything is good. We enjoyed the Shiro, which is a mild pea flour sauce prepared with a special spice, the Alicha, which consists of fresh vegetables mix of potato, cabbage, green beans, green pepper, ginger and garlic, and the Kik, which is a well seasoned split pea sauce prepared with tomato onion garlic and red wine. My favorite was the Kik since I love split peas. The food here is definitely tasty, and the service is polite, but a bit slow. If you come here, definitely be prepared for a wait.

This hole-in-the-wall restaurant is a gem. The food is delicious, served up by Lou or someone else he knows, and the vegetarian options are great (even for this meat-lover). Pricing (and flavors) will likely be a little different each time, and you'll need to have cash on hand. It's worth it!

Great food, nice little hole in the wall place with good service and prices. Nice portion size for 2 people and we loved the food. We got really lucky as this was our introduction to Ethiopian food and it was amazing. Highly recommend

Always hits the spot and makes you do a happy food dance. Get a platter, order tea, live your best life!

My husband and I went on a Thursday night and were one of only a few people there. It is a modest place as far as the decor. Service was good. Food was excellent. We each fried two different dishes so had four in all. It was fun to try different items - they all had such different flavors from each other.

Love love love this place! My husband and I live in Kalamazoo and tried this out tonight and it has already become one of our favorites. Due to the owner cooks the injera to order, be prepared to wait a little bit; but it is definitely worth the wait. We ordered the combination plate and loved all of the curries! Awesome food and very friendly owner and staff. Will definitely be venturing out to Grand Rapids more often for this place!

"Too good to be true." I came here for the last time with my dear friend who is moving to Florida in a few days, and she kept saying that throughout her last visit here. But I must agree, this place is definitely amazing on all accounts. Awesome prices, adorably quaint and sufficiently exotic ambience, very good service, super helpful and friendly, and zomg the food is unbelievable. Perfectly balanced spices, aromatic, hearty, healthy, and ohhhh soooo delicious! Definitely in my top five favorite GR restaurants. Best place for a friend date. Order the platter for 2 and dig in. You won't regret. p.s. their Ethopian-style tea and coffee are fabulous.

Tonight was my first visit to this establishment. My sister and I ordered the sampler platter. Wow! A lot of food. All vegetarian here, but still very tasty. The food is served on injera, no silverware, as the food is meant to be eaten with your hands. Use the injera, a flat, slightly spongy bread, to scoop the items. You will not be disappointed. Tip for the first time diner: Credit cards are not accepted, only cash or check. You're welcome. :-)

Food is excellent! We loved everything we got (split peas, collards, and salad). Beyond that, the owner of this restaurant was so nice to my family and I when were in the other day. Hope to be back next time we're in GRR!

Wonderful little hole-in-the-wall place. The guy who runs it also makes all the food and serves the tables. Very clean, very relaxed. You have plenty of time to talk with your friends/family over tea while waiting for your food, and you're not hurried out of there. Everyone in the restaurant got a sampler platter, us included, which was beyond delicious. Lots of flavors and spices to indulge all your senses. Get the tea too, it's so good!