Red Sea Restaurant

Came here for dinner. It's a small 6 table restaurant, with a hole in the wall vibes. It is family owned with the husband, wife, and daughter. The whole family was very nice and friendly. Fortunately they were able to survive the pandemic . The food was great. We had the beef sambusas which were crispy and flavorful. The tsebihi doro chicken which had little bit of spice, and vegetarian sampler for one. My wife and I shared the food. I think it's great to be able to find cuisine like this in Portland and have someone different. Recommend. For those who don't know, you generally eat by tearing off pieces of injera (spongy pancake) and picking up the other items with your hands.

Having dined at numerous Eritrean and Ethiopian restaurants, I was quite disappointed with the food quality at this establishment. The dishes lacked the bold flavors I've come to expect from this cuisine. I was excited to see a couple of dishes I had never seen before, and thus, I ordered them eager to try them. When the food arrived, the server set them on the table and quickly left. I couldn't quite tell which were the new dishes I ordered so I had to go back to the lady at the cashier to ask if she could tell me what each dish was. Typically in these restaurants the server will set the food on the table and ask if you have any questions. Not at this joint. If you're unfamiliar with Eritrean/Ethiopian cuisine, this might be a decent introduction. However, for those who are experienced with the cuisine, the lack of flavor and the subpar service may be disappointing.

The food was good but the service very poor. The owner was rude, the food for 4 ppl took 1 h to be served even though we arrived at the opening at noon and were first to be seated. Our coffee never arrived. My dish arrived without the egg that was listed on the menu. When I pointed it out to the owner, he asked for an extra payment for the egg and when I showed him the menu did not apologize. A poor experience overall.

We enjoyed our trip to the Red Sea Restaurant! The owner couldn’t have been more welcoming as he continuously checked in and chatted with us. If you’ve never tried Ethiopian or Eritrean food, this could be a great first experience. :)

Delicious Eritrean foods served by friendly welcoming host. The spiced tea and well seasoned dishes are satisfying and delicious 😋

We were out celebrating my birthday and I wanted to try something I’ve never eaten before. We found this little place on google maps and decided to give it a try. SO glad we did!! We weren’t sure what to order so we chose the sampler plate - the beef dish was so spicy it made me cry and my nose run - it was THAT good!! The hot spiced tea was the perfect thing to douse the fire. The owner is very friendly and helpful. We only waited a few minutes for our dinner even though some reviews stated otherwise. All in all, this is a keeper!!

We were passing by on our way back from our road trip north and stopped here for a quick bite. I only wish we had discovered this place earlier! Home-quality delicious food; I would eat here again and again if I lived in Portland.

Incredible food! The staff was so friendly and helped with recommendations. Everything tasted amazing. I will definitely be back!

Had the veggie sampler for lunch, delicious with wonderful flavor. Service friendly & helpful.

Ya know, we wanted to like the place. We love the texture of that injira bread. But here's the situation: Got the beef zigni, for $17 you think you would get more than one small ladle of stew. There was some gravy and about 4 little pieces of gristley meat. Way over priced for what this place is. Which takes me to the second point. When you go in, peek around the back and take a look at the cleanliness of the kitchen. I'm surprised the Board of Health hasn't shut this place down. I'll look to get my Ethiopean food somewhere else.

I was very pleased to discover Red Sea. A group of us had walked past it on our way to another restaurant in the area, but because it was a busy evening, the wait would be lengthy. We were immediately able to get into Red Sea, and the entire experience was very positive. I was hooked the minute I walked inside and inhaled. If you are already familiar with Ethiopian cuisine, the addition of Eritrean into the mix will not be an issue at all, it will still look very familiar. The menu was not necessarily as extensive as I have seen at other Ethiopian restaurants, but it covered all the necessities. I also liked that you are able to purchase your own injera here, and if I lived locally, I would do that. Beverages are limited to a few brands of soda, I believe a few beers, one type each of red and white wine, and bottled water, and of course coffee. Mead is not available. Your meal is cooked to order, and the ingredients are quite fresh. The chicken came out spicier than requested, so if spice is a concern, speak up (I was fine with it, others at my table had to limit how much they ate). You get a reasonably large amount of injera with your meal, but if it is not enough, you can request more at a nominal fee. The owner quite friendly, and it was enjoyable conversing with him. I expect Red Sea to become a regular place of dining whenever I am in Portland.

A meal at the Red Sea Restaurant is a very enjoyable eating experience. The food is beautifully prepared and presented. There is an array of flavors that tantalize your taste buds. The waitstaff is courteous and knowledgeable regarding the menu. There is Ethiopian artwork and music to enhance the experience. An additional visit in the near future will definitely happen.

Two of us shared the veg sampler for lunch, and it was delicious. The owners are delightful. The ambiance doesn't have a lot going for it, but it's clean and we didn't need bells and whistles.

Fine example of Eritrean food in a homey dive. The Injera is fluffy, spongy, and tangy. The beef curry has tender chunks of meat, deep earthy flavors and has a medium heat. Lamb curry was mild. And the chicken curry with egg was amazing--almost mole like. The mustard greens was neutral tasting, cabbage carrot and carrot was also mild. Yellow lentil curry was our favorite. Simple, small dining room. Extremely friendly owner and cook. Prices are higher than what I am used to paying for this kind of food, but thrilled to have this example in Portland, ME.

This was my 1st time eating this cuisine. I had the beef tibisi it was excellent! The owner and his family are very friendly and welcoming. The ambiance, well the food and service is excellent. The place was clean. I highly recommend the red sea. If I'm ever back in Portland, it will be on the itinerary.

Food is good and authentic. We live in town and we are always satisfied after every meal. I recommend the place to everyone.

First time we came we were impressed with the tea but was still full from our morning breakfast. But when the server saw that we were not ordering food; he BECAME VERY RUDE!!! Even though we were thinking to order food later to go; after his attitude we decide not to. We will not be returning here! OMG, his service will keep anyone from returning ever again. RUDE!!! GROUCHY OLD MAN!!

I ordered beef tibsi that came with red lentil beans and a salad with green leaf lettuce, owner is very kind and he gave great service. The meat was spicy and good quality beef with onions, tomatoes and peppers plus a hot pepper sauce / oil. It was served on a large like flat soft brown pancake (my best description I'm sure there's a better out there). You can use a fork but I chose to eat using the pancake to eat as was optional. Highly recommended. It was really great and unique.

We stopped in for dinner and were greeted by the owner couple and their delightful toddler grandson. Very pleasant and welcoming atmosphere.We ordered a few dishes and were asked if we wanted it family style. Said yes and the food came on a large rotating dish that was covered with a thin layer of a spongy bread and also rolled up bread. The various dishes were placed onthe bread. No utensils needed. Dug in with our hands and had all kinds of delicious delights. WE will be back.

I love the owners. Kind hearted and friendly people. I am glad there is another Ethiopian food restaurant here in Portland. My family and I have been going here off & on for the last 4 years. But they need to fix some things: Orders take way too long. About twice the time as other restaurants. The recipes are good and authentic, (I know bc I am from Ethiopia myself & grew up eating this food) But the ingredients seem to be of low quality. For example; the lamb used in the zigni & tibsi are very chewy and can be tough. So I suspect it's do to low grade meat. When we do take out, most often than not, we are missing both side dishes or one side dish. The menu is not very clear and I am still confused about their stances on sides even when I dine in. We have asked multiple times for the meat to be cooked medium rare, (hoping it wouldn't be as tough & chewy) to no avail, we always end up with will done. So they don't seem to take order & directions very well. This could be a problem of language as they are foreigners and don't speak perfect English. However, maybe hiring somebody that does speak the language of the people they are trying to serve could make their service better..? Lastly the prices are unjustly high! We put up with it bc we don't have many choices for east African food around here. But knowing the ingredients they use and the typical cost, I am not sure why the food is so pricey. I hope they continue to be successful bc they are loved in the community, but they really need to upgrade & improve.

Ate here by myself one night, having never had Ethiopian food before. The place is small, and when you walk in there's not much of an atmosphere, but don't let that stop you! 4 stars is only because of the ambiance. Food gets 5 stars! The owners were very nice and helped me decide on a menu item. Highly recommend the spiced hot tea! The food was excellent and I learned how to eat it with my hands and the injera bread they serve with the meal. The food was perfectly spiced and they serve a good sized portion. I found it to be very similar to Indian food in the flavors. Would definitely come back and try it again with my husband!

Hole in the wall with excellent service. I love Ethiopian/Eritrean food and this place was perfect. There are so many great restaurants in the east end and this is easily one of the most tasty and satisfying

Very nice people and delicious food. Absolutely no complaints. Never had a bad time here.

Delicious, fresh food. Humble, family run restaurant with no frills. It almost feels like you are in someone's home. I got take out and for probably the first time in my life wasn't able to eat an entire dinner portion. I got the shiro which is ground chickpeas and spices but it is warm and smooth like a sauce, not like hummus. It's my favorite Ethiopian dish. Of course had to get the injera. The portion was HUGE! The box was heavy. Came with a side of potatoes and cabbage and a small salad. For $13.50 with tax, it was a steal and the perfect Friday dinner. The shiro was a little spicy for my taste and the potatoes and cabbage were very garlicky.... and I love spice and garlic. My stomach is feeling it a bit today. I've had this dish many times but it was my first time at Red Sea. Although delicious and fresh, it wasn't my favorite. Love that they are vegan and vegetarian friendly!

Delicious, homey tasting comfort food, with just the right amount of spice. Their tsebhi dorho with a side of lentils is my favorite. I tend to eat large meals, and am often unsatisfied with portion sizes at restaurants. Red Sea's dishes, however, always fill me up (and at around $14, are very reasonably priced). I will say that I usually get the food to-go, as the ambiance is only so-so. If you're looking for a place with cool vibes to eat out, this might not be the place for you. If you're hungry and just looking for a good meal, give this place a try.

We stayed close by at an airbnb and walked to see dinner options on this road which there many good choices for veggie or rice based foods. Awesome Ethiopian food here. We used to go to Abyssinia in RI but they closed so was nice to get these flavors. Had the veggie sampler entree shared with wife and kids had lamb and red lentil entrees. Super good meals. I also had the traditional coffee infused with ginger which they brought out the hot freshly roasted beans first to taste. Great experience here and nice people.

The food was very good. The owners didn't hesitate to serve the food and pitch in to clean up. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone. Very good.

We LOVE this food! Best Eritrean food in American! Highly recommend! Our best friend is from Eritrea and this food is by far the best of the best he has ever had (other than his moms)

The best African restaurant ever! Delicious, fresh, vegetarian option and really nice owner and wife. We will come back 100%

Basic eating. Very little ambience. Incredibly tasty food. So if it's hip you're looking for, there's plenty of other options on lower Washington Ave. Meanwhile this is very authentic Ethiopian food.

The best Ethiopian/Eritrean food I've ever had anywhere. Don't let the appearances deceive you (the dining room is small and sort of shabbily decorated) -- the food is truly extraordinary, as is the service and conversation. I highly recommend the ful. Takeout service is fast and easy too. Don't miss this place.

One of my FAVORITE restaurants in Portland! The owners are super friendly and the food they make is mouth-drooling delicious. Eat here!

This is a hidden gem!!! The food is Amazing!!! The couple that owns the restaurant are super sweet and always welcoming. Def give this place a try, you will be hooked!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One of my absolute favorite restaurants in Portland. The sampler platters are great to share with a group for those who have a hard time choosing just one menu item! Good variety for veggie and non-veggie options. The owners are very friendly and service is always quick and smooth. Nice laid back atmosphere.

Hidden gem! Despite it's small size, this restaurant packs a lot of flavor into everything they make. The portions are more than fair for the price, and you can tell that those cooking here really know and love what they do. Had a chance to talk to the nice man who made my dinner, I definitely have a lot of respect for those working here. Hard to find good Eritrean cuisine, outside of Red Sea!

Delicious food! Fun atmosphere. Fast and friendly service. The owners are kind and funny. I recommend Red Sea to all of my friends! I love the vegetarian platter, but I'm sure it's all fantastic.

My girlfriend and I went to Red Sea at the recommendation of... Literally nobody. That's a goddamn shame. We walked in early. Five or six. We ordered some sambusas. Who couldn't? They were amazing. I had a traditional coffee, at the owners request. It was great. We split a meat platter and a chickpea dish. We ordered too much. They were great hosts, and we'll be back for more soon. Ignore the off-putting facade. Come here for dinner! Who can beat $30 for too much great food? 5 stars

Excellent food, welcoming owner. Thank you so much fir sharing your wonderful foods with those of us new to your culinary traditions. Highly recommend fir people who love spicy foods likes Indian.

Wandered in on our vacation to Portland. It's definitely a more casual atmosphere, but very authentic. We had incredible meat and vegetable platter, some of the best Ethiopian/eretrian food we have ever had! Very nice family running the restaurant, and very friendly service. It can take a little longer because they cook everything fresh (we only waited 15-20 minutes for food though). A wonderful change of pace to the normal more upscale seafood dining in Portland which can get a bit tiresome. Can't recommend enough!!!

I liked this place the first time I went earlier this year. I thought the food was superior to Asmara in downtown Portland. I made a special effort to stop there again yesterday when traveling from near Bangor to my home in New Hampshire. But my second experience was unsatisfactory and I won't go back. When I first went I got a vegetarian sampler even though there was no such item on the menu. I appreciated the flexibility and loved the food. I prefer to get samplers when I eat Ethiopian/Eritrean food because I like to try a variety of dishes (that always seems possible, except in Portland!). Since I went the first time a few months ago, Red Sea's menu has changed. It now includes a sampler for two people for $26, but the man who waited on me (the owner?) said they could not do a sampler for one person. I explained to him that they did previously, only a few months previous, but he didn't seem to believe me and was completely inflexible about it. How hard would it be to take the larger vegetarian sampler and simply cut the portion sizes in half? After going out of my way to stop at Red Sea at the end of long and tiring day, I was disappointed and annoyed, so I left and ate elsewhere. There was nobody else in the restaurant at the time even though other restaurants on the street were full of people. Me thinks that if Red Sea doesn't develop better customer service, it won't last.

I've eaten here twice in the past month. Incredibly good food. Had the veggie sampler each time. The mustard greens are delicious and some of the other dishes on the plate like the okra are nice and spicy. The owner is super friendly and willing to mix-and-match items for people who have dietary restrictions. Can't imagine a better place to eat and a nice way to warm up in the winter. Highly recommend this joint!

Flavorful dishes unassuming environment good value in both vegetarian and meat offerings.

Food was wonderful and staff was very kind. Very small place lacking in ambiance, but didn't really care when the food came. Sambusas were crispy and slightly spicy, and the teff was perfect.

Wow- amazing food! I went with a group of three couples and really cherished the experience of sharing food eaten by hand with my besties. We had one huge beautiful platter between us of various meat and veggie dishes. The food was so yummy- dimensional, warming and nourishing. The sweet and friendly owner served us himself. I love supporting this neighborhood restaurant and immigrant-run businesses.

Delicious Ethiopian food. The owner was very friendly and was so sweet with our toddler son. We ordered the veggie sampler and it was flavorful and we all enjoyed it - especially my son who kept asking for more. The food takes awhile to be prepared, but I guess that is to be expected with all of the different dishes we tried. I took off one star for the injera, which wasn't the best I've had. It was too thick and dark in color. I live in New York and we eat Ethiopian all the time so I'm used to thinner, more sour, lighter colored Injera. Other than that, you should definitely give this place a try. Family run business and super friendly folks!

Perhaps I have been spoiled by other Ethiopian restaurants, but I found the food here to be generally under seasoned. The sambosas were very good but the veggie sampler dish was underwhelming. The choices for this food in Portland are limited so if seeking something different this might be worth trying, but don't expect to be blown away by the experience.

I've had some bad experiences in restaurants but this one was unbelievable. Very small space, which is fine and eventually another patron moved tables so our party of four could use his table and add an extra chair. Yup no tables for parties of 4. Then havoc. We ordered chicken sambosa. We got beef. They were delicious-but didn't make up for the meals. We ordered 4 meals-they come with bread or rice, a salad, and a side. We got one without a side and asked why it wasn't there and were told no sides if you get the rice-we weren't told that when ordering, so not sure if it is true. Another meal didn't have a side and they fixed that-no miraculous reason why no sides on that one. In between those two things though, a horrible crash was heard in the kitchen. When three meals came out, two looked fine, one was a jumbled mess. We were told that that dish is served with them cutting up some of the bread and putting it in the food for us. Are you freaking joking? We have seen 10 meals come out all looking similar and this ONE has you mix the bread in for us. Well not all of it. Just some of it. Like a torn third that wasn't cut with a knife or anything else. Being lied to is disgraceful. Truth is not a word this place seems to value. One of the four dishes tasted great-something with beef. Side on that wasn't correct either, and not worth it anyway. The lamb had pieces of bone in the mixture. Not meat on bone, but fragments you would likely choke on...maybe that was their plan. I love small unique restaurants-but not when they give you food from the floor or try to kill you via choking hazard. Stay away.

We lived in Ethiopia. Travelled to Eritrea often. The Red Sea is as close to authentic as you will find. It competes well with many of the Ethiopian/Eritrean places in the Wash D.C. area. The spice is toned down. But on request, the owner will bring extra heat. We will go back.

Went here by default and so glad! Like traveling without leaving Portland. Very satisfying, healthy, balanced food. Great hospitality. Don't go expecting a big, beautiful restaurant. It is very small, and down to earth, but that is all part of the fun. We were completely blown away by the food.

This place is so absurdly good. My friend and I split the sampler plater and everything was delicious. The service was excellent. This was our first experience with Ethiopian food and we were blown away. 8/8 m8.

When I moved to Portland I was a bit worried I would not find spicy, home-style ethnic food like I was used to in Miami. Who knew I'd learn about African cuisine in Portland! Red Sea will be a weekly thing for me I'm sure. The family was so sweet and the food is out of this world (*caution: only for those that truly can handle some deep spice- be sure to ask for some extra spicy sauce, they gave me this amazing spicy paste that was smokey & hot but complex rather than kill-your-tongue-hot)

A welcome option for Portland's diverse dining option. I agree with Jonathan D's review of 7/19/16. In addition to the vegetarian sampler, we also liked the freshly made falafel served with a hummus based sauce. The injera here is gluten-free as it is made with teff flour. It's a mild injera without the slightly sour taste of the usual injera we've had elsewhere (which I like, but the GF was good for the person I shared with).. The vegetable dishes were all delicious and any that were spicy were mild. Perhaps the chef could add more heat if requested. We look forward to return visits.

I have been to many Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants in Boston, Washington dc, Searle and Oakland, but none is as authentic as Red sea restaurant in Portland, Maine. The food was so delicious and very authentic. At some point, I felt I was in Asmara (Eritrean Capital). Injera was really thin which I loved most. I recommend to try the zigini Tibisi and kitifo. I rate Redsea restaurant as the number 1 habesh cuisine in the US.

Fantastic meal and service. This couple really knows how to run a restaurant. We were a party of four, one of whom was currently under doctor's orders to eat a bland diet, one of whom loved spicy food, one of whom liked mild spices, and the other one who just wanted some direction. We were all accommodated in a most patient and friendly way. It's safe to say we will all return as often as possible. Even in a foodie city like this, Red Sea is a feather in Portland's cap. Absolutely great, and totally unpretentious.

The quality of the food and service was superior! We would certainly go back again! We ordered the Tsebihi Dorho, the Tibsi Dorho and a Rice Dish with Chicken for our daughter. The seasoning on the rice dish was mild and tasty, reminiscent of a good kirma curry. The two Dorho dishes were excellent, served on an injera platter with sides, all ready to be eaten by hand. The drumsticks fell off the bone and we're served in plenty of sauce keeping them good and moist. The space itself is sparse, so the room lacks any real coziness, but we were there for the food, not the atmosphere. And that wonderful coffee!

Fantastic experience and food! Great people and great authentic East African cuisine. I'll be back a LOT!

This is a great little place. I went here with my fiancee a few days ago and we were not disappointed. The place is a bit of a hole in the wall but it's very clean and the walls are painted a cheery yellow. The owner/waiter was very friendly and talkative. He definitely made us feel at home. The menu is pretty basic, but the food was quite enjoyable and affordable. We started out having the sambusas which were crispy and hot. They were good, but I think including a dipping sauce with them would've made them even better. For our entree, we had the shiro and the carrot, potato, cabbage combo (I can't remember the actual name of this dish). They were both quite tasty. I definitely recommend this place if you want a bit of a change of pace and an inviting atmosphere. We look forward to coming back again and again.