Zagol Ethiopian Restaurant

Very excited to have stumbled upon this unique cuisine here in Reno! I grew up eating Ethiopian food so this experience was nostalgic for me. I did check the reviews before going so I feel I had good expectations. Yes the food was delicious! Portions appear small but for the flavor and authenticity of the meal, it was worth it. There was also truly only one person working there - the owner. She was taking orders, bussing tables and possibly also making the food? While the wait wasn’t too long considering there were already 3 tables seated before we came in, it would do one well to be a little patient and not go when already extremely hungry (yes I suffer from the h-anger). Also be prepared to eat with your hands! It’s the cultural way and if you feel the need to practice at home before venturing out in public doing this, go ahead. ;) The food you order is served on a tray on top of injera (which if you run out of the ones they serve with it, you can eat whatever your food is laying on top on). While Ethiopian may not picture well, it’s absolutely delicious! All in all would definitely go there when our Ethiopian food cravings hit again!

This has been my favorite restaurant in the northern Nevada/ Tahoe area for over ten years now. I try to go every time I make the drive to Reno. I came originally as a child with my family but have since had my birthday here and brought all my friends. The food is so delicious and nourishing. The service is fast too! The atmosphere is delightful, clean and cozy. I love everything from the music and art to the absolutely perfect injera. The owner works hard to serve the best most flavorful food around all by herself. I can’t recommend it more.

I brought 6 people with me and was determined to try as much of the menu as possible. We had #1 (Key Wat), 7 (Ye Siga Tins), 17 (Kik Alicha), and 18 (Tikil Gomen) as part of a Gebeta dish deal; and we added 3 (Kitfo, rare), 9 (Ye Beg Key Wat), 10 (Ye Doro Alicha), and 13 (Mesir Wat) to be conservative of recommendations written. We later added 2 (Gored Gored), 11 (Dora Tibs), 14 (Gomen), and 15 (Kilkil) both due to our enjoyment of the food and the small portions. Having eaten Ethiopian food in Oakland, I highly recommend this place as a curated taste of Ethiopia with smaller portions of better food. Table favorites are the Gomen, Gored Gored, and the Tibs. You would think the food was spicier but it was actually relatively mild. The Gored Gored reminds me of Texas BBQ's burnt ends. It was probably finished the fastest of the foods. While we wanted more of the dishes, they were sold out of 4 (Zilzil Tibs), 5 (Bozena Shiro), and 8 (Ye Beg Tibs), which should speak to their popularity If you prefer to be cleaner. You can bring gloves like they do at Korean chicken spots. There are no utensils. However, I think the Injira is plenty for near everyone (it's gluten free fyi). 5/5. I would give 6 stars if possible.

Best authentic locally owned food in Reno! I have been coming here for many years with my family and friends and have never had a bad experience. It is a blessing to have such unique flavors here in northern Nevada. There are lots of vegetarian options as well as tenderly cooked meat dishes. Something for everyone! The owner/chef/waitress does it all and is extremely kind. Her hard work is much appreciated and can be seen throughout the experience and quality of the food. With rising prices for all foods from fast food to sit down restaurants this cuisine is well worth its price compared. Venture out of your comfort zone and experience a new way of eating and some of the freshest ingredients and most delicious traditional flavors.

Super super good and unlike anything I’ve ever had best Ethiopian I’ve by far. I didn’t catch her name, but the woman running the place is incredibly kind too.

Amazing food in a cozy atmosphere. Unfortunately the owner is retiring in January 2026 and will close up shop. Until then, she's only accepting reservations -- no walk-ins or takeout. Go while you still can!

The best Ethiopian food I have had in a very long time. This place is a one woman show. She does everything, and does it well. I didn't get photos of the food because I like to enjoy the experience. My wife and I had 2 different things. I had #2, she had #6. She also had a glass of wine, the food was so good! Amazing flavor, with a touch of heat. Plenty of Injera for the food served. The portions might seem small, but, they are actually the proper size. We both left full, but not stuffed, just the way I like it. Our total was $43, which we agreed was fair. The tip was on top of that. For the future, I want to bring some friends for the coffee ceremony! I need to find out how much it is. 10 of 10 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Delish! Im so happy to have Ethiopian restaurant near Tahoe. It was worth the 1 hour drive!!!

We had the vegetarian and meat gebetas. They were both great. The injera were perfectly sour. Our favorite was the key wat. (From my 8yo daughter) Your food is DELICIOUS! You have the best--food ever. I want to come back here every day -you have the best food. Hope you have a good day

This was our first time trying Ethiopian food. The food was tasty and the way you eat the food was a cool experience. Only reason I give 4 instead of 5 stars was the place was dead quiet with no other patrons and there was an endless looping music video of what I can only assume is traditional Ethiopian dance on a TV in the corner. It was interesting but given the quiet of the room, it seemed to almost make conversation with my wife difficult. I've already recommended this place to others for the food.

Saw this on one of my CM's lists and was intrigued. Upon arrival it reminded me of my younger days living behind The Blue Nile restaurant in metro Detroit. I went from having never eaten this fare to surviving on it almost nightly. It's fun to find in other cities I visit. Even though it's not the free standing tiny restaurant that I remember vividly, some of the sights and smells were the same. That brought back wonderful memories. Sadly, the service is sub par and not what you or I am used to. I can live with that. But the stoic, dismissive, downright rude demeanor of our hostess is inexcusable. To be honest their food is lacking. Spice and a few essential ingredients. The injura was fine but the rest is just edible and fills the void. An extreme disappointment when I was so looking forward to the authentic. They create a delightful cup of Ethiopian coffee. So I had two. In the end, definitely try their sweet ginger tea. The honey wine is up to you. I found it a bit pricey with small portions. Were it not for the couple of highlights and the ambiance, this would be a failure. 01/25

Ethiopian food in Reno? Who would have thought. It's tucked away in one of the many strip malls in Reno. The owner / chef is super friendly, provides amazing food - I'd say on par or better with Ethiopian food I've had in SF, Seattle and other places. We try and visit regularly.

Loved Zagol. I really enjoy Ethiopian Cuisine, and dipping the Injera in food is fun. Why bother with Utensils when hands work just fine! We tried the Vegetarian Gebeta, which though enjoyable may not be enough for two if you come hungry. The Ethiopian Coffee was good as well.

Zagol is probably the more unique ethnic cuisine that we have in Reno. It's the one and only Ethiopian restaurant and we are lucky to have it! Every dish is absolutely fresh and delicious, with plenty of healthy meats, veggies, legumes and tons of spices! The injera is a lovely fermented bread and gluten free, which is a big win for me! I always love eating here as the meal is so satisfying. The prices are average and the service is like walking into someone's home. The owner is the chef and waitress, so expect hospitable but slow service. It's a leisurely experience and my kids always love eating with their hands. My favorite dishes are the cabbage, green been and zilzil (beef tibs). Don't miss the amazing iced tea or coffee service at the end to round out your meal.

The food is very tasty and unique. If you're looking for something different from your regular food style, check them out. The owner is a nice gal working hard. All by herself. It's very clean nice decor. Smells wonderful when you walk in. It's a very homey place.

I absolutely love this place! I'd eaten at their original location on 4th St a few times...well before I became a Yelp Elite...and I was long overdue to visit their new location and to write a review. Located in a strip mall, the interior is larger than it looks from the outside. Not huge, but well appointed, with comfortable seating/tables and beautiful art on the walls...it's very comfortable and inviting. Service is great...not obtrusive (which is a pet peeve of mine), but just right. If you haven't been to an Ethiopian restaurant before, it's an amazing interactive experience. I guess you could also say that it's a "hands on" experience, because Ethiopian food is eaten without any utensils! Everything is served on Injera...a crêpes-like, sort of spongy "bread" that you use pieces of to scoop up the food items by hand. All the food is served on one round platter. My dining companion and I chose 3 items: #2: Gored Gored ($17) [Cubes of beef lightly sautéed in purified herbal butter with a sprinkle of chili pepper and Ethiopian spices] #9: Ye Beg Key Wat ($17) [Lean lamb stew, slowly cooked in spicy chili pepper and purified herbal butter] #14: Gomen ($13) [Fresh collard greens sautéed with onions, garlic, ginger and fresh Ethiopian spices] Every selection was delicious...melt in your mouth meats with a great blend of flavors...and the greens were some of the best I've ever had! You will note that the meat dishes all contain chili pepper, but it's masterfully used...you realize it's there, but the spice level is still fairly mild while retaining all the flavor of the chili. Besides the Injera on the platter that the food is served on, you also get extra Injera so that there's plenty to pick up every last delicious morsel. We cleaned that platter off, enjoying every bite! There's no better way to finish off a meal of outstanding Ethiopian food than with Ethiopian coffee...regarded as some of the best coffee in the world! Now, I'm not a big coffee drinker...I LOVE the flavor, but the caffeine doesn't like me...so I rarely have any (and there's no such thing as a good cup of decaf...I know this for a fact...I looked extensively after I gave up coffee). But, one cup after a fine meal every once in a long while isn't going to hurt me, so we went for it. As stated, its acknowledged as some of the finest coffee in the world...and it certainly lived up to its billing. Rich, robust and extremely flavorful...ah, contentment...great way to finish the meal. I highly recommend this restaurant...try something new...enjoy a new experience...and delicious food!

Zagol Ethiopian is a hidden gem! The owner is a powerhouse, running the entire restaurant solo with such warmth and hospitality. The food was a delightful introduction to Ethiopian cuisine, and every dish was bursting with flavor.

I've been coming to Zagol since Shita first opened over on 2nd st! I've eaten Ethiopian food in three different states and Shitas Ethiopian is the best I've ever had!! Get in there before she retires!

First off, if you want a different cultural experience, this is your place. The decor is beautful and colorful. Open and airy atmosphere. The service was excellent by the sweetest lady. We ordered 3 proteins, 1 veg dish and the salad. This food was out of this world. So many different textures and flavors. The top dark dish is a soicy beef stew that had some great spicy flavor too it. The bottom dish is a chicken stew with a bone in thigh that was just fall apart delicious with another great flavor in the sauce. To the right are green beans with carrots that were so delicious. The flavors are really undescribeable. Left is the very flavorful cold salad. The last pic was the lamb dish that was added to it, so it was an after thought lol Still equally delicious and so very tender. The bread like tortilla that accompies it and is your silverware (best part of the experience) has such a unique flavor to it, it's so light and tender. Overall a 10 star across the board experience. Can't wait to go back and try some other options. Promise you won't be disappointed.

I'm writing this on the bathroom since we ate here. Skip this place. The food was flavorful but a bunch of mush. Priced way too high for what we received.

I've never had Ethiopian food before - definitely an interesting experience! I loved the meats and veggies but the bread underneath that your supposed to eat with your hands was a bit too sour for my taste - I ended up asking for a fork to the dismay of the owners daughter lol But it's ok kuz I finished our platter that way and took the other platter from our friends on the other side of the table and finished that too Definitely worth a visit to try a different cuisine!

What a great local hole in the wall spot. The food and the service was truly authentic. The food tasted very high-quality and fresh. Definitely very tasty and true to its roots. The ambience was a bit bland and the service was a bit slow, but it did speak true to it being Ethiopian.

This is one of the most unique and flavorful meals you can have in Reno. With prompt and attentive service in a quiet space, you can indulge in the scrumptious flavors of Ethiopia. You will eat these delicious fillings by grabbing them with a GLUTEN FREE Ethiopian fermented flat bread called Injera made out of a grain called Teff. Tear off a square of bread, pick up some fillings with the bread, and proceed to eat some of the most captivating bites of food you'll have in Northern Nevada!

Loved trying Ethiopian food! I'm glad this is an option in Reno. Food tasted great, but it gets pricey quickly. Especially since each basket of injira costs $ and you have to use them as a utensil to eat (no forks and spoons). I suggest going with lots of friends so you can try many different dishes. We ordered a Vegetable gebeta and 3 meat dishes, which filled up 6 of us. My favorites were the kitfo and Aterkik Key Wat. Love the chef's attitude! She's very proud of her food and sticks to the traditions.

I really like this place for the most part. The cabbage as well as the lentils are some of the best I've had at any Ethiopian restaurant. I also really like how they package to-go orders. They actually include injera underneath each side so it can soak into the bread, in addition to putting a dry piece in foil. Most places will exclude the former and only do this if you dine in. It's probably my favorite part of Ethiopian so I love this. I was also thoroughly impressed at how delicious their baklava was, given that's not true Ethiopian cuisine. Where I think they fell a little short is the peas were just okay. They also don't serve sambusa which is a little disappointing. Lastly, a gebeta with 3 veggie sides is $30, this does not even include collards. I think that price is a little high, but I get that they don't have any competition in the area so they probably have the ability to charge a higher price. Overall, the food here is delicious and I've visited at least a dozen Ethiopian restaurants in the US and Canada so I have a decent benchmark. I would absolutely come back.

Came with a big group: making a reservation was a bit confusing since it went to a phone number of someone who was not in town and they did not receive notice of our reservation when we showed up... but once there, great service, wine, and food! For those who haven't had Ethiopian food, it's served family style with injera (porous "pita" like bread) that soaks up the sides. Loved all the veggie and meat sides (see pics). Overall hope to be back as long as we can make a proper reservation without confusion on their end...

I had never tried Ethiopian food before and now I know I've been missing out! I visited Zagol on a Saturday evening. There were four people in our party so we ordered four dishes and all shared. We ordered the Ye Beg Key Wat (lamb stew), Ye Doro Alicha (chicken stew), Ye Doro Wat (another chicken dish), and Kik Alicha (yellow split peas). It was served with Injera, which is an Ethiopian bread. All of the dishes were delicious and we nearly finished everything between the four of us. We took our very little leftovers home and had them the next morning. I was shocked to learn that Zagol is a one-woman operation. I am not sure how she does it all by herself, but I am impressed! The food and service were great. I will definitely be back!

Such a wonderful restaurant and experience. Everything dish we have tried has been so flavorful. Even as meat eaters, our favorite dish keeps being one of the split pea veggie options. The Ye Beg Key Wat is my first choice of meat options, the herbal butter had the most unique flavor. Attentive and friendly service each time. We look forward to trying the homemade Ethiopian beer our next visit!

We have been coning to Zagol for many years and the quality of the food and service has been consistently excellent! Colorful and clean and friendly staff to boot!

I was so excited to find an Ethiopian restaurant in Reno, and I love coming here. The owner works in the restaurant every day and you can tell she's cooking from the heart. I have always appreciated that Ethiopian cuisine has great options for vegetarians and vegans. Tikil Gomen is my absolute favorite dish. It's like comfort food when you've had a long day. Cabbages, carrots, onions and delicious spices. I could eat the injera that comes with it all day long. Traditionally you use the injera to eat with your hands. It's a little messy but it's all part of the experience! Another hidden gem is the Ethiopian spiced tea. Zagol actually sells this in bottles and whenever I am in I always take as many as they have available. It's a black tea with spices and a strong ginger taste. I can drink it all day! If you haven't tried Zagol I highly recommend it!

This was my very first experience trying Ethiopian cuisine and I definitely enjoyed my time here. I had the pleasure of sitting at one of their Messobs which really tied in their Ethiopian culture & ambiance. Not only was I served delicious food I was provided amazing customer service. Our party was educated on the history of the restaurant as well as how to properly eat your meal only with the use of injera - sponge like bread & your hands ! I highly recommend coming to Zagol & I'm looking forward to my next visit.

Service was amazing food was amazing the owner is a sweet lady that runs the restaurant all by herself and her hospitality makes guy feel comfortable! It's a vibe!

Great food. Not too many staff but that's not a problem as the person taking care is attentive. However they don't split the check even between two people which is a bit weird specially if you are out on a work trip and need separate checks.

When my partner asked if I wanted to have Ethiopian since becoming plant-based, I was thrilled. This seems to be one of the only Ethiopian restaurants in Reno and I figured this would be a great way to introduce him to this cuisine that I've had sparingly for years. Zagol is a cozy restaurant located in the middle of a strip mall. There were only a few parties inside when we went and they sort of do a decent job with distancing. However, I definitely wouldn't be as comfortable dining in if their socially distanced tables were full. They were still a bit too close. If you've never had Ethiopian, you're in for a treat. It's a great dining experience where you use your hands and the provided sour bread (injera) to scoop up the main dishes. Your taste buds will surely be tantelized. We ordered the vegetarian gebeta set and ended up accidentally ordering all of the veggie options (more below). Our spread was gorgeous with tasty lentils and potatoes, which were my favorites. Their greens however were very salty so I would stick with the ones by default that came from the set. Now, with any "gebeta" sets, most restaurants allow you to select from a number of main entrees to build your own plate. I was used to this so when I ordered the vegetarian set, I mistakenly read it as "three veggies plus the ones listed." Rather, it was meant to read as "three veggies that we decided which are..." I'm sure it must have raised an eyebrow with the waitress but she didn't ask to make sure I was reading it correctly. We ultimately paid double what I expected so and was giving myself a hard time over it- the extra money could have gone towards a glass of honey wine or a meat dish for my partner to experience. I knew there was a reason why she offered us more injera (since this is normally an additional charge). Learn from my mistake and read properly if ordering a gebeta.

What a refreshing experience! The very kind woman working the entire spot made us feel so cozy. Never had Ethiopian food before and it was so flavorful! Ordered the Meat Gebata in 1,5,7 and extra Injara.

Fantastic food here. Highly recommend the Key Wat and the Tikil Gomen. If this is your first time having Ethiopian, get the Meat and Veggie Gebeta. We got the 1,5 for meat and the 16 and 18. So good.

We've been meaning to visit Zagol for, oh, 5 years or so. Basically the minute we heard about it we knew we needed to go here. But, time goes by and things happen and I'm a lazy boy, what can I say. Still, we were glad to finally make the effort to stop in, and we were so happy to do so. We made a call ahead of time to make sure we could get in, as we've heard that if the house isn't busy, sometimes the owner will close down. We were joined by four friends and made for a busy table of 6. Great for this sort of restaurant as the food is all about sharing. We selected a dish or two from each category of chicken, beef, lamb, and vegetarian. To everyone's surprise, one of the favorite dishes was the cabbage. I personally loved the lamb. We tried the beer, and while it was great to sample, I'm not sure any of us would order it again. Again, it wasn't unpleasant, just not very drinkable... if that makes sense. We all had a cup of coffee to round out the meal, and we are now all determined to do a coffee ceremony as well. The only downside was we had to pretty regularly put our hand up for more of the spongy bread they serve. Practically as soon as a basket was set down, it disappeared. So tasty, but a little stinginess kinda stole away from us being able to shovel that amazing food down as fast as we could. Excited to visit again.

Delicious + mouth watering Ethiopian food! Service is great. We love coming here to celebrate special occasions. Whenever something good happens, we start craving Zagol!

Great take out at our first Ethiopian restaurant in Reno. Along with the wonderful bread "injera," we first ordered key wat - beef with Ethiopian spices. Then, we chose Tikil Gomen- cabbage, carrots and onions in delicious spices. Next dish was Kik Alicha- yellow lentils with turmeric. Finally, we rounded out the meal with Mesir Wat- split lentils with onion, garlic and ginger mixed with chili powder. All dishes were fragrant and wonderful! Use injera to wrap food, rather than using utensils. Try this restaurant for Ethiopian food- especially good for vegetarian dishes!

I can't say enough positive things about this place! I was so excited when my friend said we should try this and I was surely not disappointed. The food was incredible and I loved the group eating. The service was awesome and they were really accommodating to us coming in at 7:30(they close at 8). We opted originally for two beef choices and lamb but they ended up running out and we swapped for the chicken. The chicken(Ye Doro Wat) was absolutely my favorite followed by the beef stew(Alicha). It was aromatic, spicy and the meat was so tender. I absolutely have to come back to this place ASAP! New favorite spot in Reno.

A culinary adventure in Reno. Time to get outside your comfort zone and experience the flavors of Ethiopian at Zagol. Since it's relocation from East 4th St to East McCarran in the Raley's Shopping Center, there is a lot more parking and a safer neighborhood (though 4th St is coming along quite a bit). First off, the place is immaculate with Ethiopian art and pictures decorating the walls, as well as Ethiopian music videos (ala Bollywood) in the background. You are typically greeted by the owner, a high energy woman who obviously loves what she does and enjoys sharing her country's fare with her guests. Since there were 14 of us, we split up between spicy and mild tastes...I'm all about the spice. There are dishes for most every taste, vegetarian or carnivore (no fish dishes). As there are no appetizers, you order your mains off the ample menu. The servers, which also include the owner, are very helpful in describing the dishes, which are served on a sourdough-risen flatbread called injera. Extra injera is served with your meal and servers as your utensil for eating. Yeah, mom, I'm eating with my hands!!! Our 4 selections were: Key Wat, a spicy beef stew slow cooked in chili pepper sauce and herb butter. Just the right spice level and plenty of flavor. Doro Tibs, chicken seasoned with olive oil, jalapenos, onions and garlic. Again, not too spicy, letting the flavors come through. Mesir Wat, split lentils cooked with onion, ginger and garlic, seasoned with chili powder. Great flavor combination and mild to the taste buds. Aterkik Key Wat, yellow split peas cooked in a chili sauce and seasoned with garlic and ginger. A mild kick with plenty of flavor. Split 4 ways, it was enough for all. Speaking of which, save room for some of the best coffee and desert. Ethiopian coffee has to be one the most flavorful, full bodied coffees on the planet. No need to doctor this cup. Enjoy your cup with a piece of baklava. Though not an Ethiopian dish (Greeks and Turks are still fighting over who made it first), it's a perfect ending to this gastronomic adventure. All in all, it's fun way to enjoy something not typically seen in a small market like Reno and a great way to dine. Enjoy!

My grandson and I had dinner at Zagol Ethiopian restaurant in the Reno, Mira Loma shopping center. First time eating traditional Ethiopian cooking and it was delicious. You need to eat with your hands using their unique bread. Taste was spot on, little spicy but really tasted fantastic. We both eat it all. The owner is everything from hostess, waitress and Chef. The inside is very well decorated. We had the choice of three and we were very full when we left. My worries if her business doesn't improve she is not going to be able to maintain the restaurant, so I encourage everyone to get over there and give it a try. -- at Mira Loma Shopping Center.

A great addition to the restaurant scene in Reno. If you're up for something new and different, not your typical restaurant. Smallish dining room, friendly and quick service. 2nd time coming to this restaurant, had 4 different vegetarian dishes and the two of us found all of them to be delicious. Neither of us typically like cabbage but we both loved the cabbage dish, and I was a particular fan of the salad. Definitely recommend to anyone willing to try something a bit different from what they probably normally eat.

This is a review from a family that has spent many years in Ethiopia. We have eaten Ethiopian food in Ethiopia, in Ethiopian households, and Ethiopian restaurants throughout the United States and Canada. We say this with a heavy heart-this place is embarrassing. 1. At arrival, we noticed it is eerily quiet. Ethiopian music is beautiful. Every Ethiopian restaurant has Ethiopian music piping though the speakers. 2. The food is not fresh. We found out because when we tried to order some items without onions and jalapeños, the owner (elderly woman with glasses) said the food comes as is because she already prepared the food (sauces, meat, etc.) several days ago. 3. The food was TERRIBLE. It is to be served temperature hot. There were no other customers in the restaurant and our order was delivered at room temperature. As a result, we all experienced food borne illness from the food. 4. Our party consisted of 5 people and the owner still gave us a small amount of injera. When we asked for more, she charged us for the additional injera. No respectable restaurant charges for extra injera, especially if they initially provide less than adequate for a larger party of people. 5. When we asked for small plates, the owner initially said no. We had to explain why we needed a small plates (to share, etc.). 6. When we presented her with 2 credit cards for payment, the owner refused; apparently, she only accepts one form of payment. This is the only Ethiopian restaurant in Reno. Here's to hoping an entrepreneurial spirit opens another Ethiopian restaurant in Reno for the much needed competition. If there is an opportunity to travel to large cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, Portland, Houston, Dallas, Arlington, Alexandria, Baltimore, Charlotte, Washington D.C., etc., there are many Ethiopian restaurants that will serve authentic, savory, piping hot, delicious Ethiopian cuisine with beautiful ambiance and a smile.

This is my second time trying ethiopian food (first time in reno) and I enjoyed the experience and the food very much. My friend was born in Ethiopia and gave us the tips of what to eat. We started our meal off sharing the homemade ethiopian beer, which was very flavorful. I then had some coffee, which was amazing. The injera was really good and the Doro wat was tasty. The real star of the dinner was the lamb tibs though. My friends and I were fighting over it and needless to say we should have ordered more. It was cooked really well and well spiced. I've been craving it ever since. The service was wonderful and the staff was very personable. I'll definitely will be going back soon.

To be fair, I am not giving three stars because anything was wrong with the restaurant, I just want to let Yelpers know about my personal experience so they know what to expect. I've always wanted to try Ethiopian food. I am a *big* fan of Marcus Samuelsson on Food Network, and one time, I saw him win on "Beat bobby Flay" with an Ethiopian dish. I was in Reno to see a show, and this place has very good reviews here on Yelp, so I decided to give it a try. The restaurant sits in a Raley's strip mall. You walk in, and it's small, but very neat and well kept. An older Ethiopian lady runs both the kitchen and the front of the house. She was very friendly. I placed my order, and got my food pretty quick. When I went in, I was not aware of the fact that Ethiopian food is inherently spicy. When I looked at the menu, all but two items were listed as either "spicy", or "very spicy." I don't "do" spice, so I chose the "Alicha" which is a mild beef stew. The stew, as all dishes comes with injera bread, which is a spongy bread that you use to scoop up the food with using your hands. The flavor of the stew was not bad, but the texture and the sourness of the bread . overtook the flavor of the dish. I realize that injera is spongy so you can use it to scoop, and I realize that the sourness is meant to compliment the spicyness of the other dishes, but for me eating a mild dish, it just didn't work. Again, I am not knocking the restaurant in any way personally, I just wanted to list my experience, so others going in will know what to expect. I wish it had been a better experience for me.

The food was fantastic and full of flavor. The owner is sweet and cooks everything fresh. Highly recommend for a night out for family style dining. The portion sizes are small but filling, a wonderful experience for individuals as well. I've never experienced Ethiopian food before, but I highly recommend zagol after my visit. Thank you Shita Yenenh!

You know it's going to be good when Mom comes out of the kitchen to hand prepare tableside. Get the coffee, seriously. If you don't drink coffee, start. If your doctor says you can't, the tea is also amazing. Beautifully presented home cooked food that rivals any of the best California spots for Ethiopian food. If you haven't tried Ethiopian food, do so, you're in for a treat here...great place for an interactive experience! The menu recommends Zilzil Tibs, a sizzling beef dish. Listen the menu it tells the truth.

Hadn't had Ethiopian food in forever so excited to check out this Ethiopian restaurant in Reno! Very nice establishment. Well decorated and authentic art on the walls. Food did not disappoint. Owner was very nice also.

This was my first introduction of Ethiopian cuisine. You mostly eat with your hands here. And it's in a shared eating setting with you and the rest of your party. The food was good. Definitely a different restaurant experience. They have a couple of vegetarian options as well

Overpriced, not great value, and underwhelming Ethiopian food. I've been to a lot of Ethiopian restaurants across North American, so I have a pretty good benchmark against which to judge places now. This place was very lackluster. This is the only place I've been (out of dozens of Ethiopian restaurants) that does not offer a combo/platter. Their veggie "combination" is just 3 full portions of 3 pre-chosen veggie dishes for $30; but those do not really create a rounded out meal. So instead, we ordered their mesir wat (spicy red lentils), kik alicha (split peas) and gomen (collard greens) -- which came to $40. Each comes with plenty of injera. Each dish was fine, but that's it; not interesting flavour depth or complexity. The gomen was on the sour side, the split peas were on the flavourless side, and though the mesir wat packed some heat, it didn't have the flavour depth I'd hope for in this dish. All in all, pretty disappointing, and bad value for what you get (most veggie platters are in the $12-18 range per person). I guess there's no real competition for Ethiopian food in Reno, but I still wouldn't recommend this place.

I cannot believe it took me so long to check this place out! I will certainly head back again, likely in the near future. We headed in with a group of friends and enjoyed multiple dishes split across the table, along with some Ethiopian beers. The beers were expensive despite being large bottles and while I'm happy I tried them, I would not order them again. I was disappointed to hear that they didn't have any honey wine which I've been told they used to carry but other than that I really enjoyed my experience. I look forward to future trips to this establishment.

If you only go to one more restaurant for he rest of your life, you should make it this one. Shita, the owner, is so sweet and amazing and she was running the entire show all on her own when we came in (waiting tables, cleaning up, and cooking some amazing food) she was able to make some great recommendations and help us out together the perfect meat and veggie gebeta. Although the menu makes it seem like a lot of the dishes are similar, everything is unique in its own preparation, flavor and spices. I recommend you come with friends and get a gebetta platter. It's served on the injera bread and you scoop everything with your hands, no silverware here. And the ZilZil Tibs isn't included in the selections for the gebeta, but you need to try it. It's so delicious and flavorful and it comes sizzling to the table before she pores it over your injera. This restaurant is a must visit. And for the way Shita cooks, I think you'd be safe ordering literally anything on the menu and being satisfied. But save room for the baklava. It's not your standard Greek favorite, it's chocolatey and moist and the best baklava I've ever had.

I'm not sure if we just ordered poorly, but I was disappointed by the menu set up and options. I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food from my time living in other cities, and this did not live up to my expectations. While the service was decent and the flavors were there, the platter itself was not an enticing meal. For a party of 2, it really only made economic sense to get 3 items, but that meant 2 meats and 1 veggie, whereas I would have liked to have smaller portions of more things. I finished eating not because I was full, but because I was tired of eating the same thing in every other bite. If you're craving Ethiopian food or interested in trying it for the first time, I'd definitely still recommend coming! I just don't think I'll be adding it to my rotation of favorites unless I had the chance to come with a larger group and get more of a variety of items.

I would recommend this place if you don't have trypophobia. Everything tasted good. Though the food had many holes that did not let me feel very good. Though I would come back.

I went Zagols to celebrate my friends birthday. It was quaint, but very nice. The food was very delicious. I didn't know what to expect since I have never eaten Ethiopian food before. I wish I could remember what we ate, but the names of the items were quite foreign to me. I'm a total novice. Ha ha . But open to all kinds of new experiences and they didn't disappoint! I loved the original artwork in the room and was very intrigued by the Ethiopian culture that was displayed. I had a cup of their amazing coffee at the end of my meal and it was absolutely unique and delicious. By the way, one is not served with silverware at this restaurant... it's not even on the table! I found this to be an interesting little side piece, but I really got into it and enjoyed my meal very much! I recommend this restaurant to anyone who is looking for a completely unique dining experience.

Delightful exotic food in a lovely setting. The aromas and textures are sublime. A new all-time favorite. The tea is a special treat, hot or iced.