Zeni

Ethiopian restaurant · Hathaway ·

Zeni

Ethiopian restaurant · Hathaway ·

Diners eat with hands at colorful Ethiopian spot

Information

1320 Saratoga Ave, San Jose, CA 95129 Get directions

$20–30

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in San Jose and the South Bay | Eater SF

"Fans have frequented Zeni for more than two decades thanks to the tremendous veggie combo, a plentfiul arrangement of lentils, split peas, collard greens, and the tomato salad timatim fitfit. Crucially, prices are reasonable for the boatload of food that arrives, $25 for the vegetarian combo, and the army of injera that arrives with it. There are smaller entrees that are all vegetarian and vegan, as well, such as the roasted chickpea dish shiro wot and ye tsome fir fir, a scrambled injera dish with berbere sauce." - Cathy Park

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-vegan-vegetarian-restaurant-san-jose-south-bay

Zeni

@eater

391,688 Postcards · 10,991 Cities

25 Essential South Bay Area Restaurants

"For more than 20 years, Zeni has brought a true Ethiopian dining experience to Northern California. With traditional seating on low stools, family-style dishes, and the sharing of food from mesob straw baskets, Zeni is an expression of culture that seems to transcend the boundaries of its four walls on the west side of San Jose. The restaurant’s unleavened bread, or injera, is made from teff, which is a staple of Ethiopian cuisine. The notable specialty dishes are served with kitfo, meat that’s been seasoned with an array of aromatic spices." - Paolo Bicchieri, Cathy Park

https://sf.eater.com/maps/best-san-jose-south-bay-area-restaurants

Zeni

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

4 Excellent Ethiopian Restaurants in San Francisco

"From its home at the end of a shopping plaza, Zeni caters to expats, tech types and families alike." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/dining-out/best-ethiopian-restaurants-san-francisco

Zeni

@michelinguide

48,380 Postcards · 8,030 Cities

4 Excellent Ethiopian Restaurants in San Francisco

"From its home at the end of a shopping plaza, Zeni caters to expats, tech types and families alike. The interior has a standard dining area decorated with colorful portraits and tapestries as well as traditional seating on low stools at woven tables. Either way, group dining is encouraged. Relish the spongy, enticingly sour injera used to scoop up delicious yemisir wot; kik alicha; or beef kitfo tossed with that aromatic spice blend, mitmita, and crowned by crumbled ayib cheese. Here, injera is your only utensil, but be assured as there's a sink in the back to tidy up. Balance the fiery food with cool honey wine, or opt for an after-dinner Ethiopian coffee." - The MICHELIN Guide

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/dining-out/best-ethiopian-restaurants-san-francisco

Zeni

@postcardnews

22,027 Postcards · 1,950 Cities

A community anchor for decades, Zeni serves injera‑lined feasts and hosts traditional coffee ceremonies. Celebrated by KQED and the San Francisco Chronicle for vibrant vegetarian combos and a transportive setting.

https://www.kqed.org/arts/13905230

Best Restaurants in San Jose (2025)

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Zeni

Neel S.

Google

Amazing spot, will definitely be going back! 10/10 Food was amazing. We ordered the Vegetarian Combo. Comes with a giant Injera and on top you have beets, split peas, collared greens, potatoes/cabbage salad, red/yellow lentils. Side of 4 smaller injera. I asked for a side of hot sauce/powder. The spiced Ethiopian tea was a great add as well. Plenty of tables inside. I’m sure if you have a large party they can accommodate. I’d suggest giving them a call if you’re a party of 5 or more. There is a restroom in the back with a separate hand washing station. Great decoration around the establishment with nice music for a relaxing atmosphere. The staff were super helpful and friendly. They answered my questions about how the food would be prepared, presented and if it would be enough for two people. There are other business in the complex. Nail salon, barbershop, convenience store…etc.

aq X.

Google

I visit Zeni regularly for their authentic Ethiopian food. Usually I order the veg or meat combo and lamb and that easily feeds a group of 3-4 people. The food tastes consistently fresh and flavorful and I love to bring friends here for the family-style dining experience. Occasionally I'll encounter a wait during peak hours, but it's never been longer than 15 minutes.

april

Google

My first experience eating Ethiopian food. Good service, the food was flavorful. I couldn't rate it 5 stars because I don't have anything to compare it to. Nice cozy spot. The appetizer was delicious and flaky. The food was hot and fresh we had some sort of ground beef and a chopped beef along with some chicken all were good. We also had greens which were just ok to me. . I'll come back. Many more options i want to try.

Sumana M

Google

We used to visit biweekly, but have cut back to about once every two months. The food consistently takes a while to arrive around 30 minutes and while prices have gone up, portions seem smaller. I wish they had kept the earlier pricing, as we would likely come more often. I do like the vibe, and the service is generally fine. Since we’ve been regulars for a long time, the staff knows us now, which probably makes our experience a bit friendlier than what some other reviews describe

Kiran R.

Google

We thoroughly enjoyed the vegetarian combo. It comfortably serves two people, although we did add a side of Injera.

Caroline

Google

I have NEVER been to an Ethiopian restaurant that I didn't like. This was the first one. Ethiopian food is one of my favorite foods and even when I'm traveling internationally, I always crave it and find one. I just moved to this area and decided to check this one out and ordered the beef tibs as I normally do. All I could taste was cumin. It was too strong and overpowering. The beef was also not marinated properly as it was flavorless in the middle. It was also very chewy and hard to swallow. On top of that, out of the 50 or so different Ethiopian restaurants I've been to in the last few years, I have never seen one that doesn't offer a salad with it. This dish was $25 + tax + tip. There are quite a lot of Ethiopian restaurants nearby so I will be checking them out instead.

Ganesh B

Google

Highly recommend this place. This may look like ‘a hole in the wall’, but once you are there, it will provide you fabulous dining experience Ethiopian way, beginning with a warm welcome. To fully enjoy this experience, highly recommend eating with your hands, although it is not a requirement there. We (3) enjoyed our late Sunday lunch here. Helen welcomed us. We were new to Ethiopian dining, so asked her to help us order. We ordered Meat Combo (Minced beef, Lamb stew, Chicken stew), a Beef sizzler and red lentils stew. Food arrived quickly— a large round steel plate with a thin fluffy pancake-like bread (Injera). Injera tastes a bit sour, appears light, but is deceptively heavy. They served various items ordered in small portions along the periphery of the plate on the Injera. Additional rolls of Injera were provided (and replenished as needed). Greek style salad was served at center and Ethiopian fresh cheese (like crumbled Feta, but not sour) on the side. We enjoyed eating with our hands—sanitize them first. The meat stews were absolutely delicious, but beef sizzler with caramelized onions was our favorite. They serve good portions. Needless to say, we had to box the leftovers 😋. We will explore other Ethiopian restaurants, but will definitely visit Zeni again. Thanks Helen for a great experience.

Vivian L.

Google

Edit: Guess who came back again??? lol we love this place — I’ve come here with my partner and others several times since my first review and I’ve gotten used to the food and it’s great every time. Also consistent. So raising the review here. I can’t seem to figure out what each item is called but I like the sweetish green lamb/beef dish and some of the vegetable ones. The others i have come here with also say that the food is great. — First time having Ethiopian food, I wasn’t sure what to expect but have been told it’s pretty hit or miss for most people. Restaurant was super busy around dinner time. The bread used for the side dishes is spongey and sour. It was a pretty unique for me, especially considering l have a sweet tooth. We put meats and side dishes in the bread and ate it that way. Definitely interesting trying the flavors of the bread alone and the side dishes alone. There isn’t any table ware as far as I know, but after a while the bread was pretty overpowering for me. Overall, quite tasty and very filling. Looking forward to coming back here again.

Linda M.

Yelp

Came back to Zeni for my birthday dinner. It was less difficult to get a seat on a Friday night, which is great for us but makes me sad for the business. Had a wonderful meal again. The Ye Doro Kifto (ground chicken with butter and spices) was too spicy for me, my all the other items were soooo good. Ye-Bere Tibs beef cubes sauted with onion and peppers, had a delicious fajita vibe. We always love the collard greens and red lentils. Our server was very nice.

Umily H.

Yelp

Second times to this place was hoping service would got better but not the case. We came at noon and didn't see our food until at least 30min later. There were 3 servers but mostly stands around. The food we ordered should already been premade as they are not the dishes that need to be made when ordered so 30min waiting shouldn't happen. Sambosa is also preheat and overpriced as you get one with minimal filling. Not much taste. We had to ask for some dipping sauce. Combo veggies dish was Ok with the dipping sauce otherwise not much flavor. We were hoping for a better customer experience the second time but not the case. Most likely will not come back.

Kathy T.

Yelp

Went for dinner as a party of 3 and from the outside, it didn't seem very busy but it was quite packed inside for a weekday evening. The wait wasn't too bad though and we were soon seated. There is a good variety of menu items but my party got the vegetarian combo along with an order of Alicha Wat (mild beef stew). The meal was great and super filling. Everything was served on a platter on top of the Injera, the warm, tangy, soft Ethiopian bread. You eat with your hands and there is conveniently a sink located towards the back of the shop for easy access without having to go into the bathroom. The serving was very generous and eaten with the bread, you get full pretty quick! Everything was flavorful and I would definitely come back. The service was a bit more slow paced but understandably so because it was quite busy and there were only 2 waitresses. Nonetheless, the food was delicious and the service was nice so I'd recommend.

Elyse L.

Yelp

best Ethiopian food in San Jose! the staff is always so kind, and my family and I have been going for years now :) the food is always consistent and it's a great place for dinner or a celebration. Highly recommend the yellow lentils, spicy cheese, the greens, lamb and so much More pictured :)

Richard C.

Yelp

4.5 stars. My first time ever trying Ethiopian food and I was pleasantly surprised. Everything was well seasoned and full of flavors ive never had before. Went there for a team lunch and we couldn't finish two of these massive platters. My favorite thing was some kind of sizzling lamb (not sure what it's called). The carb is a kind of fermented bready roll that you would peel off pieces and use it to grab the food. Personally I wasn't too used to the flavor of it so I wasnt too fond of it. But overall, it was a very tasty meal.

Daman T.

Yelp

One of my all-time favorite spots in the Bay! I've been coming to Zeni for years and it never disappoints. This time I got lucky--they actually had sambussas in stock (they're usually gone by the time I get there). Crispy outside, flavorful inside--totally worth the hype. The Ethiopian spice tea was warm and delicious. I wish they'd use loose leaf tea. I went with the vegetarian combo and ye doro tibs juicy--perfect balance of hearty, spicy, and comforting. Always love eating with injera--no utensils, no problem. Only thing I wish they'd fix? The noise. It gets a bit intense, like everyone's voice is bouncing off every surface. Something about the acoustics makes it louder than it needs to be, even when it's not packed. A little soundproofing would go a long way. But food? Vibe? Worth it. Just maybe bring a friend who talks at your decibel level.

Kate T.

Yelp

Randomly decided on getting Ethiopian one night and landed on Zeni! From the pictures, I was excited to experience dining in the more decorated section of the restaurant but that section was unfortunately closed off that evening. We ordered the vegetarian as well as the meat combos and they came out on a big platter. I think some of the dishes (like the beef one and the lentil one were pretty tasty) were tastier than others but if you wanted some variety, then this would've been perfect. We also got a spiced tea and my bf thought it was pretty good (though I was it was a bit sweet!). Service was alright and nothing too extraordinary. We will come back if we are ever in the area and craving some Ethiopian food!

Mona A.

Yelp

Cute spot; I love getting their veggie combo; it's my to go to place for their veggie combos. The food tastes delicious, and they are usually on time. I have only eaten here once at the Resturant but have gotten the food to go typically once a month; as I love Ethiopian food. There is parking up front, sometime the lot is pretty busy, but plenty of parking. Interior is cute, decorative; and the food is delicious. Overall, I recommend this spot Customer service is pretty decent as well.

Ken C.

Yelp

A ton of tasty food Shared the meat combo as well as a veggie combo with my wife. Came out on a giant injera and was a sight to behold. I loved the variety and devoured as much as I could. Everything was fresh and added unique flavor. My fav veggie dish was probably tmatim fitfit which had quite a kick. As for the meat dishes, the chicken and the minced beef were probs my fav. Both were tender with a kick. Ended up being way too much food (probably perfect for 3 people), so we took the rest to go Qualms: 1) The injera came out cold which dampened my appetite a bit - wish it was hot 2) Sadly they were out of sambussas...hopefully I will get to try them next time

Shobhana V.

Yelp

The vegetarian options are good as is the ambience. We were a group of 10 and everybody enjoyed their meal. The one comment I will add is that they are short staffed and do not provide a good explanation of the menu and options.

Caitlin T.

Yelp

My first time trying Ethiopian food! Hard to critic since it was all new flavors but wow, so delicious. The injera perfectly soaked up all the dishes. My favorites were all the vegetarian dishes and the tibs. Would recommend coming in a group and eating family style so you can have a variety. Visited on Juneteenth for dinner. Got seated within 15 minutes but the food took about 1 hr to come... We weren't served until past 830pm which is when they close, but they didn't rush our meal at least.

Rosa B.

Yelp

I really liked this place for Ethiopian food. Came in on a Sunday afternoon and place was moderately busy. Service was quick, we were seated immediately, and staff was friendly. I loved almost every option on the veggie platter, but the real star was the sautéed mushrooms which we ordered in addition to the veggie platter. I wasn't a huge fan of the collard greens and yellow split peas, but they weren't bad. The folks I came with ordered the meat combo with lamb and they enjoyed ever option.

Sumedha D.

Yelp

We have been going to Zeni for years. I love that they have both traditional and non-traditional seating options. They sometimes have live music as well. This time we had their veg combo platter served in a traditional plate that is shareable. Admittedly I have no reference of real Ethiopian food but I love their food. I've been to several Ethiopian places in and around the Bay Area and this one is the one we go to again and again. The plate had steamed collard greens 3 types of lentil curries, beets salad and a cabbage dish. We also ordered their Ye doro tibs which is juicy chicken curry they served it in the middle of the plate( no picture sorry). Every single dish was flavorful and had a delicious blend of spices( not hot). The authentic Ethiopian spices are great and I love the soft and fluffy injera bread. Especially the bottom bread that soaks up all flavors. They have a decent service. There's almost always a wait unless you go during non-peak times. They don't take reservations and also don't have a waitlist system, basically you line up outside of the restaurant and tell the server how many people and they seat you according to availability. People are nice.

Ethan W.

Yelp

Came for dinner on a Saturday. This place was bustling at 5:30 PM. We were sat at the traditional style tables with stools and a basket type table. All the food is served in piles on top of injera. I think the food here is certainly unique! I wouldn't say I'm the biggest fan but there were some standouts. Good: Vegetarian Combination - A hearty mix of different braised vegetables. Really tender and cooked for a long time, which I thought was pleasant. I would recommend getting this one. Sambusa - like a puff pastry filled with a vegetable mash. Super delicate and flaky. Paired with a smoky hot sauce which I thought was delicious. Ok: Goden tibs - this tasted like a simple stir fry of beef, bell peppers, and onions. It was nothing special in my opinion and had actually a pretty light, mild flavor. Also I'm not sure if they just didn't have short ribs because these tasted like a leaner cut of meat for sure. Not my favorite: Meat Combination - The chicken and the lamb were ok. The raw ground beef was not for me. It was super mild in flavor, almost unseasoned in my opinion. Perhaps it's more of an acquired taste. While it was cool to eat in a more culturally immersed environment, sitting so long in the short stools was a little uncomfortable for me. I'd definitely recommend sitting in the main dining room which has western style tables, but naturally these fill up first! Not to mention there are no reservations here. Service was polite, but they seemed understaffed for with only 2 waitstaff for the whole packed restaurant during peak dinner hours.

Abhilasha S.

Yelp

Can't believe I waited this long to try this place! Absolutely divine food. We got the Veggie combo Meat combo Which was plenty to share for party of 4. The service was super friendly. The food was hot, fresh, super flavorful and simply outstanding. Ambiance was very cute with interesting chairs, seating, art and decor from Ethiopia. The pricing was also excellent considering the quantity. Loved it so much that took some misir wot to go (from the veg combo). Please try this place asap! You don't know what you're missing.

Victor L.

Yelp

We were a party of 7 (3 of them young kids). We were seated promptly on a Sunday evening at approximately 7pm. Within minutes, people were arriving and they had to wait. This restaurant got busy fast! I wish I took note of the ordering, but I kinda just went with a more seasoned vet. My friend Owen has been here a couple times before. The presentation of the food reminds me of a painter's pallet. Ethiopian food is fairly colorful. The food is spread out on an Ethiopian bread called injera. It has a sourish taste. It takes some getting used to. They also give you extra rolls of injera. Although you can request spoons, you eat mainly with your hands. How's the food? It was my first time so please take this review with a newbie perspective. For my Asian taste buds, I am OK with it. There are familiar flavors such as their chicken dish (forgot the name) as what we have in Indonesia called Rendang. I was just OK with the beef (Goden tibs) as I don't taste any ethnic spices in them. The beef Kitfo is nice and that was cooked medium. It taste a lot like Italian sausage to me. We also got the vegetarian option where there are 4 mashed up goodies. They remind me of Indian Thali in mashed potato form. I enjoyed the meal but I may only come once in a blue moon. It wouldn't be fair to knock a place down just because I'm learning the cuisine. For food taste, it's 3 stars. For experience/uniqueness it's a 5!

Amie N.

Yelp

my ethiopian friend whose visited + eaten MULTIPLE dishes and injera bread highly praised this spot. my girls' sports team has gone here 3 teams for team bonding bc we LOVE the Beyaynetu plate! such an underrated cuisine anyone should try in the san jose, cupertino, bay area. big portions, we had leftovers, filling whole ingredients: u got the veggies, meat seasoned incredibly, and a sourdough like tortilla/bread. ORDERED MEATS: Doro Wat, Siga Wat, Tibs, Kitfo, Gored Gored, Key Wat. BEANS: Misir Wot (red lentils), Kik Alicha (yellow split peas) fair service, accept cash or card. abt 15min wait for plates to comes, steaming hot, fresh, warm, and unlimited injera i believe??

Arpita H.

Yelp

Got my sister here who was visiting and had never been to Ethiopian restaurant. We have been here multiple times here and like the vegetarian combo and shiro wot. Ordered the same this time as we didn't want to take chances when we had my sister trying it for first time and she liked the cuisine.

Kathy L.

Yelp

Came here on a sunday during lunch and was seated immediately! The staff is super friendly, the food is really good and flavorful and the bread was so soft and delicious! The place is really clean and the ambiance was pretty spacious so we were all able to catch up. My family and I had a really good time eating the food, desserts, and drinking the honey wine! We highly recommend this place!

Me Iz S.

Yelp

We arrived at Zeni's because my nephew wanted to try Ethiopian food (his first!). I had been describing the community platter and the making of the fermented bread (similar to an Indian Dosa), and the choice of vegetables, lentils and meats a plate could come with. Eager, he wanted to try it! We got ushered to a corner table (cause we wanted a corner table and not be sandwiched between two other tables with families. The space is small and the seating feels cramped. The spark is missing.... The space does not have a fresh look. Food is amazing! Great!!! But they charge you extra for a second set of injera (in the city, the second set is free!) Service can be a little better. More on top of things so to say. My nephew told them to make his lamb mix spicy but it wasn't. We asked for hot sauce and were given a teeny tiny sq dish of paprika like powder that wasn't spicy at all! Attention to customer requests makes that difference. Overall, give this place a try. It's good food!!!!

Teda S.

Yelp

Came in as a party of 5 for dinner. My first time trying Ethiopian food, and I was pleasantly surprised! The food was delicious and super flavorful. I thought it was a really fun meal to eat, as we tried different combinations of meats/veggies in our injera. Ordered the meat combo, veggie combo, and additional meat dish. Would recommend coming here for group meals! I will be returning soon. :)

Hannah C.

Yelp

Zeni will always be one of my favorite restaurants of all time. The food is simply unmatched! I have eaten here several times, and I look forward to continuing to visit. The store itself has plenty of seating, but it is often busy during dinner time. There can sometimes be a long wait time, but the food is worth it. I usually come with a big group and get the vegetarian combo and meat combo. The combos come with piping hot injera. Every single dish is phenomenal. My personal favorites are Gomen Wot (collard greens in the vegetarian combo) and Kitfo (beef in the meat combo). I always get the spiced Ethiopian tea as well, which pairs really well with the food. The interior is warm and always buzzing with customers. I absolutely love this restaurant, and I can't wait to visit again!

Beatrice Z.

Yelp

We love this place. Our family comes in for the last few years and every time we order the vegetarian combo and the meat combo with salad in the center and tea on the side. It's tasting all the best dishes on one large plate. Just writing about this makes me wanna come back again and eat this amazing food. Servise is very pleasant and very nice but for some reason, it always takes them a long time to serve the food parentheses maybe they cook every dish separately?) It doesn't matter. We keep coming again and again

Alice R.

Yelp

The food is incredibly tasty. 7 of us went for dinner and were not disappointed. Good service too. I called ahead and was provided gluten free bread as it is not offered on the menu normally and they made it for me. Amazing spices, party on the tongue!

Dana L.

Yelp

We got seated right away for a weekend lunch. The inside decor was quite nice, I appreciated how the lights on the ceilings had designs. We got the veggie and meat combo. It ended up coming out on one huuuuuge plate. I absolutely loved the veggie combo. I found the meat a little dry, but it was not bad. The veggie was definitely the winner of the two. Each selection had a different taste and I really enjoyed this experience. Very very tasty. Docking one star mostly because of the dryish meat and the ok service. Service was not bad, but felt like could be better.

Michelle T.

Yelp

I was so excited to come try this place. It's been on my list for a really long time. This food is definitely new territory, so we tried to ask the server what she recommends and she was very indifferent and didn't smile and seemed almost annoyed that we were asking for some advice . In the end, we decided to share one of those platters that you can sample multiple things. Unfortunately, it didn't hit maybe because I had very high expectations on the quality and flavor. They did have a really cool area that seemed very culturally designed which was really cool but for some reason, they didn't see anybody there. I'm not sure if it was maybe for special events only. I really wanted to enjoy it like this spot but unfortunately, it's a mess for miss for me.

Dan D.

Yelp

Zeni restaurant at Saratoga and Payne The place I eat again and again Love the service and attention Worth the praise and mention Nice decor and design Eye pleasing when you dine Original Ethiopian flavor Go there and be ready to savor

Alex M.

Yelp

My family has been coming to Zeni for over 20 years. I believe since before my son was born, and he grew up coming here often and is always on of the top choices when going to dinner. The food is always good. The service is always friendly. I love that you can have your dinner western style or traditional style. Food is served family style.

T R.

Yelp

Great restaurant! Always flavorful... only complaint... they sometimes don't have the items listed on the menu so you have to call first to make sure. The problem is... their line is ALWAYS busy and therefore you cannot get through to know if they have the dish... my suggestion: ALWAYS have the dishes that are on the menu so your customers don't have to call before deciding whether to come or not.

Zohal P.

Yelp

Ive been coming to Zeni for years now. Having visited Ethiopian restaurants all over the bay area, Zeni is by far the best in taste and quality. I grew up neighboring a lovely Ethiopian family. they were dear to our family and very close with us. I almost instantly fell in love with injera and the different variations of Wot. I loved injera so much the adults gave me injera sprinkled with just salt just so id go away. Zeni brings me back to that loving home and the carefully prepared injera served to family and loved ones. I get the ye doro wot, and something similar but with chunks of steak. I sometimes get greens but always the house salad to pair with the meal. Love you Zeni!

Vanessa Y.

Yelp

I have been going to this restaurant for over 20 years. Hands down the BEST Ethiopian food in the bay area. I usually get it to go and order the veggie combo ($30) and the ye doro tibs ($22). It's on the pricier end but the quality makes up for it. I've noticed that their picture of the veggie combo doesn't match up with what you get, they have substituted the beets (which I love) for their salad and injera salad. I really wished they would have kept those last two items because it adds freshness to the dish since it can be spicy. Today I ordered the ye doro tibs and was disappointed that it was over cooked, to the point of being burnt and the chicken was hard as a rock. We ordered from there last week and it was perfectly fine, so inconsistency is definitely a negative. I will still continue to eat there but may have to check my order before I leave next time.

Dagnachew T.

Yelp

I was the #1 fan of Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant years ago when Zeni and family owned it. After several years, I went to San Jose and was craving Zeni's kitfo and firfir :) WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT! The kitfo was not even average. It was kitfo you eat when you are very hungry. I also ordered combination plate -dorowot, Sega wot etc. It was FLAT OUT BELOW AVERAGE, WAY BELOW! In particular, the "Doro Wot" should not even be called that! It was a jock. It looked like ir was made from canned chicken you buy from Costco! I called the young who appeared to be part of the ownership and asked her if they are using canned chunk of chicken, which it was. She was upset that I asked. In short, I was charged A LOT for something I ate not even a third of. It was terrible. Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant has totally dishonored its past excellence. Sad.

Kramer M.

Yelp

While having initial doubts, this restaurant delivered a very pleasant surprise for the delicious ethiopian cuisine and authentic pleasant ambiance. However, our server had an impatient and almost condescending attitude in response to our questions. It is very doubtful that I'll dine here a second time.

Nikki M.

Yelp

The food was good no doubt! But for 25 dollars you get one single drumstick of chicken and one egg, seems a little high. The actual flavor of the chicken is good though. Service was quick and nice, no frills!

Phong T.

Yelp

Two friends and I decided to check out Zeni for Sunday dinner. We arrived around 7 PM, and it was getting busy. We wrote a name down on the waitlist. The wait was about 15-20 minutes. SERVICE Three servers were bustling: seating tables, taking orders, bringing out drinks and food, cleaning up, and settling checks. Understaff and service were subpar. The wait for our food took about half an hour. FOOD * Veggie Combo: miser wot (lentil), gomen wot (collard greens), kiki alitcha (split peas), and timatim fitfit (tomato salad). * Meat Combo: ye-beg alitcha wot (lamb stew), doro tibs (chicken), and kitfo (minced raw beef). Both combination platters came out on the same plate. The vegetables were delicious. The meats were all seasoned well. We liked the lamb and chicken most. We ordered the minced beef medium thinking they were tibs, maybe because we were hungry, and placed our order quickly. The kitfo is hit or miss for some, but worth a try. Overall, solid Ethiopian restaurant with good food. I wish the service were better. Don't get me wrong, the staff were friendly and smiled through the dinner rush. Just not as attentive.

Lokesh G.

Yelp

We love Ethiopian food and have been to Zeni before. But this time, we found it to be very expensive, given the quantity of food. The main course was good and the price is ok. But we also ordered their mushroom appetizer dish and it was for $20. When that dish came about we were shocked to see the quantity. There were hardly any mushrooms and it was full of only white onions. This was so not worth it. Compared to their veg combo for $30, this cost for the appetizer was not reasonable at all.

Jocelyn S.

Yelp

Zeni is fantastic. Eating here is so much fun, with how interactive Ethiopian food is. My table of 4 shared a kitfo (seared), a vegetarian combo, and a ye doro tibs which was like a sauteed chicken dish. We were all super full and had leftovers. We also enjoyed the honey wine which was pretty sweet and only barely boozy. Service is great, no complaints. I appreciate the open sink in the back because you eat with your hands. Parking is abundant in the lot.

Shikha H.

Yelp

It's an awesome place to bring someone who is vegetarian or vegan. Plenty of options and all are delicious. Came here again after several years and it's still as good as before. I brought my mom here who is a vegetarian and Ethiopian cuisine is now her favorite cuisine after of course home made food. So it was that good for veg. Recommend to try this restaurant if this is your first time trying Ethiopian cuisine. They have a part of the restaurant that has more of a traditional theme in terms of the seating arrangement but the food and service is all the same so you can choose what works for you. Dishes: The base of almost all the dishes is the Injera which is soft and gluten free! I tried the veggie combo since that comes with 5 sides. The red lentil gravy called the misser wot was our fav from all the 5 sides.

Pralabh D.

Yelp

One of the best places in Bay Area for Ethiopian food. Absolutely love their Doro Wot and Sambusa. Parking can sometimes be a challenge and there can be long wait times depending on your time of arrival. I have been going here for years and find there is no wait if you are okay with an little early lunch or dinner.

Ruchi B.

Yelp

There are very few ethiopian restaurants in bay area and this place is the only one that stands out. They have a whole vegetarian friendly menu options. The food was flavorful, perfectly spiced. Went with family for very late lunch and there was no line, got the table and service was fast.

Tamara M.

Yelp

I'm at a loss for words except to express....yum lol Spicy in all the right places. The spiced tea is a staple along with the bread and the baklava.

Jerry Y.

Yelp

Pros: - Dishes were unique and fantastic Ethiopian cuisine with portions that will get you full really quick! Every dish was flavorful, vibrant, and delicious - Drink menu with non-alcoholic, selection of Ethiopian can beers, wine, and hard liquor neat or on the rocks - Uses Yelp waiting list system so can book ahead of time and through the app. No reservations for parties under 6 Cons: - Not very kids friendly as most dishes have a strong spice and would not be something most younger kids be into - Eat with hands and sharing portions which might be a turn off for people who want to eat with ppl that might be outside family or a close friend - Service can be slow during a busy weekend due to being understaffed Overall- this place is great and definitely will get your Ethiopian fix or want to try something different and new!

Kimberly C.

Yelp

Came here on a Wednesday evening and it was busy! Luckily there was a table open and we were seated immediately. We ordered the vegetarian combo and meat combo. For my first time eating Ethiopian food, I enjoyed my experience. There is a separate hand-washing sink by the restroom which was convenient. I liked eating the injera with the different combinations of meats and veggies. The injera itself is spongy, slightly sour, and reminded me of sourdough. Some of the veggies and meats didn't taste salted enough for me. The overall dish is super filling as you have to get a good amount of injera to scoop up the food. I shared the whole platter with 2 others and we were barely able to finish it! Our food took a while to come out, which is understandable. We were checked on a few times while eating. The overall restaurant is pretty small. The restroom is clean and welcoming.

J Christian E.

Yelp

My first time trying Ethiopian cuisine. Overall liked the experience and dish I ate. The ambience of the place is pretty cool, love the traditional items they had inside. My only suggestion would be on the customer service side. Our waiter wasn't as helpful answering some questions we had about some of the dishes--luckily google was our friend. The food is delicious and definitely can share between 2-4 people each order. I got the Ye Beg Tibs Fir Fir which was lamb oriented. Most of the dishes come with Injera (Ethiopian Crepe) and they are so fluffy. I found it to be on the yeastier side for my liking. For me personally, I probably should of ate breakfast prior as this was my first meal of the day so the yeast-taste was going through me pretty fast. The Injera has a bunch of holes too so if you have a phobia of holes, highly recommend not going.

Latte Queen W.

Yelp

Wonderful food. The vegetable and lamb entrees were so good. For dessert, they serve warm baklava. I've never had warm baklava before and it absolutely heightens the flavor. I was blissed out eating it along with a cup of Ethiopian coffee. Would definitely come back.

Misti P.

Yelp

Amazing food and great service. We had the meat sampler plate and everything was delicious!!

Kent L.

Yelp

I'm not a vegetarian but the vegetarian sampler platter was amazing. Super flavorful assortment of options, served with a slightly sour puffy airy tortilla kinda thing. The food was extremely good. I think the place has a mandatory 20% gratuity. I have nothing against paying fair wages, but if it's mandatory across the board, I would rather the pricing be transparent and just increase the price of all menu items by 20%. Also, having the mandatory gratuity notification hang out right next to the QR code for you to self-order food felt kinda weird...it's kinda like paying a service surcharge but doing all the work yourself. Despite my complaining, I'd come back and would recommend the place to friends.

H K.

Yelp

One of my new favorite spots. Lovely ambience, friendly service, and absolutely delicious food. It's worth noting that they have really good vegetarian options here too. I regret having not checked it out sooner.

Betsy L.

Yelp

Sadly, I used to love this place but can no longer recommend it. The last two times we drove across town to go here. The portions are rediculously small now. I thought they used to give you delicious salad with the combos but now it is $12 for a so so salad added. We ordered a veggie combo and a beef order and amonst 1 adult 3 children we left hungry. I told my kids that we could get some snacks later since this was an early dinner. They wanted more of the beef. Which was good but definitely not worth spending over $20 more.

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The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in San Jose and the South Bay | Eater SF

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Best Restaurants in San Jose (2025)

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Zeni

Neel S.

Google

aq X.

Google

april

Google

Sumana M

Google

Kiran R.

Google

We thoroughly enjoyed the vegetarian combo. It comfortably serves two people, although we did add a side of Injera.

Caroline

Google

Ganesh B

Google

Vivian L.

Google

Linda M.

Yelp

Umily H.

Yelp

Kathy T.

Yelp

Elyse L.

Yelp

Richard C.

Yelp

Daman T.

Yelp

Kate T.

Yelp

Mona A.

Yelp

Ken C.

Yelp

Shobhana V.

Yelp

Caitlin T.

Yelp

Rosa B.

Yelp

Sumedha D.

Yelp

Ethan W.

Yelp

Abhilasha S.

Yelp

Victor L.

Yelp

Amie N.

Yelp

Arpita H.

Yelp

Kathy L.

Yelp

Me Iz S.

Yelp

Teda S.

Yelp

Hannah C.

Yelp

Beatrice Z.

Yelp

Alice R.

Yelp

Dana L.

Yelp

Michelle T.

Yelp

Dan D.

Yelp

Alex M.

Yelp

T R.

Yelp

Zohal P.

Yelp

Vanessa Y.

Yelp

Dagnachew T.

Yelp

Kramer M.

Yelp

Nikki M.

Yelp

Phong T.

Yelp

Lokesh G.

Yelp

Jocelyn S.

Yelp

Shikha H.

Yelp

Pralabh D.

Yelp

Ruchi B.

Yelp

Tamara M.

Yelp

I'm at a loss for words except to express....yum lol Spicy in all the right places. The spiced tea is a staple along with the bread and the baklava.

Jerry Y.

Yelp

Kimberly C.

Yelp

J Christian E.

Yelp

Latte Queen W.

Yelp

Misti P.

Yelp

Amazing food and great service. We had the meat sampler plate and everything was delicious!!

Kent L.

Yelp

H K.

Yelp

Betsy L.

Yelp

Zeni

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The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in San Jose and the South Bay | Eater SF

25 Essential South Bay Area Restaurants

4 Excellent Ethiopian Restaurants in San Francisco

4 Excellent Ethiopian Restaurants in San Francisco

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The Best Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in San Jose and the South Bay | Eater SF

25 Essential South Bay Area Restaurants

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4 Excellent Ethiopian Restaurants in San Francisco