Sengatera Ethiopian Restaurant

The food came out cold, and the portions were skimpy! The lady who dropped off the food barely acknowledged us and didn't pause to check on us before leaving. There flavors were pretty good, but nothing was exceptional. The decor was interesting but the server was this shy girl who talked with a whisper and definitely didn't welcome us or give us any sort of context.

I have tried their Special which has all veggies and meat options. It was very authentic and delicious. I would definitely suggest for any one who would like to experience true authentic Ethiopian food.

Delicious, flavorful and delightful. Sengatera was my first experience eating Ethiopian food and I was so amazed. Everything was delicious and very reasonably priced. Atmosphere was laid back and casual and service was friendly and quick. 10/10!

We've been looking for a standout Ethiopian restaurant ever since our fav on NE Broadway closed several years ago. This one isn't it. The food is is fine, but not the deep, earthy flavors we know to be great Ethiopian cuisine. The family's service was excellent, and they took care of everything we needed. The atmosphere isn't why we come to any restaurant, but there didn't seem to be care taken here with the decor, ND a sticky exterior door that we had to close ourselves to keep the cold out was annoying. We'll keep looking...so thankful that Portland has many choices for this wonderful cuisine.

Great find in Portland. Service was good; help with the menu would have been nice, it had to be obvious my crew were new to Ethiopian food. We essentially guessed at what looked good..... Food was absolutely amazing. Home cooked, authentic spices, nothing was pre-cooked. I'd go back anytime.

Sizable and tasty portions of vegetarian Ethiopian staples! I got the lentil sambusa and vegetable combination, with extra injera. Most of the vegetarian dishes were about what one would expect, but the keyser/beet dish really stood out! It had incredible texture and flavour. I'd never had sambusa before, and they were perhaps the stars of the meal. Crispy, light, and delicious! Pricing is incredibly reasonable, with one combination+appetizer easily covering either 2 people or 1 person's 2 meals. The injera was also great, and we had extra to have with shakshuka at home the next day! :)

Chicken and eggs tasted like they'd been prepped and staged for consumption a week earlier. My wife and I agreed that it was the worst Ethiopian food we've had in Portland based on the meat/protein. Veggie dishes were good though.

Sengatera Ethiopian Restaurant offers a delightful culinary experience, with a standout recommendation being the Vegetable Combination and Sengatera Special. The Vegetable Combination is a flavorful medley of fresh, well-prepared vegetables that showcase the richness of Ethiopian cuisine. The Sengatera Special, undoubtedly a highlight, brings together a harmonious blend of spices and textures, making it a must-try for those seeking an authentic and satisfying dining experience.

I fell in love with Ethopian food again, after coming to this restaurant. The injera bread is bountiful and tasty, while serving as a great compliment to the delicious vegetarian and non-vegetarian options offered. The portions are tremendous, and the ambiance adds to the perfect meal to share with family and friends. The veggie combination is the perfect entry point, as it allows you to sample all of the offerings without blindly committing to food the patron might be unfamiliar with. For the more carnivorous at heart, the tibbs chicken and the doro wot hit the spot. Either way, many are in for a treat if they venture into Sengatera and allow the great hospitality and food to take over.

Very good food and price. With some decor this place would be hard to get a seat. But I don't go out for decor

Sengatera under new ownership is DELICIOUS!! For three people, we ordered three sambusas and the Sengatera special. It was a lot of food, and we inhaled it all. Perfect level of spice for me (I'm a medium spicy person), and flavors were complex and delicious. Service was so friendly. I am bookmarking this place as one of my Portland's favs.

I called in to order to go, it was ready within 20 mins like they said. They are currently only doing Pick Up or Delivery. There is plenty of street parking in the neighborhoods surrounding the restaurant that you can park at. There is also street parking in front of the restaurant. FOOD: Meat Combination: It comes with 4 choices of meat, I got Tibbs Beef, Doro Wot, Key Wot, and Tibbs Chicken. The quality of beef was not that good, it was very dry and chewy, however, the spices used provided a nice flavor. My favorite from this combination was the Key Wot and the Tibbs Chicken. The chicken was very moist and tender. The combo of meat we got made the food spicy, but it was not too spicy. Veggie Combination: It comes with a sample of 7 different veggie dishes (Yemisir Wot, Aterkik Alicha, Ye'abesha Gomen, Shiro wot, Tekil Gomen, Timatim Fitfit, and Keyser), My favorite was the Ye'abesha Gomen (fresh collard greens) and Aterkik Alicha. Injera: They provided plenty of extra injera for the food.

My fiancé and I just ate at this great new place. We got the Sangatera Special, and it was just excellent. Free helped us, and she was so friendly. Really looking forward to coming back!

Food was a bit cold, and under spiced. Brought out or appetizer and no napkins. Middle of the road experience. There's better in town.

Stepping into the restaurant is such a surreal experience. The interior is decorated with pelt tapestries, Ethiopian style chairs and tables, pictures and paintings of village scenes and people, and a massive poster stretching across the ceiling with the Ethiopian flag and Ethiopian characters. It truly felt like an authentic environment where we could feel the weight of history and legacy during our meal. The food isn't just food at Senegatera, it's an expression of cultural pride. We felt that pride at our exit when I asked if I could take a picture with one of the table top covers. "How?" asked the proprietor of the restaurant, a soft spoken humble man with a kind smile. "As a hat. It kind of looks like one," I replied. "I want all this in the background too." I gestured to the decorated interior. In a calm voice the man said "That would not be right. You would be covering your head with what we use to cover our food." I was embarrassed, but the man had explained it in such a kind way that I didn't become defensive. In fact, I admired the man immensely for placing cultural respect and integrity over pleasing a paying customer. It's very rare to find people who can be morally correct without being condescending or harsh. The food is fantastic, but it's the foundation of family and moral values that will keep me coming back to Senegatera.

Sengatera is the best Ethiopian Restaurant in Portland both in terms of service and test. Kitfo Dullet is one of my favorite dishes.

Terrific seasonings; just right spicy. Vegetarian options super excellent; meat options spice was good, meat a little dry. Ordered with Uber.

My wife and I had a truly lovely time at the new Sengatera, under new ownership. The service was exceptionally warm and the food was delicious. The owner seems to be new to the restaurant industry, so I'd suggest coming here with patience and a sense of humor - it's worth the wait for the taste and the charm.

Amazing food! Very friendly staff and great ambience. Highly recommend Sengatera Special for the full experience

I've been coming here for several years. I really think they have the best Ethiopian food in Portland! It's always super flavorful and fresh. The staff are friendly and attentive. They also have a fun range of Ethiopian beer and wine options. Everything is super shareable. I always leave happy and full!

First time at Sengatera but it won't be the last. The food was delicious and the service very quick and friendly.

Great food and service. The place is cozy and the have a bar as well. Don't miss out on the Veggie Combo. Great Ethiopian food.

Ordered the Sambusa, Veggie Combo, and Doro Wot for dinner last night and I had a real good time! The delivery was quick and the food was hot when it got to me. The restaurant was definitely very generous with their injera. I really enjoyed the spicy kick of the Doro Wot. The chicken thigh was fall off the bone soft. The Veggie Combo plate offers a great all around experience as you get to try so many different things! My favorite was the slightly sweet cabbage stew. The lentil in the Sambusa was unique. It wasn't like what I initially expected, typicall Samosa. The wrapper was more like spring roll wrapper. I wouldn't say I loved it but still I'm very glad I've tried it.

Stopped in an hour before closing on a Friday and although we were the only ones there the staff insisted we stay to dine. They graciously answered all our questions (1st time eating Ethiopian food) and even showed us the proper way to drink from one of the special vessels of authentic wine. We learned to eat with our hands using the oh so spongy, slightly tart bread. We chatted and learned some culture never feeling rushed even though later that night the joint turned to dance hall complete w Dj. Thanks for being so welcoming. We'll be back w more friends so we can order more dishes to try.

Honestly the best Ethiopian food I've had in a while. The service was great, and everything about the place really felt like home. I highly recommend this place to anyone in the area looking for a great atmosphere and excellent food!!! Come get you some.

Went here with 3 friends for dinner. We got the meat combo where you can pick any 4 dishes, and the meat and veggie combo. All of it was delicious. I'd never had Ethiopian before and was very pleased! For those who don't know, you eat with your hands, using Injera which is like a spongey crepe. All of the meats and veggie dishes had great flavor. A little bit like Indian with sauce and spices. They have a full bar; I ordered a rum & coke and it was strong and delicious. We got there right at 5 when they opened. We were the only ones there and got great service. Staff is wonderful! Go check it out!

Don't hate it and don't love it. Ordered takeout here. It's alright. Food is pretty good, but portions of the actual order are small. You do get a lot of injera though. Prices are reasonable. Overall I'd say it doesn't deserve the 1 star reviews I see. I wish they had Kitfo though! If you are new to Ethiopian food this is a great place to start as the seasoning is very light and the injera is mellow. I'm not a big fan of that personally, however The injera is not as sour/spongey as some places, and seasonings aren't as strong which can be pretty overwhelming to someone who hasn't had Ethiopian food before. So I say it is perfect for someone who hasn't had Ethiopian food before!

Amazing. Best Ethiopian food in Portland. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and served with a smile. The owners are very proud of their food and country and will gladly take the time to answer any questions.

A favorite neighborhood spot to bring visitors to. The family there is always kind and quick to serve. The veggies are the best Ethiopian ones I've had in Portland. The lamb tibs and lamb special is still super tasty. They serve Ethiopian beer and have a fun set up with classic Ethiopian tables and music videos playing in the background. It's a fun cost effective place to bring 3-6 people

Yum! Nice people and good food. They aren't open for indoor seating yet but for now you can pick up or call it in or get it delivered.

This place is so underrated. The food is incredible and wonderful service. Beware, it's spicy food but you will be satisfied till the end! The Kitfo is my favorite and extra spicy! I can also appreciate the authentic atmosphere with decor and music.

I've been eating here for years, and the food has been great every time. Each time I come in, the guys recognize me, ask how my family has been, and thank us for coming and bringing friends. It can be a little hard to decide how much food to get based on the menu, but the folks working will sneakily adjust your order for you so you have just the right amount of food - awesome. Awesome variety, great vegetarian options (get the lamb though). You will hardly ever need a reservation, which is a surprise because this place is unbelievable.

Excellent food served by Ethiopians so they are knowledgeable about the culture. We had a truly lovely evening. The vegetable sampler is the one to get. We got that and the lamb. The lamb was good but the vegetables are far more interesting and it's fun to have 7 dishes to try. Great prices, too!

This place is amazing! Everything is sooooo good! The veggie sampler plate was incredible the injera was so perfect in every way. The flavors are really fresh and you can tell they put love into their food and preparation. Will definitely return!

I came here as one of my stops to support black-owned restaurants week. One of the things that I love about Ethiopian food is that you eat it with your hands! My server recommended the vegan platter, which gave me a little taste of everything. The beets, salad and chickpeas were my favorite! The interior of this place is very unique and one of the ladies who worked there walked around with a pot of coffee beans roasting, which smelled amazing. I also loved the music that was playing and think that it would be fun to come back when they have live music!

All time best Ethiopian food AND atmosphere. Such a friendly group of people who run the place. Honestly feels like your invited into someone's home with how open and friendly they are. But the food! This is the place i take anyone who can handle spice to impress them. So much love.

Great vegan platter for 2! Injera had the perfect consistency and flavor. Lovely mix of offerings: Lentils, corn, salad, beets, etc. Cozy space and good service. Definitely coming back.

This place is authentic and cozy, I felt like I was eating food cooked by my grandmother!! The staff is so sweet and attentive. Great food and affordable. I am in looove!

After stumbling into this place looking to call a cab and charge my phone around 1am, I was greeted warmly and fed the most amazing food! It was a welcoming environment and I can't tell you enough how good the food was. They were so kind to me! I will be coming back here.

Excellent food in a friendly and inviting atmosphere. I came here for my birthday and was very happy with everything. The black label whisky was delicious as was the Tej. I highly recommend this for a totally different and fun dining experience.

Best Ethiopian we've had. Lovely people, excellent service, and great food. The decor is funky and delightful. Don't miss this one.

AMAZING FOOD!!! We went here and tried Ethiopian food for the first time. We didnt know what to expect. Reviewed menu on line before arriving and were not sure if we would like the food. We were going for an 18th birthday dinner for our foster boy. This is his favorite place. Upon arriving seemed not as clean on table and in bathroom as I would have liked. The decor was great. However when the food arrived it was AMAZING!!! It was fresh food. Loved every bite. Our group of 6 was extremely happy and enjoyed the every bit of the food. Friendly people.. but cant get over how incredible the food was, and I am a very picky eater. I would rate them 4.5 out of 5 stars, only due to tbe fact it could have been cleaner, table cloth and bathroom.

A really quaint place with good food, friendly service, and a nice homey atmosphere. Got the Sengatera plate and was not disappointed. Typical selection of dishes with some standout meat choices. A great place to have drinks and a good meal.

Drove down from Olympia for Ethiopian food. We had the veg platter and Doro wot. Everything was delicious. Delightful proprietors.

My Darling Husband and I have Meals here about Once or Twice a Month. Make sure to bring some Tums, the Foods can be really Spicy! I like the Lamb ( Tibbs ), and my Husband usually orders the Vegetable Platter, there's a lot of Food there! The Waitstaff is Very Friendly, as well. Be sure to Tip your Server!!! Great Restaurant to have a Special Date Night Meal in as well. Sometimes, we are the Only Ones in this Restaurant. Deeelicious!

customer beware! possible health risk. i would give this place less than one star if possible. i carefully read the reviews and find it shocking that someone, anyone could honestly recommend eating here. we live in the neighborhood but have never eaten here because there is never anyone inside eating. we finally decided to give it a try because of the positive reviews. i hate to break it to you but the negative reviews are spot on. the place was empty and the odd thing was it didn't smell like any food was cooking. we ordered a $30 meat and veggie combo. the food was reheated and most of it was still cold. the injira was stale. oil soaked the injira on the bottom of the platter until it was a soppy orange. the chicken was spoiled. i hade to spit it out of my mouth mid-chew. this place is a major health risk and i am calling the county in the morning. be warned.

This might be the friendliest and tastiest place to eat in all of Portland. Unassuming from the street. The food is flavorful, thoughtfully presented, and can accommodate nearly and restrictive diet. More could be said about the excellent food but I must not forget to mention the familial atmosphere created by the hosts. This is not your typical tip-begging, scripted faux-friendly approach. This is the experience of spending time with genuinely kind people who are invested in your experience.

You're in for a treat for all your senses. I've tried nearly every Ethiopian place in PDX. Compared each dish. Hands down this is the very best! You can taste the care they put into the food-- fresh ingredients and big variety. Great vegetarian options. I drive 2 hours to go. Wonderful staff who are inviting and leave space for you to enjoy your meal.

By far my favorite Ethiopian eatery in Portland & possible my overall favorite in the area '- The owner Afram is a consistent pleasant soul of elephantine proportions . . I love everything about this place : The food of course, the service is paralleled to love givin by endearing relatives. The interior is exactly what I look for in Ethiopian dining, being a regular of the numerous Ethiopian establishments down home in the LA area * Highly Recommended .'- '- '-

This meal was no Svengali from the Serengetti (sic), but it still put a mind freak on this humble reporter. At ten bucks, the spicy lamb deluxe was a great value and served up with a great big smile. Scarcely a word passed twixt the lady running the counter and myself, so complete was the language barrier, but these fixin's were so darn good, they were serenading me with a Nubian, King-sized Delfonics love down straight to my soul. "Didn't I blow your mind this time?" crooned that glorious sour Injera sponge bread. Why yes, yes it very much DID blow my mind. This time! See what I mean about a mind freak? That food made me wanna bum a smoke from some random person on the street, it was so friggin' good, and uh, I've never even smoked. I'm a little baffled why this place was so dead..... the Queen of Sheba just a few blocks south on MLK is almost always packed. Also, Sengatera had much niftier decor than Sheba or even E'njoni, including these giant wall hangings that sort of looked like gigando dream catchers. I know, wrong country, wrong continent, wrong friggin' hemisphere. But those succulent lamb cutlets were the very stuff of dreams, dreams literally incarnate. Maybe the place is empty 'cos the food will sing you a lullaby from which there is no awakening, or at least, there is no desire to awake. Were those tears I shed as I completed my meal, due to the incredble spices strewn in the vegetable and chick pea mix, or tears and tears of despair that the whole event was over Way. Too. Quckly.... "I've tried so many times and that's no lie It seems to make you laugh each time I cry... Didn't I do it baby, didn't I do it baaay-bay...?"

So much yum! The vegetarian combo was tasty and I'd rank this as one of my new favorite Ethiopian places.

Great food, fantastic service. I've eaten here several times after stumbling on to the place during a break in a drum workshop at Rhythm Traders across the street. I've had several of the dishes but my favorites are the collards and y'doro wat. Also, make sure you make time at the end of your meal for their Ethiopian coffee, roasted fresh for you and brought to the table for you to inspect before brewing.

Delicious vegetable combo with nice variety in spice level and texture. The colors were lovely. Since it's CoVid time, we cannot comment on service beyond that they had the food ready and that it was hot. I would prefer that restaurants not use styrofoam but understand that it might be an affordable option. If you are local, you might take a box!

Over six months had passed since I last had the sweet taste of Ethiopian food in my mouth. Prior to leaving Las Vegas, Blue Nile was my go-to place and, I must admit, I still have dreams about going there. (See previous review.) Living on the eastern side of Oregon, though, most people have never even heard of Ethiopian food. Naturally, then, there are no Ethiopian spots nearby. So, when I found myself going on a business trip to Forest Grove, there was no question that I would be heading to Portland one evening for an Ethiopian dinner. I chose this cozy spot in terms of proximity. It was warm and inviting inside, and reminded me in many ways of Blue Nile. The service was incredibly friendly, but not pushy. I ordered the vegetable combo and it didn't take too long for it to come out with the fresh injera. The meal looked very similar to the slightly differently titled 'vegetarian combo' at Blue Nile, as expected, and the spices brought back many positive memories. One thing I will say, though, is that the entire dish was spicy, save for one serving on the plate of injera. I am used to it being the other way around: the entire platter being mild, save for one spicy dish- usually the one in the middle. That is one of the things that I love about Ethiopian cuisine so much -- it is SO flavorful, one does not require the dishes to be spicy to add any zest to them. On the contrary, Ethiopian food made spicy covers up the naturally wonderful fragrances and flavors of the unique spices themselves. I would recommend this place to others, however, don't say I didn't warn you about the spice level!

Best Ethiopian food in the NE! Awesome food that washes down with a St. George beer. Bring your friends and enjoy!

This wonderful family owned restaurant is our new favorite. We always get the vegan platter, which has everything you could possible want. Beets, miser wat (spiced lentil stew), 2 salads, (one of which has jalapeños and is incredible), greens and several other items which are all delectable. You feel right at home here. I knew how to say 1 phrase. thank you, in Amharic, and one of the owners (who was off work and there with friends) gave me a lesson when I asked for help. The decor is just great, and everyone is so friendly. I watched a customer give their baby a lesson in sign language, it really feels like running into some old friends at a restaurant.

I stopped here pretty late at night on whim. What a pleasant surprise. The food was excellent (and I've had a lot of Ethiopian food), the ambience was out of this world authentic and the most friendly staff I seriously have ever met in my life. I wish I lived closer but this will be maybe a monthly treat for me.