Star Coffee Restaurant

I ordered the meat combo for lunch, which comes with vegetable sides. The waitress kindly guided me away from the medium, which would have been far too much food for one person. Even the small left me with leftovers for days! The food was super spicy and flavorful - I would definitely go again. It’s set up as a kind of a sports bar - so I bet it’s fun for dinner!

My husband and I found ourselves here after a mishap getting a rental car. We have never had Ethiopian food before and didn't know what to expect. Everyone inside was kind and welcoming. The staff did a great job checking in on us as well. It was fun to see the people around us laughing, enjoying each other's company, and playing games. We ordered the Misir Wot to share, and oh my God it was so delicious!! We didn't get it spicy, but the flavors were incredible and it was so much fun to eat!

I’ve come to this restaurant a few times for takeout, and unfortunately, my experiences have consistently been disappointing. The customer service here is very poor — staff are often rude and unhelpful, which makes the whole experience unpleasant. Good customer service is important for any business, especially when people are coming in and spending their money, and this is an area that needs serious improvement. The food itself also does not live up to expectations. It doesn’t taste authentic, and it often feels like it was prepared without much care. On top of that, the restaurant could do much better in terms of cleanliness. I honestly expected more from an Ethiopian restaurant, both in flavor and hospitality. With some effort in customer service, food quality, and cleanliness, this place could be so much better — but right now, I can’t recommend it.

This place was amazing. The food was incredible and the atmosphere is a lot of fun. I'll definitely return.

The interior is very hole-in-the-wall/divey. My table was crooked to the salt shaker would slide off the table if I didn't hold it in place with napkins. It took 45 minutes for my food to come, and each item was a different temperature. Some warm, some burned my mouth. The meat combo I ordered was $18, but my bill itemized it as $20, which I also didn't appreciate. The flavors of the food weren't spectacular either. Some of my beef dishes were too fatty or chewy. Won't be coming back.

Wonderful food and big portions! We ordered the large combo and it was a legit 5-6 meals. Injera was great, wait staff brought us more when we needed it. Good variety of dishes and just the right level of heat!

I often ordered a vegetarian combo here for 4 years and ate it in the restaurant or take home. There is a bar near the entrance area and it is always busy. Please note that the parking lot is a little small. I mostly order by phone and take to go, but it's very fast and easy. This vegetable combo was disappointing because of the lack of volume. It feels better to eat in the restaurant. I like Injera and the vegetarian combo is healthy option, has a different flavor and taste and very delicious. The service is average and not bad.

Brought my girlfriend for her first experience with Ethiopian food and we really enjoyed it. Definitely a lively louder atmosphere with the bar at the front but that wasn't an issue for us. Ordered a meat and vegetarian combo. The portions were great.

This is a real family place to relax and enjoy a good Ethiopian meal Every one was humble nice and respectful I was from out of town and speaking with Natives that worked at the Airport Told me about this restaurant I was very pleased to get some real food Its not to far from the airport and has real delicious food A+

My favorite dish "Vegetarian Combo " and Ginger drink. I usually order over the phone and pick up at the restaurant, but this time we ate in. The store is quite lively and the staff are friendly. There is parking in front and behind the store, but it gets crowded on weekends. At night, the music is loud so it can be difficult to order at the booth. I recommend the vegetarian combo and the warm ginger drink.

Star Coffee Restaurant is wonderful!! The food was delicious; we got a medium combo and received so much for the price. The place was lively with conversations and people playing pool, so we felt good about staying a while to hang out and chat. The lovely people working were very welcoming and friendly! Will definitely come back here.

It's been almost a decade since the last time I dined here and it seems that a lot have changed since then. The place is way bigger now and looks like it has expanded and you can actually buy the ingredients next door. That is very convenient for those who want to eat more and cook later, assuming you know how to make Ethiopian dish. But that's not all, they have remodeled the bar, added a couple of huge flat screens for sport lovers, (I was watching March madness) and also have a pool table in the back. It looks like the menu was upgraded as well and they offer every single Ethiopian dish you can think of, they even sell Irgo(Ethiopian drink made out of cottage cheese). Their service is amazing as usual, we had two very friendly waitresses as well as the owner who was frequently checking if there was anything else we needed. We had a veggie combo and fish Cotelet I think, k always get the fish type mixed up but either way, it was delicious. The price was very reasonable and their latte is incredible, you should give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

great fast friendly service , great food, great ambiance and music! we want to come back here, its a great before or after seatac spot!

Be careful with some of the menu descriptions. I ordered something that said it had a "mild" flavor but it came out loaded with spicy peppers. I'm not one prone to acid reflux but the food was so hot it burned a whole in my stomach. The service was pretty lackluster as well. The young server was more keen to spend time with coworkers or family or friends behind the bar. We had to really wave her down to get her to refill waters with burning mouths. Also? For coffee, the menu had almost no coffee. You had two options: Ethiopian black coffee (which we had to ask for creamer when we finally did get the attention of our server) and a latte. With Coffee in the restaurant name? I expected more variety. It appears the place is mostly a bar that opens to a storefront attached in the rear. BUT! The injera is made with teff (as it should be) so it was gluten free. Too many other places make theirs with regular flour, so it's helpful to find an authentic place for a celiac like me. Personally? I didn't like the food. It was so spicy I couldn't taste the meat/veg. Even with daal to buffer it--it was just too expensive for food that hurt to eat and couldn't enjoy.

Tried the veggie combo, as well as an extra order of shiro wot. This place does it how it's meant to be done. Extremely proper Ethiopian food. Injeera you have to make sure to order 100% teff if you want the good stuff. Definitely would come back and the staff was all friendly

**vegetarian review** I recently got into Ethiopian food. Star coffee restaurant is located in a small space, which you can easily overlook.I came for lunch around 3pm and it was still packed. I got the veggie combo and the shiro wat. The shiro wat - omg I cannot think of last time I had something so delicious. It was heart warming and so flavourful. I would go back multiple times just for this. The veggie platter has a little of everything and is quite delicious as well, but for me shiro wat was the star! Overall well priced and super filling.

A couple meals for two! They give large portions which is a plus. We got the Vegetable Combo combined with their most popular meat option (a beef dish). It is a very long wait - at least a half hour - and the place is loud. More like a party club vibe than a dining restaurant. My husband and I were feeling adventurous so I liked the Ethiopian food. Just a few things to note are the loud music, lateness and the quality was okay. I wouldn't visit again but it was a good try. I would recommend doing take out rather than dining in.

To call this a coffee restaurant is a little misleading: it's amazing Ethiopian cuisine that's completely authentic. Most of the folks dining there are Ethiopian, matter of fact. We tried the Tibs FirFir, a lean lamb grilled and diced, and Gomen Be-Siga, a sizzling beef and collard greens. Both come served on the large trays with injera, the slightly sour, soft, sponge bread that you tear off to grab and eat food off of the tray. We had a couple of beers from Ethiopia that were awesome! Service was great. Parking was decent. Do go with friends and share lots of dishes!

My coworkers and I love coming here to get their veggie combo. This is the only Ethiopian restaurant i've been to the Seattle area but I think their injera and their veggie curries are delicious! I've also tried their meat combo, which is beef and chicken in various sauces and is also very good, but I prefer the veggie combo. One veggie combo is perfect to share with two people. Maybe it's the injera, but the food is extremely filling! And it's so fun to eat and share - you eat with your hands! No utensils allowed! The servers are always very kind. Solid lunch spot that we return to over and over again!

The Ethiopian food here is to die for. The clientele dining in is almost exclusively Ethiopian people, which tells you a lot about the food quality. The atmosphere inside is usually loud, but it's loud because it's full of people having a great time. The prices are very reasonable; probably the best I've found for Ethiopian food in the area. You should check it out!

Just got off a flight from Cali and was starving! Star Coffee not only hits the spot but they're insanely generous with the portion sizes and the service is quick! The restaurant in itself is insanely clean and well kept. Highly recommend for anyone wanting some authentic Ethiopian at a reasonable price.

You know it's a good sign when you walk into an Ethiopian restaurant and the patrons are all Ethiopian. Casual restaurant/bar with TV's, music, and incense, plus I think there's maybe a market and/or pool room in the back. We had our favorite dishes, but everything on the vegetarian combo plate was supremely delicious. Our friends really enjoyed the bozena shiro as well. Ginger tea is delightfully sweetened. And I love their selection of Ethiopian beers as well. Service was friendly, and everything came out promptly. Looking forward to returning.

I ordered meat combo $30 It was worth the money, the food was delicious and the customer service was 100/100. I will go there again

It's unfortunate that every single time we order Togo for pick up, it's always the wrong order, it happened one too many times and I will say my husband and I will not come back. We ordered the meat combo and we received food that was not it. I will post a photo. $30 for this... that's a shame. Also I'm just tired of calling to let them know.

The food was warm when our server said it was "made fresh". We could tell she didn't want to serve us. It was very loud and we could visibly see our server drinking alcohol at the bar.

This place has been on my radar for a while, mostly because of the recommendations from the Yelp community and their late hours appeal to somebody with service industry hours like myself. It's also easy to get to since it's right off the freeway. I've tried perhaps 3 Ethiopian restaurants and this is the first place that offers in 3 different sizes; small, medium, large. We were going to order large, but the server suggested that medium is plenty for 2 people so I appreciate the honesty. Be prepared that it's going to be messy since you will be eating with your hands, but it's just so much more authentic that way with all the favors soaking in. Probably juices will be running down your mouth too. Yep, that's how we roll. Casual. Kind of divey. Homey. Whatever you want to call it. Tell me about your experience if you've been here or is going to after reading this review:)

I use to go to star coffee every other week because I love Shiro Wat, but the more I go there, the more the service started sucking. At first their shiro wat was good and I ordered shiro wat only there. Eventually, I started ordering over door dash and the shiro wat started to get gross. Just to add, We keep asking for jalapeño and the girl there kept saying "there is some in the bag", this happened 3x time. The young girls attitude is awful, and she is very lazy to serve her customers properly. I thought id have a change of heart and go there again once more, bad idea; Today 02/13/2023, I ordered shiro wat and Qaunta firfir over the phone, my boyfriend picked it up and lo & behold, I got powdery shiro wat and bone dry firfir

Ordered the Veggie combo for take out. Delicious! Love the variety of vegetable dishes and types of vegetables and proteins. Everything is mild spice wise. One dish $18 was enough for two people. Pay note: They don't accept pay via phone apps like Apple pay.

The service was horrible we ordered our food to go which was beef tips and two coffees we never received our food after waiting for 30 mins the waitress brought us one tea that we never asked for. After waiting longer we never received our food so we just walked out I will never return there again thanks for nothing

This is some of the best Ethiopian food I have ever had. THE BREAD. I live for this bread!! Try this place out, you will love it.

Enjoyable Ethiopian food. I've stopped by a couple of times when it was supposed to be open and it wasn't. You take your chances.

Came here on a Thursday afternoon and it was pretty busy which is always a great sign! Clean and fast service and also has a full bar. I got the vegetarian combo and the portion size was huge also came with another side of injera. The yellow lentils that I believe are mixed with some sort of sweet corn was my favorite but everything had its own flavor yet still went so well all together. I will be back for sure

Food was pretty bland. Service was good. Felt welcome by staff not other customers lol

You know a place is going to be good when most of the people eating there are from the same ethnic background as the food being served. That was a good sign as soon as we walked in. The staff were so warm and inviting. The tables are low to the ground and very cute, unlike any place I have been before. Now let's talk about the food. So. Freaking. Good. My friend and I ordered the veggie platter and small meat platter, served on one tray and it was more than enough food for the two of us. I got to eat it the next day for leftovers. I had to be that basic white girl who took a picture to document it (and I didn't realize my flash was on, sigh). But glad I can at least post my picture here. You all need to try this place. Probably the best Ethiopian food I have ever had.

This place was SUCH a treat. They open at 11 (contrary to what we saw on Yelp!) and we got very lucky and they accommodated us a bit early for some takeout. It was delicious and really hit the spot. Their injera is a little more sour than average, but we liked it that way. I ate a lot, but still had leftovers for dinner and a little left for breakfast!

Overall, Star Coffee is a nice option for some good Ethiopian food. You know it's legit when locals come for the eats and you're not it's normal customer base. Located on International Blvd, it was both a convenient but somewhat difficult place to find because it was on a side corner on 160th Ave. We ordered the meat combo ($30), which easily fed (3) people. There was some good flavor and spice to the dish, but some of the meats (lamb) were a little dry. I still definitely prefer the food and value / price at Sunset Cafe in comparison (which is a must try!) but Star Coffee is a good alternative if you don't want to travel to Rainier Ave and you want to change it up everyone once in a while.

Fabulous Ethiopian food in a noisy atmosphere. Genuine and enjoyable. Parking can be a challenge if it gets busy.

I'm giving three stars, to balance out the fact that their food is five stars, but the fact that no one was wearing a mask deserves only one star. The server placing a mask on to bring the food every isn't enough when no one else is and they show that they are picking and choosing when to wear them. The food is good but I won't be returning. No food is worth getting covid over.

Found this place while looking for some food after a night out. I am definitely coming back. You have to get the coffee as I think it was one of the best coffees I have ever had. We also got the vegetarian & meat combo dishes. It catered to everyone in my group from vegan to meat eaters. The portions are huge so if you have a group that eats small I would recommend starting off with one plate and getting more if you're still hungry. We did have to wait for a while for our food but it was definitely worth the wait.

This place came highly recommended from one of my students, so since I happened to be in the area, I decided to give them a shot. From the moment we walked in the door, we were instantly welcomed and greeted by a nice gentleman (by the end of our visit, I assumed he was the owner). Upon us seating ourselves, a very sweet young lady immediately made her way over to bring us water and menus. When she returned to take our orders I explained we had never been here or had Ethiopian cuisine before and she recommended several dishes we may enjoy. Upon delivery of our food, the presentation was picture perfect and the smell was delightful. At first bite, I was in HEAVEN. My daughter ordered the Beef Tibs and I the Gomen Be-Siga. Overall our experience at Star Coffee was very pleasant and warm. I loved the ambiance and the family atmosphere that was displayed while we were dining amongst the staff and patrons. I also appreciated that although were were not of the same culture, we were treated as if we were just as important to the staff as anyone else in there. Thank you!

Batam konjoni... delicious Ethiopian ethnic food generous servings amazing staff.... Go taste for yourself...

I had never been for Ethiopian Food and stumbled upon Star Coffee before my departing flight back to Sacramento...this place was AMAZING! I will say it was a little loud for my comfort level but the delicousness of the food combated the noise real quick. Our server was a young lady who was simply fantastic. the Injera was sour and could be compared to a sourdough / rye bread and was super spongy and crepe like. The beef tibs were so good I went to Pinterest in an attempt to learn how to make them at home. Star Coffee, you really set the bar high...I hope I can find a spot like yours out here in Sacramento :)

I came here 4 times within a month. It proves this place is really worth to try. They serve exotic Ethiopian food and pretty damn good espresso. Beef Awaze Tibs taste the best. The spice is at the right amount. The last time I tried (yesterday) was a bit chewy but overall the taste was still there. They make really good coffee. I always ordered either latte or espresso with my meal. It is a perfect match. So far, I give this place 5 stars. Staffs - Super friendly. The place runs by one server, who is usually there. I always get the same server, and she is nice and informative. I guess other servers might come to help when they have a game or event. Ambient - cozy. It is a well lid inside. I can tell right away this is a place to hang out for Ethiopian folks. I just sat there like a tourist but never ever get anything awkward feeling. They are friendly and smile. Cleanliness - clean, even cleaner than my place. Food - Superb. The spice is right. The last time was a bit chewy for Aware Tibs but the first 3 times were good. Try it yourself.

I had the vegetarian combo which was an insane value at $13. It can feed 3 people. Food very flavorful. The injera was the most soft and fluffy I've ever had.

My favorite place to go as I head home from the airport. Really good portions and totally delicious food for a fair price.

I went here recently with a friend as we were both very interested to try this new restaurant and we love Ethiopian food. We liked our food a lot - it's very authentic and their Doro Wat was seasoned just right and the chicken was very tender and juicy. I highly recommend this dish at Star Coffee. The staff were very nice and we were served fairly quickly after being seated. The restaurant is clean and inviting, with plenty of parking available right outside. As the name indicates, they have a variety of coffee drinks, beers, and other alcoholic drinks that are from Ethiopia, and they're all worth a try. We weren't able to on this trip, but we will be back soon to try some. Recommend stopping in for coffee or drinks or, better yet, drinks and food!

As a business owner I don't understand why yelp customers are always angry if you have nothing good to say then don't post it : well here is my review I love the food and vibe .Am from kenya meaning we have a diffrent type of tradition food ,culture ,music name it but I love how welcoming they were we even got to play our music and dance ooh my I feel so comfortable .....Thankyou soo much I'll be coming back as much as I can ooh the food my favorite be blessed keep it up

the customer service was so bad. I pronounce a dish wrong and she laughed at me to another waitress. then came back and asked me what else I wanted with my meal, so I asked for the menu again and she said "I thought you already looked at the menu" in the snottiest most disrespectful tone. we ended up leaving before we finished ordering.

The interior is very hole-in-the-wall/divey. My table was crooked to the salt shaker would slide off the table if I didn't hold it in place with napkins. It took 45 minutes for my food to come, and each item was a different temperature. Some warm, some burned my mouth. The meat combo I ordered was $18, but my bill itemized it as $20, which I also didn't appreciate. The flavors of the food weren't spectacular either. Some of my beef dishes were too fatty or chewy. Won't be coming back.

If you are tired of hamburgers, subs and fries, and if you don't mind getting outside of your comfort zone, this place is for you. You will also need to master the art of forgetting what your Mom taught you when you were two, that is you shouldn't eat it with your hands, but it is all good and it is fun. Simple, traditional Ethiopian menu. Food is hearty and tasty. You might be the only Westerner and they might be puzzled at you being there asking for their food, but it is worth the effort.

Their food is so delicious!!!! My first time going to an ethiopian food and i was very satisfied. I came in and had no idea what to order, so the server recommended the small combo. It was a lot for 1 person, haha would definitely recommend it for 2-3 ppl. Overall i had a good experience! Would def recommend and come back here again!

This place is delicious and was an absolute delight! We go their large meat combo which came with lamb, two beefs, and spicy chicken. The chicken and lamb were super tender, but one of the beef was over cooked. There was also a lot of veggies on the platter. The large combo can easily feed 3 hungry people and is only $30! The portion was huge! The staff was really nice. If you're ever in the area craving Ethiopian food, definitely give this place a try!

Amazing Ethiopian food! The family that runs the restaurant is so lovely, I met their daughter who was incredibly friendly and knowledgeable, this is a warm and inviting restaurant. The injera was so fresh and flavorful, I had the veggie platter and it was perfection on a plate. I'll be back to this restaurant for years to come! Delicious vegan eats :)

I love everything this coffee place stands for. I highly recommend their coffee it's very good and the owner is an awesome person who cares about other people. I feel bad when businesses like this Get one star reviews from psycho freak shows who literally scour Yelp like nut jobs talking smack to literally complete strangers in their spare time. Sad all the nut job Karen's out there

Three strikes and they are out! Even though the service was poor, after having one really good meal at Star Coffee, I was looking forward to going back. I enjoy good Ethiopian food and can normally ignore poor service. The second time I was there they were out of pretty much everything, service was extra-special poor, and there were a bunch of guys hanging around the bar who kept staring at us (leering, really). To add to the ambiance, they decided to "test" their music system. They had it turned up so loud that it was near painful. My friend and I quickly finished our meal and left. It seemed fair to assume that they were having an off day, so I made the mistake of going back. The third time I went the service was even worse, the men sitting at the bar were staring even more (seriously, get some manners...it was just plain creepy.), and they turned on the music again. It was so loud that I decided to use the decibel meter on my phone; it was 140dB! Imagine trying to order a meal when it's so loud that you can't even think straight. We asked the server if they could turn the music down. She said something about "testing" the system and walked away. Seriously, how many times do they need to test a sound system? There is no way I could sit there; the creepy guys at the bar, the ear-damaging noise, and ridiculously poor service. Sadly, their food is good, but the service and atmosphere is horrible. They could have the absolute best food in the area and still not be worth another icky experience. JFYI: If you do decide to try it out, and run into the same issues, I'd recommend walking around the corner to the Thai place. Their service is excellent, the restaurant quiet and pretty, and the food is yummy (try the Crispy Garlic Chicken!).

This review is based on food that was delivered and not ate at the restaurant. We ordered the following: Kitfo Gomen with Siga ZilZil Tibs I believe it was the ZilZil tibs that were completely burnt and weren't edible. We chewed and chewed and chewed and still couldn't swallow. When I say it was the worst Ethiopian food I've ever had, I mean it 101% was the worst I've ever had. The injera was extremely fresh and well made, but that was it. I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. Not when all 3 dishes were made horribly and we were unable to eat any of it. It was a complete waste and we had to complain to the delivery service to get our money back. It may have been a bad night, seeing as how they have numerous 5-star reviews. However, the food delivered was completely unacceptable.

Horrible service!!! If you're not Ethiopian don't go. Unsanitary and cold food after requesting it be served HOT!!! The waitress with the off blonde hair was only weird about her looks, she repeatedly touched her hair and butt then served our food. Never did she wash her hands, her mask was off after preparing our food wrong..... Very disrespectful to her culture and to those that are visiting the state.