Taste of Ethiopia I

My wife and I visited this Ethiopian restaurant and ordered the vegetarian feast combo. The food itself was absolutely delicious and showcased the complex, aromatic flavors that make Ethiopian cuisine so special. The variety of dishes served on the traditional injera bread was impressive, with standout items including the lentils (likely misir wot), which had a perfect blend of spices and richness, and the yellow split peas (kik alicha), which were buttery and comforting. Every component on the platter was flavorful and well-prepared, demonstrating genuine care in the kitchen. However, the service left something to be desired. While our server was polite, there was minimal engagement or explanation of the dishes. Even for those familiar with Ethiopian cuisine, a brief description of each item would enhance the dining experience and help diners fully appreciate the nuances of what they’re eating. The other notable issue is the dining space itself. The restaurant is in desperate need of a remodel. The worn furnishings and dated decor detract from what could be a warm, inviting atmosphere. While this didn’t affect the food quality, an updated environment would make the overall experience more enjoyable and better match the quality of what’s coming out of the kitchen. Despite these shortcomings, the authentic flavors and generous portions of the vegetarian feast make this spot worth visiting if you’re craving Ethiopian food. With some improvements to service attentiveness and the physical space, this restaurant could easily earn a higher rating. The food alone deserves praise and is the real star here.

We went around 7 pm and I think the impending ice storm scared people into staying home because we were the only table there! But the two ladies running the shop were absolutely lovely <3 This was my first time trying Ethiopian and I will definitely be back!! The Sambusas (we got beef and lentil) were my favorite part - they were SO delicious! Light and crispy and the filling was so savory. We also got the zilzil tibbs and the yemsir wot. Both were very good, especially the yemsir wot which had a bit of kick to it. Cannot wait to go back!! We had our choice of table and somehow managed to sit in the darkest spot, sorry about the dark pictures lol

If you have never tried Ethiopian food, bring your appetite, and a pallet for a wonderful, flavorful array of spices. Nothing here isn't phenomenal. Atmosphere, kind welcoming staff, and even the tea was spiced and wonderful. What a delicious introduction. The kitfo, Doro wot, lamb Gibbs, the vegetarian sampler Shiro wot are among our favorites. If you like flavor packed, do not leave without trying the Shiro Wot and the Beef Kitfo.

Taste of Ethiopia was one of the best local restaurant experiences I have had since I was a child in my hometown. The owner and staff were truly the most friendly people, going above and beyond to get to know their guests and customize the experience without being overbearing. Also the food was top notch. I’ve been to Ethiopia many times and this was as good if not better than what you can get in country. Everyone should go and the world would be a better place if more restaurants were like this.

The food here is absolutely incredible! I brought my mom to try Ethiopian cuisine for the first time, and it couldn’t have been a better experience. We ordered the Doro Wat, the vegetarian sampler, and Ethiopian coffee—all of which were rich in flavor and beautifully prepared. The staff were so warm and welcoming, which made the meal even more enjoyable. I’ll definitely be recommending this place to friends and bringing them along next time. Everyone should experience Ethiopian food at least once—it’s truly something special.

This is by far one of brightest gems in Pflugerville, and honestly in the central Texas area. Amazing food and amazing service (makes you feel like you’re having a family meal). Been coming here for years and it’s always a great meal. Always get the vegetarian set along with the lamb or beef. Family style meal with a huge family vibe. Check them out!

This is a solid 10/10 restaurant on every level. The food is always exceptional and extremely appetizing and delicious. The quality and service never seems to drop. This is the only place I go for Ethiopian food due to the exceptional flavors :) I recommend the veggie sampler so you enjoy a plethora of delicious and unique dishes

Great food and great service! Food is very flavorful and healthy. We tried “The sampler” that way we got to taste all the different curries available. Each one has its own unique flavor and goes well with Injera. Service was also great, the waitress took good care of the guests with timely checks to see if we needed more injera or anything else. Definitely recommend going out with a bunch of people so that you can try multiple dishes.

This was 5 stars for us. We got the vegetarian sampler for two (and one item we were able to ask for the option to make it vegan due to lactose intolerance even). We also added the potatoes. It was a HUGE amount of food, we felt bad we couldn't finish all the bread it was on! It also came with ample rolls of the bread for picking up the food. I would compare it to a thali platter in Indian food, but much more food and different spice profiles. We were not afraid to ask for a fork though and were glad we did! :) Each item on the sampler was unique and SO flavorful. The food is very fresh and we assume made to order-from the time we got menus to being served was 28 minutes- so expect a slower meal than fast food or a chain! The owner came out and talked to us and was very kind. We will definitely eat here again and are excited to bring friends and family as this truly is a unique experience you can't find in many American cities. Random Tip- the strong smell of the many delicious aromatic spices really permeated our clothes after we left -don't wear clothing that you can't easily wash right away lol! We could still smell the spices the next day on everything we brought in with us Haha

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, and I knew I would like it because c'mon, just look at it! But I was a little wary of how I would feel about injera. I don't have trypophobia by any means, but I was unsure about how I would feel about the texture of it. That being said, I shouldn't have worried at all, it was delicious! The texture reminded me kind of Ma Lai Go, if anyone is familiar with that. Side note: this is an awesome place to visit if you are dining with vegetarian eaters, because the vegetarian options are so bountiful. One of my favorite things we ordered though was the beef sambusas. It was hot and crispy, stuffed to the brim with flavorful beef, and the tomato-y sauce was delicious. The minchet abish was also really good. The meaty stew was so addicting, I wish they had given us more. And then we had to try the Doro Wot after hearing that it was Ethiopia's national dish! The chicken was so tender and the sauce was so creamy. I kind of expected it to be spicier, but the level it was at is probably best to appeal to everyone.

I feel really conflicted about this one. My visit started with the deep disappointment that the website is wrong and there's no lunch buffet here anymore. Also note that the hours are wrong; they open at noon, not 11am. Fortunately, the vegetarian sampler has plenty of food and is a pretty fair price when shared between two people. DEFINITELY add the potatoes, which were one of my favorite dishes, along with the cabbage. It all feels very hearty and healthy, not weighed down with oil. They're well aware of vegan options and proactively ask about it when you order vegetarian. And, while the injera isn't 100% teff, it's still spongey and satisfying. Pass on the azifa. It was pretty bland. Service was really off too. It was kind, for sure, but so slow. There was just one person waiting on the entire restaurant, so it took about 20 minutes to get our check and be able to leave. This was at lunch, not prime time, mind you. I'd give their south location a shot, but I'm not sure I'd return here.

On a spur of the moment date night my husband and I decided to try out Taste of Ethiopia! The restaurant itself is very picturesque. It's got a great feel to it. We ordered the vegetarian sampler platter and it did not disappoint! Our server was spot on with her recommendation, we ended up with some leftovers and they were delicious next day. Would highly recommend!

Tamir, our server had amazing service and was incredible especially since it was my first time having Ethiopian food. My best friend is vegan and she flew in from New Mexico which doesn't have many Ethiopian places and was craving it. We got the veggie plate with potato's and coffee and the spinach sambusas. Each dish was delicious I personally loved the red lentils and potato's the best. The coffee was the best dark, rich coffee I've ever had in my life. The spinach sambusas with the red sauce was so good. I can't wait to come back and eat this again but with the meat dishes!!!

Taste of Ethiopia is our go-to for fantastic Ethiopian food when we get the craving, and it never disappoints. We get the ultimate combo, which comes with a bunch of delicious injera and vegetarian dishes placed on top of a large plate of injera. The service is always great albeit the servers can be a bit swamped sometimes. The ambiance is cozy and has a lot of Ethiopian touches. We love this place and recommend it for all your Ethiopian food cravings!

Taste of Ethiopia is great, their portion sizes are great, and their staff are great. I would only ask for more frequent Injera refills because we go through it like crazy. Honestly, I had heard that the South Congress location was better, but I beg to differ. This location had fast service, was faster with Injera refills, and had the same quality of taste. Ethiopian food is amazing and this place really gets it to shine. We got the veggie platter and a meat dish, and overall were very pleased and full at the end. Definitely worth a try!

What a cute place! The service was great very pleasant people and informative as well. The wine, the cucumber salad, the little empanada like things (the spinach and the beef), the garlic beef and even the coffee all were a hit. This was my first time here while I was very apprehensive I was extremely happy to be taken here. I enjoy everything even eating with my hands. I will definitely return for more!

I had an amazing dinner with friends. The place was clean and inviting. Customer service was great! They're very friendly and informative. The food is delicious! We had the ultimate combo veggie platter with Doro Wot, Lamb Tibbs, and Zilzil Tibbs. Hands down the best I've ever had. Everything was so flavorful and colorful. For appetizers we had beef Sambusa. I definitely recommend this place. We love it!

Delicious Ethiopian food! We had a large group of 6 adults and 3 kids, and the restaurant was able to accommodate us easily for a Sunday lunch. We were a little surprised/disappointed that the buffet they advertise on their website is actually no longer available - they discontinued it during covid. We ordered lentil sambusas to start which the kids enjoyed but I did not find particularly impressive. For the main meal, we ordered 2 vegetarian combos and added a few non-vegetarian items - the doro wot, lamb tibbs and goat. Generous portions, unlimited injera, and every item was flavorful! I really enjoyed the vegetables and the lentils, but the doro wot was my personal favorite.

I am visiting from Houston and my hotel, the Marriott, had this restaurant listed as a recommendation. I am so glad that I went! The moment you walk in the door the aroma of garlic, goodness, and heaven slap your nose!! You are greeted with bright, warm, smiles from all of the employees. The owner asked what I would like and I asked her to pick for me. I had a lentil and beef samosa with a delicious sauce. She then had goat, cabbage, red lentils and salad brought to me. She also suggested I try the honey wine. She even schooled me on how to hold the container that the wine came in - I loved it! EVERTHING was absolutely delicious, and you could taste, smell, AND tell that it is all made with love. And, the service is simply kind, informative and attentive.

I ordered the lentil and spinach samosas. They were made to order, the filling for both kinds were appropriately seasoned with the right amount of spice for me. And the pastry puff was light and fluffy with the right amount of crunch. I highly recommend this place for people who like or want to try Ethiopian food.

Delicious Ethiopian food. The portion of the entree is good for two people. Most of the meat options are beef and lamb, but they also have many vegetarian options. The coffee is worth to try. It's pretty strong, brewed with cinnamon. I would say it's pretty good pairing with food.

I love Ethiopian food. This visit was my first time here and the first time ever for Ethiopian for the rest of the group. Although I had tentatively selected a few dishes, our server asked a few questions about what others in the group liked. She made some alternate suggestions that were fantastic--so glad we listened. Food was flavorful and really showed off their berbere. And don't miss the zimamojat or the awaze siga tibbs!

Love the veggie combo , this is the first time I remembered to take a picture before eating everything so thought I'd share! I order the veggie platter for 3 to go and lentil sambusas ! 10/10 per usual!

If you have never had Ethiopian food... this is the place to try it. Messy yummy and good! They have traditional dishes that you will enjoy. I never really tried traditional Ethiopian food till now. I have to say this place made me enjoy it. Our sever... very informative walked us through exactly what we are ordering. We actually didn't know what we were ordering until they helped us. Figure out spice levels and flavors. Great service. You walk in and seems like a podunk kinda of place. You start looking around and see that they have alot of culture on the walls and get a respect for the establishment. I would say it's relaxing and a place to just enjoy yourself. Would highly recommend checking out. Be ready to get dirty though.

Fantastic service and quality ingredients. A little pricey compared to other Ethiopian restaurants but the ingredients do taste fresher. Ordered two orders of beef sambusas (good), vegetarian sampler for two and beef entree for the two of us. It was a lot so next time I'd order one less beef sambusas

SERVICE 10/10 FOOD 10/10 AMBIANCE 10/10 I felt like I was transported into another world as soon as I stepped into the restaurant and onto the patio! Our waitress was so welcoming and was so helpful. We told her what we wanted to order and she then switched our order and guided us in a better direction given what we wanted and how many people we had! I'm so glad she added on the two dishes we didn't have because I would've never thought to order them. I completely forgot the dish but trust me- anything you order will be good! It was my first time having Ethiopian food and I'm already craving it again.

Absolutely delicious. They are so vegan friendly and so kind/offer great suggestions. I crave this food so much!!! Truly a hidden gem and a must anytime you are in the pflugerville area. Prices are so reasonable too!

I've been wanting to try Ethiopian food for the longestttttt time! This place definitely made an awesome first impression of the cuisine. It was a really fun experience using just your hands to eat (so make sure you use some hand sanitizer or wash your hands beforehand!). Portion sizes were great; I'd recommend ordering 1-1.5 items off the menu per person. We got the Goat Kikil, Lamb Tibbs, and Yemisir Wot, which were all delicious. My favorite of the two meat entrees was the lamb--the seasoning was very well balanced and so flavorful. The goat was also good and very tender but didn't have the same punch of flavors as the lamb. The lentils (yemisir wot) was a great accompaniment to the meats and could easily stand on its own (especially if you're vegetarian). And don't forget to order some Ethiopian beers to wash everything down! I can't wait to come back and try the other menu items. It's definitely worth a trip here (or to their other location downtown) if you want delicious Ethiopian food.

there is NO lunch buffet. they do not open at 11 as advertised - a hastily prepared sign on the door says they open at 12. The restaurant is charming and the smells of the spices used over the years is great. Service is welcoming and polite. The appetizer was so great that we really looked forward to lunch. we were both terribly disappointed. there are not utensils - you tear off a piece of bread and wrap it around a chunk of food - messy but acceptable. ok, it would have been acceptable if the "bread" was warm or even somewhat resembling bread. It had the texture of a half done crepe and was icy cold - as if straight out of the refrigerator - by itself "bread" was tasteless and spongy. Spinach was well seasoned. The goat stew was well seasoned - but the meat was a few bones with gristle and very, very little meat - I didn't throw up when my partner was eating it but came close. They also - put vegetarian and meat dishes on the same large platter on the table - virtually no separation between the 2??? On top it - the food is incredibly expensive for the quality you get - over $54 for 2 entrees, 1 small appetizer and no drinks. Then - without warning - or signs posted - they charge a "credit card fee", it's only a couple of $ but shouldn't you be warned? I have been interested in trying this place years and I would say I am glad I tried it, but I wish I had continued to be interested - absolutely disgusting experience.

This was our first time trying Ethiopian food and it was amazing!!! We devoured all of the food picture! Definitely give them a try!

A wee bit on the pricey side, but very delicious! Their roasted potatoes are amazing, best I've ever had. My only concern is I ordered the macaroni with tomato sauce for my daughter. She refused to eat it so we took it home. It appeared to be meat sauce despite us clearly stating we are vegans. The combination platter was so good. My buddy had the chicken and egg, and cleaned his plate too. The bread is really tasty!

Great Ethiopian restaurant in the Round Rock, North Austin area. I love injera when enjoying Kitfo (spicy finely chopped beef), alicha siga wot (beef stew), gomen (collard greens), and yemisisr wot (lentil stew). I add an extra order of injera.

I have eaten here twice because I have friends who love Ethiopian food. If it weren't for that fact, I would never eat here nor would I seek out to eat Ethiopian food on my own. Simply put; I do not like it. It tastes a lot like Indian food, and I am no fan of that, either. Maybe they put curry in this food? I'm not sure, but I do not like the taste of ANYTHING they have to serve here. Well, the thin, porous, pan-cake-like "bread" is alright I guess, but that's about it. The greens and the cabbage most definitely came out of a can, along with that distinguishable bland taste of yuck. I also had an Ethiopian beer, and it, too, tasted kinda nasty to me. Overall, this just ain't my thing, so by all means please take that into account with this review. On a positive note, I have always experienced excellent service from the waitstaff, but I suspect that's directly due to the fact that my friends are regulars.

We've dined here more than once and have enjoyed ourselves each time. They have food for vegetarians and meat-eaters. Everything was delicious! The atmosphere was charged with excitement for those who were there for the first time. Service is great and quick. If you've never tried it, take a chance. You will be glad that you did.

If you've never tried Ethiopian and you're open to new things, I definitely recommend coming here. I've had Ethiopian in four other restaurants in other cities, and this one is a fair representation of the cuisine. And it serves a local Ethiopian community (there's even an Ethiopian Orthodox Christian church nearby). About Ethiopian Cuisine - Injera bread is to Ethiopia what forks are to Western cuisine or chopsticks are to Eastern cuisine. It's the vehicle by which you carry food from your plate to your mouth. Traditionally, you don't have any silverware or even your own plate. Ethiopian is traditionally served family style, where one plate feeds all. The injera is the perfect bread for this. It's a flat bread, no thicker than a tortilla, with a sourdough bread taste. It's very soft and flexible. You tear off a piece and use it to pick up your food, which is arranged in piles on a large plate, with more injera bread underneath it. This place Americanizes the experience a little. Our appetizers came with forks, and our main course included a Western salad (iceberg and tomato in a vinaigrette). I don't think any is that's necessary, but okay. Coming from larger cities in Texas and California, we really appreciate having authentic international cuisine available in a small Texas town. But the experience would have been better with a couple of changes. There were about 26 of us dining, but half the dining area (a second room) was closed off. The tables were too close together and were a bit too small. There was one waitress (a good one) serving all 7 tables. As wonderful as she was, 1 person cannot effectively serve 26 people. And by "too small," I mean that the tables were not much bigger than the large, beautiful, colorful basket they place on each table and serve the food in. There wasn't enough table space outside on that basket to hold beverages and anything else. We had the appetizer combo with the Minchet Abish option, which we absolutely loved. For the main course, you order whatever combination of meats and vegetables you want for the whole table. We got Lamb Tibbs (our favorite dish of the night), Kitfo (beef tartare), Tikil Gomen (cabbage in turmeric) and Ater Kik (split peas) and sautéed spinach. All were good. The split peas were surprisingly good and tasted more like lentils or chick peas and not at all like an English pea dish. Kitfo is tartare. The menu doesn't say it's tartare, and in fact mentions that the chef recommends medium rare, which is how it showed up on our ticket. But it's traditionally tartare (raw); the waitress also mentioned that it's basically tartare, and it came out rare, at best. I enjoyed it, but not everyone at our table of four did. Order it if you like tartare, for sure. And next time, we'll ask if it can be a bit spicy. Ethiopian can certainly be spicy. And there was a nice level of heat to our Tibbs that we enjoyed. But everything else here was pretty mild (flavorful but not hot), which, in part, may be a bit of Americanization, but I'm sure they'll spice it up a bit if you ask them to. It's family style, so the more people in your party, the more dishes you can/should try. We over-ordered a bit for the four of us and took a little home, which we mixed with leftover Biryani rice from another meal and created a beautiful fusion dish. That said, we still ordered dessert and coffee. I absolutely adore their coffee. Very strong and served black but with no bitterness and a nice hint of cardamom. I drank mine without adding any sugar and thoroughly enjoyed it. Dessert was baklava, which is pretty common in Ethiopia but they make it differently than in the Middle East. Baklava can be too sweet. This went the opposite direction. Also, they have Ethiopian beer. We had St. George, which is a very nice lager. It's an hour away from us but we made the trek and are glad we did.

This is a regular place we visit to indulge in Ethiopian food at least once a month . We felt the standards have dipped this time . The injera was a bit rough and not soft like previous visits . The vegetarian combo was good and tasted as good as always . The doro wot sauce was good but felt that chicken had a raw taste that was very strong . That might not have been very noticeable with soft injera but it was evident when we ate with the rough injera that it is not how it used to taste like before . Not sure if this is a one time thing but might go there one more time to make sure . There aren't many Ethiopian places to eat around Austin and this one used to be a staple for us, would be disappointed if this dip in quality is a permanent thing.

We love Ethiopian food, and Taste of Ethiopia has delicious food and consistent quality! We always get the Veggie Sampler and add the sautéed potatoes. While we have eaten in person several times, we often get it to go because it's the perfect comfort meal after a busy day. Highly recommend!

My friends and I had lunch at Taste of Ethiopia last Sunday. I had been looking forward to a delicious meal. It had been 10 years since I had last been. The food just wasn't as good as it had previously been. We ordered a six dish sampler for the three of us. Our chicken dish had a hair on the inside of the bowl! I pointed this out to the server and she took it back to the kitchen. My appetite was ruined at that point. The other meat dish was beef and it was too tough to chew. I had REALLY looked forward to the spongy bread that you eat with. It did NOT taste homemade, fresh, and tasty. Although the service was very good, the bread didn't taste fresh and the other food had issues. I don't think I will be back.

I can't tell if it's because of the excellent service, the owner who felt like our long lost aunt, the presentation where each dish is artistically and lovingly spooned onto the injera right before your eyes, or the absolutely delicious spices and homemade ingredients (including homemade cottage cheese and clarified butter), and to be honest, I don't care what it was, but this place was the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. I've had Ethiopian in many places, including LA and DC, where there are well established communities, but something about this small little shop that hosted our group of 8, very chinese, very picky-palated eaters, and swept us up under its wing, that really made this place stand out on our four-day trip to Austin. We ordered almost everything on the menu, but our faves were the doro wat, the medium-rare beef in clarified butter dish, the veggie sampler, the lamb tibbs. We were careful not to gorge on the injera and were pleasantly full afterwards. 100/100 stars and all the flowers to this spot & the absolutely lovely owner/staff.

Taste of Ethiopia in Pflugerville is where it's at! Got my dishes to go for Orthodox Christmas because you have to! Great flavors and I keep going back!! Thanks Taste of Ethiopia family.

I absolutely love love love this place! Their food never disappoints. And even though I know the sampler is enough food for 1-2 people, I can't help but want to add in one of their meat options too. You can't go wrong with any of the owner's dishes. I highly suggest going to eat at their Round Rock location but recently ordered via DoorDash and found that the quality was still just as good. The food is incredibly flavorful and honestly makes me think that if all vegetarian food tasted like this, I could easily make the switch. The injera is so soft and fluffy and when it soaks up all the juices from the various dishes *chef's kiss* If you've never had Ethiopian food, I would recommend this place to be your initiation rite. You won't regret it!

There was a bit of stir about this place and I decided to give it a shot. It was the most colorful and vibrant food I have ever tasted. There was a plethora of vegetable curries/sauces to try that left me craving more with each passing bite. I enjoyed my time and explaining this gem of a place is truly ineffable.

One of my favorite restaurants in Austin - Taste of Ethiopia. If you don't know what to order, their menu is pretty thorough for all likes. There is something for everyone. Tip is to ask for the dry crush pepper to sprinkle on top of everything. Goat Kikil was my favorite. If you're a fan of goat roganjosh (my favorite nonveg indian curry) you'll like this dish from Ethiopia. It's bone in and stewed in, chickpeas, jalapeno, tomatoes, ginger, garlic and spices. To soak all the fats, oils and gravy flavor onto the injera (fermented flatbread) makes each bite so flavorful. The goat was fall off the bone tender. Lamb Tibbs are very tender cubed pieces of lamb panfried and then sauteed in ginger, jalapeno, spices and vegetables. If you love the pure flavor of tender lamb this is a great dish to get. The sauce at the bottom is fatty and delicious but not overwhelming. It's addicting to soak up with the injera. Kitfo is minced beef is the same vegetables and flavorful flavor. I familiarized it with Indian kheema but with beef. Easy to like since you're scooping in thoroughly braised ground beef with the flatbread. Shiro Wot, I recall is the heartiest, thickest and potent with flavor. When it comes to veg options, the veg sampler is typically the best because you get so much variety. Specifically when you order outside of a sampler (or a buffet) is when you can really educate on what you're eating. Slightly spicy, mash of chickpeas braised/stewed in onions, tomato, garlic, cardomon, coriander, fenugreek, basil, and so much more spices to make this dish so multi dimensional The Pflugerville location is now my preference because of the space it offers. For any location, they have always been very homey and helpful.

I'm not sure why I haven't review them before but we've been going here for years off and on. A really welcome addition to the Pflugerville pfood scene! The service is always great and they take time to explain the menu. I love the injera bread and eating with my hands. The lamb stew I got last time was so tasty, I couldn't stop eating it. I haven't had anything bad here though. I like their vegetarian sampler plate as well, it's a great value to see what types of food you might like.

First time eating Ethiopian. Service was excellent and super friendly. Server explained how the food was served and eaten and recommended dishes for us to try. We had a sampling of five vegetarian dishes and two beef dishes - all were great. We plan to go back.

Taste of Ethopia is consistently my favorite date night restaurant and a go-to for bringing out of town visitors who are a little more adventurous. Everything is made fresh, including the Ethiopian staple bread, injera. I'm a vegetarian and love the vegetarian sampler, but have started branching out on the menu: my favorite dish is the Misir Kitfo, a vegetarian take on a favorite national dish, Kitfo, made of spiced beef (best eaten medium rare, according to the meat-eaters in my life). They also have a gluten-free option for the injera! The servers are knowledgeable and friendly and always attentive. The owner, Winnie, is also the cook (when she's not at the South Congress location). I highly recommend Taste of Ethiopia to anyone who enjoys Ethiopian food and coffee - or anyone who's looking to try something a little different.

Their goat bone soup is awesome. The injera is spot on and the veggie plate is good. However, a little disappointed with their chicken dish

I'm guessing most people around here haven't had much experience with Ethiopian. I have, and this place is legit. I stopped in because it was conveniently along my route driving south into Austin. The place was spacious and had a quasi-outdoor room on the side. It was a clean operation with sanitizer and masks all around. The food, for the uninitiated, revolves around a large spongy flatbread called an injera, and comes with one or more stews on top. The bread has a sour taste that takes some getting used to; the stews tend to be sweet or spicy, which makes for unique combinations of flavors. I ordered shiro, which is a chickpea puree-basically hot hummus. Ethiopian is vegetarian friendly, and they asked if I was vegan to see whether I should get butter on mine. My shiro came out with accents of fresh-tasting vegetables, including jalapenos, and a small side of potato salad. The amount of injera was just right, and was a lot. It was tasty stuff. Their combos and appetizer options sounded good, but I was stuffed as it was. A hot tea was small but strong and robustly spiced. All in all, definitely recommended.

Need a healthy spot to stop in? Here's one. I went in and tried the vegetarian sampler. I liked that I was asked if I want my food cooked in butter or not. To which I said no. Love that. They only had one server at 12pm on a Saturday so service was pretty slow. You eat purely with your hands here. My fiancé really wanted a fork so I kept reminding him to use the bread to eat with his fingers. The vegetarian sampler was good and filling and enough for two people to share.

We've been coming here for years. Pre-Covid we were coming in about once a week but we've been in isolation for two years. We ventured out today because we were missing the food. We've ordered take out several times in the last two years, but the warm greetings of the owner, her sunny disposition and affectionate serving of her own recipes is an experience most people will enjoy. In this family run establishment, every recipe is made according to the owner's own recipes and served in authentic baskets under the serving trays. We have eaten at every Ethiopian restaurant in Austin (except the South location of this one, the North location is more convenient for us) and Taste of Ethiopia has the best injera in the city. There are spicy and mild flavors to entice any pallet. See you there!

First time trying Ethiopian food and what an amazing first impression!! Every single dish we got was perfect and I couldn't get enough of it. For appetizers we got the sambusas, tomato salad, and azifas. Then for the main entree, we got the lamb tibbs and ultimate combo. I'm usually not a big fan lamb and neither is my family so we're usually REALLY selective of where we eat it. THIS PLACE MAKES IT PERFECT! If you're not a fan of gamy lamb, this place is it! They seasoned so perfectly, where I enjoy the slight gaminess of the lamb. The service is also so so nice. The waiter was super helpful and the auntie working in the kitchen came out to set up the dishes for us and teach us how to eat. I love the sponge roll that we used to wrap the food, soooo delicious. 10/10 coming back with more people. Also the parking is super easy with their lot being right in front of the door.

Amazing and authentic Ethiopian food. For a more authentic experience, wash your hands well and skip the silverware! The friendly service helped us navigate the menu, and offered advice on the broad variety of dishes they offer. Service was fast, and the food delicious. We had several different dishes. They were all brought out and portioned around the table so we could all reach each dish, and served on top of authentic injera (the flat bread used to help pick up the food as you eat). The food was great, and they offered a nice selection of imported beers and wines. Definitely will do again!

GO HERE NOWWWWW! Everything is always perfect. Incredibly friendly owners and staff, open late. The food will change your life. Beautiful decor. Perfect coffee. Authentic and well made, good portions. Go. Now. Like today.

We loved the food and experience at Taste of Ethiopia! It was busy when we went on a Friday night, but we didn't need a reservation for a table for two. We had never had Ethiopian food and our waiter and the kind woman (who maybe owns it?) were so kind and helped us order. They made sure we could try lots of things and showed us the traditional way to eat things. Great experience, we'll be back!

Super nice people! Great food and experience! Eat traditional with your hands too! Get loads of napkins!

Hands down one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. My best friend and I have been going to this lovely gem for years and have never had a complaint. The servers are friendly and knowledgeable about the menu, so if you're a newcomer they'll help you out. The rest of the staff makes the environment enjoyable as well.

I was really craving Ethiopian food and came across this cute little joint. It doesn't look like much in the outside but once you walk in you see all these mesob baskets! The owner was super kind and helpful. She definitely pulled in a lot of charm in this place. We went for dinner and ordered off the menu (they have a lunch buffet but not sure how that is set up). I wanted to try the honey wine but they were all out. Seems that you may need to go a bit early in the day if you want to try this. For two people, this was a good amount of food as we left stuffed and with plenty of leftovers. The zimamojat was delicious. A beautifully spiced collard and cottage cheese dish. It had a bit of heat (which I like) but not overwhelming. The sampler had 5 of their vegetarian dishes which all were really good but I'd probably say the tikil Gomen (cabbage) was my favorite The kitfo, honestly to me was just okay. Not sure if I was expecting more spice but it wasn't as flavorful as the vegetarian dishes. I'd definitely go back for more of the vegetarian dishes. Maybe try the goat or lamb dish as I think they have a bit more spices but overall really good Ethiopian place.