Walia Ethiopian Cuisine

This place has the soft glow of traditional decor. The food delivered too. The pillowy injera was the perfect companion to the asmara shrimp tibs, and the spicy kewty doro. Each dish had tradition and depth. However, if you’re in a hurry, this might not be your best bet. Service is (super) slow. If you have the patience to settle in, and savor the experience, the food is absolutely worth the wait. We were treated to free samosas as well.

Been coming here since they opened, and I might even have an earlier review in here somewhere, but they just did a major overhaul of the menu so I thought I'd post the pics from our visit tonight. They now have a breakfast menu that looks pretty interesting. They also now have mixed drinks with little Ethiopian spins (spice, honey, etc), and they're great! I would love to see them evolve them even more into the spices over time! We have Ethiopian food quite regularly (just became a family favorite over time) and have tried dozens of restaurants all over the Bay Area, state, and country and Walia continues to be THE BEST. I even buy their berbere spice by the pound to use at home. Always super friendly and welcoming owners and staff too. If you haven't had Ethiopian before, this is exactly where you need to go. If you already love it, this is top notch.

First time trying Ethiopian food and loved it! The sambussas were freshly fried and crispy on the outside. We ordered chicken but the chef also gave us the veggie platter on the house. Loved all the sides on the platter and their distinct spice. Definitely worth a try if you never had Ethiopian food before.

I was brought to Walia by my Ethiopian friends and this place was the best! Traditional Ethiopian food is meant for sharing but since I have quenliskanphobia, I opted for my own lamb plate. The flavors felt authentic and they provided as much berbere as you’d love. Enjera is the typical way to serve and eat and the entire bottom of the tray was made from it. The manager also gave us enough enjera to complete the meal without having to use our hands & the soft, lightly spongy texture was prepared just right. After a pot of coffee and a honey-soaked baklava to finish our meal and we all left very satisfied and happy!

Walia Ethiopian Cuisine is simply outstanding! We kicked things off with delicious lentil sambusas, perfectly crispy and flavorful. The main event, the Zuckerberg Combo, was a feast for the senses. Every dish, from the rich doro wat to the tender chicken tibs and the diverse vegetarian options, was perfectly spiced and incredibly satisfying. Scooping it all up with their fresh injera was pure joy. Excellent service and an authentic experience make Walia a must-visit in San Jose!

Nice injira with veggie platter and meat sides. My wife especially loved the chicken tibs. She said it reminds her of ghee roast chicken from India. I ate the veggie platter sides and baklava. Definitely a must go place for people who love Ethiopian cuisine!

My husband and I have been coming to this restaurant for the several years. We love the unique flavors and the delicious gluten free injera (teff bread) - we get the vegetarian combo plate. Had a nice chat with the owner tonight - he was friendly and obviously cares a lot about running a good restaurant. The place was packed but he and one other server attended to customers efficiently and our dinner tasted great as always!

Walia is our go to place for the most amazing Ethiopian food. We usually order the veggie sampler with chicken tibs...it's delicious and just the right amount for the two of us.

I've been wanting to try Ethiopian food for months, and I'm so glad I finally did! I came with my boyfriend and another couple, and we shared the Zuckerberg combo along with the veggie sampler. Before the meal, you can wash your hands at the restroom just outside the restaurant since the food is traditionally eaten without utensils. The injera was fantastic, it was served at room temperature with a distinct, sourdough-like fermentation taste and smell. You use the injera to scoop up the proteins and veggies, which makes for a fun and interactive dining experience. My favorites were the grilled beef, lamb tibs, and a few of the veggie dishes, all of which were incredibly flavorful and rich. The restaurant is tucked into a busy but small strip plaza, so parking can be tricky during peak weekend dinner hours. It's also located next to an adult store, which I found amusing, though families with children might feel differently. The interior is cozy and welcoming, and the service was great; they even offered us a refill of the injera. Note that a 20% mandatory service charge is included in the meal, so there's no need to tip.

OMFG DELISH! First experience with Ethiopian food and I was so pleasantly surprised - but also who am I kidding I wasn't expecting any less. We originally were going to get the Zuckerberg but I really wanted to try the lamb tib and my boyfriend wanted to try the chicken doro wat. We ended up ordering the original as a compromise. Amazing service from all the waitresses here. If you check in you get a whole veggie side. I forgot what it was called but it was a side mushroom dish. Super savory and cooked so well. Definitely love our combo. We came once the restaurant reopened for the evening so everything came out piping hot. It was such a huge portion for two people that you can for sure bring one more person to share everything. We left with leftovers for the next day. Will definitely be back!

Located right on San Carlos St West of downtown San Jose is this Ethiopian gem right next to the Hustler store and across the street from Pink Poodle Strip Club lol. The parking lot is a little crowded but not hard to find a spot. When you walk in, you will scan a QR code and order from the online table menu there to either leave the tab open or close it out right away. Note that they say they don't do tips, but they enforce an automatic 20% service charge where during checkout it asks you if you want to tip on top of the receipt. The food was delicious and I highly recommend the Zuckerberg which was more than enough food for 2 (recommend for 3-4 people). The chicken and lamb were bomb! You will be eating with only your hands so make sure to go to the bathroom right outside the restaurant to clean your hands from your dirty cell phone lol. I did see a few people ask for forks and spoons so you can ask for one yourself. I am not giving them 5 stars just because it's next to a dirty Adult store (we went in to check it out after dinner lol) you don't order directly from a server but yet am enforced the 20% surcharge. It feels weird to do that so that's why I don't feel like it's a 5 star experience.

Long wait, but well worth it! We ordered the Zuckerberg combo and it came out in ~30ish minutes. Everything arrived piping hot. Our favorite had to be the lamb, it was very tender and flavorful.

Food: *Larry Page Combo (veggie sampler with grilled lamb, beef alicha, doro tibs) *Gomen (collard greens) Atkilt Wot and Misir Wot were my favorite Drink: *Coffee *Spice Tea Service: Good, they periodically ask if we want to refill the injera

I didn't know what to expect when we visited this fine establishment, but they didn't disappoint! The food was delicious and the staff were friendly. There were plenty of vegetarian options as well. I would definitely recommend!

Not a fan of this style of food but this was the best I ever had! Shared the Zuckerberg combo with my family and we all enjoyed it. That chicken wat was great. Will order that again. Everything on the plate was really tasty in that combo. The collard greens, the lentil. We also had the chickpea sambussa appetizer and really enjoyed it too. Definitely recommend a stop here. Looking forward to trying it again.

Got the veggie platter for $18. Even though I love meat, I found the food here to be excellent. Super flavorful. The portion is probably enough for 2 people. I would come back! I was a bit put off before I ordered because of a forced 20% tip on anything you ordered. I'm all for eliminating the ambiguity around tipping, but if you are enforcing a tip on everything ordered, I would rather simply increasing all menu prices accordingly, which makes for less uncertainty about how much is actually paid. Total cost out of the restaurant was $24.50.

The food here is fabulous! They have expanded their menu too! I generally hate lamb, but theirs is so tender and fragrant! The rice, lentils, split peas, greens, and cabbage (with carrots and potatoes) are our go to dishes. They have some kitfo (minced beef) is so flavorful and with the cheese it really has so much depth of flavor. Every time we have gone there the people are friendly and the service is prompt. The restaurant is cute even though the area can be a little rough around the edges sometimes. Don't hesitate to go! Anyone can find something to eat and enjoy! They are talented chefs and business owners!

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I absolutely loved it! The chicken tibs are super flavorful and tender. The seasoning is perfect! The njera that comes with it is unlike anything else I've had. It is perfectly soft and complements the main dish super well! Would highly recommend if you haven't tried this cuisine before! I don't usually see Ethiopian restaurants, but this one was an amazing start!

My husband and I have been coming to this restaurant for the past several years. We love the unique flavors and the delicious gluten free injera (teff bread) - we get the vegetarian combo plate. Had a nice chat with the owner tonight - he was friendly and obviously cares a lot about running a good restaurant. The place was packed but he and one other server attended to customers efficiently and our dinner tasted great as always!

This area is in a somewhat sketchy area. However, the food was pretty good. It's a small comfortable restaurant and the ambiance isn't great, but just home vibes. We had no wait time and we got seated right away on a Friday night. We started off with the veggie sambusa, and I liked the taste but it was pretty oily. We got the veggie sampler with ingudai tibs, that's the sauteed mushrooms. We enjoyed all the lentils, greens and the mushrooms. It was flavorful and yummy, my kids ate all the food with no complaints as well. The service was good and very quick. It was pretty short staffed and had to ask a few times for the extra injera but they were always quick about that as well. Overall I'd come back here. I wish the location and the ambiance was better.

Walia Ethiopian Cuisine San Jose CA Sat 9/16/23 © Inspired by friends recently hitting Ethiopian restaurants, and having not been to one in a long time, since pandemic, I took a drive down south to San Jose to dine at Walia! I have been here before but long time ago. Tonight is the night to give it another go! My hands are cleanly washed to dig in ~ and that's what you do at an Ethiopian place ~ you use your hands as utensils LOLz Oh yeah! No one to shoot weird glances at ya, hahaha! Well to be perfectly honest, you use the bread to scoop up all sorts of foods placed around a circle on a large platter! With your hands, quite literally! There are no utensils here! Now to the bread, Injera, as it's essential you understood this is not your American or European bread. Visually, it is reminiscent of French Crêpes, and the taste, well, I will try to describe it! So it is porous in its appearance & consistency is definitely similar to French Crêpes, but the taste is much more savory and bread-like, as is the purpose! Sorta like Rye bread, or dark Russian rye, or maybe a Pumpernickel? The sour dough is baked lightly and rolled up loosely, and served to you in a basket. It's spongy flatbread, you tear off pieces to scoop your meal with, while conversing around that platter, it's delicious! My hospitable server Joseph came to the table ready to give me a quick tutorial, but I came prepared with old memories! Have I impressed him? Who knows, but he sure impressed me with light chat, recalling how he served Larry Page here (in who's honor the platter I ordered is named) and Mark Zuckerberg. Mark had to stay in line waiting for table to open up, as the place had been packed at that time! We talked about SillyValley celebs who better be down to earth, money can't buy you happiness! The joy is in remaining grounded! Except that you definitely would need some dough to buy you existence in SillyValley LOLz! So yeah, I ordered Larry Page Combo! Combination of veggie sampler, grilled lamb, beef alicha, and doro tibs. Arranged on your platter in circular manner. Is it a lot of food? You betcha! Will I be able to handle it all? Pun intended! Unlikely, but hey, leftovers always taste better the next day! Veggie sampler in itself is a combo of red lentils, chickpeas, collard greens, split peas, and cabbage/carrots/potatoes Ragù. Next time perhaps a Mark Zuckerberg combo? LOLz it's $14 bucks cheaper than Larry's! A friend mentioned, I like the veggies but I want my soggy bread heated, & that in theory might be great but practicality tells ya that hot n spicy food is best served with room temperature Ethiopian Crêpes bread! And lots of water to hydrate your throat! Both Joseph & Micha here amazingly hospitable & ready to answer your questions should you have any! P.S. That's how Joseph (the Manager?) introduced himself, while the check says Ephrem Y. so I didn't want to misspell incidentally... This place is comfortable, down to earth & stood a test of time. There's no opaque-the-glass option in case Mr X rolls in... not a spot for your black AmEx's high rollers nor corporate account holders:-) Stay grounded, people! Love ya! *Like bees to their hive so they gather God's children are gathered to thee! Ethiopian National Anthem! [ Review #784 w 4 pix on Sep 21, 2023 ] Larry Page Combo! Combo of veggie sampler + grilled lamb + beef alicha + doro tibs 68.95 Joseph! Thank you for your hospitality! Joseph & Micha! Waited on Larry Page, Mark Zuckerberg, & Silly Grey Goose! Ethiopian Crêpe-like porous bread Injera! @Walia Ethiopian Cuisine San Jose CA Sat 9/16/23

Superb! I always order the vegetarian platter and kitfo. Their injera is so good enough tangy flavor with all the spices and everything is just perfect. Super satisfying! Service was great! I ordered online had my dog and as I waved to the waitress I told her I didn't want to bring my dog in the restaurant. She had no problem and shortly after brought out my food soon after. Parking isn't the greatest nor is the complex but I just love the food.

Great restaurant! Both outdoor and indoor seating and wonderful food. You have to try the Doro Wat! The toast softwaremakes it easy to order / pay / get going if you are in a rush. It gets busy for classic dinner times but I went up to the counter to ask for more napkins and injera and they helped right away! It was lovely to see everyone from couples to families enjoying great food together.

Been coming here for years and it's always delicious! I usually get the veggie combo platter and then a meat dish, usually chicken tibs. The combo gives you a nice variety of veggie dishes and all of them are really yummy. My favorites are the yellow ones, especially the one called atakilt it has carrots which brings a nice sweetness. This time we also got a free veggie side with Yelp check in and we tried the mushroom tibs, which was sooo good! The mushrooms were so succulent and yummy, I would definitely get it again next time! Sometimes it would be hard to get the attention of a server since I noticed they usually only have about 1-2 people working the front but they recently introduced a QR code menu which is a nice improvement. So you can order from your phone and also pay for your meal after you're done. Since you are expected to eat with your hands they do give you a wipe at the end of your meal to clean your hands. Though I usually wash my hands after my meal at their bathroom, which is just outside of the restaurant. They do bring you utensils if you ask for them. This is my go to restaurant for Ethiopian food in south bay and I'm glad that they haven't really changed in the many years I've been. Highly recommend you try!

I cheated on Walia Ethiopian once, and let me tell you, I've never regretted a decision more. My sister and I drove all the way down from the East Bay, craving their incredible food, only to realize they were closed that day (pro tip: they're closed on Tuesdays). In a desperate attempt to satisfy our craving, we tried another Ethiopian spot--and wow, what a mistake. Lesson learned: no other Ethiopian restaurant even comes close to Walia. Their injera is on another level--soft, plush, and with the perfect tangy kick from fermentation. Every dish on their menu is a masterpiece, bursting with complex flavors and layers of spices that make every bite an adventure. Whether it's your first time trying Ethiopian cuisine or you're a seasoned fan, Walia will set the bar sky-high and then surpass it. You'll be happy with their service but get there early so you can beat the rush! Pro tip: When you go, don't skip their spiced Ethiopian tea--it's the perfect way to round out your meal.

Only writing this to match 85 characters rule. Liked everything about this restaurant

We used to go to Ethiopian restaurants when we lived in LA. We were so happy to find this place that had great food and wine. The decor was simple and the ambiance was pretty casual. My husband and I went here on a date night. We felt that the wine was a little overpriced for what we paid. The service was wonderful and the waiter had great recommendations. Just note that the bathroom is outside of the restaurant and not inside. Parking is a little tricky and limited. We had to park far and walk. We will definitely be coming back.

Excellent experience. The food was delicious and service excellent. Had the veggie platter with mushroom TIBBS. Pleasant surprise -- their bread - injera is gluten free. Since bread was gluten free and I can have some gluten I had their baklava for dessert. Very tasty.

The best Ethiopian restaurant ever! We've tried about 20 Ethiopian restaurants till date, and this has been the best of them all. The food is consistently good.

The service was great! Very friendly staff. Parking can be really hard and bathroom is outside of building. Great place to try out many different Ethiopian dishes.

I'm new to Ethiopian food. Restaurant ambience is simple in a non-descript strip mall (near the Hustler store)... Service: Place your food order through the QSR code on your table, or ask one of the servers (but be patient if they are busy). We ordered the Veggie Sampler with Chicken Tibs (made for two persons). Chicken Tibs are cubed chicken in an Ethiopian sauce, (kind of similar to Indian chicken tikka masala without the cream sauce). Food was simple. You eat with your hands (no utensils), by using the sourdough Ethiopian crepes (injera) as your utensil by scooping the food with the injera. The injera has a slightly vinegar taste. I thought the food was good and plentiful. My husband, on the other hand, did not feel he got enough protein and he did not care for the food as much as I did. If you are open to new cultures and cuisines, I would definitely give this place a try!!

You know what? Ethiopian Injera is marked as Green Food in Noom! If you need to add more green food in your plate and don't want to give up carbs, try it! How healthy it is! (And the taste is nice and memorable）

TLDR: Good food, good service and pleasant ambience We havd been wanting to try Wala Ethiopian Cuisine for a while. We went in for lunch over the weekend and were pleasantly surprised to not have to wait as we've come to expect of the bay area eateries. The servers were pleasant and recommendations were on point. The food was great, beer was good and overall enjoyed the complete experience.

Nice mix of vegetables and meat. The combos are a good deal and recommended. Try the kitfo if you feel adventurous

Walia has been my go-to place for Ethiopian food, mostly because of their Ingudai Tibs (Crimini Mushroom Tibs). They use whole or half button mushrooms, which yield a nicer texture in the mouth than sliced mushrooms like I had from the only other place that even serves Ingudai Tibs (Crimini Mushroom Tibs). Plus, the seasoning of the sauce is amazing! Unfortunately in the last couple of years, the flavor has varied widely so that everytime I order I cross my fingers that I'll get the "old" version of Ingudai Tibs (Crimini Mushroom Tibs) that was spicy and very flavorful (and not the more recent versions that were bland, not spicy at all and tasted like tomato broth). Thankfully, this order had a flavorful sauce, if not very spicy but I order the Misir Wot (Red Lentils) Half to help add in spice if needed. And I love the Atakilt Wot (which is not at all spicy). I used to order the Vegetarian Sampler until I realized I mostly liked the Atakilt and the Misir, and I mostly wanted the Ingudai Tibs. They've raised their prices considerably, but I'd rather pay for quality taste and quantity than to see the dishes get smaller and smaller and more importantly than to get inferior taste. They added a few new items to their menu which gives vegetarians even more choices so that's great! And now you can choose rice or injera to go with your item. The menu says "spiced rice" but it was really just salty--I couldn't taste any spice or flavor other than salt. I really liked it though, and I'd like to be able to order the rice separately, because I found I wanted more. I usually wrap a combination of all the main items up in a piece of injera and often with lettuce around that. But I usually have about half of everything leftover and I've often thought that might go better with rice the next day as opposed to injera. I like that they give the option of half-orders of many items so that I can mix and match to make my own "Vegetarian Sampler" of the items I prefer most. The Lentil Sambusa is also very good.

Love this place. Super friendly staff and great food. They have a small outdoor patio which may be open (or they may be extra kind and just let you sit outside anyway). We love the veggie platter - several vegetable dishes piled beautifully on injera bread with more bread in a basket. The gluten free injera is really tasty - a nice level of sourness without being over the top. The veggie dishes are superb - my favorite is the yellow split peas and my husband loves the red spicy lentils. We usually order a side dish of veggies too and that's enough food for both of us. Very reasonably priced, not greasy at all and tastes homemade. Parking is right out front and easy too.

Came here on a Wednesday afternoon for lunch and this meal made my day. Place was clean, quiet (there were people around but love that it had a relatively quiet and calming atmosphere). Staff were attentive and welcoming. I ordered the chicken sambusas to start and the veggie platter as a main. OMG... so, so good. Sambusas we're crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside. Paired with a spicy sauce that added the perfect kick. Veggie platter was a generous size and had 5 different sides. The potatoes and carrots are always my favorite part of the veggie combos. I can see why this place is so popular. Can't wait to come back.

Fantastic Ethiopian food. Great honey wine. We had the vegetarian plate and Doro wot. The cardamom tea is very fragrant. You can smell delicious aroma before you step into restaurant.

It was my first time having Ethiopian food and I was glad to try it. The injera bread is a bit tart/sour which pairs well with the other flavors. The food was a bit heavy. I enjoyed the side with the cabbage and potatoes because it added some texture to everything that was so soft. The seasoning was good. Maybe it's because it was my first time eating Ethiopian cuisine, but it was tough for me to distinguish the flavors on the plate from another. The place was clean and a bit dim. Service was quick and efficient.

Large portions and yummy food with very helpful staff but the location of the restaurant is a bit shady.

Delicious food. Very flavorful. You'll ask for milder spices as normal spices can clean your pallette and senses. I went milder to taste my food in comfort. A great place for a company lunch or dinner. Good location. Parking is a hit or miss. A very small parking lot, there's parking in the back as well, with access by an adjacent walkway or a sidewalk. This place is hidden, just an open lighted sign out front. Beautiful decor. Big plates, decent portions. Everything is edible on the plate, in case you run out of "utensils," lol. Everything is eaten by hand. Of course, I mopped up my plate. I sat with a group of 4. Perfect as a low ambient environment. The atmosphere and service was excellent. The waiter. With no menu to hold. Took our orders by head, everyone's order, and brought back everything perfectly. Talk about excellent service. He had recommendations for substitutions, side flavors, and a well versed customer service experience. I've had Ethiopia in food in Egypt, so I've had some experience. But it's been a few decades. I'll definitely come here again, and adventure to others in the area. I left very satisfied with this experience. My belly thanks you.

A pretty restaurant with music and Ethiopian decor, lovely staff and the food is off the charts! A bit spicier than you might expect some of the dishes to be (the chicken), otherwise amazing flavors. The injera is delicious. Try the Ethiopian coffee with rue.

I thought I got the address wrong when I arrived at this restaurant. Let's just say "strip mall" can mean many things. BUT THE FOOOOD! I split the Larry Page Combo (Google founder) with a coworker and their partner. There was the perfect mix of meat and veggies. We ate and ate because we couldn't make ourselves stop eating and even after we tapped out, there was still enough leftovers for another two meals. Wild. Honey wine was new for all of us, and we loved how it complimented the meal.

I know I know... Zuckerberg sent me here! LOL Apparently the Facebook CEO has been eating here since 2014 and they even named a whole platter after him on the menu. Although it looked delicious... their menu is more on the expensive side for Ethiopian food. So this visit I ordered the Veggie Platter with Beef Tibs instead. The Beef Tibs (juicy) were served in a piping hot bowl with a red sauce, onions, and bell peppers. The sauce was pretty flavorful, but the beef itself was tough and chewy. I wouldn't recommend it. The Veggie Platter was DELICIOUS! The Shiro Wot was my favorite! So rich, smooth, and creamy. With a Yelp check-in, we also got an extra side of Alicha Kik for free. I also really love how thin and flavorful their injera is. Fluffy and spongey! KEEP IN MIND: Little did I know that the business was located in such a random area... There's an adult lingerie store next door and the "Pink Poodle" across the street. So be aware of that if you're looking for a family dinner spot.

PORTIONS: filling and hearty PRICE: appropriate SERVICE: ............I didn't like it. I have never said that in any review. Ever. It wasn't busy. Beginning of opening dinner hours, no one but us there. The one server they had was nice, but my husband and I (Chinese) were ignored and I had to get her attention away from dancing to music to ask if we could sit anywhere...... we used the QR code to order off the menu online and paid online AND YET THERE IS A 20% mandatory tip??? .... IF THAT WAS THE STANDARD TO ALL GUESTS, OK. It's a small local business and waitstaff deserves fair wages for their effort. BUT a melanin-gifted couple came after us and were immediately treated to physical menus and attention that we had not received without prompting and inquiry. SURROUNDINGS: I love a good dive and this place was cozy tucked by eclectic shops FLAVORS: (3/5) veggie combo with lamb tibs (3/5) chicken sambusa BONUS TIP: sinks are outside and around the back to wash your hands, you need a code to use the restroom

I love Walia!! I've eaten here several times and I love that it is not super expensive. I try to not go at busy hours so I usually get a table as soon as I go. The food is A++ and doesn't disappoint. The ambiance is okay but you really want to go here for the food above everything else. The parking lot is usually pretty full but ull find parking if you wait for a little bit. Just be patient. Overall I Definitely recommend!!

Walia had delicious Ethiopian food that was full of flavor. It was my first time trying Ethiopian and I was not disappointed. The injera was perfectly sour and complimented the veggie sampler very nicely. The server was attentive and gave us a recommendation on what to order. The ambiance was friendly and welcoming, I'll be back soon to enjoy some more dishes!

I'm sad to report that my experience was suboptimal. We ordered the veggie sampler (mixed veggie assortment with red lentils, split yellow lentils, chickpeas, collard greens, and cabbage with carrots and potatoes), the Gomen (collard greens cooked with onions and mixed with Ethiopian spices) and beef tibs. The beef wasn't very tender and was a cheap cut - it was my least favorite part of the meal. The gomen was good, not amazing, and we certainly regretted doubling up on it. If I were to visit again, I would get the veggie sampler again. The red lentils and the cabbage were my favorite dishes. We ordered for a group of 3 and had leftovers - the portions are very generous. I was expecting to have my mind blown, so part of the issue could have been my high expectations. I'd never had Ethiopian food, so potentially my order was poorly assembled. Staff was nice, not the most attentive, but they did return to fill my water once. The restaurant is tucked away and has a homey, comfortable ambiance. Definitely not white tablecloth, but a good place for a casual and fun, interactive meal.

If you're looking to try or get Ethiopian food, I recommend coming here! We got the veggie sampler with chicken tibs which was a perfect amount for 2 people. I love the variety of choices in the sampler, they each have such unique flavors that goes well together. Parking is limited since it's in the same plaza as other shops.

We arrived on a Sunday late afternoon for a late lunch and there was no wait and we were seated quickly. This place I silicates in a a small plaza and has ample indoor seating. The ordering and payment is done through your phone with a QR code. After ordering , out food came out relatively quickly. We ordered the Veggie Sampler with more Injera on the side. The veggie sampler came with Misir Wot, Alicha kik Wot, Gomen, Atkilt Wot, and Shiro Wot. The sampler is great for sharing between 2 people. One thing to note is that if a group of more than 2 order it, they ask you to choose another dish in addition to the sampler (as it's only for 2 people). Taste-wise, the wots were delicious and a great combination with the fluffy injeras! My favorite was the flavorful and slightly spicy Misir Wot and highly recommend it! It was all very filling! Overall, definitely enjoyed my food and will be back in the future to try more items on the menu!

Came in on a weekday, a Wednesday to be exact and they don't open until 5PM. Parking is a little sketch so just pay attention. Easy access to 2 different freeways so that's nice. Ordered the following: 1. Zuckberg Combo: Came with various veggies..chicken and added lamb. 2. Side of cottage cheese 3. Ordered some lentil sambusa that comes 4 to an order. Everything was delicious and flavorful. Service is 5 stars. I think our waitress was named Salem and she was very attentive...prompt and entertained my friend and his jabbering...lol! Nothing better than yummy food and great company. We'll be back!

Solid Ethiopian food, easy ordering, less bold flavored than my North Oakland favorite spots. Walia has a ton of glowing reviews in a part of the Bay with many Ethiopian options, so we figured this was a good bet. We got veggie platter with mushroom tibs and kitfo, with an extra side of gomen thanks to the Yelp check in offer. Ordering online from the table was easy, and though the space is small, there were plenty of walk in seats on a Sunday afternoon. Parking was okay, although the lot in this strip mall is a little hectic. Everything tasted good - the kitfo and mushroom tibs were my favorite - although the flavors didn't blow me away given the many emphatic reviews. Still, we had a good meal and left happy. Walia seems pretty average compared to other Ethiopian spots in the area, which is to say solidly good, and maybe a little milder than others, which is a plus or minus depending on your crowd. If you're looking for a "blown away by bold flavors" experience, my favorite Ethiopian spot in the Bay Area is Addis Ethiopian Restaurant in Oakland (which is owned by a spice importer, so the spicing is central).

Such a waste of time and energy to go this place. They dont have the most minimum courtesy of getting things done on time. You can not just keep people waiting at the tables and serve only the to-go customers. That is just taking people for granted. I understand it's a small establishment but if that's the case they need to tell people how long it takes to get the food. 30 minutes is definitely not the norm. All the tables were not even occupied, I can not imagine how long it would take them if all the tables were occupied. No wonder they have no tipping but a 20% service charge for all orders. Which customer in their right mind will tip them if they offer such a bad service.

SERVICE - located in a slightly sketchy complex so be aware of your surroundings - only indoor seating - does not take reservations but a group of 7 was seated immediately - no restrooms - food takes around 20 minutes to prepare - order and pay via QR code on table - 15% tip already included for large parties MENU - can order individual dishes or a sampler platter - decently priced for Ethiopian food ($20 per person) FOOD - deblasio family platter (9/10): this is perfect for a party of 4 since it has just the right amount of each dish. The mushroom tibs were my favorite but they can be a bit spicy so be aware of that. You can ask for more injera as you need it. I also liked how they arranged 2 portions of each dish so that sharing is easy. It may seem like a large plate but so worth it! WOULD I COME BACK? yes! This was my second time here and the friends I came with loved it!

We recently visited Walia, after I haven't been here for years. The plaza is still very limited on parking, and it was hard to tell if it was open. However, one quick phone call, and they have a messaging system where someone responded right away to confirm that they were! Service was nice, attentive, and quick. We tried the combo platter, with lamb dish, and it did not disappoint! The waitress offered us more injera every time we ran out, and it was fresh, sour, and yummy. The lamb dish was very tasty. The veggie dishes were also very good, altho some were spicy so my daughter could not eat it. Overall, it was a fun experience to remember with a good variety to try many of their dishes. Outside immediate area isn't the best, but once you're inside the restaurant it's okay! We'll be back to visit.

Wow, what a pleasant surprise. Great food, wonderful people working there. I ate too fast as the food was delicious. Nice location too.

Ok let me tell you YOU HAVE TO COME HERE if you want some some of the best food and for sure best Ethiopian food in the Bay Area (possibly in the country)!! At this point, I have tried every single Ethiopian restaurant in the Bay Area and just started exploring in other cities (San Diego etc.), and Walia is by far the best one. Everything is super high quality, soooo flavorful (my mouth is watering just by thinking about it), and just cooked to perfection. You can tell they know what they are doing. Also, they have gluten free injera which is a must for me having to eat gluten free. Additionally, the owners are the sweetest people. You can just tell how much they care. My favorite order is the Larry Page combo as it has the perfect selection. Oh and make sure to order your Kitfo raw. I know the idea of eating raw beef can be a bit weird for some people, but I am telling you it's me and my boyfriend's favorite dish on the menu. Also, LOVE the shiro wot (both dishes are included in the Larry Page combo. And if anyone is trying to tell you Zeni is the best in San Jose don't listen. Walia is the clear winner :)