Zemam's Ethiopian Cuisine

One of the few Ethiopian dining places in Tucson. The portions are good. The brown injera is a little bit expensive. The curries taste good

Zemam’s is a Tucson gem, and if you know, you know! I always feel literally at home sitting at a small table in what I think used to be a house. The food is always great, comes out quickly, and is easy to share. Last time I was there, they had little kid tables outside and some other nice outdoor seating that seemed very family friendly. The staff are always courteous, welcoming, and happy to answer questions about the menu or the whole dining experience. The music adds to the whole vibe. I love this place for cultivating community!

This is traditional Ethiopian food set in a beautiful restaurant of artwork, carvings, statuary, and painted skins. There is a quaint gift shop with special items for everyone. The kitchen is the domain of the family. They are adding a lounge and a coffee bar.

Great decor, atmosphere, and setting. Food came out quick and we had constant refills of water. Food was a bit on the lukewarm side but still tasty. I got mild dishes as I never know how spicy is spicy for new places but there was a lack of pop that I should have gotten the spicier dishes. I would still recommend but the food being lukewarm and not too much flavor brought it down from a 5 star.

We first went to Zemam's in 2007, right after we moved here. This was the first time we've been to the Broadway location since the remodel / expansion. Fantastic veg food! Portions are great, the spicy food is spicy, the service wonderful. Now they have an outdoor area for when the weather breaks. No better place to eat in Tucson. Update in March. Wish we lived closer to them. Always looking for an excuse to get over to that area of town to eat there.

Update. Came back again. This is the last spot I hit before I move out of AZ. Number 18! Lamb came with delicious greens and lentils. 10/10 Original. Joe and Joey. Thank you for the amazing dinner experience!!! This made me feel so homey. This food was phenomenal. 10/10!!! Wowwww They explained the menu and all the ingredients. They have wine and beer and a cocktail bar right next door!! It’s worth the 3$ just get the lamb it was my fav thing on my plate. I got a spicy beef and a less spicy one with berbere . All stewed. Amazing store! Clean and awesome for dinner. Perfect for groups! Amazing artwork. And again the best service I’ve had in Tucson! Definitely appreciate such an amazing black owned business They have gluten free injera for a $4 surcharge. Which is amazing. Vegetarian friendly. Majority of menu is vegetarian. Large options for meat and fish lovers as well

This place has amazing food and overall a really cool vibe. The restaurant is clean and the staff are friendly. They are happy to answer questions and describe the selections on the menu. The dish with the red lentils is my favorite. Tucson is very lucky to have a restaurant as special as this.

I highly recommend Zemam's Ethiopian Cuisine—it's a truly excellent dining spot. Hanna’s exceptional customer service will brighten your day; she’s absolutely wonderful. I was drawn to this restaurant because of its cozy, intimate atmosphere and the fact that everything is freshly prepared each day. The food is delicious and enjoyable, making for a fantastic dining experience. I definitely look forward to returning!

This was our first time back since they remodeled and it did not disappoint! They still have the same authentic Ethiopian deliciousness but in a super new setting. The service was absolutely accommodating and friendly as always. They have extended to 3 buildings with the original still being the restaurant. The middle building is a bar and the third down heading west will soon be a coffee shop. All these super cutely decorated buildings are surrounded by a beautiful garden area with lots of sitting room and the bar area has fun outdoor games for entertainment. A favorite place of mine that just got better!

Thought I would check out the remodel! It is a compound. Could not find the entrance. A little tricky! Parking is hard to find. However all worth the effort. Food is good. Although today the chicken was very very dry. Friendly service. Look forward to checking it out some more soon!

Fun finger food. An experience. Tasty. Lots of carbs, very filling. Bring friends who are interested in something deliciously different.

We love the expanded restaurant and the Z Street complex. The food is fabulous and I appreciate that I can get teff-only injera to accommodate my gluten restriction while the rest of the family enjoys the regular.

Congrats to the Gebrrmariam family for their new concept, Z Street! Located on the corner of Broadway and Treat, the city block is made up of Zemam's (the restaurant) and Zerai's (the bar). Some friends and I met up at Zemam's for lunch today. As you walk up to the door, you'll immediately notice a delectable smell coming from inside. We all went with samplers and tried a variety of dishes. The food was all served on one big platter with a side of injera. The injera was light, spongy, and had a delicious slightly fermented flavor. My group sampled the following veggies: cauliflower, yesimir wat (brown lentils), yetakelt wat (veg and potato), gomen wat (collard greens), gomen alicha (cabbage, potato, carrot), spinach. Honestly, all of it was delicious. The standouts to me were the lentils, cabbage, and the cauliflower. For the meats, we tried the tilapia, the spicy chicken, and the yedoro alica (boneless chicken). I can't handle a lot of spice so I loved the yedoro alica. The others were very flavorful but I know my spice limits! Service was wonderful, food was delicious, and the ambiance was calm and relaxing. What a perfect midday lunch!

Definitely a different dining experience. I had never had Ethiopian before so this was a treat. Very filling of flavor and lots of different food options. Also nice and spicy just like I like it!

Very cute set up. The outside has chairs and cute grass. It was alittle hot but I can definitely see people eating there if they have umbrellas. Parking was a little counterintuitive but they have signs to lead you there which was nice. Quick and pleasant service. All meat sampler dishes come at 3 meats for 22 which is alittle more than the competitive but not astronomical. I ordered for takeout. 11. Spicy boneless chicken with spicy Berber's sauce. It was extremely delicious 13. Forgot the name. But it was good. 17. Gored gored tender beef was good but nothing stood out I will definitely be back

Best food in Tucson! The service at Zemams is fast and friendly, you truly feel like family when you're there. Both the bar and restaurant have traditional decor which adds to the amazing dishes like the Mincheta Bish, the Kay Watt Zigni, and Yemisir Kay Wat. If you are a soccer fan I highly recommend heading to their bar (Zerai's) located next door for some great drinks to enjoy with their incredible food. 10/10 every time I go

What a wonderful experience, went to their "Passport"event held every month at their new bar called Zerai's and didn't disappoint. Everyone was cheerful, dancing and friendly. Their bar has great cocktails and a big selection of wines and draft beers. They also have a water station if you don't feel like drinking alcohol. Beautiful decoration and lighting all the way around. Clean bathrooms and wonderful costumer service. If you feel like dancing this is your spot just make sure to check their IG because as I mentioned before, "Passport" with Dj. Herm is only held once a month. And please wear your comfy shoes!

I came here for the first time with my family; it was absolutely incredible. The service was great, and the food was delicious. We also enjoyed the ambience; it was very clean, positive vibes, and lots of space if you were looking for a new spot to try, highly recommend this one! I can't wait to come back.

Came back after 5 years, and they've gotten even better! Updated seating area, with space outside for kids to play. Food is very fresh and quite delicate, not too heavy. I love that they've expanded into "Z street" with an adjoining bar and coffee shop. A highlight of our trip.

I recommend the red lentils and the spicy beef. The people are helpful and very knowledgeable as well. Good experience overall.

Food is delicious!!!!!!!! Friendly staff and very cultural interior. Would HIGHLY recommend to try. We loved the food but please make entering and exiting more straightforward; trying to get in felt unnecessarily confusing.

LOVE the new Z Street! The entrance is not where it was - look for the signs, as you have to go in on the west end and walk around past the bar (which I want to check out next time). The crew working in the improved-layout restaurant is terrific - friendly and helpful. Great service!! The dishes are still wonderful, with lots of flavor, especially if you mention that you love spice (waiter brought me extra berber sauce without me having to ask...mmm) Only note is that the injera wasn't sour at all - seems to be wheat-based, and while still spongy and absorbent, it's not the sour injera that I love. Apparently you can request gluten-free injera (teff, as it should be!) and I will next time. Great ambiance - Tucson's diverse diner mix was definitely representing here, and the tables were full. It's fun and delish!

Simply put, the food here is fantastic. Everything we have tried has been wonderful. We ordered a wide range of the food and tried the lamb for the first time. It was probably the best lamb dish I have ever had. The newly renovated restaurant is great, lots of outdoor seating and parking.

We were down by the university at an art exhibit and very hungry afterwards so I mentioned wanting to try an Ethiopian restaurant that a thought was sort of close by. The kids were less than thrilled with not going to In and Out, but the adults outvoted them! There is some construction going on near Zemen's in the parking lot and on one of the buildings but once we finally found our way inside, I was thrilled with the restaurant itself. Nicely decorated, simple and clean. We were seated quickly and began studying our menu. Everything looked delicious, spicy foods were clearly marked. Having been to Ethiopia, I couldn't wait for my family to try Injera and all the saucy foods! We ordered way too much food so we could try it all! Everything was fantastic! The kids became fans of Ethiopian foods after their first bites. My oldest grandson's favorite part was that you can eat with your fingers. A very friendly man came out to chat. I'm not sure if he was the owner or the cook, maybe both. All in all, it was a great experience with excellent food! If you don't like spicy foods, there are plenty of options but if you do like spicy foods, you're going to love Ethiopian food!

Went with a group and ordered several sample platters. The food was beyond delicious and service was spot on and friendly. The home like setting was perfect for the family style platter style. Everyone left full and we'll definitely be back!

The stews are not bad, the atmosphere is nice and service is good but the "injera" they serve is white and made with yeast instead of fermented to tartness. Definitely nothing similar to the authentic Ethiopian food I love so much.

Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Food was delish and authentically Ethiopian. Staff was friendly and food came quick...they even had gluten free options! Recommend you get the sampler so you get a taste of it all. Also, pair your meal with the honey wone. Dare I say "yum"!?

Came across this gem! Best Ethiopian I've ever had. The restaurant owners also have a bar next door, great atmosphere, great people all around great time. I don't live in Tucson but every time I'm visiting moving forward, I'll be paying this place a visit.

This was my first time having Ethiopian food and it was AMAZING!!! Highly recommend I let the waiter pick out the food for me and he asked a few questions and he picked the perfect things for me!!!! Great customer service amazing food! So much flavor!! If you don't come here you are missing out. I will be back only wish I lived closer but I will take that drive!

Fantastic food. Amazing service. Perfect ambiance. Authentic and fairly priced. 10/10

Love the food here! Consistently delicious! It's nice that they've expanded, too! This is by far one of the best restaurants in tucson!

Love the new spot! Great food, amazing and unique drinks, and now space for the kiddos to run around! Service was kind and attentive, as always.

Wonderfully flavorful food and excellent service. Highly recommend. Lots of vegetarian options as well as meats. It's family style, but at with your hands by means of a thin, spongey, sourdough type bread. We had the minced beef (#16), the roasted cauliflower and red lentils. Was absolutely amazing. I will be going back with my vegetarian friends.

We recently moved to Tucson, and I was so excited to hear there was a good Ethiopian restaurant in town. Zemam's was great! The food was just as it should be, flavorful and fun to eat.

ALWAYS OUTSTANDING! The food at Zemams is superb. Spiced with amazing blends, we learn every time we stop in. Recommend stopping also at the bar-Zerai's. Great drinks, cleverly crafted.

Upon walking in the aromas of spices and herbs was enticing. We were seated quickly in a cute and colorful outdoor space. The menu offered a wide variety of proteins and vegetable options. We ordered two Combo platters with the injera and it was absolutely scrumptious... one of the most unique and best tasting meals we had in the last four months we had been living in Arizona.

We enjoyed the food immensely. We had a sampler with the sourdough bread. This sourdough was unlike any we have ever had. I'm guessing typical Ethiopian. It was good and you use it to pick up your food with it. The service was top notch and the food delicious! Had some Honey Wine. Very different and very sweet. The ambience was inviting and tasteful. Overall a wonderful experience!

Such a happy and bright place to eat, drink, and just BE. Fantastic staff. Food is best Ethiopian ever. My new hang. Met so many cool people Portal night!

I don't typically post reviews, but I felt like I just had to help promote this restaurant. We're in town for the weekend and we came across this gem of a restaurant completely by accident. We love Ethiopian food, so we thought we'd give this place a try. We are so glad we did. The food here was absolutely fantastic! Definitely authentic, with amazing rich flavors. The restaurant is very cute and clean, and the service was wonderful. I HIGHLY recommend to anyone looking for a fantastic meal!

I used to love getting Zemam's too. The new location is just that, a bigger property but higher prices and smaller portions. I ordered what I always liked, the vegetarian platter. To-go plate that comes with three different vegetables options and injera. I found a long sharp chicken bone in the gomen alicha. huge disappointment

Zemam's is a Tucson staple! I've been eating there for years, and the quality has never wavered. The best thing to do at Zemam's is to go with a group and get samplers. Each sampler consists of three selections, so you can make any combination -- all vegetarian, all meat, or some of each -- that strikes you. I typically like the mixed sampler, so I can do some combination of my favorites: shiro (pureed chickpeas with spices), gomen wat (collard greens with garlic and cayenne), spicy boneless chicken (chicken cooked in berbere sauce), mincheta bish (chopped beef cooked in berbere, cardamom, and garlic), and yemisir kay wat (spicy red lentils). The food here is both served on and eaten with injera, a spongy, deliciously tangy bread. I love the injera -- I could eat heaps of it by itself! Zemam's is very casual, and is BYOB should you like to do that. It's a perfect spot to share a meal with friends!

What an amazing great restaurant. I love the whole vibes of this place. You enter as if it were someone's house, through a house door and screen door. The inside is small and cozy with traditional pictures and art pieces designed throughout. Parking may be a bit difficult as there's not many places to park but a couple around the restaurant. The food is phenomenal! I suggest coming with a few friends so you can try the sampler platter with different options. The spicy boneless chicken was my favorite, it has a rich tomato-ey flavor. We also got mincheta beef which was ground beef it tasted very home-ey. The shiro tasted a bit burnt flavor and it wasn't our favorite. I definitely want to come back and try the rest of the sauces. The bread is so soft and delicious :) can't wait to come back!

Came here as a group of six, and we made reservations beforehand. One friend is gluten intolerant, and this place does an excellent job catering to that. You just need to make sure you ask as soon as you're seated about this since the gluten free bread takes time to make. We also asked about this accomodation when we made the reservation. What we ended up doing was ordering our dishes on gluten-free bread, and we shared the normal bread, while our friend got extra gluten free bread. This is family style, where all your orders get grouped on to a central plate. It's great for sharing, and it's meant to encourage you to grab the food with your bread. If you do need a spoon, go ahead and ask because we did to limit cross-contamination, at least in the beginning. Lots of food, and we even had leftovers to spare. I ordered the mixed veggies and meat sampler with 1 meat 2 veggie, Doro watt chicken, cauliflower, yetakelt wat (red lentil sauteed with onions). All were delicious! The other dishes that were ordered were also good and I have no complaints on anything we ordered. For the Doro watt chicken, do keep in mind there's bones; I'd probably get an alternative meat dish in the future. Everyone in our group loved it. A great spot for vegetarians too. Many of us have been thinking about it in the days after, and we are definitely planning to go back, or order takeout in the future!

So we had a chance to come back here after all these years! It's still the same place. The rearranged things a bit. No longer is there a table in the entry area. We arrived a little early, and it wasn't very busy. We got a nice table in the first room on the right. Even before our food arrived it started filling up. Apparently they are still popular. Yeah, it's still a bit of a dive. Decor has improved a little, and they have a poster of Guy Fieri from "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives"...apparently he did a show here. It still doesn't feel like what I would expect Ethiopia to feel like. More like an American diner with a few posters. I think making the ambiance more African would complete the experience of dining here. The food is the same as I remember, served in the same manner as I remember. The spice palette for Ethiopian cuisine is very different from most other cuisines a foodie may encounter on a typical night out. Unique flavors. We liked our food very much. My last review still applies. Bland ambiance, but really good food.

This is a great place ... food was good and awesome service from noah Me and a buddy of mine stoped by and we both had a two choice meat and one choice veggie. All together had lamb , 2 beef, chicken, spinach, and potatoes Great place will stop by if in the area

We stopped going to restaurants due to Covid, and being high risk, haven't really resumed yet. And, since I'm WFH I rarely get to the Zemam's area. But I placed an order and picked up recently, and was SO pleased. The food was as great as ever, and the take out was really well packed. Portions felt quite generous, and everything was perfect. Love the current spice level on the spicy dishes.

If you're looking for a meal option out of the ordinary, Zemam's is worth trying! Tucked in the corner, Zemam's is an Ethiopian restaurant that has been featured on "Dinner, Diners and Dives". It has a variety of sized tables and chairs that don't necessarily match, but it don't let the decor turn you off. It's a humble restaurant with delicious flavors and great quality. A unique feature of this restaurant, like many Ethiopian restaurants, is that you eat with your hands and not with utensils. There's usually a small wait to place your order, even when it doesn't seem too busy or full in the restaurant, but it doesn't take long for your food to come out. The best option, in my opinion, is to order the Plate combo. There's a couple options, but I personally like the 2 meats and 1 vegetable plate combo. It comes on a large circular dish with 3 portions placed on top of injera (sourdough-risen flatbread with a slightly spongy texture). My boyfriend and I can share one combo and are satisfied with the amount of food we've ordered. There are great vegetarian options, so if you don't eat meat, you can get a plate combo with all veggies. They also give you a side plate with injera. The last time we visited this location, we ordered #2, #12, and #17. There is a lamb option, with a small extra charge. In addition to food, the main beverage options are water, tea, and soda. They do have a policy that allows you to bring your own beer/wine. You must supply your own glasses and uncork your own bottle, or you can have them do it for you with an extra charge. Overall, Zemam's is a great restaurant to go to for a taste of something unique. It's a great option for adventurous eaters, as well. I highly recommend picking a couple of their spicy options and one non-spicy option to balance the flavors and taste! Enjoy!

Delicious Ethiopian food. The food is excellent. I always get the Vegetable sampler with cauliflower, yemisir wat, shiro, yetekelt wat, and of course the collard greens. All are deliciously seasoned with onions, garbanzo beans, and spices. The injera (spongey bread) is perfect. I do ask for more than the amount it comes with, and they have always been nice enough to give me extra. They are finally remodeling the inside so the location on Broadway is under construction at this time. I think that they also own the place on the east side but I've yet to eat at that location. I'm excited to visit once the new remodeled location is open! The people who own it, and work there, are super friendly which to me is a major bonus.

The employees are always so polite and are very efficient workers, the setting of the restaurant really compliments the food, the food is absolutely to die for and I've been eating there most of my life, every single time without fail it was absolutely mind-numbing how delicious it was. I could not think any more highly of this restaurant and it deserves a Michelin star.

Zemams is always great. The food is amazing and our server was so nice. We will return time and time again

Eating at Zemam's is a great way to experience authentic Ethiopian food. The homey ambiance creates a very welcoming environment for diners to enjoy their food. I was also surprised to find out that Zemam's was actually fetaured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives (the TV show that Guy Fieri does for Food Network). Forget your forks and knives! Eating at Zemam's is a very hands on activity. We ordered one veggie sampler and one meat sampler for 3 people and we had plenty of food left over. The mincheta bish beef dish was my personal favorite. If you need more of the injera flatbread to go with your dishes, just ask! I will definitely be returning to try out more of Zemam's amazing dishes!

If you're into flavors you gotta try Zemams. I've only been to a few different Etheopian restaurants so I don't know what's authentic, but i do know that this restaurant has amazingly tasty dishes. I highly recommend the combo plates where you can choose three different meat or veggie dishes. It'll come out on a large injera and they give you extra injera to enjoy it with. I went with two other people and we ordered a meat combo and veggie combo, and we were only able to finish about half of the plate. Everything was so flavorful and the meats were so tender. There wasn't a dish I didn't like. I will definitely be back to try the rest of the dishes. Don't be intimidated by the appearance of the food, it's well worth it!

I've loved every dish! I've been going here for at least 20 yrs. I'm never disappointed! Try Lega Tibbs for meat eaters and pretty much everything for vegetarians. My favorite are Gomen Alicha, Spinach, Kik Wat, and the mixed veggies.

Food is always great. Nice people. Unmatched for Ethiopian in Tucson.

Great Ethiopian food in a very homey restaurant. We had the two meat and one veggie sampler. Had the lentils (yemisir wat), spicy chicken and mincheta Bish (ground beef with berebere). All AMAZING! Cool thing is the servers are more than willing to bring out extra injera if you just ask. One combo is the perfect amount if you want to grab a dessert later. Two combos necessary if you want to pig out. All out our dishes were cooked perfectly! I don't know who said the meat was dry but ours was perfect and moist. The variety of flavors is what makes this place amazing. Service is relaxed but awesome. One tip is that you take your check to the register when you're ready to go. This place fills us fast so I recommend going earlier on the weekend before it gets slammed. We showed up around 5:45 and got food about 6. During our meal the place went from almost empty to slammed.

I've been trying to go here for months. Ever since I saw it on my way to work one day. My partner doesn't have a penchant for adventure so I have been unsuccessful in getting him to go with me. Finally, I managed to get someone from work to go with me. It was both of our first times eating Ethiopian food in Tucson. My first time ever, her second or third time. We sat down and looked at the menu. We decided to try the veggie and meat samplers. She chose the veggies and I chose the meats. We tried to stick to traditional dishes as much as possible. It came out quickly and it was the 6 total samples sitting on a giant injera (traditional Ethiopian sourdough flatbread). The injera is sour by itself and has the texture of a pancake, very soft. They gave us additional pieces of injera, and you use it to pick up the food. It's a finger heavy food and no utensils. But oh my god, it was F**KING amazing!!! The flavors of all the samplers were amazing. It overpowers the injera, so you don't taste the sourness of it. The meat was tender, spicy, and cooked perfectly. The vegetables were amazing and hearty. This is a food I recommend if you have not tried it, you need to eat at least once in your life. I felt like I was in heaven. There are 2 locations. One of Broadway and one of Speedway. We went to the broadway location, so it looks like it was an old house that was converted to a restaurant. So it's a bit small inside, a little cluttered, and not too much room to move around. The waitresses seem to maneuver well around the tables and carry large trays of food. There were 2 waitresses when we worked. One also worked front of the house. The main waitress was attentive and was always smiling. I can tell this place is popular. There are always cars in front of it. We were there like 5:45pm, it was not crowded. By 6pm, 6:15pm, people started walking in. I would definitely love to go back again. This is great for large groups because there is a lot of sharing involved. Definitely bring friends, family, or go alone. If you don't finish, they provide a box and if you ask, more bread.

It is so hard to find authentic foreign cuisine, unless you are at Zemams. This is the tastiest Ethiopian food and true to its culture. Thank you for giving us a true Ethiopian experience in Tucson.