By: Kyrie Sismaet By: Kyrie Sismaet | June 23, 2022 | Food & Drink, Restaurants, Culture, Local, Community,
From the spicy creaminess of curry Wat, to the savory richness of sizzling Tibs and even to just the sharp tanginess of fluffy Injera, Ethiopian food is an amazing adventure of contrasting textures, complex flavor profiles, and creative ingredient combinations.
Ethiopian food is an excellent choice for parties, as their large Doro Wat platters offer several different cultural staples, all generously served atop the spongy injera bread that is used as both the platform and the serving utensils, inviting you to come together and feast on all the colorful dishes ranging from spicy, sour, sweet, and more.
There is a significant Ethiopian population in the Bay Area, and below are all of our favorite restaurants that capture their culture and traditions, while also providing warm atmospheres and familial-style service.
698 Haight St / Website
Axum in Lower Haight is a brightly lit, clean, and casual style cornerstone that has been highly lauded since its inception in the 1990s. Definitely stop in when in the area for a unique choice of dinner that excels in showcasing authentic Ethiopian spices. We recommend their Veggie Platter for Two for a sampler of all their best dishes, such as their Alicha with sautéed veggies, dished mushrooms in tomato sauce Kintishara, Tumtumo with garlicky lentils, and more.
878 Valencia St / Website
This is the absolute must-visit restaurant in the Mission's Valencia Street, for their traditional Tsebhi Derho, or doro Wat, is brimming with chicken drumsticks doused in berbere sauce, and served with a hard-boiled egg. Their steak tartar, or Kitfo, is also divine, which includes beef chopped and seasoned with butter, homemade cottage cheese, and mitmita.
1130 4th St / Website
House of Tadu is an excellent modern take on Ethiopian fare at their sharp and airy Mission Bay interior. Their Eggplant Tibs is phenomenal as a vegetarian substitute for the grilled meat classic, made deluxe with jalapeños and their special berbere spice mix. Their Gomen Besega, or buttery lamb cubes with slow-cooked collared greens are also a distinct pick, with everything on their menu all for under $20.
2208 Business Cir, San Jose / Website
Down in the South Bay, an unassuming strip mall near Bascom Avenue holds one of the most top-tier and innovative "new Ethiopian cuisine," as the chef Aster Teklemichael describes.
This is a wonderful homestyle choice that serves the most comforting stews and veggie options that are easily approachable for children and newcomers in their relaxed atmosphere.
1320 Saratoga Ave, San Jose / Website
Similarly in a different lowkey San Jose shopping plaza is Zeni, which boasts more stylish approach to their traditional decor. Here you feel transported right to Ethiopia with their ornate low-style furniture while sharing beautifully seaseoned spicy red lentils, or yemisir wot, with plenty of absorbant injera. Their smooth honey wine is also a fantastic way to drink their culture while also cooling down from their dishes' heat!
6430 Telegraph Ave., Oakland / Website
Oakland is a hotspot for Ethiopian cuisine, and this cozy wooden restaurant rises above all. We highly recommend dining on their shaded outdoor patio for a leisurely meal that's both rustically cooked and intricately seasoned, such as their turmeric potato and carrot stew, or atakilt wot, or their generous portions of luscious kitfo.
462 Santa Clara Ave., Oakland / Website
Café Romanat stellarly delivers on both a swanky atmosphere with their elegant historic decor and refined, elevated cooking. The superstars here are their homemade beer or sesame seed juice, which compliments their wide variety of spicy lentil or smoky veggie platters.
Whether you are a returning fan or a curious newcomer to delicious Ethiopian food, each of these brilliant places will serve you up irresistably flavorful classics!
See also: The Best Filipino Restaurants In The Bay Area
Photography by: Imani Manyara/Unsplash