Ethiopian restaurants in Africa
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Fasika
Right opposite the crazy Capital Pub in Kabalagala, Fasika is the leading Ethiopian restaurant in Kampala. The menu is a good introduction to Ethiopian eats and includes a tasty Ethiopian answer to a thali (mixed curry selection, including rice and pappadams), with a little bit of everything served on injera (unleavened bread).
reviewed
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Lalibela Restaurant
Set in the grounds of the One Love Club, this is Kigali's only Ethiopian restaurant following the demise of the Addis. It has a laid-back atmosphere in keeping with the Rasta owner and serves big portions of spicy chicken and the like on injera (unleavened bread). It rocks on as a bar later in the evening.
reviewed
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Restaurant Saba
Close to the railway station, this unpretentious joint gets kudos for its wide-ranging menu and mouthwatering fruit juices. Try shark fillet, crab or shrimps. Vegetarians will plump for salads. Despite the simplicity of the setting, this place feels surprisingly cosy.
reviewed
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Unique Restaurant
Opposite the Asheton Hotel, this dark and understated little restaurant, serving cheap and tasty Ethiopian dishes, has received rave reviews from a number of readers.
reviewed
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Addis in Dar
Offers a mouth-watering selection of Ethiopian dishes, including a range of vegetarian selections. It’s signposted off Mgombani St.
reviewed
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D
Sallam Restaurant
It doesn't look like much from the outside and actually looks worse inside but, believe it or not, it is a culinary gem. Here you can relish the Yemeni speciality of fresh fish sprinkled with hot pepper and baked in a tandoori oven. The fish, served with a chapatti flat bread, is served in two sizes: medium and big. It's absolutely superb! Ask also for the mokbusa, the traditional accompaniment made with honey, butter and either dates or bananas.
It's deservedly popular with holidaying Asmarans and gets crowded at weekends. While eating you'll be surrounded by plenty of cats expecting a tidbit.
reviewed
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E
Blue Nile Ethiopian Restaurant
One of those rare places with a character all its own, Blue Nile's quirky lounge couldn't be mistaken for anywhere else, painted with stories from Ethiopian mythology - if you've ordered one of the many goat dishes, it's best not to read the panels about poison until you've finished your meal! For the full communal African eating experience, order the seven-person doro wat (spicy traditional chicken stew) with a few glasses of tej (honey wine).
reviewed
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F
Beaches Bar & Restaurant
At the back of the prominent, Soviet-style greyish building, this is the only independent restaurant on Taulud Island. What it lacks in style - the dining room is about as cosy as a dentist's waiting room - it makes up for with tasty dishes and a seaside terrace from where you can watch the sambuks. Italian and Eritrean specialities feature equally on the menu.
reviewed
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G
Hirut Restaurant
A cheery, authentic place to savour Ethiopian dishes as well as pasta and various grills. Sink your teeth into a superfilling kwanta firfir and knock it all down with a bottle of Gouder wine, if you're game. The dining room is cosy but the shady terrace is a sure winner. Service was a tad amateurish the day we popped in.
reviewed
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Abinet Hotel
If you ask locals where the best place to eat is, they'll say Remhai. But if you ask them where they like to eat, they'll say Abinet. The spaghetti and the array of Ethiopian dishes are quite good. Be aware that restaurants tend to wrap things up early in Aksum, with most places being closed or out of food by 20:00.
reviewed
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Addis in Cape
Sit at a low basket-weave mesob table and enjoy tasty Ethiopian cuisine served traditionally on plate-sized injera (sour dough pancakes), which you rip and use to eat instead of cutlery. Also try their home-made honey wine tej and an authentic Ethiopian coffee.
reviewed
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I
Mukbasa - 7 Freres
This popular joint in the African Quarter is famous for one thing and one thing only: poisson yemenite (oven-baked fish). It's served with a chapati-like bread and a devilish mokbasa (purée of honey and either dates or banana). Truly finger-licking.
reviewed
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J
Adulis Seafood
Opposite the mosque. Adulis also specialises in seafood. It enjoys better outdoor seating than the Sallam but the fried shrimps were utterly disappointing and service was lackadaisical the day we stopped by. Alcohol is not served.
reviewed
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K
Dashen Traditional Restaurant
The soft lighting and intimate surrounds are perfect for your first awkward attempts at injera. It saved us from embarrassment after accidentally inhaling berbere - don't ask! It's off Itegue Taitu St.
reviewed
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Shawarma
If money really matters, this cheap and cheerful eatery (no sign), a mere skip from the railway station, is the ideal pit stop. Fork out for a shwarma (kebablike dish) and you'll leave patting your tummy contentedly.
reviewed
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Addis Ababa Restaurant
Unlike the Ethiopian capital itself, this place is easily missed as it's tucked away up some stairs in an otherwise unremarkable block. Locate it and you'll also find good authentic food and occasional live music.
reviewed
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Shangri-la Restaurant
An atmospheric place for tere sega (raw meat), which is available on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. There's an outdoor dining area and a cosy bar serving quality tej.
reviewed
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Eritrea Restaurant
This used to be the best place for Italian food on Massawa Island but these days the Eritrea has seemingly lost much of its appeal, with a thin menu and a general lack of motivation.
reviewed
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O
Habesha Restaurant
For a meal that looks as good as it tastes, come to this fashionable Bole eatery where serving is an art form. There's also live music and traditional dancing every night at 20:00.
reviewed
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P
Agelgil
Off Meskal Flower Rd, tucked down a dirt track next to the railway tracks, is this great option. There's live dancing and music every night (except Wednesday) at 19:00.
reviewed
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Q
17 17
This local, atmospheric option is usually alive with action. The food isn't the best, but it's filling and cheap. Look for lights in a tree next to a well-lit butcher.
reviewed
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Addis Ababa Restaurant
Feeling like a neglected museum, this long-standing Piazza favourite continues to churn out great Ethiopian dishes and pure tej (it has its own brewery).
reviewed
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John Cafeteria & Lalibela Restaurant
These neighbours share a kitchen and menu. around Br10 will get you an omelette breakfast with toast, local honey and a steaming macchiato.
reviewed
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Megenagna Hotel
Locals claim it serves Lalibela's best fasting food. We were still recovering from our quiche and couldn't confirm these claims.
reviewed
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S
Mini Fogera
The cushion-covered cement stalls won't win your bottom's approval, but its Ethiopian fare just might win your stomach's.
reviewed