I decided to try some Ethiopian food for the 1st time, and placed a order for Abyssinia through Grubhub. I order the Beef Tibs that came with Injera. My order arrived 90 mins later and cold. After popping my food in the microwave for 60 seconds, after a few bites I trashed the whole order. The Beef Tips were overcook, extremely tough, simply inedible. If I could give this order less than 1 star, I would in a heartbeat! The only good thing is, I received a full refund from Grubhub. Presentation: Not Good Taste: Flavorless, Extremely Tough, Inedible Value: Not worth 20.00, A lot of Injera but the portion of Beef Tibs was small (In my Opinion) read more

See all

Food was plenty and very flavorful. The injera was less sour than prior ones I've had. We got 2 combos (Abyssinia 2, meat) and an extra order of lentils (I believe??) for 4 people. Personally I think the veggie bits were better than the meat but that's just preference. I wouldn't order the lamb again bc I thought it was a tad too gamey and tough to eat. There are bones with some of the meat options. Overall, I think it is very hard to go wrong with a pick - just personal preferences would influence what I get next time. read more

Abyssinia - Meal - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I must say when I first walked in I wasn't sure what to expect. BUT I was met with friendly faces and was seated immediately. They gave us plenty of time to look over the menu and answered all our questions. Everyone scraped their plates clean and I can't begin to recommend how much I enjoyed this food. The things that were labeled as spicy ACTUALLY held some kick and I loved the contrast of spicy, hot and cold! Cant wait to head back there! read more

Abyssinia - Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I've tried Ethiopian food before, and made my taste buds happy! The injera was not too sour, I usually order the gored gored and kitfo. I love raw meat, and the spices they used are sooo yummy! I order from them a lot! I wish they were closer. Check them out!! read more

Abyssinia is (apparently) a long standing go-to for Ethiopian food located in west Phila, in what is now a "transitional" neighborhood, it can best be described as a local watering hole/divey eatery. To say parking is a challenge is an understatement. There are some things to be aware of if you go - but the highlight of this establishment is most certainly the food, rather than the ambience or service. So let's start with the good stuff - the food here rocks! Deliciousness incarnate. Plenty for portion size. Theres lots of reviews on the various dishes - our combo platter with samosas was delightful. Now let's hit ambiance and service. I am a fan of divey places, cause' they often punch above their weight when it comes to the food/drink. In the case of Abyssinia, the food definitely fits that bill. The drinks? well not so much - at least downstairs. we'll get to upstairs craft cocktail bar in a minute. The young man at the bar was certainly nice enough, but when i say he had no business behind the bar i mean it. Poor guy had no idea how to make a drink - i mean he knew literally nothing. His comment was "this is really more of a beer and shot place". i had to walk him thru how to create a whiskey and soda and a vodka club. Martini was out of the question lol. Ice? well that's an afterthought... really. He was so bad, it was literally entertaining. He just had zero experience -maybe from across the pond? i suspect as much anyway. The upstairs bar is a different story. But it is not really "connected" to the restaurant apparently. Opens at 6pm, cash only (ATM on site). Lots of locals. Bartender was quite capable and had some interesting craft cocktails. Priced at the going "Phila" rates ($14-$18 per) it's a little pricey for the establishment, but happy hour knocks $3 bucks off them and makes it a bit more tolerable. Be advised - its really small with a bar and a few tables. No table service. All in all, I'm glad we tried it out, but i would have to say unless i was local and it was in walking distance, I'd likely not return. Not worth the parking hassle. But the food - was most definitely a highlight. read more

See all

West Philly is chock full of Ethiopian spots, and as far as dinner spots, Abyssinia is the best I've had. I liked it so much I returned literally two days later after my first experience there. The ambiance is kind of ok, and the service is honestly kind of ok too - but the food is excellent. I recommend the veggie combo platter, which is a good sharing portion for two. The injera here is wonderful. Additionally, the bar upstairs is super fun. They have great craft beers, unique canned ones, fun cocktails, & great bartenders. I think it's technically a different business but it's nice that you can get a drink upstairs and bring it downstairs when you're dining. Will definitely keep going! Surprised the ratings aren't higher but then again I did knock off a star because while the food is a standout, the restaurant ambiance and service aren't. read more

Abyssinia - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

After coming to Abyssinia for years and also trying Ethiopian food in other cities, Abyssinia still stands out to me for its reasonable prices and unpretentious neighborhood vibe despite the cuisine becoming more of a buzzy novelty in recent years. I came recently for a late Saturday lunch and was happy to see both a good crowd and quicker service compared to my previous visits. The combo platters are still incredibly affordable and shareable, and I and another person were filled up by the Abyssinia 1 combo and an order of samosas. I personally like that the injera here isn't too sour since I don't love sour flavors and it allows the flavor of the main dishes to shine through. I've also developed a liking for kitfo since my early visits here and can say that Abyssinia's is good - don't be turned off by the idea of raw meat and give it a shot! read more

Abyssinia - A meat combination platter at one of their unique basket-tables! - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

I've been here multiple times and the food is always great. Service is good, and the food is brought out pretty quickly. The portion sizes are fairly large too, so I usually have leftovers. If you get a platter, you'll get an extra injera. I typically order the meat combo (which has three vegetarian sides); while everything is very flavorful, my favorite is the doro wat, which is like a spicy chicken stew. Ambiance is good too: not too dim or loud. read more

Abyssinia - MEAT COMBO - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Went here after seeing all the positive reviews. The restaurant is located in a hip area of town. Many young couples walking around. The front of the restaurant is a bar and you would walk past it to reach the restaurant portion. Service is good, food does take a bit of time to arrive which is no problem. The portions are a bit small for the price but the food is very tasty. The Injeras are not as flavorful as the nearby Ethiopian places. Parking is a bit tough. read more

Abyssinia - Veggie combination and Kitfo - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I got the Meat Combo and the Kurt Tibs and the meat was so tender and seasoned well (the veggies were seasoned well too). It was the first time me and my friends tried Ethiopian food and we can't wait to have it again! I just wish the Baklava was bigger for the price it is. We spent a total of ~$80 for 2 meat combos one order of Kurt Tibs and 2 orders of the baklava. There was definitely more than enough to share with 4 people. read more

See all

tl;dr the delicious and unpretentious Ethiopian fare is paired with friendly but painfully inefficient service Abyssinia is a family-run West Philadelphia stalwart, frequented by locals and University City students alike since the 1990s. The all-day Ethiopian cafe is complemented by the trendy speakeasy Fiume upstairs. Between its affordability and its uniqueness, Abyssinia has remained a solid option throughout my near-decade in Philly. And, although a number of Ethiopian spots were forced to shutter during the pandemic, here they continue to churn out homestyle plates until midnight daily. Enter on the corner of 45th and Locust into a long bar with magenta LED backlighting and a single flatscreen. The mezzanine-level dining room (actually part of the adjacent townhouse) is in the far back, up the stairs and past the wood laminate check-in counter. Mismatched lighting fixtures shine down upon the red-carpeted room and the snug, white-clothed tables. The taupe shiplap walls are painted incompletely and sparsely filled with Ethiopian decorations. Despite the numerous hanging speakers, the room echoes only with the conversation of patrons. During my most recent visit, our party of 4 arrived for an early weekend dinner. We were seated immediately as the only party in the back dining room, and the waitstaff seemingly forgot about us for half an hour before we even got water. The packed menu can feel overwhelming at first glance, but there is an Ethiopian culinary glossary along the left side. And, when in doubt, just go for the Combo Platters. We planned to dine family-style and split the Abyssinia 1, Abyssinia 2, Meat Combo, and Veggie Combo to maximize our variety. Twenty-ish minutes later, our vibrant spread was brought out on an enormous plastic dish, alongside several side plates of folded injera flatbread. All of the stews were spiced and well-cooked. My favorites were the spicy beef Kitfo and the tender lamb Alichia Wot, but even the vegetable wots were no pushover. I even enjoyed the tart house salad. The pancake-like injera was spongy and mildly tangy, but not the most flavorful that I've had. As is the case with most traditional Ethiopian restaurants, the injera effectively served as the silverware for the meal. The restaurant was filled to capacity by the end of our meal, but the servers didn't rush our party out. The combo plates nowadays run a hair under $20, and each is plenty of food for even a hungry appetite. For a unique, delicious, and affordable dining experience, Abyssinia is a good bet -- just make sure you aren't in any rush. read more

Abyssinia - Abyssinia 1, Abyssinia 2, Meat Combo, and Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

LOVED Abyssinia! I will be back for another late night visit but I also would like to try their breakfast! I was wandering around the neighborhood and came across this place and glad I walked in when I did! This was divine timing! When I went in and shared that it was my first time I was given a tour immediately. During the tour and overview of the restaurant, I fell in love. I like the idea of weekly/daily events, live music and the two separate bars. I enjoyed the Samosas! The menu has a wide-variety of options and I just had a snack but eager to try more items. The bartender, host and upstairs bartender were great during my whole visit. Recommend! read more

See all

I ordered this on DoorDash last night. From reading some good reviews and looking at pictures I gave it a try. I remember trying Ethiopian food once in downtown Oakland Cali however I don't even remember if I liked it or not. I got all vegetables the first time so this time I ordered the meat combo platter and I wasn't a fan of the vegetables much besides the gomen it was sooo good I can just eat that alone. The chicken was great. The beef was good just a little tough had a ball with my floss after. I'm honestly not sure what the other meat was maybe it was lamb which I'm not always a fan of but I did continue eating most of it so I'm happy I tried something new and actually enjoyed it. The injera was a bit cold and hard on some outter sides but I 100% will order this again and now I know what I like and don't like also though I live close by the food not being hot wasn't the stores fault it was my dashers problem. I still give it 5 stars and will update the next time I try it I will order in person. read more

I've been on the hunt for the best Ethiopian food in Philly, and of the places I've tried so far, this one takes the cake. Food tastes fresh and flavorful without being too oily. Injera was thin and not too sour. Everything was well balanced. Loved the variety and the fact that they also serve alcohol! Service is good but slow and the prices are a bit high. I'm used to Bay Area Ethiopian food, where you pay the same amount and have plenty of leftovers the next day. Still, I'm glad to have found a place that tastes this good! But I'm holding out for a better number one spot in Philly (fingers crossed). Also, parking was a bit hard to find in this area and the exterior/interior was a bit dingy. But I don't care about those things as much. The food is what matters most, and if you love Ethiopian like I do, this is definitely worth eating. read more

Abyssinia - A feast: doro tibbs, doro wot, fish tibbs, VEGGI COMBO, GORED-GORED, KITFO - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We come here for lunch, first table in the restaurant. they have bar on the first floor and upstair. i imagine they get busier at night time. The service is not good. i had to go look for waitress for ordering and found she is sitting there on her phone. However, the food is good. you can't go wrong with fry food. the fish is fresh and fish bone is crispy to eat. the bread is liitle bit sour for my taste, but when you eat with the meat, it is good. read more

See all

I like the food. Service is fine. The bar upstairs is great, even if they don't have draft and it's tiny (but in a good way?). They have a great selection of cans. I want to try their cocktails - they look good but I haven't gotten to them yet. There's another room upstairs where I think they host events, including Case Comedy on Tuesdays - I've been to the comedy night once and it was a good time. read more

My friend and I had a great first time at Abyssinia. This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. While I can't speak to the authenticity of Abyssinia, I can speak to the deliciousness of their food! I ordered the Abyssinia 1 Combo and my friend ordered the Veggie Combo. Next time I will just order 1 combo to share because it is a pretty big portion (they also give you more injera on the side). Nevertheless, the food was so flavorful and each tasted unique. We were the first ones there, but a few other groups trickled in after us. The food was definitely worthy of 5 stars, but the service leave much to be desired. The food took less time than expected (after reading the other reviews, I was prepared to wait an hour), but our waitress didn't seem to want to be there. Regardless, the food was delicious and I definitely would return for the food! read more

See all

The rules for the restaurant side are pretty wack and strict but the food itself is good Ethiopian. It's worth trying in the area but there is better around. The real gold star of this place is the multifaceted establishment; bar, house, restaurant, hosting venue. read more

Food is always amazing I've probably eaten here almost 10 different occasions brought friends and family to try and they never disappoint. Service is mediocre but they are nice. Cute little corner restaurant with nice decor. Give it a try read more

Abyssinia - 3 Meat combo with veggies plate for under $20 each you can't beat it! - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

See all

Loved the food. We got a combo plate to share and it was delicious. I think the restaurant itself is so cozy with great indoor and outdoor seating. Would love to see some lights outside. read more

Finally made it to Abyssinia and I'm so glad that I did--delicious Ethiopian food. Pro tips: Come before you're hungry, as the main course takes a while to emerge from the kitchen, order appetizers to tide you over, and bring people you like to converse with! For appetizers, we tried: - Samosas (cripsy pastry shell filled with vegetables, onion, jalapeno pepper), which were lighter than samosas I've had elsewhere and just what I wanted, and - Timatim Fitfit (diced tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, pepper mixed with pieces of injera), which was zingy and had interesting textures. For entrees, the crowd favorites were the: - Doro Wot (spicy chicken leg stewed with onion, garlic, ginger, berbere, kibbeh, served with boiled egg & ayib); - Qey Wot (lamb, spicy stew sauce, onion, garlic, ginger, berbere & kibbeh); - Kik Wot (yellow split peas stewed in mild sauce with onions & ginger); and - Azifah Wot (whole brown lentils seasoned with mustard, onions, garlic, jalapeno). The two beef dishes were a bit tough, but the flavors were great: - Gored-Gored (chunk of beef seasoned with kibbeh & awaze); and - Kurt Tibs (Abyssinia special beef cooked in tibs). And the salad was refreshing. Overall, the service was terrific and the food was worth the wait! P.S. Love that the menu has vocabulary along the sides! read more

See all

First time trying Ethiopian food, and I loved it! Food is very reasonably priced, good portion sizes, and filling. Staff/service is friendly too and a nice ambience. Cool neighborhood to explore too for those who don't live close by. Would definitely come back read more

I have only ever ordered takeout from Abyssinia, but every time it has been a fantastic experience. Takeout from Abyssinia comes piled up in a styrofoam box. Every box is hefty, filled with food and injera. Each box is lined with injera, topped with food, then covered with another piece of injera so there is plenty to eat. It's enough for two to three meals for me and tastes even better the next day. I've never been to the restaurant itself so have no clue what the service is like and the atmosphere is like. read more

Abyssinia - MEAT COMBO GOMEN BESIGA - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Ambiance was low key, which I'd expect from a west Philly Ethiopian place. Food was amazing. So good. Great spice balance, good injera too.

The owner is very rude and unprofessional. She doesn't care about her customers at all. When we gave her honest feedback about the food, she took it disrespectfully instead of trying to improve. Believe me, the food was terrible, and she has no respect for her customers. read more

Lovely dive spot with delicious Ethiopian food. Spice has a nice kick that complements the varying textures of different meats and vegetarian options. The injera bread is the winner here... light and not thick but with just the right weight to grab the servings. Friendly service although somewhat lightly staffed. The place is a hole in the wall and West Philly old but clean. Will definitely be back! read more

Delicious food. I try to visit this restaurant every time I come to Philadelphia and the food never disappoints.

I am willing to argue that there is absolutely NO way a habesha person cooked THIS FOOD/trash. This is absolutely disgusting and they should strip your name and license for the quality of food you are serving as a cultural symbol of our country. This is not authentic, it is tasteless, poor quality, smells disgusting and portion controlled. I will give credit where it is due the one star is for the server who was nice on the phone and handling my order but the food is absolutely NOT AUTHENTIC. NOR A REPRESENTATION OF OUR CULTURE!!!! You should be ashamed for real because I'd rather pay more for quality! read more

I haven't been here in a while but due to my recent trials and tribulations regarding Ethiopian food I realized I appreciate this place much more than it's ever been give the credit for. So when I'm trying these other places that can't touch Aby(for short) with a ten foot pole and seeing them with 5 star ratings it makes me sad. This place is delicious and the people there are really nice. Super concerned with making sure you have a great experience. They used to do live music too before COVID which was really cool. Also Fiume upstairs is awesome. They work hand in hand. What is not to love here? read more

Food 10 out of 10 I have nothing bad to say restaurant clean service always good would definitely recommend

I'm not always a huge fan of Ethiopian food, I'll be honest. The soggy, cold, sour bread with room temp meats and veggies doesn't always move me. This place was no exception. Before we sat, we had a few drinks upstairs that were very mid. The service was friendly though. The ambiance felt like someone's (older) home which was also nice. I'd go back. read more

Ate here for dinner with friends last night and the food was outstanding! Unfortunately, the service was not great which is why I am not giving 5 stars. I was originally even thinking 3, but the food was that incredible it automatically bumped to a 4. The server was not attentive or friendly. It took her a long time to bring our drinks, take our order and check in on us. She was very short with us throughout the night. We waited 40-50minutes for our food, which was ridiculous. However, when the food arrived my group of friends and I were overjoyed. Presentation was on point and everything honestly tasted delicious. We ordered the Abyssinia special #1 and #2, and two other things. I sadly do not remember what it was. It all arrived on one big platter and us 4 all used our hands and ate off of it. Such a fun and different experience. Service needs improvement but the food will make me come back again. read more

Abyssinia - a plate of food with different types of food - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The food was partially cold. We tried not to complain. We spit most of it in a napkin. Staff was rude and being absurd to customer. The staff offended the customer. The restaurant look like it needed some renovations. There was no ambiance and needed a lot of repairs. Roof of ceiling look like it was barely holding on. Not worth the headache if you want cold food and disappointment. read more

My food was delish. This was my 1st time eating Ethiopian food and I'll be back. Friendly atmosphere and the server was patient with helping me choose my meal. I had the lamb and it was pretty good. read more

Stopped by for some takeout after someone highly recommended eating food from here. The parking around this part of the City can be challenging. I had to park several blocks away, but I could use the exercise and the food made my efforts worth it! I had Qaunta Fitfit, which had a bed of ingera with the food on top of it, they then fold that ingera over the food and then put a whole separate ingera on top of everything for you to tear and pinch the food with. The meal itself has bits of injera mixed with dried sirloin beef, onions, and tomato sauce. The flavors were great, garlic, kick of hot pepper, beef and onions mostly. Not 100% sure, but I think for dipping they had mashed split peas and possibly lentils. It was a big lunch and quite a bit of food for $12. I needed a nap after I ate! Great take out experience and the food was awesome! read more

Abyssinia - Qaunta Fitfit - bits of injera mixed with cubes of dried sirloin beef, onions and tomato sauce. Delicious with a nice kick - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I will always come back to Abyssinia! I have frequented this restaurant since 2014 and I have never ever been disappointed. I love the meat combo because it gives a nice array of choices and flavors. I appreciate that they include 2 fresh vegetable sides. The boiled eggs are an added touch that complete the meal. I also love the salad and samosas. Please do stop by here for a nice date or group meal. They have plenty of seating, and i believe they have a bar but I do not drink alcohol and can't give any information on that. The decor is authentic Ethiopian vibes . I truly adore this place. read more

Abyssinia - MEAT COMBO - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I've been coming here for more than 40 years and it's still wonderful!! Although management has changed numerous times there food hasn't! Excellent!! read more

Abyssinia - Lamb Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We ordered takeout from this place and were incredibly disappointed by the quantity and quality of the food, especially for the price we paid. It was functionally $70 for just two platters of food (including delivery and service fee), some extra injera, and a side of plain white rice (somehow this cost us $5?). By the time we got the food, the injera was soggy. For the price we paid, we expected enough food to fill us up, but the portions we received barely did the job. They also forgot our order of samosas. Really disappointed by the service and food. Will not be ordering from here again. read more

Abyssinia - ABYSSINIA 2 - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Food was AMAZING but a long wait even on a Monday night. They also said that the Yelp discount for checking-in was expired ): but the food was so good that it was all worth it 100% recommend that you go and get one of the platters for yourself! For our group they gave 3 extra injera plates (really big) to go with the platters :D read more

Abyssinia - Abyssinia Special #1 - Ethiopian Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We ordered takeout from here tonight and it was sooooo good!! I got the meat combo. My bf got the Abyssinia 2 bc he always orders kifko when we eat Ethiopean - and that's included in his combo. We both loved our meals. Like everyone else reviewed, it does take awhile to get your meal. But the meal itself was awesome. I didn't finish mine and will have enough to eat for dinner tomorrow. My bf finished his no problem (he's a much bigger eater than me.). I totally want to come here again and try the veg combo bc I loved all the veggie items that came w the meal. Side note- one of the items in the meat combo was sooo spicy. It think it was the collards? Still was good tho. We ate too fast to get photos. read more