Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Abyssinia

    3.6 (374 reviews)
    ModerateEthiopian, Bars
    Open 10:00 am - 2:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Abyssinia Takeout or Delivery

    Abyssinia Photos

    Business Info

    ABYSSINIA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Abyssinia

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Bar downstairs
    Matthew B.

    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.

    Lindsey O.

    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.

    A meat combination platter at one of their unique basket-tables!
    Alicia J.

    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!

    MEAT COMBO
    Jennifer G.

    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.

    Veggie combination and Kitfo
    John C.

    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.

    MEAT COMBO
    Joelle L.

    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.

    Abyssinia 1, Abyssinia 2, Meat Combo, and Veggie Combo
    Austin B.

    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.

    Heather M.

    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!

    A feast: doro tibbs, doro wot, fish tibbs, VEGGI COMBO, GORED-GORED, KITFO
    Jen T.

    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.

    interior
    Wendy Z.

    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.

    Injera
    Winni Z.

    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!

    3 Meat combo with veggies plate for under $20 each you can't beat it!
    Dannie C.

    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

    Timatim Fitfit (diced tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, pepper mixed with pieces of injera)
    Sarah A.

    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!

    MEAT COMBO GOMEN BESIGA

    See all

    Photo of Lady X.
    3
    79
    142

    4 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nhu H.
    3
    106
    3

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lindsey O.
    1578
    1542
    1589

    2 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wendy Z.
    2
    35
    119

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Faer A.
    26
    111
    11

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 3
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dannie C.
    173
    27
    21

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mat S.
    63
    3
    0

    1 year ago

    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.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of E J.
    0
    182
    0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

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

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of S H.
    0
    24
    10

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

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

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dawn C.
    105
    10
    2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 10

    Ask the Community - Abyssinia

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Ethiopian 948 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Two Locals Brewing

    Two Locals Brewing

    4.9(25 reviews)
    0.9 miPowelton Village, University City

    Hands down my pick for the best brewery in West Philly, and that's well deserved for Philadelphia's…read morefirst black owned brewery! The first thing that stands out to me about Two Locals is the huge space with all kinds of amenities. Whether its a seat at the bar, grabbing a seat by a barrel, or grabbing a table for a group of any size; it has the perfect seating arrangement for you. While the brewery side only serves libations the space also features the Landing Kitchen serving all kinds of damn good food. Another plus is the huge variety of games that they have to play, including an ice breakers questions game that made for a good second date activity. The service at Two Locals is great and filled with bartenders who provide good brew suggestions. And I love that Two Locals is a brewery that goes beyond pouring IPAs while also pouring some damn good ones.. Favorite beers of mine from here include the Nubian brown ale, the Gaspar dark Mexican lager, the Riots smoked rauchbier, and the Foway farmhouse saison. For events outside of beer Two Locals features events like a comedy showcase, movie screenings, gospel karaoke, and then some. And starting in Apirl 3rd they'll also be partnering with UCity Square to have a pop-up beer garden in The Lawn.

    Two Locals Brewing, Philadelphia, PA. I was expecting two guys in their basement making a mess and…read morecalling it beer. What I got was flashbacks to my corporate life drinking beers with fun names trying to forget I was in a hotel lobby bar. Pro tip; entrance is on 37th St. Two Locals brewing is on the 1st floor of an office building. They are next to a sandwich window and open seating that was hosting a reiki spa massage lecture series. There were some big personalities in Two Locals side of the space. Luckily I found parking right outside the front door. I gave away 4 t-shirts to 4 lovely people. The beers had fun names. I ordered a part time lover. We'll talk about the beer named part time lover here. TheCheesesteakLife.com - Your home for everything cheesesteak.

    Photos
    Two Locals Brewing - Beer Menu

    Beer Menu

    Two Locals Brewing - Beer List

    Beer List

    Two Locals Brewing - Bar Seating over looking the brewery

    See all

    Bar Seating over looking the brewery

    Parks On Tap - Perfect setting.

    Parks On Tap

    3.4(36 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Parks on Tap is a a unique and fun "beer garden" experience. It's super casual and a nice way to…read morerelax, meet friends and hang outside. Things to note: you have to "sign in" on your phone before you can enter. This causes a line on some busy nights - such as last night, their opening night at the Azalea garden. My partner had an issue because his phone wasn't loading and they would not let him in! Even after checking his ID. Luckily, he was able to borrow my phone to sign in. If they require sign in for entry, they should at least have an iPad (or paper) for those that are unable to do it on their phones. As far as beer selection, didn't LOVE the choices, they were okay, I thought I remembered some better options last year. I got the 2SP up and out, which is good, but didn't think the other options were great. I personally don't go to Parks on Tap for food, but if you would like food they have it. Our friends ordered the Mexican street corn dip, but they were not a fan of it. However, the atmosphere is wonderful, I love the aspect of getting out in a park in the city and having a few beers and relaxing! It's unique and fun. It's also great that it travels, I'm excited to try some of the other locations. They do have a good amount of seating options, but if you expect it to be crowded and want a place to sit, I recommend bringing a blanket or foldable chair.

    Rode our bikes out here last night for bike gang. It felt like biking up a mountain…read more I got a lemonade and a brisket cheese steak. It was really good and unlike most parks on tap food, actually filling. Plenty of space between benches and chairs. No over crowding. No lines. Bathrooms were super clean. Sanitized pens to sign your name after paying. All the proper precautions. This has been my favorite parks on tap experience.

    Photos
    Parks On Tap - Food & beer trucks

    Food & beer trucks

    Parks On Tap - Stop, hammock time. :)

    Stop, hammock time. :)

    Parks On Tap

    See all

    Bad Brother

    Bad Brother

    4.8(196 reviews)
    2.1 miFairmount, Art Museum District

    FANTASTIC place. Totally recommend and would absolutely go back…read more Easy to make a reservation over the phone and our party of 5 was welcomed and brought to our table upstairs. The upstairs area has a chill vibe with some Mario-themed art as well as a TV. It seems that the kitchen is upstairs, so a lot of waiters were flying by out table to the staircase. Our waiter was pretty chill. Apparently an O's fan, he was excited to learn we're from Baltimore. Food was all fantastic. The style of fries isn't my preference, but they were decent. Other than that, I was blown away. Child #1 and Child #2 got some items from the Kids' menu - grilled cheese and cheeseburger. Bread and Butter appetizer. Is it expensive for just being bread and butter? Yes. Is it worth it? Also yes. The homemade bread is great, but combine it with honey butter with flaky salt, and it's incredible. Loads of reviews on Yelp talked about the sausage roll. GET IT. It's greasy and filling in all the right ways. Goes great with a beer. My wife got the burger and she found it to be very tasty. I got the Grilled Maitake Mushrooms dish and holy cow; it's perfect. Even if you're not a vegetarian (I'm not), you can appreciate this dish: crispy rice cake (not the dry kind from the store), tender baby bok choy, and of course the well-cooked mushrooms are tied together with black vinegar, garlic-whipped tofu (!), and a peanut sauce. A++ would absolutely get again. The food menu has some staples, but overall it does change nightly, so make sure you check it out before you come. Apparently, on Sundays, they do a different experimental flavor of wings. I was curious, but my stomach has only so much room, so I had to draw the line. There is a respectable drink menu. My wife got the blood orange mezcalita, which she liked, but thought the smoke flavor was more subtle than described. I got the Plum Fizz and would totally get it again. Pleasantly-sour with a nice fizz. It's a nice pub in a nice neighborhood of a major city - be prepared for prices to match. But it is absolutely worth it.

    One day I was craving a burger and decided to come to bad brother for the first time. I came on a…read moreMonday night not knowing there was a drinking event so it was pretty busy for a Monday. They were doing raffles if you ordered certain drafts but I decided to get a cocktail instead. The plum fizz was so delicious and refreshing. I liked that it wasn't too sweet or too strong (especially because it was a weekday) Anyways, because it was pretty busy I just sat myself at the bar. The bartenders were all so kind and nice and answered all of my questions. Apparently they do change some items on the menu and they do a martini and meatloaf Monday. I stuck with the burger and fries. When I tell you it was the best burger I've had in fairmount, I'm not exaggerating. I was expecting typical bar food but I was wrong. I will be back for sure and I'll be sure to tell all of my friends to go there as well. I've never had a meatloaf but just because the burger was so good I'll have to let my first one be at bad brother.

    Photos
    Bad Brother - Seating area behind bar table was for two

    Seating area behind bar table was for two

    Bad Brother - Cheese plate

    Cheese plate

    Bad Brother - John Penguin heading in for his first scotch of the season. Wings or cheese plate?

    See all

    John Penguin heading in for his first scotch of the season. Wings or cheese plate?

    Abyssinia - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...