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Came here Friday night and was welcomed and seated right away. Witnessed Ethiopian girls drinking tea together and it was a very nice cultural experience! We love Ethiopian food! This restaurant is authentic, traditional, fresh made and homemade, and very tasty! We love the basket of injera bread that comes with the vegetarian combo and meat platter. Comes with an egg and chicken leg, super delicious! Will definitely come back!
Absolutely loved this place! Ethiopian food is quite the dining experience, as well as a GREAT option for date night! So in short, if you never had Ethiopian food and need a spot for date night, come here... hungry! Oh.... And you'll be eating/enjoying this meal with your hands which would be the traditional way to eat an Ethiopian meal, but of course, you can always ask for utensils! We ordered the Traditional Combo and you're given this huge platter of Injera (think of a spongy crepe like sourdough tasting bread!) topped with different kinds of Ethiopian Dishes. I used my hand as a reference to show you how big this platter really is! The flavor profiles that I believe would best describe the food would be bold, earthy, tangy with a bit of sourness, spicy, zesty, and VERY aromatic, so if this up your alley, this is a sign to go!
The best Ethiopian and Eritrean food I have had in a long time. Dare I say, ever! I have eaten at numerous Ethiopian restaurants in Los Angeles (some gems known only within the local Ethiopian community), as well as multiple venues in the San Francisco Bay area. This restaurant surpasses them all. We came to celebrate my friend's birthday (she eats here all the time, has lived in Africa for years, and knows the owner and his family) and ordered the vegetarian combo, okra, Awaze Tibs (beef), hot bubbling Tegabino shiro, and a fried sambusa (lentil filling) appetizer to share. The flavors and seasonings used in the veggie dishes and beef had a nice balance and went exceptionally well together. The injera bread was fluffy and had a good mouthfeel, with enough bounce and texture to pick up and hold the delicious food and sauces together into the perfect bite-sized morsels. Injera bread was so good that I would eat this plain. As a sourdough flatbread, their injera was not overly sour nor dry. We also finished 2 bottles of Ethiopian honey wine, which was less sweet than I expected and closer in profile to a light Chardonnay, than a sweet wine. Wine was a perfect pairing for the food. As far as beverages go, they have a small selection of beer and wine in the menu, along with Ethiopian coffee/tea which is freshly brewed to order. They also have a nice traditional coffee/tea setting in one corner of the restaurant and I was told they provide a special freshly brewed coffee service on weekends. Definitely a top recommendation from me, for authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean food. My friend informed me that this restaurant is a labor of love/care from the owner, who had a very successful engineering career before he opened this restaurant, which was a dream of his to share the foods he grew up with to the local Ethiopian and Eritrean community. Even more reason to love and support this restaurant! We went on a weeknight for early dinner and it wasn't crowded. Plenty of parking as they're located in a small shopping plaza.
5/5 - Amazing First-Time Experience! I'm visiting from Sacramento and wanted to try something different. This was my very first time trying Ethiopian food, and I'm honestly so glad I chose this place. The flavors were absolutely incredible -- rich, bold, and perfectly seasoned. Every bite had something new to offer, and the injera paired with the dishes was so delicious and unique. It was definitely different from anything I've tried before, in the best way possible! What really stood out was the owner. They were so warm, welcoming, and genuinely excited to share their culture and food with me. They took time to explain the dishes and made me feel completely comfortable even though I was new to Ethiopian cuisine. You can tell they truly care about their customers and take pride in their food. If you've never tried Ethiopian food, this is definitely the spot to start. Great flavors, great experience, and amazing people behind it! Highly recommend
Very good Ethiopian food with personable service. I tried the chicken sambusa and it was super good. We also got the veggie combo with beef, and it was very authentic and some of the best food I've tasted. Would definitely recommend!
The food was incredible! Stopped in for a late lunch -- ordered the veggie special (for one), and I was stuffed! It had the usual and delicious suspects found on a veggie platter, but also had a great beet and potato amount that was tasty!
It was our first time trying Ethiopian food! It was actually nice that the server asked us and explained how they do it in their culture. Which I thought was nice and very thoughtful. They asked if it was okay to have the food in the same plate as that's how it is traditionally done. The inside gave me mom and pop shop vibes which I loved!! Support locals!! I will assume their decor was all traditional and it was actually genuinely nice knowing about a new culture! But has a few tables and even a little bar area. There wasn't too much ppl inside as the day we went. Awaze Tibs chicken 9/10 it was nice and tender. I wouldn't really know how to fully explain the flavor. But trust I did like it. But it wasn't too much spice. I will say maybe I want it to have a hint of spiciness but that is a personal preference :)) I forgot what the beef dish that was chosen since the original wasn't available but I will say I preferred the beef over the chicken!!! Next time I'm here I do wanna give the traditional combo a try!!! Will come again and try more stuff!!
Long overdue! Ethiopian food is my favorite, and Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant does it the best. Anytime anyone asks me where I want to eat, this is my only answer because I legitimately crave their platter every day. I just spent my 30th birthday having lunch here this past February! Tucked away in a small plaza, this truly is OC's hidden gem from Africa. It has that authentic mom-and-pop feel, where it's almost always the owner or his son personally greeting and serving you, which makes it feel even more special. You can tell there's so much pride and care in everything they do, and it's a big part of why I keep coming back. My go-to order is 2 beefs and a veggie: awaze tibs, derek tibs, and a veggie combo or special, all served over injera bread. Probably comes out to about $70, but that's enough for 2-3 people. Very filling! Tip: Be prepared to wait. This is not fast food, and we're thankful that it's not! Everything is made fresh to order, and that takes time. It's the perfect place to take a date or a friend if you're looking for a great catch-up session. (:
Although I won't say this will be my most favorite cuisine, I am by certainly very happy to have tried it. Such a colorful palette of exotic yet homestyle vegetables, mixed with their refreshing spiced meats and earthy chicken and eggs, you can completely taste the culture on the plate. I will definitely try more meat next time and am interested in their coffee/tea ceremony as well. Service was great as well. Thank you!
Me and my friend came here yesterday, and I had an amazing experience. This was our first time ever having Ethiopian food and to say we were impressed is an understatement. The Injera vegetarian plate and tibs were so delicious and flavorful, and it was made very fresh! The presentation was also beautiful! I tend you eat out a lot but this cuisine was unlike anything I had before! You could feel how much care, attention, and thoughtfulness went into making the meal. Make sure you come HUNGRY and a couple people because the portions are very generous and filling! And prices were more than fair. I took a To go box home and it was still delicious the morning after. I'm definitely coming again to share this food with more of my friends and family! Also when you come please be sure to be kind and patient to the owner, it was just him working, and he was very nice :))! Ethiopian food is so underrated and needs to be more mainstream, and this restaurant deserves more business and recognition!!
Fantastic food and service!! Thank you!! Loved every bite! Friendly and family restaurant.
I'm so glad I found this place, the food was phenomenal. We got the combination platter and it was just so delicious. Injera, doro wat and all the veggies were just so amazing. Service was great, the gentlemen kept coming around to check on us. The restaurant is adorable and perfect. I'm definitely coming back!
Kind of a hidden gem in my opinion. Went for dinner and the restaurant was absolutely empty. But the employees were super kind and attentive. We got the combo and I absolutely loved it. The Injera wasn't super sour. The variety was great. They ran out of the doro wot and instead replaced it with a different chicken dish, which was very yummy. Ambience is clean and quiet. Great for conversation. Definitely looking forward to coming back. There aren't a bunch of Ethiopian places around, so I'm very excited to have found the spot.
1 month ago
The Abyssinia Restaurant has been on my list to try for quite some time. I drove from Temecula, CA and I was not disappointed. I met the owner and I believe his son, both great folks. The interior had Ethiopian and Eritrean pictures all around so the ambiance was a 10. The service I'll have to give it a 10 has well; the owner was accommodating and gave the perfect amount of time to look over the menu. Now for the food; I got the veggie combo plus the Zii Xii Tibs which was a tender beef. My tastebuds were in heaven! Please come try this restaurant out, you will love it! I have to go back and try the lamb, chicken, heck even their kitchen sink. Every bite was absolutely enjoyable! Go check them out! read more
Been trying some Ethiopian food lately and glad we found this place! Came here with couple friends because I saw that the traditional combo is a type of food that you want to share, although I saw some people enjoyed their combo alone. It's very healthy and flavorful dish and it's vegetable based. Recommended to add additional meat dishes if you're craving more. Their injera bread (some sort of crepes) is something that you eat with, and I'm telling ya, you'll get addicted pretty quick ! The owner is nice and the staff that help us also nice. He recommended different type of beers as well, so we got to try them. They are very interesting. They have plenty of Ethiopian decorations and pictures all over the restaurant. Parking is plenty in the plaza. read more
Lunch at Abyssinia felt a little like visiting another country...except it didn't require a passport or even a freeway. From Huntington Beach, it was just a surface street drive straight north to a quiet corner of Anaheim. I came with a buddy who had never tried Ethiopian food before, while this was my second or third experience. Since he's vegetarian, he ordered the Vegetarian Special, a colorful vegan platter with lentils, okra, cabbage, collard greens and several other flavorful, well-spiced dishes. He really enjoyed the variety because every section had a different flavor and texture. Everything is served with injera, the soft, spongy and slightly tangy Ethiopian flatbread. It arrives underneath the food as well as rolled up on the side. You tear off a piece and use it to scoop up everything--even the salad. No forks appeared, so we committed to the experience and ate with our fingers. I ordered the Awaze Lamb Tibs, featuring tender pieces of lamb cooked with onions, peppers, tomatoes and Ethiopian spices. The lamb was flavorful, nicely seasoned and complemented the injera well. My only rookie mistake was eating so much injera that I started getting full while I still had lamb left. At that point, I wasn't quite sure how to eat the remaining meat without wrapping it in even more bread. A fork would have come in handy, but I managed to get by. Apparently, Ethiopian dining requires both cultural appreciation and a touch of caveman skills. The owner initially came across as a little brisk, but it soon became obvious why: he appeared to be running the entire show himself; cooking, serving and handling the dining room during a lunch rush. Once things slowed down, he stood beside our table and shared some of his story and his philosophy about hard work, quality food, gratitude and the blessings of this country. He turned out to be a thoughtful and interesting man, and that conversation became one of the highlights of our visit. The restaurant is tucked into the corner of an ordinary-looking shopping center, but the inside has genuine character, with photographs of Ethiopia, cultural decorations and collected pieces throughout the room. I could imagine how lively it must feel on a busy evening with Ethiopian families celebrating over traditional food and drinks. Abyssinia offers good-quality food, an engaging owner and a cultural experience you don't get at the average restaurant. Definitely give it a try when you want to do something different. Ethiopia may be an airplane ride away, but this experience is only a surface-street drive to Anaheim. read more
3 months ago
Came here Friday night and was welcomed and seated right away. Witnessed Ethiopian girls drinking tea together and it was a very nice cultural experience! We love Ethiopian food! This restaurant is authentic, traditional, fresh made and homemade, and very tasty! We love the basket of injera bread that comes with the vegetarian combo and meat platter. Comes with an egg and chicken leg, super delicious! Will definitely come back! read more
Absolutely loved this place! Ethiopian food is quite the dining experience, as well as a GREAT option for date night! So in short, if you never had Ethiopian food and need a spot for date night, come here... hungry! Oh.... And you'll be eating/enjoying this meal with your hands which would be the traditional way to eat an Ethiopian meal, but of course, you can always ask for utensils! We ordered the Traditional Combo and you're given this huge platter of Injera (think of a spongy crepe like sourdough tasting bread!) topped with different kinds of Ethiopian Dishes. I used my hand as a reference to show you how big this platter really is! The flavor profiles that I believe would best describe the food would be bold, earthy, tangy with a bit of sourness, spicy, zesty, and VERY aromatic, so if this up your alley, this is a sign to go! read more
2 days ago
The best Ethiopian and Eritrean food I have had in a long time. Dare I say, ever! I have eaten at numerous Ethiopian restaurants in Los Angeles (some gems known only within the local Ethiopian community), as well as multiple venues in the San Francisco Bay area. This restaurant surpasses them all. We came to celebrate my friend's birthday (she eats here all the time, has lived in Africa for years, and knows the owner and his family) and ordered the vegetarian combo, okra, Awaze Tibs (beef), hot bubbling Tegabino shiro, and a fried sambusa (lentil filling) appetizer to share. The flavors and seasonings used in the veggie dishes and beef had a nice balance and went exceptionally well together. The injera bread was fluffy and had a good mouthfeel, with enough bounce and texture to pick up and hold the delicious food and sauces together into the perfect bite-sized morsels. Injera bread was so good that I would eat this plain. As a sourdough flatbread, their injera was not overly sour nor dry. We also finished 2 bottles of Ethiopian honey wine, which was less sweet than I expected and closer in profile to a light Chardonnay, than a sweet wine. Wine was a perfect pairing for the food. As far as beverages go, they have a small selection of beer and wine in the menu, along with Ethiopian coffee/tea which is freshly brewed to order. They also have a nice traditional coffee/tea setting in one corner of the restaurant and I was told they provide a special freshly brewed coffee service on weekends. Definitely a top recommendation from me, for authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean food. My friend informed me that this restaurant is a labor of love/care from the owner, who had a very successful engineering career before he opened this restaurant, which was a dream of his to share the foods he grew up with to the local Ethiopian and Eritrean community. Even more reason to love and support this restaurant! We went on a weeknight for early dinner and it wasn't crowded. Plenty of parking as they're located in a small shopping plaza. read more
11 months ago
5/5 - Amazing First-Time Experience! I'm visiting from Sacramento and wanted to try something different. This was my very first time trying Ethiopian food, and I'm honestly so glad I chose this place. The flavors were absolutely incredible -- rich, bold, and perfectly seasoned. Every bite had something new to offer, and the injera paired with the dishes was so delicious and unique. It was definitely different from anything I've tried before, in the best way possible! What really stood out was the owner. They were so warm, welcoming, and genuinely excited to share their culture and food with me. They took time to explain the dishes and made me feel completely comfortable even though I was new to Ethiopian cuisine. You can tell they truly care about their customers and take pride in their food. If you've never tried Ethiopian food, this is definitely the spot to start. Great flavors, great experience, and amazing people behind it! Highly recommend read more
3 months ago
Very good Ethiopian food with personable service. I tried the chicken sambusa and it was super good. We also got the veggie combo with beef, and it was very authentic and some of the best food I've tasted. Would definitely recommend! read more
The food was incredible! Stopped in for a late lunch -- ordered the veggie special (for one), and I was stuffed! It had the usual and delicious suspects found on a veggie platter, but also had a great beet and potato amount that was tasty! read more
11 months ago
It was our first time trying Ethiopian food! It was actually nice that the server asked us and explained how they do it in their culture. Which I thought was nice and very thoughtful. They asked if it was okay to have the food in the same plate as that's how it is traditionally done. The inside gave me mom and pop shop vibes which I loved!! Support locals!! I will assume their decor was all traditional and it was actually genuinely nice knowing about a new culture! But has a few tables and even a little bar area. There wasn't too much ppl inside as the day we went. Awaze Tibs chicken 9/10 it was nice and tender. I wouldn't really know how to fully explain the flavor. But trust I did like it. But it wasn't too much spice. I will say maybe I want it to have a hint of spiciness but that is a personal preference :)) I forgot what the beef dish that was chosen since the original wasn't available but I will say I preferred the beef over the chicken!!! Next time I'm here I do wanna give the traditional combo a try!!! Will come again and try more stuff!! read more
6 months ago
Long overdue! Ethiopian food is my favorite, and Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant does it the best. Anytime anyone asks me where I want to eat, this is my only answer because I legitimately crave their platter every day. I just spent my 30th birthday having lunch here this past February! Tucked away in a small plaza, this truly is OC's hidden gem from Africa. It has that authentic mom-and-pop feel, where it's almost always the owner or his son personally greeting and serving you, which makes it feel even more special. You can tell there's so much pride and care in everything they do, and it's a big part of why I keep coming back. My go-to order is 2 beefs and a veggie: awaze tibs, derek tibs, and a veggie combo or special, all served over injera bread. Probably comes out to about $70, but that's enough for 2-3 people. Very filling! Tip: Be prepared to wait. This is not fast food, and we're thankful that it's not! Everything is made fresh to order, and that takes time. It's the perfect place to take a date or a friend if you're looking for a great catch-up session. (: read more
Although I won't say this will be my most favorite cuisine, I am by certainly very happy to have tried it. Such a colorful palette of exotic yet homestyle vegetables, mixed with their refreshing spiced meats and earthy chicken and eggs, you can completely taste the culture on the plate. I will definitely try more meat next time and am interested in their coffee/tea ceremony as well. Service was great as well. Thank you! read more
3 months ago
4 months ago
Me and my friend came here yesterday, and I had an amazing experience. This was our first time ever having Ethiopian food and to say we were impressed is an understatement. The Injera vegetarian plate and tibs were so delicious and flavorful, and it was made very fresh! The presentation was also beautiful! I tend you eat out a lot but this cuisine was unlike anything I had before! You could feel how much care, attention, and thoughtfulness went into making the meal. Make sure you come HUNGRY and a couple people because the portions are very generous and filling! And prices were more than fair. I took a To go box home and it was still delicious the morning after. I'm definitely coming again to share this food with more of my friends and family! Also when you come please be sure to be kind and patient to the owner, it was just him working, and he was very nice :))! Ethiopian food is so underrated and needs to be more mainstream, and this restaurant deserves more business and recognition!! read more
19 days ago
5 months ago
Fantastic food and service!! Thank you!! Loved every bite! Friendly and family restaurant. read more
1 year ago
I'm so glad I found this place, the food was phenomenal. We got the combination platter and it was just so delicious. Injera, doro wat and all the veggies were just so amazing. Service was great, the gentlemen kept coming around to check on us. The restaurant is adorable and perfect. I'm definitely coming back! read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
Kind of a hidden gem in my opinion. Went for dinner and the restaurant was absolutely empty. But the employees were super kind and attentive. We got the combo and I absolutely loved it. The Injera wasn't super sour. The variety was great. They ran out of the doro wot and instead replaced it with a different chicken dish, which was very yummy. Ambience is clean and quiet. Great for conversation. Definitely looking forward to coming back. There aren't a bunch of Ethiopian places around, so I'm very excited to have found the spot. read more
2 months ago
1 year ago
Was my first time trying out this place and i absolutely love it! Everything tasted so delicious and fresh. We ordered and had to wait 35 minutes which we don't mind just because we know it's fresh! It took us nearly 3 days to finish everything! My favorite is definitely the beets and veggies! Definitely will be back! :) read more
11 months ago
Always Love this place. Pleasant atmosphere, awesome food. Excellent and very pleasant service. Get the traditional combo! read more
10 months ago
it has been a while since I had Ethiopian food and we had the veggie option and it was amazing. it was packed with flavor and we just finished the entire platter and left stuffed. Washed it all down with a delicious and refreshing Ethiopian beer. The owners daughter was our server and she was so attentive and very friendly as well. It's always a good sign that the food is amazing when the locals flock to it. We definitely plan on returning and recommended enough!! read more
2 years ago
Friend and I came for lunch, which turned out to be a quiet and relaxing meal :) it was our first time eating Ethiopian food and we really enjoyed it! Our server showed us how to eat it and was overall very attentive throughout our visit. Service was a bit slow, but it seemed like it was only our server doing all the serving and cooking??? Maybe another cook at most?? Anyways, on to the food! What we got: - Traditional Combo for two people, which consisted of Doro wot (spicy chicken stew) and what you see on the big serving plate are lentils, cabbage, collard greens, tender beef prepared w/ house herb blend, tomatoes, green peppers, onions, berbere (spiced red pepper powder), and (spiced, infused, and flavored butter). This came with a side of injera, which was used to scoop up the food from the plate. It was a fun and delicious eating experience! There was so much food, my friend and I split up the leftovers and I had it for dinner that night. Overall, I would come back and bring more people with me to eat!! read more
2 years ago
I highly recommend this place . We ordered traditional combo, 2 beef and chicken item. Also honey wine and Ethiopian tea . Must order combo, they have everything you want to eat in the bread and specially vegetables are so good , very simple flavor but flavorful not sure what kind of seasoning they use but really good. I would go back and order combo again . Also server was very helpful and very caring !!! I recommend this place read more
Excellent service and food. We ordered the traditional combo for 2. Came with veggies and meat, which made pairing sides a delight. Think our fav was the doro wit with the pickled onion salad. We had our meal mostly in silence - a telltale sign of food that warrants a return. We appreciated the hand sanitizers at every table. Great touch with the string lights too! read more
9 months ago
1 year ago
1 year ago
10/10 experience. The food is delicious, fresh, and beautiful. We had such a blast eating such good food and felt very welcomed. The establishment is tastefully decorated. Can't wait to come back. read more
Wow, I can't believe that I am back so soon! However, this time, we dined in, and look how pretty the plating is! My sister and I brought our parents and they absolutely loved the food as well, especially my mom because she is very fond of veggies. We ordered the traditional combo for 3 (again) but with an additional side of beef awaze tibs, which was so deliciously flavored and tender. I believe that this was my dad's favorite. Compared to the other place we had tried this dish at, this place makes the awaze tibs less spicy, which was better for the rest of my family. The food took a long time to come out because they were short-staffed, but the service was still very good! They kept coming out to apologize and update us on the status of our food, which I appreciated. Portions were generous like before, and we ended up having leftovers to bring home, which both my sister and I consumed the next day. Love love this place, please try it if you haven't done so already (: read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
2 years ago
melts in your mouth. came on a sunday evening for dinner and place was quiet with a few tables beside us also enjoying the vegetarian platter. we added a plate of lamb to it and it was amazing with all the vegetarian dishes. i ordered the spiced chai without the black tea bag, and it was so delicious and comforting on a cold night. our server was super attentive especially to my elderly grandmother. i love the decor and soft music playing in the background. forgot i was in anaheim in a random small plaza. read more
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More info about Abyssinia Restaurant
2801 W Ball Rd
Unit 5
Anaheim, CA 92804
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(714) 826-8859
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Ask the Community - Abyssinia Restaurant
Is the injera gluten-free (i.e. 100% teff flour)? Some places add barley or wheat flour when making injera...big problem if you can't have gluten. 😕
their injera is not normally gluten free, but they can make it on request - they just need advance notice. at least a day, but more notice if there are a significant number of people in your party who can't have gluten.
Are they currently still open for takeout during this pandemic?? What are the hours? Thank you
Yes, not sure about the hours. I called at 5:15pm on a Tuesday for takeout. Website is not working but there are photos of the menu on yelp (Dec 29, 2020)
Can your vegetarian options be made vegan ? Thanks !
I'm pretty sure it's vegan. Last time I went, I asked and they said it had absolutely no animal products-- eggs, milk etc.
Can you make gluten free injera?
Absolutely (teff is GF), but when dining out, injera is occasionally adulterated with wheat (and/or other) gluten-containing flours, so be sure to ask the staff!
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