Great food, great service, delicious cocktails! I'd describe this as an upscale Ethiopian restaurant. We started with the lentil sambusas - perfect amount of flavor, spice and crunch. I had the margarita and agree with what others have said - that is a delicious beverage! We then got the Beyaynetu (mixture of vegetable dishes) Doro Wot (stewed chicken). All were amazing, including the freshly fermented injera. The only thing I would suggest is to order a side of goat cheese (that comes with the chicken dish) if you order the spicy lentils -it helps to temper the spiciness (I'm a whimp). :) read more

See all

Exquisite food, elegantly served in a warm, bright setting. The injera had perfect texture. The lamb tomato stew, "Kilwa Beggie," was delicious, tender, hearty, and had a wonderful, complex, slow-burn heat that was very satisfying. Excellent. Would highly recommend. read more

See all

This was my first Ethiopian restaurant in Portland (I've eaten at Ethiopian/Eritrean places in other cities). Ordered the Beyaynetu (mixture of vegetable dishes) Doro Wot (stewed chicken) and various side dishes (Sambusa was excellent) and all were very flavorful. The injera is 100% teff, and delicious. It can get a bit pricey once you start adding everything up, so be cautious if on a budget, but I think it's a great meal. Service was excellent and friendly. Drinks were quite interesting/creative (bonus points for some of the most beautiful carved ice cubes I've seen in Portland!). read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

I love Abyssinian Kitchen and always make a point to stop here when in Portland. On my last visit, I noticed the portion size seemed smaller, or maybe the prices had just gone up. It felt more like a snack than a dinner, and cost $25 with the 20% gratuity they added. Food, service and atmosphere are genuinely top-notch, but I probably wouldn't go back given the price to food ratio and mandatory tip. There are plenty of other great Ethiopian restaurants in Portland. read more

TLDR: food was good, but about twice as expensive as every other Ethiopian restaurants in the area (of which there are many), and no new dishes/offerings. The menu besides being pricier is also done 'portland a la carte style.' Whereas all of my previous experiences eating Ethiopian we always just order the platter with everything on it, here you have to pick a main dish and then add in each side you want a la carte, essentially a build your own injera platter. The quality of the lamb and sides like collard greens were a little better than at other places. The kitfo (think Ethiopian tartare) I did not like here compared to others - it was much too seasoned & little overcooked. Overall, it was tasty but not worth paying double for me, especially as we got less variety with it being a la carte style. Also 20% gratuity is added automatically. It is nice & clean, modern looking in there & they have cocktails if that is your thing. read more

First things first - their injera is gluten free 100% teff!! And it's delicious. We went for an early dinner on a Wednesday and had the place pretty much to ourselves for a little while. Their drinks menu has some fun cocktails, beer, wine and a scrumptious cider from 2 towns - Prickly Pearadise. Their food menu has quite a few yummy choices, something for everyone. We ordered 2 entrees between the 2 of us and they brought it out on 1 big tray so it was easy to share. Unfortunately, we cleared the plate so no yummy leftovers. Bathroom is in the back, past the bar. And it's street parking which can be a challenge on Alberta - had to park around the corner and down the block. read more

See all

Whatever cuisine you can imagine, Portland has exactly one amazing restaurant for it. One amazing sushi spot, one amazing steak house, etc... Portland's best version of whatever you can imagine will rank against anything in New York, LA, SF, etc. This is Portlands amazing Ethiopian restaurant. read more

Very tasty cocktails with homemade mixers. My visiting sister said her margarita was one of the best cocktails she's ever had. Really good tasty food for both vegans and meat eaters alike. Servers were great with attentive but not overbearing service. read more

Food. Service. ambiance! Delicious Ethiopian and a warm, welcoming space! Great for vegetarians, and hungry hikers! read more

Amazing drinks, gorgeous restaurant. Super friendly and welcoming staff. Food was delicious! Looking forward to coming back read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

Extremely happy to return to Abyssinian Kitchen for a meal in their handsome new restaurant on NE Alberta. Carefully prepared, perfectly spiced, absolutely delicious food. So glad they were able to re-open. We began with an order of their tasty sambusas and then chose the vegetarian combination sampler beyaynetu (stewed yellow split peas, seasoned collard greens, spicy red lentils, mixed vegetables) along with an order of doro wot (stewed chicken in a nicely spicy berbere sauce, hard-boiled egg, ayb). Of course all of this came with their delicious injera. Special praise here for their fantastic collard greens as well as the chicken and berbere sauce. We nearly licked the platters clean. The restaurant itself has been beautifully designed, and the service was welcoming and on point. The reborn Abyssinian Kitchen should be on everyone's list of Portland's finest restaurants. read more

Abyssinian Kitchen has a very nice new dining room across the street from Alberta Rose Theater. They will soon open outdoor seating. The space is beautiful and they have a full bar. I had the vegetarian combo and the lamb berbere. Their vegetarian combo, Beyaynetu, is kik alicha, gomen, timtimo and atakilti: stewed yellow split peas, seasoned collard greens, spicy red lentils and mixed vegetables. The spices were mild. I don't know Ethiopian spices, but I would guess turmeric in the peas. The collards were not overcooked and not salted. They did not seem seasoned. The lentils had some tomato paste, I have not encountered in that dish before. I would guess turmeric in the cabbage with carrots and potatoes. Kilwa Beggie is their lamb I ordered with berbere. It has a bit more spice between mild and medium. It was the most flavorful dish. The injera was very lemony, and did not have the bitter taste of teff, so you might inquire on the grains used. The staff was nice, the to-go order fast, though there were not many indoor customers that day. I prefer stronger flavors, like Portland's first Ethiopian restaurant, thus my stars. I'm experimenting with my own berbere recipe. This might be a good low spice introduction, Midwestern relatives welcome, or for other new-to-Ethiopian food eaters, in a nicely decorated restaurant environment. read more

I had been to the old Abyssinian Kitchen when they were down in SE, and now visited since they moved to NE Alberta. The new space is very nice and cozy, perfect for a date night. Service was top-notch, so I was fine with the 20% auto-gratuity. We also enjoyed the food, though there are other Ethiopian places nearby I think taste better and offer a wider range of menu. However, AK's food and space is much more refined. We tried the Beyaynetu, which was a great veggie sampler of most all of the side dishes. My wife loved the cabbage stew, while my favorite was the red lentils. The yellow lentils were a bit undercooked and some still kind of crunchy. They provided just the right amount of injera, and while it was fresh, it was cold like it just came out of the refrigerator. Other places I've had it always serve it at room temp, which I prefer. We also ordered the Doro Wot, which was tasty. However, at $22, all we got was a single chicken leg (drum & thigh), which seems pretty small for the price. Their meat entree section of the menu is pretty small relative to other Ethiopian restaurants in town, so you really only get one choice per protein. My wife really missed the Derek Tibs. Still, I'd highly recommend this place for a nice night out, and/or for an entry into Ethiopian & Eritrean cuisine, which is unique and one of my favorites. read more

Ethiopian food is foreign to me. In fact, I have only tried it twice. It just happened my friend wanted to try something new, and she'd been eyeing this place for months! When she proposed Abyssinian kitchen, we figured... why not! We came in a Thursday night, about 6pm. The place was busy but not crowded. The owner made some recommendations and we ordered 3 dishes to share. We got 3 Sambusa (one of each favor), Kilwa Beggie (lamb), Kitfo (beef), Beyaynetu (veggie combo) and a side of Shiro b'Tsahli (chickpeas). The sambusas were so good. They were served pipping hot; crunchy on the outside and creamy in the filling. We like all 3 favors (beef, spinach & feta and lentil) as they were all equally delicious. The main entrees were served on a giant plater, and we were pleasantly surprised by the presentation. It was fun to see the fresh rolls of sour pancakes (sorry i don't know the name...) on the edge of the dish. Everything tasted really good, we finished almost everything except the beef, because it was a tab spicier than we can handle. I thought it was fun to eat with our fingers, but when my friend ask for silverware, our server had no problem bringing a few to the table. Overall, I enjoyed the food. They are fresh, tasty and savory. Our server was really friendly and accommodating. I'd recommend this place if you'd like to try some Ethiopian! read more

See all

most Ethiopian places don't follow traditional Injera bread recipes and cut their flour with wheat, which not only is not accurate but also keeps those of us with gluten restrictions from enjoying this delicious food! luckily this place doesn't do that. They are very aware of dietary restrictions here and service has always been friendly when I've visited. have especially enjoyed the red split lentils but always enjoy each vegetarian option I've ordered! read more

Abyssinian Kitchen knocks it out of the park every time we visit. The restaurant is very stylish with a cozy atmosphere. Service is prompt, attentive and friendly. Most importantly, the food is phenomenal. Do yourself a favor and order the vegetable combo with any meat and a side of the soft cheese! Perhaps the only downside is that prices are a bit higher than most Ethiopian places and gratuity is automatically added to all tabs. However I think the cost is well worth the stellar food and service. I hope to come back for many more delicious meals in the future! read more

Restaurant is gorgeous, very clean and has a lovely, warm vibe to it. The staff and owners are wonderful people and are very welcoming and care about their customers! All of the food was absolutely delicious - when you come here get the Beef Sambusas, they are amazing. Kilwa Beggie is amazing as well, and you can tell they really do put love into the food. This is the new spot for sure read more

Amazing Ethiopian food at a great price. Fairly small intimate spot to eat with your fingers. The injera, sponge bread used to scoop up the food, is the standout here with a slight tang/sour taste, it compliments the fat and oil of the lamb I ordered perfectly. So whether you're an adventurous eater, like eating with your hands, or even vegetarian, there are options here for everyone. For two people you'll roughly spend about 35 dollars before tip. This is a great spot to take your time eating family style and getting your fingers messy with the company you're with. read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

This is the best Ethiopian food in Portland. No question. They have just moved to a new location on Alberta. So glad they are back. The Injera is flavorful and fresh, as well as everything else on the menu. The food and dining experience is consistently top notch. read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - This is the Beyaynetu (veggie combo) with Shiro b' Tsahli and Awaze Tibs. Not pictured: the 9 Sambusa we ate as an appetizer. - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

i was looking for something healthy, gluten free & plant-based and stumbled upon this place. I was more than pleasantly surprised. The food was sooo delicious, nicely seasoned and I was wowed by the collard greens which were cooked to perfection without even a hint of butter or oil! Wonderful service & incredible injera, which I got to fo as well. Definitely would go again! read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Abyssinian Kitchen is noteworthy for its lovely ambiance, upbeat and excellent lighting for an evening out with friends. We appreciated the music was on the quiet side but still had a hard time hearing each other well over the talking. Maybe some sound mitigation could be added? The service was attentive without being intrusive, and we received everything we requested promptly. We chose this restaurant for dinner with a vegan friend because of its impressive commitment to working with patrons' needs, including gluten-free injera. That said, we probably would have liked some of the dishes better with the clarified butter, for instance the greens collards. I realized that my taste buds missed the gluten, although by body thanked me. The Timtimo was heavenly! read more

My dining experience as a Black man is long and storied (LOL). As a result, I've developed a 'second sense'. It means I know an authentic 'welcome' from a ' we will tolerate you'. And, this is my review starting point. I learned later it was the owner, Kuflom (Dad) that greeted me and my fellow musician friend, I invited to join me. Secondly, the server, Bethahum, I learned later, is the daughter. Then the bartender, I learned his name is Jarred. These people are among the kindest, sincere, most talented restaurateurs I've encountered. Other reviewers have provided testimony about the amazing ethnic food and non-alcoholic beverage offerings, for the palate. Predictably, astonishing dishes, when prepared correctly, and they are! Again, I'm encouraged to return, predicated on the manner in which I was received, and not based on a stereo-type, promoted by naughty people, not ready for a dining experience in which you hold yourself accountable for behavior in a public venue. Especially owned and operated by African people, that usually look like you! Full circle... and thank you. Yugen read more

Every now and again a restaurant hits on all levels. Abyssinian Kitchen is a beautiful place in a great location. My wife and I had limited time before a show at the Alberta Rose Theater. We were surprised to find this gem right across the street. We had the Beyaynetu which is what wr usually get at other Ethiopean restaurants. The food was very fresh an natural...no oversalting. The wait staff was very attentiveto our timing needs and checked in with us the appropriate amount of time. Everyone working here seemed to fully enjoy their job and the overall vibe of the place was welcoming. Fantastic addition to a restaurant saturated area. read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Eritrean Lager at Abyssinian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

I was happy to see this restaurant reopen, and the new space looks great! We've had good meals from the previous location, and as it appears to be the same owners, I assume the food is still good. We do, however, greatly prefer a different Ethiopian restaurant in town. The new location is 15-20 minutes away from the old, and we live closer to the old, so it was a trek up there tonight. I had no intention of eating in the restaurant, and instead, like normal, expected to get it to go. I verified on Yelp that they were still doing takeout. However, I should have called first (I guess?). I was greeted at the door, where I asked to place a takeout order. The response was, "Eh, not tonight." Now, as a frequent eater of Ethiopian food, I understand that the stock of injera is precious, and so I would have completely understood if the explanation was "We're running low on injera and have people waiting for tables," or virtually _any_ other plausible explanation. But when pressed, the explanation was "the kitchen is busy." It was 7:40PM. I was willing to wait a bit. But, "nope." I considered trolling; ask for a table for 1, place my order, receive my order, then immediately ask for a box and the check. Instead, I took my hunger elsewhere. It was definitely disappointing to waste my time, so I hope that they'll clarify their policy on takeout for the future. But, at least for now, don't blindly trust the text on Yelp that says "Offers Takeout"--it's not always true. read more

Great service and really nice atmosphere. Felt cared for when we ate here. We loved the red lentils!

Just wow! Ethiopian food in general js very tasty, but this restaurant makes it extra special. Their semosas are delicious! We ordered a second one to go and that was a smart decision when we woke up next morning :) Their portions are quite large and just one dish filled up the two of us. Afterwards check out an ice cream place around the corner for dessert :) read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Having had Ethiopian food only a handful of times, I'll admit that I'm no connoisseur, but I thought that the food at Abyssinian was super tasty, flavorful and bright. It was my mom's first time having Ethiopian and she enjoyed the experience. We got the vegetarian combo plate plus lamb - it was all filling and delicious. Service was good and attentive. I do wish though they would give wet naps after the meal since you're eating with your hands. We got to sit at one of the two or three tables on the cute little patio out front, which is always a bonus when the weather's nice. read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Amazeballs. The vegetarian combo plate + lamb. - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Really overpriced white people version of Ethiopian food. Everything kind of tasted the same. I have had some amazing Ethiopian food in PDX before so I have a general baseline for flavors. Ordered the beef samosas and received the lentil ones. Those were the only tasty things I ordered. read more

It's been a while since we tried Ethiopian cuisine. This place has a perfect ambiance and great service. I usually eat Doro Wat, spicy chicken curry with a boiled Egg, and they were sold out. I was disappointed, but wanted to give something else a try. We were six of us and we were celebrating my wife's birthday. Another disappointment was with there Meat dishes, which did not accompany any side vegetables, and when asked they informed that we need to order each of them separately. We have visited many Ethiopian restaurants and the dishes always comes with side vegetable curries and lentils. The Menu had only one dish that had multiple vegetable dishes in one. For us it was a total disappointment. I ordered Beef dish and the beef was really tough, I did not eat the whole entrée. My wife prefers vegetarian dishes so she ordered the mixed vegetable platter, but the taste was not as we were expecting. Which was a first for us in Ethiopian restaurant. Other than Ambiance and Service, the overall dishes do not really represent Ethiopian culture. My wife and I are not going back. :( read more

This was our first time here and it was a very delightful! The spices in the food was nothing we have ever had before. The concept with eating with your hands was also fun and different, however I'd recommend washing your hands really well afterwards because it can stain your skin color to a slight orange hue. We ordered 3 dishes, 1 being an appetizer dish the sambosa assorted. Came out hot and fresh and following 3 minutes afterwards the main dishes on a shared family style plate. We had lamb and a veggie dish with the spice lentils 9/10 read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

See all

We had a really lovely dinner here last week. Haven't had Ethiopian food in years and wanted to check out this spot in the neighborhood. The cocktails were well-conceived and well-made. The food was incredibly beautiful and delicious, the ambiance was comfortable and nicely done, and the service was top notch. We will definitely be back. read more

My new favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Portland. The food is just fantastic and the staff are wonderful. Very welcoming and friendly. Family run (as far as I can tell) and right in my favorite part of the city (also my neighborhood). 10 stars! We left full, beaming & beyond excited to have this restaurant down the street from us read more

Everything we had here (shahi, kik alicha, gomen, timtimo, atakilti, the cocktails, the lentil sambusa, and especially the shiro) was delicious; the service was perfect, and the space was relaxing. read more

This place is ok. For the portion size and options it falls a little short. The vegetarian combo option only had four items even though it read like more. The ambiance is nice (though the candle smelled weird) and I can see why people might like to go here on a date but I usually go somewhere for the food more than the atmosphere. read more

I've eaten at quite a bit of Ethiopian restaurants in the Bay Area and Portland. I tend to gravitate towards Abyssinian Kitchen for a myriad of reasons: 1) It's in my favorite Portland neighborhood: Clinton. Nestled next to the kitschy Jacqueline, many people would walk by this cute bungalow house converted restaurant. The ambiance always exudes warmth, hearth-filled, and if the orange glow from lighting is just right for the mood. The service is extremely professional and family run. I've always appreciated that. 2) While similar in cuisines, Abyssinian is also Eritrean. I think that's why there are seafood dishes on here such as the Asa Dulet or the Tsehbi Asa. Whether it's minced tilapia or stewed tilapia. These dishes keep me coming back time and time again. I almost always order one of these two dishes with an extra side of Kik Alicha (yellow split peas). 3) I always bring out-of-towners here because it is one of my favorite restaurants in Portland. Being a chef, most people who aren't in the industry assume we would love to eat at finer dining establishments but honestly all we want to eat is food that we can eat over and over again. For me it's the food here. There other meat dishes are also superb (Kilwa Beggie - Lamb). 4) When they first opened a couple years ago they had two styles of Injera. One made with 100% Teff for the gluten free individuals and traditionalists. The other was cut with some all purpose flour which made the injera extra fluffy. Sadly, they've streamlined their service to only the teff one but it's still made with humble perfection and perfect fermentation. I hope to go god they reopen. If they are permanently closed--it would be a total tragedy as a casualty of these dark times. read more

Abyssinian Kitchen has incredible food, service and ambiance. It's so welcoming and warm inside and everyone is so kind and hospitable. I'd come with friends and then again with family and both times my experience was just incredible. The food is phenomenal, I don't know if there's one dish I can recommend because everything is so good! Definitely visit Abyssinian Kitchen if you get the chance you won't regret it! It's so good. read more

The food is delicious and the drinks are excellent. I enjoyed a nice late summer outdoor dinner recently. Very enjoyable experience with outstanding service. This place should be on everyone's top 10 list in Portland. read more

Upscale dining experience in inner SE. Very attentive and quick service. The ginger lemonade was extraordinary: tangy and a little sweet with a strong ginger kick. I don't usually bother with drinks, but really glad that I sprung for this glass. All of the vegetarian options are vegan by default so if you are lactose intolerant like I am you don't have to ask to omit the butter. I got the Beyaynetu or veggie combo. The miser wot (spicy red lentils) were the star of the spread, spicy (maybe a 3/5 level hot) and flavorful. The gomen was good, not super exiting but firm and quite edible (gomen is never my favorite but I still always try it the first time at a new-to-me place.) The aterkik alicha (yellow lentils) were a tad underdone (imo) and a bit bland, but if you prefer your lentils distinct and toothy you will love these. I was disappointed in the atikilti alicha (cabbage/potato/carrot). It's usually my favorite ethiopian dish but this portion while delicious was more bland than expected. Fortunately the injera (100% teff, no filler grains) was extra tangy which helped balance out the lack of spice. In AK's defence, I am super anglo looking so they might have "Americanized" the spice profiles for me. I'm looking forward to returning and trying some of the other menu options. Great place for a date or small gathering. Limited seating (about the size you would expect for the neighborhood) including two small patio tables. read more

Abyssinian Kitchen - Veg combo and ginger lemonade - Ethiopian Near Me - Portland, Oregon

Great service, clean, and a fun upbeat colorful atmosphere. Food was delicious she's loved the sourness of the Injera but could've done with larger portions given the price. read more

Absolutely delicious. Lovely bartender, I got an appetizer planning on a beer and an app and it was so good I got another beer and a full meal. Genuinely delicious. read more