This place is medicine for the body and the soul! I loved their food, their service, their people,…read moretheir coffee, their space. I honestly never understood how in the world it was even empty. It is one of the best plates of food I've had since I've been in Phoenix. Totally worth it!!!

Last time I checked this place had an infestation problem. Roaches were scurrying across the floor…read moreand I just can't trust this place no matter how good the food looks

I always order the vegetarian sampler. They give you enough food for at least two meals. The food…read moreis always delicious, healthy, and flavorful. The staff are super friendly and I would definitely recommend this place!

Never having eaten Ethiopian food, I ordered the "mahberawi veggie combo with Awaze". I did Google…read moreto figure out what I might like. It was very, very good. Spicy lentils, other veggies & tiny pieces of beef in a tasty sauce. You break off a piece of the bread & scoop up your food on the bread. A very different experience but that's what life is about, experiences! I definitely would go again.

I think I have been to Cafe Lalibela before, but it would've been over 10 years ago. I really don't…read moreremember my experience then, but that would've been my first time having Ethiopian food. This recent visit was my third time having Ethiopian food, and I went in with an open mind. I remembered the last time I had Ethiopian food, I didn't really enjoy it. You have the option of choosing from their platters, or you can build your own. I created my own platter - I got the lamb dish (#5), the chicken dish (#3), and lentils (#9). These 3 dishes came on injera, which is a sour, fermented flatbread. It is basically a plate for the food, but you also use it to scoop up the meat/lentils to eat. My order also came with several more pieces of injera. The injera "plate" got soggy from the meat and lentils, so it was harder to use it to grab the fillings because it just kept falling apart. The chicken wasn't that great, so I wouldn't order that again, but the lamb dish and the lentils were sooo good. I had enough leftover for a second meal. I'm glad I gave Ethiopian food another chance! Next time, I would probably get the beef, lamb, and lentils.

Hearty ethiopian food in a casual atmosphere…read more We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and it was busier than we've seen before; they had their monthly Sunday vegan buffet going ($25) that offered some items not on their usual menu and looked tasty. We ended up getting platters off the menu instead, mostly ordering vegetarian. (But if you're hungry or want more food, the buffet is a good option.) The green beans and the collards are a solid combination because of the difference in texture and spice. Cabbage, fish and beef were also good. Everything came either on a bed of injeera (soft) or rice, or a combination. On weekdays they have lunch specials which are the best deals and very good and inevitably you'll have leftovers to enjoy later. Service has been better and more attentive in the past but it was busier than usual too. The actual decor and location is a bit dated but you probably wouldn't come here for the atmosphere. They also sell their coffee and other small things to go. I don't have ethiopian that often so this was a treat. Shared parking lot with other businesses.

Been looking for an Ethiopian spot closer to me for a while, and today I was really craving some…read moreinjera so I made an order off Doordash and I am soooo impressed! First off, the VALUE! Wow! For $17 I got the vegan combo plate and it came with 2 sides -- I opted for the mesir wat (spicy lentils) and gomen (collard greens). The mesir wat and gomen came beautifully wrapped in an injera, with a salad on the top and two very large rolled up injeras. This combo would be more than enough for two people to share. I ordered right as they opened and my order came fairly quickly (~40 mins), so I was really happy with that as well. The mesir wat was seasoned spectacularly! Just enough heat that pairs with the savory flavor. The gomen also was deliciously garlicky, all coming together so harmoniously with the sourness of the injera. I was worried that ordering it for delivery would affect the experience, but everything came nice and warm and it was so great to have this meal at home. I definitely will need to come in next time, with friends for sure, I could not finish this combo on my own.

All three stars go to food quality, the food is great here. We eat vegan with gluten free injera…read moreand it's fantastic food. If you have 2 hours to spare on a dinner, consider coming. But don't come thirsty or hungry lol Jeez . I've been here 2 times. They are incapable of even bringing a glass of water. The first time I ordered a drink from the bar and over the course of 50 minutes we asked about it 3 times. It came after the food. The second time tit was an empty restaurant. We got no water, no silverware. The food shows up after an hour and we have nothing. Something is VERY wrong with the service here and unfortunately we won't be back.

Was eager to try this place since last time I tried to order delivery DoorDash screwed it up and I…read morenever got my food. However this is not the restaurant's fault that falls absolutely on DoorDash and their poor service. Having said that this is a family run restaurant. When you walk in may not be aesthetically pleasing to the eye on the outside but what you're about to experience inside is absolutely so much more. I ordered the mushroom wat which was very reasonably priced at nine dollars and an iced tea. The owner of the restaurant is very friendly very warm when I also taking my order promptly. The dining area itself is smaller, but very quaint and its ability to maintain its coziness. The decor of the restaurant is pretty modest in a culturally based atmosphere which improves the atmosphere of this wonderful experience. My food was very promptly made and arrived on the table quickly and experience was about to get all that much better. The mushroom wat was absolutely amazing and absolutely what I have been craving for the 20 years. I've been waiting for in my return cravings for Ethiopian food. The bread they used for dipping with absolutely perfect as it is always one of my favorites to indulge when eating this food. In the end this place left me sitting at the table absolutely stuffed, which is fantastic especially with the price what I paid for it all. I will be returning to restaurant for sure as I now found the exact right place, for this kind of food.

This was my first time trying this kind of food and i'm glad i tried it. The food was good…read more Here is the good and bad: This restaurant is in a bad part of town, and not pretty from the entrance. the inside isn't much better. when we entered there was no one there. The TV was on loud with a soccer game on. A man came out and sat us. we the meat sambusas. They were very good. The gentleman that served us was very nice. They sell water, you cannot get a glass.. only bottles. The prices of the food seemed reasonable. I got the Awaze Tibs(seasoned beef dish). this was very good. It came with the authentic Injera. (gluten free fermented bread) it has a spongy texture, a very sour dough like flavor. My daughter got the Alicia Wot (seasoned lamb dish). It was also very good. My problem lies with the service mostly. All the men that worked there, sat in the room with the TV, area watching the soccer game including our server. We sat there forever to get the door and then I had to go wake him for our bill. He didn't offer an itemized bill, just gave me the amount. I had to ask for an itemized bill. I'm not a fan of a restaurant that doesn't want to do their job. I will return and try more of the food, but i'm gonna have to figure out how to deal with the service.

I really wanted to give this place 4.5 stars, but Yelp can be ass…read more This restaurant absolutely nails the things that are hard to teach: hospitality, atmosphere, and making guests feel welcome. From the moment you walk in, it feels less like a restaurant and more like you've been invited into someone's home for dinner. The cocktail program deserves its own shoutout. Every drink was thoughtfully crafted and easily some of the best cocktails I've had in the area. The service was warm, attentive, and genuine without ever feeling forced. As for the food, everything we ordered was excellent. The standout dishes for us were the goat cheese appetizer, the oxtail entrée, and the pound cake dessert. There wasn't a single dish that made us think, "we shouldn't have ordered that." At the end of the day, plenty of restaurants have good food. What sets this place apart is the overall experience. Great food, great drinks, great people, and an atmosphere that makes you want to stay longer than you planned. We'll definitely be back.

We ordered two appetizers: whipped goat cheese (with black garlic honey, radishes, sumac, and…read morechapati) and the griot wings (tamarind-glazed, which is the spiciest option), along with two entrees: the lamb griot (served with couscous and sweet plantains) and the oxtail barbacoa (served over their version of mac and cheese). Starting with the appetizers, I'd say these two were my favorites of the night. The chicken wings (5 pieces) were tender and flavorful, featuring a very unique spice blend. The whipped goat cheese wasn't overly gamey, it was perfectly creamy and paired well with the black garlic honey, which tasted a lot like fig jam. The homemade chapati was great too. However, the ratio of cheese to bread was a bit off. We heard a server asking the next table if they wanted more chapati, so we assumed an extra piece was complimentary. We later found out we were charged $6 for it, which was a bit of a surprise tho. As for the entrees, the oxtail barbacoa was the biggest oxtail I've ever seen. It was packed with tender meat and rich gelatin, and the radiatori pasta with gouda was wonderfully creamy and delicious. The lamb griot was a unique dish I hadn't tried before, while the portion of lamb wasn't huge, it was very good. The plantains were amazing and slightly sweet, making the whole dish incredibly flavorful. Overall, it was a really cool experience. The food is highly seasoned and flavorful without being overly salty like most restaurants, though it is definitely on the pricier side. Our server was very busy that night, so checking out took quite a bit of time. The atmosphere is awesome with great decor, merchs, and live performances. ps. The chairs are incredibly hard and uncomfortable, I couldn't sit in them for too long lol

Wow! This was an amazing experience! The food they made us was so fresh and I can tell they poured…read moretheir heart into making each dish. The restaurant is an absolute hole-in-the-wall and had such authentic dishes. We also did the coffee ceremony which was extremely fun. The family that owns the restaurant took time to talk to us and educate us. Their coffee beans came straight from Ethiopia! I would come back again and bring my family next time!

We got there just as they were opening. Seems like a mom and pop kinda place. I had to get someone…read moreto wait on us, they just had confusion as to whether someone had come or not. We were forced to buy water as their supply for drinking wasn't operating. We ordered the veggie and meat combo to share. It came with their bread to sop it up with on the side. It was fun trying the different flavors and licking the fingers all the time. There was enough to take a little home. I liked the decor with different baskets and stuff hanging on the walls. There's also a little area for their coffee ceremony. Staff was very friendly and helpful, even if I had to go get them sometimes. Good place to go with one or more friends to sample different things.

If you are looking for vibes, look no further! This Nigerian cuisine inspired gem is located in the…read morePark Central plaza in Midtown Phoenix, and is easy to find. Depending on time of day, parking is ample. You are met by a walk up patio with plenty of varied seating. Modern African theme and decor throughout. As you walk in, you receive a warm welcome. Full service ordering and an overall laid back, take your time atmosphere. Staff is always nice and helpful when explaining menu offerings if you're not sure what you want. Although menu is self explanatory. Vegetarian options available for most main dishes. The Sabolo drink is refreshing and a must try item. Full bar available. Great music and live events

The food is absolutely amazing. Excellent and flavorful. If you can't handle the "spiciness" of…read moreketchup, this might not be for you. But if you put Sriracha on Everything, then this is the place for you. I ordered the spicy goat pepper soup with the fufu and it was heavenly. My only complaint was the portion sizes. All of the portion sizes are very small for the amount money you pay, thus the 3 star rating. The delicious of the food added the additional star which is why ultimately decided on a 4. My friends all got the lunch specials and they weren't happy with the quantity. I ordered my husband the beef "patties" to go, only to discover it was only a singular "patty" for $6. And if you have a party of 5 people and or more, they automatically add a gratuity to your bill. The restaurant is small on the inside but has a nice front patio outside which was shaded. On a nice night, it'd be romantic to sit out there. Overall, I'll be back to this place. But be prepared to order double portions per person, so you'd spend about $40/person before tips and taxes.