We don't get Ethiopian often. This Ethiopian restaurant was excellent. My favorite dishes were collard greens, cabbage, and beets. If you get a chance to eat here, do it! read more

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To say that I was shocked to know that Asheville has an Ethiopian restaurant would be an understatement. After driving from ATL to Asheville, NC from my winter road trip, my friend and I were hungry. So before we headed out to our secluded Airbnb in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we stopped here. The restaurant wasn't packed but was fairly empty when we arrived, but the service was nonetheless amazing. The male server was very nice and gave good recommendations on the vegan tibs which are tempeh. I've never been to an Ethiopian restaurant that offers a vegan option to tibs. So that was a plus and a first. We ordered the vegan/vegetarian platter for two people. It was extremely delicious and the food melted in my mouth. It was so flavorful and did not lack any seasonings whatsoever. I loved the atmosphere because they played nice music that met well with the Ethiopian theme and the photos on the wall made me feel like I was in Africa enjoying my yummy meal. I love that they offer Reed's Ginger beer, it is spicy but tasty. On our week-long trip to Asheville, we ate here twice. Also, another thing that I loved was the fact that they give you an abundance of injera. I can't wait to return the next time I visit Asheville! read more

Addissae - Vegan platter with the tempeh tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

As first time dabblers I'm Ethiopian food we went with a vegetarian sampler option so we could try several things. Our food was really good and I look forward to trying more dishes. Having gone in only looking at pictures from other restaurant goers, I will say what we received wasn't exactly what I expected to get. So with that, just ask questions when ordering to make sure the platter(s) you order are what you're hoping for! read more

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My husband was craving some Ethiopian food and we ended up parking behind this restaurant on our first day in Asheville. We made a mental note to return for dinner and did just that. He has had authentic Ethiopian food before, while on deployment, and he was thrilled by the menu options. The food did not disappoint! The operation was run by only a few people, but they were extremely knowledgeable of the cuisine and happy to make suggestions. We had some herbal tea to start and they combined the vegetable and meat platter for us. While the entrance is in kind of an alleyway, the inside is welcoming and beautiful! We will be back when we return to Asheville! read more

Addissae - Vegetarian and Meat platter combined with some herbal tea. - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

This was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine, and it did not disappoint! The tequila drink with a turmeric rim was spicy with a touch of sweetness, which capped off the meal alongside a slice of Tiramsu perfectly. The flavors of the spices in the cuisine are definitely worth going out of your way to try. The bread was fluffy, and you eat with your hands, which gives the entire experience a very earthy feel. The vibe here was great as well, which I noticed as my group and I enjoyed pleasant and relaxing conversation. I would suggest parking in the lot across the street from here. It's like $2/hour. It's a great area to walk around and shop right in the heart of downtown Asheville as well. Street parking is sparse. read more

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. It was a great experience, especially being able to eat with your hands. The injera had a great fermented flavor that complemented all the dishes. My biggest complaint is that when we asked for spicy, they never brought the spice. The owner didn't think as a female I could handle it. A member in my party went back and got the same dish. He said when he asked for spicy it truly was spicy. read more

Addissae - Addissae Lamb Tibss and vegetarian platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Second visit was just as delicious as the first. Just updating to say we each got the vegetarian platter this time, though instead of two, they just brought us the family style platter, with an order of tempeh nibbs. Service could have been better this time. I think the server's family was there because he kept stopping at one table to talk and interact with a woman and young child. So it slowed him down and he never came to check on us or fill our water glasses. Still, food was good enough that a dip in service can be forgiven. Really like it here. read more

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Wow. We've had a lot of Ethiopian food and this was some of the best we've had. The food was incredibly tasty, healthy, and so fresh. Everybody was so friendly and caring, making sure we were comfortable the whole time. Would highly recommend! read more

Fantastic. Staff helpful in walking me through menu. Food was delicious. One of my favorite meals in a long time. Large portion. Great prices. I had veg sampler. read more

Addissae - Veg sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

The food was amazing!!! So was the service!! The ambiance was perfect as well. I had the vegetable platter - wonderful for a first timer here to delve into the culture of food at the restaurant. Enjoyed their iced tea seeped with a hint of cinnamon. A must for me to revisit the place every time I come to Asheville. read more

Addissae - Translations of Ethiopian words into English. - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

You come to Asheville for the restaurants, and this Ethiopian place is likely the only one of its kind for some distance. I've been to a couple in the NC triangle area, but you can probably count on your fingers the number in the entire state. Me being from DC, where Ethiopian cuisine abounds, I know and like it. The place here is behind one of the main stretches and a bit hidden. It is very nicely decorated. The menu is short, and given the option to either order a single vegetarian entree or a combo, I would almost always get the combo. For those that haven't had it, Ethiopian is mostly slow-cooked stews of beans and vegetables, with a spongy flatbread called injera. In most American Ethiopian restaurants, the injera is made of a mix of teff (the uniquely Ethiopian grain) and wheat, but here they make their own using teff and rice, so it's all gluten-free. It is a tad sour, as is the norm, but pretty lightly flavored here. My combo gave a nice variety of colors and textures, and also a fresh salad on the side. It wasn't the most filling one I've ever had, but I enjoyed it. My tea came strongly spiced and needed no sweetening. I'm glad I was able to spice up my trip, and I would suggest taking the chance to try this place. read more

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Downtown Asheville isn't that big so to say a restaurant is right in the middle of downtown would pretty much apply to any restaurant there...that having been said most locals I spoke with on my visit to Asheville hadn't heard of the place. It was about a 5-minute walk from our hotel (The tallest building in Downtown, Asheville) and well worth a visit. If you're looking for Ethiopian food (either because you've had it and like it, or want a new experience) it's the only game in town and it serves up the game well. My wife and I shared the Vegetarian Messob which, to her delight, also was gluten-free. It was filling with a variety of standard Ethiopian flavors all scoopable and eatable on the injera bread it came with. (Don't look for silverware in an Ethiopian restaurant.) My wife also enjoyed the spiced tea she got (sans the tea...just the spices.) Having had Ethiopian food a handful of times at restaurants in the "Little Ethiopia" area of Los Angeles where I live, I'd say Addissae holds its own in a casual environment that's as slightly off the beaten path of downtown Asheville as one can be. read more

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Such a welcoming vibe from the smiling faces , awesome music at the perfect volume and it smells SO GOOD in here. Authentic and perfect portion. Get the Veg combo + Lamb tibs ! read more

My favorite restaurant, ever. Best vegan food on the planet! Friendly staff and good value as far as downtown entree prices go. If this place ever closes I will feel like I lost a part of myself. read more

Food was excellent. Had no previous experience with Ethiopian food, waiter was excellent and walked us through some of the options. Gave great recommendations. Will recommend and return. Restaurant was beautiful inside, very clean, interesting music. read more

Addissae - Addissae Lamb Tibbs, difin misir, tikel gomen. Spicy lamb stew, brown lentil stew, and cabbage, carrot, and potatoes. - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

It was a moms night out! 4 of us headed into Asheville for a kid free dinner. I just love international food and I had never had Ethiopian food before. Another adventurous mom and i shared a plate of meat and veggies (Which was a smart idea) and it was amazing. So many different flavors. Our poor companions though... they did not appreciate the bold flavors as much lol So if you like to stick to basic American fare then you should just try this and expand your horizons. If you love international food, have dinner here tonight! read more

I wish I could give this place six stars, it was such a lovely and warm experience. From the hole in the wall exterior, to our comfy spot in the back. All of the food in the messob was flavorful and delicious. We wanted to try everything, so we went with both the meat and veggie option. The spicy beef was our favorite by far. Cannot recommend this place enough, especially if you're willing to try something different! read more

Addissae - Addissae Meat Messob Addissae Vegetarian Messob - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

My first time having Ethiopian food so dont have a basis but i thought it was really good! Especially liked the chicken and the hard boiled eggs read more

Addissae - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Wash your hands, it's time to go to Addissae! I absolutely love Ethiopian food. I've been lucky enough to have a good experience in all Ethiopian restaurants that I've been to, and same goes for this one! Located in downtown, you have to really be looking for it to find it. The entrance definitely gives city vibes. Overall, the food is 10/10. I would recommend ordering extra injera if you're sharing a platter. The vegetable platter is fully vegan :) the wait time was a little longer than I expected, but worth it! Inside seating only, very clean and straightforward. One point to note is I don't believe that they serve appetizers like others do, but maybe I missed it. Can't wait to come back!! read more

When on vacation, we like to try foods and restaurants that we can't get back home in Charleston. My husband and I were wandering down Patton Street when we saw a sign for Ethiopian food and immediately decided it would be our lunch destination the next day- and we weren't disappointed. We arrived early for lunch and were greeted by a prep cook and the owner, who spent a lot of time chatting with us. Both of us opted for sampler platters (messob) to try a little of everything. I had the vegetarian sampler platter, and my husband had one with meat (chicken and beef). I believe most of the vegetarian food is also vegan, and if you go for lunch, it's a few bucks cheaper than the dinner prices. When our food arrived, the owner explained every item on our platter to us and told us to pinch the injirra bread and pick up the food, instead of using silverware. It's a unique and fun way to eat lunch, and you feel like a kid again- but if that doesn't feel comfortable, you can ask for silverware The beet dish was my favorite item, but I enjoyed everything on my veggie platter. Addissae was our first experience with Ethiopian food, so I can't compare it to other restaurants. However, if you're in Asheville and want to broaden your foodie horizons, I recommend this spot. read more

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So thankful for the culture and variety this restaurant brings to Asheville. I love the flavors you find here and how they all go together. Truly an amazing dinning experience that is different than other. Great for big groups or an intimate date. Love this as a lunch spot with coworkers to drop the stress of the day. Eating with my hands feels like a way to deeper connect with the food and those around the table. I'm so happy this place made it though this past rough year during covid and stands strong in our as an Asheville pillar of excellent cuisine. If you're visiting, I recommend hitting this place up for lunch as you stroll around downtown. read more

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food & it was amazing. My server was kind & attentive & the ambiance was great! Will definitely be going back again! read more

our server was amazing ! super helpful with the delicious recommendations. helped us figure out how to get a little bit of everything to try. super yummy food and atmosphere was great too! read more

Addissae - meat and veggies! - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

No plates, No forks, just dig in! Literally that's how you eat here. Fun experience, food was good, waitress was super helpful even with our barrage of kids in tow. Ordering was a little confusing but she helped us decide on what to get and that worked out well. We definitely liked the meat plates better than the veggie but your tastes my vary. The coffee is good but it's not amazing like another review said. I mean if you are used to coffee from a fast food joint then yeah this is really good. But I'd say it's on par with a solid coffee from a local coffee house, not earth shattering but just pretty good coffee. Oh and a word of warning the pot of coffee is worth the money ,$8.50, but you better be ready to drink because it's bigger than it looks. Yes dinner is a pricey so be ready to spend some coin. We got 'six plates' and one pot of coffee and our bill was about $115 which easily feed our party of 4 adults and 4 kids. It's a cool experience and would make for a great date or family dinner. Oh and it's downtown Ashe-Vegas so parking can be tricky but there are a bunch of pay to park lots nearby. Overall don't be scared of not having utensils, it's fun and I promise you'll be digging in for a second bite real quick. read more

Can I give 1,000,000 stars? Seriously the best experience. I came in with just me and my two toddlers (what was I thinking)! The staff were incredible. Our server (sad I didn't ask his name) went above and beyond to help me, from strapping my kid into the high chair to telling me I ordered WAY too much food haha! He was incredible. The other staff were so friendly too. Ok the food ... I've eaten my way through all the Bay Area Ethiopian restaurants (pregnancy craving ...) and this is hands down the best ever. Usually in a sampler half are good and half are ok - ALL of these (did meat and veggie sampler) were SO good. The best part? I came on a Friday night at 6:45 and there was no one there. While I hope they get loads of business because they're incredible - it's amazing to be able to actually get walk into a restaurant on a Friday night and be seated. Thank you all! read more

This business is closed for a month due to vacation. It's posted on their front door. read more

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Says full bar. There is no alcohol here. There are taps here but they are not active. Food is good.

It's 30 minutes from home, but I finally made it here, and it was worth the wait! I've been to Ethiopia and the food here is spot on. Love the unique Ethiopian art on the walls, and the platters they serve the food on are from Ethiopia too. Its like you've been transported to an upscale restaurant in Addis Ababa. The folks here are friendly and service is top notch. read more

Wonderful and delicious cuisine. A truly unique dining experience! A refreshing and fun experience for newcomers to African and Ethiopian cuisine! I would definitely recommend this experience to try out! read more

Been looking for authentic Ethiopian food for years, finally stumbled on it in downtown Asheville, truly delicious and the staff were super friendly, go early as it gets really busy, we were there before the opened and waited at the door lol Tip: The sampler isn't enough for two hungry adults. read more

Addissae - The meat sampler, truly delicious food and very friendship staff, my son killed the beef tibbs, can't wait to go back. - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Hidden gem in the area with superb Ethiopian food. My wife and I ordered the veg messob and it was amazing. My friends ordered the chicken one and it was equally good. Do try the coffee in the end! read more

Addissae - Addissae Vegetarian Messob for 2! - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

This is the only place I've been where the aroma that filled the restaurant could legitimately be called an appetizer. It smelled like home cooking of generational recipes - the kind that aren't written down. I'd rather sit and enjoy that fragrance for ten minutes than actually eat a stack of jalapeño poppers. And I like jalapeño poppers. My wife and I had the veggie and meat sampler plate(s), and the amount of flavor in each bite was incredible! I'm really not one to gush or even write reviews, but this place put its hand up in the mosh pit of restaurants to choose from in Asheville and deserved a nod. The injera bread that accompanies many of the dishes was delicious - not too dense and had a great chew - it was the perfect vehicle to enjoy all the wonderful morsels thoughtfully arranged on the table. The staff were super friendly and helpful, as well (and I needed a lot of help! I'm not very familiar with Ethiopian food, but I plan to change that). Thanks very much to the great people at Addissae for making this an amazing experience! We can't wait to come back next time we're in town! read more

Addissae - The sampler plate! Spiced lentils on the left, lamb and chicken on the right. The little rolls are injera bread. Salad and veggies in middle - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

One of the best and least talked about restaurants in all of asheville. Incredible food, with good vegan and vegetarian options, that you won't find anywhere else in the city. The staff isn't overly attentive but I've never minded and it remains a favorite location for low key friend dates and takeout dinners. read more

Addissae - Addissae Vegetarian Messob - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

First time trying Ethiopian food so I don't know how it compares, but I enjoyed everything! I split the Lamb Tibbs with my partner, and we both loved it. We got sides of cabbage and chickpea stew, and both were so flavorful and delicious. The chickpea was a little spicy for me, but I have almost no spice tolerance. The cabbage was so delicious I want to look up a recipe and see if I can make it at home. The rest was mild, only after eating about 15 minutes did I realize the heat was building up. The flavors felt related to things I have tried before, but still unique and interesting. I really enjoyed the whole experience. They could probably use a few more waiters for service, but I will happily go back to try more. read more

We had a really great experience here. The food came pretty quickly and it was absolutely delicious. We ordered the vegetarian platter (charged per person), all 100% vegan, which was a sampling of a bunch of different dishes on the Ethiopian bread injera. The staff was very nice, the service was relatively quick, and the food was tasty and extremely filling. Definitely recommend! read more

Addissae - Vegetarian (vegan) platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

First time trying Ethiopian food and the waiter was so helpful and kind. The food was full of flavor and fresh. read more

Addissae - Beef tips - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Got takeout today and it was very good. Fresh, flavorful and a lot of variety. We'll be going here again read more

Addissae - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

The wait staff was very kind and courteous. Ordered and Enjoyed the misir wat- it did not disappoint!

I loved this place! I was so upset back in May when this restaurant was closed but so glad I got the chance to try it out in 2021. They make very authentic Ethiopian cuisine, and I enjoyed every dish on the veggie messob platter and they even gave me a super authentic spicy powder which was AMAZING! Don't even think twice about if you should go here, JUST order and enjoy your delicious Ethiopian cuisine, you'll thank me later. You know a restaurant is AMAZING if they can make their veggie dish right, so I approve! read more

Addissae - Veggie Addissae Vegetarian Messob - Ethiopian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Addissae Ethiopian gets 5 stars for being the only Ethiopian spot in all of Asheville. The menu is complete with the usual fare, and it is also the first time I've seen tempeh on the menu as an additional option. The veggie messob included another newbie to me: beets! The tea service was elegant, and the server was genuinely pleased to serve us. Authenticity abounds in this downtown gem in the wall--a top choice for a brisk day. (I did not try any meat options) read more