Unfortunately this restaurant is no longer open. I am leaving this review in case they do re-open. Their first location was located downtown in the Arcade and it was delicious, healthy, and quick for a work break lunch. The location in Antioch was larger and comfortable and the food was just as good - if not better. My favorite items were the red lentils, the beets, and the cabbage. Delicious injera bread, too. I crave those red lentils often. The service was always good and the owners were usually the ones who took the orders. I hope they re-open at some point. Apple Maps still shows them as open but other apps show them as closed. read more

I remember Ajora had a place years ago pre-COVID. I really enjoyed the food. I was delighted to see they had opened a brick-and-mortar place and in my neighborhood no less. I made a visit and it was not busy at all. Only one other family was in there. I usually do get vegetarian when I get Ethiopian, but since meat was on offer, I got the Normal Kitfo with Injera. My two veg options were the Misir Wot and Atar. All were delicious. I believe you have to go to the counter to pay after the meal. I will definitely return and make this a regular local Ethiopian. read more

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The food at Ajora was delicious! As a vegan, I was happy to have so many options, and the option to pick 4 dishes was perfect for me to try different things. I had the yellow split pea (my favorite), chickpea, lentil and potato. Everything was so flavorful! It was a lot of food, but I wiped it all out. The restaurant isn't fancy, but it was perfect for us. Highly recommend. read more

Every dish that I had was delicious!! I had lamb tibs. Samosas Cabbage Potato stew Service was nice and courteous! read more

Delicious! Great to have good Ethiopian food in our area. The injera was the most sour I've ever had, but I'm a huge fan of fermented foods so for me it was delicious. I had the combo veggie platter to-go (4 items). I ordered 1 collard greens, 2 miser with red sauce, and 1 miser key wot. The miser red sauce was pretty spicy, great flavor. The other miser was really good! but the serving was very small compared to the other items. Not sure what happened there. That was the only issue! Very friendly service, cute restaurant, and I would order again! read more

Fast service, generous portions, very nice staff, absolutely delicious. Lots of vegetarian options

Very yummy!!! I've been craving Ethiopian food for a while and this hit the spot! I went around 1:45-2:00 and it was not too busy. The staff was very nice and polite when I came in. The woman that prepared my order even gave me some extra lentils to try with my beef tibs and injera. They were serving and informing another group about the food they were eating, explaining how to pronounce it, and what it was made of. The dining room was very clean and so spacious, I hope to come back with friends. I loved the art work around the restaurant as well as the calming music and waterfall on the TV. The parking outside is convenient and the wait time was not bad at all!! I cannot WAIT to come back. My friends at Vandy will love it. read more

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Food is really good. Pretty good quality and authentic to be honest! I got carry out so I can't say much about the ambiance

So delicious! Today was my first visit to Ajora and I will definitely go back. When we entered the restaurant, we were welcomed immediately and escorted to our booth. The whole place smells incredible! The server said we were smelling a blend of Ethiopian spices. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. The restaurant is very casual with both booth and table options. There are two large screen TVs mounted and showing videos of the gorgeous Ethiopian landscape and animals while you eat. I had Awaze Tibs with Tikel Gomen and Shero wot. My favorite was the Awaze Tibs. They were marinated and tender. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes! read more

We were so happy to find an Ethiopian restaurant in Nashville! The owner was super-nice and she seemed genuinely interested that we make our own Ethiopian food at home! For the lunch special, you can choose 4 vegetarian options or 1 meat and 2 vegetarian. Very reasonable pricing for the amount of food you get! While Ethiopian cuisine eats the food by scooping it up inside the injera bread, they do offer utensils. :) I enjoyed being able to see all of the food items before choosing what to order. Spouse got the last of the beef tibs and was lucky to try them. I got all vegetarian options and everything was excellent! The injera bread was a bit thicker than we are used to from the restaurants we're accustomed to but it was still good quality. No-frills dining space but clean and inviting. You can also eat out in the court area of Arcade Alley just outside the shop. Excellent food here, and refreshing to have a different type of cuisine! read more

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Very simple menu Vegetarian delight For under $10 you get quite a treat with a rice base My only suggestion would be to change up a couple of the dishes offered each day Maybe add some breads or more dessert read more

Not the best Ethiopian food; the food itself is 3/5. We tried both meats and 8 out of the 12 possible sides, here are our impressions: The beef was flavorful and the red lentils (which were mildly spicy) were very tasty. Paired with the sponge bread (injera), they made for several great bites. My girlfriend liked chickpeas the most. Rice was good, and will bulk up the meal significantly, but it's not needed as we already were given a ton of food. Chicken was on the dry side (consequence of breast meat sitting for too long), and collard greens were tasteless. Black beans and the rest were okay - nothing special. Tasted like lower-salt, lower-fat food (which is awesome considering how unhealthy everything around here is), but this will effect the flavor of things accordingly. While the food was not smack-you-over-the-head full of flavor, this place had several other things going for it: the prices are solid, the portion sizes are large, and the hospitality is really great. It was valuable as an experience, and worth checking out once. Tip: get the bread and use that as a food vessel. read more

Ajora Ethiopian Kitchen - Chicken with 4 Sides - Ethiopian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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After six days of eating que, I was really missing some vegetables. The food is flavorful and healthy - good spice flavour (berbere ... mmm). The lentils --- mmmmm .... The injera bread, softer and fluffier than I get at home here in Toronto. One of the best ever. This place is truly a hidden gem. Nice owners. I would have given them a five if only I had been served on a plate, not on styrofoam with plastic forks ... This is a restaurant I would go back to in a heartbeat. read more

My first experience with Ethiopian food... so good! Mom and pop type restaurant with great prices and chill ambience (sat outside on arcade st). Try it! read more

This is no fuss Ethiopian...good food, fast and cheap. I got the chicken and 2 sides lunch special for about $8. The lentils and bread are lit. Give them a try next time you're wandering the arcade contemplating pizza for the 3rd time in a row. read more

I haven't Yelpped recently but this place made me pull out my phone. Found myself downtown around lunch. Headed to the Arcade and am so glad I found this gem. I opted for the veggie combo. The staff was friendly and guided me through a rainbow of vegetarian options for my combo. I selected the greens, cabbage, red miser (lentils), and kik (split peas) with injera (that famous Ethiopian bread.) First bite, I'm in heaven. The flavors pop, yet are balanced. The red lentil taste a little of cinnamon. Not always my taste, but they do it in such a way that it's delightful. Take a diehard meateater here and you'll change his/her mind that meat makes a meal. This stuff is delicious and filling, yet not too much. I was able to finish my meal completely. This would be a fantastic introduction to Ethiopian food. Then you can browse the rest of the Arcade for something sweet or a nice cup of coffee. read more

Ajora Ethiopian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Oh my gosh, this place is AMAZING! Such good service and recipes. Every bite I'm just wondering if I can have the recipe! Incredible lunch prices and low delivery fees. Can not recommend enough! read more

This was my first foray into Ethiopian cuisine, and I was absolutely pleasantly surprised. I ordered the veggie combo, and with the owner's help, I decided on the lentils, beets, greens, and cabbage as my four vegetable choices. These, with the injera bread, were perfectly prepared and quite filling. For good measure, I also ordered a veggie sambusa, which was delicious as well. With a tip from an Ethiopian friend in mind, I wished the owners "melkam Gena" on my way out (I came the day before the Ethiopian calendar's Christmas), and they both seemed genuinely excited by the gesture. Very gracious and nice folks that make delicious food for vegetarians and omnivores alike. I like forward to returning soon. The ONLY negative I can think of is that, given its location downtown, it does require some strategy and determination to get to. Not a mark against the restaurant, but definitely something to consider. read more

The. bees. knees. I can't believe I hadn't eaten here before. Delicious Ethiopian food. read more

What a treat to have Ethiopian food in the Arcade. Honestly, I love their breakfast because it's really filling and fresh. They have a wonderful scrambled egg, tomato, onion, jalapeno and buri buri spice dish that keeps me full all morning. Of course served with ingera bread. Check them out for breakfast or lunch if you are in the area. The people are nice and the seating is convenient. read more

For those, like myself, who are unfamiliar with Ethiopian food, this is a great lunch spot with a friendly staff, where you can say "I'll have whatever you think I should have," and not be disappointed. The nice lady at the counter recommended the combo beef and chicken tibs with spicy lentils on injera bread, and she was not wrong. read more

Ahora offers Ethiopian meat and 3 type meal offerings in arcade ally. I ordered the chicken and two vegetables and bread. I think most people would enjoy trying this out for something new. I had a good overall experience. It wasn't the best food ever, but I enjoy trying new things. read more

Excellent change from the downtown lunch sandwich. Ethiopian cuisine check it out. read more

Ajora Ethiopian Kitchen - Ethiopian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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This was my first time eating Ethiopian food. I'm making my rounds downtown to find a good lunch that's not so expensive. I had the vegetarian plate with rice, chickpea, lentils, beets (I love beets) and cabbage. It was delicious. The rice was cooked perfectly with no hard bits. The beans were flavorful. The veggies tasted fresh. I recommend! read more

Ajora Ethiopian Kitchen - Vegetarian plate with rice, chickpea, lentils, beets, cabbage. Tasty! - Ethiopian Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Ajora has some of the best red lintels that i have found in Nashville. I definitely recommend Ajora.

Second time having Ethiopian food. The first time I was really turned off my the style of food, so when my partner suggested we try this while all the other restaurants near by were busy I was reluctant. This place made me change my mind. we both got a platter with rice & chicken. I had a side of the collard greens and carrots & green beans. The service was friendly, food tasted fresh and the price wasn't too bad. read more

Outstanding authentic Ethiopian food and great customer service. This is my third time eating here they always give outstanding service and mouth watering food! read more

I have been eating Ethiopian Food for over 20 years and in various cities and countries. This is a gem. Food is excellent, hot (space) sauce is freshly made and service is wonderful. The owners are extremely nice and take pride in what they make. I am so happy I can walk here for lunch and will be treating myself weekly on going. Thank you very much Ajora. See you next week! read more

Today was my first time visiting Ajora in the Arcade in downtown and it was great! I got the vegetarian combo which lets you choose four dishes plus a very generous serving of enjera bread. The staff were very friendly and helped me pick which dishes I should get and I loved every suggestion they made. The spicy lentils and the beets were amazing! I could've had double helpings of each. The enjera was warm and pancake-like and soaked up the sauces from the veggie dishes. I couldn't finish all the bread, but I ate every bite of the veggies. Overall, a delicious, warm, comforting, and healthy meal. This is going to be one of my regular lunch spots. read more