Wow, it was wonderful. Food was excellent and so was the atmosphere. Owner was very kind in the way they brought our food.

During a three-week trip to Dallas in June of 2026, my girls and I decided to try Arif Cafe after noticing its excellent Yelp ratings. The food was absolutely amazing! The owner, who also acts as the chef, is the most delightful woman. She treated my girls to two wonderful appetizers--sambusas and pasty--which they completely devoured. For my main course, I ordered the tilapia tibs, and it was spectacular. After that first bite, we were hooked. We couldn't stop coming back, and with every visit, the food tasted even better than the last. Don't skip out on their wonderful Ethiopian coffee, either! For the rest of our stay in Dallas, Arif Cafe became our absolute go-to whenever we craved authentic Ethiopian flavors. read more

Great Service, fantastic food. Highly recommend if you like Ethiopian Food...can't go wrong!

This is absolutely an IYKYK restaurant that we were led to by Yelp. Ethiopian food is one of our all time favorite cuisines. Arif Cafe is a quick drive from the original Half Price Books location. The outside of this restaurant doesn't do the amazing food inside justice. For our hungry table of three, an order of beef tibs and two veggie plates was a tummy stuffing dinner. For my fragile tongued husband, we went with a mild spice level which was still very flavorful. The beef tibs were tender in a way that only slow cooking can achieve. Service was attentive and made us feel right at home. Highly recommend for a exotic dinner out with a small group. read more

Arif Cafe - Beef tibs and 2 veggie plates - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

My food was darn good. I also enjoyed my conversations with the staff/customers while waiting. The place is small so it's easy to have conversations with the others at their table. I ordered the kitfo and requested they make it medium rare so they did. My food was pretty good. Nothing stand out compared to the average small scale ethiopian restrestaurant. I didnt feel like it was ran down or cheap inside, just nothing fancy and small. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if your in the area, you'll be safe eating here. read more

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The cutest hole in the wall Ethiopian restaurant! We ordered Lamb tibs (not spicy), doro wat and veggie combo for just my boyfriend and I. The owner/server/chef is so sweet and helpful if you have any questions. She recommended just two dishes to be full, but we said we could take the third home. We finished everything hahahahahah. The platter came out beautifully presented, warm and delicious. Will definitely come back. Don't be afraid to eat with your hands :) read more

I've been coming to Arif for a decade now and it's hands down still the best Ethiopian in dallas. I crave this place often. The food is fresh, full of flavor, and made with love! If you're not sure what to get, ask for the veggie/tibs combo! read more

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Sometimes when you go to a restaurant you get service that is exceptional, but coming to this restaurant you are welcomed with a nice humble lady who owns the restaurant. She has excellent customer service and a nice smile. Btw, the food is great, the taste is home of traditional, delicious, spicy and extraordinary good food. I recommend this to anyone for great food. read more

Phenomenal Ethiopian food that is authentic and extremely well made. Pleasure meeting the cook/owner/waitress all in one who welcomed us into her restaurant and made sure our questions were answered. The menu is very short but appears there are endless possibilities in combinations which can feel overwhelming. If you're looking to try something fresh, new, and delicious and don't know what to order: try the veggie Combo platter with added lamb or beef (that's how I say it). The lamb is the most popular meat option since it is made FRESH and typically sells out midday. The first time I went, it was sold out so of course I went a second time and it was so worth it if you like lamb meat. Seasoned to perfection and flavorful with every bite. The beef was also good, I am more than happy with either choice! The veggie combo platter comes with injera bread that you use to eat the various sides and meats. Actually all of the food sits on top of injera bread, soaking up the mix of flavors. There are also several rolled up injera breads to use as well. The best part is eating the bottom injera bread that has all the soaked in flavors. If you want extra bread to eat with the meal, she will provide at no extra cost. I'm not sure what all the sides that come with the combo plate are, but they were all good! Collard greens, cabbage, and various sauces that are all veggie and may be vegan friendly as well. For gluten-free: typically injera is gluten free if they use teff 100%, I wasn't able to confirm that so please check with the owner! But otherwise I'd definitely say it's easy to eat vegan and vegetarian here. Also- no free water or refillable drinks here. There is a cooler with drinks that you can purchase per item. Both times I've come (veggie combo with beef and then another time veggie combo with lamb) were priced just around $45 for two people and it was MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD. I went with two different people and they both really enjoyed the food with me and spoke of how they each wanted to return. The place is in a small shopping strip near north park mall. The parking is pretty scarce but I've always managed to find a place to park due to people coming and going constantly at the various stores. Arif cafe is very small, with seating for no more than 20 people. The whole place is outdated with old furniture but I don't mind it one bit because I know I am supporting local and really enjoy the atmosphere. Unforgettable food! Support local and give them a try! @CRJetc read more

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Little hole in the wall but very friendly ! The Waitress/ Cook everything was very friendly she made several suggestions I went with the Half & Half. She told me to get something to drink out of the cooler basically all sodas (I don't drink soda normally) so there were several orange color and dark color drinks in unmarked bottles I chose the orange color bottle came out to be honey wine Lol ! It was all good- didn't care much for the spongy bread but I've never had anything like it before. I definitely would go back and next time try the dark bottle lol and a different dish to experiment more ! read more

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. I gotta say, it was pretty tasty. I once again found proof that whole in the wall restaurants focus on their food and are way better than any fine dinning could offer. I shared the beef tibs and honey wine with my dad. By the end, the two of us were rolling out the door slightly tipsy (I might have been a little more than tipsy). The honey wine was homemade and served in these really cool flasks. The beef tibs plate was definitely something you wanted to share with someone despite it looking small in the picture. I had never tried injera before (the burrito looking things in the picture). It was sour and spongy. I love cracked sourdough bread and this satisfied my need for a slap in your face sour bread. I think at really helped cut the heat in the different sides (collard greens, couscous, 2 different lentils, and spiced meat). The owner told us to take some of the bread, dip it in the side of dry spices (if we like it spicy), use the bread to pick up the side we wanted, and then enjoy the complex flavors and aromas. It was finger food at it's finest. It was both fun and exciting to experience this small piece of culture from the other side of the globe. I will definitely be back to try some of their other items next time I am in Dallas and highly recommend anyone nearby to try it as well read more

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Regular customer here for many years, and this is my favorite hidden-gem Ethiopian spot. The food is rich and flavorful, the manager/ is accommodating and kind, I noticed a cute little "Ethiopian tea ceremony" setup, which I believe was new. The ambiance was mostly that it's quiet, just soft music and muted tv in the background. I've noticed that a quiet restaurant is extremely hard to come by in Dallas.. Don't let the unassuming outside of the building fool you, or you might miss it. It's a cute little spot and worth a visit for foodies in DFW. Newbie pro-tip: Call her right before coming in, so she can expect you and get started on making it. I usually order the beef tips and veggies. I know Ethiopian food is usually spicy and they can bring the spice to knock me on my butt if I want, but it's my preference so she was happy to oblige. I most recently brought my child, she enjoyed it as well. High chairs available. Because of the size of the space, it's an intimate date spot, probably best for 4-6 guests max, or just order for pickup/takeout. I had forgotten that the plate they gave us could have comfortably fed 2-3, so next time I'll bring a couple friends to share. Happened upon it back when I used to live in the area, but still come back to visit when I'm in the area. read more

Phenomenal experience. Absolutely should be more expensive. Delicious food and the kindest host. Feels like home.

Hole-in-the-wall, supremely authentic, and run by a very sweet and welcoming woman. After passing by an upscale Ethiopian restaurant in San Francisco, finally having Ethiopian food has been a thought rattling in the back of my head for a while. Finally had a chance during a pit stop at the Half-Price Books nearby. Had the beef & veggie combo tibbs, the sambusa, and the pasty. The meat had a spicy level option, and we went for the max. The tibbs are obviously the star of the show, but the sambusas were nice and fresh, too! Finally got the Ethiopian experience I had been waiting for! I believe this place is closed on Wednesdays as of this year. read more

Arif Cafe - Beef & Veggie Combo Tibbs - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

The food is SO good - if you're looking for an Ethiopian meal, you definitely have to check this out!! We got the veggie/meat combo alongside another side of lamb tibs, which we demolished almost immediately. Also, their coffee is a specialty and would recommend ordering if you're in the mood for it! read more

Arif Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

My colleagues and I had a wonderful time at this restaurant! The food was delicious and we felt like we were home. Highly recommend this gem! read more

Arif Cafe - Veggie injeri platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

this place is so good with quick, friendly service. it's a lot of food and delicious. Can't wait to go back

Love this local DFW bite! I have never had Ethiopian food before, but a friend recommended and boy did this place deliver. The bread that you use fo eat the food was so delish that I wound up nibbling on just it once I had gotten too full for the other helpings. The meat was so tender and was cooked in the sauce full of spice yet not too overbearing -- just enough flavor to bring out the delicious meat while also not suffocating it. There were four sides around the beef that were good and had such yummy accompanying spices that helped round out the meat and add on a different taste with every bite. Overall, give this place a try and you will be heavily rewarded and will leave with leftovers to fight over tom read more

Arif Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

This place is amazing! It is one of the better spots in Dallas for authentic Ethiopian food. The owner is absolutely the sweetest woman and was extremely kind to me during my visit. I had the veggie combo and the beef tips and It was incredible. The best I've had in a while. I will definitely be back. read more

Arif Cafe - Beef tibs, veggie combo for 1 - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Great place to have breakfast and lunch Great place to have breakfast and lunch Great place to have breakfast and luncMixed Veggie PlateBeef Tibsh Great place to have breakfast and lunch Great place to have breakfast and lunch Great place to have breakfast and lunch Great place to have breakfast and lunch Great place to have breakfast and lunch Great place to have breakfast and lunch read more

Arif Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Ethiopian food. First time ever trying it. I love it! It's so good! All so perfect and served so well! I love this little place. It's definitely a hole in the wall type. There's no menu. One waitress who prbl owns the place. They don't serve water, they sell bottles. A super tiny unisex restroom. I wouldn't recommend this place for large parties. I ordered the beef tibs & veggie platter. My friend and I shared it. At first, I was like I want a fork and spoon... but then realized it want needed. I think it's pretty authentic compared to other Ethiopian restaurants I found on Yelp. Authenticity is very important to me. Oh... and I ordered using pictures of Yelp. Food was good. It was a nice big portion. Total was only $23.99 for the two of us. I would go back. read more

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One of the best Ethiopian restaurants in DFW. I've tried several but Arif is by far the most authentic! We ordered the veggie combo, tibs and lamb. The food is flavorful and it reminds me of my mom's cooking. Love this place. read more

Arif Cafe - Veggie combo, tibs, yebeg wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

The best Ethiopian restaurant in town hands down!!! Way better than all the others and I've tried all of them!

The beef and veggie plate was so delicious and the owner/chef was so welcoming! We will definitely be back! read more

Arif Cafe - Veggie and beef plate - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I wish I had taken a photo of our wonderful meal but I enjoyed it to much I forgot to! The food was delicious and the owner so kind. Highly recommend the veggie combo and the lamb tips. So much food! Really loved the lentils, greens and rice. Will absolutely be coming back next time I come to Dallas. read more

Jake here. This is a great little hole in the wall to try Ethiopian food for the first time. Sam tried it as well and liked it but was a little timid. Presentation was a lot of fun as well. read more

Arif Cafe - Beef Tibbis with the Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Amazing the best place to eat authentic Ethiopian food With a very charmastic owner who is very welcoming. read more

I had to introduce my kids to Ethiopian food when we were in Dallas. Arkansas doesn't have one spot where we can go! The flavors were incredible and the lady running the place was just precious. I haven't had Ethiopian in America yet, and it did not disappoint at all. Even my picky eater enjoyed it. Get the beef tips! I wanted to order more to go!! Highly recommend. read more

Arif Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Our meal was amazing! We will come back again! A cute quaint little restaurant and the owner was so lovely, I will be so happy to go again soon. read more

Arif Cafe - Beef, enjera corn and potatoes - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

I'm a sucker for hole in the wall women owned and led joints. The restaurant is very small but intimate and is perfect for gathering for small groups- it wasn't crowded and had a steady stream of seemingly regulars picking up to go. If you are unfamiliar with this cuisine- have no fear because the chef (who is also the waiter and cashier!) will just tell you the veggie combo platter is the way to go. And she is right. I love the food that are seasoned so well she can make a platter enough according to your party size. It's great that the platter includes so much choices because you get to taste all types of food- the beef is very good and I love the collard green (I think that's what it is). It pairs so well with the sour tang of the injera. So so good. We got the ginger tea too which she sweetens with honey. It was strong and fresh - and a good way to digest the food. What I am most interested in are the breakfast menu! I have never tried Ethiopian breakfast and I have a feeling this place caters to local residents here who need good Ethiopian breakfast before they head out for work. I must come back and experience their breakfast bc their breakfast menu looks more extensive and delicious! read more

Arif Cafe - Veggie with beef combo with injera ! - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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Everything was wonderful. Incredibly sweet woman served us and took her time in listening to what we asked. Will definitely be back. We got the tibs & veggie plate. read more

I visited Arif Cafe for lunch. I had a ginger tea and shared a vegetarian platter. The ginger tea was *really* strong - served very hot, and definitely for ginger lovers. The vegetarian combo was great: enough food for two people to comfortably split without being overfull. What surprised me most was the low price -- our total came to around $13, which is a lot less than I was expecting based on the menu. I assume lunch has lower prices? An Ethiopian food primer for those not in the know: Ethiopian food includes plenty of meat dishes but also lots of vegetarian/vegan dishes. It's served on top of a spongy sourdough flatbread called injera, and with more bread on the side; you use the bread to pick up the food and eat it (no utensils.) Injera is traditionally made with teff, which is naturally gluten free, but it's often supplemented with wheat flour, so make sure you check if you can't eat gluten. Others said this restaurant is hard to find, but I didn't think it was - it's in a strip mall with a parking lot, and GPS takes you right there. Enjoy! read more

Arif Cafe - Menu- prices for lunch/dinner seem to reflect dinner prices, as it cost less at lunch! - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

We had an amazing lunch this weekend at Arif Cafe. The lady who works here is genuinely so sweet and attentive. The wait was a bit long, but we were in no rush so it wasn't a bother. The food was incredible! They didn't have a few of my favorite sides, but everything was amazing and worth the trip. read more

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Omg the tibs always hits the spot. It's so juicy savory & delicious. Seasoned right just BOMB I really recommend this restaurant. read more

Arif Cafe - Tibs with Taita (Injera) - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Would give this place 1 star but the woman working there was super nice. Stopped by on a weekday to pickup some takeout. We love Ethiopian and wanted to order our usual of doro wat and mesir wat. Unfortunately, I was told they did not have enough mesir wat but could give us some in a full veggie plate. I should have left right when I got that answer! I opted for the doro wat alone. Food was packed fine and came with some njera. BUT, the taste was horrible. We have had Ethiopian in DC and even the bad places are delicious (side note: little known fact that DC has the largest population of Ethiopians outside of Ethiopia). This was really bad. The njera was super dry and tasted old, the doro wat had almost no flavor or spice. The chicken itself was also super dry and bad. I am pretty sure I could have picked up some Berber sauce from Whole Foods and done better on my own! Really wanted this hole and the wall to be a great find but unfortunately that was not the case. read more

We got in at 2 pmish and was greeted by this very cheerful woman. It was kinda dark inside so I wasn't sure if they're open (although the outdoor sign says open). I asked if they have a menu and she said "we're an Ethiopian restaurant". I thought, "oookay... I guess no menus in here!". She proceeds to tell me they only have the veggie and/or beef strips. I wasn't quite sure what she meant so I said I guess I'll have both (?). Then she said "today is the last day we're open and tomorrow I'm flying back to Ethiopia". Don't y'all worry, she's coming back March 7, 2018 she said. Lucky us, we made it today! Then she served us our veggie/beef strips platter and it's amazingly good! It was a hefty serving for just me and my hubby. Food is very well seasoned (not bland nor salty). I've been to at least 5 other Ethiopian restaurants and I have to say this is the one to beat! This is well worth the 5 stars! read more

Arif Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Might have been great, but the sign said they were open, but when we got there the doors were locked.

Amazing food and even greater service. So happy i has the chance to eat a genuine ethiopian breakfast. and the coffee was great too

CONCLUSION: a small place with big flavors and even bigger heart. The food flavors and quality was excellent - the service was excellent - the care was excellent. . PROS: the chef/server/hostess was wonderful from the moment we entered the door. She took the time to explain the menu and listened to our tastes making suggestions along the way. Injera imported from Ethiopia is naturally gluten free (to make it in USA they need to add wheat flour because of the altitude change so it gets the right consistency) and she ran across the parking lot to the market and brought back some for us since my wife and I need gluten free. The food she made was absolutely delicious and frankly amongst the best I have had anywhere in the states. . CONS: this cafe is small (6-8 tables) and could easily get booked up if words gets out just how amazing this place is. . SCORES: ratings (out of 5) will be based on equivalent business levels. Food quality 5 Food flavor 5 Food quantity 5 Prices 5 Value 5 Service 5 Cleanliness 4.9 Decor 3.0 (plain, simple decor) Parking 4.0 (small lot for shared shopping center) read more

I ordered the lamb tibs with a side of gomen. The injera was soft. Everything was delicious and around $20. Plenty leftovers to take home and eat later. The place is small and it's an older woman cooking the food. She was very nice. Wish they had delivery options though. read more