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    Arif Cafe

    4.7 (137 reviews)
    InexpensiveEthiopian
    Open 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Arif Cafe Photos

    ARIF CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Arif Cafe

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    Veggie Combo
    Amy B.

    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!

    Veggie combo + Lamb (~$45 total) DELICIOUS!! Definitely getting again
    CR J.

    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

    Honey wine
    Helayna W.

    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

    Beef & Veggie Combo Tibbs
    Susan B.

    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.

    Keerthana C.

    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!

    Veggie injeri platter

    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!

    Jacki P.

    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

    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

    Beef tibs, veggie combo for 1
    Katie S.

    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.

    Sheng H.

    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.

    Veggie combo, tibs, yebeg wot
    Rahel T.

    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.

    Veggie and beef plate

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    1 year ago

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

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    2 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    Ask the Community - Arif Cafe

    Are there gluten free options?

    Injera can be gluten free if it's made with 100% teff flour, but the main option offered at this restaurant has some wheat. Sometimes she has the teff only option, but there's an Ethiopian market across the parking lot so you can always pick it up… Read more

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    Smoke'N Ash BBQ - Two 2 Meats Plate

    Smoke'N Ash BBQ

    4.3(407 reviews)
    26.6 mi
    $$

    Texas barbecue meets Ethiopian cuisine...? It's brilliant and absolutely delicious. I recommend the…read moreTex-Ethiopian platter for a thorough sampling of all the best things this restaurant offers! It includes: Smoked Doro Wat (Spicy Chicken Stew), Awaze Rib Tip Tibs, Awaze Brisket, Awaze Pork Ribs, your choice of 2 sides, Texas Toast, gluten-free teff injera, and rice pilaf! The hardest part is choosing the sides because they're all amazing, from classic BBQ sides like potato salad, fried okra, baked beans, corn, collard greens, and mac and cheese to Ethiopian sides like shiro wat (chickpea stew), misir wat (red lentil stew), tikil gomen (cabbage and carrots), and more. Even berbere-spiced mac and cheese! Berbere is an incredible blend of Ethiopian spices that is amazing on everything, savory or sweet. If it's just me eating with no one to share, I like to get the Big Ash loaded baked potato. Your choice of meat on a perfectly fluffy hot potato with plenty of butter and sour cream -- it's soooo comforting and delicious!

    We drove 40 minutes from north Dallas to try this highly reviewed Ethiopian BBQ fusion restaurant…read more I guess my expectations were set too high. I expected "knock your socks off" but got very good food instead. I expected a packed dining room but at 12:30 it was almost empty. We ordered the sample plate for 2 which included ribs, brisket, rib tips, and doro wat (chicken stew) with rice, injera and we got beefy collard greens and cabbage with carrots sides. The ribs were excellent. I also really liked the chicken stew. I was surprised by the sour flavor of the injera. The thin bbq sauce was tasty while it was not sweet or full of vinegar. It was a nice alternative to traditional sauces. While we enjoyed our meal, and I would order the ribs and chicken stew again, this place is a bit too far for a repeat. But it introduced me to Ethiopian food which I can find closer to home. I love the creativity of the owners.

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    Smoke'N Ash BBQ
    Smoke'N Ash BBQ - Rice pilaf, beefy greens, awaze brisket and lamb

    Rice pilaf, beefy greens, awaze brisket and lamb

    Smoke'N Ash BBQ - [IG/Tiktok: @lifewitheunie]

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    [IG/Tiktok: @lifewitheunie]

    Suyastop

    Suyastop

    4.2(41 reviews)
    18.0 mi
    $

    When I go to Nigerian restaurants, I'm often worried about long waits and not-so-great service,…read moreeven though I'm Nigerian American myself. During my last visit, I ordered ahead and it took me about 25 minutes drive, which wasn't too bad. The person who took my order was nice, which was a pleasant surprise compared to what I expected. I ordered two portions of suya and two shawarmas, costing a bit over $40. The shawarma was okay in size, but it didn't really stand out. It satisfied my cravings, but nothing more. Now, the suya was a letdown. It had too much oil and lacked that real suya flavor. The taste of curry was too strong, overshadowing the authentic suya taste. Plus, there were way too many onions compared to the meat. I'd rate the suya a 4 out of 10 for the effort. On the other hand, the shawarma, though of an average size, was pretty tasty. It was spicy, so you'll need a drink to handle the heat. I'm giving a three-star rating for both the food and the service, also appreciating that they're open on Sundays. I've tried suya and shawarma in many places around the DFW area, and I think this place can do better. If they work on improving the spice mix for the suya and balance out the meat and onions, it would make a big difference and bring them up to the level of other spots in the area.

    This little place serving big flavor! It's a one lady cooking right in front of you. Portions are…read morepretty big. Very very tasty. Highly suggest you go if you're looking for something different and never had Nigerian food.

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    Suyastop
    Suyastop
    Suyastop

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    Arif Cafe - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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