First time trying Ethiopian and let me start by saying it was delicious. This place has street parking and is a little dark inside but you can choose where you want to sit. It has smaller tables so better to go with just 1-3 other people. We got the Sega Bebaynatu Meat Combo, we didn't realize the portion of this and was recommended getting 2. Kind of a mistake especially since my friend couldn't eat all the meat. It was huge, there were only of us but it came out on a huge platter. You can definitely share the one portion. The food is also pretty heavy so I got full faster especially since they give you a plate of Bread and it is also underneath all the food. The lentils was probably my favorite it balanced out the rest of the flavors and this dish was absolutely full of the flavor. If you like spicy and sour this is for you. And if you really like sour, the salad has the perfect dressing. I did ask for a little more salad, but it is an extra cost so keep that in mind. There was only one worker and i think kitchen staff so service is a little slow. It is hard to get their attention so keep that in mind. read more

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Asmara is located on the busy Mass Ave, there is street parking available. The restaurant is relatively small and is decorated with Ethiopian decor. We came here on a Friday night and the restaurant was full and there was only one server. The waitress was nice, but clearly overwhelmed and it took a while for her to take our order and get the check. The food itself was good and fresh. We got the chicken, lamb, and vegetable combo. It came on a big plate with lots of food. The food was served on top of two layers of injera and she gave us a plate with additional injera. We ran out and it was hard to flag her down to ask for me. It turns out to be $3 per additional piece fyi. Overall, I would say it's the best Ethiopian food I've had, but they should have at least two servers on the weekends. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Asmara was incredible- the food was flavorful and delicious, especially the spicy lamb and sautéed beef. I also loved the lentils. There are so many items on the menu I want to try, but it's hard to want to branch out when I come back when I know that the Sega Babaynetu is so good. Most of all, our waitress was incredible. She was kind and caring, took the time to chat with us, shared a lot about the menu, and even about her experience in Cambridge. It is such a lovely restaurant with great food and great people. I can't wait to go back! read more

Asmara Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Asmara was pretty good overall! The food felt very traditional and authentic, and the portions were really generous. I expected some of the flavors to be a little stronger or more heavily seasoned, but everything was still delicious and enjoyable. We ate everything with our hands, which made the experience feel more interactive and honestly kind of cute. It was definitely a fun place to try something different, and we left very full! read more

I really enjoyed the food here. The portions were enormous and the ambiance was lovely. I would absolutely recommend it! I will 10/10 come back! read more

We happened to visit this restaurant last night before a concert at the Agganis Arena. I convinced others in our group of four that this was some of the best ethnic food in town based on their Zagat and Google reviews. What a mistake! Honestly, the whole experience was pathetic. First, the service was awful. The only waitress serving the entire restaurant was slow, condescending, and mean to our group. Some in our group had never had Ethiopian food before and were looking for some advice from her. Instead, she told us to "figure it out and let us know so we can place the order" in a haughty, condescending manner. Additionally, one person in the group wanted silverware, as they didn't feel comfortable eating with their hands. Not only did the waitress refuse to provide it, she made a point to mention that "everyone else is eating with their hands, so should you." I wish our friend had pushed back on her. Secondly, the food quality was about average. It didn't taste that great. The food was so sour that it masked all the other flavors. We were burping for hours during the concert. The combo we ordered was all served on one plate, and it was way too small a portion. The quantity they served for four felt like it was for two. We thought there was more coming, only to find out that was it. Some of us were still hungry even after finishing the food. Don't order a shared combo if you ever visit here; order individual entrees. Thirdly, the ambiance of the restaurant was meh. It was a hole-in-the-wall with a few pieces of bamboo furniture. It was also very dark, with such bad lighting that we couldn't even see what was served on the plate properly. Finally, the food was very expensive compared to similar-sized restaurants in the area. With no alcohol, the total bill was much higher than we thought, especially for the quantity and quality they served. Initially, our group wanted to leave no tip (yes, the service was that bad), as the server was demeaning, rude, and condescending. But we decided to leave 10% as we thought she should get something, even though the service was pathetic. It was her tone of voice and choice of words that irritated us and ruined the already bad experience. I can't believe some of the other reviews, where people gave this place five stars. Either they must not eat out, or they only go to McDonald's if they think this was great ethnic cuisine. We will never go here again. Be warned if you choose to eat here. In particular, be wary of the Zagat ratings, as they seem to be way overblown. read more

If i could give infinite stars I would. The food here is incredible and the flavors are immaculate. Maybe even the best meal I've ever had! I loved the decor, traditional seating options, & low light. The server was so helpful and kind. I can't wait to come back! read more

Asmara Restaurant - 11. Bersen 9. Tikil Gomen - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Lovely interior with friendly service. The portions are generous, so I'm glad my friend and I decided to share a combo. The food does take a bit to come out, but I think it is worth the wait. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I'm kind of surprised that the reviews for this place aren't more positive! I had a wonderful experience at Asmara. Service was super friendly and helpful. Ambiance was cozy and welcoming. We sat in the comfy chairs with the little table and it felt relaxed and comfortable. We split the vegetarian combo plate between the two of us and both thought it was delicious! I only wish I knew what was what on the plate so I could order my favorites again. The meal was super flavorful and it was fun to eat with our hands. I loved all the lentil dishes. The only thing not to my taste was the honey wine - it's very, very sweet, which is not my preference. Overall a great experience! I'm already looking forward to my next visit. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The food here is so delicious and flavorful. The ambiance is very cozy and unpretentious. The service is immaculate and I recommend this place to everyone whose palate I respect. read more

Came back give Asmara another chance! We ordered a combo and the lamb. Pretty tasty, much better than I remembered. We also had the honey wine. From eating injera at other restaurants I'll say that the bread was not great, but aside from that the food was good. Service was a bit strange. Our waitress forgot to charge us for the honey wine and asked us to pay for it in her tip instead of correcting the receipt. Normally anywhere else the receipt is corrected but she didn't rerun it (that's what we asked for). Aside from that we had a good time. read more

Asmara Restaurant - 22. Sega Bebaynatu-Meat Combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Came on a Saturday evening and it was very busy! This is a cozy spot in Central with delicious food. Everything was flavorful with a nice kick. The house wine was great too- I recommend trying it! Our waiter was super friendly and welcoming, and made us feel at home. read more

Asmara Restaurant - 22. Sega Bebaynatu-Meat Combination and 23. Ahimliti Bebaynatu-Vegetarian Combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Super cozy vibe inside tried the honey wine very sweet and yummy. The meat combo was great all items very flavorful beef spicy salty salad flavorful lentils also good. Injera had slightly lemony taste read more

Asmara Restaurant - 22. Sega Bebaynatu-Meat Combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Service: 0/5 First time here to celebrate my sister's birthday. There was only one waitress tending to all the tables so we truly felt for her. When it was our turn to order, we made sure to be quick but asked what I thought to be a simple question and she responded very rudely. We were taken aback by her whole demeanor, tone of voice, and choice of words. It honestly ruined the whole experience for me as I don't think anyone should be treated like that especially not from asking a question. Overall, I will not be coming back to this restaurant. Hopefully they hire more waiters/waitresses. read more

A Eritrean gem in the middle of Central Square. We've tried a number of dishes and food was super tasty and served in a warm and inviting space filled with reminders of the Horn of Africa. The best part was the service - personable, friendly, and attentive. This place is definitely one of our favorite neighborhood go-tos. read more

My favorite Ethiopian in greater Boston. Friendly, with fantastic food. They've been generous on occasion with extra injera. Decor is simple but charming. Love the lamb dishes, and the authentic tables. Be ready to eat with your hands! Good for take away too! read more

Exceptional place to go with a group of friends or alone. The food is excellent and the staff entertaining. People's this ain't your mama's Ethiopian. That's because it's Eritrean - I was both chagrined to learn. The food was really excellent - greens, lamb, potato, iter alia. Will be going back soon. read more

I've been coming here for years. The place is very comfortable and the staff are attentive and prompt. The food is wonderful. I love the family style eating on a bed of injera bread. The honey wine (different from mead) is a lovely complement to the food's blend of flavor. Highly recommended. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I can't believe I've worked in Central/Kendall for two years and only recently tried Asmara! We ordered the Vegetarian combo and a super delicious lamb dish. It's communal style and you eat with your hands, as pointed out by our hilarious server who was absolutely not here for anyone to eat using a spoon. The homemade honey wine was delicious and so unique! The simplest was to summarize the meal is excellent. Fantastic. Delicious. And it sort of felt like we were in someone's living room. It was quite busy in there for dinner, and I'm glad we got in when we did. There was a line going outside the door for most of our meal (which was slightly a struggle because the folks in line wouldn't close the door and it was cold!). I'll definitely be back here! read more

Excellent choice for groups! Good choice for when you're craving flavor, spices, and something different from your norm. The veggie and meat combos provide a little something for everyone and is very communal. Note - if you order the meat or veggie combos they serve it on one platter and proportion it to the number of people at your table. Got the chicken wings and stuffed tomatos for appetizers, which were also good. Their injera had fewer holes (and tinier holes) than injera I've had before and was also more on the sour side. One particularly annoying thing was despite there being many empty tables during Tuesday dinner at 6pm, the server would not let our table sit until all of our party was here. We were on a time crunch so it would have been nice to get our table started and put in our order. There also seemed to be only one server, which somewhat slowed service down but not too much. Street parking on Mass Ave which can be annoying to find with traffic. read more

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Glad we finally got a chance to check this spot out! The combination platters were tasty (though not spicy, as advertised). We ordered 1 portion of the Ahimilti Bebaynetu (Vegetarian Combination) and 1 portion of the Sega Bebaynetu (Meat Combination) for a party of 2; all of the food is brought out on a single platter, arranged beautifully atop a large piece of Injera. There's also Injera on a small plate on the side. The cuisine is typically enjoyed with your hands, so they don't offer any utensils. Expect the restaurant overall to be packed in pretty tightly as well. The staff is pretty limited (we only saw 1 person working) so service is not extremely quick, though she is very nice. Also note that you need a physical card to pay, not Apple/Google/Samsung Pay. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Ahimilti Bebaynetu (Vegetarian Combination) & Sega Bebaynetu (Meat Combination) with Injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

We've eaten here numerous times, but not recently. In general, we weren't wowed by the food, although everything was definitely tasty. The portion sizes were good, and the presentation was superb. What wasn't so good: There were two of us, and as others have noted, if two people don't want to sit at a "traditional" table (hunched over a small table), you're relegated to either a table right by the door, right by the bathroom and coatrack, or inches from a giant screen TV. We chose the bathroom/TV, and subjected to an endless parade of people squeezing by our table all night. (And eating hunched over isn't very survivable for me.) What was A+: the waiter was wonderful - She was friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. If it weren't for her, I would have given three stars. What we disagreed about: I asked for cutlery. The waiter balked, and told me to try eating with my hands, Ethiopian style. I thought she was shaming me into eating with my hands, my partner thought she was being perfectly nice about it. In any case, I think when you ask a waitperson for cutlery, just bring it. Afterwards, you can feel free to mention the traditional hands-method. read more

This is probably the best Ethiopian I've had in Cambridge. If you're dining in, it's not a family friendly spot as the restaurant is intimate and is best suited for groups of 2-4 (also no high chair available). Nevertheless, our waitress was polite, friendly, and attentive which was much appreciated. The injera was generously portioned, fresh, and perfectly tangy. We ordered 2 veggie combos and 2 mixed combos for 4 people, which was way too much food and we ended up with enough leftovers for 2 more meals (would order 3 combos amongst 4 people next time). The house salad in the middle was surprisingly tasty and refreshing against the heavier combo options set at the edges of the platters. The meats were all fairly tender and well spiced. The lentil dishes were quite delicious, too. There's a mix of spicy and non-spicy in each of the combos and things cannot be made non-spicy. Overall, I thought it was a decent deal for the quantity and quality of food received for the price paid and would return. read more

i am obssessed with asmara.. i love their meat platter with injera! i get it everytime. asmara is a perfect second date spot, i think that if you're looking to try a new cuisine, ethiopian food is definitely the way to go. the service was very good as well. asmara is however, a little pricey, so maybe a special occasion spot! read more

This spot feels like a hole-in-the-wall. I'm not sure if they take reservations but the line could get a bit long during dinner. There was only one server when we came on a weekday evening-- service was slow because the server was so busy. We started with their homemade mes honey wine ($8.75), mango juice ($6.25), and the spinach with ricotta appetizer ($9.95). The wine was super sweet and fragrant with honey flavor. The appetizer was creamy with a nice peppery flavor to it (we should have asked for more bread though). However, I wasn't a big fan of the mango juice. It tasted like blended unripe mangoes, so it was tart, very fibrous, and lacked mango flavor. I was expecting something sweeter and more mango-ey when I ordered it. Maybe it would be better when mangoes are in season? We split one portion of the sega bebaynatu meat combination ($19.95) and asked for extra injera. The amount of food was perfect for two of us. Each meat item (chicken, beef, lamb) had its own unique flavor profile and the lentils were super savory, too. While the meat combination features a lot of their meat dishes, I HAVE to give a shout-out to the house salad. It had tomatoes, cheese, spring mix, spicy peppers, onions, and a lemony dressing. All the flavors blended together so well! A lot of Ethiopian places I've tried in Boston aren't very spicy. I wouldn't say that the food here is spicy but it does deliver more of a kick than the spots I've tried. I'm sooooooo close to giving this spot 5 stars, but I am still scarred from the mango juice. read more

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I rarely feel like I truly love a meal out in Boston, but this really hit the spot. I've only had Ethiopian a handful of times before, but never anywhere near this good. If you like your food flavorful, if you need a good veggie option, if you want a good hearty meal, or if you just want to try a new cuisine, I'd highly recommend. Besides the food, the presentation for the combos is also unique--shared platters for the table, sized and priced by the number of diners, creating a communal dining experience. This also allows you to try many dishes even with a small number of diners, which I personally really enjoy. They also serve up extra injera on the side, so you'll certainly be quite full. If you haven't eaten this cuisine before, it's eaten with your hands, so be ready for that. Note, despite the "spicy" designation on the menu, our food didn't seem it at all, so if you really want that fire I'd recommend requesting extra spicy. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Meat Combo for 2 (more injera served on the side) - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ate dinner here on a Friday night 2 weeks back. We thankfully got the table right away, but it really picked up shortly after and there was quite a bit of a wait. The server was very nice and helpful. She was the only server there and in my opinion, she did a fantastic job. I did not see her getting any order wrong and she was so polite to every single diner. The place is simple yet cozy, perfect for a casual dinner or date nights. The night we were there, the AC was blasting and it was too cold the 2 hours we were there, we were super uncomfortable. So I highly recommend getting a light jacket. We requested for the AC to be turned down, but nothing was done about it. The wait time was ridiculous. Not sure what was going on in the kitchen, but our appetizer took about 35 minutes and the main about 1hr 15 mins. Couple that with 2 hungry tummies and a ridiculously cold restaurant, I can definitely say it was a bit of a torture. Coming to the food, we ordered Spinach with Ricotta appetizer that came with the spicy sauce and was that GOOD!!! We in-fact liked it better than the main meal. The injera was soft and warm and my mouth is watering just thinking about this dish. For mains, we really wanted Doro-Wot but they did not have my favorite dish. We were told that Tsehbhi Derho Chicken was very similar to Doro Wot. Bad news- it was no where close in taste, texture or flavor. Tsehbhi Derho sauce did not have the same flavor punch as that of Doto Wot. The veggies were great however. We loved most of them! The presentation has been the worst compared to all the other restaurants we have been to (check the photo). All the dishes were plopped next to each other and it all felt like a mish-mash of flavors by the time it got to us. We had been so excited to try the food here, but given our experience I do not think we will be back anytime soon. read more

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I'm not super familiar with Ethiopian food but I enjoyed Asmara! Lots of stuff I had never tried before but it was incredibly filling and satisfying. What's not to love with heavily spiced meat wrapped in bread? Be warned that it gets messy! Very intimate ambiance. Service was pretty slow. We got the combo to try lots of things and there was pretty big variance--the veggies actually ended up our favorites! read more

Asmara Restaurant - Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I visited Asmara as my first time trying Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine. The food ended up being delicious and the experience was very unique. The ambiance is pretty casual, and you come in and wait in line until your part can be seated. My party and I ordered the meat combo and the veggie combo so we could try a bunch of things. It was totally the best move because we got to try so many amazing things. Eating with your hands and the injera bread was a little weird at first but after a minute I was loving the experience! I would definitely come back here as it was all so flavorful and different than most things around here. I definitely recommend visiting! read more

Asmara Restaurant - Meat combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The injera here is way too sour. It almost tastes like it was soaked in vinegar. The other dishes were alright but the sourness overpowered everything else. Honey wine is decent and not too sweet. If they fix the injera, this would be much better read more

The food was good with many options. I especially loved the spicy sauce and lentils. My main complaint was the service and food took a long time - they were clearly crowded on a Saturday night, and once we were seated (just after 6:30pm) it took a full hour for our food to come out. Would come back but not on a weekend. read more

Fabulous, delicious, wonderful service and food -100% recommend!! + great ambiance! Courteous staff and the meat sampler was fabulous

Amazing as always! The honey wine was stronger, more dry, and less sweet this time but still delicious. The Begeeh Mloukhiya was seasoned well and very spicy and flavorful. The Zighny Fitfit was pretty unique with sauce soaked injera and beef pieces. The timtimo went perfectly with the meals and salad. read more

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I've eaten a ton of Ethiopian food. Back home, we had one downtown that I went to so frequently, I didn't even have to order, they just knew what I wanted as soon as I walked in. While living on Oahu island in Hawaii, I brought a ton of friends to a local Ethiopian place, and everyone loved it. While in the New England area, I started to love Lucy Ethiopian, but I branched out and found this place on one day I had while in the MA area. When I arrived, I wasn't sure that they were even open, but I went inside anyway. I was greeted by both a male and female server, and told I could sit wherever I liked. I picked a spot by the wall and started in at the menu. I was surprised at how limited the menu was, but I already knew what I wanted to order before I even sat down. I started with an order of the spiced tea, and ordered the vegetarian combo with an additional side of injira. During the time I was there there was only one other table occupied, which I thought was interesting given the location being such a hub of food and it being prime lunchtime. The tea, when it arrived, was incredibly over-steeped to the point of it being so bitter that I couldn't drink it. It smelled good though, and I gave it a few separate tries but ended up leaving it on the table. When the meal arrived, I was impressed with the beautiful color of the items, and the various textures. The flavors however were somewhat muddled, and two of the mostly veggie items were so watery, it was an overall odd and soggy texture. Compared to Lucy's, I feel like this missed the mark. The prices were good however, and the service was quick and friendly, and the restaurant was clean and easy to find. I make ethiopian lentils at home and I know how complex it is to make all the spices line up and keep it spicy but not critically so. Overall, I'm interested in giving them another try and see if I hit them on an off day, but given the experience I had at this time, I'd rather return to Lucy's. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Spiced tea - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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Overall its a nice place to go. Very competitive and small restaurant since we waited for like an hr (tbf it was a weekend evening). The spinach dish was really good, and so were the meat combos. I dont think the veggie combos were outstanding by themselves but they taste good with the meat. The bread that comes with is a nice texture and soft, but it is notably sour. Our server was very nice. read more

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Been 2yrs+ since my last review, and Asmara remains one of my FAV spots in Cambridge, let alone the greater Boston area. The meat & veggie platter would be my death row meal. Literally perfect combo of carbs & protein & fats & veggies. read more

Asmara Restaurant - meat & veggie platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

this march I was able to experience Ethiopian food after many years! This spot is located on central square and was a different experience for our group of 5! We ordered the entire vegetarian menu (5 or so dishes) for us to share. The flavors were very similar to Indian cuisine just milder. The cool part was the experience of everyone sharing and eating from the same plate using your hands instead of utensils! read more

We got the Asmara Tibs and the meat combo, both were amazing. Our waitress was so sweet and would have been willing to explain everything to first timers. The gelato (off menu but ask for it!) was some of the best I've had in the city. We loved this place! read more

Love Ethiopian/Eritrean food in general, but the food and service and environment at Asmara make the experience even more homey and comfortable than the food already is. We loved everything in the veggie sampler, and things were portioned generously for two people. There's always a line, so come in early! My favorite was the cabbage and the timtimo, but honestly we devoured all of them and even took home our extra injera. Staff were super nice and happy to explain how to eat the food to newcomers. read more

Asmara Restaurant - Veggie sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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So delicious and great service. A restaurant that strongly preserves its authenticity, Love it . Highly recommend. read more

Asmara Restaurant - a dining room with tables and chairs - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

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