The vegetarian food is awesome....it has flavor. don't go here with a big group of friends from work/lab, the seating isn't great for that, and sharing finger food with a friend-of-a-friend can be overly intimate. go here with people you like. read more

I went to Asmara with a group of seven over the weekend. For the size of our party on a Sat night, I was pleasantly surprised that we could get two tables and put them together. We were also waiting for people, so the servers were also very patient with us not ordering for a while. Service definitely gets five stars. Ultimately the food, however, is just okay. Habesha in Malden does a more flavorful dish, better injera, and a sweeter honey wine. Although I suppose it's all down to one's personal taste. My side of the table ordered the spinach with ricotta ($8.95). Although it warned that it was spicy, I really didn't find it so. It was tasty but we ran out of injera! They only give four small rolled up injera so of course we ran out because the spanish with ricoota was just delicious. I ordered the Asmara Tibs (15.95) which was good but not amazing. Very good portions though. My two friends (again on our side of the table) both got vegetarian options: the hamli and shuro (both $13.95). The shuro was very tasty however the Hamli's potato and carrot pieces came out too large to eat comfortably without a fork or even with a fork. Overall, I do recommend this place because it's a good space , friendly atmosphere, and pretty okay food. read more

As always, a lot of fun. I love the food. They bring plenty of bread, warm towels before the meal, and it feels like a family run place. read more

Food: delicious, similar to Ethiopian, though not as spicy as the Ethiopian restaurants I tried during a yearlong stint in DC. What I love about this place is that the food is not unnecessarily oily. The injera has a robust sourness to it, and the curries soak right into the multiple layers of injera that the plates are lined with (a bonus, most places only line with a single piece of injera). Try the meat combo - $18 for an all-you-can-eat assortment of goodness. Also try ordering the incredible stuffed chili they offer as a condiment. Ambience: its proprietary all right, and yet clean and warm, almost like grandma's kitchen/living room. I love the art on the walls. And I especially love the woven baskets that you can get if you have a small party. They definitely add to the experience. Service: this is what tips the scale from 4 to 5. The staff are so sweet and polite here. I've only been twice, but they recognized me the second time. They're also incredibly patient with those of us who can't make a decision, and they know how to nudge you in the right direction, without being overbearing. Its awesome :) read more

Asmara, my love, how could I possibly say enough good things about you?? I came here on the recommendation from an Ethiopian cab driver (bless you, my friend) and now it's all I can do to keep myself from going every week. I've personally ordered the vegetarian combo ($15.95), the meat combo ($16.95), and the kitfo ($16.95), but I can tell you they're all delicious. All entree items come with a steaming, fluffy plate stacked high with perfectly-sour injera bread (which honestly I could as a meal in and of itself), as well as a piece or two of injera under all the food scoops. Both combos come with a great assortment of dishes to try and I always leave extremely satisfied with the variety and flavors I've had at the end of the meal. The veggie combo comes with lentils, yellow split peas, garbanzo beans, spinach, pickled cabbage, and a few other things. The meat combo comes with lamb, beef, chicken, and a few scoops of vegetable dishes. Usually, I'll order one combo per person in my party, and we end up basically rolling out the restaurant. This past time, I ordered 1 meat combo and 1 veggie combo for 3 people and it was PERFECT. Service here is incredible - I have had the same waitress every single time and she is so kind and helpful. In fact, the last time I was here, my table was having a hard time deciding on a final dish so we asked her to surprise us. To our delight she brought us the Kitfo and it was fabulous. I haven't been to any other Ethiopian places in and around the city, but truthfully this place is so delicious that it will definitely be my go-to for the foreseeable future. read more

I always seek out Ethiopian after having lived in DC where I got to enjoy Ethiopian food on the reg. I traditionally go for mixed platters or lamb tibs and since the tibs were not on the menu I went for both a vegetarian and meat combo platter and sat at the traditional seating area as opposed to tables. I liked this experience and first time actually enjoying Ethiopian food in this manner. Food was pretty good but truly thought the vegetarian options were a lot stronger than the meat options. Overall it's a cute spot that's reasonably priced in the Cambridge area. read more

Having had Ethiopian Food ever since the age of 3, I can surely attest to the quality of the food at Asmara. My party ordered a meat combination and a vegetarian combination. Having tried both dishes, I can truly say that this is some of the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. For starters, the meat combo is the perfect size portion for one person. I was surprised after taking my first bite to taste tender meat that was cooked to perfection. The chicken and beef were truly one of a kind and the sauce was a great compliment to these flavors. What was most astonishing was the spicy lamb. In the past, I've had lamb that doesn't taste quite good and leaves a strange after taste in my mouth. Here, not only was the lamb cooked well, but it also did not leave a bad taste in my mouth. I was truly impressed with the chef's ability to cook meat. One piece of criticism that I have for this place is the portions. Like I said, the meat combination portion was enough just for myself. But members of my party ordered 2 of vegetarian combos. Here at Asmara, dishes are served in a communal plate (you can ask to separate meat from veggie). I didn't really seem like the communal plate had double an individual plate from my perspective, but I could be wrong. Apart from this minor issue, Asmara is a great restaurant that I would recommend anyone in the Cambridge/Boston area to try. read more

Great Ethiopian place in Cambridge. Good food quality, good selection, good service. Prices aren't the cheapest for Ethiopian, but not bad. I liked the cheese with spicy sauce appetizer. read more

I admit I am not an expert on Ethiopian food, so I can only compare it to other restaurants in general. We always order combos so that we could try different dishes. The meat was seasoned nicely, the bread spread (don't remember what is called now) was yummy. However, the bread is very filling, but only afterward, so don't eat too much. The owner was extremely friendly. We have been back a number of times, and the food quality and service have been quite consistent. It is a good place for a small group of friends (3-5) to hang out and eat together in a circle from its traditional straw/hay "tables". Bring Purrel with you, as you will use your hands to eat (really, no silverware). read more

I don't know much about Eritrean or Ethiopian food, but I had a pretty good experience here. The bread was really great, and the curried lentils were fun to mop up with the spongy bread. It wasn't mindblowing, but it was good. The service was great, they were very friendly and attentive. This is another spot I would encourage to look into the green restaurant association 'green restaurant certification'. Kind of selfishly, because I would love to come back here, but I want to give my business to restaurants who i know take special steps to be as sustainable as possible. Regardless.. Asmara is a must try for those who have never had Eritrean/Ethiopian food. read more

Are people on this site crazy? This place is overpriced and the food is not great. Maybe if you're a vegetarian it's passable. But the basis of all Ethiopian food is the injera. The injera at this place is the absolute worst I have ever had. It was dry, gray, and tasted like it was overcooked. Addis Red Sea doesn't have great injera either, but at least it's far better than Asmara. Also, the chicken and beef were overcooked and the portions did not justify the price. The food here is way too expensive. Before anyone calls this food great, they should go to Washington, DC for the truly great stuff. I should have known that the emptiness of this restaurant was a bad sign. Stay away from this place and don't think that the food is good because it looks different than regular American food. Great Ethiopian chicken and beef are succulent not dessicated as my food at Asmara was. read more

Knowing that any restaurant in Central Square would be busy at 7:30pm on a Saturday night, I called ahead to make a reservation for the 11 of us that would be dining. I am very glad I did as the place was packed. It's a small space and our table (actually, 2 round tables put together) was in the center of the restaurant. We didn't mind the coziness of it all and the hostess was very kind when we needed more chairs...and then less chairs because a few people didn't show up. The food here is delicious, though I do have to say that the lamb did NOT taste like lamb (it tasted like beef) and I'm told that the chicken was great....but "it wasn't chicken". So I'm not sure what's up with that. Regardless, the flavors were spectacular and most of the 3 dishes in our bowl were gone by the time we left. My only gripe about my Asmara experience is that the waitress did not seem to care that we each ordered our own dishes. She kept insisted that it's family style and that everyone shares. She then proceeded to pour our food into the bigger bowls in a random fashion. I asked her to stop because there were 2 people who don't care for really spicy food and one person who ordered a specific dish because she wanted to try it...that dish ended up on the other side of the table and my friend had to move seats to eat her dinner. Had the waitress not been so concerned with the fact that we were supposed to share, the food could have been poured in the spaces in front of the primary people who would be eating it and the experience would have been perfect. The food is so yummy here though-it hardly mattered. We all had a great time and proclaimed that we'd be back again. read more

That restaurant is definitely a fun experience for a party. You get to sit at a traditional round table where a meal is shared by group. We got a sampler plate where you could try a little bit of every meat kind on a traditional bread (crepe) they offer. Believe me, that sampler plate is pretty large for 2 persons, but would be perfect for three. Some food pieces were spicy. The server explained the Ethiopian of having this kind of meal- to break off the bread and grasp the food at the same time - all with hands. I had 2 cups of Ethiopian coffee - fell in love with it! I had tea too. Right! If you go for a new authentic place, need to get acquainted with tastes and flavors. The service was good and fast, the server (a beautiful Ethiopian lady) was very nice and friendly. read more

Interesting and fun experience. Came here for my birthday - atmosphere is very nice. The main food was delicious, but after a little while the bread started tasting too sour. Never had ethiopian food before, so had no basis to compare, but definitely worth the experience. read more

I can't claim to be a connoisseur in African cuisine, but WOW! I loved it! Get the food in the traditional bowl they offer, more fun and makes for a more unique dining experience! Fairly quick on the food as well... Service was excellent and friendly! Thanks for giving us a good time :) read more

The food was pretty good - we got the combo plate like everyone else. I wish we'd gotten more bread (? not sure what it's called) and I wasn't sure which meat was which... they sort of tasted like the same meat with different sauces, and they were all rather dry. I think the vegetable parts tasted better. The combo plate included quite a bit of food - went with a friend and we didn't finish. I had the honey wine too, which I didn't quite like, but it was interesting nonetheless. The place is small and there seemed to be a constant stream of people waiting for a table. It didn't take very long me for to get seated though - I waited for maybe six minutes on a Saturday night. read more

Hidden gem in central square. Nice family run place. Ingredients are always fresh and delicious. Wonderful flavors. There's nothing else like it. We love it!! My favorites are the shrimp spicy and meat and veggie combos. read more

It's okay. I haven't had ethiopian food in a while - and this place is standard ethiopian fare. It comes with two kinds on injera (one with gluten and without) and they basically make the injera as the plate and put the dishes you order on top. We got the chicken and lamb with vegetables (aka salad in the middle) and while it was very filling - it wasn't particularly very flavorful. The chicken had a lot of raw spices in it and had the biting taste of the spices (imagine doing the cinnamon challenge), and less worked with the the meat. The lamb was good - and felt like it lacked a the little extra kick. The service was great though! read more

Delicious and filling food. I've only tried the vegetarian combination platter (#16 on their online menu; ahimilti bebaynetu) but it's a generous serving size, great flavors, and just the right amount of spice. The side salad is a nice refreshing complement to the main dish, and there's plenty of injera to scoop everything up. read more

The service and food were wonderful! They have done a great job following covid protocol. Totally worth a visit!

Food was served in a unique way on a table/bowl, chicken was unique, ambiance was nice read more

Asmara Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Asmara is a fantastic Ethiopian restaurant. It doesn't have much in the way of atmosphere, but it's always a fantastic place to talk. The family that runs the restaurant is awfully nice, and I would encourage saying more to them than your order--they're totally open to questions and special requests. And after a couple times, they remember you and greet you warmly every time thereafter. Aside from that, the food here is fantastic--the vegetable platter and raw meat platters are both incredible, and I have _never_ had a disappointing meal, here (it says something that I actually feel a bit of a tingle in the back of my jaw as I write this). Every dish was enormously tasty. Their fruit drinks are fresh, and never disappoint; although, they are on the expensive side. And the bread! Always as much as you want, and always moist, squishy, and mouthwatering. I wouldn't pass it up; even in the middle of the day--for some reason, it's often pretty desolate in the early afternoon--but the food's no worse for it. read more

I love Ethiopian food. It's interesting, because it looks like and contains a lot of the same ingredients as Indian food, but many of the spices used are different. I've had some good times at Asmara. The wicker table tops (read: plates) are really fun for family-style meals with relatives and good friends. :) Plus there are lots of good vegetarian options. I recommend this place for sure. :) read more

Just a quick yelp to say this place is definitely on my list! I love the service, the food is great (they give you some hot, house sauce). read more

I have been there twice, and I love it. Staff are really nice. Food is great too. read more

Food was just okay. It lacked in flavor quite a bit. The honey wine was delicious but it did not arrive at the table until mealtime was almost over. Service needs improvement as the waitress, although friendly, was not attentive. I was really hoping for better Ethiopian cuisine as I have enjoyed Ethiopian restaurants in D.C., Los Angeles and Philadelphia, all of which are much better and not at all lacking in the flavor department. read more

Food was okay, portions were really large! Nice ambience and different style of eating! Food on the sour side! read more

Asmara is some of the best Ethiopian/Eritrean food in Boston, and the mesobs (serving baskets you sit around) make it even better. Don't let the looping videos of Ethiopian/Eritrean TV and music videos in the back throw you off--the combo dishes and homemade honey wine are excellent. read more

Delicious!! Really friendly staff! And if you call ahead the day before, they will have gluten free injera available for you. Yum!! read more

Asmara Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

I wanted to love this place. I really did. However, the price / quality ratio is extremely out of whack. Next time you feel like spending $20 on lunch, by all means go to Asmara. The food is quite tasty. $20 tasty? definitely not. But who am I to complain? Some of you out there love spending your hard earned dough on meathead club entrance fees, so why not do the same on lunch? If you do choose Asmara, I recommend anything with veggies. Ethiopian fare is fairly diverse, and Asmara has enough exotic offerings to please most palates. read more

This was a fun change of pace restaurant, with a really great ambiance. A little pricey, and the food was kind of underwhelming though. Maybe the menu just takes some getting used to, but the bread was really intensely flavored and the rest of the food was either a little bland or just tasted like spice. Regardless, though, the food was OK and the staff was fantastic. They definitely make up for the price with the awesome staff and the really fun atmosphere. Definitely a fun experience, but I dunno how often I'd go back. read more

Kitfo is the dish to try, if you can stomach raw beef. This is my favorite dish in Boston. The house-made honey wine is delicious. read more

Overall pretty fantastic. I'd even say this is 4 1/2 - just not quite 5 stars for a few little details. The food is fantastic- I love Ethiopian food and this is as good of quality as I've gotten anywhere. (I guess this is technically Eritrean food; Eritrea was technically Ethiopia when the resaurant opened in the 80s, and there are some longstanding cultural identity factors that probably do result in slight differences ...the point is that it doesn't matter as far as the food is concerned for non-experts, it all tastes good, nationalism aside!) So vegetarians can delight in a clear and friendly attitude from this place- the special is a nice mixture of all the veggie options. It is generously portioned and comes with two types of injera. The injera on the bottom is really sourdoughy- which I loved. The hubs liked the plated bread a little better as it was a bit more mild (though still quite tasty). Having the two options was nice as different dishes paired well with the different breads. I like the assortment option because I like to have a little bit of everything. Some of the flavors are good for three or four bites but then I kind want to move on to the next thing, or start mixing them up, and the assortment is really the best option. It is medium priced- I think it was about $17 per person, but we left filled to our noses and didn't even finish the full plate. Downsides: It is a little too tightly packed in there. To get to the bathroom I had to move a chair from a table that had customers at it- it was weird and awkward. I can't imagine this place was within firecode! In a related issue, there is no waiting area for seating, and it gets pretty packed over by the door with folks watching as you eat. We would have preferred to stay a little longer and linger over a drink but it felt kind of rushed for us to clear the table. It was Friday night though, and I don't really hold it against them - just wish they managed their space a little better. Speaking of drinks - I tried the honey wine, in part because they sort of sell it as a homemade and special- why didn't I just stop when I heard the word combination "homemade wine?" It is sweet- crazy sweet and tastes exaclty how every national homemade wine seems to turn out - kind of medicinal and kind of fruit punchy. I wish they had an option to try it for less than $7.75. Maybe a half glass for a few bucks or something? It was undrinkable. But again, that's my taste not their fault. I'm sure somebody likes it. The Ethiopian beers were both great. So, all in all, I recommend it. It might be better on a non-weekend night in terms of space issues. The server was really busy but very nice and helpful when around. I will go back for sure and I definitely recommend it to anyone on the fence. read more

Asmara far surpasses a 5 star rating. The food and service were exemplary! We had never tried Ethiopian food before and the server was pleasant, understanding, and helpful. The spices were subtle and made the food unique and incredibly delicious. The honey wine is a must try. Save room for dessert and the traditional coffee. A surprising find and a place we will definitely revisit. read more

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My husband and I have been here a few times now. We get the vegetarian combo. It is always well spiced with dishes in a range of heat intensities. I don't normally like sweet beverages, but I love the house honey wine. It goes very well with the flavors of the dishes. The Asmara lager is also very good. The bread is light and spongy. We enjoy using the traditional basket for a table. It's always a fun dining experience! read more

This place is truly fantastic! I've been coming here since I was a child and have never been disappointed. It's the most authentic Ethiopian food I've ever had and it's so incredibly flavorful. I've eaten Ethiopian food all over the world (DC, Paris, London, NYC) and this is by far the best I've ever had. I love love love spicy food and this place meets and exceeds ALL my expectations. I also have plenty of friends who hate spicy (even black pepper is too hot for them) and they have plenty of dishes that they love here as well. It's the most authentic Ethiopian food you'll find and the damily that owns and runs the restaurant is so warm, friendly and welcoming. I love this restaurant! I'm a vegetarian and always get the vegetarian sampler platter and share with my friends. I would definitely recommend this approach - they tailor the amounts for the # of people, and this way you get to try a little of everything, which is the perfect way to go. Wash it down with a litlte honey wine, and for me, it's the perfect evening meal. read more

This place is pretty great. the food is unique, well prepared, spiced well. The lamb and chicken dishes are the big highlights. I personally find the yellow lentils...bland. Like, they're just kind of filler on the platter to complete the circle. If you're looking for something unique, you can't find eritrean food everywhere you go. The service is good, the tables are clean and the enviornment is chill. Only pain, it's sorta steep. I don't mind paying good money for a good meal, especially something uncommon. but $18 per person on a combo plate of meat and veg with spices is a little excessive. It's worth? Maybe $12-14 tops a person. I've been back several times and I am never disapointed. The food and overall experience is consistently really good. But if it was a smidge more reasonable, I would become an instant regular rather than an occasional customer. Finally, a quick tip: get the tea after dinner. It's a solid treat. I'll be back again sometime, when it's been awhile and the craving grows strong. Give 'em a whirl! read more

1)Great & unique food, not too spicy for our Indian standards 2)Nice Ambience 3) This place reminded us of Kerala food, definitely made us believe that there is some shared culture between Ethiopia and the villages of Kerala 4) We liked the way the crepes are huge and the guests share (depending on the group you go with) read more

The Service was very warm and calm. I enjoyed the environment of the restaurant and the food was a great piece to top it off. I really enjoyed the slow pace of using a piece of bread to eat from the communal plate. read more

Asmara, owned and operated by an Ethiopian family, is a great restaurant for traditional food. You have the option of sitting at a table or a mesob. They serve both delicious meat and vegetarian options. If you like sweet drinks, try their honey wine! read more