I've always wanted to try Ethiopian food, and I was finally able to try it at Aster's! Aster's is in a small building off the highway and has enough parking. When I got there, it was completely empty. I was surprised that it wasn't packed more! Service was incredibly good. There was only one person working in the restaurant when we went but he answered all our questions. He even gave us some dessert for free when we finished our meal! I went during the lunch buffet, so I was able to try as much as I wanted. I didn't realize how vegetarian friendly Ethiopian food is! I liked everything, but I LOVED the spicy lentils. Especially with the injera? Oh my god YUM! Everything about this restaurant was a 10/10. More people should come visit this independent restaurant, there's food for everyone! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Lunch Buffet - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great spot for Ethiopian food! I've been there 3 times already and have brought different friends to try it too. The last time I visited, the prices had gone up slightly, but still super affordable (around $15) especially for all the food you're able to get during their lunch buffet. In terms of location, it's located right off I-35 so pretty convenient. Decent amount of parking available. You can choose to sit indoors or outdoors but I would recommend sitting outdoors since there's more space. In terms of service, it's all self-serve so more of a choose your adventure setup. There's a bunch of different options (veggie, meat, etc.) you can fill your plate with! The mix of flavors/variety makes for a delicious, filling meal. I particularly enjoy their injera, doro wott (chicken), begg wott (lamb stew), and any of their lentil dishes. Sometimes there'll be dessert too (such as pound cake). Highly recommend if you're looking to try some Ethiopian food in Austin! It's a reliable spot, and the lunch buffet is an especially great deal. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Lunch buffet plate! - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

I have never had the opportunity to try Ethiopian food before today, so when I was looking for something different to eat while visiting Austin, I came across this place. I immediately noticed they offered a lunch buffet and thought that would probably be my best bet. I'm here at lunchtime /noon, on a Saturday. The parking lot was empty but the open light on the door convinced me to at least walk on up to it. I'm not going to lie, from the outside you would second and even third thought check yourself upon approach, but I preserved. I am the only one in the restaurant and the steam table buffet has about 10-12 trays on it, filled with various things that don't have labels. Uh oh. I did recognize a salad mix, so I definitely got some of that, just in case. I added a few more things, rice, a potato and a carrot and a chicken leg, submerged in a dark thick sauce. That is delicious and spicy. I also found some bread type stuff, Google calls it Injera, it's fantastic. I'm going to go up and get more, although there is a voice in my head that is screaming at .each not to eat too much because there are starving people in Ethiopia. But there is all this food, and just me, so I am Slightly able to justify. Dont expect any other service than a guy bringing you a fork and asking what you want to drink. I went with my standard if water, not giving ut a second thought. Guy walks over to the sink and fills up a glass from the tap with water. I am grateful as I should be. I'm still on the fence of going back for more, but adding yet another justification, you can't possibly try all there is to offer with just one small round plate. So I am getting more. I refill my own water glass from the tap. I got a bit more of some yellow stuff that I tried previously and really enjoyed, some ground meat, (hopefully beef) and another one of those spicy chicken legs. And another Injera roll. Im glad I had the presence of mind to just get a tiny bit of different things with my first plate because even though I didn't hate anything, there were at least 2 things that I didn't have interest in going up for more again. I would definitely try tgis food again, but I guess we will see how my gall bladderless body stands up to it In time. My fingers are crossed because I am pretty sure there is an Ethiopian restaurant in Houston that has great reviews.l read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - The outside looks questionable - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Found this place on Yelp when a friend and I from NYC were craving Ethiopian here in Austin. Asther's is fantastic Ethiopian food! The food is really good and matched anything I've had in NYC. It's family run and they were very nice. If you're craving Ethiopian food, come to Asther's. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - 1.Keyi siga - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Don't judge a book by its cover. The outside establishment may not be too visually pleasing, but the food is spot on!! I've had the lunch buffet twice and each time I've gone, I'm in such amazement on how the food could deliver such amazing flavors that blend so well. I almost always overeat because I just can't stop eating the food. The inside could be a little cleaner, but overall the food was on point! read more

Asters, like all Ethiopian spots, gives you so much food it's insane!! I always order a veggie combo because "you gotta eat your colors kids"! And then my extra greedy self diced to order Beg Wot as well (I think that's what it was called) but basically if you so for stewed lamb, they'll know what you mean!! All the veggies were delicious by the yellow lentils and the cabbage were my favorite. The meat from the stew was soooooooo tender. Not a bit of fat anywhere in sight. The stew itself was perfectly earthy and warm, with a deliciously thick consistency!! I was in love!! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Delicious merlot and healthy on the pour too - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

After working intensively on a large project focused on dessert, I would do terrible things for salty, savory, and spicy foods to balance it all out. Thankfully, I don't have to commit any atrocities here because Aster's CAME THROUGH . I've never seen such a beautiful vegetarian (AKA vegan) sampler platter in my life, let alone one delivered. It's absolutely loaded yet lovingly arranged in neat little segments. Each different stew is distinctive and unique, richly seasoned with flavors that range from mild to fiery. I will absolutely not pick favorites because you simply need to get the full fleet. I think I'm ready to call it: Overall best Ethiopian food in ATX. If you disagree... Well, you're wrong. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian Sampler, delivered - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

I have loved this place forever, the best Ethiopian food and loved their lunch buffet. But the last few times that I went during the summer, it was so dirty! There was practically no service and all the dirty plates were left everywhere on the tables. It's grossed me out. Also, the place is looking sooo ragged now. I haven't seen the owners there, on Saturday lunch at least, and I worry that the young ones that are there don't have their heart into it. Makes me sad. Haven't gone back since summer. I really hope they work on cleanliness and doing some Basic updates to the establishment. I miss eating there. I'm only doing 3 stars because I'm rooting for them and hope it was just a bad summer. Raise the prices if needed.... But please go back to how you were. read more

Hubby and I were happily on our way to the awesome Yelp Elite Blue Man Group Perk, and I immediately Google mapped restaurants close to the venue! We happened upon Aster's, and I saw that the reviews were stellar, so here we are! We're always up for an adventure, and neither of us have ever had Ethiopian food, so let's do this, y'all! When we walked in, the staff was so adorably welcoming! Even though there may have been a tad of a language barrier, we felt right at home! Ironically, the whole restaurant is built inside of an OG house, and we were sat at a cozy booth in what must have been the patio of that original home! My husband ordered me a Cabernet and himself a Dos Equis. For our appy, we went with samosa because I can never ever turn one down! My obsession is Indian samosa, though, and this was not Indian samosa, obviously, but my mouth sort of expected that, for some dang reason. It was more of a meat pie, with no sauce, but Chris devoured them both! They were spicy and delish, but they did read a tad dry, in my opinion. That's probably just my expectation problem. For our meal, we went with the Meat Combo. Neither of us have ANY idea what we're doing with this, but we LOVE it! For the combo, we decided on Keyi Siga, Alicha Siga, Doro Watt, and Alicha Menchet Abesh! And, for veggies, we went with Gomen, Alicha Miser, Atakelt Wott, and Bedergan! All of this comes with Traditional Injera! Here's what I'll say about the Injera! The texture is pancake-y, and it reads a bit sour, but I've googled it, and we get it now. We totally get it. Hubby dipped and grabbed every single meat and veggie with this as a utensil, and it was all so dang good! Everything on the meat combo was an ABSOLUTE winner! Totally outstanding! We've just loved learning about this culture, and my military husband is particularly enchanted, as he's been respecting and exploring cultures for thirty plus years in multiple deployments around the world. This place was honestly a win-win for us, and we LOOOOVED it! We will be back, for sure! Thanks SO much, Aster's! read more

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Four star food and service. Good food at great prices. It's one of those places you go to for the food. Look to the lunch and dinner specials, or the buffet if you're hungry and on a budget. I might rate higher for the food and service but have to deduct a bit for the lack of ambiance. The Injera and all the dishes, both meat and veggies were great. read more

Asters has the best food I could imagine. I've never had a better meal around better people! Thank you! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Definitely 4.5/5 stars for the buffet lunch service. Looking forward to going back and trying one of their dinner entrees! The Injera was tart and the texture was great... the assortment of dishes available at the buffet were varied (1-2 chicken options, 1-2 beef options, and 6+ vegetarian options to choose from). The host was extremely kind and informative, and while the space and amenities were a bit dated, it still felt comfortable and homey! Everything tasted fresh and homemade, and we are stoked to return! read more

Wow!! Coming from LA I didn't think I'd find good Ethiopian food anywhere else and boy was I wrong. We spilt the meat combo and it was still too much (great) food! Cheap and delicious! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

First off, the food is great. I've always wanted to try African cuisine and the Ethiopian spot is an amazing introduction to the continent. All the meat was incredibly tender, the sides were super flavorful, and the hot tea made me feel like I was doing something good for my body, like a tasty gingery wellness shot or something. My favorite entree was the lamb stew, and the side of lentils were phenomenal. The service was alright, nothing to write home about, but our waiter seemed like a super nice guy, just a little soft spoken. The only thing mildly negative I have to say is that the restaurant itself is quite dingy, BUT I found it pretty charming. Some of the seating is in a seemingly diy converted patio where the ground is fake turf and the indoor gutters are painted green. It all really felt like a family passionate about their food trying to make it in downtown Austin. Overall I would definitely go again to try the lunch buffet! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - (bad photo)The bottom is the lentils, next up is the lamb stew, up is the national dish of Ethiopia, and there's the collared greens on top. - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

A super hole in the wall kind of restaurant but definitely worth checking out. It's this little cute house that was turned restaurant- but you can really see how the eating area used to be a living room. The food is pretty good - tons of options to try, my eyes and stomach got overwhelmed by all the options. I really enjoyed the spicy lentils and the spinach and the eggplant. The injera was very sour in my opinion though. Overall the staff are really kind and I left very full. If you come for the lunch buffet it's such a good deal. only $13! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - lunch buffet - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've ordered takeout from Aster's a few times and had consistently good experiences. I've been particularly impressed with how well their food travels given the relatively messy nature of Ethiopian food. For those who haven't had Ethiopian food before, or are just not super familiar with the offerings, I think this is a great place to start. Their combination platters give a wide variety of flavors and the descriptions make it very clear what kind of flavor you're in for if you have a sensitive palate. Even if you only order a dish designed for an individual, each entree comes with two or three side dishes, so you're able to get a fairly diverse experience. The dishes I've enjoyed the most are Doro Wott (spicy chicken), Alicha Begg Wott (termeric lamb), and Alicha Miser (mild garlic lentils, absolute must try for one of your vegetable options). There have certainly been some misses, I didn't love the Kitfo (steak tartare) and people I've dined with have found a significant proportion of the dishes to be too spicy for their taste, but I'm sure the staff can help point you in the right direction if that's a concern. I haven't dined in, but the last time I picked up from them the indoor seating looked pretty comfortable and they've opened up quite a bit more seating since earlier in the pandemic. The one downside I've experienced with them is the pick up time estimates are not a great indicator of when your food will be available. I've had times where it was ready when I arrived, and others when I've been stuck standing in the restaraunt for quite a while. Not a big enough issue to ding them a star, but certainly worth keeping in mind read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Kitfo with Fasolia Wott, Alicha Miser, and Keyi Miser - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Had good reviews so wanted to try this one, outside looks broken down but was good inside . Good food and the main Ethiopian dishes were flavorful but only downside was that injera was very sour and because of that we didn't enjoy it that much . Would still give 4 stars for the great side dishes and service . read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Good food, with warm, comforting spices, and excellent flavors. I got the veggie combo, and I loved trying a little of everything. Ordered to go and they were super quick. Food was hot and fresh. Highly recommend! read more

This spot is the original Ethiopian restaurant in Austin and has been around since my UT days. They've been in Austin for over 20 years. A smaller spot with smaller tables and buffet area in front and a larger area for bigger groups in the rear of the restaurant. We stopped here for lunch and had some Kitfo and Beef Tibs-both excellent and some of the best I've ever had. Love their Doro (Chicken) & Key Siga (Beef) Wotts as well all of the Veggie dishes! Many were here for the buffet which is popular with students and locals. The Buffet pretty much has it all from meat to veggie dishes and is reasonably priced. They carry a variety of Ethiopian Beers which are not easy to find and the Honey Wine is definitely one to try. Service from beginning to end of our visits has always been excellent! This is the place for Ethiopian food in Austin! read more

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In my many years, I've traveled to many countries. Most memorable are those countries which I've wandered into a local restaurant, typically situated in a part of town that only the fortunate know about it, and was blown way by its simplicity, food and culture curations. Immediately, before entering, the aroma of wat kissed my nose and told me to keep progressing into what seemed to be my uncle's automotive shop situated next to the highway. Weary at first, my culinary senses said you will be rewarded. This place, even before I walked in, took me back to places like Acre, Hurghada, and Jericho. Though the spices may be different, the ambiance is as warm and comforting as the food. The feeding of being in a hot seaside eatery was so real, and memorable. Yes, Ethiopia is land locked but the feelings are none the less real. Muted light, rows of booths, one feels that family recipes are being shared with those who have been anointed and are culturally adept. If you want a simple bit nourishing Ethiopian lunch that will make you run home, dust off your passport, and say, "Addias would be a fascinating place to see." This place will baptize you and speed your journey, nourishing you for the upcoming trip. read more

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Aster's is an Austin institution. The service is good, the ambience and appearance are not the best (it's very clean but shabby), but the FOOD is fantastic. If you're used to Chili's or the Cheesecake Factory, you'll be weirded out by so many different-colored mushes and the giant, spongy, deliciously sour sheet of flatbread included for each diner, but if you're open-minded about new, exotic flavors, you will be blown away. Austin's a great food city, but I don't think there are many places I'd rather eat. Don't forget the spiciness/heat discussion with your server unless you're confident in your iron tongue. read more

Okay, I had to twist some arms to get the fam to come eat here. The chicken was CHEFS kiss and the ground beef. The veggie platter - not my fav because to be honest I don't get along with lentils, so that isn't really their fault. I LOVED the Teff - it was perfect and GF for the losers that can't stomach wheat (aka me). The beer was flat, I'll say it. Maybe we came on an off day though, or a restock day. All together I would go back, my family said prolly not but I would. I did feel a bit of a brick in my tum afterwards but that could be due to my lack of chewing who knows? read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat Combo veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

This place was great! I came here while I was visiting Austin, TX back in February. Honestly think this was the best food my partner & I ate during our 5 day trip. We had the vegetarian platter. It was definitely shareable for two people. We did end up ordering extra injera to sop up all the goodness, which was just an extra couple dollars, if I recall correctly. All the components were tasty with the exception of the one that was cold/wet one with the injera folded into it--not sure of the name, but either way, just a matter of personal preference. They even have wine on the menu, which was a pleasant surprise. The ambiance isn't anything special. It's spacious, though. The service is great. The prices were fair; you get a lot of food for what you pay for. We definitely left with our bellies full. Bill came out to only about $40 after tip and a glass of wine! Aster's is definitely a nice little treat in Austin especially if you aren't the biggest fan of traditional American food, such as myself. Would definitely revisit. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Vegetarian - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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I've passed by this spot for years and never thought twice about it. Boy was I missing out! This food is a true party in your mouth. The seating is comfortable with an indoor patio and a second quaint area inside. The service is friendly and thorough. It is authentic, delicious, flavorful and will leave you wanting to return. Every dish is a win but my favorite is the chicken. It is savory with a kick. Eat with silverware or your hands. Both are appropriate. The portions are perfectly sized for a comfortable finish. read more

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The place is amazing. Haven't been here since 2009! The food is just as good as I remember and the Authentic Honey Wine from Ethiopia was good too. Generous pour on the wine. I definitely recommend this place read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Unambiguously incredible, a definite standout in the local restaurant scene. We shared a meat combination plate, and were very impressed by the range of preparations and flavors present. Generally speaking, my favorite dishes were those that combined savory ingredients with a sour flavor. This pairing is hard to pin down, and (in my experience) it's a unique feature of this type of food. We recommend the following: Keyi Miser Timiatim Fitfit Bedergan Alicha Miser read more

The most incredible authentic food. It is a different environment - homely, casual, self-service. They have gluten-free injera made of teffm upon request. The food is rich and spicy, but the perfect weekend buffet option. Plenty of vegetarian items on the buffet table. read more

For my first time having Ethiopian food, I'm absolutely obsessed! I got the spicy lamb stew with some of the quinoa dish varieties on the side and thoroughly enjoyed it all. Server was very friendly and his recommendations were stellar. read more

Love this staple of Austin. We went for lunch and got the buffet. It was perfect for getting a sampling of a little bit of everything. The service was great, our waiter was warm and endearing. read more

This quaint little corner food spot has one of the biggest presences on food delivery apps. Wanting to adventure from my usual palate, I ordered from Aster's. I wont be able to judge how authentic the cuisine is because I know nothing about Ethiopia, (except that my mother has an ancestor from there some 10,000 years ago according to a DNA test result.) I ordered the lamb with veggies, and really liked the spices- loved how hearty and savory the veggies were, but am not a fan of how sour injera traditionally is. I get it- fermentation aids in digestion. Still not a fan. But the portion sizes are incredibly filling! read more

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. I had the Alicha Siga with sides of Fasolia Wott, Alicha Miser, and Bedergan. I liked the sides a lot, but the taste of the meat was a little too strong with the overpowering spices. The combination of the salty food with the sweet crepe-like bread was interesting. My friend had the vegetarian combination and really liked it. The portions were huge, and we were full unexpectedly quickly. The vibes of the restaurant were definitely off. It would be nice if they had music playing. When we entered, the server seemed really hesitant, and I felt like we weren't supposed to be there. There were very few people there on a weekday evening, which made it kind of eerie. I'd be scared to go in when there's no one there. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - 2 Alicha Siga Atakelt Beyaynetu - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

It's not bad, but I prefer Habesha. Better ambiance, and Habesha's injera is thicker and more like what I've had at other Ethiopian restaurants (including in Ethiopia). Aster's does get points for having a lunch buffet (with plenty of vegan options), while Habesha does not. I removed one star because their website throws an annoying overlay up as soon as you visit, forming a barrier between you and your attempt to use the website if you were not trying to place an order. (Habesha's does not.) read more

Came with my sister and we had the buffet. We enjoyed all the options and every dish was perfect. It had such a homey vibe, especially with the owners being so sweet and clarifying things for us. We also had their traditional hot tea and ended up getting a package of tge tea leaves. Can't wait to go back again! read more

Last time I had eithiopian food was 5 years ago in LA. This place is a small restaurant off I-35 close to campus. It's what I would call a "hole in the wall" place. Not your typical modern restaurant but the food was delicious. It's as if your walking into someone's house and eating food. I'm Persian so this felt very familiar to me. The family that owns this place greeted us and were very friendly. I'm not much of a meat eater but they had a good variety of vegetarian options! They even have gluten free injera! read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Our family has eaten at Aster's for years. Pretty solid Ethiopian... it is really a dive so get ready for authentic food and minimal ambiance... don't wear a white shirt! read more

Excellent food and friendly helpful service, very worth enjoying. The location right next to the elevated freeway is unfortunate but acceptable. The exterior of the building could use some cleanup and repair because the present appearance almost caused us to go elsewhere. I'm glad we stayed. read more

Lunch buffet is to 2pm, was told 11.99, small selection in the back. I ordered doro wott to go, it was very good. read more

Aster's Ethiopian Restaurant - Doro Wott - Ethiopian Near Me - Austin, Texas

Big fan of this place. Second time trying Ethiopian food ever and this place will have me coming back! Buffet style for about $12 at time of writing and ends at 2pm every day. Feels super authentic and family owned so it almost feels like you're having some good food at someone's house! I actually love how the plates are all kind of different so it gives it this home style, non commercial vibe. The food itself is really healthy with lots of spices and different protein selections as well as veggies. It reminds me of Indian food but with different spices. Lots of turmeric though so you know it's healthy! My favorite combo was some of the ground meat, eggplant dish, and some lentils on the side. For good food with high nutritional value, come here! read more

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Not particularly friendly service or nice atmosphere. The veg combo was mediocre. Tasted a big off or used lots of apple cider vinegar

Really cute little restaurant. The service is amazing and the food is great! Fun to try Ethiopian food.