I went here the other day and got the veggie combo to go. It was maybe the most delicious Ethiopian ever. Each dish in the combo was cooked just right, spicy but not too spicy, fresh, and the overall experience felt very authentic. read more

Even though I love Ethiopian food and Seattle offers a bountiful array of Ethiopian restaurants, I've somehow only dined at Mesob (http://www.yelp.com/biz/mesob-ethiopian-restaurant-seattle) and Blue Nile. My first trip here was years ago and I guess all I can say is that I liked it enough to come back last spring and introduce a friend and fellow Yelper to such East African delights. The restaurant is small, but boasts a sizable bar. They evidently attempt to make up for the lack of ambiance by blasting loud music. It is also not the cleanest of places, but this shouldn't surprise anyone. Blue Nile was full of people hanging out, drinking at the bar, and playing electronic games. There were very few diners. In spite of this, the service was PAINFULLY SLOW. This gave us plenty of time to catch up, but I swear we waited at least half an hour for the check after we were done. Our waitress was nice but incredibly difficult to understand. This was sorta an issue as we wanted to order a meat combo (a typical item) but it was not on the menu. In the end she conceded to our demands and we got a ton of food for $19. Fortunately, the food was worth the wait and sketchy atmosphere. I noted a few differences in the food between Blue Nile and Mesob: - The injera was paler and fluffier, and we each received our own serving on a plate instead of a shared amount in a basket - There was less variety of items (especially the veges), but each pile was bigger - There was no egg (who cares) or chicken leg (bummer) We ate till we were beyond stuffed and I think there may have been some tidbits left. Ethiopian food doesn't make for good leftovers, so don't bother. Just eat as much as you possibly can. I don't think they charge for extra injera so go for it. FYI, this part of 12th Ave is super shady so be on guard. read more

The moment I walked into this restaurant I felt like a minority. I walked into the room and everyone stopped to stare at me. I was not greeted, though every other customer of Ethiopian or African descent was.(I was the only white person in the restaurant) Taken back, I walked up to the counter and was asked... well told "to go, right?" I was pretty upset at her comment back but being a Sunday with not many options past 7pm in my area I ordered food to go. I wasn't offered water or anything, she brought out the check as she brought the food and I left my money and got the heck out of there. This was a clear case of Critical Race Theory and I don't know how this business can treat people this way and still stay in business. needless to say I WILL NEVER GO BACK! OHH AND THE FOOD... I HAVE HAD 10 TIMES BETTER ETHIOPIAN FOOD IN SPOKANE!!! Go somewhere else. read more

I'm kind of expecting bad food when I come to a restaurant where the nationality is famous for being hungry. I was not disappointed in this respect. We were here for lunch at an odd time, so besides some cab drivers eating and drinking at the bar (the full bar), the slack service did find us eventually. I was treated to greasy bits of lamb in some kind of hot spicy grease oil which I pinched up with bits of that bread they serve in Ethiopian restaurants. There was also an ok vegetable platter with an assortment of veggie stuff. I nibbled at all of them and a couple of the mysterious foods were tasty. After reading the other reviews about this place, I wonder if we ate in the same restaurant. I didn't have a memorable experience at all. I remember enjoying this type of food more. It's a little sad when you start thinking about the places you would rather be eating just after they set the food down. read more

My First experience eating Ethiopian food! It's a comfortable dining experience with friendly wait staff. Dim lighting and Fancy decor. I went all out on my first experience and went with Kitfo..A raw ground beef with spices and Ethiopian butter...but they lightly cooked it and did not put too much spice on it for a newbie. It tasted pretty good but not getting a combo and having one flavor got a little boring so half way in I side order a Green Lentils with medium spice. The lentils were sweet tasting and complimented the Kitfo. I found the Injera bread is less sour when the food rest on it for awhile and became more enjoyable (for me). To be honest I did not totally enjoy the meal...I was decent with some odd flavors that hasn't been introduced to my pallet but later on the next day I started to crave it. So This might be a start of exploring more into Ethiopian food. read more

Best Ethiopian food I've found in the Seattle area! Their spicy lentils are amazing!

Food and overall service was admittedly pretty good, but the restaurant would not accept my valid Restaurant.com $25 gift certificate because they didn't know how to process it. Nevermind the fact that we came to Blue Nile specifically because we had the voucher and ordered practically everything on the menu to meet the $35 minimum. Just saying. Not cool. At all. I have filed a formal complaint with Restaurant.com with the hopes that at the very least Blue Nile will be banned from advertising false offers on their site that they cannot honor. read more

You can't beat this place for price, food quality, and most importantly for yours truly - scoopability. I cook so much at home that I love going out for food that I would never dare take on myself. Blue Nile never fails to impress in that regard. The platters are the way to go, people. Order ONE for two people, and if you're still hungry, God help you, get another. The affianced and I ate for days on leftovers - and even had to toss some! The absence of the 5th star is for the bathrooms...::Shudder:: read more

Did they really think we could not tell the difference between beef and lamb? Maybe they were counting on us not saying anything since the waitress had such attitude. She kept pushing chicken. There are so many other Ethiopian Restaurants in the area. Why did we pick this one? :-( read more

We got the family combo and it was great! The service was quick and we had a great time!

Our family is always looking for good ethnic food. We have tried Ethiopian cuisine in the past and really enjoyed it. Jeremy was able to seat all 9 members of our family on short notice and had amazing customer service. The food was delicious and we loved the injira. I would highly recommend anyone who is looking for great Ethiopian food. read more

A friend got a gift cert that included a free bottle of wine so we went there to give it a try. The food is average and the portion is generous. What cracks me up is the free wine we got...it was "2 buck chuck" merlot lol. I have never been to a restaurant that served "2 buck chuck". This is a good joint if you like Ethiopian food, great value. read more

Ordered the family combo for me & my mans! It was so good & flavorful. They give you enough injera as well. Other restaurants seem to be a little bit more on the bland side lately, but it was nice to eat at restaurant where there was an abundant amount of flavor. I love the spice level as well!! Anyways, visit this location and you won't regret it! read more

Blue Nile - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This place is the shit. Granted, it was (as for so many others, it seems) my first time eating Ethiopian food, so in a sense I can't be that great of a judge. But still. A friend and I ordered the vegetarian combo -- doesn't initially look like enough food for 2 people, but more than stuffed both of us (and there was even a little bit left.) Everything was tasty, and the platter had a good variety (lentils, cabbage, collards, something that seemed like chickpeas, and something very tasty but unidentifiable by my dining partner and myself.) With tip, the whole thing set us back all of $15. Awesome. My 4 (rather than 5) stars result from: 1. We sat round for some time after the waitress cleared our table and got no bill; eventually we just went up to the bar area and paid. This didn't seem to be a problem, but the preferred location for payment is still vague. 2: The decorations were crooked. Stupid thing to complain about, but I'm bothered by random things. Though not bothered enough to not enjoy awesome food. read more

Not bad, but I've had much better Ethiopian food. Some of the meat items on the platter were very tough, and some of the vegetables did not have enough spice/flavor for my taste. The food was brought out quickly, and one combination platter was plenty of food for two people to share (probably three), and it was pretty inexpensive. However, this is definitely not the cleanest establishment, so if you're a stickler for clean places I would suggest going somewhere else. This may be an unfair representation of their cleanliness, but there was a large brown bug (a small cockroach, perhaps?) in the middle of our table. Also, when I went to the bathroom to dispose of the bug and wash my hands, it was not as clean as I would have hoped. I would have given the food a 3 and the service a 4 (probably a 3 overall), but with the dirtiness I feel compelled to give it a 2. read more

Great Ethiopian cuisine for decent prices, I could not ask for much more than that. I loved the food which is the most imporant part. Also, they serve food til 2AM! Things I really disliked: lack of lighting, loud-ass Ethiopian music that no one but the waitress was listenings to and the sketchy customers they attract at late hours. A-OK experience indeed. read more

I've felt slightly uncomfortable every time I go to this restaurant...until I start eating. The food is amazing--great vegetarian options, inexpensive, extremely filling, and a wonderful balance of spices. After getting over the initial sticker shock, you will find yourself going to Blue Nile over and over again. read more

"Blue Nile" is a great place to enjoy Ethiopian food on Seattle's Capitol Hill. It's inexpensive and the food excellent. There are a number of Ethiopian restaurants in this neighborhood but this seems to be one of the best. I'd often seen people milling around in front of and inside "Blue Nile" when I was visiting Blues night at Waid's, which is located around the corner. It turns out, the food is excellent, the restaurant clean and pleasant, and the prices are very reasonable. I guess that's what brings all those people around every day. Ethiopian food generally consists of spicy stews or vegetable dishes served on a big pancake, called "injera". You are supposed to eat it with your hands, using pieces of thin buckwheat style pancake to pickup the different items. Sometimes I think the spices are a little bit like Indian, but in fact, there are no dishes in common. It's just, if you like Indian food, you'd probably like Ethiopian. The definitely make great use of a lot of interesting spices. We had the family combination, which was about $25. The combination included about five different meat dishes, including two kinds of chicken, and a couple of red meat dishes, as well has a number of vegetarian items and as much as you want of the bread. Everything was tasty. It was a little spicier than I have had at other Ethiopian restaurants, and they made more use of chicken. Ethiopian food usually concentrates on Beef, but it's fun to have a little variety. Everything was great. It was a really excellent choice of entres. There were three of us, plus one child, and we had plenty of leftovers. There were also a variety of local and imported beers for $3, and mead for $5. The restaurant was busy but we were the only white people inside. Everyone was friendly, and while they had plenty of customers, it wasn't annoyingly busy or loud. The restaurant itself seems pretty informal. The inside is painted bright blue, and there are lots of people at the bar or standing around outside. It seems to be a local hangout. Overall this is one of the best Ethiopian places I've tried, and the prices are super reasonable. Highly recommended. As a side note, one of my friend criticized me for giving out so many five star ratings on restaurants. But, look at it this way. If a place isn't really great, I don't have time to waste reviewing it. I only review places I really like. "Blue Nile" is really great and worth a try. read more

I went on a whim with my wife, son, and his friend. We ordered the family combo and one additional item. The service and food were excellent. The atmosphere and food are authentic. It's good sign that the restaurant was busy with Ethiopian customers. The only downside was that the bathroom was not very clean. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

This was my first experince with Ethiopian food and I must say I am not a fan. I was first turned off by how dirty the establishment was. The bathrooms were TERRIBLE. The sour dough was too acidic and the chicken was burnt to a crisp and covered in some sort of sauce. Maybe this review is more toward my personal taste of not liking puree'd everything on top of flat bread with a boiled egg in the middle. I do not reccomend this place read more

I wouldn't live in Ethiopia but I would eat Ethiopian food every day. For the past three weekends, I've been ordering takeouts and delivery from different Ethiopian restaurants around town. Blue Nile I had my family combo delivered to me because it's a 20min drive each way, but I wouldn't do that again because it costed me nearly $70 for a $38 meal, including a handsome $11 tip for the driver because I felt sorry for her having to drive such a long way to deliver my meal to me. It'd be worth it it I had eaten at the restaurant, but I would still give it a 3-star because I was not impressed with the food given I had plenty of other experiences to compare it with. The meats, although full of variety and dominated the dish, lack flavor, but the vegetarian portions are quite tasty. I'm a meat connoisseur, so am selective of their distinct tastes, but all 4-5 different types of meats just all tasted pretty much the same to me, and the only difference is the texture. It seems like they used the same spices for all their meets and the only thing I like about them is that they are spicy, since I like spicy food. They put the entire family combo in one to-go box, and I completed the meal in two settings, unlike what some reviewers said it feeds 4 people or so, it doesn't.. more like 2-3 people. For the same sort of food I ordered from different restaurants, I get 2 full boxes and finished the food in 4 settings. I wouldn't go back even if I'm nearby. read more

This is probably my favorite Ethiopian restaurant and they have pretty good food and customer service

I really really wanted to like this place since it's close to where I live, but I should've known better than to get my hopes up. At every ethiopian place, I order beef tibs. This was the first place I've been to where the tibs was cooked with no spices/awaze. The awaze comes on the side and it's barely enough to provide enough flavor. The beef looks boiled and the chunks are so big and chewy I had to cut them up. Some of the pieces tasted like lamb, which I dislike immensely and made me gag. There is a slight buttery flavor that is edible, but I like my tibs red from being soaked in tons of awaze. Also, the injera is bland and not tangy enough. The best part of the meal was the bits of injera that had soaked up the butter and small amount of awaze, and that's saying a lot. Pretty disappointing overall. read more

I feel a craving coming on....... I think I know what one it is........ OMG it's a Blue Nile craving. This place is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant to eat at, not just because of the food but the overall experience. I round up a eating partner, I have never gone here alone ( I need to share my delight). I always order coffee or the tea with milk, wtf, why would I ruin the meal with a American soda. When I get there I'm always greeted by my very special waitress, she always gives me what I want. This last time I forgot to say "heavy on the goat cheese" and to my surprise it was heavy. The restroom is a major issue thou, it's scary and small, makes my weight insecurities flare, but it's good enough to wash your hands in before using them to scoop up your food. All is soon forgotten after entering the dining area, I am queen again, gazed upon by old wise men sipping out of tiny coffee cups. When the food arrives my heart skips a beat as I reach for the injerra and I get slightly overwhelmed with the decision on where to start. I usually start with a red spicy lentil with a yellow lentil chaser, after that it becomes a curry intoxication where I can't be held accountable for my actions. The rest is a blur just up to the point when I ask for another cup of coffee, it seems to sober me up some. To my delight there is still food on the platter, contemplation kicks in, "should I leave it or take it home?" I never need to answer my own questions here, the waitress reads me so well. I know by 10 pm the gnawing curry craving will be back and it will have to be dealt with. Tips for going here are: 1) never go alone 2)always anticipate at least 1.5 hours 3)know the menu is not set in stone (they will make it your way) 4)clean your finger nails 5)know your limit !!!!! driving under the influence of curry is dangerous read more

I have to give it five stars in spite of the fact that it isn't super clean, it's small, and it's weird. But the food is authentic and induces cravings like you wouldn't believe. The price is unbelievable...we routinely pay less than $20 out the door and get completely stuffed. That's including the 30% tip, because the waitresses are a delight, very kind, and they even make fun of you if you don't eat "the egg". The egg isa completely bizarre little ball right in the middle of the chicken part of your platter. We don't eat the egg. EVER. I dare you! read more

Got veggie combo and doro tibs, veggie combo was delicious, doro tibs- had two wings in red sauce- two wings. Total was $32. Good veggie combo but got ripped off on doro tibs. Sad day. read more

Very successful first foray into Ethiopian eating. We had honey wine and two platters (one vegetarian, one Family platter) for the 5 of us which was perfect - we even took home leftovers. I can't say the service was the friendliest I've ever had, but I'd go back and check out other Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle. read more

I've gotten used to service being slow at Ethiopian restaurants, so it was no surprise that this place is no exception. My wife and two kids ordered the vegetarian combination and the Blue Nile combination, which includes a couple meat dishes and more veggie stuff. The server asked if we wanted it all on one plate, and we said that was fine. My wife and I each ordered a diet Coke. The contents of my can were warmer than my mouth. It immediately melted the 6 pieces of ice in the glass it was served with. I was looking forward to the doro wot, a spicy chicken dish that usually features a whole, hard-boiled egg. Doro wot is listed as part of the Blue Nile combination. When our food arrived, however, there was no chicken, no egg on the platter. When I asked our server, she said that the cook had given us some beef instead. I asked if they were out of doro wot, and she said yes. When I told her that's my favorite, she said that she'd charge us for only the Blue Nile combo, and not the vegetarian, since she should have told us that they were out of the chicken. At first, I was placated. Then I looked at the food we had received. The amount of food on the platter seemed more like just the Blue Nile combination without the vegetarian combo. She brought us only two pieces of injerra for four people as well. We had to order more lentils and bread, which took a long time to arrive. We sat there, unable to eat our food because of lack of bread with which to pick it up. A few minutes later, a large group came in and ordered two of the Blue Nile combinations. Each one came with doro wot prominently displayed, egg and all. WTF?? The food we did receive was delicious, 5 stars. The service gets 2 stars. Our server spoke English quite clearly but she seemed confused by everything we said to her. She was friendly and attractive but, seemingly, a liar. I would love to know the real reason we couldn't get that doro wot! read more

Amazing food, awesome music, and super friendly staff. One of the best places I've been to in Seattle. Would highly recommend.

Get the family plate! It's so much food for only $25 and it easily serves 4ish people. I don't eat Ethiopian food often, but this place seemed pretty authentic with a lot of tasty options. read more

Very good Ethiopian food, with incredibly large portions for a low price. One plate is plenty of food for 2 people. The area as you walk in is a bar, and the restaurant seating is to the left. read more

This is one of my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in seattle I love the food and the prices is good and they do have a good customer service you should try this place read more

It does not look as nice as the photos on this restaurant's web site suggest. As you enter this place, the first thing you will notice that it is a place frequented by locals. Except for the food, don't expect anything fancy here. That includes the price. We paid $10 for a veggie combo plate for two. The quality of food is excellent. When all you need is a hearty ethiopian meal with no bells and whistles, this is the place to go. read more

Although I grew up in metro Seattle, I didn't start exploring its Ethiopian restaurants until I was no longer living in the area (go figure!). In any case, of the four or five I've been to so far the Blue Nile is one of the top two. The service may not be up to North American standards, but it was perfect for what I personally enjoy in restaurant service - take my order, bring the food, take the dishes, bring the check, and leave me be in between all of that! Service aside, the food was excellent - some of the best I've had outside Ethiopia. (And that's saying something - there are some awful Ethiopian restaurants in North America!) read more

I have been at this place at least 6 times. The first time I went there because I never had Ethiopian food ever. The waitresses there are very friendly and sometimes poke fun at you. I wanted to get a fork and knife to eat but she would not give me unless I convince her why I cant eat with my fingers. Finally, I ate with fingers. The food is authentic and not oily. They will also give you white cheese, which I think the best cheese I ever had. On the downside, I would ask you not to visit restroom before eating, yeah, it's dirty. read more

My love for this place is as big as the Nile itself! The woman who owns it is super friendly. The food is delicious! Has good Ethiopian beer, too. Go on your birthday and you get to eat free if you bring 4 people. read more

We have eaten at Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle since Addis Cafe came on the scene in the early '90s. We remember when Blue Nile first opened but although my wife liked it, I had not been there a while because their service was slow. We finally went back again yesterday. It was pretty empty and the service was prompt. My wife had the veggie combo and I had the fish stew. Portions are smaller than some other Ethiopian restaurants, but that is just fine because you do not feel like you are over stuffing yourself. Food was flavorful and the fish is not something you often see on menus. Price was very reasonable. The setting is OK, definitely not as bad as other reviews said. In summary, good food, good value, better service than before. read more

The injera w/ meat & veggie wots platter was super delicious! The staff were friendly as well.

I have been coming to Blue Nile for my birthday every year. The food is excellent, with plenty of selection and large portions. You can feed a large party of people for cheap, and it makes for an excellent party atmosphere as beers are only $3 too! The bar has a good selection and the beer comes in the frostiest mugs I have ever seen, pure heaven. The staff are all incredibly friendly and welcoming also, and are happy to help you have a great time. I have also been on several occasions with small parties of 2-3 people, and you can eat a ton of great Ethiopian food for cheap. I have been to 3 or 4 other Ethiopian spots but I always end up back at the Blue Nile as its far and away my favorite in town! 5/5 stars!! read more

I ordered the beef tibs to go and I would not feed this meal to my worst enemy. It was all fat and so tough that you couldn't even chew through it. Worst beef that you can buy. This is the third time I have given this restaurant a chance and I will not be going back. The food sucks. Very unfriendly staff as well, they just stare at you when you come in. Not for free meals for the rest of my life would I ever eat here again. There are many other good Ethiopian food places to go in Seattle, pick somewhere else. read more