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    Bole

    4.8 (13 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Pa V.

    Delicious Ethiopian/East African food in a small but cozy vibe. Don't feel embarrassed or shy and ask questions about the food because the service here is very friendly and helpful. And yes, you must use your hands! I got the special so I would try some veggie and meat options. I enjoyed it but I think it would use more salt and spice. For drinks they have both alcohol and nonalcoholic options. I would come back but would pass on the desserts next time. Free street parking or parking in the back. I believe this is the same owners as the Bolé in St. Paul.

    Vivian C.

    Great Ethiopian food in a wine bar setting. Bole is one of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants and I've been to their other locations several times. This was my first time at the Maple Grove location. It's very modern and well-decorated, and the menu and service are very approachable for people new to the cuisine. The dishes we had that night were great, though the cabbage was a little undercooked, and the green beans were sweeter than I'm used to from their other locations. And instead of the food being served on a whole injera, each portion is placed on a cut-out circle for presentation. Coffee comes on a colorful tray with a beautiful pot and a very strong incense that the server said is to create a full experience. I felt the incense overpowered the restaurant - it was the first thing I smelled coming in, and it distracted from the food for me. I probably won't go back to this location just because of that. Overall, it's the same great flavors and service of the other locations with an upscale and approachable twist. I did miss some of the homier and casual elements of the other restaurants, But people new to Ethiopian food will appreciate the chic modern environment with attractive decor and servers.

    Sambusa
    Kripa M.

    Ethiopian cuisine is one of my favorites and when I learned Bole has a new location in Maple Grove I had to check it out. I met a friend of mine here for dinner after work last week. It was my friends first time trying Ethiopian food and she really loved it. It's a very cute small place with great service and delicious food. The owner explained the menu to us and recommended a few dishes. We tried the beef sambusas, fried chicken wings which the owner wanted us to try. Both delicious but the Chicken wings were so good, perfectly spiced. Will get it again for sure. For entree we got Awaze tibs but with fish and red lentils, yellow lentils and a cabbage dish for sides. The entree came with their traditional bread injira. Everything was so delicious. We had a great experience. We will definitely be back to try more things on the menu.

    Beatrice M.

    We came on a Sunday afternoon. The place was cozy, clean and comfy. Our server was friendly and helpful with the menu. Food took a while to come. We figured because the place was fairly new. The wait was worth it b/c everything that we ordered tasted amazing! Maple Grove is soo lucky to have this gem!

    Tokkumaa meat platter
    Chris O.

    Has to be the top Ethiopian restaurant in the cities now. Not only was the food outstanding, but the presentation and service are excellent too. Comfortable, casual, and fancy at the same time. Go get your gursha!

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    Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Coffee

    Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant

    (45 reviews)

    $$

    Lowertown, Downtown St. Paul

    I just discovered this place last night and will definitely by back. They are tucked away in a…read morenice little spot right by Union Depot and an easy walk from the Green Line. I have never had Ethiopian food before but I am always happy to support a small, local business and I will definitely be back. I had "Lamb Tibs", which are marinated pieces of lamb in a spicy sauce, served with cold vegetables and Injera (flat bread). The server was kind enough to show me the proper way to assemble the meal once it arrived, and it was truly amazing. The lamb was perfectly cooked and seasoned, with just the right amount of spice, and I had a bottle of St George Lager (an Ethiopian lager) to go with it. The beer was also very good in it's own right. Overall, 5+ stars- fast friendly service, excellent food (and they have a good selection if you are vegetarian / vegan as well) , and not that expensive. I left feeling pleasantly full for not a lot of money. The restaurant itself is clean, quiet and cozy with a very welcoming atmosphere. I am already looking forward to my next visit.

    Visited Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant on a freezing cold night--Dec 31st--after heading downtown…read morefor the New Year's fireworks. It was on our way, and we decided to try something new, which turned out to be a great decision. I ordered the vegetarian platter, which came with multiple sides, and each one had a distinct, unique flavor. The food felt hearty yet healthy, and the injera was incredibly soft and flavorful, easily one of the highlights of the meal. I personally would've enjoyed a bit more spice, but that's just a preference. Overall, this is a wonderful spot with comforting food, great flavors, and a welcoming experience. Would definitely return!

    Dilla's - Veggie combo

    Dilla's

    (170 reviews)

    $$

    West Bank

    Our veggie combo at Dilla's was beautiful and delicious. Friendly service and wonderful food. We…read morewill return soon!

    It has been a very long while since I have had Ethiopian, and I heard that Dilla's was the place to…read moretry in the Twin Cities. After a brief adventure thanks to Apple Maps, we arrived. There is a large paid lot right next to the restaurant, so parking was easy. We did arrive early--right at 5, so that probably helped. We were seated pretty quickly as well. As others have noticed, the service is quite slow (there seems to be only one person working the front of the house), though that felt like it was part of the experience--there was a distinct "gathering place" vibe, and there were plenty of regulars who were engrossed in conversation... it seemed like everyone was family there. The decor added to the family/community feel, with art, textiles, and wicker ware all contributing to a homey feel. Of course what you're really wondering about is the food. It's quite tasty. We started with the veggie sambusas, which were hot and crispy and came with a spicy tomato chutney that was just delicious. We also ordered the fule, which was quite tasty and filling. I loved the seasonings and textures. My favorite dish, though, was Dilla's Mix. It was absolutely beautiful to behold thanks to the jewel-toned beets and golden squash, and the juices of the veggies combined with the spices to create a glorious sauce. It was very comforting and oh-so-satisfying. Of course, all was served with springy injera to scoop it up with. Their injera is a bit lighter and milder than some that I have had elsewhere, but it does the trick nicely. As others have mentioned, Dilla's serves entrees in their own dishes, which is great if you are a group that likes to share.

    The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

    The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

    (158 reviews)

    $$

    West Bank

    This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it was…read morea nice experience. I enjoyed my dish, chicken tibs; it had just the right amount of spice for someone with a low spice tolerance like myself. My date also enjoyed her yebeg alicha. Service and ambiance were decent, nothing particularly stood out on that front.

    As much as I thought they had economical options, their food was overall sloppily made and didn't…read morecontain enough flavor. I believe they toned down the seasoning a bit to potentially serve people that couldn't handle spice, which resulted in their food overall on the plain side relatively. There are still some highlights worth pointing out, though, which I will try to do. I thought the ater kik and the shiro were overall well made, and one bite with a chunk of injera offered a traditionally tasty experience. Miser was okay, and could use more seasoning in my opinion. The doro wot also didn't have enough spice, and the chicken didn't necessarily have an "off the bone" quality like I would have loved. The lantil alicha was pretty good because lentils, which wouldn't normally be considered tasty, were pretty tasty. Both the yabesha gomen (kale) and tikel gomen (cabbage) were unfortunately bland as well in comparison. Spending just around $13 for a veggie firfir, which was a veggie sampler for one person, was a good deal, though. I think those who are around the Cedar area can still have a good time here.

    Sodere Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar - Vegetarian sampler $18

    Sodere Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar

    (15 reviews)

    First time here with fellow yelper Rhonda. I've had Ethiopian food at my clients' homes and it is…read moreso yummy. I ordered the vegetarian sampler that included lentils, beets, collard greens, cabbage with carrot and 2 other vegetarian items with injera bread. Also a vegetarian sambusa, as they were out of beef. What gives this a 4 star review is the service. The owner's wife I presume was also the cook and server. Warm water was served, so we asked for ice. I can't scoop the food into the injera properly, so I needed a fork. We needed more napkins. I needed a refill of water and she was sitting by kitchen. Also no asking how the food is. We needed to ask for checks and boxes. I also needed a knife to trim injera bread. As we were leaving, I assume the other owner, her husband asked how things were and was friendly. The sambusa needed a dipping sauce of some kind, but I just put beets on top. I like Ethiopian food and my clients that are Ethiopian are super friendly, but I have no desire to return.

    I met Yelper pal Michelle A. and we tend to try things in Eagan Burnsville and AV. They don't have…read morezil zil tibs but I got tibs. They were super tender with a crunch on the outside. Loaded with onions which I love. But since there were no rosemary sprigs there was a lack of flavor. I got a side salad, dressing could have used more flavor. They serve tepid water so it will need ice. It's a place where you will be aware of being in a strip mall. Service was seriously lacking. The owner came in when we were finishing up and he was really friendly. My curiosity has been satisfied.

    Demera

    Demera

    (98 reviews)

    $$

    Midway

    Such good food! I got the vegetarian sampler and it was wonderful. Each dish was excellent. The kik…read morealicha is one of the best in the Twin Cities. I can't ever remember the name of the beet dish, but that one as another favorite. We went ridiculously early for dinner, so it was very quiet. But the atmosphere was very nice and the service was great. Can't recommend more highly!

    We wanted to get Ethiopian food for our one year wedding anniversary, and Demera was both open on…read moreMonday night and near Como Zoo - so we gave it a try! AMBIANCE The space inside is so cozy and comforting - great Ethiopian decor, wood paneling, and vibes with music playing in the background. We had the place to ourselves besides a few takeout orders and bar guests. SERVICE Service is top notch here! The male working, presumably the owner, gave us some great recommendations on our order. He and the woman who cooked our meal, presumably his wife, came out to show us how to best eat the meats with the Injera. FOOD If you haven't had Injera, the sponge-like pancake that's a staple in Ethiopian food, you're missing out! We got the combo plate which included 5 different meat styles and TONS of Injera. We got 3 beef dishes - all varying in spice, flavor, and presentation, a lamb dish, and a chicken leg and hard boiled egg dish. It was TONS of food - we had to take home nearly half of it! Each was packed with flavor and such a fun culinary experience eating it with the Injera. Highly recommend this local spot - support this small business!

    Bole - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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