OMG is the service slow here. Sat for 20 minutes before they even asked what we wanted to drink. 20 mins later we got our drinks. Took our order. 1 hour 20 minutes later we got our food. Never came back to ask if we wanted another drink during that 1 hour + Service is soooooo slow. Terribly slow. Super slow. Did I mention how slow the service was. If you have over 2 hours then I guess it's okay. Food was okay but did I mention how slow the service was? Won't be going back. read more

Healthy, tasty, and fast. Great service. We did the combo platter (black bean + potatoes). Also tried the sweet potato fries for an app. I would skip the fries, I think they're frozen, not made fresh. But the entree was wonderful and the side salad was delicious. Great to have a delicious Ethiopian option in Madison. read more

We went last night (7pm on a Saturday) and in my opinion, the food was so-so, the atmosphere was great, and the service was meh. I ordered Duck Tenders ($7) and lamb TIBS on Injera ($14). The duck tenders were pretty good. I'd give them maybe 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely reorder them. The TIBS had potential but was, to my surprise, imbued with a slow-build slow-burn spiciness. (The menu didn't note this, despite the fact that half of the other dishes are described as "spicy", so I though TIBS was a safe order.) (Also, my tablemates who also ordered TIBS said it had a "kick", but I'm a wuss when it comes to spice.) Anyway, I was hungry and ate about half of the plate before the spice burn built to the point that I decided to stop eating... but the heat in my mouth kept rising. By the time the mouth pain was no longer distracting, about 30 or 45 minutes later, I'd consumed 5 glasses of water and 4 condiment cups of Sour Cream. Our serving staff seemed rather aloof, too. After asking for a togo box, they forgot about us. We flagged them down 20 minutes later and also asked for "checks". When our waitress brought back "a check" 3 minutes later, we asked if she'd split it into "checks" based on what we'd ordered but - well - that didn't happen and we all got the wrong items on our individual checks a few minutes later, so we agreed to pay each other cash and venmo later to even things out. read more

Buraka is back now on Willy Street (old Jolly Bob's location) with the same delicious dishes it used to offer at its State Street location. Affordable, fresh, and amazing. They've been open for only a couple of weeks. We arrived today toward the end of the lunch rush and it was still pretty packed. Service may be slow, but the food is absolutely worth it. Vegetarian options like Misirwot highly recommended! read more

I've been here a couple times, but last time we went we got a family style platter and got to try a little bit of everything. Everything was so so good. They have a minced beef dish that was definitely my favorite out of everything we tried, but like I said it was all tasty. I would try out getting the combo meals and then doing family style because you really do get to try out a good portion of the menu. The waiter was really nice and helpful when we were trying to choose our dishes. Also we had drinks and they were great as well. Their outside patio space is beautiful. read more

Buraka - Ethiopian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I was here this past weekend with a group of 6. We decided to order (almost) every item on the appetizer menu and share them between us all. Even having been to Buraka many times in the past, I had not yet tried most of the appetizers. I was really excited to get to try all these items. All of the appetizers, with the exception of the soup and tostones, are served with the house dipping sauce. This sauce is rich with flavor and spice and tastes great on everything. They should sell this stuff in bottles! It's got a decent amount of spice to it, but if you're looking for even more, ask them about their green super hot sauce. Duck Wonton - (Duck bacon, charred sweet corn, and cream cheese inside a wonton wrapper) This was INCREDIBLE. Creamy and very flavorful. Yucca Fries - These were fine. Yucca is a mild and rather bland food naturally, and that's how these fries were. Samoosa - (Delicate deep fried filled with minced beef, chicken or lentils and marinated in a rich variety of Ethiopian spices) We ordered the beef samoosas. These have always been my favorite appetizer. Large in size and packed pretty densely with a meat and spice blend that is delicious. Spicy Sweet Potato Fries - Exactly what you would expect, except theirs are seasoned with the "secret" berbere spice. Whatever this spice is made of, it's really good and adds a nice punch of flavor to an otherwise pretty bland food item. Not a big fan of sweet potato myself, but these were actually pretty darn good and I enjoyed them quite a bit. Tostones - (Deep fried slices of plantain) These were yummy! They add just the right amount of sweetness to the otherwise very rich and savory meal you eat. Coconut Shrimp - Not a huge fan of coconut myself, but after hearing everyone at the table say that these were literally the best coconut shrimp they have ever had in their lives, I decided to try one. The breading/coconut coating was so light and crispy yet flavorful. It really was extremely good. Lentil Soup - This was the only one we ordered that I didn't actually try. Those who did, though, said it was amazing. Duck Tenders - (Almond crusted duck tenderloin) Wow. Honestly I didn't think I would like these. Now, I think they just might be my new favorite. They are smaller than what you think of when you think tender. The almond in the crust is very noticeable and adds to the overall flavor. These were great with or without the sauce. read more

I'm surprised that Baraka's wasn't already on Yelp. Ethiopian food isn't big on most people's radar, but it is something that most people should try. It's very similar to Indian and Thai, but with a slight and unique difference in flavor due to the spices they use. The dinners come with a salad, and a choice of either rice or injera (Ethiopian bread that reminds me of a cross between a crepe and a crumpet). The dinners (with a couple of exceptions) can be done as 1/2 and 1/2 if you are stuck between choices. My husband and I went recently. I got the 1/2 and 1/2 Coconut Chicken Curry and Minchet Abish, a very spicy beef mix. I chose the injera bread to mop it up. You can also order extra injera if you need more. The spices were incredible, and unlike most dinners out, I finished it all...no doggy bag needed. My husband got the 1/2 and 1/2 Coconut Chicken Curry and Dorowot, a type of chicken stew, and the rice. The atmosphere is cozy. Its not very big, but we were able to get a seat right away. The staff was friendly as well and were very attentive during our meal. read more

I love Buraka! I was sad to see Jolly Bob's go, but I'm glad this vibe took the spot.

Great food, but the disorganized, frustrating process for picking up a to go order nearly ruined the experience! Waited well over 20 minutes for an order which I'd placed on the phone 90 minutes earlier. When I arrived at the specified pickup time it was clear that they hadn't started working on our order- one of the servers asked what I'd ordered (twice) then eventually walked back to the kitchen to put in my order. There were ~5 other people waiting as well, most other people seemed as confused and as frustrated as I was. I recommend showing up an hour after you expect your food to be ready, at which point it might be almost ready, or cold. A lot of potential but poorly executed in the time of a raging pandemic. read more

Buraka gets 5 stars from me for the superior service and care from employees (on top of a lovely atmosphere, and good food and drinks!) I have been to their new location on at least 3 occasions. Once for food, twice for drinks (both times during the 2016 presidential debates). I have always been met with kind, prompt service. One employee even showed me their (BEAUTIFUL) patio space out back, though it was already closed for the evening. I have ordered several things off of the menu and it has always been quite good. I really like the dorowot! Bonus, when you sit at the bar they have little bowls of gardettos out for your snacking pleasure. I want to come back soon to try their fish fry, and am beyond excited to come back for a summer afternoon on their patio. read more

Buraka - "Presidential Punch" a special drink created just for the evening debate. It had this awesome house made blueberry base! Yum! - Ethiopian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Perfect place to try something a little different. Great staff and the food is always good! Usually no wait seating. Not the best place to take a date because the lighting is a little bright, but it's a foodies paradise. read more

I went in for lunch during the week. It was relatively empty but it was late in the lunch hour. The food came out pretty quick but the presentation was different than any other ethiopian restaurant I've been in. I got the lunch combo with dorowat and Minchet abish. The plate had a piece of injera on it folded in half. The other half of the plate was filled with a tangy lentil salad that was OKAY. The folded injera had one scoop of both meats on it - I was worried that was all I was getting. It also had a glob of sour cream - not sure why. Luckily, when I unfolded the injera there was more food inside. Still, it seemed kind of pricey for the amount you get. I've had better Ethiopian food. I'd consider coming back due to the dearth of african options, but would probably get some other food that Madison excels in. read more

Very underrated. Can't understand why this place only has 3.5 stars atm I was nervous about getting Ethiopian food in the Midwest but this was excellent. Had a sample of 4 different dishes and they were all great. Don't think you can really go wrong with anything on the menu. Samosas were also and the cocktails were amazing. I might come back for the drinks alone! Other pros: Super clean and well-decorated interior, great service, food was ready quick, fair prices, etc read more

Buraka now has a food cart in the library mall. The green pepper, which you can add it by yourself, is very spicy and I love it! For each order, you can choose either rice or injera. I personally prefer rice over injera. I am kind of confused about the "full portion" and "half portion" thingy, because two sizes are actually quite similar. read more

Buraka - Half portion - Ethiopian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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I wish this city had more African restaurants and personally, I am desperate for a Swahili restaurant, but Ethiopian is as close as I will get in this town. At least we have Buraka! The new location is way nicer than their previous basement location, but the food is still the same great quality. If I'm being honest, I don't think I've ever had any entree other than the Dorowot, because it's amazing. It's flavorful, spicy and the portion you get is big enough for at least one more meal, if not two. The Samoosa is fantastically spicy, and shouldn't be missed. They can even mix a decent drink to help wash down your spicy meal. read more

Pricey spot, but if you're craving some yummy samosas or fried plantains, this is the spot! Came in for happy hour drinks and appetizers, but I could not help myself from ordering more samosas. Only two come per plate per order, so I recommend ordering at least two orders. The spicy beef was my favorite and tasted just like how my mother's friend used to make them in Ethiopia. Nice high booths, full bar, and back patio seating for larger crowds. read more

First time at Buraka and got carry out - it was delicious! Got recommendations on what to order from an Ethiopian friend (although she hasn't been to Buraka), and so happy with everything we tried - dorowot with injera, tibs (beef) with rice, and samosas (chicken). They came with lentil salad, which was just fine, but the entrees I would definitely come back for again! read more

Buraka - Dorowot with injera (top left), tibs with rice (bottom), samosas (top right) - Ethiopian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This place is a must go to for Ethiopian food. I was taken back to my time in Addis Ababa with the Samosas. I came on a dinner with my mans and we had the family style dish on a big lo' piece of Njera and was delightful. Highly recommend the Tibbs with lamb, but be warned it is lamb with pieces of Njera. MUST TRY THE PEANUT STEW WITH CHICKEN! just amazing. read more

To my knowledge this is the only Ethiopian restaurant in the Madison area. Fortunately, it is also excellent! The food is delicious and wait times are usually pretty low. I recommend getting the combo meal, with whatever sounds good to you. I like the lamb and beef stews the best, but everything I've had has been great. I really like their Injera. It has the perfect amount of tartness, and really complements the stews. If you want a little something more, try the yuca fries - delicious! Spice levels are medium, but you can ask them to adjust. read more

I was excited to try this place and was very underwhelmed. We ordered an array of dishes, none of which were standouts and none of which tasted much like authentic East African food. All the meals came with the kind of boring side salad you'd get at a family-style Italian place. When the meals came out, everything had less flavor and spice than it should have. Not only that, the portions were relatively small and quite expensive. The patio area is a great space but swamped with bugs (not really their fault but did make the experience less enjoyable). Overall, wanted to like this place but there was not much to like. read more

Love this place! Been there many times. There aren't many places to get good African cuisine in Madison. Beautiful outdoor seating for a nice afternoon or evening and great indoor atmosphere. Great atmosphere and staff!!! read more

We came in with a group of 5 for dinner. Service was okay even though it seemed a little busy. We ordered beef samosas for appetizers and a Buraka Breeze (mango rum and iced tea). The samosas were excellent. Really soft/crispy crust. Just perfectly done. The Buraka Breeze was fairly sweet for my taste. I don't think I would order it again. We ordered three main dishes to share. Lamb Tibs, Misirwot (Potatoes, Split peas, lentils), and the Dorowot (chicken and carrots in a red sauce). We asked for the Misirwot and Dorowot to be served family style. This was enough food for us. I really enjoyed the mixture of the curries with their injera bread. I was particularly a fan of the Misirwot because the potatoes and curry was a great mix. The tibs had a nice spice to it too. The lamb and the chicken were both quite tender. Really a satisfying meal all around and I look forward to coming back. read more

I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while and it was worth it. I ordered the Alicha and my boyfriend ordered the chicken curry, both came with a side salad. Both were delicious and the Injera was yummy as well. My only critique of the food is that it could have used more salt but other than that, sooo good. I also noticed that they used fresh vegetables and the food was clearly homemade. Additionally, the atmosphere was very happy and welcoming. The patio was beautiful. We will definitely be coming back! read more

I came in from Chicago visiting a friend that just moved to Madison. Both of us being foodies, we decided to check out this Ethiopian restaurant we heard the locals talking about. So, let me tell you about this Ethiopian food ya'll....it's made with Ragu. YES, Ragu pasta sauce...and it's served with a side of sour cream. Don't believe me? Peek into the kitchen where you will see a full shelf of Ragu pasta sauce. WTF would you need pasta sauce in an Ethiopian restaurant? And who in Ethiopia eats sour cream like that?!! I'm offended right now. Got me over here eating pasta bolognese with a side of injera. For those of you that enjoy this, I'm sorry that you've never had authentic Ethiopian food and this sets your bar. read more

Buraka - This is Ragu...pasta sauce...at an Ethiopian restaurant. Why? - Ethiopian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Awesome restaurant with a cool environment inside with great artwork. Booth style seating with a bar inside, and a big backyard seating area that's nice. The coconut shrimp appetizer is fire. The special Ethiopian bread is great. Have fun. read more

Not the most authentic Ethiopian food. But since moving away from Chicago this really hit the spot! And the size for lunch is perfect for one person. They don't really seem to do the traditional way of serving it. But the menus said to ask about the family style so that might have been it. But the food was good and made this pregnant lady very happy! read more

Amazing food as always but the new location and restaurant is beautiful! Has a great back patio which is perfect for the lovely madison summers. I love everything on the menu but highlights are the peanut stew and the dorowat. read more

Buraka - Ethiopian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Madison NEEDS a stellar Ethiopian restaurant, or simply more great African restaurants at all. Buraka's new location on Willy Street is beautiful and sets the scene for success. The interior has beautiful, light, shiny woods and a well stocked bar. The back patio has seating, large and small; minor shady areas. Despite this really awesome setting, Buraka needs to work on consistency and going back to its roots. My first visit, portions were large, flavors robust, dorowat spicy enough to make my nose run a little, staff knowledgeable and appeared invested. My visits thereafter changed somewhat. Portion are about half, I can easily finish them yet prices remain the same. Spice and flavors are less; tomato more noticeable. I'd like to think they aren't using Ragu as it has been noted but I'll have to check that out next time. Staff have definitely declined; I struggle with needing to ask 3x for the same 1 beer. Buraka is no Alem Ethiopian Village in Milwaukee (drooling...) but Madison will really be in luck if Buraka returns to its former quality. read more

Yep, the service here is slow. BUT your food comes up quickly after you finally get to order. Our servers were also thoughtful: bringing extra plates for the kids, extra napkins when they spilled their water, and suggesting a side of rice when they weren't sure about the injera bread. As for my husband and I, we tried all for vegetarian stews in a family-style platter. Absolutely delicious, and vegan heaven! read more

Buraka - All four vegetarian stews, which we ordered in the family-style platter. - Ethiopian Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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We sat outside on a warm Friday night. My chair had cobwebs on it, which I understand can form quickly, but still somewhat unsettling. A big issue was that we seemed to have three waitresses serving us, but none were talking with each other. Regardless, at least three of the beers on the printed menu were out, and had substitutes. In my mind, have a separate drink menu that you print each day/week for accuracy. I finally was able to get a decent IPA. For food, real small portions for the price. I ended up getting the Begwot. I was decent tasting, but just a small amount for the $13 I spent. At the end of the meal, they wouldn't separate checks, and didn't take my AMEX. Needless to say, this is one I plan on skipping in the future. read more

Food was ok. We've had better in other cities and other cities had much larger portions for the same price. Service was Sssssssuuuuuuuupppppppeeerrrr sssssslllllloooooowwwww! Price was decent. Price of drinks were great and they were good. They didn't have the traditional drinks that are at most other Ethiopian restaurants. More than likely, we won't be back. read more

Buraka was the first real "ethnic" good I ever tried way back in 2007 when I moved to Madison for college. And I immediately fell in love. And then my heart broke when they were forced to leave the old location. I've been to the new location once and recently got carry out for my birthday lunch at work. The dorowat is still just as tasty as ever. Think of it like a spicy chicken stew. Served over injera, a kind of sourdough "tortilla" almost, it's perfectly hearty and savory. I wasn't a huge fan of the fact that the carry out version came with a lentil salad type thing--the raw onions just weren't my standard jam. So why the 3 stars? Service sucked. When we dined-in our waiter was very inattentive. After we ate he and several other waiters walked past no fewer than 10 times before another waiter finally cleared our plates. Then the same thing happened when trying to pay the check. Getting to the new location also kind of sucks and it doesn't have nearly the charm of the old one. read more

I think I'm being generous with 2 stars here. Went Saturday night with a group of 7. Wasn't busy when we arrived but did get busier. Our drinks literally took over 1/2 an hour. And my GFs arrived in a broken glass. Food took forever too. Not one of the 7 people enjoyed their meal. Not one. Below average in every way possible. I have a feeling this business is on it's last leg. Bring back Jolly Bob's somebody!!! read more

We were all sad when Jolly Bob's closed down but the replacement is much welcomed. Buraka has given the building a much needed renovation. It's now much more spacious and inviting. The outdoor seating is newly landscaped and if it wasn't so hot out today we would have eaten there. I can't wait to come back on a cool evening for some food and drinks. Like other reviews the service is not quite there yet. A bit herky-jerky. A food runner brought us someone else's food. Not a huge deal. Our apps took quite a while to get to us as well. The duck tenders were "Ok" the sauce definitely helped prop up this dish. Our main courses were very tasty. I've read a couple reviews saying the food has "Ragu" sauce...definitely not. All fresh made food here. The Samosas may be the only hand made in town. Delicious. The lunch menu has so much to offer I opted to get a combination plate. I wish I could remember the names of the food but I'm blanking. My buddy got the Injeru with his meal...which was spectacular...made my rice seem very boring. I got a Caipirinha with my meal. It was ok. Not the best i've had not the worst but it did the trick. Between this place and Jamerica...eat at Buraka. The food is much much much better. Hopefully they work the kinks out service-wise. It wasn't very busy and there seemed to be some confusion among staff. read more

I can't wait to go back! I was a big fan of Buraka on state street and I want to try them now that they have moved. Their food never fails to delvier well priced comfort food. If you have never tried this type of cuisine, give them a shot! read more

That left a bad taste in my mouth. We loved the food so much last time that we decided to order take out. We were just told over the phone that they "can't really do that right now" and to call back in 20 minutes. So many other ways to go about that. I can understand if you're busy and that we may have to wait longer to pick up, but you always have time to take an order. It pains me to leave this review, but you've forced us to go elsewhere. read more

I eat here about every 3 weeks. Very enjoyable, no complaints. It's a satisfying meal and good price.

Delicious food with tons of flavor. For lunch I always get excellent service. Yum!

Food was pretty good but just left feeling taken advantage of. We decided to go to Buraka for dinner for Black Restaurant Week when they were having a special tasting menu for $25 in addition to their regular menu. For 25 dollars we got an appetizer, an entree and a dessert. but when the food came if was very small. A single very small samoosa for my wife and two very small Duck wonton's for me. I'm not sure how big a normal order is but I tend to think it's bigger (I'll get to that later) When our entrees arrived with Injera, there was only a single injera folded in half for each plate. Looking around at other diners around us who didn't do the tasting menu had a much larger plate of food and two injera's. Looking online now I see from Yelp that we were served the lunch portion rather then the dinner portion. (we were there at 6pm) After the tasty desserts, we were both still hungry... for $25 per person. Looking at the menu, if we had ordered the exact same food, samoosa(really only one?) 5.99, chicken coconut stew (Lunch)9.49, and tiramisu 5.49 the total cost would have been $20.97... not the $25 "special". Even if we paid for the dinner portion and gotten a full size appetizer it would have been $25.47. And we probably wouldn't have wanted to stop for food ON THE WAY HOME! The service was also extremely confused with multiple waiters asking the same questions, and asking if we got our check while we were waiting for our desserts for quite a while. read more

I was so sad when Buraka's State Street location closed, but I was ecstatic when they returned, and their new location on Williamson Street is so much better! I am a longtime lover of the chicken peanut stew and the doro wot. Injera is a must! It is the only place you can go to enjoy the heat of the berbere spice blend. Even their cakes are delicious! read more