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    Cafe Colucci

    4.2 (1.4k reviews)
    ModerateEthiopian
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Cafe Colucci Takeout or Delivery

    Cafe Colucci Photos

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    CAFE COLUCCI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Cafe Colucci

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    Andrea N.

    Very unique experience! First time trying Ethiopian food & it was interesting. The flavors are quite strong & meat was tender. They don't give utensils unless you ask which is fun. The bread roll thing they gave was pretty acidic & dominated over the flavors of the meat dishes. Don't know if I love that. The sambusas were delish. Airy spacious restaurant but not a huge place so I imagine it gets busy.

    Vegan Combination
    Chris B.

    Mr first time having Ethiopian cuisine, and now I'm wondering what took me so long. Walked a few short blocks from home in a Friday night, to find the place packed upon arrival. A good sign, and we sat after a short wait, and I could immediately see some of the reasons this place is popular. Service was quick and courteous, and provided some great recommendations for a first timer. Food and drinks came quick too. The vegan platter is a must for first timers, everything super flavorful. We started with polpetti, which were slightly spicy meatballs packed with flavor. The cuisine is mostly gluten free too, which is a plus for my wife and I, and they even have GF anjeera bread. Will be back again to try more before long!

    Beef Sambussa and Vegan Sambussa
    Tim L.

    Drove up to Oakland since there's a lot of unique food places up here. This is my first time trying Ethiopian food and it did not disappoint. First off service was phenomenal, Gabriel, our server helped recommend some appetizers and the sampler since it was our first time. My favorite was the sambussa's. Crunchy and full of stuffing inside plus the chili dip. My favorite drink was the spritz. Sweet and refreshing. Overall I'd come back if I was in the area. Appetizers: - Sambussas - Polepetti - Buticha Plate: - Sampler (both meat and veggie) Drinks: - Bessobela Lemonade - Sellasste Spritz

    Juliana S.

    There is something magical about walking into a place and immediately feeling wrapped in warmth before the food even hits the table. The high ceilings made the space feel airy, but the deep, rich colors on the walls made it feel like I had stepped into someone's home with incredible taste and a love for Ethiopian spices (hey line the wall like an art installation with sacks and jars everywhere). You can buy them separately, too. We came in as a group of seven or eight, and the staff handled our large party with ease. My standout dish was the kitfo. It was my first time having it and it was my favorite part of the meal! This is a place I will make a point to visit every single time I am in town. A lovely and fully immersive cultural experience from top to bottom.

    Restaurant sign
    PDog R.

    A true east bay gem! You must try café Colucci! The best Ethiopian restaurant around! The injara is plentyfull and the portions are huge. I felt as if I was actually at home. That's how they make you feel. From the moment you arrive until when you're leaving. Our waiter was top notch, and very attentive. Great for family and small parties alike. Or if you're feeling some dining alone it's also a perfect choice. You can also sit at the bar and enjoy your meal as well! Trust me you will be in heaven when tasting the dishes! And you'll leave satisfied full and happy!

    Vegan Combination and Eggplant Tibs
    Krupa T.

    The food was good and it was nice to have move vegan options. They bring out the tibs on a skillet like fajitas. The service was good and the restaurant has a good vibe. They bring out one dish that is sizzling with spices that perfuses the air and makes people cough which was a little off putting.

    Assa Gored Gored, Selassie Spritz, Vegan Sambussa, and Vegan Combination
    Sophia S.

    We tried Cafe Colucci after work based on a coworker's suggestion and it was so yummy! We were seated really quickly and our server Emily was so nice and friendly. She had great recommendations and we wanted to try everything. I ended up going with the Assa Gored Gored and my friend got the Vegan Sampler/Combo plate. We shared the lentil Sambussa and a Selassie Spritz too. Overall, it was such a great vibe and a delicious dinner!

    Items for purchase
    Towanna W.

    I got a chance to discover Ethiopian food for the first time at Cafe Colucci with some friends back in December. This location is in North Oakland - very conveniently located with lots of street parking options around (take note of the street signs and meters). There is residential parking on the side streets without meters. We showed up on a really rainy day and I was pleasantly surprised at the number of folks who still showed up to dine. This place is great for groups and gatherings- lots of open space and the aesthetic is very traditional with lots of Ethiopian art displayed on the walls everywhere including the bathroom Our server Jennifer was so personable and approachable- knowing it was my first time she was eager to guide me through the menu and educate me on injera. Our group was very eclectic as far as our dietary preferences...we had carnivores, vegans, pescatarians and vegetarians. What was impressive is the menu offered something for everyone! Everybody eats. I ended up ordering the shrimp tibs which simply was a plate full of sauteed shrimp and peppers (cooked to order) alongside some greens and injera. I ordered the non traditional injera which was gluten free and had less of a sour taste to me than the traditional. There was a great deal of shrimp on the plate- I scooped it up with the pepppers and injera for a delicious flavorful bite. The shrimp were nicely seasoned with their house spice which is also conveniently placed on your table should you want to add extra- the spice is also available to purchase. When I ordered the greens- in my mind I was thinking soul food greens..... silly me. LOL The greens were good and flavorful as well- more on the vinegary side for me. I would eat them again. We all ordered the Selassi spritz with fresh mint- it was made to order by our server. Light and refreshing. Overall, this is a great neighborhood place that serves classic Ethiopian fare and provides warm and friendly service and good food. Definitely a 10/10 experience and I will say that Jennifer (our server) is what took it to a ten! She is a gem!

    Vegan Sampler
    Cynthia P.

    This has been a restaurant that I have been wanting to visit for soooo long! I finally found the time to go with my bestfriend on a Thursday! Parking is on the street, but we didn't have trouble finding any. There was a short wait for a table; not bad at all. The place itself was very bustling with a lot of customers. The vibe was great! For the food, we ordered a vegan platter to share and half lentil sumbussa and half beef. All the food was yummy! I really liked the pepper seasonings that they leave on the table for you. The chili pepper was 10/10! The seasoning for the lentils on both dishes stood out to us the most. Overall, this place is good and I would recommend for people to try it out!

    Veg Sambussa
    Christine L.

    Cafe Colucci is so consistently solid the few times I've been with friends and family. It's such a great place to introduce those who've never have Ethiopian food before. They're also super generous with their injera and portions are big. So be prepared to leave full! The restaurant space is also beautiful and open. I always enjoy our dining experience. The servers have always been kind and patient in answering questions.

    Denitch Tibs
    Kyra K.

    I'm a newfound fan of Ethiopian food! Getting together with one of my friends, we decided to get Ethiopian food since she'd never had it before. It was a pleasant time and we enjoyed Cafe Colucci. We arrived for dinner on a weekend. I brought my pup so we sat outside, you have to walk through the restaurant to get outside. Inside was spacious, big, and can get quite loud since it's a bustling spot. Outside was roomy, casual, and chill. The mural outside is gorgeous as well. The service was nice, we'd occasionally get checked in on, and food came out at a decent time. The workers were sweet and they complimented my pup. My friend and I shared the Denitch Tibs and Vegan Combination. The chips were crispy, parts of it on the softer less fried end, and a nice savory seasoning. The sampler was perfect for us to share. A balance of savory, slightly sweet, a bit sour vegetarian dishes. The injera was light and rolled thinner than other spots I've been to. Everything was good and we took some to go. Cafe Colucci is a popular spot for authentic Ethiopian food! The vibes are quite nice and the food is great. I wouldn't mind coming back. With it being off San Pablo Ave. parking is street only.

    Tiffany P.

    Cafe Colucci has been on our list for months so glad we had the opportunity to visit on MLK Jr. Day Everything from the vibe, food, and service were better than we could've imagined. What a fun time and thanks to Damian for the hospitality Some favorites were the sambusas, fish, lentils, tibs, and tiramisu. We will absolutely be back

    Our table was ready for our party spread, but this is all that came...
    Diane L.

    This review is based on an order placed for delivery. We placed an order two weeks in advance for a holiday party. In addition to placing the order 2 weeks ahead of time, we called the day before to confirm the order. On the day of the party, 30 minutes before our guest were scheduled to arrive our food order was delivered with one part of the order, the veggie sambussas. There were several items missing from the order. Missing: meat sambussas, doro alicha, vegan kik alicha, vegan mushroom tibs and injera. We asked the delivery person where the rest of the order was and he said Cafe Colucci said that was all there was, even though the paper showed there were several additional items that we had already paid for. We called the restaurant and they apologized for their error and offered us a refund for the food that was not delivered, but we had to ask for a refund on the tip we had pre-paid and the $50 delivery fee. We paid for the sambussas. This error left us scrambling to find food for 50 people with 30 minutes to spare. I have recommended Cafe Colucci to several people, but I will definitely not do that again because today's fumble created a lot of stress.

    Vegan Platter, Meat Platter, Fish

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    1 month ago

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    Thank you Jazel, it means alot to us :)

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    1 month ago

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    4 months ago

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    Thank you Chris!

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    4 months ago

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    Thank you Tim! We will forward your kind messages to Gabriel :)

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    5 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    Thank you Tiffany!

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    5 months ago

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    17 days ago

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    3 months ago

    Great service, comfortable place with good food. Wouldn't go out of my way for it, but it was delicious and would definitely recommend it!

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    Page 1 of 36

    Ask the Community - Cafe Colucci

    Are you open on Memorial Day?

    Yes we are! Regular hours 11am to 10pm

    Are dogs allowed in outdoor seating?

    Yes they are! We have dog bowls and treats as well :)

    View All 4 Questions

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    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - Meat and Veggie Sampler for Four

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant

    4.2(1.7k reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Gluten free alert! We love this fresh, flavorful and delicious food! Gluten free injera is hard to…read morefind. And this is the best around! What to get? We have a hard time picking just one dish, so we get the samplers. I love every vegetarian item on the sampler. And my husband loves all meats - chicken, lamb, and beef. I've tried quite a few dishes, and have never been disappointed. My husband and I have been coming to Enssaro for over 15 years and have grown to adore this restaurant. The staff are friendly and attentive, and the food is fantastic every time!

    My fav Ethiopian dish?…read more Doro Wat (bone-in). With a side of Kitfo and Misir Wot. Cuz, I can't just choose one dish. I love Ethiopian food - the bold, rich spices AND the heat gets me feeling all types of way....including heartburn. The East Bay is known for their top-tier Ethiopian and Eritrean food so I'm slowly starting to explore the options here. Plan A: Café Colucci's patio was closed. We headed straight to Enssaro where we were warmly welcomed by the family behind the place, including Coco enjoying her golden years on the couch. F O O D - Requested spicy for all dishes * Kifto: Ethiopian Tartare ($24) IMO Ethiopian tartare over French tartare all day, every day! The finely minced raw beef is mixed with clarified butter and spices, creating a rich, savory flavor that's balanced by the sour tang of injera cutting through the meatiness. Served with ayib (crumbly, mild cheese) and gomen (earthy sautéed greens). Despite not being spicy, it was bomb. * Meat Platter for One ($20) - Doro Wot: Spicy Ethiopian Chicken Stew - Mildly spiced, just wish the drumstick was more tender. - Beg Wot: Lamb Stew - Mild earthy flavor, good for those who are sensitive to spice. - Bere Beef Wot: Spicy Minced Beef Stew - Most flavorful of the three meats, savory with a mild heat. Think Ethiopian bolognese. * Misir Wot: Red lentils cooked slowly w/ Ethiopian spices ($20) Deeply savory with a warm, earthy spice (not spicy). The lentils are nicely broken down to a thick, creamy texture with a bite. Seemed kinda pricey for the portion tho. Platters are served with lightly dressed garden salad and a basket of spongey, tangy injera. S E R V I C E Welcoming, gracious, and attentive. Staff kept our water glasses filled and kindly packed our leftovers. A M B I A N C E Casual, low-key. It was a rare 85 degrees in April day so the covered front patio offered welcome relief. Overall, I wished the food had been more boldly spiced and brought more heat, nonetheless, we still enjoyed the meal, especially the kitfo...GET IT!

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    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - Menu

    Menu

    Enssaro Ethiopian Restaurant - DORO WOT ( chicken stew ), BEEF Tibs, LAMB Tibs

    DORO WOT ( chicken stew ), BEEF Tibs, LAMB Tibs

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    Cafe Romanat - Buticha

    Cafe Romanat

    4.4(472 reviews)
    2.8 miGrand Lake, Lower Hills
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    Go for the food and service, not the ambiance. The food was…read moreamazing. I'm not an expert on Ethiopian cuisine, but I enjoy it and would not hesitate to go back to Romanat. In fact, it would be at the top of my list if I was hungry for Ethiopian. Service was friendly and attentive. Helped guide us to a platter for our small group and it was the perfect choice. It's not a beautiful restaurant, but the food is the star and the reason to go.

    So this place is Ethiopian cuisine. Not many of those around these days. I've only been to the one…read moreother one before this one. But it's got all the flavors and bread that I had at this other place that belonged to the Queen of Sheba. I think the food was great. That 'bread' was sour and also tasted as expected, which was yummy. All the meats which were chicken and beef were very tasty. And so were the veggie option which was made out of eggplant. This eggplant was not oily but still tasted very good and not strongly bitter. Service was very nice and friendly. They gave us an extra samosa bc they wanted everyone to have a piece. And the place is very cozy and well decorated. We had a party of 9 and they fitted us. Prolly bc we reserved ahead of time. If you want this type of food, I'd would recommend it. Until I find something Mediterranean or more similar and better.

    Photos
    Cafe Romanat - Wall decor

    Wall decor

    Cafe Romanat - Combination plate with chicken and vegetables.

    Combination plate with chicken and vegetables.

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    Admas - They call it Veggie combo ,what a combination . & we add one delicious mild stew ,yebeg kikil (lamb)

    Admas

    4.4(85 reviews)
    3.4 miEast Oakland

    My experience at Admas never fails to amaze me. Even though it was my second visit, it felt just as…read moreexciting as the first. From the moment I walked in, I was welcomed with amazing service that made the entire experience even better. The first time I visited, I tried the veggie combo and loved how flavorful and well-prepared everything was. This time I decided to try the veggie meat combo, and somehow it was even better. One thing I really appreciate about Admas is the variety of options they offer--whether you're a meat lover or vegetarian/vegan, there's something for everyone. Beyond the food, the restaurant itself is very clean, spacious, and family-friendly. It's the perfect place for both small dinners and larger groups. I'll definitely be coming back again soon!

    First off, I ordered for delivery…read more I love Ethiopian and Eritrean food, so I was excited to see this spot finally open for deliveries in my neighborhood! I think I've eaten at the majority of Ethiopian restaurants in Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco, so I'm a fan. Sadly, I was NOT a fan of this spot. :( (For context, I tried to go back to the delivery app to give a review, but the window for leaving a review had closed.) I looked over the menu and I was suspicious that there was no standard Doro Wot for delivery, but, whatevs --sometimes restaurants leave off certain items on delivery apps. I got the Chicken Tibs and Beef Tibs. The beef was spiced, but the chicken tasted bland and watery. Both seemed to be missing salt. The beef tibs was tougher than I'm used to. Maybe it was an off day. The Yemisir Wot (stewed red lentils) was flavorful. The vegetarian combo was a complete miss for the price and the portions were super small. The Tikil Gomen (cabbage, carrots, potatoes) looked like one tablespoon had been scooped out and put on the injera. It came with Yemisir Wot, Yekik Alicha (yellow spiced lentils), beets(???), Gomen (collards), and green salad (though I don't remember getting the green salad in my combo). The Gomen (collards) were super bland and tasted like reheated frozen collards. My last issue is that the a-la-carte items are photographed with a small salad and injera, pretty standard (see attached image from site). Unfortunately, the a-la-carte options came singularly in a container with a side of injera. Bummer. If I hadn't included the vegetarian combo, I probably would've been even more upset. What I did like: --- - The Tikil Gomen and Yemisir Wot were well spiced and tasty. - Plenty of injera, almost too many. I think my biggest issue is that given the portion size, most items are between $16 - $24, so if you're looking to have a rounded meal (injera, vegetables, meat), you're going to have to order multiple items and that adds up fast; it will be cheaper if you just eat in or call them and order for pick-up. (I'm also kind of bummed because I was rooting for them since they are in the space where Casa Vallarta used to be.) If you plan to go, I'd suggest sticking to the vegetarian options.

    Photos
    Admas - Dining room area. We forgot to take a picture of the food. Ate it too fast.

    Dining room area. We forgot to take a picture of the food. Ate it too fast.

    Admas - Gored gored, disappointing chicken doro wot, vegetable combo, & lamb tibs

    Gored gored, disappointing chicken doro wot, vegetable combo, & lamb tibs

    Admas

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    Cafe Colucci - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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