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Cafe Selam

4.4 (395 reviews)
ModerateEthiopian
Closed • 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Cafe Selam Photos

Business Info

CAFE SELAM ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Cafe Selam

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Welcoming interiors
Priyanka L.

Cafe Selam, hidden tiny restaurant tucked along the street. Yummy food, great service but definitely needs working on the ambience. The vegetarian combination injera with lentils, cabbage, spinach, spices was an absolute delicacy! (Shiro wat, mesir wat, alicha miser, salad and spinach) The Lamb (Special Tibbs) served with salad and chilli paste wasn't so special. The stir fry was a bit dry. The injera was soft, fluffy, spongy and went so well with the entire flare! The interiors are a bit down unless you are seated out, where you can find grape vines! And breezy Seattle weather adds to the ambience. There's one restroom for the customers and a separate one for staff (both not so great in condition!) Portion size is massive - two dishes easily gobbled by 4. Street parking available, you'll have to hunt for a spot. Can be found though within the neighborhood.

meat and vegetarian combos
Carolyn D.

I was very excited to try Ethiopian cuisine for the first time and Cafe Selam was a wonderful first experience. Between 3 people we ordered both the meat and veggie combos which was more than enough to fill all of us up. I definitely recommend getting both as the vegetables help cut through the heaviness of the meat and really complemented the meat too. And this is the best way to try more. Everything we got was seasoned very well and I had a hard time deciding what I liked best! At the end I decided I enjoyed the spinach and beef tbe most. I also really enoyed the injera - it was a bit sour but worked well with the strong flavors. The servers were very kind and patient as we took our time deciding what to order. I really enjoyed my experience here and I will definitely be eating more Ethiopian food in the future

Comfy shaded outdoor seating with a cameo by the Blue Angels!
Sheila B.

I had the veggie combo and it was delicious! Each component had a unique flavor and it even had a dollop of flavorful hot sauce for an extra kick. The young man who was working was exceptional! Very professional, kind and responsive. I will be back again soon with friends to try more of their dishes.

Beef tibs and veggie combo
Sara H.

Great Ethiopian food with high-quality ingredients in a cute little restaurant. We ordered the doro wot, beef tibs, and vegetarian combo. All had great flavors. Their injera was on the sour side, which I prefer. The portions were a little smaller than other Ethiopian spots I've tried, but the flavors were excellent.

Lamb Tibs
Justin J.

A cozy spot in central district with a bit of indoor and outdoor seating. Came here on a monday night to catch up with some friends on a summer day and loved the vibes. We sat in the outside section and it feels like being on an outdoor porch with family and friends. I ordered the Special Lamb Tibs and it was so so good. The flavoring was strong and combined well with all the spices and onions. We also got the yogurt which was a nice complement to the salt of the dishes. The portions were generous with very reasonable places. This was my first time coming and I would easily make this one of my go to spots, with extremely flavorful food and large portions! The waitress was also amazing, checking in on us and being helpful in how to enjoy the food and save space! 10/10 would recommend.

Menu
Joey R.

We really enjoyed our dinner at Cafe Selam. The vegetarian combo was so warm and comforting, like a food hug, and then injera was phenomenal! Our food was prepared quickly. The place was bustling. Every table was filled and when a group left, the table was filled within minutes. Cafe Selam is a small shop and has a cute patio (packed up this time of year).

Meat combo and veggie combo put on one plate to share.

We have tried multiple Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle and we have given up trying to find a better place. Amazing hole in the wall. For two people, order the veggie combo and the meat combo and have them put both on one plate to share. It's more than enough food. They are not afraid of flavor or spice here.

people sitting at tables in a restaurant
Prag R.

We were here for a casual Sunday brunch and the wait is insane! We waited for 50 mins for our order (just 4 dishes) and we clearly asked for appetizers first and all the food came at once and it felt like we were just sitting and doing nothing. For the hype this place has, it's just not worth it. I have been to other Ethiopian restaurants in the area and they were really better even in terms of food. We waited thinking the food would make up for the long wait. We got the 2 lamb dishes, the Fir Fir and the chicken dish. Only the Fir Fir was good, the other 3 were not thay good at all. We had to ask for forks thrice and still didn't get it on time. If you like Ethiopian food or want to try, not this place please.

Vegetarian Combo
Parth S.

We got the vegetarian combo here with an Ethiopian light beer. It was so good! They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, and the service was really fast. The food is really flavorful and I can't wait to come eat here again!

Vegetarian sampler
J G.

I enjoyed the veggie combo. The food was good for sure. Not great. I have had great Ethiopian food so have high standards, their is a big jump from good to great.

Meat combo plate

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Good food cashier even a good look while waiting definitely worth it mess around come back just to leave a tip 10000/10000 one of my faves

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Cafe Selam Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Cafe Selam

Is these oromo, Tigray, Amhara or Eritrean restaurant what type of restaurant is this?

They all eat the same food. There's your answer.

Can the vegetarian combo be made vegan? I.e no dairy?

It is already vegan

Is your food halal?

Yes

Are you still open? No one seemed to pick up the phone.

They are! I just called and they answered.

Is it under new management or new owners?

No

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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Adey Abeba Ethiopian Restaurant

Adey Abeba Ethiopian Restaurant

(235 reviews)

$$

Central District

Locally owned spot with a charming and homey feel! We ordered the meat combo and veggie combo which…read morecame served on a tangy injera with extra injera on the side. There's three of us and we couldn't finish so we had a decent amount to take as leftovers. The meats were all stewed until tender and all of the other veggie dishes complimented everything so well. There was just one waitress at the time so the vibes are pretty laid back. I didn't feel like they're not trying to rush you at all! I'll definitely be back here!

I ordered the Adey Meat Combo from Adey Abeba Ethiopian Restaurant via UberEats while visiting…read moreSeattle, and wow--I'm so glad I did! The combo came with a beautiful spread of veggies--cabbage, greens, split peas, lentils, and beets--along with the beef wat I selected as my meat. Everything was packed with flavor, perfectly spiced, and the portion size was just right. The presentation was thoughtful even through delivery, which is not always the case with takeout. One of the best parts? They offer gluten-free injera! That made the whole experience even better. The price itself was very fair for the amount of food you get, but like most delivery apps, the UberEats fees made the total much higher than expected. Still, the quality and flavor made it worth it. I'd love to visit Adey in person to get the full experience and ambiance when I'm here again! Since I was in town for work and too tired to go out, I specifically looked for a Black-owned restaurant that delivered, and I'm so happy I found Adey. Delicious food, great portions, and care put into every detail--I'll definitely order again next time I'm in Seattle!

Zagol Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie combo platter

Zagol Ethiopian Restaurant

(126 reviews)

Central District

Good food, good service, the parking situation could be a little better, especially for when it…read moregets busy. I do think the first time I came my portion was a bit small, and the 2nd to 3rd time the injera was cold but other than that flavor is there, I love when they have music playing, and love when all the uncles come out. Makes the atmosphere a lot better. I'll definitely be back for that kitfo!!!

I came on a Sunday and this place was busy. Street parking only and it can be a little difficult…read more The restaurant is pretty big with a whole bar side in the back. The service was a little slow, but again, it was busy and there were only two people taking orders and serving. With this in mind, our food came out relatively fast. The bathroom area was also a little neglected during this busy rush with none of the sinks having paper towels, so I had to use napkins at the table to dry my hands while waiting for our food. I got an Ethiopian beer, the Zagol combo, and the lamb yebeg tibs. Everything was flavorful and paired well with the injera. The portions were pretty generous. Our meal came with 3 side injera on top of the injera plating all the veggies and meat. Between two people, we had leftovers, but a lot of it is a the injera used for plating. I wish the zagol combo had one more meat option in it, but the addition of the lamb dish was perfect. Definitely try the lamb yebeg tips because it was my favorite out of all, and we got it spicy. There's also a meat combo option on the menu as well if more meat is wanted. The beer is light and paired well with the bold flavors of these dishes. Overall I would come back again. A lot of tables had tea and I would like to try that next time.

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant - BBQ Special, $28.50 - 4.5 Stars

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant

(217 reviews)

$$

Central District

Meskel Ethiopian Restaurant is an institution having been in the Seattle area for 30+ years. Now…read moreonwards to its second generation in the family, Meskel is now in an area that is dotted by many other Ethiopian restaurants. They remind an OG steward in a building that incidentally looks like a family house with an interior decorated with Ethiopian art. With much competition nearby, Meskel was sadly quiet on the day we went. The proprietor was nonetheless enthusiastic with new customers to her restaurant. Per her recommendation, we ordered their popular items listed at the top of their food menu. Side note: They do not offer a meat combo, unlike many other Ethiopian restaurants. The Food: Their injera (spongy bread) is impeccable with a potent sourdough taste. Despite having had many injera in the past, theirs stood out in this regard and is incredibly flavorful as is. Unfortunately, if one doesn't like sourdough bread, this could be problematic. Each entrée includes a full-size piece of injera. BBQ Special, $28.50 - 4.5 Stars Aromatic berbere-infused steak is slow cooked and paired with peppers and onions. This dish is served in a ceramic warmer with a small piece of charcoal underneath. Hubby said he liked this better than the typical meat combo. Vegetable Combination, $25 - 4 Stars The photo's veggie combo included veggies that are served with the BBQ Special, possibly just the salad, not sure. This combo with eight variants is modest compared to other restaurants both in terms of variants and portions of each. I commonly see ten variants in the veggie combo with bigger portions for each. Looking at older posted photos, the original portions are indeed bigger. I'll chalk it off to inflation. While the flavors of each are good, overall, this combo did not compare as well as others I have had.

Such great service!! The owner does it all, she cooks and serves and even has great conversation…read morewith all her guests. This place is amazing. The food was so delicious and unique to me. Local owned place, go support. This was my first time having Ethiopian food and I loved it. It's served "family style" and portions are large. She gets all her spices shipped to her from family in Ethiopia.

Cafe Selam - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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