Hats off to the chef. The food here has the flavors I like. Appropriate portions for the price. Not gonna lie, the injera was extra pickled/sour flavored, and I loved it. Its not everyday I run across places with such sour injera, but it just mixes so well with all the juices it soaks up. I would show you my food, but we devoured it too fast. Be ware of parking, its just bad with only 1 or 2 spots out front. Which means your gonna have to walk about 1 to 2 blocks. When you get there you might walk right past it and end uo snooping around the club next door like it did. When you do find it, you feel like Harry Potter did when he found that hidden alley. The fenced off entrance take you through their outdoor dining space before you make your way into the storefront. The exterior decor is set up in a way that shields the customers from the madness on the street. I almost felt like I left seattle for a bit while I was in their domain. I also wish I took photos but, its too small and there were too many customers. I didnt want to invade anyone's intimate dinning privacy. Unfortunately for me I ordered my food ahead of time. I absolutely would like to come back soon while the weather is nice, especially to enjoy some amazing food in their hip outdoor dining area. Feel free to use this info when choosing your next location to dine out. read more

Ordered inside the restaurant for take out. As we usually do in an Ethiopian place, we ordered the meat combo and veggie combo. No complaints about the veggie combo, but the meat combo only has two types of meat and is otherwise all veggie/lentil. You'll get better value and variety at other spots for the same price. I liked the sour injera, but it somehow wasn't edible on it's own, and I usually really like it as is. I'd go back if someone else suggested it, but I won't be choosing it as my #1 Ethiopian pick. read more

Omg! I was starving and refused to eat boring food. It has been ten years* since I've visited this spot, wow, the chef here she packed the punch with flavor, for someone who ate at Michelin and sampling around the world, the meat combo here stood out both in the veggies and meats, i normally have a picture, but i ate almost everything, the injera here is so fresh that I'm still regretting not able to come back sooner. I rarely give 5 stars. This one is affordable --don't worry about the portion; it is a lot bigger plate--like three of your normal plates pack in one! I have extra to savor for dinner. My oh my. The richness, depth, and perfect seasoning of the spices struck a balance I cannot believe. read more

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. read more

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Quaint little shop packing a punch in terms of good food! We stopped in here for dinner and were warmly greeted by the staff. Heads up that parking is pretty tight and you need to find street parking nearby. We ordered the meat plate, it came with beef, plenty of veggies, and of course plenty of injera! The sauces for both the meats and veggies were well seasoned and flavorful, and the portion was a good amount to share between 2 people. We also got the tea which was made with cinnamon and spices which was good Overall enjoyed the food and would be curious to try out more dishes next time. Small shop with big flavors. read more

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 read more

Cafe Selam - meat and vegetarian combos - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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. read more

Cafe Selam - Comfy shaded outdoor seating with a cameo by the Blue Angels! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Went last night for the 3rd time. Got a veggie combo to go. So good:) Aces all around. Love this place! read more

YUUUUUUMMMMMM! This place is amazing! Ordered take out this week and was blown away by how flavorful everything was. The servings are generous and I unknowingly ordered too much food. The Doro Wat was rich, silky, with just enough spice to round out every bite. The order came with 2 drumsticks ( other spots give you 1 drumstick only), plus a small side of Lyb and sautéed greens, plus a generous portion of injera. Every things was so tasty! Not knowing the chicken came with sides, I also ordered miser wot (lentils) and they were equally delicious as the Doro Wot, as well as a side of Lyb. I inhaled the chicken and accompanied sides and had the lentils and leftover injera for lunch the next day. I will be going back...it's on the way home from work...another plus read more

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. read more

Cafe Selam - Beef tibs and veggie combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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The food was horrible and we still got charged almost $40 for it. We didn't even eat let alone finish the food. They didn't even ask us how they could compensate us at all. read more

I have been going cafe Selam for an over 15 years and the past few months have been a total disappointment! I think the owner has either sold it or she has given it to someone to run it. The food was absolutely terrible, small portion and outrageously expensive! I will not be going back! read more

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. read more

Cafe Selam - Lamb Tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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. read more

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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). read more

Cafe Selam - Menu - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I had some of the most delicious Ethiopian food here. I came with 3 other friends and we split two meat combinations and one veggie combination. I'm not big on meat and honestly thought that the meat combo alone wasn't worth it. It's two meats, one veggie, a salad, and some weird cheese. In the end we wished that we got two veggie and a single meat. We all agreed that we enjoyed the veggie dishes the most. One of our friends is gluten free and we were glad that we could order the 100% teff injera here (so no gluten! And more traditional). The ambience is fine. You don't come here for the ambience, you come here for the food. We sat near a window that was permanently partially cracked. I had to shove my jacket between the table and the window to keep the frigid draft from cooling us and cooling our food. The service was also fine. Just about every question I asked for me a crazy look. Don't ask too much or try to go off menu! Just get one of the combos (probably the veggie) and enjoy eating with your hands. read more

People are really nice. The food is decent. The price is reasonable. You get Big Injira with relatively little food. There are flies flying around. Hope that they improve. read more

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. read more

Cafe Selam - Meat combo and veggie combo put on one plate to share. - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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! read more

Cafe Selam - Vegetarian Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Stopped in and got the Meat Combination, delicious flavors but unfortunately the portions are a lot smaller with less dishes than we've experienced at other local Ethiopian restaurants. read more

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. read more

Cafe Selam - Vegetarian sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Consistently delicious!! Truly my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle. Cozy interior with a cute outdoor seating area as well. read more

Ethiopian food is my fiance's favorite. She had a regular go-to spot here in Portland, but the chef changed and it went downhill. We've been to almost all of the local spots and haven't found one that stands out. So it was a treat to find Cafe Selam and have an outstanding Ethiopian feast. We got the veggie combo and yasi tibs (Tilapia in a spicy sauce) to share. The plate of injera on the side was more than we could eat. All the flavors popped, with more subtle spice than any other Ethiopian I've ever had. The atmosphere was fun and casual, really full of happy twenty-somethings. If you're sensitive to noise, go on an off night, it was loud! read more

Food was fine, but I felt like the price did not match the experience. I paid $30 for a combo plate and drink in a restaurant with bars on the windows and tears in the seats. For me, the meat combo plate tasted fine. The portion size was enough for just one meal- I didn't bring home tomorrow's lunch too for the price. Personally, I think the raves may be coming from Seattle-area people who just really want Ethiopian food. I miss it too, but this was just fine IMO. I'd love to see them reinvest any profits into their business and the customer experience. read more

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If you're looking for a cozy, family-owned restaurant with great Ethiopian food, definitely give this place a try! The dishes are huge and entrees come with a side of two extra injera, so it's ideal for sharing with friends. For food, we got qateqna (injera with spiced butter), meat and veggie combination plates, and urgo (house made yogurt). The qateqna was spicier than I expected, and was a great appetizer for the main dishes. The meat and veggie combination plates were a mix of their most popular dishes, including red and yellow lentil dishes for the veggie combo, and lamb and beef dishes for the meat combo. I loved the combos because you can have a different flavor for every bite you take. The injera was so soft and fluffy but still chewy, the texture was actually amazing. The yogurt was also super refreshing and paired well with the entrees. Highly recommend everything we ordered! read more

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I haven't been to this restaurant for MANY years but a string of circumstance led me and a couple friends to recently dine in. We enjoyed the Doro Wot and Lamb Tibs along with some Ethiopian beers. I really enjoyed the ample amounts of injera with our meals that included cheese and greens. REALLY enjoyed the food in this space. Good service and prices. read more

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

Spectacular. We got the meat plate and the veggie plate, I liked the meat one personally. Amazing flavor. Highly recommended. Pretty "hole in the wall" joint but the flavor is more than there. read more

Cafe Selam - Veggie platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Small cafe with indoor and outdoor seating. Already busy for lunch on the Wednesday our party of 5 came in on, so we sat inside even though it was a nice day. We feared we'd over-ordered, but after sitting and waiting for what felt like close to an hour for our food to arrive we were all hungry enough to devour it all. It helped that it was all delicious and totally worth the wait. Between us we shared two vegetarian combos and one meat combo, and it was the perfect amount of food. I didn't feel over-the-top full like I sometimes do after eating Ethiopian food (the sign of a good injera, maybe? that it's not continuing to ferment/expand in my stomach?). I don't think they have designated parking. We found street parking right around the corner. Definitely wouldn't be disappointed to find my way back here again. read more

Lunch at Cafe Selam was my favorite meal on my recent trip to Seattle. All of the meals that I enjoyed during the trip were very good, but I was craving something a little different and Cafe Selam really hit the spot. The weather was bright and sunny so we sat outside on their patio. I had the meat combo which was super hearty and tasty and quite spicy. The injera had a nice tangy flavor and soaked up all the juices like a sponge. The service was quite friendly and cheerful too. Highly recommended! read more

Cafe Selam - Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I've eaten at 4 Ethiopian spots in Seattle and this one takes the #1 spot. Definitely will be coming back. Got the Alicha lamb - the spiciness was perfect and the lamb was cooked well. read more

Great food. We ended up getting the meat combo plate + the fish dish. There is only 1 fish dish on the menu and it's delish. I didn't realize that if you order just the meat combo it doesn't come with many veggies - then we ordered the veggie combo and chomped down the whole thing even though we were kinda full. I had guests visiting from Texas and they loved the food. Glad I got them here. Service was slow, although very friendly. They didn't have sambosa which might be a deal breaker as my family loves that as an appetizer. read more

Cafe Selam - Meat combo plate - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Cafe Selam is a treat hidden away next to a mechanic's garage....watch close or you might miss it! The food was good standard Ethiopian fare. We took the vegetarian combo and meat combo and both were ok. Not as spicy as in, say, Silver Spring Maryland, but ok. They included goat in the meat combo, but it was sparse. Veggies were good and properly prepared. Service was quick and efficient. The restaurant was sparsely furnished and dared...felt like it matched the neighborhood ambiance, which was old/urban. There is better Ethiopian up the road, but this was just fine. read more

One of my favorite ethiopian places in the central district. It is pretty divey but i think it adds to the charm! Special scrambled eggs: one of my favorite things here! A little spicy from the jalapenos and a bit of berbere spice. It pairs great with the complimentary 'bahn-mi' like baguette which is so fluffy on the inside it is easy to craft a nice breakfast sando out of it! Vegetarian combo: little samples of all the veg offerings (red bean and garlic, yellow lentils, red lentils, salad, spinach and cabbage and potatoes). I like having all the different flavors but my favorite is the spinach which has that great slow cooked collard greens flavor but with an extra punch from garlic and some other spices! I usually get an extra 1/2 order of this on the side it is so good! They of course give you way more extra injera than you could ever need. Honestly, i feel a little bad since i cant finish all of it. Parking is really limited (only two spots?) And anything directly on Cherry street is usually occupied by Uber eats pick drivers zipping in and out so i usually park on 27th which usually has street parking. Check them out! read more

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I really much prefer vegetarian Ethiopian dishes so I may be a bit biased.... we tried the Meat combo ($20), it came with two types of lamb items (one was in a dark red sauce and wonderfully spiced, the other was a boiled (?) lamb dish with various vegetables). There was also a small pile of cheese and a delicious cabbage dish. Portions are very large and they don't skimp on the bread! The owner is so kind and there is a good amount of indoor and outdoor seating. Food comes out quickly. I can't wait to come back and try more! read more

Cafe Selam - Meat Combo ($20) - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

While on this side of town I stop in to order a meat combination with cabbage and spinach. Order to go! When I got home it was missing the cabbage. $24 dollars and it appears the portions have decreased but the price increased. Disappointed yes. Food was still delicious. I just love a good Ethiopian dish. Just get it right next time. read more

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Great vegan options! They have the standard vegan options and a few I hadn't had before. The injera was great as well. The food has plenty of flavour type spice. Next time I'm back, I'll order it extra heat type spicy as I'm super into that scene. The outside seating was great. Not too noisy, we weren't ignored, and we were protected from direct sunlight. read more

VERY DISAPPOINTED AND UPSET! This has been one of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants for a long time until today. We ordered a meat combo and a veggie combo and the waitress said she would combine them. On the menu, the meat combo is listed as "a delicious and generous combination of our finest meat dishes with veggie sides" we were brought a platter with two small meat dishes and 5 small servings of veggie sides. Thinking maybe she only brought the meat platter I went inside and she attempted to explain it was both combined, I tried explain that there was very little veggies and would like more it took a while but she seemed to get what I was saying and she brought a small amount of extra veggies and injera. When paying we were charged for two veggie combos and a meat combo along with a side of injera never ordered. Incredibly upset and disappointed I paid for the meal and left, but will not be coming back here again. I am sad that this business has changed and turned to just another sad Seattle rip off. When I ordered here in the past a meat platter would always have at least 3 meat dishes and one of them would be doro wat or green chicken, the platter would be filled with so many veggies you cant see the injera. To be fair the food was delicious but not worth the price or description. read more

A really great neighborhood spot for delicious Ethiopian food. The space is a bit small, but service is efficient and there is a small, outdoor patio as a nice weather day option. read more

Cafe Selam - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Cafe Selam's special lamb tibs was great, but the injera and the veggie combo were pretty meh. They use spinach instead of collared greens, which I didn't like as much. Also, the cabbage dish, which should have come as part of the veggie combo, arrived 20 minutes late. We had to remind them that this was missing from the platter (see picture), and the waitress was quite rude about it. read more

Cafe Selam - Special Lamb Tibs, Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington