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.

Small spot for good Ethiopian food. Pros: Good flavors, friendly servers and appreciated they were…read morewilling to create a veggie+meat combo for me - the menu only has veggie or meat combos. Cons: only 4 parking spots and their catering van was in one of them. Server disappeared for long periods of time though there were few tables. The injera was very cold, which made the food get cold fast. Especially since the room was very cold (the server was wearing a down coat).

I've been here twice now and I've been thoroughly satisfied both times. The food is amazing, and…read morethere's a great variety to choose from. The staff is incredibly friendly and helpful, and the decor is lovely. This is definitely going to be a regular spot for me!

My go-to Ethiopian catering spot in the Twin Cities and I finally had a chance to eat here in…read moreperson. Huge plus is the dietary accommodations. I ate here with someone who needed gluten free options & they make GF injera here so was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed the Super Veggie Sampler. I saw someone mention getting the Ethiopian coffee or tea and I didn't want too much caffeine so opted for the tea but was a little disappointed that it didn't come in a cool tea pot I saw in other Yelp photos. It was ok tasting after putting some sugar in but I would pass on the tea next time. The server was nice and there were enough tables for a late lunch on a Thursday but it felt a little humid inside. The food is so good that I can overlook the other things. Def come check out this neighborhood gem.

My grandfather is from Liberia, so I've had the pleasure of tasting delicious homemade West African…read morecuisine. Mid 2021- I was in this strip mall getting my hair done when a hairstylist from Liberia walked in with this delicious smelling food. I asked her where she got it from, and explained to her that I have been unable to find a Liberian restaurant that taste like "home" here in the Twin Cities, and she vouched that this place was pretty good. It's been a wrap ever since. I order the same thing every single time, which is a bit costly. I think my entire order usually comes between $50 - $65, depending on if I get a small or large. I order the Whole Fish with Jolof Rice, & Collard Greens with No Meat (which you can order by size, S M L XL) The Whole Fish is nicely coated with this delicious seasoning and cooked to perfection! The Jolof Rice is delicious. The Collard Greens are so good, I've never tasted greens like it! Very original taste and I love that it's served with white rice. There is a young man who is always working, and he is very pleasant and easy to talk to. They don't have a lot of beverage options, but they do have a small grocer isle for you to purchase miscellaneous things like rice, beans, bouyon's, beverages, etc. There is a large parking lot, so parking should never be an issue. This is located in a strip mall so you are surrounded by many other merchants. If you are quickly picking up, there is space for you to pull up briefly close to their entrance. I plan to keep supporting this place. I think the food is amazing, the staff is kind, and I always have a pleasant experience.

I loved the food. I must it tasted very well. I am a…read moreNigerian. So African food is the best. You guys must keep up the good work.

The wife and I spent our date night at Ertale. The restaurant has a warm and cozy feel that makes…read moreit easy to relax and enjoy the evening without feeling rushed. We shared Kikil (slow braised bone in lamb) and Firfir (pieces of injera soaked with seasoned sauce and beef) both dishes a definition of comfort food. What stood out just as much as the food was how genuinely welcoming everyone was. They made us feel right at home from the time we arrived until we left. Whether you're introducing someone to Ethiopian cuisine or planning a special night out, Ertale is a place. We'll definitely be back with the kiddos soon.

As an Ethiopian, I have high expectations for Ethiopian food, and Erta Ale absolutely delivered…read more The food was incredibly authentic, fresh, and full of flavor. Every meal on my plate was outstanding. Specially the Kitfo and Doro Wot. Beyond the amazing food, the hospitality and atmosphere made the experience even better. Without a doubt, one of the best Ethiopian restaurant in the St.Paul, MN. Highly recommended!

My daughter was craving some African food and wanted to try a different restaurant. I had some…read moreerrands in Crystal, so I suggested this restaurant. When I called to place an order, the person picked up the phone and just said hello. I had to check if I'm calling the correct place, and he took my order. We picked up the food, restaurant was a nice size however no guests dining. Red booths and ordering counter. Egussi had a smokey taste to it and the fufu was brown, I think it's yams.

This is the worst place I ever ate. Ordered goat meat with rice and 4 samosa and everything was…read morecold AND ALSO The lady in the back was cleaning and making food with no Gloves at all. I came back to the store after I found my food cold and they proceeded to argue with me telling me the food is freshly made and that the food could be cold due to the fact that they wanted to hurry and make the food for me!!!?? I never once rushed them while making food or said anything just sat at the table waiting watching stuff in my phone. I really try to support small businesses but this is just unacceptable. I wish I could give this place a -5 because it was just that bad.

The hospitality made me feel so welcomed and like family. Great food, great location and amazing…read morestaff! What more can you want?!!

Loved the goat dish. You know East Africans don't use silverware and we weren't offered any. That…read morewas just fine with me. Kind of like eating burritos. We daintily drank unique and strong Ethiopian coffee in small cups like the elitist British. Our very own chunk of burning incense kept us entranced. The gold and silver display is unusual and adds to the ambiance.

Before commenting on the food taste and quality, I want to emphasize how important it is for this…read moreestablishment to exist in such a neighborhood. Normally, daily Ethiopian food that's not in the US are vegan, so what is offered here is closer to what's authentically made in Ethiopian culture. I enjoyed pretty much all the dishes I had, and I would recommend this spot to anyone who wants good vegan food. My friends had the awaze tibs, which contained seitan, a high protein meat substitute, and it was seasoned very well, having an adequate amount of spice. I ordered the mushroom tibs, and it was okay, because it tasted as if the only seasoning was salt, and it was a bit dry, which indicated that the mushrooms were overcooked. In addition to such, we had a few veggies on the samplers, including miser, ater kik, gomen, fasolia, and keysir. They all had a good amount of seasoning and in general tasted good with the injera. I would say, though, that they may have all needed a bit more mekelesha, because I have had more vibrant-tasting versions of all of those veggies elsewhere. One thing worth noting was that shiro wasn't one of the options for the veggie sampler, so I had to order a separate portion of shiro, since I considered it necessary when consuming Ethiopian food in general, and it tasted good, in a conventional manner. It seems like per the menu that they have a shiro wot now, which indicates how popular it is among customers.

Lulu's is casual, family owned, and full of flavor! I visited for the first time with friends who…read moreare vegetarian - and it was such a treat to be able to order anything on the menu and know that nothing would contain meat! The Wot and rice are the definition of comfort food, the falafel were crispy, and the mushrooms came out of the kitchen sizzling. Service was quick and incredibly kind. Next time you're looking for a new, vegetarian/vegan bite - definitely come to Lulu's!

The food was absolutely amazing. We will definitely visit again in our next trip to the citiesread more

Amazing food! Very good community center and best of all, it also has a prayer area AND Somali…read moreCafe. 10/10 would recommend.