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Desta Ethiopian Kitchen Westside

4.6 (180 reviews)
ModerateEthiopian, Desserts, Bars
Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Waitlist - Desta Ethiopian Kitchen Westside

Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

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DESTA ETHIOPIAN KITCHEN WESTSIDE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Dogs allowed
Outdoor seating
Happy hour specials

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Sabrina C.

I'll continue to review this place because I continue to be pleased! Visited again today and was NOT disappointed . I typically order the same thing and am always grateful for the consistent in flavor across locations.

Mead
Reginice C.

We had the Vegetarian/Vegan Platter with added Tilapia Fish Dulet entree. Everything was tasty; you can never go wrong with Ethiopian food, but I've had a lot of Ethiopian food and this one just didn't hit like my experiences at the many other Ethiopian restaurants I've eaten at. We also ordered sambusas and this was the first time I've had a sambusa wrapped like an egg roll/spring roll instead of the usual triangular shape; it was meh. It was all missing something. I also ordered Honey wine; I was given Carrol's Mead, it was good, but I'm use to the in-house made honey wines that Ethiopian restaurants make. The lady serving us was lovely, great service. All said, with so many other great options in the Atlanta area, I would go with one of the others.

*The "Original Meat Lovers" (lamb, salmon, filet mignon, gomen, cabbage, mushrooms, rice)
Ikenna I.

Desta is the move for a Sunday lunch when you want zero stress and high-quality flavor. The space is massive, so you aren't fighting for a table, and the vibe is immediately set by the music. They had Afrobeats playing, which kept the energy right without being over the top. The beef sambusas are the essential starter crispy, well-seasoned, and gone in about two minutes. For the main, I went with the Meat Lovers combo: lamb, salmon, and filet mignon, with gomen, cabbage, mushrooms, and rice. It's rare for a spot to nail three different proteins on one plate, but the filet was tender and the lamb was seasoned like they actually care about the craft. Eating it with the injera is non-negotiable; you need it to catch all that flavor. The portions are heavy, so I did the smart thing and took the rest home. Honestly, that's the pro move--the spices hit even harder when you run it back for round two later that night. If you're in the area and want a meal that actually justifies the hype, this is it. No gimmicks, just solid food and good music.

*Goden Tibs
Blair C.

Always a good time at Desta! I came in on a Monday and didn't realize the happy hour was 40% off cocktails. Enjoyed the spiked lemonade and Passionfruit margarita. Food wise I love the goden tibs (spare ribs) with cabbage and the lamb spaghetti. Both good to share but more so the spaghetti. Want something smaller - try the sambusa with beef or lentils- fried perfectly. Service is stellar and it's great for a casual solo date, a good meal with family or a casual lunch or breakfast!

Table QR Code Menu
Karen G.

My friends and I love meeting up when we are practicing "clean eating". Although my friends aren't on the vegan path like I am, they do enjoy great tasting and healthy food options. While I ordered mushroom tidbits, a few had chicken and salmon. I suggested this restaurant and it did not disappoint! Everything was absolutely delicious and the portion sizes were great! We even ordered extra meals for the week. I was also introduced to Ethiopian Spice tea which was delicious! Please visit with a big appetite and patience because all meals are cooked fresh! Note: I'm so glad to see another location closer to Atlanta.

Lamb and shrimp
Su L.

We dined here with a large group last week. The lamb and the shrimp were particularly good. I also enjoyed the yellow split peas, potatoes and mushrooms also stood out. The beef was good but the lamb was much better. I also really enjoyed the beets. I felt that the chicken was a bit dry. All was served with plenty of injera. The restaurant is very clean and new looking. The staff were very patient with all of our questions and very helpful.

Goden Tibs with Ater and Injera
Samantha L.

They moved to a new location which has a lot more spacing and is more modern. The food is still just as incredible. The portions are large and everything tastes so delicious. The drinks aren't very good (got 2 different wines and both were not good, and the cocktails were very sweet), but the service was spot on. Shout out to Yohannes for being an incredible server, especially for a group of 10. Highly highly recommend eating at Desta!

Outside
Blessing O.

Decided to try this location out for dinner with some friends. The inside was open seating and welcoming. We were seated right away and attended to. The server had a few recommendations from the menu which was very extensive with plenty of options. We ordered the lamb, ribs, and ribeye tibs meat platter which was shareable for our table. The food came out quickly. All the meat was very flavorful and enough for all of us to share including the spinach cabbage. I ordered a side of rice with the injera as well. Everything was delicious and cooked to all of our liking. Half of us are not local but if we were, we would likely be regulars here. I'll return next time I'm in town.

Meat lovers
Christina K.

The food here is delicious! My friends and I got the meat lovers and it was more than enough food for 3 people. We got three different veggie sides with it and they were also so good! This is my second time here and their portions are always generous and their food so delicious and flavorful. Service is also very quick. I highly recommend this place to anyone, especially if you've never had Ethiopian food before. I would come back here over and over again!

Helen G.

First time here and the food was awesome!! I highly recommend the tibs, we got the chicken tibs and it was delicious! The chicken had a nice seared flavor but was tender and juicy, and the vegetables also had that same delicious smoky flavor. We also got their potato stew, which was also good but for the price and taste, would say the tibs was definitely the star of the show. For dessert we got the baklava, which was nice, sweet, and flaky but not crunchy. A good baklava but nothing too special. The service was great, they were so nice and knowledgeable about the food. Ambiance is like a clean, typical sit down, very spacious, clean, and organized. Good for dates or for just grabbing a quick bite of good food. Highly recommend coming here and getting the tibs! Great bang for your buck with delicious flavors!

Vegan Platter
Jasmin W.

I came here to celebrate with my family after my white coat ceremony. We had a decent sized party but were still seated immediately. My friend and I both ordered the chicken tibs and she also ordered Sambusa. My mom and mother in law shared a meat lovers platter and my dad got the vegan platter. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the food! Everything was delicious! The chicken tibs were delicious and went well with the injera! The collard greens were a little salty but besides that chefs kiss The restaurant had a nice ambiance and vibe, the lighting was definitely set to set the mood. This would be a great place to go on a date!

Babes
Cassandra G.

Excellent experience loved all the dishes we tried and you have to have the meat lovers - tibs lamb and ribeye with all of the lentils, cabbage, gowen and loved it all. Love all the vegan options and the injera was so delish. Our server was wonderful- come support this local, family-owned, black-owned biz, this is their second location in atlanta and I'm so happy that we have an option in Smyrna that's not too far! Come visit them if you're craving some ethiopian food! I still am on the hunt for some doro wat - but I may just have to visit Toronto again for that as you won't find it in ATL!

Vegan Platter
John B.

This Ethiopian place had a somewhat confusing menu which buried the veggie combo that I (and probably plenty of other people) order at the end. While other parts of the menu promised fresh cooking, mine was made with veggie sides that were already made and which arrived almost instantly. The variety was quite splendid, but I found the results overly salty and not quite as flavorful as I'd hoped overall. The injera on the side seemed more wheat than teff. My tea had a hit of ginger combined with a basic teabag. I guess my bar for Ethiopian is a little higher than most as I've had plenty of it before. For the price, this place was okay but I had hoped for better. It may still be the best in the area as this is not an easy cuisine to find.

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3 months ago

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11 months ago

A new experience for us and we were thrilled with the flavors and the recommendations and the service

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1 year ago

Food was tasty and service was excellent. Portion sizes were great and prices were also very reasonable. I will definitely return here.

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Thanks for giving us a try! We're so glad you enjoyed :)

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Desta Ethiopian Kitchen Westside Reviews in Other Languages

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Kategna Ethiopian Cuisine - Baklava

Kategna Ethiopian Cuisine

4.6(55 reviews)
6.1 mi

I'm pleased to have discovered this gem when it comes to Ethiopian cuisine. Like many, my first…read moreintroduction was through Desta. I learned to appreciate the tibs, awaze for spice, and shiro along with injera. But if Desta is an entrance to this food, Kategna is the next level up. The storefront itself is humble and tucked away out of sight on Buford Highway. Right upon entering, I smelled burning incense to queue me in that this was different than even my previous experiences. There was booths and small tables. I think you could do a larger party but it'd been to be spread out. It's best for parties of 4. The decor is well loved and there's a counter up front where you can go and pay when you are done. For lunch, they have specials but I decided tk get a Kategna injera as an appetizer and then Yetebaberut (spiced ground beef). Speaking with the waitress running the front of the store, I decide to play it safe and go medium spice and medium for how cooked the beef is. Kategna injera - this is life changing. I enjoy injera but an injera fried in a pan so it's crispy and flaky in different parts and coated in awaze? Wow. This will pretty much be my go to dish every time I come in the store and I will recommend it to anyone I bring. This was so incredibly delicious that I know my words are failing to convey just how good this is. Get it if you are in the store. Yetebaberut - delicious. It's mixed with collard greens and feta cheese and goes well with the basket of injera. I ate half of it (2 injera and half the bowl) and took the rest to eat at lu cb again the next day. All in all, Kategna Ethiopian is the new standard for Ethiopian in Atlanta. If you're planning in going to Desta, I'd steer you here instead. I can't wait to bring my coworker and then my wife and then some family friends (the husband's wife is Ethiopian).

Spontaneously came here for some late night munchies and the food definitely hit the spot. It was…read moreour first time trying Ethiopian food and everything was incredibly flavorful. Service was great even when it was close to their closing time! If you're hungry late at night, I highly recommend coming here than going to some fast food chain.

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Kategna Ethiopian Cuisine
Kategna Ethiopian Cuisine - Veggie Platter

Veggie Platter

Kategna Ethiopian Cuisine - Veggie Platter

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Veggie Platter

Madina Restaurant

Madina Restaurant

4.4(48 reviews)
13.0 mi
•$$

Delicious food, generous portions, reasonable price and halal. What more can you ask for?read more

Visited 6 June 2026…read more Overall, we had a good experience. Parking is shared with other businesses in the plaza, but there is plenty of available parking, including enough space to accommodate 18 wheeler trucks. When we first arrived, the older employee seemed a bit intense. He encouraged us to take our time reviewing the menu, but remained nearby watching us before we ordered. He also came across as somewhat aggressive while my friend was placing their order. After another customer voiced a complaint and left, his demeanor appeared to improve and the remainder of the visit was more pleasant. The food portions were very generous. We ordered the goat with chapati, which resembles roti skin, and two people were able to share it comfortably and leave satisfied. We also shared the king fish and rice, which was excellent and still left us with leftovers. Another friend ordered the tibis with spaghetti, and that portion was large enough that leftovers had to be taken home as well. The menu described the tibis as spicy, but we did not find it spicy at all. The food was flavorful, the portions offered great value, and there was plenty of seating available. While the service could have been more welcoming at the start, the quality and quantity of the food made for an enjoyable dining experience overall.

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Madina Restaurant - MADINA GOAT MEAT DISH YUMMY ROUND OF APPALUSE

MADINA GOAT MEAT DISH YUMMY ROUND OF APPALUSE

Madina Restaurant
Madina Restaurant

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Jebena Bistro - This is the Veggie Platter and man was it good!!

Jebena Bistro

5.0(6 reviews)
8.6 mi

I had gone down (by Uber) to Atlanta Vintage Books for the afternoon to lounge in their chairs and…read moreread books, soak up the culture and enjoy their resident cats. I had not eaten before I left and after several hours there, I was HUNGRY. Because I had taken Uber, I asked the lady at the counter where was the closest restaurant within walking distance. She directed me across the street - just a hop skip and a jump from the bookstore. to Jebena Bistro. Never having eaten Ethiopian food, I decided to give it a try. As "Noelle" to the right, said, it's a little "hole in the wall". From the outside, it's nothing to write home about. But as soon as I walked in, I knew I was going to enjoy it. First of all, the lady that waited on me was so kind and welcoming. I asked her for her recommendations and she suggested several things. I ended up choosing the vegetable platter. When she brought it out, she explained to me that they eat with their hands. There was no silverware. She showed me the bread that they use to soak up the food with. It was made of a sponge-like substance and was rolled up. The platter was SO good. I quickly filled up and had to get a "to go" box which was filled with food. The amount of food I received for price I paid was ample. It easily made me a second meal at home. This wasn't a fancy place. But the food was very tasty and I will go back in the future.

What a jem! We are working our way trying every Ethiopian place in metro Atlanta. Jebena did not…read moredisappoint. The food was so fresh and flavorful! We bought two platters. One to share and one to take home to eat the next day! The love and care that went in to our meal was obvious. You have to try Jebena!!!

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Jebena Bistro - The inside of the restaurant

The inside of the restaurant

Jebena Bistro - Alicha firfir, kitfo & Derek tibs

Alicha firfir, kitfo & Derek tibs

Jebena Bistro

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Desta Ethiopian Kitchen Westside - ethiopian - Updated November 2026

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