Rating: 4.5 Came to stopped by this local family owned Ethiopian restaurant for lunch on the way to Vermont. Street parking available around the area. It's a small restaurant with just few seatings and a counter. Inside was pretty empty. Looked authentic as everyone in there were African people and seemed to be speaking African language. We sat down and looked at the menu. Menu is small but offer authentic Ethiopian dishes. I ended up getting some samosas to start, spicy lentil, mixed veggie and beef. Had chai tea. Chai tea was nice and hot, chai flavor with subtle sweetness and creaminess. The samosas were fresh, steaming, crispy, and hot on the inside. Came with a dipping sauce the has bit of acidity. All the types were good but beef was my favorite. We got Ethiopian platter with meat. It came with large anjero which is a spongy fermented flat bread which feels and look like a pancake. It came with 5 different dishes on top which consisted of lentil mix, beef and vegetables, cauliflower and eggplant, chicken and veggie, and collard greens and vegetables. You scoop up the dish with anjero and eat them together. I've never had this kind of dish but it was very interesting and tasty. It had lots of vegetables and was large portion so even sharing with another person, I feel like i got really full and got my vegetables for the day. Everything was spiced and flavored well and reminded of authentic home cooking. Even though that taste of the food wasn't mind blowing it was hearty, soulful and healthy food that leave you feel satisfied. The service was excellent. The server which i think is the owner was very nice and helpful. Being relatively new to Ethiopian cuisine he was able help us navigate what to expect and order and answer any questions. He was very friendly and almost felt like a fatherly figure. Overall this place is definitely a hidden gem. If you want to try authentic Ethiopian soul food. I highly recommend visiting. Food and service were excellent. I enjoyed the experience and i was glad that i was able to try new type of food i've never tried before. These kind of family owned local restaurant are what i like to and want others to support. read more

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I had only been to one Ethiopian restaurant before and enjoyed the food there, so I was eager to try this restaurant. The man working there was friendly and welcoming and we got an Ethiopian anjero platter with three vegetable stews, beef, and chicken. Everything was delicious and tasted healthy and fresh. I think I preferred both meat stews and the mixed vegetable stew over the lentils and eggplant stews, but everything was great. I'm going to have to clarify this next time maybe, but the stews came atop a large anjero that tasted a bit more sour than the smaller ones that came on the side. We remember the bread from the other Ethiopian place we've tried in the past to be more sour than both of the ones we had here. I looked it up and it seems there's a difference between the Ethiopian anjero (larger and more fermented/sour) and the Somali one. I like both, but it was just interesting to learn. read more

Fatima's Cafe - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Amazing samosas!! Everyone was super helpful and friendly. The place is clean and there is parking in the back. I would recommend getting all the types of samosas. The platters are super good value, my favorite was the ugali with sukuma. The meat was delicious and everything was well seasoned. read more

Spotless and simple decor. Menus are provided right off the bat with a friendly greeting! This place is simple with decor and the staff super helpful. I will assume the waiter is also the cook and owner, and he was super friendly. He seems to know almost everyone who enters the restaurant because he chats and greets them so warmly. He gave us some recommendations and offered extra bread. He asked questions and wanted us to also ask whatever questions came to mind, as he knew it was our first time trying out Ethiopian cuisine. He made some dad jokes and definitely gave dad vibes in a good way~ very welcoming and safe to ask anything. Behind the counter were women cooking and speaking their native language ~ great signs that we were going to enjoy an authentic meal~ the environment, food and drinks were homey, made to order. Ordered a platter, the meat version along with one of every samosas filling flavor and a berry smoothie drink~ my drink was tasty, but the chia was more tasty and warm, served in a large mug~ we were given extra bread on the side. Honestly such a great spot.Great spot during my road trip today~ read more

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Fatima and her husband (apologies I did not get your name) were very kind as it was my first time trying Kenyan-Somalian cuisine. I generally gravitate towards vegan and/or vegetarian and Fatima's did not disappoint. I ordered their East African Dinner Plate and could easily tell that they use very minimal oil which is a huge plus. I was surprised that their vegan/vegetarian dishes do not contain butter as I thought their vegetable stews tasted buttery which just shows you how they perfected their craft. Since I work in the area I'm looking forward to my next meal at Fatima's. Thank you for the hospitality! read more

Fatima's Cafe - Somalian Anjero (left) and 3 Vegetarian Stews (right) - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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Great food and very friendly, I recommend you give it a try you won't be disappointed

Got two East African Dinner Plates with a variety of options, both breads, and sambusas. Everything was delicious! My favorite sides were the lentils and the bata. ​The chicken and beef were both excellent, I look forward to trying the goat next time it's available. Highly recommend! read more

This is my new favorite place. The food was delicious, and the welcome was extraordinary. I had the goat, mixed vegetables, and lentils, and it was the perfect combination with Somali Anjero. The chai was also outstanding. I can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu! read more

This place is the best! A true mom and pop restaurant with incredible homemade food. Each bite is made with love! I can never have enough of the vegan/ vegetarian stew with the spiced lentils and rice. The Samosa's are fantastic and the mandazi donuts are such a delicious dessert. Mohamed and Fatima serve you with great care. Cozy vibe and 100% worth eating in our bringing home take out. read more

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We stopped in here and were so happy we did! The service was amazing and the owner kept us laughing. The food was great and we will definitely be back! read more

I decided to Fatima's for Lunch today and I'm very happy that I did. The restaurant was spotless which is always a great start. I wasn't sure what to order so the owner helped me pick out a meal he was very kind. The food was incredible. I will definitely be coming back for a meal every time I'm in the area! read more

This place was amazing! I was visiting my friend in Worcester and was really excited to try some Ethiopian food because I've heard it's great in the area. The restaurant is very no frills, but it has a homey feel to it and the staff is very warm and gracious. I could really tell they were proud to serve their food. It's best to come here with a group (we had three of us) so that you can sample a few dishes and share. We tried one of each samosa, all of which were absolutely delicious, but my personal favorite was the beef. The Ethiopian Anjero Platter was 100% the way to go and had a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Everything hit the spot and we left feeling satisfied. Can't beat the amount of food and flavor for the price. I'll have to visit again soon! read more

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We visited Fatima's while in Worcester for some dr visits at UMass. Small, visibly authentic and spotlessly clean; my only recommendation would be some quietly playing African music to drown out the otherwise quiet location. The owner guy that served us was cool as a breeze and very helpful. We ended up getting the injera platter, the lamb sandwich and a trio of samosas to start. The samosas were probably some of the best I've had. We had one beef, one lentil and one vegetable; all very fresh, full of stuffing and very tasty. My favorite was the beef followed by the lentil. The injera platter came and if you've ever had injera bread it was pretty much exactly what you would expect; a huge piece of thinly rolled bread over a large plate, adorned with several vegetable and meats for you to eat with your hands rolled in the delicate injera bread. My only complaint about the injera dish was that toward the center of the dish, the bread was badly stuck to the dish and you almost had to scrape it off with your finger nails . Otherwise very tasty and delicious with additional bread as needed. The lamb sandwich was huge and piping hot, full of fresh vegetables and tasty lamb chunks. We capped off the dinner with one of their house made tres leches which was thick and milky along with a piece of locally made chocolate molten cake which was warm, oozing and delicious. Finally we enjoyed some excellent and aramotic chai tea. Would highly recommend giving this place a shot and surprising your taste buds! JAMBO! read more

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Absolutely love this place! Cute space and kind owners. The food is amazing and so delicious!! Must stop for sure read more

Fatima's Cafe - Ethiopian Anjero Platter - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

I live close to Fatima's cafe and always drive by it. I've read so many reviews over the years, and finally decided to try it recently. I ordered the ugali with a side of rice pilau and goat stew. What I will say is the owner is so charming, and took time to explain to me that the dish is considered the "poor man's dish" in his country, and since cornmeal is so cheap, he didn't grow up really liking it. He spoke with such pride, and it honestly filled my heart. But, I wasn't as impressed with the food unfortunately. I thought it was just ok. As an African, I'm used to a certain level of spice and seasoning in dishes that I didn't quite experience in the dishes I ate. I found them to be actually a bit bland. Perhaps, they don't season the food as much to appeal to a wider audience and not to make it very spicy, but I think the goat stew I ordered could have been better seasoned. I found the rice to be a bit flavorless, so I didn't quite finish it. I think it's good to try all kinds of foods before labeling something the best in the area especially if you may not be familiar with the specific cuisine in general. I personally wouldn't order from here again, but at least glad I tried it. read more

Fatima's cafe is amazing! We had them cater an event for us and everyone couldn't stop talking about how good the food was. Definitely highly recommend their catering for your next event! read more

I cannot recommend this place enough! I ordered from here to cater a work meeting in the area. For many of us, it was our first time having African food and certainly won't be the last! Everything was absolutely delicious. It was a large order, and when I picked it up yesterday morning, everything was hot and fresh. Equally as important though, the owners and staff were truly the kindest people. The gentleman offered me a cup of tea while I waited for the order to be packed and then helped me carry the trays of food to my car which he did not have to do. It's a family environment and you can tell they care a lot about it and put so much work into every order. I will definitely be coming back here! read more

This was our first time trying to East African food and Fatima's absolutely nailed it. We went with the samosas and lamb sandwich. Both dishes were incredible. We tried three different kinds of samosas;spicy lentils, beef, and mixed vegetables. All were amazing but my favorite for sure was the spicy lentils. The family who owns and runs this business are so incredibly nice. This is by far one of our favorite dining experiences in Worcester. We will definitely be adding Fatima's to our regular dine in and take out rotation. Thank you Fatima's for the awesome meal! read more

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First time having African food and it was delicious. Omar is very kind and welcoming. The food is very tasty and the portion size is large. The lentil Samosa was great! read more

Across from the CVS, I saw this little place I probably passed 100 times since moving to worcester. Knowing that great African food CAN be vegetarian, I decided to check it out. The ambiance was that of any mom and Pop shop where you knew the food came in the Styrofoam containers but slaps harder than any chain or franchise. The charismatic and friendly Ethiopian owner wasted no time in assuring me that anything could be made vegetarian or vegan. He confidently suggested I get the lentil or mixed veggie samosas. I ended up getting three of each. He sold me on what, so far, has been the best chai tea I have had... As he promised. I will definitely be back to sample more of the menu and converse with this lovely local business owner. Oh, and did I fail to mention, they make their own green hot sauce and it is so good and spicy! read more

Fatima's Cafe - 2 of the 6 mixed veggies & lentil somosas. With a SPICCCCY homemade sauce - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

we loved Fatima's Cafe so so much! we were super hungry when we came in and we gobbled everything up for sure. we had the vegetarian injera platter for two and all the individual side dishes were amazing. the owner also recommended us to get an extra chapati to eat the sides with and it was so so good - highly recommend! we also got the lentils and the vegetables sambusa. this is a really sweet mom and pop type restaurant, the service is amazing and the food even better ! read more

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Amazing food, and so many vegan options. I got the ugali and sukama and it was so delicious and healthy. The fruit juice was very refreshing. My friends got wraps and said they were delicious. It's great to have a place where meat eaters and vegans alike have excellent options! I will definitely return again. read more

Fatima's Cafe - Ugali with sukuma - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

Omar is always a gracious host, and the food is always wonderful. Whether you are vegetarian or a meat lover you have great options. Been a regular for years. read more

After a long day of work in the rain, this was exactly what I needed. It was like I was being hugged by a meal. My coworker and I shared the veggie platter, samosas and sipped on some Chai tea. Everything had such beautiful textures and flavors, we melted right into every dish. We come to the area for work often, and this is now one of our 'must stop' places. read more

My whole family, including two kids, loves Fatima's! They are so friendly and make delicious food.

Food and staff are absolutely amazing!!!! The place is nice and small and quiet, we absolutely loved it and HIGHLY recommend for everyone!! :) read more

Homey feel. Attentive service. Food was authentic-tasting and great portion size for big eaters. Will be back!

Best samosas my husband has ever had and he gets them a lot. My 13year old son loved the food and even ate the vegetables. The ambiance is minimal but the owner is lovely and makes you feel so welcome. The food is really delicious. read more

Thank you to Fatima's Cafe for donating your delicious vegetarian, beef, and spicy lentil samosas for the event hosted by RIAC, ARISE, ORIS and Ascentria for Refugee Day, June 23rd! The event wouldn't be the same without the great food! - ARISE read more

I never have seen Somali restaurant in my life. I would say this restaurant is an African restaurants with a lot of Indian influence. Somali tea is very similar to Indian tea which has milk and sugar. Somali anjero looks almost like Indian dosa. Dosa tastes better though. Also Ethiopian anjero tastes better than Somali anjero. But there are a lot more Ethiopian restaurants around. So I went with Somali anjero. Beef stew and chicken stew were good, though I like beef stew more. Spicy lentils and cauliflower and eggplant very were good too. I like spicy lentils more. All the side dish curries I mentioned tasted very similar to equivalent Indian food, but less spicy. Beef samosa was good, again slightly less spicy than Indian version. Chappati is also good. It is similar to Indian slightly (not totally) layered paratha. Owners are very friendly people. Will help you to find the food you will like. read more

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I've never dined in the restaurant but we get the take out often and the samosas are out of this world!

The food was excellent, and our server was very funny and engaging. I haven't tried the takeout but it seems like it would work well. Fun little super casual café, highly recommend. read more

We drove 40 minutes to try Fatima's on the recommendation of other reviewers, and were not disappointed! It is a spare, clean one-room dining area with a one page menu, which seems to allow the chef to perfect each of the offerings. We elected to share a vegan edition of Ethiopian-style Injera with three different vegetable stews, which were served in abundant portions. Of the three stews the lentils were my favorite, but all were delicious. Highly recommend the samosas as well, and wished we had room for dessert. There were many other customers but it was not so busy that we had to wait for seats or food, and the owner/proprietor is kind and friendly and welcoming. We will be back! read more

Amazing food and service!! Will definitely be back. All the food was cooked fresh and flavorful.

We got the three samosas and veggie and meat injera platter and finished with chai. Everything was so delicious, the chicken and eggplant stews were our favorite. The service was phenomenal, they were so kind and attentive, brought us fresh made hot sauce that was so good. Can't wait to go back read more

Fatima's Cafe - injera platter - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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We came here around 1pm on a Sunday and it was pretty empty but soon after the place got really packed around 2pm. The service was excellent, the waiter explained each dish and provided photos for references. We ordered the trio mixed samosas, beef, vegetarian and lentils. They were crispy on the outside without too much dough and it was delicious with a bit of spice. The green sauce is spicy but we got it on the side. We also had the dinner combo with chapati, eggplant cauliflower side and goat. That was very different compared to Indian food we've had so that was nice. The lamb sandwich was also very tender and juicy. The chai tea was one of the best chai tea I've had. Almost like a dessert but not too sweet. I'd come back to try more menu items! read more

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***COME SUPPORT THIS AMAZING LITTLE RESTAURANT!*** The owner (and one of the kindest and happiest people I've met in a while) was telling me how, for the first three years his shop was open, business was tough! But Yelp helped get the word out on how absolutely AWESOME the food and service are here. I've never had Ethiopian cuisine before so I had a lot of questions. After speaking to the owner- I trusted him enough to make the decisions for me. I told him to make me a plate of whatever he recommended. First I tried the beef samosas. Ohhh my GOODNESS! So flavorful! And the hot sauce that came with it was so good that I asked for some to take home. Next, he brought out a goat dish (I've never had goat!) with sides of lentils, squash and eggplant in savory sauces with a serving of flat bread to scoop everything up with. He instructed me to eat with my hands. Ugh. I'm already dying to go back!! It was definitely a unique experience. I love trying new things! This was definitely at the top of my list of places to try. I can see why they got so many great reviews! read more

Fatima's Cafe - This goat dish was to die for! - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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Good food at decent prices Best for takeout Owners very accommodating abs swxhhhu b Even sweeter read more

Love love love Fatima's Ethiopian food. It is unique and I feel well cared for while ordering. The vegetarian plate is 10/10 read more

Fatima's Cafe - Vegetarian platter - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

I came here wanting to try African food. Started out with samosas. The crisp hot shell went well with the filling and green hot sauce/salsa. I'd choose the beef and lentil samosa over the vegetable samosa. The lentils I got on the veggie plate was good, but the potato/cabbage and eggplant/ cauliflower was bland. This was served with warm chapati. My sister enjoyed her lamb meat sandwich, which, once I had a taste, had much more seasoning. read more

Fatima's Cafe - Veggie stew with chapati And Veggie stew over rice with a little goat - African Near Me - Worcester, Massachusetts

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