I'm giving this place 4 stars only because of my first experience--the food itself easily deserves a full 5 The first time we went, nobody came to attend to us for almost 20 minutes. One staff member briefly came out when the phone rang, saw us waiting, and just went back inside without asking us to sit or take our order. That part of the service was honestly quite disappointing. That said, the food completely turned things around for me on our second visit. I'm vegetarian, and their vegetarian combo was amazing. The injera was especially impressive--no overly sour aftertaste like I've had at many other Ethiopian restaurants. Every side dish was flavorful and honestly mouth-watering. I really like a good balanced, healthy meal with protein and greens, and this combo had everything I was hoping for. On our second visit, the host was at least warm and attentive, which made a big difference in the experience. Also worth mentioning--they have great deals on Mondays and Tuesdays. In today's economy, that definitely makes it more likely I'll be coming back. Overall, amazing food. Service just needs a bit more consistency. read more

Gojo Café - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I've had Ethiopian food on my to try list of cuisines for quite some time and I finally had the time to give it a go! There was some nice wall decor around the restaurant and it had a cozy feel. Gojo does a Tuesday veggie platter special for 12.99 and we added on the lamb ribs for an additional 21.99 in the middle which was accompanied by extra injera. Honestly, this meal was super filling since all the veggie side dishes also sit on a giant injera I liked the mild spice of the lamb as well as the spinach and lentil side dishes (the cabbage one was just ok). Overall a very interactive and filling meal and I might be back to try their tartare next! read more

Gojo Café - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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We ordered the Group of 3 (61.97$) even though we were 4 people because according to the menu, the only difference between Group of 3 and Group of 4 (81.96$) is that Group of 4 has an extra Gojo Veggie Combo. If you are 4 and hungry, I would recommend getting one additional dish. This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, and it was quite good. We came during the holiday season, so there was one person womanning the whole restaurant. The music was Ethiopian, which was nice ! The "crepe" (called Anjera I believe) is fermented, meaning that, if you were expecting a sweet crepe-like flavour, you will be surprised because it's quite sour. The combo came with extra Anjera on the side. Beef Key Wats: I quite liked it. Not super "stew"-like in my opinion (more like grilled if that makes sense?), but also not dry. Lamb and Chicken Awaze Tibs: reminiscent of a curry of sorts? More stew-like. Quite spiced/flavourful. Bell-pepper presence. Gojo Veggie Combo: the veggies were also quite flavourful and varried. Included was cabbage, spinach, green beans, lentils. Y'all I am embarrassed to say that it was SPICY for me (but also my capsaicin tolerance is non-existent). Overall, the meats were moist, tender, and flavourful. read more

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Good value, friendly and timely service, not huge in there but the tables they do have are full size Food was really good...definitely going back. I'm vegetarian but I think what I got was vegan as well, the veggie combos at these Ethiopian places usually are. I intend to return! read more

Service was very pleasant and food was good. I've decided that I don't really like injera and prefer a harder bread like naan. Or maybe I'll ask for a spoon or fork next time. Friend and I shared a lamb combo and a lamb firfir. Would like to try something else next time. read more

Cozy, clean interior with a laid-back vibe. The food comes out on the slow side, but it's worth the wait! The beef key wat was wonderful - a little spicy and so, so flavourful. The beef awaze tibs was just as good with a more tangy flavour profile. Eating everything with your hands and family style was a fun experience. Looking forward to coming back and trying some of their other dishes. read more

Gojo Café - Beef key wat and beef awaze tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

It's been too long since we've had Ethiopian food so we decided to give Gojo Café a try. They've been around since 2006 and are nearby a ChonqQing branch. We dropped in on a slow Tuesday (with 7:00pm reservations). Service was a one man show. The one page menu consists of vegetarian, fish goulash, meat and combos. The veggie combo is on special ($8.99) on Monday and Tuesday. - Injera - we were given one basket to start but brought another once we ran out. The injera was fine as a vehicle for all the meat and vegetables but on it's own, it didn't have any sour, fermented notes. - 2x Veggie combo on special ($8.99) - sadly, we weren't given any cabbage. Not sure why that was. Usually the vegetable combo is a highlight but I only enjoyed the green beans. The spinach was unremarkable while the split red lentils and split peas were bland. Disappointing. - Dulet kitfo ($19.49) - the seasoning (mitmita, spicy chili powder and herbed clarified butter) was fantastic. I've eaten many tartares but this was a first at an Ethiopian restaurant. Everyone's favourite dish of the night. - House lamb kikil ($18.99) - the sauce was tasty but the lamb slightly overcooked. Decent eats at GJ but lacking some flavour. 3.5 stars. read more

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Ethiopian Food is generally a favourite of mine and was super excited to try out Gojo cafe! Based on some of the recommendations, I was told this was a cute little cafe on Commercial Drive that had value for money Ethiopian food and for the most part we weren't disappointed. I visited Gojo cafe with a group of 4 people and we decided to get the group of 3 platter that allowed us to try a bit of everything! The group of 3 platter consisted of Chicken, Lamb and Beef with a range of different vegetable accompaniments. The Chicken and Lamb were extremely flavourful and succulent, however the beef was lacking a bit of flavour and wasn't my favourite. The vegetable accompaniments worked excellent with the rest of the platter. I would recommend getting the platter if you are going in a group as it allows you to get a taste of everything. Service was a bit lacking due to it being a one woman show. We did need to call her on most occasion to get service. We did walk in on a Sunday afternoon at 2:30pm, so the restaurant was relatively quiet and the ambience of the restaurant is pretty muted, pretty much your run of the mill restaurant that focuses on providing value food without much jazz. A good option if you're in the area, would recommend! read more

Gojo Café - Group of 3 platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I have been going to gojo for years and have watched the restaurant really improve overtime. I was delighted to see new lighting and menus during my latest visit. I ordered the usual veggie platter, and tried a green salad and sambusa (very similar to a samosa) for the first time. The veggie platter was great as usual, but I probably wouldn't try the sambusa again as it was very hard and the salad was just okay. The only reason I can't give 5 stars today was an awkward experience when I paid. The owner brought the machine to the table and asked if my card was a debit card, I told him it was a master card and he asked if I could pay with debit. I almost never use my debit card and much prefer my credit card, I know that small businesses have high merchant fees and usually tip an extra 10% to cover it and then some. The owner looked at my friend who I was dining with almost to imply that he did not want take my money because it was a credit card, but eventually let me pay with my card. I know I could have just used my debit card, and I understand the cost to merchants, but I felt embarrassed because of the whole thing because it was like being told my money wasn't good enough. I would suggest you plan to pay with Interac or cash if you decide to dine here. read more

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Ethiopian food is one of my favorites and I'm happy I tried Gojo as my first Ethiopian restaurant in Vancouver. It was really good and fairly priced. The staff was really friendly and pick up at the restaurant was really easy and they are following all the guidelines for COVID really well. I got the veggie and meat (lamb) combo and it was absolutely great. My friend got the veggie combo and it was equally as good. I thought the spice was was perfect. I would say it was mild spice. Will absolutely come back. Thank you for the great service and incredible food read more

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Finally, i had the chance to try Ethiopian food for some time in Vancouver. We got the gojo meat and veggie combo with extra chicken awaze tibs. It is the national dish there and this food reminds me of home. We ate with hands and the flavour and the spicyness reminds me of home food. I really love this because it was so amazing. I am looking forward to coming back here again in the future. Recommended. Cheers! read more

Gojo Café - Gojo veggie and meat combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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It looked so good online, but really was a disappointment in person. The first problem is they opened 15 minutes late. There were not many tables in the restaurant and the tables for 2 seemed really small and cramped. The decor was so so, but looked warn and run down in some areas compared to a better place doen the street. The served 2 glasses and a pitcher of room temperature water with no ice. However, one of the glasses was a little dirty. There were only 3 tables initially, and a very nice man working there, but it seemed as if he was the only one there and it seemed he took an order from one table and then disappeared. Apparently he was the only one working the phone, the front of the house, and doing the cooking? It was approaching 30 minutes in and we still had not been checked on since the water service, and we still had not placed an order. It seemed like we would be there forever, abandoned by the missing staff in the front, dealing with the inefficiency of them not being ready for operating, or for serving their customers in an acceptable manner. A serial process of taking orders and cooking one table at a time, disappearing from site, was completely unacceptable. Meanwhile, the TV was off, there was not any music, and the ambiance and atmosphere were really boring. We were sitting there hungry/hangry, neglected, with only a warm dirty glass of water. We were really excited to try this restaurant from the looks of their menu online. Unfortunately, we're totally disappointed and went to another small restaurant that was ran far better in every aspect. Either other reviews are quite inflated or we really came on their worst day. Not impressed regardless, as the approach here was not professional. read more

This place is delicious. Food feels very homely and has great veggie options. Must try their Gomen. I finished my veggie combo for one even though I was not hungry. Take away: Eat here. Get extra Gomen. The Kitfo is spicy, can be cooked (don't get it cooked) very fresh meat. Ambiance: 3.5/5 It's a small casual dining space, with nice painting pieces around. Ethiopian music playing and the video display on the tv. I had a great time with my family. Food: 5/5 This was amazingly tasty. I ordered the veggie platter for one which was delicious, their gomen is we had to order extra even when we were stuffed. Sadly I didn't take a picture because I ate everything before I remembered to. The kitfo (can be cooked/ traditionally uncooked) and key wat my family order really enjoyed it, they serve it fairly spicy. Their injera is nice spongy and doesn't seem as fermented as someother places so the "sourness" is tame (but also the lemon water may have effect my taste buds ). A good place to get people hooked on Ethiopian food. Service: 5/5 Friendly lady, gave great service. Constant water refills, checked on us but gave us enough space to have a chat in privacy. She is genuinely sweet and nice throughout our experience there. Worth: 5/5 Yes the decor is not the best, but gosh darnit the food is so delicious. A must try. It would be one of my regular places if I live further out there. read more

Gojo Café - Kitfo/ Key wat - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I took my daughter to a nearby play area and by the time she was done playing, we were starving. I looked for nearby restaurants in my trusted yelp and this one popped. I love Ethiopian food and though of trying it out. First of all, the owner is really sweet. We asked if we could have some lentils first for our daughter and he obliged. Food took time to arrive but tasted great. We had doro wot with vegetarian combination. Chicken tasted really good. I wish I had more of it. Lentils and vegetables were perfectly seasoned. I wished they had lentil sambusa as I love it. Overall amazing food with amazing service. read more

Gojo Café - Doro wot and vegetarian combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

An Ethiopian restaurant on Commercial Drive. It was a bit intimidating to try something we knew nothing about but luckily the owner was super helpful and recommended us the meat and veggie combo and taught us how to eat it. You traditionally eat it with your hands which was a fun! The fermented injera bread was sour and went well with the different stews, making it hearty and delicious! Support small businesses!! read more

Gojo Café - Meat and Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I am a big supporter of small, cultural businesses; and I love Ethiopian food. The owner was all smiles and super kind. The flavours on the lamb and meat dishes were robust, and I was really happy with the portions. The veggie half of the meat / veggie combo could have used a bit more spicing, but it was still delicious. There is only take away right now (food came out in 10 min though), but this would be a lovely place to go back for Ethiopian coffee one day. read more

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Food: superb. I kept eating and eating and eating and eating. Be sure to come here with an empty stomach. Between three people, it came up to 50 dollars and we were stuffed. Service is kind and thoughtful. The fish goulash is the bomb and house made injira is to die for. Yesssssssssss read more

I must be spoiled with a nearby alternative because I cannot for the life of me understand how the food here ranks as 4 star. I ordered a vegetarian plate, which I get at every Ethiopian restaurant I go to. It just seemed to me that everything was just not the luscious rich and tasty I'm used to at the other place. Maybe this is the diet version with no oil whatsoever. I should probably like it more, but it just seemed so blah. The red lentil miser wot was horribly overcooked mush. The service was nice, prompt, and the place seemed clean. No masks worn by anyone here which isn't the image I'd want to display if I was running a restaurant. I wasn't scared enough to eat, but I given the blah meal and lack of concern, I won't be back. Sorry guys, you seemed nice. read more

I liked the food and vive of the restaurant. It is a good place to try Ethiopean cuisine for the first time. You don't need to worry about unfamiliar spicies. but the portion was too small for me. read more

Gojo Café - Food was good - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Excellent food. Excellent value. I like to go here after a show at The Rio (a nearby independent cinema and performance space). I looove the vegetarian platter. It's a great deal anytime, but on Monday and Tuesdays it's only $7.99 per person. Service always friendly and great food. What more dan one ask. read more

Avg cost: $15pp Seems to be a unique place. I had the choice between this and Chonqing (Chinese) which is a better reviewed place just around the corner from here. However, my drive for new experiences settled the dilemma with ease - an African cuisine is to be found few and far between. I walked into an empty restaurant with no soul in sight. A cheerful man then appeared out of nowhere to greet and make me comfortable. The menu was, as expected, completely new territory but the gentleman was helpful. I settled with a chicken dish titled 'Doro Awaze Tibs' which, like others in that category, was to be served with 'Injera' - a kind of flat bread which I assume is the carb filler of the meal. The meal arrived in a large plate/platter with a side basket of extra bread. The platter itself was covered in a layer of bread with the chicken preparation on top in the centre. The bread was similar to a 'dosa' from an Indian cuisine, only thicker and less crispy. Meal quality was tasty overall. While I did like the flavours, the chicken was over-salted and over-cooked. Not sure if that is how it's supposed to be. I feel the other more suggested items would be worth a try before one makes up a general opinion. read more

Gojo Café - Doro Awaze Tibs (chicken) - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

Location: fairly easy to find on Broadway, look for the little yellow awning. We found street parking easily on a Sunday night. Inside: very thoughtfully and tastefully decorated with a "hut" theme. They had many various Christmas decorations including a tree. Loved the cute decor. Bathroom is more modern & clean than many cafes, automatic light switch, dual flush toilet, sensor towel dispenser etc. Service: lovely. No complaints at all. Family run business who work very hard; we don't mind waiting for the food. Food: Delicious! Awaze chicken tons (choice of spicy level) & mixed veggies/beef cube combo!! Mmm! Flavorful. Best injera I've ever had before! It wasn't as sour as other restaurants. We're very comfortable with getting our hands right into the food with delish sauces!! Highly recommend!! If you've never tried Ethiopian food before, give this cafe a try!! If you have and want a great Ethiopian meal, try Gojo Cafe!! read more

Okay, so I've been to quite a few ethiopian restaurants in Vancouver (four) and this was one of the best ones so far. I always get the veggie combo and was happy to find that this restaurant had big portions! Plus, it was tuesday--so it was even cheaper than usual (7.99/person) ! All my friends enjoyed it and we had a little bit of leftovers to take home too. Service was very friendly and welcoming. We will definitely come back again next time. :) read more

Gojo Café - Veggie Combo for four people plus injera ! - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This restaurant is AWESOME. I was in the area visiting a friend, and I insisted she tried Ethiopian food for the first time. I looked on the map and boom, there was a place right there 5 minutes walking away from her house. Boy am I jealous of the residents of that neighborhood, cause if I lived there, I'd be eating at gojo ALL the time. So we go in and I'm pleasantly surprised at how nice it is. All the Etheopian places I've been to before weren't the most pretty of restaurants, but I never cared as long as it was sanitary. This restaurant is actually nice looking on the inside! The family that works here are very nice and helpful. I always order Doro Wot and some kind of Lentil dish. So they had the Doro Wot and a vegetarian combo dish that included the lentils. The food was delicious. I was so shocked at how good the lentils were. The lentils here are much tastier than anywhere else I've been. Everything was so delicious. I also had ordered hot tea and it was so yummy! I forgot to ask what kind of tea it was but it was a black tea. I will definitely be visiting this restaurant again when I'm in the area. read more

Gojo Café - Yummy!! - Ethiopian Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I have been looking forward to trying Ethiopian food for a long time, but unfortunately this was disappointing. The service was very friendly and fast. However the food just wasn't that good. The beef is described as tender, but was extremely chewy, almost inedible. The chicken was better, but overall the food lacked good flavor except heavy garlic, sauces were very oily. The bread is very different, spongey and very sour, not to my liking. It isn't cheap either. Maybe I tried the wrong things, but wouldn't recommend. read more

Loved everything about this place. Went by myself for dinner and to work a while on my laptop. The server was on top of it (except he didn't notice me walk in until a few mins passed), the water was delicious fresh lemon water, the music playing was interesting but calm and soothing (good for digestion if you ask me!), the food was delicious and not slathered in grease or oil, veggies tasted fresh, quite light for this type of fare imo; he kept refilling my water and making sure I was OK, the COST came in at BELOW what I had expected (maybe platters are priced per person?), people-watching opportunities were world-class, but super chill at the same time. Decor, lighting, temp, just a fantastic place to spend a few hours. He encouraged me to stay and type away which was really kind. I'll be back! read more

Fairly tasty but ordinary Ethiopian fare. I came on a Saturday evening at 6pm and the place wasn't particularly busy. I ordered the veggie platter (all vegan), which came with five different items, the biggest portion and tastiest of which was the misir wat (spiced red lentils), the rest of which weren't pretty plain. The portion overall wasn't particularly large; even the injera portion wasn't that large and they charge more for extra (whereas all the other Ethiopian places in town give you extra for free). I had to go home and have a snack! Friendly, quick service. Not a bad spot, but there are superior Ethiopian places in town: head down the street to Addis or even better, to Cafe d'Afrique instead. read more

Went here for a Meatless Meetup. The food we had was pretty good, though not the best Ethiopian I've had in town - for that, visit Red Sea on Broadway and Fraser. Still, it was satisfying. Unfortunately we were not given everything we were promised with the meetup purchase price - kind of disappointing - but we were still full. I'm giving Gojo three stars because it was good, and vegan-friendly, but it wasn't the best Ethiopian I've had. It just wasn't amazing. I am not likely to visit Gojo again, only because there are a couple of Ethiopian places I like more that are in the same neighbourhood. read more

Atkilt knows how to cook real authentic Ethiopian cusine. Extremely friendly and helpful for first timers to this style of cooking. I personally tried the platter with a few different dishes to taste a variety. Rich flavor, good texture. Overall well rounded family environment restaurant. read more

I really expected to have a different experience here based on the reviews and my dining pal's past experience. He thinks that maybe there has been an owner change and that is why we had a meh time. We ordered the veggie combo platter and that has to be the saddest veggie platter I've seen. The spinach pile was the size of a ping pong ball. Yellow lentils maybe the size of a golf ball. The red lentils seemed to have a bit more size. But mostly we were just eating the injera for dinner. My pal's meat dish came out a lot more robust, so maybe this is only a place to get bang for your buck if you're a meat eater? read more

Unassuming frontage; step inside to a lovely hidden gem. Nicely decorated, trad music, no TV!!! We ordered the recommended sampler platter and an addtl lamb platter. Dishes are served with a flat bread used for eating. Nicely presented, good heat in the spice. A great first Ethiopian experience for us and we'll be back when we're in the area. read more

Ethiopian is one of my favourite cousines... after trying different dishes at the Gojo Cafe here are my observations: - Veggie plater: the stew portions are indeed small, but they have special offer for it on Monday and Tuesday. As for one person it is just fine. - On other days I just get Gojo's vegetarian special meal, which is grean beans, and spinach. I absolutely love it. Is is a bit oily, but the portion is just right. - dishes are served fairly quickly - Ethiopian tea is nice I find with this place it takes time to like it. At first I also had expectations having different experience at other Ethiopian places, but after a while this place prooved to be friendly and reliable for late lunch/early dinner. I felt there welcomed and had a good time relaxing after work. read more

The food was really good! When we first walked in, it was a bit chilly inside, but once the food came, we were all warm and toasty. The restaurant itself is clean and tidy and it has a cute village kind of feeling. The music in the background is fun, upbeat and isn't too loud for conversation. I don't think they are open during lunch very often, as we've tried coming to this restaurant a few times prior and they weren't open. When we noticed it was open during one particular lunch day, we had to make a stop. We were the only bunch there that day. The service was very friendly and she recommended excellent dishes for us. I believe they make their own breads because on the walk to the wash rooms, you get a waft of yummy fresh bread smell. They offered a lunch menu with share platters and finger foods which is all fun and yummy when going in groups! The food is made fresh on the spot so it takes a little longer to get, but they cook everything themselves and the food was amazing! It was definitely worth the wait! The finger foods and sauce keeps you wanting more and trying more, unfortunately, the tummy could only take so much! They don't have a desert menu, however, they brew their own honey wine and gave us samples - equally yummy!! The honey wine is for sale at this restaurant - should definitely try it! It's also a bonus that the wash rooms were nice, clean and large! read more

I've been a hardcore Harambe fan for years. I love mesir wat like nobody's business. Harambe does it up good, but Gojo takes it to another level. I think they get overlooked because they're just outside of "The Drive" (Broadway to Venables), but they should be first on your list of Ethiopian/African places to visit because they're fabulous! The only reason I am giving 4 stars is because they're not licensed. No beer = sad Erin. I had the spicy mouth but only soda to wash it away with. Mesir wat @ Gojo = DO IT! You won't regret it! read more

Ethiopian delights! I used to live near the next best Ethopian restaurant in Vancouver -- the Red Sea Cafe -- but I find the injera bread fluffier at Gojo. The service is really personal and she does offer the coffee ceremony at Gojo. Ask for the honey wine, which is home-brewed and not alcoholic at all ;-) Update: under new management. The new owner seemed slow to catch on to expectations set by the earlier owner. Couldn't keep up with orders when I first dined with new manager... Now about a year later this place is back on track. Great bread lots of dishes, and - a must try - homemade baklava!! Recommended that you save room for dessert. read more

Warning... gluten free will cost you an extra $2.50 per injera. That may be ok but not when there is no mention of this on the menu or when you order, just a nice surprise when you get the bill! Our order came to $35 for two people with portions being half the size as Axum's on Hastings and nowhere near as good. The gluten free Injera was hard and fell apart. The normal gluten one wasn't much better and was harder and drier than the super soft and spongy injera I'm used to. If getting takeout, when asked if it's ok to put it all in one box, say no. Unless all the portions are that small, it seems that you might get less because they're trying to cram it all in. This might apply to eating in as well, ask for things on separate injeras. Bottom line... portions are tiny, injera's not good, food bland and not an honest business. read more

Hi, I'm a local with a family member in town who wanted to try something different. The Yelp reviews helped us decide on Gojo. 4 of us very much enjoyed the food and the experience. The staff was very friendly and helpful. I will be happy to bring out of towners to this interesting and causal spot. read more

Have been looking for good Ethiopian food in Vancouver. This place hits the spot! Simple tasty options with great service and easy on the wallet! read more

Ethiopian food is always good. This place is no exception. We had the vegetarian plate for two. Great presentation, good variety and it was fresh and tasty! http://www.flickr.com/photos/ifindoubt/3854441601/ read more

I love the food here! I was hungering for Ethopian when I came by and decided to have some kitfo (beef tartare bathed in clarified butter, herbs and served with a cottage cheese and vegetable mix as well as a chili-like spice called berbere). The serving of kitfo was modest but it should be with a large amount of injera (their flat bread made with teff, a special grain high in iron... injera also needs to be fermented as a dough for 24 hours before preparation in order to create that sour, savory taste which accents well with Ethiopian cooking), and it was nicely flavored. What's really cool is that they make their own tejj - honey mead, which has a sweet taste with a strong hint of alcohol. I really like this place. Decently reasonable prices ($14 for kitfo and $5 for tejj) for a meal that's going to definitely fill you up. read more