I was thrilled to learn that Ethiopian was on the menu in Durham given I miss having it at every turn while living in the DMV. And when I last lived in Durham 30+ years ago, having Ethiopian on Main Street Durham was unimaginable. But Durham on so many levels is a completely different universe. Goorsha is a very pleasant small dining room off a welcoming bar area when you come in. It was overcast and cold this early March day but the outside dining must be lovely later in the spring. We had a very helpful waitress answer a few questions and the food came quickly. The Sambusa appetizer should have perhaps taken a bit longer. The edges were crisp and tasty as was the Deko sauce it came with. But the center was still a bit cold so a bit more time was needed. I wanted beef tibs and went with the Zilzil tibs knowing there would be less sauce and danger of staining my work clothes. They were plentiful, well-cooked if not powerfully seasoned. They were quick to bring ample powered pepper so I could give it some kick dipping each injera enveloped bite for some added heat. The winner was my vegetarian dining companion who went with the very flexible pick three from many vegetarian options. They were a distinct yet complimentary troika of richly favored dishes. At least for lunch, Goorsha goes with individual plates rather than the traditional round platter family style so familiar in Ethiopian cuisine. It definitely worked for us given one of us was a vegetarian and the other all tibs all day. Definitely very glad to see it just across the street from Brightleaf Square and one of the earliest areas converted from tobacco warehouses to fashionable eateries. Glad it is part of the Durham eating scene. read more

Goorsha - Goorhsha Ethiopian in Durham, NC - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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An amazing find for vegan/vegetarian food! I've always loved Ethiopian food and this was a gem! The owners are so nice and the food was delicious!! I loved the green sauce that came with the samosas I'd eat it with everything! The injera was delicious and all the vegetables dishes were tasty but my favorite was the one the left next to the jalapeño, I think it was a red lentil base but I forget the name. Plenty of parking, good prices and I can't wait to be back. read more

Goorsha - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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It's been a very long time since I've had Ethiopian food, and hadn't remembered how delicious it is. Or, maybe it's just that Goorsha is outstanding. Appreciate the ample vegan options, including Red Lentils with Berbere, Metin Shiro and Fosolia. Also loved the Sambusa with Deko (jalapeño relish) and Kasheka. Honestly, everything was deliciously savory, balanced in flavor and well spiced. Served with lots of injera to soak it all in. Casual and located right across from Brightleaf, Goorsha did not disappoint. read more

Goorsha - Vegan sampler. - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

A solid Ethiopian spot. It was a new cuisine to several members of our large party, so the more modern or Americanized aspects of the restaurant (for example, they offer utensils, whereas some of the more traditional restaurants do not) helped make it a bit more familiar. The spice has a bit of a kick, but I personally enjoyed the fosolia (green beans and carrots - I'm not the biggest fan of either ingredient separately, but they were soft enough when cooked that it did appeal to me!), kik alecha (yellow split peas), and misir kik (red lentils). Goosha is right across the street from Brightleaf Square, a cute shopping area in a previous industrial park. There's also free parking in the Shooters lot. read more

Goorsha - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Nice ambiance, attentive service, and good food! I was craving Ethiopian food and this hit the spot! I do wish there was an option to get a massive platter with all of the vegan sides (rather than just 3)/more family style options. The lentil salad was deceptively spicy (prob the jalapeño seeds that got me) as a heads up. Next time I do want to try the beet root salad. Overall, good meal and will likely be back! read more

Goorsha - Vegan platter - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food was absolutely delicious, well-spiced and hearty. For some reason, I always tend to stick to vegetarian dishes when I eat Ethiopian food, because the variety of vegetables and flavors is always on point... Goorsh's selection was just as ample and the injera was also plentiful... enough to enjoy with every single morsel of food. The honey wine was the perfect accompaniment to my dinner. The restaurant is small with a few tables, busy with hungry eaters but lively. When we got there (without a reservation) we were immediately seated and almost all tables were occupied. The only reason that I didn't give the restaurant 5 stars was because we felt very rushed by the server. On numerous occasions, the server tried to take away/wrap up the food while my friends were still eating. It was very odd how many times our server tried to hint at us leaving despite the fact that the restaurant wasn't completely full. read more

Goorsha - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Goorsha is one of those hidden gems in Durham that you almost want to keep to yourself, but it's simply too good not to share. Tucked on the edge of the American Tobacco Campus, the restaurant offers a modern take on Ethiopian cuisine in a setting that feels fresh and intentional. The space is bright and warm with minimalist decor, clean lines, natural wood accents, and a sleek counter-style setup that's both approachable and stylish. It feels like tradition and modern flavor came together and found a perfect rhythm. The service is just as thoughtful. The staff is welcoming and attentive without being overbearing, happy to guide you through the menu and clearly proud of the food they're serving. There's an ease and confidence here that makes the whole dining experience feel smooth from start to finish. We started with the Sambusa, a flaky, golden pastry filled with lentils, onions, garlic, and jalapeños. It's crispy, savory, and has a slow-building heat that plays perfectly with the bright, spicy Deko sauce on the side. It's the kind of appetizer you instantly want more of. For the entrée, the Doro Wot was a standout. The chicken arrives stewed in a deeply spiced berbere sauce with notes of ginger, garlic, and cardamom. The drumstick is tender and flavorful, and the hard-boiled egg adds a subtle richness that soaks up the sauce beautifully. The Gored Gored is a carnivore's dream. Cubes of sirloin are lightly seared and coated in butter, cardamom, and berbere. The result is a dish that's bold, savory, and incredibly satisfying without being too heavy. To sip, I ordered a cocktail made with pineapple, ginger, and jalapeño. It's refreshing and slightly sweet with just enough kick from the ginger and chili to keep things interesting. It pairs perfectly with the warmth of the food. And for dessert, we had the dessert sambusa, filled with apples and drizzled with honey, then fried until crisp. It's sweet, comforting, and completely indulgent in the best way. Goorsha is the kind of spot that surprises you with how well everything comes together. The flavors are rich and rooted in heritage, but there's also a clear modern sensibility. It's casual, cozy, and completely worth coming back to. read more

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Goorsha's food was flavorful and delicious. I thought the 3 vegan dishes we ordered complimented well with the chicken + egg dish. Each entree also came with a side- I chose the stuffed jalapeño while my partner chose the green lentils. I have never tried Ethiopian food before, so I thought that our whole experience was very unique. I wasn't sure what to make of the fermented bread, but I am glad that I tried it. The flavor profile was more sour than I was expecting. I'm not sure that our service was the best as I needed a water refill multiple times and it took a bit to get a hold of the waitress, but I did enjoy the food pacing. I'm glad we got our fried lentil apps first- if I come back, I'd get the same appetizer again. read more

Goorsha - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Ethiopian food at its finest. This place is spectacular. I am often wary of Ethiopian spots as many don't make injera with 100% teff, which is a gluten free grain and half of the experience is sharing and enjoying the dishes/sauces with the injera. Goorsha passed the celiac and gluten free tests, the owner assured me they use an ivory teff which is why it is lighter in color vs the darker that I am used to. With those reassurances I enjoyed a delicious meal, spicy, full of flavor and so many good options to choose from. I look forward to coming back! read more

I just happened to walk in here after attending the Bullcity flea market. We got a menu and sat at the coffee bar. I had a few questions along with I was ready to order. The girl who was making coffee said she will be right back to assist. After approximately 10 minutes, I noticed she was taking orders from the individuals who walked in after me. I decided not to wait any longer, left the menu there and walked out. I was really interested and excited to try Ethiopia food. read more

Love this place!! Went recently for a weekend lunch and had a wonderful experience. The service is superb. The food is fresh and flavorful. The vibes are super casual with indoor and outdoor seating. And the prices are affordable. Some of the food items have more spice than others--the red lentils are spicy! I thoroughly enjoyed everything--my favorites were the sambusas, red lentils, and collards. This restaurant is very accommodating for all dietary needs! read more

Goorsha - Any 3 Vegan Entrees - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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One of my first time trying out Ethiopian food! Love the service here as they were so friendly in explaining their menu options and favorites. Lots of interior and outdoor seating. I ended up getting the Lamb Awaze Tibs, and it was delicious!!! Food was full of flavor! Spice was a perfect blend (and if you love spicy, this is for you). My friends are variations of beef or chicken and they were just as delicious. Highly recommend ordering family style to get a taste of each dish as there were so many to try. Give Ethiopian food a try! read more

This is a fun place to visit in Durham with great Ethiopian food!!! Service was a little slow but they were very busy- the doro wat was delicious and I thought it was the right amount of spice. Would definitely recommend people try it out! read more

Goorsha - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Nice clean little restaurant with a few Ethiopian pictures by Brightleaf Square. Very friendly and helpful hostess/waitress. And ably helped me with the pronunciation of some of the menu items. Came by for an early supper and glad I did. First taste of this country's food. Very flavorful. I'm an omnivore but I went for the veggie option this time. Had a lager and a Sambusa app served with a green Deko sauce. The Sambusa was a little burnt but still good. I liked the sauce. I got the vegan sampler that has three options served with Injera bread (sponge flatbread made from teff that is very healthy) along with a side. From top to bottom in the picture of the plate is Metin Shiro (chickpea) Tekil Gomen (vegetables) Yemisir Kik (lentil stew) and the side of Azifa. Several of these were spicy but not too hot. All tasted great. And usually I'm not a fan of raw onions but the ones in the Azifa didn't have that raw bitterness. It's a great place for a meal. Check out their menu online. read more

Goorsha - Desserts - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

They have amazingly gamey kitfo and tibs, along with Alicha wot. It's well lit with ambient music playing. read more

Goorsha - Kitfo Goorsha - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is amazing! We went after after a strenuous hike and were famished when we got here. We reached reached at 12:30 pm on a Saturday, so the restaurant was a bit empty so we got very prompt and personalized service. We sat outside, it was a bit chilly but we enjoyed it nonetheless. The server who took our order did a very good job of explaining the menu items to us and explaining any queries we had. When the menu is short and sweet like Goorsha has, you can be rest assured that the food will be good. And that is exactly what we got. We ordered the vegetarian plate metin shiro, kek alecha and fosolia. By the end of it we were licking our fingers and wanted so much more! While we were heading out we saw there special tea service on a different table and will definitely be back for it and other menu items! read more

Goorsha - Any 3 Vegan Entrees - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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My first time trying Ethiopian food so I have no clue how to review it (had a great time eating but i couldn't tell you how it compares to other Ethiopian restaurants). Walked in around 8p on a Thursday night and was seated immediately for a table for 2. Started with the Sambusa- a MUST. I was afraid it would be spicy given the jalapeños, but it wasn't too much (I cant do spicy and I would eat this again and again). My friend and I split the Doro Wat and the Zilzil Key Wot, and got sides of the beet root salad and Azifa. I personally liked the beet root salad and doro wat the best. read more

Goorsha - Zilzil Key Wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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If you enjoy exploring food experiences that are different from your daily fare, then this is place is a must for you! Fantastic award winning food that is full of flavor. This is one of the highly rated restaurants in Durham and provides an ethnic experience from Ethiopia. INSTRUCTIONS: Forget the silverware. You use your hands. Rip off a piece of the Injera and pick up some food and place it all in your mouth. Injera is a sour fermented pancake-like flatbread with a slightly spongy texture. It's best to order family style where everyone shares the different dishes instead of ordering one for each person. Pretty much everything has jalapeno peppers but heat level varies. Ask waiter to be sure you are ordering something in the spice range you are looking for. SAMBUSA - We will order this appetizer on every return visit. So good! Crispy pastry stuffed with lentils, onions, garlic, and jalapeños. Served with Deko sauce. The Jalapenos provided flavor but these were not super spicy. ZILZIL KEY WOT This was our favorite entree. Strips of savory beef stewed with berbere, garlic, onions, cardamom and ginger. The beef was super tender and was very flavorful. Spice level was medium and it did build as you ate more. ZILZIL ALECHA This was delicious. Strips of savory beef stew seasoned with turmeric, garlic, onions and ginger. Again, the beef was super tender. Spice level was low. read more

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My first time trying Ethiopian and it did not disappoint. For a city, there is weirdly a lot of parking (street or lot) around the restaurant which is nice. They have both indoor and outdoor seating. We made a reservation for 6pm and were glad we did as it picked up even on a weekday right around then! The waitresses were very helpful in recommending dishes. We went with several of the beef, lamb, and chicken options, as well as a few different lentil sizes. Everything comes out served on the traditional Ethiopian bread and it was delectable. The varying spices and traditional flavors were delicious. I enjoy spice so I had a great time, it was definitely on the hotter side but they will recommend specific dishes if you're not a spice lover. read more

This was our very first visit to Goorsha and Ethiopian cuisine. There were four in our party. The food was intensely flavored and two in my party felt the food to be too spicy to racy at all. We split two appetizers and three entrees (1 beef, 1 chicken and a vegetarian sampler). I really enjoyed the appetizer, the beef and the vegetarian sampler. My daughter liked the beef and loved the vegetarian sampler. Or server was acceptable. We asked for guidance on selecting the entrees. She either didn't understand our questions or spoke little English. She managed eight tables by herself so she may have just been over worked. I graded this dining as four stars because of its unique cuisine and the food being well presented for all to reach and share. read more

Goorsha - Kashka - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Vegan options were delicious. Chicken tibs was ok, short rib was inedible. Service was terrible. One server was rude and dropped food onto our table with such an attitude. The others could not keep our order straight. Items were not brought, took multiple reminders and even then we didn't get the sides that came with our meal. The manager was very gracious but unfortunately it could not salvage the experience. This was our second time here- we enjoyed our experience the first time but probably won't be back read more

if you've ever had ethiopian in NYC or DC (basically in a real city with clear connections to the mother country), don't go here. you will be thoroughly disappointed. the foreshadowing of our experience came when our server said they didn't have any lamb. our sambusas then arrived cold (obviously fresh from the freezer). don't even get me started on our main dish. this was the first time i've ever had gentrified ethiopian food (i know, i didn't think this could ever happen!). save yourselves the disappointment. read more

I'm happy I get to taste Ethiopian cuisine with two of my friends last night. The food was excellent and the atmosphere was delightful. My Kashka appetizer was done like how I remember a similar Ethiopian dish being made for a cultural event at my school. My Awaze Tibs dinner was well-crafted. The rolls of Injera (fermented sourdough flatbread) have an interesting taste, something I can't put into words but it complements the food well. Tear off some with your hands and scoop some of the food with it. The combined taste is a wonderful blend of exotic flavors. I recommend Goorsha if you're looking for food outside the norm. They had Fullsteam beers on tap when I went. They're a local brewery out in RTP. Here's to loving local. read more

Goorsha - Kashka - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I had never experienced Ethiopian food before so I was very excited to try this spot. I don't do spicy food very well so the server helped me pick something that I would like and I loved my dish. Many of the dishes my friends got were very spicy, so be cautious if you don't want a spicy dish. The food was so flavorful & I would highly recommend Trying Goorsha is a great way to explore new foods and mix things up! read more

Atmosphere: Goorsha is a friendly Ethiopian restaurant, with warm and colorful decor. Service: Our server was kind, and the food came out at a reasonable time. Food: We tried their Awaze Tibs Beef. The beef was a bit tough and more reminiscent of a plain fajita than the tender and flavorful dish it was supposed to be. The injera was spongy and nicely fermented, but we wish that the meat we scooped lived up to that level of flavor. Overall: We're glad to have given Goorsha a try, but our meal wasn't as memorable as we had hoped for (especially given the hype around Goorsha). Maybe we'll come back in the future to try some of their other menu offerings! read more

Goorsha - Awaze Tibs Beef - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food was delish. Our party was all vegetarian and there were plenty of options. Wonderful meal and great staff!

Goorsha was a delicious and beautiful experience! My friends and I were deciding on a place to eat in downtown Durham and noticed the Goorsha took online reservations through Resy. That made the choice easy for us, plus we were in the mood for Ethiopian food. They have both indoor and outdoor dining. I shared the Vegetable Combo, where you get to choose three of their vegan entrees. All the combos were served with two side dishes as well. For the entree samplers, we picked: Tekil Gomen - Fresh cabbage, carrots, and potatoes sautéed with turmeric, onions, garlic, and garnished with sliced jalapeños Fosolia - Green beans and carrots mixed with a rich tomato sauce sautéed in onions, jalapeños and herbs Yemisir Kik - Red lentils stewed in berbere, onions, ginger and garlic For the sides, we chose: Dinech Salad - Cubed potatoes with fresh jalapeño peppers, tomatoes and onions tossed in a spicy dressing Timatim Fitfit - Fresh diced tomatoes seasoned with onions and jalapeños mixed with small pieces of injera The plating was gorgeous and portions were massive! My boyfriend and I thought the two of us could split the Vegetable Combo and finish the meal entirely, but we ended up having leftovers. My favorites were the Fosolia and the Yemisir. Definitely recommended! read more

Goorsha - Vegetable Combo - potatoes, lentils, green beans, cubed potatoes, diced tomatoes - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I tried the Ethopian Coffee, it was a black Coffee strong, aromatic, flavorful. For were main meal we got, a vegan plate with 3 différents sauces made with lentils, chickpea and yellow split peas served with beet salad and injera. Everything was spicy and delicious. The place is located next to Brighleaf Square, the ambiance was not really busy on Monday night. Don't let that stop you. It's not very common to find an Ethiopian restaurant in North Carolina so it is a great place to try. read more

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Ethiopian food is something that I always wanted to try! So glad we decided to stop here for my first time experience. The restaurant is fairly cute. Lots of parking spots. Restaurant is small but has outdoor dining area too. We tried the appetizer and the main dish awaze Tibs. It was shared among 4 of us. We only did 2 main dishes, but four 4 of us ( little girls) it was definitely enough. The lamb was amazing, although it was not juicy, it definitely had a lot of spices. I absolutely love this place and the food. Will come back soon! read more

Goorsha - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Finally! A chance to try out Ethiopian food. In the states! I have had it before and loved it in Europe. When you google best restaurants in the area in Durham, this one pops up. So glad we went. Excellent food, great service, super friendly. Great varied menu, lots for meat eaters and veggies. Lots of vegan. I'll be honest some of the sauces and ingredients we had to google as I'd never heard of them. Every single thing we ordered was so good. Drinks, we had sinig ginger, delish! Muddled ginger and jalapeño, tequila and pineapple juice with something called mitmita , labeled spicy! The Bijou was your classic, gin, vermouth, green chartreuse and orange bitters. Excellent drinks, the sinig was so unique. First up we had the Sambusa, a take on the Indian samosa. Stuffed with lentils, onions, garlic and jalapeño, served with this amazing Deko sauce, basically jalapeño paste. Loved these, served hot and crispy, very tasty, with the paste, these were amazing. On the table we had the Kekal, a lamb loin soup, with lots of spices, served mild or spicy. Very tasty again, great flavor. We had it made extra spicy! Entrees we had Awaze tibs , lamb sautéed in onions, garlic, tomatoes and jalapeños with awaze , a chili pepper sauce. Very good tender lamb, spicy, served on top of the Injera bread. The bread itself is different, more a flatbread, but a little sour, but very tasty and unusual texture. Great with the meat . I had the Doro tibs, similar to the lamb, in the way it's cooked, but with chicken. Again very spicy and so much good flavor. I love this Injera bread. Also has the vegan entree, where you pick 3 served with the bread. We had the chickpea purée like hummus, the Misir Alecha , red lentil with spices and the Fosolia, green beans and carrots mixed in a tomato sauce with onions, peppers and spices. All of them with the bread were amazingly good. This food is super filling and hearty. So great to eat something unusual and kinda unknown, every time they came out with a dish it was kinda like a surprise. I will most definitely be eating Ethiopian again wherever I find it, hopefully it's as good as this. Oh also great prices ! read more

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I'd been wanting to try Ethiopian food for a while now and finally got a chance to try it at Goorsha. It wasn't what I was expecting though. I thought it would be a lot more flavorful than it was. This is what we got: 1) Sambusa which was filled with lentils. It was crispy on the outside and the stuffing was seasoned. 2) Lamb Awaze Tibs : I has high hopes for this dish but was disappointed with the level of seasoning in it. It was a bit on the bland side. 3) Vegan plate: Don't remember the name of the dishes we got. This was decent. Probably won't go back here again just because I realized that Ethiopian food is not for my taste palette read more

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We loved our lunch on the beautiful patio today! The tables are well-spaced and the patio is out front, so you have a great opportunity to people watch on Main Street. They even have a hand-washing station. Our server was very kind and friendly and let me order my lunch from their sister restaurant, GoJo, which is just behind Goorsha. She let me get my side from Goorsha, so I ordered the dinech salad--finely-chopped potatoes in a very-spicy vinaigrette--delicious! My friend ordered the Awaze Tibs with beef. He loves spicy food, and said it was perfect. He also liked the dinech salad and the sinig karya--a jalapeno stuffed with tomatoes and onions. Parking in the adjacent lot is free on the weekends, and it's directly across the street from Brightleaf Square. If you like coffee and sandwiches, be sure to check out GoJo, too! read more

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This was my second time ever eating Ethiopian food ever and first time eating it in a restaurant and I was blown away. I felt like all the flavors and spices were unique and definitely took my palette on a culinary ride! Can't wait to go back and try more food. First, the lamb was sooooo tender. The chicken bbq sauce was absolutely out of this world. I really loved all the veggie dishes, especially the carrot and peas and chickpeas (metin shiro). The only veggie I didn't care for was the cold green lentils. One minus for me is the injera was a bit too sour for my taste. If they could ferment it just a tad less, I think this whole meal would gain another star. Taste: 4/5 Presentation: 3.5/5 Recommend to a friend?: Yes Consistent: 1st time Cost: $ Parking: parked in the lot to the right of the restaurant. You have to be patient because there's not that many spaces and patrons from Jeni's and Goorsha all park here. read more

Goorsha - Any 3 Vegan Entrees (Metin shiro, misir kik, fosolia), lamb awaze tibs, and doro wot. @cereus_eats - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This was my first time trying Ethiopian cuisine. I enjoyed the experience and would certainly return for the Kekel soup. I will say the entree I had was not very exciting for my taste buds, but I thoroughly enjoyed the flavorful Kekel soup and the tender lamb loin chop served in it. I would say 2-3 bowls of this would be more than enough to satisfy me on my hungriest day! The Sinig Ginger cocktail was very tasty. I enjoyed the jalapeño and would even welcome a tad more spice. read more

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Second visit to Goorsha, this time to eat Lunch. Food tasted amazing. Great service. I think this is my go to place in Duram NC. read more

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First time trying Ethiopian food and it was amazing! My favorites were the yemisir kik (red lentils) and doro wot (chicken)- both stewed in a wonderful berbere sauce. 10/10 would recommend Goorsha! read more

Goorsha - Doro Wot, Metin Shiro, Fosolia, Yemisir Kik, Beet Root Salad, Sinig Karya - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great food, the service is bad (I want to clarify that everyone is friendly and helpful, just very inattentive), the ambiance is very nice.

The experience of a island culinary delights for your pallet and great customer service team and chef's. I recommend the pork and chicken delights. read more

This was a perfect place for family dinner since some members of my family are vegan. When we were seated the waiter explained the menu and described a little bit of Ethiopian culture. I really appreciated the cultural aspect presented to us. Being vegetarian I actually let the waiter pick the options on my veggie plate. Everything he chose was excellent, with no complaints from anybody at our table. This will enter my restaurant rotation. read more

Goorsha - Vegan Plate - Ethiopian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This place is so tasty and has REAL FOOD. Their lunchtime game is awesome. There's a lunchtime bowl option with injera, two veggies and a protein. I had turmeric beef, beet salad, potatoes and cabbage and red lentils. I feel full, nourished and happy. Service was friendly and attentive. read more