Had the best experience here thanks to the two owners who served here! We came on a whim when the place across was backed up and saw that this place was so empty! (Such a surprise!) My friends and I weren't sure what to order but they kindly recommended the crispy injera to start and the meat and veggie combo for the entree. Both were perfect and delish btw!! They were so attentive with our waters and were so sweet! There's four of us but it made us so full. My friends and I ended off with the pistachio baklavas and their house teas and chai. We really appreciated the extensive tea menu and the dessert options! Truly truly I recommend everything here! It was quite late when we came so I'd love to try their coffee service too! read more

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SO DELICIOUS!!! Amazing service and great chill ambiance. The meat and veggie combo shareable platter was so filling and flavorful. The desserts are incredible and homemade. read more

Habesha Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Came here to try some Ethiopian food for the first time. We let the owner know it was our first time and he was super helpful in making sure we tried the right dishes and got the right amount of food. Everything was really good. I highly recommend the samosas. The ambiance was nice too, seems very authentic so it was pretty unique. Wasn't very hard at all to get seating but I did notice foot traffic start to pick up while we were there. Parking was also pretty easy, just make sure you can parallel park. read more

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This is my first time trying Ethiopian food, so I have no other place to compare it to. We ordered a combo meat dish, the green chicken dish and beef sambusas. I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty the food was, with plenty of flavor. I was not a fan of the sambusas, or the chicken much but the rest was good. I did not try the injera, but was told that it was good. Id love more meat on the dish! It seemed like you have place the order for drinks at the counter, but our food order was taken at the table. Payment was also taken care of at the counter. Not sure why or if we just did it wrong... It also serves as a mini-store, offering spices, drinks, and pottery among other small items. Overall I'm not sure I'd go out of my way to visit this place but I wouldn't say no, if close by and it was suggested. read more

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We were having a beer at the Machine House Brewery, which has a partnership with Habesha Cafe, so I stopped in to order the full vegan platter and I am glad I did! A low price for enough food to feed two very hungry people. It's counter service or sit down - I walked up to the counter and told them I was sitting next door and they were super friendly and suggested I bring the food over on a platter rather than a bunch of takeout boxes. Worth saying though I would be happy to eat in house too - it's casual and clean. It took them about five minutes to assemble the meal - a platter and a box of injera. I enjoyed browsing the spices for sale for very reasonable prices while I was waiting. The food was delicious! Hearty, spicy and a great variety. I would definitely recommend. read more

Habesha Cafe - The Full Habesha Vegan Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Ordered my food togo, but liked the vibe and decided to eat inside before leaving. I wish I got to see the food nicely laid out on a platter but it still tasted amazing out of the togo box. It ended up working out for the best. They are such nice people here and everything is clean and pleasant inside. Sometimes restaraunts can have obnoxiously loud or energetic music, but here it was such a calming vibe. My service was amazing and so was my food. Ill be back. Probably for one of their sandwiches. read more

Habesha Cafe - Interior - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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I hadn't had Ethiopian food in probably over 15 years don't know why I waited do long. We came here yesterday for lunch after a makers market near by in all honesty we were going to go to another Ethiopian place near by but they didn't open till later. I am so glad we came to Habesha. There were four of us one of my friends has Ethiopian food more another of my friends was like me and hadn't had it in a long time and for our other friends it was her first time. We ordered the meat and veggie platter and added the sauté fish. We knew we wanted to try the Sambusas but only wanted one order the owner Judy I believe suggested one of each type the beef and lentil love that she suggested that cause I wouldn't have know. It was an option. That's just a tip of the wonderful service you'll receive. She was wonderful in explaining the dishes and their culture. We loved all the little tips she gave us, making sure to sure to tell us to eat the injera under the meat and vegetables that has soaked up all the sauce and flavor. Also when we almost left the leftover injera she told us what they do is take it home and stir fry it. The friend who's was the first time two of us took the leftover injera home to stir fry. Yes we had that much leftover. One of my friends ordered the Ethiopian Coffee it was beautifully presented and the owner explained everything to us. I had a sip of it freshly poured and hot. Was wonderful slightly floral we were trying to figure out if it was possibly brewed with cardamom. My friend said as it cooled the flavor changed. It was a market originally called Amy's Merkato. Some of the cafe remains as a market. One of my friends bought a rub and spice from the market. The owner explained to him how the spice was often used that he bought. There are about six to seven tables up front and there was a very steady stream of people coming and going for lunch. You could tell it is very much a favorite of the neighborhood. We absolutely loved everything but our favorites were the fish and greens. The proteins have a bit of a kick for those who can handle no spice (heat wise not flavor) but not overly so it doesn't take away from the flavor of the dishes. We liked the smokiness of the bebere sauce. The proteins are also cooked to tenderness. Definitely eat them Initially with the injera that arrives In the basket. The injera underneath the meat and vegetables is better eaten with a fork just cause it's so soft from soaking up all the goodness. Says a lot that they make injera for many other Seattle restaurants and markets. Definitely will be back and recommend to family and friends read more

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Excellent food and a gracious host. Portions are very generous-- easy to order too much food!! but that is not a problem, as good as it is. Definitely recommend this place. read more

Absolutely delicious! Such wonderful food and a friendly atmosphere. Ordered the Full Vegan platter and it did not disappoint. We will be back! read more

Habesha Cafe - The Full Merkato Vegetarian Combo (Good for 2 People) - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Been here a couple times, and each time was met was excellent customer service, and great food. They really make you feel like you're at home and genuinely are so friendly to everyone. Always down to come back ! 10/10 recommend read more

Super friendly owners, delicious variety of Ethiopian/ Eritrean foods. Welcoming environment, with outdoor seating in the summer months. Also a great place to get injera and very reasonably priced spices! read more

The food here is so fresh and good. They make their own injera, so it's fresh and good as well. I'm an omnivore and I decided on the vegan combo platter. So fresh and delicious! Five kinds of legumes and vegetables. Each one perfect. I think Habesha is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. read more

Stop in and enjoy a wonderful meal. The platter entree is amazing! Beef tibs are flavorful and tender, cooked to perfection. The owners are amazing and are really engaged in customer service and inquiring how they can make your experience more enjoyable. They even suggest spice levels and cater dishes accordingly. Great place for vegetarians, as all the dishes are plentiful and hearty. read more

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This is a great Ethiopian restaurant! They are open for both lunch and dinner and have a small deli area as well. The restaurant is a mix of counter service and table service: you can order from your table, but then pay after at the counter. The man who was working at the counter was very nice. He gave off major "favorite uncle" vibes. Prices are pretty average for Ethiopian food in this area. Portions are very filling. I got the meat combo plus a side of spinach and collards and was stuffed. I'd love to come back with a couple friends so that I could try more items - the veggie combo looked really good as well. I also got what the menu refers to as "Ethiopian beer" and it was quite good. It's basically a light lager, but with more flavor and richness than domestic lights without the cloying sweetness of a non-light domestic. Overall, I will definitely return here when I'm looking for Ethiopian food in the future! read more

Excellent food and service. Simple interior, very mom and pop feel. We had the full Habesha vegan combo for two and it was fantastic. I would definitely come back again. read more

My wife and I were in Columbia City and looking for cafe to chill and we decided to try Habesha Cafe. Since it was an Ethiopian cafe I thought it would be great to try their traditional Ethiopian coffee. The owner served us the pot of strong coffee for two with frankincense. The coffee was delicious and rich and the frankincense along with the chilled music in the cafe made it a perfect place to read our books and enjoy the day slowly. The cafe has a nice shop with food and items, like Ethiopian coffee pots, to purchase. The owner was incredibly friendly. The only thing to consider about the traditional Ethiopian coffee is that it wasn't cheap: the pot for two with frankincense was $15 --- with tax and tip the total was nearly $20. It was unique and special though --- and the first time that I've tried coffee in this way. read more

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Fast, friendly and delicious! Got the full vegan combo and the meat combo. One of the meat dishes was right at my threshold for spiciness (I'm pretty wimpy) which was perfect! read more

Based on the table next from us the food looks glorious. Ethiopian food is one of a kind. However my husband and I came here for its Ethiopian coffee and we were hooked. Beautiful traditional setting especially the little cups, coffee pot and the frankincense was a shout out! The cafe is cozy and friendly with a calming music in the background. read more

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Very friendly folks. We passed a few Ethiopian places in the area and this one had the best decor (and the best reviews.) The vegan options were outstanding, including some plant based meats. We got a large vegetarian platter for two and it's clear that we'll get at least two meals out of it. Excellent variety, including an amazingly good beet dish and some of the best collards I've ever tasted. We'll be back. read more

Habesha has been our favorite Ethiopian restaurant since it was Amy's Merkato. Tonight was the first time we had been back since they added plant-based meat to the menu. We all loved it (two meat eaters and one vegetarian). The owner is so friendly and works hard to make sure everyone is enjoying their meals. read more

Habesha Cafe - Plant-based meat tibs with Habesha's Special-Meat and Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This was a great experience. My family is vegan and vegetarian and we wanted to try something new so we drove about an hour to Habesha cafe. We walked in and immediately felt comfortable. The cafe was warm and inviting and the couple working were so kind, informative, and helpful with the menu. We had the coffee service, which includes burning frankincense and a serving for two. The coffee was very strong, which is how I like it, and was very good. We had the sambosa's for an appetizer and they were amazing and I would definitely get these again. We also had a vegan platter, which included all of their vegan items and it was a lot of fun to try a new ethnic dish. You use your hands to eat and can use the injeria "bread" to scoop up the different offerings. We got the platter with the vegan meat and it was amazing. I also purchased a coffee pitcher in their small store, which was very reasonably priced. I would highly recommend this restaurant, especially if you are looking for an experience rather than just a meal. read more

I love this type of food and make my partner eat it often even though he is not the biggest fan. I'm working hard to convince my family to try it as well. I don't think he loves the communal style dish and that you eat it with your hands, for those that don't know, it's not nearly as messy as you would imagine. It always has vegetarian friendly options and seems like more of an event meal than most places to me. It does seem like a healthier option than a lot of other places as well, we probably all need more beans and veggies in our lives. He did seem to enjoy that he was able to get a sandwich here, beef tibs, which seemed to make him a little happier than normal. He couldn't decide about spicy or non spicy. I heard that they were one of the first places to offer plant based meat and put it on my to do list, knowing that I had to seek this out. I haven't heard of any other places offering this locally. I was so excited to try plant based tibs. I got the Full Habesha Plant Based Beef (Vegan) Combo. It was a little pricey for 28$, but did say it could feed 2, which means some for me for now and some for me for later. We also had our first experience with mitmita, which added the saltiness I often feel my Ethiopian food is missing. I really liked the spinach and collard greens. My partner also enjoyed his cheesecake. I do admit I don't love the injera here as much as at some other places. This place is unique in that it also sells a lot of goods. I appreciated the ability to browse while I waited for my food and ended up taking home some dry lentils that I'm hoping will transform into a delicious soup. They also seem to have a bunch of baked good/deserts available for purchase to go as well. read more

After 3 years of looking for an Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle that does justice to some of the incredible ones that took the pandemic hit, we finally found it. Habesha is undoubtedly the best Veggie Combo in the city. Every single thing on the plate was spectacular; freshly cooked, plain and simple with outstanding flavors, authentic and delicious, we literally licked the plate clean. The portion size is easily enough for two extremely hungry people or maybe even three if only moderately hungry, and the price is very reasonable. They also brilliantly plate the dish with everything split in two so that it can be shared so much more easily; such a simple but brilliant thing to do. The owners were extremely warm and kind and I honestly wish them all the very best. I can't wait to go back and also try some of their cakes and baklava the next time around. We've clearly found our new spot and have already made plans to take friends here soon. read more

Habesha Cafe - The full veggie combo (serves 2-3). Absolute MUST HAVE. - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

First try at Ethiopian food. It was fantastic even though we didn't really know what to order. Mocha and Chai latte also great! read more

Habesha Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Such a nice couple run this cafe and the food is delicious. Catfish sandwich and beef tibs sandwich are so yummy as is the vegan dinner. Love the little market tool read more

Extremely high-quality, good value, very vegan-friendly Ethiopian food in South Seattle, an area with lots of competition for Ethiopian food. We stopped in for lunch on a Saturday and ordered The Great Habesha Veggie Combo ($24 plus tax; which is vegan). The food came out in about 10 minutes. The combo comes with about 8 different dishes, 2 portions each, and a nice side of extra injera. Every dish was very well-made, with the highlights possibly being the misir wot (spicy red lentils), shiro (chickpea), and the gomen (the greens). Very generous portion, especially for the price -- $24 for 2 people to be full in a sit-down restaurant. The food wasn't oily at all, but was really nicely spiced/flavoured. The guy serving us with tremendously friendly and hospitable. If you're in the area, definitely check out this great place! read more

Habesha Cafe - The Great Habesha Veggie Combo (vegan) - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Exceptional spot for Ethiopian food! Reasonably priced for vegetarian options for sure, and they have a lot of veggie and vegan options. I got the vegetarian combo platter (serves 2) and it's $24 for 2. They also have meat options at a higher price point and a wide variety of sandwiches too. The owner is really sweet and they also have an attached grocery store! It's a pretty casual cafe spot. I didn't try any drinks this time, but they have a traditional Jebena coffee experience that I'd love to try next time. They also have a wide range of coffees and lattes available too. read more

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We got the Habesha Special (meat & veg combo) and thoroughly enjoyed our meal. Very tasty. We were there during an off-hour; service was very good. The ambiance was nice too. Smelled divine when we walked in the door. read more

Habesha Cafe - Habesha Habesha's Special-Meat and Veggie Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This is an amazing Ethiopian restaurant. We ordered the Habesha special meat and veggie combo for a couple to share..it is a delightful combination of spicy beef stews tempered by rich creamy lentils, collard and okra..I absolutely love it..chose pure teff injera since it is very healthy with low glycemic index c/w refined flour or even whole wheat for those who have to watch their glucose level..super healthy low sodium dishes with complex plant- based carbs/ legumes..passed my test for taste and nutrition.. Owner is so nice and hospitable.,quiet cafe ambience and great value Definitely recommend this to those with a taste for culinary adventures., read more

Came with a friend that wanted to try Ethiopian for the first time!!! She failed to tell me she had tryptophobia ‍*facepalm* Good thing they had other menu items I could get so she wouldn't starve to death. The aunty working was so kind and was bussing all the tables herself as it was an Ethiopian holiday when we visited and all other staff took the day off. I always recommend the meat combo cause it's the easiest to share with others - and get a little bit of everything! Would definitely come back. Oh and don't be confused that the signs say Amy's Merkato - you're in the right place. :) read more

Habesha Cafe is a great spot for Ethiopian food! The food is excellent quality! We tried Habesha Cafe after working out, we were very hungry. We ordered the Habesha Special (meat + veggie combo) for $29. We devoured it. The quality of each component was great. The meat was cooked perfectly, the collard greens were the perfect sweetness, and the potatoes, and sides were seasoned very well. The owner of the restaurant was very sweet and greeted us with a smile. He was very kind. The cafe is very large with lots of seating. I definitely will want to go back to try more of their dishes. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in south seattle!! read more

Habesha Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

This quaint unbeknownst hidden gem on Rainier Ave is enduring. Simple tasty cakes and baklavas and robust teas and coffees. Attentive service. Wanna find a 'hidden' place to meet with a special someone, come to Habesha Cafe. read more

Habesha Cafe - Habesha Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The lemon cake was exactly what I wanted, not overly sweet and paired well with a decaf americano. All together my two items were $5.89 (the cost of one tall or grande drink at Starbucks). The gentleman that served me was also super kind. Very quiet inside with a bit of traffic noise with the door open. Great experience. read more

Habesha Cafe - Lemon Cake - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The owner is the sweetest lady in the world :) Cute authentic shop with hearty food. We got the meatball sandwich ($8) and the Foul ($11.50). The bread is super soft and crispy. The meatball sandwich was flavorful and delicious. The Foul was a very simple dish and was great with bread dipped in. It was very interesting- I'd describe it as a watery mashed bean mush with spices, lol! The hardboiled egg was overcooked. Nevertheless - Hit the spot - filling but not too heavy. The food was ready super quickly! There's a small shop with spices and such inside, as well as a dessert case. read more

Habesha Cafe - Meatball Sandwich ($8) - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Delicious Ethiopian food for both vegetarian and meat dishes. Excellent variety on their combo platters. Casual atmosphere.

These reviews HAVE to be fake! They are AMY'S MERKATO on Door Dash, so beware and avoid! This was hands down, the Worst Ethiopian food EVER! And I've eaten a lot of Ethiopian food. First of all, they called me to tell me, they didn't have any boiled eggs. What if I ordered Doro Wat? It traditionally comes with a boiled egg. So I believe they were lazy and didn't want to spend the time to boil any. They didn't bother to tell me they didn't have the Gomen, I PAID extra for. And instead, they proceeded to give me the SMALLEST portion of chickpeas. I didn't agree to that substitution, why not call me about that too? Ayib was smelly and bitter. Overall, there was barely any food given. And what was given, was the TINIEST portions ever. The food tasted old, stale, BURNT and bitter. Didn't even taste like beef. Barely any sauce. And it was COLD! Normally, even if the restaurant is an hour away, my food arrives piping hot because it is surrounded by injera. This was definitely not worth $50 dollars. If I had a dog or a raccoon, I wouldn't even feed them this slop! read more

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Came here to pick up some sambusa and a serving of the vegetarian combo to go. The man working here was so sweet and the lady got me water and sambusa while I waited for my to go order. Their chicken sambusa were perfect although a bit on the blander side and very lite on the chicken.The vegetarian combo was plenty of food for one to share. The flavors were perfect! I would definitely go back. The place had a small market inside where they were selling spices, sweets and some home decor. They were also selling slices of cake and baklava. read more

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Had a wonderful time eating here! My friends and I had never had Ethiopian food before and the owner was so helpful in explaining the menu and recommending what we should try. We decided on the meat combo and veggie combo between the 3 of us and it came together in a huge platter with so much food that we can probably make another whole meal out of it. It's presented beautifully, was delicious, and we were walked through how to eat it all with the injera. At the end, the owner came over and told us about some traditions around eating in Ethiopia, how baklava became popular, and offered us some tea. Highly recommend! read more

Habesha Cafe - Tea! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Habesha Cafe was my first time experiencing Ethiopian food and it did not disappoint! Everything I tried was full of so much flavor and each bite left me hurrying to get to the next. I definitely recommend their chili which has a great Ethiopian twist to it. Habesha Cafe is a must try. read more

We wanted to eat some Ethiopian food and heard a lot of great things about this new place so decided to check it out. The inside is nice and clean and is a cafe style with a little spice shop as well. It is also counter style. We opted for the following: Veggie combo - pretty standard Fowl - this is my first time having this, but I tho it was on the bland side Dori wot - my favorite, it was super flavorful and went well with the injera. The chicken leg was good but was not meant for sharing...same with the egg, I wish it was cut up to small pieces. Lamb ribs - meat was tender and cooked well Ambience - this is the star of the experience, the lady who took our order and serve us was very nice. She was very attentive and considerate and made us feel very comfortable. She also gave us some baklava to try after our meal as well. Price was standard as portion of the meat and veggies was ok. We did get a lot of injera bread though which was nice. Overall, it was good and I'm glad to have tried it read more

Habesha Cafe - Veggie combo, fowl, doro wot, and lamb tibs - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington