Really good and authentic Ethiopian food. When I crave Ethiopian food this is my go-to spot

One of the best Ethiopian I've ever experienced. A few highlights: family run, friendly staff, pleasant atmosphere, coffee roasted and prepared in house in house, gluten free injera, attention to detail, accommodating to food allergies. We ordered a platter with beef tib, lamb tib, kitfa, cabbage, lentil, chickpeas, spinach and green chicken. Every dish was super flavorful and prepared. I could go on but seriously it's the experience you need. Go. Enjoy. Bring friends. read more

I'm so happy to have found this place in the Seattle area. I've been craving Ethiopian since the beginning of quarantine but couldn't find an establishment that hit the 'spot'. There's a few other Ethiopian restaurants in the complex but I definitely think that Jebena has the best food and service. From what I saw when I had picked up my order, I don't think they're doing dine-in yet. The person who greeted me (owner?) is probably one of the sweetest woman I've ever met. We engaged in a friendly conversation and she had thanked me for my service. Jebena is incredibly generous with their portions, especially for the price. I had ordered the meat combo 2 ($16) and was surprised by how much food was included. Everything was so delicious and flavorful. Please support small businesses, especially this incredible one! read more

20 years ago, or even 10, there were far fewer Ethiopian places in this town. Just a couple of decent ones, really. Now there are a couple dozen at the very least, and a lot of them are pretty amazing. Thankfully, the good ones are scattered around, so everybody has a chance to try the good Ethiopian grub. Jebena holds up the flag for Ethiopian delights north of downtown. There are other good ones up north, too, but this one is the best. Getting here is kind of comical for me, I always manage to turn myself around in the 6-way Pinehurst intersection at least once whenever I visit someplace here. It's a very modest setting--parking lot is pretty patchy, building is pretty patchy, interior...well, you get the idea. They've taken great pains to paint the inside in a most welcoming blend of warm colors. The coffee bar in back is framed by a wooden silhouette of a pitcher, which is a cheery touch. The people are soooo nice, and clearly want you to enjoy yourself and enjoy their food as well. They work hard to make sure you are comfortable and happy. They've laid out a few small tables that give it a nice café atmosphere. Heading to the back to use the facilities takes you into more of a warehouse feel, but at least it's a colorfully painted warehouse feel. The food is rock solid. The usual suspects--beef, lamb, chicken, cabbage, yellow peas, lentils, and salad on a huge round platter of injera. You get a fold of injera as your utensil--tear off a shred and fold food into your fingertips with it (in case you didn't know). The stewed beef was especially good; it seems like most places do Ethiopian food to its best when they spice it a bit more heavily. This dish certainly brought home that point. There are a few Ethiopian beers and a couple domestics, plus some wine and sparkling water and coffee. The beer lists aren't on the menu--they're under the glass on the tabletop. They're quick with the bottles and glasses, though. On the minus side, the wait for the check after the meal went on for half an hour. That homey vibe where you relax and take your time is great, but that's a little extreme. It's fine to be cool with people sitting at a table after they pay (as long as other customers aren't denied a seat), but at least give people the chance to pay. They were cool about splitting up the check, though, and cheerful and warm throughout. It's impossible not to love these guys, and the food. read more

I've only been to a few other Ethiopian restaurants and only go about once a year, so I'm no expert. That being said... I really enjoyed their food! If you haven't had Ethiopian food before, I have one recommendation... order the meat or veggie combo. I tried ordering one item once, and... well, it never happened again. The combination plates are too awesome! I like meat... but usually prefer to either order the veggie combo or make sure we have a veggie combo AND a meat combo on the table so everyone can try everything. I really liked that their veggie combo included a small salad. I don't remember if that's normal or not. I'm also happy that their injera (the soft bread that you use to pick up the food) was great! I haven't had bad injera yet, but... that's not an experience I ever want to have. The people were very welcoming and the prices were good. I shared the veggie combo ($12) with one person and we could have easily shared it with another person. So much food! As Tom B. mentioned, it took a really long time to get the bill. I was thankful that they split our bill and that were very easygoing/welcoming, but... I was a little frustrated by the wait because I needed to go home. It made me really appreciate the times when a waiter leaves a bill on the table and says something like, "no rush." Great little place, though. I hope to visit them again! read more

My sister and I were craving for Ethiopian food. We headed over to Northgate area, the one we always go to on 15th NE. However, it's not open on Monday! I looked up in Yelp and found out Jebena is open. We popped right in! Jebene is not a big restaurant. It's located in a very unnoticeable corner. According to the owner, the restaurant was open Mid January 2011. Even though there are not a lot of reviews on Yelp, the most existing reviews indicated that they have great food. Decor 5 STARS It's cozy, but it's very clean and welcoming! There are not a lot of tables. I believe I saw 5 tables in the restaurant (certainly not very big). Kitchen and bathroom area are just behind the cashier. Food 5 STARS The Meat Combo ($13) was just enough for both me and sister! There are lamb, beef, spinach, cheese, salad, and beans in the combo. According to my sister who has several Ethiopian friends, this place is definitely very authentic. The owner told us that she only cooks in small batch. Therefore, there's no microwaved food. Everything is freshly made! You can definitely smell it in the restaurant. Service 5 STARS Since the owner cooked everything freshly, the service was a bit slow. But, we were not in any hurry! I love that when she stopped a couple times and asked how we were doing and how the food tasted! She is a very friendly lady! This is a my new found Ethiopian place! My sister and I will definitely come back! read more

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What can I say........???? Great food, Great and friendly Service. The lamb was good.... the beef was good and everything else was good........... I will be back. read more

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I really love the food at this place. I've only been here a few times at the recommendations of friends but have enjoyed all my experiences. I don't get enough Ethiopian food in my life and always find this to be a special treat. Parking can be tight and the door is a little tricky but everything else is fabulous. I've only had the vegetarian combo. I really like the salad and the spinach parts. I am thankful the lentils are not too spicy. My friends enjoy the meat combo. I love the injera here. I appreciate that they bring you more when you run out. Seems they also have gluten free injera available here with advance notice. They even serve breakfast, I hope to try this sometime. This place is always crowded. read more

This is by far the best Ethiopian restaurant in the North End and possibly the entire city! I had some amazing fresh lamb tibs that were tender and packed with flavor. The accompanying lentils and cabbage were delicious as well (I love that they gave me sides instead of a small pile of salad)!!! My friend and I have been back twice since: once for the Qey Wat (spelling?) and once for the foul (a bean dish eaten for breakfast)--both were mouth-watering delicious! The foul was easily the best I've had in Seattle and kept me full all day. Amen for that. I used to drive to the CD for my fix, but no more! This place is definitely worth checking out if you're into the habesha food. Note: there's no sign up--it's the green storefront to the right of Amy's Mercato. read more

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Everything about the experience was great! The food was DELICIOUS; the staff was incredibly friendly and helpful; and the ambience was perfectly cozy. It may feel like an over-hype, but i found Jebena Cafe to be just what I was looking for on a rainy night. And the owner could not have been friendlier. Highly recommend!!! P.S. We got the meat combo #2 (subbed the lam for chicken) for two people. It's definitely big enough to feed three people comfortably! read more

This is our family's favorite go to for Ethiopian now. They are so friendly and nice both on the phone and in person. Food is delicious! I usually get one of the meat combos, vegetarian combo and a doro wot with extra injera to go. This last time I tried the Jebena combo that includes the doro wot but found the portions were not quite enough. My take-out orders have always been packed really well, have not dined-in yet. I live almost 40 minutes away and this place is definitely worth the trip. read more

Jebena is one of our favorite restaurants! The food is delicious, and you couldn't ask for warmer, friendlier, more gracious service. They truly care about their customers, and even made substitutions for my partner who doesn't do well with spicy food. We always feel welcome and at home here and come as often as we can. read more

I'm sold. The thing is, the food really is that good. And the owner is just lovely. I like the warm, fuzzy, taken cared of feeling when I go eat here. read more

I think I've discovered a new favorite thing in the world. It's Ethiopian food, and it's absolutely delicious. Jebena Cafe not only serves it, but it does it so well that I wonder how long I could subsist on injera bread alone. I'm no stranger to the restaurant's high rating on Yelp. It's the only way I would have found out about the place, since it otherwise does not stand out at all. Boy, am I glad that the internet exists to show me where all the good food is! If I come back, I can also expect to leave with enough food to last me the next day. This restaurant is tiny. Sorry, but that's my first impression of it. All the more reason it's really easy to miss. The front door opens with a turn of its very high doorknob, not the door handle. It's somewhat confusing and makes more sense when you're there. The interior feels somewhat cramped, and there are only eight tables. It's not a shabby presentation, but it is rather humble. The waitress got me seated right away and took my order for the Meat Combination II. As I expected, the plate was huge and looked delightful. The waitress was kind enough to explain to me what each of the stews on the injera bread were, but I barely remembered any of it and just dove right in. I was impressed by two things they did right. First, there really was a lot of meat! They don't use a ton of filler by including watery vegetables. Second, the meat had no bone, which was a problem with my last Ethiopian food experience. Here, it's just put in your mouth, chew, and swallow. My favorite kind of food! I finished maybe a third of it before asking to take the rest of it home in a box. The take-out box was really heavy, which just goes to show how much of it remained! It's amazing how much great food I was getting at that price. I also have to give extra points for the waitress including some more injera with my box. She was friendly, always smiling, and made the overall visit a lot more enjoyable. It's just too bad the restaurant doesn't open late and is completely closed on Tuesdays, but I really think it is deserving of those five stars! read more

Jebena Cafe - Meat Combination II ($15.00) - For serious meat-lovers! A hearty platter of Kitfo, Qey Wot, Beef Tibs, and Veggie sides. - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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A Taste sensation! My first time for eating Ethiopian food. It reminds me of how they eat And serve Indian Dosa. Finger food served on a lentil based pancake. Yummy. Make sure you love spices, for each different bite has a taste of spices! The owner is the editor, and he is very griendly and attentive just enough. Quick service with warm, freshly home-made food! The bathroom is clean too. read more

Jebena Cafe - The Jubena platter for three. I'm taking home the leftovers! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Truly GREAT Ethiopian food. The cheese is homemade, and the injera is not too sour, just right. My husband really didnt want to eat Ethiopian food again, but really enjoyed the red (lentils?) I highly recommend this restaurant. The owner is very friendly and accommodating. Get the Jebena combo if you're two people, it's the perfect size and there's something for everyone! read more

Jebena Cafe - Jebena combo! AMAZING! - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We got the Jebena combination & the special kitfo. Our first time trying Ethiopian food and we were NOT disappointed. Everything was full of flavor with different spices. My favorite was the doro wat, the chicken was super juicy and tender and went well the injera!! The owner was a sweetheart!! She kept checking in on us and even shared a little bit of her background. We will definitely be coming back to try the breakfast. read more

Jebena Cafe - Jebena combination - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

We ordered takeout last night. The Jebena combination platter was so good! And fed two hungry adults. My only regret is not ordering more food so we could feast on leftovers. read more

Yes, this place is really that good! I've been to numerous Ethiopian restaurants around the Seattle area and this one tops them all! First off, service here is dope! The owner is just as wonderful as these reviews stated - she is really such a nice person! Even though the restaurant was busy and there was only one server, our food still came out in a timely matter AND they checked on us at least 3 times... that's hella good service if you ask me! As for the food, it's the freshest I've tasted. We ordered the veggie combo and everything was delicious, even the spinach I tend to not eat...lol All in all, I recommend this place 100% for the service & the food!! P.S. The door knob to the front door of the restaurant is really high so watch out cause that confused the shit out of me lmao read more

We came here on a friday afternoon. The place was not busy at all. We first got greeted by two employes and told to sit anywhere we liked. After looking at their great menu, we decided to order Fir Fir and Vegetarian Combination. These are two different meals but we asked to have them on one plate (as shown in the picture, the Fir Fir is in the middle). The Fir Fir is consisted of Injera pieces with salsa and beef. It tasted amazing with a little spicy flavor. The Fir Fir is one of the best Ethiopian food I ever had. The Vegetarian Combination came with shiro wot, cabbage, yellow lentil, spinach, and salad. The spinach and the salad didnt have the best taste but everything else tasted great. With good food and a great service, i would recommend this place. read more

Jebena Cafe - Fir Fir (in the middle) and Vegetarian Combination. - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Wonderful people, hood atmosphere and delicious food! Always fun to share and eat with others and especially good place to eat if you are vegetarian. read more

This is the best Ethiopian eatery in the area! The owners are extremely nice and explain how all their dishes are made fresh daily using their special blends of spices. I had never eaten this kind of food except for at a potluck and really wanted to try somewhere local in Seattle. The menu is easy to understand if you've never tried any of the dishes. The Jebena combo gives you a good mix of everything; meat, veggies, spice and salad. There were only a couple flavor combinations I found to be too spicy for my taste, but everything else was delicious! read more

When my friends first suggested Ethiopian food I wasn't sure what to expect. Jebena Cafe is amazing. The food is delicious. We got the Veggie Combination And a Chicken dish. The food is so flavorful and well seasoned. Especially on a cold day like today it's tasty filling food that warms you from the inside out. The place is pretty no frills but it's comfortable. The staff is amazing. Martha is one of the two owners and she's such a delight. It feels more like a aunt is checking in on you rather than the owner/server. It was a great experience and I can't wait to go back and show it to new people! read more

My favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the city and the best of the 3 located in this cluster within Lake City. We always get the Jebena Combo, which is enough food for 3 or 2 really hungry people. The meat is always tender, the sides are interesting and tasty, and the home made soft cheese really puts it over the top. The owner is so kind and welcoming every time we come in. It's a pleasure to support this business. read more

Jebena Cafe - Jebena Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

My first time trying Ethiopian food! Let's just say, I enjoyed my first experience. The restaurant is kind of hidden in Lake City but with Google Maps, nothing is impossible nowadays. Clean, modern interior with friendly service. We got the Jebena Combo ($18.50) that fed 4 people!! So cheap. Food was good! Injera was interesting. It's kind of like spongy sour dough pita that you wrap all your food in. It was also my first time eating without silverware. Interesting experience... but YA GO WITH THE FLOW YA KNOW? Haha. Turns out I actually enjoy eating with my hands. The service was lovely. I'd definitely come back. read more

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The woman who greeted me at the door was so kind and very friendly. When you first walk in there are tables blocking from walking in further due to COVID precautions. I ordered the Jebena Combo to go; the crumbles of cheese and the meat bits were to die for! Delicious and gave me more than enough Injera, I had two whole extra rolls. Definitely a serving enough for two, maybe three people. Try this place out! read more

Excellent food. Good service. We had the doro wot and the green chicken. Didn't like the green chicken that much but it was called the Seattleites fav dish. We will be sticking with doro Tibs and doro wot next time since we don't eat beef( meat). Also, the doro wot plate comes with sprinkled cheese, lentils and some greens to make it perfect. The doro wot had two pieces of chicken plus egg as opposed to other places that only have one. The restaurant has a parking lot and not open on sundays read more

This is a review for a to-go order I placed this weekend. I haven't dined in yet, but plan to in the near future. Like others have said, this little place is tucked away in an inconspicuous tiny strip mall off a side street so it may take you a little bit of time to find it. But once you do, it will be obvious. It is very close in proximity to the Enat place. I ordered the Meat II combination platter and it was worth the $15. There was plenty of sides and meat dishes which included kitfo, cheese, one other meat (you can view the menu) and veggie sides all piled on top of the injera bread. There was just enough extra for eating everything up. My husband and I shared this and we were both completely full. I think I ate a little more than my fair share so I was extra full. I had called ahead and placed the order. He said it would be ready in 10 minutes and it was. The person was very nice and friendly and I saw that around the noon hour when I came to pick it up there were a few other patrons dining in and watching a game on the large screen TV. Seems like a nice, friendly place for regulars. The food was delicious and better priced than another place that is closer to my house so I think I'm pretty lucky in that I have a lot of options for Ethiopian food. Jebena Cafe is definitely going on my short list! read more

My favorite Ethiopian in the city and the owner is so sweet! I've dined and taken out and the food has been phenomenal each time. The Jebena combo is the best way to experience all the deliciousness they have on offer. read more

Jebena Cafe - Jebena Combination. - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

I was craving Ethiopian food even though I've never tried it before! The owner is so sweet & even called me back after I tried ordering from them 3x and couldn't get ahold of them. I'm glad she did because it exceeded my expectations! Can't wait to come back and order from her again! I think this will be my go to place to get my injera fix! read more

Cannot believe we waited so long to dine here. We joined some friends last night and will most certainly be going back (especially since it's in walking distance from our home) We started with the appetizer (delish). Four of us then shared the meat and veggie combos (#12 and 14) - plenty of food for 4 people. Everything on the dish was very tasty! Finished up with some homemade Baklava! Not one bad thing on the menu - even the beer selections were great And above all else the service/owners were so incredible wonderful and attentive! We highly recommended Jebena! read more

I've not had Ethiopian food for over 3 years because most injeera bread is made with wheat flour. However, I was really craving Ethiopian food, so did a quick search on Yelp and found Jabena. A place who makes 100 % teff injeera if you give them 24 hours notice ($1.50 extra per portion). A kindly called them to order two portions of the gluten free injeera for the following day, and we went up to have my veggie combo for lunch. It was great to be able to have Ethiopian food again. Unfortunately, the spices were a little tame for my liking, but it satiated my appetite for Ethiopian food. I took another veggie combo home to eat later. The owner/waitress was really friendly and helpful, service was quick and the décor simple and pleasing. I'd probably visit again if I was in the neighborhood and had planned to ahead of time for the gluten-free injeera, but I doubt I would be driving out there again just for lunch. read more

Jebena Cafe - veggie combo on gluten-free (100% teff) injeera - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The food and the service were phenomenal! Martha was so nice and kept checking to make sure we didn't need anything else

Delicious, very fresh, and excellent hot sauce made fresh from jalapeños! We've been in Seattle about 10 days visiting & in that time have been to about 7 or 8 of the top-rated Ethiopian restaurants around Seattle & surrounding communities. Jebena Cafe is definitely one of the top spots. We eat vegan, low-oil low-salt food as much as possible & Jebena hits the mark on all of those hopes. Definitely appreciate that the food is not overly-cooked & made fresh when ordered. It takes a bit longer to get the food than some Ethiopian restaurants, but again that's a great sign that your food is actually being prepared versus reheated. Many Ethiopian restaurants simply reheat prepared foods when Customer orders. We live in Los Angeles with a large Ethiopian community + restaurant district, and Jebena surpasses many that we've had the opportunity to experience in LA! read more

Jebena Cafe - Vegetarian combo plate - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

The best Ethiopian food I've ever had, on top of their amazing service. The owners were so sweet, welcoming, and accommodating. If you've never had Ethiopian food, this is the place to go!! The Jebena combo was great, offering a large variety and also large portion sizes. read more

I went here pre covid with friends who say this is their favorite Ethiopian restaurant and I definitely agree. Very fresh and distinctively a cut above other restaurants. read more

I adore this place. I've been here twice, once with my boyfriend and then again for his birthday in a group of 12 people. Both times I have been blown away by the quality of the food, the amazing value, and the excellent customer service. You can't go wrong with any one of the platters -- I've ordered the veggie combo, the meat combo II, and the Jebena combo and all were amazing. You get to try 6-10 of their specialties for just $13-19, and believe me when I say it's enough food for 3-4 people. My favorite dishes are the lentils, the spinach, and the Qey Wot. I have also tried their baklava and it is incredible, so sweet and flaky and it arrives warm from the kitchen. You will be blown away by how good this food is for such a good value, so please tip well and show these lovely people your appreciation. read more

This is a very good ethiopian restaurant. I've only been here once and was impressed. We ordered the meat combo and the foul. Both were very tasty. The foul was somewhat like chili and it came with warm, crusty french bread. The meat combo came with a variety of different meats and veggies. Everything was seasoned very nicely and the flavors were definitely present in all the diff dishes. The bread was well done, it didn't have that lingering sour taste after you ate it. Service was very nice and food came out within a reasonable time. WIll be back to try other things. read more

Jebena Cafe - foul - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

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Best Ethiopian I've been to in this area. Some days they even have gluten free injera (call ahead to ask). Their samosas are amazing and stuffed with a yummy lentil mixture. Their vegetarian combo is so good and will leave you stuffed and happy. Great service. Love this place! read more

Jebena Cafe - I always ask for double yellow lentils instead of yellow and red bc I love the yellow lentils so much, but the red ones are good too. Spicy - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington

Jebena cafe is amazing!!! Today, was my first time at this restaurant. I have been to so many habesha restaurants in Seattle, but have never experienced service like this!!! We received the best service, the owner was very sweet. Felt like I was at home and was very much taken cared of. I would recommend this restaurant without any hesitation and feel that it exemplifies a great habesha restaurant. We ordered a cappuccino and macchiato. For brunch, we ordered asa tibs (fish tibs) and foul. Definitely, will be back. :) read more

Jebena Cafe - Macchiato :) - Ethiopian Near Me - Seattle, Washington