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    Kaffa Crossing

    4.0 (234 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    KAFFA CROSSING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Kaffa Crossing

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    Yebeg Tibs and Doro Wot
    Andrew K.

    I am very much on the hunt for good Ethiopian food in Philadelphia and this area in particular seemed like it would have it so I was very hopeful. Ultimately, the restaurant was just okay. For one, we came in at a time when they were very not busy and the reception was not so welcoming--which can be fine. But then your entire experience in deciding upon food is through an app, which I wish weren't the case and wish there were more interaction with someone who could provide recommendations. It took a full 28 minutes to receive our first food, which was the sambusa and very much not worth the wait or the money. Be aware that the prices currently are very different than those listed on Yelp/online. So the $7.25/2 sambusa platter finally came and was a much too hot to eat and really just full of lentils with nothing else-a fairly dry concoction. After another long wait, we received the 2 mains on a plate of injera. The doro wot was what we were super pumped about as it is advertised as their expertise. This consisted of essentially two chicken legs (minimal meat) and a sauce that was fairly mid in terms of flavoring-especially not worth it for the price. We had also gotten yebeg tibs, thankfully, because this was infinitely better in terms of flavoring and portion. This ultimately filled us up. The most positive aspect of the meal was the injera itself, which was nicely done and plentiful. We had initially considered getting some meals to go but once we had the actual meal and experienced the 1) service and 2) price, we ultimately decided against it. Which is a shame. I appreciate that they maybe were a bit busy with lunch takeout but in terms of who was presently in the restaurant it felt like things took an exorbitant amount of time. Will probably try one of the many other places nearby next time.

    Cafe setup
    Gui L.

    Fast internet, delicious coffee, delectable injera and eggs. Great Ethiopian tunes. The best spot to get some work done, meet with friends, or relax. And all time great spot.

    Randy B.

    Pretty good Ethiopian food! Asked for recommendations from the waitress and got the sambusas and the Lamb Tibs. Overall, thought it was solid. Sambusas we're crispy and slightly spicy, good lentil filling. The Tibs paired with injera was good but the proportions were a bit off, loved the lentils. The lamb itself I wish had more flavor, but the additional jalapeños weren't too spicy and were a good addition. Biggest complaint was the service. Walked in and nobody helped me, and when I ordered, there wasn't a friendly demeanor when I was asking for recommendations. Also took over 30 minutes for the check and no water refills during my entire time there. Food was okay but not inviting enough to return.

    Yebig Tibs (lambs) 4/5 would get again
    Terry K.

    Yebig Tibs (lambs) 4.5/5 would get again. Tofu Wat - 3/5 , Tomotaey but good. Would try something else next time though. - First time having Ethiopian. Almost asked for a spoon and made these into burritos lol. But we ate it right instead. - Would come again, hoping to try some soups next. ............................................

    Veggie combo & beef
    Serena G.

    Great, flexible staff & delicious food. The menu had a lot of breakfast and sweet drink options. Great community and lots of flavors to try.

    Yebeg Tibs
    Samira A.

    I recently ordered from Kaffa Crossing and enjoyed my meal. I used to frequent this establishment many years ago, and I've never taken the time to write a review until now.The Yebbeg Tips had the perfect amount of spice and tenderness. It was also incredibly affordable for the amount I received. However, it was the okra dish that was my favorite this time. The okra was cooked to perfection, with a unique blend of spices. What I appreciate most about Kaffa Crossing is the consistency in the quality of their food and hospitality. If you're looking for a place with both great food and a welcoming ambiance, Kaffa Crossing is the perfect choice. It's a place that I'm grateful to have rediscovered.

    Special beef tibs
    Steve S.

    My neighbor brought me here for lunch. And I'm so happy he did. I was mildly familiar with Ethiopian food before this. I've been learning through our neighbors. After this meal I want to learn so much more. I went with the special beef tibs on the mild side. The flavor and tenderness were extraordinary. Paired perfectly with the injera And I love the iced coffee. Ethiopian coffee is special. Highly, highly recommend this place!

    Vegetarian combo and special tibs
    Jen T.

    Came to this place because a waiter at an Ethiopian restaurant in NYC told us he used to go to Kaffa Crossing for the kitfo, which we did not try this time. Overall, pretty good flavor, especially for the price! Quality was overall good. Sambusas were great, nicely spiced. The beef in the special tibs was a bit chewy, but the seasoning and spice level were great. I liked the shiro wot, but it wasn't my favorite, and my husband said the shiro was a bit bland. The veggie combo was also a tad on the "healthy-tasting" side--the greens especially were a bit undercooked/bitter. But compared to the last Ethiopian place we went to in Philly, this experience was great! Service was slow because there was only one waitress, but it wasn't egregiously bad. Casual ambience, though the lights were turned down for some mood lighting after we walked in haha.

    Sambusa
    Alex G.

    Great food and sweet service. I had the Sambusa for my appetizer, and Special Tibs (beef) and Yebeg Tibs (lamb) for my entree. The Sambusa were a bit small, but still delicious. The entrees were both really tasty, and complimented injera served with it perfectly. I rarely have Ethiopian food, so take this with a grain of salt, but I had a good time, and would come back.

    Tough burnt doro wat
    Cyara P.

    Ive been trying out different Ethiopian restaurants in the area and this was horrible. Disgusting. Not sure how its highly rated. The doro wat was dry tough and seems old or something. It was theeee worst doro wat I have ever tasted in nj or Philadelphia. The tofu tibs were just tofu in seasoning not really marinated or textured. The only thing edible was the vegetable combo but even that was mediocre. I would never go here again. O! The egg was yummy.

    Doro wot and vegetarian combo
    Jada G.

    Continuing on my journey to try all the Ethiopian spots in Philly, Kaffa Crossing was a decent attempt. I originally gave this a 4 but after consideration of the food portion and quality of service, I have to give it a 3. My boyfriend and I shared the vegetarian combo as well as Doro Wot, and while the food was relatively good, the injera was cold and we didn't get that much food when compared to other places in the city. It was also kind of hard to get the staff's attention when we needed water or something. I mean, for the price, it's worth it, and I guess you can easily get another serving if your party is feeling particularly peckish, but I can't say this would be my go-to Ethiopian spot if I had other options.

    Vegetarian platter :)
    Nathaniel T.

    I have been to a good amount of Ethiopian restaurants because of my love for the food, especially the injera (fermented bread) that it is served upon. I decided to come here for my birthday awhile back and was absolutely amazed by the deliciousness of the food here. It was all so flavorful and captivated my palate. I will surely be returning any chance that I get.

    Beef tibbs
    Sharandy O.

    The food was Very bland. No flavor. My friends and i all got something different and it was the same theme across the board. The Spicy beef had a bit more flavor but still wouldn't have it again. The bread is sour. Asmera beer wasn't too bad.

    derek tibs to go, same portions as eating in

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    2 years ago

    Simply amazing food served family style. Flavors authentic, great service. Only wish the wine selection was better.

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    4 years ago

    Cute, quiet little nook. Prices are reasonable and food is tasty. They are also open on holidays when other places aren't open.

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    Ask the Community - Kaffa Crossing

    How late do they serve breakfast?

    I'm pretty sure they serve it all day. They don't have a separate menu for breakfast...all items are in one menu.

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    Salam Cafe and Market

    Salam Cafe and Market

    4.6
    (49 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    This place had so much flavor. What really stood out to me was the veggies. They were seasoned…read morereally well, which I appreciated because at a lot of Ethiopian restaurants it feels like the meat gets all the flavor and the veggies are just kind of there. Here, the veggies were delicious on their own. The service was quick, probably about five minutes, and the people were kind. The space was also spacious and comfortable. I do wish it came with another piece of injera, but I'm sure you can buy extra if needed. Overall, I'd definitely come back.

    EDIT: after a few weeks I read my review and realized that it comes across as generally negative…read moreeven though my opinion is very positive. I went on too long about the kitfo. Salam is a delicious place with really friendly people. Me and my family have been taking out and eating in about once a week for months. It also attracts people working with laptops, as it is quiet and there's coffee. I am returning the 5th star because why should they appear less than excellent because of one guy's opinion of one dish? Btw the kik alicha is amazingly satisfying. ---ORIGINAL REVIEW I have a lot of positive things to say about this place, and just two complaints. I'm going to skip the positive as it is all repeated here in other reviews, other than to say that while the cooking here is not 100% in the mainstream of Ethiopian cooking, meaning that you can expect the Ethiopian dishes to land some short distance from what you are used to at any other place in Philly or D.C. or NYC etc., it is nevertheless usually delicious. The wots are spiced differently than traditional, there are more middle eastern flavors in general. The first time I came, soon after they had opened, I was disoriented and disappointed, but in later visits I decided I didn't care. The injera is among the best in Philly. Complaint#1: the doro wot sauce can sometimes (only twice) verge into the realm of so intense that you don't want to eat much of it, this has to do with both salt and spices. Complaint#2: This is the one that lost a star. They won't make their Saturday kitfo raw. If you ask for it raw it will be served rare, so the meat has received enough heat to toughen the texture and remove some of the color. I did complain, because I love kitfo and it is one of the most celebrated raw beef dishes, the beef glistening with niter kibbeh butter and looking like a shiny mount of rubies. It is amazing when made according to tradition and kind of lame when Americanized, like so many ethnic speacialties. About 3/4 of the best Philly places make it right, most in D.C. I would guess that Salam is either nervous about hygiene, a real consideration unless you mince your own beef, which is labor intensive. The excuse offered was that the beef got a little cooked by the hot butter, to which the answer is, your butter is too hot. No cooking can happen with this dish. (In Ethiopia a few do slightly cook the beef, but nobody likes those people.) I urge them to do Ethiopia justice and take kitfo off the menu, or do it right. Americans have learned a lot in the past few decades. Tell them what to expect and many will be enthusiastic. It won't work if you let them expect cooked beef. That's all the negative I have, I am looking forward to my next visit for the kik alicha.

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    Salam Cafe and Market
    Salam Cafe and Market
    Baked Salmon

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    Baked Salmon
    Dahlak

    Dahlak

    3.5
    (177 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    Dahlak Paradise is a vibe! This was my second time coming for a private event and I love the layout…read moreof the space. The front is super cozy. The middle area is an open area for dancing and sitting. And the back is a bar area. There is also an outdoor patio area for hanging out for some fresh air. The service was amazing and our bartenders were fantastic! We ordered the braised chicken sliders and they were delicious. It's a great space for a private party or just a great night out with good food & drinks!

    The restaurant is divided into two sections really three if you count the back patio. Upfront is a…read moreRestaurant. It has pretty good Ethiopian food. The dining area will offer live music and such and even kareoke. The back is a dive bar. Just beyond that is the back patio. Which is really nice in the summertime. This place is definitely the neighborhood watering hole. Can you see people from all walks of life and it's such a chill vibe everyone just gets along. I really love that about this place. Drinks are generally cheap and they have specials going on. Don't expect anything fancy or not on the drink menu. There are a few house drinks the bartenders know how to make otherwise they can be kind of lost. It's best to get some thing on top or in a bottle or can. There was a different bartender every night because they were working one day a week each. Unsure if that's still the case now. Service isn't always terrific and can run slow. I've had a few bartenders over the years be less then cordial. Overall, they have been few and far between and the unpleasant ones aren't around for very long. The family that owns this place gives back to the community and even helped with a personal fundraiser that I had. I've met a good amount of my friends in the neighborhood here as well. So if you are newer to the area, it's a good place to make friends, especially on a kareoke night with Dr Thunder or Pebs

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    Dahlak
    Veggie combo.
    Veggie combo.
    Dahlak

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    Kaffa Crossing - ethiopian - Updated July 2026

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