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Katar River Restaurant and Bakery

4.4 (35 reviews)
ModerateEthiopian
Open 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

Order Katar River Restaurant and Bakery Takeout or Delivery

Katar River Restaurant and Bakery Photos

Business Info

KATAR RIVER RESTAURANT AND BAKERY ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Good for groups
Outdoor seating
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - Katar River Restaurant and Bakery

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Katar Combo - small good for 2; injera on top
Andrew P.

Great Value Ethiopian take away joint. Stopped by here after work to pick up some dinner and tried to use the website to order. Unfortunately I couldn't find an appetizer section for Sambusas it's in the "non taxed" section so I called in. The guy was friendly and took my order and said to pick up after 30min. When we arrived I noticed that they changed the layout. The groceries are in the back now, and they added more seating up front. Got a huge aluminum container and went home to eat. Sambusas - not pictured Vegetarian with lentils. Has a nice thick skin and was crunchy when I bit into it. Very hearty and filling. The lentils were Al dente, personally I like them a bit softer. Was a nice item to snack on, but the filling doesn't hold together, so probably not good for a driver. Katar small combo for 2 You get a lot of food. I think it's probably enough for 3! There was an assortment of lentils, chickpeas, beef, chicken, beets, green beans, collards, and cabbage. The flavors are robust, and typical of Ethiopian cuisine. The variety of textures and items is my favorite part of ordering Ethiopian. You can go for some beans, and then mix it up with some crunchy veggies. The meat texture is tougher than what you'd expect if you're used to American cuisine. But the when you pair it with some veggies, it's a good comparison. Parking and getting in and out can get dicey since it's a corner lot, but it's easy to spot from the road.

Katar Combination for two, plenty!
Ben I.

This unsuspecting restaurant tucked into what looks like an industrial warehouse is an excellent place to experience the cuisine and culture of Minnesota's East African community. The decor inside was a welcome change to sludgy and gray Minneapolis, with colorful woven art on the walls and abundant potted plants. Spicy and sweet tea was served to us in a beautiful pot, and the waiter kindly explained how to enjoy it with our meal. We had the combination platter for two (which could've easily fed four) and the minchet abish, of which every dish was delicious. The injera that accompanied the mains was deliciously spongey and sour. I will definitely return for the hospitality and good food, as well to try my own hand at East African cuisine with ingredients from the well-stocked grocery that occupies half of the restaurant.

Exterior patio with lots of seating (August 2021).
Kedar D.

I hadn't been back to Katar River in over a decade, but it's still around, it's still good and, if anything, has improved by offering more vegan options. This restaurant is also an Ethiopian grocery store and, oddly, connected to a shipping warehouse. It's easy to miss and not in a place you'd expect, but it has lots of great outdoor seating. I ordered a bunch of their vegan dishes. The key sir ($11) consists of beets and potatoes and tasted great. The kik alicha ($11) is split peas in a turmeric sauce and was mild in taste, but I loved the texture and integrity of the split peas. The misir wot ($11) was excellent with spicy and cinnamon-dusted red lentils. The fosolia ($11) consists of green beans and carrots and was good. I also got lentil sambusas ($1.50 each). These had a thick and layered shell which I found interesting, but the interior lentil filling was dry. It was decent on a whole, though, considering the price. Katar River is a hole-in-the-wall and a super authentic experience for Ethiopian food. If you're looking for slightly better food, I recommend Red Sea in Cedar-Riverside or Agelgil in St. Paul. Dilla (Minneapolis) and Fasika (St. Paul) are also respectable.

10. Vegetarian Combo (above) 32. Meat Combo (below)
Muneeb H.

Nice Ethiopian restaurant that doubles as an Ethiopian grocery store (stock up on Injera, Teff flour, Berbere spice mix etc) Food is always wonderful with *huge* portions. Service can be a little slow but wonderful staff working. Easy 5-10 minute walk from the Lake St. Light rail station. Come hungry.

Sampler meat platter for 3
Calvin H.

First time trying Ethiopian food and this did not disappoint. It was a new experience eating a full meal with our hands. Our group of 4 decided on the sampler meat platter for 3 and it filled each of us up with leftovers. We also got two fresh sambusa. An experience to remember. Owners and operators of the business are kind and happy with what they do. Thank you guys for serving up the community with delicious food.

33. 3 Meat and 3 Veggie Combo // Veggie and Meat Sampler Platter (for 3 people)
Iris C.

First time trying Ethiopian food! It did not disappoint. It was such a great experience. Our group of 4 ordered the meat & veggie platter to share (we got the 3 person platter) and we shared a few of the lentil sambusas. So much food, and even had some leftovers. Everything was tasty and flavorful. Definitely a must-try! Lots of local and Ethiopians here dining, so you know it's authentic!

Sampler platter for 3.

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2 months ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

This place is for real authentic. Huge meal sizes, the combo for 4 feeds a family of six. For two days. People are friendly.

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

Extremely kind people here and the food was great! The sampler platter (meat) for 3 was abundant and tasty! Highly recommend it

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

The food is amazing, obviously some food is spicy but overall very good. Vegetarian ComboKatar Ultimate

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9 years ago

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6 years ago

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11 years ago

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15 years ago

Really tasty, healthy and cheap (except the fish, which I didn't like).

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14 years ago

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11 years ago

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11 years ago

good food, good service and the best coffe

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Dilla's - Veggie combo

Dilla's

4.1(170 reviews)
1.3 miWest Bank
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It has been a very long while since I have had Ethiopian, and I heard that Dilla's was the place to…read moretry in the Twin Cities. After a brief adventure thanks to Apple Maps, we arrived. There is a large paid lot right next to the restaurant, so parking was easy. We did arrive early--right at 5, so that probably helped. We were seated pretty quickly as well. As others have noticed, the service is quite slow (there seems to be only one person working the front of the house), though that felt like it was part of the experience--there was a distinct "gathering place" vibe, and there were plenty of regulars who were engrossed in conversation... it seemed like everyone was family there. The decor added to the family/community feel, with art, textiles, and wicker ware all contributing to a homey feel. Of course what you're really wondering about is the food. It's quite tasty. We started with the veggie sambusas, which were hot and crispy and came with a spicy tomato chutney that was just delicious. We also ordered the fule, which was quite tasty and filling. I loved the seasonings and textures. My favorite dish, though, was Dilla's Mix. It was absolutely beautiful to behold thanks to the jewel-toned beets and golden squash, and the juices of the veggies combined with the spices to create a glorious sauce. It was very comforting and oh-so-satisfying. Of course, all was served with springy injera to scoop it up with. Their injera is a bit lighter and milder than some that I have had elsewhere, but it does the trick nicely. As others have mentioned, Dilla's serves entrees in their own dishes, which is great if you are a group that likes to share.

Small spot for good Ethiopian food. Pros: Good flavors, friendly servers and appreciated they were…read morewilling to create a veggie+meat combo for me - the menu only has veggie or meat combos. Cons: only 4 parking spots and their catering van was in one of them. Server disappeared for long periods of time though there were few tables. The injera was very cold, which made the food get cold fast. Especially since the room was very cold (the server was wearing a down coat).

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Dilla's - 1. Sambusa with Veggies

1. Sambusa with Veggies

Dilla's - 9. Fule and 45 Dilla's Mix

9. Fule and 45 Dilla's Mix

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The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant

4.1(158 reviews)
0.9 miWest Bank
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This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, so I don't have anything to compare it to, but it was…read morea nice experience. I enjoyed my dish, chicken tibs; it had just the right amount of spice for someone with a low spice tolerance like myself. My date also enjoyed her yebeg alicha. Service and ambiance were decent, nothing particularly stood out on that front.

As much as I thought they had economical options, their food was overall sloppily made and didn't…read morecontain enough flavor. I believe they toned down the seasoning a bit to potentially serve people that couldn't handle spice, which resulted in their food overall on the plain side relatively. There are still some highlights worth pointing out, though, which I will try to do. I thought the ater kik and the shiro were overall well made, and one bite with a chunk of injera offered a traditionally tasty experience. Miser was okay, and could use more seasoning in my opinion. The doro wot also didn't have enough spice, and the chicken didn't necessarily have an "off the bone" quality like I would have loved. The lantil alicha was pretty good because lentils, which wouldn't normally be considered tasty, were pretty tasty. Both the yabesha gomen (kale) and tikel gomen (cabbage) were unfortunately bland as well in comparison. Spending just around $13 for a veggie firfir, which was a veggie sampler for one person, was a good deal, though. I think those who are around the Cedar area can still have a good time here.

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The Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie Sampler Asa Goulash

Veggie Sampler Asa Goulash

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The outside view of the restaurant

Demera

Demera

4.6(98 reviews)
4.9 miMidway
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Such good food! I got the vegetarian sampler and it was wonderful. Each dish was excellent. The kik…read morealicha is one of the best in the Twin Cities. I can't ever remember the name of the beet dish, but that one as another favorite. We went ridiculously early for dinner, so it was very quiet. But the atmosphere was very nice and the service was great. Can't recommend more highly!

We wanted to get Ethiopian food for our one year wedding anniversary, and Demera was both open on…read moreMonday night and near Como Zoo - so we gave it a try! AMBIANCE The space inside is so cozy and comforting - great Ethiopian decor, wood paneling, and vibes with music playing in the background. We had the place to ourselves besides a few takeout orders and bar guests. SERVICE Service is top notch here! The male working, presumably the owner, gave us some great recommendations on our order. He and the woman who cooked our meal, presumably his wife, came out to show us how to best eat the meats with the Injera. FOOD If you haven't had Injera, the sponge-like pancake that's a staple in Ethiopian food, you're missing out! We got the combo plate which included 5 different meat styles and TONS of Injera. We got 3 beef dishes - all varying in spice, flavor, and presentation, a lamb dish, and a chicken leg and hard boiled egg dish. It was TONS of food - we had to take home nearly half of it! Each was packed with flavor and such a fun culinary experience eating it with the Injera. Highly recommend this local spot - support this small business!

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Demera
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Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant - Ethiopian Coffee

Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant

4.2(45 reviews)
7.4 miLowertown, Downtown St. Paul
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I just discovered this place last night and will definitely by back. They are tucked away in a…read morenice little spot right by Union Depot and an easy walk from the Green Line. I have never had Ethiopian food before but I am always happy to support a small, local business and I will definitely be back. I had "Lamb Tibs", which are marinated pieces of lamb in a spicy sauce, served with cold vegetables and Injera (flat bread). The server was kind enough to show me the proper way to assemble the meal once it arrived, and it was truly amazing. The lamb was perfectly cooked and seasoned, with just the right amount of spice, and I had a bottle of St George Lager (an Ethiopian lager) to go with it. The beer was also very good in it's own right. Overall, 5+ stars- fast friendly service, excellent food (and they have a good selection if you are vegetarian / vegan as well) , and not that expensive. I left feeling pleasantly full for not a lot of money. The restaurant itself is clean, quiet and cozy with a very welcoming atmosphere. I am already looking forward to my next visit.

Visited Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant on a freezing cold night--Dec 31st--after heading downtown…read morefor the New Year's fireworks. It was on our way, and we decided to try something new, which turned out to be a great decision. I ordered the vegetarian platter, which came with multiple sides, and each one had a distinct, unique flavor. The food felt hearty yet healthy, and the injera was incredibly soft and flavorful, easily one of the highlights of the meal. I personally would've enjoyed a bit more spice, but that's just a preference. Overall, this is a wonderful spot with comforting food, great flavors, and a welcoming experience. Would definitely return!

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Erta Ale Ethiopian Restaurant - Veggie Sambusa

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Katar River Restaurant and Bakery - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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