Great food and ambiance! Totally recommend. Will be returning! I loved the espresso and the deserts. I especially loved the banana bread sundae and the baklava! read more

Went for a weekend lunch with a friend. The service was very nice and helpful. We got the tuna kitfo bites, beef tibs with a side of okra, and spiced tea to drink. It was the perfect amount of food for a light lunch for 2 not big eaters. The kitfo bites were very flavorful. It's the first time I've had kitfo with fish and really enjoyed it. We got medium spice and it had a good kick to it. The injera bits are fried and I thought they would be like pita chips but they're softer but still had a good structure which I really enjoyed. The beef tibs were also quite good. The spice level on this was a little lower than the medium on the kitfo but for spice lovers, still present. The beef was tender and tasty. The only nitpick I'd have about this place is that the injera lacks tang. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Kitfo bites - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

A few years after my last visit and this place is still incredible. I can't imagine why it isn't crowded every day given the quality of the ingredients and the affordability of a great meal for two. The seafood options remain the star, and this time, we tried the shrimp along with the tuna/salmon tartare. It was spicy, but the kind of spicy that compliments a dish rather than masks the quality of the protein. The artwork around the place is stunning, and the bathroom has a wonderfully-scented hand soap. read more

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We went to this place with a group of ladies. The restaurant took good care of us. We were a large group and they helped us with the order, so we ate family style. Food is great! Very flavorful- authentically, you should be eating with your hand. The food is not spicy - the value for the food is very good, especially since it's a Michelin star restaurant:) read more

Tried LeYou after seeing this on the Michelin guide and had a decent experience. This spot is located in an unassuming plaza with plenty of parking. When we came for lunch it was relatively open so we were promptly seated which was nice. Service was very nice and fast here as well. The ambiance here is really pretty with lots of decour and paintings/photos. For food we tried: * Chicken Sambusa - these were crispy with a ground chicken filling and came piping hot. We enjoyed eating these a lot * tuna kitfo - this came with injera chips and kind of like a tuna poke ethiopian style. This was my favorite and so flavorful * Lamb doro tibs - these were flavorful succulent pieces of lamb * Chicken doro tibs - succulent pieces of chicken which we would scoop up with injera bread * Fish curry - i forgot the name but I liked this, the curry soaks up the injera bread which is nice and flavorful. I wish we ordered more curries! * We also tried the collard greens side and a few others but nothing was a particular standout for me Overall food was not bad but Found the main dish a little lacking in flavor from what I was expecting. Nice place to check out though! read more

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Modern vibes with traditional touches characterize this cozy restaurant. First time experiencing Ethiopian cuisine, so our party of 2 put ourselves in the capable hands of our friendly server Liya! She did *not* steer us wrong in suggesting the Ethiopian Spiced Tea (unsweetened black tea leaves brewed with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, served hot or iced) and the following combination platters-- Two Meat Stew Items: Doro (chicken drumstick) Key Wot Stew (mildly spiced, slow-cooked in red sauce with caramelized onions, garlic, ginger, cardamom, and berbere--spiced chili powder) Asa (white fish) Alicha Stew (non-spicy, slow-cooked mild sauce base with caramelized onions, garlic, ginger, turmeric, jalapeño peppers, basil, and cumin) Four Vegetarian Sampler: Atakilt (cabbage, carrots, and potatoes sautéed with onions, turmeric, tomatoes, garlic, & ginger) Miser (red lentils) Key Wot Shiro (roasted chickpea flower simmered with basil and jalapeños) Key Wot Kik (split peas) Alicha read more

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Came shortly after evening opening time on a Wednesday night. No wait and not crowded. Ambiance is beautiful. Interior is decorated well and the vibes are immaculate with soft, soothing music. Service was 5/5. Liya was helpful with recommendations and super friendly! We shared the Ethiopian spiced tea, sambusa (spiced chicken), and LeYou Special. Ethiopian spiced tea was good and piping hot, it also came with honey and sugar which I appreciated. Sambusas were fantastic - the spiced chicken was flavorful, and puff pastry had a light fluffy crispy texture. LeYou Special was pretty good. My favorites were the fish, chicken, cabbage, and lentils. I do wish it were a bit hotter in temperature as many of them were lukewarm, especially the fish. For dessert we shared the brownie sundae and baklava. Both were pretty small. Not mindblowing but tasty sweet treats to satisfy the sweet tooth if you don't want to go elsewhere for dessert. Glad I got to try LeYou! read more

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LeYou is located right off the N First St exit towards San Jose and is located in a very unassuming plaza. What I love about LeYou is, not only is it Michelin guided, it lives up to its recommendation. The food here was fresh and delicious, service was kind and attentive, and last the space was charming. I can totally see this place being a cute place for a first date or a special occasion. Now let's talk about the food, at most places they serve their tartare thats beef but at LeYou they take a unique take on that with fish instead. I believe you can pick between tuna or salmon and we opted for the tuna and it was hefty and delicious. You can even adjust the spice level on this and we opted for medium which actually felt like medium. Most places are heavy on the spices even if you ask for less. As for the rest of the meal you must try the gomen which is the collared greens. It's seasoned well and works good in combination of your other dishes. Of course you must order the shiro which is mashed chickpeas and various beans. This one is a little spicy and a slow burn which is pleasant because it won't cause instant tummy aches. Overall highly recommend LeYou if you're ever in town or wanting to try Ethiopian for the first time! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Gomen/Collard Greens (V) Butcha/Cold Chickpea Salad (V) Shiro (V)/Chickpea - Keywot Kitfo/Tartare Four Vegetarian Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

We celebrated a birthday party here, since we were a large group we got to share several appetizers. They were able to accommodate our large group and allowed us to cut a cake at the end of our meal as well. For appetizers we got sambusas, eggplant dip and kitfo bites. The dip and kitfo came with toasted bite sized injera. They were crisp enough to be like chips. Both the eggplant dip and kitfo were severely lacking salt, and were just difficult to eat. For mains we got injera with an assortment of curries and sides. The chicken and shrimp were the best while the rest were okayish. The injera wasn't too sour compared to other places. Overall I was disappointed by the food especially given this has been a Michelin guide recommended place. read more

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Dropped in a reservation and Lyia took care of us. We ordered a leyou special sampler and I specifically asked for okra and asa fish and Lyia was like "oh there definitely be fish in it" We got our food and was delighted that we got a sample of a lot of dishes, 3 small scoops of lentils, 2 types of protein, a couple cubes of tofu, collard greens, salad, beets, and others read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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The food tastes good and the employees are nice but it has become more and more detached from a restaurant experience. They now put a push bell that you use to alert the staff when you are ready to order and need assistance. Otherwise expect to waive someone down. It's not such a large restaurant that this type of "fast food" service is needed. Also, the food is often lukewarm, especially when they have specialty menus such as Valentine's Day. You can tell the food is of quality ingredients but they are missing the customer-server experience and the food could be hotter. When they first opened we loved it; we are now back on the search for a better experience! read more

First time having Ethiopian food. I definitely want to try more from LeYou. I ordered my food to go , so I am sure there is much more to experience enjoying my food there sitting down. I look forward to that next time ! To start things off all staff was extremely friendly and welcoming. LeYou is a hidden gem , beautifully designed interior. Great place to go with a group or with a special person. I ordered a IPA beer while I waited for my order. I was offered an Ethiopian beer which I have never tried before and it was so good ! Light ,crisp, and refreshing! I ordered the Sega Key Wot , it had great flavor and good spice. Paired with the Gomen- collard greens. My order came with sponge bread (not sure of the proper name of it). Quality of the food was great and everything was very fresh. I will definitely eat there next time and also go with their recommendation of trying the Doro Key Wot next time! Cant wait for the experience. read more

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Walking inside, the interior was wonderfully decorated with Ethiopian culture. The server came to our table and described the food to us since we didn't have much knowledge of the cuisine. They also have a button that buzzes your waiter to come over. However, due to our lack of knowledge, they recommended ordering the special since it has a variety of toppings. But they never told us the price and amount of food that it comes with. Since we had a vegetarian friend, we wanted to make sure there was food for her to eat. So we ordered two specials. If I was the waiter, I would've recommended not ordering two specials because the portion ended up being WAYY too much food for just four girls to eat. We barely made a dent in the food. Some of the toppings were good and others were fine. I wouldn't go back unless I did thorough research beforehand to understand exactly what to order. read more

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LeYou's dishes were delectable! We ordered kategna, kitfo bites, and got the chicken+beef tib with sides of okra and collard greens. All pack a punch and can be a little bit on the spicy side for those with low spice tolerance (like me). There were plenty of food and we enjoyed some affogato for dessert. Debbie was an attentive server and gave us great recommendations. There is a minimum dining cost for dinner at $25 per person or $10 fee per person for split entree. Having a minimum is a bit of a deterrent. read more

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Tried: meat combo with one wot style stew with chicken (1/5) and the other onion stew with white fish (3/5). I love Walia's doro wot but don't love the location and ambience so hoped LeYou would offer similar taste but better ambience, but sadly, the doro wot (chicken stew) was extremely spicy even for me, and didn't taste good either. It could upset your stomach. The onion stew was alright but not a fan of the overpowering sweet flavor of the onions. When I crave Ethiopian food, will just do take out at Walia. Also one of the female servers was a bit pushy in trying to make us order more drinks, sides, dessert. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Meat combo 2/5. The wot stew is incredibly spicy and upset my stomach. - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Delicious Ethiopian food! Service was great, big spot with a lot of seating and I found it quiet enough to have a conversation comfortably. I loved the tibs and minchet wot. I'd choose the zucchini over the okra if you had to choose between one veggie option. read more

Absolutely delicious and a favorite for our family! We always get the cabbage, collards, split peas, green beans and fish stewed. A lot of ginger and turmeric on many dishes here. We felt our immune systems boosted and got some good vegetarian options too! read more

Super great Ethiopian spot with tons of options. If you're vegetarian, more than half the menu is veg so there are soo many good choices! We ordered the veggie sampler with four items and added two meat dishes on the side, which was perfect for trying a bit of everything. Since there were so many options and we weren't sure where to start, the servers helped us choose and gave great recommendations. The amount of food ended up being just right for four people to share. The flavors reminded me a little of Indian food, if you like South Indian cuisine you'll love it! The injera is similar to dosa and works so well with all the dishes. For dessert we got the flan and was super creamy and sweet, though the portion was smaller than we expected. The ambiance inside is really pretty and well decorated, with a cozy, homey vibe. Definitely will be back! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Four Vegetarian Sampler - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Nice interior and friendly service. It was mostly empty when we came in at 5:45 on the weekend. The food was good, but I found the chicken and cod in the stew to be overcooked, especially the chicken meat, which was a bit dry despite being bone-in and a stew. However, the flavors were enjoyable, we especially liked the injera appetizer that came with a dip. read more

The waitress was very nice and accommodating to us and allowed us to store the cake in the fridge ! She was very patient in helping our party order and recommended her favorite dishes. The place is nicely decorated and chill ambiance, but as the sun was setting, it was difficult to see the table. I really liked that there is a separate handwashing station right next to the restroom for ppl to wash before or after eating ! My group and I are not entirely new to Ethiopian cuisine, however for a 3-year Michelin restaurant, this place takes the cake for being the blandest we've had. There was basically no flavor in the fish, the beef was alright and the chicken was just there. Comparing to other reviews on here, the eggplant dip and okra appetizers were served on our meal platter, not separately as others have posted. Perhaps it's because we ordered two appetizers, but for the price we paid, it was not amounting to what we got. My friends favored the eggplant dip the most, i liked the beef and salad. Overall, not the best but not the worst. For a highly advertised Michelin, this was a really average restaurant. Many thanks to the kind waitress though (: read more

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Minimum $25/person. Well-rounded dishes. Everything was solid. Stuffed jalapeños were very spicy but so much more than the sum of it's parts, it was vegetarian but for a sec I thought there was ceviche or something in it. Kategna (toasted spiced injera) had paprika and came with yogurt with honey, lightly sweet and rich. Stews were solid and not too salty. They ran out of fish, but chicken and especially beef were a tad dry. The injera didn't have too much of a taste, but also not too tangy and had a good texture. Probably best nicer Ethiopian resturant around. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Stuffed Jalepeño - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I'm glad I did! It was definitely a fun eating experience. I believe this is a Michelin spot, so I was excited. The ambiance was cozy, and located in a spot w a small parking lot. The staff are super sweet and give my party recommendations on what to get. What I got: Stuffed Jalapeño appetizer Tuna Kitfo Bites (MUST GET THIS WAS SO GOOOOD) 2 meat stew combo items ( fish and chicken) vegetarian combo platter ( tofu, lentil, 2 other ones that the server rec but i don't remember) Sega beef stew I thought it was cool how everything we ordered was served all in one giant platter. I did enjoy the meal, my favs were the chicken, fish and lentil. It makes a good pairing w/ the injera too!!!! Overrall, would recommend this place for Ethopian food!!!! read more

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LeYou Ethiopian was such a wonderful find! From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere felt calm and inviting. It has a nice, quiet vibe inside--perfect for actually enjoying conversation and taking your time with the meal. One of the biggest highlights is how vegetarian-friendly the menu is. There are so many flavorful plant-based options that it's hard to choose just one. We ended up ordering the family-style injera platter with eight different curries, and it was absolutely the way to go. Everything was beautifully spiced, rich, and comforting without being too heavy. Sharing it made the experience even more fun--there's something special about eating together off the same platter with fresh, soft injera. The staff was incredibly kind and helpful, patiently walking us through the menu and making thoughtful recommendations. You can really tell they care about making sure guests have a great experience. On top of all that, the pricing is very affordable, especially for the generous portions and quality of the food. Delicious, welcoming, and budget-friendly--LeYou Ethiopian is definitely a spot I'll be coming back to! read more

This restaurant is so beautiful inside and food was amazing! It definitely had more of an intimate vibe, great for date night. Decor is super chic too. I love the communal experience you get with Ethiopian food and this didn't disappoint! My friend and I shared a two meat combo and four veggie combo. I'm not super familiar with the specific dishes but the staff were very eager to help and recommend dishes. We got the spicy chicken (doro) and fish for the meat combo and the okra, spicy lentils, house salad, and tofu for the veggie combo. Everything was such a "flavor explosion" as my friend called it. We were super stuffed by the end. It was under $30 per person. Staff was very courteous and refilled our injera without us asking. Parking available in the lot. Will definitely be back! Note to myself: I think the combos all come with salad already! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Four Vegetarian Sampler and Two Meat Stew Items - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

We went Valentine's Day dinner. We had to make a reservation and the place was packed! The vibe was very romantic and the service was great. We had the platter win lamb tibs. We paid $100 all in. It came with some fantastic sambousas, a main course and desert. read more

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We went for lunch. I told my son I wanted to try something different. He suggested this place. I've never had Ethiopian food before. After being seated,the owner asked if we ever eaten here before. We said no. She suggested that we try the sampler plate. It comes with two protein,and four vegetarian plates. She explained the many different plates. We took her suggestions and allowed her to pick what she thought we would enjoy. We ended up getting a beef item,and a fish item. All of the items are served on a giant plate. You eat family style,(just use your fingers and pick off the plate). Everything tasted great,not spicy at all. I guess next time we can ask for the spicy version. There's plenty of parking.(It's next door to shark boy fish and chips) read more

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New favorite Ethiopian spot in the bay. Truly a hidden gem!! We got the Sega tibs, doro wot, and the four vegetarian sampler combo. The food is seriously authentic and DELICIOUS! You simply cannot go wrong with what you pick, it will all be yummy. The overall experience was superb and I cannot wait to come back to this cute restaraunt! The owner was the only person taking orders/serving tables and it felt like a really special experience to hear from her talk to us about how she developed recipes with healthy ingredients and makes sure all food is gluten free! Super nice owner. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

We had delicious food and great service from Kya! Would definitely recommend if you are looking to try Ethiopian food or already love it!! read more

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One of my favorite places I tried this year! I love the kitfo (tuna tartare) and chicken tibs. My favorites are the green beans and the kategna appetizer. The Ethiopian spiced tea is delicious, staff is friendly. Food sometimes takes a while but is well worth it! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Kategna - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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The 2 stew + 1 side combination + 1 order of tibs was enough for two of us to be pretty full. The injera wasn't too sour and did well to absorb the dishes on top. The spicy beef stew was excellent. If I could handle my spice better, I would have devoured it quickly. I really liked the interior design of the restaurant. The presentation of the dishes in a giant platter was pretty cool too. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Clockwise from top left: chicken stew (not spicy), beef stew (spicy), lamb tibs, chickpea salad - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Food was great, owner was nice. I would have liked more of the beef/chicken, but they were both very good.

I had such a wonderful experience at LeYou last night! My boyfriend and I decided to try it, and we were both so impressed. The food was absolutely delicious--full of flavor, fresh, and clearly made with care. The dish we tried was amazing and beautifully prepared. We both love East African food so we are adding this restaurant to our favorite spots now. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, and the service made us feel comfortable and appreciated as guests. It was the perfect place for a nice evening out. If you're looking for authentic, flavorful Ethiopian food and a great dining experience, I highly recommend LeYou. We will definitely be coming back! Don't forgot to buy a bottle of their Tej Honey Wine read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

I've been searching for Ethiopian food that comes close to the flavor of a little deli dish I got from Berkeley Bowl in 2018 and while this restaurant doesn't quite get there, it comes close. I ordered the misir wot (lentil stew) which came with the fermented injeera flatbread and I added a side dish of cooked green beans and carrots. The stew was labeled spicy but as a white girl with low-medium spice tolerance, I'd characterize it as flavorful with mild throat burn- just how I like it! The lentils and veggies were soft and flavorful and contrasted with the spongy tangy injera. I had bites of my friends beef, lentil, and fish stews and everything was insanely buttery and rich. I washed it all down with some honey ginger tea (since I had already tried the Ethiopian spiced black tea at another place) and holy cow I wish I could buy this tea by the gallon. It was the perfect blend of ginger and honey and it just begged for some whiskey to adulterate it into a hot toddy. I remember now that the menu listed some alcohol, I shoulda checked for some whiskey! Logistics: - indoor seating only. I thought the website showed pictures of a patio seating area but that might be outdated because it looked to belong to a fish and chips restaurant - parking in front, and some more in the lot for Danbi Korean next door - menu listed that injera was 100% teff flour (it's oftentimes cut with wheat flour for cost purposes) but I would double check for cross contamination read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Miser (V)/Lentils - Keywot - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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Amazing dinner! My friend was actually trying Ethiopian food for the first time and I don't think there's a better place to take her! Debbie was so patient explaining the menu and recommending stuff so thank you to her! Great place, great ambiance! We'll be back soon! read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

Quiet, classy ambiance perfect for a quiet date night. The service was also quick and pleasant. My partner and I are frequent enjoyers of Ethiopian cuisine but it was nice of our server to explain what we were getting. As for food, it was absolutely sublime. I had the spiced tea which was delicious and we split the Kategna as an appetizer. For our main course, we got the Leyou special which had two meats and all of the veggie sides. It's tailored to the amount of people at the table and ran about $25/person. The food was phenomenal and we cleared our plate in 14 minutes. We just couldn't stop-- it was too good! Our favorite restaurant was closed for MLK day so we tried LeYou on a whim to satisfy our Ethiopian craving. This is our new favorite place and is absolutely worth stopping in! read more

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Food: Enjoyed the Veggie Combo Recommend going with 4 of the stews. We ordered the sambusa for an appetizer Service: prompt Ambiance: Ethiopian Deco. Give this place a try. Especially if you are seeking a vegetarian menu. Highly recommend giving this place a try. read more

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Finally got to try LeYou and their reputation precedes them! We ordered one of each appetizer as well as all of our own entrees. Service was amazing. They accommodated our entire party's dietary restrictions: Chicken & Lamb is halal & many many vegan options! It is so cozy and was sooo in love with the herbaceous smell in the air. I cannot wait to go back (: read more

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Very delicious vegan options. Ordered the mushrooms & the 4 choice plate: Tried the okra, collard greens, cabbage/ potatoes & chickpea purée Their injera is gluten-free! Appetizer pictured is the eggplant. Our beautiful waitress was Leya. She recommended the mushrooms and it ended up being the best thing we tried. Loved it all tho. Everything together was perfect Romantic & spiritual setting. read more

LeYou Ethiopian - Eggplant appetizer - Ethiopian Near Me - San Jose, California

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In the mood for good Ethiopian food? Check out Le You. Last time I came back in 2020 and have missed it. Went with a couple of friends for lunch and everything was still amazing. Ordered the egg plant dip and meat/veggie combo. Food was warm and very flavorful. I enjoyed everything I ate. Won't wait another 5 years. read more

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This was my first time having Ethiopian food. I'm glad I did since it was so good! I was surprised by how tender all the meats were here, and it went very well with the Injera. Our waitress was super kind and the ambiance was nice and laid back at the place read more

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