Sorry to have to do this, but arrived on a Thursday (today!) at or before 2 pm and the place was…read moreclosed. Posted hours on website, Google and Yelp all say they close ar 2:30. Came out of my way to try and support this place. Major let-down and waste of my time, and adversely impacted my entire plan for the day. Was excited to try, but unlikely to give another chance under the circumstances.

I had been meaning to come here for the longest time because beyond Auntie April's, it was the only…read morerestaurant I had really heard of in Bayview. I remember reading about chef/owner Eskender Aseged's back story in an old SFGATE article - how he escaped Ethiopia on foot with his family, how he started as a busboy at the legendary Square One, how he worked his way up at the tonier restaurants in town like Boulevard and Campton Place, and how he managed to open this place nearly a decade ago. It's quite an impressive journey, and I didn't know I was meeting him when I walked up to the counter to look at the menu. It was after 2PM, and he was busy in the back washing the dishes. He didn't hear me come in, so I cleared my throat. Yes, I know that was a rude passive-aggressive move. Although everything was tempting, I selected the $15 Saffron Prawns over Couscous with Vegetables and Chermoula (photo: https://bit.ly/3DPe4Fh). I didn't know chermoula was a North African variation on a cilantro-olive oil marinade with a discernible chili kick. The combination of flavors was quite delicious and surprisingly familiar, a bit like a Cajun-style seafood stew. The $3.50 Iced Hibiscus Lemonade was a refreshing complement to the homestyle dish, more compatible than a Coke Zero would've been (photo: https://bit.ly/3ran6aB). I heard he changes up the menu, but I hope the chicken jambalaya and pistachio baklava are still around for me to try. The ride on the T Line was pretty easy, as the restaurant is right at the Oakdale/Palou stop in front of the portrait mural of Barack and Michelle (photo: https://bit.ly/3uSJPsQ). FOOD - 5 stars...the saffron prawns clearly reflected a broader palette worth trying AMBIANCE - 4 stars...contemporary concrete and clean SERVICE - 4.5 stars...Eskender was doing everything himself TOTAL - 5 stars...a proud accomplishment in Bayview RELATED - Exploring Bayview/Hunters Point? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3AOvRKv

We needed a gluten free potato we came here for dinner. There was five of us and we ordered the…read moremeat combination and added some seafood such as the catfish and that was a good amount for all of us. We each had a large piece of the bread which is used to pick up the food. I would suggest getting a couple of utensils to help with serving so it's not so messy. Anyway, the food was delicious. My favorite was the lamb and the catfish. We ordered the mild spice level and I thought that already had a good flavor. The restaurant itself has a very comfortable atmosphere. Service was great. Our server was very helpful and gave us a good amount of attention. I recommend making reservation.

First time having Ethiopian food and I could not be happier with my experience at New Eritrea…read more Food was plentiful and delicious. Lentil sambusa was good and lots of flavor. Shared the vegetable platter and every dish was full of flavor. Especially enjoyed the tuntumo and shiro dishes. Also gave plenty of injera for the amount of food. Salad seemed like a bit of a weird addition and felt out of place with the rest of the food. Seems like it can get busy and on Thursday when I went there was only 1 server so it was a bit slow but that understandable. Overall: 4.6/5

the food and service was great!! definitely would come again for the ox tail and fufuread more

Little small hole in the wall. 2 tables inside…read more If you're looking to try fufu, this is the place. Oxtail wasn't burnt and had good amount of meat on it. The egusi soup has a nutty flavor to it which I enjoyed. Fufu was soft, simple, delicious. *not pictured Jollaf Rice: has a little spice to it but not too bad!

Came here for a comedy special at 8pm. They were so accommodating and so nice and quick about it!…read more The ambiance of this place was fantastic! Great place to host shows, get some drinks and chill. Vibe is on point

I had been wanting to try fufu for a long time, so I decided to check out Bissap Baobab. The…read morerestaurant has more of a cocktail lounge vibe than a traditional dining spot, with eclectic decorations that make the atmosphere fun and unique. The service was friendly, but nothing extraordinary. Unfortunately, they didn't have fufu--which was the main reason I went. That was definitely a bummer (and a bit confusing, since it's such a staple dish). On the bright side, the food I did try was tasty. The fish, Senegal's signature dish, was fried perfectly, though it could have used a bit more salt. The rice tasted like it might have been a day old, and the sauce reminded me of marinara more than anything else.

Such a hidden gem!! I was hunting for a different restaurant in the Embarcadero Center when I…read morewalked past Teranga and was drawn in by the aroma of spices. Another patron wrapping up his meal saw us pause and told us Teranga had the best food in the Center and we just HAD to eat there. He was absolutely right. Food: I decided to get their yassa bowl with chickpeas, and my friend got their feijoada with chicken. The yassa bowl was outstanding -- super flavorful with perfectly spiced chickpeas, tons of caramelized onions, and roasted veggies over a bed of fluffy white rice. If you enjoy caramelized onions, you'll love this dish. The feijoada was also outstanding; it was extremely rich and comforting with perfectly spiced black beans and a nice pop of sweetness from the sweet potatoes. Ambiance: There isn't a ton of seating inside, but there are plenty of communal tables that belong to the Center right outside. Servie: The owner is also incredibly sweet! She walked us through the menu, gave great recommendations, and gave us free samples of tamarind cider as we were waiting. I can't wait to come back and try more things -- the other patron really knew what he was talking about.

What a lovely small cafe business! Service was so kind, I really wasn't expecting and appreciated…read morethe sample of one of their drinks. Tried a small cup while I waited and it was so yummy and warming to your soul! Plan to come back to try more items off the menu. There's one small table if you want to dine in. most people get takeout orders and eat it back in their office or elsewhere.

Love Jollof Kitchen! I go every month on first Friday in Oakland for the veggie plate. I put my…read morefriends on and all they talk about is when we're going back! Service is always great and super quick. The flavors with just the jollof rice are amazing, full of flavor in every bite. It tastes just like my friend's mom back home so I will forever appreciate the food.

I had the pleasure of meeting the owner/chef of Jollof Kitchen and you can taste the love the food…read moreis prepared with. The flavor is fortified and complex in the mos delicious way. It is undeniably low and slow build and development of flavor. It's the bite you take and your entire body experiences it! I can not say enough about how delicious the food here is the rice is cooked to perfection it is not over or undercooked it is bursting with flavor, the chicken is tender falling off of the bone. Chef Kimmie is guided by the ancestors in her preparation of this food from the gods.

Such a great experience! We ordered the vegan sampler and everything was so well flavored and…read moreperfectly spiced. Each dish had its own distinct taste, and you could tell everything was made fresh, especially the injera. We especially loved the red lentil stewl. The lady (who I'm presuming is the owner) was so sweet and welcoming, which made the whole experience even better. The hospitality felt very genuine. Would highly recommend, especially if you're vegetarian, so many delicious options!

My review may be biased as I've had the fortune to live in Ethiopia and came in with high…read moreexpectations based on the other reviews. Firstly - menu is pretty limited in scope, but they do have a ton of great vegetarian options. I was really hoping to get some doro wat but this is not available. The veggie dishes were all good, but definitely milder and less spicy than what I'm used to. The tibs was underwhelming and lacked in flavor and depth. Injera itself was great, and prices are reasonable. I also dropped a star for cleanliness. Our table had leftover dried up food that we cleaned up ourselves. The bathroom was a bit of a mess and did not appear hygienic.

10/10! - The tibs…read morereminded me of a fajita-style dish, but elevated. The spices were far more complex and nuanced. - the chickpeas were rich, creamy and very heart-satisfying - the staff is very friendly and happily recommends favorite dishes - my lunch was around $15-17, I did not finish the injera which was also unbelievable (sourdough- like fluffy package with 1/2 flour, 1/2 teff) I'd order the same dish over and over, it's amazing.

Timatim fitfit - This appetizer is pieces of injera with diced tomatoes tossed in a VERY tangy…read morelemony dressing, served at room temperature. The tanginess of the dish, mainly due to the dressing, can be a bit overwhelming to eat this by itself, but I really enjoyed the fresh bright flavor. The acidic lemony brightness of this dish well complemented the richness of the lamb tibs that I ordered. Lamb tibs w/ side of misor wot - Chunks of lamb with sliced onions, diced tomatoes, and sliced jalepenos in a spicy flavorful sauce that reminded me of Chinese black pepper sauce. The lamb had grilled flavors and I really appreciated the spice on the dish. As someone who can eat spicy food, it wasn't too spicy for the average person. The lamb and strong flavors went really well with the injera that came on the side. For my side, I chose the misor wot, a lentil stew. The misor wot wasn't as heavy in flavor as the lamb tibs. Overall I really enjoyed this dish and would order it again. Vegetarian combo - Sampled a bit of this at my table. The different dishes were a bit blander than I expected. Telba - Ground flaxseed smoothie with honey. This had a grainy flavor alongside the honey flavor. It was pretty sweet due to the honey. It was good to try once but I probably wouldn't get it again. They haven't updated the prices on their paper menus. The price you are paying per entree is about $2-3 more than the price printed on the menus. Order at the kiosk and they bring the food out to your table. This was my first time having Ethiopian food and it left a good impression on me.

10/10 so delicious the lamb tagine with peas goes crazy it's so good. dip the bread in the tagine…read moresauce!! actually everything is so good the beef sirloin kebab is insane can't wait to come back and also the service is AMAZING. they are so nice

My boyfriend and I had a lovely dinner at Aicha, it is definitely a hole in the wall restaurant…read morethat could be easily missed. We shared the lamb couscous, chicken tangine and it was more than enough for two very hungry adults. Highly recommend the lamb couscous, it was delicious. My boyfriend liked the chicken but it was wayyyy too salty for me. I personally could not eat more than a few bites of it. The side of bread was very good. 5/5 stars for the service, the staff was incredibly friendly and welcoming.

If there is a part of paradise which serves food, what we had at Aziza definitely is being served…read morethere. First of all. Aziza is kind. They accommodated a last minute reschedule - which, let's be honest, in today's day and age is like finding a gold mine. Second. Did I mention food that is served in heaven? A group of five of us went to dinner and we ordered almost every vegetarian dish on the menu. The olives (which came out juicy and warm), the trio of dips and the flatbread (that melted us all), that charred lettuce with a rich nutty dressing, the burrata with kiwis, oh and oh, that cauliflower. Be still, my beating heart. That food, which clearly was meant for gods and accidentally made it to our table. The shakshouka and the couscous entrees following closely behind in rich glory with that delectable cornbread that showed up straight from the oven. I am not exaggerating, dear reader, each bite of food was a gastronomic delight. We wrapped the evening with a date cake that came topped with a rich vanilla ice cream and toasted pecans and the subtle competition of the warm cake and the cold ice cream on our palates made for a perfect culmination to our dinner. And third. The person mixing the drinks back at the bar knows his business well. The mocktails and the cocktails were brilliantly refreshing. The tamarinds and the citrus looking out from the glasses wide eyed, ready to amaze. Good food is one of the few untainted pleasures of humanity. And Aziza served us heaps of it. Do yourself a favor and go savor the flavors Aziza has to offer. You shall not be disappointed.

The basteeya is really heavy, sweet, salty, oily, dense at the same time. I didn't feel great after…read moreeating a couple bites. All the food was really heavy and expensive if you want to try multiple things Would be cute if you were on a work dinner or someone else was paying otherwise the prices felt steep for the quality of service, they took a while to box our food would have preferred to box it ourselves so we can leave sooner