If you want real Ethiopian or Eritrean food, you're going to have to drive southwest to Decatur, Clarkston, or Atlanta. This isn't ethiopian food. the authentic flavors simply are not here. Once you taste the real thing, this place won't even cross your mind again -- and that's no disrespect to the very kind owner and staff, but the food speaks for itself. I'm honestly shocked this restaurant has so many high reviews. I'm assuming the owner wants to accomodate the flavor palate of the type of clientelle in the area. I know for sure most people reviewing have never had actual East African food before. Authentic Ethiopian cuisine has bold, unmistakable spices and deep, layered flavor. This food was extremely mild, bland, and nowhere near authentic. It tasted like the dishes were made with basic black pepper, paprika, and turmeric instead of traditional spices like real berbere, mitmita, korerima (black cardamom), or mekelesha. These spices are what make Ethiopian food taste like Ethiopian food. Without them, it's just another stew. If you're truly looking for authentic Ethiopian food, go to a restaurant in the city. You will not regret it. read more

this was my first Ethiopian food experience so i don't have anything to compare it to but the food was all really delicious. there wasn't a single thing i didn't enjoy. there was a little wait for the food to come out but nothing too long. the atmosphere was very typical, nothing too amazing but going with a group and eating great food was more important than the "vibe" of the place. would definitely recommend and go back soon! read more

Manna Weenta - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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I had expected a more substantial restaurant, but this was the quintessential hole in the wall without a ton of ambiance, though some displays did explain the geography and language of Eritrea. The options seemed to be cafeteria-style premade stews combined with rice or injera, the spongy sour flatbread unique to the region. I ordered a veggie combo which permitted the diner to choose options. Okra was not available for some reason, so I ended up with cooked lentils, a lentil salad, and a mixed carrot and cabbage preparation. Against all odds, someone came in shortly after and ordered the exact same thing, down to the failed attempt to secure okra. Great minds think alike I suppose. The three stews were all tasty and distinctive; the salad was actually the spiciest of the bunch. A spiced tea was indeed strong on flavor and came with sugar for self-directed sweetening. They had issues both making change and getting a card reader to work. The place is definitely a bit on the margins, but I don't know where else in the region you'd get this sort of cuisine, and it was good food. read more

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Decent Ethiopian - but definitely not Desta Ordered chicken nuggets tibbs with miser and atter as sides and veggie with basically the rest of the sides plus injera with both The good : Miser and atter were excellent - nice spice level and super flavorful. Injeera was great The bad : chicken was ok, not grilled or particularly seasoned well - kinda stewed. Not that bad but a bit bland Overall - decent food, good price and if your itching for Ethiopian - scratches that read more

This is wonderful, and *filling*, Eritrean food. One of the three or four best restaurants on the East Side.

Delicious!!! Food is excellent, well made, worth the experience! Super casual but totally worth the experience! read more

If you are Vegan or Whole Foods Plant Based this is the place for you! The food if full of flavor without oil. The vegetable plate is more than enough to satisfy any appetite. Don't miss the injera (a flat bread similar to sourdough). It is so good. The service is polite and helpful. The environment is quiet and clean. The food here is crave worthy! read more

Manna Weenta - Three vegetable plates with injera - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

The food is amazing here. I usually get the doro tibbs with atakilt alicha, ater alicha, and injera. I tried the timatim once and it wasn't as good, but I think that is just my personal preference! My partner got the same thing but with rice and ethiopian coffee, and he is usually not very "adventurous" food wise, but loved this food. The restaurant itself is a little dated, but I liked the decor and it was informative on Eritrean geography and culture. The service was wonderful, and the owner is so kind! Couldn't recommend this place more, a hidden gem in Athens! read more

Really good food. Tasted authentic and reasonably priced. I would definitely come back again. read more

Really solid food. I'm only (vaguely) familiar with Ethiopian restaurants, but this ticks all the boxes for me. I wish they didn't use as much trash in their food containers (styrofoam, plastic, etc), but the actual food is good, not over salted, lots of veggies, etc. read more

What an amazing find in Athens. This spot is a must! I love Ethiopian, and Eritrean is exceptional! Best injera I've had! Dishes are made with love. Red lentils are spiced perfectly. Vegetarians and meat lovers alike won't be disappointed. read more

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I came here for the first time based on suggestions from other people who really recommended this place. Maybe I had too high of expectations. I also read a lot of reviews about how flavorful and well-seasoned their dishes are. But honestly the food seemed a little bit bland or under seasoned to me. It's not bad though. I can see why people really like this place. We came in around 5 and were the only people there. You choose what size of plate you want, injera (kind of like a fluffy pancake) or rice, and whether you want a meat or veggie dish. The veggie dish comes with 3 choices. I chose the injera, collard greens, red lentils, and mixed veggies. The injera was super fluffy and I loved the texture. However, the flavor was a bit sour for my taste. The collard greens were also on the sour bitter side. I prefer more savory collard greens. The red lentils, which got great reviews, were kind of bland and lacking in flavor. What flavor was there though was good. The only thing I really liked on the plate was the mixed veggies (potatoes, carrots, etc). It had a curry-like taste to them and it was very flavorful. Maybe this isn't my personal taste, but it was far from bad. It's pretty healthy and filling for about $8. The lady working there was very helpful and nice. We had to wait a bit for the food. I'm glad I tried it out and can say I've tried Ethiopian food. The inside is pretty clean and this is in the corner of a busy plaza. I would recommend Manna Weenta if you are in Athens and enjoy trying different international cuisine or if you really like Ethiopian food. read more

Manna Weenta - Inside - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

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So delicious !! Very friendly staff family restaurant Love the lentils and split peas My kids love it! read more

So, here's the thing: I was introduced to Ethiopian Food when I was in South Africa trying to get away from someone. I had a bit too much to drink, and my friend and I found a place that was upstairs balcony-level late at night, and we decided to go there. Ethiopian has, since then, been one of my favorite cuisines (and I often say it's my favorite). When I lived back with my parents, there was a place nearby that had the best Ethiopian food that I ever had. When I moved to Ann Arbor, there was an Ethiopian Restaurant that made me so sad -- specifically that their injera bread was made out of white/wheat flour and none of that teff that gives it its sourness and darker color. It ruined Ethiopian food for me. Moving to Athens, I decided to try Manna Weenta as a sort of "this will be my final decision on whether or not I actually ever seek out Ethiopian food ever again." It was amazing. It was an absolute flavor bomb, and their injera bread (although, admittedly, I can have it even more sour yet) was pretty much spot on! The portion sizes are huge (and I'm a big eater!), the prices are reasonable, and you can tell that a LOT of love goes into that food. The meat dish we got (I think it was lamb cooked in a bunch of spices like their berbere, and their seasoned ghee) was stupidly delicious. No other phrase does it justice. All the lentils we got were also fantastic, but on the veggie side, the showstopper was the fresh veggies and potatoes, which will always be a part of our order moving forward. Thank you for restoring my love for Ethiopian Food, and we cannot wait to return to Manna Weenta! read more

Great food, large serving! A nice variety of plates to choose from. Very good. I usually order take away and it's a lot! read more

We went here as we were passing through Athens. They were patient and helpful during the ordering process. The food was amazing and the portions were large. We all loved everything we tried and shared with one another. I loved it so much I recommended it to a coworker who was traveling that direction and she loved it too! Can't wait to head back that direction so I can eat here again. read more

I love Ethiopian food and there really aren't that many restaurants out there. This one is outstanding. Just a little restaurant. Great food. Great place for vegans. The beef was excellent. I see why it's received so many rewards read more

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This restaurant is truly one of the best gems in Athens. I've never had something here I didn't like, and I've been numerous times all throughout the eight years I've lived here. The family that runs it is incredible, and they make everyone feel welcome. I usually stick to chicken, but they also make vegan diets really easy according to my friends. read more

Garbage. Worse with each subsequent trip. Today was my last attempt to eat Ethiopian food in Athens. Had 4 bites and told them to keep it. $20 with a tip. Out of collards although their building is anchored by Aldi and a Publix is across the street. No big deal I ordered okra instead. Guess they were out of that too because I got lentils. Meat tough and chewy because it was quick sautéed not simmered. Took a half hour to be served. I was literally the only other person in the restaurant. This place is a hobby not a business. read more

Manna Weenta is sooooo good. I live in the area but it seemed like every time I wanted to eat it (Sundays) it was closed. I finally took the leap today and was not let down. The prices are great with good portions. I ordered the Yemesir wot, it was super creamy and well flavored, the Gomen wot which was tendered and seasoned, and the Doro Tibbs. The Doro tibbs wasnt cooked the typical way Im used too but it was still amazing. Definitely going back soon to try the lamb or beef read more

The quality of the food and service is very good. The price points are high for the serving sizes It would be nice if they offered a lunch special. I would eat there more often. I really like their vegetables. read more

Great options For Ethiopian/Eritrean food while in Athens Georgia. They had all of the classic staples in as a vegan family we were very happy to find this place. Tried Ethiopian coffee for the first time and we are not coffee drinkers by any stretch of the imagination but this was really good and had a very rich flavor. The restaurant is owned by a lady that's from Eritrea so we knew that it was very authentic. Prices for the items were very good and you get large portions whether you get a small plate or a large plate. Restaurant was very clean overall we will be back when we're in the mood for some East African food. Highly recommend! read more

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It's amazing! I love the plethora of vegan options. I usually order in, but in the few times I've been in, the employees have been very friendly. It looks very unassuming on the outside but it's amazing! I've never had vegetables taste this way. Also, the owner is a woman from Ethiopia, so you know it's legit. read more

Manna Weenta - Yemisser wot (lower), gomen wot (upper right), and timatim fitfit (upper left), and injera (covering the timatim fitfit). - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Wowwww. I haven't had Ethiopian since I was much younger , a child, but now I'm in my mid twenties . This last week I had a random craving for Ethiopian after remembering it from many years back , and didn't know where to go, I happened to come to Athens (an hour from where I stay) and saw the reviews for this restaurant and decided to give it a shot. It lives up to the hype. Man , do they know how to flavor some vegetables . Everything was full of flavor though to be fair. There were no misses . I got the Kitfo -cooked medium (if you can come in a Tuesday for this dish I highly suggest). Everything is delectable . The woman operating the restaurant were so kind. Our food came out in good time, hot and flavorful. They kinda blew my mind. I'm not even All the way through my dish , I ate so much so quick I had to take a breather from scarfing it down like a wolf to leave them a 5 star review. To say the least, any time I crave Ethiopian from here on out , I will happily make the one hour drive to get their delicious cooking . Hands down, 20/10 stars. read more

I was so glad when I discovered an authentic Ethiopian restaurant in Athens Ga of all places. The service is great and the food is delicious. You cant go wrong with the red lentils which are my favorite thing there. read more

Manna Weenta is a true hole-in-the-wall. It's incredibly cheap and extremely good. Great rice, great injera. If you like Ethiopian, check it out, and if you've never had Ethiopian food, this is a great place to start. read more

Back again to congratulate the owner on her latest "Favorites" award. Having the Tuesday special...Kitfo,which I just recently tried for the first time. I am a BIG fan of this. Once again...delicious and exotically flavored. This is NOT a fast food joint. The owner often ends up cook cashier and waitress. The food is always worth the wait. read more

Always super tasty and delicious. Love the injera and the portions are very generous. Lots of flavor and absolutely recommend the food here. Great options for vegetarians. read more

Manna Weenta - Doro tibs, Gomen Wot Vegan, red lentils - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Wow-- such a wonderful restaurant! They have amazing service and unique, authentic Ethiopian food. I usually get vegetarian dishes when I come, but my friends say that they love the meat dishes they've gotten here too. Make sure to try the injera! read more

So glad I don't have to drive alllll the way to Atlanta for authentic Eritrean food. Divine authentic taste. Vegan options. Injera so good. I can eat that by itself. Yummy. Definitely my fave spot! I was going to post a pic of my food but I devoured it so fast. read more

MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT!!!! Enough said..... Just kidding..... I make the drive from Atlanta to Athens just to eat the Ethiopian/Eritrean food here. I have been eating her food for many years prior to her opening a restaurant (She previously sold food at the Athens Farmers Market). It is definitely the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. It is located in the small Shopping Center in Athens. It is not very busy until it's dinner time but many of the customers take the food to go. It is not a very huge restaurant but is definitely enough seating for a crowd of at least 50. They also have an additional room in the back which can be used as a banquet room or for parties. I had a party here about 2 years ago and we felt very comfortable in the banquet room. The owner, Haregu, was kind enough to show us how they make coffee in her country. Everyone was very excited about this opportunity and many of them were able to take pictures with her as well. The service here is phenomenal and the food is even better. There's a variety of food from veggies, meats, fish and even desserts; all made from scratch. No matter what type of diet you're on, you should be able to find something to eat that is definitely filling. The best thing about Mannaweenta is that the food typically cost no more than $10 a plate. And trust me...there is plenty of food. This restaurant is a must try. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I need this food in my life everyday but for now I'll settle for every few months. Food: 5 stars Service: 5 Stars (Shout Out to the owner Haregu) Cleanliness: 5 Stars Decor: 5 stars (Traditional decor from Ethiopia & Eritrea) read more

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Food seemed a little plain and tasted not fresh. Not sure why my friend recommended it. May try to grove it another try later down the road. read more

Very good. We've never had Ethiopian food before but the number of vegetarian options and the novelty while we were in Athens drew us in. Very unique. The woman working there (I suspect the owner) told us a bit about the special bread and how to eat with it. It was light, seemed healthier and totally different. We loved it and will continue to seek out Ethiopian restaurants wherever we go as a result. read more

Food is good, but they run out of certain foods early. There are other items that I want, but they never have it. Like the lentils or split peas and the gomen. read more

The food at Mannaweenta was outstanding. It was my first experience with Ethiopian cuisine and I'd compare it to Indian in terms of texture and presentation. Absolutely delicious and light in that home-cooked way. Owner made the food and served it, she was really funny and hospitable. read more

Manna Weenta - Doro Tibs over injeera bread - Ethiopian Near Me - Athens, Georgia

Manna Weenta is a fantastic Ethiopian Restaurant on Athens' East-side, It's a small store front with fantastic food and friendly service. Look for it, it's a wonderful discovery. read more

Great food and service! friendly and helpful people. Very flavorful and interesting experience.

Fresh authentic food. Outstanding service. Don't be deceived by shopping center location. Excellent food and love the tea!

Absolutely incredible! They have a ton of vegan options, and the food is delicious! They give you a ton for very little money. :) I loved the lentils, collards, cabbage, and Ethiopian bread. I would love to go back here next time I'm in Athens. read more

What can you say? Ethiopian and Eritrean food is the best in African soul food. Anything called Wat is a rich stew. The okra is the best as are any kind of lintels. Make sure you get it all served on injera which is a spongy slightly sour flat bread that serves as plate an utensils. You can get rice instead, but your missing out! read more