This place is a gem. The food, and service are incredible. The staff are friendly, and welcoming, as is the overall atmosphere. Everyone there is in a good mood every time we go there. Probably because Ethiopian food is wonderful. Things to know if you have never eaten Ethiopian food: * A bread called injera is used to eat with. Silverware is available if you prefer. * It is a very vegan, and vegetarian friendly cuisine. * It is spice rich, flavorful food. Some people find it hot. You can order it less spicy on request. read more

5/2026 I came back and again, easy ordering over the phone. They no longer have Doro wat except for catering. They graciously made me something similar. I got the lentils and peas as side items. The injera was great. I felt the sides were a little under cooked, but the flavors were good. I had enough injera left over to make my own Doro wat. read more

Mesob Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

I was craving Ethiopian food, so Mesob is my spot. I called in an order for shrimp, gomen, and spicy lentils with injera. I don't know the owners name but she's so sweet. We always chat when I go pick up my food and she makes me feel welcomed. Ethiopian food is one of those things I think anyone looking for flavorful food should try. The different spices and seasonings they use are so good. Some dishes are spicy, so definitely ask for mild if you can't take the heat. The restaurant is small with some tables to dine in. There's parking out front. It's across from Dollar general in a small business strip. My food hit the spot. The shrimp were cooked just right and were tasty. The gomen and lentils were good as well, and my fav is the sour tasting injera bread that compliments everything. I especially love when is saucy and the injera soaks up all the juices... Mmmm. There are no forks, so come prepared to eat with your hands!! I recommend this place! Check them out!! read more

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I am vacationing at Virginia Beach, I was missing Ethopian food so I drove to Amazon cafe, I order veggies and tibs. The food is disgusted, not tasty at all. This place gave me more wet lettuce salad and three teaspoons of tibs. The veggie meal was nasty too. Spent $40 for nothing. Injera was hard , was given hard not fresh injera and had a nerve to give me more of the horrible injera than food. Ethopian food that was served is not it. read more

I love mesob!! The restaurant is a little small but I don't care because the food makes up for it. Everything is amazing and I'm surprised more people don't know about this place. The coffee is also amazing too. Staff is super kind and the food is always fresh. I leave super full and happy. read more

I placed my order online and I got 2 vegetarian dishes one was $7.99 and the other one was $8.99 by the time I got to the register to pay it came to $30 and some odd cents-. So I feel like they jacked up the price once I got there. I Will not be eaten there again, but what I got was decent.. read more

If you haven't tried Ethiopian, then you must! Be prepared to eat with your hands! The food is so flavorful and savory. Pairing the delicious meats with the injera is so delicious. The injera is spongy, which absorbs the sauces of the meat creating a beautiful explosion of flavor in your mouth. The veggies also paired well with the meats, giving a more subtle flavor. The plating is also very pretty, with all the different colors placed on top of injera. Makes my mouth water just thinking about it. This is an awesome local business owned by a family. It gives homey vibes. There are not a lot of Ethiopian places in the area, so I truly appreciate them being here serving such good food! The service was fast, and everyone was very kind. I most definitely recommend this place!! read more

Mesob Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

Great food. Tiny but mighty. Great family business with a lot of heart. Recommend without reservations.

When I lived in Montreal, I had Ethiopian food often, and coincidentally, the restaurant I used to frequent was similarly named Mesob D'or. I haven't had Ethiopian food since leaving home, and I've had my eye on Mesob Cafe since moving back to the area. When we were stationed here the first time, Mesob Cafe had just opened, but I never had the chance to try it before moving away. Well, today was that day! - Parking - Center lot. - Vibe - Mesob Cafe is tucked away in a small strip in the same center as the Food Lion, diagonally across the way from it on South Parliament Drive. It's a small and quaint restaurant with minimal decoration. Portraits and native artwork adorn the walls and a few tables for dining in. My dining companion and I were the only diners in the restaurant during our visit. The owner was by herself, so she took our order at the counter, but brought our food to the table and checked on us often. - TLC - The owner was a soft spoken woman, and very nice and kind. She told us that the original owner of the restaurant had had it for 2-ish years before she took over. - Noms - Ye fesig beyaynatu (mahberawi) - this is a combination of chicken mesob special tibs (#2 on the menu) and beef siga wot (#1 on the menu). You also get a choice of 2 vegetables, we opted for kik alecha (yellow split peas) and cabbage & carrots. We wanted to err on the side of caution and ordered this platter to share to start and decided to order more if needed. This decision paid off, because this is a sizeable platter with quite a bit of food for the two of us. I mean, you can't beat the price for the portions, especially in these times! I am used to Ethiopian food being served on a very large platter, but she has modified this to her food being served on an oversized dinner plate, cut the injera in half and placed all the food on it and rolled the other half into mini rolls. The beef had a slight kick and super flavorful. The chicken was great too and the veggies were both mild and great to balance the spice! The injera was cooked perfectly and perfect texture to pick up all the food! We also got the Ethiopian coffee and the Ethiopian shai tea. The coffee is strong, but smooth. Comes in a traditional coffee pot and served with a small tea cup. The shai tea had some spices in it and also served plain. Note, they don't traditionally drink their coffee or tea with any dairy and they don't seem to have any dairy in the restaurant at all. I know, because I asked! haha I asked why she didn't serve it the traditional way as I noticed the traditional mini-tables in the form of a short table basket, that is at the front of the service counter. She said that most customers don't like to share their food, so she has adapted to serving it in this way. This is quite unfortunate, as Ethiopian cuisine is communal and really takes away from the whole experience! I remember eating the traditional way my first time and it was so intriguing and memorable! Oh well, on a positive note, she said that if she has extra staff, she can move tables around so that she can serve it with the traditional style, so just ask! If she can, she will do so. So happy that we have an Ethiopian restaurant as an option in the area and really the best value I have seen in awhile. For all the food we got and a speciality coffee and tea, it was around $30! You really can't beat that! I've bought a latte recently for almost $10, can you relate?! Enjoy, Friends and never stop exploring! read more

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Food very good wait time over 30 min not good don't go there real hungry service slow ambiance nice small clean. V/r etc

I tried this on a whim after recently reading a book set in Ethiopia. I had never had this type of cuisine before, I am so glad I tried it because it was FANTASTIC! I absolutely loved the food and I can't wait to order from here again soon! Thank you so much for the delicious meal! read more

Great food that is always delicious. My family loves eating here every once in a while and the staff is always accommodating.

Amazing. Truly a traditional ethiopian restaurant. Hard to see due to the shops and all but this hidden gem is definitely worth scouring for. Injera is always amazing and their spicy level is the right amount. Expect no utensils and the stares if you do ask for one lmao, yall gotta eat with your hands and thats the beauty of it. read more

Mesob Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

First time to eat Ethiopian food and it did not disappoint. The platter was family style where you eat with your hands and pickup your food with Injera: A fluffy tortilla-pancake-crepe like texture. It was unexpectedly good despite the color and looks. The platter was HUGE and very filling. My favorite is the Injera and the tenderloin beef. The best part of course is the Ethiopian coffee: Bunna - Siga Wot: Chunks of Beef tenderloin cooked in Ethiopian butter, onions and red pepper sauce. - Mesob Special Tibs: Beef or lamb cubed, sautéed with onions, tomatoes, jalapeños, and rosemary. - Shrimp With sautéed onions, tomato, spinach, garlic, and Ethiopian butter. - Injera Veggies: - Mesir Wot: Spicy lentil stew with berbere and garlic. - Kik Alicha: Yellow split peas with garlic, and onions. - Cabbage and Carrots. - House Salad - Bunna: Ethiopian - Lemon cake read more

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What an excellent meal loved the veggies lamb and steak sauces we on point and bread was outstanding great for lunch or diner or takeaway!

Best Ethiopian food in town! We were fortunate our neighbors, who are from Ethiopia, recommended this restaurant to us. It's not much to look at but the food is excellent. We've eaten there twice this month already and highly recommend it! read more

I can't give this restaurant a fair review because we haven't eaten there...yet. My son and I drove there from quite a distance away on a Wednesday for lunch, but the restaurant was closed. I've never been able to reach them by phone and messages via social media have gone unanswered. Does anyone know what might be going on? My son and I would very much like to taste their food. read more

Best Ethiopian food I have had in the area! The injera, meat and salad was so delicious. Service will be slow if busy but well worth the wait! read more

Every time I crave for Ethiopian food, there is literally only one place to go - Mesob Cafe! Not that it's the only one that serves authentic Ethiopian food but the staff is always so friendly and welcoming. And every time I go there to pick up my order, I always wish it's that day that they have staff to serve do I can enjoy the food in relaxing sit-down mode! Food is always good, hearty and always comes in generous serving overflowing in a take-out box. I always order their combo with sides and the shrimp. Both come with generous serving of injera! You're in for super delicious Ethiopian food, come visit Mesob Cafe! read more

Mesob Cafe - Shrimp curry - surprise buried in a generous pile of injera! - Ethiopian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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I love this place! Outside doesn't look appealing, however it is aesthetically appealing & welcoming once you're in. You seat yourself & the food doesn't miss! Well I'm pescatarian and I've only had the vegetarian items which are all full of flavor! So if you eat meat I'm sure it's matching in quality. Don't forget the tea! Their Shai tea is top tier! read more

This is my 2nd time here and I got the siga wot. It is beef tenderloin in a spicy red pepper sauce, it was amazing as I love spicy food. The dish also came with two sides; one was a little salad with a light dressing and the other was a cabbage and carrot side that had nice flavor and plenty of injera bread. I also got the Ethiopian coffee. It tasted bitter like instant coffee - I wasn't a fan of it but everything else tasted great. read more

Mesob Cafe - Siga wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

FINALLY tried this place out and my only regret is that this was my first time. So Ethiopian food is not like any other that I've ever had. Pro tip...it is eaten without silverware ( I knew this and still asked for silverware out of habit ‍‍). It's served on a flatbread called enjera. I can only compare it too a big fluffy sourdough tortilla. Kind of a cross between a tortilla, naan bread and a pancake. Maybe like a thick crepe? Hard to describe but I love it! Grew up with some friends from Ethiopia and always loved eating at their house because we ate with our fingers! You tear pieces of the enjera and scoop the food up to eat it. This place definitely took me back! Ok so the food. I'm not going to try to be super cool and get all the names for the dishes in here I can never remember. The menu has the proper dish names and description so you won't have a problem finding what you want. I got the veggie platter which let's you pick four dishes and comes with enough enjera for a small family! I had lentils, green beans, cabbage and collards. I also added a hard boiled egg. You can choose regular or spicy. I went with regular. Flavors were on point and portions as you can see were huge! Great authentic Ethiopian food and as far as I know the only spot in Hampton Roads! Check it out if you're a fan OR if you love trying new food! Of note as of 13 May 2022 they are only offering to go. read more

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First time in this restaurant. Food was good . But some item in the menu was out. Kinda disappointed . We will try again next time to come back we wanted to try the lamb menu . read more

We came on a rainy day for an early lunch and the place was empty, so we sat ourselves. There was a shout from the back exclaiming that service would be there soon, so we patiently waited. Without even having the menu, I already knew what I wanted to try from reading other reviews online. I decided on number 3 and 5 so that I could try a variety of meats. 5 is a combo of 1 and 2 but after looking at the menu, 1 is not available anymore. Instead, we were offered chicken tibs as replacement. I also ordered the Bunna (hot ethiopian coffee). The food was very good and very filling. The meats were perfectly spiced and not dry at all. It came with a side of injera and we were offered more towards the end of our meal but we were too full to accept. The portions are perfect for 2 hungry people. The coffee was fresh, hot and had a deep flavor. I highly recommend Mesob Cafe for a delicious meal and hot cup of coffee. It is the ideal place to enjoy a home cooked meal and immerse yourself in a new cuisine and culture! read more

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I'm so sad this is the closest Ethiopian spot to the 757! I love Ethiopian food! I got the veggie platter with greens, lentles, and cabbage. It's authentic and delicious! It's very low-key and not meant for large parties. Get your food to-go and enjoy it at home. SO GOOD! read more

Nothing special. Nothing to write home about. Very nice people. The food came out on some serving tray from a dollar store. Presentation looked like the food was being served to chicken. The salad had only three pieces of cubed tomato. The tibs was difficult to chew and no flavor at all. My family and I were disappointed. The Kirkland brand 16.9oz water cost $2. Did not take pictures because nothing caught our eyes. read more

This was my first experience with Ethiopian/ Eritrean food, and I was impressed. The flavors in the food are amazing, so packed with flavor! On top of that it's a different experience eating with the bread and your hands, and I enjoyed it all. I went with my wife and a friend and we ate family style, which is all the food on one plate, and shared from that plate. Everything was good, and it was a lot of food. Between the three of us, there was food left. We ordered the Mesob Tibs, Shrimp, and Beyanetu. The lentils and split peas lacked the flavor of all of the other dishes but we're still good. The cabbage and carrots had a tad too much vinegar. As previously mentioned the spice is no joke. We ordered the mild-spicey, and glad we did, if we had ordered the spicey-spicey, I'm sure it would've been too much for all of us. The mild had the right combination of heat and spice without burining taste buds. We also had the Ethiopian coffee, which is really good. It's strong like an Expresso. The location is simple and small inside. If you drive too fast you can pass by it as the signage is not big. I'd recommend this spot for people who enjoy flavorful foods, and want a new experience. read more

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Pros: - food is amazing, literally my favorite restaurant out here - perfect injera - employees are nice and polite Cons: - hours aren't super consistent, definitely tried to go a few times when it said they were open and no one was there - wish they were on DoorDash or UberEats read more

Great food and amazing people! I loved tilapia and the spinach so much!! The espresso coffee was the bomb!!!!! WOW!!!! They don't just give you a shot. They give you a pot instead lol It was almost 4 shots in a cute pot!! Loved having conversations with mamas there! Thank you everything! read more

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Good authentic Ethiopian dishes. Vegan. Mild or Spicy. Great service. Cultural decor well placed and videos of Ethiopian people and places. We make a point to visit this restaurant whenever we are in Virginia Beach. Loved it. Got the Shrimp and Chicken/Beef combo. read more

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My husband and I have eaten at the Mesob several times and love the food and intimate setting. We're vegetarian and love the multiple menu options that have each been delicious. I highly recommend this place! read more

This place has really delicious food. My girlfriend took me here because she knew I would love the eating experience. The food is serve over a traditional Ethiopian sourdough injera. There are no forks or knives. You eat with your hands. Its a bit intimating in the beginning because it looks like a dark spongy paste. But if you give it a try, you'll find that it is quite delicious when eaten with the rest of the dish. This place is somewhat of a hole in the wall. We came on a Saturday afternoon and there was nobody else int he restaurant. The waiter wasn't the friendliest or nicest, but if you look past that, you'll be in for quite a cultural experience. They ran out of lamb that day so we got the beef instead. Make sure to wash your hands! Also, surprisingly the side salad is absolutely amazing. read more

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My lamb tips were fatty (but by no means TOO fatty!) and flavorful; my injera (i.e., Ethiopian/Eritrean-style bread made from a slightly fermented teff dough) was soft and beautifully prepared. COVID 19 prevention measures firmly in place -- that was and is GREATLY appreciated. LOVED the cabbage side I had -- it's called "atakilt wat" and features cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and other delicious and nutritious ingredients. Warm, friendly environment and service alike read more

I loved it. This is my 3rd experience with Ethiopian food. We're planning to eat like piggies for Father's Day weekend which is coming up, so I wanted a healthy choice for today. I am so happy we came here today. There were 3 of us and we shared 2 entrees which they put on a shared family platter for us. The presentation is amazing. My favs were the collard greens and the yellow pea stew. Both are mild. The collard greens have a satisfying sour taste and the yellow peas are so rich and filling. I'm sensitive to spicy, but I was able to handle the heat on some of the other items. Service is a little chilly, but whatever. Bathroom was out of soap. The bathroom should be monitored more since we're all eating with our hands with the injera. We need soap! Food is super good. We will def be back. read more

Nicest people, cutest spot in a weird strip mall. The definition of a hole in the wall but once you're inside you forget all about that. Everything is always delicious! The only thing that makes me sad is that sometimes they don't have Kitfo (my favorite dish). Other than that I have nothing even kind of bad to say about this place. Go if you can!!! You'll be glad you did. read more

Mesob Cafe is one of those places that you plug in directions for and then say, "Where is that?!" But look, it's worth the scavenger hunt. A friend and I wanted something new for lunch. No more sandwiches, no more pizza, no more pasta. I had bookmarked Mesob a couple months ago and decided today was the perfect day for it. Also, it is my personal belief that any food that you have to eat with your hands, be it pita, tacos, or injera is the worlds most perfect food, this was a no brainer. I ordered the Bunna to start, because I am addicted to caffeine and it was really good. Strong, but good. For lunch I got the Beyanetu with Mesir Wot, Shiro Wot, Kik Alicha, and Cabbage and Carrots. Good grief. It was amazing. It was warm and filling and just delicious. All of it was my favorite. My friend had the lamb. I stole a piece and it was amazing. So, the moral of the story here is that basically the entire menu is good. I guess I will have to come back with my husband (twist my arm). read more

Mesob Cafe - Beyanetu with Mesir Wot, Cabbage and Carrots, Kik Alicha, and Shiro Wot - Ethiopian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia

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Didn't get to try it because when we walked in the door no one came out to say have a seat or give any kind of directions. There was a weirdo dude sitting at a table that was obviously a part of the restaurant and all he did was stare at us like we didn't belong. Got really bad vibes so we just went somewhere else. My friend really wanted to try the food but I think we avoided an uncomfortable situation. Restaurant itself looked like a dirty church basement, bathroom included. Can't support local when they don't deserve it. read more

Best Ethiopian in town! I moved here from DC, and I have missed having so many great Ethiopian restsurant options. This place never disappoints and tastes truly authentic. read more

My food here is always satisfying and delicious. I love Ethiopian food so much and having been all over the world sampling food, we got lucky with this restaurant. I've had Ethiopian food in New York, D.C., Seattle, Richmond, and Egypt and Mesob does a great job. I haven't been to Ethiopia yet, but I plan on going in 2020 for the real deal. Based on what I've seen, the food here is pretty much 100% authentic. I love just coming in and interacting with the staff and hearing them speak Amharic. Everyone is always so friendly. Not only are the entrees good, but the dessert is amazing too! Ethiopians tend to serve Italian-inspired desserts with mascarpone like tiramisu and the kind I've had at Mesob was so good. The lemon cake was also delightful! read more

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I have never had Ethiopian food before but let me tell you, if I lived here, I would be there ALL THE TIME. It's hard to find good vegan cuisine where I live so finding this spot was amazing. I cannot recommend this place enough! I will be eating here if I ever return in Virginia Beach! read more

Mesob Cafe - Ethiopian Near Me - Virginia Beach, Virginia