I've wanted to try Ethiopian food for years but either I was in the wrong place, or with the wrong people and it never worked out, but the stars aligned this weekend I finally got my wish! Tucked away in a non descript Orlando strip mall, Nile doesn't have a lot going on outside to draw people in, but those who get there are rewarded. The restaurant is full of what I imagine as authentic decor, and there's a TV in the back on a permanent loop of people dancing Eskista, but no music playing. The service was anything but fast, though it made up for it my a smiling and friendly, helpful attitude with ordering... and we did! We tried a little of this, a little of that, a vegetarian platter, chicken, beef, and washed it all down with Tej, the national honey wine! The colors, scents, and flavors of everything were amazing, but I gotta admit, looking at all on the platter was a bit intimidating. read more

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The Chef's Special (meat combo) was a good mix of meat & veggies. The beef was on the tender side, which I like. My only complaint is that some of the food was under seasoned, and the injera was more sour than I'm used to. Service was friendly. Bathroom was clean. They have some private booths with traditional seating. Overall a good experience. read more

Went there for my birthday with family and friends. I was convinced by social media and reviews of how amazing this restaurant is and the cuisine that's renowned in Orlando. Not gonna lie I didn't enjoy the food; the not so warm meat stews, vegetables sides in mush form, and the sour tasting sponge bread served underneath the plate. Perhaps it was me and I simply didn't like what was offered. But it was unanimous that our experience wasn't great and we will probably never go back again. read more

the food here is straight heat, SO good. One of the best meals i've had in a long time. We got the honey wine & the chefs special. ambiance is great, service is wonderful and prompt. strongly recommend read more

Nile Ethiopian - Chef's Special - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Gordon Ramsay made me try Nile restaurant. And I am so glad I did. Actually I caught Episode 11 of Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service television show where he filmed a restaurant make over for a Philadelphia Eritrean restaurant called Dahlak. This award winning restaurant has been on my list to try so I ordered the Nile Special Meal for One - meat combination. This included a sampling of 4 different entrees almost all with turmeric spices tomatoes and onions. Doro Alicha - Mild marinated chicken stew Beef Key Wat - Spicy beef stew Beef Alicha Wat - Mild marinated beef stew Gomen Bi Siga - Collard greens with beef All Nile dishes are served with a huge portion of injera which is a sourdough-risen flatbread with a slightly spongy texture. Injera is made with teff flour and is a staple food in Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisines because it is used as a base to scoop up other dishes. It often has a slightly sour taste due to the fermentation process. Injera is used in place of silverware like forks and spoons. The food flavors on my selection were distinct and not too spicy for my sensitive palate. I just could not stop scooping. Nile is decorated with vibrant colors, handmade crafts and intricate pattern textiles that reflect their rich cultural heritage. I loved they had a few small semi private alcove tables so you can have a more secluded dining experience as a family or party. Lydia was my server and I had conversations with her on what to order and she demonstrated how to use the injera to eat. See my short video. She was excellent and made my first meal at Nile memorable. So back to the Gordon's Secret Service show. He discussed the Eritrean/Ethiopian custom of 'Gursha' which translates to mouthful. This is a cherished act of sharing food by hand, one person feeds another a bite of food, typically wrapped in injera. It is an expression of love, friendship and connection. Traditionally the food is served on large platters and I think this sounds delightful. I got a platter of food in my Nile meat combination and I took home large amount which will definitely provide a couple more meals. I would love to come back with a group and sit at one the semi private tables order a bunch of different dishes on a large platter, drink coffee and try the Gursha tradition. The Nile menu says they offer a 3.99 percent discount for cash payments. Items can be made gluten free for an additional charge. read more

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I went to Nile Ethiopian Restaurant expecting dinner. I left feeling like I took a passport-free trip to Ethiopia and got adopted by a very nice family along the way. First, nobody hands you forks. That's not an accident. That's a life lesson. You eat with injera, which is this magical sourdough flatbread that doubles as your plate, your utensil, and your new best friend. By the end of the meal, I was scooping food like I'd trained for this my whole life. The doro wat? Rich, spicy, and so flavorful it made me pause mid-bite to reconsider every bland life decision I've ever made. The tibs come out sizzling like they have something important to say. And the vegetarian dishes? Bright, layered, and so good you forget meat ever existed for a moment. The staff don't just serve you--they guide you. Patient, friendly, and clearly proud of what they're sharing. At one point I stopped asking questions and just trusted them. Zero regrets. If you catch the coffee ceremony, don't skip it. It's not "coffee." It's an event. It's theater. It's aromatherapy. It's a vibe. This place isn't just a restaurant on International Drive. It's dinner, a cultural experience, and a mild hand-eye coordination challenge all rolled into one. I came hungry. I left full, happy, and strangely confident in my ability to eat without silverware. read more

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You will not leave Nile Ethiopian hungry. It has been a few years since I have eaten Ethiopian food and I forget how filling it is. All the vegetarian and beef dishes were good & the interactions soaking up the sauces was super filling. Two of the chef's specials could easily feed 6 people. The interior looked tropical/ festive and the owner was super nice with helping us choose what to order. read more

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Been going here for years and it's always great and definitely a must try if you've never had Ethiopian food! read more

Nile Ethiopian - Chef's Special for two. A little bit of everything with enough left to take home! Yummy - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

After 10 years of going to Nile, it still holds a 5 resounding 5 Star review. They are quite proud of their cuisine and more than happy to explain and share with you. The flavors are simply amazing. Going to Nile is a cultural experience, accompanied with wonderful food and great service. This place is unique, it is a cultural treasure. Do yourself a favor and visit often, rest assured that you will not be disappointed. read more

This was my first time, and I'll definitely be back. Solid experience overall. I came in not knowing what to expect and left feeling really good about my decision. read more

We went on a Sunday afternoon and the place was basically empty, with only one other table filled and they left shortly after we arrived. We ordered the Taste Of Nile, which was a dish for 2 serving basically every vegetarian item on the menu. The sambusas were not included with that, so we ordered those as our appetizer. Those sambusas are now one of my top 5 favorite foods I've ever tasted. They were that good! The Taste Of Nile was a huge portion, even for 2 people. We particularly enjoyed the Kik Alicha, Shiro, and Misir Wat. A couple of the items were a little too strong of a particular flavor for me, but I know there are people who would really enjoy them. Our server was prompt, helpful, and very sweet. Even as a first-timer, I felt completely welcome. I highly recommend anyone interested in Ethiopian food to check out Nile. read more

Nile Ethiopian - Sambusa - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I had a fairly nice experience here! The food was absolutely out of this world amazing! Everything that I tried was delicious and left me wanting more. I will definitely be stopping in again for another round table of amazing food. However, the staff did not seem to want us to order individual portions. While I did appreciate the attempt to save us money it did make it a bit difficult to get to the food since we had quite a large table. Just keep in mind how many people you have and how many portions you order. read more

Nile Ethiopian - Honey Wine - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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This one of my absolute favorite places to visit. I've been a patron for many years. This a family run business and they do an amazing job and welcoming you and explaining the menu The lamb is my favorite but all of the dishes are worth trying. The restaurant decorated with decor from Ethiopia and is very cozy ambiance read more

Amazing food! By far the best we've had in all of Florida. The staff has been consistent over the years and are friendly and inviting and do an amazing job with recommendations and instructions on the proper way to eat this ethnic food. I love the look of the interior, it is decorated with traditional Ethiopian adornments and they even have cozy cubbies where small parties are seated for a unique dining experience. Highly recommended! read more

I always enjoy coming here, especially when I get to share a combination platter with a date--it's the perfect spot for a relaxed, memorable meal. I've visited multiple times, and each experience has been consistently good. The food is always fresh and flavorful, and the service is friendly, attentive, and welcoming. The restaurant is also very spacious so you can dine here as a couple, family, or as part of a large group. Overall, it's hard to find anything to complain about. And of course there are a couple of vegetarian options to choose from. read more

Nile Ethiopian - Sambuza and beer - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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This was a mixed experience. The food was amazing, and the service was good. We went as a large work group, but were guided to do shared platters and one check. Some were less comfortable sharing food this way and reaching across coworkers. Also, no silverware. It was complicated to break down what was owed for which drinks and food since we weren't prepared for how the payment process would fall out. But the food was excellent. I ate the vegetarian platter and tried the honey wine. It was a 10/10 food experience, but I would steer away large groups unless you're family and one person plans to foot the bill. read more

Nile Ethiopian - Honey Wine - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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We arrived on a Sunday around 3:30pm and found we were only one of three tables. They are located in a small plaza behind Pizza Hut so they are not directly on international drive. Our server was wonderful and we loved learning about the Ethiopian culture and dining customs. We choose the chef's special for two so we could try a little bit of everything. It was 100% the right choice as we had chicken Doro Wat, chicken Doro Alicha, Beef Alicha Wat, Beef Tibs, Tikel Gomen, Gomen, Misir and Kik Alicha. The food is served in bread and you pull the bread and use it to eat the main servings. They also brought bread to the table. I tried their honey wine which is traditional and full of honey flavor. My husband had the ethiopian lager and found it to be light in flavor. read more

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It's been a while since my last visit to Nile Ethiopian Restaurant and I am glad to see the food is still delicious as I remember. If you have never tried Ethiopian food before I recommend choosing one of the combination platters or Chef platters because just about everything on them is tasty. Since it was just Nancy and I, we went with the Chef Special for Two ($36.95). The dish comes with a portion of Doro Wat (chicken stew), Doro Alicha (chicken and onions stewed in turmeric), Beef Tibs (stir fry beef), Tikel Gomen (Ethiopian Cabbage), Gomen (Ethiopian Collard Greens), Misir and Kik Alicha (Red lentil & split pea stew) served on a large circular piece of injera (teff flatbread). The dish also comes with 6 smaller pieces of injera rolled up used to eat your meal. All of the food was delicious. My only complaint is that the Gomen could have been cleaned a little better before cooking. I pulled out four tough veins that were more stick-like and did not cook down enough. If you do not already know, there is no silverware provided with your meal, you eat everything with your hands using injera. The best part is finishing up the bottom layer of injera that has sopped up all of the remaining juices of the meal. Obviously, this isn't a meal for the germaphobe, but know that this is the central dining process when eating in Ethiopia. It is also customary to feed the ones you dine with to show them you love them. Yes, Nancy feed me and I in turn fed her, haha! It wasn't too busy when we arrived and we were seated quickly. Service was great, Ale, our server was very nice and thanked us several times for dining here. We finished our meal up with a traditional Ethiopian coffee ($4 each). Ale arrived shortly after with a decorative tray and small clay carafe filled with coffee. Ale burned some incents while serving the coffee. The Coffee is served in a small tea cup, so you don't get a lot, but do ask for refills because there is no additional charge. The coffee is nice and strong like espresso and prepared fresh to order and is not served with cream, so black coffee only. Looking at this restaurant from the outside might actually deter customers from entering. The plaza is quite old and in need of a renovation; yet don't let that deter you from dining in. The restaurant and restrooms are kept very clean. The ambiance, quality of food, and great customer service has been keeping this place around going strong since 2006. If you have never tried Ethiopian food before Nile Ethiopian is definitely a great place to start. read more

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This restaurant is one of the best authentic Ethiopian restaurants I have ever been to and I used to live in Washington, DC. Please don't miss this place, the food is next level!! read more

Nile Ethiopian - This Ethiopian restaurant is incredible!! I used to live in Washington, DC. This place is next level home style Ethiopian food! - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Fantastic food and great service. The kitfo is the best, some don't' like it fully raw but you can get it lub lub which is cooked rare, the tibs is excellent as well. Try the honey wine as well. If you're vegetarian it's a good option as they have some very tasty options. I highly recommend this place. read more

Very friendly staff! The place and food feel very authentically Ethiopian. I had the vegetarian combo and my family had the chef combo. I enjoyed my food, the injera felt especially sour to me so after a bit I got overwhelmed eating it, however all of the sides were delicious. I would recommend trying this place out especially bc the staff is so friendly! read more

Authentic Ethiopian food, friendly staff and great decor. Located in a plaza with plenty of parking, Nile Ethiopian is a good place to try some unique food. Everything came out fast and hot. The platter for two is a big portion that is definitely enough to share. There are 4 vegetarian options and 4 delicious meat options with lamb and chicken. All were flavorful and unique in their own way. The turmeric cabbage and cubed lamb were my favorites but the yellow lentils were also very good. My husband loved the two different of chicken. We ended our meal with a sweet and hot cup of Ethiopian coffee that is bold and rich. The presentation was amazing and we love the smokey taste. Will definitely come back! read more

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Nile Ethiopian is always wonderful. The food is flavorful and the service is excellent. On this occasion, I took a vegan friend to try Ethiopian food for the first time. It was a big hit, as expected. We order the Taste of Nile from the Nile Special for Two section of the menu and devoured it all. The prices have gone up a bit since my last visit, but that's to be expected. It's still worth every penny and we left full and happy. read more

Nile Ethiopian - Menu - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Great Ethiopian food. Service was quick and food came out fast. The platter for two has a great variety of food to try. Atmosphere was nice and decor was authentic . Would like some spicy options like awaze read more

Was so good! Went with friends and just everything was fantastic! The bachlava is worth it. I'm picky with it, and here it is so very lovely. Will be coming here for just some coffee and to fix my sweet tooth sometime! Lovely staff, and super clean. read more

Nile Ethiopian - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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I've been hearing great things about this place for a long time. It took me way too long to finally come here and see what the hype is all about. I'm glad I did, though, because I got exposed to a new cuisine that I've not had before, and it was extremely delicious. The decor of the place is super nice. I wanted one of the booths that look like some sort of domicile, but I got a table in the middle of the restaurant, which was also fine, though, because I got a great view of all the stuff all over the walls. We started off with the Sambusa (Deep fried pastries stuffed with lentils, finely chopped red onions and jalapeno peppers). These are very similar to samosas, but with a harder fry, a harder crispy on the outside. And the inside is just packed with lentils that were packed with more flavor than I thought was possible. So good. Get these to warm up your appetite. Then, for the main event, we shared the Chef's Special Nile Special for Two (Doro Wat, Doro Alicha, Beef Alicha, Beef Tibs, Tikel Gomen, Gomen, Misir and Kik Alicha). Don't know what all that stuff is? Gotta look it up. I will say that they are samples of meat dishes and samples of veggie dishes. The meal comes with a thin bread that rolls up and it's basically a little bit of a fluffier tortilla. You don't even get cutlery, you just just get the bread to eat the meal with. I love that. So you get a bunch of those, and then the whole meal itself is served on a piece of that bread just rolled out over a big dish/plate. It's really cool. Everything was delicious. Each of the meats is stewed so well and really packed with a nice, mellow but pungent flavor. So good. The veggies were much the same, transformed through cooking and seasoning. The collards weren't my cup of tea, but they never have been. I assume they are good, if you're into collards. And the whole time you're eating, the juices from the food are soaking into that bread, readying up for some pretty flavorful bites at the end of your meal. Great stuff. Overall, the hype was real. I loved this place, and now that I have had the sampler platter, I'm ready to delve into certain dishes and really explore. read more

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Let's get ready to gursha! No forks, no spoons, no knives, just great Ethiopian food. Gursha is the tradition of feeding each other bites of food and trust me, you'll get the hang of it in no time. Our host was so friendly that we felt like family almost immediately. We enjoyed the dinner for 2-3 along with coffee (a must have). The restaurant is decorated in cultural styles and the environment transports you... I encourage you to go try Nile Ethiopian for a unique experience. read more

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After a day at Icon Park we came over here to get some unique tasting food and we were not disappointed. This is the second time I've been here but it's been over 5 years since I've been here and it still has the same great vibe. We came here on a Saturday night afternoon and there wasn't many people here at all so we got right in and seated. We got the combo platter which add a little bit of everything that the Ethiopian people eat. Now the picture might not look too appetizing but The food is excellent. You eat it with your hands with the injera bread That is a fermented sourdough flatbread that's kind of spongy. My husband and I ordered the dinner for two and ate it all.! No leftovers this time . We then tried the Ethiopian coffee that is served like an espresso very strong and tasty. Make sure you ask your server for a refill on the coffee. The atmosphere inside here is very chill and it smells good with incense mixed with the spicy smell of Ethiopian food. Go get you some! read more

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My mom, stepdad, and I had dinner at Nile Ethiopian last month after a day of fun at Universal Studios. We started with the tomato fitfit and then shared the Chef's Special. The tomato fitfit (diced tomatoes, red onions, jalapeno, olive oil, and lemon juice) was a simple, great, fresh, bright starter (my vegan mom who is obsessed with tomatoes loved it). The Chef's Special included Doro Wat, Doro Alicha, Beef Alicha Wat, Beef Tibs, Tikel Gomen, Gomen, Misir, and Kik Alicha. My mom enjoyed all the vegan vegetable dishes on the Chef's Special, and my stepdad and I enjoyed those as well as all the meat dishes. The food was all great. The service was lovely. And the restaurant was simple and homey and beautiful. To top it all off, I enjoyed an Ethiopian beer to finish off a great meal. Left full and happy! read more

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A first time experience for me and a very, very dope one at best. I've never eaten Ethiopian food before. So I went in here with an open mind and they didn't disappoint. We decided to order our drinks and those were pretty good. Then the menu was explained to me, but it seemed like so much. I just added a little bit of meat to the order so I would be able to get some protein. The meat was cooked thoroughly and tasted delicious on the plate. The sambusa were delicious as well. Just a little bit spicy, but that's just fine. I was overall happy with the service and how quick the food came. The place is small, but you can tell that it's a place of prominence based off the ratings and based off of all the awards they have in the front of the store when you enter. You select your own seat (at least on a Friday we did) and then went on to have our waitress come to us. Everything was easy, fun and new to me. I'll definitely be coming again! read more

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Great little place, not fancy but boy is the food good. Delicious flavorful and the staff are friendly and will explain what and how you eat. This is not a fast experience, the food should be savoured and enjoyed. Relax and enjoy the experience read more

The food is amazing. I love their tibs the alicha and the injera is fresh. Their customer service is very heartwarming to say the least and they have an extensive menu. read more

I loved it! SO good!!!!!!! It's a cute little place! I loved The coffee and the platter we had. The waitress was superb! read more

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I-drive is far for me so this place has been on my list of places to try for awhile. Stopped in at 6:30 with a friend hand was seated immediately. I believe the owner and some friends or family were the only other table in the place. However, two people came by to pick up to go orders and the restaurant was filling up around 830pm. Thanks to Yelpers, I knew what to order. We started with the sambuzas and shared the chef specialty for 2. Heads up- the menu is cash price only. If you pay card, they add a percentage- it was about $3.5% surcharge. Everything we ate was delicious. Two beef dishes, two chicken dishes, two puree consistency dishes and two vegetable dishes. Perfect. I was glad they brought a small basket of extra injera so we could really get into all that food. It doesn't look like a lot of food for two people but you get filled up fast because of the injera. Great meal. Lots of unique flavors. They have a small bar with tons of liquor bottles, beer and wine. I had a glass of "interesting red" wine $10 from South America, which was great. Ice waters were filled often, but not after we received our bill and continued to talk. Thought they closed at 9, but at 9 when we left, the restaurant was really full. Bathrooms are clean and stocked. Parking was plentiful. I don't think you need a reservation. Menu explained everything. I'm interested in their "traditionally served raw" beef dishes. Maybe I'll try that next time. read more

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This was our first Ethiopian food experience. If you are considering trying this type of cuisine, don't hesitate giving Nile a try. The food was amazing and the service was just as fantastic. We ordered the Chef's Special and were blown away! The flavors of all of the items were incredible. The bread that is served with the dish was like nothing we've ever had. It was such a great experience and we will definitely be back. read more

I was grateful to finally give this place a try since it's one of two Ethiopian restaurants in Orlando. The vibe of the restaurant seemed very authentic to Ethiopian culture and I appreciated that the servers were very welcoming. The food was EXCELLENT! It tasted fresh and spot on in terms of what the many Ethiopian restaurants I've tried in the past. I felt the portion was small though. Tibs dishes are meant to be shared and it was barely enough for my husband and I. Also, I didn't like that they packed the tomato salad with the injera. I had to be very careful so my bread didn't get wet from the salad juices. Next time I'll be sure to ask them to pack it separately. All in all, I look forward to supporting this business in the future. If you haven't tried this food, this is a great place to start. read more

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Decided to try Nile on our recent Orlando trip. I have only ever had Ethiopian food one other time in St. Paul, MN. We had the Chefs special for two which included 2 chicken dishes, 2 beef dishes, 2 lentil dishes, 1 cabbage dish and 1 collard greens dish. Loved being able to try so many dishes. Food is served on Injera(sourdough crepe like pancake) with extra injera rolls, so no silverware. My favorites were the cabbage, red lentils and chicken in red sauce. Portions looked small but there was plenty of food and we left with full bellies. My only complaint was the service was a bit slow as they only had 2 servers and we chose to sit outside which I think caused them to loose track of us. All in all the food was fantastic and is definitely something out of the ordinary for us so would definitely recommend Nile! read more

Nile Ethiopian - Chefs special for two - Ethiopian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Located just off a main highway laden with strip malls and chain stores, this was a reprieve from tourism. We selected two appetizers that were delicious. My husband enjoyed the coffee that was brought out with its own presentation. Our waitress was helpful and friendly. We split the two person meal that was exceptionally seasoned and the platter was beautifully made. The chicken was quite overcooked, but every other aspect of our meal was wonderful. We did not have room for dessert, but they looked delicious. read more

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I absolutely love this restaurant. The food is delicious and authentic and the service is stellar. The Chef's special is our family favorite as we are able to enjoy all of our favorites. We have never been disappointed. This is definitely the place to if you want to enjoy tasty Ethiopian food in an inviting environment. read more

I cannot say enough about this place the family is so welcoming when you come in. We seated quickly. The ambiance is traditional and authentic. They also have little side rooms for lather parties. The chefs special is a great way to try all sorts of meats and veggies. I would highly suggest the kitfo. It is like steak tar tar but with Ethiopian spices. The service was so caring and they took the time to explain everything to first timers. Chef Marcus from the food network also dined there and loved it we need more Ethiopian restaurants. read more

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