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    Queen Sheba

    3.8 (70 reviews)
    InexpensiveEthiopian
    Closed 4:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    Queen Sheba Photos

    Business Info

    QUEEN SHEBA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Divey
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Queen Sheba

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    Queen of Sheba special
    Jada G.

    My sister and I dined in, the first time for me in a very long time! The restaurant was reasonably clean, plastic dividers separating tables, and the staff wore masks the entire time. Since it was her first time eating Ethiopian food, the waitstaff had good information and recommendations! Although I'm a little offended at the offering of a meat over rice when we definitely came for injera. :) We got the Queen of Sheba special and the veggie combo, which was obviously more than enough for 2 people and a good sampler for my sister to try. This is definitely one of the better places in the city and I'll definitely be coming back, although maybe I'll be sticking to takeout for a while. The restaurant was completely empty but you know, we're still trying to be safe until things return "back to normal."

    Lamb w peppers
    Max H.

    Wow what an amazing meal from fine establishment!. It really feels like the old days when me and my friend lived over here and all we did was think about our next beer. Or should I say beard because actually there is a sense of wonder in having facial hair. Definitely would say that the spot is geared towards the elderly, but not old just experienced. Shout out to my man PJ for always hooking it up, and making us feel at home! lots of love, Max P.S. the food hits the spot as well

    Doro Wat
    Laura L.

    Amazing food! One of the most authentic Ethiopian restaurants in Philly! Would definitely recommend their Doro wat!

    I am new to Ethiopian Food, but this place is good. It is really good and very affordable. I went to Queen Shiba after studying at a cafe nearby. I was in the mood for something new and Queen Shiba was enticing, especially considering the drinks were cheaper the evening I went in. I ordered a Ethiopian Lamb Stew that came on with 2 side dishes and large amounts of a type of bread. This dish is good. It is very filling so I recommend ordered this and a smaller dish to split with a friend. They also have a chicken version of it as well (I think they are around option 14-18 in the menu -double check this). I would come here again for drinks and food (half the place is a bar and it has very strong community vibes. The bartender was also extremely friendly and very willing to explain the menu. Definitely check this place out.

    Schuyler L.

    13 reviews and no pictures!!! That's high treason! Don't worry, I added a few. This review is for the food only, my last review was for Thursday night karaoke. The service was refreshingly laid back. Order all food at the bar and at 7pm on a Saturday only a few regulars are around. The bartender, as someone else mentioned, was obviously Xibit. He was a cool guy, he was attentive without being overbearing or lurking. I got the Lamb Tips on naan and Bill M got the beef Kefto (med-rare), both were a very reasonable $10 even. Bill's beef was a little too raw for my liking, but that's how it was ordered. The beef was served in te traditional style. He really liked it and even took leftovers home. My food was more than I could eat and probably a few notches too spicy. I ordered mild, but I was still challenged toward the end. The taste and quality far exceeded my expectations. I expected mediocre bar food based on my assumption that the regulars at the bar were keeping the establishment afloat. That assumption was false. There is no doubt in my mind that Queen of Sheba has regulars that show up for the food as well as the beverages Don't be intimidated to visit Queen of Sheba. The metal grate on the door and the smokers outside shouldn't dissuade you. Although once inside a few people may be loud, everyone is extremely friendly. And after not too long you'll start to feel the love amongst the wood paneling. For the record, they do take reservations and they do offer take out. Both pluses in my book. Mixed drinks start around $3, beers at $2.

    Veggie platter goodness!

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Queen Sheba

    Review Highlights - Queen Sheba

    Since it was her first time eating Ethiopian food, the waitstaff had good information and recommendations!

    Mentioned in 19 reviews

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    Salam Cafe and Market - Vegan Ethiopian Vegan Platter

    Salam Cafe and Market

    4.5(48 reviews)
    6.2 miGermantown

    This place had so much flavor. What really stood out to me was the veggies. They were seasoned…read morereally well, which I appreciated because at a lot of Ethiopian restaurants it feels like the meat gets all the flavor and the veggies are just kind of there. Here, the veggies were delicious on their own. The service was quick, probably about five minutes, and the people were kind. The space was also spacious and comfortable. I do wish it came with another piece of injera, but I'm sure you can buy extra if needed. Overall, I'd definitely come back.

    EDIT: after a few weeks I read my review and realized that it comes across as generally negative…read moreeven though my opinion is very positive. I went on too long about the kitfo. Salam is a delicious place with really friendly people. Me and my family have been taking out and eating in about once a week for months. It also attracts people working with laptops, as it is quiet and there's coffee. I am returning the 5th star because why should they appear less than excellent because of one guy's opinion of one dish? Btw the kik alicha is amazingly satisfying. ---ORIGINAL REVIEW I have a lot of positive things to say about this place, and just two complaints. I'm going to skip the positive as it is all repeated here in other reviews, other than to say that while the cooking here is not 100% in the mainstream of Ethiopian cooking, meaning that you can expect the Ethiopian dishes to land some short distance from what you are used to at any other place in Philly or D.C. or NYC etc., it is nevertheless usually delicious. The wots are spiced differently than traditional, there are more middle eastern flavors in general. The first time I came, soon after they had opened, I was disoriented and disappointed, but in later visits I decided I didn't care. The injera is among the best in Philly. Complaint#1: the doro wot sauce can sometimes (only twice) verge into the realm of so intense that you don't want to eat much of it, this has to do with both salt and spices. Complaint#2: This is the one that lost a star. They won't make their Saturday kitfo raw. If you ask for it raw it will be served rare, so the meat has received enough heat to toughen the texture and remove some of the color. I did complain, because I love kitfo and it is one of the most celebrated raw beef dishes, the beef glistening with niter kibbeh butter and looking like a shiny mount of rubies. It is amazing when made according to tradition and kind of lame when Americanized, like so many ethnic speacialties. About 3/4 of the best Philly places make it right, most in D.C. I would guess that Salam is either nervous about hygiene, a real consideration unless you mince your own beef, which is labor intensive. The excuse offered was that the beef got a little cooked by the hot butter, to which the answer is, your butter is too hot. No cooking can happen with this dish. (In Ethiopia a few do slightly cook the beef, but nobody likes those people.) I urge them to do Ethiopia justice and take kitfo off the menu, or do it right. Americans have learned a lot in the past few decades. Tell them what to expect and many will be enthusiastic. It won't work if you let them expect cooked beef. That's all the negative I have, I am looking forward to my next visit for the kik alicha.

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    Salam Cafe and Market
    Salam Cafe and Market
    Salam Cafe and Market - Baked Salmon

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    Baked Salmon

    Dahlak

    Dahlak

    3.5(177 reviews)
    0.2 miCedar Park
    $$

    Dahlak Paradise is a vibe! This was my second time coming for a private event and I love the layout…read moreof the space. The front is super cozy. The middle area is an open area for dancing and sitting. And the back is a bar area. There is also an outdoor patio area for hanging out for some fresh air. The service was amazing and our bartenders were fantastic! We ordered the braised chicken sliders and they were delicious. It's a great space for a private party or just a great night out with good food & drinks!

    The restaurant is divided into two sections really three if you count the back patio. Upfront is a…read moreRestaurant. It has pretty good Ethiopian food. The dining area will offer live music and such and even kareoke. The back is a dive bar. Just beyond that is the back patio. Which is really nice in the summertime. This place is definitely the neighborhood watering hole. Can you see people from all walks of life and it's such a chill vibe everyone just gets along. I really love that about this place. Drinks are generally cheap and they have specials going on. Don't expect anything fancy or not on the drink menu. There are a few house drinks the bartenders know how to make otherwise they can be kind of lost. It's best to get some thing on top or in a bottle or can. There was a different bartender every night because they were working one day a week each. Unsure if that's still the case now. Service isn't always terrific and can run slow. I've had a few bartenders over the years be less then cordial. Overall, they have been few and far between and the unpleasant ones aren't around for very long. The family that owns this place gives back to the community and even helped with a personal fundraiser that I had. I've met a good amount of my friends in the neighborhood here as well. So if you are newer to the area, it's a good place to make friends, especially on a kareoke night with Dr Thunder or Pebs

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    Dahlak
    Dahlak - Veggie combo.

    Veggie combo.

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    Doro Bet - Crinkle cut Addis Fries with 1/2 Chicken - Awaze (Spicy) and fried mushrooms

    Doro Bet

    4.1(87 reviews)
    0.0 miCedar Park

    I didn't know that this is owned by the same owners as Alif (see that in one of the other…read morereviews!), but that kind of tracks. I stopped in for lunch w/ some friends, and I thought everything tasted great! I opted for an order of chicken tenders with fries, one of their featured specials, and I definitely couldn't tell that it was gluten-free, but it is! Looks like they use teff flour for their batter (it does have dairy, though, for those who can't have it). Not that sports stadium chicken fingers are the best kind, but the ones here definitely beat those. Admittedly, I don't often get chicken tenders, but I would get them again here. Some of my friends got the chicken sandwich, which looked to be essentially my meal but with a bun, and another got a falafel wrap, which also looked good. I would try either that or a chicken shawarma wrap in the future. You order at the counter, but if seated, they bring the food to you, which is nice. Not a huge amount of room inside, less than Alif, but enough for a few tables, and just about what I've come to expect in West Philly. Good spot for a relatively quick lunch, and some great gluten-free options to boot.

    Still amazing fried chicken here! It's get the basic criteria of fried chicken right, having…read moreamazingly moist and marinated meat with a crispy delicate breading, but with such unique and delicious flavors. I've always loved the spicy flavor and how it perfectly evokes the flavor I love from Ethiopian food, but I had the lemon turmeric for the first time today and it absolutely holds its ground against the spicy with its bright pop! The mac and cheese was also incredible, with a golden baked top just as it should. Who knew a supposedly Ethiopian spot could also do that Southern side perfectly. I happened to come during Ramadan and they have a really good-value Ramadan special that comes with a three-piece chicken, mac and collard greens, a salad, and a side of rose pudding for $20. We added another half chicken to feed a second person and left very happy and full.

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    Doro Bet - Indoor seating

    Indoor seating

    Doro Bet
    Doro Bet

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    Queen Sheba - ethiopian - Updated May 2026

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