Food was AMAZING. Owner is welcoming and frequently checked in on us to get feedback. Gave us free…read moretiramisu too for supporting the business. Everyone is welcoming. Food was very filling. Good welcoming vibes and plenty of space to choose from for tables and seats.

My go-to Ethiopian catering spot in the Twin Cities and I finally had a chance to eat here in…read moreperson. Huge plus is the dietary accommodations. I ate here with someone who needed gluten free options & they make GF injera here so was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed the Super Veggie Sampler. I saw someone mention getting the Ethiopian coffee or tea and I didn't want too much caffeine so opted for the tea but was a little disappointed that it didn't come in a cool tea pot I saw in other Yelp photos. It was ok tasting after putting some sugar in but I would pass on the tea next time. The server was nice and there were enough tables for a late lunch on a Thursday but it felt a little humid inside. The food is so good that I can overlook the other things. Def come check out this neighborhood gem.

I have been to the Bole in St. Paul and the consistency between the restaurant shows just how great…read morean establishment this gem is. I came here with my sister and a friend while visiting home from where I currently live in Miami. There are no Ethiopian restaurants in Miami. None at all! And so every time I am in Minnesota, I HAVE to stop! We ordered the veggie sambusa, my sister and fried got the Ethiopian tea, which also comes with a teabag of English Breakfast on the side in case caffeine is desired, and I ordered the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. Yes, ceremony. The tea is hot and filled with spices and comes in a clear glass mug. For those who have not had Ethiopian coffee before, the coffee is brewed in the same clay container with the grinds and the vessel is then poured straight into a small coffee cup. The vessel has a narrow and long spout to pour out the liquid and not the grounds. It is flavored with different aromatics that I wont even try to identify. Cardamom, maybe? cinnamon? Alongside the coffee is an incense-like natural rock that burns to provide a pleasant and accompanying aroma. The server explained the name but I cannot remember it! It was a perfect introduction to what would transpire to be a great lunch. We ordered also the lunch super vegetable combo platter, which has each of the vegetable dishes laid out on a large plate and my sister and I both got the lunch portion doro wot. The dinner version comes with 2 pieces of chicken whereas the lunch comes with the drummy alone (still plenty of meat!) My friend who has a lower tolerance for spicy food ordered the steak tibs. The tibs came out on a sizzling skillet and each doro wot in an individual dish/bowl. It was a LOT of food but we dug in greedily. The server provided two extra baskets of nijera for us in addition to what came with each dish. Tibs were tender and the smell of toasted rosemary added to the aromas from the tea and coffee ceremony Unlike a foible of some wot/Ethiopian dishes, the doro wot was well emulsified and had no layer of oil, which just highlights the care taken to properly cook the stewed chicken and blend the spices. Needless to say, there were plenty of left overs which were gone within 24 hours at home. Congratulations, West side suburbs! There is a GREAT Ethiopian restaurant in your neck of the woods! No need to haul yourself over to downtown Minneapolis or over the river to St. Paul when you have this great restaurant in your backyard!

One of the best dining experiences we had in a long time!…read moreUpon entering there, wasn't anyone at the hostess desk so we walked up to the counter and were quickly directed to the last remaining open booth in the restaurant. Our waitress came over and brought us water and menus right away. She asked if it was her first time there and we said yes, and she genuinely got excited about being able to explain the menu and the experience to us. She walked us through the options and made recommendations taking into account our an anticipated spice tolerance. We wanted to try a variety of things so opted for the half-and-half platter, which had three stews and three veggies - even though we were warned it might be a bit spicy. Based on her recommendation, we also got the rolled crispy kitfo roll appetizer. The food was delicious. Each bite had a different flavor and it was balanced well with the salads and veggies to tone down the spice when needed. Our favorites were the lamb stew and the beef stew but as we watched other items get delivered we were clearly making our list for what to try next visit. I can't understate how exceptional the service was. Our waitress was an absolute gem. She kept walked us through the menu, explained the way to eat the food with the injera and kept checking on us, even offering rice if it was too spicy. An extra bonus was we had a lovely couple next to us that had dined at the St. Paul location before and they asked us how we liked it, what our favorite was and also recommended a specific drink for our next visit. The food was great but the service and environment made it stellar. We will absolutely be back...hopefully soon!

Very diverse food selection. Was generous portion size for what you got. The Ethiopian food was…read morefantastic. Would go again and try more!

Good food at a not unreasonable price…read more A friend wanted Ethiopian and this had been recommended to one of our friends. The portions are pretty good. The beef key wot pictured was $20, so not what I would call cheap. Our server was really friendly and helpful. Note the "healthy choice" option isn't size related, it is gluten free injira. The food was really quite tasty and came with plenty of injira. The beef key wot sauce was good and flavorful. Portions are definitely enough to feed one hungry person. And it is a pretty quiet place. They have some Ethiopian and other wine available along with bottled beer.

Ordered fufu, chicken egusi soup, and jolloff rice. Was not overall pleased. The egusi was not…read moreedible and it is disappointing because they give such a generous amount. Service was pleasant. As for ambiance, they are attached to a market and the smells seep into the restaurant which is very underwhelming. The jollof rice was the saving grace of my meal.

I've tried other African restaurants but this was the very first I tried and I'm still hooked!…read more Parking could be better. The seating area in the back deserves a better presentation, but the food? 10/10. Now, usually when I go I ALWAYS get the collard greens. They taste fresh, flavorful, has a nice crunch, and a hint of spice. The guy who owns the restaraunt with his wife is so sweet. I enjoy seeing him each time that I come in. My first time here was in 2013. I'll always come back.

Once visit with best friend he recommended me the food was delicious super fresh and Halal we…read moreordered Lamb sandwich and chicken wings I really enjoy food and there ambiance real African and modern culture mixed but beautiful very professional staff and welcoming Highly Recommend

I met one of the kindest cooks/cashiers at Karibu! And he made the most amazing (and affordable!)…read moreSambusas. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of the menu. So considerate, I was asked, "Do you mind waiting 5 minutes while I make your order?" Then we had a great conversation about giraffe preserves on the Somalian/Kenyan border-- a beautiful story from a young man who graduated from Johnson HS. The store was bright colored and really casual. What a great restaurant to have in the Payne/Phalen neighborhood!

My daughter was craving some African food and wanted to try a different restaurant. I had some…read moreerrands in Crystal, so I suggested this restaurant. When I called to place an order, the person picked up the phone and just said hello. I had to check if I'm calling the correct place, and he took my order. We picked up the food, restaurant was a nice size however no guests dining. Red booths and ordering counter. Egussi had a smokey taste to it and the fufu was brown, I think it's yams.

This is the worst place I ever ate. Ordered goat meat with rice and 4 samosa and everything was…read morecold AND ALSO The lady in the back was cleaning and making food with no Gloves at all. I came back to the store after I found my food cold and they proceeded to argue with me telling me the food is freshly made and that the food could be cold due to the fact that they wanted to hurry and make the food for me!!!?? I never once rushed them while making food or said anything just sat at the table waiting watching stuff in my phone. I really try to support small businesses but this is just unacceptable. I wish I could give this place a -5 because it was just that bad.

We wanted to get Ethiopian food for our one year wedding anniversary, and Demera was both open on…read moreMonday night and near Como Zoo - so we gave it a try! AMBIANCE The space inside is so cozy and comforting - great Ethiopian decor, wood paneling, and vibes with music playing in the background. We had the place to ourselves besides a few takeout orders and bar guests. SERVICE Service is top notch here! The male working, presumably the owner, gave us some great recommendations on our order. He and the woman who cooked our meal, presumably his wife, came out to show us how to best eat the meats with the Injera. FOOD If you haven't had Injera, the sponge-like pancake that's a staple in Ethiopian food, you're missing out! We got the combo plate which included 5 different meat styles and TONS of Injera. We got 3 beef dishes - all varying in spice, flavor, and presentation, a lamb dish, and a chicken leg and hard boiled egg dish. It was TONS of food - we had to take home nearly half of it! Each was packed with flavor and such a fun culinary experience eating it with the Injera. Highly recommend this local spot - support this small business!

Such good food! I got the vegetarian sampler and it was wonderful. Each dish was excellent. The kik…read morealicha is one of the best in the Twin Cities. I can't ever remember the name of the beet dish, but that one as another favorite. We went ridiculously early for dinner, so it was very quiet. But the atmosphere was very nice and the service was great. Can't recommend more highly!

We had my husband's birthday supper here this evenings and it was simply outstanding! We had 8…read morepeople and got two veggie platters and a serving of fish goulash. Every bite was wonderful! We love getting all the vegetables, lentils and salad, and it was our first time trying the fish goulash - and it won't be our last. Some in our group enjoyed Ethiopian coffee at the end. The inviting ambiance was fantastic for our group. You can get great flavors (if you don't like spicy, there are plenty of choices), great service at a great place. Try it!