This chef's food is so clean and balanced. The spices and the base ingredients like lentils and greens and chicken are seamlessly woven together with spices to create masterpieces. This is some of the best food I have ever had regardless of cuisine. The space is personal and feels like you are visiting an Auntie's patio or backyard. Best of all is the chef herself, full of joy and charisma. Later we noted that not only did we enjoy the flavors, it felt so nourishing and made us feel good. read more

Omg, a gem in Berkeley!!! Visited from Hawaii and this is where I'm coming to get my fix from now on! I loved the customer service. Loved the flavors and the presentation. Family vibes read more

Shewhat - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Epic food and friendly service. Need I say more? The vegetarian combo and Shiro are my go-tos and both were up there w the best in the Bay Area. Ingera was excellent as well - perfect balance of tangy, spongy, and stretchy. Would recommend and will be going again! read more

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When I lived in the East Bay we loved how many great Ethiopian places we had to choose from. Now that we've left the area, it's become a rare treat. I had to check this place out because of the 5-star ratings, and it was just as good as everyone says. I ordered 3 dishes (beef tibsy, lamb alecha, and the Shewhat veggie combo. My plan was to eat a little of each and bring the rest home as leftovers for dinner with my wife the next day. However, it was so good that I ate nearly all of it and had to order another beef tibsy so I wouldn't go home empty handed! The only bummer is that it's only 7 blocks from my old house in Oakland. I wish it had been there when I could go all the time, but I will definitely be back. read more

What a gem! Fast service, outdoor seating, and excellent food. We got the sambusas (crisp, flavorful, comes with hot pepper sauce) and the Shewhat special, the meat and veggie combo, with shiro and mushroom tibsy. Everything, and I mean everything, was top notch and finger-licking good. It was a tad on the salty side, but I loved every bite. The spice/flavor profile of each was pretty unique, too. I've eaten at so many Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants and I have never had shiro or mushroom tibs that tasted like that. They were so good! Possibly my new favorite spot for this kind of food. read more

Shewhat - Sambusa - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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So, I saw the Yelp Top 100 Restaurants in the Bay Area for 2022 and Shewhat was on the list. And it should be!!! So delicious. Home cooked meals you eat with your clean hands. First, if you want to try an Ethippian beer, you're in luck. Mostly lager/pale ale styles. Second, get the Sambusas. Next get whatever you want cause you can't go wrong. Be warned...the Injera bread is yummy and functional and filling. It's like a sponge. So you will get full. I had the Lamb Tibsy and my hubby had the shrimp. His was a smidge spicier than mine. Both were great (Lamb was better ). I'm so happy to know this restaurant exists. Can't wait to go back and have the vegetarian plate. Service was kind and attentive. The outdoor patio transports you to another place. The place is so clean. The bathroom smelled like bleach. I can't believe I have been missing out. Go! Enjoy! read more

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Ordered delivery. Food was ok. Good flavor. Lentils were undercooked and watery. Injera was delicious but they only gave me ONE INJERA with the veggie combo. read more

Ethiopian food is one of my favorites so I always look forward to trying a new spot. I stumbled across Shewhat when I was looking for a place to go on Valentines Day with my friends. From the outside, it looks like the restaurant is in a building that used to be a gas station. But don't let that deter you because when you step inside, the smell of food is too good to be true. You can just barely glimpse into the kitchen and see the food being prepared with lots of love, heart, and soul- I knew it would be delicious. It's a more fun experience coming here with people because Ethiopian food is best enjoyed family style. My friends and I got the veggie + meat sampler along with the Beef Tibsy and okra, and mushroom Tibsy. We also got a mountain of Injera (very necessary to have a lot!). I could not pick my favorite... the sauce, the spices, the flavor was simply perfection. It's the type of food that really just makes your whole body feel warm and happy. If I absolutely had to pick what was the best, it would be the beef from the meat sampler and the greens from the veggie sampler. I also tried the chai latte which was a nice little addition to the food. Very flavorful and not too sweet! I'm already looking forward to coming back! read more

Shewhat - Chai latte - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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We met my mom for dinner and were greeted by a very friendly server. My mother and I ordered vegetarian plates and my partner ordered the chicken plate. We all enjoyed our meal's immensely Service was lovely and the bill was very reasonable. read more

Food is good overall. Service is adequate (inattentive at times). Ambiance was nice. Though tables are very big and it's hard to have a quiet conversation with your partner. If you are Celiac or gluten intolerant you might enjoy this place. Their injera is 100% teff and gluten free. Main dishes are GF too. The appetizer and desserts are NOT gluten free. Staff is nice and helpful mostly. However, when it's busy, service suffers. Prior to coming, I emailed them and asked them about their menu because I have Celiac's Disease. I never received a response. However, I still came to the restaurant. When I arrived, I told the server, I have Celiac, but clearly didn't emphasize it enough. I suspect that, because I was dining with someone who is NOT Celiac they got confused. My non Celiac diner ordered the appetizer. Since appetizers are typically brought out first, we figured it would be OK because my partner could wash his hands before the main meal. However, this didn't happen. They brought it out just minutes before the main dish. Needless to say, I was VERY annoyed, but my partner and I took precautions and we managed fine. Also, we never had water on our table. Other tables had a bottle of water on them. Our server never seemed to notice or care. The first time we came here, the experience was great. However, this was my second time here, and I was not nearly as impressed. Going out to eat is pretty risky for anyone who is Celiac and I didn't feel as safe or as comfortable eating here as I would have liked. Maybe it was just an off night for everybody, but for me, I doubt I'll be returning. read more

We sat in the outdoor dining area which was decorated with little lights and a tv. It's pretty casual but clean and cheerful. Our server was the owner. She was super sweet, and made us feel welcome. I don't usually care much for sambusas but those were excellent- everything we ordered was wonderfully spiced and warming. Their injera was exquisite. Looking forward to going back. read more

We were coming back from sake tasting in Oakland. Instead of eating in the area we hopped in the car and started driving up Shattuck, figuring we would find something on the way home. I remembered a friend had recently recommended an Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant in Oakland. Hubby remembered it was located in an old gas station, so we kept our eyes open. We saw Shewhat and found they were open for another 45 minutes. As we walked into the small dining room, a gentleman sitting by himself stood up and acknowledged us then went into the kitchen. Moments later, the owner, Abby, came out to greet us and offered us to choose a table. We studied the menu and with a bit of direction we decided on chicken tibsy with spinach, and lamb tibsy, both medium hot on the chili scale. We asked for hot tea spiced with cinnamon, ginger and more. I enjoyed it without adding sugar, but it is available if you desire. Our food arrived and can I say three words: Aaah. May. Zing. It was beautifully presented for two on a large platter with an extra injera on the side. We tore off a bit of injera and wrapped it around some of the chicken, another bit of injera for some lamb, then more injera to scoop a bite yellow lentils. Yummm ... There was a small salad as well to refresh our palate as needed. The portions were perfect for us. Hubby was a trouper, didn't bust out a fork until the end when the injera was too soft for him to eat with his fingers. I persevered and licked mine clean, lol. Abby is a gracious hostess. She made sure we were happy and well cared for. Listening to the music videos on the telly, the colourful lighting outside, I felt transported to another place where the pace of life might be a bit slower. Everyone inside was happy, joyful. For me, it felt like home and I want to be their guest again and again. read more

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The vegan dishes we got were so flavorful! The perfect amount of complementing spices. I appreciated the many vegan options they had on their menu. The service was kind. We sat outside on the patio which was perfect on a warm summer evening. read more

Hey, there's nothing wrong with eating either Ethiopian or Eritrean food in half of a converted gas station. It's actually quite enterprising to use the available space to make such tasty, homestyle plates, and owner Abby Dair grew up making these dishes in her native Eritrea. She's no stranger to the local food scene as she had worked at Berkeley Bowl nearby for the past decade. Her unique menu offers Eritrean-style breakfasts and signature Ethiopian plates. The paninis and American breakfasts were crossed off which wasn't a problem for me because I was interested in the combo plates. I ordered the $14.99 Shewhat Veggie Combo which placed scoops of cooked red and yellow lentils; cooked spinach, cabbage, and potatoes; and an alachi house salad atop a big flat of spongey injera (photo: http://bit.ly/2ZlhnOV). Abby knows how to make it, and her sunny demeanor went a long way for me since she clearly loves what she makes here. Her kindness extended to a complimentary hot tea full of ginger and cloves (photo: http://bit.ly/2Zg0TaH). So put away your preconceptions about gas station cafes because it isn't a gas station anymore, and don't ask for a lube job. FOOD - 4 stars...homestyle Ethiopian/Eritrean food made with love and authority AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...small cafe space with Eritrean music videos on the TV SERVICE - 4.5 stars...Abby is very kind TOTAL - 4 stars...fill 'er up...with injera RELATED - Looking for some unique cuisine to try? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2HxDegq read more

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Abby's Veggie Combo. Glasses of tej. Injera was nicely tangy, maybe a little more chew than some other places? There are several veggie combos on the menu (nice touch since many of my usual places have one) and this one has shiro in the mix, which is one of my fave dishes of all time. This one was pretty smooth, but also a little... fluffy? Located in an old dry cleaner, seating is in the patio to the side. They were doing more takeout/delivery the night we were there than dine in (we were there late). Maybe not somewhere we'd drive to when there are so many options, but would go again if in the area. read more

Probably the best Ethiopian in the Bay Area. Perfect injera (not the kind that dries out your hands), great but not overpowering flavors of the dishes, and a lot less oily than most places. Kind owners too. read more

I discovered this place through Yelp, and I can only find incredible things to say. Firstly, the service was amazing and the women working there prioritized making us feel cozy and welcome. We ordered the veggie and meat combo and it was amazing! So flavorful and the perfect amount for 2 people. I would also recommend trying their honey wine, it was sweet and delicious. I truly cannot wait to come back so I can share this amazing restaurant with my friends and family. read more

Shewhat - Veggie and meat combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

SO SO SO SO GOOD, and Abby is the absolute best. Some of the best Ethiopian/Eritrean food I've had with a nice, easy, neighborhood vibe THANK YOU ABBY read more

Lovely little family owned Ethiopian restaurant! The owner is an absolute sweet heart and it felt like I was in her family's kitchen! We had the Tibsy beef and tibsy lamb. Awesome flavors, the spicy isn't spicy at all in my opinion so have at it. The salad was seasoned well and I really enjoyed the lentils. In terms of portions I was right on the edge of stuffed so it was definitely an adequate amount. Definitely come visit if you want to try ethiopian food! Was a great experience. read more

Shewhat - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Great food and very warm service at this restaurant. Don't be fooled by the outside (it's in an older strip mall), it's really nice in their outside patio area. I love the combos. For two people, I recommend getting one meat combo and one veggie combo and sharing everything. Their veggie stuff is all fantastic and their chicken and spinach is outstanding. My companion had not eaten Ethiopian food before and he loved it! read more

Shewhat - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Excellent food & service. The menu was fairly extensive; the restaurant was very relaxing & quiet enough to hold a conversation.

We tried 6 different dishes and all were delish! The injera is 100% teff flour so my gluten-free friend could enjoy with us. The staff were welcoming and attentive. The leftovers were even better the next day. Definitely coming back! read more

What a delicious, simple and charming and authentic Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurant. Half the menu is vegetarian with different types of lentils, salad, spinach and injera, the delicious flat grain, tasting almost like rye, of which you roll the savory food up into and eat. Then there's the stewed chicken dish in spinach or the stewed savory beef dish or lamb. Very scrumptious and filling. The outside enclosed patio seating is perfect in summer and you'll want to dress warmer for Cal winters though it's definitely worth it! read more

Best Ethiopian I've had anywhere. Every item was singing with flavor. Even with a high spice tolerance I find that some restaurants push my limits. This was perfectly spiced and far less than in other places. The injera was soft and delicious and didn't leave my hands feeling dry (another issue I have had with other Ethiopian restaurants). An absolute hidden gem. read more

***3.5 Stars*** A non-traditional take on Eritrean/Ethiopian cuisine. Shewhat serves a somewhat "Americanized" version of your classic Eritrean/Ethiopian food. I must say, this was a very different experience for me, but I still really enjoyed the food. The first thing that I noticed was that they had utensils on the table. I have never seen this at any Eritrean or Ethiopian restaurant that I've been to before. I'm so used to eating with injera, so it was kind of weird to see forks and knives on the table. Their menu is like an American fusion type of menu, and they offer American breakfast and panini sandwiches. They're a bit pricey compared to many other Ethiopian spots that I've been to, but there aren't any other places offering this type of cuisine close by. It's also a bit hard to find as it's tucked away next to a dry cleaning shoo off of Shattuck. The interior is cozy but you can tell that it has recently been renovated. They have a TV in the corner and were playing a marathon of Robel Michael's music videos (if you've never heard of him, look him up on YouTube because he's amazing!). This gave me the impression that the owners were of Eritrean decent versus Ethiopian. I did not get to meet the owner Abbey, but I did get to meet her sister, Selam (sp?). Selam was gracious and she helped me with my order and took care of me while I dined in. There was seriously no shortage of hospitality. Decided to go with their chicken tibsy and spinach plate based off of Selam's recommendation and it did not disappoint! The chicken was sautéed in the spinach and served alongside a fresh side salad and my favorite kind of Ethiopian lentils: messir wot (yellow lentils). At first glance, the portion size appeared to be smaller than what I'm used to, but I did get full after eating everything. It was served on a giant piece of injera, but they don't provide you with injera on the side to actually eat it with. Maybe because they assume that some people are going to use the forks? I just tore off some pieces of the injera that it came on until I didn't have any more left. I guess Salem saw what I had done and then gave me more injera on the side. The chicken tibsy had great flavor but it wasn't very spicy as I had requested. Salem gave me an Ethiopian herbal tea when I was finished and it tasted incredible! This might have been my first time actually trying Ethiopian herbal tea, and now I'm going to be asking for it more often. I did enjoy the food, but it wasn't the best Eritrean/Ethiopian food that I've ever had. The service was delightful though, and this is what will make me come back again in the future. Hopefully I'll find something that will blow my mind next time, but for now, I'd say that Shewhat is pretty solid. read more

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Right before the second round of shelter in place, we got to try Shewhat with their outdoor dining option. Reservations were made a day in advanced and had seating outside for five people. Other patrons were seated at a safe distance away. The area was nicely decorated, cozy, and bright enough to see faces. The owner gave us a few recommendations, including the shrimp tibsy. All the food was served on top of an injira that soaked up all the sauce. Injira was provided on the side used to pick up the shared platter. Order: -Shrimp tibsy: Hands down the best one out of all! The shrimp was plump, crispy, and flavorful. The portion was amazing for the price. I would recommend this. -Beef tibsy & okra: Really good! The meat was tough, but the flavors really came through in the sauce. The okra was cooked wonderfully -Shewhat meat combo: Great way to get a taste of everything. Food had a good kick. -Shewhat veggie combo: Same thing to sample everything. I enjoyed the lentils with the injira. Overall, a really fun experience amidst the COVID pandemic. We didn't feel rush and really enjoyed our time. read more

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Always delicious and flavorful!! Came here for Valentine's Day three years ago and came back for this Valentine's Day!

This was such a super hit- will definitely go back many more times-successful random find! As a vegetarian not many places you get such love lol. #highlyrecommend read more

Shewhat never disappoints! The food is so fresh and flavorful. The owners are so attentive and helpful. I love the outdoor patio space. If I could give it more stars I would! read more

It is that good. I've been to two Ethiopian places, and this one is far far far better than the other.

HIGHLY recommend this place! The service and food was amazing. I came here with some friends and it was all our first time here. Our waiter was so helpful and he helped us understand the menu and how the food is and how we should order. The food was SO good!! My first time trying this cuisine and it was so delicious. It was very flavorful and tasty. The restaurant was also very clean. They have an inside and a small patio outside. We opted for the patio and they turned the heaters on for us since it was a cold day. Loved coming to this hidden gem and highly recommend everyone checks it out! read more

Shewhat - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

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Found this place through Yelp and it was very good! The food here is a tad bit overpriced. However, I got the bilen stew which is biryani with stewed vegetables. It was seasoned well and had a hint of heat. My friend got the okra kelwa and really liked it. We tried the sambusas which were crispy, filled perfectly, and delicious. The injera here was also perfect, and I like that they have it cut into perfect pieces. read more

Shewhat - Bilen stew - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

This restaurant is fantastic! Absolutely phenomenal Ethiopian food, and the staff are incredible. It is a woman owned business and her whole family runs the show with her. We felt very taken care of by them and could not get enough of the veggie combo platter. I ate this when I was 39 weeks pregnant and could not eat enough honestly. I wanted more even after dinner. This is my go to Ethiopian food craving spot. read more

Shewhat - Abby veggies combo and Lamb Tibsy - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

I love the pasta she make is the best plus it's clean and neat here viva Keren you prove it right all the dishes are delicious and you can't even get enough of it yummy read more

Great food and friendly service. Haven't had any thing but good experience here. I even introduced to some friends

Wow! Covid sucks. This was the hi-light. My mom wanted Eritrean food for her 73rd birthday. We didn't want a quarantine take out, so I was looking for a restaurant with some outdoor space. We sat at a cute table in front of the restaurant. Every service was SPOTLESS. The chef / owner is lovely, and talented. We looked over the menu and selected the meat combo, the veggie combo and a chickpea stew. SO AMAZING!!! Every bite! The injera was light and fluffy. My fussy six year old ate EVERYTHING. Today he asked when we can return. And we will. read more

Shewhat - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

Excellent food. Great flavors. Very over salted. They could use with bio degradable disposable togo containers.

Great food .. have eaten in only 2 or 3 places in the Bay Area so far .. hands down this was the best tasting food. I went with some friends who had lived in Ethiopia for a few months and they told me this was the closest to the authentic Ethiopian food they had eaten in the US. The vibe was very casual, the owner was friendly. The only opportunity I saw was there weren't enough different types of combo options (which is pretty common for Ethiopian restaurants). They have one non-veg combo and two veg combo for folks to share for smaller groups. If you are in a group of 1-2 -- you are at a disadvantage. But if you go in larger groups .. you can order multiple combos / individual dishes and they will bring it out together in a large plate to share for the authentic experience. Overall I was very happy!! read more

So delicious. We got the veg + meat combo platter for two and it was delicious, we practically licked the plate clean. Beautiful environment, music, and selection. The best Ethiopian food I've ever had! read more

Shewhat - Shewhat Special Meat + Veg Combo - Ethiopian Near Me - Oakland, California

This is my new favorite place! We ordered samosas, beef with mushrooms, chicken tibsy, alicha, and lamb, all of which were seasoned and cooked perfectly. The patio is charming and warm - we loved the lights and decorations! Abby was also charming and warm, and I'm happy to support a local business. We will be back! read more