I ate at Awaze Ethio Fusion restaurant for a work retreat and it was wonderful! They had small…read moretables and plenty of chairs so everyone was able to share the food and eat with their hands easily. The servers made sure we had enough injera bread for our entire party and explained each side dish. The Sampler combo was amazing and everything had a great balance of acidity and savory taste. The coffee was more on the acidic side and it was a great palate cleanser to start eating our dish! It is a bit hot inside so bring some sort of hand fan if you decide to eat indoors.

Overall a solid place if you're craving Ethiopian food. I gave it a four star because I've had…read morereally good Ethiopian food in Washington DC, but honestly if you live in the local area, this is a good choice. Food: 8/10 we ordered the Awaze Veggie combo special, mild Awaze Tibs, and Ethio Fusion salad. Everything was delicious and seasoned well. My only issue was that the beef was a bit dry Service: 10/10 The server was really welcoming and kind. For some reason, we weren't able to use the bathroom but we needed to wash our hands so the server brought soap, water, and a bucket for us to wash our hands so I appreciated that. He would also come to Our table to check in on us so overall awesome customer service Vibes: walking into the restaurant feels like you're visiting an Ethiopian family's house haha but with a welcoming vibe. The staff was watching Football with his friends/family while we were eating so it's a very interesting informal atmosphere. Also they had a lot of small sized circular table so good for small groups, but for big groups, you should call restaurant ahead of time to make that arrangement. The outside of the restaurant looked a little worn down, and all the buildings looked old, but I didn't really mind it. Parking: the plaza was kinda dead on a Sunday evening so there was plenty of parking

This is my second time eating Ethiopian food. Not only the owner is super nice. They were willing…read moreto take my order before I arrive at the restaurant because it was too close to their closing time. The restaurant is super cute. They have some memorabilia on the wall about Ethiopian culture. You have to come here with open-minded because it's not a common food that you find every day. However, once she do that the food is super delicious. Imagine having a gluten-free crêpe skin like with homemade cow cheese. They have tons of options, but I got Alicha because it's one off the few that's not spicy. Their curry chickpeas, beef are good! Can't wait to come back and try other things. Parking is limited in the plaza.

So excited to finally find Ethiopian cuisine in OC!…read more We came for a casual lunch. The staff was kind and welcoming. We ordered the Veggie Combo with Awaze Tibs - both packed with bold, delicious flavors. I do wish portions of veggies and legumes were a bit bigger. That said, still a great spot to switch things up and explore something different!

The Abyssinia Restaurant has been on my list to try for quite some time. I drove from Temecula, CA…read moreand I was not disappointed. I met the owner and I believe his son, both great folks. The interior had Ethiopian and Eritrean pictures all around so the ambiance was a 10. The service I'll have to give it a 10 has well; the owner was accommodating and gave the perfect amount of time to look over the menu. Now for the food; I got the veggie combo plus the Zii Xii Tibs which was a tender beef. My tastebuds were in heaven! Please come try this restaurant out, you will love it! I have to go back and try the lamb, chicken, heck even their kitchen sink. Every bite was absolutely enjoyable! Go check them out!

Been trying some Ethiopian food lately and glad we found this place!…read more Came here with couple friends because I saw that the traditional combo is a type of food that you want to share, although I saw some people enjoyed their combo alone. It's very healthy and flavorful dish and it's vegetable based. Recommended to add additional meat dishes if you're craving more. Their injera bread (some sort of crepes) is something that you eat with, and I'm telling ya, you'll get addicted pretty quick ! The owner is nice and the staff that help us also nice. He recommended different type of beers as well, so we got to try them. They are very interesting. They have plenty of Ethiopian decorations and pictures all over the restaurant. Parking is plenty in the plaza.

I got this via delivery and would have loved to try it in person. I'm a big fan of Nigerian food so…read moreI was happy to find this place. I ordered their fufu combo which comes with egisu, goat meat (there are other options if you wanted something else), and fufu. I wanted Eba as well but they didn't have anymore. Instead they gave me an extra fufu. The Egisu was really good! It made me so happy to enjoy this lol. The spices were wonderful and not overpowering. The fufu was smooth and doughy. The goat complemented all the other components really well. The only downside were the hidden chunks of bone in the meat. I crunched down pretty hard and was shocked that I didn't see it coming. Otherwise the food was amazing and I'd order it again! Also got fried plantains and they were a nice way to complement the meal.

This was my first time eating Nigerian food--I loved! We ate in and had egusi with beef and fufu…read moreand coconut rice with plantains and fish. The egusi was amazing and the fufu ball was perfect consistency, light and moist, a wonderful cloud to accompany your egusi. The egusi was my favorite, but the rice, fish and plantains were good too. There are plenty of tables, seating and parking. I loved the small but private parking lot. There is pretty are on the walls and a TV playing if you want entertainment. The ambiance is peaceful and tasteful. Service was kind and friendly. There was a man who was very helpful and considerate of our lack of knowledge. He made recommendations and we asked for low spice--and the spice level was perfect in the egusi! The egusi had just enough spice for flavor but not too much to ruin out meal for us (spice wimps!). We are thankful. This weekend we were just passing Long Beach, but we will definitely return again, looking forward to more Nigerian food - worth the trip just for the food. This review was not requested.

My favorite Ethiopian place in SoCal. None of the spots in Little Ethiopia in LA taste this good or…read moreare such a good value. It's no frills, but they have always been welcoming and helpful to me. And most importantly, the food tastes amazing. Get the vegetarian special, for sure, but also try the Sambusas.

I've been coming to this spot for a few years now, bringing people with me whenever I can. This is…read morea quiet joint, tucked away in a very unassuming strip mall. The food is always made with love and the staff is always respectful. I'm not sure if they will see this but I wanted to express how much I enjoyed the food and the restaurant itself. Sambusas are always freshly made, and the injera plentiful. My go to is always the platter. I never get tired of the variety and I'm sad to see them go. If you have a chance, please give them a visit before they close !

After being so curious about trying Ethiopian cuisine for so long, this was my first time trying…read moreit! I imagined it to be very rich in flavor and it sure exceeded that and made me feel so happy and full. So much gratitude As a Mexican American I yearn for spicy food and the doro wat was something up my alley! The dish had layers of warming spices that were so pleasant to my taste buds. And the injera- it's unlike anything I've had before and it was a delight using it to feed myself... dipping my injera into all my dishes was very ritualistic and I look forward to coming again! The iced tea had subtle tones of spices which was a pleasantly refreshing surprise.

This was an amazing meal and experience! Parking is quite accessible in a strip mall where this…read morerestaurant is located. The customer service was great when we arrived and it was empty which was surprising however many groups did show up by the time I was finished eating and pretty much the whole establishment was filled. The waiter was kind enough to let us smell the coffee beans which was a unique experience for me and I loved it! The food was exceptional we only got a vegetarian combo and an order of sambusas and were filled up! I would definitely come back here and try the Kitfo and Doro Wat. (BTW this was my first ever Ethiopian meal)

Super fun and novel eating experience. I think everyone should try this at least once!…read more The waiter was very kind and attentive. The decor was very natural and homely. The theming really added to the experience. Food was very tasty and honestly a good value for the amount you get.

First time having Ethiopian. Can be easily missed in a random strip mall environment. Plenty of…read moreparking so no need to worry. It was a bit stuffy inside and they had the door open with a fan on. Went with the Beef and Veggie combo. Really delicious food. I asked for chilis, hot sauce or something spicy. They had some spices and warned me to put a little on the plate and dab. And yes, it was really spicy. But added a different flavor profile. The mother and son are really nice and explained everything. Would definitely try it out again.

The most delicious food I've had in months. Make sure you take your leftovers home! I had mine for…read morebreakfast and then again for dinner Our waiter was very kind and helpful, we got to meet Yvette herself who was lovely, and I know I'll be dreaming about this meal for a whiiile. Might make my parents come here for my birthday thank you Yvette and team Ordered the vegan combo plus the beef tips. True standout.

Don't be fooled by the fact that this restaurant is in a strip mall! Once you open that door,…read moreyou're transported into a beautifully decorated restaurant and excellent service. On top of that, the food was amazing!! We shared the vegan combo and added lamb. Let me say with confidence that everything was delicious. I can't name or pinpoint which portions were the best, but I legit loved every bite we had. Soooo good. It's been a while since I've had a memorably good meal. Also, we shared some Tej and a cocktail. Everything was excellent. Ive had Tej from other restaurants and will say this one was especially delicious as it tasted more fermented. I'm sorry I can't be more specific w the spread but trust me... everything is YUMMY. Parking was easy to find in the parking lot and free!! Also, random note but I want the wallpaper in the bathroom. lol!

The niece and I dropped in for a quick lunch during a break from our day of shopping!…read more The ambience was relaxed and the scent in the air was of a delicate incense. We sat in the center of the restaurant for what looked like more traditional seating - the mesob and barchuma. It was a first for me and I was quite comfortable. The food came quickly accompanied by a glass of Chardonnay for me! We ordered the vegetarian delight, the cottage cheese mixed with butter and mitmita, and a sambussa. This was the first time in a long time that I felt light after eating a meal. Everything was delicious and beautifully seasoned and I would do it again!

Unfortunately I had a subpar experience at this restaurant. The food was good but the service was…read morelacking. It took about 40-45 min for our entree dish to come out which we thought was a little excessive given we only ordered one entree to share for two. We were also not told the entree was going to take 40+ minutes. I also noticed my credit card statement was charged an additional $1.25. I know the amount is small but it is the principle of it. Seemed odd and a bit shady -- not sure if this was an unstated credit card fee but be sure to check your statements and get a printed receipt. Due to the slow service and the weird additional surprise charge, I won't be coming back.

My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary and all I can say was everything was a…read more10/10!! Sunny was our server and from the moment we sat down he was so attentive and pleasant to talk to! He gave such amazing food and drink recommendations and he even brought out a little cake for us to celebrate our anniversary with. If you ever are in Laguna, ask for Sunny! You won't regret it!

I was looking for a restaurant with a great view and came across this place. When I called to make…read morea reservation, they told me the upstairs area was already booked for a private party, so unfortunately, the view wasn't going to be available. I decided to go anyway, and I'm honestly so glad I did! When you first arrive, they have valet parking, which was okay. The parking lot is pretty small. Walking in, there are these beautiful exotic birds that immediately caught my attention. They were so gorgeous! We were greeted and seated right away. Our server was super nice, friendly, and attentive throughout our visit. The restaurant was also very clean. Now, the food was SO good! I tried a little bit of everything, and honestly, I had no complaints. The sangria I ordered was phenomenal. You could tell it was made correctly because it didn't have that harsh alcohol taste. It was smooth, refreshing, and not overly sweet. The burger was juicy and delicious, the calamari was fresh and so good, and the mac & cheese was also really tasty. Everything we tried was delicious. Even though I didn't get to experience the upstairs view, I'm so glad I still decided to come. I had such a great experience and definitely can't wait to come back and try more!