Awash Market

Awash market & restaurant is a delightful surprise. While the outside is unassuming, they have everything you need! Super friendly service, vegan/veggie options, ALL the spices, and delicious food.I came from Los Angeles, where we have a little Ethiopia area and I have been looking for good Ethiopian food. Glad I found this hidden gem!

Best Abyssinian food in San Diego. There are fancier, trendier places. None of them come close. Get the mixed vegetables and a couple of meat dishes. Wash them down with beer from there.

Some of the spices didn't have labels or prices and some came only in huge bags. So I asked the staff for help and they were extremely nice. I didn't need a pound of berbere spice mix so they opened one of the huge bags and poured some into a smaller ziploc bag which is what they sold me. They even offered to grind for free the whole spices I purchased but I respectfully declined. I like to grind my own spices. :)And if you're looking for baking yeast, as I heard it's been out of stock at grocery stores during the lockdown, then look no further. They have a ton.

Awash Market & Restaurant is one and only authentic Ethiopian food in San Diego period. They are super friendly and know their customers need. I love their Vegan/Vegetarian platter the most. We ordered half meat platter & Vegan platter. It was delish, finger leaking good.Ababu is so gracious and very nice human being. He takes good care of his customers. Can't wait for next week... yummmmA must visit!!!

I love this little place. It's a family-owned storefront with some fun Ethiopian things to browse through. As you proceed the middle of the store, there are freezer/fridges to the left with drinks and other chilled items. On the right there are mounds of spices, herbs, flour, etc. Unfortunately not all are labeled as the are 'hand-packaged' into ziplock bags sometimes with a label (sometimes not). The gentleman the manages the front is extremely friendly and it's easy enough to just ask.Fresh injera is $3 for 5 pieces.I can understand why some people may be turned off as it's more of a convenient store (think 7-Eleven) then a WholeFoods.The small restaurant in the back is a bit outdated. I've tried their meat combo and didn't care to much for the quality of the meats. Recently I dined there with my daughter and order the Doro Wat (chicken) and Awash Beef Tibs. The cook noticed my 7 year old with me and brought her a dish of Alicha split peas on the house. It was delicious and very thoughtful, despite my daughter surprising them all when she chowed down on the chicken and beef tibs... yeah! Doro Wat is my all-time favorite Ethiopian dish and I make it at home often enough. At Awash, there was good depth to the sauce but for $10.99, it only included 1 small drumstick and an egg. I personally preferred the doro wat at Muzita. Finally, the Awash Beef Tibs were fantastic and I like that they offer a small and large portion. The quality of the meat really came through even after re-heating the leftovers.

This place isn't exactly taking business away from Vons. But you should go and buy pre-made injera (Ethiopian bread) and berbere powder (Ethiopian spice). YUM!

Just from waking past this place, you'd think it would just be another market/liquor store! They do cater to many Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants in town (injera is made in house) but there is a restaurant in the very back! Portions here are massive! I'm talking about loads of meat, meat and meat! You'll be good just sharing one dish with a friend because you'll be stuffed and super bloated from the overdose of injera that is expanding in that belly of yours.I've tried many joints all around town and each one of them is good but this by far is the best bang for you buck because of the portions. Their meat is well marinated and full of flavor that'll make your taste buds happy. Trust me, the moment it hits your tongue, your mouth will immediately water up. If this is your first time (I'm sure it won't be your last either), go for either their meat combo or veggie combo (if you're a vegan/vegetarian). You'll get a taste of all their popular flavors. Share if you're not a big eater because this will make you stuffed beyond contentment.Please be open-minded and try out new ethnic food if you're one that sticks with the familiar. SD is a melting pot of cultures, especially on El Cajon Blvd. You won't be disappointed!

Wow, this place blew me away.It was awesome. Everything about this place is authentic. Our waiter was the most friendly and awesome guy I've ever met. He took so much time with us helping us out with what we should order. We ordered the vegetarian plate, and it was great. It came with different lentils and collard green and injera which you use to pick up the different lentils. When we were done eating, we talked for an hour or two, and there was no rush whatsoever. I literally have nothing more to say... this place is just awesome.

Finding parking a major pain in the butt (which is why it's 4 and not 5 stars).But the proprietor was VERY friendly and VERY helpful.(THE Story: I told him I needed Teff to make injera, and he hesitated and said, "why don't you just buy some injera from the restaurant?" And I thought "A-HA! Trying to promote the restaurant is he? NO - I will make my OWN injera!" and marched home with a 5 lb bag of teff. Fast forward a week, and piles of really, really scary "injera" which no-one [including me] would touch... and I realized that the dude WAS just trying to be helpful. Sigh.)Want to go back and try the restaurant. :0)

This place is AWESOME! Came in today to get some ingredients/spices for the dishes I was cooking and this place had it all - all of the ingredients I bought were divine and top-notch. The people here were super friendly and happy to help. Definitely recommend! :)