Arif Cafe

The cutest hole in the wall Ethiopian restaurant!We ordered Lamb tibs (not spicy), doro wat and veggie combo for just my boyfriend and I.The owner/server/chef is so sweet and helpful if you have any questions. She recommended just two dishes to be full, but we said we could take the third home. We finished everything hahahahahah. The platter came out beautifully presented, warm and delicious. Will definitely come back. Don't be afraid to eat with your hands :)

I've been coming to Arif for a decade now and it's hands down still the best Ethiopian in dallas. I crave this place often. The food is fresh, full of flavor, and made with love! If you're not sure what to get, ask for the veggie/tibs combo!

Regular customer here for many years, and this is my favorite hidden-gem Ethiopian spot. The food is rich and flavorful, the manager/ is accommodating and kind, I noticed a cute little "Ethiopian tea ceremony" setup, which I believe was new. The ambiance was mostly that it's quiet, just soft music and muted tv in the background. I've noticed that a quiet restaurant is extremely hard to come by in Dallas..Don't let the unassuming outside of the building fool you, or you might miss it. It's a cute little spot and worth a visit for foodies in DFW. Newbie pro-tip: Call her right before coming in, so she can expect you and get started on making it. I usually order the beef tips and veggies. I know Ethiopian food is usually spicy and they can bring the spice to knock me on my butt if I want, but it's my preference so she was happy to oblige. I most recently brought my child, she enjoyed it as well. High chairs available. Because of the size of the space, it's an intimate date spot, probably best for 4-6 guests max, or just order for pickup/takeout. I had forgotten that the plate they gave us could have comfortably fed 2-3, so next time I'll bring a couple friends to share. Happened upon it back when I used to live in the area, but still come back to visit when I'm in the area.

My food was darn good. I also enjoyed my conversations with the staff/customers while waiting. The place is small so it's easy to have conversations with the others at their table. I ordered the kitfo and requested they make it medium rare so they did. My food was pretty good. Nothing stand out compared to the average small scale ethiopian restrestaurant. I didnt feel like it was ran down or cheap inside, just nothing fancy and small. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here, but if your in the area, you'll be safe eating here.

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. I gotta say, it was pretty tasty. I once again found proof that whole in the wall restaurants focus on their food and are way better than any fine dinning could offer. I shared the beef tibs and honey wine with my dad. By the end, the two of us were rolling out the door slightly tipsy (I might have been a little more than tipsy). The honey wine was homemade and served in these really cool flasks. The beef tibs plate was definitely something you wanted to share with someone despite it looking small in the picture. I had never tried injera before (the burrito looking things in the picture). It was sour and spongy. I love cracked sourdough bread and this satisfied my need for a slap in your face sour bread. I think at really helped cut the heat in the different sides (collard greens, couscous, 2 different lentils, and spiced meat). The owner told us to take some of the bread, dip it in the side of dry spices (if we like it spicy), use the bread to pick up the side we wanted, and then enjoy the complex flavors and aromas. It was finger food at it's finest. It was both fun and exciting to experience this small piece of culture from the other side of the globe. I will definitely be back to try some of their other items next time I am in Dallas and highly recommend anyone nearby to try it as well

Phenomenal Ethiopian food that is authentic and extremely well made. Pleasure meeting the cook/owner/waitress all in one who welcomed us into her restaurant and made sure our questions were answered. The menu is very short but appears there are endless possibilities in combinations which can feel overwhelming. If you're looking to try something fresh, new, and delicious and don't know what to order: try the veggie Combo platter with added lamb or beef (that's how I say it). The lamb is the most popular meat option since it is made FRESH and typically sells out midday. The first time I went, it was sold out so of course I went a second time and it was so worth it if you like lamb meat. Seasoned to perfection and flavorful with every bite. The beef was also good, I am more than happy with either choice! The veggie combo platter comes with injera bread that you use to eat the various sides and meats. Actually all of the food sits on top of injera bread, soaking up the mix of flavors. There are also several rolled up injera breads to use as well. The best part is eating the bottom injera bread that has all the soaked in flavors. If you want extra bread to eat with the meal, she will provide at no extra cost. I'm not sure what all the sides that come with the combo plate are, but they were all good! Collard greens, cabbage, and various sauces that are all veggie and may be vegan friendly as well. For gluten-free: typically injera is gluten free if they use teff 100%, I wasn't able to confirm that so please check with the owner! But otherwise I'd definitely say it's easy to eat vegan and vegetarian here. Also- no free water or refillable drinks here. There is a cooler with drinks that you can purchase per item. Both times I've come (veggie combo with beef and then another time veggie combo with lamb) were priced just around $45 for two people and it was MORE THAN ENOUGH FOOD. I went with two different people and they both really enjoyed the food with me and spoke of how they each wanted to return. The place is in a small shopping strip near north park mall. The parking is pretty scarce but I've always managed to find a place to park due to people coming and going constantly at the various stores. Arif cafe is very small, with seating for no more than 20 people. The whole place is outdated with old furniture but I don't mind it one bit because I know I am supporting local and really enjoy the atmosphere. Unforgettable food! Support local and give them a try! @CRJetc

The food is SO good - if you're looking for an Ethiopian meal, you definitely have to check this out!! We got the veggie/meat combo alongside another side of lamb tibs, which we demolished almost immediately. Also, their coffee is a specialty and would recommend ordering if you're in the mood for it!

Hole-in-the-wall, supremely authentic, and run by a very sweet and welcoming woman. After passing by an upscale Ethiopian restaurant in San Francisco, finally having Ethiopian food has been a thought rattling in the back of my head for a while. Finally had a chance during a pit stop at the Half-Price Books nearby.Had the beef & veggie combo tibbs, the sambusa, and the pasty. The meat had a spicy level option, and we went for the max. The tibbs are obviously the star of the show, but the sambusas were nice and fresh, too!Finally got the Ethiopian experience I had been waiting for! I believe this place is closed on Wednesdays as of this year.

My colleagues and I had a wonderful time at this restaurant! The food was delicious and we felt like we were home. Highly recommend this gem!

The best Ethiopian restaurant in town hands down!!! Way better than all the others and I've tried all of them!