Abyssinia Authentic Ethiopian Cuisine Restaurant & Bar

Our second stop of the night was Abyssinia on South 5th Street in downtown Louisville. It was the first time either of us had Ethiopian fare and it did not disappoint! We started off with chicken sambusas then shared the doro tips. We learned that to eat the doro tips you tear off a piece of injera with your hands and use it to grab bites of food. It was not only a unique dish but also tasty. To finish up we had an Abyssinia Coffee Ceremony. They bring out the coffee beans and roast them in front of you then serve it with popcorn. They said the popcorn is a "snack for your coffee" and we all know, we like snacks! The waitress did a tremendous job of answering all of our questions and explaining how to eat and drink things. I live for unique experiences and this was one of them. HIGHLY recommended you check them out!

We had a fantastic meal here! I love Ethiopian food and have tried it on several occasions. My husband... not so much. It took some convincing to get him to try it again, and we're both very happy we did. We started out with the appetizer platter Abyssinia Beyaynetu. We really liked it, it was a great way to start our meal. We then got the meat combination sampler 3, as it was a gehe at way to try as many things as we could, and it served two people. We got straight into it and didn't leave anything on the plate. To cap off the meal we got some baklava. It was huge, I was expecting a little two-bite treat but it was nearly the size of my hand. And it was delicious. The ambiance is relaxed and unpretentious, and the staff is lovely, attentive and helpful. This is such a unique and delicious eating experience that warrants several trips back. Would highly recommend!

Delicious combos, vegetarian is so flavor filled and big enough to share. Apologies for not knowing the names of the dishes and I truly believe you just trust the experience and enjoy it.Friendly staff. Extra casual clean ambiance, truly hoped my dishes would have come out in the serving tray... but maybe next time. Very Good!

If you're tired of the same ol' everyday options look no further than Abyssinian for an authentic Ethiopian dinner experience. The place is small but welcoming. The owner is very friendly and helpful with the menu. Take him up on the combo sampler experience if you're uncertain what to get. Don't worry too much searching for flavor with the rolled injera bread. It's meant to be bland to take up the flavor of the food. It's used as a vessel. Also don't miss out on the injera that the food is piled on, there's a ton of flavor under there!! The meaty sauces were so flavorful along with the colored greens, potatoes and beans. Don't skip out on the sambusa appetizers and we loved the lamb tibs too!So good . We also really enjoyed the Ethiopian tea. I wish I had taken more pictures but we were too busy enjoying the experience. Do yourself a favor and experience something new, you won't regret it!

While on a business trip in Louisville, this restaurant was just a block away from the hotel I was staying. The food was delicious... the waitress helped me as this was my first time trying Ethiopian food. Try the Sambusas as an appetizer , for Dinner the Lamb Tips - Injera, and finish it with a cup of Ethiopian coffee( see the pics)Casual ambience. The owner will come out and greet you too!

Hard to find an Ethiopian restaurant in Kentucky, but this one seemed like the real deal. Not a fancy place by any means. In a downtown location, but that means no free parking around. One notable thing is that they offer a lunch menu with smaller portions, which doesn't sound noteworthy but a lot of Ethiopian places do not do this, and it's tough to finish the really big dishes. My veggie combo thus had little bits of most of the things you'd expect in such a dish: lentils, salad, potatoes, greens, split peas. I was offered the choice to get it with either injera, the sour, spongy flatbread unique to the region, or with rice. Don't know why anyone would pick rice, but hey, it's there if you need it. My sambusas, small flaky pastries filled with lentils, came with a delectable chili sauce.I know a thing or two about Ethiopian food, and I was quite happy to have found this place in Lousville.

This plane is legit. Like very legit. Almost suspiciously so. I've lived in East Africa for years, so since coming stateside I've had a lot of sub par ethi food but Abyssinia surpassed all my expectations. I had the meat combo with extra injera and it did not disappoint. Tons of food, great flavor, excellent service. Will come back!

Got the veggie combo and everything was absolutely delicious!! I have now been searching for Ethiopian food everywhere I go now lol, and will def be back when I'm in town!!

Celebrated with my family, my wife's birthday. We came on a Monday and it was a single person serving all the tables so it was a little slow getting service, but we were there to spend time together, so it was okay. The server was very helpful and kind. All my family were skeptical of the cuisine, with the exception of 3 of us, because 6 of 9 people never had Ethiopian cuisine before. By the time we were finished, everyone's plate was clean and those that were skeptical thought their meal was GREAT! It was a little slow on the service but the food and the environment were worth it. Everyone had different things. I had the combination plate (#18 I think). It was excellent.

My wife and I were in Louisville for a conference and we really enjoy Ethiopian food, so we decided to try Abyssinia for lunch.The restaurant was easy to find and we were able to park on the street right in front. The parking meters take credit cards which was convenient. We were greeted well as we came in the door and seated promptly.There were a number of lunch specials, so we had the mixed platter (vegetables and meats) for 2. The food was brought to the table quickly and the portion sizes were perfect. The food was very good and the spicing was just right. The meal was finished with 2 cups of Ethiopian coffee. Like another recent reviewer, we lived in East Africa for 32 years and were fans of Ethiopian food there, but don't have any restaurants near where we live (all are about an hour's drive away).Would we return again? Absolutely yes.