Alem's Coffee

Service was great (2 very friendly ladies). We ordered a house blend coffee (very good) and a chai (omg ) for drinks and the tibsy for food. She said 10 minutes for the food to be ready so we sat out front basking in the sun (she offered to put up the umbrella) and then brought it out to us once it was ready. Plenty of injera and the meat was spicy and very tasty. We also got a side of veggie/salad with it (ordered to go).

This is probably better for a coffee shop or a quick bite to eat, since their food menu wasn't very expansive. We got the tibsy and ful. The tibsy was on the blander side, at least compared to other Eritrean or Ethiopian restaurants. The ful was a bit better but also fell a bit flat as it was served closer to room temperature. I also was a bit disappointed in the lack of side options. I'm used to getting cabbage, spinach, lentils, and potatoes as sides for Ethiopian dishes. I would come back if I lived in the area, but since I don't live nearby, I would rather check out other Ethiopian or Eritrean options in the east bay

This review is long overdue. First time trying Eritrean breakfast - what was a pleasant surprise!We ordered Shihan Ful and the egg sandwiches. The Shihan Ful came with bread. The flavor was authentic, with a perfect balance of spices and freshness. The portions were generous without being overwhelming, and everything was cooked just right. The owner took our order and it was really nice chatting with her about our children. Service was friendly and attentive, adding to the great experience. If you're a fan of Eritrean cuisine or curious to try it for breakfast, I highly recommend giving this place a visit!

Came here for the weekly Sunday crossword cafe date a few years ago. Not a great place to do the crossword. There's coffee, but not much space to sit, so we ended up sitting outside at some small, burning hot tables.Food was good though! I've gotten a lot of Ethiopian food before in Oakland, but this was my first time getting breakfasty stuff. I really liked the Shihan Ful, although the eating process was also not great for crosswords.Since then, a few Ethiopian breakfast places have opened nearer to where I live (Oakland is great!), but still fond memories of this one.

I love this place. I've only come here for coffee and the occasional Diet Coke. I am the lone laptop user but it has a nice vibe as a place to get some work done for a bit. Super central. It's nice being around the Eritrean/Ethiopian folks who are busy connecting and hopefully solving the world's problems together. I have yet to try the food but it looks authentic and good.

A friend and I came here ahead of a rainy afternoon. We walked in and were greeted with a DELICIOUS smell that made us giddy with anticipation. We walked up to the cashier to order and the staff person was so patient. My friend and I ordered the Shihan Ful and Tibsey. Given how busy it was, we opted to sit outside (yes, it was chilly). There was another staff person there who helped guided us to a table where we would be dry if it rained. They also asked us if we wanted coffee. We declined, but they came back around and brought us cinnamon tea, which was really sweet and helped keep us warm as we waited for our food. The food took about 10 minutes to come out and we were so excited once it arrived. I had the Shihan Ful and it was so tasty. A nice mix of savory spices and chopped up veggies and beans. The bread (I believe Semifreddi's) was great and perfect for wiping up the beans. My friend also enjoyed her meal and had enough for another meal. Overall, I am pleased with the service and food. I look forward to returning to try the other dishes.

Run don't walk to this place - what a neighborhood gem. The owners are lovely, the space is bright and welcoming, and the food plus coffee were amazing! I had the tibsy and it was delicious and big. That $14 dish was enough for breakfast and then lunch. Coffee was brewed strong and I had to have a lb of beans to take home. Really love the cultural diversity of my home town - keep it up Oakland! I'll be back to work my way through the menu.

You can smell how good this place is from the DMV! Recommend for the Shihan ful (fava bean and spices) as it's incredibly savory and light

They saw me coming: I ordered 2 vegan dishes and said "not spicy". The bill came to $30 with tip. I shouldn't have paid ahead of eating. One of the dishes was served with jalapeños. I reminded the waitress that I told her "not spicy". She tried to argue with me. I told her I expected a refund. She talked me in to keeping the stew. When I finished and stood @ the cash register the woman there acted like she did not know what happened. She refunded me $13 for a $30 Meal which included a tip. I felt lucky to get any refund but I wish I could have had a refund for the tip. Never again.

Food was great. The cashier didn't give us a receipt. The server accused us stealing a sprite. Instead of checking with the cashier if we paid for it already up front, he came and have a debate with us over a can of sprite. Honestly wanted to bring my friends here to try my husband's culture food. If this is how customers are being treated, I'd rather save my face and my friends time. There are plenty of other Eritrean food around the area.