Hilltop International Cuisine

Stopped in for lunch today and ordered the Chicken Tibs. The chicken was simmered in a sauce (mild) with onions and peppers. It was served with a tasty mini salad, rice and injera. It was very good. I also ordered lemonade and it was served with dry mint sprinkled on top. Not much of a mint taste.For any of you who haven't tried Ethiopian cuisine, you eat mostly with your hands. Injera is a spongelike thin bread that you break into pieces. Hold the injera and pinch the food and eat. Very easy and tasty - kids will love it.My only concern was that the server had a very dirty shirt. He needs to wear an apron if he helps in the kitchen.

The BEST and most flavorful vegan Ethiopian dish I have had, Shiro Wot. Veggie Sambussa (lentils) had good flavor as well. Several vegan options. Went back twice in the same weekend visit to the area.

Hilltop International Cuisine is an Ethiopian spot off-the-beaten-track. Located in a quiet, isolated corner of South St. Paul (a wholly independent city), the neighborhood looks and feels like Mayberry---kids on bikes, crickets chirping and the din of distant lawnmowers. It's easy to forget you're in the Twin Cities, to be honest. The cafe is clean and modern and has good food. It's cold inside, though, with heavy air conditioning.The sambussa ($8.50) is vegan by default and good-tasting.The ater kik ($16) is nicely mellow with intact split peas. If anything, it could use a bit more spice.The misir wot ($16) was beautifully savory and well-spiced. It's one of the better misir wot dishes in the Twin Cities, up there with Agelgil in St. Paul and Red Sea in Minneapolis.Take a pass on the Ethiopian tea ($3) which is just some lame bagged tea with cinnamon-spiced water.I wouldn't go out of my way for Hilltop, but I'm glad it's around. If they added a foule (fava bean dish with sourdough baguette) I'd be back soon.

This was my first time having Ethiopian food. My dinner partner and I both got one of the Tibs dishes. Very tasty! We ordered them spicy, and the spice level was a good kick but nothing too crazy. If you like spicy food, don't be afraid to order spicy. Otherwise it was a nice quiet restaurant. It had good ambiance for a date or special occasion.

My wife and I went here for the first time last week. It was soooooo good, one of the best meals I have ever had. The food was very fresh, and the flavor was beyond good. I have been craving this food ever since then. I would definitely recommend this place.

Amazing Ethiopian food! My first introduction to their sponge bread which I couldn't get enough of! We live two blocks from this place and decided to try new foods as well as support our local restaurant. Soooo glad we did. We've gone back three times since and will continue to do so. Amazing hospitality as well as delicious new food to try out. Don't be afraid to try anything in their menu as it's authentic Ethiopian food. Love the taste of their spices as well as flavors when melded together. Definitely a must try!

Stopped in today to see what it was all about. YUM! Great service, great food and the restaurant was so clean. Loved the place can't wait to go back and will bring a few friends.

Excellent and tasty Ethiopian food. Friendly atmosphere. The portion was HUGE and everything is freshly made. Taste wise very exotic and healthy. 10/10 recommend!!

What an amazing place tucked into a nice neighborhood with easy parking. The excellent food is the definition of something for everyone. The Ethiopian dishes are front and center, and deservedly so. I always try the simple misir wot (spiced red lentils) in my first visit to an Ethiopian place, because if the flavors are right, the place is solid--and these flavors are oh so right. Rich and mellow and not too spicy for this Minnesota native. And so affordable! A delicious fresh fruit smoothie with mango, pineapple and peach for just $2.50. Can't wait to come back and try more Ethiopian entrees. AND, there are Mediterranean and Italian dishes, from spaghetti and meatballs to curries to roasted lamb to healthy salads. This is that perfect neighborhood spot I just knew was out there but hadn't found yet. So glad I did. You will be, too.

I ordered two items, one of which was a Greek Salad. The menu said it was composed of Kalamata olives, feta chesse, cucumber, tomatoes, red onions, and their special house vinegrette. What I got was mostly romaine lettuce (but end white chunks only, some with dirt on them, tomatoes, red onions, a crumbly white cheese that was NOT feta ( restaurant does have their own house made cheese, which is what they probably used, and nothing else. The "house vinegrette" had no vinegar in it at all, nor any lemon, or anything sour. It was sweet. It did not have olive oil in it. It tasted like soybean oil, and it had black specks of dehydrated herbs that had decomposed and turned black. There was no flavor of garlic or mustard, other. Making a "vinegrette and not having any vinegar in it is poor food safety, because the sweet water mixed with dried herbs would spoil. I asked about the missing olives, and it was shrugged off. I had allready paid for takeout. If you go to Hilltop, only get Ethiopian food. They don't care if they get other kinds of food right.