Cafe Ethiopia

Walked by this restaurant with a group of friends while waiting for a table at another restaurant. Due to hunger we decided to change our plans.This place had a diverse menu with many options including vegetarian. I have had many experiences with Ethiopian food and would say this place did not blow me away with their quality. I felt it was good with a variety of options on their menu.

WARNING: do not come here if you have Trypophobia!!!I came here with some friends and we ordered a bunch of different dips to try. I'm not the biggest fan of eating with my hands, but really wanted to try this place. There were definitely some dips that were great (like the lentil ones and the potato/carrot ones) but some of them were lacking in flavor and tasted pretty similar to one another.I would also say the portions are a bit small given the price, and I left still a bit hungry.Service was good, and the restaurant is pretty neat.

This food is SOOOOOOO flavorful !! They also have the seating for a traditional coffee ceremony.

This is not a bad spot for some Ethiopian food. I had never had it before and really enjoyed it. The lentils were great and the beef had good flavor. We grabbed for takeout, but you can also dine inside!

I'm so glad I came here with friends! I split a Meat & Veggie combo with #2, #6, and #16 with a friend and it was the perfect amount. I highly recommend and will definitely be back!

Portion size was absolutely amazing! Huge plate took up the entire table - the additional order of tofu and chicken was added and also tasted great. Spicy but not too much. Staff super friendly, polite and kind. Felt very authentic and neighborly. Also appreciated the tofu options because ya boy needs his protein

Some items were good and others not so much. Service was slow and not the friendliest. Good place to get a decent Ethiopian fix in Mission though. Casual restaurant, brightly lit. We came for dinner on a Friday. No issues getting seated. While there were many tables it was strangely quiet.We tried their meat and veggie combo (with Zignia beef stew, tsebhi begee lamb, and bersin red lentils) and shrimp & hamli. The zigni was the favorite. The lamb and red lentils were unremarkable, but the beef was incredibly flavorful and tender. I would skip the shrimp, not good.

Walked in on a Friday around 8pm as a group of three and were seated quickly. I'd say half the restaurant was full so easy spot to walk into. Food: order one veggie platter and one meat and veggie platter which came on one large injera to share with additional injera on the sideTsebhi Derho - a stewed spicy chicken drumsticks with warm spices, the sauce was thick and flavorful, chicken was slightly dry but still tasty Hamili - stewed collard greens with onions and a light broth, a nice veggie option that adds contrast to all the heavily spiced dishes Ater - split peas stewed in lots of spices and seasoning reminded me of a yellow dal, this was spicy but goodBersin - lentils cooked with tomatoes, flavorful and rich Whole lentils - similar to the Ater we thought this had an added nuttiness which was really nice Zigni - beef stew with lots of rich warm spices, also really saucey Service was fine, a little bit slow since there was only one person serving but understandable. Overall a decent Ethiopian spot in the mission, limited menu of mostly stewed items. Wish the injera was warmed up, the meal ate a bit cold but not a deal breaker. There's a 4% service fee for credit cards FYI.

Delicious Ethiopian food! The veggie combo is solid, and each item is amazing. -0.5 stars for slow service but it's still not bad for a family owned business.

Cafe Ethiopia serves traditional Ethiopian food. Customers will be awed by the authentic flavors. It is located in the San Francisco Mission District. Right on Valencia Street, this establishment is conveniently central. The menu is mainly meat, but there are vegetarian or vegan upon request dishes.This place feels cozy and casual, despite it being a bit plain. There is not much decorations, but some Ethiopian decor up on the counter. There are a ton of seats for all types of group settings. There was just one person holding down the restaurant when it was busy, so the service was slow and steady. The man did a great job juggling multiple orders all the while giving great service by himself.I ordered a veggie combo plate with three options of my choice being ater, alecha ater, and atakelt kilkil. Personally, nothing really stood out. Although this plate on the menu said vegetarian, it is vegan as well. I have to say that the plate was $20, but it was simple and filling that satisfied my cravings. Otherwise, there are plenty of other similar places but cheaper in San Francisco or in the Bay Area.