Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant

Can't believe I waited this long to try this place! Absolutely divine food. We got the Veggie comboMeat comboWhich was plenty to share for party of 4.The service was super friendly. The food was hot, fresh, super flavorful and simply outstanding. Ambiance was very cute with interesting chairs, seating, art and decor from Ethiopia. The pricing was also excellent considering the quantity. Loved it so much that took some misir wot to go (from the veg combo). Please try this place asap! You don't know what you're missing.

I was so excited to come try this place. It's been on my list for a really long time. This food is definitely new territory, so we tried to ask the server what she recommends and she was very indifferent and didn't smile and seemed almost annoyed that we were asking for some advice . In the end, we decided to share one of those platters that you can sample multiple things. Unfortunately, it didn't hit maybe because I had very high expectations on the quality and flavor. They did have a really cool area that seemed very culturally designed which was really cool but for some reason, they didn't see anybody there. I'm not sure if it was maybe for special events only. I really wanted to enjoy it like this spot but unfortunately, it's a mess for miss for me.

We arrived at Zeni's because my nephew wanted to try Ethiopian food (his first!). I had been describing the community platter and the making of the fermented bread (similar to an Indian Dosa), and the choice of vegetables, lentils and meats a plate could come with. Eager, he wanted to try it!We got ushered to a corner table (cause we wanted a corner table and not be sandwiched between two other tables with families. The space is small and the seating feels cramped. The spark is missing.... The space does not have a fresh look. Food is amazing! Great!!! But they charge you extra for a second set of injera (in the city, the second set is free!)Service can be a little better. More on top of things so to say. My nephew told them to make his lamb mix spicy but it wasn't. We asked for hot sauce and were given a teeny tiny sq dish of paprika like powder that wasn't spicy at all! Attention to customer requests makes that difference.Overall, give this place a try. It's good food!!!!

Trying Ethiopian food for the first time at Zeni Ethiopian Restaurant was an unforgettable experience!The restaurant, located in a convenient shopping plaza with ample parking, may be modest in size, but its cozy atmosphere, adorned with authentic decor and traditional seating, instantly immerses you in Ethiopian culture.The food itself was an exciting introduction to a new cuisine. As someone unfamiliar with Ethiopian dishes, I found it both intriguing and flavorful, though it may take some getting used to for those with specific taste preferences. The Injera, a spongy sour bread, reminded me a bit of sourdough perfect for those who enjoy tangy flavors. The variety of dishes, especially the meats, were rich and satisfying, and I recommend ordering a combo to try an assortment of flavors. Vegetarians will be happy to know that there are plenty of delicious non meat options as well. A key note: meals are served family style, so I'd suggest dining with people you're comfortable sharing food with. The workers were friendly and super helpful and explained the menu when we had questions. If you're new to Ethiopian cuisine or just looking to enjoy a wonderful meal, Zeni is definitely worth a visit!

Got my sister here who was visiting and had never been to Ethiopian restaurant. We have been here multiple times here and like the vegetarian combo and shiro wot. Ordered the same this time as we didn't want to take chances when we had my sister trying it for first time and she liked the cuisine.

Came in as a party of 5 for dinner. My first time trying Ethiopian food, and I was pleasantly surprised! The food was delicious and super flavorful. I thought it was a really fun meal to eat, as we tried different combinations of meats/veggies in our injera. Ordered the meat combo, veggie combo, and additional meat dish. Would recommend coming here for group meals! I will be returning soon. :)

The vegetarian options are good as is the ambience. We were a group of 10 and everybody enjoyed their meal.The one comment I will add is that they are short staffed and do not provide a good explanation of the menu and options.

We were a party of 7 (3 of them young kids). We were seated promptly on a Sunday evening at approximately 7pm. Within minutes, people were arriving and they had to wait. This restaurant got busy fast!I wish I took note of the ordering, but I kinda just went with a more seasoned vet. My friend Owen has been here a couple times before. The presentation of the food reminds me of a painter's pallet. Ethiopian food is fairly colorful.The food is spread out on an Ethiopian bread called injera. It has a sourish taste. It takes some getting used to. They also give you extra rolls of injera. Although you can request spoons, you eat mainly with your hands.How's the food? It was my first time so please take this review with a newbie perspective. For my Asian taste buds, I am OK with it. There are familiar flavors such as their chicken dish (forgot the name) as what we have in Indonesia called Rendang. I was just OK with the beef (Goden tibs) as I don't taste any ethnic spices in them. The beef Kitfo is nice and that was cooked medium. It taste a lot like Italian sausage to me. We also got the vegetarian option where there are 4 mashed up goodies. They remind me of Indian Thali in mashed potato form.I enjoyed the meal but I may only come once in a blue moon. It wouldn't be fair to knock a place down just because I'm learning the cuisine. For food taste, it's 3 stars. For experience/uniqueness it's a 5!

There are very few ethiopian restaurants in bay area and this place is the only one that stands out. They have a whole vegetarian friendly menu options. The food was flavorful, perfectly spiced. Went with family for very late lunch and there was no line, got the table and service was fast.

Came here on a Wednesday evening and it was busy! Luckily there was a table open and we were seated immediately. We ordered the vegetarian combo and meat combo. For my first time eating Ethiopian food, I enjoyed my experience. There is a separate hand-washing sink by the restroom which was convenient. I liked eating the injera with the different combinations of meats and veggies. The injera itself is spongy, slightly sour, and reminded me of sourdough. Some of the veggies and meats didn't taste salted enough for me. The overall dish is super filling as you have to get a good amount of injera to scoop up the food. I shared the whole platter with 2 others and we were barely able to finish it!Our food took a while to come out, which is understandable. We were checked on a few times while eating. The overall restaurant is pretty small. The restroom is clean and welcoming.