Places to eat in Ethiopia

4 more images

If you manage to visit the historical city of Harer, make sure you have at least one meal here. They are the real deal for a large meal that’s full of flavour and still won’t cost a lot. They specialise in Ethiopian dishes, but I like a lot of food. Especially if it’s good Ethiopian cuisine. The main picture is my meal. Just ask for ‘Marhaberawi’. I am not sure how it is actually spelled, but it means ‘brig me a little of everything!’. All served on Injera of course. You get meat (beef and/or lamb), chicken, egg, vegetables and several sauces depending on what dish they put a portion of onto your big meal! Just looking at the photos I can see tibs, kitfo, doro wat, fir fir, vegetables and salad.

It’s not gourmet, but good solid food. Throw in a large gin, a few Harar beers and you have a good feast.

The restaurant itself is large and airy. There is a large terrace area if you want to dine outside. Inside they have a coffee ceremony area, music and even a sort of dance floor towards the rear.

The staff are friendly, helpful and a good laugh. I was made to feel very welcome.

Harar is not blessed with a lot of restaurants, but Hirut was good enough I ate here twice during my stay in Harar. Its god fun, good value and a good time.

Get in there!

Please take 2 notes down:
1) They have many great tasting vegetarian dishes
2) The non-Ethiopian dishes are not great looking. One of the party I ate with ordered fried chicken and it didn’t look great (on of the photos)

Favorite Dish:
Any Ethiopian dish and a big gin!

4 more images

Blue Tops is a first class Italian restaurant. They have 2 bright and open dinning rooms plus 3 outside tables. Try and get an outside one. As you enter you will be greeted with immaculate staff and a superior looking restaurant set in some small but attractive gardens. The menu is varied and includes Ethiopian as well as Italian delights for every palette. A small board with breads and hot sauces is brought to the table before any food arrives. They also serve wine and cold beer. The food? Well presented, made with the finest ingredients, tastes fantastic and is served in large enough portions to fill you up. This is a luxury lunch restaurant that’s still cheap by European standards. You can really afford to treat yourself.

Closed Mondays

Favorite Dish:
Pasta starter (pictured) and just about anything. I have had lovely steaks, mixed grill (recommended by DAO) and fish. You cannot make a bad choice here. Enjoy!

14 more images

The Old Milk House has the most commanding views of Addis Ababa, especially at night. Located 10 floors up and next to the huge United Nations complex, you can see all of Addis Ababa. The staff will even let you climb up on the roof itself. Please be careful, there are no safety rails! The best thing about the Old Milk House? Is the food! Yes, it has a great bar, cold beer, great views, pretty waitresses who are friendly and excellent bathrooms. Having said all that, the food is heavenly. They have an impossibly huge menu with everything from Steaks, to fish, Injera, pasta, you name it. The also do light snacks. I always get the mixed grill. A little of every king of meat and fish too. It’s absolutely mouth watering – every bite. This is a must eat place in Addis Ababa at night. And the prices? For what you get – cheap!

This is also a great place to bring a camera for lunch. A good meal and good pictures!

Favorite Dish: Just about any starter, The Mixed Grill and a few St. George’s beers.

4 more images

I love this place! Great food, live entertainment, great service and surprisingly low prices. If you are visiting Addis Ababa, this is a must. They have it all:
• Live Music – every night!
• Fantastic food. Fresh, premium cuts of meat, vegetarian options
• Great decorations of Traditional Ethiopian life
• All the friendly staff are dressed traditionally
• A huge and lively bar downstairs
• Lots of ex-pats (downstairs)
• Family oriented (upstairs)
• Performance of the Coffee Ceremony every night
• Great selection of ice cold beers and local wines
• Great prices

Favorite Dish: I have tried several dishes and they are all delicious. All mains come with 4 different sauces to add flavour. Try the local Axumite Red Wine. Semi-sweet and light.

4 more images

A rare gem waiting to be discovered and that is the Backyard Cafe, the moment you step into this establishment, you are greeted by freshness, all over, the ambience is totally nostalgic, clean crisp linen, fresh flowers, it’s just clean and freshness, a breath of fresh air. The wait staff know the moment you enter they have a mission and that is to make sure that when you leave you leave totally sated and conjuring thoughts of a return taste experience.

Favorite Dish: The chicken salad was a chicken meal on its own, more chicken than greens, the spring rolls where light and flaky and the filling was just spring roll perfect. The killer house fruit cocktail is worth indulging in, the fresh taste of fruits and hidden palette taste explosions is a must, really a great fruit cocktail. A friend, Ziad had the fettuccine pasta with chicken. This establishment is seriously cooking, the pasta dish was just right, I looked for reasons to fault the dish but goodness and absolute great taste won me over. The fettuccine was just al dente', the cream and chicken combination was in itself wholesome and just perfectly balanced, a really great pasta dish, recommended without any reservations. A South African Sauvignon Blanc or an unwooded Chardonnay with this pasta and you know you have truly dinned in style.

I was presented with a great prime steak accompanied by a generous baked potato in a jacket oozing with delectable butter and sour cream, my knife simply glided over the just perfectly grilled piece of heaven. The first bite and then I knew I had found the best tasting steak in Addis. A béarnaise, bordelaise and a somewhat Dijon-Cognac tasting sauces accompanied the steak. Truly an awesome tasting steak and I made sure that my four friends had a bite and without hesitation confirmed a great tasting steak indeed. A Cabernet Sauvignon or a good Shiraz and then you will know the ultimate in fine dining. Other meals ordered revealed themselves in waves of textures and tastes, the pizzas where great, a reasonable size base with just the right amount of topping. Then macchiato and cappuccinos brought this awesome dining experience to a tasty culinary end. I know I will be back because I have a steak that is already beckoning my return. Great job Backyard! keep up the consistency and don’t falter on the great attitude you already have on satisfying every customer's culinary needs.

4 more images

The very moment you enter through majestical gates, you will feel literally stepping into paradise… Lush vegetation, canopies of shadowy tress, soothing water features, ornamental beauty is what presents itself. This is the start of an absolute culinary experience. This idyllic sanctuary dispels all stress and unhappiness and brings soothing comfort and an almost wonderful peace and the mind is imbued in absolute bliss. You know, you are in Bata, a family owned and managed Ethiopian restaurant that takes Ethiopian cuisine to an new unparallel level.

Every detail is meticulous, the very friendly staff are but a whisper away to ensure that your true dining experience will be filled with unforgettable memories. The owner takes great pride to ensure that every meal served is nothing but perfection and the reward is true moments made. Great local Abesha entertainment will ensure that it will make your shoulders move on their own to the rhythm of soft melodious local music and the dancers will never fail to impress you with their awesome moves and incredible talents.

It’s hard to leave this place knowing you escaped the hassles of the outside world, once you indulge in a true coffee ceremony you know it will be time to leave, but you will already be planning a return soon.

Truly a magnificent place, an enjoyment that’s comes so simply yet leaves you so invigorated and spiritually uplifted. Bata truly breathless….

Favorite Dish: Njera with great tasting tibs... a true culinary experience.

The most convenient central hotel in Gondar is Quara Hotel & Restaurant which has small but nice rooms.
I didn't stay there but I can recommend it as a restaurant because I had both breakfast and dinner there almost daily. Its most strong asset is the leafy courtyard where the restaurant is, perfect for a romantic dinner, and a nice terrace with view over the central square for a good breakfast. The staff are very polite but extremely slow...
Prices are average for Ethiopia. It will cost you about 70b-100b a person.

"Tomoca" is the best coffee house in Addis. The beans are roasted in front of your eyes and the smell of real coffee covers all your senses. Try it just for the experience...
There are no chairs to rest. You have to drink it standing up at the tall tables. They have the best coffee beans on show and you can try any kind you desire. It is very picturesque with an old Italian atmosphere but they didn't let me take photos. The only one I have I “stole” it much to the disturbance of the people working...
The cafe is located on Wavel street near the junction with Churchil Road.