Ethiopian Restaurants in Seattle: Going out for Ethiopian food in Seattle is just as fulfilling as correcting folks when they say “Pike’s Place.” Finding a local favorite can become an injera-filled, years-long quest because we have so many possibilities.
Through thorough investigation (a.k.a. eating a remarkable quantity of quanta fir fir and wot), we present you this list of fantastic Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle.
You can order a tibs sandwich, partake in a traditional coffee ceremony, devour nine items at once, or do all three.
Fantastic Ethiopian Restaurants in Seattle
From traditional injera to modern twists on classic dishes, Seattle is home to a variety of Ethiopian restaurants that offer a unique dining experience.
1. Star Coffee
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Phone: (206) 548-0345
Address: 4512 Stone Way N, Seattle, WA 98103
Star Coffee in SeaTac is renowned for its excellent meat meals, even though most cafes tend to excel in the veggie category as well.
One example would be the lega tibs, which are flavored clarified butter cubes cooked with aromatics, fresh vegetables, and a gently sauced beef called kibbeh.
Whether served raw or with just a hint of heat, their kitfo is exceptional. As the name implies, they have excellent coffee, but you can also stop by the bar to order a quality wine or cocktail.
2. Cafe Selam
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Phone: (206) 328-0404
Address: 2715 E Cherry St B, Seattle, WA 98122
There are very few dishes in Seattle that are as consistently and well adored as Cafe Selam’s foul. Abebu Wondem’s version of the Middle Eastern and African breakfast dish, stewed fava beans, is very spicy and has a lot of texture.
It is also packed with egg, feta, tomato, onion, and serrano chiles. Kitcha, or crusty white bread, is served with this dish at Cafe Selam and a few other locations to be dragged through your bowl.
The front terrace is charming when weather permits, and the dining room is simple and practical, but it’s easy to overlook the car dealership next door.
3. Massawa Eritrean & Ethiopian Restaurant
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Phone: (206) 402-5542
Address: 4411 S Mead St, Seattle, WA 98118
It’s not always easy to locate Ethiopian breakfast in Seattle. Go for an amazing one at Massawa in Hillman City, which is powered by the city’s best quanta firfir, a tomatoey stew of dried beef.
When arriving at around 11 a.m., politely request ga’at, a thick porridge served with kibbeh and berbere, for a full Ethiopian breakfast.
If they don’t have ga’at, get some enkulal firfir, or foul, which is a spicy version of scrambled eggs and is arguably the best way to eat fava beans.
Is it going to be easy for you to find parking here? Maybe not, but for a breakfast meal, it’s worth the effort.
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4. Habesha Cafe
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Phone: (206) 324-2527
Address: 5710 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
According to legends, Seattle is the birthplace of the “green chicken” that can be found on the menus of some local Ethiopian restaurants.
It’s said that the chicken, spinach, and spice sauté originated at a now-closed eatery named Lalibela (Agelgil currently occupies the area).
The combination at Yodit Seyoum’s at Habesha Cafe, though, is the greatest in the city; it’s so filling that it tastes just like a fantastic vegetarian scramble without the eggs.
The name of the previous Amy’s Merkato was recently changed by Seyoum and her spouse, Filli Abdulkdra.
5. Delish Ethiopian Cuisine
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Phone: (206) 723-3821
Address: 5701 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
We could dedicate most of a novel to praising Delish’s unique vegetable combo, including their stewed beets and their fasolia, which comes with potatoes and green beans in a smoky sauce.
The traditional mesob, a vibrant round table woven from sweetgrass, is a common part of table settings here, encouraging communal eating; in fact, the idea is considered as an ingredient in its own right.
Whether you’re dining alone or with a group, the combos are ideal for sampling bite-sized portions of various flavors by reaching around the circle. Just remember to have some Ethiopian beer or wine. or both.
6. Ahadu
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Phone: (206) 440-3399
Address: 1508 NE 117th St, Seattle, WA 98125
Though the long line of patrons who come in every Saturday and Thursday to pick up packets of fresh meat may be your only indication, this storefront among a row of Ethiopian restaurants in the North End is technically a butcher.
Otherwise, chef Menbere Medhane (a great cook) has this citrus-colored area all to himself. There is no greater vegetable combination than Ahadu’s, which consists of cabbage, Shiro, beets, lentils, and Fotolia, a tasty concoction of carrots and green beans.
In portions, excessive quantity is not prioritized over quality. Unsurprisingly, meat dishes like key wot—a beef stew akin to berbere—also taste amazing.
7. Jebena Cafe
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Phone: (206) 365-0757
Address: 1510 NE 117th St, Seattle, WA 98125
At Jebena Cafe in Lake City, which is housed in a vibrantly furnished area with walls painted a vivid lime hue, you can count on excellent food and even better service.
Our favorite dish is the green lamb, which goes extremely well with their curry cabbage. It’s tender and has lots of spices, herbs, and chopped collards.
Choose the Jebena Combination, which combines their greatest meat and plant-based dishes onto one platter, for something a little more varied. Jebena also carries essential Ethiopian pantry items like berbere and other spices.
8. Shewa-Ber
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Phone: (206) 466-2393
Address: 1801 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
Shewa-Ber is incredibly versatile, with a bar area with some swagger, covered patio seats, happy hour, Manny’s on draft, and Ethiopian beer by the bottle.
Some diners consider tibs to be a benchmark for a restaurant—if they’re not cooked to order, nothing else will be right. This newcomer on Jackson passes the tibs test with excellent results and ample amounts of awaze spice blend.
You may build your own three-course meal package, and a misto platter including stewed beef wot that’s half spicy and half mellow with turmeric is offered.
As suggested by the tibs, the food is excellent, ranging from the all-teff injera to the complex taste of the shiro, a staple dish made from stewed chickpea flour that has the comforting qualities of porridge but also a lot of subtle spice. Bonus: Every dish comes with teff injera, which is gluten-free.
9. East African Imports
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Phone: (206) 322-7717
Address: 306 23rd Ave S #104, Seattle, WA 98144
Browse through East African Imports’ spices, groceries, household items, and other direct imports from Ethiopia for a good part of an afternoon.
However, you ought to stay for lunch because there’s a restaurant tucked away past the aisles of the stores in the back.
It’s one of the only local Ethiopian restaurants serving amazing dipping sauces like senafitch, a mustard that tastes like horseradish, and awaze, a spicy berbere paste diluted with areke liquor.
Traditionally, these dips are served with tender slices of raw beef called tre siga, but you can (and should) request them to go with any entrée. For a tart, acidic bite, dunk few tibs in the senafitch and wrap them in injera.
10. Enat
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Phone: (206) 362-4901
Address: 11546-11552, 11546 15th Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
The best location to get Ethiopian takeout in North Seattle is also a very nice place to eat. Drinking bottles of Addis Ababa’s St. George lager, regulars gather around the TV in the corner, generally watching some type of soccer match.
Enat has been in business for almost 20 years and offers combo platters that can feed two people, whether they choose the vegetarian option or the Enat combination, which includes the majority of the menu. On request, gluten-free injera prepared exclusively from teff is available.
11. Cafe Soleil
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Phone: (206) 325-1126
Address: 1400 34th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
A family owns this cozy Madrona restaurant and is ideal for a private romantic night or a last-minute catch-up dinner with friends.
The longstanding location’s brick walls, linen curtains, and large front windows, which let in gentle light throughout the dining area, all contribute to its laid-back neighborhood vibe.
All the people at the table will be delighted with shareable dishes like the silky yellow split peas and tender lamb in a berbere and ke’yi wheat with cinnamon spices.
A side of herbaceous yogurt and a few raw tomato slices tossed with lemon, garlic, and olive oil accompany everything—yes, even the simplest sides are memorable.
12. Agelgil Ethiopian Restaurant
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Phone: (206) 324-6402
Address: 2800 E Cherry St a, Seattle, WA 98122
With an especially wide selection of meat meals, twins Rahel and Daniel Getahun took over this local staple in 2022.
It’s an excellent way to introduce people who are unfamiliar with tibs, or raw foods like kitfo and kurt, to a variety of options.
However, the traditional vegetarian recipes are also rich and nuanced. Here, presentation is important; combo platters are served in the restaurant’s name-giving traditional hand-woven agelgil food-carrying baskets.
At night, the entire space comes alive, but especially the bar section. Agelgil also has a complete bar, breakfast meals, and gluten-free injera available for an upgrade.
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13. Kezira Cafe
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Phone: (206) 588-1024
Address: 5100 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98118
Kezira excels in a lot of things, but our two favorites are the spicy split lentils (mesir wot) that may be ordered alone or in a combo, and the thick stew made with seasoned chickpea flour, called Shiro.
They also have delicious injera-based appetizers; the kategna, which has a berbere seasoning and creamy olive oil on top, is the best.
This restaurant in Columbia City is a must-try if you’re craving a colorful plate of vegan food because they emphasize vegetables heavily.
14. Adey Abeba
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Phone: (206) 322-1617
Address: 2123 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
Zemene Belay’s restaurant, housed in a converted house on Union, has been there for a while and does a lot of things well, even though it might not have the same widespread reputation as some other locations in the Central District. especially foods that contain meat.
The breakfast menu has four variations of fit fit, a meat-and-mashed injera sauté that honors the global custom of turning yesterday’s carbohydrates into today’s comfort food. In true traditional fashion, shiro wot is served hot and seething in a stone pot.
15. Adulis Restaurant
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Phone: (206) 920-5973
Address: 10515 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133
“Lentils and lamb” is neither a 35mm film-focused wedding photography collective nor an acoustic duo playing at an open mic event near you.
At the Ethiopian restaurant Adulis in Greenwood, these are our two favorite dishes. We specialize in the “defin miser,” a brown lentil stew that stands out among the many red and yellow varieties in the city.
Lamb tibs with red pepper chutney and awaze, vibrant and warm, should go well with these fantastic legumes. Plus, the vibrant, booth-filled area never feels overly crowded.
16. Adulis Eritrean and Ethiopian Restaurant
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Phone: (206) 920-5973
Address: 10515 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle, WA 98133
There weren’t many Habesha meals east of the I-5 until this newcomer opened up shop in Geo’s old location.
Adulis, named after the Eritrean city bordering the Red Sea, explicitly labels meals that are vegan and even produces a few pescatarian-friendly options, such as tilapia-based asa gulash. Sure, most people choose the meat or veggie combo.
A brief breakfast menu has ful and a delicious kitcha fit fit, which are shards of East African flatbread sautéed in fragrant clarified butter and berbere.
Large booths, bar stools, velvet chairs, a back lounge, and a basement hookah bar are all available in the spacious dining area.
17. Zagol Ethiopian Restaurant
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Phone: (206) 322-1019
Address: 2722 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122
Zagol distinguishes itself by providing a traditional coffee ceremony that includes burning incense, popcorn for munching, three distinct advantages of brew served in ceramic mugs called sini, and an in-house roast.
They have a delectable selection of meat and veggie combos on their menu. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous and enjoy lentils, we suggest trying all three of the misir dishes.
It’s a party for lovers of legumes, with its fiery red misir wot, mildly turmeric-infused alicha misir, and garlicky difin misir.
For those who are craving seafood, Zagol is a great option. Their menu offers three distinct fish meals, but the finest option is the asa gulash, which is a fish stew flavored with berbere, ginger, onions, and garlic.
Make sure to finish your dinner with the coffee ceremony, complete with smoldering beans, regardless of the option you select.
18. Meskel
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Phone: (206) 860-1724
Address: 2605 E Cherry St, Seattle, WA 98122
There is a meal on the lengthy menu that is a runaway favorite, but you have to order it 24 hours in advance. That’s zilzil tibs, the BBQ special.
Tell Belaynesh Chera, the owner, in advance that you will be there, and she will have that specific piece of beef ready, coated in spices, grilled, then reduced with red wine and lots of peppers.
In an area full of excellent Ethiopian restaurants, Meskel is another longtime favorite; it’s housed in a renovated house and serves homestyle cuisine as well.
A really attractive patio is hidden by plants and fencing outside, and the tomato fit fit is a welcome surprise in the veggie combo.
19. Avole
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Phone: (206) 565-4884
Address: 2330 E Union St, Seattle, WA 98122
Ethiopia’s jebena coffee ceremony was the specialty of Solomon Dubie’s first establishment, Cafe Avole. Together with his brother Getachew Enbiale, he currently owns and operates Avole Ethiopian Coffee Roasters, which sources single-origin coffee from the Yirgacheffe and Guji areas of Ethiopia.
The company’s amiable main cafe in the Liberty Bank Building is run by Gavin Amos. Avole offers a comprehensive espresso menu in addition to Dubie’s take on the traditional coffee ritual.
Avole uses a clay jebena to pour shots that resemble a shot of espresso. Although customers can take their shots to go, those who stay to enjoy their jebena shot receive a free refill.
20. Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar
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Phone: (206) 538-0044
Address: 1800 S Jackson St, Seattle, WA 98144
Do you know how sometimes seemingly unlikely pairings just work? That’s what Wonder Coffee and Sports Bar provide. Come to this unique sports pub to watch the next Seahawks game.
In addition to classic American fare like burgers and fries, the menu include Ethiopian specialties like kitfo mix, zilzil tibs, and tibs alicha.
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Final Words
Whether you’re a seasoned Ethiopian food lover or just curious to try something new, Seattle’s Ethiopian restaurants offer something for everyone.
From authentic injera to modern takes on traditional dishes, the Emerald City’s Ethiopian cuisine is diverse and delicious.
So if you’re looking for a unique and tasty culinary experience, be sure to visit one of these restaurants. Your taste buds (and your sense of adventure) will thank you!
