8 Must-Visit Ethiopian Restaurants in Philly
Our favorite Ethiopian restaurants in the city for freshly roasted coffee, tibs, fresh injera, collard greens, and lentil stews.
Alif Brew & Mini Mart | Facebook
Culinarily speaking, there’s so a lot to love about West Philadelphia, but we’re particular fans of the variety of Ethiopian restaurants that are to be found west of the Schuylkill. Many of these businesses have been around for decades, and many of them constitute essential community gathering places. Whether you’re a first-timer or have been enjoying these restaurants for years, let this serve as a reminder to eat more injera, tibs, sambusas, and more. These are our favorite spots in West Philadelphia to eat Ethiopian food.
Abyssinia
If you’ve heard of one West Philly Ethiopian spot, it’s probably Abyssinia. It’s beloved for so many reasons, including the upstairs cocktail bar Fiume, which has not reopened since COVID hit (but will hopefully make its return at some point in the near future). College students and West Philadelphians flock here for affordable food, friendly service, and large portions that are perfect for sharing.
Alif Brew & Mini Mart
Alif is a spot for all hours. In the morning, stop by for a coffee made with their house-roasted beans, and pair it with foul, a fava bean stew that will keep you full all morning. For lunch, grab an injera wrap stuffed with chicken, beef or vegetables. Stop by for dinner and grab a platter of spicy chicken stew, served with rice and your choice of their vegetarian-friendly sides.
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Buna Cafe
Buna is a relative newcomer. They opened in 2020 and carved a niche for themselves serving a vegan and vegetarian-heavy menu. But we’re particularly obsessed with their brunch, which offers Ethiopian classics like injera in stew alongside a breakfast BLT and chicken and waffles.
Dahlak
Dahlak is an Eri-Ethiopian spot where you can have an excellent cocktail to go with your tibs, and where they regularly host live music. The outdoor patio invites summer evening hang-outs.
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Gojjo
Philly loves a cheesesteak. We also love a riff on a cheesesteak, which is why Gojjo’s Ethiopian take on the beloved sandwich is just so popular. The juicy, all-beef sandwich gets dusted with a blend of Ethiopian spices and served with fries. Oh, and they also do a chicken version that rivals the original.
Salam Cafe
A brand new combination Middle Eastern/Ethiopian restaurant with spiced scrambled eggs in the mornings, stewed okra and lamb platters for lunch, and for dinner, giant, colorful platters of injera and stewed vegetables. (Plus, there’s a dedicated retail space and coffee shop for all your grabbing and going needs.)
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Kaffa Crossing
Kaffa Crossing is another spot that does it all all day long: very good, fair trade Ethiopian coffee in a cozy environment with strong wifi, plus an all-day breakfast menu of simple dishes like eggs with injera, a spicy vegetable stew, and house-made injera. They also serve a hefty dinner menu, with tons of vegetarian and vegan options.
Almaz Cafe
We’re breaking our own rule here to include Almaz Cafe, which is a favorites of Ethiopian food lovers, but which also happens to be East of the Schuykill. Their chili powder-laced kitfo (which they describe as an “Ethiopian steak tartare”) is a stand-out, as are their freshly made smoothies, perfect for cooling the heat after a spicy meal.
