Addis Ethiopian Restaurant

Stopped by here for lunch and enjoyed every bite! This place will be my new go to ethiopian place in San Diego due to the freshness of the meat/veggies and wonderful service. Great atmosphere and kind owners. Meat combo portion was perfect for one person. Would recommend getting both veggie and meat platter for a larger group of 2 or more.

This hidden gem is DIVINE for Ethiopian food. Portions are perfect and the LAMB is phenomenal. Highly recommend if you like this food. The owners are sooooo lovely but be sure the food is cooked fresh so it could take like 30 mins so sit back and relax.

If your wanting the cleanest tasting injera in San Diego that isnt loaded in canola oil then keep reading… this place is clean. Ample seating. Staff is attentive yet they let you eat in peace. Food is soooo tasty. 4th time here. The portion size is great. Roughly $17 for the veggie platter. Flavors are sooo rich. Bathroom is clean and parking is out back or on the street. Did I mention, the feeling of eating with your hands and licking the seasoning off your fingers taste sooo good (given that you have washed your hands👀). Overall, love this place hence why I keep finding my car in the parking lot.

I loved this place. This was my first time eating Ethiopian food and I loved it! The chef brought out the food to us and checked in with us which was so sweet. Everyone working was so friendly and warm. I got the Doro wat!! Definitely try it out. I will be coming again.

My friends and I attended the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. The ritual is both beautiful and informative.

We came here for a Saturday morning coffee ceremony and had a nice time. The coffee was served in a traditional Ethiopian style and was great and we enjoyed the other snacks served as well. The owners were also great to talk to and accommodating. Recommended 👍

Came down from North County on a date night to have ethiopian food and this place did not disappoint. Food was AMAZING! Loved all of our dishes we ordered. Staff was very friendly.

I went to the Buna ceremony and it was a great time and learned a lot. The atmosphere and conversation is great. The staff is friendly and warm. Hospitality is on another level. Also stayed for lunch and had the Doro Tibs which was very good as well. Lots of laughs and conversation and good food!

Stopped by here for lunch and enjoyed every bite! This place will be my new go to ethiopian place in San Diego due to the freshness of the meat/veggies and wonderful service. Great atmosphere and kind owners. Meat combo portion was perfect for one person. Would recommend getting both veggie and meat platter for a larger group of 2 or more.

This hidden gem is DIVINE for Ethiopian food. Portions are perfect and the LAMB is phenomenal. Highly recommend if you like this food. The owners are sooooo lovely but be sure the food is cooked fresh so it could take like 30 mins so sit back and relax.

If your wanting the cleanest tasting injera in San Diego that isnt loaded in canola oil then keep reading… this place is clean. Ample seating. Staff is attentive yet they let you eat in peace. Food is soooo tasty. 4th time here. The portion size is great. Roughly $17 for the veggie platter. Flavors are sooo rich. Bathroom is clean and parking is out back or on the street. Did I mention, the feeling of eating with your hands and licking the seasoning off your fingers taste sooo good (given that you have washed your hands👀). Overall, love this place hence why I keep finding my car in the parking lot.

I loved this place. This was my first time eating Ethiopian food and I loved it! The chef brought out the food to us and checked in with us which was so sweet. Everyone working was so friendly and warm. I got the Doro wat!! Definitely try it out. I will be coming again.

My friends and I attended the Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony. The ritual is both beautiful and informative.

We came here for a Saturday morning coffee ceremony and had a nice time. The coffee was served in a traditional Ethiopian style and was great and we enjoyed the other snacks served as well. The owners were also great to talk to and accommodating. Recommended 👍

Came down from North County on a date night to have ethiopian food and this place did not disappoint. Food was AMAZING! Loved all of our dishes we ordered. Staff was very friendly.

I went to the Buna ceremony and it was a great time and learned a lot. The atmosphere and conversation is great. The staff is friendly and warm. Hospitality is on another level. Also stayed for lunch and had the Doro Tibs which was very good as well. Lots of laughs and conversation and good food!

I want to say that this place was totally wonderful. The food was fresh and beautifully served. The customer service was excellent as well. It shows that the owners are putting in effort to provide a pleasant dining experience and I really appreciated that. Don't miss out on the coffee experience! Not only was it absolutely delicious, but the presentation made it a really memorable experience. Well done!

It's nice to try a new place, we normally go to Muzita. The family is super friendly and accommodating to the kiddos with the level of spices. We called ahead of time for a party of 9 but the restaurant was not busy on Sunday morning, just a few locals having their coffee and breakfast, there were lots of available seatings. Got the recommended veggie and meat combo, added the National chicken dish, string beans and sambusa. Thank goodness for the lot parking behind the restaurant and drop by the little grocery store next door to get some goodies home.

Addis is my favorite Ethipoian restaurant in San Diego. The team here is wonderful, I feel like I am at home, the food is consistently good and the servings ample. They serve breakfast, lunch and dinner and beverages that include beer, wine, honey wine, Ethiopian coffee and tea, juice, butter milk and more. My go-to order is to start with a sambusa (the red sauce served with it can be quite spicy and bursting with flavor), which is packed with dry lentils and spiced perfectly. I like to either get the vegetarian combo and add Derek tibs or, if I am with others, get the vegetarian and meat combo together. I've heard people say they prefer Awash, but I find that Awash is a bit slow in comparison and the food doesn't have the smooth flavor I enjoy at Addis. Here, the food is perfectly seasoned and spice. I've never had a bad or off dish or meal. One of my absolute favorite dishes is Doro Wat. Once, they were out when I placed the order. Chef Alemtsehay told me to be patient, that she would make the dish just for me. How kind! And, of course, it was absolutely delicious with a perfect egg on top. There is street parking out front, and a private lot in the back. There is also a market next door to the restaurant, which sells all sorts of food items and textiles, including berbere and injera already made. So, yes, a San Diego favorite. I always love to see Chef Alemtsehay and Fekadu. They know what I like without me asking. The service is so loving and attentive. I feel right at home.

Went for a coffee ceremony upon Eventbrite. The coffee event was supposed to start at 10am. We arrived early. Doors were locked. There was no one inside, and the event did not start on time. I had to inquire around and the doors finally opened AFTER 10:15. I requested a refund to which someone said he would refund me. It has NOT been refunded. While I do have Video proof of this event, I am still awaiting for the refund to be credited back to me. This is an absolute red flag with zero care for a customer that paid ahead of time. I DO NOT RECOMMEND this place for anyone, and I will absolutely be telling people to steer clear from this place. Please find a different place to try coffee. San Diego has so many coffee places that are worth it, and if I could give this place Zero stars, I would. To sum it off, it is much better to go to a place like Communal , where the atmosphere is upbeat, outgoing, with delicious food there. Go anywhere else, just not here at Addis.

Food: We ordered the meat and veggie combo. The meat combo was okay as the meat was a bit chewy, as well as needing more seasoning if you did not eat it with the injera (Ethiopian flatbread). The injera was so soft and fluffy, which definitely made the meat combo taste a lot better! The veggie combo had amazing flavors- definitely a must get. Service: Staff was very attentive and polite, although it did take time for your food to get to your table as it seemed that there was only one cook in the kitchen. Ambiance: Restaurant was spacious and even had authentic Ethiopian mesob tables so people could gather around and eat family style, making it a unique experience.

I loved this mom and pops restaurant, I have a special diet and when I phoned the place, the owner answered; told me that if I wanted a special meal cooked a certain way to give him a few days ahead of time and he would make sure to prepare it! Talk about respecting people's needs! Food was delicious and ambience was very authentic. Recommend on all aspects!

Food: vegetarian friendly Sanbusas - a nice appetizer with a good red sauce On our platter we got 4 different veg dishes. #17 fosolia with carrot - it was subpar, not much flavor like I'm used to #19 misir wot - flavor was good, #20 Yeater kik alicha wot - tasty #23 tekil gomen - just alright The injera (the bread it comes with) was good. Overall the food was just alright, but I would try another Ethiopian place before I returned. However, this was a decent introduction to Ethiopian food. Also, it was very warm inside the restaurant. And they were slow at giving us refills.

I love Ethiopian food and decided to stop for dinner at Addis on the way home returning from Mexico via CBX. I know that Ethiopian restaurants down in San Diego tend to offer dulet (my favorite Ethiopian dish) more so compared to the restaurants in my area, yet I still called ahead to make sure they had it available for dinner since it is listed under breakfast on the menu. There is a small parking lot behind the restaurant in case you cannot find street parking. The interior is spacious with some traditional seats off to one side and regular tables/chairs on the other. Service was friendly, but a bit slow (it took quite some time to flag someone down to order and again to ask for a box for leftovers). We were checked on periodically throughout the meal though. The menu is standard and actually quite competitively priced. We ordered the meat combo, veggie combo, and dulet, all of which were very tasty. Injera came cut into smaller rolls. Overall, a solid Ethiopian establishment! We also checked out the related Ethiopian market next door, which had a few food items but mostly sold objects.

Great service and the food was awesome!! Can't wait to try their coffee ceremony on Saturday sometime

What a great experience. We got two veggie plates and a pot of the Ethiopian coffee. It was a wait, but definitely worth it.

They were late to opening by 40 minutes. I would call ahead to make sure they're opened before going. Food was ok but blander than it looks, it was very fun to eat with hands. It may have been that we ordered a vegetarian meal. We did have to request more injera. Honey wine is served on a cute glass bottle. There are two bathrooms, check carefully to make sure you enter the correct one. Their signs are unique. There is a private parking lot in the back, but there is also plenty of street parking.

The food was hearty & delicious, and the service was warm! My young child was curious about some of the items and setup at the restaurant. When the owner saw me telling my child to not touch anything, he quietly let me know that it was okay, that she could explore and that I could sit back & relax.

Average tasting Ethiopian food. Nice server. Food came pretty quickly because we were the only ones in there.

Came here on a cold rainy day and boy did that delicious Ethiopian tea warm my body up! I ordered the vegan combination plate and it was incredible! Definitely could be split into two meals even though it doesn't seem like a lot at first! The veggie sambusas were filled with savory lentils, flaky and also delicious. My friend ordered the meat combo and as it was her very first time trying Ethiopian food she was pleasantly surprised and really enjoyed it! The service was incredibly hospitable with the nicest people running the place. Very diverse clientele which we love to see. Though the ambiance is humble I prefer these neighborhood joint feels to the stuffy over decorated places.

Our experience here at Addis was wonderful. The lady that served us was warm and friendly, and the food was nothing short of spectacular. We arrived on a late Sunday afternoon to a restaurant that wasn't too full which meant that we were accommodated rather quickly. It was our first time trying Ethiopian food so the flavor profile of the food was completely new; the spices used were excellent and the dishes were complementary to each other. We ordered sambusas for our starter, and the meat and veggie combos for our main course. Each dish in each of the combos were so good that we managed to get ourselves full within 10 minutes. I highly recommend coming here (there is plenty of parking in the back of the building) if you want are looking to try something new.

We got the Dero Wot and the Dero Tibs. Delicious! I'm in love and it is so good for the price! Heads up, you do eat with your hands, it is definitely worth it! The music is a vibe and the server is really funny and has an amazing energy

If I could give more stars, I would. Hands down. First time ever trying Ethiopian food. My coworker / friend recommended this place as I told her I was going on vacation to San Diego with my wife. The food, the ambiance, the owners - all amazing. We got the sambusa for appetizer. Then the meat combo + doro wot. Oh my god, it was SO good. The flaky buttery pastry and the spiced lentils. The flavors from the injera and everything on that combo plate was chefs kiss. We were served coffee after we finished our meal. The coffee was so simple, we loved it. They also hold coffee ceremonies, however you do have to rsvp to participate. The owners were lovely and very kind. Definitely will be taking trips to San Diego often JUST to come here.

Still 5 stars!! The quality and flavors of the food plus amazing customer service will keep me coming back. I've been a fan for years and wanted to update my review. Last night I ordered: 7, 9, 19, 23 and 24. All were so delicious! My favorite was #9, lamb stew. I could eat this food daily. The injera is very good and more provided as needed. There are bathrooms to wash your hands before eating. You can get messy if you really really try but using the injera allows you to pick up food with ease. I highly recommend everyone go try it out! This is such a wonderful restaurant to eat for datenight, family meal or even alone. The atmosphere is inviting and prices are extremely fair. Takeout available !

Caution: literally addictive! I've been a patron for many years but moved a couple blocks away and my housemate and I eat there weekly, if not more, ha! Pretty sure we've even gone three days in a row. So so yummy, beautiful presentation, and the friendliest kindest service you could imagine. If you haven't been here, go now! They also are aware of Service Dog ADA regulations. For me, that is massive!!! They're the greatest!

Empty on a Saturday night, there was another couple eating on one side of the restaurant, but we didn't mind having the whole place to ourselves it felt like. Lots of comfy couch-like areas to sit in, it feels like a living room than a stuffy restaurant which we appreciated. We ordered the veggie combo, meat #6 with beef and meat #11 the collard greens with the lamb. It was delicious and beautifully plated - I uploaded a photo of all the items we ordered on one big plate for two to share. In general, we love Ethiopian food but haven't explored this restaurant. I think the portions here was on the smaller side because we finished everything quickly and was still hungry. We could've ordered more if we had known the veggie portions were on the smaller side. We are two petite women so I think each combo is meant per person. The bill came to be almost $60 for two, without any drinks, so it's a solid $$ place that is tasty and not too crowded on the weekends. I had to subtract one star for two reasons: 1. The bathroom could be cleaner, the soap was running low, and I wish they had paper towels to dry our hands with. Being that this place encourages eating with your hands, there could be more emphasis on cleanliness. 2. I saw a big box of canola oil by the kitchen door. I know that most ethnic restaurants uses this type of oil, but I'm sensitive to it and immediately felt lethargic and inflammatory symptoms in my head, neck and throat after eating. This is something I'll turn a blind eye to and just hope for the best whenever I eat out but seeing the box and still having a headache hours after eating makes me not want to come back here. All in all, if you're not a germaphobe or health freak like me I think you will enjoy this restaurant immensely. Give it a try and definitely order the combo per person because portions tend to run small.

Our First Ethiopian cuisine experience . Very tasty and enjoyable . Very relaxed atmosphere rare to find these days . It was wonderful to explore a new cuisines . It was different to eat with with out utensils. Lots of fun to share a customary platter of Ethiopian cuisine. Also ordered a Ethiopian beer was excellent . I assume one of the ladies that served us may have been the owner? Came out with a pot of roasted coffee beans at which we order some coffee and that also was excellent. Will return to try other tasty delights . We are happy to experience a new cuisine and culture.

I can't recommend this place highly enough! The food is SO good. I ordered one sambusa, but after I tasted the perfectly balanced spices and the light crunch of the pastry, I had to order another one. My friend and I shared the vegetarian combo and the portion was perfect. My favorite items in the combo were the lentils and the potatoes. The staff was wonderful. Every person we interacted with was kind, patient, and helpful. The restaurant is beautiful and reflective of Ethiopian culture. The one disappointment was that we went on a hot day and the inside of the restaurant was extremely hot too. I was uncomfortable, but the food was so good that I honestly feel like it was worth it.

I love Ethiopian food and culture. First time at this place, it was fairly crowded and only 1 gentleman taking orders so service wasn't soo fast. Food was great, people were nice. I've been to many Ethiopian restaurants around here and they all are fairly cost efficient. I feel like servings here were smaller than Red Sea and other places but good none the less.

Service is attentive, polite, helpful. Restaurant is super clean and very inviting. I drove by another restaurant and it looked so dark from the outside Decor is so authentic and beautiful. But, the food...that's what drove me here to leave a review. I almost cried as I ate it. The quality of the food preparation is superb. The flavors are amazing. The lady who cooks KNOWS what she is doing. Ive had Ethiopian food several times before and have ALWAYS enjoyed it-but this...this was hands down the best I've ever eaten. I had the veggie combo with a side of lamb. The lentils and the yellow peas were so spectacularly flavorful. The salad had a light vinegary dressing that was delicious. AND THE LAMB with the rosemary...omg Soooooo good.

I was searching for a place that served Ethiopian cuisine to host a group dinner, and this spot showed up with the highest average ranking. I decided to come by myself to check out the setup and taste a menu item. Addis Restaurant has been open for a few years now, but at the time of my visit, the signs hanging outside the building still indicated a 'grand opening'. There is a dedicated private parking lot behind the structure of the restaurant and grocery market which is a big bonus. You can enter the building from either the back or the front. When you walk into the dining room, it's a large space with a combination of traditional dining tables and some seating that resembled how they serve meals in East Africa. I sat at a regular table and looked over their one-page menu that had breakfast, lunch and dinner offerings. The Awaze Tibs seemed to be a popular choice from what I had read so I ordered that with mild spiciness. The dish consisted of chunks of beef seasoned with special awaze, spices, onions, and garlic. A small side salad also came on the plate along with three rolls of injera. The seasoning was good, but the meat was on the dry side. The prices were very affordable, probably some of the cheapest I have seen for Ethiopian food in SD. I really liked the décor of the dining area too. When I come back for a visit with my group, I think I will try a dish with chicken instead of beef. Overall, I rated my dining experience between 3.5 and 4 stars.

Good tasting food that's different. African traditional hospitality. Nicely decorated in a traditional Ethiopian decor. Recommended!

I wanted to try Ethiopian cuisine in SD, and I was so lucky to have come across Addis Restaurant after Yelp searching! With beautiful traditional East African interior and fixtures, I was mesmerized as soon as I stepped in. The staff were all so kind to us, and the prices were super affordable too! Ended up ordering the Awaze Tibs; it was a colorful dish with injera (delicious Ethiopian spongy flatbread), juicy seasoned beef and various sides of veggies. The flavors were so rich, deep and meshed together perfectly. I cannot WAIT to come back and try other dishes, I highly recommend it to all locals and tourists alike!

Ordered takeaway for dinner. Ordered 4 things, the veggie combo, dero wot, yeshiro wot and yebeg tibs. The meat dishes were pretty good, they were both yummy. However, the only complaints would be that the meat was a bit tough and that there wasn't that much meat in the portion. However, the two veggie dishes: yeshiro wot and the veggie combo were to die for. I could have just gotten those and been satisfied. The veggie combo was definitely the best thing that I ate. The variety you get combined with the significantly different flavors made that dish a winner. I would highly recommend anybody to get the veggie combo if they go to Addis. That'll be my order the next time I go. Injera was soft, pillowy, slightly tart and plentifully given. Dero Wot: 7.5/10 Yebeg Tibs: 7/10 Yeshiro wot: 9.5/10 veggie combo: 11/10 If you're in the North park area (or even farther), give this place a shot.

Party of 5 with 4 people trying Ethiopian food for the very first time. The service was fantastic, everyone was so kind and made helpful suggestions. The food was DELICIOUS and everyone really enjoyed it. The coffee ceremony was really fun and a great way to end the meal.

Was craving something different and haven't had Ethiopian cuisine in a while and this place seemed to have the highest reviews in the area I was near. Service was a bit slow but once the food came out it was well worth the wait. Next time I will get the combo combo with the vegetarian and meat on the same large plate can't seem to find the name on the menu. For sure will be back when near this part of the city.

We went for lunch and really enjoyed the amazing food, wonderful service and ambiance. The veggie and meat combos both have the most delicious flavors! It was such a fun experience to eat here. We returned the next day for their coffee ceremony. It was great to learn how coffee is prepared, served and enjoyed Ethiopian communal style.

Theee best ever!! Will drive from OC to eat here!! The veggie plate is full of flavor and so yummy!!

I am always excited to try new things and new foods. Once I found this business in the area with good reviews I decided to give it a shot! I've tried Ethiopian food before and remembered the experience of just using your hands, so I was interested in remembering how to eat this amazing food. Parking was easy since there is parking in the back of the business and also on the street. Once you arrive inside the atmosphere is beautiful! The various colors and the culture they set inside the restaurant is so intriguing! Once I was seated the host was very nice and helpful with the menu. I ended up ordering the Awaze Tibs, which was meat chunks with salad. Once the food arrived, the presentation was great and the taste was just as good. It took a little getting used to using the sponge bread they make, but I got the hang of it. Over all it was tasty and the experience was good!

Came for tire coffee ceremony and really enjoyed talking to the owners and hearing about Ethiopia. Culture and history. The setup was beautiful and we had so much fun that we stayed for lunch.

My wife and I went to the coffee ceremony on Saturday morning-it was absolutely wonderful. Perfect mix of learning the Ethiopian coffee culture, meeting new friends and delicious java. In addition to 3 rounds of super smooth coffee from freshly roasted beans (like roasted right in front of you fresh!) they provide homemade bread and popcorn. Our hosts were so engaging and friendly that the 90 or so minutes we were there flew by. They've created a wonderfully inviting space for the weekly event. On-line sign-up was a breeze. Can't wait to take a group of friends there for lunch soon.

Awesome food, amazing coffee and tea and great owners. Love to visit this place. FYI, they have a parking lot in the back. A pro tip for city heights

This restaurant has soft music, clean environment, and beautiful decorations. The injeera is fluffy, warm and has just the right amount of fermentation; the salad is not too heavy on the dressing; and the samboosa has a wonderful bite and crisp layers of pastry. The staff have great service. They can make sure to separate a vegetarian or vegan dish from a meat one even on the same tray, and also help explain and pronounce the dishes.

What a joy to attend a coffee ceremony today. A beautiful culture and valuable time spent learning about Ethiopian culture with gracious hospitality and opportunity for conversation. This is a must for anyone wishing to explore a quick travel like experience.

What a delightful experience! We started with the coffee ceremony, which just as intended, led to fun conversation with another guest. Our host roasted the coffee beans while we watched, and while the house-made incense wafted and mixed with the delicious coffee aroma. The ceremony included bread and popcorn that was dusted with raisin powder (lovely!). We then decided to stay for lunch, which did not disappoint. Started with a honey wine they make right there, then a family-style meal. Make time to sit and enjoy...It's worth every minute!

THIS PLACE IS AMAZING! I got the vegetarian combo, and my husband got the meat combo. Both were fantastic and we will probably get the same exact thing next time. I got a little Ethiopian wine which was good. The service was great and I HIGHLY recommend this place to anyone!

A great place for a new twist on flavor. There isn't much African, Ethiopian food that we've seen around. This place is a good stop, not crowded at. There is about 3 staff at the time so it may seem a but slow. The food was pretty good but it seem like a most of the food was on the colder side besides the #18 which was in the pot. It was a good try.

Sadly, we've attempted to eat here two more times after my initial review last year and they were closed, even during their posted open business hours. The market next door was of no help, even though they are one-in-the same. Unfortunately, we won't be attempting to eat here again; they seem to only honor business hours at their leisure.

Went today and had the veggie and meat combo and it was really good. Definitely will be back.

Friendly staff and good food. Tried Dero Wot which is chicken curry. Ask for spicy. Also go for tea which comes in a fancy pot. Pleasant ethiopian ambience..

Delicious food, warm and friendly service, and a wonderful experience for our larger Spiritual Vegans Meetup group! If you are vegan, there are lots of yummy options! Most of us enjoyed the vegetable combo platter which included perfectly spiced yellow split peas, lentils, cabbage/carrot/potatoes, collard greens, side salad, and spongy injera! Then we enjoyed a lovely tea of warming spices, including cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, cloves and more. Highly recommend!

The best!!! Super friendly owners. Great service. Excellent food. So glad they are walking distance.

Unbelievable food and service. We each orderd the vegetarian sampler and we finished the whole plate! Such great flavors and texture. This establishment is top notch quality. I'm sad we can only eat here when we visit San Diego but luckily for us that's fairly often! If you're going to the Soda Bar venue nearby, give yourself a little time to partake in some outstanding food before your show. Tell everyone about this place and don't skip it! We'll be back over and over!

My friend recommended we try this restaurant! Before visiting, I hadn't ever had Ethiopian food. I loved it! The bread rolls (apologies I can't remember the proper name) were my favorite- the flavor reminded me of sourdough bread, but the texture was spongy like a pancake. All of the meats were super tender and the veggies were great too! The wait staff was really helpful with recommendations.

First time trying this place out. I loved the decor, the service was really good. The menu had a really good selection to choose from. The food was delicious, really satisfied my craving. I will definitely be back.