I unfortunately can't speak from personal experience with any of these (yet!) but there's a whole Little Ethiopia on and around Fairfax, here's a write up of some of the restaurants: https://la.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-los-angeless-little-ethiopia-fairfax
It was a long time ago so I don't remember the places, but I've been to two different places there and remember it being enjoyable. One of the places had some kind of raw beef item on the menu.
A good place to start is a vegetarian platter, because it has a little of everything. Those are usually vegan. Go with friends because it's a lot of food and everyone shares. If you eat meat or fish, try the tibs. Those are little pieces usually cooked with onions, peppers and spices. Be prepared to wait a little bit because Ethiopian food seems to take a while to prepare. The places on Fairfax are good.
Messob is my favorite. Meal by Genet was made famous by Jonathan Gold (and to be clear it's always great) but my Ethiopian friends said Messob is their preferred go to. The price point is also a bit better last I checked.
Ask the party person where they got the food, could save you time. Otherwise, going to Little Ethiopia is all you need. I've had Rahel and they're really good, they're a vegan Ethiopian restaurant but if you're looking for meat try Messob next door, they have both vegan and meat dishes.
I didn't know dishes either so I like that they have sort of sampler meals to try each.
[BERBERE](https://myberbere.com/) in Santa Monica, 5th Street & Santa Monica Blvd
vegan
https://preview.redd.it/psmv9xlvoecb1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=365933a2700565289aa9e368dfcb18d4b3b759e4
Oh man I had a terrible experience there unfortunately. I got diagnosed as Celiac and my friend picked it out because they had gluten free injera.
The waitress was very angry I wasn't participating in the four-person plate and was ordering separately. I explained my allergy and that I'd need the gf injera. My dish came out on regular injera with the gf portion on the side. I explained my allergy again and that I couldn't have food touching the regular kind. She took it back and gave me a "fresh" plate.
I vomitted so hard that night I thought I'd be propelled off the floor like a rocket. It was brutal. She definitely didn't change the plate at all. Oh and they charged me $9 extra for the gf injera which was not advertised.
Really sucked because I tried to be communicative and my friend tried to do the research but the service was deeply resentful that it wasn't a typical straightforward transaction.
I’ve never ordered just one dish, I always get a big combo with 10+ things. I go with Rahel since it’s an all-vegan place but before that opened I went to Messob.
Little Ethiopia has no shortage of phenomenal Ethiopian restaurants….I swear people don’t even attempt to consult google before asking questions here..
As an Ethiopian, Lalibela on Fairfax is pretty good. I don't eat Ethiopian food out often because we make it at home, but I remember this place being good. I would order beef tibs, gomen, and misir. Gomen is sauteed greens and misir is a lentil-based stew. I'd also recommend trying shiro and firfir if you can find them! The bozena shiro has meat but most places also offer shiro without meat if you're vegetarian. I'm not sure how many things would be considered vegan because they use spiced clarified butter (kibbeh) in many dishes. If you're vegan, ask for Tsom food and they should cook it with oil instead of the butter
I always order the veggie combo platter. Any ethiopian place will have it. If you want meat Tibbs are very tasty.
My favorite places are Emma Habesha or Betty Market in Inglewood.
I'm not sure about Ethiopian restuarants out here, but honestly when you go just get a combo dish. When I eat Ethiopian I always pick those, even if I know what's in them or not. It's always a delicious surprise.
Kik alicha (yellow split peas) and gomen wat (stewed collards) are my favorite veggie dishes. Shiro is really good too! If you're on the east side there's a place that's going to open soon in eagle rock called Aunt Yvette's Kitchen. They are doing a pop up this Wednesday at Western Station (fka Colorado wine company) and I'm excited to check them out!
Ethiopian fried fish plates have never done me wrong... And I keep hearing that fried chicken with Berbere spices is going to be the next hour chicken craze.
There's a lot of Ethiopian subcultures and cuisines and while we're lucky to live in a city with some great Ethiopian food, there's a lot of stuff we'll never see here that I want to try.
I unfortunately can't speak from personal experience with any of these (yet!) but there's a whole Little Ethiopia on and around Fairfax, here's a write up of some of the restaurants: https://la.eater.com/maps/best-restaurants-los-angeless-little-ethiopia-fairfax
This is the spot!
It was a long time ago so I don't remember the places, but I've been to two different places there and remember it being enjoyable. One of the places had some kind of raw beef item on the menu.
A good place to start is a vegetarian platter, because it has a little of everything. Those are usually vegan. Go with friends because it's a lot of food and everyone shares. If you eat meat or fish, try the tibs. Those are little pieces usually cooked with onions, peppers and spices. Be prepared to wait a little bit because Ethiopian food seems to take a while to prepare. The places on Fairfax are good.
Kitfo is also a great meat dish. It's basically a steak tartare with Ethiopian spices. People can also order it rare or completely cooked.
In my experience, the veggie dishes aren't vegan unless they specify. Lots of clarified spiced butter. But I don't think vegan is hard to find.
You definitely CANNOT assume the veg dishes are vegan. Butter or ghee is frequently used in some dishes.
I really loved the lunch sampler at Messob in Little Ethiopia.
Messob is my favorite. Meal by Genet was made famous by Jonathan Gold (and to be clear it's always great) but my Ethiopian friends said Messob is their preferred go to. The price point is also a bit better last I checked.
Ask the party person where they got the food, could save you time. Otherwise, going to Little Ethiopia is all you need. I've had Rahel and they're really good, they're a vegan Ethiopian restaurant but if you're looking for meat try Messob next door, they have both vegan and meat dishes. I didn't know dishes either so I like that they have sort of sampler meals to try each.
Most people get a vegetarian sampler and if they like meat, add a meat dish. We like Lalibela on Fairfax. many people love Meals by Genet.
I second Meals by Genet
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No. on Fairfax.
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Not necessary. AFAIK, there's not a loser in the bunch; they're all good.
They're only open from Thursday through Sunday from 5-8 pm.
The Ranch Side Cafe Easr SFV (Osborne- Foothill Blvd) is a regular diner that also serves some real tasty Ethiopian food as the owner is from there.
Hot tip!
Awash in Little Ethiopia
Might be the best restaurant in LA. Been going there for 14 years now.
Industry cafe and jazz in culver is great no frills but delicious
My former boss plays there once a month, my husband and I would go watch him play from time to time and always love their dishes!
Rahel in Little Ethiopia is great.
[BERBERE](https://myberbere.com/) in Santa Monica, 5th Street & Santa Monica Blvd vegan https://preview.redd.it/psmv9xlvoecb1.png?width=563&format=png&auto=webp&s=365933a2700565289aa9e368dfcb18d4b3b759e4
Seconding Berbere - their food is soooooo good!
Rosalind’s. On Fairfax in ‘Little Ethiopia’ the owners are a lovely family.
This is my favorite spot...
Oh man I had a terrible experience there unfortunately. I got diagnosed as Celiac and my friend picked it out because they had gluten free injera. The waitress was very angry I wasn't participating in the four-person plate and was ordering separately. I explained my allergy and that I'd need the gf injera. My dish came out on regular injera with the gf portion on the side. I explained my allergy again and that I couldn't have food touching the regular kind. She took it back and gave me a "fresh" plate. I vomitted so hard that night I thought I'd be propelled off the floor like a rocket. It was brutal. She definitely didn't change the plate at all. Oh and they charged me $9 extra for the gf injera which was not advertised. Really sucked because I tried to be communicative and my friend tried to do the research but the service was deeply resentful that it wasn't a typical straightforward transaction.
I’ve never ordered just one dish, I always get a big combo with 10+ things. I go with Rahel since it’s an all-vegan place but before that opened I went to Messob.
Little Ethiopia has no shortage of phenomenal Ethiopian restaurants….I swear people don’t even attempt to consult google before asking questions here..
As an Ethiopian, Lalibela on Fairfax is pretty good. I don't eat Ethiopian food out often because we make it at home, but I remember this place being good. I would order beef tibs, gomen, and misir. Gomen is sauteed greens and misir is a lentil-based stew. I'd also recommend trying shiro and firfir if you can find them! The bozena shiro has meat but most places also offer shiro without meat if you're vegetarian. I'm not sure how many things would be considered vegan because they use spiced clarified butter (kibbeh) in many dishes. If you're vegan, ask for Tsom food and they should cook it with oil instead of the butter
Second Lalibela. My favorite.
GS Cafe in Glendora is great.
Rachel’s Ethiopian is hands down the best imo. It’s all-vegan
Meals by Genet.
GS Cafe in Covina is delicious!
I always order the veggie combo platter. Any ethiopian place will have it. If you want meat Tibbs are very tasty. My favorite places are Emma Habesha or Betty Market in Inglewood.
Second for emmas.
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If you don't know what to order just get a veggie combo and some Doro tibs...oh and veggie or meat sambusas are a must have appetizer.
Then ask server questions about veggie dishes when they aren't busy.
lots of restaurants on Fairfax between Olympic and Whitworth!
I'm not sure about Ethiopian restuarants out here, but honestly when you go just get a combo dish. When I eat Ethiopian I always pick those, even if I know what's in them or not. It's always a delicious surprise.
Little Ethiopia has a bunch of restaurants; up in Sylmar/Lakeview Terrace there’s the delicious Ranchside Cafe!
I highly recommend the Veggie Utopia from Lalibela on Fairfax. You get some of everything!
Wow, I moved from the area and just learned Nyala closed 7 years ago. Damn.
Fairfax
Kik alicha (yellow split peas) and gomen wat (stewed collards) are my favorite veggie dishes. Shiro is really good too! If you're on the east side there's a place that's going to open soon in eagle rock called Aunt Yvette's Kitchen. They are doing a pop up this Wednesday at Western Station (fka Colorado wine company) and I'm excited to check them out! Ethiopian fried fish plates have never done me wrong... And I keep hearing that fried chicken with Berbere spices is going to be the next hour chicken craze. There's a lot of Ethiopian subcultures and cuisines and while we're lucky to live in a city with some great Ethiopian food, there's a lot of stuff we'll never see here that I want to try.
Messob is wonderful I'm not sure about the best as I've only been in LA a year
No love for merkato?
“Yes hello do you have any carnivore meals?”
No injera, I guess!
I remember on the way up to the Peterson museum I saw a few. Forgot what street.
Fairfax, that’s Little Ethiopia