Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar Reviews

We love Ethiopian food, so we were thrilled when we had some time for lunch. We were pleased to discover they had a buffet! We first became acquainted with Ethiopian food on a trip to Washington, DC. This by far surpassed that experience!! They had plenty of vegetarian options as well as stews that were exceptional!! Be warned! These dishes can be quite spicy. But, oh so savory!! The staff was most informative with regard to the food and the decor -- they have traditional seating arrangements as well. Highly recommend to anyone who is looking for a new and wonderful culinary experience!!! Will be returning at every opportunity!

We were staying at the Drury Inn on I-35 and looking for a restaurant near where we were staying in Austin. We had never had Ethiopian food until our meal at Habesha. We ordered the Beef Sample dish. It contained 5 different beef dishes served in a traditional Ethiopian basket with injera. Our waiter was great! He showed us how to use the injera to eat our food. The restaurant was clean, the waiter kind and helpful, and the price was very reasonable. The dish we ordered was for 2 people, which we shared. The total bill was $30.00. Next time we are in Austin, I hope to eat at Habesha again.

We went there for the first time to try what the reviews say is a wonderful food. We arrived and waited to be seated. The waitress offered a table for 3 (we were 4 people). We asked for a table where we could the four of us seat that was free but still to be cleaned. The waitress agreed we could seat there. We waited for her to come back and clean the table, but she never did... My daughter ended up cleaning it with napkins. The two waiters were talking near the cash register and the restaurant was only half full (many tables were empty). After 1 hour sitting on that table, the waitress still had not given us not even the menu nor had even come through our table to ask what we wanted or to clean the table... I ended up going to get the menu myself. Three new groups came to the restaurant to have dinner and the waitress sit them, gave them the menu and even water before even coming to our table! That was too much for ourselves... The waiters did not come to ask what we wanted or even come to our table until the manager came out herself. The manager apologized for the waiting. Still, the waiters served the other tables before serving us... Honestly, HORRIBLE SERVICE!!!! Food was ok, excepts desserts (they seemed frozen). I would not come back until they improve their customer service. A note for the manager: Please ask when customers go to your place if it's the first time... First impressions count!

I was a little concerned when I got to the restaurant and I saw it empty. They told me to pick any table I want and they took my order (I went for awazay tibs with beef). A few other customers trickled in, but most tables were empty. The food was absolutely delicious and I am surprised the place is not more popular.

Had been driving past this place for some time. Would go to Thunderbird's to grab lunch and always thought I should try it. I moved from Austin but just returned on business and decided to go for dinner. Sits in a strip mall, however I learned in Austin do not judge by location. Inside very basic, however when you have such great tasting food, who needs decor. I had my two vegan daughters with me. They did a vegan sampler, I did the chicken Doro Tibs. We love Thai and Indian so this was a great comparison. Where as the others are more fragrant, the Ethiopian I would say is exotic but maybe more earthy? Great flavors, just different and in a good way. I have heard complaints about the service, ours was fine. Think it is family run and limited workers, but we we very happy. I do recommend this spot, the food was great and great value for the money.

Went with a group of 3 other people. Had to get used to using injera bread to pick up the food. The beef combo and the lamb were my favorites. There are lentils for vegetarian types. Spicy but not burn a hole in your tongue hot. Service was very friendly though it does take a bit for the stuff to come out.

Went here at the start of our road trip and was really impressed by the food here, ignore the outside as it’s not a very inviting area but worth it once you get inside. Especially recommend the vegetarian sharing platter, a great variety of textures and flavours. Staff were all very welcoming and helpful, really nice to chat to. Would definitely recommend, particularly the spiced tea which was incredible.

First time eating Ethiopian food, this place was recommended by a local who is also Ethiopian. The food was very different from anything I've ever had, everything had a very special one-of-a-kind flavor, very interesting on the palate. I ordered the vegetable combination platter and lamb. The waitress brings out a basket with what is known as injera, a crepe consistency type of bread on which all of the food is served in small piles around the basket, it is to be eaten with your hands...yes, this can get a little messy but makes for a very cool cultural experience. Extremely nice staff and good service! Good food!

This is the first time I have tried Ethiopian, so I was a little nervous, but Habesha's was fantastic. Don't let the outside or location deter you. It may not look like much, and it's not located in the best area, but I'm so glad we tried Habesha. As soon as we tasted our Houmus Fitfit appetizer, we knew we were going to love it. The food is served family style, so it's a good idea to each order something and everyone split. With guidance from our server our group ordered several dishes, and everything was great. The meals are served in a large basket with a spongy sourdough bread called inerja. Then entrees are poured out over the bread. We tried 2 lamb dishes and 2 chicken dishes (tibs and wot), and were very pleased with the meal. Everything tasted fresh. We will definitely go back!

I thoroughly enjoy Ethiopian food and this restaurant seemed perfect, it is in my area, the food received rave reviews and the setting was rather lovely. The first time I dined was with friends and the food, true to the hype, was quite nice. the service, however, was painfully slow. the second time. I went, again, with friends and one of my dining companions complained of being VERY thirsty, she ordered water and it took an absurdly long time to arrive, she was on the verge of drinking from the bathroom sink. We had to remind our waitress a full five minutes later that we had ordered drinks and when they came the glasses seemed slightly unclean. Still, the food was very good and I kept going purely for that, however, much to my sorrow one night, feeling incredibly lazy, I got take-out and injearas (the Ethiopian nan-like bread), were gritty as though they had been cooked with sand. the potatoes were hard and hardly cooked, I had to cut them with a kitchen knife. the greens were luke-warm at best and the lentils, which were normally near pureed, were likewise very hard. to make matters worse, I had gotten a large amount of food, thinking I would eat it over the weekend. I might be able to use some of it but a great deal of it will likely be thrown out or given to my chickens and I hate wasting food. very disappointed, as this was one of my favorite Ethiopian places and I have introduced both friends and family. ah well, c'est la vie.

I went there with family and it was our first time with Ethuepian food!! It was soo good!! We loved the food and how they served it!! The service was perfect!! We took the big family dish with different kind of food and it was wow!! I recommend it to all

This place is a hidden gem. When we got to there, the outside of it looked sort of shady, but we decided to go inside anyway and we're glad we did! The service was good. The waiting staff was very attentive. The interior ambiance of the restaurant was pleasant. Now the important part: the FOOD. It was beyond-words good! We'd never been to an Ethiopian place before and the waiter showed us a sort of how-to, which was useful. For the appetizers, we had an order of Sambusa, which are small spicy triangular pastries. For the main course, we ordered Beg Key Wot, which is a lamb curry, and Doro Tibs, which is a chicken curry. The curries and spices felt very similar to sort of Indian food. But the crepe-like bread, Injera, was super delicious. It soaked up the juices from the food and made it more delicious. Glad we went. Will go again. Highly recommend.

We had combination vegetarian platter, Dorbo Tibs (chicken), and Doro Key Wot (Chicken) for dinner. Doro Tibs was the best of the three while Veg platter was the least favorite of three. Food overall was very satisfying, and service quite good. If we were in this area, we’d certainly visit again.

2nd time we tried Ethiopian food. Its different but good. The waitress lady was very politely. We used groupon. The tiramisu was really good. The lamb was very yummy.

We have been here twice. On both occasions we tried the vegetarian platter which comes with extra injera and you can select 4 vegetables from 7. Food tastes really nice. We ordered 1 appetizer which we felt was pricey for the quantity you get. I would recommend this restaurant.

First I called to make an order for to go and an associate picked up the phone and while I was making my order he told me to hold it and hang up the phone. I didn't give up I drove all the way to the restaurant and make an order but the owner was not even giving an attention well action speaks louder

This restaurant is located in a strip mall...so don't be turned off. We ordered the vegetarian platter and the Derek Tibs. Both were very good. It was a fun experience to try this cuisine. We also ordered the Ethiopian red wine to round out the experience. The waiter was very friendly and nice.

We were unsure about this gem due to its location. Fortunately we went and it is now one of our favorite places! If you are looking for something that is not BBQ or Tex Mex, this restaurant is a must!

I have driven past this restaurant many times and always wanted to try it but just never did. Today I stopped. I am so glad I did! The food is amazing! The Key Siga Wot (spicy beef stew) was my favorite, though I tried a little of almost everything and it was all delicious! The restaurant has a very nice interior and my only complaint was the music was a little too loud. The biggest problem is I was the only one in there. This place is too good to go out of business, so please come try it!

This is my second time at an Ethiopian restaurant. We were trying for a long time to try another Ethiopian place and this place didn’t disappoint. The place is located next to the highway so you have to be careful in finding this place. We ordered a veggie platter and the platter was full color and great taste. I always enjoy the way the Ethiopian style of serving veggie platter. On the menu, the platter says it feeds one but two people were having a hard time finishing the dish. Apart from collard greens, every veggie on the platter was perfect in every regard. Somehow I didn’t fancy collard greens that much. Ethiopian cuisine has a different take on hummus and it was surprisingly a great one. Overall a great place with good interiors and great customer service. Do check out this place.

Excellent Ethiopian food. A bit of a challenge to get to but doable with gps navigation. A must when in Austin. Our thanks for the referral.

My wife and I traveled here for a family trip. This place just opened next to the Embassy Suites on IH 35. We were so lucky! The food at this place rocks and I don't say that lightly. I actually created an account on trip advisor because I wanted everyone to know. This place will be full time in no time. And for two huge amounts of food with drinks and desserts we came out way under a 100. Almost made me want to move to Austin! The server Tame was also attentive to our every need. Kudos to this management!

Have been in Austin this week for business and have been here twice in 3 days. Very unique and tasty home-cooked Ethiopian cuisine with excellent service. They were very helpful and attentive. Great vegetarian options also - the vegetarian sampler plate was wonderful. Nice decor - modern with an Ethiopian touch. Highly recommended!

The outside of the restaurant appears a bit rundown and off putting. If we hadn’t know the food was good, I’d have not gone inside. The interior decor was clean and spacious (see pics I took). We went late lunchtime and there were just a handful of customers. Service was run by one man who was very engaging, friendly, and helpful, answering all our questions about the menu. Service was good, quick to respond, although once we ordered, it took quite a while to get to our table. The Ethiopian tea was delicious. Since we expressed curiosity, the waiter brought us both warm and iced tea; we actually preferred it warm. The cardamom spice in the tea was lovely. We ate vegan for lunch and really enjoyed everything we had. Will definitely return.

I wanted to try something new. It was good. Good presentation, good service. Friendly staff. The food was good if you live Ethiopian. For me, Ethiopian food will take some getting used to.

Nice food. was not very busy on Wednesday evening. Prompt and courteous service. I was trying ethiopian food and this restaurant for the first time. Overall experience ..worth recommending for a qualitydinner with family n friends

So overpriced for less than average food. Even with groupon felt as ripped off. Soda 3$, one little chicken leg with some type sauce with no sides like 15$, 17$ little portion lamb, no sides 17$, meat was so tough, may be old or under cooked. On good note, interesting setting and food presentation, frendly service.

Habesha is our favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Austin. I love their Doro Tibs; the chicken is always juicy and flavorful. We always order the same things: Doro Tibs, Lega Tibs, and a side of Misir Wot. The food is consistently delicious. It’s so good that we overeat, but surprisingly still have leftovers to take home. The service is laidback and friendly. Give this place a try; you won’t regret it.

This restaurant lacks ambience or atmosphere, its spacious but very raw in appearance (even the waitresses were shabily dressed). What surprised us here was the taste of food, which was good compared to how it looked. If you are at this place be patient till you actually have the food, there are high chances you enjoy the rest.

I went here for dinner at about 5:00pm on a Monday while on a business trip. I confessed my ignorance of Ethiopian cuisine to my waiter and he graciously assisted me with ordering. He expressed his concern that the beef combo plate that I selected would be too much food and cost too much (about $20) for just myself. I assured him that I could take any leftovers with me and that the cost was not too much. The atmosphere was quiet with music softly playing. The service was very prompt and attentive. My order was delivered to the table quickly. Having never tasted Ethiopian food before, I can only say that the five different beef servings were flavorful and delicious. The injera (Ethiopian flatbread) was very tasty. Overall, this was a very pleasant experience, so I intend to bring my family to Habesha the next time that we are in Austin.

I must admit...I love Ethiopian food. It's fun to put down the fork and knife and pick up the Injera bread. This was my first time at Habesha. The decor is quite nice and the staff is friendly and helpful. Presentation is very attractive...the large communal plates are ensconced in baskets. They're brought out with just the foundation of bread and a side salad. A moment later, the hot food comes out and is added from dishes. This gives an option to segregate food items if someone has strong preferences. Also, it allows the waiters to identify each item without the usual pointing. I did find the cabbage to be a bit more bland than I'm used to, and I never got the hang of eating lettuce in this way, but most of the food was very tasty.

I ate here with my wife; we are late-twenties, early-thirties w/ no kids. I'm a vegetarian, so I had one of the many vegetarian options. My wife ate lamb and we split hummus. I also tried an Ethiopian beer, an amber ale, which was just ok. The restaurant had three other authentic Ethiopian beers to choose from. The spongy bread (injera) was delicious and I found eating with my hands delightful. The staff was courteous and very attentive. I would recommend bringing a larger group to maximize the experience. The entire table's food is served on one plate (although there is the option to separate) making it more suitable for large groups. Overall, I highly recommend and would go again.

Was on a business trip and stopped in for dinner. What gem this place is. The bar is moderately stocked with an OK selection of whiskey, bourbon and scotches. The staff was excellent, some of the best service I have ever had. Really a nice staff. I ordered a spicy version of the Doro Tibs. It was spicy but excellent just like I like it, The injera bread was tangy and perfect, This is a hidden gem for sure. If you like great people and great food you cant pass this one by.

Four of us shared the shared beef plate and vegetarian sampler plate. Everything was very good. We especially liked the dishes prepared with berbere. Service was attentive and friendly. We will definitely be back.

I was a little scared to go in at first. The restaurant is in a strip mall and has many places I do not go into but I decided to try it out. I was glad I walked through the door- you are transported inside to another place of contemporary comfort with exotic accents. The food was good. It was the first time I had ever had Ethipoian food so I can not speak on authenticity but good eating - YES.

It's in a nondescript strip center, but the inside is nice and relaxing. The food is very good. The waitstaff is friendly and happy to explain things. If you feel intimidated about trying a new kind of ethnic food, don't be. Just ask, they are happy t help and not at all condescending. Eating with injera is fun. There are lots of filling and tasty meat dishes and a lot of vegetarian selections. The lamb siga wot is a go-to. For a great vegetarian dish try the veggie dulet, minced vegetables sauteed with onion, jalapeno and spices. Try an Ethopian beer.

Enough about the other Ethiopian restaurant down the road. Let's get down to business, FOOD!! I was greeted warmly and asked if I wanted to take buffet or look at the menu. After perusing the buffet. I chose the buffet. Everything looked fabulous, fresh and very inviting. My first plate included green salad, potato salad, spinach and spicy beef stew over white steamed rice. I wanted to sample the other dishes on the buffet but the spicy beef stew was so delicious that my second consisted of green salad, green beans, a hefty portion of spicy beef stew which was scooped up with injera. Indeed this venue will be on my 'frequent' list. After engorging myself, I saw on the menu that they have Sambusa, a pastry filled with onion, green pepper and beef so I will pass by Habesha tomorrow to buy some to take home.

True it is not a slick, fancy venue but the food at Habesha is wonderful and the staff are very nice and attentive. The Chinese have this belief that if you spend all your time, money and energy on how a restaurant looks you won't have any energy or interest left to channel into the making of good food. Habesha is clean and decent and the food is fantastic. The best of several Austin Ethiopian eating places in my opinion. I recommend the vegetarian combo, the Doro Key Wat, and the Habesha Special Tibs is a great beef dish. The food is served Ethiopian communal-style in a large enamel plate in a basket. And as in most Ethiopian restaurant, the food is eaten with your hands using the injera bread. And the injera bread is very good, fresh and tangy. So if you are looking for great Ethiopian food, good service and aren't too fussed about a posh ambience head to Habesha Restaurant & Bar. It is a little difficult to find tucked away in the southeast corner I-35 and 290 but Habesha is worth the search. Look for the Embassy Suites and it is just north of there.

i could eat their injera alone... as a meal. it is that fluffy, flavorful & delicious. my husband & i have been here a # of times, bringing family and friends. when music is played, there is a festive atmosphere. but if you want peace & quiet with your injera, go around 3-4PM. we also enjoy the food very much but it is a bit more oily than some other Ethiopian restaurants i have tried. the portions are not large. the staff are friendly and the service is good.

I'm not an expert on Ethiopian food. The food here was great. We had the Buffett so the food was limited. It was all spicy but tasted great. The injera was juT delicious when used to eat the rest of the food. We liked it and will be back.

I found the vegetarian options to be lacking. The potato dish was good but it was just potatoes. The beets were good but the "bread" was too sour and not satisfying. It was fun to try though!

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food, though my boyfriend had been to a few different places before this. Our server was very nice, and helped choose something that was very delicious. I love sharing style meals, and this was perfect for that. I will certainly be eating here again.

Looking for a new and delicious experience? If you've never tried Ethiopian cuisine, the time is now and the place is here. Spicy and aromatic and designed to be shared, they do it right at Habesha. The food is great and if you love coffee allow time for the Ethiopian coffee ceremony. A great choice for an evening out in Austin

Best Ethiopian Food in Austin. It's decorated with original paintings which gives it a nice ambiance. The food is delicious and the service is very friendly. there are other Ethipian restaurants in the city, but this one is the best intown.

We had the combo vegetarian platter, Beg Tibs (lamb) and Doro Key Wot (Chicken in a spicy sauce). All were very tasty and sufficient amounts are served. This is my 10th time in a Ethiopian restaurant in Austin and I have frequent two other restaurants here. However the environment and service has scope for improvement.

Never had eaten Ethiopian food before but a lunch bunch I belong to suggested this. On a Monday, restaurant was very sparsely attended, but that could be the function of being located in (and somewhat hidden in) a small old time plaza. Nice decor. We opted for the spicy (un caffeinated) tea and buffet. There were various spice levels- I had a digestive thing going on so stuck with milder food although lentils were spicier and hotter than I expected. (I understand from fellow diners that the green salad was also quite spicy). They cooked some gluten free njera bread for a fellow diner on the spot, although price was extra. Hard for me to pick a favorites dish but chicken stew was darned good, as was a carrot and been combo. Really, really liked the refillable spicy tea, which comes with a lime slices rather than lemon. The waiter was young and very nice. I appreciated that they issued separate checks, although waiter announced beforehand that a 20% tip would be charged since there were more than five people. That seems a little on the high side for a serve yourself buffet lunch. For those of us that paid cash, the waiter then announced that there was no change for our $20 bill (total buffet plus tea plus tip and tax came to $17.94). A fellow diner suggested that he walk to the next door convenience store and get change. He did, and was gone a long time (which made those needing to return to work a little vexed). When he returned, he asked "who wants change?" Did he forget that a mandatory 20% gratuity had been added? Not sure what was going on here. Waiter did keep tea refilled, and kept fussing around the table cleaning up plates, etc, still, don't think it was worth a mandatory 20% tip let alone what may have been another 12% because "there was no change." Overall four stars because of good food.

I was introduced to Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine when I lived in the Middle East and every now and then, I get a craving for Ethiopian cuisine and today was one of those days plus I was with a very charming lady that I wanted to introduce to Ethiopian cuisine. Although we chose the buffet, I ordered sambusa (pastry filled with onion, green pepper and beef) for an appetizer. With the Sambusa, we had the salad with was fresh with lettuce and tomato with a very flavorful and a bit spicy salad dressing (I'll have to get the salad dressing ingredients on my next visit). The buffet was very well balanced with salad, meat, chicken, vegetables (collard greens, green beans with carrots, cabbage) and white rice. My main plate was Siga Wot, tender beef cooked in onion, garlic, ginger and other spices that I scooped up by right hand with injera, a sourdough-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. I normally don't eat desserts but I could not resist the Baklava. I could have eaten a platter of Baklava alone. This is my update to my first visit and will definitely be back!!