Abyssinia Restaurant - Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine in Calgary

910 12 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0J4, Canada

★★★★☆
(566 reviews)
Categories: Ethiopian restaurant African restaurant Eritrean restaurant Restaurant

About

Ethiopian & Eritrean Restaurant in downtown Calgary. Authentic delicious menu featuring carnivore, vegetarian and vegan dishes.

Address
910 12 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0J4, Canada
Plus Code
2WR9+R3 Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Time Zone
America/Edmonton

Business Hours

Sunday
11 AM–11 PM
Monday
11 AM–11 PM
Tuesday
12–10 PM
Wednesday
Closed
Thursday
11 AM–11 PM
Friday
11 AM–11 PM
Saturday
11 AM–11 PM

Services

From the business
Identifies as women-owned
Service options
Kerbside pickup Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Late-night food Private dining room Small plates Spirits Vegan options Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Catering Counter service Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Family friendly Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Transgender safe space
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments Credit cards
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking

Photos

$Abyssinia Restaurant - Ethiopian & Eritrean Cuisine
910 12 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T2R 0J4, Canada

Reviews

4.2
★★★★☆
566 reviews

Most Mentioned

platter (33) atmosphere (22) coffee ceremony (12) dining (11) environment (7) server (7) presentation (6) veggie tray (6) the menu (6) pay (5)
5 stars
389
4 stars
61
3 stars
22
2 stars
17
1 stars
77
★★
December 6, 2024

I was excited to try this Ethiopian restaurant, and while the food was enjoyable, our experience was marred by an issue with pricing. The prices on the menu were lower than what we were charged when we went to pay. When we pointed this out, the server called the owner, who insisted we pay the higher price, explaining that updating the menu was difficult. We stood our ground and insisted on paying the menu price, but the owner refused to provide the till password to process it. Instead, we were asked to e-transfer the money, which felt unprofessional and frustrating. This experience left a sour taste in an otherwise good meal. If menu prices are out of date, customers should be informed upfront. I hope the restaurant addresses this issue to improve transparency and customer trust.

★★★★★
October 24, 2024

Abyssinia Restaurant is a welcome addition to Calgary's diverse culinary landscape, offering a truly authentic taste of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. The vibrant and inviting atmosphere instantly transports you to East Africa, with traditional decor and the enticing aroma of exotic spices. The menu boasts a delightful array of dishes, from hearty stews like Doro Wat (chicken simmered in a rich berbere sauce) to vegetarian options like Miser Wot (red lentils in a spicy sauce). Each dish is beautifully presented on injera, a spongy flatbread that serves as both plate and utensil. The injera is made fresh in-house, adding another layer of authenticity to the dining experience. The service at Abyssinia is warm and welcoming, with the staff eager to guide you through the menu and explain the nuances of each dish. Whether you're a seasoned adventurer in the world of Ethiopian cuisine or a curious newcomer, Abyssinia Restaurant promises a memorable and delicious experience.

★★★★
September 2, 2024

Slow service. Food was quick, though. Menu price is not what we were charged, the combo meat and veg was 67.99$ not 54.99$ a significant difference I was not expecting when I went to pay the bill. That 60$ meal turned into 100$ real fast... they are moving locations apparently in December, so the menu is not updated. We asked for something to clean our hands but it was quite busy, was faster waiting in line for the washroom to wash hands. Price is extremely reasonable for the food you get. Sharing platter can easily feed 3 hungry people maybe even 4. Perfect 👍🏼 I love Ethiopian food I love eating with my hands I love the spice that's used... it's delicious and this was great quality, variety, and quantity. We ordered the meat and veg platter shared between 3 heavy eaters we couldn't finish it. Busy place, we had such a great meal! Service was not attentive but food came out fast. We didn't get more than a glass of water and in spite of asking for napkins we were not give anything to clean our hands, so I suggest ask ahead of time if you want drinks, cutlery (which we didn't get nor were offered. I love eating with my hands but not everyone is used to that). The variety was impressive I've had combo platters with a lot less variety, and holy cow the portion was huge!!!

★★★★★
July 28, 2024

Delicious food! Good variety and the coffee was so rich and tasty! Enjoyable atmosphere, the owner came up and had good conversation with us and made us feel welcomed. Beautiful experience, would recommend!

★★★★★
July 26, 2024

Went on a Friday afternoon. Service was great, food came out fast. Food was awesome. Would reccommend trying the vegetarian platter, its big enough to share.

★★★★
May 12, 2024

The environment is comfortable, clean and quiet, and is a good place to taste delicious food. The most special Injera is very soft, and K'Ey Shiro Wro is a light and delicious salad made with Injera. But be patient and wait for the food.

★★★★
April 9, 2024

Abyssinia Restaurant is my absolute go-to for lamb cravings! Generous portions and fresh, incredibly tasty dishes every time. Their Ethiopian bread, ingera, is the perfect match! 😋 My top pick is the "BEG TIBS" - stir-fried lamb with veggies that never disappoints. Don't miss their Coffee Ceremony - adorable presentation, served with sweet popcorn, surprisingly perfect with the coffee! ☕️🍿 Cozy atmosphere adds to the charm. The only issue I experienced in this place is that the menu's a bit confusing, could use better descriptions and more pics. Plus, the service can be really slow here- had to go on a mission to find the server once or twice!

★★★★
October 30, 2023

It was a delightful first Ethiopian food experience. We ordered the meat and vegetable platter and the serving was generous. Tasty and flavourful meat and vegetable dishes that are spicy for my tastebuds. The food server was super helpful, she told us that the food is basically enjoyed with bare hands. Expect the smell of spices will stay in your hands the entire night. Injera (sour flatbread) was a bit sour for me. I love Ethiopian coffee ceremony consisting of freshly made coffee, popcorn and burning of incense which was totally new experience for us. As a first timer, this was a good dining experience.

December 20, 2024

Faking restaurants food. Very dertey and dray very expensive!! Service 00 Glasse for the drinks broken everything is very bad!!!! Food : 1/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 18, 2024

The food here is always heavenly.The atmosphere is relaxing. The person working the last time I was here was very kind and made good recommendations.

★★
November 21, 2024

The food at Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant tasted good and was flavorful, but unfortunately, the dining experience was overshadowed by cleanliness issues. The washroom was dirty and had an unpleasant odor, which was off-putting. There were also a lot of flies around the tables and on the food, making the environment quite uncomfortable. While the food is enjoyable, improvements in hygiene and cleanliness are definitely needed.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

I had the veggie platter and was happy with the selection, it was delicious. The platter was well worth the price and offered a nice variety. Great food at a reasonable price.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 21, 2024

Our first time at this restaurant and eating Ethiopian. Service was fantastic and helped explained the menu, food and traditions. Food was not mind blowing but was very good and recommend the experience.

October 21, 2024

Poor service, mediocre food and lots of flies in the dining area.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 21, 2024

Such good food, had a platter so we got a bit of everything Would definitely go again Food

September 21, 2024

The restaurant has a pleasant atmosphere, but sadly, the service was lacking. We waited over 20 minutes for the menu and over 1 hour for the food, despite the server doing her best to manage everything on her own. It was disappointing to see that other staff members, relaxing instead of helping. The coffee was cold and sour, and the food was far too spicy. Unfortunately, this was one of the worst dining experiences Ive had, and I won t be recommending this place to anyone. I will not be returning.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

I didnt know Ethiopian food New and good experience From their authentic bread, which is used to grab food instead of cutlery, a good experience and they have food for vegetarians

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Good injera loved the platter with the various meats and veggie dishes. Good coffee too.

September 21, 2024

The owner of this establishment fails to provide fair treatment to her customers and employees. She pays her staff below the minimum wage, often around $10, and consistently withholds their salaries. Despite this, employees continue to work for her because they struggle to find alternative jobs elsewhere. However, after a week, they often regret their decision due to her refusal to pay their earned salaries. I strongly advise against visiting this restaurant, as the owner is notoriously mean and rude. You have to wait more than an hour to get your food as well !

September 21, 2024

Bad custmer treatment too late for any food order, I had to wait for an hour

September 21, 2024

Very bad owner, she doesn t care about customers and employees she took all the tips for herself and pays them under minimum wages $10 . I suggest you guys to not go there . Very lazy food preparation

September 21, 2024

The worst place I have ever seen we order food we where waiting for more than one hour they are serving some one who come after us it is unacceptable what they did today

Local Guide
September 21, 2024

I have come three times, drove 20 minutes to get there and they are not open when they say they are, they do not honour their hours of operation.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

Great food, lovely service, with a nice feel of community.

★★★★
September 21, 2024

food was so good!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 21, 2024

The service is not what you are expecting from a restaurant these days. Its slow, so be ready to wait a bit when you arrive. The food makes up for the service though, it was incredible, and the owner was very friendly and willing to explain to us what everything was, and gave us great recommendations.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 21, 2024

Food is amazing! So much flavour and the staff is so very helpful and happy. Do not miss out on the coffee ceremony, so cool. Highly recommend.

August 21, 2024

We expected to dine in and eat at the restaurant but we ended up waiting more then two hours for our food and had to take out at that point. We didn t get it until we brought it up to staff multiple times.

August 21, 2024

Extremely disrespectful service, I walked in with my party and we did not even get acknowledged. The restaurant was almost empty and the server was at the counter with one AirPod in his ear, totally ignoring us. After signalling him over, he came to the table, did not utter a word, dropped the menus on the table and left, we tried to greet him and he just walked away. Very disappointed in the service, we walked out as soon as he dumped the menus, do better!

★★★★★
August 21, 2024

This place is awesome. We popped in to get takeaway as we unfortunately didn t have time to eat in. The veggie platter we had was delicious and had a little of everything, definitely recommend. Big portions too! Would come back in a heartbeat.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 21, 2024

Amazing food at a great price. Highly recommend the sharing platters.

★★
July 21, 2024

no lunch what is your opening hours

Local Guide
July 21, 2024

I have been attacked verbally and threatened today because I told her I got food poisoned three times me and my girl friend. This place is the most violater of all no regards for human health. Terrible sanitization practice and bad customer service. I would follow up to complaint to Albert Health and Calgary police for the threaten. Avoid this monster woman. One of the owners ugly creature. I will report you to the Albert health.

July 21, 2024

Bad customer service and the owner she s so disrespectful person

July 21, 2024

The place is beautifully decorated however their service is really poor,.. it took long to get served and for someone to attend to us then later the food took really long. Surprisingly what s is worse is the owner was just sitting there doing nothing, that shows how she lacks respect to her customers..this is a real review from our experience no hate,.you guys need to check on the reviews n try to fix your service instead of replying useless things to customers

★★★★★
June 21, 2024

Authentic, delicious, top notch customer service and the ambiance is everything!!! Must have menu items are the spiced shai (tea), Gura Tibs (bbq tasting meat w cheese crumble), Doro wot (spicy chicken/national dish) and the vegetarian combination platter (Atikilt beyaynetu). Ask for popcorn and incense to add some authenticity and ambiance. Our family loves this restaurant and this is everyone s choice for family gatherings, birthdays, and a great spot to take out-of-town guests. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and the ladies serving are eager to please. Staff are always super accommodating with us bringing in birthday cake, always happy to bring what we need (small plates, napkins, knifes and so on). Only wish this place had AC or fans. It can be very hot and stifling in the summer heat. And the kids always wish they offered a dessert menu (cake & ice cream for dessert). Ensuring diet soda pop is on hand would be great too, they often run out.

June 21, 2024

The worst restaurant in Calgary Frrr Food

★★★
June 21, 2024

The restaurant was not open at 11:20, however it said 11:00 am opening time on their schedule.

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

Service good food great!! Vegetarian options: Has options Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

We had great food and the waitress was very accommodating with our requests. The meat and veggie combos always suffice. Parking: Parking after 6 PM is free on the street.

Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Came in, sat down, server took our order and never came back. We sat there for over an hour while watching others get served who came in after us and then we finally walked out. Used to come here all the time and really loved the food, this time was a waste of time.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 21, 2024

Update I eat here literally every time I come to calgary. This place is delicious and authentic. I absolutely loved it. Soo flavourful and sooooo much to eat. This will be my go to restaurant for Ethiopian from now on. Food : 5/5

★★★★★
April 21, 2024

My favourite authentic Ethiopian Food in North America We had kitfo and chef created dish called Gurage tibs was so yummy.The place was very cosy .Thank you so much !

March 21, 2024

My friend and I originally went downtown to another Ethiopian restaurant that was not open despite claiming they were on the website. So we decided to pay for parking and go to this restaurant that also claimed they were open at 11:00 a.m. on their website and on their door, to our surprise this restaurant was also closed. Very disappointing. Change your hours of operation.

February 21, 2024

Horrible it takes an hour for one order

February 21, 2024

long time to get your order

February 21, 2024

Beware the service is less than favorable and it has in fact been shut down by AHS for several reasons. They will say its not true but it is. Ive eaten here 3 times and each time was worse than the last, the first time was good when it first opened but it was downhill from there. I heard theyve taken down the other negative reviews. I have no interest in harming any small businesses but the fact is your health is more important than sparing their feelings.

January 21, 2024

Worst Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

delicious authentic food! it s a bit pricey but flavourful

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Dinner with family nine of us. The food was amazingly delicious. Never had it this good. The Gurage tibs, cooked kitfo, Doro (Chicken stew) was amazing Vegetarian options: Veggie combo was great with lentils , kale, cheek peas

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great food! Lots of tasty vegetarian and vegan options.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Love coming here whenever we can, atmosphere is fantastic and the food is fantastic value and taste. One of my favourite restaurants

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was so yummy! The server was friendly and the food was served on time. Its a nice place to visit to try Ethiopian traditional food.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Great food and atmosphere, didnt get good service unfortunately. Food was brought out very quickly but never saw our server again for the rest of the time we were there other than to pay

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

My favourite Ethiopian Restaurant in the city. I have tried almost all of them and nothing tops this one. All dishes are fully complete with all the little extras on the side. Each dish is fresh and the flavours are all there. Very very good food. The customer service is always very good. Only improvement is the washroom could be restocked better like soap and toilet paper but thats minor, compared to the experience.

December 21, 2023

Cold food, waiting time, over price, lacking service Vegetarian options: No flavour on some

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

We had an amazing vegetarian platter and a meat platter and everything was excellent, including the friendly staff. The tea after the meal was the perfect way to end the meal! Vegetarian options: Everything on the vegetarian platter was incredibly flavourful and more than enough for one person.

★★★★
December 21, 2023

The food was absolutely awesome and excellent Chai tea. The owner (I believe) was really nice, unfortunately, the young lady who served us was really unpleasant, not polite and could really make us feel hesitant to come back. We will be probably come back and give a second chance tho, because of the food and this amazing owner

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Em primeiro lugar: chegamos em horário de fechamento do restaurante, mas nos atenderam muito bem. Pedimos o prato (nao me lembro o nome). Era um tipo de refogado de carneiro, com temperos deliciosos. Veio acompanhado de algo, que a principio, achei que fosse uma toalha mas era a massa. Comemos com a mão. E foi uma refeição memorável.

December 21, 2023

I ordered meat combo and all I got was sour enjera. I told the waiters you gave me enjera fitfit covered with enjara and she doesn t seems to care, all she said, she will let the chef know and still charged me even though I showed her that I didn t eat anything. I will never go there again. Worst habesha food and worst customer service I ever had. I basically paired over $50 for pieces of enjara that I didn t even eat. deserve zero star if I could. So disappointed

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was delicious! Tried ethiopian food for the first time and would try more! Totally recommend! The servers were a bit shy but the owner( I believe) came and talked to us, suggested the dish we ordered and immediately fell in love with the dish.

★★★
December 21, 2023

The food was good. But I wished that the items on the menu were numbered it would be much easier for waiter. Service1/5. Food 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Amazing food, awesome people and cool decor. I love their vibe all around. Would highly recommend as the flavours were magical Recommended dishes

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Amazing flavors, ambient and great ownership. Owner goes above and beyond to insure customer understands the menu. Plenty of options to choice from.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Honestly the service is so bad I wish I could give it a 0.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Food was excellent, me and my girlfriend shared the vegetarian platter and it was perfect proportion. Also our waitress was really sweet and the patio was gorgeous.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

My impression when I first tried Ethiopian cuisine in Calgary was filled with surprise and joy. While enjoying a post-work dinner with my friend, the beef soup was rich and full of flavor. The savory taste of the spiced meat spread throughout my mouth, warming my body. Moreover, the injera had a fresh and fluffy texture, and it paired exceptionally well with the soup. The Ethiopian beer was refreshing and complemented the dishes nicely. I was amazed by the unique combination of spices and seasonings in Ethiopian cuisine, experiencing a whole new world of flavors. The dining experience of Ethiopian cuisine in Calgary became a memorable moment, alongside the wonderful time spent with my friend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Tasty and authentic Ethiopian

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Kid-friendliness: Very clean and friendly atmosphere. And very good food Food

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Fantastic meal with absolutely astonishing flavours. You can t go wrong eating here .

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Super delicious coffee and food.

Local Guide
December 21, 2023

First I went in, I waited 15 min with out ordering, then I waved my hands to her, she came just dropped the manu and left with out saying hello. Just bad customer service. Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Thank you for your service and wonderful taste of Ethiopian food Best restaurant in the city Please try shefenfen tibs very soft and perfect ribs meats See you soon Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Very good food, must try!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

EAT HERE - I came in off the advice of a cab driver and had one of the best meals of my life! The owner is amazing and the food even more! Don t miss if visiting Calgary!

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

The food is top notch! The owner is a delight!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

U guys are fantastic but sometimes nooo , Better to hire someone specially when you got crowded. Anyway I love everything.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

We had a wonderful evening here for four. The food was very tasty and the atmosphere super relaxed. We were welcomed like family, so it was hard for us to leave. Visit this great place, you will be excited!! Food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Nice dining experience!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

It is a very nice place to have Ethiopian food with the culture and atmosphere. The food is delicious.

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Delicious Ethiopian food with generous portion sizes.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Good éthiopien food and service were very good

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Its amazing that you can try Ethiopian food without leaving Calgary

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Good food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

The food was truly exceptional! I d recommend any of their meat dishes, they re very flavorful and the spice level is perfect. They have a limited selection of alcohol, and the servers were a little reluctant/ unaware of bottle prices. The staff were helpful, but they would forget parts of our order, would mess up overall prices and it felt like there was a bit of a language barrier. I d still recommend this place for its wonderful food though. Vegetarian options: Many many tasty veg options

★★★★★
December 21, 2023

Delicious food, amazing people.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2023

Wonderful place to see ethio eritrean culture.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Amazing food and great service.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Such a wonderful experience! Very hospitable and generous owners! They treated my friends and I with free coffee and popcorn. And the food and environment were top notch! Cant wait to come back again!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

The vegetarian platter is absolutely delicious and generous. I thoroughly enjoyed the food. Great job!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Really enjoyed the food and friendly staff. Would definitely go back.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The food at Abyssinia Restaurant is so delicious and the generous portion sizes are always filling !

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The food here is absolutely incredible!!! The spices in all the veggies and meats makes it taste so amazing. I love the Ethiopian artwork up in the place and it just feels like the full experience! I fully recommend eating here if you want to delight your taste buds.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

First time in here and was recommended by an Ethiopian friend. Ordered shared platter with injera which was really good. Tea was great. Only issue was the staff forgot to remove the fried mushroom we ordered but charging for it. When my friend asked about it, the staff told us it was her mistake however she did not have cash to give back to us. The time was around 1.30 and the restaurant was open from 11am. Usually any restaurant would have a float in their cash box. They gave us a box of food instead which was not the point. Was bit disappointed.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Amazing food! Wonderful service.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great vegan options and so flavorful.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

I went with friends ,we really enjoy and in the weekend is very busy you need reservations otherwise highly recommend

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Amazing meal and service. Food was spicy but so well prepared.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Never had Ethiopian food before and was so pleasantly surprised! Great depth of flavours and really spicy if you want it. It s now a place my wife and I enjoy as a staple restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

The food is delicious! I can go here and eat the entire vegetarian platter by myself

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

So good!! 10/10 recommended. The restaurant has a nice homey feel to it and the staff is lovely!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Food is plentiful and flavourful! Service is very much on an as-needed basis, but they are very nice. We had the meat and veg platter and everything was fantastic.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Wonderful service and food. Authentic and delicious!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The go to Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine in Calgary. The restaurant is beautifully decorated by Ethiopian and Eritrean vibration and neat. My favorite dish is the vegetarian combo and also if you re a meat person the gurage tibs ( the owner creation ) is amazing, the portions are generous. And their Ethiopian style coffee is a must have after your delicious lunch or dinner. The owner ewenet is really passionate about Ethiopian cuisine and down to earth. The service is amazing, fiker is very helpful with explaining the menu and recommending the dish depends on your interest. I almost forgot to mention if you are going on the weekends the shifinfin meat dish is to die for. I strongly recommend this restaurant!!

December 21, 2022

No good to service

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Calgary. The chacha tibs (lamb) with the rosemary and caramelized onions in there easily one of the best lamb experiences you could ask for. The post meal coffee ceremony is always fun, too.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Best place

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

We came with a big group and they were super accommodating, the food came quick and was soo delicious. I had the veggie platter and the quality and portion was worth every $. I would post a picture because the plate was gorgeous but it didn t last long enough for photos lol

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The food was very good also the server was really really nice we enjoy every minute of it she suggested what we should have because it s our first time we come from Toronto ,we definitely going to come back thank you Selome

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

They have row meat and shifinifin only special on weekends , we have enjoyed the food as well as the service, Thank you Emuye and Fikir,

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Food was good. Service was even better. Vegetarian options: Soo good. Parking: Complicated

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Amazing restaurant. It was the first place I visited when touching down here in Calgary. Made me feel at home. Thank you!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

What I love about this restaurant is the mix of modern and traditional texturing that can be seen in the space and food served. Its definitely a place to visit and revisit!

December 21, 2022

Me and my friends got harassed throughout our stay by a drunk customer and the staff did nothing to arrest the situation. Some guy named Philemon.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

It was our first time trying out Ethiopian food and won t be the last! We had the veggie and meat sharing platter and if you re not used to the spice, be prepared. It has kick! We also had Ethiopian coffee which was a nice starter to things. Overall, it was a great time and would return again!

★★
December 21, 2022

The food was good but the service is horrible. You do not greeted when enter or when they are taking your order. Food took almost an hour after we ordered. Once it our food arrived the server did not come back to ask if there was anything else we needed . We kept on waiving for almost almost half an hour and they just ignore you. They do not clean your table after you finsh eating , you would to wait and wait and finally give up and ask for the bill and leave. I saw customers cleaning previous clients tables so that they could get a table. What I noticed is that the you get served better if you are not habesha. I have been there a couple times before and I thought they would improve by now but the customer service does not exist at all.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great traditional food and service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

I ve probably tried all the Ethiopian restaurants in town and this is one of the best. The staff was very kind and even topped up our take home container with extra wut (sauce). Thanks, Fiker! UPDATE: We took some friends and forgot to inquire about gluten-free injera (Injera is their sour dough bread) options for our celiac friend. Normally, their traditional dishes are made in a gluten-free way, but I forgot to inquire. When we arrived, they didn t have gluten-free injera left (it can be made available with a reservation upon request), but the owner went out of her way to purchase gluten-free injera from one of her contacts in the community while the rest of the meal was being prepared. We were blown away at the lengths to which they went to accommodate our dining experience. Thanks!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Beautiful traditional Ethiopian setting.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

This is the best restaurant I have ever eaten at In Calgary. The server was really nice and kind and accommodating the service was really fast .

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Easily the best restaurant I have EVER been to in my life. All the food is cooked to perfection, beautifully put on the table, and the atmosphere is just divine. We came around 2 o clock on Wednesday, and the server was absolutely amazing. She was friendly, sociable, fast and quick at service. This restaurant DESERVES an A plus 10 out of ten If you are ever in Calgary YOU MUST check this out.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

This restaurant is amazing, it offers a big variety of Plant Based food along with other traditional éthiopien food, the coffee ceremony they offer is fantastic, a restaurant I go everytime I work in Downtown Calgary

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Best Ethiopian food I ve tried.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

This restaurant deserves more than 5 starts! Its soo good! The food is fresh and the workers are sooo friendly. I would definitely go there again! And I recommend it to everyone who loves habesha food!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The BEST restaurant in Calgary!!!! Ewnet (the owner) was sooo sweet, everything was beyond our expectations. Good quality and quantity food, very professional stuff. Would definitely go there again!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

The food here is amazing, the owner of the restaurant, Unet, let us stay longer than the closing time and welcomed us so warmly. Thank you for the wonderful experience from one habesha to another!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Great, we had fabulous evening.

December 21, 2022

Came here with my partner for dinner. The service from the younger woman working was extremely poor. When it came to ordering, she disregarded me completely. Whenever I would speak she only addressed my partner and did not make eye contact or even look in my direction. She pretended that I was invisible and made me feel extremely uncomfortable It was our first time trying Ethiopian food and we had much higher hopes. She did not even want to spend a minute explaining the menu and did not welcome us to ask any questions or even give a single suggestion. After we ordered she only checked on us one time and then told us to come to the front to pay. Will never go back as I was treated like dust. Unkind and unwelcoming people.

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

Delicious food, warm atmosphere and friendly service. Really enjoyed the vegan platter - meat eaters in the group also loved their meals. First time visit & will definitely return :)

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Really great food. My partner and I shared the vegan platter. Its awesome that they have a vegan section on the menu. The service was good. Vegetarian options: Lots of clearly indicated vegan item on the menu

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

This was the first time I went to an Ethiopian Restaurant, it was delicious! One person has a nut and dairy allergy, this was not a problem. The service and ambience was great. Will definitely return!

★★★★★
December 21, 2022

I appreciate the way you treat me. And the respect you have for all cousemers keep up thanks!

December 21, 2022

The worst habesha restaurant the food was not fresh. the meat was not good one day we eat at the restaurant my friend got sick 3 days we order delivery was not fresh . i don t recommend this restaurant.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Very good food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

I have never tasted something this interesting in my life. The bread had hints of sourness it in... and the lamb ribs were to die for. Its crispy, juicy, and perfect in each bite. It is a lot of food, so Id say order appropriately. The servcie could have been better but nonetheless I have enjoyed my experience. Food

★★
December 21, 2022

A little more than disappointed I ordered $60 worth of food. One dorowot & shiro. I kid you not, BARLEY ANY DOROWOT legit paid $25 for injera. There was only 3 spoons of dorowot sauce and an egg and a skinny piece of chicken. I ve had many Ethiopian foods from other places in Calgary and esp Toronto.. and the portions were more generous than this. The portions of the dorowot would last me 2 days from other places. Same goes for the shiro, the portion for it wasn t generous either.

December 21, 2022

It is a place where I found delicious food, lovely black coffee along with welcoming smile and hospitality. I love the music. Keep it up!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

You have to wait for a while for the food to be served *We waited for one hour but we understand as it s worth the wait. I ve tried few different restaurants and this one is the best Ethiopian food in Calgary! The price is reasonable with a big amount of food and super delicious! Highly recommend this place.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2022

Good experience for food, different..good for big groups

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

One of my favourite Ethiopian restaurants in Calgary. The food is delicious and aesthetically pleasing. Unlike other restaurants who try and cater the taste and seasoning to be generally accepted by most, this restaurant stays traditionally true in flavour. Its a must for anyone looking for an authentic Ethiopian food experience. Delicious Ethiopian food! We had the vegetarian platter (for 2) which was great. Nice variety of dishes with one that had a good level of spice. We also got the fish goulosh which was perfectly spicy, salty and very flavourful. Will come again for sure.

December 21, 2021

disgusted food ever

★★
December 21, 2021

We got four different dishes and three of the containers were basically 3/4 full of the chewy, sour bread (injera, I think?). The actual meat and fillings were fine, but not particularly amazing. Perhaps it was our fault that we didn t realize it was mainly sour bread, but we won t be eating here again.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

The best Ethiopian restaurant in calgary. I really love the food

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Best customer service and good food!! Would totally recommend this place

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

They have nice food

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

We went here to try food different than usual and it was the best choice we could have made. The lady that took care of us was super friendly and took the time to explain the menu and make suggestions, even though she was very busy. It was our first time eating Ethiopian food, so cant talk about how authentic it is...but it is delicious! We will be back!

★★★
December 21, 2021

Their food is good but their customer service is so bad, they leave you stranded at the door with nobody talking to you and sit you down

December 21, 2021

Food here is really good in comparison to other places in the city. The service on the other hand is just horrendous. I would not ever recommend a person to come visit this restaurant, especially new comers to Ethiopian Food. There are lots of places in the city that have service that is a million times better, with servers who give customer service with respect and dignity. The two women who work here should be trained and trained and possibly trained again to redefine their customer service skills. Again, good food, terrible terrible service.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Great food. Friendly service

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Really nice am not expect like this but its become number one restaurant in Calgary

★★
December 21, 2021

We ordered the platter for 4 people on my birthday as it was my birthday and my children were super excited to try ethiopian food as it was their first time. I must say i was very very dissapointed as to how the food was packed basically they just took layers of njera and tried to fit it in one of those aluminium lasagne pans and dumped a whole lot of sauce on it, barely any meat. By the time we got the food it was just a soggy mess. I have had ethiopian food before and they would always pack the njera separately and maybe just a layer with all the meats presented well. I would never recommend anyone to order from this restaurant. Its super pricey and you dont get what you order. The 2 star is for the taste.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Awesome restaurant and great service. We had this awesome combination platter and very tasty (spicy too). Kudos to the owner who hires newcomers to Canada. Supporting new Canadians and Black owned businesses is so important. We would highly recommend this restaurant and a little patience with the staff will go a long way.

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

We got the vegetable platter from Abyssinia and it was absolutely incredible! I was so pleasantly surprised, such authentic Ethiopian food and ingredients were fresh and delicious. One of my favourite spots in Calgary, would definitely recommend!

Local Guide
December 21, 2021

We ordered 2 meat dishes (chicken & beef). Chicken had 1 egg and 1 chicken Leg and majority was sour dough bread. Similar for the beef, majority of the container was bread with very little meat. I thought it would be enough for 2 people. Very disappointed since it was our first time to try Ethiopian food. Well probably try another restaurant... Also both was $19.99 each (for mostly just bread).

★★★
December 21, 2021

Nice food

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Very nice area with seating and decor. Lots of space for larger groups inside and out. Prices are great and service is friendly. Can take some time to get food but at least it is very fresh. Would recommend checking out. Good can be very spicy beware

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Delicious!

December 21, 2021

i will say the worst restaura te ever we went for lunch and we order tibsi and shiro . we were waiting more than an hour first then when our order came I never seen tibsi like that instead of meat they put a lot of onion and green pepper and the meat was not more than 5 pieces and the shiro was not cookef well. I dont recomend at all!!

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Great Ethiopian cuisine experience! The restaurant is big with lots of tables and an outdoor al fresco area with comfy sitting. Ambience was very authentic with Ethiopian music, incense smell, decorative art and beautifully crafted chairs and tables. We ordered the Bere Tibs mild spicy (Beef stew and peppers on tomato sauce). Meat and veggies were tender and flavourful. We also got a veggie platter with different lentils, beans, beets, pickled veggies, all on top of Injera bread. Injera itself taste like sourdough bread. It is a little sour but it compliments the flavour of the stew and veggies. The best thing we ordered is their Bunna Coffee (Coffee Ceremony)!! The presentation was beautiful and it comes with a frankincense to add positive vibes and drama to your Ethiopian coffee experience. The coffee flavour is one of the best we ve had! Way better than all pretentious hipster cafe in Calgary. All staff were amazing and attentive to our needs. Just take into consideration that it will take a lot of time to prepare your meals and plan ahead! Definitely coming back to try their other stir fried beef and Doro Wot (Chicken stew with egg)!

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

Perfect place

December 21, 2021

I am from Edmonton and visited this place for the first time as my friend recommended that the best restaurant in Calgary the food was ok but the service was really bad the waitress drop the food infront of us and didnt come back till we call her to help us to flip the hot Plat the same thing with drink after we are done all our food finally we got our drink will never recommend this place

Local Guide
December 21, 2021

The website doesn t say that the place is closed . Was super excited and found out this below.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

If any one interested eating tantalizing Ethiopian spicy food, plz visit this place .

★★★★★
December 21, 2021

The folks who run this restaurant are always warm, hospitable and friendly. The food is among the most flavourful weve ever tasted, and any friends we have brought to Abyssinia loved the experience.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

Great food and staff. Great place to experience Africa

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

That was SO good. Definitely recommend.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2021

I decided to explore other cuisine especially African cuisine. This was a good experience. The food was tasty. My fav was the vegetarian platter all the spices, flavour, colors you wont be disappointed that you didnt get meat. Platter in the pic is a mixture of vegetarian and beef. For the ultimate experience you will be dining with your hands.

Local Guide
December 21, 2021

I had given this place a glowing 5-star review because its vegetarian combo was so amazing, but subsequent visits have got worse and worse. The most recent one was for an order of doro wat, the most famous Ethiopian dish, and it was insultingly poor. There was ONE PIECE of chicken in it- and this was to be for two people since wed shared that veggie combo with leftovers. That one piece? A WING. It wouldntve been adequate for one person. So a tonne of sauce and one chicken wing. Ill never go back, and thats sad.

December 21, 2021

Very poor service

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

A great place to eat , cant really complain about anything. I didnt know anything about the food, they took time to explain and show me

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

An absolute treat and a feast. Service is relaxed and informal which felt great. The flavours are quite awesome and all over. In a multitude of dishes we had a little heat, a little bitter, or tart, or vinegar or savory or spices ...all well balanced. A real adventure.

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

My wife and I came across this place by accident and decided to have a bite. We were so impressed by the taste . The best food we ever had . Highly recommend. The service was very impressive

★★★★★
December 21, 2020

The most amazing food ever. The service was great . Highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 21, 2020

Dined-in and done take out. The food is consistently spectacular. Friendly staff and service along with large portions.