Lalibela Restaurant - Bloor St in Toronto

This is the real deal. If you havent tried Ethiopian food, youre missing out. Ive been going to this place since the 90s and its always been popular. And extremely good value. Vegetarian options: Lots. If youre new to Ethiopian food, try the vegetarian platter. Its basically a sampler of the different veggie stews and the injera bread.

Its a cozy place with giving an interesting vibe. It was our 2nd visit and trying the Lalibela platter for two and special tea and fish soup. Service was okay as there was only one person attending to all the patrons that time. Tastewise the veg items of the platter each has distinctive taste. However the the lamb tasted a bit bland to our South Asian tastebuds. The tea was a lipton teabag with special spiced water. Taste was nothing special but the aroma was good. The fish soup was absolutely soothing, simple and delicious. Perfect for the weather. Its best that you use hands to eat. They also provide wipes but as we needed to use the washroom there was no hot water in such freezing cold. Overall for such affordable price, they provide a very good range of items. If you are not fan of Ethiopian cuisine, you will be after coming here.

Friendly and efficient service. The food was also big, 2 people couldn t finished.

Im disappointed the dulet wet has to be more wash!! The food portion to small all meals

Outstanding staff and great food!

Dont recommend for takeout. Platters are just thrown together into one box so all the dishes just kinda blend together. Meat was bony. Wont be ordering again when there are others nearby that do much better takeout service

Ive been coming here for years and food still as good as 15 years ago. Delicious, affordable, good service. The veggie platter is a must Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options.

Taste is very deliciously authentic!

Not for me, it s probably big as an authentic Ethiopian restaurant, but the experience was not a positive one, nor that I would repeat!

The customer service could be better. We struggled to get glasses of water! Staff members should listen to orders carefully and always double-check that they bring the right order to customers. Vegetarian options: Need to be cooked well

I dont recommend AT ALL !!!!

Are you searching for authentic Ethiopian vegan cuisine? Lalibela offers a variety of vegan and spicy dishes.

Simply delicious! Highly recommend.

My favourite restaurant ever!

Very poor quality food and they treat very rudely

Bad customer service

Best Ethiopian Food!

The collard greens here are a must. We also got the mixed meet platter with injera. If you like kitfo dulet (beef tripe), it has a strong smell/flavour. Portions were on the smallish side - could have more meat for $32. There was enough injera. The relaxed vibe and the nice staff make it a wonderful place for a low key dinner to catch up with friends and family.

Vegetarian options: $$ Injera should be packaged separately from food when we opened it. It fell apart in pieces, but it was still wonderful and delicious suggestion may be wax paper wrapped or placed in patty bag separate from the actual platter overall 5.5. Out of 5! $$ Food

Amazing food an amazing service

Went there got the veggie platter and beef, was absolutely delicious and gave us the extra spicy seasoning as well the service was also kind and attentive, recommending to all the Ethiopian food lovers!

The veggie part of the my dish was absolutely delicious but I did not like the chicken tibs I had no problem with service. Vegetarian options: So good better then the chicken by far in my opinion

We are regular clients at this restaurant for years. Their meat quality has dropped considerably. Their prices have increased over time, but we did not mind because the food used to be good. Very disappointed.

I am not Ethiopian and have only had Ethiopian food a few times in my life, but the food tasted wonderful to me! The portions were decently large and the service was pretty quick. The atmosphere wasnt the best though. The bathrooms in the basement were a little creepy/strange, but so are all basements. The dinning environment didnt look extremely clean, but maybe becuase its an old building. Overall, a positive experience.

I took my best friend to Lalibela restaurant hoping to introduce her to Ethiopian cuisine. Unfortunately, our experience was incredibly disappointing. As an Ethiopian myself, I wanted her to enjoy the flavors I grew up with, but in reality the food was so bad. The injera served was noticeably old, lacking the freshness crucial to Ethiopian dining. The accompanying sauces were restless and looked old. The doro wat, a staple dish, was disappointingly stale, further detracting from the meal. Adding to our discomfort, the tables were uncomfortably arranged, and the wide, open window adjacent to our table allowed cigarette smoke from nearby patrons to waft in, making it nearly impossible to enjoy our meal amidst the unpleasant odour. It saddens me deeply that my best friends first experience with Ethiopian cuisine was marred by such subpar conditions. I urge others to avoid Lalibela restaurant until improvements are made to the food quality, ambiance, and overall dining experience.

My favourite Ethiopian food in the city. I especially enjoy their vegetarian platters. Food arrives quickly and it s always very flavourful. It s also really affordable, me and my partner can eat here for just over $10/person, and lunch prices are even cheaper.

We had the worst of customer service, which was very discrimating and very uttering. I am definitely not going again despite many things

I went with a friend to Lalibela restaurant at 869 Bloor west. Food was very mediocre. Service even worse. Ordered lamb, ended up sucking bones, barely meat on it. I asked for cup of water several times, but nothing. Wanted to pay, she said Ill come shortly, waited almost 15 min. Then went to pay, she looked annoyed. I do not recommend this place at all.. Nazareth Restaurant across the road is superb.

Got the vegetarian platter which is confirmed to be vegan. Veggies, spiced lentils and chickpeas served on a bed of injera. Very delicious, especially the lentils. Will visit again.

First time eater of Ethiopian food here; it was delicious! Portion sizes are generous.

Food was amazing and delicious. Service and atmosphere were great .

Food was good and our server was nice. Its probably a lot of pressure for the one server to take care of every single table. The food took forever to come, making me wonder they are short staff in the kitchen as well.

I took my wife for a dinner and since we live in the west end this was the convenient one for us, terreble food really terreble food. If you really want to try Ethiopian food i advise you to go to Danforth and green wood. Very disappointed!

Vegetarian options: Weve tried couple od Ethiopian restaurant, so far Lalibela has the best platter among all we tried. Food was delicious and server was welcoming and had pleasant experience visit Lalibela. Will visit again Food

I didnt take any pictures but Ive been meaning to go here since my mid 20s when I saw it on Groupon. Unfortunately the longer I waited it seemed the realization of the experience of being here would never happened. I recently moved to downtown and finally went here. The staff was pleasant and food portions will leave you satisfied. There is a spicy kick to each dish but not so unbearable you cant enjoy the food still you can request to have the kitchen tone down the spice if you think it might be too much of a challenge. I dont do well in new environments but was very comfortable here and will return soon

The food is great, the service is very friendly, the atmosphere is nice. The incense was a little strong!

Although food was good but customer service was very bad. Will not return to the restaurant

Gave us old injera, seating is not comfortable, poor presentation, dorowatt was not fresh, and the resturaunt is full of cigarette smoke, would not recommend to anyone! Server was rude when we gave her feedback, she was defensive.

The best!! I have mango juice and veggie platter for great price. Service is good, don t expect much it s a causal atmosphere. Bring your friends & family here, they would love this restaurant.

Customer service zero and also I have been experienced the worst enjera firfir and pasta spaghetti ever! I don t think so I ll come again

Family run establishment serving the best Ethiopian in Toronto imo. The lamb is super smoky and addicting. I forgot the name - lamb tibs or something.

I have ordered the vegetarian platter many times via delivery, and it is excellent. It is healthy, delicious, and filling. I appreciate the many types of vegetarian food, and I especially appreciate the generous portion of injera.

warning warning it happens to us. watch your change if you paying with Cash, you might get back counterfeit currency change $20 or $50.

Very good Africa traditional food

Absolutely brutal customer service and not grate food at all. I been there multiple times and it is the same. I also tried to explain to the server but they were so unprofessional and disrespectful. You could find hair in the food.

I ve been in different Ethiopian restaurants in Toronto but planning to go back to Lalibela on Bloor St. some how we like the food and reasonable pricing. I don t think you get the best service at Ethiopian restaurants. Vegetarian options: Great place for different vegetarian dishes

Always a great experience here. Food is phenomenal every time.

I like the restaurant but the service is slow and the food was over salted, the waitresses were rude and their facial expressions were sour. This is my third time going to this restaurant and the other times were a lot better than this one. Maybe it was just that day and the waitresses werent feeling their best but I felt like that experience was worth sharing.

Great food with perfect recommendations from our waitress. I could have done without the football game on the big screen, but a great experience overall.

Delicious food. Had the vegetarian platter for 2 and we both loved it. Fast and friendly service. Prices are very affordable! Definitely recommend and will be coming back!

Our waitress was in a peculiar mood, rude at times, not that angry at a times. Her friends were drinking on another tables as she was not available as she should, the food was okay, different. Is not an expensive place. Food

Lovely place, nice people and Exelent food. However, my last experience was not great, waiting for a dinner for more than an hour!!!!

Food & prices were quite reasonable, but only 1 server for the whole restaurant mid-week during the X-Mas period. Thus, service was quite slow.

Good Authentic food and good service. Food was so good I forgot to add photo. Updated post back here after 4 years due to Pandemic. Still best authentic Ethiopian food keep up the good work. This time I added photo. The Lalibela special with added Golden Tibs

Amazing Ethiopian food at great prices. We usually get the vegetarian platter for 2, with or without the fish goulash (I recommend with for sure) and its always amazing. Ive been here at least 10 times over the years and will continue to go here. Service is just okay and the incense smell in the dining room can be a bit strong, but nothing that would keep me away. Vegetarian options: Lots of veg options, lentils, peas, etc Kid-friendliness: No issues with bringing kids.

Food is often served cold but it is always very tasty regardless. Not sure if it gets forgotten to be delivered to the table but I love the food here, it is still delicious even cold. Tried the spiced tea with our dinner and it was excellent with the food, plan to try the coffee service next time. Lalibela platter with the addition of beef tibs and extra injeera to share between 3 people was plenty of food.

If youve never eaten Ethiopian food this is absolutely the place to go. Very reasonably priced and full of locals. You eat the food with your hands there is no cutlery. In the picture it is a platter for two. Theres meat and vegetarian options. You tear off a piece of the bread which is sort of like soft tortilla and you scoop up the food. You can get spicy or mild. Its absolutely delicious. Its a very small restaurant and a casual environment I would say because theyre so busy the service might be a bit slow but its all part of the ambience. After dinner we had coffee they bring out all the little cups and then have incense that is supposed to ward off the evil spirits. Then they roasted the coffee beans and brought them out for people to smell. The experience was really neat. With the coffee they brought popcorn. I really thoroughly enjoyed both the food and the ambiance.

Vegan report: No Lalibela = no life! That veggie platter is it. I got that delivered the other night and it was delicious and good portions. Thank you Lalibela, Ill order again!!

Nice place to hang out with friends while visiting Toronto from Montreal

Vegetarian options: Food was tasteless..and service was lousy. Took ages for the food and too long for the coffee. Definitely need more than 2 waitresses for a busy Saturday night. Never going back..

New to Ethiopian food and it was a very pleasant surprise. Serve was generous, and the waitress was really kind and smiley. Will def come back Food

Vegetarian options: I love this place! The food is great and unique never got disappointed

It was my first time eating Ethiopian food and I have to say, I fell in love. I had the vegetarian platter and one of the lamb dishes, and both were superb. The interior of the restaurant is gorgeous, and the staff were very friendly. Would recommend!

I never seen the weirdest restaurant like Lalibela, I was there 2023 new year eve, we were waiting one hour and 30 minutes to serve with a food, as soon as we finished dinner, they told us the chair was reserved to someone else, and they kicked us from the spot and gave to other people so I will never go there and I will not recommend to anyone.

It was delicious food. Server was nice and attentive. Atmosphere seems authentic

Food toke to long, staff was very rudely spoken

Been here a couple of times, and theyre already one of my favorites in the GTA. Service is very friendly and welcoming. Food is fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully presented. The passion that goes into running their restaurant really shows. A seriously underrated dining experience. Highly recommend the traditional coffee ceremony if you go with a group - Ethiopian coffee is truly unique in the world!

Very nice they need extra staff

Whenever I order for delivery, they don t put cutlery (forks, spoons and knives ) or napkins. Even when I ask on the app and again under special requests It happened so many times and one day I went to dine in with a friend, so I asked the staff WHY, And their answer shocked me. The answer was, and I quote: (because it s a delivery and you are at home we don t send you cutely and napkins.) SMH

Delicious !

Food is flavourful and interesting. I dont prefer the type of bread used. Then texture and taste is not for me. Its difficult to get used to eating with just your hands, especially just with your right hand. I used a lot of napkins It was a good overall experience. The service is friendly.

A family favourite for years. The food is always fresh and delicious and the staff are so warm and friendly.

Cant speak to the atmosphere as we had take-out but absolutely great food. They actuallay prepared the kitfo raw and thoroughly spicy as requested. Food bliss!

Always consistent. Cant go wrong

The take away dulet and Alicia stew was humiliation to the Ethiopian dish. It smelled unsanitary and was not edible at all!

Favourite Ethiopian restaurant in the city & the food is halal. Staff are so friendly. Thank you Lalibela! Vegetarian options: Great vegan + vegetarian options! Dietary restrictions: Halal Parking: There may be paid parking on Bloor if not, I usually park on Ossington between Harbord & Bloor which is usually free parking.

It s literally the first place I go to anytime I m back in Toronto. I love this place so much.

FANTASTIC Ethiopian food. Good value and great service.

Food poisoning

I order takeout with the app. Simple and fast. Had the Lalibela platter with some meat and veggies combined. Tastes great!

The food was very good

Exceptional meal that was so freshly & beautifully made. Lalibela is definitely the place to go if you re looking for authentic & delicious Ethiopian food in Toronto.

the food here is bomb on a good day. I got berreberre and it was hot and fresh, very nice. another time i got a chicken burger which was basically raw, you can tell it was undercooked and frozen. I ve been here with a couple times and they mix beef and lamb and think we don t know but we know. just be true to the menu.

Dietary restrictions: NOT GLUTEN FREE (even if they say it is, half the time the injera does contain gluten and you will get severely sick if you have celiac disease or a wheat allergy)

A side of berbere sauce put this pleasantly over the top for me. Dietary restrictions: Gluten free injera available Food : 5/5 |

So good. Awesome decor! Friendly staff. Reasonable prices.

The compatibility for better service on a diversity level should be explored.

Fabulous Ethiopian cuisine!

Affordable, authentic, yummy food. Left feeling satisfied. Vegetarian options: Lots of great vegetarian options Food : 5/5 |

Not recommended.

Great food but service could be better Mix up with orders, still got charged for food we didnt order Food

Server was rude. And it was our first time getting Ethiopian food, they recommended us a dish with raw beef in it but never told us. At least a warning would have been nice

I ve been here a few times but haven t been back since prior to Covid. It was nice to see the level of service and care that goes into every customer s experience as well as the deliciousness of the food has not changed! I had a birthday lunch with my family there and everything was wonderful and I definitely will be back!

Had Ethiopian food for the first time and its my new favorite cuisine now

I think the food was poisoned and the food taste completely not good

Im impressed good food

Great Ethiopian food!

Been to a lot of spots in little Ethiopia and this is the best bang for your buck.

It was my second time to visit the restaurant. The food was good but the fish soupe was not good.

Love food. Flavourful, hot, good portion.

Tonight zero service

What an exquisite experience at Lalibela! The ambiance was charming, the service was good, and the dishes burst with flavors that left my taste buds dancing. Highly recommended!

Amazing veg platter... Great service and ambiance.

The service was the worst,

Awesome down earth ethiopian.

Portions are generous and the food was tasty!

My friend took me and another friend here today. It was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I was not disappointed at all. We had the vegetarian platter with injera and a lamb dish that came on a sizzling plate. The lamb was so tender. They came with a spicy dipping sauce and a spice powder, which I loved. Everything tasted amazing, super flavourful. Our waitress was very friendly too and the interior was beautiful. Will visit again sometime.

Came here with a friend last night. Staff was friendly, but service was a bit slow in the beginning. Had a decently wide range of food (injera, beef, doro tibbs, shiro wat, all very flavourful, well seasoned and very aromatic. Ended with baklava cake (a bit too sweet), coffee (aromatic and ceremonious), and popcorn. Will definitely return! Parking: Street parking available ($2/hr) or Green P parking lot nearby.

I got a groupon for this place $30 worth of food for $15. It s 2023 where can you buy a meal for $15? Here! We got the veggie platter for 2 and it was perfect. Loved the beets and collard greens. The shiro wat had too much water in it so that one was only 2 stars. And only 1 of the lentils had berbere. The other was mild. So in terms of spicing, I d prefer a bit more but I liked the variety and there was a family with a toddler there and it would of been perfect for them. I d go back for sure especially with the groupon. It is not the best Ethiopian food I ve had (I ve only had the veg plate) If you re ok with it not being spicy, it s a inexpensive meal.

So nice Ethiopian food ,and have a nice vegetarians food .

The food here is always good. This was one of my go-to dinner spots as a local. I just love their vegetarian platter and fish. Very relaxed atmosphere and a great place to meet up with friends for a meal.

Fantastic little spot if you want to try some authentic Ethiopian cuisine. They offered Teff injura, which is a bit more expensive but rare delicacy if you truly like Ethiopian food. Fantastic beef and lamb options, definitely recommend.

clean and cheap restaurant. Food taste good.

Vegetarian options: Great selection from varied menu but everything cooked to perfection!! Recommended dishes

Great service excellent vegan food with a hot sauce unlike any other!

A must try if your in Toronto

Always great.

Wonderful decor, relaxing music and the best flavours! Highly recommend the veggie platter, Ethiopian honey wine, baklava and carrot cake. My friend really enjoyed the lamb tibs. Will definitely come back for brunch to try the coffee ceremony!

Small ethnic spot with a vibe that offers a long list of good tasting Ethiopian specialities. I went for a pound of wings and ended up ordering additional Titanic tibs. Veggie options are available too. The experience is great, the athmosphere is nice and relaxed and overall my time there was pretty enjoyable. Recommended.

Delicious! We dont live in Toronto anymore, but when we do we get Lalibela.

Service was very bad & the waiter didnt serve well. I dont think the owner knows that because she doesnt care. Please service equally for everyone

Many vegetarian options. Good taste. Loved the Coffee and popcorn. Helpful and polite staff. Service could be a little faster. Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian options. Take a veggie platter to try many of them.

The customer service and services are excellent. The prices and menu are very good. Our experience with Ethiopian food was excellent.

Very poor services, they just well serving for whites,

Excellent food

Nothing outstanding about it, but nothing terrible either. Feels a bit like Ethiopian fast food somehow. In my opinion there are many better Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants in Toronto, but if it was the most convenient option at the time, or a friend insisted on it, Id have no problem eating here again.

Low customer care

Unique experience for people that love spicy food. So many options and a great atmosphere a must try place if you are up for something different that usual. Vegetarian options: Lots of vegetarian options, you can even get a vegetarian platter to sample. Really unique and delicious experience.

Very polite service we had and great food.

I ve eaten here a few times before and the service has always been brutal but today takes the cake. I had to ask 4 times for my Diet Coke and waited over 30 minutes to get it. It s like we order and she disregards. Now we re sitting here waiting for food that we ordered over an hour ago. Pretty sure she forgot our order. Three tables that were seated after have already finished eating. Don t go here if you re hungry. I would also suggest the waitstaff start writing down orders and perhaps pay attention to the customers. Definitely no tip. Worst service ever. Updated - in response to the owner comment below we did tell the waitstaff what we were dealing with and she did not seem concerned. Eventually she admitted she forgot to put in our order and we finally got ours food 1.5 hours after ordering.

The food is incredible. Very flavourful, perfectly cooked, and a good portion size (I got a platter for one that lasted me two meals). Ethiopian food is the most underrated food. Please check them out!

unprofessional staff, dont even care speak in English. Parking: Not a single spot as this is in Bloor st.

we loved our experience so much. Definitely a must go when in Toronto! Wow

Loved the injera and tibs. Food was yum shes their Ethiopian coffee was so good

The food quality dipped a bit from our last visit, but still really delicious! And the variety in the vegetarian platter increased and I found some new favourites.