Selam Restaurant & Lounge in Toronto

I visited your selam on December 10, 2024, around 8 PM, and unfortunately, the experience was very disappointing. My party and I waited over an hour to receive any food, while a couple who arrived 30 minutes after us not only received their food before us but were also regularly checked on by the staff. The difference in treatment was glaring and left us feeling unwelcome. The service we received gave the impression of bias, which was deeply disheartening. I value fair and respectful treatment, and sadly, this experience fell far below that standard. I would not recommend this establishment to others and do not plan on returning. I hope this feedback is taken seriously so no other patrons have a similar experience.

Below average flavours for the meats, the injera on the other hand was quite tasty..

Delicious food - great for vegan, gluten free, etc. Wonderful, kind service. Highly recommend!

You find what you most need with a wonderful service, and fair price. More than anything the food is fresh, and authentic; they can also be flexible to create new menu in your demand. Not only the location is easy to find and preferable, but also the decency inside and the over all environmental spirit of the restaurant is catchy. All in all, it is Selam (peace) like its name.

I ve been coming to Selam for a long time now and the food never fails to amaze me and my taste buds! If you are looking for tasty Ethiopian / Eritrean food then Selam is definitely the place to go!

Great food and service.

Food was absolutely delicious! The price was really reasonable and the service was amazing!

Delicious food and amazing staff

Useless staff

The staff behaviour was very bad.

The food is amazing with great service and most of all the price is reasonable .

Absolutely great. Beautiful food, nice people and sweet vibe.

the best Ethiopian restaurant in Toront the food was amazing and the service was fantastic. I highly recommend it!!

This place was beyond my expectations! The food was fresh and delicious, the staff were very helpful and the atmosphere was everything! Definitely my go to from now on

At selam Restaurant, the rich tapestry of Ethiopian cuisine comes to life in a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. Diners are invited to share communal platters of injera, the traditional sourdough flatbread, topped with an array of flavorful stews and salads that highlight the diverse spices and ingredients of the region. The restaurant s cozy decor, adorned with Ethiopian art and textiles, enhances the cultural experience. The staff is warm and knowledgeable, eager to guide newcomers through the unique flavors of dishes like doro wat and misir wat. Whether youre a seasoned fan of Ethiopian food or trying it for the first time, Selam offers a delightful culinary journey that leaves a lasting impression.

First time eating here and the Food was AMAZING, the service, the atmosphere definitely 10/10. I found my new favourite Habesha restaurant.

Selam is the best Ethiopian restaurant in Toronto. Always good food flavor and amazing taste. I like all kind of the dishes everything has a good amount spice and sauce.

This is my fave Ethiopean restaurant ever. The okra is a out of this world and the vibe is immaculate.

They have the best mushrooms in the area.

I wanted to share my experience from our recent visit. We had to wait quite a while for our food, and unfortunately, the server did not check in with us at any point to explain the delay. This lack of communication made the experience quite disappointing.

Selam Restaurant is undoubtedly the best Ethiopian restaurant in toronto ( and i ve tried many) . From the food to the service everything is too notch. I was especially happy to find that this was an authentic ethiopian and woman owned business! Personally I would avoid Saturday nights as the wait for food can get a bit longer than average ; and, who wants to sit around smelling the delicious aromas the store has to offer !

I always go to Selam Habesh restaurant, I Really like the food even if taking long time to see the food in the table. Even if the restaurant is operate for all, we Ethiopian will go mostly to encourage the business and enjoy with our local food, sometimes I prefer to order from them to not taking a time by preparing at home as the cost doesn t affect this much, but the waiter or servant in all Ethiopian restaurant has similar culture when you pay the bill , the rate of the bill start from 15%, and that mean when you pay 50 to 55 dollar you gonna pay 59-65 like this including tips the waitress are not giving a chance to tap any amount for tip, they stop a top of you and see to what amount you gonna tip you and which s not something I don t like it, please change your tip policy and waitress as well.

Very nice place

Bad customer service

Bad costumer service

We went to the restaurant for lunch. Although there was a mix-up with our order due to communication issues, we decided to pay without making a fuss. The food was excellent!

This place serves the best Ethiopian food, and the owner knows how to keep customers happy with great service. If you want to taste authentic doro wot, quanta firfir, or kitfo, I highly recommend visiting. You won t be disappointed; the food is delicious and one of the best in Toronto. If you re exploring Ethiopian cuisine, this restaurant is a must-try!

Selam Restaurant and Lounge is the best restaurant in town! The food is incredibly delicious, and the customer service is outstanding. The staff are very kind and welcoming. This was my first time visiting Toronto, and I stayed for 7 days. During my vacation, I ate at Selam Restaurant every day because the experience was so wonderful. One of the highlights was trying their traditional dish called Tihlo oh my gosh, you will not be disappointed! I highly recommend Selam Restaurant and Lounge to anyone looking for amazing food and great service in Toronto.

Great service, and delicious food. My wife and I had such an amazing experience. The service was excellent. Our server was friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. The restaurant, including the bathrooms, was very clean. Background musing set the right ambuent, but was not loud enough to be distracting. We loved it! The only problem I see is that now I am addicted to their EKateghna. We ordered it without having any idea what is it, and we both loved it. Thank you for making our date luch such a amazing expirience.

Without any doubt this is the best Eritrean-Ethiopian in Toronto. Beautiful food. Lovely family celebration atmosphere. Welcoming and joyous service. They take s birthday very seriously! Youll be glad you chose them and youll be organizing when to go back. Vegetarian options: Vegetarian and vegan. Kid-friendliness: Take the kids and the grandparents, aunts, uncles, everyone!

Id give it 6 if possible...They offer an exceptional dining experience with its authentic and flavorful Ethiopian cuisine. The Kitfo, a traditional dish of finely minced raw beef seasoned with spices, is a standout, rich and perfectly spiced. The vegetarian platter, featuring dishes like Misir Wot and Gomen, is a delightful mix of flavors and textures, all served on traditional injera. The warm, welcoming atmosphere and friendly service make every visit memorable. Selam is a must-visit for anyone looking to enjoy the true taste of Ethiopia.

Best resto in TO, and I m not a bot

Very friendly service and great food 10/10

Had a great experience at selam, the flavors were great and reasonably priced. We had the selam platter and added the beef tongue. Every item was fresh and flavorful. We also had the coffee ceremony which was great.

Absolutely enjoyed my meal here today.

Love the food, probably the best Ethiopian food in town (and Ive tried many joints). That said, they take time to prepare food, so be patient. Its worth the wait.

The restaurant has amazing smell inside, the decor is very authentic. The service was very friendly and polite. I really enjoyed the food, better than any Ethiopian place I ve tried. I ll be back 100%

We were visiting Toronto for a short trip and wanted to explore various cuisine. It was time for Ethiopian food. The spice was balanced and was not too spicy. But I was bit disappointed with Kategha because I usually have had dry and crispy but this was completely different but everything was amazing and will definitely recommend to my local friend.

The order might take a little while but trust me it is worth waiting every second

Follow @bredgyeats for more food posts! Meat Platter for 2 $36 - Chicken (5.5/10) and beef (8/10) tibs, along with choice of 3 vegan options. Injera was somewhat sour, more sour than Lucy but less sour than other places. Presentation is also nice. Chicken chunks cooked with garlic and jalapenos, a little overcooked so it was dry. Beef was juicier but well done, slightly tough but good flavour, slightly smoky. Timtimo tsebhi 7/10 : red lentil stew with traditional spices and herbs. (Very rich and filling, spices are distinct but on the subtle side, nothing really pops out like acidity. Okra 7.25/10 : stewed in scallions, ginger, garlic. (tender texture and thick gravy, nice aromatics.) Shiro Mushroom 6/10 : Mushroom tibs with a roasted chickpea and split pea stew (a little earthy and sour, not much umami itself, but the mushrooms were seared nicely for a strong, earthy umami taste.) Collards with Flaxseed $10 - Fragrant ginger garlic sauce, collards are tender but still holds some texture. Covered with an earthy and fragrant toasted flaxseed. A slight earthy bitterness from the collards too thats masked by the flaxseed (I think)

Everytime I visit Selam Restaurant, for me, its time well spent, great experience and delicious food. The staff are very attentive and helpful. The bathrooms are clean and most of all, I love the ambiance and the tunes they play. Recommended dishes

Too much attitude from the waitresses we have been told to move from our table because some white people would be disturbed and it would be crowded ( which happened twice ) , food takes forever to come such a shame they don t even prioritize their own people .

Best ethiopian resturaunt in toronto ever. good services and healthy food.

I normally find the injera at Ethiopian spots to be too sour for my personal tastes, but the injera at Selam Restaurant was perfect for me! The platter for 2 is a deal, so definitely go sharesies to save. Every option on our plate was yummy, but the red lentils were our favourite.

Dined twice. Typical Ethiopian cuisine with higher quality ingredients, all well cooked. It is more expensive than other Ethiopian restaurants, but the food quality is higher as well. Good attentive service.

Really good food! Good price too. Wish there was more injera offered lol.

When my go-to (Sheba) closed I was worried I d never find an alternative I enjoyed as much but crisis averted because Selam is delicious. Delicious (and filling) food and lovely staff combined with great pricing and a cozy space have made this my new regular. The best!

Yeah, its good. First time eating East African food, much more acidic than I thought. Incense and tea really helps

Delicious and fresh Ethiopian food

Best Ethiopian Food Outside of Ethiopia I Ever Had.

Yummy food. I always come here for Habesha food. Vegetarian options: There are many vegetarian options I d recommend Shiro. Food : 5/5 |

Vegetarian options: Amazing vegan options! Wheelchair accessibility: Ramp at the entrance. Food : 5/5 |

Very bad food not remanded

Delightful experience for first time enjoying a new food ! Super server (will not be able to spell her name properly )but was pronounced like Ready ! We also had the coffee celebration very nice !

This was my first time trying Ethiopian food. We tried the shiro dip to start and then ordered the Selam platter with okra, beet/potato and hamli collard greens. While everything was flavourful, I found the flavour of the injera to be off putting (just my opinion). There are so many other items I look forward to trying, and will definitely be back.

Amazing food experience. The waitress was so nice. We have the coffee ceremony. A really cultured experience. I highly recommend this restaurant.

What a great experience. The food was outstanding, service was friendly and price point was good. First time eating Ethiopian food but we loved it. Thank you!

Very nice and warm service

Definitely one of the best Ethiopian restaurants in Toronto. The portion sizes were generous and the food was amazing. The Her Majesty (Dorro Wat) was one of the best I ve tasted. Highly recommend Selam.

Selam for me Colorful authentic delightful care warm generous friendly delicious family atmosphere irresistible unforgettable welcoming

Delicious food, good service. Vegetarian options: Many vegetarian options! Food : 5/5 |

Halal ethopian food nestled away in the heart of downtown! Great place to go with friends or family! Amazing food and great vibes

Love this Ethiopian place! When we order take out, its always a great deal. When we eat in the vibes are fantastic. The service is always a little spotty, but the food is worth it!

Classic Restaurant in town

We went here with a few friends and loved their vegetarian platter. The dishes come out hot and the staff are warm and inviting.

Amazing food very delicious!

Very tasty food and grate service.

Very nice place:)

I got the vegan split pea with the gluten free injera and it was very good!!

The atmosphere was very calm and soothing. The incense fragrances and coffee ceremony fragrances surely blended and gave me nostalgic vibes. I had a mixed platter Injera. The vegetarian stews are amazing. However the non vegetarian stews are less saucy and less spicy. This was a turndown on my first time expectation with the cuisine. Injera was very soft. I liked it. The staff were very kind and understanding. Will go back again for the delicious meal suggestion from the staff. Vegetarian options: They have dedicated vegetarian stews for the injera. Not sure about the variety

Fantastic meal, the flavours are off the charts! And a new experience for me to eat a full meal with my hands! Highly recommend. Vegetarian options: Vegan

I had a wonderful dining experience at this restaurant. The atmosphere was welcoming, the service was impeccable, and the menu offered a delightful range of flavours. Each dish was expertly crafted, showcasing a perfect balance of ingredients. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a memorable culinary journey.

This place needs make over but the lady who was taking care of us was awesome and very nice We came to this place again and food was great and service was excellent Only the restaurant so sorry looking Please change the out look Of course you guys need to charge few dollars to your menu That s probably will bring you back more customers God bless you people Behrouz Vegetarian options: My daughter loved split peas and she loved the spice on them She never eats spicy foods but I was pleasantly surprised when she ate

Excellent service and the food was absolutely phenomenal. From the shiro to the beef & chicken tibs, everything was served hot & fresh. I would highly reccomend this Ethiopian resturant as one of the best I had in Toronto, Ameseginalehu.

One of the best East African food with an excellent service.

I love Selam! I made a reservation here for my birthday. We were a group of almost 20 people on a hectic weekend evening, but the staff made sure we were all comfortably seated together and our food arrived on time. They also found a way to combine our many orders into shared platters. It was a seamless experience, and the food was delicious as always. If you go for your birthday, make sure you accept the offer of a fire show you won t want to miss it.

So glad I stopped in! Had the vegan platter. Restaurant was pretty busy for a Wed night. Very nice waitstaff. Each of the 6 dishes on the platter were perfect. Be aware that the restaurant is a little smokey/incense.

The hospitality was great, everyone greeted us on the way if. Our waiter was friendly and even though it was busy here was attentive, right there when we needed him. This is my first time eating Ethiopian food so I have nothing to base the authenticity on. However, I will say if this is what Ethiopian food is supposed to taste like, Ive been missing out. Theres a lot of unique spices and flavors that make me feel as if Im eating a certain meat or vegetable for the first time. Eating with the spongy flat bread does take some getting used to but it adds to the experience and it does taste great. Ill be coming back at some point. Vegetarian options: If you need a vegetarian option then this is the place but they do have meat as well.

I was one of their regular customer mostly place order on via Uber. They missed Items. I understand mistakes happens but they way they handel it when I call at the restaurant was poor.

Amazing food, amazing service, friendly staff

By far the best Ethiopian in the city!!! Amazing food and the service is excellent too especially Salem herself and her team Aroda Ready and Aki! The spicy orange green chilli paste on the side is to die for!

My go-to place for Ethiopian

Excellent service and food

amazing beef tibs, super flavourful! the service was great as well. my only issue was the wait time, it took very long for us to get our food. but definitely want to come back and try the vegan food here. i recommend getting a meat dish and one of the vegan dishes to balance out your meal. Vegetarian options: theres a whole separate vegan section

Very healthy, testy and affordable prices and good location as well. Thanks for your great service

Such an amazing experience, indulging myself into the Ethiopian culture. The vegan platter. Never disappointed me. I recommend this place if you want to try something new or you re into different food cultures this is your spot and lastly the staff here are very nice. Recommended dishes

Highly recommend this restaurant. We had dinner with my friends for my birthday. We really enjoyed the dinner as the food was fresh and delicious. They also set the bar on fire for birthday parties. Remember to ask for it. They also had a kinda private space for a large group of people which was nice. The staff were super friendly and although they close the restaurant at 10 pm , they allowed us to stay as long as we want and we left after 11 pm.

First time eating Ethiopian. Good food and friendly staff. Good portions, platter for 3 fed 4. Try the celebration coffee!

Food was fresh and big depth of flavour. Great recommendations from staff and a fun overall experience.

I tried the cuisine for the first time. Tasty food.

Had the vegan/veggie platter, which was a choice of six different veggie/legume options on top of injera. The food was very delicious, and the service was kind. Would definitely recommend checking them out

Supper delicious food, lovely atmosphere and amazing service. This is how they served shots while we were leaving the restaurant!!

first time trying Ethiopian food and it was amazingggg! definitely a new go-to for takeout. food was packaged well and it was ready by the time i got to the restaurant. super generous portions! i got the vegetarian combo platter for one but i got two very hearty meals out of this. each of the dishes was uniquely delicious and the injera was interesting in the best way amazing texture and soaked up the flavours so well! love love love!

Nice Tigray food

Its my first time at Salam Ethiopian restaurant. I will go back. We had dinner here, we spent $50 two of us including tips. We ordered Angela tipsy meat and vegetables. Street parking is available.

The best shpot in town fam!

Not recommended

Love the food. Amazing coffee experience. Must try

We had a very lovely dinner with friends here. The Selam platter was a very good option for 2 or 3 people.

Great service, good atmosphere. The food was OK not that great.

Quiet, plenty of seating but most of all great tasting habesha food.

Great casual atmosphere, Excellent food at an affordable price. My wife and I had the vegetarian platter for two. Definitely generous portions with a great variety

Excellent restaurant. Its worth trying this special cuisine. Tasty, full of flavor.

Tasty and authentic food. A bit pricy. The seats looked a bit dirty.

If you are looking for authentic Ethiopian and Eritrean dishes in a cosy place,you should visit Selam restaurant and lounge

The place is cozy and beautifuly decorated the food is great. They need to improve on castmer service

Loved our dinner here! Visiting from thr states and loved that they had vegetarian/Vegan options. Food was delicious!!

The food is amazing. Its been a long time since I have authentic Ethiopin food. The staff really cares about your experience. I would give it 6 if possible

Loved it, great food good prices. Would go back again.

Really wonderful place and beautiful atmosphere. The staff is very friends and inviting and the food is superb. Took my family there for their first time trying Ethiopian and they had a wonderful time. My family loves spices and they used the perfect amount. We also tried the coffee celebration and it tasted super fresh and delightful. Would definitely go again.

My new favourite restaurant at the moment. So good, I accidentally over-ate my share of the platter!

We asked our server to pick our food for us, and it was such a good call. She did a great job and we loved the flavors and ease of eating delicious Ethiopian food all evening! Vegetarian options: So many!!

First time I came here it took an hour for the food to come. Decided to try it out again and was a lot quicker. Combo platter is a great deal. I recommend the red lentils and split peas. Tasty salad too.

Best Ethiopian food in the area. Awesome welcoming vibe. Order the 6 veggie platter, then add some meats (lamb and/or chicken tibs are excellent). Good level of heat. Their chianti is a great complement to the food. When you arrive, let the server know you want the coffee ceremony so they can prepare. The perfect night.

delicious food !!

This place was great! I really loved the chacha which is to die for and the tibs that just melts in your mouth. The staff is very friendly and kind. They had special Ethiopian veggie rolls which were simply delectable. The atmosphere gives you a sense of culture that the food and service really gives you a real experience of Ethiopia!!!!!!!!!!

Incredible food, service a little slow but lovely, so worth it. Ill be back

Ive been multiple times and will continue to return. The service is so incredibly friendly across the board and its the best Ethiopian food Ive tried in the city. Last time I went, we came in with a large group and no reservation; we would have understood entirely if they had not been able to accommodate us, but they didnt even bat an eye and had us seated with drinks in less than 3 minutes. Keep it up, team! Ill always recommend this place to anyone looking for an outstanding and affordable meal in Toronto. Vegetarian options: Im a meat eater, but I never actually go for any of their meat dishes; the vegetarian/vegan options here are just too good!

Incredible food. Good atmosphere. Good service.

When we (03) arrived in a Sunday brunch time it was a big waiting line, better you have it in mind when will planing go there. The menu has many good options including vegetarian and vegan. The food was ok, not exceptional

Perfect habeshan dine here

Wow! Had the vegan platter for 2 and it was amazing!,Delicious and healthy. On top of that great value! We left full and happy with our experience

For anyone looking to come to this restaurant, read my review. I ordered take out and they took 1.5 hours to prepare my food. I had no problem waiting but over one hour is ridiculous. They also charged me $2.00 for PEPPER. They gave me the smallest amount possible. They also charged me an extra $4.00 out of nowhere , I found out from looking at their website online after I paid. This restaurant use to be one of my favorite but now they re just cutting corners to save on every penny. The food is bland and the portions are just ridiculously small.

Quality of the food has gone down a bit since covid happened. Their portions use to be huge , feeding multiple meals. Now it s so small that the price isn t worth it. $24 for the vegetarian combo.

Best food Ive ever had, the best cheesecake as well. Highly recommend this place if you want to give Ethiopian food a try.

Such a wonderful place to dine

definitely you must go to this restaurant. It s an upscale Ethiopian restaurant the staff there are very friendly and attentive. The food that was amazing definitely will be back.

Great food and atmosphere. Ask for the real injerra which is DARK and more sour.

Everything was excellent and food is delicious

Decent food

Selams is such a beautiful restaurant. My partner and i went for their birthday dinner and my first time trying Eritrean-Ethiopian food. The waitress was an absolute sweetheart and she made great recommendations. She also gave my partner a fire shot and it was so cool. The vibe is really nice and the art on the wall is very cool; we really enjoyed ourselves. The portion size for 2 is shown in the photo and was very filling. I would definitely recommends trying it out.

Everything was made to perfection. The staff was accommodating and warm. I will be visiting again soon!

Wow, the food was pretty terrible. Tasted like canned lentils/chickpeas that were heated with random spices without much thought. It was very oily. I couldnt finish it, and my stomach was uneasy from the oiliness of it afterwards. Very disappointing. Vegetarian options: They have vegan/vegetarian options.

The best Ethiopian food Ive had in the city! I love that you can choose from a number of different options for the shared platter, and they have a few vegan dishes Ive never tried before including mushroom tibs and flaxseed stew. Everything was delicious and the portions very generous!

The vegan platter was delicious, along with the ceremonial coffee and popcorn. Nice atmosphere too. Will come back for sure!!

I loved the vegan plate. I think the collards were my favourite dish, but they were all very tasty. The servers were super friendly, and the location was nice. Some of the best Habeshan food I ve tried anywhere. Vegetarian options: Vegetarian and vegan paradise.

The food was delicious. But the service was horrible. I asked one of the ladies clean our table and she said we don t clean that never heard that before . Sadly we want to a different place after having our dinner.

My boys and I went to this place last night and the experience was not that great.when we walked in we were not tended to.instead they helped the people that walked in after us.We waited for food for like an 1:40 minutes, could have been longer I gave up to be honest.at the end the food was okay.definitely would not go back due to a bad first experience.

The service was great!!

The food is so good!!!!! Ill be coming back here a lot Vegetarian options: Vegan options! Dietary restrictions: Vegan options!!

Came here for a date night. The restaurant had a lovely ambience with slightly dim lighting and good music. The food was very tasty, and the Selam platter for 2 that we got was very filling. First time trying the Injera bread - I liked the texture and how it paired with the veggies/meat, though was not a fan of the temperature its served at (room temp, maybe that is how it is served traditionally?). The Ekategha was a very delicious appetizer. Only suggested room for improvement IMO was how long it took for the dishes to be served. The staff were great though. We will definitely return.

Amazing food and atmosphere. One of my favourite spots in the city.

Just feasted on a Vegan platter with gluten free injera for one. Stuffed! Lovely service, came for an early weekday dinner. Will definitely be back. Thank you! Vegetarian options: Vegan bean and vegetable dishes Dietary restrictions: Gluten free option

Its nice, romantic place to eat if you like Ethiopian food

Selam is great for Ethiopian food, and the vegetarian options like timotim, shroom tibs, shroom shiro, and sweet potato are my favourites. I found the beef tibs/chicken tibs only so-so. Pleasant ambience.

Great vibe and tasty food

Celebrated my birthday here at Selam with a few friends and had an amazing experience! I reserved 5 days in advance for a Friday evening and there was space (not sure how booked they get), and we got to sit in the slightly more cozy area. The staff were super friendly and helpful, though sometimes a bit tricky to wave down. The food was also super yummy, we got the Vegan Platter with Okra, Red Lentils, Mushroom Tibs, Split Pea, Cabbage/Carrot and Sweet Potato as well as the Chicken Tibs. The group favourites were the mushroom tibs, okra and red lentil. Also SUPER yummy chocolate drizzle cheesecake. Vegetarian options: Extensive vegan section!

Love, love, love!! IAll the staff are so lovely and the food is AMAZING! Thank you to everyone at Selam for always giving us the best experience.

Very nice authentic Ethiopian place. We definitely will be back for another round!

Fantastic spot for a cozy date and wonderful food.

Lovely authentic Ethiopian food! Really enjoyed the Selam platter