We loved the food. We had two appetizers and we shared a platter of meats and injera with all the trappings. Everything was amazing. Made me want to visit Ethiopia
This one is differently nice...the flavors are very similar to indian tastes but the making is a bit twisted which differentiate the Ethiopian cusine from any other variety available in town... I really like their unique way of serving food... A big bread with the curry in the centre... Would love to revisit whenever i in town.. :)
Cute little hidden find with very friendly staff. The place is tiny! Probably fewer than 6 tables.
Wanting something different for lunch, with more of a comfort food feel - I opted for Ethiopian. I remember coming here many months ago and sharing a festive platter with friends. Their tibs was mind blowingly good.
Today however I opted for a vegetarian platter for 1. Looks can be rather deceiving; I thought I’d still be hungry afterwards, but I walked out super stuffed.
All was very lovely tasting, but perhaps a little more Berbere spice would’ve elevated some of the dishes.
Still not my favourite Ethiopian place in town, but it definitely comes a close second.
I don't care whether you are vegetarian or not, get the Beyeaynetu, especially if you are hungry. I eat notoriously large portions and I required assistance from friends in finishing this dish. It's a combination of various vegetarian Ethiopian foods and is all very tasty. The injera was very delicious (I am a fan of bread in all forms). I didn't expect the restaurant to be so tiny, but it adds to the intimacy of the experience. Be sure to book in advance, just to be safe!
Don't be fooled by the cozy, rustic decor, the authenticity is consistently evidenced in the food. The hostess is lovely and welcoming. If you are looking for an honest food experience without the frills and pretentious culinary expectations, this is it. Corkage is R20 , take your own wine.
My favorite restaurant all over Cape Town.
Small, simple, basic service but good food
I love the fact that you can eat with your hands
Friendly staff
Not a five star place in terms of setting but the food is WOW! Authentic and delicious! I am a sucker for Ethiopian and this place does it right!
Delicious, and incredibly beautiful ambiance!I would have preferred if the food was a spicier, I was expecting a flavour explosion, but the food was honestly not a disappointment - the vegetarian options also will not disappoint! This is definitely the place to try something new. Lovely experience overall.
Wonderful Birthday experience at Little Ethiopia. Stepping into the little establishment made me feel like I was back in Ethiopia! Authentic decor and a friendly host made the start of this culinary adventure simply delightful! The injera was fresh and delicious... and made the perfect sponge to soak up all the flavours of the local Ethiopian dishes...The Bere Bere spice was prominent throughout the meal and the sides were beautifully executed... as if the chef pours all her heart and soul into each dish. Compared to all the Ethiopian restaurants I have been to- I take my hat off to 'Little Ethiopia'... a true hidden little gem! The dishes are well priced and the meal was truly authentic compared to the 'tourist trap' Ethiopian restaurants I've been to in Cape Town and Jozi. This little Gem is a KEEPER. Thank you to the owner for taking me back to my time in Ethiopia!
Curtis Christoffels (Ras Gad)
+4
Good Ethiopian shop. Flavourful food and decor. Strong coffee and great teas. Recommend a Beyanatu when uncertain as the the menu. Overall great shop.
Amazing selection of vegatarian options. Just beware hot means really hot. If you not used to sharing not the place for u. It's a big roti type bread with selection of food on it. Use your hands to enjoy the texture and flavours. Good for family and couples. Not a first date type of place.
This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and I really enjoyed it! The menu is a bit daunting because there is literally nothing on there that you will recognise although I can wholeheartedly recommend the mutton. The place is very small and you sit close to the other tables but it's fun.
What a hidden gem. This hole-in-the-wall spot is so tiny that you could miss it entirely, but once inside it's a fully-functioning restaurant with charm and excellent food. You can bring your own wine (yay!) and the owner's tiny daughter (literally, she's like two years old) will bring you popcorn to start and then will sit and eat it with you. We ordered a big plate of everything to share, and it came with plenty of pancake-like bread to mop up all the delicious flavours. I can't even choose one favourite dish - everything was amazing. It's a very squashed dining situation (make sure you go with close friends, haha) but it somehow adds to the experience. Some of the best Ethiopian food I've ever had.
This is a tiny, tiny restaurant, where you'll be served by the owner before she goes back to cooking. It's not fancy, so don't take your finicky Swiss friends. Take people who like intimate spaces, homey vibes, and good Ethiopian food. Order a couple of different things for variety - I like the Beyeaynetu, a combination of most of the vegetarian dishes, along with the Shiro, which takes a little longer to cook.Oh, and nowadays they do take cards, not just cash.
The best Ethiopian food! Family run and made with love. The flavour is beyond perfect! Small venue, be careful not to miss this gem. Deserves more than a 5. ❤️
This is a cozy little spot and I really enjoy the food. I had the platter for 2 and it was a great way to spend an afternoon. The chicken is really amazing and the staff are welcoming. Take clean friends because you have to eat with your hands. So don't bring Jerry the butt doctor.
I was desperate to try Ethiopian cuisine in Cape Town (one of my best friends is Ethiopian and raves about this restaurant) so I showed up at Little Ethiopia with big expectations! Firstly let me just say- the staff are incredible! The sense of being treated to a home cooked meal is definitely there. I tried the Shiro which is a vegetarian dish consisting of split peas on the Injera (thin bread) - delicious! I'd definitely advise sharing a meal- it was way too much for me alone to finish.
It's the best Ethiopian place in the CBD, with the score doubling to 10.0 because it's a hole-in-the-wall and one gets instant street cred for knowing about it. Which I'm probably undermining by writing about the place on a crowdsourced review platform. Oh no, I've become the agent of my own destruction. They seem to get the injera going on Sundays, so you'll want to go there on Wednesday or later to get that full fermented yeasty-bread taste.
My friend wanted to try authentic African cuisine and I've heard only good things about this place. We decided to give it a try today. It's in Shortmarket street, a very tiny little spot but so warm and cozy and the staff are lovely. You gotta eat with your hands, so it can get a bit messy but it's all part of the experience. My friend and I shared the Mahberawi and it is really tasty. All these different flavors that just takes your taste buds on a roller coaster ride. If you want to try something different then this is definitely an experience. Also you need to pay cash they don't have card facilities👌🏻
Reshmi Muringathuparambil
+5
My friend and I visited this little restaurant on Shortmarket street partly on a whim, mostly because we were hungry and we were in the area, but also based on some great reviews from other friends in the past. It was very quiet when we got there, but later got busy (outside, we were still very much alone inside). It really felt like we had been invited into an Ethiopian home, and having a meal with the family. Little Galeelah provided great in-house entertainment (I think she is the owner's little daughter) by way of dance and singing, in addition to the viby Ethiopian (I'm assuming) jams. Very cozy, not at all stifling, though. The two staff members were very hospitable and friendly, but not in-your-face, and the food - Oh, the food! I ordered the Mahberawi - which is basically a little bit of everything, and my friend ordered one of the beef dishes. It all came together anyways, and I'm pretty sure we could have just ordered the one plate - there was soooo much great food. I'm not sure about the other prices, but for the massive platter I ordered - R75 was cheap. Getting our hands dirty was also a plus. Definitely highlight of my week.
Compared to other Ethiopian restaurants in Cape Town, this place is really good value for money while not compromising on taste and quality of food.
Quite small and maybe not the cleanest, but if the local Ethiopians chose to eat here, it must say something about the authenticity of the food.
The two women who served us were wonderful and the food was delicious! We ordered the shareable meat sample plate and one other dish between four people and it was plenty of food. Cheap beers made the experience that much better. Will definitely return!
Vert flavourful sauce (I had the doro wot). Slightly spicy sauce with a chicken leg and an egg. The bread was a little too much compared to the amount of sauce but the flavours were great and the owner was nice and welcoming. Would come again here!
Very tasty dishes. Kind staff that help us with all the doubts. Traditional deco of the restaurant. Traditional way to have a meal. Great experience!
What a pleasant surprise this little restaurant gave us. The service is great and the meals were wonderful. Can't hurt to give it a try. I suspect you will be very pleased with the results as my wife and I were.
Best Ethiopian food I’ve had in Cape Town. The restaurant is very small but the value of the food is great
My favourite little hole in the wall. Truly a secret gem. I have been coming here since I was a little girl and it never fails to disappoint.
Really great food, nice service and suitable for vegans. Great small diner - can recommend
Recommend as an alternative to the more popular establishments in this area. Very cosy and laid back and the food was delicious
Not my first time tasting Ethiopian food but this time at Little Ethiopia is truly enjoyable, especially dining outside on the truly under the city night sky. The restaurant is quite small and can fit maximum of 20+ people. We've booked out the whole restaurant and the owner suggested that we do a chicken, a beef and two veggie (one is chickpeas and one is lentil) dishes with the traditional bread to share amongst the group. The dishes were well picked and all flavourful and spicy. My favourite is the beef one. The also put extra chilli powder as their pepper and salt on the sides. I took them and it enhances the dishes, just more spicy though. Had their traditional coffee too. Just a heads up that you will be eating the traditional way, with your hands. Service is casual and sometimes shy, but attentive.
We stumbled across possibly the smallest restaurant I've ever been in,
The hostess was friendly and the atmosphere was genuinely great I loved that there were local people (Ethiopians) eating with us.
The food portions were generous. We had a platter that has a bit of everything and something similar to a lamb curry as shown I the picture.
The flavor of the stewed meat was great the vegetables were very simply prepared and more akin to home cooking rather than a culinary Cuisine. This in my opinion added to the overall quaint feel of the place.
Great for something different, be forewarned no cutlery so wash your mits before you dine there
Came here for dinner during our visit to Cape Town. Was very low key. Great food and service.
Very delicious and fresh foods. You sit on little stools around a table and share. Eating with you hands. Quite a fun experience. They also bring as much you can eat. Very nice service and the food is very healthy. Make sure to have a reservation. It is quite pricey though. We pay 30USD per Person in a group of eight.
Fantastic food and great service. Has a cosy environment and convenient location.
Cape Town is difficult for vegetarians, but places like this makes it easier – Tasty food (someone complained about blandness, but they give you berber and other spices that you can use to adjust this), lovely decor and atmosphere and the owner seemed nice. Very small, but I was still able to get a seat.
If you're looking for a unique, delicious dining experience in a little and authentic Ethiopian restaurant, this is the place for you! Wouldn't recommend for a first date though, as eating with your hands can be tricky 😋
Great place, food and service was amazing. The atmosphere is great especially on cold days. Definitely reccomended
Amazing food, we have tried several Ethiopian restaurants in cape town and this is our favorite. Highly recommended!
The service was wonderful. Tiny magical space. Completely different from Ethiopian food in Kenya.
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