Review Queen Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant - Johannesburg

Amazing hidden gem in Norwood, from the outside you would not expect to walk into such a spacious space. Service is good, very clean place. Beautiful bar. Extremely affordable. The food taste but a little bit of spicy would be great. I am def coming back again.

Me and my family had a lovely time in this restaurant. The food is authentic, delicious and healthy. The coffee was amazing. And the owner very welcoming and takes his time to explain every dish we definitely will come back :)

This was such a unique experience. As a grouo of friends this was a lovely evening out enjoyed by both the adults and kids. We ordered a platter for the table which was brought on one plate with lamb, chicken and various vegetables. The kids had such a fun time eating with their hands and it was a wonderful communal experience. Unfortunately the restaurant was out of both Ethiopian beer and wine, but they served freshly roasted Ethiopian coffee that was served expresso style which went down really well with the sweet popcorn. Take note that cars are parked in the road which could be a bit of a security risk. Unfortunately there were no car guards to assist. The staff were really friendly and showed us how they went about roasting the coffee as well as explaining the various dishes.

Best Ethiopian restaurant ever it's clean and the food was good. I would highly recommend it to people and I'm definitely coming again thank you for the experience. I enjoyed the food.

I love love love this place. I wish we had another one in Pretoria.

Absolutely delicious - ordered a range of foods (samosas, veggie combo, meat and veggie combo). Was here on a Thursday night, it was pretty quiet but had a wonderful atmosphere. Perfect for getting together with friends.

Service with a smile! Very friendly staff and everything was delivered in good time. The menu is small and easy to understand, as opposed to other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to where the menu is so big, it's just overwhelming. They offer ideal combo meat and veg options if you want to taste a bit of everything. The food is authentically served and portions are decent! The food was fantastic. Would highly recommend this great little slice of Ethiopia. Oh and the coffee was delicious! (Obviously)

Really wonderful atmosphere, delicious Ethiopian food and kind staff. Recommend the veg combo and Ethiopian coffee. If you have time ask to see how it’s made, they brew and roast it from the green coffee bean itself! So cool

What a delight! Having discovered the stand at Sylvia's Market about a month back, and having tried making injera bread (with teff flour we bought at the stand) and combining with a number of Ethiopian dishes, we decided to visit the restaurant yesterday afternoon. What a pleasure. The brother of the woman who runs the Sylvia's Market stand owns the restaurant. Some people have left reviews commenting that the decor wasn't great - we loved it, clean, simple and just enough nik-naks on the walls to suggest an inviting and different experience. We both had meat and veg platters (at R100 each), plus the side of the injera bread. Delicious. If you don't do chilli hot and spicy, you may well find this food too much. We also has a glass of honey wine - served in the traditional glasses - a miniature carafe, as it were. Not as sweet as I would have imagined, but the perfect accompaniment to the food. Both of us were unable to finish our platters - we were so full. If you enjoy experimenting with different cuisines - definitely give this place a try.

Had the privilege of being invited to celebrate the Ethopian new year at Queen Sheba's. What a wonderful experience. The dinner was buffet style, with lots of meat. When mentioning we had 3 vegans as part of our group, the owner (without any issue) prepared individual platters for us, which was absolutely delicious- so many flavours and textures. And the coffee! Would highly recommend to vegans or anyone wanting to experience Ethiopian cuisine.

So pleased we decided to give Queen Sheba a try last night - what a little gem! We thoroughly enjoyed our authentic Ethiopian meal and the friendly, comfortable atmosphere was enhanced by entertainment from guest artists, Pops Mohamed and the lovely Tu Nokwe.

Service with a smile! Very friendly staff and everything was delivered in good time. The menu is small and easy to understand, as opposed to other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to where the menu is so big, it's just overwhelming. They offer ideal combo meat and veg options if you want to taste a bit of everything. The food is authentically served and portions are decent! The food was fantastic. Would highly recommend this great little slice of Ethiopia. Oh and the coffee was delicious! (Obviously)

We decided that we felt like something different and for my friends, to try something new. Having eaten Ethiopian food before, I knew what to expect. And the food did not disappoint. Not a common cuisine is SA, it is a very tactile, flavorful food experience. The meal is eaten with your hands, using pieces of “rice bread” to scoop up the various different items off the platter. You order a platter which contains both meat and vegetarian ingredients and mix and match flavors and tastes as you go. It is not messy even though u eating with your hands. One of the most “fun and social” meals you could do with friends and family. Authentic experience from the staff to the decor. One suggestion to the owner would be to update the sign outside to something that better reflects the decor inside. Modernise and perhaps just have the name and underneath “An Ethiopian food experience”. You don’t want to put people off coming inside because the sign outside looks old and damaged and doesn’t in anyway reflect what you get once you through the door!

Food was awesome, excellent service. I am taking my friends there next time. Atmosphere is good. I would recommend it to anyone who want good food with a difference.

24/06/2018 🍽<br/>We went to Queen Sheba yesterday afternoon for an Ethiopian food tasting experience, and it certainly was an interesting experience.<br/><br/>The restaurant is very simple with an arty ambience, and the service was really friendly - Our waitress took her time explaining every dish.<br/><br/>Our starter was rice injera with a few vegetable sides, as well as vegetable samoosas. The main was authentic Ethiopian injera (which tastes a little sour on it's own) some lamb, a spicy chicken stew, and a lot of different vegetable sides.<br/><br/>Heads up - you eat everything with your hands, breaking off the injera and using it to scoop up the food.<br/><br/>

Great food and friendly staff. Didn't take picture of the starter but was delicious. The platter gives you a taste of every thing. Good value for money

Got a voucher from Hyperli. Man oh man was it a great experience. Delicious authentic food. Decor is a great conversation starter. From the service to the food, everything is excellent. Thank you to Wonder for taking care of us and giving us that brief history of the country. Would definitely recommend

Well it was a good and new experience for us. Food was yummy, portion size was huge, very quite and comfortable place. Overall different and amazing experience. Will definitely go back.

Nice little Ethiopian restaurant in Norwood.<br/>It is quite authentic however the vegetarian selection is small and not great.<br/>The setting is okay but could do with some TLC.<br/>The chef/ owner was very accommodating and came to check up on the food.<br/>I think Ethiopian food is an acquired taste but definitely something worth trying.<br/>I found the prices very reasonable and the sweet popcorn afterwards was a lovely treat.<br/>I would recommend trying an Ethiopian coffee afterwards!

Very welcoming staff that attended our every need. You must try the starter as it has a delicate flavor. It’s served with Ethiopian espresso and they go so well together. If you think Turkish coffee is strong you simply must experience this.<br/><br/>Everything is served on this divine flat bread called Injera that is naturally carb free and yet has a slightly sweet taste. <br/>The assorted platter was a symphony of flavors. Definitely arrive hungry. <br/><br/>The only negative thing I could say is that the steak strips could have done with a bit more sauce.

This was quite a new and interesting experience. I literally had to YouTube how to eat the food as it was served. <br/><br/>Overall, I enjoyed the food and the ambiance of the place. The service is also very good.

Great restaurant... Amazing food, which is totally different to anything else you find in South Africa. It is reasonably priced, with big portions and interesting meal choices. Will definitely recommend it to adventurous eaters. The service is quick and polite. Definitely a go to choice in Norwood.

Lovely ambiance and the owner is so wonderful. Great prices and an all-round experience. I just don't think Ethiopian is really my style but the food is good nonetheless.

Great food great hospitality genuine interest in your experience from the staff. The food is amazingly flavoured and is great for communal eating. Don't order 1 thingjust for yourather order an assortment to share. Don't eatthe njera on its own its meant to go with the food. If you're analabout touching your food and eating with your hands don't go because you'll just be annoyed and a drag for everyone else. Expect chilli in most foods. Its adventurous so don't go in expecting a typical restaurant experience.

One of my fave restaurants in JHB! Patron is extremely friendly, the vegetarian platters are to die for, especially shiro (chickpea stew). Everything is delicious, hearty, portions are big, prices are fair and it all ends with amazing Ethiopian salt and sugar popcorn.

A very ethnic Ethiopian restaurant, fun to experience it as it was so authentic, only Ethiopian staff and patrons. <br/><br/>The decor was interesting and the service was friendly and lovely. <br/><br/>The food was very very different, we didn't enjoy the dishes, the flat breads were very bland although I loved the chillie sauce. <br/><br/>The lentil starter was too hot to eat (for someone that eats chillies on everything) and the beef dishes were very average but in fairness it may be that the spices and tastes were just so different to what our taste buds are used too. <br/><br/>We usually enjoy trying different and exotic locations and am glad we went as still had a fun evening but wouldn't go back for the food

What a cool place! It has a quirky interior, but a nice vibe.<br/>We started off our meal with freshly brewed coffee (brewed in a pot on a stove and served black). We ordered Kitfu (spicy mince) and Lamb Tibs (lamb stew) on endura, which is like a large, tasteless, fluffy pancake. <br/>The food was amazing- tasty, fresh, and very yummy! I highly recommend those dishes! <br/>We met the lovely owners and they served us popcorn to finish of the meal. <br/>It's a real Ethiopian experience, so it's a nice alternative to the usual. It's also naturally carb free, so dieters can enjoy the food without any guilt! <br/><br/>I say TRY IT :)

Interesting little place. The cuisine is quite different than what I am used to so took a little pep talk. I wasn't fond of the spongy bread. The lentils were amazing. I had the veggie platter which was a good option for someone as scared as me. Food was mostly spicy. Coffee very very strong. Popcorn lovely. Service was good, the manager is very welcoming and willing to explain the menu. No cutlery....you eat with your hands (lucky for me I found a spoon). An interesting experience overall but not sure I will go back.

Awesome dining experience! The manager was very welcoming and explained all the dishes to us, as well as answered our hundreds of questions about Ethiopia. The food was traditional and full of flavor - gluten and preservative free. Loved the authenticity of having no cutlery and having to eat with your hands.

Used a GroupOn voucher to try this restaurant, the ambience was quaint and inviting, the service was warm and we loved getting the authentic explanation on the food we were tasting. The food was tasty and fresh and the portions were generous. Definitely try it for a new and different dining experience.

I purchased a Groupon voucher and tried this restaurant for the first time yesterday. At first I had my reservations because of the location and it looked like a small little restaurant from outside, but we enjoyed it so much! Our Ethiopian waitress was friendly, and the owner/manager came by to talk to us and even showed us how to eat the food in the traditional manner using the Ethiopian flatbread "Injera" with your hands. The food was delicious and very flavourful - it was a tasting platter but it was more than enough for two. The restaurant has a nice ambiance with traditional songs playing in the background and Ethiopian decor. Don't expect a 5 star Sandton restaurant - this is a simple restaurant that offers a cultural experience. We will definitely go back!

Lovely and cosy in the winter, great place to bring vegetarians and vegans. Samoosas were sub-par (though it's possible that I am too critical when it comes to samoosas). Injera bread was amazing, and the sugary popcorn with coffee for dessert was a highlight. Super fun music playing too!

I persuaded to try this place out by a friend who bought a group-on voucher. It ended up being a truly ghastly experience. From the time we entered, the hostess was cold and uninviting. The service was almost non-existent. The worst part was the food which looked like it was cooked a few days ago and simply microwaved. We ended up leaving without finishing our meal.

My brother recommend that we come here for lunch as he had been there a couple of times.<br/><br/>The restaurant is beautiful and the host is very friendly. They brought us a starter of samoosas and a spicy wasabi lentil dish that would put chest hairs on your chest! Haha!<br/><br/>I love that their is no cutlery as it keeps the whole experience authentic. For mains we ordered a mix of the vegetarian and 2 meat dishes. It all came with njeera. The presentation was beautiful and everything looked very inviting.<br/><br/>The meat dishes were delicious and very rich in flavour but my favourite was the carrot and potato veg dish. My brother had a coffee that was made in the proper etheopian way and had the most amazing smell! The njeera was soft and fluffy.<br/><br/>For dessert they brought us some freshly popped popcorn that was topped with sugar.<br/><br/>It really was a great experience and would recommend it to anyone.

What a hidden gem!  After getting a voucher online for a seven dish tasting experience for four people, I read the reviews of this place.  I was a bit skeptical at first, but once inside, I was pleasantly surprised.  <br/><br/>The friendliest faces greeted us and showed us to our table.  The food was explained to us and served promptly.  The starter consisted of samoosas and vegetarian tasters.  The main meal was amazing, one platter to share with seven different tasters, and lamb, beef and chicken in the center.  In true  Ethiopian tradition, you eat with your hands.  This was the first Ethiopian food experience for two of our party, and they loved it. <br/><br/>I cannot wait to go back!  The traditional dancers on a Friday and Saturday evening adds to the experience.

I've eaten here a couple of times, the first was through an online promotion. The family held mixed reviews. Myself and my eldest loved it. The sour bread, I forget it's name, takes getting used too. Once I did however I found myself craving it days later.<br/>

We're huge fans of Addis in Cape, and decided to try out this restaurant to see if we could find its equivalent in Joburg. There was also a Groupon on offer, for the 7 course tasting menu. To which we added the beef stew and the veg combo. <br/><br/>Addis in Cape remains the winner by far. Particularly for the vegetarian food. The chicken wot and beef stew were quite good here, although not all of the beef was tender. The coffee ceremony wasn't one, and the coffee could have been miles better. <br/><br/>The place is nicely decorated. We were surprised to be the only table on a Saturday night. The service was a tad absentee, even in an empty room. <br/>

The experience is everything here. Lovely food that I've never had served the way it was. The injera bread is is quite fascinating. I like that they keep things simple here. My gut feel is that Ethiopian food is a lot more spicier and hot, but they kept flavours were mild and edible. <br/><br/>Starters not too awesome. But the main was lovely with very size-able portions. The coffee ceremony afterwards was the best. Delicious coffee served the traditional Ethiopian way. Honestly, this place is just cool. Not an everyday restaurant but something you HAVE to try. <br/><br/>

Authentic Ethiopian. Very relaxed vibe down one of the side streets in norwood. Staff help you by explaining what everything is. Delicious vegetarian options available.

This was a new and different experience for me- not sure if I am sold on Ethiopian food though. The restaurant has simple decor, I particularly liked how the wash basins looked! Our waitress was very sweet and friendly and explained all the dishes to us. We had a tasting plate to share with some injera. No cutlery so you must eat with your hands! I liked the spicy chicken samoosa as well as the chicken curry with boiled egg. The veggies were nice enough, one of the lentils had a spicy mustard that has a kick to your senses- like an angry wasabi! Not for me. The coffee was the best part of the meal though - it was thick and bitter and had a great taste!

Wow, what a great experience! Our waitress recommended that we get a platter to enjoy a whole range of different options. It had lamb (AMAZING!), beef, chicken, and a range of authentic vegetable dishes. All dishes are served with traditional bread. We ate in the traditional style of dipping the bread in the different dishes, as no cutlery is offered (too cool!). The ambiance is really complimented with their stylish decor. Only disadvantage is that they do not have card machines.

Having fell in love with Ethiopia and its food a few years ago, this is the best place to get my fix when in South Africa.<br/><br/>The humble and clean deco, the attentive service and delicately rich food makes it one of my favorite places to eat in JHB.

A great experience of exotic food to be had here. Your tastebuds take a journey through Ethiopia on a 7 course meal... Each mouthful, a decadent taste adventure. This place hasn't disappointed yet and the decor further sets the mood for a culinary expedition to Africa.

Don't let the rustic appearance put you off. It's an African feast once you're seated and experience the friendly vibe and delicious food. A great journey through the color full and tasty Ethiopian cuisine. Go for the 7 piece tasting platter!

Had my doubts initially but was pleasantly surprised by the authentic taste of Ethiopia. Really enjoyed the food, my rating would have been a 4 if it was not for the torned and slightly dirty table cloths.

Last night, I popped into Queen of Sheba restaurant for an authentic taste of Ethiopian culture and food. <br/><br/>Having been to Ethiopia a few years ago, I was a little apprehensive as to whether or not this restaurant would have the same traditional culture and excellent coffee that I discovered in Addis, but I was happily greeted by Israel, (who served us) along with everyone and everything else in the restaurant that were in fact all truly Ethiopian from start to finish. <br/>When I think of Ethiopia, the coffee plant, Coffea arabica, that originates in Ethiopia comes to mind immediately, and according to legend, the 9th-century goatherder Kaldi discovered the coffee plant after noticing the energizing effect the plant had on his flock.. Since then, coffee production has been a longstanding tradition and accounts for the majority of Ethiopia's foreign income. I almost couldn't wait to get the food out of the way so that I could sample their coffee..<br/>The food:<br/>Our Starters:<br/>Sambussa: A pastry shell filled with lentils, onion, green pepper and herbs<br/>Azefa: Ethiopian lentils and mustard salad (simple, nourishing and zesty lentils salad with a tang and spicy mustard dressing)<br/><br/>Mains:<br/>Doro Wot: Spicy Ethiopian chicken stew (tenderly cooked chicken leg with traditional Ethiopian spiced chicken stew served with boiled egg)<br/>Special Tibs: Lamb meat, sauteed with seasoned herb, pan fried with berbere flavour served with flavour of onion and tomato<br/>Shirt Wot (Ethiopian style chickpeas flour sauce): Seasoned milled chickpeas flour cooked with onion and with special spices<br/>Miser Wot (Ethiopian lentil stew): Crushed red lentil cooked with our special berbers sauce.<br/><br/>And to finish off the evening, we both had one of the most delicious traditional Ethiopian coffees that I've ever had! For me, oddly enough the highlight of the evening was their coffee as I have been a firm fan of it since my trip there in 2013! <br/>*Recommendation: Just a note that last night they advised their card facilities had not been working for quite some time and required a cash payment so be sure to take cash with you, if you are thinking of taking a trip down Ethiopian lane.

Great food. Great vibe. We really enjoyed our time! The wine list was a bit limited but the variety of food on offer was great. The staff were also really nice! Definitely worth a visit!!

My boyfriend brought me here as a surprise dinner date and I absolutely loved it! The atmosphere is great and the service is friendly and our waitress very attentive. The food is INCREDIBLE. An absolute must try adventure!!You Are What You Eat

Had an awesome experience at Queen Sheba! Service was excellent. The food was of amazing quality and full of flavor. Would recommend this restaurant to anyone with a eye for something off the normal South African Cafe.

What was meant to be my first Ethiopian Restaurant experience turned out<br/>to be a terrible experience... RODENTS are unacceptable!!! What is more<br/>unacceptable is the reaction of the manager NO APOLOGY, NO SYMPAHY and NO<br/>REFUND!!!

Date night saw us at the lovely Queen Sheba in Norwood. What a treat! Beautiful restaurant, very authentic feel. The staff was so welcoming and friendly. The platter that we ordered had a great selection of vegetarian dishes which I greatly appreciated as well as chicken and beef. Definitely worth giving this place a try if for nothing more than the experience.

Have been to same name ethopian restaurant in New York. This restaurant had good food but little unorganized. The waitress was nice but overwhelmed. It will not discourage us from going ng again as the food was very good and waitress accommodated our every request. Seems family friendly as we saw lot of people with kids.

Came to Queen Sheba as part of a Groupon special.. Wonderful experience! Friendly waitress and unique cuisine is always a winning foodie combo. Loved it.

We went for dinner on a Friday evening , thinking it would be easy to get a table . But quite the opposite . It was fully packed . The hostess were all smiles and ready to serve . The food took a little long to get to the table , but everything was fresh and well made . Loved the experience .

Finally had an opportunity to go here after hearing rav reviews and I was not disappointed.<br/>I went as part of a group of 6, 3 of us are vegetarian which worked out great because it meant we could have two platters one veg one meat.<br/>I can't comment on the meat platter other than to say that everyone left happy, full and glad they had gone.<br/>The veg platter was lovely though. Really nice flavorful wholesome unique food. I loved the fact that you could try lots of little dishes all tasting quite different - be warned one or two are hot.<br/>I had never tried Injera and at at first I didn't like it. I expected it to be warm and more like naan bread, but it wasn't it was cold and lemon-ish tasting. But it went well with the dishes and I'm definitely a convert now.<br/>If you go [which you should] and you're a coffee fan, you must have their coffee - strong, bitter, amazing!!<br/>The staff we really friendly and it was a fun night and communal eating helped make the atmosphere.<br/>On a side-note if you want to know more about Ethopia/Etheopian cuisine ask the owner, he is very friendly.

My girlfriend and I came through to queen Sheba as part of their groupon special for what turned out to be a unique and authentically Ethiopian evening. Having lived in Ghana and Tanzania for a year this restaurant was probably the closest I have felt to being outside of South Africa again. <br/><br/>The food was most definitely different to anything we have ever tried before and it's for that reason I don't think I can properly critique it except for the true experience of it. There were some hit and misses for us but that's simply the cuisine and we were keen to try all the new treats. We particularly liked the chicken tomato and the beef cubes in the platter. In true North African style you should expect to eat with your hands! And the coffee...wow!! The service was on point and we greatly appreciated the manager coming around and, besides checking in, explaining a bit about what it means to be Ethiopian and the different influences on their food. To be honest the restaurant is a little oddly decorated but once again I feel like it was authentic and a true representation of an African restaurant. It all seems to add to the ambiance. <br/><br/>Would recommend to anyone wanting to try something completely different!

Simple and friendly restaurant in Norwood with great tasting food. Eating with your hands takes some getting use to, but adds to the fun and everything felt very authentic. The service was great, our waitress was very attentive. The staff all seemed to be native which I enjoyed. All in all a great experience and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for something different in Joburg .

The best Ethiopian food in Joburg! Period! No if's, and's or but's about it. Very nice ambience and low-key, laid back vibe to bring your loved one. Order the homemade honey wine!

This is the first Ethiopian cuisine restaurant that I have visited. This is a very simple and down to earth restaurant. The table service is very pleasant, patient and efficient. The meals are priced well and feel very authentic.<br/><br/>The menu has a wide variety of meals for vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. I tried a vegetarian platter which was accompanied with bread known as Injera. I enjoyed the wide range of flavours that I dipped into with the bread. There is a lot of heat and spice in their dishes and a lot of differently prepared chickpeas an lentils. <br/><br/>From the outside you could easly just pass this restaurant even though it is in a good location. Pop your head into this unassuming place to try something new.

It's a traditional and ancient way of life that involves a particular way of brewing coffee, one of the best coffees!<br/>The smells reminded me of the Ethiopia that I knew so many years before!

The venue is simple and gave a good impression. I left the<br/>food choices to those who know better. The food delivered was simple and for<br/>the main part tasty. I must say eating with ones hands only is a bit of a challenge<br/>for me. The service was very good and attentive . In all a nice experience.

No atmosphere whatsoever! ! No wine list!! So take friends and create your own atmosphere!! Great cuisine, fresh and authentic. Spicy and different, great service, great all round experience.

Although I've never been to Ethiopia, I'm pretty sure this is as authentic an experience as you'll get in Johannesburg. The owner and waitresses seem to be natives - I've had to ask the waitress to repeat herself a few times because I didn't understand the first time around - she was very patient.<br/><br/>The unassuming exterior of the restaurant is completely misleading. Inside it is beautifully decorated with high ceilings and chandeliers. The menu consists of only two pages, but there is good variety. My friend and I had the Lamb Wot Vegetarian combo and white wine. Everything was delicious and more than enough for two people.<br/><br/>The restaurant only accepts cash, so be sure to come prepared, and there are no dessert options. There's parking available on Algernon Street, but during the day this may be a problem.<br/><br/>If you're looking for something different and affordable, you can't go wrong with this.

Exceptionally tasty food and good service, the owner is fantastic and the prices are very reasonable. A must visit if you're in the Norwood area

We had a wonderful meal there on Friday. The service was good and the food was delicious. The best part was sharing the food - it makes the occasion so much more sociable. Thank you Queen Sheba. May you go from strength to strength.

freinds having a good time and new experiance in Queen Sheba Ethiopian Restaurant in Norwood, Johannesburg.Since the food is organic and natural mostely it enjoybel when you eat it with freinds or family, you will get the best test of it.

Delicious food in an enchanting setting. Excellent service and the manager is very friendly!

Absolutely authentic Ethiopian, probably because the waitresses, clientele and owner all are. Food is great, good as you'd find in any Addis street restaurant, no frills, Ethiopian fare, no pretentions, the real deal. I take anyone who hasn't eaten Ethiopian here, and my partner and I pop around for a meal once a month. If you have a hankering for Addis, this is for you.

A classic Authintic modern Ethiopian restaurant, what un experiance, specially very recomanded for group of family or freinds something you eat communal.