I'd been craving good Ethiopian food, and stumbled upon this place a few months ago. The food is fantastic! I highly recommend trying the vegetarian combo (TA3) if you don't know what to order. It's a good blend of several dishes. The portions are quite large, so an order for two will likely be plenty for a party of 3-4. One word of warning, they don't generally provide silverware, so this place isn't for those who are huge germ-phobes, especially since most dishes are served family style. Each table has hand sanitizer, however. I've also ordered take-out several times, and service has been quick. Enjoy!
(5)
Karhma D.
Abyssinia is a fantastic place to eat! It's great for groups, and everyone I've ever dined with there immediately becomes a fan. All the vegetarian options, so far as I know, are also vegan. The carnivores I go with can attest to how delicious the vegan options are. I ate here twice last week and am contemplating going next week. The service is attentive, & their accents are amazingly beautiful.
(5)
Rye D.
Aww!! where Vegetarian means Vegan!! (they do not use any cream cheese's in there vegetarian labeled meals) So we got the Vegetarian Taste of Abyssinia. It was delish i really like the cabbage and onions, and the spicy lentils.The spices were perfectly done. My partner and I enjoyed the experience of trying to eat with our hands, and making a little mess on the table!! The staff is extremely friendly and helpful they make you feel right at home. I can't wait to go back and try some more yummy eats!!!!
(5)
Marvi B.
Three stars cause afterall this is ethnic dining. Recommended by an Ethiopian medical student of mine. I was extremely excited to find out that there is an Ethiopian restaurant in Indy. Greeted well by the waiter, the place is clean and decorated fairly well. There is a corner with traditional seating with a centre table and low set chairs. The place was pretty empty probably for being a weekday. I ordered the beef sambosa as an appetizer which was great and pretty similar to the Indian samosa. Except I was ticked off at the fact that one piece was for $2.5 which is kind of expensive. I ordered the platter TA2 which comes with a little bit of everything namely lentils, veggies, chicken and lamb. Served on a flat bread called injeri it looks quite exotic and appealing! But tasting everything you realize everything has a sour vinegari taste and what they say is spicy is not spicy at all for my taste. I would say for how much I was excited to try this place out I wasn't half as impressed. Probably will only head back if there's a group of friends excited about trying something ethnic. Pricing is also one reason I was not happy. I think the food is way overpriced probably because it's a small business and I understand. But as a customer you think of a hundred different ways you could have eaten with that money. I recommend it for the sake of experience.
(3)
Chrissy A.
I came here to eat after seeing it on WTHR as a Yelp review. I came for dinner w a friend. The menu was slightly overwhelming but the staff was super helpful as this was my first try at Ethiopian food. I had the Yemisir Sambusa that was honestly one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted! Then I shared the TA2 which is a vegetarian combo. Every dish was great! The bread that this is served with is great. It is sour and really goes great with every dish. The staff is great at breaking down what every dish is and making sure you are enjoying your meal. This restaurant is a gem on 38th street. I cannot wait to try the lunch buffet!
(5)
Melinda M.
Everything is fantastic. Had the three tasting platters. Just ask which is the spicy dishes. Great for vegetarians. Coffee ceremony is cool, but the coffee is awesome.
(5)
Sampad D.
It is a awesome eating place. the people are very cordial and they do serve amazing food. We ordered #24 which was a lamb dish. It was just awesome . The lamb was very tender with right amount of spices. We also ordered #15 which was kind of chicken curry . It was also tasty but was overshadowed by the lamb dish. Strongly recommend this place.
(4)
E.C. W.
This place is pretty good, not my favorite place ( I like the one in Bloomington better) but great local place.
(4)
Garvy S.
Went here yesterday for lunch around 11:30 am just because I needed to use my Groupon. If you guys are not on Groupon and getting local restaurant deals get on it now! Its a good way to experience new restaurants and a fraction of the cost. My voucher was good for $20 dollars of food with no restrictions. It is really hard to decide what to eat here because its something my boyfriend and I are not at all familiar with. But the waiter recommend getting the meat platter (T2) because it had a little bit of everything, and trust me that platter was huge.It was the size of a XL pizza pan! Prior to our platter coming out, we had these amazing super hot flaky triangle ground beef appetizers. These were soooo good! I wish they didn't come in 1 piece. It cost about $5.50 for two which is a bit pricey. The platter arrive shortly and the waiter let us know what each of the food was. There were about 4 vegetable dish and 3 meats. I have to admit i didn't enjoy all the dishes, but most of the meat ones I did. Because we were using the roll up sour bread as edible utensils we were getting full super quick. We managed to finish all the meat dishes though. Overall the experience here is amazing, I would definitely come here again but I would probably take it to go. I think the food would taste so amazing with rice and me fueling off rice each day it is a must! It might not be for you but its really great to experience once in your lifetime.
(4)
Lee S.
Excellence in the 10 prepared dishes on vegetarian lunch buffet. The many dishes included a nice selection and blends of greens, corn, carrots, potato, cabbage, eggplant, lentils, green beans and rice. I especially liked the eggplant, the spicy lentils and the spicy potato with peppers. Not too spicy, just enough to satisfy my capsicum craving. Over rice or wrapped in authentic enjera, it makes a most satisfying mid-day repast. Kale and spinach rounded out a filling healthful meal. Iced tea capped off a perfect experience. I do need a nap now.
(5)
Alex P.
It is easier to reach being closer to 86th St than Major. My wife didn't like that she got a fixed veggie platter whereas at Major she could pick and choose what she wanted. Service wasn't very slow and the day we were there the credit cards were not working (at least not for the woman who was trying to pay and leave). So we paid cash to avoid the issue. I'll go back but only if I'm too lazy to drive the extra distance to Major.
(4)
Nytarsha T.
What a cool experience! We went to an Ethiopian restaurant when we lived in Cali and it was okay but this one was 10x better. I met the owner and his wife and they were extremely friendly. We bought a platter of various different foods at try at the waiters suggestion and everything was so flavorful. I'm glad we came and we will be back.
(5)
Emily C.
My husband and are so excited that we found this place! While living in Arlington, VA we tried Ethiopian for the first time and fell in love with it. We had a favorite restaurant we would go to often so when we moved here earlier this year we wanted to find a new favorite. We tried St Yared and that experience left us disappointed. Our experience here was a complete 180! Service 3/5 Service was as expected. Our waitress was friendly and got our order right. The restaurant wasn't super busy but I had to flag her down a couple times because she just didn't check on us very often, not a huge deal though. Our food didn't take too long and it was hot when we go it. Atmosphere/Ambiance 3/5 The restaurant feels very dated and not very warm. But it was clean and the seats were comfortable enough. They also have a bottle of hand sanitizer at each table which is nice. This is probably a strange thing to mention but they had an electronic sign at the back of the restaurant that blinked between the word "coffee" and the picture of a coffee mug in neon colors and that was fairly distracting actually. Next time I'll try to remember to sit on the opposite side of the table, my husband isn't bothered by things like that as much as I am! Food 5/5 Let's be honest, we didn't come here for the service or the atmosphere, we came here for the food and the food was most definitely the star of the show! We got our usual entrees...my husband got the Kitfo and I got the beef Awaze Tibs (mild) and both were absolutely delicious! They tasted exactly the same as what we got at our favorite restaurant in Arlington. We are beyond excited and will absolutely be back!
(4)
Katie R.
This was my first time here, and I loved it! I'm a northsider, so this was slightly off the beaten path for me, but I thought it was well worth the drive. The staff is very friendly and the food was great (we had the vegetarian combo). As an Ethiopian food newbie, I was momentarily perplexed by the lack of silverware and the large pump bottles of hand sanitizer on the tables, but my friend explained that you use the injera---delicious sourdough sponge bread---to scoop up and eat your food. I'll definitely be adding this to my regular restaurant rotation.
(4)
Mandy L.
I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food. Been wanting to try this restaurant for awhile now. Had the TA2 meat platter for one (would say it's enough food for two). The food came quickly and the waitress was very nice. The food itself was just okay. Not the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. The food didn't seem the freshest because we went at around 5 on a Wednesday. The injera was definitely dry around the edges. One of us ordered a soda and it came in a can for $2. Overall, the experience was okay. You might get a better experience if you go at a different time though.
(3)
David W.
Delicious and insanely vegetarian friendly. We went with a groupon and can't wait to go back without one.
(5)
Emily B.
I really like Ethiopian food and was excited to eat here when visiting Indianapolis. Their food was good and similar in price to other Ethiopian restaurants that I've experienced, and the staff was very kind. Unfortunately, service was VERY poor. We came in around 3:00 on a Saturday so it wasn't very busy, but it took a really long time to order and then to get our bill. Also, they only provided one roll of Injera per person and while they did replenish it, we were completely out for almost 15 minutes before we received more. Our water glasses were consistently empty for 10-15 minutes (even when asking for refills) as well. If I return to Indianapolis, I'll probably try a different Ethiopian restaurant. It took almost 2 hours for our party of 5 to have lunch and pay which is just too long.
(3)
Jo S.
The vegetarian combo plate at Abyssinia is one of my top choices for eating out in all of Indianapolis. I honestly must slow myself down while eating here or I wind up feeling (pleasantly!) gluttonous. The owner and staff are very nice and attentive!
(5)
Marina L.
I am a huge fan of Ethiopian food. I was interested to try out this place in comparison with Major - Abyssinia is far better! I got vegetarian platters at both restaurants, and Abyssinia definitely took the cake. The main distinction for me were the sides served on injera along with the dishes we ordered - at Abyssinia, the sides were larger, more varied, and tastier.
(5)
Venkata G.
Awesome food. Loads of vegetarian options to choose from too. Staff is very courteous and friendly. The combos are a good way to taste most of the dishes on the menu.
(5)
Jonathan E.
Second time having traditional Ethiopian. Abyssinia was unique in a few ways. First of all, the whole place looks like a normal ethnic restaurant when you walk in, but the Ethiopian guy in our group requested to sit under the indoor porch area with traditional animal skin chairs and woven straw tables. He said it was similar to his style of eating at home. Secondly, the food. Now I love meat, and we made sure to get plenty of awassi tips, lamb, and chicken dishes, but the lentils...oh my, that was my favorite dish between the TA1 sampler, awassi tips, and a spicy chicken dish. They served everything on a large injera bread with rolled up injera to scoop with. Nothing like eating with your fingers :) Finally, the coffee ceremony at the end was not only a cultural experience, but delicious and plentiful. Our waitress brought out the green coffee beans she was roasting in order for us to smell the coffee we'd be drinking soon. She then ground the beans and brewed the coffee in a clay pitcher which she served the coffee from into small cups. Since it was a slow evening, she even sat down an chatted with us for a while. Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Nothing short of excellent at Abyssinia.
(5)
Sarah F.
I have really enjoyed eating here. All three times we've been in, I have shared the Abyssinia platter for 2 with someone. It really is the best way to go! The last time we were there, my husband ordered the coffee service for all 6 of us and the ceremony began. It's so nice that the server can sit down and chat with you at the end of a meal as part of the coffee ceremony. She shared with us some of her memories and some tidbits of Ethiopian coffee history. Huge thanks to these servers for making it such a personal and unique experience. Warning for people who get migraines or other headaches: The coffee ceremony includes incense and/or the roasting of coffee beans in front of you, which produces smells that might be difficult to tolerate if you're having an off day.
(3)
Mame Y.
This is the first time me and my husband had lunch at this restaurant, the food was amazing, the place had a great ambiance, service was excellent and very friendly staff. Full coffee ceremony was very impressive! Must have coffee! I highly recommend the place.
(5)
Swarna R.
The food was pretty good and the service was quick. The coffee and tea were quite expensive. Nothing that really stands out in this place that isn't in other Ethiopian restaurants.
(3)
MaryM M.
Food is good and the environment really makes you feel like you are experiencing a piece of Ethiopia! I highly recommend this spot
(5)
Junyan L.
Food is so awesome!! Yum yum! I always get the vegetarian platter cos it taste soooo good!
(5)
Jennifer S.
This was a very interesting ethnic experience for me. Overall I was not a fan of the type of cuisine, but it's definitely worth experiencing once. Definitely ask to be seated in the more authentic section for the full experience. The waitress was very attentive, brought us extra "bread" when we needed it. My friend and I got one of the samplers. Be prepared to eat with your hands and try new things!
(3)
Yelp K.
Definitely bring a friend and try a platter if it's your first time. The staff were friendly and timely and the food was just amazing. They were out of ethiopian beer, but I imagine it is a difficult thing to import. I've now tried another ethiopian place in Indy, and am deducting a star simply because this place is more pricy. We were given a plate of injerra and were charged if we wanted more. Unlimited injerra might be too much to ask for, but considering it is what you eat with it was a bit off-putting.
(4)
Zenobia W.
I absolutely love Ethiopian, I'd eat it every day if I could. This place excels at quality food and kindness via the waitstaff, but unfortunately falls behind in regard to attentiveness. And this is coming from the MOST laid-back, low maintenance person. I don't need to be waited upon hand and foot by any means. When I went with my group of friends, there was only one other table of eating, and it took a long time for everything in general. It wouldn't have mattered if the restaurant wasn't ice cold, but the combo of tensed up ice cube and hangry bitch isn't good on the brain! I'm guessing they just had less staff that night or something. Understandable. That being said, I was in great company, the people working there were amazing when they finally showed up, and the food was wonderful. I got the Vegetarian Platter, which was so, so good and it's also something I'd recommend to first time Ethiopian diners. Honey wine was better in theory, but you be the judge! So long story short, dine here when you've got time to graze and enjoy someone's company. It's absolutely worth it. And maybe bring a jacket if you're always cold like me. ;)
(4)
Divya V.
It was a Saturday evening and we decided it was time we venture out of the Fishers-Castleton-Broad Ripple area that we usually stick to. This place did not disappoint. It was in a strip mall of course... but by now I've come to expect that this does not indicate how good/bad the food is. In my observation of eating Ethiopian food in 4 different cities (Boston, Minneapolis, St Louis and Indy)... there is one thing in common.....most of them are lit in that yellow "romantic mood" type light (meaning darker than your average restaurant). The server and hostess were very friendly. We started off with the lentil Sambusa (similar to the Indian samosa). Fried pastry with a savory filling. It was pretty good. For dinner we shared a vegetarian dinner for 1 as past history would note the 'for two' is way tooo much food!! It came with 7 different vegetarian dishes, injera (their bread like fermented pancake/crepe/dosa but not crisp) and we asked for some mitmita (Ethiopian spice that you can dip the injera in to spice up the dinner) on the side. Before I knew mitmita existed I wasnt too fond of Ethiopian it felt like a bland version of Indian food to me... but this spice mix totally changes how i feel about this cuisine. The 7 dishes: 1. plain yellow lentils, 2. yellow lentils with berbere (loved it), 3. spinach (loved it), 4. collard greens with onions i think (meh), 5. carrots and green beans in a tomato type sauce (OMG so good!!!!!!), 6. potatoes (yum), 7. cabbage (meh) Overall a very satisfying meal! We will be back!
(4)
Sara L.
The seasonings were impeccable, the flavors divine. If somebody is reading this and thinking 'oh, i'd like to go there!' message me and we can just jet off and go. It's that good. I've only had better Ethiopian in Boston, but come on, I can't just hop over to Boston for some Ethiopian grub. DONT BE RIDICULOUS! Some of my former co-workers were Ethiopian and they would bring in food to share. This place and their cooking tasted so similar that it left me nostalgic for hospital breakrooms. Plus, eating with your hands is fun. That makes everything more fun.
(4)
Marcia R.
All things get better with time! I have come here off an on since they started the business. If your new - sampler for 2 - 2nd option best way to get a variety and taste the food. If slow they have a great coffee ceremony. TEA is very tasty too! Honey wine is good too but I have not had it at this location. If your looking to share or take some home I suggest these tasty additions: KITFO - a sirloin ground typically eaten rare but you can (and I do) ask for it med or med well. SHIRO - num num num YESHIRE ? Spelling is something like this? I know these typically come with the meal but are a tad spicer and more flavored when ordered on the side. All the meat dishes are fantastic in my experience so if your looking at another meat option explore, they do meat well at this place! I order sample for two plus all the sided dishes listed for 4 people - we ate most of it. Caution to those who are not spicy food fans - to me this place is VERY tame in the spicy department but I have heard others who cannot handle a mouth full of flamey goodness to exclaim, this is a little spicy.
(5)
Emel S.
I recently went here for the second time and just realized I hadn't reviewed it but that's a good thing because I actually enjoyed the food more the second time. We went in a group of four and the waiter easily convinced us to order 4 different things and share it in one giant tray so that we get to try more things. Someone order the Lamb Tibs (that's the only one I can remember because it was spoken of so highly). We also got a beef dish, a chicken dish...and I think another chicken dish. When you look at the descriptions of the food, they all look very similar. I chose one that had the word "spicy" in it. In the end though, I didn't think any of them were spicy. Ethiopian food is interesting because you eat it by scooping it up with the spongy bread that they give you. The bread is kind of lemony tasting but it starts to grow on you. It also grows INSIDE you and makes you VERY full. I'm not very good at the scooping so I feel like I end up eating a lot of bread and not as much of the good meaty stuff. They will give you a fork if you ask for one but I was trying to embrace the culture. Overall, all of the dishes were very good. One came with a hard boiled egg which was kind of random but we ate it. The "tibs" come out fajita style on a sizzling plate and then was poured into the tray with the rest of the food. I do wish there were more vegetables in the middle but we couldn't even finish all our food so I probably shouldn't complain about the lack of food! The waiter we had was very nice and I liked that he helped us decide what to order. I like this place but my because of my personal preference, I'll stick to only going there once ever year or so. I definitely think it's worth giving it a shot!!
(4)
Danny B.
I got a Yelp account for this restaurant. Both Ethiopian restaurants in Indy are surprisingly top-notch and rival ones I have been to in larger cities. However, the flavor at Abyssinia makes it stand out as the best in the city. Besides perfect spice combinations, you can expect a leisurely atmosphere and friendly, helpful service (consistent flow of injera).
(5)
Christine K.
Ehhh. I had such high hopes given all the raving reviews.. But we were sorely disappointed. The food didn't have very much flavor and the injera was difficult to get more of. Although it's further away, I'll be driving to major's instead.
(3)
DeAnna P.
This is NOT a first date restaurant. This is a play in the mud, come with your besties kinda place. You'll notice the food comes sans utensils. You eat the food by scooping it up with bread (or taking huge handfuls if you're by yourself or hate your dining companions). The bread was very good. Someone else compared it to sourdough and I think that is accurate -- heavy on the sour, thin, light, chewy. I can't access their website and I cannot remember the names of the dishes, but I do remember they were the #8 and #12. It's like a Chinese menu -- they take pity on those who cannot pronounce and number all the dishes. #8 is like a great spicy beef stew, and #12 is more like fajitas. If you come with someone not at all adventurous, #12 is a safe bet. A pal got the vegetarian platter, and that was also tasty. The BEST part though, was homemade honey wine. It didn't taste like mead. It tasted like liquid honey. Amazing. Fair warning though, don't smell it. One of the few things I've ever had that smells awful but tastes delicious. If you manage room, end with the baklava. I have no idea if it is authentic Ethiopian or the chef just likes Greek desserts, but it was flaky and HUGE and heavy on the honey. I rarely finish a dessert and I snarfed it in a matter of seconds.
(4)
Eric B.
4 years ago, Abyssinia was my first experience with Ethiopian food. I have had many since then (here and elsewhere) - and while I can now say I am a huge fan of the cuisine - none compare with Abyssinia! Not only is the food outstanding, but its relatively cheap and the service the friendliest you will find. I recommend the all-vegan, 3-day a week lunch buffet. It is a great way to get your feet wet in this under-appreciated cuisine!
(5)
Betz N.
Traditional food, relax environment, excellent service. First time here and we love it. Amazing food!
(5)
Cameron T.
This place is amazing. I have not had any food there that I would not highly recommend. And you HAVE to get the "coffee ceremony" for you and your friends. It is a little pricy but it is an awesome experience and totally worth doing at least once.
(5)
Brock L.
I love Ethiopian and this is the best Ethiopian restaurant I have found in Indy. Their injera is fantastic and pairs perfectly with all of their toppings. Highly recommended. You will not be disappointed. Also, the wait staff is extremely nice, helpful and quick. Great people at Abyssinia.
(5)
Scott J.
You must try two helpings of the Yedoro Wett (berbere-spiced chicken with hard-boiled egg) and lentils on injera bread. Indy is very fortunate to have this winning restaurant! Be extra daring and try the special authentic seating off to the side of the restaurant.
(5)
Kelly H.
This was my second time eating Ethiopian food, so I definitely can't tell whether things are authentic. But what I can attest to is how pleased my taste buds were! My boyfriend and I got the TA2, which is a large platter of pre-fixed 6 items, comprising of few different kinds of meat and veggies. We got the platter "for one" and thank goodness we did- the two of us struggled to finish it (Be aware, the food is much more filling than it looks). The goat was cooked well, and the beef was so tender and rich. I loved the spices and unique flavors in each of the items. The only negative thing I could think of was that the extra plates of injera were served at room temperature. (At the place I first tried Ethiopian cuisine, they came out warm). But it didn't ruin my experience since the food was so delicious anyways. Our waitress handled our large party like a champ and was willing to do separate checks. I know some people are a bit wary of eating only with your hands, so rest assured, they had hand sanitizers at every table! The restaurant has a cozy ambiance, and with the Ethiopian decor and furnishings, you forget that you're in Indy. It's a charming place, and I look forward to returning!
(4)
Tiffany T.
This is a a great place to try some Ethiopian food! The service is good and the food is amazing. I split the meat combo platter for 2, and it was a lot of food. But all the meats are tender and flavorful, and the vegetables are delicious! My favorite was the lamb and the greens, but my boyfriend loved the chicken and lentils. And the best part is the bread they serve with it. It seems like a cross between a pancake and a crepe, but very sour. It goes perfectly with their food, and since you eat with your hands, it makes eating much easier. We also tried their hot tea and honey wine. The tea was yummy. The honey wine had bits of wax in it (beeswax?) and was really strong but delicious! If you're driving, don't down the whole thing by yourself. I can't wait to come back and try more food.
(5)
Elizabeth C.
I needed to update my review to say that Abyssinia now has a lunch buffet. Vegans, this is significant for several reasons: 1) they are debuting off-menu items such as an eggplant dish and beet dish I got to nibble on today, which is great news if you've already nommed-to-death the vegan options they have. Not that I will ever get sick of them, but you might. 2) $9.99 is as cheap a meal as you will find at any garbage chain restaurant that you would typically hit on your lunch break, but let's face it, those chains make you sad. Abyssinia makes you happy. An abyssinia day is a special day. That stated, the buffet is hiding in the side room and nobody gives you the sales pitch when you come in there at lunch time, so you have to tell them you want it. Oh my god. You will thank me.
(5)
Jen F.
We love experimenting with food and Ethiopian being a cuisine we hadn't been exposed to, Abyssinia was a natural place to try. We walked in just after noon on a Saturday and the restaurant was empty. There was one other table in the side room. We were greeted right away with menus and water. The staff we encountered were all very friendly, but not overly so. We started with a crispy pastry filled with ground meat. It was delicious! Crispy without being greasy. Full off flavorful meat with just a hint of spice at the finish. For our entree, we tried the sampler #2. It came out on a large round crepe and the lovely women indicated what each dish was. We dug in with our ample amount of bread. The bread was cool to the touch, which may be perfectly normal, but it was a little odd. Most of the items on the tray were delicious. Very flavorful and not too spicy. We found that if I liked something, my husband didn't as much and vice versa. ... and then, the best way for me to say it, is that I was just done. The texture of the bread was unappealing to me. The food was flavorful, but soft. I hadn't eaten much, but I didn't want to continue. When I said this, Philip agreed that he had hit the same wall. So, we wrapped it up. On the way home, we were talking about it and I decided it left us with what I will forever call "food confusion." It liked it, but I didn't want to keep eating it. If it appeals to you and you're an adventurous eater - you must try it. I'm glad we went and I want you to try it, too.
(3)
Darshy N.
This is perhaps the most authentic ethiopian atmosphere I've been to - I opted for traditional seating, which are traditional Ethiopian chairs around Ethio basket table called a mesob. Along with my meal, I opted for the traditional Ethiopian Coffee ceremony, and was seriously wowed. For the less adventurous, you can also sit at the regular restaurant tables. I didn't think I needed to talk about hands - because it is a ethiopian restaurant, but yes, you have to eat with your hands. They supply purell next to your table for convenience. The service is very friendly, though I'll say it is extremely slow. However, my only critical remarks are as follows - 1) the food is slightly muted down (perhaps because it's in Indiana) 2) the food is also slightly salty (also, perhaps because it is in Indiana) 3) they should play some sort of background music in the restaurant, I sat in the corner (and no one puts baby in the corner) and could only hear the hum of the air conditioning in the walls. 4) Offer wet naps. For an ethiopian restaurant, this is a gem!
(4)
Morgan G.
For an adventurous night out, my friends and I skirted off to an untrekked part of town for food -- the informally known as 'International Marketplace' for some truly authentic Ethiopian food. Service was charming. Food incredible. It's what I call experiential dining. You learn a lot about the culture - sharing food with friends from the same large plate, eating with your hands using Ethiopian bread to scoop up lamp, chicken or beef dishes. I'd take a pass on the Ethiopian honey wine and trade that for what I've heard is incredible coffee to top off the night. They roast the beans right in front of you. Will definitely return to the International Marketplace and venture to my next ethnic experience.
(5)
Mike K.
This is one of my favorite places to bring guests. They have wonderful lamb and chicken dishes for the meat eaters and a wide array of vegetarian dishes. Everyone enjoys sharing the meal together and has a great time. Abyssinia has really improved their decor over the years, they painted the walls with very warm colors and replaced the carpet. It has definitely moved past a "hole in the wall" with great food. The staff is very friendly and also good with kids. The coffee tradition is also memorable. They burn incense and serve the coffee is small glasses with a little sugar. Beware, because it is fairly strong (I'm writing this at 1:30am and not even near sleepy).
(4)
Matt F.
You know, strip mall dining takes a lot of abuse but when you find a place this awesome, it makes up for the bad experiences. If you've never experienced Ethiopian cuisine, be prepared to step out of your comfort zone. Silverware is not used and it's not even needed. They have a good selection of meat as well as vegetarian dishes. We went with the vegetarian sampler which is unbelievably big. Just take the left overs to the drive-in movie like we're doing tonight. It was very cold in there and I'm not sure if that is normal so you might want to prepare for it. It is 57 degrees in Addis Ababa as I'm writing this review and that's probably what it was in the restaurant. I guess that helps with the authenticity!
(5)
Dana M.
Abyssinia was my first Ethiopian food experience, and it was a great one. I split a vegetarian sampler with a friend. I enjoyed the communal eating environment and loved dipping the bread into different stews and vegetables. It was a great entree to split with two people.
(4)
Ariel S.
Had the meat variety platter for 2 - loved it. I've eaten several times in Ethiopian restaurants in Georgetown in Wash DC and this is actually comparable! Loved it. Very good service. Easy to find great verity for vegetarians and non alike. I loved the Lamb and Ethiopian bread. It's kind of tucked away in the shopping center but worth the hunt.
My only regret - I've not eaten here sooner! My husband and I stopped by for lunch today and enjoyed the vegetarian sampler for two. It was delicious and a great way to try a little bit of everything. For an appetizer, we split a pastry stuffed with lentils that was also delicious. When visiting for the first time, and if stuck on what to order, I would definitely suggest either the meat or vegetarian sampler, as it is a great way to try a number of their dishes. I also tried the Ethiopian honey wine, but I didn't care for it at all. I look forward to returning with a group so I can try the coffee ceremony I keep reading about. Oh, and I don't know why, but I love that there is hand sanitizer and plenty of napkins on all the tables.
(5)
Ed S.
I came here with some friends and we threw down. The more people you have in your party, the more incredibly delicious things you can try at Abyssinia. They offer a large variety of both meaty and vegetarian dishes. The bread... it makes you never want to use a spoon and fork again. I love the potatoes. Yum.
(5)
Mike F.
This is a neat place. It's a hole-in-the-wall place, but the food they serve is really special. It is like nothing you've ever had! I don't remember what all of the dishes I loved were called, but I enjoyed them. Some of the food can be quite spicy--which I like, but others do not. The staff was extremely friendly and were a great help in deciding what to order. This place seems authentic--there were plenty of native Ethiopians dining there. This is a must try!
(5)
Alena S.
Yum...Yum...Yum...Ok, so it's not quite as good as Oak of Mamre was (I could cry since that place is gone...my mouth is watering just thinking about it), but Abyssinia is a decent substitute. The service has been excellent every time I've been too. Oh, and the homemade ethiopian honey wine...well, pace yourself. I have loved everything I have ordered from meat to chick peas to whatever other slop is placed on the injera. A friend of mine even ordered the raw beef dish (the waitress questioned us :)) and that was very good too...a little chewier than I would have preferred for raw beef, but grow a pair and try it out. I love that there is no silverware (thank you for being authentic), so if you struggle with people's hands touching everything then you probably wouldn't care for ethiopian in general. This place does have hand sanitizer on every table though:) I always feel like ethiopian is a great place for kids because they can use their hands. There are tons of "puree'd" veggies to pick up with the injera. And actually, I do think I've seen kids in there every time I have eaten there. They seem to really enjoy it. I have never sat at the more traditional communal seats that they have. A friend of mine did recently and she said they are super uncomfortable unless you are actually eating. So, if you have a bad back, you might want to stick with the regular tables :)
(5)
Howard L.
This was our third Ethiopian dinner (prior stops were in Philadelphia, PA, and Evanston, IL), and we think the best so far. The pastry appetizers and two dinners we had were flavorful, slightly spicy, and nicely done. We liked the ground beef pastry a bit better than the lentil stuffed one, which was a little dried out. The TA2 meat combination sampler (for one) was a great dish to try ($16.95) , with good-valued portions of lamb, chicken, beef, spinach, and a couple of lentils served on the traditional tangy and vinegary injera flatbread. Son also tried the gored gored - raw beef cubes served with a spicy sauce and powder. He liked it, and I was ok chomping on a sample of it, but I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the whole entree, just from the idea of it. We also liked the bottomless servings of the injera bread, as I'm not remembering having that at the other Ethiopian places. Note the Dashen Ethiopian beer is $5 per bottle (it was a nice, light lager like beer) , as opposed to the Bedele beer advertised at $4. We're finding west 38th street in Indy to be quite the mixing pot now for various ethnic and good-valued cuisines. This place has been in business for 8 years now.
(4)
Tillie L.
I really wanted to love this place, however it just didn't happen. I read the reviews and planned to visit Abyssinia with my family after an art fair. We arrived and seated ourselves. We were greeted from about 20 feet away and awaited our menus. The table had a bit of food debris and smears, so we politely asked the hostess if someone would clean it for us. She seemed confused by this request...was it a language barrier? After carefully examining an obviously dirty table, she at last understood our request and cleaned it after our drinks arrived. The restaurant was uncomfortably warm and lacked music. There aren't any drinks on the menu, so we all requested water. Our party of four ordered a vegetarian combo and a combo with meat. Once it arrived we were confused...we all know you eat it with injera bread, but we didn't have any. Our server just gave us our food, never said anything about returning with the bread. We were left to hungrily stare at each other, wondering if we should have ordered some. At last she returned with the bread. However she didn't come back again till we were out of both bread and water, leaving us to tear the bread out from under our dish. By the way, there were only 4 occupied tables, they were not busy. The food was good. That is why they are getting 2 stars, they lost three stars because we never felt welcome. No one asked if we needed anything or had questions about the menu (if you don't know Ethiopian food it is tough to know what you are going to get). It's fun as Ethiopian food is, I don't see us going back.
(2)
Tara M.
To borrow a word from Nate Z., Abyssinia is enchanting - from the lively (but not too loud) music, to the yellow walls with pictures of Ethiopia, to the charming service, and of course the absolutely fresh and tasty food. We went for the vegetarian sampler so we could taste all of the different curries and vegetables. Did not find one that we didn't love. I will definitely, absolutely go back - and next time I will bring a big group so we can sit at the giant communal table.
(5)
Doug M.
This place is EXACTLY what I'm looking for when I want to go find some good, unique ethnic grub. The place itself is unassuming. No one forces you to sit on the floor or prop yourself up on pillows and the wait staff isn't dressed like they emigrated yesterday. However, the food (and the way it is served) is delightfully unique. I'd recommend any kind of sampler platter, which are fantastic for sharing. You may not like a certain meat or vegetable, but there's plenty more to try. Even my wife, who prefers Indiana homestyle cooking, was able to find a few things on the platter that she really liked. The food is a little expensive, but that is usually true with such unique places. Again, the best thing to do is to plan on sharing (the waitstaff is very good at recommending how much food is needed). Very good place. Never tried Ethiopian food? Abysinnia is a great place to start!
(5)
Christie M.
Took my parents who are vegetarians to try this place out. They have never had much of other culture's food except their own so it was definitely an adventure for them. :) We ordered the Vegetarian Taste of Abyssinia for 2. It was more than enough to feed 3 adults and one small 2 yr old. Also ordered a pot of tea. YUM to all! :) My parents were shocked with the injera bread but loved it. Kinda reminds them of a breakfast whiter, thicker, sweeter version of their bread they ate with another bread. Don't ask. Chinese/Viet have them. Anyways...It was good and healthy. I warned them not to use too much of the bread because they'll get full fast. Which of course they did. As did I but then again, I hardly had room in my huge preggo belly to eat much but let me tell you, that sure didn't stop me from trying. :) My son loved eating the bread. He'll try to be an adult and pick from the plate as well. heheh Service was good. I think the owner walked around checking up on everyone's table. Really nice people. Will have to go back and try some of their meat dishes, Yes I'm eat meat. I was eyeing the lamb dishes. So I'm a fan but it's the only Ethiopian place I've been to in Indianapolis. I have nothing to compare it to except all the other cities I've been to, such as LA's and Ferndale's Blue Nile, which I enjoyed just a smidge better.
(4)
Alex K.
This is my go to place for Ethiopian in Indy. Their food is good but is quite similar to other Ethiopian places but what puts this place in my top list of restaurants is actually the coffee. Let me preface this with the fact that I barely even like coffee but they take it to a whole different level. They preform what the call a coffee ceremony which is $20 for however many people come so it becomes a much better deal as more people come. They bring out green coffee beans and roast them right in front of you while burning incense and then brew it in these gourds of some sort. The coffee is served with the traditional POPCORN!!! Their food is heavy and you will be surprised at how little it looks versus how much it fills you up. If you like spicy food don't forget to ask them for some of their spicy sauce. The staff is very helpful and willing to talk about Ethiopian culture if you are into that sort of thing. They also have an attached store where you can purchase spices and other Ethiopian ingredients. You can also buy the green coffee beans here and try your own hand at roasting on the stove top.
(5)
Leigh S.
We went for an early dinner on a Saturday night and were pleasantly surprised at what we found at Abyssinia. This is a fantastic little gem of a place tucked in an unassuming strip mall. Both meat-eaters and vegetarians will find plenty of tasty options to suit their tastes at Abyssinia. We had the vegetarian taster, as well as one of the meat tasting menu. The food was all delicious! Most of the dishes weren't very spicy but some had a bit of kick to them. There was plenty of food for the two of us, we didn't finish everything either. The waiter was really pleasant and attentive. The decor of the restaurant is really nice, with warm tones of color on the walls. There are some traditional tables with the basket and stools, as well as Western tables for those who want a back to their seats. My only complaint is that there are two flat screen tv's at either end of the restaurant and they were at full volume when we got there. Who on earth wants to go to a decent restaurant and watch tv? You can sit at home and watch tv while you eat. The annoying thing is that with all the pretty, moving colors, it's hard to not watch while you eat. I really think the tv killed the atmosphere of the place. How about shutting them off and playing some music? That would be killer, to go hand-in-hand with the killer food. Well, the food still far too good to pass up due to the inconvenience of a little modern technology. I highly recommend giving this place a shot.
(4)
Nate Z.
Truly enchanting. None other like. English fails for the words necessary to describe my continuing, wonderful experiences at this establishment. I shall, however, attempt: I've been a fan of Ethiopian cuisine since I was a child, and being a flight attendant, have enjoyed this type of dining all over the nation. I can truly say, since I've been going to Abyssinia since the day they opened, no one in the U.S. can beat their quality, flavor, generosity, charm nor price. Even if you think you don't like 'curried' foods or spicy fair, you owe it to yourself to indulge in Abraham's creations. But, bring your appetite, because apparently it's against the law to leave there hungry. You'll not regret the experience. Cheers
(5)
Daniel L.
I'll jump on the review train to offer my thoughts on this Indy gem. For those not acquainted with the Ethopian way of eating, I'll do my best not to spoil it. Suffice to say, it'll be communal, and if you don't like eating with your fingers you are out of luck. But, you should like eating with your fingers... right? Best option if you bring a group of 3 or 4 are the sampler dinners. They offer a variety of dishes to try, with unlimited bread. Don't go for the largest option with your quartet. the "sampler for 2" will feed double that, with room to spare. Save some money for their Ethopian beer, which is in stock on occasion.
(4)
J K.
"It was the best of times....it was the worst of times..." Wow! What a surprise. A good restaurant on the westside! Great food. Pleasant decor. And Ethiopians!! We ordered the sampler for 2 ($31). Everything was wonderful though the lamb was a bit chewy. Not our first Ethiopian experience, but one of our better. I was even hoping to try some of the coffee from where coffee was invented. They served Yergecheffe, but I had apparently missed it somewhat earlier. I'm a bit of a coffee buff and have roasted my own Harrar and Yergecheffe beans. The bad ? They wouldn't accept the $25 rest.com coupon I'd purchased 2 weeks earlier and was good for a year. You can still buy them today. Apparently, in their mind, the deal has been over for a month. The manager, though soft spoken, was inflexible and insisted the problem was mine. I begged to differ. I'm soft spoken and totally inflexible as well (when I believe I'm right). This display in front of a nearly full restaurant. Too bad. I really like the place. Here's an idea, find someone you really dislike. Give them a rest.com coupon to Abyssinia and go home and chuckle.....
(3)
Mike M.
Love the sega wett. Excellent sega wett as always.
(5)
Liz B.
So I have to say that the location of this place isn't the best and the service, while, friendly, is not super attentive. BUT the food is super tasty! I get the vegetarian platter every time (although I do move meat) because I love it so much! It has a variety of different vegetable dishes, each with a unique seasoning....so good! I had one of the lamb dishes once and while very good, it was VERY spicy! Event so, the flavor was great. I will continue to dine here because the flavors and seasons are spot on!
(4)
Emy M.
I was really craving some Ethiopian food, and this place totally hit the spot. We went there for lunch on a Friday, and it was pretty empty, but the service was nonetheless pretty slow. Luckily, we were not in a rush, but I wouldn't recommend it for a lunch break during a work week. I also didn't mind the wait that much, since the food wass great, and the server was very friendly and nice. We ordered five different vegetarian dishes to split, and all of them were very good. Most of them were more mildly spiced than I remembered Ethipian food to be (except for the lentil dish), so much so that even my picky 12 year old nephew ended up eating them and thinking the potatoes were delicious. My favorites were the atkil wett, the collard greens and the spinach. I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Lynn V.
I have to revise my review after finding many bones and pieces of inedible meat in the meat/veg combo plate I took home. I usually get the vegetarian dishes with friends, so this was the first time I'd tried their meat. I don't know if it's the norm for them to have bits of bone and inedible fat/gristle, but it made me very sad. I've had the meat dishes from other Ethiopian places around the country and this is the first time I've encountered this.
(3)
Richard H.
The food is quite tasty, and the service was attentive, friendly and informative. And it's not exactly a "hole-in-the-wall" as someone else stated -- although it's simple, it's somewhat charmingly decorated. The pastry appetizers (whatever they're called) were actually our favorite part of the meal. The main part of the meal is served on injera on a large round platter. The injera on the platter is suffused with the juices from the food resting on it, which makes it delicious but difficult to eat with. Fortunately, they provide a basket with additional injera. The injera is, well, weird. It has a really strange consistency which I could never get accustomed to, but it is fun to eat the food with it. Seems like this would be a fun place to go with a small group, as long as no one was too squeamish about everyone's hands all over the food.
(3)
Ethan H.
Let's hear it for Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant, offering a rare and wonderful culinary experience right in the heart of the Midwest! Truth be told, I really enjoyed this place. If you haven't had Ethiopian food before, what are you waiting for? And if you have, stop sitting in front of the computer and get your ass to Abyssinia! The food is tasty, the service is impeccable and the experience is worth a return visit.
(5)
Guy Who Likes Sandwiches X.
Ethiopian is definitely an exotic cuisine for the typical American caucasian, even if you're a little more adventurous like I am. There just aren't many Ethiopian places around (Indianapolis's ecosystem seems to only be able to support one or two at a time), and the food is unlike most others. As a point of reference I try to compare it to Indian for prospective first-timers, but that really doesn't get the idea across - Indian is more heavily spiced, there's rice, there's less focus on bread, and there's forks. Once you get over that hump and just try it though, you may find that you start craving it quickly. My first experience with Ethiopian food was at the now-gone Queen of Sheba near downtown, and in the years since I've grown quite accustomed to it and gotten regular urges to seek it out again. Happily, Abyssinia is every bit the equal of Queen of Sheba for quality of food, decor and service. I've never had a bad experience here. They always bring more bread than you need and more food than you can eat in a sitting, and everything is delicious. I particularly like anything made with the deep red, spicy berbere. It's the simplest dish, but I would eat my body weight in lentils with berbere if common sense (and my girlfriend) didn't intervene.
After finishing my meal at Abyssinia, I sit here thinking to myself and wondering why I have never tried Ethiopian food before. I must say it was quite the experience. I live up on the North Side around 116th & Ditch road and it's a bit of a hike to get down there, but today I said what the heck and headed down to the little strip mall that houses Abyssinia and several other worth while "joints" as well! Having never done this I wanted to read up on it a little which actually helped me and I knew what to expect at least as far as tradition went. I chose the spicy lentil pouch to begin. Similar to a beef patty but triangular and stuffed with spicy lentils. This was awesome and piping hot! Then I got a recommendation from the server and ordered the sampler platter. This says, on the menu, that it comes with beef chicken and spinach in various ways of preparation. It sounded very good. Because I've never eaten goat and was a little apprehensive I wanted to stay away from it my first time out. When my order came out it had.... Well..... I really had no idea what it had!!! The dish came served on injera with rolls of Injera on the side. Injera is a very spongy almost rubbery flat bead that has little holes in it like an English Crumpet. The trick is to rip off a piece and scoop up whatever it is you've been eyeing on the dish! This was fun for me because I started to have wondrous flashbacks of all the times my mother would yell at me to get my hands out of the food and here I was digging, scooping and squeezing my way through an absolute heavenly plethora of spices, flavors and self made concoctions from my plate. I was a little afraid to ask what I was eating because it was so good I didn't want to know, YET! Of course I waited till the last piece of injera was gone and tried to eat the flattened out piece on my dish that had been there to form the wonderful spongy cradle soaking up all the flavors. The problem was I was stuffed and couldn't enjoy this last little tidbit. Just for the record, on my plate was some type of curried lamb. I love lamb but this was a little tough ( hence the 4 stars). I feel it could have been cooked to tenderize a little better. Chicken in a dark BBQ looking curry and cumin flavored sauce which was excellent. A sort of creamed but not creamed spinach, if that even makes any sense, at least that's how it tasted. Some curried potatos in the center of the dish several hot spices that I was warned by the server to go easy on (Really not that spicy ) But the best, to my surprise, was the Goat!!! It was extraordinary. So much that I could probably bathe in it. I'm mentally bathing in it right now while I recount the tender, full of flavor spiced Goat. Why have I not ever eaten this before. The server was extremely pleasant and attentive and the chef actually came out to my table and asked how I liked everything. I couldn't have like it any more. I will say this, I will come back. I can see me regularly ordering the spiced Goat and indulging with fingers grasping the injera to cradle the love on that plate.
(4)
Wayne C.
surprised to find this great ethiopian restaurant in indy. with a couple of friends and we all enjoyed the meal. the spicy lamb (last lamb item on the menu) is downright awesome.
(4)
Susan P.
Loved the food, loved the friendly and fast service. I ordered a vegetarian sampler and all of the elements were fabulous, including the injera. I tried the honey wine and it was not for me, but it was still cool to try something different.
(4)
N V.
As far as Ethiopian cuisine goes this is the best I've had. It blows away most places in DC and NYC. Only exception is in DC U St. Service is a little slow but that is normal for the type of restaurant.
(4)
Nichole H.
Since I think this is the only Ethiopian restaurant in Indy, I'll just have to live with it. Everything is good, but I was expecting a lot more spicy! To be fair, I was with a large group and the waiter may have dumbed it down a bit for the group. The enjera is a lot less sour than other places I've had it, but was still spongy and delicious. The waiter (owner?) even brewed some Ethiopian coffee for our group. Overall, we had a great time and the price is very reasonable.
(4)
Ange B.
Say what you will, but every time I leave this place, I dream about it until my next visit. The food is some of the most delectable morsels I have ever tasted in my life. I recommend the lentil sambusa for an appetizer. Trust me, you can't go wrong! Just be careful because they are always piping hot! As far as a main dish goes, order anything, anything at all because it is all good! The price is very reasonable. Two people can get super full for less than fourty bucks. The service is sometimes not the best, and that's why I'm only giving four stars. The servers are always friendly, just not always fast. If you have never been to Abyssinia or an Ethiopian restaurant, this is the perfect place to try something new and delicious!
(4)
Hannah C.
It's easy to pass by this rare find in Indianapolis. The restaurant is located in a strip mall alongside a few ethnic restaurants and an oriental grocery store (which had a man taking a nap, splayed across the welcome mat inside). But, it's worth a trip! Some of the foods can be a bit vinegar-y to my taste, but other dishes were downright delicious. This is a great small group dinner excursion, as the food is served on a giant plate lined with their inejera (bread). You eat with your right hand, but if you require a fork and extra plate, you can ask for them. They have hand sanitizer on each of the tables, which was a relief and comfort for my germaphobe group. Oh, and beware, the spicy smell of the restaurant might be a parting gift seeped into your clothes. My recommendations? Chicken Alecha, Gommen Besega (beef with collard greens), and Tibs Lamb. Some dishes might be spicy, but the flavors are still worth the tingling on your tongue. We also tried the Timatim Fitfit (#31 I think), but we didn't even doggybag the half of it that was leftover.
(4)
Steph C.
Loved loved LOVED it! The staff was welcoming and kind, offering recommendations and instructions on how to eat the food. The dinner (lamb with collard greens and a spicy chicken- wett, I believe) was amazingly delicious. My companion and I barely spoke as we wolfed down the entire platter. I have told all my friends about this place and you should too! In fact, we're gathering a group to return next week!
(5)
Alex C.
If you are into serious flavor, then this is your place. The Chicken Wett is awesome and spicy, and the lentils are super yummy!! I had a lamb dish with collard greens that was fantastic as well! The staff are very friendly and make you feel more than welcome! I think that we are lucky to have a place like this in Indiana. Highly recommended!!
(5)
Joel D.
Abyssinia is a fantastic little Ethiopian place that most people have never heard of but will love once they arrive. The food is served without silverware, it is instead eaten using Injira (a tasty sourdough like pancake) to scoop up the food. Allow me to say, I don't generally like lamb, but I like Abyssinia's lamb no matter what style I've gotten it in. The wait staff is very friendly and attentive, and were extremely helpful in figuring out what I might like on my first couple of visits to the place. I could honestly eat here 2-3 times a week and be perfectly happy with it. The portions are very large and the price is honestly a great value.
(5)
Sean F.
This was a great experience. I had never had Ethiopian food and I found it and the atmosphere quite enjoyable. There was a large party next to me and the staff was as attentive to them as my table and the others that were dining. Customer service is very important to me and the wait staff delivered. My funny moment was that I thought the bread they bring out to scoop up the food was towels. Yes, it's either the bread or use your fingers. I opted to use my fingers after a while as I did not like the taste of the bread. The food on the other hand was awesome. I had the goat dishes and thoroughly everything I had. The seasoning was great and definitely look forward to my next trip there.
(4)
Andrea B.
This was my first Ethiopian experience, so take what you want from my opinion, but... I LOVED it. The food was spicy but not so hot as to be inedible, and the waiter was very friendly and polite. It was absolutely delicious, and when we ran out of one of the components he brought us more at no extra charge. Our glasses were nevery empty, and we were offered more injera when the basket was low. The prices were unbelievable too- a giant amount of food for a single digit price. This is an obvious mom-and-pop establishment, and it was apparent that we were the only ones in the place who didn't know everyone (as we were the only ones speaking english). This was different, but at no point did we feel out of place or unwanted. Rather, it was warming to see old friends gathered, and young children having a great time. I would definitley eat here again.
(5)
Josh F.
A last minute change of dinner plans lead me to Abyssinia, and am I glad I went. Located in a strip mall along 38th st, it is a very unassuming place. If I didn't know it was there, I would have probably missed it. Wasn't too packed at 7pm on a Wed. evening, so I had no problem getting seated and having my order taken right away. Very typical menu, meat and veg options with the always pleasing combination platters...my personal choice. I opted for the "Taste of Abyssinia" veg combo...I noticed that it did not include shirro, which I must always have when dining on Ethiopian...so I asked the owner (who took my order) if I could get shirro added on, and he did so with no extra charge. I also ordered a glass of tej wine, a brand of which I had never had before...and would honestly not like again. It wasn't bad or anything, just not the usual tej wine I am use to...it tasted like brandy...of which I am not a fan. The food was great, good spice to the shirro, and good use of the berberre. The injera was fresh, not soggy and not dry...just right, and you could tell they make it in house. Not sure if this is the only Ethiopian game in town, but if your looking for authentic fare, this is it.
(4)
Alison C.
The food here is really good, but man the service is so slow. It's frustrating when you are COMPLETELY OUT OF WATER and the waiter (owner?) is sitting at a table with his friends. I would say it was worth the wait had I never discovered Major Restaurant! Much friendlier, faster service, and I think the food is slightly better too.
(4)
Scott D.
I love this place. If you're Ethiopian, you'll feel right at home. The injera are great, the dishes are wonderful and the staff is helpful and friendly. This is one of the only restaurants that I'm willing to drive over an hour to enjoy.
(4)
Chengyu X.
Nice family restaurant. You can eating and enjoy your time with family. Absolutely, the food is outstanding. I am Asian, but I still very enjoy this kinds of food. Next time I will try the honey wine.
(5)
Fred M.
There aren't many restaurants we choose to return to, but this one we will.Great food, charming service, appropriate prices, authentic food according to the Ethiopian person with us. The lamb dishes and lentil dishes were superb as were the greens and injera bread. The honey wine is well worth a try, though it was a bit different.
(5)
Kate N.
My favorite thing to order here is the Yemisir Wett (red split lentils in berberre sauce) and Shiro (pureed split peas cooked with onion and garlic). Both come out on one large enjera-lined platter (and another plate piled high with enjera for dipping), and every time we've gone they've added small sample portions of other vegetarian dishes. The Yekik Alecha (garbonzo split beans flavored with curry and herbs) is actually really mild, as is the Denech Alecha (a chunkier dish of carrots and potatoes in sauce). The thing I crave the most is that enjera...it's yeasty, spongy goodness. It is so fun to tear pieces off and pick up mouthfuls of curries (for lack of a better word) with it.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Brian L.
I'd been craving good Ethiopian food, and stumbled upon this place a few months ago. The food is fantastic! I highly recommend trying the vegetarian combo (TA3) if you don't know what to order. It's a good blend of several dishes. The portions are quite large, so an order for two will likely be plenty for a party of 3-4. One word of warning, they don't generally provide silverware, so this place isn't for those who are huge germ-phobes, especially since most dishes are served family style. Each table has hand sanitizer, however. I've also ordered take-out several times, and service has been quick. Enjoy!
(5)Karhma D.
Abyssinia is a fantastic place to eat! It's great for groups, and everyone I've ever dined with there immediately becomes a fan. All the vegetarian options, so far as I know, are also vegan. The carnivores I go with can attest to how delicious the vegan options are. I ate here twice last week and am contemplating going next week. The service is attentive, & their accents are amazingly beautiful.
(5)Rye D.
Aww!! where Vegetarian means Vegan!! (they do not use any cream cheese's in there vegetarian labeled meals) So we got the Vegetarian Taste of Abyssinia. It was delish i really like the cabbage and onions, and the spicy lentils.The spices were perfectly done. My partner and I enjoyed the experience of trying to eat with our hands, and making a little mess on the table!! The staff is extremely friendly and helpful they make you feel right at home. I can't wait to go back and try some more yummy eats!!!!
(5)Marvi B.
Three stars cause afterall this is ethnic dining. Recommended by an Ethiopian medical student of mine. I was extremely excited to find out that there is an Ethiopian restaurant in Indy. Greeted well by the waiter, the place is clean and decorated fairly well. There is a corner with traditional seating with a centre table and low set chairs. The place was pretty empty probably for being a weekday. I ordered the beef sambosa as an appetizer which was great and pretty similar to the Indian samosa. Except I was ticked off at the fact that one piece was for $2.5 which is kind of expensive. I ordered the platter TA2 which comes with a little bit of everything namely lentils, veggies, chicken and lamb. Served on a flat bread called injeri it looks quite exotic and appealing! But tasting everything you realize everything has a sour vinegari taste and what they say is spicy is not spicy at all for my taste. I would say for how much I was excited to try this place out I wasn't half as impressed. Probably will only head back if there's a group of friends excited about trying something ethnic. Pricing is also one reason I was not happy. I think the food is way overpriced probably because it's a small business and I understand. But as a customer you think of a hundred different ways you could have eaten with that money. I recommend it for the sake of experience.
(3)Chrissy A.
I came here to eat after seeing it on WTHR as a Yelp review. I came for dinner w a friend. The menu was slightly overwhelming but the staff was super helpful as this was my first try at Ethiopian food. I had the Yemisir Sambusa that was honestly one of the most delicious things I have ever tasted! Then I shared the TA2 which is a vegetarian combo. Every dish was great! The bread that this is served with is great. It is sour and really goes great with every dish. The staff is great at breaking down what every dish is and making sure you are enjoying your meal. This restaurant is a gem on 38th street. I cannot wait to try the lunch buffet!
(5)Melinda M.
Everything is fantastic. Had the three tasting platters. Just ask which is the spicy dishes. Great for vegetarians. Coffee ceremony is cool, but the coffee is awesome.
(5)Sampad D.
It is a awesome eating place. the people are very cordial and they do serve amazing food. We ordered #24 which was a lamb dish. It was just awesome . The lamb was very tender with right amount of spices. We also ordered #15 which was kind of chicken curry . It was also tasty but was overshadowed by the lamb dish. Strongly recommend this place.
(4)E.C. W.
This place is pretty good, not my favorite place ( I like the one in Bloomington better) but great local place.
(4)Garvy S.
Went here yesterday for lunch around 11:30 am just because I needed to use my Groupon. If you guys are not on Groupon and getting local restaurant deals get on it now! Its a good way to experience new restaurants and a fraction of the cost. My voucher was good for $20 dollars of food with no restrictions. It is really hard to decide what to eat here because its something my boyfriend and I are not at all familiar with. But the waiter recommend getting the meat platter (T2) because it had a little bit of everything, and trust me that platter was huge.It was the size of a XL pizza pan! Prior to our platter coming out, we had these amazing super hot flaky triangle ground beef appetizers. These were soooo good! I wish they didn't come in 1 piece. It cost about $5.50 for two which is a bit pricey. The platter arrive shortly and the waiter let us know what each of the food was. There were about 4 vegetable dish and 3 meats. I have to admit i didn't enjoy all the dishes, but most of the meat ones I did. Because we were using the roll up sour bread as edible utensils we were getting full super quick. We managed to finish all the meat dishes though. Overall the experience here is amazing, I would definitely come here again but I would probably take it to go. I think the food would taste so amazing with rice and me fueling off rice each day it is a must! It might not be for you but its really great to experience once in your lifetime.
(4)Lee S.
Excellence in the 10 prepared dishes on vegetarian lunch buffet. The many dishes included a nice selection and blends of greens, corn, carrots, potato, cabbage, eggplant, lentils, green beans and rice. I especially liked the eggplant, the spicy lentils and the spicy potato with peppers. Not too spicy, just enough to satisfy my capsicum craving. Over rice or wrapped in authentic enjera, it makes a most satisfying mid-day repast. Kale and spinach rounded out a filling healthful meal. Iced tea capped off a perfect experience. I do need a nap now.
(5)Alex P.
It is easier to reach being closer to 86th St than Major. My wife didn't like that she got a fixed veggie platter whereas at Major she could pick and choose what she wanted. Service wasn't very slow and the day we were there the credit cards were not working (at least not for the woman who was trying to pay and leave). So we paid cash to avoid the issue. I'll go back but only if I'm too lazy to drive the extra distance to Major.
(4)Nytarsha T.
What a cool experience! We went to an Ethiopian restaurant when we lived in Cali and it was okay but this one was 10x better. I met the owner and his wife and they were extremely friendly. We bought a platter of various different foods at try at the waiters suggestion and everything was so flavorful. I'm glad we came and we will be back.
(5)Emily C.
My husband and are so excited that we found this place! While living in Arlington, VA we tried Ethiopian for the first time and fell in love with it. We had a favorite restaurant we would go to often so when we moved here earlier this year we wanted to find a new favorite. We tried St Yared and that experience left us disappointed. Our experience here was a complete 180! Service 3/5 Service was as expected. Our waitress was friendly and got our order right. The restaurant wasn't super busy but I had to flag her down a couple times because she just didn't check on us very often, not a huge deal though. Our food didn't take too long and it was hot when we go it. Atmosphere/Ambiance 3/5 The restaurant feels very dated and not very warm. But it was clean and the seats were comfortable enough. They also have a bottle of hand sanitizer at each table which is nice. This is probably a strange thing to mention but they had an electronic sign at the back of the restaurant that blinked between the word "coffee" and the picture of a coffee mug in neon colors and that was fairly distracting actually. Next time I'll try to remember to sit on the opposite side of the table, my husband isn't bothered by things like that as much as I am! Food 5/5 Let's be honest, we didn't come here for the service or the atmosphere, we came here for the food and the food was most definitely the star of the show! We got our usual entrees...my husband got the Kitfo and I got the beef Awaze Tibs (mild) and both were absolutely delicious! They tasted exactly the same as what we got at our favorite restaurant in Arlington. We are beyond excited and will absolutely be back!
(4)Katie R.
This was my first time here, and I loved it! I'm a northsider, so this was slightly off the beaten path for me, but I thought it was well worth the drive. The staff is very friendly and the food was great (we had the vegetarian combo). As an Ethiopian food newbie, I was momentarily perplexed by the lack of silverware and the large pump bottles of hand sanitizer on the tables, but my friend explained that you use the injera---delicious sourdough sponge bread---to scoop up and eat your food. I'll definitely be adding this to my regular restaurant rotation.
(4)Mandy L.
I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food. Been wanting to try this restaurant for awhile now. Had the TA2 meat platter for one (would say it's enough food for two). The food came quickly and the waitress was very nice. The food itself was just okay. Not the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. The food didn't seem the freshest because we went at around 5 on a Wednesday. The injera was definitely dry around the edges. One of us ordered a soda and it came in a can for $2. Overall, the experience was okay. You might get a better experience if you go at a different time though.
(3)David W.
Delicious and insanely vegetarian friendly. We went with a groupon and can't wait to go back without one.
(5)Emily B.
I really like Ethiopian food and was excited to eat here when visiting Indianapolis. Their food was good and similar in price to other Ethiopian restaurants that I've experienced, and the staff was very kind. Unfortunately, service was VERY poor. We came in around 3:00 on a Saturday so it wasn't very busy, but it took a really long time to order and then to get our bill. Also, they only provided one roll of Injera per person and while they did replenish it, we were completely out for almost 15 minutes before we received more. Our water glasses were consistently empty for 10-15 minutes (even when asking for refills) as well. If I return to Indianapolis, I'll probably try a different Ethiopian restaurant. It took almost 2 hours for our party of 5 to have lunch and pay which is just too long.
(3)Jo S.
The vegetarian combo plate at Abyssinia is one of my top choices for eating out in all of Indianapolis. I honestly must slow myself down while eating here or I wind up feeling (pleasantly!) gluttonous. The owner and staff are very nice and attentive!
(5)Marina L.
I am a huge fan of Ethiopian food. I was interested to try out this place in comparison with Major - Abyssinia is far better! I got vegetarian platters at both restaurants, and Abyssinia definitely took the cake. The main distinction for me were the sides served on injera along with the dishes we ordered - at Abyssinia, the sides were larger, more varied, and tastier.
(5)Venkata G.
Awesome food. Loads of vegetarian options to choose from too. Staff is very courteous and friendly. The combos are a good way to taste most of the dishes on the menu.
(5)Jonathan E.
Second time having traditional Ethiopian. Abyssinia was unique in a few ways. First of all, the whole place looks like a normal ethnic restaurant when you walk in, but the Ethiopian guy in our group requested to sit under the indoor porch area with traditional animal skin chairs and woven straw tables. He said it was similar to his style of eating at home. Secondly, the food. Now I love meat, and we made sure to get plenty of awassi tips, lamb, and chicken dishes, but the lentils...oh my, that was my favorite dish between the TA1 sampler, awassi tips, and a spicy chicken dish. They served everything on a large injera bread with rolled up injera to scoop with. Nothing like eating with your fingers :) Finally, the coffee ceremony at the end was not only a cultural experience, but delicious and plentiful. Our waitress brought out the green coffee beans she was roasting in order for us to smell the coffee we'd be drinking soon. She then ground the beans and brewed the coffee in a clay pitcher which she served the coffee from into small cups. Since it was a slow evening, she even sat down an chatted with us for a while. Great food, great atmosphere, great service. Nothing short of excellent at Abyssinia.
(5)Sarah F.
I have really enjoyed eating here. All three times we've been in, I have shared the Abyssinia platter for 2 with someone. It really is the best way to go! The last time we were there, my husband ordered the coffee service for all 6 of us and the ceremony began. It's so nice that the server can sit down and chat with you at the end of a meal as part of the coffee ceremony. She shared with us some of her memories and some tidbits of Ethiopian coffee history. Huge thanks to these servers for making it such a personal and unique experience. Warning for people who get migraines or other headaches: The coffee ceremony includes incense and/or the roasting of coffee beans in front of you, which produces smells that might be difficult to tolerate if you're having an off day.
(3)Mame Y.
This is the first time me and my husband had lunch at this restaurant, the food was amazing, the place had a great ambiance, service was excellent and very friendly staff. Full coffee ceremony was very impressive! Must have coffee! I highly recommend the place.
(5)Swarna R.
The food was pretty good and the service was quick. The coffee and tea were quite expensive. Nothing that really stands out in this place that isn't in other Ethiopian restaurants.
(3)MaryM M.
Food is good and the environment really makes you feel like you are experiencing a piece of Ethiopia! I highly recommend this spot
(5)Junyan L.
Food is so awesome!! Yum yum! I always get the vegetarian platter cos it taste soooo good!
(5)Jennifer S.
This was a very interesting ethnic experience for me. Overall I was not a fan of the type of cuisine, but it's definitely worth experiencing once. Definitely ask to be seated in the more authentic section for the full experience. The waitress was very attentive, brought us extra "bread" when we needed it. My friend and I got one of the samplers. Be prepared to eat with your hands and try new things!
(3)Yelp K.
Definitely bring a friend and try a platter if it's your first time. The staff were friendly and timely and the food was just amazing. They were out of ethiopian beer, but I imagine it is a difficult thing to import. I've now tried another ethiopian place in Indy, and am deducting a star simply because this place is more pricy. We were given a plate of injerra and were charged if we wanted more. Unlimited injerra might be too much to ask for, but considering it is what you eat with it was a bit off-putting.
(4)Zenobia W.
I absolutely love Ethiopian, I'd eat it every day if I could. This place excels at quality food and kindness via the waitstaff, but unfortunately falls behind in regard to attentiveness. And this is coming from the MOST laid-back, low maintenance person. I don't need to be waited upon hand and foot by any means. When I went with my group of friends, there was only one other table of eating, and it took a long time for everything in general. It wouldn't have mattered if the restaurant wasn't ice cold, but the combo of tensed up ice cube and hangry bitch isn't good on the brain! I'm guessing they just had less staff that night or something. Understandable. That being said, I was in great company, the people working there were amazing when they finally showed up, and the food was wonderful. I got the Vegetarian Platter, which was so, so good and it's also something I'd recommend to first time Ethiopian diners. Honey wine was better in theory, but you be the judge! So long story short, dine here when you've got time to graze and enjoy someone's company. It's absolutely worth it. And maybe bring a jacket if you're always cold like me. ;)
(4)Divya V.
It was a Saturday evening and we decided it was time we venture out of the Fishers-Castleton-Broad Ripple area that we usually stick to. This place did not disappoint. It was in a strip mall of course... but by now I've come to expect that this does not indicate how good/bad the food is. In my observation of eating Ethiopian food in 4 different cities (Boston, Minneapolis, St Louis and Indy)... there is one thing in common.....most of them are lit in that yellow "romantic mood" type light (meaning darker than your average restaurant). The server and hostess were very friendly. We started off with the lentil Sambusa (similar to the Indian samosa). Fried pastry with a savory filling. It was pretty good. For dinner we shared a vegetarian dinner for 1 as past history would note the 'for two' is way tooo much food!! It came with 7 different vegetarian dishes, injera (their bread like fermented pancake/crepe/dosa but not crisp) and we asked for some mitmita (Ethiopian spice that you can dip the injera in to spice up the dinner) on the side. Before I knew mitmita existed I wasnt too fond of Ethiopian it felt like a bland version of Indian food to me... but this spice mix totally changes how i feel about this cuisine. The 7 dishes: 1. plain yellow lentils, 2. yellow lentils with berbere (loved it), 3. spinach (loved it), 4. collard greens with onions i think (meh), 5. carrots and green beans in a tomato type sauce (OMG so good!!!!!!), 6. potatoes (yum), 7. cabbage (meh) Overall a very satisfying meal! We will be back!
(4)Sara L.
The seasonings were impeccable, the flavors divine. If somebody is reading this and thinking 'oh, i'd like to go there!' message me and we can just jet off and go. It's that good. I've only had better Ethiopian in Boston, but come on, I can't just hop over to Boston for some Ethiopian grub. DONT BE RIDICULOUS! Some of my former co-workers were Ethiopian and they would bring in food to share. This place and their cooking tasted so similar that it left me nostalgic for hospital breakrooms. Plus, eating with your hands is fun. That makes everything more fun.
(4)Marcia R.
All things get better with time! I have come here off an on since they started the business. If your new - sampler for 2 - 2nd option best way to get a variety and taste the food. If slow they have a great coffee ceremony. TEA is very tasty too! Honey wine is good too but I have not had it at this location. If your looking to share or take some home I suggest these tasty additions: KITFO - a sirloin ground typically eaten rare but you can (and I do) ask for it med or med well. SHIRO - num num num YESHIRE ? Spelling is something like this? I know these typically come with the meal but are a tad spicer and more flavored when ordered on the side. All the meat dishes are fantastic in my experience so if your looking at another meat option explore, they do meat well at this place! I order sample for two plus all the sided dishes listed for 4 people - we ate most of it. Caution to those who are not spicy food fans - to me this place is VERY tame in the spicy department but I have heard others who cannot handle a mouth full of flamey goodness to exclaim, this is a little spicy.
(5)Emel S.
I recently went here for the second time and just realized I hadn't reviewed it but that's a good thing because I actually enjoyed the food more the second time. We went in a group of four and the waiter easily convinced us to order 4 different things and share it in one giant tray so that we get to try more things. Someone order the Lamb Tibs (that's the only one I can remember because it was spoken of so highly). We also got a beef dish, a chicken dish...and I think another chicken dish. When you look at the descriptions of the food, they all look very similar. I chose one that had the word "spicy" in it. In the end though, I didn't think any of them were spicy. Ethiopian food is interesting because you eat it by scooping it up with the spongy bread that they give you. The bread is kind of lemony tasting but it starts to grow on you. It also grows INSIDE you and makes you VERY full. I'm not very good at the scooping so I feel like I end up eating a lot of bread and not as much of the good meaty stuff. They will give you a fork if you ask for one but I was trying to embrace the culture. Overall, all of the dishes were very good. One came with a hard boiled egg which was kind of random but we ate it. The "tibs" come out fajita style on a sizzling plate and then was poured into the tray with the rest of the food. I do wish there were more vegetables in the middle but we couldn't even finish all our food so I probably shouldn't complain about the lack of food! The waiter we had was very nice and I liked that he helped us decide what to order. I like this place but my because of my personal preference, I'll stick to only going there once ever year or so. I definitely think it's worth giving it a shot!!
(4)Danny B.
I got a Yelp account for this restaurant. Both Ethiopian restaurants in Indy are surprisingly top-notch and rival ones I have been to in larger cities. However, the flavor at Abyssinia makes it stand out as the best in the city. Besides perfect spice combinations, you can expect a leisurely atmosphere and friendly, helpful service (consistent flow of injera).
(5)Christine K.
Ehhh. I had such high hopes given all the raving reviews.. But we were sorely disappointed. The food didn't have very much flavor and the injera was difficult to get more of. Although it's further away, I'll be driving to major's instead.
(3)DeAnna P.
This is NOT a first date restaurant. This is a play in the mud, come with your besties kinda place. You'll notice the food comes sans utensils. You eat the food by scooping it up with bread (or taking huge handfuls if you're by yourself or hate your dining companions). The bread was very good. Someone else compared it to sourdough and I think that is accurate -- heavy on the sour, thin, light, chewy. I can't access their website and I cannot remember the names of the dishes, but I do remember they were the #8 and #12. It's like a Chinese menu -- they take pity on those who cannot pronounce and number all the dishes. #8 is like a great spicy beef stew, and #12 is more like fajitas. If you come with someone not at all adventurous, #12 is a safe bet. A pal got the vegetarian platter, and that was also tasty. The BEST part though, was homemade honey wine. It didn't taste like mead. It tasted like liquid honey. Amazing. Fair warning though, don't smell it. One of the few things I've ever had that smells awful but tastes delicious. If you manage room, end with the baklava. I have no idea if it is authentic Ethiopian or the chef just likes Greek desserts, but it was flaky and HUGE and heavy on the honey. I rarely finish a dessert and I snarfed it in a matter of seconds.
(4)Eric B.
4 years ago, Abyssinia was my first experience with Ethiopian food. I have had many since then (here and elsewhere) - and while I can now say I am a huge fan of the cuisine - none compare with Abyssinia! Not only is the food outstanding, but its relatively cheap and the service the friendliest you will find. I recommend the all-vegan, 3-day a week lunch buffet. It is a great way to get your feet wet in this under-appreciated cuisine!
(5)Betz N.
Traditional food, relax environment, excellent service. First time here and we love it. Amazing food!
(5)Cameron T.
This place is amazing. I have not had any food there that I would not highly recommend. And you HAVE to get the "coffee ceremony" for you and your friends. It is a little pricy but it is an awesome experience and totally worth doing at least once.
(5)Brock L.
I love Ethiopian and this is the best Ethiopian restaurant I have found in Indy. Their injera is fantastic and pairs perfectly with all of their toppings. Highly recommended. You will not be disappointed. Also, the wait staff is extremely nice, helpful and quick. Great people at Abyssinia.
(5)Scott J.
You must try two helpings of the Yedoro Wett (berbere-spiced chicken with hard-boiled egg) and lentils on injera bread. Indy is very fortunate to have this winning restaurant! Be extra daring and try the special authentic seating off to the side of the restaurant.
(5)Kelly H.
This was my second time eating Ethiopian food, so I definitely can't tell whether things are authentic. But what I can attest to is how pleased my taste buds were! My boyfriend and I got the TA2, which is a large platter of pre-fixed 6 items, comprising of few different kinds of meat and veggies. We got the platter "for one" and thank goodness we did- the two of us struggled to finish it (Be aware, the food is much more filling than it looks). The goat was cooked well, and the beef was so tender and rich. I loved the spices and unique flavors in each of the items. The only negative thing I could think of was that the extra plates of injera were served at room temperature. (At the place I first tried Ethiopian cuisine, they came out warm). But it didn't ruin my experience since the food was so delicious anyways. Our waitress handled our large party like a champ and was willing to do separate checks. I know some people are a bit wary of eating only with your hands, so rest assured, they had hand sanitizers at every table! The restaurant has a cozy ambiance, and with the Ethiopian decor and furnishings, you forget that you're in Indy. It's a charming place, and I look forward to returning!
(4)Tiffany T.
This is a a great place to try some Ethiopian food! The service is good and the food is amazing. I split the meat combo platter for 2, and it was a lot of food. But all the meats are tender and flavorful, and the vegetables are delicious! My favorite was the lamb and the greens, but my boyfriend loved the chicken and lentils. And the best part is the bread they serve with it. It seems like a cross between a pancake and a crepe, but very sour. It goes perfectly with their food, and since you eat with your hands, it makes eating much easier. We also tried their hot tea and honey wine. The tea was yummy. The honey wine had bits of wax in it (beeswax?) and was really strong but delicious! If you're driving, don't down the whole thing by yourself. I can't wait to come back and try more food.
(5)Elizabeth C.
I needed to update my review to say that Abyssinia now has a lunch buffet. Vegans, this is significant for several reasons: 1) they are debuting off-menu items such as an eggplant dish and beet dish I got to nibble on today, which is great news if you've already nommed-to-death the vegan options they have. Not that I will ever get sick of them, but you might. 2) $9.99 is as cheap a meal as you will find at any garbage chain restaurant that you would typically hit on your lunch break, but let's face it, those chains make you sad. Abyssinia makes you happy. An abyssinia day is a special day. That stated, the buffet is hiding in the side room and nobody gives you the sales pitch when you come in there at lunch time, so you have to tell them you want it. Oh my god. You will thank me.
(5)Jen F.
We love experimenting with food and Ethiopian being a cuisine we hadn't been exposed to, Abyssinia was a natural place to try. We walked in just after noon on a Saturday and the restaurant was empty. There was one other table in the side room. We were greeted right away with menus and water. The staff we encountered were all very friendly, but not overly so. We started with a crispy pastry filled with ground meat. It was delicious! Crispy without being greasy. Full off flavorful meat with just a hint of spice at the finish. For our entree, we tried the sampler #2. It came out on a large round crepe and the lovely women indicated what each dish was. We dug in with our ample amount of bread. The bread was cool to the touch, which may be perfectly normal, but it was a little odd. Most of the items on the tray were delicious. Very flavorful and not too spicy. We found that if I liked something, my husband didn't as much and vice versa. ... and then, the best way for me to say it, is that I was just done. The texture of the bread was unappealing to me. The food was flavorful, but soft. I hadn't eaten much, but I didn't want to continue. When I said this, Philip agreed that he had hit the same wall. So, we wrapped it up. On the way home, we were talking about it and I decided it left us with what I will forever call "food confusion." It liked it, but I didn't want to keep eating it. If it appeals to you and you're an adventurous eater - you must try it. I'm glad we went and I want you to try it, too.
(3)Darshy N.
This is perhaps the most authentic ethiopian atmosphere I've been to - I opted for traditional seating, which are traditional Ethiopian chairs around Ethio basket table called a mesob. Along with my meal, I opted for the traditional Ethiopian Coffee ceremony, and was seriously wowed. For the less adventurous, you can also sit at the regular restaurant tables. I didn't think I needed to talk about hands - because it is a ethiopian restaurant, but yes, you have to eat with your hands. They supply purell next to your table for convenience. The service is very friendly, though I'll say it is extremely slow. However, my only critical remarks are as follows - 1) the food is slightly muted down (perhaps because it's in Indiana) 2) the food is also slightly salty (also, perhaps because it is in Indiana) 3) they should play some sort of background music in the restaurant, I sat in the corner (and no one puts baby in the corner) and could only hear the hum of the air conditioning in the walls. 4) Offer wet naps. For an ethiopian restaurant, this is a gem!
(4)Morgan G.
For an adventurous night out, my friends and I skirted off to an untrekked part of town for food -- the informally known as 'International Marketplace' for some truly authentic Ethiopian food. Service was charming. Food incredible. It's what I call experiential dining. You learn a lot about the culture - sharing food with friends from the same large plate, eating with your hands using Ethiopian bread to scoop up lamp, chicken or beef dishes. I'd take a pass on the Ethiopian honey wine and trade that for what I've heard is incredible coffee to top off the night. They roast the beans right in front of you. Will definitely return to the International Marketplace and venture to my next ethnic experience.
(5)Mike K.
This is one of my favorite places to bring guests. They have wonderful lamb and chicken dishes for the meat eaters and a wide array of vegetarian dishes. Everyone enjoys sharing the meal together and has a great time. Abyssinia has really improved their decor over the years, they painted the walls with very warm colors and replaced the carpet. It has definitely moved past a "hole in the wall" with great food. The staff is very friendly and also good with kids. The coffee tradition is also memorable. They burn incense and serve the coffee is small glasses with a little sugar. Beware, because it is fairly strong (I'm writing this at 1:30am and not even near sleepy).
(4)Matt F.
You know, strip mall dining takes a lot of abuse but when you find a place this awesome, it makes up for the bad experiences. If you've never experienced Ethiopian cuisine, be prepared to step out of your comfort zone. Silverware is not used and it's not even needed. They have a good selection of meat as well as vegetarian dishes. We went with the vegetarian sampler which is unbelievably big. Just take the left overs to the drive-in movie like we're doing tonight. It was very cold in there and I'm not sure if that is normal so you might want to prepare for it. It is 57 degrees in Addis Ababa as I'm writing this review and that's probably what it was in the restaurant. I guess that helps with the authenticity!
(5)Dana M.
Abyssinia was my first Ethiopian food experience, and it was a great one. I split a vegetarian sampler with a friend. I enjoyed the communal eating environment and loved dipping the bread into different stews and vegetables. It was a great entree to split with two people.
(4)Ariel S.
Had the meat variety platter for 2 - loved it. I've eaten several times in Ethiopian restaurants in Georgetown in Wash DC and this is actually comparable! Loved it. Very good service. Easy to find great verity for vegetarians and non alike. I loved the Lamb and Ethiopian bread. It's kind of tucked away in the shopping center but worth the hunt.
(5)Desmond W.
Hmmm... what to say about Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant. I've been knowing the owner of this restaurant, Abraha, for many years. The prices have increased over the years, however, the food quality and taste has improved accordingly. The interior art work and coloring has changed quite a few times too (a new traditional seating section with nice wood work has been added). My Ethiopian friends agree that this is the best Habishi (Ethiopian) restaurant in town! I recommend the vegetarian combo so that you can sample all of the tasty veggie dishes. For meat lovers, I suggest Awaze Tibs (juicy tender pieces of lamb or beef sautéed with red onions, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and berbere sauce). This dish is the most popular because they have to cook it fresh per your request. All of their food is served upon injera (a unique, exclusively Ethiopian type of moist pancake-like substance made from a grain called tef). They have good imported bera (beer) from their homeland, as well as Tej (traditional honey wine, aka mead). Go and enjoy the food and lovely milieu! As long as you're okay with a little butt burn the next day due to the spices, you're in for an unforgettable taste bud journey to Ethiopia!
(5)Brandy F.
My only regret - I've not eaten here sooner! My husband and I stopped by for lunch today and enjoyed the vegetarian sampler for two. It was delicious and a great way to try a little bit of everything. For an appetizer, we split a pastry stuffed with lentils that was also delicious. When visiting for the first time, and if stuck on what to order, I would definitely suggest either the meat or vegetarian sampler, as it is a great way to try a number of their dishes. I also tried the Ethiopian honey wine, but I didn't care for it at all. I look forward to returning with a group so I can try the coffee ceremony I keep reading about. Oh, and I don't know why, but I love that there is hand sanitizer and plenty of napkins on all the tables.
(5)Ed S.
I came here with some friends and we threw down. The more people you have in your party, the more incredibly delicious things you can try at Abyssinia. They offer a large variety of both meaty and vegetarian dishes. The bread... it makes you never want to use a spoon and fork again. I love the potatoes. Yum.
(5)Mike F.
This is a neat place. It's a hole-in-the-wall place, but the food they serve is really special. It is like nothing you've ever had! I don't remember what all of the dishes I loved were called, but I enjoyed them. Some of the food can be quite spicy--which I like, but others do not. The staff was extremely friendly and were a great help in deciding what to order. This place seems authentic--there were plenty of native Ethiopians dining there. This is a must try!
(5)Alena S.
Yum...Yum...Yum...Ok, so it's not quite as good as Oak of Mamre was (I could cry since that place is gone...my mouth is watering just thinking about it), but Abyssinia is a decent substitute. The service has been excellent every time I've been too. Oh, and the homemade ethiopian honey wine...well, pace yourself. I have loved everything I have ordered from meat to chick peas to whatever other slop is placed on the injera. A friend of mine even ordered the raw beef dish (the waitress questioned us :)) and that was very good too...a little chewier than I would have preferred for raw beef, but grow a pair and try it out. I love that there is no silverware (thank you for being authentic), so if you struggle with people's hands touching everything then you probably wouldn't care for ethiopian in general. This place does have hand sanitizer on every table though:) I always feel like ethiopian is a great place for kids because they can use their hands. There are tons of "puree'd" veggies to pick up with the injera. And actually, I do think I've seen kids in there every time I have eaten there. They seem to really enjoy it. I have never sat at the more traditional communal seats that they have. A friend of mine did recently and she said they are super uncomfortable unless you are actually eating. So, if you have a bad back, you might want to stick with the regular tables :)
(5)Howard L.
This was our third Ethiopian dinner (prior stops were in Philadelphia, PA, and Evanston, IL), and we think the best so far. The pastry appetizers and two dinners we had were flavorful, slightly spicy, and nicely done. We liked the ground beef pastry a bit better than the lentil stuffed one, which was a little dried out. The TA2 meat combination sampler (for one) was a great dish to try ($16.95) , with good-valued portions of lamb, chicken, beef, spinach, and a couple of lentils served on the traditional tangy and vinegary injera flatbread. Son also tried the gored gored - raw beef cubes served with a spicy sauce and powder. He liked it, and I was ok chomping on a sample of it, but I'm not sure I would have enjoyed the whole entree, just from the idea of it. We also liked the bottomless servings of the injera bread, as I'm not remembering having that at the other Ethiopian places. Note the Dashen Ethiopian beer is $5 per bottle (it was a nice, light lager like beer) , as opposed to the Bedele beer advertised at $4. We're finding west 38th street in Indy to be quite the mixing pot now for various ethnic and good-valued cuisines. This place has been in business for 8 years now.
(4)Tillie L.
I really wanted to love this place, however it just didn't happen. I read the reviews and planned to visit Abyssinia with my family after an art fair. We arrived and seated ourselves. We were greeted from about 20 feet away and awaited our menus. The table had a bit of food debris and smears, so we politely asked the hostess if someone would clean it for us. She seemed confused by this request...was it a language barrier? After carefully examining an obviously dirty table, she at last understood our request and cleaned it after our drinks arrived. The restaurant was uncomfortably warm and lacked music. There aren't any drinks on the menu, so we all requested water. Our party of four ordered a vegetarian combo and a combo with meat. Once it arrived we were confused...we all know you eat it with injera bread, but we didn't have any. Our server just gave us our food, never said anything about returning with the bread. We were left to hungrily stare at each other, wondering if we should have ordered some. At last she returned with the bread. However she didn't come back again till we were out of both bread and water, leaving us to tear the bread out from under our dish. By the way, there were only 4 occupied tables, they were not busy. The food was good. That is why they are getting 2 stars, they lost three stars because we never felt welcome. No one asked if we needed anything or had questions about the menu (if you don't know Ethiopian food it is tough to know what you are going to get). It's fun as Ethiopian food is, I don't see us going back.
(2)Tara M.
To borrow a word from Nate Z., Abyssinia is enchanting - from the lively (but not too loud) music, to the yellow walls with pictures of Ethiopia, to the charming service, and of course the absolutely fresh and tasty food. We went for the vegetarian sampler so we could taste all of the different curries and vegetables. Did not find one that we didn't love. I will definitely, absolutely go back - and next time I will bring a big group so we can sit at the giant communal table.
(5)Doug M.
This place is EXACTLY what I'm looking for when I want to go find some good, unique ethnic grub. The place itself is unassuming. No one forces you to sit on the floor or prop yourself up on pillows and the wait staff isn't dressed like they emigrated yesterday. However, the food (and the way it is served) is delightfully unique. I'd recommend any kind of sampler platter, which are fantastic for sharing. You may not like a certain meat or vegetable, but there's plenty more to try. Even my wife, who prefers Indiana homestyle cooking, was able to find a few things on the platter that she really liked. The food is a little expensive, but that is usually true with such unique places. Again, the best thing to do is to plan on sharing (the waitstaff is very good at recommending how much food is needed). Very good place. Never tried Ethiopian food? Abysinnia is a great place to start!
(5)Christie M.
Took my parents who are vegetarians to try this place out. They have never had much of other culture's food except their own so it was definitely an adventure for them. :) We ordered the Vegetarian Taste of Abyssinia for 2. It was more than enough to feed 3 adults and one small 2 yr old. Also ordered a pot of tea. YUM to all! :) My parents were shocked with the injera bread but loved it. Kinda reminds them of a breakfast whiter, thicker, sweeter version of their bread they ate with another bread. Don't ask. Chinese/Viet have them. Anyways...It was good and healthy. I warned them not to use too much of the bread because they'll get full fast. Which of course they did. As did I but then again, I hardly had room in my huge preggo belly to eat much but let me tell you, that sure didn't stop me from trying. :) My son loved eating the bread. He'll try to be an adult and pick from the plate as well. heheh Service was good. I think the owner walked around checking up on everyone's table. Really nice people. Will have to go back and try some of their meat dishes, Yes I'm eat meat. I was eyeing the lamb dishes. So I'm a fan but it's the only Ethiopian place I've been to in Indianapolis. I have nothing to compare it to except all the other cities I've been to, such as LA's and Ferndale's Blue Nile, which I enjoyed just a smidge better.
(4)Alex K.
This is my go to place for Ethiopian in Indy. Their food is good but is quite similar to other Ethiopian places but what puts this place in my top list of restaurants is actually the coffee. Let me preface this with the fact that I barely even like coffee but they take it to a whole different level. They preform what the call a coffee ceremony which is $20 for however many people come so it becomes a much better deal as more people come. They bring out green coffee beans and roast them right in front of you while burning incense and then brew it in these gourds of some sort. The coffee is served with the traditional POPCORN!!! Their food is heavy and you will be surprised at how little it looks versus how much it fills you up. If you like spicy food don't forget to ask them for some of their spicy sauce. The staff is very helpful and willing to talk about Ethiopian culture if you are into that sort of thing. They also have an attached store where you can purchase spices and other Ethiopian ingredients. You can also buy the green coffee beans here and try your own hand at roasting on the stove top.
(5)Leigh S.
We went for an early dinner on a Saturday night and were pleasantly surprised at what we found at Abyssinia. This is a fantastic little gem of a place tucked in an unassuming strip mall. Both meat-eaters and vegetarians will find plenty of tasty options to suit their tastes at Abyssinia. We had the vegetarian taster, as well as one of the meat tasting menu. The food was all delicious! Most of the dishes weren't very spicy but some had a bit of kick to them. There was plenty of food for the two of us, we didn't finish everything either. The waiter was really pleasant and attentive. The decor of the restaurant is really nice, with warm tones of color on the walls. There are some traditional tables with the basket and stools, as well as Western tables for those who want a back to their seats. My only complaint is that there are two flat screen tv's at either end of the restaurant and they were at full volume when we got there. Who on earth wants to go to a decent restaurant and watch tv? You can sit at home and watch tv while you eat. The annoying thing is that with all the pretty, moving colors, it's hard to not watch while you eat. I really think the tv killed the atmosphere of the place. How about shutting them off and playing some music? That would be killer, to go hand-in-hand with the killer food. Well, the food still far too good to pass up due to the inconvenience of a little modern technology. I highly recommend giving this place a shot.
(4)Nate Z.
Truly enchanting. None other like. English fails for the words necessary to describe my continuing, wonderful experiences at this establishment. I shall, however, attempt: I've been a fan of Ethiopian cuisine since I was a child, and being a flight attendant, have enjoyed this type of dining all over the nation. I can truly say, since I've been going to Abyssinia since the day they opened, no one in the U.S. can beat their quality, flavor, generosity, charm nor price. Even if you think you don't like 'curried' foods or spicy fair, you owe it to yourself to indulge in Abraham's creations. But, bring your appetite, because apparently it's against the law to leave there hungry. You'll not regret the experience. Cheers
(5)Daniel L.
I'll jump on the review train to offer my thoughts on this Indy gem. For those not acquainted with the Ethopian way of eating, I'll do my best not to spoil it. Suffice to say, it'll be communal, and if you don't like eating with your fingers you are out of luck. But, you should like eating with your fingers... right? Best option if you bring a group of 3 or 4 are the sampler dinners. They offer a variety of dishes to try, with unlimited bread. Don't go for the largest option with your quartet. the "sampler for 2" will feed double that, with room to spare. Save some money for their Ethopian beer, which is in stock on occasion.
(4)J K.
"It was the best of times....it was the worst of times..." Wow! What a surprise. A good restaurant on the westside! Great food. Pleasant decor. And Ethiopians!! We ordered the sampler for 2 ($31). Everything was wonderful though the lamb was a bit chewy. Not our first Ethiopian experience, but one of our better. I was even hoping to try some of the coffee from where coffee was invented. They served Yergecheffe, but I had apparently missed it somewhat earlier. I'm a bit of a coffee buff and have roasted my own Harrar and Yergecheffe beans. The bad ? They wouldn't accept the $25 rest.com coupon I'd purchased 2 weeks earlier and was good for a year. You can still buy them today. Apparently, in their mind, the deal has been over for a month. The manager, though soft spoken, was inflexible and insisted the problem was mine. I begged to differ. I'm soft spoken and totally inflexible as well (when I believe I'm right). This display in front of a nearly full restaurant. Too bad. I really like the place. Here's an idea, find someone you really dislike. Give them a rest.com coupon to Abyssinia and go home and chuckle.....
(3)Mike M.
Love the sega wett. Excellent sega wett as always.
(5)Liz B.
So I have to say that the location of this place isn't the best and the service, while, friendly, is not super attentive. BUT the food is super tasty! I get the vegetarian platter every time (although I do move meat) because I love it so much! It has a variety of different vegetable dishes, each with a unique seasoning....so good! I had one of the lamb dishes once and while very good, it was VERY spicy! Event so, the flavor was great. I will continue to dine here because the flavors and seasons are spot on!
(4)Emy M.
I was really craving some Ethiopian food, and this place totally hit the spot. We went there for lunch on a Friday, and it was pretty empty, but the service was nonetheless pretty slow. Luckily, we were not in a rush, but I wouldn't recommend it for a lunch break during a work week. I also didn't mind the wait that much, since the food wass great, and the server was very friendly and nice. We ordered five different vegetarian dishes to split, and all of them were very good. Most of them were more mildly spiced than I remembered Ethipian food to be (except for the lentil dish), so much so that even my picky 12 year old nephew ended up eating them and thinking the potatoes were delicious. My favorites were the atkil wett, the collard greens and the spinach. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Lynn V.
I have to revise my review after finding many bones and pieces of inedible meat in the meat/veg combo plate I took home. I usually get the vegetarian dishes with friends, so this was the first time I'd tried their meat. I don't know if it's the norm for them to have bits of bone and inedible fat/gristle, but it made me very sad. I've had the meat dishes from other Ethiopian places around the country and this is the first time I've encountered this.
(3)Richard H.
The food is quite tasty, and the service was attentive, friendly and informative. And it's not exactly a "hole-in-the-wall" as someone else stated -- although it's simple, it's somewhat charmingly decorated. The pastry appetizers (whatever they're called) were actually our favorite part of the meal. The main part of the meal is served on injera on a large round platter. The injera on the platter is suffused with the juices from the food resting on it, which makes it delicious but difficult to eat with. Fortunately, they provide a basket with additional injera. The injera is, well, weird. It has a really strange consistency which I could never get accustomed to, but it is fun to eat the food with it. Seems like this would be a fun place to go with a small group, as long as no one was too squeamish about everyone's hands all over the food.
(3)Ethan H.
Let's hear it for Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant, offering a rare and wonderful culinary experience right in the heart of the Midwest! Truth be told, I really enjoyed this place. If you haven't had Ethiopian food before, what are you waiting for? And if you have, stop sitting in front of the computer and get your ass to Abyssinia! The food is tasty, the service is impeccable and the experience is worth a return visit.
(5)Guy Who Likes Sandwiches X.
Ethiopian is definitely an exotic cuisine for the typical American caucasian, even if you're a little more adventurous like I am. There just aren't many Ethiopian places around (Indianapolis's ecosystem seems to only be able to support one or two at a time), and the food is unlike most others. As a point of reference I try to compare it to Indian for prospective first-timers, but that really doesn't get the idea across - Indian is more heavily spiced, there's rice, there's less focus on bread, and there's forks. Once you get over that hump and just try it though, you may find that you start craving it quickly. My first experience with Ethiopian food was at the now-gone Queen of Sheba near downtown, and in the years since I've grown quite accustomed to it and gotten regular urges to seek it out again. Happily, Abyssinia is every bit the equal of Queen of Sheba for quality of food, decor and service. I've never had a bad experience here. They always bring more bread than you need and more food than you can eat in a sitting, and everything is delicious. I particularly like anything made with the deep red, spicy berbere. It's the simplest dish, but I would eat my body weight in lentils with berbere if common sense (and my girlfriend) didn't intervene.
(5)Emily U.
Abyssinia keeps getting better every time I go. The veggie combo and shiro entrée I ate on my last visit were outstanding! They seem to be continually improving the décor in their cute storefront on 38th Street so it's brighter, cheerier and cozier each time. The staff is incredibly nice--if you ask them to box you're leftovers, they'll do an amazing trick that will send you home with a giant injera burrito with all sorts of delicious things inside. And I usually hate TVs in restaurants, but they run an awesome DVD with people playing music and dancing in fields of goats and cows. Seriously: go here now. Get a nice glass of wine (or honey wine, if that's your bag), eat some amazing food and bliss out to some sweet music videos!
(4)Robert B.
After finishing my meal at Abyssinia, I sit here thinking to myself and wondering why I have never tried Ethiopian food before. I must say it was quite the experience. I live up on the North Side around 116th & Ditch road and it's a bit of a hike to get down there, but today I said what the heck and headed down to the little strip mall that houses Abyssinia and several other worth while "joints" as well! Having never done this I wanted to read up on it a little which actually helped me and I knew what to expect at least as far as tradition went. I chose the spicy lentil pouch to begin. Similar to a beef patty but triangular and stuffed with spicy lentils. This was awesome and piping hot! Then I got a recommendation from the server and ordered the sampler platter. This says, on the menu, that it comes with beef chicken and spinach in various ways of preparation. It sounded very good. Because I've never eaten goat and was a little apprehensive I wanted to stay away from it my first time out. When my order came out it had.... Well..... I really had no idea what it had!!! The dish came served on injera with rolls of Injera on the side. Injera is a very spongy almost rubbery flat bead that has little holes in it like an English Crumpet. The trick is to rip off a piece and scoop up whatever it is you've been eyeing on the dish! This was fun for me because I started to have wondrous flashbacks of all the times my mother would yell at me to get my hands out of the food and here I was digging, scooping and squeezing my way through an absolute heavenly plethora of spices, flavors and self made concoctions from my plate. I was a little afraid to ask what I was eating because it was so good I didn't want to know, YET! Of course I waited till the last piece of injera was gone and tried to eat the flattened out piece on my dish that had been there to form the wonderful spongy cradle soaking up all the flavors. The problem was I was stuffed and couldn't enjoy this last little tidbit. Just for the record, on my plate was some type of curried lamb. I love lamb but this was a little tough ( hence the 4 stars). I feel it could have been cooked to tenderize a little better. Chicken in a dark BBQ looking curry and cumin flavored sauce which was excellent. A sort of creamed but not creamed spinach, if that even makes any sense, at least that's how it tasted. Some curried potatos in the center of the dish several hot spices that I was warned by the server to go easy on (Really not that spicy ) But the best, to my surprise, was the Goat!!! It was extraordinary. So much that I could probably bathe in it. I'm mentally bathing in it right now while I recount the tender, full of flavor spiced Goat. Why have I not ever eaten this before. The server was extremely pleasant and attentive and the chef actually came out to my table and asked how I liked everything. I couldn't have like it any more. I will say this, I will come back. I can see me regularly ordering the spiced Goat and indulging with fingers grasping the injera to cradle the love on that plate.
(4)Wayne C.
surprised to find this great ethiopian restaurant in indy. with a couple of friends and we all enjoyed the meal. the spicy lamb (last lamb item on the menu) is downright awesome.
(4)Susan P.
Loved the food, loved the friendly and fast service. I ordered a vegetarian sampler and all of the elements were fabulous, including the injera. I tried the honey wine and it was not for me, but it was still cool to try something different.
(4)N V.
As far as Ethiopian cuisine goes this is the best I've had. It blows away most places in DC and NYC. Only exception is in DC U St. Service is a little slow but that is normal for the type of restaurant.
(4)Nichole H.
Since I think this is the only Ethiopian restaurant in Indy, I'll just have to live with it. Everything is good, but I was expecting a lot more spicy! To be fair, I was with a large group and the waiter may have dumbed it down a bit for the group. The enjera is a lot less sour than other places I've had it, but was still spongy and delicious. The waiter (owner?) even brewed some Ethiopian coffee for our group. Overall, we had a great time and the price is very reasonable.
(4)Ange B.
Say what you will, but every time I leave this place, I dream about it until my next visit. The food is some of the most delectable morsels I have ever tasted in my life. I recommend the lentil sambusa for an appetizer. Trust me, you can't go wrong! Just be careful because they are always piping hot! As far as a main dish goes, order anything, anything at all because it is all good! The price is very reasonable. Two people can get super full for less than fourty bucks. The service is sometimes not the best, and that's why I'm only giving four stars. The servers are always friendly, just not always fast. If you have never been to Abyssinia or an Ethiopian restaurant, this is the perfect place to try something new and delicious!
(4)Hannah C.
It's easy to pass by this rare find in Indianapolis. The restaurant is located in a strip mall alongside a few ethnic restaurants and an oriental grocery store (which had a man taking a nap, splayed across the welcome mat inside). But, it's worth a trip! Some of the foods can be a bit vinegar-y to my taste, but other dishes were downright delicious. This is a great small group dinner excursion, as the food is served on a giant plate lined with their inejera (bread). You eat with your right hand, but if you require a fork and extra plate, you can ask for them. They have hand sanitizer on each of the tables, which was a relief and comfort for my germaphobe group. Oh, and beware, the spicy smell of the restaurant might be a parting gift seeped into your clothes. My recommendations? Chicken Alecha, Gommen Besega (beef with collard greens), and Tibs Lamb. Some dishes might be spicy, but the flavors are still worth the tingling on your tongue. We also tried the Timatim Fitfit (#31 I think), but we didn't even doggybag the half of it that was leftover.
(4)Steph C.
Loved loved LOVED it! The staff was welcoming and kind, offering recommendations and instructions on how to eat the food. The dinner (lamb with collard greens and a spicy chicken- wett, I believe) was amazingly delicious. My companion and I barely spoke as we wolfed down the entire platter. I have told all my friends about this place and you should too! In fact, we're gathering a group to return next week!
(5)Alex C.
If you are into serious flavor, then this is your place. The Chicken Wett is awesome and spicy, and the lentils are super yummy!! I had a lamb dish with collard greens that was fantastic as well! The staff are very friendly and make you feel more than welcome! I think that we are lucky to have a place like this in Indiana. Highly recommended!!
(5)Joel D.
Abyssinia is a fantastic little Ethiopian place that most people have never heard of but will love once they arrive. The food is served without silverware, it is instead eaten using Injira (a tasty sourdough like pancake) to scoop up the food. Allow me to say, I don't generally like lamb, but I like Abyssinia's lamb no matter what style I've gotten it in. The wait staff is very friendly and attentive, and were extremely helpful in figuring out what I might like on my first couple of visits to the place. I could honestly eat here 2-3 times a week and be perfectly happy with it. The portions are very large and the price is honestly a great value.
(5)Sean F.
This was a great experience. I had never had Ethiopian food and I found it and the atmosphere quite enjoyable. There was a large party next to me and the staff was as attentive to them as my table and the others that were dining. Customer service is very important to me and the wait staff delivered. My funny moment was that I thought the bread they bring out to scoop up the food was towels. Yes, it's either the bread or use your fingers. I opted to use my fingers after a while as I did not like the taste of the bread. The food on the other hand was awesome. I had the goat dishes and thoroughly everything I had. The seasoning was great and definitely look forward to my next trip there.
(4)Andrea B.
This was my first Ethiopian experience, so take what you want from my opinion, but... I LOVED it. The food was spicy but not so hot as to be inedible, and the waiter was very friendly and polite. It was absolutely delicious, and when we ran out of one of the components he brought us more at no extra charge. Our glasses were nevery empty, and we were offered more injera when the basket was low. The prices were unbelievable too- a giant amount of food for a single digit price. This is an obvious mom-and-pop establishment, and it was apparent that we were the only ones in the place who didn't know everyone (as we were the only ones speaking english). This was different, but at no point did we feel out of place or unwanted. Rather, it was warming to see old friends gathered, and young children having a great time. I would definitley eat here again.
(5)Josh F.
A last minute change of dinner plans lead me to Abyssinia, and am I glad I went. Located in a strip mall along 38th st, it is a very unassuming place. If I didn't know it was there, I would have probably missed it. Wasn't too packed at 7pm on a Wed. evening, so I had no problem getting seated and having my order taken right away. Very typical menu, meat and veg options with the always pleasing combination platters...my personal choice. I opted for the "Taste of Abyssinia" veg combo...I noticed that it did not include shirro, which I must always have when dining on Ethiopian...so I asked the owner (who took my order) if I could get shirro added on, and he did so with no extra charge. I also ordered a glass of tej wine, a brand of which I had never had before...and would honestly not like again. It wasn't bad or anything, just not the usual tej wine I am use to...it tasted like brandy...of which I am not a fan. The food was great, good spice to the shirro, and good use of the berberre. The injera was fresh, not soggy and not dry...just right, and you could tell they make it in house. Not sure if this is the only Ethiopian game in town, but if your looking for authentic fare, this is it.
(4)Alison C.
The food here is really good, but man the service is so slow. It's frustrating when you are COMPLETELY OUT OF WATER and the waiter (owner?) is sitting at a table with his friends. I would say it was worth the wait had I never discovered Major Restaurant! Much friendlier, faster service, and I think the food is slightly better too.
(4)Scott D.
I love this place. If you're Ethiopian, you'll feel right at home. The injera are great, the dishes are wonderful and the staff is helpful and friendly. This is one of the only restaurants that I'm willing to drive over an hour to enjoy.
(4)Chengyu X.
Nice family restaurant. You can eating and enjoy your time with family. Absolutely, the food is outstanding. I am Asian, but I still very enjoy this kinds of food. Next time I will try the honey wine.
(5)Fred M.
There aren't many restaurants we choose to return to, but this one we will.Great food, charming service, appropriate prices, authentic food according to the Ethiopian person with us. The lamb dishes and lentil dishes were superb as were the greens and injera bread. The honey wine is well worth a try, though it was a bit different.
(5)Kate N.
My favorite thing to order here is the Yemisir Wett (red split lentils in berberre sauce) and Shiro (pureed split peas cooked with onion and garlic). Both come out on one large enjera-lined platter (and another plate piled high with enjera for dipping), and every time we've gone they've added small sample portions of other vegetarian dishes. The Yekik Alecha (garbonzo split beans flavored with curry and herbs) is actually really mild, as is the Denech Alecha (a chunkier dish of carrots and potatoes in sauce). The thing I crave the most is that enjera...it's yeasty, spongy goodness. It is so fun to tear pieces off and pick up mouthfuls of curries (for lack of a better word) with it.
(5)