Elsa’s Ethiopian Restaurant
8016 Santa Fe Dr, Overland Park, KS, 66204
Elsa’s Ethiopian Restaurant Menu
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Address :
8016 Santa Fe Dr
Overland Park, KS, 66204 - Phone (913) 648-5000
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Bekkah L.
This is the best Ethiopian food I've ever had, and I've been to quite a few Ethiopian restaurants! We ordered sambosas and the vegetarian sampler. The sambosas, which I don't always love, were excellent. I could have eaten a whole plate of them! All of the veggie dishes (lentils, yellow peas, green peas, cabbage, potatoes, and greens) were amazing. I always like to order the samplers because I don't have a favorite Ethiopian dish, each place has highs and lows. But each dish here was delicious! I couldn't pick a favorite and there were definitely no least favorites here. We also had ice tea (definitely made in house!) and honey wine (served in a potion bottle) which were both delicious. Our whole bill was under $25 (pre-tip) and we left very full! As others have said, this place knocks Blue Nile out of the park on flavor. Service was a little slow (not as slow as others have said), but it was sufficient! I will definitely be back!
(5)Teague P.
We had a lovely meal at Elsa's a couple of weeks ago after a visit to the farmer's market in old downtown OvPk. My sweetie started with baklava, because life is short, and it was just delicious, full of nuts and a huge serving. He asked for coffee and they had to make some, and he said it was extraordinary which I suppose you would expect in an Ethiopian place. I had a few bites of the baklava, fantastic. Then we had an order of the lentil filled samosas, delicious fried savory pastries. Triangles of flaky phyllo wrapped around a lentil filling. They were served with an excellent, fairly mild chile sauce with a delightful soft, complex flavor. I ordered the "meat platter". It comes with vegetable sides, all piled on an enormous plate underlaid with the spongy, slightly tangy injera bread, sort of like a pancake crossed with a crumpet, thin and wide. Really wonderful flavors and enough food to serve way more than two people. It came with a 'hot' beef dish, not too hot actually but a bit of chile burn, and a 'not hot' beef and cabbage stew which was just delicious and silky. The dal-type bean or lentil stews are excellent, and the greens make me want to eat greens every day. Service was not super fast, but it was very friendly I ate my leftovers all week, next time might order an individual dish because the platter was an excessive amount of food. An excellent restaurant.
(5)Phani S.
Loved the food. Very afforodable and tastes great. The reason for the two star is for bad customer service. Me and my wife came there on Friday night around 7.30 PM with hungry stomachs and were seated in 10 min. The food served at different tables looked amazing and made us hungrier than ever. The only staff in the restaurant is an old man who was going from table to table and dealing with to-go customers with the payments. We would expect a minimum courtesy to offer water but we didn't see him for next 25 min. Finally he shows up and takes our order. The food arrives 30 min later. By this time it was an hour since we arrived and had to drop our movie plans for the night. All this time we were contemplating to just exit the place and get something from fast food but we wanted to be respectful. At the end food was great but not worth messing our late night plans. My best advice to customers would be to call and give a take out order. Food is amazing but customer service is really bad. Elas's should seriously consider hiring a cashier and waiter and make the old man watch over.
(2)Shane S.
Really cool spot ran by husband and wife and thats it! The sambosa was really good, but they only have vegetarian option. I was hoping for a beef sambosa. The bread here was fresh and not too thick, which is great. We got the combo platter--the beef stew was my favorite and the chicken leg was great as well. Elsa's is great friendly place in a cool neighborhood and I would definitely return for great Ethiopian food.
(4)Michael K.
I never leave Elsa's disappointed. Still the best Ethiopian Restaurant in the city hands down.
(5)Clay W.
Best Ethiopian in KC. Go there and fill your gullet to the brim.
(5)Carol Y.
I've only been here twice. There is only one server, so service was rather slow both times. My husband and I have waited a while for our order to be taken, and for the food to come out, since there were a lot of people there both times. I wouldn't sit in if I didn't have more than an hour to spare. However, the food is great! But I'm not crazy about it.
(3)Sarah S.
I love Ethiopian food. This is the first time I've had it in the Midwest, and this place is legit. I ordered takeout. The guy behind the counter was ultra nice. My husband and I shared a meat combo plate, with whatever side the owner suggested (I always go with "whatever the chef suggests" when I get Ethiopian, pro-tip folks!). The spicy things were spicy, but not OMFG BURN YOUR FACE OFF spicy like I'm used to at other Ethiopian places on the west coast. Which was actually really great for me, not as great for my husband who loves extra extra spicy. But he still loved the food, as I did. Really good, really affordable. People who have reviewed saying their "food came out too quick so it was obviously pre-prepared," um, yeah, they cook it all day like stews. Learn about different cultures, try new things, don't be offended when you don't "get" something.
(4)Mike M.
Incredible. Walking in, my first impression was how clean the restaurant was. There was only one other customer in there, and when we walked in we were waited on immediately and the food came surprisingly quick. An absolutely excellent value for the money and the food was exquisite. Next time I'm in the area I will definitely be back.
(5)Pascal L.
Elsa's Ethiopian Restaurant is actually the best restaurant in the Kansas City area. It's noticeable clean as soon as you walk in. The old guy, who is the server and probably the owner, will greet you, that's if he's not busy. Being the only server there when we visited he was overwhelmed, and given that it was a Saturday evening, it was easy to see how a packed popular restaurant like this would make anyone overwhelmed. This did affect customer service a little bit, with a little showing of impatience from his side. But to be honest, I will give them 4 stars because they really try hard to give both great food and service and being short on servers, you can only expect so much from a small business. I would definitely come back here. The kitfo is ennhhhh, have had better kitfo. The samosa is great, hot, and fresh. The rest of the food is pretty flavorful as one would expect of Ethiopian food. I recommend you go here if you are in the Kansas City area. I am sorry to say this, but please avoid the Awaze, Blue Nile, and so called "Ethiopian" restaurants in this area. Well, or you can go and experience for yourself.
(4)Vicky T.
First Ethiopian food with my international Ethiopian friend. She said this was the best she's had around Kansas City; Blue Nile does not compare. No hesitation it is quite the authentic cuisine. If you visit with a small group of friends (5-6), the meat combo is probably a most favorable option -- injera comes free (usually $2.99 for more)! Aside from the food, the owner was friendly (though persistent to suggest one dish over the other. I learned it is a culturally facilitated mannerism common amongst Ethiopians), the bathroom was clean (bonus A+), and the location sits in a savvy/hipster slice of Overland Park.. take a stroll with your friends after to refresh yourself after your hefty meal! Great casual dining.
(4)March H.
Loved this place! First timer on Ethiopian food and the staff was extremely helpful and welcoming! Will be going back!
(5)Junelle S.
The food was excellent! The doro wat and lamb were tender and flavorful. Cabbage and greens were incredibly fresh and light. The beans were robust and spicy. And, the injera was classic, spongy, sour dough taste that was the perfect accompaniment to our dish. The ice tea and honey wine cooled our palettes in between bites. Incredible! The only drawback was service. The owner was very warm and inviting; however, he was the only one catering to at least 20 patrons. It slowed service considerably. Nevertheless, we plan to return.
(4)Sydne G.
Literally the best Ethiopian food experience I have ever had, and one of the top food experiences I've had overall. Consistently. I have eaten here probably 15 times (they know my name lol), it was my second place to try Ethiopian food and it has me hooked! This is a great place to go if you want to try something exotic and love spicy foods. Definitely try the honey wine, it's really good and is a house specialty! If your not feeling the alcohol, they also have a spiced hot tea that's great for rainy weather like today. The owners are so kind, and really helpful with suggesting dishes to try. I will obviously be back. Probably about one hundred more times, because they're awesome.
(5)Mindy H.
We had a party of four, and each of us ordered something different. The server (I failed to catch his name) recommended we get all of our sides served together, so we did. If you haven't eaten Ethiopian, the dishes are served with injera which is flatbread, and you use that to eat - not silverware. The main course arrived after the sides, and we all sampled from one another's dishes, as well as sharing the sides. The flavours were complex and so delicious, and our server was so kind and pleasant. With only one person serving the entire restaurant, we thought it might be slow, but the service was quick (there were two other tables besides ours). You do have to be open to suggestion and shared plates (as well as food touching other food).
(4)Kathy M.
First time here, so we had the waiter select our lunch choices. He was very polite and seemed excited to share his favorites. This is a clean, simply decorated place and it's not huge, but it was comfortable. We had the beef tips and the lamb tips and they were both very flavorful. Our waiter recommended spicy red lentil, green lentil, cabbage, potato and carrots, and corn sides. This being the first time at an Ethiopian restaurant, the waiter (we think owner) was very nice in showing us the proper way to eat our food. In hindsight, we could have easily shared one entree, but it made a good leftover, so I didn't feel too bad about ordering too much. The prices were a little high for lunch, but it didn't seem like they had a lunch and dinner menu, so for dinner it would have been very reasonable. The portions were certainly large enough to share which would have made it more affordable for lunch. We really enjoyed ourselves and plan on returning.
(4)Adam S.
I was hesitant to try Ethiopian cuisine after a less than stellar experience at a different restaurant in the River Market. I have to say, this was delicious. Elsa's is a small restaurant, but there are a lot of choices to choose through (posted some menu pictures). I went with a lamb special that was delicious, as well as a veggie lentil filled sambosa. I could probably live off of the sambosas, in all their deep fried goodness. Definitely worth checking out, especially if you are vegetarian.
(5)Kal B.
Best Ethiopian resturant in Kansas City! We went there today with a group of seven people and they did a wonderful job accommodating all of our request. The only reason I only gave four stars is they need help serving on the weekends or their busier days.
(4)Jacob P.
Amazing, flavorful food, seriously couldn't stop eating. Huge portions. Owners are super sweet and kind. Prices are crazy cheap, especially for the portions. First experience with Ethiopian cuisine and we will definitely be back!
(5)Sarah T.
Love love love Elsa's. The little extra wait while she makes everything fresh makes a huge difference. Uber-tasty food.
(5)Chris G.
Wow... Awesome. An Ethiopian colleague wanted to go for Ethiopian food and Elsa delivered. Fan damn tastic! You will love it.
(5)Maud K.
This is an amazing restaurant. The food is so delicious and spicy and interesting. It's one of our favorite restaurants. They have a great variety of vegetarian and meat options, and a couple of sampler platters if you aren't sure what you want. I have celiac disease and I am so grateful to Elsa's for having the option of ordering gluten free injera (the delicious spongey bread you eat with). It's three dollars extra per order to get it gluten free though---used to be two dollars. The only downside is that it's sometimes slow, at least at dinner time. Don't come if you're in a rush. But we came once at 1pm and got our food pretty quickly even though there were quite a few other guests. We'll be back!
(5)Juliane S.
Please come here hungry! If you've never eaten Ethiopian cuisine, you should give it a try! Well, at least that's what I decided to do on this last snowy day in February when others would be so satisfied to stay indoors, it some how had the opposite effect on me... craving to get out for a culinary adventure! Elsa's Ethiopian Restaurant, nestled among the other unique little shops and dining destinations in downtown Overland Park, seemed the perfect place to go. I had never tried Ethiopian food before, nor had my comrades whom I convinced to join me. After our food arrived at our table I was also made aware that I did not even know the proper manner in which to eat the food... But I was ready for an adventure! I hoped everyone else I had come with me was as well!!! My starving husband who just wanted to eat, and my mom's boyfriend who seemed really skeptical of it all. The soft spoken server gave us a quick, simple set of instructions, and then the consumption of the delicious, beautifully and practically displayed food turned into an all too intuitive and natural way to eat. FORKS SMORKS! (Even though they do provide them). The flavors of the food are unique and inviting. Think comfort food with a twist! You just have to give a try to see how wonderful it is! And I would be remiss not to mention in this review that the service is really above and beyond... The server even helped my mom get her coat back on when we were ready to leave! A small bowl of spices was brought out for us just because the server wanted us to give it a try too. At one point cook came out to ask how we liked everything, with an additional plate of injera in hand for our table! Go. Try Elsa's. All you need to bring is an empty stomach and be ready to eat with your hands!
(4)Meghan M.
Why have you forsaken me yelp, why?!? My husband is OBSESSED with Ethiopian so this place has been on our list to try. With all the great reviews I thought, hell let's take the in-laws there even though we've never been. Hmm...should've thought better. It is a small place that appears to be run by a family. They are working hard and trying hard, but there are major kinks. The basic service (i.e. drinks, refills, tableware) is slow or non-existent. Our meal order was asked for before our drink order was. It took forever to get our waters, and we never had refills even though the glasses were bone dry. The server was nice, but it was awkward and clear that he doesn't have much experience serving. The food service however was lightning fast, like inexplicably fast, like when I went to the bathroom I saw into the kitchen and there were many crockpots full of all their dishes. :((( Maybe this is how a lot of places do it, but it was pretty disappointing to see. As for this "better than Blue Nile" bit, I have to steadfastly disagree. Yes, some of their veggie dishes had a delicious flavor that Blue Nile doesn't, such as the lentils dishes, but other dishes were distinctly lacking in flavor. Also, I'm concerned that the "flavor" I was enjoying is either oil or butter, as I saw it floating on most of our dishes. Also, be warned, their berbere spiced dishes are HOT. A little too hot for me, which means that several of my favorite meat dishes are too hot for my enjoyment. Also, some of the veggie dishes have meat and since they are prepared in batches they cannot be made meatless. Just read through items before ordering. This place has plenty of fans, and I guess I'm just not one of them, but it looks like they'll have enough business even with those kinks.
(2)Scotty C.
If you're a KC Metro person, you've really only had one option for Ethiopian for a long time in this area, that being Blue Nile. Now I realize there may have been other places I'm not familiar with, but after moving here 6 years ago Blue Nile was our to-go place for Ethiopian. That was until we tried Elsa's Ethiopian in old Overland Park. A fantastic little restaurant across the street from Snack Shack on Sante Fe and walking distance from the farmer's market. First off, for people with Celiac disease: they have gluten Free Injera bread, the staple of good Ethiopian food. There's an upcharge, but my wife was delighted they had that option so she could enjoy this food again. The GF Injera is darker, and has a more sour/sourdough flavor, which is quite nice. It is made with 100% Tef flour. The bargain to order if you want to try everything short of some of the pricier Lamb or Beef tibs, is the Vegetarian ($12.99) or Meat ($13.99) Sampler. You get a little bit of everything and get to pick your sides (in our case it's usually Gomen (collards in butter) and Miser Wat (spiced ground chickpeas). One vegetarian or meat sampler will feed 2 adults, especially if you get a second order of injera with it. The first time we ate there we ordered one meat and one vegetarian sampler, and it fed 3 of us plus leftovers the next day for lunch. If you choose to eat in house instead of ordering take-out (hey, and it's pick up/carry out only) they have an acceptable selection of box and bottle wine, and a delicious herb infused iced tea that is out of this world. He has poured me a glass once or twice while I was waiting to pick my order up, showing the owner's generous nature. The food is spicy, cooked perfectly to fall-apart textures on the chicken among other dishes. It is a warm, loving experience eating with the sour bread with your fingers, making for a very communal dining experience. If Ethiopian is on your "to try" list, please put your trust in Elsa's to guide you along the path of a fantastic eating experience.
(5)Karan W.
We came here on a Saturday afternoon at 1.30pm and had a party of five adults and one toddler. On entering the establishment the first thing that struck me was how full it was and the lack of serving staff. Now when you have a completely full restaurant, the last thing I would expect to see is one server, an elder gentleman (the owner, I expect) running from table to table replenishing waters, injeras, and taking our order. The place is basic, clean and well lit. We ordered the honey wine which had a pretty distinct honey taste and was refreshing, and the sambusas with the pickle/ chutney was brilliant. Little did I know that it just got better from there. The chicken and lamb entrees were excellent, not too spicy and very well flavored. Injera was moist, warm and not too bitter which kinda sealed the deal on the food. The reason for the two star review is the fact that the owner/ server was rude as hell. I mean when you know you will have a rush on weekends owing to the fact that your food is bloody brilliant, for the love of god get some staff. And as if that's not enough he told us when we wanted to order again, "you should have ordered everything together". Well, excuse me for being a prude and calling for seconds only after I've tasted your food first. This is not okay. No owner should behave this way. For the future, consider employing a few more people. For the food 10/10 would visit again, but would definitely run away if I saw that there was just the one person again and just get the food in a to go box.
(2)David M.
Love this place! Excellent food, service, and atmosphere! If you like trying new things.....so good.
(5)Nikki S.
We enjoyed our experience! Stopped in for lunch yesterday and ordered the vegetarian combo. It was delicious! I'll definitely be back! Affordable, tasty options for vegetarians and vegans. Elsa herself waited on us and was gracious and lovely.
(5)Sakari C.
Very delicious. Service can be lackluster but not unacceptable. Price and flavors make it worth the unremarkable service.
(4)Dana C.
Delicious, spicy, flavorful and something totally different. If you like experiencing other cultures through their food, this place is a great option!
(4)Logan S.
This place is amazing! I recently chose it as my birthday meal restaurant. For those looking for a delicious gluten free meal, they offer 100% tef injera (Ethiopian bread) that is celiac safe for $3 extra. This is the way injera is supposed to be but tef is expensive. Instead of getting a less tasty gluten-free version you are getting a far superior one, worth the extra money even if you don't have celiac disease. I highly recommend the miser wat (spicy red lentils) and the shiro wat (spicy chickpeas) as well as the gomen (collard greens) and tikil gomen (spiced cabbage). The service can be slow at times but they are friendly and have generous wine pours. The food is definitely worth the wait if you have the time.
(5)Melanie W.
Always great service and delicious food. The coffee is divine. Vegan-friendly choices are always available. One of my top 3 favorite restaurants in Kansas City.
(5)Julia R.
The food is varied and delicious (so ideal for a vegetarian ... or vegan, with offerings for those who enjoy eating meat as well), the owner-chef, Elisabeth, is a charming delight, and my friend, Adele, and I are so-ooo glad we've now discovered this jewel. If you've not already dined here, you really should give it a try. If you've already enjoyed dining here, I hope you'll soon return ... again and again. We must patronize and keep this restaurant viable. Allow time, as this is a leisurely meal meant to be savored.
(5)Ariel M.
Had the beef tips for $10 and it was a decent amount of meat. They were quite delicious and well seasoned and were nice and moist. They were however dripping of oil, when I finished my plate was still full just because of the oil, but the oil did add plenty of flavor. The service was nice, they made us feel welcomed and kept up a good service. I would definitely go again.
(4)Mason D.
It was okay except they only had one sugar shaker for coffee so we had to wait for it to be passed around from table to table. Also, it was our first time there and there were two tables of people who came in and who knew the owner. We noticed that the people they knew and their guests received extra helpings and free food. So I paid about $30 and felt like we didn't get a fair deal. And these were not their family, they were Americans. So I did not like that at all. I think the helpings should have been more generous. We were filled up on injera bread but not on the misir watt or any other foods.
(3)Caroline L.
Amazing food, what else is there to say?? Much more, since Yelp Elite right? Getting to business then, my boyfriend and I were searching for a new place to eat...one that wasn't American food. He didn't want Indian and I didn't want Thai, so we decided on Ethiopian. I went ahead jumped on Yelp and discovered this wonderful little gem. A local business that's family run - they were incredibly understanding of two newbies to Ethiopian food ordereing. The owner came by and spoke with us and recommended that meat and vegetarian meals for the two of us. If you are unfamiliar with how Ethiopian food, it is served on a single platter and without utensils. The best way to get food to your mouth is their interesting bread thing (look almost like pita bread or even tortillas). Everything was fresh and delicious (not to mention messy, but that was part of the fun!). I even tried their honey wine, which was quite yummy! So I've also seen a few reviews regarding the service here - and both times we were here, service was excellent. Our first time, the owner came and helped serve and recommend dishes. Second time, service was also quite smooth. The only issue I might bring up would be seating - since it is a smaller location and also a locally owned tables and chairs are functional and basic. Not totally comfortable - but totally worth it for the food alone! We'll definitely be back!
(5)Annette M.
The restaurant had good food that was decently seasoned, but was not the best Ethiopian I have had. The staff was very attentive and the restaurant is in a good location. We tried the honey wine and were not a fan. overall worth trying out.
(3)Morgan B.
Tried Ethiopian food for the first time here. Tried the honey wine, which was VERY strong. I only drank a few sips and it was lunchtime. It got kind of busy and we waited a while to order and the only person serving was Elsa I'm guessing (who is a very nice lady so I didn't sweat it). My friend and I shared the meat platter. It came out about ten minutes after we ordered, and it was amazing! Reminded me kind of Indian food. What was most interesting was the "bread" served with all of it. Like Indian food has naan bread, Ethiopian food has... Idk what its called. It was spongy and thin but pleasant. I'd go again.. And again! And bring new people to experience it!!
(4)Cara H.
After moving to Kansas City and leaving an Ethiopian restaurant that I LOVED behind, I was hopeful that Elsa's would live up to my expectations. I wasn't disappointed, and I'd even venture to say that the dishes here are better than previous Ethiopian restaurants I've been to. Granted, I am no expert on Ethiopian cuisine, so I can't say whether these dishes are authentic or not, but when they're this satisfying I don't really care. The portion sizes are perfect - any more and I would be miserably stuffed, although that wouldn't be a terrible problem to have. They also have a great variety of vegetarian dishes, which I appreciate. We have eaten here with several people who have never tried this type of cuisine before, and it's always been a good experience. However, I will acknowledge that the service is slow....when compared to what we're used to in restaurants. But understand, this is a restaurant owned by immigrants sharing their culture with Johnson County, KS. I wonder if it's occurred to the other reviewers commenting on the "poor" service that perhaps this is an American custom, and one that should perhaps not be expected from a restaurant owned and operated by a family that immigrated from another continent. They're always accommodating and they're able to make recommendations to create a dish as hot or mild as you prefer. Bottom line, don't go there if you're wanting to scarf down your food in a rush, but go there if you want to take time to enjoy a great meal.
(5)Burma J.
From Chicago, visiting family in the area. Back in Chicago, Ive been enjoying Ethiopian cuisine for years from a varried number of competing establishments. Hell, I live about 3 blocks from an Ethiopian place. Let me tell you- this little place here, Elsa's? Its on the mark. You've got a gem here that measures up to big city competitors in the taste and quality categories. Tip for newbs: you eat Ethiopian family style, resist the urge to order your own entrees. Try a sampler instead or order multiple entrees for the table.
(5)Marina Y.
Food was terrific! The staff pissed me off though - they ignored my father and I and actually served patrons who came in after us (seemed like they knew them/family? - I don't know). I considered leaving and was very offended but was too hungry to want to go anywhere else. I'm glad I stayed - the food was well worth it. In the future though, staff need to be respectful to patrons.
(3)Jen D.
This is the 2nd Ethiopian restaurant I've been to. Maybe I was spoiled by the first I had visited. We thought the food was just alright, and acknowledged that our other Ethiopian restaurant experience was much better. Pros - The server was helpful in ordering dishes that wouldn't be too spicy for my kids. My daughter loved her beef tibs. My other daughter picked at her chicken tibs. I found the Awaze tibs to be quite spicy (as expected.) They were better the next day - maybe the flavors had melded by then. The GF injera was tasty and had good texture. Cons - We had to order gluten free injera and pay extra for it (for food allergy reasons). My knowledge of injera is that it's just teff, water, salt, and oil. Teff is naturally gluten free - so what are they adding to their regular injera? My husband did not like the flavor or texture of the regular injera.
(3)Sarah B.
Fantastic! Delicious! Elsa is such a warm person and her food is amazing! Will come back over and over...even our kids loved it!
(5)Billie H.
Yum! I could leave it at that, but will elaborate. I have been a little sad since Blue Nile closed in OP, so finding this location is a nice surprise. When we walked in, the server just looked at us. I asked if we just sit ourselves and he nodded. He brought the menus over and wasn't overly talkative or joyful. Not unfriendly at all, just no pep and short on words. The food was delicious. We ordered a meat dinner and a vegetarian dinner. It was all served together on a big platter and everything was delicious. The spices throughout the different options was excellent, either flavorful or spicy, just perfectly prepared. The food seems to be prepared and heated up, as it was just luke warm and not hot. I need a good lentil recipe like the ones they serve here. One of my favorite sides and they do them perfectly. Elsa came around and checked on us during dinner. This is always a plus for me when an owner or cook cares enough to check on the patrons. The art work on the wall was nice, very fitting of the atmosphere, and made me wonder if it was a local artist or bought elsewhere. Elsa's is located in old town OP. A great little area to wonder around after dinner for a nice walk. Sadly, most of the stores close early though so you can't browse after dinner.
(4)Blake S.
Wonderful experience, food, atmosphere...will definitely be going back to try the other dishes.
(5)Hayley S.
Visited on a weeknight. The service was a little slow - our server was very young and probably new to everything, but another gentleman helped her out and both were very kind. Food was great. Our table of four split the veggie combo and the meat combo. They asked if we wanted it on one platter or two. In hindsight, I think we should have chosen two to keep them separate - looked like the smaller plates had bigger heaps of food and they may have been trying to keep the different dishes from touching atop the injera. But props on making a giant table-sized injera! The beef and the yellow lentils were my faves, but everything was delicious. I had the honey wine - it was bright yellow and unlike anything I've had before. I felt a little bit like I was in Game of Thrones or something. It was sweet and strong and I'd definitely order it again. I'm glad to have another Ethiopian restaurant in town! I still mourn for the now closed Addis Ababa.
(4)Matt S.
This place is great! The veggie sampler is a great deal - feeds two people easily. The owners are super friendly and gave me free tea while I waited for takeout. And the food is delicious. Will return! Highly recommend!
(5)Steve K.
We had the vegan combo platter. It was great. The food was fresh and cooked just right. Will definitely go back. Service was good.
(4)Andrea B.
Elsa's is superb. Finally, Kansas City has a fantastic Ethiopian restaurant that is affordable, with exquisite food. The cook, Elsa, knows how to create a variety of specialties. My favorites are the spiced red lentils, the doro wat, and the buttery, spicy collard greens. As others have pointed out, the injera is not only delicious, but the waiter is generous in keeping tables supplied with it. Equally important is the service and the hospitality that Elsa offers. All are welcome, and guests are treated royally. I recommend highly.
(5)Jen D.
My friend and I came to Elsa's the other day, as we are always down for a new dining adventure. Like previous reviewers have stated, ambiance is not the strong point here, however the joint is clean, and with a few decorations or pictures on the wall, it would be downright cozy! Service was friendly and warm, the jazz music was relaxing but a little loud, but let's get to it, shall we? The food was great. We tried an app and shared two entrees dining communal style. Our appetizer, the vegetarian sambusa WAS AWESOME. Repeat: AWESOME! The lentils inside were perfect, and the outside was fried to perfection. I will go back for the sambusas alone. I had the beef tibs while my friend had a chicken dish. Both were seasoned and very delicious. We tried a few sides, gomen, red lentils (on the spicy side, yum!), and a chickpea puree that was FANTASTIC! Elsa came by our table to check on us, and after learning we were new to Ethiopian cuisine, she brought us a different wat to sample. Bonus points! There were several beef, chicken, and vegetarian options on the menu, a pasta dish and a couple of fish options. I don't remember any goat or lamb dishes, but I may have overlooked them. As I recall, no dish was priced over $9.99, making Elsa's very affordable. I am not a huge fan of sour dough bread, so the taste of the injera was a little strong for me, but the experience of eating sans utensils was fun! This is a great little restaurant, and would be wildly successful if transplanted to, let's say, 39th street or the likes. I HOPE it will find enough business in its OP location to stay open long enough for me to become a regular.
(4)Ellie H.
Every time I come home from college Elsa's is somewhere I have to go. I love all the veggie dishes and seeing Elsa come around and chat with my mom and me. The food is great and so many vegan options, and Elsa can make basically anything gluten free. Check out the collard green side and the Berbere lentils- the soup is also great. Really you can't go wrong!
(5)Somi R.
I was eating Ethiopian food fir the first time. The food was delicious. The sour bread reminded me of raagi dosa from indian food. The side dishes were also tasty. Food is definitely worth the price. I would love to go there again.
(4)Stephen H.
Great service and great food fast. My second visit, but my dining companion's first time eating Ethiopian food and he was absolutely in love. The owner stopped by once or twice, telling us to eat more, like a surrogate mom, but we begged off, pointing out that we had to work, not nap, directly after :-) Check it out. It's crucial to support local business in general, but even more so when the cuisine is WAY out of the norm for a region (I think it's been part of Malay Cafe's staying power).
(5)Chris D.
Understand that while I may rate Elsa's as 4 stars, I fully expect many to dine there and rate it 1 or 2. The reason? Service. My wife and I have dined at Elsa's a at least 6-8 times, so I feel comfortable in stating that their service is consistent. The problem is it's consistently terrible. Terrible to the point of being laughable; laughable assuming you're a person with patience enough not to get fuming mad. As long as you go in with the expectation of a long, slow, and often inexplicably awkward service experience, you'll be just fine. So why do we return if the service is so bad? Easy; the food. When able to mentally prepare myself ahead of time, I'm perfectly happy to accept terrible service in exchange for good food. Especially if it's a cuisine not available in many locations. The food at Elsa's is delicious. I know nothing of authentic Ethiopian from Africa, but compared to other Ethiopian restaurant I've dined in, Elsa's is right up there. Personally I prefer their vegetarian options, my favorite being the miser watt (red lentils). But if you enjoy meat, there are some tasty options. Pro tip: start with the veggie sambosas; while the main course could take anywhere from 15-45 minutes to come out, the sambosas almost always come out quickly. Giving you something to nibble on while you wait. If you've never had Ethiopian, give it a try. Most people I've brought have not been too happy to be trying an Ethiopian restaurant, but have left surprisingly pleased with the food (just not the service). Remember: while they will give you silverware if you insist; African food is traditionally eaten with your hands. Specifically using an unleavened bread called injera that you use like Mexicans would tortillas.
(4)Ben M.
I love trying new food and Elsa 's did not dissapoint. I will say that the service was a little slow due to the lack of staff. However this was all in all good dining experience and would recommend giving it a try.
(4)Nancy L.
Elsa's is one of our favorite restaurants. We each get the veggie sampler and always have a LOT of food to bring home for leftovers. Each of the veggie dishes has a distinctive flavor, all fantastic! The restaurant is a small, family-run business and the owners are lovely. Highly recommend Elsa's.
(5)Boone W.
Been here a couple times and love it! My only suggestion would be to make the sides bigger, there is just not enough to use them with the bread and the main course. Great food, good service, just give me some more of that side please.
(4)Rhea P.
Cinnamon clove hot tea. Veggie sampler with Injera bread. Hot vegetable soup. Cozy atmosphere. All very delicious and nourishing. This place is a winner!
(4)Deb L.
We have been coming to Elsa's for at least 2 years. Elsa's is wonderful. It is a authentic intimate venue. The food is full of wonderful spices and unexpected favor. The vegetables and the injera is fresh. We love the lamb tibbs and the Doro Watt. You will not be disappointed. Be ready to sit back and take your time enjoying the crowd and the taste of Etheopia.
(5)Ann W.
I'm giving this restaurant 1 star for service alone. I was extremely disappointed when visiting here the first time tonight. I love Ethiopian food and was elated to see an Ethiopian restaurant open in my neighborhood. When we noticed a Restaurant.com certificate for this place, I thought I'd hit the mother lode and snapped it right up. Tonight we showed up armed with the certificate. We noted a sign in the window declaring they would not honor the certificates people had bought. Strange. Not sure why a company would reneg on the bargain, but ok. When we arrived, we attempted to ask the server about the certificate. She simply snarled, "Sit!" and walked away without an answer. We were going to just forget it and eat there anyway, but she returned about a minute later and we did ask again why they wouldn't honor the certificate--a reasonable question in my mind. The server seemed unable to answer our question and walked off towards the back, presumably to get a response. We weren't sure if the poor communication and strange behavior were due to a lack of understanding of English, but in the end, we decided to leave as it was frustrating being treated so poorly in our first 3 minutes in this establishment.
(1)Matt H.
The food here is fabulous! This is worth every penny and it is not expensive ! Service is outstanding. I can't recommend this restaurant enough! We will be back!
(5)Martha M.
My favorite restaurant. Elsa and her husband are so helpful and inviting. They'll explain any dishes or dining traditions you aren't accustomed. And the food, I want to get fat on it.
(5)Michael J.
Went there for the first time several days ago because I got a gift certificate online from a friend. They ended up not accepting the gift certificate but we stayed anyway. The restaurant is very cozy and neatly decorated. No more than 10 tables I presume. The wait staff consisted of two lovely Ethiopian ladies. One speaks English and the other does not. However, the service is nice and very warm. They even tried to help us understand the intricacies of eating Ethiopian cuisine even though I've had it before. The key is to use your hand for everything. Knife and forks are SO AMERICAN! We ordered the vegetarian combo and meat combo. For a party of three, we had a tough time finishing both. The Injera bread really fills you up. As someone mentioned earlier, the vegetarian combo is absolutely fabulous and my favorite out of the two. A blend of north African spices marinated with cabbages and potatoes all eaten with large chunks of the spongy Injera bread, it was Ethiopian bliss! Looking at the food and the way it's prepared, one realizes the mixture of cultures that influenced Ethiopia and its unique cuisine. From the Moorish, Arabs, Africans, and Europeans; the food is a display of the nation rich and varied history. I would definitely recommend anyone who have not tried Ethiopian food to take the plunge and give this a try. You won't regret it! Elsa's a great place to start and their prices are very reasonable. The restaurant makes a great date place or you can come with your family.
(4)Kimberly H.
This was my first time eating Ethiopian food. I will definitely be back! Elsa was a delight in explaining how to eat, what everything was and being genuinely friendly! Great lunch experience!
(5)Amy R.
This place is super yummy! Glad others have liked it too. We had a delicious meal (everyone at the table was pleased so I don't feel like I have to go into everything). Consensus was that the injera was a little heavy but otherwise, so good. I even enjoyed my room temperature glass of chardonnay. I thought the bottle on the shelf was just to display the brand but when the gal took it off the shelf and poured my glass I didn't say a word. It's the 'when in Rome' thing... The baklava was so good...the tangy-ness was unexpected and pleasing! Try it, you'll like it.
(5)Zach G.
I have been looking really, really, really forward to this place. Maybe I over-hyped it in my head? Look, the place was really, really good, and I will definitely go back. However, I guess I expected a bit more, whether that's fair or not. I would give this place 3.5 stars...I'll be kind and round it up to 4, though I could just as easily bring it down to 3. It was a Thursday evening around 6pm and we were seated immediately. A very nice, lovely lady came up and brought us our menus while taking our drink orders. I decided on a beef dish while m'lady chose a chicken dish. Each came with two sides - unfortunately I don't remember exactly what they were, but one was a spicy lentil dish, another was a cabbage dish, another was some kind of cheese, and...I don't remember the fourth. So it wasn't long until the food came out, all of it on one big platter. Immediate problem found - the table for two was really way too small for this big platter plus drinks. I can get around that, but it was somewhat of a pain. My beef dish was very tasty, but not nearly as spicy as I had hoped. The girlfriend's chicken was not my favorite, but she liked it. All of the sides, minus the cheese one, were fantastic in my mind. The cheese one was fine, but the weak part of the four. Injera (the bread you eat with) kept coming and it was spongy and fantastic. There was tons of food, and we took it home. Definitely 2-3 meals for each person...so 4-6 for the both of us. The total, without tip but with tax, was $25 for the food...definitely a good deal in my book. What I love is that this is a nice ethnic addition to an otherwise boring JoCo food scene, which is typically full of bars, faux Italian and faux Chinese. This is something different, and I love that.
(4)Rajkumar T.
Awosome food ... Best service ... Though it's small it's great ... Best option for veggies. :)
(5)Diane O.
Back again. You need to come here! Fabulous food. Tried the awaze tibs. Awesome! Couldn't resist the veggie combo again:)
(5)Nathan B.
Super super super super people. Same can be said of the food. I met the couple who owns it about a week prior to eating here. They told me they had a restaurant and I went in and ordered the Key Wat (spicy beef) and collard greens & chickpeas for my sides. I also got a veggie sambusa and spiced tea. Oh Lord was it excellent. They give you tons of injera too. Absolutely mind blowing and will go back soon! BOOYAH
(5)Nanehe K.
This place is 100x better then the Blue Nile in both quality of dishes and atmosphere! My husband tried it once and says he wants to go there once a week!
(5)Dave L.
The food here is really quite good - maybe even the best Ethiopian in town - but the service is among the most clueless I have encountered anywhere. I like the people who run the place, but they need to hire professional servers to work the front of the house, not inexperienced teenagers. They have had several rounds of waitstaff here, but they have been uniformly unable to communicate or respond in meaningful ways to problems that arise. And problems will arise. For starters, the kitchen is dreadfully slow. When the lunch rush hits, forget about getting served in a timely fashion. Food takes forever to come out when there are more than a few occupied tables. If you are going to be the ony table, go for it. I've also seen wrong food delivered to my table or someone else's every time I've visited. After waiting 30 minutes to get served, I imagine lunchtime patrons rarely opt to wait for the correct dish and prefer to make do with what they have been served. The food is good, so this isn't a disaster, but some people are pickier than others. Don't expect to order a drink, peruse the menu, order, get served and get your check in any meaningful order. Generally the server seats you, waits a while, takes your food and beverage order, ignores you until your food is ready, then disappears until you need the check. You have to flag the servers down for everything, It's exhausting. There always seems to be a logistical problem as well. Either the credit card machine isn't working, or they "don't have any change" or the cash register won't open. Basically this review is a plea for Elsa's to figure this thing out, because I can't think of a single person who isn't excited to have them in downtown Overland Park. Hell, I've been there four times just because I assumed that the laughably bad experiences would stop. But they haven't, and I can't recommend the place until they figure out the service and management aspects of the business. If you fail to heed my advice and visit Elsa's I recommend the collards (gomen), kik alicha (yellow lentils) and miser wat (spicy red lentils).
(2)Mary Q.
This place actually took me by surprise. Having tried Ethiopian Food in Midtown, I figured since I live in OP to try a different spot. Definitely worth it.! Staff was friendly, quick to refill water/beverages. Food was perfect-not too hot, not cold, and the injera was plentiful. My friend and I ended up splitting the vegetarian plate, and it was the perfect amount for two people. Will definitely be back again.
(4)Jon L.
We live in the area and after diving by and commenting on how we should try this place sometime we finally did. I must admit we were kind of hesitant because none of us had heard of or tried Ethiopian before. I'm so glad we did though. The food was soooo delicious and the service was excellent! We will definitely be coming back and bringing others along with us. This has to be one of the best places I've eaten at in the area. Make sure to try the red lentils, amazing!
(5)Lulu T.
Meat sampler platter was good. Beef tips had excellent flavor. Nice cozy setting. Better than Blue Nile. Friendly staff and Elsa makes you feel at home.
(5)Maria B.
My husband and I went to Elsa's for dinner one evening we wanted to try something different. I've had Ethiopian cuisine once before, but this was the first time for him. We loved Elsa's and we know we'll be back. The restaurant is small and sparsely decorated, but very clean. The service was prompt and our food was prepared very quickly. Most dishes are around $10 and can be served communal style, which we enjoyed, since we didn't have to pass food to one another so we could try everything out. The Chicken Tibbs dish was exceptional and although we liked all the side dishes we ordered (lentils, yellow split-peas, potatoes, cabbage and carrots), the cabbage and carrots combination was our favorite (and I don't even like cabbage!). Everything was very fresh and well seasoned without being too spicy. Just flavorful! The injera bread was plentiful (flat sourdough, pancake-like bread used for spooning up food) and we ended up with plenty of leftovers for dinner the next evening. A limited selection of wine is available (under $5 per glass) and beer ($3.00 - $3.50 per bottle). They are open 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. everyday but Monday, and since they are walking distance from the OP farmer's market, a visit to Elsa's while exploring old-town OP is highly recommended!
(5)Audrey S.
I ate at Elsa's for the first time tonight and I loved it! I expected spicy, but it wasn't really -- very flavorful, though. Half of the menu was vegetarian -- lots of lentils, split peas, cabbage, potatoes, greens... actually, everything we had was vegan, which was surprisingly easy. We split the vegetarian combination platter with lots of different little dishes. My favorites were a yellow split pea stew and a potato dish. (The waitress taught me how to pronounce them both but of course I promptly forgot!) The service was great, too, very friendly and attentive but not too attentive. After we had been served, Elsa came out to see how we liked our food, which was very sweet. I had no idea this little place was there, but I intend to go back for sure.
(4)Chris R.
The food was wonderful. It'd been awhile since I'd checked out an Ethiopian restaurant, and I was quickly reminded of how much I enjoy the food. Also a great location in a resurging area. The one thing that could improve is the service. They're VERY friendly, which is great. But there just wasn't much knowledge of the menu. In our case, the server had only been on the job a few days. Not much you can do about that, but she still ought to have been better briefed on the selection than she was. We'll certainly be back, though.
(4)Sassy Z.
I tried Ethiopian food as a college student years ago. I did not like it and swore never to eat it again. Well, as an open-minded adult who believes in second chances, I decided to try Elsa's. I am VERY pleased with the food and the service. The food was delicious and the owner/chef was very gracious. I enjoyed the Veggie Combo and savored each dish. The tea was very tasty as well. I have some leftovers in my refrigerator now. They will make for a tasty lunch in the near future!
(4)Stella F.
Heavens, I don't even like Ethiopian food. I wasn't super excited when my friend wanted to go here for her birthday, but she's the birthday girl. I've lived in towns with famous Ethiopian restaurants (D.C.) and I just don't care for it. I thought I wouldn't like Elsa's very much. I was mistaken. It was fantastic. I loved our server, who was so kind to us. I thought the Duro Wat was rich and delicious, and any of the vegetable sides would have made a fantastic meal. I'm totally going to eat here again. And again and again.
(5)Eva J.
The cinnamon iced tea, the incredible orange-honey baklava -- not to mention the fantastically spicy, savory, fresh vegetarian platter -- are all INCREDIBLE here. I was a longtime fan of Blue Nile, but Elsa's is the only place I'll be when I'm craving Ethiopian food from now on. The decor is sparse, but for a place that's (clearly) as homegrown as this one is -- I've heard that Elsa, who is the mother of the group of siblings that opened this restaurant, is actually in the kitchen, cooking -- I'll wait until they have a bit more time to fill it out. The food more than makes up for it.
(5)Ashley H.
Love this place. The food is fantastic and plentiful. Try one of the combo platters. Plenty of food to feed two people. Seems the owner is sometimes the only one there so be patient. It's worth it!!
(5)J- -.
Stopped by on a whim, very glad we did! We also had the veggie combo and samosas. Quality was excellent - very fresh, you could taste each individual element of each dish. Ice tea was great too, almost like an iced chai (sans milk). I heard from a certain restaurant across the street that the fish was delicious as well, next time we'll try that. Family restaurant, been open just two weeks. Food seems fresher than Blue Nile (which we also like). Somewhat sparse decor, but it'll fill out in time -- Chris mentioned the jazz, have to agree, these folks have good taste in music too - very highly recommended! This is my first review, but want to help this place along somewhat since it's new... It's slightly shady, but I really don't know these folks! ;-)
(5)Nikki H.
Wonderful little restaurant! Their rosemary beef and tilapia is delicious and savoy. The lentils are nice and spicy. I'm very happy that they offer to serve the meals communal style. The staff is very kind and attentive, and even the owner stopped by the to make sure everyone was enjoying their meals. I have been craving a good, moderately priced Ethiopian restaurant in KC for a long time...Elsa fits the bill!!!
(5)Ceile G.
I'm spoiled by Gojo Ethiopian Restaurant in Nashville, TN. Food was just ok. Don't go on weekend night. Service was applorable! Not enough help.
(2)Jim K.
Excellent food, spicy and robust. Shared the veg sampler and loved everything. Great gluten-free flatbread. Family-run restaurant with Decent table service, overall enjoyable experience.
(4)Ben D.
The lackluster service was unexpected, given that we were the only table in the restaurant at the time. The food was flavorful, but mostly mediocre. I will probably not return.
(3)Nat A.
Best Ethiopian food in the Kansas City are. Blows Blue Nile Cafe out of the water. Siga firfir was wonderful. Vegetable combination (beyenetu) is also great. The owners came out from the back to chat with us and gave us free coffee and sweet bread (dufa dabo). One waitress was a little awkward, she kept interrupting us and making strange comments... but the overall experience made up for it. Will definitely be returning.
(4)Laura G.
I've been three times - twice for dinner and once for lunch. The food is fantastic. We have tried the sampler platters and several other dishes, and there's nothing we tried that we would not eat again. It's all good! My husband is a huge fan of the tilapia dish. I like the vegetarian platter so I can try all kinds of different things. The service was a little slow, but I saw that they are adverstising for more help so maybe with more servers it will improve. The server we had was very good, just a little overwhelmed since he was the only one out front. That's the only reason I didn't give it five stars.
(4)Joel K.
Great local food. Everything is cooked fresh and made to order. I was a little apprehensive to try Ethiopian food but am very glad I did! The service was impeccable and our waitress/cook was very helpful and made the experience even better. She even showed us how to eat our food. The prices were reasonable, especially for the amount of food you receive. I recommend trying this place especially if you're looking for something new and different!
(4)Shawn T.
The food is great the service is not as great but passable. They get a 4 for the food. I'd probably hit them for a 3. You will enjoy the food.
(4)Brent K.
went for lunch on a whim and was very happy with my meal. lunch special was $2 off the meat or vegi combo, i got meat cause meat is good. giant tray with innari, 2 beef dishes, 1 chicken and 2 veggie, as well as some crumbly cheesy stuff. Place was not very full, my food came out in 10 minutes and was delicious. I probably should have gotten something smaller, it was way too much food for one person. I gave my leftovers to a lady at work that likes to try new food, so if she likes the leftovers, she'll definitely be coming in for a visit. The owner came out while I was eating and asked me how things were and I told her excellent. Very friendly, and some wicked bass solo music playing. I will definitely be coming back.
(4)Tory T.
A gem in Old OP. Elsa is wonderful and her food is delicious. A true food journey. No utensils - and it's freeing. The flavors are bold and fresh. Amazing iced tea.
(4)Sarah R.
Fresh, friendly, fast. Worth going to. The veggie combo is a great deal.
(4)Laura K.
This was my first time having Ethiopian food and it was a great experience. The service was friendly and attentive. I ordered the chicken dish and would recommend it for a first timer. It consisted of chopped chicken breast, peppers, and tomatoes cooked in mild seasonings. We were served plenty of injera bread with our meals and the portions were large.
(4)Randy J.
This was my first attempt at Ethiopian food and I loved it. It was an adventure. Try it!
(5)Leigh M.
This place is fabulous. Wonderful, wonderful food. Start with the sambusas, then just get a platter (or two if you are REALLY hungry) to split. Spicy but not hot, the food is intensely flavorful, filling, and satisfying. Service is attentive and friendly. This place is better than Blue Nile.
(5)Kyle J.
We visit Elsa's often and love it!
(5)Dan P.
Excellent flavors. Beef was a bit tough. I'll try it again.
(3)Shawn G.
While the atmosphere and decor are sparse, the food is wonderful. We ate from a communal tray with the Ethiopian bread. Everything was really good, and the waitress was very attentive. Elsa herself came out to see how we were doing.
(4)Cat B.
The decor is kind of sparse, but don't let that detour you. The food and service makes up for anything lacking in the decorating department. We shared the lentil sambosas and the veggie combo. It was plenty of food for two of us. The sambosas were DElish!!! The combo was lovely and the variety is a nice way to sample a larger selection of the menu. What was really notable was the iced tea. It was refreshing and lightly spiced (think chai spice) and really some of the most delicious iced tea I've had in the sea of crummy iced tea that most restaurants are willing to serve. The service was incredible. The sweet ladies really, super duper care about your experience and will do anything to make certain you leave pleased. We did just that, left very pleased and looking forward to returning in the near future. Thanks for bringing a little more ethnic love to downtown Overland Park!!
(5)Chris M.
Had the vegetarian combo and veggie sambosas. Sambosas were delicious little fried triangles of lentily goodness. The combo was a great way of sampling all of their vegetarian dishes, each of which was superb. Service was great. Only complaint is with the fake rose on the table, but the jazz pumping through the dining room made up for it. I love seeing a new ethnic dining establishment in downtown OP! Ethiopian isn't something I can eat everyday, but when I want it, Elsa's is definitely the place I am going to come back to.
(5)