Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant
4422 Cass St, Omaha, NE, 68131
Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant Menu
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Address :
4422 Cass St
Omaha, NE, 68131 - Phone (402) 991-5662
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :10:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Khoa T.
First time ever trying Ethiopian food and I was not disappointed. We got the combination platter, and even for 2 hungry hippos like us it was the right amount of food to leave us feeling good rather than hurting good. The sourdoughish bread/plate/utensil/napkin was something that I had never tried before, and its sourness complemented the savoriness of the meats and veggies pretty well. However, after several bites of it I kinda wish I had a plainer type of dough to eat because after a certain point the sourdough taste overpowered the seasoning and sauces of the main stars of the dish. Overall Lalibela was a cool, unique and tasty experience. I'd recommend it for people looking to try something new and different.
(3)Laura G.
WARNING!!!! Huge portions! We weren't able to finish everything. Make sure you share your meal with someone. We ordered two meals. Mistake. Had way too much left over. Flavors and species were delicious! But, textures are different, so don't be taken back. It was a nice new experience.
(3)Mercy D.
I always come to get the tea or mango juice and spicy tibs!! The lady Zodi who cooks everything is so sweet and friendly. The combination plate is the best choice for first timers.. Also the environment is so cultural! I love the scene it provides.. I honestly love this place the food is so different!
(5)Hima S.
Great food and service. I went there a few times with multiple friends and they all loved it.
(5)Christine S.
Well just got done on following through and dragging my work group here, and everyone loved it. We ordered 2 combo platters and 1 yebeg alicha entree for a group of 5, and ended up with a ton of leftovers. The combo platters were great as usual but I think I have found my favorite entree now with the yebeg alicha. It is a wonderful curried lamb stew with jalapenos, onions, and tomatoes. It was good quality, tender lamb, and the medium spice level was enough to make me start sweating, but not enough that it stopped me from eating way too much. Great food and prices, and I love how much effort the owner/cheif puts into the food, it really shines through in this thoroughly delightful restaurant.
(5)Rad T.
Lived in Chicago with tons of of Ethiopian joints. Omaha is lucky!!! You have one chef so the food is always great. The plates are hearty and filling. Get ready for a food coma
(5)Sara D.
What a fantastic find in Omaha! We came here, per a suggestion, after spending an entire day at the zoo. We were looking for huge portions that would fill us up and that is exactly what we got!! The meals were absolutely gigantic and extremely filling, even filling for two grown guys. The very friendly waitress somehow convinced me to order the dish that contained a massive portion of raw beef. Yes, practically an entire raw cow was on my plate and it was so good! I never thought raw meat could taste good, but whatever the sweet Ethiopian owner did to that meat was wonderful. We had a great time chatting with the waitress about the history of Omaha and thoroughly enjoyed our meals at Lalibela's Ethiopian Restaurant.
(5)Alyssa M.
The staff were very nice. I didn't really enjoy the food although it was fresh. I think I am just not an Ethiopian food kinda person... This is the first ethnic food, I haven't been a fan of. The tea was only $1-- refills included... it was SOOO DELICIOUS!
(3)Mark G.
I love Ethiopian food, there no restaurants around like this where I live, I was very happy to come across it in Omaha and this place nails the dishes and for a very low price. Portions are full of flavor and large, I got the sampler that can feed 2-3 people. Great food and service as well, host was very nice and lunch was out very fast. Great choice if you are new to this type of cuisine, this would be a good choice for a first timer. And side note, you do eat with your hands :) But they have forks available if you need them.
(5)Carolyn T.
Love love love! Amazing food and super nice people. If you want to try something new let this be the place. One plate of food will feed two people. Be ready to eat with your fingers cause forks and knives are not a thing. I do wish they used cups rather than plastic bottled water and cans of pop. Still. Love this place.
(5)Ramon B.
Good God...word of advice. Please stop complimenting your awesome food with servers that are mentally handicapped. I've to this place twice, once with my Special Lady Wife and again with her and my sister. Each time we got super awesome food but getting that food usually came with hurdles. Now keep in mind that this has nothing to do with language barriers or anything, especially since the servers both times were white people. They were just unattentive or brain farting up a storm. Lets take the first visit. We sat down and at first everything seemed to be firing off well enough. Got our waters and menus and proceeded to look it over and select our little bits of happiness. Then the brakes locked up. We sat and waited, and waited and you know what? WE WAITED! Soon our server pulled herself from the slumped over position she was in (Oh, you thought she was busy?!?!?!? No no no...you silly people.) and came over and took our orders...including the tea I was waiting to ask for. I did get that tea in a short amount of time but I would end up staring at the bottom of that glass for the rest of the meal. She never refilled it in the 20 minutes it took to get our food and the 20 minutes it took us to inhale it. So no gold star for her. Visit No. 2 involved our server crashing into a brick wall of Derp right off the bat. My Special Lady Wife, my Sis, and her son were seated and proceeded to stare at an empty table for a few minutes. Pretty soon our brainchild of a server returned asked if we were ready to order. Like a nice young lad I responded, "Uh yea, can we order some menus and I'd like a water please." That's right folks, all that time after she sat us down, she never brought us menus or ask for drinks!! Wooooooooooooooo!!!! After that little blurb, thankfully, things righted themselves as the food was ordered, arrived quick and was consumed maliciously. I intend to go back because the food is amazingly good. But please, for Zord's sake, tell those hot messes to wake up! Eat up Minions!
(3)Ian S.
I visited Lalibela with a large group and it was my first time trying Ethiopian food. The format is traditional Ethiopian, meaning food is best shared and is eaten by using pieces of injera (a thin pancake-like bread) to scoop up the food. It's a hands-on silverware-free experience, similar to traditional Middle Eastern dining. Fans of authentic international cuisine will love the experience. They also have delicious spiced tea which I would recommend ordering to accompany your meal with, and the mango juice is a refreshing choice as well. If you're there with several people, it is definitely a good idea to order several things and share. I tried the veggie platter, combination platter, gored gored, zil zil, and the lamb dish (can't think of the name right now). The veggie platter is light yet filling and would be a great choice for vegetarian and health-conscious diners. The meat dishes each had their own texture and spice palette and were all exotic yet hearty and delicious. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to visit Lalibela and will definitely be back! My roommate also works nearby there and sometimes gets takeout for lunch, so that's a viable option as well if you don't have time for the sit-down dining experience.
(5)Linda A.
This is my teenage daughers' favorite place! They both request to come here for birthdays and other special occasions. The waitress is great - even knows us and what we order! We always order the combination platter - with extra tibs!
(5)Katie B.
I eat up and down Little Ethiopia in Los Angeles, so I was skeptical about this midwest restaurant. I thought there was no way it would rate against my west coast favorites. I was wrong. So good. The injera was delivered to the table warm and perfectly springy, the beef carpaccio dish had just the right ammount of spice and the vegetarian sides warmed my family and I right up. It was the perfect lunch and tasted just as good if not better than its west coast counter-parts. Mmmm...I want to go eat there right now.
(5)Susan S.
So very, very good! Only thing I would have done differently is to split the meal with someone. I had the Vegetarian plate and could only eat half. If I lived here, this would be a regular favorite.
(5)Manoj R.
Simply good food. First timer but loved it. I ordered combo platter and it was fantastic. Service was ok.
(4)Subhankar C.
We were told that the restaurant had good food but could be a little short on space. Well when we went there there was a decent crowd. The hostess did find us a nice place though. Service was very courteous although a little slow. Surprised by the portion size. We took the combination platter minus beef. I actually felt the vegetarian part was better than either the chicken egg or lamb. We were three adults and shared two plates. Sweet tea was awesome and I highly recommend it. They gave us a full bottle of Swad mango juice which was a pleasant surprise. All in all, great food on the veggie side, reasonable price. Parking was one sore issue but the issue was more with cars parked incorrectly rather than lack of space. Highly recommend!
(4)Sean S.
Flew in tonight to Omaha and wanted to get something decent to eat. I went through Yelp and found this place. I love good Ethiopian food so I thought I would give this place a try. When I arrived, the restaurant was packed with a religious gathering. I was told to take an empty seat and sat there for a bit before anyone offered me a menu. Apparently, this place can not sell beer. I asked for a glass of water. They do not offer their patrons water or anything. You can only get bottled water. This has to be the first place ever inside the US that I have not gotten a glass of water at a restaurant. The hostess explained to me that they do not offer tap water due to many broken glass. I order the Ethiopian spice tea. They should change the name of this from spice tea to sweet tea. It was just pure sugar. I could not taste any spice in the tea. I ordered the lamb dish which was pretty good. While eating my dinner, the owners and the group performed some religious ceremony, one of the owners lit something that made the whole place smokey. Overall the food was not to bad but all the other issue took away from my dining experience.
(3)Carl C.
The restaurant isn't much to look at but the food is amazing. You eat with your hands which was kind fun. The spiced tea was very good also. I preferred the lamb dish. This one is a must try.
(5)Morgan O.
I absolutely love this place! It is a great place to go with a group. The food is delicious and has a ton of flavor. It is super enjoyable to just sit around the table with friends and loved ones and just dig in with your hands. Also the Ethiopian tea is a sweet and delicious complement to the food. Two entrées is plenty for four people. Get the combination plater and another entrée that sounds good, you can't go wrong!
(5)Ecil D.
Kitfo is delicious, and collard greens! :)
(5)WAJ W.
Based on the good reviews on Yelp and elsewhere, we were excited to eat here. We finally did on a rainy Saturday afternoon. And now we can say we did. Unfortunately, it just wasn't for us. We liked the IDEA of it a lot-trying new things, African cuisine, a small hint of a different culture. It turned out we were indifferent about the reality of this particular meal. We liked the combination platter, but not the injiera. Sorry, but if anyone told us it would be cold (refrigerated) and rubbery it might have stood a chance. Liked the tea a lot, reminded us of Christmas. You can even make it at home-Mangelsen's sells pretty much the same spice mix in its Christmas room. We were disappointed by the coffee, maybe because the coffee ceremony was apparently unavailable to us at lunchtime. But the coffee was great. Lunch for two was only $25 with tip. Loved the spice, loved the way it was still on our fingers hours later. Wish we could say we loved more.
(2)Justine R.
Good Ethiopian food with exceptional service.
(5)Kerry G.
We were in the area last night and decided to check this place out. I have fairly limited experience with Ethiopian food (mostly a couple trips to my aunt's favorite restaurant in Seattle, where she does the ordering and I just sit back and enjoy the feast) so I was worried that I'd have no idea what to get, but Yelp didn't fail me! We got the combination platter with a side of lamb and they were both good choices. When I go back, I think I'll get the vegetarian combination platter, because the vegetarian dishes were my favorites. I especially liked the yellowish split pea(?) mush (which was also a big hit with our 15 month old son) and the cabbage. The meat dishes, with the exception of the lamb, were okay, but not anything I'd necessarily seek out again. (To be fair to the cook, I think it was more a problem with the dishes themselves than the way they were cooked. The doro wat in particular just didn't do much for me, though I'm glad I can now say with certainty that I've tried it.) I did like the lamb a lot. My husband, who is quite the connoisseur (of lamb, not Ethiopian food, which he's had even less than I have), didn't think it was tender enough, but we both agreed that the flavor was delicious. The owner said they'd had a few people call in sick, so it was just him and the cook and he apologized for the slow service. (Our food came out pretty fast, but getting the check took awhile.) However, he was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant is located in a former Pizza Hut and has pretty much zero atmosphere, but I've found that if you want really good ethnic food, that's a sacrifice you usually have to make, and it's almost always worth it. Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant? Totally worth it.
(4)Aaron M.
Overall an excellent dinner. Was looking for something dif and found it. Although it looks like an old Pizza Hut the food was amazing. Prices are perfect for trying a new food and portions are huge. My wife and I ate each had a drink and got out for 25 plus tip. Service was great. A must for anyone with an adventurous appetite. We took the kids a few weeks later and although they freaked at the new foods the staff helped and made us feel right at home.
(4)Christine B.
How have I not been to Lalibela until now? Eating injera soaked with delicious, colorful flavors of fantasticness with your fingers from the community plate with friends? Yes please! My fellow Yelpers have said it all, so let me save you the read. Just go there. Friendly, affordable and freakin' delicious.
(5)Christel J.
From the outside, Lalibela is very unfortunately easy to miss, at the corner of the street. Very nondescript from the outside, it looks like it could almost be another one of Omaha's ghostly abandoned restaurants, but when you turn into the parking lot and walk in, the place is alive and friendly. Super friendly staff - love them - Amanda, and the owner who is also the cook - I wish I could remember her name, but they are both full of energy and zeal for customer service. One thing I noted that is different than most Ethiopian places I've been to (in California) is that instead of family-style serving, everyone gets their own plate of injera with their order on it. They are also more than happy to offer a fork or spoon if picking your food up with your hands just isn't for you. I think for most people who haven't been exposed to Ethiopian food, those have been the two major things that turned them off, so they have gotten past that with their own style. The atmosphere is very, very casual with some great Ethiopian decor, and television somewhat quietly posting its videos of Ethiopian music & dance culture in the corner. There is also always what I call a tea altar set up in the corner farthest from the door, which is nice to be exposed to, as I have had Ethiopian neighbors & friends in the past that did the same in their homes, and it is comforting to have it. Bottom line: VERY casual, very friendly, good food, recommended highly :)
(4)Grover M.
It's feels like it might have been a pizza hut at one time (because it definitely was). Reggae music competes with Omaha sports tv for your auditory pleasure - this I'm told is Ethiopian tradition. The tables are metal with plastic tablecloth like a grandmother of the past, the chairs uncomfortable. However, after they bring the food everything fits together and makes for a great experience. We convinced them to cut the music so we could dine while a segment about Donnie and Marie blared on Extra. I wouldn't change a thing. It was magically delicious.
(5)Shaunita J.
So, let me start off by saying that I normally hate injera (the bread they give you), and I reeeeeeeeeeeeeeally don't like eating with my hands, but this place is pretty good for Ethiopian food. I went during lunch time on a weekday. No wait. Pretty empty inside. I had the vegetarian platter. I'm not a vegetarian, but used to be. I liked most of the things on there, except some light green goo that had jalapenos in it. I've eaten at Ethiopian places before in other cities and this is pretty on par with those others. If you have food "texture issues", you won't like it, but if you can deal with the texture, you'll be good. Tables seem clean. Staff was friendly.
(4)John H.
Combo platter was excellent, nice variety of veggies and meats. Everything tasted fresh. Minus one star for the Latina waitress who was nice but clueless.
(4)Melissa M.
Delicious, large portions. Next time in Omaha will come here again. Also the service was very friendly. The sweet tea is very good as well.
(4)Kenzie E.
Fantastic! Spiced black tea was fantastic! Free refills! Service was speedy. Combination was plenty for 2! Out the door for under 20 dollars! All of the meats were very tender, seasoned well, and some slightly spiced! I'll be back!!
(5)Liz G.
This place is fantastic! I'm so glad that Omaha has an Ethiopian spot now. The staff is accommodating and the restaurant plays great music. The only terrible thing is that I can't shake my craving for more...
(5)Ben C.
We stopped in here on a visit to Omaha to see family. My daughter and I each got a vegetarian combo. It was really good. There were three kinds of lentils, cabbage, as well as greens and salad, served on a bed of injera . Not only that, but it was huge! We could easily have split just one order. The people working there were very nice. All in all, this is some of the best Ethiopian food we have had. Next time we are in Omaha, we will definitely stop in again.
(5)Jaimie K.
We ate here a few nights ago. Unfortunately, it was bland and not the what I expect from Ethiopian food. Bland, I tell ya! Injera imo should have a slightly sour or tangy taste from fermenting. This was completely absent. Our group ordered the Tibs, combo platter and vegetarian platter. The Tibs were good as were several other dishes, doro wat, cabbage and potatoes, and yellow lentils. Several were lacking imo. I also associate the spicy red berbere and butter staining the injera as a plus, this was also absent and it wasn't spicy enough for my preferences. They did have a red spice shaker on the table, that helped some. We love Ethiopian and Eritrean food and have ate at several places in the US, so this wasn't just a matter of being unfamiliar with the food. Pretty disappointed since we drove hours anticipating this type of food. Also, there must have been ridiculous amounts of salt because I woke up with my wedding rings cutting off my circulation because my hands swelled up. I've NEVER had anything like that happen. Our waitress left my water glass empty, good thing it wasn't super spicy, I suppose.
(3)Kim M.
Do yourself a favor and expand your taste buds. Incredibly fresh, healthy and seasoned to perfection; the best Ethiopian food I've eaten. The service from Chelsea was friendly, courteous and personal. Zodi takes pride in preparing everything fresh every day using the best spices and ingredients. Bottom line is this is a keeper; added to my list of favorites.
(5)Dennis M.
As if this place wasn't already five stars, I just found out a couple of days ago when I was there that it is BYOB!!!! I like how all the little ethnic places are finally catching on the trend of BYOB establishments. Our waitress was even kind enough to walk over to the gas station and buy some for us!!! How can I give this place six stars?!!??
(5)Keenan P.
Combo plate all the way. Very good, an exotic dance of the taste buds in Omaha, Nebraska. Who knew.
(4)Julian S.
I really enjoyed the hospitality that me and my party were afforded at Lalibela. We had the most interesting waitress who told us her intriguing life story and ended up giving us free Ethiopian spiced tea after our meal! It was nice to be able to find some decent Ethiopian food in Omaha. My only complaint was that the general "hotness" of the spicy dishes seemed to have been toned down. But, overall the dining experience was quite pleasant.
(4)Brigitte Z.
Lalibela is the best Ethiopian food I've had, and I've eaten Ethiopian food all over the US, Europe and Africa (it's my favorite cuisine). I'm new in Omaha, and Lalibela is also the best restaurant I've been to in the city. The atmosphere is charming, with a lot of colorful Ethiopian decorations on the tables and walls and an open window to the kitchen, where you can see the Ethiopian owner hard at work. The service was friendly and helpful. I asked my waitress about portions, and she honestly told me that the dish I wanted (the Combination Platter) would be a lot of food. When I ordered it anyway and then ran out of injera repeatedly, she was attentive and brought me more so that I never ran out. The food was absolutely delicious. I ordered the Combination Platter, which would have easily served two and is only $14. It comes with about 10 different vegetarian and meat dishes, including a full chicken bone. The food was perfectly tender, magnificently flavorful, piping hot and came out quickly. I plan to eat here at least three times a week while I'm in town. This place is quite a find!
(5)Zachary M.
I had never had Ethiopian food before so I have nothing to compare this to. Luckily I had people with me who could guide me on this new adventure. It wasn't very busy but I think that was because of the weather outside. The service was great. Very friendly. We ordered the Vegetable Delight and the Kitfo dish (I think) which was raw beef with spices. Raw Beef doesn't sounds very appealing but I highly recommend trying it!) Both dishes came with Injera. The tea they offer was very nice. Similar to hot cider but less sweet. Overall the experience was good and I would definitely return for more.
(4)Kyle S.
I am a missionary to Ethiopia, and have been to the country 4 times in the last two years. So, I'm no stranger to its food. I have tried almost anything you can try in the country from goat's tongue to the coffee. I stopped in this afternoon with some friends to eat the food and give my hometown Ethiopian restaurant a try. The atmosphere is quiet and decorated traditionally. There are about ten tables spread throughout the building and an area where the coffee ceremony is performed (more on that later). The menu is basic and offers a good choice of the most popular dishes you'd find in Ethiopia. I would recommend that if this is your first time to try the food to get the "Combination" (Mahabrawi) platter. This can easily feed three people for 12.00. This gives you around 6-7 different dishes to sample. They will serve you INJERA, the traditional sour-dough, spongy bread that is eaten all over the country with anything you order. The food tasted very good. The waitress, Roma, whom I was able to speak just a little Amharic with, was very kind. Even more kind and pleasant was the woman cooking in the back, the owner, Zodi. Both took time to come and greet us and make sure we enjoyed everything. It was very good American Ethiopian food. The waitress even told me just before I took my first bite, that it wouldn't be the same as I tried in Ethiopia as some of the ingredients just cannot be duplicated. After our meal, as is customary in Ethiopia, we participated in a coffee ceremony. For just $5.00 additional, we were able to sit down and drink coffee very similar to the way you would in a typical Ethiopian's home. The waitress made us coffee offered to light incense for us. She sat and drank coffee with us and talked with us. It was very pleasant and very much worth the time and money. I highly recommend that you be adventurous and come and try Lalibela Ethiopian Restaurant! Geta Yibarkeh (The Lord Bless you!)
(4)Kit W.
I went here in search of another Ethiopian restaurant. This place has a limited menu, and for a place like that gets busy, they might need either a faster server or two slow ones. When I ate here, it had one server, and she was extremely slow. I had chai tea and it wasn't refilled once during the entire meal. When she took our order, we waited almost 40 minutes for the order to come out. The injera was huge, but the portion size was that of about a cup and a half. While the food was tasty, I'll stick to the other location unless this place offers better service next time I'm in there. I gave it 3 stars because the little portion of food was very tasty. Next time I'll try something different and see how it comes out.
(3)C P.
It's been at least 2 years since I last had Ethiopian food (and my experience with that went WAY back, when I had it for the first time in Paris...) This is a delightful surprise. Nice location sort of tucked away in a residential area, peaceful, excellent and reasonably-priced food. My only concern is that service is a little slow-- It worked just fine when it's 30% full but it might become rather hectic if they had more customers. Will definitely come back.
(5)Patrick M.
I've been a regular at Rice Bowl for a few years, just across the parking lot from this restaurant, but never was able to stop by Lalibela to try Ethiopian food. Now I'm kicking myself for not going sooner! My friend and I walked in and were greeted very warmly by both the waitress and the cook, who came out from the kitchen to welcome us. We followed Michael F.'s recommendation of the Combination platter, which was terrific! It was a great introduction to Ethiopian food. The central item is Doro Wat--a stewed chicken leg and hard boiled egg, covered in a spicy sauce--and around the edges of the plate are various items: beef stew, tibs, a few veggies and various paste-like substances which I don't remember. And of course, plenty of injera. The waitress, an older Ethiopian lady, asked if we had ever eaten Ethiopian food before, and hearing that we hadn't, showed us how to scoop up the food with the injera and eat it. We still asked for forks, just in case things got out of hand (literally?), but we ended up not needing them. I also followed the recommendation to try the hot tea, which was absolutely delicious. However, I think I asked for it too early in the meal, which was met with a look of disapproval. Apparently, one does not drink tea until after the meal. This was fine--after all, I was there to experience Ethiopian dining--but then she brought out the tea anyway, so that was confusing. I will be returning soon, both for more Doro Wat and to try the coffee. This place is a gem of Omaha.
(4)Drew D.
Really good food in exactly the kind of environment you'd expect from an old Pizza Hut turned into an ethnic restaurant. Clean, warm, casual. Very friendly service. Excellent variety of vegetarian options. (Two people can easily split the $12 "vegetarian" plate --it's enormous.) I'll happily return here on a regular basis.
(4)Michael F.
I've been to 17 countries so far, and had food from each of those, in many restaurants, and let me tell you, this is some of the best ANYWHERE. The people here are the nicest you'll ever meet, too. The kindness is some of what makes the food so good, too. They care about the food they make. They make the food fresh each and every order. Trust me, I've seen it! My recommendation for first timers to Lalibela's, unless you have a group of four or more, just get the Combination(#07 on the menu). It is most definitely big enough for two, or even three! That dish is the best one to introduce yourself to Ethiopian cuisine, as it has some of everything. Also, try the tea. Awesome. It has Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cloves, and Ginger, and is the best tea! The coffee comes directly from Ethiopia, the birthplace of coffee! They roast it right there, and it is so flavorful! The best coffee I've ever had, and it's real, all natural, and fresh! Omaha really doesn't know how lucky it is to have Lalibela's here. It truly is a gem! Give it a try, as you most certainly won't be dissatisfied!
(5)Mike S.
I ate here for lunch a few times while I lived in Omaha. The decor is non-existent, but I saw real Ethiopians here, which I take as a good sign. I wasn't sure what to expect having had great Ethiopian in several of DC's numerous places, but Lalibela was right on par with anything I've had here. Very reasonable prices, great typical Ethiopian fare. Definitely worth a visit (or two or three or...)
(5)Neil G.
Simply fantastic. A friend of mine with whom I had a tradition of eating regularly in Little Ethiopia in LA was visiting, and I had been hearing great things about Lalibela, so it was an easy choice. As much Ethiopian food as I've eaten, I had never had rare kitfo. But the reviews here indicated that this was the place to try it. We were a little over-enthusiastic in our ordering and ordered way too much food. After the waitress (who seemed pretty new, but very friendly) took our order, the woman who seemed to be in charge came out to see if we were sure we really wanted to order that much (kitfo, veggie delight and combo platter). We realized she was right and tried to change our order to just kitfo and the veggie delight but between our enthusiasm and her broken English, we ended up getting all three anyway. So I'm still eating it two days later. And it is absolutely fantastic. The veggie delight had a great spread of the types of dishes you would expect if you've had Ethiopian before, on top of injera (Ethipoian bread), of course. Lentils, greens, salad. A bunch of stuff. All amazing. The combo platter had most of the same veggie stuff, plus a chicken leg and egg in an amazing sauce, as well as some cubed beef that was either tibs or gored gored (delicious either way). There was also some delicious cheese that was somewhere between feta (in consistency) and mozzarella. Mild, creamy and again, fantastic. And finally, the kitfo. A good-sized pile of barely cooked ground beef on injera, with a pile of a crumbly cheese-like substance which I believe was niter kibbeh, or clarified butter, with herbs next to it. On the other side of the beef was a pile of what I think was mitmita, which is a VERY spicy but also very flavorful chili powder type blend. I went to work on all this right away. Absolute heaven. The mitmita was very spicy even for someone who loves spicy food, so don't overdo it there. Although I couldn't get him to try to the kitfo (next time), my friend agreed that this might be the best stuff we'd ever had. $35 for a TON of food. They happily boxed everything up for us (three to-go boxes worth) and I'll continue to enjoy what is still left for at least another day. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Xela R.
Yummy! Food is fresh and tasty. Good variety and veggies on the combination plate. I love Ethiopian food, and I have always been happy eating here. I hope this place sticks around forever.
(5)Kyle K.
My wife and I ate there and it was delicious! I would recommend the combination platter to split - believe me; it is PLENTY of food! Also, made a side trip to get a sharing beer and brought it with. We talked about bringing our friends back. This is a hidden, culinary gem that is all about Midtown!
(5)Pradeep R.
I wanted to try Ethiopian, so went to Lalibela. I tried their chicken and lamb entrée. The chicken was super spicy and the lamb was well cooked. I really liked both and the quantity was also good for the price. Overall, I definitely recommend going to this restaurant in Omaha.
(5)Nick E.
I dropped in around 2 on a Sunday and it was pretty quiet, which is pretty common for a restaurant. Anyway, I ordered the Combo plate for takeout, it took maybe 15-20 minutes before it came out but the hostess (owner?) poured me a cup of tea for the wait. Hell, that chai tea alone was worth a trip down and she was clearly proud of it, as well she should be, it almost made the fox news they had on seem really pleasant. Almost as soon as I finished the tea, the food came out and it was one of the heaviest takeout orders I've had, easily enough for two or more. The food itself was awesome and totally worth the wait. I generally like Ethiopian food but it's not exactly something I get cravings for, I can imagine that changing after this. Unfortunately, I got the impression that business wasn't as brisk as it could be, which really is too bad. It's like the Mother India of Ethiopian, just with better seating and much more room...and none of hype. I really hope this place catches on, it seems like good things come and go way too quickly around these parts. Anyway, this place was awesome, totally recommended!
(5)Holly B.
My husband and I had been driving by this place for a while and then one day in the middle of a deluge, we parked right in front of the door and literally dove into Lalibela. A couple guys were eating, but then it was just us. So happy it was open! We have been there about half a dozen times since and each meal is fantastic. Good injera (although the African grocery store does it better), tasty meat and veggie dishes. Service is slow, even with few customers. Like the little kids running around, the taxi drivers stopping by, the cook... the last time we came, the dining room was almost full!! They need to become more efficient to deal with their growing success...
(5)Joseph G.
All the positive reviews here are correct. I would like to give an update. As of Sunday they were in the process of constructing their bar. I wonder what beer/wine pairs with Ethiopian food?
(5)Liz W.
Small unassuming building, that was empty when we got there on a thursday evening. We eaten several times at the Ethiopian Restuarant & grocery on 25th & Leavenworth, so we knew what to expect. We ordered the vegatarian platter & it was delicious. I loved that they had the hot tea on hand with free refills. It's tastes alot like sweeten chai. We'd go back it is weren't so out of the way.
(4)Scott B.
NEW! Ethiopian Restaurant just opened behind Rice Bowl on Saddle Creek. In what used to be the Advance Cash America building. The food is great. I love the vegetarian delight. I hope people in Omaha will give this place a try.
(5)Joel T.
If you have never tried Ethiopian food before, Lalibela is a perfect introduction to the wonderfully tasty cuisine from Africa. If you have eaten Ethiopian food before, then Lalibela will not disappoint. My wife and I have enjoyed Ethiopian food in Chicago, and were curious to see how Omaha's (relatively new) Ethiopian spot would compare. Foodwise, they're quite good, as good as we've had elsewhere. We enjoyed the vegetarian platter, and of course a sampler platter is best shared with friends, as we did. The decor is sparse, but the food is so good, it's not an issue. Ethiopian food is difficult to describe (at least without having some in my mouth right now), and admittedly, I'm spotty at remembering names of dishes. If you're the same way or brand new to Ethiopian food, then you're in luck at Lalibela. They do a good job of explaining dishes and helping you pick out the right dish for your taste. Next time we visit Omaha, Lalibela is at the top of our list for return visit meals.
(5)Kelli S.
Ordered the combination platter - fantastic dish for first-time eaters of the cuisine. Was able to try the different dishes from lentils to salad to chicken (which was cooked perfectly and just fell off the bone). Authentic feel as they don't offer cutlery (though it's available), you can eat it up with your hands. The tea is a great compliment to the meal and the coffee is fantastic. I hope they can expand the beer and wine menu- overall a great experience!
(5)Emily W.
Odd consistency.
(1)Janet L.
Visited here yesterday for the first time. WOW - we enjoyed ourselves so much. We were not familiar with Ethiopian food, but were looking for a new experience. The food is delicious, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. Service was quick for us (though I see many others had slow service), and we had the coffee ceremony after (which consisted for us of some amazing espresso-like coffee and talking and getting to know the server - lots of fun and a way to get to know about another country). Thanks other Yelpers for the recommendations! We would never have found this place otherwise. Definitely plan to make it a regular stop when I'm in Omaha.
(5)Yvonne W.
Lalibela is one of our favorite ethnic restaurants in Omaha. The combination platter is fabulously delicious and lets you try everything (warning: some of the offerings are spicy!). My kids love the green lentils, cabbage with carrots, cheese and grilled meat. The hubby and I love all the spicy, spicy meats and veggies. Try the fragrant Ethiopian tea - so nice on a cool evening! We get two combos to feed all five of us with two days of lunch left over. Hard to beat!
(4)Mike B.
First time visit and it won't be my last. Great food and service, the house made cheese was delightful. The coffee is also worth having, taste is sweet like Moka pot coffee.
(5)Brianna A.
Tried this for the first time today and had some really good food
(4)Heather M.
I am obsessed with this restaurant. My husband and I eat here once a week. I tried it for the first time back in June. I had never eaten Ethiopian food before so I have no other restaurants to compare it to but I can't imagine anything more delicious. My husband and I always have the vegetarian platter (vegetarians) and it is definitely enough to feed 2 very hungry people. For $12! It's so much food and it is incredible! The vegetarian platter is injera topped with salad (best dressing ever, an oil and vinegar mixture that is just perfect), green lentils, yellow lentils, cabbage, spinach, sometimes green beans, and a really spicy brown lentil mixture. They give you extra injera on the side and don't charge extra for it which is great. Everything is DELICIOUS. They also serve you free tea. Their tea is the best I have ever had. The people there are pretty friendly and the place is very clean. I really hope more people give Ethiopian food and this restaurant a chance. This restaurant is the best!
(5)Richard Y.
Fantastic. What a bargain for how good this is. As a vegetarian, this is one of the top spots in Omaha. The bread is so good, and you are given quite a bit of it. For two people, it only came to $20 (with tip and coffee ordered). The coffee is pretty good too. I'm happy a restaurant like this can get business in Midtown Omaha. Omaha needs more restaurants like this.
(5)Cas R.
My first time to try Ethiopian food. I liked the flavor of the beef tips except I like more vegetables with my meals. I don't consider iceberg lettuce a vegetable since it has no real nutritional value. Wash your hands when you get there because you eat with your hands and the help of a lovely spongy sour flat bread. You can ask for a fork and get plastic silverware. It's kind of a strange place with incense that almost smoked us out but at the same time the waitress was more than willing to adjust the air for us and the loudness of the T.V. She was very hospitable and attentive. There a few dishes spicy but most of them are made to order so you just tell them you don't want it spicy. The chicken has some spice. The beef tips were flavorful but not hot spicy. I'll look forward to going again although it won't be a hot spot for me.
(3)U. F.
They were closing as we walked in at 8:30. Yelp said they close at 9 but during the week they close earlier. We were traveling through Omaha, and our son cried at the door when he learned they were closed because he was so hungry and excited to eat real injera made of teff (as opposed to the wheat flour many places use). Then something unexpected happened. Hearing our son cry, the family that runs the restaurant (who were on their way out) felt bad and told us to stay and made us beautiful vegetarian combination plates. They were amazing, delicious, generous, and would easily stand up to the best Ethiopian restaurants. Most of all, the act of kindness was something truly special.
(5)Sean H.
Been holding off on writing this review for a few months. Our first experience was over the top and wanted to make sure it was really that good. Honestly, it's the only restaurant we go to now with the kids. We have a daughter from Ethiopia and the staff here really makes over her. They really treat all of the kids incredibly well. Food is fantastic, very authentic with generous portions. Be adventurous and give it a try. On the safe side, try the tibs which are basically Ethiopian fajitas. Picky kids? Order the spaghetti. I think one reviewer questioned why spaghetti was on the menu, need to read a little history on Ethiopia. I think we ate as much pizza and pasta in Addis Ababa as we did injera. Certainly had our share of machiatto. We feed a family of five for $20-$25 depending on what we order and can never finish the meal. Tea is phenomenal, even the kids love it. What really makes the experience is the staff, really enjoy talking with them. Most times the restaurant is relatively empty. Recommend skipping the burger and fries joint one night and give Lalibela a try, you won't regret it. People in Omaha should feel fortunate to have a gem like Lalibela. Also, if you have a group of more than four, call and let them know when you are coming so they have enough food on hand.
(5)Melissa B.
This place is fantastic! The food is delicious, and the owners/staff are very warm and welcoming. As other reviewers have suggested, if you've never had Ethiopian food the combination plate is a good place to start. There's enough food to share between three or four people unless you're REALLY hungry. Unfortunately, the day I was there was very hot and their air conditioning wasn't working, so I didn't partake in the coffee ceremony. I will definitely try that they next time I am there since I've heard that it's wonderful.
(5)Henry L.
Great food, friendly service, what can I say? I recommend.
(5)Dwitiya S.
Tried ethiopian food for the first time so cannot comment on how authentic the food was.But yes visiting this place I developed liking for ethiopian food and espescially the way they present it.Loved the Doro Wot that I tried . the dish looked hot and spicy and so was the taste.the people there were quite welcoming and though it is not a place with awesome ambience its simplicity will catch one's attention.I missed to try the coffe there but the tea that they give for free tasted awesome.Similar to hot green tea. four stars to the place , food and people!!
(4)Matt M.
This has quickly become one of our favorites in town. The employees are great and the food is unique (to us) and absolutely delicious. We usually get the veggie platter and add a meat. The first visit was beef, second was lamb. Everything is fantastic but that lamb steals the show. Try it - you'll love it too!
(5)Lianna N.
I have tried other Ethiopian restaurants in town but this was my first time trying Lalibela. I must say, I was not disappointed. We had a large party of about 15 people sitting at our table and ordered 4 platters to go around. We did eat it all, but it was a decent amount of food. Like Khoa T. says, it was enough to feel slightly full but not overstuffed. At ~$12 a platter, thats pretty reasonable pricing. In the future I'd like to give one of the meat platters a try because it sounds very exciting and enticing. The injera bread they serve their platters with reminds me of sourdough, but in a spongy, pancake manner. It's really some excellent eating if I do say so myself. There are no utensils, it's back to medieval times using your hands to eat--i totally love this. Tear off a piece of injera and use it a scooper to eat the veggies/meat piled in little neat stacks on top. Really fun! The lentils were my favorite thing on the veggie platter. While I'm not a huge fan of incense (personal preference) the smell in there somehow makes me feel like the experience was more authentic. The smell was quite strong for me! It wouldnt keep me from going there again but I do want a shower when I leave. :) Oh and one more thing-easy parking and whether you want a tea, coffee, or water you'll be paying a few bucks extra--there is no water on tap here.
(4)Sarah G.
Lalibela is best enjoyed with friends. And if you're having trouble finding friends to go here, let me know, as I'm always up for a visit. My recommendation is to order several items and do a round robin sort of roulette dinner, rotating periodically until everyone is able to sample everything on the table. But first thing's first... no utensils. That job is readily tackled by Injera, a sourdough-risen flatbread with a spongy texture. Traditionally made out of teff flour, it is a national dish in Ethiopia. And if just that description sounds off-putting then maybe this isn't the restaurant for you? But I always advocate trying something at least once before discounting it. And if you have any friends trying to avoid gluten, let them know they're safe here, as I understand teff to be one of the gluten-free grains. (Which is a good thing, because there's plenty of injera to be had here)! You can also bring your vegetarian friends, as their Vegetarian Platter is to die for. For some reason I feel like serving me a heaping pile of bread is a personal challenge (one I'm happy to accept). The meals are plated on top of injera, and baskets of the stuff are also served on the side, typically one per dish. I don't think I've tried everything on the menu yet, but the Vegetarian Plate is always a good choice, with several varieties of lentils, greens, and cabbage. Combination plate with doro wot and cheese is another good way to get a thorough sampling of the flavors and to ease yourself into. The process goes down pretty much like this... You just grab some injera, tear off a piece, and use it to pick up some food, then stuff the food in your mouth. There's not a lot of grace to it, but I suppose it does take some practice. For those of you unconvinced, check out this video primer: youtube.com/watch?v=uf46… Most of the meats are small enough to pick up easily in a single handful, and those that aren't can easily be dismantled with fingers. As for the food, mixing is allowed. And there is no particular order to the meal. Eat whatever, whenever and have a good time. We don't tend to enforce the feeding each-other rule shown in the video, though that could make for some fun dining too. Here's my rundown of the menu items we've had the pleasure of trying (which is pretty much everything, since it's a small menu). Combination Plate: A variety of meat and vegetarian dishes including tibs, doro wot, salad, cabbage, cheese and lentils. Great place to start if this is your first foray into Ethiopian. Vegetarian Platter: A combination of salad, cabbage, lentils and cheese. Kuanta Fir Fir: Beef sauteed in spices, butter and onion, mixed with pieces of injera. Key Wot: A spicy beef stew prepared with a clarified butter sauce, cheese on the side. Gored Gored: Lean beef mixed with spicy butter sauce and a paste of hot peppers with garlic, ginger and spices. Zil Zil: Stir fried beef strips, onions and peppers. Ethiopian Coffee: Pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Strong and delicious. Ethiopian Spiced Tea: I think this used to be complimentary, but now they charge for it. You can probably blame me for this since I like to drink 2-3 cups... or, in other words, as many as they'll bring me. It's spiced, it's sweet, it's so good I'll even order tea in the summer. Injera: The star of the show in more ways than one. Injera serves as plate, utensil and meal all in one. They'll always bring a basket per entree, so don't feel compelled to sacrifice your platter bread at first. Then, after you've eaten your fill you can roll up all the leftovers for later. And that, my friends, is how you over-eat. Sharing an entrée is probably your best bet to leave in a comfortable state of affairs. Lalibelia does not have a liquor license, so if you're feeling like a brew you'll have to go elsewhere. What they do have is bottled water, Ethopian coffee, and some wonderfully sweet spiced tea (see above). Service is very friendly, but don't expect a detailed menu primer or rundown on what all the items are. You need to tap your sense of adventure here a bit. The restaurant is warm and inviting, decorations made it feel cozy, and the food is fantastic. Bring on the injera!
(5)corie f.
The yelp time was wrong and when we showed up they were closed. Our son cried as we walked out the door. They ran out to our car and offered us free food. When they learned that we were traveling they told us to sit and made us food even though they were closed and the owner had to go to another job! And the food... It was wonderful! One-hundred teff injera and amazing vegetarian food.
(5)Jess G.
Okay, I got food poisoning... but I somehow still love this place!
(4)Kati C.
Lalibela is great. Reasonable, solid Ethiopian cuisine. It's a fun experience. The atmosphere is nice and small and adds to the experience. The owner is really friendly. I had the sampler platter and it left me stuffed--would definitely recommend sharing!
(5)Bryan D.
I love trying new things--and this restaurant had great reviews--but there was no part of this dining experience that I enjoyed. The food is served on Injera, which is like a rubbery, soulless crepe. You will not get a fork with your meal, and you will be made to feel silly for asking. Attempting to eat the food with the Injera is a messy, unappetizing affair which leaves a stench on your fingers for hours. I smeared as much of the multi-colored goo up as I could before my stomach finally turned, and I was done. Several tables around me had their whole families there, all dipping their fingers in the shared mess in front of them; so, apparently there are fans of this sort of dining. But it was definitely not for me.
(2)Wayne H.
I was just visiting Omaha for work and was pleased to see that they had Ethiopian cuisine. I arrived in late afternoon and found I had the restaurant to myself. I ordered the combo platter and was pleased with how fast it was served. The food was amazing! More people should try this culinary delight.
(5)William R.
Their delicious, flavorful finger food was served family style. The small restaurant felt homey and comfortable. The huge plates are very simple and inexpensive. Each bite was a symphony of savory, spice-laden meat or vegetables perfectly accented by the soft, tangy Injera bread. The free spiced tea was a nice touch as well.
(5)John P.
The platters are generous and teff is excellent. Get the combination platter when you go. It is enough for three people. The tea is sweet, but full of spices. You cannot go wrong eating here.
(5)Megan H.
If you're already a fan of the spices and textures of Ethiopian dishes and spongy slightly sour goodness of injera, you'll love Lalibela. For the uninitiated, it might seem a little odd at first glance. Don't order too much food or else you'll be unable to finish it. I think one combination platter is enough for two people. You'll get plenty of injera, the traditional Ethiopian flat bread. Think the consistency of a crepe. It's savory and serves as both your plate and your utensils. You rip a bit of the injera to scoop of the lentils and vegetables on your platter. The food is spicy thanks to the berebere but it's not hot. My favorite part is eating the "plate" injera at the end after it has absorbed some of the spice of the dishes. It is such a fun experience to go out for Ethiopian food with friends or a date and share your food, eating with your hands. I think everyone should give it a shot.
(5)J W.
I have gone to this restaurant many, many times. The owners are friendly and the food is delicious. I have never been disappointed with anything we have ordered. I have had the combination platter, which is good for sharing because it is alot of food. It's also nice if you cant decide what you want. You get a little bit of everything. Zil-zil tibs is a good choice for meat eaters, Kwanta Firfir is a carb lovers dream, and Doro Wot is nice if you like boiled eggs. No matter what you order, make sure to get the hot tea. Its so tasty and compliments the food.
(5)Melanie D.
This is seriously my new favorite restaurant! I have had several friends telling me how wonderful Ethiopian food is for years, but after seeing pictures of it I refused to try it. Mark that up as one of my biggest food regrets! The service here is wonderful! We get the same server every time and she is great! I also love that the chef always asks everyone if everything is okay. She is SO sweet, and her food is the best! So far, all we have tried is the combination platter, which is a little mixture of most of their menu items. My favorites are the three meat dishes, everything is delicious though. Everything is perfectly spiced, nothing is too spicy for an average pallet. Take it from me, even if it looks less than appetizing, you HAVE to try it! We have gone twice this week and we are already planning our next trip to Lalibela!
(5)Matthew D.
I saw this place quite a while ago and made a mental note that I wanted to go try it sometime, but forgot about it. We had a friend in town visiting, he saw it on Yelp and wanted to go. Having not eaten Ethiopian before, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I was excited to give it a try. We went with a combination platter. They make it for 2 people, but they were nice enough to just scale it up for the 3 of us for a small extra charge. I honestly don't know what most of the food was, but it was excellent. There wasn't anything on the plate I didn't like. It was a great value. For less than $8/person, we were all able to get absolutely stuffed. I highly recommend Lalibela and look forward to going back many times.
(5)Osha G.
Unbelievable find in an unexpected area! Just driving through Omaha and found this on Yelp. Food was delicious, and be sure to drink the tea- skip the coffee
(5)Daniel L.
My craving for Ethiopian cuisine led me to this Omaha restaurant. The place is large and the tables were spaciously arranged. The vibe was subdued, down to earth, and there was a TV in the background. There was one person working on the floor and another in the kitchen. We ordered the Combination Plate ($13.99) that came with vegetarian platter, tibs, doro wot, and cheese. They were out of the Yebeg Alicha ($9.50) but the owner was very kind to add a sample to the gorgeous platter free of charge. The Tibs were a bit dry and rough, and the pieces were cut too small for me to fully enjoy it. The same can be said about the Yebeg Alicha, but the flavors were much better as the lamb was supported by a good level of moisture and spiciness. To my surprise, the Doro Wot was excellent. The spices nicely penetrated the hardboiled egg and the chicken was moist, tender, and delicious. The six-item Vegetarian Platter comprised of two types of lentils, split peas, collard greens, salad, and cabbage and carrots tasted on point. I especially liked the two lentils, split peas, and collard greens. The injera were not as fluffy as I would have liked, and to my dismay, the server only replenished them one at a time when asked. I was not fond of the slow service, but to put it all in perspective, the prices were the best I have ever experienced at an Ethiopian restaurant. For $15.32 and a lot of food, the three of us were very well fed for the night. In retrospect, the Doro Wat was my favorite item, followed by the Yebeg Alicha, and the Vegetarian Platter. I have had better experiences elsewhere with the cuisine, but it was good enough for anyone who wishes to try it for the first time. 3.5 stars for the experience. Interested diners can expect solid flavors that carry a good level of spiciness thanks to their use of spices and berbere sauce. There's also free wifi for those who needs it. I'd be interested in coming back the next time I'm in the area.
(4)Annie N.
Very good food with huge servings! Our girls loved it!
(4)Mike S.
This is a gem! I have had groups of friends join me here and that is the best way to enjoy the awesome food here. Tonight I just had a table of two and could not finish the plate. the Vegetarian platter is so filled with goodness that I cannot fathom going without it The location used to be a Tobacco Shack that had cheap beer and generic smokes that I used to take the long walk to. $1 cans of soda, $4 wine, sadly no beer that I could find. Sometimes you don't need beer for dinner, but I don't think I know when that is. You can get some Injera to go if you wish. 5 loaves for $3. Such a deal. There is usually no more than a few tables and a lot of taxi drivers come through for takeout. I get a huge smile in my stomach when it is suggested that we go eat here. The use of the Injera as your utensils and have a huge plate of foodstuffs to share really brings comradere to the group
(5)Sara R.
This just became one of our favorite restaurants in Omaha. My boyfriend and I were looking for an inexpensive date night and wanted to try something new so we settled on this place. Let me tell you, we were not disappointed!! It's a very unassuming place and the food is incredible. We split a combo platter which was almost too much food for the two of us, and we both got the spiced tea which is reminiscent of a chai with no milk. It was a delicious and full of flavor meal and we will definitely be back!
(5)