Lalibela Restaurant and Bar
1111 S. Hamilton Road, Columbus, OH, 43227
Lalibela Restaurant and Bar Menu
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Address :
1111 S. Hamilton Road
Columbus, OH, 43227 - Phone (614) 235-5355
- Website https://lalibelarestaurant.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 2:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Elizabeth D.
I had no clue what to expect with this place, our other experiences with Ethiopian food in Columbus have been less-than-exciting. My favorite restaurant in the world - restaurant, not "Ethiopian restaurant" - is a place in Grand Rapids called Little Africa, so Lalibela had a lot to live up to. The place is in a strip mall and is not the most welcoming thing in the world, but the people inside more than make up for it! Even though we looked a bit out of place, everyone was very friendly and hospitable. The menu was easy to understand and we ordered a vegetarian combo platter, some yellow lentil dish, and a lamb one for four people. The other three diners ordered a pitcher of beer to split. (The beer menu is limited, but more on that later.) The food came out fast and was delicious! I absolutely love vegetarian Ethiopian food, and am not too keen on the meat stuff, but the lamb dish we got was tasty! Everything else was really good as well. The injera was very fresh and delicious (and plentiful) and we lapped up every last bite. The owner came around twice to make sure we were doing well, and was very friendly. At the end of our meal, he offered us some Ethiopian beer on the house, which was called "Meta Beer." (It was clearly very self-aware beer.) I can't believe it, but everyone at the table LOVED it - it was very sweet - and had distinct honey flavors. It was great! They also offered us some strawberry-flavored cake that wasn't bad at all, also on the house. We will definitely go back - the big shocker of the evening was when our bill came and it came to $23 for FOUR of us. That is like $7 PER PERSON. I about died. Totally worth more than that, but we were happy to leave a generous tip!
(4)Nuri G.
Excellent Ethiopian food. This is the second Ethiopian restaurant I've dined at in Columbus, at it is by far my favorite. I'm a vegetarian. Some places think that being a vegetarian also means that you're boring and don't like flavor. Some ethnic restaurants think that we're "white people" and not interested in getting the real deal! Ridiculous? I say hell yes! Not Lalibela! The food was brimming with flavor. The Cabbage and Potatoes, Lentils, Beans, and greens all had unique and enjoyable flavors. Some of the dishes were mildly spicy, while others were not. At my request, they put a side of "be careful it's hot" sauce on the tray as well -- and well, it kicked things up a notch or two. The salad was fresh and the dressing was savory, reminding me almost of a good hearty Italian. The vegetarian combo... $7.99. One Ethiopian beer...$3. I don't think I've ever had such a quality, healthy, filling meal for this cheap (and I have an entire to-go box sitting in the fridge of my hotel room right now). The service was friendly, and the owner himself stopped by twice to make sure I was enjoying my food. Although it's on a crappy end of town in a strip mall with their grocery store, a nail salon, and a tattoo parlor, I never felt unsafe. Although I was the only Caucasian guy in there, the staff were very friendly and welcoming, and I felt at home. It's totally worth the drive from anywhere in the Columbus area. The Columbus Vegan group had a meeting here a few weeks ago...and I see why. I'll definitely add this place to my list of delicious Columbus Vegetarian options.
(4)Jim T.
Love this place, second time eating here. It's good Ethiopian. Service is very good. It's as advertised.
(4)Larry V.
So, last night I returned to Lalibela for the first time in quite a bit. This time, I went with Ohio rock band 3rd Degree Burden, and a friend. The service was gracious. The food was prepared quickly and was delicious. It also was quite affordable - we fed 7 people for under $50! Parking can be tough here some evenings. And the first time you visit, you may wonder if you are in the right place - up front are pool tables and the bar. But the restaurant is just a few yards inside the door. I really recommend you try this out! Find a friend or fellow yelper to go along if you are uncomfortable trying a different cuisine on your own.
(4)Miguel A.
Stunningly cheap and tasty Ethiopian food in the back, an African-American bar and pool table in the front. It is open till 2 AM. It is run by a family; father, mother and daughter. What exactly more could you want? Eat the food. I am a vegetarian so I got the vegetarian plate, four dishes and bread, for I think $5.75. I was fed for the night. Then go to the front and drink beer and play pool with the locals. Leave a 2 AM, and do over again next day. Sounds like the life.... Well if I lived in Columbus It would be....
(4)Frith W.
I've now been twice in the past month, and the food was delicious both times. The Lega Tibs, in particular, are outstanding. I was a fan for years of The Blue Nile north of OSU campus, and was so sad to find out it closed, so I'm glad to have found a place to fill the craving for Ethiopian food when it hits. That said, this place is a little odd. It's essentially a bar/meeting place for locals, and appears to be some combination of under construction/very old-school dive-y. First, it's located in a strip mall. When you walk in to the dimly lit space, you have to walk past the bar on your left (there hasn't been a hostess either time I've been in) to the tables and sit down. It's pretty bare bones in terms of decor, and you may not feel sure you're in a restaurant. But sit at a table and wait, and someone will eventually come and take your order. (Side note: they don't seem to have beverages other than canned/bottled. Order water, for instance, and receive a bottle. Order Coke, and receive a can and a glass of ice.) Be prepared to wait again for your food. I'm giving this 4 stars because the food is good, the prices are good, and the people are nice. But the experience is strange, like the restaurant was an afterthought - they'll be happy to cook delicious food and bring it out to you and let you eat it, but it doesn't feel like that's the intended purpose for the space somehow. The second time I went, anticipating the wait, I ate a snack beforehand and brought a book to read, and the time I spent was very pleasant. And again, the food is delicious. Craving met. Will be returning.
(4)Keith S.
First venture into Ethiopian food. It was very spicy but absolutely delicious.
(5)Joshua L.
This one takes me back to third grade when my class went on a field trip to blue Nile, the first Ethiopian restaurant in Columbus. However, now grown, Lalibela is so much better! This is one of my wife and my go-to late night dinner spots. They're open late, they're relatively quick for preparing everything from scratch, they're cheap, but most importantly, delicious!! We always get the large combo platter, but add an additional meat dish on it. Can't recommend it any higher!
(5)Stephanie S.
Cheap and good. As much as I adore the owner of the Blue Nile I just can't deny that Lalibela's food tastes better and the value is unbeatable. When we go there with a group of 4 we get the vegetarian sampler and the steak tartar (kitfo- we have to ask for them to, yes, keep it raw.) With 4 people we still haven't finished the food. The service is adequate enough to not take away from the quality and quantity of the food. It is open late, but just don't go on a Friday or Saturday evening, they have a DJ and it is blaring loud. He wouldn't turn down when we were the only ones in the restaurant and we (and the waitress) asked. This is the only thing that keeps it from being 5-stars. I wish this could be our late night go-to place.
(4)Nicole S.
I stopped at my favorite Ethiopian restaurant on Livingston & Hamilton Rd, Selam, to find it closed. Too bad, but it had been going downhill. So I too the opportunity to check out Lalibela. Amazing! Its still hood, but a nicer shopping center than Selam was in, and had a safe feeling. I beat the dinner rush so most of the staff were hanging out in front of their restaurant. They smiled at me & helped me to a table. Service was immediate, but expect it to take a while to get your meal bc they are obviously prepared individually. The lamb & bread were delicious; every bit as good as Selam was, but the ambiance & staff are even better. I'll definitely be back. THIS REVIEW IS FROM MAY OF 2012
(5)Kevin D.
They give you lots of injera and delicious dishes. They also have good prices as well. I'd recommend this place to anyone wanting to try Ethiopian.
(5)Tesfai K.
I have eaten in many Ethiopian restaurants in other cities and this is by far on of the best. Great food!
(5)Elizabeth N.
The fact that it's cheap enough to be able to order multiple dishes in order to experiment gets it a few stars, but being a place where everything's tasty to the point where you want to try everything brings the stars up further. I got the vegetarian combo for $7.99--a meal that would easily have been closer to $20 elsewhere. The greens, lentils, and salad (and its dressing) had me so full I didn't feel like I could move for a while. Luckily, there wasn't any pressure to leave any time soon. The atmosphere was more like a European cafe where you could sit as long as you wanted (a group at another table there before us and probably stayed chatting long after we left). Our server came by to check on us a decent amount and when we were ready to request boxes and the check we went up to get them. Also: the meals heat up really well in the microwave and are--dare I say it--even better the second day! The lemon dressing on the salad soaks into the injera in fantastically delicious way. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Brooke S.
The hallmarks of an inexpensive authentic ethnic restaurant generally meet a few requirements: seedy neighborhood, questionable decor, and AMAZING FOOD. Lalibela has all of these! Came here with my two kids and partner and were invited to sit wherever we wanted to. We picked a table and ordered some fries for the kids and our drinks. I ordered the lamb dices and my partner ordered the berha tips. We ordered it "family style" so we got it served authentically atop injera alongside two pepper condiments (one red, one green), some farmer's cheese, and a lentil dish called shiro. Everything was absolutely amazing (even the fries, actually). The lamb was in a thick red curry-type sauce and was pleasantly hot but still extremely flavorful, while the berha tips were crunchy and juicy. Served alongside a basket of more rolled up injera, we ate with our hands and were were stuffed after we ate only half the dishes! The owner came around twice to make sure everything was okay and seemed pleased at how happy we were with our food. As we left, the parking lot was overflowing, and it seems that every Ethiopian cab driver was there from the airport, hanging at the bar, shooting pool or catching up with old friends. It has a very positive vibe to it.
(4)Mike B.
From the outside, the Lalibela has a deceptive look of being a mexican style cantina. Imagine our surprise when we walked in and found a full ethiopian hangout bar & restaurant. Accepting it for what it was, we sat down for dinner in the empty dining room. The barely english-spoken waitress took our order from the standard ethiopean menu (lamb, beef, chicken, vegan) and brought us some drinks. While waiting for the food we commented on the drab decor, and resisted laughing at the ethiopian people at the bar that were laughing and pointing at us with the general obvious thought that we were out of place. The food came after about 12-15 minutes, during which time we had a waitress change, I explained to the new waitress that I had ordered a spicy lamb dish (I only received salad and rice) and she apologized and promptly brought out the rest of the food. The salad was the highlight of the meal, very fresh, with the random addition of potatos. the rice was well cooked, allthough I'm not a fan of long grain/jasmin style rice. The lamb was ok, but not spectacular, it was very spicy and cut up into very small chunks, it had good flavor but was obviously cut up from a fatty-sinew-laden part of the lamb. The portion sizes were huge, and my wife's vegan dish was also served with the traditional giant plate pancake type thing. Definitely enough for two meals in one serving here. What really got the four stars here was the price, a cool $15.99 for two. Granted I think the second waitress that rang us out forgot to put our $3 worth of drinks on there, but still, well worth the price, and definitely a place I would consider again.
(4)Nicholas S.
Best Ethiopian food that I've had in America. You'll never get the same taste as you will in a small Ethiopian town, but it was still great. High Points: The lamb tibs had an authentic-tasting wot and the shiro was pretty close. The injera was not quite as sour as it could have been, but that's a personal preference. I saw a selection of Ethiopian beers at the bar, but didn't try to order any of them. The decor is pretty Ethiopian - random stuff on the walls, ETV on the television. Low Points: No tej or Ambo Wuha!
(4)Michelle B.
The food was excellent, on par with my favorites in NY. The injera (bread), was the best ive ever had. Service was great. I was so glad we went to Whitehall rather than staying on high st, even though we almost turned around when we saw the bar/ pool tables in front. I figured though, that there must be a seating area and there was. You eat this food with your hands; tear off some bread and scoop up the scrumptious dishes. Here's the crazy part: full meal with six different veg dishes for two was $7.99! Total meal came to $14 with a beer and a tea, and we left $20 of course b/c that was ridiculously cheap. I highly recommend this restaurant for a wonderful meal and friendly waitstaff. Have been back twice and brought groups; everyone has loved the food.
(5)David F.
5 star food, 2 star service. We went here tonight with a Yelp group for dinner. Admittedly, we had a large group (approximately 16) and we arrived over the course of around 20 minutes. Yet we had called ahead to let them know we were coming. No one greeted us at the door and we simply made our way to the table of other Yelpers. After a few minutes a waitress came around to take our orders. No favorites, specials or recommendations were offerred. When i asked what type of tea they had they told me "spicy", which really ended up being more like a pepper chai (which I rather enjoyed, but wasn't sure what I was getting). Unfortunately, it took around 25 minutes for us to get our drinks. Even the water. Food came our haphazardly, first a round of salad (which was good, but we didn't know everyone got salad too and there was some confusion). Food for some came out very quickly and for others came out about another 20 minutes after the drinks. Mine was one of the mid-later ones to arrive, which struck me as odd since I ordered the steak tatar, which requires no cooking. Some people at the table were pretty sure they didn't get what the ordered, since they got something different from the person beside them and they had ordered the same thing. My guess is that in general they just aren't used to dealing with a group of this size. So the upside here is that the food is absolutely fantastic and incredibly cheap for what you get. $10 steak tatar? Awesome. I have zero complaints about the quality of the food. Much more flavor than Blue Nile. Some of the best Ethiopian food I've ever had. At the end they were rather nice and split up all the checks individually (took them about another 15 minutes to make this happen, but it was nice). Go here with low service expectations and plenty of time and I think you'll be impressed with the quality of the food. If they had even the level of service of a Graffiti Burger or 5-guys, this would easily be a 5 star place, but given how bad the service is I just can't move the rating.
(3)Meghan P.
The best Ethiopian I've had. Delicious!! It's the kind of dive where you know things will go very, very well, or terribly wrong. Make sure you go when you have a lot of time, though. They sometimes serve you quickly, other times... not so quickly. Let's just put it that way.
(5)Eugene M.
Well this was my first time eating Ethiopian food so I wasn't sure what it was I was going to eat. The place is just a mish mash of a pool table, bar, and a restaurant with themes varying from each area. I shared a plate between two other people. We were served injera which was barley bread that looks like a sponge and was told to eat with my hands. We were served a vegetarian platter, lamb, and beef with a small salad. The lamb and vegetarian dishes were pretty good and cooked in a very different manner than I am used to. I didn't care for the beef that much. If you like spicy food, this is definitely the place for you. It's not for everyone and could be seen as a culture shock.
(3)Vin R.
Kind of out of the way and hidden in a random strip mall... but the food is worth the hunt! I'd rank this place ahead of Blue Nile here in C-Bus and on par with Abay in Pittsburgh and Blue Nile in Ferndale (Detroit.)
(5)Adil S.
Good authentic food and courteous service. I recommend this restaurant to the food adventurers and exotic culinary enthusiasts
(4)The Caribou A.
We had heard about Laibela from the local eats website alteats, and decided to give this restaurant a shot. When you step in it's clean, and definitely has the feel of an ethnic cuisine restaurant. The servers were pleasant, however, our orders took a really long time to come. Once it arrived we realized that though the dishes were correct, they had mixed up the sides, i.e., the ingara and the rice. Although, when my husband pointed out that the coke was flat, they readily replaced it with another drink, with no questions asked. Now for the food. It was very tasty, however, what put me off my marinated chicken dish was the amount of oil that the chicken was floating in. In addition, if you have this served on an ingara bread, it will soak in all of that oil. The marinated lamb my husband order was very tasty too, and had a buttery taste to it. We also got a side salad which was nice. I am glad we went to this restaurant, and it was a nice experience.
(3)Z P.
Great Ethiopian food. I have been coming here for years now and it never failed me. Hole in the wall with great chow. I am the only white boy in here and like it that way. Waiting for my Goden Tibbs and Kitfu with Injera bread while drinking Dashen beer.
(5)Julie P.
Columbus International Supper Club #2! Lalibela is a hole-in-the-wall that is not to be missed! Now, I am no expert on Ethiopian food, but I have had it a few times, and this was by far my favorite. The anjera was very tasty, and I thought the menu had a nice variety, including a decent amount of vegetarian dishes. The crowning glory was the whole fried tilapia for less than $10. It was surprisingly fresh tasting and prepared perfectly. I will be hard pressed to order anything else if I come here again. Also not to be missed is the Ethiopian beer. I think it was universally loved by everyone at the table. As others have said, yes, it's a little funky in here. It's certainly not dressed up. The eating area is dwarfed by the pool tables and giant glowing bar, which, the more I think about it, make Lalibela all the more awesome. This place is chill. I thought the service was a little lacking, but I wouldn't say it was unfriendly. There was a bit of a language barrier, but it all worked out just fine in the end. Hands down the best Ethiopian food in the city!
(4)Alexandra J.
love the fish !
(5)Jake S.
You would never go in this place if you weren't going there. Do yourself a favor and give it a go. My 10 year old son wanted to go here after reading about it on Yelp. He was searching for African food. I took him and frankly wasn't sure what we would find. It was awesome. Food is so good and so cheap. I loved that I got to share a unique experience with my son. We ate with our hands lapping up the stewed meat and lentils with injera. The owner was very nice. He came out and made sure everything was to our liking. He even gave my son mango nectar to drink no charge. I'll be back. My eyes were opened to a new experience.
(4)Amar K.
Me and my buddy decided to try our luck at one of the scores of Ethiopian restaurants in this area. We stopped at Lalibela and were pleasantly surprised by the lively atmosphere. Yes, the regulars look at you but it's out of curiosity, not out of malice. You can test this, by nodding and smiling at them, they will reciprocate and even come and chat with you. We ordered the french fries for an appetizer with a $13 combo plate. What a treat! The fries were golden brown on the outside and went down well with a cold Ethiopian beer. The main dish was more than enough for two, an Injera base with stewed beef in the middle, one the side there were two different kinds of lentils, a cabbage and carrot sabzi and a salad. Oh, and some kind of collard greens. All delicious and strangely familiar (I'm Indian). It tasted like home-cooked food. The owner always comes by with a big smile on his face, obviously delighted that new people are stopping by. The lady that works is very sweet and will bring you more Injera if you ask. Went there last night and I'm already craving more. Added a note for vegetarians Order the number 10 I believe. It's a HUGE platter with mounds of stewed carrot/cabbage, lentils and cooked greens with a heap of salad in the middle. I think it was only $8, enough for two. There were 5 of us last night and we ordered one vegetarian and a non-veg platter, left us stuffed.
(4)Rick W.
my favorite Ethiopian in town
(4)Ryan B.
We took my son here for his fifteenth birthday, with two diners new to Ethiopian, and the whole dinner was a hit. The food was easily the best Ethiopian we've had locally, our noobs were impressed, vowing return visits, and positive reviews of their own. Our server was friendly and attentive. Five of us got so stuffed we practically had to be rolled out the door, and we paid less than 50$ for everyone. On that fifty dollar note, we dropped a fifty that was meant to be put in a birthday card. The owner found it, and got it back to us, saving the whole little party. Wonderful food, wonderful staff/management, just a wonderful experience all around. We will definitely be back.
(5)Lydia J.
Lalibela is responsible for two of the best meals I've had in a long time. There's not a whole lot as far as bar options, the seating isn't anything special and the service is slow, but goodness, it is worth it. We tried the lamb & vegetables, chicken tibs, and then the ribs. Holy. Moly. We ate all the sweet, wet injera that was soaking in the rib bits. It was barbaric what we did to that platter. Speaking of injera, go easy on it. You might find yourself couch-bound for hours after if you fill up on that yummy, flat, spongey, sourdough bread. The food is cheap!, amazing!, and plentiful. We got two entrees on a platter with vegetables and it was more than enough for three... though they make for pretty killer leftovers!
(5)Susan H.
Ethiopian food that rocks! Vegan and vegetarian as well as carnivore stuff. Spicy and delicious. Cheap and plentiful. Don't be afraid of the dive bar atmosphere or the area (Whitehell) because it's totally with it. The real deal.
(5)Michele W.
I LOVE Ethiopian food but moving here from DC I hadn't even looked any places up. I knew that there was a large population of Somalians so I thought maybe there may not be Ethiopian food. So I decided to look it up on Yelp today, since I had such a taste for it. Saw this place had the highest number of reviews I decided to try it out. This has generally not worked out well living in Columbus. I've found that people in this area aren't as Yelp crazy as they are in the MD/DC/VA area (unfortunately). I pulled up and walked in, heard the music and saw all Ethiopians. I was like...I AM in the right place!!! Yay! I had the lamb dice. It was very good and flavorful, my only problem is that I didn't know it was going to be covered in the berbere sauce. I must've missed that on the menu because I was in a rush. But that's my only issue. I loved the price and the food and will definitely be back.
(4)Giovanna A.
I've been to Lalibela a number of times and really enjoy their food. This last visit I had the chicken rice juicy and while it was good, I felt that Dukem's sauce and amount of heat is more to my liking. I highly recommend the Beyaynetu, that's a vegetarian combination of collard greens, lentils, cabbage and yellow split peas served on bread. It's top notch, and you won't miss meat, even if you're not a vegetarian.
(4)Daniela Z.
I went there for the first time which happens to be Ethiopia's Easter. I ordered the goden tibs which was fried/sauteed beef.. fatty cut of meat but I loved it!! Came with lots of their bread and a super spicy sauce for dinner + side salad. I was about to leave when one of the beautiful ladies (they were stunning!!) invited me to their free buffet! I was served & 2 gentlemen invited me to their table so I didnt eat alone! The free food was injera with a fried tomato stew with chicken (all parts I had a drumstick) and this stewed cubed lamb stir fry. It was... Amazing!! The injera is very high and I'm not a huge fan of the texture ( only on my fingers cos it tastes so damn good I don't mind the texture in my mouth)! I washed my hands and left with a FULL belly and my go bag = $11.99. Great food great people and great environment! No regrets and I will be back!
(5)Morgan M.
Let me start by saying the star I removed is mainly because this place is kind of a dive on the interior and had nowhere to change my baby, which is a drag. They did have high chairs, so I'm wondering if they think babies eat but dont poop??? That is my only complaint however! My husband and I came here with an adult friend and our two kids and had a great meal. My husband had never had Ethiopian food and I knew he would love it, so when I saw the Columbus alive review we made a date. We had the combo platter (basically you choose your meat plus a little of all the veggie options) with lamb and scarfed it down. It probably would have fed the three of us, but my husband got a second platter of just lamb and injera. I got the kids the chicken sandwich and it was good too, nice bread, kind of shawarma/gyro style meat. I also liked that they served it to us without utensils. I hate going to get Japanese food and being given a fork and no chopsticks, so I appreciated that they assumed we knew what to do. Our server answered all of our questions and was reasonably attentive. My husband liked that the owner seemed to know many of the customers and that despite the dive bar ness, it seemed to have a family atmosphere.
(4)Bee S.
In my opinion they are serving up the best East African food (Eritrea/Ethiopia) in town. I love this place. It's ethnic and it's welcoming. The food is just amazing and consistent each and every time I come to dine in. They do have a full bar and one pool table. I usually get the golden Tibs (beef cubes well done African style over injera) or I get the chicken Tibs. I have tried quite a few things here and I'm never disappointed. If you in the mood to try something outside the box than I would recommend Lelibela's. Support your local ethnic restaurant. It's a world outside your world but it's just the experience and food that takes you to another culture. So give it a shot. Be open and cultural sensitive. And word of advice if your sharing please wash your hands first. Because you do use your hands technical to eat. No forks or spoons set on the table unless requested.
(4)Samantha A.
Got take out last night and everything was amazing! Would definitely recommend the vegetarian platter (Beyaynetu) and the spicy chicken. The restaurant itself is a bit sketch, going through what I hope is a temporary construction phase.
(5)Tan N.
Best Ethiopian food we've found in Columbus so far. We just moved here so can't compare to the now closed Blue Nile, but we can compare to a lot of Ethiopian we've had over the years in NYC, Philly and DC. The flavors are full and delicious here. The veggie platter is fantastic and all three vegetarians at the table enjoyed it. I got the Mahberoch which was a choice of lamb or beef with a veggie platter. I got the lamb and it was terrific. They serve alcohol and with three drinks and two platters it was an amazing deal and one of the reasons why this place will go on our regular rotation list! It's worth the drive out to Whitehall. Can't wait to go back!
(5)Gus W.
I just tried Lalibela for the first time, and it was fantastic. I can't say that I've had Ethiopian food before, but just like the reviewers below me have pointed out, good food is good food no matter what background. I ordered the Marinated Hot Beef to go, and it came with two huge pieces of Injera bread, which I'd never had before. When the lady handed me the bag, I thought she had given me extra food, it was so heavy. For $9.99, it was a great deal, and on top of that, it also came with a side salad (their dressing was so tasty). The beef was nice and spicy, but not too the point where it was unbearable to eat. It may be different for other folks, since I enjoy spicy food, but to me, it was just enough spice. There were some hot peppers thrown in as well. I ordered mine 'juicy', so expect it to be a bit messy. It's not like a curry, where it's immersed in the sauce, but it is covered in a thin hot marinade. The injera bread sops it up quite nicely. The taste of the beef on the Ethiopian bread was crazy good. I convinced a hesitant co-worker to try some of my meal, and she thought it was great too. I can't judge the service here, since I didn't eat, and I'm only reviewing based off the taste and price of the food. They were doing a lot of renovation to the bar area, and there was a guy actually working there when I went in, so I'd let all of that slide. The food took a little longer than was told to me over the phone (probably a half hour total), but other than that, I'll be heading back and bringing friends with me.
(5)Pinky T.
so good. I've eaten at 2 other ethiopian restaurants and this is def. the best. We always order the same thing-the chicken tibs and the veggie combo. I think about trying something else but I can't imagine it being better than the chicken tibs. It comes seved on a giant injera with salad, and a basket of rolled injera strips for eating. But it's the injera that soaks up all the juices that's really amazing. We leave with very full bellies AND a big box of leftovers
(5)Arvind W.
While my friends said their lamb order tasted great, I felt the veggie combo I ordered (2 lentil options, a dish made with cabbage, a dish based on collard greens) was pretty bland. The ambience could be improved. And it took about 30 min for the food to show up. Not recommended if you are in a hurry. The food was plenty for 2 people.
(3)Joey H.
Neat place with real culture, low key vibe and really unique, delicious food. If you're looking to try something new, lalibela is it.
(5)Pamela P.
Yummy Yummy Yummy! Coming from the DC area to Columbus to visit family I was yearning for some kitfo. I yelped it came up with this little gem and was not disappointed! I got the derek tibs and the kitfo (raw of course) and it was delicious. I also got the collard greens lentils and cabbage (they have a nice combo pretty cheap that gives you meat and sampling of 4 or 5 different sides The atmosphere was fun and friendly and the waitresses were prompt and courteous. I hope I can experience this food again before heading back to DC and paying twice as much!
(4)Avinash T.
We stopped by here after our hike. Wasn't too sure about Ethiopian food- but goodness griefs- it's fantastic !! I don't eat beef nor lamb, stuck to chicken. Had #30- chicken Tibs and #36- spicy chicken and hands down some of the MOST DELICIOUS dishes I've ever had. And I say this as an Indian with a very high tolerance to spices- the spicy chicken was PROPERLY spicy :) but it was sooooooooooooooooo good :)
(5)JJ S.
My friend and I decided to go on a mini food adventure and we wanted to try Ethiopian food. It was her first time and my second time! I have to say we both fell in love with the flavors and texture of the food! We came on a Sunday night around 7pm. The place was not packed but there were several groups of diners too. The feel of the place is more of a dive restaurant and the waitress was nice. We did not know what to order and the waitress answered our questions. We decided to order the combo platter which came with a choice of meat (we picked chicken), lentils, spinach/collards, and a green salad. It also came with injera (a spongy bread which is staple to the meal). My friend and I really enjoyed our food! The flavors were bold and tasty! There was a lot of food to share! The service was kind of slow but it was definitely worth the wait. We both decided that we will come back to try other menu options!
(4)Makiah D.
This is my first time eating Ethiopian so I really didn't know what to expect. I walked in with the original intention to eat in. I didn't feel very welcome there was no one to greet me or to let me know what to do. There could have at least been a sign saying seat yourself. So I sat at the bar and picked up the menu that was lying there. I Decided at that point to order takeout which took about 20 minutes. i had a few other errands to run so when I finally get home to taste it was little bit soggy. I've never had this type of food but I've always wanted to try it. U I feel like I should've asked what to try first. I'm definitely a trier i love Indian food love spice but this I couldn't get into this.I found the bread spongy and soggy I hate cottage cheese there are no notations on the menu stating that this had cottage cheeseas far as the lamb can't say I was too happy with that either The level of spice is good I just found it to be a little bit chewy for me. But for $11 you get A lot of food. I don't think I will try this again not for me.
(1)Emily C.
Love this place! The food is always great the price is great and the service is friendly. We will be back again and again!
(5)Jenny K.
Ethiopian food for a good price. We ordered a variety and paid about $10 a head, and had so much food. The store lacks ambiance and is in a bit sketchy area, but hey, its decent deal. We had lamb and chicken, I like the "juicy" option for the meat. I'd had better injera before, but at least they give you a lot of it.
(4)Sarah P.
Was searching for a good Ethiopian restaurant after moving here from Maryland and this seemed to hit the spot. I took one star off just because I found the area to be a bit sketch. When you get to this restaurant, there is limited parking and you walk right through the bar and pick your own table. The service was pretty efficient and we waited about 10mins for the food to come out. There was plenty of injera bread and the portions seemed to balance out with the meat/vegetables. One platter was enough for my date and I. Also, the restaurant was family friendly; there were 3 parties there when I arrived. will be back!
(4)Patrick C.
Let me first start by saying I have never had Ethiopian food prior to going here. So, It could be different compared to other Ethiopian restaurants. However, I do know what good food tastes like, And I have to tell you this place was incredible. I was shocked to see how large the plate of Golden Tibs was, thank got me and the lady split our meal. It all came out on a Injera, which is a large flat piece of dough, and you use this dough to pick up your food and eat it. So it will get a tad messy, but its worth it because this was a really good meal. The location as well as the interior is kind of... off putting. I only say that because it looks like a bar, when you see it from the outside, and as soon as you walk in there is a bar and a pool table. however you sit further in the building, and that's where you have your meal. P.S. loved the Ethiopian music videos that were playing on the TVs set up around the room.
(5)Brittany M.
This place completely turned me off of Ethiopian food. The tilapia we ordered was dry and very bland-there was no sauce provided to liven it up. We waited for an hour to get our food(which came out later than the rest of our dinner companions). No water refills and took another 15 minutes to get our checks. Not impressed and won't be back.
(1)Jeff G.
This was my 1st time here and I was looking to try something different. Lalibela exceeded my expectations. I went for lunch and, for $10, had the "Lamb Dices." It comes served with injera, which is a spongy fermented sourdough flatbread. I was hesitant about the bread until i tried it with the spicy lamb. My food was really flavorful and the waitress, who was from Ethiopia, was patient with my ignorance and answered every question I had. (like why there was no flatware, eat with your hands or be boring and ask for a fork) I would highly recommend this place.
(5)Sarah R.
Seriously good Ethiopian food. I had the steak tartare with cottage cheese, collards, and mimita. The injera bread. What a flavor explosion. Don't be weirded out that it's a bar as well. Just go in and order the food.
(4)Alex R.
The Ethiopian food here is AMAZING! I stop by when visiting Columbus for their marinated hot lamb and "goden tibs". Service is always friendly, but not necessarily fast. This is a great place if you're not in a hurry and want some incredible food.
(5)Teresa C.
We made the mistake of going here for lunch during business hours. We were there an hour and half and we still not receive our food. We were told at one time it would be 5 more minutes, but it actually was 25 more minutes when we had to leave. We had to leave without even getting our food. If you 3 or 4 hours try it out I guess. If you only have an hour this will not work for you.
(1)Liza V.
This was my first experience with Ethiopian fare, and I'm hooked. If you are like me, and have no idea what you are getting yourself into, here are some tips. First, all of the dishes you order come on one big platter. I liked this part of it, seeing as how I like to be able to share so I can try everything. Next, you don't use silverware, the injera is your vessel. They give you plenty, so don't worry. Oh yeah, and it's pretty delicious. I was fairly clueless when it cam to ordering, so I let my bf take care of it. I trust his judgement for the most part. He ordered the lamb dices, Golden tibs, hot and spicy chicken, and the shiro. Judge me as you may, but I do not like lamb. I always try it, on the off chance I will not think it tastes like a barn. This was that time! The lamb dices are so amazing. Like, I want to eat them every day. No joke. Order it. The golden tibs (beef) was pretty good, some pieces were a little tough, bit left-over it was even better. The chicken was waaaaayy to spicy for me, but it was very tender. Fell right off the bone. The shiro was a nice addition as well, good flavor, but overall I was more focused on the lamb. The place doesn't have much as far as atmosphere, but it doesn't matter. I don't have much to compare it to, but I'm sure it can't get much better than this. Tons of food, great leftover, and a great price!
(5)Nicole M.
I ordered the Beyaynetu (Vegetarian combinaton of collard green, lentils, cabbage, yellow split peas and salad) and mango juice. Overall it was gross. The rolled up soft taco/wrap things were too soft and weird...nothing like I have ever had. The thing that all the food was on with little holes creeped me out. I took and few bites of everything and was pretty much done after that. Took a doggy bag for my friend that I dined with me. The only thing he liked was the greens. The mango juice was too warm, clearly not refrigerated and the ice didn't help. I honestly wanted to vomit. Also inside looks dark and sketchy. Never again, I'll pass.
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