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Name: Almaz Cafe
Address: 140 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103
Telephone: (215) 557-0108
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.17

Almaz Cafe

140 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103

(215) 557-0108
Store is closed

Almaz Cafe Menu

Salads And Soup

House Salad

Caesar Salad

Fresh Berry Salad

Greek Salad
Sandwiches And Wraps

Turkey Wrap

Veggie Wrap

Turkey And Cheese Sandwich

Turkey Reuben

Ham And Cheese Sandwich

Chicken Salad

Tuna Salad Sandwich

Bbq Chicken Wrap
Ethiopian Dishes

Teff

Firfir

Dorowat(chicken Stew)

Doro Tibs ( Chicken)

Zilzil Tibs

Kitfo (ethiopian Steak Tartar)
Ethiopian Vegetarian Dishes

Misir

Tikil Gomen- Lightly Spiced Vegetable Stew Of Cabbage Carrots And Potatoeskik-alchia

Shiro
Desserts

Slice Of Cake

Ice Cream Sherbet

Fresh Fruit Smoothies
Coffee Drinks

Coffee Of The Day

Iced Coffee

Cafe Au Lait
Espresso Drinks

Tall/grande/venti Americano

Breve

Cafe Voltaire

Cafe Latte

Cappuccino (hot Or Cold)
Espresso

Espresso Con Panna

Machaccito

Red Eye.
Chocolate Drinks

Cafe Mocha

Skinny White Mocha

Hot Chocolate

Healthy Meal suggestions for Almaz Cafe

Salads And Soup

House Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caesar Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Berry Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Greek Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sandwiches And Wraps

Turkey Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Veggie Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey And Cheese Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey Reuben [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ham And Cheese Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chicken Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuna Salad Sandwich [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bbq Chicken Wrap [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ethiopian Dishes

Teff [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Firfir [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dorowat(chicken Stew) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Doro Tibs ( Chicken) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Zilzil Tibs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kitfo (ethiopian Steak Tartar) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Ethiopian Vegetarian Dishes

Misir [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tikil Gomen- Lightly Spiced Vegetable Stew Of Cabbage Carrots And Potatoeskik-alchia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shiro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Desserts

Slice Of Cake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Ice Cream Sherbet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Fruit Smoothies [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Coffee Drinks

Coffee Of The Day [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Iced Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe Au Lait [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Espresso Drinks

Tall/grande/venti Americano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Breve [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe Voltaire [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cafe Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino (hot Or Cold) [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Espresso

Espresso Con Panna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Machaccito [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Red Eye. [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Chocolate Drinks

Cafe Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Skinny White Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Jake V.

This is a nice downtown version of Ethiopian. Not the same amount of character in the surroundings as Dahlak and you can't have brew like you can at Abyssinia but if I ever have the hankering for some Ethiopian but don't want to hop on a trolley, I know where to go. The food was really quite good with the vegetable platter being of higher quality than the aforementioned places. We also had lamb which was super greasy but very good as well. My only qualm comes with the lack of choices in the menu. I understand that this place is small as is their staff but I think it could benefit from a meat platter just like a veggie platter as in this case, you can have too much of a good thing.
(5)
Aruna A.

Almaz Cafe has some good qualities - but I've definitely experienced better. Almaz has REALLY nice management and servers - and their smoothies are actually pretty good (though a tad bit over priced). The menu is pretty limited in terms of actual Ethiopian dishes. The injera is pretty good - not the best I've ever had, or even really any sort of injera I'd rave about. But it's good. The veggies are usually well flavored and tasteful - however they also can be really oily. Also the red spicy lentils are at times, not spicy at all, and are in fact some times a little bland. The coffee is good, but with La Colombe near by, it seems silly to come here just for coffee. Almaz is good when I want an Ethiopian fix - but I don't feel like traveling to West Philly's Kaffa's Crossing or Dhalak. However, if I was hungry and around Center City / Rittenhouse - I'd certainly spend my money else where.
(2)
Jason S.

I love this place... plain and simple. It appears to be a neighborhood cofffe shop/ice cream parlor but come inside for so much more. The menu is on the smaller side, but they do it well. I usually stick to kitfo or gored gored, but on occasion I'll have the zil zil tibs, doro wot, key wot, fir fir, lamb, etc... and the veggies are always on point. The coffee is great... some of the best espresso around. No acidity, solid crema, flavor, aroma, etc... They also make great smoothies & tasty homemade cookies. My kids love going here for ice cream, etc... they pretty much always ask to go every weekend. Also, they make a pretty solid turkey wrap. And... what tops it all off... if I didn't like the food so much, I'd still come simply because Almaz & Solomon (owners) are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Oh yeah... free WiFi! PS... like others have said... just let them know if you want it spicy.
(5)
Kimberly W.

Almaz is a great, cost-effective little gem of a place with friendly service, AMAZING food, very fair prices, and adorably funky decor to top it all off! I should also take the time to praise the free wifi they have here; unlike some places I've been to in Philly that offer wifi, the signal was strong and very consistent! Definitely one of my fave places in Center City!
(5)
Casey K.

Love the din of the fridge permeating the dining area downstairs. The lofted upstairs section seems reserve for actual food dining. I sa downstairs at the counter and enjoyed the most DELICIOUS mango smoothie of my life. I will definitely be back to try the veggie combo platter that everyone is raving about!
(4)
Adam A.

Had my first experience with Ethiopian food here a couple months ago and thought it was okay. The injera was very sour and that kind of made it hard to fully enjoy the meal. However, the injera aside, the vegetables and beef were pretty good. The owner was very nice and they even gave us a coffee on the house (after they forgot to charge us for it). Very sweet gesture. Their coffee, by the way, was absolutely delicious. The cafe itself is also a nice little place. I'd give it another try if I were in the area.
(3)
Michael O.

So interestingly I wasn't that impressed when I first came to Almaz. After eating here probably twenty times-sometimes dinner, sometimes lunch, sometimes coffee-I have to say it's just become one of my favorite places. Almaz & Solomon are always so friendly and accommodating to everyone. The Ethiopian food is delicious, I especially think they do an excellent job on the vegetable combination platter. Almaz makes a homemade soup often times for lunch or you can get a very decent salad or sandwich. Please stop in, tell them Michael sent you.
(5)
Acacia P.

It isn't obvious when you walk in - it looks like just a coffee shop - but this is a really yummy Ethiopian restaurant! The service is a little slow, but the food is delicious (especially the traditional semi-raw red meat dish, I forget what it's called), though the menu isn't very big. Ethiopian enthusiasts might be disappointed for that reason, but they have really good versions of the basics. They also have really, really good Ethiopian coffee (seriously, some of the best coffee I have ever tasted). Please note that the seating area for eating (upstairs) is very small, and there is not really room for more than 4 people. There are 2 tables for 4, one or two tables for two, and a few seats at a bar-type area.
(4)
Holly L.

Just had lunch here with a coworker. I thoroughly enjoyed the DORO TIBS - chicken breast sauteed with Ooions, tomato, jalapeno pepper, rosemary, exotic herbs simmered to "perfection" (as it says on the menu and it's true! it tastes like it's been marinated for days!) in organic Ethiopian butter and pinch of cardamom. The cardamom was just right. My lunchmate had the SHIRO (Mixed legumes prepared with ginger root, rue seed, bishops weed and garlic cooked with berbere sauce) and she really enjoyed the hint of spiciness.
(4)
Erin May D.

I always get the vegetarian combo. It is very good and filling. I like this place because it is quick and cozy. Also, they have some non-ethiopian things, so you can please the picky people in your party. The fruit smoothies are really good, too. It is small, so perhaps you should call ahead if you are more than 4 people.
(5)
M K.

First time having Ethiopian food. The American and coffee selection looks great as well, but we were more adventurous. Beef stew is incredible and filling, and the vegetarian combo is flavorful and a great sampler for first timers. As or more flavorful than traditional Indian food. And the service was excellent to boot. Decent sit-down prices, but I might shy away from here for take-out. Incidentally, they had very nice music selection in the background as well. Will be coming back!
(5)
Joy C.

I can't believe it's taken me three years to discover this gem of a place that is literally two blocks from my apartment! Why is it so great?? 1. Authentic Ethiopian food - the beef stew is AMAZING. And the Injera is perfectly soft and fluffy, with that bit of acidity that makes it so characteristically Injera. When else can you go out for a nice dinner with friends and eat with your hands?? 2. It's BYO. Do I need to say anything else? 3. LOCATION. No more trekking all the way to West Philly for Ethiopian food for me. 4. Super friendly staff. They were really accommodating for parties too! Beware that the place is really small though, so avoid trying to bring in groups of more than 8-10.
(5)
Michelle C.

This is a small loft/cafe/BYO that serves up some mean Ethiopian food. When you walk in, you're greeted by a Starbucks feel: a few already made sandwiches, drinks, yogurt, cookies/muffins etc. Don't be turned off by this! Just walk on up the steep staircase and you've got a relaxing little joint where you can just sit back and break open a bottle of wine. The wait staff is very kind and helpful. The owner (I think) came by and asked if we needed any help with the menu as well as giving us the low down on the day's special (There's one everyday, don't forget to ask for it!). My dining partner and I ended up ordering the vegetarian combo (consists of split red lentils, a carrot and potato stew, yellow split peas, legumes and something that resembled hummus) and the special, which was lamb sautÃ©ed with some onions, butter (lots of it) and some spices I couldn't identify, it was also served with a Dijon spicy sauce on the side. All dishes are served with sourdough "bread" that has a slight tangy flavor and airy texture. Ethiopian food is meant to be eaten with your hands. The bread is used to scoop up the contents on your plate. Everything had such great flavors and the vegetarian platter was so colorful! I was impressed by the food. We also showed up about an hour before closing and stayed half an hour AFTER closing and the staff/owners told us to take our time. My only complaint was the sourdough "bread". It wouldn't be so bad if the bread wasn't so... unusual. The bread feels like moist latex; one side is smooth while the other resembled tripe or a sponge. I really couldn't handle touching and looking at the bread. So I had to grab a fork and stare away from the bread.
(4)
melody m.

I came back just to write a review for Almaz because I've tried Ethopian twice after loving the food that I had from Almaz. My first Ethopian food experience was here and it was awesome. The owner was very sweet and patient with my friends and me, as it was all of our first time with injera (staple bread in Ethiopia). The owner even gave me some extra injera to bring back to my students; they were learning about the UN goals in Ethiopia that summer! When I go back to Philly, I'd definitely eat here again.
(4)
Juliana S.

I've been meaning to check out this small cafe for the last 2.5 years - i always walked by it but never had a reason to go in. I'm glad I finally did check it out! They have fantastic coffee, probably the best I've had in Philly. I did have a veggie wrap which was pretty good. The only problem with it was that it totally fell apart while I was eating it. But, hey, it tasted great.
(4)
Sara C.

Mmmmm, Almaz, I heart you. I wouldn't usually seek out Ethiopian in Center City - maybe because I have so many different options living in West Philly. But this place is competing for my affection against my number 1, Kaffa Crossing. It's a funky little Ethiopian cafe located in Center City - the decor would best be described as "comfy-industrial". The staff are friendly and welcoming. The coffee is always good and strong. I'm not sure what beans they use, but they're damn good. I'd agree with Jake V. that the menu is smaller than other Ethiopian restaurants - but this by no means affects the quality of the food - which is AMAZING. I went for the misir wot (a spicy lentil stew of sorts), with veggies and a plentiful serving of injera. It was lovely - and maybe TOO filling. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Adena D.

Thank goodness Yelp pointed me to this place. I needed a food-serving coffee shop with free wifi to get my work done and fill up my belly. Almaz doesn't look like much on the outside, as other Yelpers have attested. Even inside, it's nothing too special. They have a nice upstairs balcony where the heat is on full force. With the hot food and hot air I was sweating like a beast. Regardless, this place totally gets 5 stars because I love it. The woman working there (who might have been the owner?) was so nice. She was like the mom of the place. She even carried the food we ordered up the stairs to us. So I got the Yelp-famous Ethiopian Veg Combo. Oooh, yum. Yelpers were right, it was just the right amount of food. And delish. I also ordered a large mocha w/ whipped cream. It was filled to the brim and just so good. My bf got the chicken wrap and said it was tasty. The only complaint I have about this place is the lack of outlets. My computer eventually ran out of juice and I couldn't find a place to plug it in. :( Still... 5 stars. Definitely 5 stars.
(5)
Josh E.

All the raves are right. This place looks like a tiny nondescript mediocre coffee shop--you might walk in and think, "No"--but in fact it's amazingly good Ethiopian. And affordable. Get the foule and vegetarian platter. Get coffee and beef tibs. Get to know the couple who own the place (and consider volunteering for a shift or two, because Solomon and his wife, the eponymous Almaz, are always there, and it'd be nice for them to be able to go home and sleep sometimes).
(5)
Melissa W.

This is a cute little cafe owned by a really sweet African lady. I sat at a table outside and enjoyed a bagel with cream cheese - pretty decent for a bagel in Philly (I've been spoiled by New York bagels). Bonus: they carry bottled Maaza, only the best mango juice on the face of the earth. It came out to about $4.50 for the bagel and juice, but there's a $5 credit card minimum. Short on cash, I picked up an extra bottle of water for another dollar. Overall, not a bad place to grab a light breakfast/brunch/lunch if you happen to be in the area, though I can't comment on the Ethiopian food just yet.
(4)
Deann M.

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and man oh man, it was amazing. The portions were huge and there were a lot of choices. I couldn't explain it or compare it to any other cuisine except to say that it was well seasoned with exotic spices. The man that helped me was extremely polite, and informed me of my choices. I had a delicious blueberry smoothie and a great cup of coffee. Everything was so good, I tipped way beyond what I normally would, and the guy shook his head and tried to give it back! He was probably the owner, but I refused to take it back... I don't care if he owns the place, the service and food was so good he deserved a tip!
(5)
Anna Marie C.

ohmygoodness. i am so sincerely in love with this place that i don't know what to do. i've walked by this place many-a-time (mostly because capogiro is right there, and i cannot resist the gelato)...but never stopped in. well, turns out it's not just some coffeeshop, it's a tiny ethiopian restaurant! now, i'm not some expert of ethiopian cuisine...but from my limited experience, it's pretty damn awesome! from the fluffy, slightly sour pancakes to the wonderfully spiced vegetarian sampler and meat dishes...nom nom nom. it actually makes me want to eat veggies...more than meat! and all for less than $15 a person! i would go back. again and again and again!
(5)
Igal K.

So I've been going to Almaz for a long time now and I have to say that they have awesome selection of Ethiopian food as well as all American breakfasts. I love the fact that the place is small and cozy, Almaz and Salomon run a tight ship and it's always cleanan and inviting, albeit sometimes it gets a bit hot in the summer whether because the AC is not strong enough or it's just not running and the coffee selection could be better I'd still give this place my business every day if I could!
(4)
Justin B.

Good strong ethiopian coffee
(4)
G T L.

Wow! Went here for lunch yesterday and never wanted to leave. Great food and friendly, helpful service. Plus, the prices are really reasonable! Why did it take me so long to come here? Why am I asking you?
(4)
Anna M.

Delicious! very under the radar cool spot that you never would have realized was there (until you looked for ethiopian food on yelp). Nice staff, great food, and comfy atmosphere. You could walk by it a thousand times and never realize it held delicious ethiopian delights....
(5)
Tyler C.

Very charming little cafe, fantastic custom roasted Ethiopian coffee. I have yet to try the actual Ethiopian food, but the ice cream and American breakfast food isn't bad (also, makes it very versatile). Regardless, the coffee is reason enough.
(4)
Dan R.

Finally! After having had very good Ethiopian food elsewhere, it has been disappointing to be stuck with passable/mediocre options in Philadelphia - until we went to Almaz Cafe. Not merely good but excellent food and friendly service. This will definitely be our go-to place for Ethiopian in the future. This would have easily been 5 stars, except that the prices we were charged were higher than the prices on the menu (albeit moderately), and there was an additional error when the bill came (although it was cheerfully corrected). Even with those problems, the food was so good and the people so friendly, I wish there was a 4.5 star option!
(4)
Alex A.

This is nothing fancy and place is small, but I took my wife and two children (ages 6 and 7) specifically for an Ethiopian food experience, including eating the "spongy pancake" with their hands. Called ahead and had a table reserved for four. (Not necessary to do this, but creates some certainty and they do place a "reserved" sign on your table, creating some extra hype for the family . . . ). Results: very friendly staff, clean presentation, food was tasty, and relatively inexpensive. For a family of 4 I'd recommend ordering 2 vegetarian combos and one meat dish. They'll bring out one large platter and 4 plates. Kids love being allowed to use their hands!
(5)
John K.

I've often stopped in here for coffee or a quick bite and been happy with the quality of both and the friendly folks behind the counter. After having dinner there recently, however, I'm kicking myslef for not sampling the Ethiopian fare sooner. It was outstanding. I've since order to-go and eaten in - either way, it's top-notch.
(4)
Shenans ..

I was pleasantly surprised when, pressed for time one day, I poked my head into Almaz Cafe to check out the menu. Enticed by the vegetarian options on their Ethiopian menu I stayed for a quick lunch. The owner was incredibly friendly when I explained that I didn't have a lot of time. He assured me that my food would not take long to prepare. I had a seat and surveyed the interior while waiting for my food. The bright green walls and modern metal accents and bi-level construction give the space a warehouse like feel, yet it is small and intimate. My food arrived shortly and I was impressed with the size of the dish. The flavors were simple and fresh and just plain good. The Injera was thin, spongy, and just the right amount of sour. When I asked for my food to be wrapped up, I was offered more bread to take with me. Getting offered more food to go is unheard of, but much appreciated. Everyone there was incredibly friendly, with good solid food in a very casual atmosphere. I will be coming here again.
(5)
Kim L.

Everything is delicious. And the folks that run the joint are very friendly and helpful.
(5)
Jessica H.

Almaz Cafe is my favorite neighborhood standby. My partner and I eat here frequently, particularly in the winter (we crave this food more when its cold out). The flavors are wonderful, and the food is cheap, since one dish is more than enough for two of us. We usually get the Dorowat, although we also love the lamb tibs. It's not on the menu, but they offered it once as a special and we tried it and loved it. We haven't seen it listed since, but we've asked for it, and they usually have it. Sometimes I order the vegetarian combo to go and eat it over the course of 2-3 meals. It's truly excellent. The owners are the nicest people you will meet in Philadelphia.
(4)
Mike A.

This place was great! I think the thing that stood out the most was the service. I felt very welcome in here. I could tell that everyone else was enjoying the warm vibe in here. My girlfriend and I were the only ones in here not studying or reading. We just came for the food. It seemed like a great place to kick back and read or get some school work done. I may have to go here to get some stuff done sometime. The food was so delicious and the price wasn't bad at all. I had a barbecue chicken wrap, but it wasn't a boring old barbecue chicken wrap, they added awesome flavors and ingredients to make it a super barbecue chicken wrap. The Ethiopian food is nice to get out out of my comfort zone and try things that I've never had before. I liked how the menu had both Ethiopian dishes and other things I'm more accustomed to. I also enjoyed sitting in the loft area. I could watch the people come and go through the door which is something I strangely enjoy in a hopefully non-creepy way. I'd say the only thing that could be considered a drawback is the size of this place. Its pretty small, but the loft does wonders. I also kinda like how small it is. I could imagine this place getting crowded fast though, putting you pretty close to others. The decoration//design of this place also made me happy Its just an all around great place that I'd definitely go to again.
(4)
Anahi B.

I got takeout from here for lunch on the advice of a co-worker and paid $11 for a vegetarian combo platter. The problem with it was that it was about 90% injera (sour bread). The bread was good, but you had to look inside the folds to find the food, and there was barely anything else. Another co-worker told me she liked to eat her Ethiopian food with pita bread and I laughed because there was nothing in my container except bread! Three days later, it occurred to me that I had paid $11 for a huge plate of bread, which is kind of weird.
(2)
jessica e.

Okay so after reading these amazing reviews of this place, I had to try it out. However, after my horrendous experience, I had to come back on here and make sure I had the right place. My dinning mate and I arrived around 6:30pm on a Sat. and there was only one other table seated. We stood around the front of the restaurant for about minute before someone poked his head out of the back and said to sit wherever, We went upstairs to find a table and after about ten minutes of nothing, a standoffish, almost to the extend of being rude, waitress appeared and threw us some dirty menus. The selection was confusing and sparse - lox and pancakes? I ordered the chicken tibs and my dinning mate ordered the veggie combo. His was oily and tasteless and mine was salty, processed chicken pieces floating in red grease. The injera was odd and sticky because I assume it was frozen and reheated or made earlier and covered in plastic wrap while still warm. We barley ate any of our food and after the waitresses returned seeing this, she didn't say anything or ask about our meals, just took the plates and handed us the check. I wonder if some of the people who reviewed this place before us have ever eaten at many Ethiopian places, because this was the just the worst. We left and ate dinner somewhere else.
(1)
Marla M.

I ended up going to Almaz only because it was Restaurant Week and I didn't feel like spending a small fortune for dinner. Though i was annoyed I ended up there by default, in the end it turned out to be serendipitous because I otherwise would have overlooked this gem. The food was absolutely delicious- full of flavor and since everything's stewed in spices it's relatively healthy. The service was also prompt and wonderful. I definitely will definitely be back there again.
(5)
Vinny C.

I have never liked Ethiopian food until I ate at Almaz...now I can't stop eating there! For those who are vegetarian - go to Almaz & get the vegetarian combination today...you will not regret it. Doro tibs (chicken) is also delicious. It's BYOB, so bring a few beers to wash down the spicy food. If you have room, the Ethiopian coffee is a great way to end the meal.
(5)
Laura O.

First time eating Ethiopian, they set the table with a fork (maybe just in case you need it or for the non-Ethiopian dishes on their menu). You'll be eating with your hands, so be prepared. I had the vegetarian combo which was pretty good. I couldn't identify all the foods on my plate but they all tasted good. The injera (spongy crepe like grain eaten with the meal used almost like a tortilla to hold the food) didn't really have much of a taste, which I was surprised about. The plate that I had was delicious, little bit spicy. My friends both got a beef dish which was served with a very spicy sauce as well as lentils. Neither were very fond of the taste of their dish (they mostly ate the meat without sauce or enjea) I don't think either will be returning to try something different. I on the other hand would try another dish there.
(4)
Kathryn M.

I hate to write a bad review of this place, but... I've been here about three times and although the staff/owners are unbelievably sweet, the coffee and ambiance just aren't up to par.
(1)
Andrew D.

What more can be said? Solomon and Almaz (for whom the cafe is named) run an excellent shop, with a mix of excellent Ethiopian fare and solid brunch and lunch standards. The service is warm and friendly, the atmosphere delightful, and the coffee is smooth as silk.
(5)
Alize R.

The food is excellent and they are always so friendly! Very delicious coffee drinks and a great place to hang out/bring a first date. Great location, lovely upper loft seating, cute interior decorating with interesting/funky lamps. Small and intimate casual dining area.
(5)
Carl S.

Really good Ethiopian iced coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Haven't tried the Ethiopian food but from what I've heard, I'd like to give it a try. It's basically a cute little cafe.
(4)
Chris P.

So far I've only had coffee here on numerous occasions for meetings and it is very good! Strong, flavorful, and hot. Every time I'm there I'm tempted to eat since the aroma of deliciousness saturates the air. If there character of coffee and wonderful whiffs of nutriment is any indication of food, it has to be good!
(4)
Kate S.

Almaz is a great place to pick up a delicious cup of coffee en route to work or an even better place to pick up a smoothie on a hot summer day to drink in Rittenhouse Park. And I had wanted it to be a great place to get some Ethiopian eats without having to make the trek to West Philly whenever I get a craving. But I've been there a few times now, and while the food is always delicious, it makes me a bit sick in the afterglow.
(3)
Jessica C.

Totally my new favorite place... and conveniently it's right around the corner from where I live! I didn't know for the LONGEST time that Almaz serves the best Ethiopian food in town. Coming from New Haven, I always thought I knew what good, delicious Ethiopian food was (Lalibella style, Temple Street) but Almaz totally blew that out of the water. LOVE IT! The restaurant owners are incredibly friendly and explain all sorts of things to you. I highly recommend the Veggie Combo, as well as pretty much any beef dish on the Ethiopian menu. The injera is delicious, and we had more than enough to eat and bring home. I highly recommend Almaz-- I can't say how thrilled I was to discover this restaurant! Totally hole-in-the-wall and a real gem.
(5)
Bob J.

Great cheap brunch option. Coffee is great here.
(4)
Hilary M.

This place is spectacular. I've loved everything I've ever ordered here. The staff is awesome- they're always happy to explain anything on the menu to you and give you suggestions. I love sitting upstairs and looking out over the balcony- great for inconspicuous people-watching. And an added bonus (in my opinion): it's a byo.
(5)
Lauren A.

I love this place! The owners are friendly, the ambiance is relaxed, and the food is simply wonderful. As a vegetarian Californian transplant, finding quick, cheap, and filling meals in Philadelphia has been a challenge (I can't tell you how many shocked "What, no meat?" responses I get when I place orders). Honestly, the misir makes my day.
(5)
Ari P.

Best ethiopian food in Philly. This is a tiny cafe with good service and no ambiance.
(4)
Paul G.

Our first experience eating Ethiopian food-- it was awesome and highly recommended! Our waiter suggested that we try family style for our family of four, a little of everything. 3 meat dishes (lamb special, beef stew, and a chicken dish) with four vegetarian dishes (collard greens, the red lentil, yellow lentil, and cabbage and potato). Very reasonably priced for everything we got. Great place, super friendly service.
(5)
Diana G.

Fantastic food with friendly, relaxed service in a so-so atmosphere. There's no "Ethiopian" decor, really, but I guess that's fine as long as you're not expecting it. Sit upstairs and enjoy the free wifi. I met a Wharton student from Africa there and we had an interesting talk about race and politics in French. The family who run the cafe are really sweet and there's a broad variety of non-Ethiopian dishes as well. The food is wonderful and compares well to Ethiopian food I've had in San Francisco and Berkeley. It is served with the traditional thin, sour bread. The portion sizes are generous without being overwhelming, and the presentation is nice. If you're traipsing around Center City and pass by Almaz, do stop in.
(4)
Stephanie K.

Re: Drew S. The menu offers meat dishes. I'm going to try their meat dishes next time. My husband and I went in to try their yelp-famous vegetarian sampler and left very happily. To quote my husband, 'It was so good that I ate to full capacity.. an additional few more bites and I would have thrown up." Solomon is very nice, too! Thoroughly impressive.
(5)
N B.

Let me begin by saying that this place is hands down exceptional in the quality of whataver they offer. Besides the amazing coffee and the best ethopian food in town, the owners, Almaz and Solomon are by far the nicest, lovliest people you will ever meet. Their way of treating their costumers (many regulars) makes you realize what chains lack: personal touch, real smiles; the kind of public relations that no PR company can recreate for a non-personal business. Do not miss out.
(5)
Lauren B.

I found this great BYOB on yelp and figured I'd give it a try. I've eaten at another Ethiopian restaurant in Univ. City- loved the food and hated the service. Almaz Cafe is the perfect combination of amazing food and incredible service. Almaz, herself, makes the food and lovingly brings it over. She also provides recommendations and adds her own little touch to the food. Overall, it was an awesome experience and really well priced.
(5)
Aaron K.

There isn't a thing wrong with this place. Excellent food, great service. Bring your friends and get your props.
(5)
Catherine K.

I love this place! The food has never disappointed me (I particularly love the Doro Tibs); the injera is the best I've ever had; and the owner (? The woman who works there) is super sweet and friendly. I've never gone when the place is packed, but it's never taken too long to get our food either.
(5)
Linus G.

Almaz is a small family-owned coffee house/cafe and Ethiopian restaurant. First off, everything is delicious, the place always smells of some amazing omelet or coffee or beef dish. The man and woman who own and work the cafe are two of the most gracious people I've ever met, and they truly work hard to make their customers feel welcome and taken care of. They have only a handful of Ethopian dishes, but they are all amazing and I prefer them hands down to any of the West Philly Ethopian places. The fir fir is my favorite.
(5)
Scott F.

We got the vegetarian plate and foule and it was plenty of food for two. This is not the best Ethiopian I've ever had by a long shot, but it was still tasty. The atmosphere was nice and service was good. I'd definitely go back to get an inexpensive meal; it's probably the best food at this price in this neighborhood.
(3)
Drew S.

To add to the barrage of 5-star reviews, both staff we met were extremely solicitous, friendly, and helpful. We were only in there for about 1/2 hour for lunch and were offered two refills of water-- and we were in the less-accessible upstairs part of the restaurant. The food was excellent, and we each had different favorites from the vegetarian sampler. I'm not in the neighborhood that often, but I definitely will suggest it in the future. Does anyone know if the Ethiopian menu is entirely vegetarian?
(5)
Nadine J.

ditto what the other five-star-givers said. I just had dinner here with a friend and we were greeted warmly, and they didn't hestiate to let us sit outside! I feel like my friend and I served as an advertisement for the restaurant by sitting outside too because people passing by kept looking over at our food--which was amazing! We both got the vegetarian sampler and cleaned our plates; I was very satisfied without feeling heavy, which I think is a good sign of quality cooking. Almaz is definitely disguised as a mere coffeehouse, but don't let that fool you. Having been to Abyssinia in west philly and getting quality Ethiopian food only after enduring the snotty, rude, and sloooowww service there, I can honestly say that for any center-city denizens, there is no excuse to pass up Almaz if you're craving ethiopian. no compromises at this gem of a place--It's quality Ethiopian food AND very personable, genuine, and timely service! (as an addendum--I've come here several more times for dinner and the service/food are still just as great as the first. I also came in once for sunday breakfast--I had a mad pancake craving but no energy to make them at home--and their pancakes were delicious and HUGE....I only barely got through half the plate! is there ANYTHING they don't do well here???)
(5)
A L.

This place is a fab little find! I've walked by so many times before finding out it was an ethiopian restaurant! They sell run of the mill breakfast and brunch foods, along with some sandwiches and wraps, but their ethiopian food is what makes them amazing. They have a vegetarian combo that is a hefty amount of food and injera (bread) for only $12! It's delicious and filling and doesn't leave me feeling sick after eating out. The best part of this place is the owner! He is SO SO nice and truly treats people like regulars, even when you aren't. He loves talking to his customers and is always smiling. He even flagged us down to offer us a bag for our stuff that we were toting around (unrelated to the restaurant). I mean, who is kind enough these days to think to do that??!!! Truly a wonderful guy! Delicious iced coffee too! One star off because some of the food gets a little salty at times and I don't love the meat dishes since I kept burping from grease after it, but I am very sensitive to heavy food.
(4)
Danna K.

I'm a bit of an Ethiopian food snob after living in DC for three years. This place isn't as good as my favorite DC joints but its pretty solid. It's a pretty inexpensive place to meet friends for dinner or a weekend meal. I like to get take out here (love the yellow lentil dish) which makes 2-3 packable lunches.
(3)
M J.

The owners are very nice and accommodating. I had a craving for Ethiopian food after dining at Abol in Silver Spring MD. I got the dorro tibs. It was delicious, nicely seasoned. The lentils, cabbage and ground meat sides were all tasty. I was slightly disappointed that they had more American dishes like chicken wrap than Ethiopian dishes on the menu. It's worth a trip to CC.
(4)
Grace S.

I first discovered Almaz when I was wandering around Center City during admit weekend at my grad school trying to find an apartment. It was 7am and I didn't even realize it was an Ethiopian restaurant. There are plenty of usual American cafe offerings and the smoothies are really good. The coffee is very cheap and good as well. (I usually go to Colombe 1 block away but Almaz usually doesn't have a wait and it feels more like a mom n pop shop which is great) The owner's wife cooks all the Ethiopian food, I believe, and you'll notice that if you come here enough, the daily special is always lamb. Sometimes it's more like a stew, sometimes it's more of a saute. It's always flavorful but I find the saute kind too dry. The veggie platter is a must but too much for one person so it's always great to come here with a friend or two. You can reserve tables and there is an upstairs seating area. It's not fancy at all but the food is always yummy and it's also BYO. There's free wifi and sometimes you can sit outside but 20th Street isn't exactly a view. I've tried other Ethiopian restaurants in Philly and this place is by far the yummiest. Their cabbage, carrot and potato dish used to be really amazing but maybe I didn't like it last time because I got takeout. The Ethiopian bread/pancake supply is neverending and if it looks like you might run out, they ask if you want more before you even think about it! The owner or his wife always serves you and they are super nice and friendly. I would give this place 4.5 stars since I think they lose a little in decor and value since the food is kind of pricey.
(3)
Moe W.

I have been coming to Almaz regularly for a few years. It is consistently fantastic. The spongy Ethiopian bread is beyond heavenly. The service is spectacular - and - it's sure a fine alternative to "Shake Shack" down the street. I hope that the crowds there will detour to a much healthier, finer place only steps away!!!!
(5)
Yelena L.

I most often come here to pick up a coffee which I really like for its rich flavor and mild acidity. The staff here is wonderful, very friendly and kind. I've eaten here a couple of times and they have a regular lunch menu as well as ethiopian options. I really prefer their veggie options and love the chicken tibs! I have tried to study here but can't seem to connect to their internet, although it is offered. The unique food and exceptional service definitely make this a great cafe overall.
(4)
Karen M.

The only reason this place gets 4 stars is because it was my first time tasting Ethiopian food so I'm not an expert yet to give a final opinion. It was definitely a good meal, but I remember most is how nice and friendly the people who work there were to me and my boyfriend. The ice cream we got at the end was okay, nothing great, but I like the space and the atmosphere is pretty pleasant. I'd probably go back again and try something new.
(4)
Stevie S.

Uh oh, I'm hooked! I wrote my original review after one visit but I've been back about five times since! Now that it's warmer there are a few small tables out front which is a big plus. The food is always great and the owner/waiter/cashier is such a nice guy! The other day I had a bangin' iced coffe and on a prior visit got an ice cream cone. Tip: Although I mentioned previously that the food isn't very spicey, you CAN get some spice on the side which really gives it some punch.
(5)
Erin S.

I shared the vegetarian combo and Doro Sat (I think that was the name of it), which was a stew of grilled chicken breast. It came with ample amount of the traditional bread, injera, which had a sourdough taste to it. All was extremely delicious. I believe a person with a lesser appetite would not be able to finish all of it but I polished it off. After the meal we had a two very fine cups of coffee. Service was really nice if not a touch slow for my liking but I'll call it laid back ;). Also, the vegetarian combo and the chicken stew were served on the same plate touching, which we didn't mind at all but it's worth noting if you actually are a vegetarian.
(4)
Lawrence M.

Had the beef stew. Excellent. I will be back.
(4)
Louis T.

The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Almaz is one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood.
(5)
Sophiya S.

N and I went after reading rave reviews on yelp but I was truly disappointed. We went pretty late in the evening and were seated right in front of the toilet. The place was not as clean as I would have liked. They had sink right behind the counter and I could smell the soap and bleach which almost killed my appetite. Food was ok but people were nice so, I guess that's a little something.
(1)
Jonny S.

Wow, glad to see that I am not the only one who really likes this place. The owner, Almaz, is very kind and even remembered the excellent omelet I had there last week when I came back today for brunch. Very good for dinner too!
(4)
ciana h.

This is my husband's absolute favorite restaurant in the city. We live on Baltimore in West Philly surrounded by Ethiopian restaurants and Almaz is way better than any of them. The vegetarian options are numerous and delicious. Everyone that works there is so amazingly genuinely nice. Seriously the nicest staff you will find anywhere. My only complaint is the seating is not that cute - you wouldn't want to come here for anything romantic or private. I guess it was meant to be more of a coffee shop, so that's probably why. But come here casually and the food is wonderful and cheaply priced!
(4)
Emily C.

I have ordered their foule several times for take-out and have yet to be disappointed. Hearty, and consistent in good flavor. Once I tried the fresh berry salad and found it strange. The romaine to berry and pecan ratio was off. The gentleman behind the counter downstairs was friendly (with a genuine smile!) and attentive. Writing this review actually made me crave some of their food:) Maybe I'll try their sit down service in the near future.
(4)
Amanda D.

This is the best Ethiopian food in Philly, hands down. The vegetarian sampler, as everyone else on yelp has attested, is amazing. The Ethiopian coffee is amazing as well. I didn't ever want to leave. The owner, Solomon, is so nice and down to earth. He's running a great business. The only thing that bothered me was that it was kind of cold outside, but the temperature inside was REALLY hot, so we were sweating while eating. It didn't matter because the food was THAT good. I'm obsessed.
(5)
Tracie P.

tasty, different, cheap. the last minute take out dinner trifecta.
(4)
Flora B.

Wow... Had I not been with some natives I would never have discovered this place. Somewhat random, I think, to have great Ethiopian food in what looks like a Philly coffee shop. But it was really delicious. We had this chicken that tasted like it was covered in brown sugar and cinnamon. I am sure it was some exotic spice... but cinnamon/sugar is the only way I can describe it. The owners are very friendly and the food downright good. GO.
(4)
Timothy L.

Good food, fast friendly service, great location. Definitely worth checking out.
(5)
Joyce W.

I definitly enjoyed my first ethiopian experience. I had the chicken stew as recommended and i loved it. The chicken was tender and i loved the sauces. My friend had the vegetarian dish and it was DELICIOUS too. Will definitly go back. I loved this place b/c the coffee is great TOO!!! good food, good coffee .. wat else can you ask for !
(4)
denton s.

Extremely friendly, nice owners/employees! Great Ethiopian food, good breakfast/brunch, great smoothies, great wraps, great center city location, free wifi, great place to study, cozy little cafe. The owners were so nice it really made me want to come back again! I have studied there for many hours at a time (while eating breakfast, snacks, and lunch) and the owners actually wanted to make sure that they were providing me a comfortable place to study, unlike many other cafes/coffee shops that would be giving dirty looks and wanting to kick you out for staying too long. Enjoy!
(5)
Hilary K.

So, I must write an update to my previous 5-star review. After going back a second time with my family, we all enjoyed a big, communal lunch followed by some dessert-like smoothies. Everything was delicious; however, 3 out of the 4 of us had some unpleasant gastrointestinal issues not too long afterward. I don't know the exact cause was, but when 3 out of 4 people (who live in different houses and don't share any other food) have tummy trouble after a meal, I get suspicious. I haven't completely crossing this one off of my list, but I'm not ready to go back for a while.
(3)
Ritu K.

So this was my first time eating Ethiopian food. Needless to say I was super excited to try someting new. The restaurant is tiny and the heat was up to subtropical ( a little uncomfortable but better than the 30 degrees outside). The server was fantastic. Even at the nicest restaurants in the city I can't remember having such attentive service. Now after trying Ethiopian food I can't say I'm a big fan. It was a bit sour for my taste. I liked it, but I'm not sure if I'd want to go back. That being said the portions were huge and according to my husband very good for ethiopian food. We ordered the chicken and lamb dishes. The lamb was a disappointment. Poor quality meat with not alot of flavor. The vegetable sides with the lamb were delicious which made me wish I had ordered the vegetarian plate. The chicken was good but a little sour for my taste. Overall if you like Ethiopian food I would definitely try this place out. Its cheap, the portions are large, and the service is fantastic. If I had ordered something other than the lamb I would have given it a 4.
(3)
J J.

We are experienced diners of Ethiopian restaurants; we've tried them in New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Philly, Houston, and Colorado. My wife, in particular, loves the cuisine. This, despite getting an upset stomach nearly every time she eats it. When we saw the reviews for Almaz on yelp, we decided to go for it. My wife had the shiro; I had a beef dish. The shiro was good. Strangely, it arrived with sour cream, which wasn't a great fit; we just ate around it. The beef was a little flat and not as sizzling-crispy as I would have liked. The injera was good, maybe a tad dry. The other side dishes were good. Overall, the dishes were more low key than in other places that I've tried. That is, the injera and shiro were not as sour, the bourberrie was not as sharp. It was not bland, but just tamer than what we're accustomed to. Overall, we were happy with our meal. The server was very friendly, and she did not charge us for food that we ordered for my 2-yo daughter which was very kind. I found the experience of eating Ethiopian at a western style cafe a little odd. There is a case of soft drinks, including yoohoo and fanta, and a display of muffins and cookies sitting next to you while you chow down injer and doro wat. But really, it's nice to have options. My daughter is very fussy about eating, so it was good that they had bananas for her to eat.
(3)
Tony F.

Friendly. Delicious fresh... I am a big fan of Ethiopian / Eritrean food, and I've sought out places in every city I visit from Oakland, CA to Cleveland to Tampa to Denver. Quite frankly, until now, I've been surprisingly underwhelmed by what I've tried in Phila. so far. While Almaz may not have the most expansive menu, the food here is just about the freshest E/E that I have encountered anywhere. It was delicious, and I received a generous portion for lunch. Further, oftentimes the sides are mostly an afterthought; at Almaz, they deserve equal billing with the main course, again the best word to use is "fresh", along with descriptives like flavorful and very satisfying. Service was also exceptionally speedy (definitely rare for E/E) and friendly. In fact, several people popped in "just to say 'hi' because I was passing by" That tells me that Almaz has fostered a loyal following with his easy-going approach and fine food. I will definitely be back soon and often.
(3)
Caitlin C.

Everything about this place is pleasant. The friendly staff, the delicious coffee (the guy behind the counter even explained how they roast it), and the incredible and inexpensive food. I had walked by it several times before recognizing its greatness. It's one of those places that you adopt as your pet and want to succeed.
(5)
Lisa M.

I completely stumbled upon this ***GEM*** of an Ethiopian restaurant (partially disguised as a chic, urban coffee bar ;). I went in for just a sandwich and saw the menu, which was to my sheer delight. I haven't yet had the coffee, but if you are into Ethiopian food (and it's my #1 favorite in the world), I have to say the shiro is the best by far I've ever had. Usually it's flavorful pea flour, but Almaz's shiro is so, so fresh you can taste every single ingredient in it. I've been to about 10 Ethiopian places, and this is the best! The people are so, so nice and friendly. It's a gorgeously, urban-chic decorated coffee house. Looks great for wi-fi and to chill upstairs (or down). Love it, love it, love it, and cannot say merely enough! :)
(5)
Heather D.

Try the smoothies. I had... the first one the guy said... it starts with mango. When I asked could they make the smoothies with soy milk rather than cow milk, that was easy enough. The smoothie that I had took all the various fruit that was in it and somehow ended up with a taste that was reminiscent of roses. Seriously, and it was delicious. Also had the vegetarian ethiopian combo platter. I live in West Philly, where we're supposed to have the good ethiopian food... as far as the actual food, this was much better than Dahlak and as good as Abyssinia. Got a large house coffee, and it was LARGE and COFFEE, and it was GOOD. :) I don't know if there's a whole vocabulary pallet for describing coffee, like people do with wine, but the taste reminded me of rain and rocks. Did I say it was big cup? It was, and pretty too. Speaking of pretty, the walls and ceiling are that beautiful combination of aqua blue and apple green that makes you think you've died and gone to shabby-chic heaven. I want to have this place for my apartment, it has a loft where you can sit at a bar overlooking the rest of the cafe and the window to the street, or you can choose the bar at the front on the lower level or one of the tiny tables in this tiny space. It wasn't too crowded when we were there - could be trouble if it was packed, but from the reviews I've read, it's usually not. Which is mysterious. Reviews keep describing this place as a hidden gem, and that is apparently true. Try it, but clear out cause I'm gonna need an upstairs table again soon. :)
(4)
Pooja A.

The Ethiopian food was pretty good. We got the vegetarian combo and the Doro Wat, my usual order at Ethiopian places. The yellow lentils were so-so, but overall, really tasty and reasonably priced. I think they are BYOB. And the staff is super nice.
(4)
Kathy L.

Good place to hang out, have some coffee, use your laptop and do some work without being bothered. I'm not sure what coffee they brew, but it is strong and well made and so are their espresso based drinks. 3 stars only because the space is kind of cramped... whenever I walk up or down the stairs, I feel like I'm about to fall off of it.
(3)
Ki W.

One word- gastroenteritis. My dad and I went over the holidays and both of us have had upset stomachs since then. Now, I have to take antibiotics... Great :/
(1)
Tiana G.

This place is so enjoyable. I love going in to grab coffee, or catching lunch here with friends.
(5)
Alana H.

Last night at the Almaz Cafe, I had my first taste of Ethiopian food. I was not disappointed in the least. From the exterior you may not realize that it is more than a cafe or icecream shop, but the food was delicious. They even had specialty Ethiopian tea (which was delightfully aromatic) and coffee.
(3)
Kim D.

Veggie platter was very good. Beef was over cooked/tough and tendons made it difficult to eat. Casual dining space with good service. Overall a welcome addition to center city dining options.
(3)
Sally f.

i have no other Ethiopian food experience to compare this to, but i was very pleased. the setting was cute, and you would never even notice this place when walking down the street. it looks like take out if you do notice, but there's a hidden loft upstairs! it was great! the server was very nice. the BYOB setting made things fun. the bread is odd to Americans. its very sour and and pancake like. but covered in all the exotic flavors its hard to notice. im glad i tried Ethiopian!
(4)
Seth A.

Okay, so this review is going to be a little biased for two reasons. 1) I live a block away from this place, so it's unfairly easy for me to enjoy it's amenities. 2) The owner seems like a cool, right and just guy who deserves to be successful in an industry largely populated by sturdy and cannibalistic corporate high profit institutions. Salomon, the owner, after giving me some history of the place, spent 15 minutes helping me figure out that I typed the password for the wireless internet wrong. Apparently getting a bachelors degree in technology did not ensure that I would be able to correctly differentiate between capital and lowercase letters. Shoulda gone for the masters. The atmosphere here is stunning. There is unique lighting, a second floor that overlooks the first floor, and art that adds to the environment, but not in that unauthentic selected-by-computer-to-increase-bottomline starbuck's way. The coffee is good, and Salomon, is a genuine and open guy. He explained to me how he quit his job to set this place up. I respect anyone who quits their job to follow what they want, because that's what I did. Or would have done had I not been fired first. Whatever. My way was faster. Ite, so that's it. The music of choice seems to be chill jazz, and the place is open till 10 on the weekdays, which is pretty late for a place that just opened 2 weeks ago. I really hope it does well... Come check it. Peace Update: After coming here for over a year, this is my favorite coffee shop ever. No matter where you go you'll eventually get bored of the drink or the food, or the environment, but here, the owners are so friendly and cool, you won't get bored of the company! Furthermore, friendly people attract other friendly people, so you'll find lots of people who don't mind chatting here. 5 stars Yet another update: Just discovered something new: Ask for a Muffin, sliced and toasted. This is the best thing ever. Muffins will never be the same. Try it Update again: How many years has it been? This place is still awesome. I just want to add that the Chicken Curry plate and the Beef Curry plate are my favorite dishes here. Delicious, spicy (but not too spicy), filling. That is all.
(5)
ann c.

Didn't enjoy the food that much. Ordered Vegetarian combo. Only the lentils were OK but left the whole spinach and cabbage in the plate. They were just boiled vegetables with some basic spices . Being an Asian , the dish was a let down. Eaten better things than this.
(2)
Emilia M.

I LOVED this place! I just went for breakfast and the food was incredible. But even better was the couple that owns the place. They were so sweet and caring. I agree the place was very deceptive from the outside, I'm not sure I would have gone in had my friend not suggested it. The coffee was also exceptional, especially the iced mocha! DEFINITELY GIVE THIS PLACE A TRY!!!!
(5)
Ryan C.

You walk in and you're not really sure what you're looking at, but you know you like it. A sort of mix of green walls, metal, dangling things from the ceiling and newsboy counters at the front and in the upper tier. It has a vibe matches more low-key "hipper" areas of Philly. Don't expect a lot of space to sprawl out though.
(4)
Rachel B.

don't be fooled into thinking Ethiopian food only exists in west philly. almaz cafe not only served great brunch, but has the best Ethiopian in the city all day every day. it's on the back of their menu, so read through the whole thing. the meat is incredibly succulent, never overcooked, and all the veggies are colorful and fresh.
(5)
B B.

Friendly atmosphere, Ethiopian style eurotrash with heart. Good zilzil tibs. Nice smoothies and ice coffees. A place to go.
(4)
Ruth Y.

A friend and I met up for a quick dinner. So we decided on Almaz Cafe because it was close, and had gotten great reviews. The place is tiny, but cute. There were only a few tables in the entire place. I ordered something I did not think that Abyssinia had just to try something different. I was in an unusually crazy adventure mood that day, but just to be on the safe side, I ordered the sauce on the side. I tried a bite; the food was good, but not really special. I did really enjoy the addition of rosemary to my meat. Next I tried the sauce. Ehhhh, nothing I cared for. I tried a few more times to be sure, but the verdict remains, ehhhh, nothing I care for. My friend asked to try the sauce, and my opinion of it. I passed it over with a, "Ehhh, nothing I care for." He put it in his mouth, and his face screws up in the most awful manner. It was almost cartoonish in it's contortions. Needless to say, he did not really care for the sauce. We debated after that for a while whether this was better or worse than the Acerola soda we tried a few years back. Split decision with my friend voting on the sauce winning the most disgusting award and I insisting that the Acerola was much worse. Ultimate judgement on Almaz is that the food is good and of good quality, but the selection slim and the prices a bit higher than Abyssinia considering the amount. The proprietor/waiter was extremely friendly and nice.
(4)
D K.

I love Almaz. I've been there twice this month for the vegetarian platter, once to eat there and the second time to take home. Both time the food was great: piping hot and very tasty. I especially love the greens with the tangy Injera. The prices are reasonable and the owners have always been welcoming and happy to answer any questions. When I've been there other times with friends, they've also enjoyed their meals. Having Ethiopian food in the Rittenhouse area is a huge deal and I'm so glad they're here.
(5)
ene e.

I have been to plenty of Ethiopian restaurants around the country and by far this is the worst. I ordered the zil-zil tibs, which the owner recommended and it was just straight terrible, and to make things worse one of the side dishes was spoiled. I am sure this is a good spot to grab bagels, coffee and etc but def. not Ethiopian food. The food tasted like it was fresh out of the microwave. Please stay away from this place for any sort of Ethiopian food.
(1)
jason t.

the crappiest thing about this place was sitting down, looking at the menu, and spending a good twenty minutes not being able to decide whether i wanted to order from the breakfast menu or the ethiopian menu. i eventually settled on some pancakes, which were really good, but i had total plate envy of my friend's vegetarian sampler. the staff is crazy nice, they play awesome ethiopian jazz on the stereo, and the coffee is super good and comes in properly large cups. yay for these guys.
(5)
Rueben C.

Mizzle; a combination of drizzle and mizzle.... My girl was uncomfortable b/c it was mizzling out, a bit cold, and windy - out in the middle of may. I told her her it wasnt so cold out and dinner at this lil ethiopian restaurant would be cool. Now we'd alreadt walked a few blocks around the Almaz and I couldnt find the place. But as it turns out, we had walked right by it, even with our eyes were peeled. So we get into the cafe, see the only dude behind the counter, go upstairs and take a 4-top. Mind you there are only 2 four tops upstairs and a few stools for the mostly quiet internet cafe surfers/loungers - Some rasta kept playing his tunes out loud w/o headphones until the barista/server/host asked him to chill. Downstairs where the entrance is there are 3 four tops and more stools. Once we got the menu we had to decide: chicken, lamb or beef, and what vegetables. Well, me being the taste glutton that, I am coerced my girl to ordering the chicken and beef dishes with vegetable sampler to join. The food arrived and we were stoked. Conversation halted and ethiopian bread stuffed with lentils, cabbage and chicken sent me into my much desired food euphoria. So all in all I suggest dinner for two, at min, get the vegetable sampler (until you've decided on a favorite veg dish), and the chicken (if you're a meatarian). The beef was good just didnt hit my spot like the pollo did. Next time I go which will be soon, I'm getting the lamb and I'll report back. Post meal I also had an espresso......ever had a greek coffee? Well, I think Ethiopian coffee is a term that should be coined- that espresso picked me up from my food coma and sent my right back into study mode. Groups are okay if you call ahead and arent larger than say...6. The barista/host/waiter dude couldnt be nicer.
(4)
Yash M.

I've been to a few Ethiopian restaurants in the city, and think Almaz is one of the better ones. Their vegetarian platters and wraps make it a great place for vegetarians. Very good Ethiopian coffee make this a great breakfast, lunch, and dinner place! The staff is extremely friendly, and it will definitely remain to be a staple.
(5)
Sam P.

I'm sort of a connoisseur of Ethiopian cuisine or at least what's served in America anyway. You can check out my reviews of other Ethiopian restaurants in the country. I didn't like the food here at all. It lacked flavor and spices and wasn't a great experience. I'm a vegetarian and had therefore ordered the vegetarian combo. The injera wasn't much to write home about either. The service was decent but I wouldn't come back any time soon.
(2)
Hana Y.

That vegetarian platter everyone is talking about on Yelp is worth the hype. It is absolutely delicious! And the lady who works here is so friendly and kind. The wrap is quite sour however, just as a warning to those who were expecting something like naan. It pairs well with the food though!
(5)
Anrenee R.

Ethiopian vegetarian combo. This is the third restaurant I've had the Ethiopian veg platter. While it was really good, I liked the other two I had more. The rolled bread was better at the first two. But Almaz was really good. I liked the collard greens and split peas a lot!
(4)
Michelle B.

The food was amazing and Almaz is lovely. I highly recommend! The servings appear small but they are filling.
(5)
Michelle B.

Dining experience for 6/29/14. You know when you have really, really good food. And you also know when you have just mediocre food. Well, it's sad to say Almaz was just mediocre on this visit and I was so looking forward to good Ethiopian food. Let's start with some positives. Outside seating is always a plus no matter what. Several small bistro tables line the front of the cafe. Friendly staff who were attentive and accomodating. Now for the rest of the story, the injera was cold and tasteless. Can't quite put my finger on it not sure if it was made hours before or a day previously but let's just say I've had much better. The vegetable combination, had a colorful and festive presentation. Exciting the eyes to get ones mouth salivating. However, the dish just lacked flavor. The cabbage and lentils were palatable. I was disappointed that my desire did not meet satisfaction this time. Not sure I will let this one visit taint my perception, may give them a second chance sometime in the future.
(2)
Aria S.

First time trying Ethiopian food! So unfortunately my review might be reviewing the cuisine more than the restaurant? Thursday night, place was empty, the two woman working super nice! We both ordered the veg combo (recommend if you're veg) which promptly came out. It's basically several kinds of lentil curries? Wish they were hot, they were just warm. They came to eat with these thick pancake things also made of lentils (if you've had Indian dosas, they are thick versions of this). Veg platter is $12. Something about food made it not deliciousss in my opinion, but I'm glad I tried it and I was seriously STUFFED after. Great for trying something new and cute little, ideally located spot. Would like to come again for brunch.
(4)
Jessica S.

A true gem for vegetarians -- and their omnivorous companions -- in Rittenhouse Square! Almaz is like a chameleon. They serve up serious Turkish coffee during the morning commute, American style wraps for the working lunch crowd, and deliver an authentic menu of Ethiopian delights for those in-the-know. I'm not an expert on Ethiopian cuisine, but I am always extremely satisfied with Almaz's vegetarian sampler platter. The dish has a beautiful array of colors, and the portion size is enough for two meals. The injera is tangy and chewy with enough holes to sop up all the juices of your meal. The dine-in space is tiny and the second floor dining area presents some accessibility issues, but if you're lucky enough to snag a seat you're in for a treat. Friendly owners and staff will help guide you through the menu if you're unfamiliar with Ethiopian food. Perfect for a solo night out, or a gab fest with your besties. I always appreciate the atmosphere here -- the smaller space feels intimate and is perfect for catching up with friends.
(5)
Joycelin W.

Almaz Cafe is a cozy little spot with really friendly service. The two of us shared the firfir and doro wot. Both were good but I personally didn't love the flavors in the firfir. The injera was spongy and tangy -- I've never had it before so I have nothing to compare it with, but it was good! The star for me was definitely the tikel gomen (this cabbage/carrot side dish) though. Oh my gosh it was so good. I would go back just for that.
(4)
Lisa L.

The veggie combo was a delight of flavorful dishes, especially the beets. It came with a bunch of injera-it was more sour than others I've had but I liked it. I felt like the good here was overall less greasy than typical Ethiopian restaurant food. The lovely lady at the counter neatly wrapped my takeout box in Saran Wrap for me. Also a good price.
(5)
Alexandra K.

Adam and I were craving Ethiopian food and happened upon Almaz. And I'm so glad we did. The food was so thoughtfully prepared, and so rich with flavor. The menu has a mix of standard cafe fare and traditional Ethiopian dishes. I had the veggie combo and Adam had a chicken stew. We both were so pleasantly full. The food came out quickly and was perfectly prepared. The restaurant itself is cozy, making for a great date night.
(5)
Albert M.

This is one of our go-to spots in the city. The service is always great as is the food. You will leave very full, as the portions are pretty big and the injera will fill you up.
(5)
Mel G.

My very first time eating Ethiopian food. And I was not disappointed. Everything the had a good spicy flavor. The chicken was tender and tasted fresh. I'm not crazy about the bread, maybe I'm just not use to the texture is very strange and I'd imagine they be warm and not so cold.
(4)
Cesar S.

Do something about your coffee, PLEASE. It's really bad the espresso you serve. (No offense)
(1)
Anastasiya K.

Amazing food. Just had a veggie combo and it's really good for lunch. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Kimberly C.

Sought this place out as per recommendation from a friend while visiting Philly. I enjoy Ethiopian food, but have only been to a handful of Ethiopian restaurants. Wanting to share a good Ethiopian food experience with my boyfriend who has never tried, we chose to come here rather than a closer Ethiopian restaurant. 9/19/14 (Friday 6:30pm-7:30pm) The restaurant was very small but accommodating. The waitress/owner (?) was a very sweet lady and we were greeted with a smile. She helped us with the menu and pointed out lamb tibs which was not listed. Vegetarian Platter: Yum! Colorful and succulent. Some tasted better than others, but very good overall. Lamb Tibs: Very appetizing and topped with a delicate sprig of rosemary that gave it a smokey pine-like aroma. Total: approx $40 Overall, I enjoyed the food and service at Almaz, though it was probably not the best Ethiopian food I've had. Boyfriend thought it was okay but was not particularly impressed. Yes, there is a restroom upstairs to wash your hands. And yes, plenty of Injira.
(4)
Oscar W.

Exceptional service and food! Truly spectacular and very accommodating. $5 corkage fee FYI but BYOB!!
(5)
A B.

Don't let the atmosphere, or lack of, deter you. The service of the owner/chef is welcoming and friendly and the food is well done and tasty!
(3)
Roman I.

The worst food I have ever ate in my life, it was so bad that I downloaded the Yelp app to review it and to let everyone know how much of a rip off this place is.. The dam waiter says you can have lamp and chicken on your plate.. We said sure... Didnt tell us it was going to be extra..... The extra was18 dollars extra! Not only that the lamp we got was the worst kind.. I'm taking about pure fat peaces of the lamp and hard lumps of "something" the chicken was like someone threw up in the bathroom This place is sooo expensive for absolutely nothing. MCDONALD'S HAS BETTER FOOD. stay away
(1)
Esme G.

I came here to eat and study a few weeks ago, and then tonight to write and eat. Unlike many coffee shops in the area it was neither loud or crowded. The staff (I believe owners?) are very friendly, nice and accommodating. I did end up trying some of the ethopian dishes when I came back with a friend. We shared one of the beef stews, and the vegetable platter. I loved the variety of items, the slightly sour flat bread, and especially the cooked beets. The food was served in a timely manner, by friendly, talkative staff, and it was delicious. I will be back, oh yes, I will.
(5)
Eric C.

I have enjoyed Ethiopian food in NYC and Boston, and Almaz Cafe seemed like a good bet in Philadelphia. The restaurant itself is quite small, but it wasn't particularly busy late on a Wednesday night. Our waitress was very friendly and service was quick. The food was delicious, and as seems to be common with Ethiopian, was deceivingly filling. One fewer entree than diners should be about right for most groups. Definitely would come back!
(5)
Naa N.

What an amazing authentic restaurant. The restaurant is quite small , may sit no more than 15 people. It is not fancy but the food is great. We were immediately greeted and seated. We sat outside since we had our baby in the stroller . We shared the vegetarian platter, chicken stew and mocha latte along with the house bread, injera. It was delicious. Our favorite by far was the vegetarian platter. It was well seasoned, fresh and flavorful. Portion size was quite large. We will visit again when in the area
(4)
Scott S.

My favorite coffee spot in Rittenhouse Square. They always serve fresh brewed Yirgacheffe here, and accept no substitutes. The space upstairs on the second floor is nice and cozy unless on their crowded days, and their assorted sweet pastries were delectable even for notorious sweet haters like me. Support your local businesses, especially if they're awesome and serve amazing Ethiopian coffee and cafe food like Almaz... instead of going to Starbucks down the street in B&N.
(4)
Kathleen K.

It has been way too long since I've had Ethiopian food, mostly since I've been living in areas where no such restaurant exists within a 100+ mile radius. I decided to check out Almaz after reading some reviews on Yelp and opted to go here instead of the West Philly restaurants because we were going to a show at the church right around the corner. I am so glad we didn't waste the trek there...Almaz totally rules. The people working there were so kind; the woman behind the counter informed us that it was BYOB and when I told my husband I'd be right back, the woman (owner?) said "Good for you!" Everything was fantastic, although we sat upstairs which was kind of warm. We had the lamb special which was pretty good, but the chicken stew was phenomenal. The cabbage/carrot vegetarian side and yellow lentils were amazing. If i went again, I'd probably just get the vegetarian combo because they were the most flavorful items on the dish. The coffee was fresh and homemade cookies were fantastic too. For two dinners, two coffees and dessert we spent $35...deal. Love this place.
(5)
Hoang L.

Really good hearty and authentic Ethiopian food. This is the place to go in Center City for an Ethiopian food fix. Minus one star for being a little too oily. Portions are pretty big, so come hungry! (PS: try the vegetarian and lamb dish!)
(4)
Cherie C.

First, I stopped in just for coffee when they opened. I was so excited to find Ethiopian food on the menu in my neighborhood! The owners were friendly and sweet. I went back on a weekend morning and found a chef in the middle of the TINY restaurant cooking omelettes to order over a portable burner. It was a little strange but fun. I got breakfast and it was okay. Finally went back recently for Ethiopian dinner. I got the vegetarian combo, and it was delicious. It was my favorite Ethiopian food in Philly so far, and I'm a BIG fan of the cuisine. Surprisingly, our food came rather quickly despite all the tables being filled and only one person waiting tables and handling the register. It's a small space and not fancy, but it's great for a casual meal with friends or for hanging out alone. I don't have a laptop, but I suppose the wifi is a plus if you do. UPDATE: the owners, Solomon & Almaz, are incredibly friendly. I found out that if you make plans in advance, they'll do traditional Ethiopian coffee. My friends and I had a great time watching Almaz roast coffee beans for us and make amazingly delicious coffee. further update: I think our experience made them realize the space is too small for traditional Ethiopian coffee. But I SO appreciate that they accommodated us. The restaurant is really a labor of love for them. They worked hard to find a way to serve fresh food (not sitting in a steam table all day) without making customers wait an hour, as is the case with most Ethiopian food. Solomon also gave us an education on injera. Turns out many places skimp on the teff, but at Almaz they don't. That's great, because teff is REALLY good for you.
(5)
Mary B.

Good lunch spot, not too crowded. It's a weird set up, with table service. They really should just let people order at the counter. They have standard sandwiches and an Ethiopian page of the menu. We tried all the vegetarian options. The red lentils were good, yellow lentils were meh, green veggies pretty good, and the stew type thing yummy. Overall pretty good, though the wet bread is kinda gross, but not worth the price ($10ish). Insert obvious culturally insensitive joke here.
(3)
Greg S.

The staff are lovely and provide friendly warm service. The Enjera (a sourdough pancake) went great with the vegetarian combo and beef stew. The food is well seasoned and they use fresh herbs in their cooking.
(3)
Jenn H. H.

I'd passed by this place dozens of times before in my life, but I didn't realize it served food until a few months ago. I thought it was just a little coffee shop. It's much more! They have regular coffee shop and cafe fare (coffee, sandwiches, breakfast) but also have a small menu of ethiopian items. We got the Dorowat, which is a stewed chicken dish, and the Veggie Combo. All these items get served on a big plate on top of injera bread. Injera bread is a spongey crepe like bread with a sourdough flavor. You tear of pieces of the bread and scoop up the different dishes with it. You get a basketfull of injera as well. This was plenty of food for the two of us. Our server was super nice. I believe it's the husband who serves and the wife who cooks. The food came out shockingly fast! Now that I know they serve such good food, I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Eran M.

(vegetarian / vegan review) This is the best Ethiopian food I've eaten in a while, and definitely my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia. The food is tasty, fresh, and leaves me ready to dance, rather than sleep. The people are nice. The names of the smoothies are inspiring. :-) Their vegetarian combination platter is great, and the foule (pronounced "fool") is fan-tastic. :-) The portions are generous. My wife and I shared one of each, and ended up tearfully leaving some on the table. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it feels a little pricey (cost us over $20 for these two dishes, including tip, drinking just water - will try those smoothies another time!). Highly, highly recommended.
(4)
Marissa T.

This place is an incredible find thanks to yelp! I'm not a fan of west Philly, but have been really wanting some Ethiopian food to try for the first time. At first, this place looks like a simple cafe until you read the menu. From what I've read it's a husband/wife ownership and I'm assuming the super sweet woman who helped us was the wife. We ordered the vegetarian platter and one other thing, to which I can't recall the name because it was her suggestion. We were brought heaps of food and could have easily shared the platter, everything tasted super fresh and healthy to beat. I didn't try one thing that I hated, which not knowing anything about ethiopian was A+ for me. This is a new staple in my rotation of restaurants to frequent.
(4)
Dayo F.

I went here a week ago and will definitely be going back. I have been to a couple of Ethiopian restaurants in the past and always jump at the opportunity. As have been said in other reviews, it is a coffee shop/ restaurant. I would have to say the latte I got was just alright and not spectacular. But the food was great. I got some spicy beef stew, which was comparable to my past experiences. The chef/owner was also quite a lovely and lively person to chat with. The only thing I would change: since I got my meal to go, the injera (bread) was quite soggy by the time I ate the meal. So next time I'd recommend packing the injera separate from the soup/stew.
(4)
Andrea R.

This is may be my favorite food in philly. The veg sampler is consistently amazing. The woman who runs it is the nicest on the planet. Everyone should eat here everyday! (great coffee too!)
(5)
Alex Z.

This place seems to have been reviewed out the wazoo! I thought this was good, solid Ethiopian food, although it falls short of the best of the best. The bread is on the tangy side, perhaps too much lemon juice on it? Besides that I can't think of any concrete way to improve the food. Location is very convenient...it's a pretty small space but they usually seem to have enough space. Reasonably priced. Very good vegetarian options! I would gladly come back!
(4)
Soojung C.

The owner of this cafe is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Bring a bottle of wine, jam out to voodoo music, and share a combination platter w/ your best bud. Afterwards sit back, enjoy a latte, and be pleased with yourself because you just had pretty decent Ethiopian food in center city!
(4)
Kimberly Y.

I thought the food was average, though I'm no expert on Ethiopian food. My date and I shared the firfir and doro tibs. The portions were large, but we did not enjoy the injera and found the food underwhelming, although delightfully presented. The service was slightly confusing. No one greeted us at the door, so we shuffled towards the cash register. Then a waitress came down the stairs and led us up to the high table. She seemed to take her time, even after we let her know that we were in somewhat of a rush. At least she was nice enough. This was actually the first date with my current boyfriend, so I definitely remember that the restaurant was quiet enough to have a nice dinner conversation. Obviously, this was very important for me in hindsight, so thanks, Almaz!
(3)
Laura Jill S.

So glad my friend Ed C recommended this place! I went last night with my friend Jess, & we met Almaz herself! She was super nice, the service was great, & the food was fantastic. We were sitting on the 2nd floor at the counter so we were away from the cold air whenever anyone opened the front door, but we could still see out the window. I think because we were seated there, instead of a big platter, Almaz brought us separate plates even though we both ordered the veg combo. I'm fine with that. Even though sharing is caring. ;) Their injera is awesome--I'm obsessed with the texture & flavor. The presentation was beautiful & everything was full of flavor. It's not in my immediate comfort zone, but it's not a far walk either. I'll be here often because it's delicious & totally vegan friendly. Highly recommend.
(5)
Tom M.

I know a lot of people consider moving to the city but hold back because nowhere has a bodega that blasts also happens to have a few tables to sit down at an be served Ethiopian food. If only there was an establishment that blasted Christmas music, had single servings of Special K and Fruit Loops prominently displayed but also was a tiny Ethiopian restaurant! Good news anyone near 20th and Chestnut! Pam S suggested we go to Almaz Cafe because she heard good things about their vegetarian platter. She asked our waiter if it had any dairy. He said it did not so we both tried it. Wow! Five separate vegetarian dishes on the same plate and that awesome Ethiopian spongy bread. Its the same as getting a Beef Tibs except you get more things and you don't feel bad the next day. Its the next day and I'm feeling downright spry! The vegetarian platter joins the list of outstanding vegan plates in Philly.
(5)
Namir S.

It's good, but not my favorite style of ethiopian food. Almaz uses more herbs, especially thyme, in their curries. The injera was a little more flour-y than many others (they mix teff and whole wheat) Very nice lady running the place, great service.
(3)
Yun W.

Delicious food and a great alternative option for Sunday brunch. They have typical American brunch items (French Toast, Pancakes, Omelets), but also Ethiopian dishes (beef, lamb, vegetarian dishes). We tried: Misir - 4 stars - Spicy red lentils cooked in berbere sauce and herbs blended with chopped onions. Definitely recommended. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/almaâ€¦ ) Blueberry Pancakes - 3 stars - Standard pancakes. Would probably not order it again. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/almaâ€¦ ) The place is somewhat small, but the upstairs seating is nice. We showed up at around 11:30am and there wasn't much of a crowd yet. Overall great food, service, and prices. I would definitely come back here again and try more items on the Ethiopian menu.
(4)
Nikki R.

I went here with a friend of mine who is vegan, not knowing what I was in store for. The setting is cute, with nice seating upstairs, lit with small candles. My friend got the vegetable platter and loved it. I tried the Foule (like smashed up chili), which was also very good. I'm glad that I tried a new place and a different cuisine. They also have "more American" options if you are not as adventurous, like wraps and sandwiches. And the woman who ran the place was very sweet and hospitable. I'm sure that I will be back. Also, there were amazing looking chocolate chip cookies in the jar as the counter--but I resisted the temptation. Next time I wont.
(4)
Anna C.

I haven't been to Almaz for about 5 years, probably- I now live on the other side of PA- but when I saw the name in the most recent yelp email, I immediately thought of the smiling proprietor from when I used to stop in every week or so during my Center City days. I loved this place. It was mostly coffee and smoothies at the time, with some Ethiopian (so rare in Philly!) and it was always a pleasure to go there. I'm glad it's still doing well!
(5)
Alexandra M.

My review of Almaz is a bit biased since I'm reviewing it as a gluten free person. They were the only Ethiopian restaurant in Philly that I called that understood what gluten was and offered to serve me the veggie combo over rice. Although it is not the best Ethiopian I've ever had, I really like the casual vibe and friendliness of the place. I don't think of Ethiopian as the type of food where you can pop in for a bite and this is that sort of space, hence the "cafe" in the name I guess. It's a good option for lunch for sure.
(4)
Caitlin M.

If you are going to give this place a whirl or you come up on it by accident go for the vegetarian platter. They do a wonderful job at making foods that you probably would not normally eat and making it taste great. Try each section carefully if spicy is not your thing because some parts had heat! The enjera is definitely something different but don't fear it. If you like sour dough you will have no problem enjoying it with your entree. I was taught to keep the fork down and use the enjera as the utensil. It is great to just dive into you plate with just fingers and the pancake! I probably cannot come back to this place on a regular basis since I don't reside in the city but I would recommend it to both city dwellers and outside suburb travelers. You could share a platter but I wouldn't recommend it. More bang for the buck if you get separate platters.
(4)
Joseph F.

My girlfriend mentioned one night that she was craving some Ethiopian food and me, being a great listener, did a Yelp search and found this gem. We ate there around 6:30pm on a Saturday night. This place is quite cozy, but very small so seating IS limited. The walls are painted bright, inviting colors and there was some light Jazz playing in the background. We were greeted immediately by the owner, Almaz, and seated upstairs. There are many options on the menu (breakfast, lunch, etc.), but we went for the Ethiopian dishes, hence the trip ("When in Rome"). I ordered the Fir Fir and my gal ordered the Doro Tibs. We went with the family style option - our meals came out on one massive plate, laid on a giant piece of Enjera (Teff & wheat sourdough pancake). When I say that is was a flavor-explosion in my mouth I am not exaggerating, not even slightly. Our entrees were so tasty and the spread of different vegetables were just the right companion. We decided to try some of the Ethiopian coffee afterwards and were equally delighted. The Coffee was smooth and nutty and didn't even require sugar or creme. Afterwards, even after eating so much, we didn't feel sluggish or bloated, but energized. During our meal our server was very attentive and the owner was always around and smiling. I'm sure this place has a longer wait time on a busier night, but it is absolutely worth it. We will be back for sure. Thanks Almaz!
(5)
Matt J.

I had the lamb tibs (slices of lamb) served with enjera bread and a side veggie sampler. The bread was fine and the veggies very good. The lamb was earthy and tasty, though at other Ethiopian restaurants the meat and the veggie dishes I've had have been ground, which makes them easier to scoop up with the bread (here just the veggie dishes are). I can't say I know which is more authentic though. Services was friendly, portions were fine, no liquor license (drag) but overall enjoyable. I love meat but I would recommend the veggie dishes here, what I had was very good.
(3)
Jille B.

We visited Almaz Cafe while in Philadelphia for our honeymoon. We totally found in on a whim and nearly walked by it. Seating is a bit particular. The first floor has a few window bar style seats and then there are 2ish tables. That's where we sat. I also believe on the "second floor"/balcony there were a few tables. That's also where the bathroom is located. Overall the space is snug, but cozy. They had a variety of different items on their menu, but their Ethiopian options were small. Which was fine. Our waitress, who I also think was the owner came over and saw us looking at the menu. We explained we are vegan and right away she was stoked and said I'll make you both a veggie sampler. This was by far the best Ethiopian food I've had. The sampler included potatoes, sweet pickled beets, a cabbage dish, a few lentil dishes, a chickpea dish and collard greens. It was almost immediately after we ordered she brought our food out. It was cheaper to eat here in Philly for Ethiopian than it is for us in Pittsburgh!! If you're in philly, definitely give this place a chance.
(5)
Roger C.

Came here with 3 of my coworkers and we decided to get 4 dishes and share family style. This was my first time trying ethiopian cuisine and i was not let down. The consensus favorite for us was the beef stew. The lamb dish was pretty good as well
(5)
Karen F.

After YEARS of walking by and not stopping in (even after reading great - and not so great reviews on yel) I popped in for a quick take out Iced Ethiopian Yrgecheffe coffee. Soooooo delicious and a roasty-toasty (but not burnt tasting) flavor. Friends truly don;t let friends drink Charbucks. Well worth the $2.40 including tax. Can't wait to come back for a proper Ethiopian meal.
(4)
Ramyaroopini R.

This was my first ever Ethiopian food I have had. I chose this as this place had good reviews about the food. I ordered a vegetarian combo, it was good but I felt the food was overall okay. The side dishes were okay and the injera was so cold. We asked to the lady who served us if it could be hot, she said that's how Ethiopian food was and told us that they make the injera in the morning and serve at night for the dinner! Is that real? Do you guys have warm food or a colder food at this place??
(2)
Prasath S.

Wanted to give Ethiopian Food another shot after trying Queen of Sheeba in Dallas, TX (Food was extremely oily and just bleh) Almaz was def a much better experience, we ordered the Steak Tartare, Chicken Stew and the Daily Lamb Special. Loved the Lamb Dish, it was so yummy and blended well with the onions and peppers..The Chicken I found to be very bland, not sure if that's how the food is meant to be (so i don't want to insult the cuisine). The Tartare was yum, slighly seared in the bottom and when combined with the spice mix on the side, it was delicious. The owner was awesome, he gave me a cookie on the house, just like that. Good Man !
(4)
George S.

The food, while over-priced for takeout, is very good. I love the food, but usually get indian food or something similar elsewhere because it's more affordable. Two vegetarian platters will cost you about $28. It's not really a place that you want to sit and eat dinner because it's small and not very atmospheric. I will definitely go here again when I get a craving for Ethiopian food, but it would be nicer if the food was better priced OR the atmosphere was better for a dine-in experience.
(3)
Allison T.

The food was great. The atmosphere might be considered quaint bohemian. This is a coffee shop with a few tables serving Ethiopian food along side bagels and other breakfast and coffee items. The injera was moist. The lentils and chickpeas on the vegetarian combo were spicy; enjoyed all items on the platter. Chicken stew was tasty. Friendly owner and attentive service.
(4)
Charles C.

I love, love, love Almaz Cafe. This is one of my favorite places in Center City, and one of only two (that I know of) where you can get Ethiopian without going to West Philly. It is close to Rittenhouse Square and easily walkable from University City, too. I have eaten here countless times for weekend lunches and weeknight and weekend dinners. I've eaten there on my own or with groups of friends. I have only had items from their Ethiopian menu and their coffee, which is excellent, and on nearly every occasion, we have been able to walk right in. Once, when we were a larger group of 5 people, we did call ahead to reserve a table upstairs and brought in some wine to have with our huge shared platter of food. Usually we have ordered Veggie Combos, and at other times, I have ordered Doro Wat, Zilzil Tibs, or the lamb tibs. I think it compares favorably with other Ethiopian restaurants where I've eaten around the country. Most of the complaints I see here and about Ethiopian restaurants in general have to do with misunderstandings about injera. Injera is not a side of garlic toast, it is not a biscuit, it is not pita pocket, and it is NOT hot naan straight out of the tandoor. It has denser nutrition, is more expensive to produce than a slice of bread, and is routinely served at room temp. When at Almaz, we have never gone away hungry, and the folks who run this place have always provided a reasonable amount of injera. In the past, I have witnessed friends and family members who have unwisely scarfed too much injera at an Ethiopian meal and experienced a feeling like Thanksgiving bloat (x 10). Injera is basically a miracle food, and as such, should not be trifled with. It expands and is intensely filling, and not like a dinner roll. I think this is why it shouldn't really be treated as Americans would treat bread. Injera is not really bread--it is your eating utensil, your plate AND a complete nutrition system in itself! Trust the folks at Almaz, they know how much injera you need and how to serve it. This place wouldn't normally work for groups larger than 5, because there are only a few tables. This keeps the place the low-key, quiet, and relaxing space it is, which is just another thing that makes it great. I've never encountered large, loud tables of complaining, entitled students here (shhhh, don't tell them!). So, I couldn't be happier than when I'm at Almaz. The food is great, the people who run the place are super friendly, and the atmosphere is cafe-like and low-key. This is one of Philly's greatest secrets, if you ask me!
(5)
Elizabeth R.

I should have reviewed Almaz months ago but I go so frequently I always assume I'll do it the next time. It's a cozy spot with great food and service. The vegetarian Ethiopian platter is especially tasty with more variety than is even listed on the menu description. The portions hit the spot--I finish about 3 bites over where I should have stopped. And the family platter has *two portions* of each dish--a lifesaver because I become very selfish and mildly angry if my dinner companion starts to hog the Tikal Gomen.
(5)
Brittany L.

Delicious food, plus non-pretentious and no frat boys in sight (rarity in Rittenhouse Square). Seemed like a lot of regulars in the place, which is always a good sign. The woman who was working was so nice and attentive. She hooked it up with extra injera! Vegetarian option was enough for left-overs. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Stephen P.

Very fine food, very charming low key location, very friendly staff. You should go with a group of four to six. We had four, and requested one large platter for all of the things we ordered. More than six and there won't be room to share, only one or two and you won't have enough selection for a feast. We got the doro tibs (bite-sized chicken pieces in herbed sauce), shiro (legumes in berber sauce), kik alicha (yellow split peas with turmeric), and (I think) zizil tibs (beef). None were very spicy, although there was a small saucer of a very nice hot sauce in the middle of the platter. I wish the food had been spicier, and there were more yogurt to balance! Cooking for Western taste? Anyway, it was all very flavorful, and very nice. The injera was also very good -- soft enough to be tearable, strong enough to hold up to the food. Nicely soured, but a bit more lemon than I'm used to. In all, very nice. I will definitely return, and will ask for (a) more spice, and (b) more yogurt on the side.
(4)
Tatiana C.

Amazing Amazing!!!! The fodd is sooooo good! And the owner is always so nice. We go frequently to Almaz and love all their menu!
(5)
Edison Y.

It is great to have a place for Ethiopian food near where I live. Their food is decent, but not my favorite. The lady works there was very nice and I like sitting next to the window.
(4)
JC J.

I've always walked by this restaurant, but never been tempted to go in because it always looks empty or closed. However, on Saturday I decided to check it out for the first time, and am pleased to report that it's one of the best cafe/restaurants that Rittenhouse, if not Philadelphia, has to offer. The food is delicious. I often find that Ethiopian food is overwhelmingly spicy, to the point that I can't taste any other flavors. At Almaz, the cook does a great job of balancing the spice with other spices and the meat's natural flavors. I ordered the doro wat and beef tibs - both of which were great. The injera was pretty good. It's flatter than the injera I've eaten at other restaurants, which was slightly disappointing but didn't dampen the meal as a whole. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed each bite, and left the restaurant wanting to come back in the future. The owner of this restaurant is welcoming and charming. Her style fits in with the ambiance of the place - relaxed, homey, and warm. Seating is limited, so I wouldn't come here with a big group. It's great for a quiet evening with one or two other people. Final plus is it is BYOB!
(4)
A K.

Best Ethiopian nomz in Phila, maybe ever?! I know that's quite a statement, but dang, it is so good. My favorite is the vegetarian platter: lentils, cabbage, beets, et cetera. So delicious and hearty, as well a great meal to share with someone. :) The lady owner/manager is so kind when you walk in, which makes you feel even happier to be eating there. Oh, and the smoothies are made to order and come in a huge mug. I'd eat there every day if I could...srsly.
(5)
Alissa L.

I've walked by here a lot and finally went in. Coffee is great! Staff is incredibly friendly. They have a cool loft to sit at that overlooks the bar. It's also a great people watching spot. This is definitely the first of many visits.
(5)
Pam S.

This is my first Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia. First of all, it gets points because I didn't have to schlep all the way to West Philly to find a place, and second of all, any place that has a standard vegetarian combo (vegan friendly) is always good with me. The restaurant is listed as "Coffee & Tea, Ethiopian" -- pretty accurate actually. The place is quite small, with a little lofted area that has a few small tables. I'd be unlikely to head here with a group of more than two or three -- there's really only one (maybe two) tables that can accomodate a group of four. The lower part is very to-go-friendly -- coffee, tea, wraps, a breakfast menu ... their Ethiopian menu is the last page of the menu as it is. Side note: We were also served on separate plates (they brought it that way) rather than the traditional large shared platter. Could be good if that method of serving isn't your bag. Overall, I think it's a cute place. I'd only come here for Ethiopian, or if I worked in the neighborhood I might come by for a wrap from time to time. I didn't have the coffee, as I was hoping for the Ethiopian restaurant style with the clay pot. They use all Ethiopian beans though, so I'm interested to hear what coffee-heads think of it.
(4)
Marcel M.

I tried the Firfir for lunch. Almost left because there isn't much for my 6 year old daughter but the very nice lady at the counter offered to make a grilled cheese so we stayed. The Firfir consists of Enjera with simmered cubed pieces of tender beef with garlic, onions, peppers and spices. I think the side dish is Tikil Gomen & Misir. It was very duhlicious. We also shared the Anti-stress smoothie that consisted of blueberries, yogurt, bananas and honey. Very tasty. All in all this is a very quaint and relaxing cafe right in the Rittenhouse House section of Philly.
(4)
Elisa F.

I love their Ethiopian vegetarian platter. I often crave it in my sleep no less. I love the texture of their buckwheat crepes. I can't wait to go back again for more!
(5)
Tara T.

A bit of a weird spot, but apparently they can't get by if they stick to Ethiopian food only. The owner of the place (Almaz) is a really fun lady. Plus, they have a BYOB policy and didn't even charge the $5 cork fee!
(4)
Nicole V.

I couldn't agree more with the idea this place is a little gem. The inside is quiet and offers a great place to study, read, or just people watch out the window. They have tons of options for coffee and tea, which is nice on a colder day or an early morning. The options vary from ethnic cuisine to your average american breakfast and lunch food. Of course I believe in the philosophy that when in Rome do has the Romans do. Also, being a vegetarian when they actually label the menu with an option for me I absolutely must try. I would say the vegetarian combo was a little steep in price. However, it was delicious and well season. I felt full, but I didn't get the greasy feeling that people below have mentioned. I was glad to try to try Ethiopian food because I haven't been able to in the past. It will for sure be a place I plan on retrying. Furthermore, The wait staff pretty much leaves you alone if you come alone to work or something. But, you just pop over to the counter and they are extremely pleasant.
(5)
Jade V.

My first Ethiopian experience in Philadelphia. Stopped here for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised. First of all, it's not just Ethiopian food; they do breakfast (omelettes and the like), hoagies, wraps, salads, etc. Of course, I didn't try any of that and went straight for the enjera and stews. All of the ethiopian dishes were within $9-$12, if I recall correctly. BF had dorowat and me, being indecisive, got the vegetarian combination. The stews came on one huge enjera plate, split down the middle, and they gave us tons of extra enjera on the side (we ended up taking some home). I loved the misir (red lentil stew). Just a bit of a spicy kick. The tikil-gomen and kik-alchia were good, but a bit bland for me (I'm a spice addict). BF highly recommended the dorowat, it came with two pieces of chicken and a hard-boiled egg. Flavorful chicken-y goodness. We were both extremely full and satisfied at the end of the meal. The service is pretty friendly, too. Would definitely return.
(4)
Zhewei S.

Food was pretty delicious. I ordered the vegetarian dish. The lady who took our orders was super nice which is always a plus for a restaurant. Big serving sizes, so you will get money worth of delicious food.
(4)
Lauren S.

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food, and it was a delicious introduction! Also, the service was SO friendly. :)
(4)
Andrew C.

Outstanding in every way. Food is wonderful, great value, service is fine, the building is small but its fit for purpose. This really ought to be an institution in the city; I really can't think of a better place to go for a good meal with a couple of friends.
(5)
Sylvie C.

What every cafe should be. What I wish every cafe would be. Amazing service. My boyfriend and I concluded that these may be the friendliest people we've ever met. In. our. lives. Amazing food. Get a little adventurous and go straight to the Ethiopian section of the menu. The vegetarian combo is such an extreme delight of a huge variety of flavors, techniques - hot, cold, spicy, subtle - this plate has everything you could ever want. Warm, filling, and perfect for a cold day. Love that they have the option of getting straight up breakfast food and a number of great, non-Ethiopian options. Coffee and tea made with love. Wifi. Comfortable seating upstairs and downstairs. The whole place screams to come in, stay awhile.
(5)
Amber P.

Delicious, warm place with friendly owners! The woman greeted us when we entered for lunch on Monday and explained how things worked. We sat upstairs on the loft style area (which was super cute and quaint!) and she came up to take our orders. I'm sad that I had coffee right before we had lunch because I wanted to try their iced coffee. I ordered the Firfir and it was delicious. Large portions and tasty enjera. Compared to my first Ethiopian dining experience I rated this one a four but I loved the environment and can't wait to try it again. thank you so much!
(4)
Schuyler L.

I was craving Ethiopian and the choices in U City were exhausted so we ventured out to Center City looking for a nice BYO and found it. This little place is great! Check the Ambience selections, I found it to be a little of every single one of them. I'm not sure how a place manages to be both touristy and dive-y while still able to squeeze out the romantic aspect, but Almaz did it. Congrats! On the other hand it reminds me of my old stomping ground Queen of Shiba, which was a combination bar/Ethiopian restaurant. Almaz takes this to a different level by combining Ethiopian with a cafe instead of a bar. This is much more calming and I felt more authentic as well. We ordered two dishes, they came out separately. This is always a concern to me because occasionally everything will be served on one big platter. While sharing is fun with some people with others it's the survival of the fittest. In summation, Almaz has a great location, enough tables to find a seat (check upstairs too), very clean, relatively fast waiter service, delicious, and comes complete with very fair prices.
(4)
Anita S.

I came here with someone who had never had Ethiopian food and was impressed by the hospitality of the folks who work here/own the place. We had the doro tibs and the misir, the latter being the star of our platter. All orders come with a good helping of vegetables, all of which were fine, and the standout was the yellow lentil. Not too much seating, so I wouldn't recommend it for a large group. While we were eating, several folks came in to order smoothies, seems like they're worth checking out. Made me nostalgic for the DC Ethiopian food scene.
(3)
David B.

I had an ok experience here. A quick rundown: Food: Meh. I'll start by saying that think I shortchanged Almaz Cafe by not ordering any meat dishes. I was there with my friend Anuj and since he only eats vegetables we ordered only vegetarian options. I'm thinking of not being his friend anymore because his eating habits make me very angry. The injera was a little bland (no sour aftertaste) and dry. We ordered the Tikil Gomen (yellow split pea) and Shiro (mixed legumes). They were ok/good but unmemorable. Ambiance: It has casual cafe atmosphere, real laid back. Service: Waiter/bartender was friendly and the food came out quickly. It's the best/only Ethiopian restaurant in Center City so that's a plus. I'll likely go back to try the Zilzil Tibs (steak) and Kifto (Ethiopian steak tartar).
(3)
Mary H.

Love this place! Great service and great Ethiopian food and coffee. They also have smoothies, breakfast, and sandwiches but I've only ordered the Ethiopian food and coffee so I have no idea what the rest of the menu is like. The portion size for the Ethiopian food is pretty big so I usually end up splitting it with a friend or having yummy leftovers for the next day. I got the zilzil tibs the other day and it was a bit different from what I remember. The beef was more dry than usual, but still good. The order of the zilzil tibs comes with the misir (a lentil mix), the tikil gomen (cabbage, carrots, and potato) and the sourdough pancake-like bread. Everything was full of spices and very flavorful.
(4)
Avneet S.

Very good food, very friendly owners. And, like I said, REALLY good food. The reason it's getting 4 and not 5 stars is because even though the food is always good, it's fairly inconsistent. While I don't ever dislike my meal, I can order the same thing 3 times, and the 3rd time it's the same dish, but isn't the exact flavor I was expecting. I'll chalk this up to it being made by true homestyle cooks, who do not measure but cook by "feel", and just continue coming here for great Ethiopian food.
(4)
John P.

Decor is not great, but the food was ok.
(3)
Jennie S.

Under the guise of a Rittenhouse coffee/smoothie/sandwich joint is a gem hidden in plain site. Open the tri-fold menu and order off of the third page: Ethiopian specialties. Almaz Cafe is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Philly. Everything has a fresh quality, is flavorful and never cooked to mush. The kitfo is deeelicious - hands-down the best in town.
(5)
Vivian T.

How silly of me to think that I can only get Ethiopian food in University city. How did I miss this little hole in the wall? I had no idea they even served ethiopian food until my friend brought me here. I've probably walked by this place a billion times and thought it was a nonspecific cafe. The ethiopian food was GREAT!! maybe b/c I've been so deprived living in center city but it was absolutely delicious. My friend and I split the vegetarian plate with the doro wat chicken dish (so awesome that it comes with an egg). The veggies were awesome- lentils, beets, greens, potatoes and carrots. it was amazing. we were still scraping for more at the end and totally cleared the plate. now that I found this little jem, I will have to come back everyday to get my ethiopian/injera fix :) i have also so so so happy to found foul on the menu. I cannot wait to come back to get it! :)
(4)
Edward M.

Almaz is the best Ethiopian restaurant I've been to in Center City. Okay, so I haven't been to any others in Center City, but it's nevertheless pretty tasty and can hold its own with most West Philly Ethiopian restaurants. And it's only a block from Rittenhouse Square, so centrally located for my world. Almaz is fairly small so dining in is best for small groups (up to four, I'd say). You can also get their dishes to go. My regular standby is the veggie combo platter, which conveniently combines several classics with good injera. It is also fairly filling and is good for sharing. Service is friendly, prices are fair. The restaurant is actually more of a cafe and though I haven't tried their coffees or smoothies, they look good and probably are good. For solo dining/drinking, there's good people watching from the seats by the front window. For group dining, they have tables downstairs and upstairs. For those unprepared to eat Ethiopian food the traditional way (hands; no utensils), there's probably silverware available.
(4)
Stan K.

slightly different flavors in a few dishes compared to other Ethiopian places but still pretty good.
(4)
Ram S.

Great place, my first introduction to Ethiopian food. Their enjera is the like the Indian pancake/ dosa and very filling. The veggie platter is quite a mix of spicy stuff, lentils, sauces, spinach, etc. Finally, the owner/ host is so sweet and helpful, she cares so much. I went with my family and my daughter fell in love with the place and their hospitality. Fun times.
(5)
Dan K.

This place is an all-around class act. The owners are absolutely pleasant to deal with and they genuinely want you to enjoy your experience, whether it's your first time or tenth time enjoying the food of their native land. I've eaten here with a vegan friend, a meat eater (like myself) and others -- all have been satisfied with the variety of flavors found here.
(5)
Erica B.

The owner is so very warm and accommodating ...which in my opinion is the first thing that draws someone to like a place. I was here during a Thursday mid-morning/afternoon, while waiting to be seen by my customer, and Almas prepared a delicious late breakfast-to-lunch foods. There is wi-fi available, clean restroom upstairs (where there are dining area tables available). Great Ethiopian coffee she adjusted to accommodate the American palette. Great Pandora station for easy-going music. And of course I tried the vegetable platter and specially loves the split pea and savory lentils. The beets were also nice way to offset the chickpea and red lentil(?) which had a bit of heat. A nice vegetarian platter if you come hungry, or appetizer for two. Alma says that there is also a 2nd location in Norristown which I will make a point to visit when I am in that area. Thanks for a pleasant dining experience :)
(4)
Minaz M.

Not a big fan of Ethiopian cuisine.. My bf and I shared the veggie platter.. You get enjera with every entree you order.. The portion/ serving was large enough for us to share.. i only loved the cabbage potato veggie..
(3)
Ed C.

I LOVE this place! At first, I was a little weirded out that their menu was not entirely Ethiopian and included a lot of Western dishes. However, once I tried it, I was hooked! The veggie combo is incredible. Seriously, I order it at least once a week, sometimes more. I don't know what they do to their shiro, but it's amazing. However, if you order the shiro on its own, be sure to ask for no sour cream if you want it vegan. The people who work here are so friendly and nice. I truly love this place!
(5)
Michelle S.

The food is very good and the service was really spot on and friendly. Had the lamb special of the day and it was a nice sized portion and served with vegetarian sides. The veggie sides were so good, next time I'd probably order the vegetarian combo as a meal. The space itself is small with a few tables downstairs and a few upstairs. Learned they opened a much bigger place in Norristown that has a full bar etc. Will be trying that location too.
(4)
Emma T.

I've had Ethiopian food in DC, New York, and South Africa, and I can safely say this was the best injera I've ever had. It's not too sour, while still very sponge-y and textured. It compliments the deliciously flavorful food. My friend and I shared the Firfir (beef cubes) and the vegetable combo and it was all great. My only complaint was that the beef was a bit tougher than I would have liked, but the sauce it was cooked in was excellent. The vegetable combo is great to share. You get a sampling of five different veggie dishes (collard greens, lentils, split peas, mixed legumes, and potato cabbage) which all have unique and wonderful tastes. The servers were very friendly and filled up our water promptly and asked several times about our food. I will definitely be heading back to try more of the food - they had a lamb special that sounded amazing.
(4)
Tait N.

I love this place :-) Delicious food, very friendly, little hole in the wall. Meat is tender, not over cooked or dried out, spices are awesome. I also got a butterscotch shake, very good, not over sweet.
(4)
Katrina C.

This review is for breakfast: Ethiopian iced coffee - delicious. Simple eggs and toast- delicious. Total cost of my meal - delicious. Friendly guy working - delicious. Cute place - delicious. I'll have to come back for dinner!
(4)
Chris M.

This is my first time having Ethiopian food but, it was amazing. I had the Zilzil Tibs, the guy there was very friendly and helpful, the service was quick, all in all it was a great place.
(4)
Mary A.

The service and food are great. The sit down area can be cramped. I would recommend the firfir. Also, their enjera is awesome.
(4)
Amy O.

Great veggie combo! Went here over the weekend in the middle of th afternoon, we were the only customers. Not the greatest service as the manager seemed to be busy cleaning and prepping for the dinner hour. Perfect service size, very filling!
(5)
Katherine L.

Good ambiance, very cozy and great service. All the patrons seemed very pleased and happy, and one of them seemed to be greeted as a regular by the staff. Nice feel to the place! It's a nice mix for the menu - American style breakfast and lunch dishes (i.e. sandwiches and wraps, coffee drinks), as well as Ethiopian food! This review is for the Ethiopian food. Always the follower of injera and Ethiopian food, I had to try this place. Since I am a snob, I can say I was pleased. However, the injera was more rubbery than I'm used to eating. Also, the yellow split peas were a bit undercooked. The greens were tasty, but the flavor wasn't what I was looking for - it tasted more Caribbean than Ethiopian spiced. Still good, but, again, not what I had hoped for. If in Philly, I might give them a try again because of the service. For Philly, I bet it's pretty gosh darn good, though, for Ethiopian!
(3)
Aaron C.

Really Good place for Ethiopia Dish and Coffee. The Bariste is friendly.
(5)
Jillian L.

I absolutely love this little place! The owners are super sweet, this place is named after the owner's wife, Almaz! Get the veggie combo because you get a sample of their very best! The Kitfo (steak tar tar) was amazing too. This is the best Ethiopian in the city, otherwise you have to go out to West Philly and I don't like going way out to those neighborhoods...eeek.
(5)
Barrett L.

For me, Almaz has always flown under the radar in the two and a half years I've been here. It's divey and non-descript, but one of my best friends swears by it. So finally, after months of pressuring from both her and the BF, I finally made the trek over here after an exhausting week at work. It was one of the best dinner decisions I've made in a long long while. The two of us split the Doro Tibs and the Vegetarian Combo. When the food arrived, it looked epic. Huge portions of delicious looking and smelling chicken and vegetables piled high on spongy injera, with even more injera on the side. And the taste? Effing incredible. The vegetables were savory and filling; the chicken was perfectly seasoned and flavored, and the injera was soft and spongy (I could literally eat all my sandwiches on that). Apparently, they import the injera directly from Ethiopia (according to my friend the diehard). In fact, the whole meal was so filling, I couldn't even finish (I let the BF take that responsibility). This is not the place you go to for a nice dinner or a first date, but it's perfect if you just want a damn delicious meal with your besties or even solo. Unpretentious, homey, and a solid focus on delivering great food, I can't wait to come back soon.
(4)
Rachel S.

I l-o-v-e Ethiopian food and am a certified enjeraholic. Based on the rave Yelp reviews, I hustled to beat the dinner rush, but there were only two people in there besides me at 6:00 on a Saturday night, not counting a few people who came in later to get smoothies. The restaurant is tiny with two levels. Sitting at the bar in front of the window is good for people watching. As I was coasting in from the other coast having had nothing but a coffee and a banana all day, every (Ethiopian) item on the menu sounded great. The veggie combo won out over the zilzil tibs, and it did not disappoint. The flavors were tasty, and the enjera was tender and flavorful; I ate every last bite. Terrific service. Sounds like I should have had a coffee, but that gives me a reason to return.
(5)
Kinnari A.

After leaving DC, i have to say that I miss good Ethiopian food a lot. Almaz definitely makes me miss DC less. You don't have as much variety on the menu as you would at an authentic DC restaurant, but this place does do a pretty good job. I highly recommend it if you are craving some injera and red lentils.
(4)
Sandra A.

Almaz Cafe was not as delicious as I expected considering the great reviews on Yelp. I tried the doro wat dish (chicken stew) and two sides (cottage cheese and cabbage). It was filling but the seasonings did not fit to my likings. The injera on the bottom of the chicken stew was a bit hard as if it were a few days old but the two injeras I received on the side were much softer and fresher. I usually like to eat the injera on the bottom of the stew once the seasonings have soaked into the bread but I didn't this time because the texture wasn't what I expected from good injera. However, service was good. The woman serving me was very nice but the food isn't worth a second visit especially for a $15.00 meal. I will stick to my usual Ethiopian restaurant in West Philly - Kaffa Crossing. I appreciate Kaffa Crossing's spices and flavors a lot more than Almaz.
(3)
Jess C.

I love this place! I've been in twice so far. The first time I played it safe with a turkey wrap which was super fresh and huge. I was so impressed with the woman that was working there. She was running everything by herself. Cooking, cashing people out, running platters up the steps, and refilling waters. She even took the time to ask my name and thanked me by name as I left. I went in with a friend today to give Ethiopian food a try for the first time. Loved that she remembered my name when I came back a week later. We ordered the chicken and vegetable platter. It was enormous and yummy. The chicken was flavored perfectly. I work in the restaurant business and I never cook so I dine out pretty much every day and I was very impressed with Almaz's food and service. This is my new Tuesday spot. Next week I'm going to try the chicken stew. Also, a great place to stop for a coffee, cafe mocha, shake, or even just a banana on the fly. I mostly love how much pride they take in their product. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Fallon D.

Oh my. What to say? Incredibly friendly and great food. They even brought us extra (at no charge) of one of the sampler items because they saw we liked it so much.
(5)
Mike H.

I dig this place. That's for several reasons: 1) The owners are realllllly nice. I love that they some how are psychic enough to know if I'm getting coffee to go, or getting coffee there and hanging out for a bit. 2) The food is reallllly good. The vegetarian sampler is awesome, but since I love the misir the best, I usually just get that. The veggie wrap is also delicious. And I hear the soup is also really good. Their smoothies also rock. 3) They have cheap and good coffee. And big mugs to drink it out of. 4) Their credit minimum is only $5. Totally reasonable.
(5)
Sarah P.

I have this relentless paranoia, with tiny places like Almaz, that they're on the verge of going out of business at any moment. I'm sure it isn't true (if their rabid yelp fanbase is any indication), but this isn't a rational fear, OK? Please go to Almaz and allay my fears! It is an outstanding Ethiopian restaurant! (Do not be discouraged by the fact that it is wearing an incongruous coffee shop costume!) Should I really re-sing the praises that are all over this page? The food is ridiculously delicious and an amazing bargain, plus vegetarian-friendly. The owners are delightful and deserve your business, so go give them some, please!
(5)
Kai M.

How have I never reviewed this place? I'm through here just about twice a week. Almaz is a tiny two-story cafe/restaurant sandwiched between an insurance storefront and a barber's shop. It's run by a wonderful couple and is the sort of quintessential mom/pop place that makes living in a city less alienating. For the most part, I use Almaz as a place to pop in for coffee when I'm on my way somewhere or coming home after a day's work. Hot or cold, their fresh-brewed Ethiopian coffee is absolutely THE best cup of real coffee in Philly. It punts the vaunted La Colombe way, way out of the water and is better than the equally-lauded Blue Bottle coffee served at Pure Fare. Do not put sugar in it. Do not put cream in it. Just drink it and enjoy. (Well, alright, do to it what you must, but at least give it a sip straight up first.) As for food, they have home-made Ethiopian meals (various meats and veggies served on injera) and an American breakfast menu. Breakfast is alright, but the traditional fare is where this place shines--I wish they'd just do away with the eggs and toast and stick to all Ethio all the time! Oh, and there's free wifi. :)
(4)
Mama G.

I forgot to share the threatening message the owner sent to me about a year ago. The friends who are writing the positive reviews should be ashamed. He said, "I don't understand you getting so personal going after me I don't even know you now I do."
(1)
Jes S.

I don't come here often enough. And it makes me sad... :( Things I love: EVERYTHING. Okay, more specifically... - The food. Whether Ethiopian or their lunch menu, everything is delicious!! We get wraps once a month, and breakfast every other month or so. And we don't get dinner as often as we would like here, but there has been nothing we have not LOVED. - The drinks. Coffees, smoothies, YOOHOOS! (Yes, I realize they don't make YooHoo, but the fact that they have it blows my mind and the inner child in me rejoices upon seeing it.) - The OWNERS/STAFF! Friendliest, nicest, most wonderful people ever. Half the time I think I go there just to hear stories and chat it up with the owner. Then I realize it is best to do so while stuffing my mouth with the delicious food. - The prices. Everything is so reasonably priced. And the quality is above and beyond. - The coziness of the place. They have upstairs settings too, but altogether the place just has an amazing welcoming feeling. I have nothing bad to say. Except about how I don't go often enough. :(
(5)
Tam N.

This is my go to place for a breakfast sandwich. sausage egg and cheese on a croissant for $6.75. The eggs are cooked perfectly, cheese completely melted, mixed in with slices of sausage on a buttery croissant. I haven't had the ethiopian food yet but I'll have to find an occasion. Man this is a satisfying sandwich. The people are pretty nice also and after my second visit he (Solomon?) knows what I want. Also, as I was waiting, I overheard one of the owners trying to get to know one of their regulars. Seems like a friendly, down to earth place.
(4)
Ron D.

Awesome food, I'm vegan so it's not so easy sometimes to eat out and not spend a lot, but they did have a few choices that were amazing. Best of all the dish I ordered Shiro, had ginger as a main ingredient. I'm a ginger junkie so they definitely got my vote, I'll probably make a stop in there every time I'm in the city, even if its just for coffee.
(5)
Emily W.

Almaz is one of my favorite places to go when the weather gets cold because their food is just so comforting. I always get the vegetarian combo and the spices in their have this incredible warming effect. The Injera bread is unique and tasty, especially if you like tangy breads, and I wished they sold rolls of it to go. With it's little holes, it acts like a sponge that soaks up all the wonderful sauces and it's sourness helps cut some of the richness of the dishes there. It's great place to go to if you're slacking on your veggies. Just don't wear any wool sweaters there because as tasty as the spices are, you just don't want to be wearing them after you leave the restaurant. And as most the yelpers have already commented, the staff is wonderful and accomodating. The ambience could be improved, but I think it's juggling three roles as a cafe/ sandwich shop/ and Ethiopian restaurant to appeal to all sorts of people who come by there. I almost wish they would just serve Ethiopian food so that they could offer a larger selection of traditional Ethiopian dishes!
(4)
Hoa T.

This was only my third time eating Ethiopian food and I got to say it was the best. The place is small, very charmingly so. We called ahead and asked if they have room for 5 of us in the next 15 min or so. Load and behold, when we got there, the tables were pulled together, all ready for us. Being that it was around 3pm and that we had class at 5:30pm, we were hankering for some alcohol. Yes it made total sense. They don't have any alcohol but is a BYOB. To the corner Wine & Spirit we went, and a bottle of wine later we were all very happy. The food was flavorful and delicious. We had a variety of Ethiopian dishes on one big platter. I particularly liked the chicken stew, very flavorful and tender. I'm still not used to the slightly sour spongy "bread" so that was my least favorite part of the meal. FYI there's wifi available if you decide to come and sit around a bit.
(4)
Lisa P.

Tiny little spot near the lovely Rittenhouse Square. The staff were all very nice and helpful. The vegetarian combo platter was delicious with a good variety, but not as much as I usually see at Ethiopian restaurants. I will definitely make it a point to stop here anytime I am in the area!
(5)
Kimmy S.

I love Almaz Cafe! I had eaten here a few times and loved it so much, I decided to have my birthday party here. We got the whole upstairs (we had a considerable amount of people) and everything went swimmingly. I recommend the doro wat, which is my favorite dish on the menu. I tried the kitfo and enjoyed it, but found the flavor to be a little too much after a while. The lentils are an amazing addition to any dish you order here, and Almaz will brighten your day with the amazing food she cooks. This is a BYOB you really need to check out. No utensils, it's cheating!
(5)
Jeffrey C.

My favorite! The Ethiopian dishes are super tasty and vary in character from visit to visit, so the flavor palate is always a little different. The vegetable dishes here are particularly noteworthy -- I would venture that even dedicated carnivores would be satisfied by the rich flavors and hearty character of the veggie combo selections. Although I can't necessarily claim that the food dramatically surpasses other Ethiopian dining I've had in the city, it is certainly top notch and it's my personal favorite. And Almaz and Solomon (they own and run the place) are such wonderful people that it's always a joy to stop in and visit them. Apart from the Ethiopian dining the coffee here is quite respectable, and they make a formidable hot chocolate if you ever just want to stop in on a cold day (by the way, it's always warm in here). Almaz also makes a couple daily soups that are always delicious if you're around during lunch and can't really handle a filling Ethiopian platter. I had a cold a couple months back that her chicken soup (with something delicious in it like ginger maybe?) did wonders for. Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)
Olesya P.

It is great place to eat good food, drink coffee, use internet. This place is good for anything. I ordered chicken curry and it was very good. Coffee was great as well. Price is ok for Center City Philly.
(4)
Jason B.

Wow, I'm pretty impressed. I got the vegetarian combination. I could not get over how good it was. Had a hot cup of the Yirgacheffe with it. Not the best Yirgacheffe I've ever had, but it was a nice compliment to the meal. (I think my standards for coffee are higher than my standards for food. This food was way above standard. The coffee could use some room for improvement.) Friendliest service one could ever hope for. So kind and courteous. The only thing more I could ask for would be to have Mulatu providing the soundtrack to my next meal here. After factoring in the cost of flying him and his band in from Ethiopia, that might make for an expensive meal. I think it'd be worth it. Please PM me if you'd like to sponsor this event.
(4)
John H.

Awesome vegetarian combo!
(5)
Bill M.

Almaz has been hitting the mark every time that I've made the effort to set foot in it. And since Rittenhouse Square is my prime summer location it's been happening quite a lot. I honestly do have to say that it's pretty amazing that their service and prime attention to detail never seems to falter. Wow I could give an unnecessary amount of props to it's incredible Ethiopian eats, I feel that it's not needed since it's already been covered plenty of times over. So instead I'll give it up to things like the incredible turkey wrap that I had the last time I was here. it's hard to go with such items when you check out all of their diverse offerings. but in the end I decided to give it a shot as a reverse curiosity, and it delivered. and we're talking a delivery of a plentiful portion of meat, plenty of veggies, delicious cheese, a side of chips, and a side of these cookies that were sort of like chocolate graham crackers. Toss in the great coffee that I had and I might just need to do reverse curiosity more often!
(5)
Laura S.

I couldn't understand why Almaz Cafe kept popping up on my Yelp homepage. "Why do they want me to write another review?" I thought. "Wasn't my original one enthusiastic enough?" I was sure that I'd already sung the praises of this spot, one of my local favorites. Oops. This is a hidden gem for Ethiopian food. Portions are generous and prices are very reasonable. I much prefer the atmosphere here to the Ethiopian spots in West Philadelphia (not to mention this spot is steps from my doorstep, bonus!). The owners are incredibly sweet and nice and if you stop in more than once they will remember you. My absolute favorite thing to order is the tikil gomen, a vegetarian stew of cabbage, carrots, and potato. It's usually served as a side dish with the non-vegetarian entrees, but I always ended up wanting more! Speaking of the options for the more carnivorously-oriented, the firfir and zilzil tibs are my favorites. Don't worry about pronouncing the names right, they won't judge. Most dishes are served with a side of tikil gomen and lentiils, and very generous portions of injera. Mmm. As the name would suggest, this is also a cafe. Downstairs there are some small tables and a window bar where you can people-watch, and there is an upstairs area that overlooks downstairs and is usually pretty empty. The wi-fi is free! And the coffee is delicious.
(5)
Jose A.

Review for dinner and coffee. Absolutely spectactular! I'm not sure exactly what ethiopian food is supposed to taste like, but I love whatever it is they gave me. This a little hole in the wall type place in center city, surviving as an American breakfast joint by day and Ethiopian restaurant by night. The service is some of the best I've had. The prices are not beatable. It's byo. The portions are filling. Definitely want to go back.
(5)
Scott G.

Not the best Ethiopian I've had. Injera obviously diluted with too much wheat flour. Very gummy and sticky. Got the veggie combo. Usually on a plate the size of a truck tire. This one was your average plate size. Lentils were runny and spinach was cold. Service is slow. Still waiting for my check as I write this. Don't give up on Ethiopian food if this is your first experience and don't like it. There are many great ones around the country and perhaps here in Philly too. I'll try another place next time.
(2)
Michelle L.

This place is such a Center City gem! I came here for dinner with an out-of-town friend and although the coffee shop faÃ§ade might be a bit deceiving, it's actually a legit Ethiopian restaurant upstairs. It kind of feels like you're eating in an attic - and in a good way. The service is homey and friendly; I think it might even be family-owned? I usually like getting at least one vegetarian order when I have Ethiopian, but my friend and I decided to forgo the veggies so we could try two types of meat - the firfir (beef mixed with soaked injera pieces) and the dorowat (chicken stew). I'm so glad we went with the meat dishes, because they came with quite the spread of veggies too - I'm not sure if this is standard or they did this just for us :) The dorowat was yummy, pretty much what I'm used to, but the firfir which I've never had anywhere else was pretty phenomenal. I'll definitely be back for more Ethiopian, and I also want to try their coffee :)
(5)
Jon D.

This place is worth a try. I've been there for lunch a couple of times, and coffee. The people are very friendly and the food comes out fast. I've had the vegetarian platter twice, and it's consistent in flavor and quality. The whole veg platter is a lot of food for lunch, if you eat all the enjera (floppy Ethiopian sourdough wheat/teff pancakes). However, that is almost $14. Warning, it's very garlicky (which is a positive) so you'll be fragrant for some time after this platter! I'd recommend visiting especially if you're interested in finding out what Ethiopian food is like or you're looking to expand the veg options near Rittenhouse. It's not the cheapest lunch, but it's a good change of pace. I'd like to try their breakfast and other non-Ethiopian foods too.
(3)
Jon V.

Great vibe, excellent food. Coming back for sure.
(5)
Thomas W.

I love this place. When you turn the corner from Walnut onto 20th you can smell it already; they have great Ethiopian food. It's really not fair to be honest. There are days I don't want to eat Ethiopian. I want sushi or something. But sushi doesn't have the whole side of the street smelling of tasty tasty heaven. Oh and they have great smoothies. I don't drink coffee but they have no shortage of people there to drink it. It smells good. The couple that owns it are two of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and they are completely deserving of continued success.
(5)
Amy T.

This lovely little cafe just off Rittenhouse Square is a wonderful place for either the quick take-out drink or a hearty meal. I have come here several times for the traditional Ethiopian dishes. The food is very good and comes with a heaping portion of injira and vegetables. The staff is friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is friendly, quiet, and highly amenable to studying or reading. They also provide free wifi. My only complaint is that, in the heat of summer, the cafe gets very warm. Otherwise, an overall great place!
(5)
Kaitlin L.

Why. Why did I justset foot in Almaz for the first time ever? What the heck took me so long? I've passed by the location many many times and didn't even know it was there. I will not make that mistake again. The food here is absolutely wonderful. The flavors were exactly what I didn't know I wanted. The dishes are huge and very filling, but I had trouble stopping. Even if the food was sub par (which by no means is true) I'd probably still show up here just to get their fantastic coffee or see the smiling faces of the lovely people who work here. I immediately felt like a regular here, they are just the sweetest people. I cannot wait to return again.
(4)
Barak B.

Excellent real ethiopian food. The food is well value as well. I got the excellent chicken dish and there was plenty of the special bread to wrap up the delicious food. The spices were great. The food was warm and the people were friendly. This place truly is a hidden gem. I promise you, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jamie S.

Great food! The firfir is TASTY! Their Enjera is perfection! Very garlicy, don't plan this on a first date! ;-)
(4)
Rose B.

The waitress was willing to make a suggestion after I told he what I could and could not eat. It was chicken something or other, sorry I cannot remember but it was delicious. It had rosemary and some other spices that I am not familiar with it. I could not eat the ingera due to a gluten allergy so she gave me rice instead. I didn't think the portion size was that great for the price unless you count the rice, actually I was still a bit hungry when I left. Otherwise very nice.
(3)
Tasia T.

My favorite Ethiopian joint in Philly! The owners are so nice and genuine. The second time I ate there they welcomed me like I was a regular (which I soon became). They take pride in the food they serve and you can tell. The portions are awesome, prices are awesome, service is awesome, and, well seating, that can be tricky depending on when you go because of the small size. They also having smoothies and coffee which are always a treat.
(5)
Erin F.

When I think about it Almaz and little cartoon birds with rolls of injera in their mouth start flying around my head. I don't come here on a daily basis or anything, more like every other week, but it's my favorite place to pick up dinner on nights when I'm on my own after work. Here's my ritual. I call in my order from my desk at 4:45. At 5pm I leave my office and walk four blocks to Almaz. I pick up and pay and then walk another four blocks to the bus. I exit the bus about 15 to 25 minutes later and then I walk three blocks to my apartment, where I put on my jammies, unpack my veggie combo, grab a sparkling water, put on my glasses, turn on the TV and enter a fugue state in which I eat about two-thirds of the contents of the styrofoam container housing the vegetarian combo. Afterwards, I use the provided moist toilette to clean off my hands and then drift into a food coma while watching COPS. The food here is really good, seriously. So is the iced coffee, so is the sevice, so is the ambiance, so is the everything. Another five stars.
(5)
Alexandra W.

After being dragged to Almaz by Erin F. and Stephen S., I am finally willing to admit that I like Ethiopian food. Almaz is amazing. The staff is always really nice and really accommodating, the food is great and really reasonably priced for the portions. They also have sandwiches and wraps for the less adventurous eater, but why go to Almaz for anything but Ethiopian? While I am not a vegetarian, I haven't tried any of the meat dishes here. The veggie stuff is so good! I definitely recommend sharing dishes.
(5)
Larson E.

To start: Food: 2 stars Coffee: 5 stars. I dropped by here primarily because it was close to my new home, and was pleasantly surprised by the small restaurant "hole-in-the-wall" charm that the place has. They have seating on the ground level, but some stairs that go up to a lofted area with more tables. The place doubles as a coffee shop and Ethiopian restaurant. I ordered a muffin and a cafe latte. The former was a lil dry, but a good portion, and probably would have been better earlier in the day. The latter was... awesome. This place has some of the best coffee I've ever had, and is worth trying for no other reason than that. If you have an hour or so, drop by for some coffee and relax using their free Wi-Fi (just ask for the password when you place your order). I'll surely be returning here several times this summer.
(4)
Alan L.

Finally found good Ethiopian in Philly. I'm spoiled, having lived in DC for almost 14 years. With reputedly the largest Ethiopian population outside Addis Ababa, plenty of good Ethiopian restaurants there with plenty of Ethiopian (or formers) at the table. Almaz approaches that quality.
(5)
V M.

The beef stew was overwhelmingly delicious and the potatoes and cabbage wee just "melt in your mouth"amazing!
(5)
Dave F.

This place is a phenomenal value. Within a 1-mile radius of Rittenhouse square, it's about the only place where you can get a really good meal for $10 a plate. My favorite dishes are the vegetarian sampler (recommended by every other yelper) and the spicy, semi-raw steak tartar. Among the non-Ethiopian dishes, the Greek salad is huge and really good. Every time I've come here, the service has been lightning-fast and very cheerful. The owner/chef is a delight. By all means go!
(4)
Marie D.

Guys, I had a rough day. I had to think long and hard about how to turn it around. So I went searching and landed on Almaz Cafe. From the outside, it don't look like much but the inside triggers a smile. Bright green paint patched with shiny tin panels. Super modern, super huge light fixture. Non-pretentious tables and chairs. Friendly employees. The menu is eclectic: American breakfast and lunch items, ice cream, espresso, Ethiopian platters. Anyone who orders a turkey and cheese sandwich here has no sense of adventure. Rough days call for a break from the mundane. My first bite of Ethiopian foule (spiced beans smashed with tomatoes, onions and peppers accompanied by a side of sour cream, vinegar-tinged pancake-textured bread and turmeric-hued cabbage) was just what I needed and when it was gone I wanted more. If it didn't take so long to prepare (really, it was only 15 minutes but I was stressin'!) I would have ordered another. Next time I'll call ahead, as the pleasant guy behind the counter suggested.
(3)
Tyler K.

I love Almaz Cafe. This place is run by Almaz and her husband Solomon. They are great. Almaz is my favorite, as she's always fun and really nice and makes me smile. If you come enough, she makes it a point to learn your name. She's a trip and always makes me smile. Conversely, you never really have to make her smile, as her smile is omnipresent. She makes a mean coffee (always Ethiopian Yirgacheffe) and great espresso, but I'm always bad and get the Cafe Voltaire, as it is just this wonderful dessert for me. The sandwiches are great. The BBQ Chicken Wrap is really well done, as well as the Tuna sandwich. I'm a huge fan. But really, I'm beating around the bush. The ethiopian fare is delicious. I always get the vegetarian combo, just because I cannot decide what wonderful plate to eat. The food comes with ample injera, which is always a concern of mine when I go to eat Ethiopian fare. Seriously, you need to try this place.
(5)
Marissa A.

I absolutely love Ethiopian food, and I had high hopes for this, but sadly they fell short. It was so bland compared to all the other Ethiopian food I've ever had and it was also luke warm. I ordered the vegetarian platter and only 1 of the 4 options was palatable. Lovely staff, and a good smoothie, but I wouldn't recommend it and sadly I won't be returning.
(2)
May C.

Came here this past weekend to work on a project. The person I was meeting requested a non-Starbucks, Center City coffee place, and since we'd be using laptops Caffienation was out of the picture. Thankfully, there's Almaz Cafe. Almaz has a downstairs area with a coffee bar and a few seats, but we decided to park ourselves upstairs to avoid foot-traffic and spread our work out over a table. The wi-fi was free (you have to get the password from the counter) and fast. My soy latte was good and under $4 (always a plus since so many places are anti-lactose-intolerants and charge a huge surcharge for soy). They had a pleasant Beetles mix-tape playing in the background. And they didn't hassle us for sitting for 3 hours and only ordering coffee. Another bonus: after our coffee-fueled planning session we had some pretty darn good Ethiopian food. Having just had Ethiopian in Harlem last week, I can attest that Almaz's vegetarian combo (red lentil, yellow split peas, and cabbage) is legit. They give you tons of bread and a fork should you be a type-A like me and want to keep typing while eating. I will definitely be becoming a regular here. Good Ethiopian right down the street (and no need to brave West Philly alone when I get a craving) has upped the standard of living in Center City in my mind.
(4)
Calvin H.

I always get the exact same thing here: vegetarian platter and an Ethiopian iced coffee. This restaurant is a little bit above my usual price point, but the vegetarian platter is big enough for two meals. The coffee is outstanding and super, super, super strong. I'd say it's about as strong as Vietnamese drip (but you're getting a lot more of it than at a Vietnamese cafe), which is only a smidge less strong than your average espresso. Be warned. Service here is excellent. The woman who works the dinner shift is super sweet and has great suggestions. She doesn't mind it when you come in a big group and all pay separately, which is AMAZING.
(5)
Steven P.

I always enjoyed coming here for a quiet meal upstairs when I lived in Rittenhouse. The owner and his wife are very friendly and the food is excellent.
(4)
Deborah F.

It's only my second day in Philadelphia and I've discovered that a lot of places are closed on Sundays. I was looking for a coffee shop to work in that wasn't Starbucks and was very glad when I finally found this place. The environment is nice and quirky - bright colored walls (loved the turquoise ceiling) and there is upstairs and downstairs seating. I had a medium latte and a breakfast bagel (they were willing to serve breakfast anytime - hooray!). The coffee was delicious - very smooth and deep flavored with little acidity. I was happily surprised with the bagel - I ordered the bacon cheese and egg on whole wheat bagel expecting something like McDonald's, but instead it was like an omelet on a bagel - all mixed together. Fantastic (at least a 2 egg omelet with tons of bacon and cheddar). Huge. The size and quality justified the $5.75 price tag for the bagel. The service was perfect. I was served extremely promptly. I originally only wanted coffee but after sitting for awhile grabbed a menu. Within a minute (just enough time for me to peruse) someone came up and asked in a friendly manner if I'd like to order. Everything came faster than I expected.
(4)
Zachary D.

Summary: great food, byob, coffee shop ambiance. Review: Almaz Cafe serves authentic and tasty Ethiopian food. Come with clean hands, as you will be sharing with your table and eating with your fingers. The food is great -- perfect level of spiciness and many interesting tastes. Because the place is byob, the total price stays low. Only downside is the ambiance. The room feels much more like a coffee shop than a restaurant. Of course, that might be because it is a coffee shop by day...
(4)
Connie S.

From the outside one can barely tell that this place serves ethnic food, much less delicious and authentic Ethiopian cuisine, but looks can be deceiving. I've heard the coffee is really good, but for the food, don't waste your time on the bagels, wraps, sandwiches, etc. -- just go straight to the Ethiopian dishes portion of the menu. Last I went, someone in our party was half-Ethiopian and he attested that this place was the real deal. Come with a group of hungry friends (although I wouldn't recommend a party larger than 8, it usually doesn't get too crowded, but they don't have big tables and there isn't that much space inside). If this is your first foray into Ethiopian dining, be prepared to eat with your hands and to share everything. The owners are super helpful and attentive, and they will steer you in the right direction if you have questions about the menu. In my experience, all the dishes and spices start blending together anyway in Ethiopian food, so you really can't go wrong with a dish. Moist meat, good flavor, large portions at Almaz. My favorites: - Zilzil Tibs (strips of tender beef sautÃ©ed with onions): super tender beef - Kitfo (steak tartare): if you're cool with eating raw meat, you'll love this - Vegetarian Combination: comes with Misir (split red lentils with onions), Tikil Gomen (cabbage, carrots, potatoes), Kik-Alchia (yellow split peas) and Shiro (mixed legumes) Plenty of enjera (spongy crepe, the starch of the meal), and they keep it coming. Be careful, though - I've heard that the enjera, because it's so porous, expands in your stomach. You might leave dinner feeling very uncomfortable if you don't exercise some self-restraint. I would know from experience. But it's totally worth it.
(4)
Daniel L.

We were hungry but were tired of the same ol' stuff - turkey wraps, burgers, etc. We walked past Almaz and saw it was Ethiopian food so we wanted to check it out. Decor is simple very casual and staff is very friendly. We ordered the Firfir (stewed beef), Misir (lentils), and the Zizil Tibs (steak). Everything was amazing! It was a very nice change from the ordinary American food we usually end up getting for lunch. We topped it off with an Ethiopian iced coffee which is great. 5 stars for everything and a pleasant experience!
(5)
Lisa P.

The vegetarian combo is the best here! Plus the owners are so friendly. This is my favorite Ethopian food in all of Philly.
(5)
Nitin G.

Great food. If you don't care about the ambience, you will have a good time
(5)
Tommy B.

Almaz offers an ethiopian menu, though you wouldn't know it from the outside, and since they are conveniently located in Center City I wanted very much to like it. Unfortunately the food is greasy and underwhelming. And that's just plain odd. I've never left an Ethiopian restaurant thinking "That was greasy and it sits heavy in my stomach" before. Also, prices are not posted and the vegetarian combination turned out to be $13. As Ethiopian meals go it was a reasonable portion but certainly not a large one. $13 is too much for a businessman's lunch portion in a place with little ambiance. They are friendly folks and I'd love to see this place improve, but right now I have to tell you to get on the El and head over to West Philly for significantly better food.
(2)
Caroline S.

Hands down best Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia. Like someone else commented, the injera is just perfect, the veggie combo is solid, and the meat dishes awesome. My favorite is the doro wat. They also serve delicious coffee and breakfast! Five star service and food comes out really quickly.
(5)
Dan C.

4 stars for food, 5 stars for service. I loved my experience! The Injera was ridiculously good...almost fruity and tart but still rich and warm. I was offered additional injera when the owner saw that I was running low. Super plus service! She was extremely nice and we were able to share a few laughs. The food was excellent. All the vegetable dishes were fresh and flavorful and everything was spiced very well. I just wish that my meat had been more tender instead of so chewy and tough, but I'm not complaining. I will definitely be back at this gem! I can't believe I was thinking about going all the way to West Philly for Ethiopian!
(5)
Michael D.

I was SUPER psyched to find ethiopian food near my work! I generally get their vegetarian platter, which is just what you'd expect. Everything is well prepared and it's nice to be able to take a coffe to go after lunch. I like the high ceiling, and general look of the place. Very friendly owners.
(3)
A N.

LOVE IT!!!! The people are super nice and the food is AMAZING. I am vegan and I LOVE this place!! 5 stars!
(5)
Daniel K.

I'm new to Philly but I've been to a few Ethiopian restaurants in DC and Almaz is my favorite so far! I got the Doro Tibs which were flavored to perfection and the Vegetarian Combo and everything was delicious. The service was superb as well. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Joseph K.

Since moving to West Philly, I have been spoiled by the fine array of Ethiopian food in my neighborhood. Almaz is the sole outpost of this delicious cuisine in Center City, and they do it quite well. The service was efficient and attentive while remaining unobtrusive. The tiny space manages to be airy and intimate, as fresh as the delicious veggie platter. Almaz proves that all Ethopian food doesn't have to be simmered to the consistency of Gerber's. Each time I took a bite of a new dish, I thought "This is my favorite," until I got back to the first one and started the loop all over again.
(5)
Lissa M.

I was just here on 3/19/2011 with a large group. We called ahead of time and the owners were very nice and accommodating. They gave us the whole upstairs for a surprise party. And were friendly squeezing past us to bring food and take orders. And he kept checking on us to make sure we had everything we need. I do suggest sharing food since you get a lot. The food is good and they have a lot of variety. I would have probably liked my beef cooked a little longer, but everything is tender. They give you lots of Enjera (bread) to eat it with. It's BYOB so your party can bring their own wine and they will give you glasses. The dessert is great!! I wasn't sure if I wanted a cake (chocolate cake) for the surprise party so I didn't order one, but he made one anyway - and good thing because we decided to get it. It was very tasty. It's a block north on 20th street from 20th and Walnut. Parking is available on the street; and if you go before the club hoppers come out you can probably get a nice spot.
(4)
Scott R.

This was my first experience with ethiopian food. I was advised on what to try by a member of out party and I'm glad I did. The food was great and the environment was very homey. I'd definitely recommend it. Since I was ordered for, I don't recall the names of the dishes, but they were all standard dishes you eat with the pancake like bread. It was great though! Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Candace C.

love love love :) the food is a 4.5, but the service makes it a 5! the food is beautifully plated and delicious! the vegetable platter is really a great way to introduce yourself to ethiopian food if youve never been. i loved the ice coffee here! so yummy! :D and the owners are just wonderful wonderful people! very hospitable! ill definitely be back!!!
(5)
Louise T.

Easily my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Philly, even though it doubles as a coffee and ice cream shop. (I've never sampled those). It is owned and run by a very nice, hospitable couple. Besides the food being delicious and tasting like it has been simmered in love, it is a very comfortable space to be in. The same can't be said about other restaurants (like Absynnia in west Philly. I always feel unwelcome there and stopped going for that reason.) I wish more people knew about this place so I could rest assured that it will always be there.
(5)
Stacie H.

A hidden gem and one of my favorite spots in the city. Whether you go for the traditional Ethiopian fare, a sandwhich wrap, or the garden omelette, it's the best comfort food in the hood. The vegetable combo even has my meat-eating friends coming back for more. Great coffee and fresh sqeezed orange juice too. And the hospitality can't be beat!
(5)
Molly J.

Finally, legit Ethiopian food available outside of West Philly. Portions are generous, the injera is perfectly spongy, and my request for extra-spicy misir wot was perfectly obliged. Can't wait to check out the rest of the menu!
(5)
Zack L.

A wonderful cafe.
(5)
Christopher R.

The foule [fn1] at Almaz Cafe is a good compromise between the idealized version in my head [fn2] and the hassle of making it at home [fn3]. The enjera which accompanies it is unexpectedly sour at first but then it grows on you. The bread plus sour cream plus foule makes for a very good flavor but I am less enthused by the spongy texture of the bread [fn4] against what is basically a pile of bean mush. (I employ that description affectionately.) The cabbage hash [fn5] pairs well, at least. Foule can take some time prepare so I would advise ordering ahead. It comes to just under $10 with tax [fn6]. Service is exceptionally friendly at Almaz Cafe. I've been meaning to come back to try other dishes but, in the meantime, I would recommend the foule. Fn1 A dish made from mashed fava (broad) beans, popular in North Africa and the Middle East. Around breakfast/lunch time you'll find street carts surrounded by locals eating this dish in many of the cities in the region. It is also known as fuul, ful medames, etc. Fn2 Specifically: the foule sold by a haggard old woman, one eye lost in a sea of milky whiteness, in a narrow alley just past the Burmese embassy as you approach the 26 July Bridge in Zamalek, Cairo. This foule is ladled out of a large earthenware jug and costs EÂ£ 1 ($0.15 to $0.20). I failed to find a good stand downtown or near the AUC campus; the koshari that I found in that area, however, I have been unable to find in Philly. Any suggestions on that are welcome. Fn3 Its actually simple enough to make but fresh fava beans are prohibitively expensive for this preparation, Progresso canned fava beans are unsatisfactory and Goya dried fava beans can be difficult to find. Plus you have to stay with it as it cooks, so you spend like an hour, plus overnight soaking if you buy dried beans, to end up with brown mush. Even for the foule enthusiast, that's pretty frustrating. Fn4 The texture remains my issue here, though I cannot discount the memory of the fresh eish masri (Egyptian pita-type bread) which my idealized version was served on. There's decent enough fresh pita to be found nearby, so maybe I could buy some of that, but that seems like going too far. Plus, the impossibility or folly of recreating something like that et cetera. Enjera is fine, though better with the sour cream or even the cabbage than the actual foule. Fn5 My idealized version was served with pickled vegetables, vinegar-y to the point of being confrontational, and my home preparation usually entails sliced radish for spice and hard-boiled egg. If Ethiopian foule comes with cabbage, I am totally cool with that. Fn6 See Footnote 2 for the price of my idealized version but its unfair to compare the price of street food in the global south to cafe food in a pricier section of a major American city. It remains that the ingredients to make it at home will cost about $2 and yield four servings. Almaz provides a large serving, likely enough for two people, but it still feels like paying for the $9 banh mi at Mi Lah. I should note by way of the reference to the price of fresh fava beans in Footnote 3 that the color of the foule here does not suggest fresh fava beans.
(3)
Lisa K.

I am a huge fan of Almaz Cafe. Great Ethiopian food. My favorite is the vegetarian sampler although you cannot go wrong by anything on the menu. Don't be fooled by the exterior - it looks like an ice cream parlor. Once you're inside and observe the diners, you'll understand. Also the owners are some of the best people around.
(4)
Colleen M.

I live down the street from this place and love it. It has a rather unexpected combination of things going for it: On the one hand, they have great coffee, a quirky sense of style (see: weird industrial-looking light fixtures, steel ceilings downstairs) and a good atmosphere for sitting and studying (not a lot of seating, but if you can grab one of the tables or bar stools, it's a nice hide-away during finals week). On the other hand, they have GREAT Ethiopian food. Like, my favorite in the city so far. I don't eat meat so I can only vouch for their vegetarian dishes, but their tikil gomen and misir are so good...and their injera is always so fresh. For two non-meat eating people, order the vegetarian combo and the foule and you'll be happy campers. The thing that really makes me love this place the most are the owners though. They are so incredibly nice, and the service is amazing...I would still go there even if the food wasn't as good as it is.
(4)
Sara L.

FINALLY made it to this place. The Ethiopian food I've had in Philly has all been out in University City so this was a change of pace. Got to admit I don't LOVE ethiopian cuisine...its good but not one of my absolute favorites, so bear that in mind with my review. The place is very small and very cute. There is an upstairs that has table service, as well as some outside tables. The service is really friendly and the menu is mixed, American sandwiches and breakfasts and Ethiopian lunch and dinner food. There are also some super awesome smoothies that I personally very much enjoy. For lunch, I tied the Ethiopian vegetarian sample platter. The servings were for sure robust and very good. I would have liked a little more spice somewhere but that is a preference thing. Definitely would go back when I get a craving for Ethiopian or smoothies--especially since the location is so very nice!
(3)
John B.

3.5 I had somewhat low expectations, given the location near Rittenhouse Square. But Almaz turned out to be a pretty decent find for lunch, especially considering my desire to consume clarified butter at as many meals as possible. The tibs were fine, as was the vegetarian combo. My standards are perhaps unfairly high, though, as a result of having lived about a mile east of the 9th Street row in Washington, DC. Our server (the owner, I believe) was very nice and concerned as to our satisfaction. I certainly wouldn't seek it out, but if I lived or worked near Almaz, I'd probably be in once or twice a month.
(3)
Yash M.

I've been to a few Ethiopian restaurants in the city, and think Almaz is one of the better ones. Their vegetarian platters and wraps make it a great place for vegetarians. Very good Ethiopian coffee make this a great breakfast, lunch, and dinner place! The staff is extremely friendly, and it will definitely remain to be a staple.
(5)
Sam P.

I'm sort of a connoisseur of Ethiopian cuisine or at least what's served in America anyway. You can check out my reviews of other Ethiopian restaurants in the country. I didn't like the food here at all. It lacked flavor and spices and wasn't a great experience. I'm a vegetarian and had therefore ordered the vegetarian combo. The injera wasn't much to write home about either. The service was decent but I wouldn't come back any time soon.
(2)
Hana Y.

That vegetarian platter everyone is talking about on Yelp is worth the hype. It is absolutely delicious! And the lady who works here is so friendly and kind. The wrap is quite sour however, just as a warning to those who were expecting something like naan. It pairs well with the food though!
(5)
Anrenee R.

Ethiopian vegetarian combo. This is the third restaurant I've had the Ethiopian veg platter. While it was really good, I liked the other two I had more. The rolled bread was better at the first two. But Almaz was really good. I liked the collard greens and split peas a lot!
(4)
Michelle B.

The food was amazing and Almaz is lovely. I highly recommend! The servings appear small but they are filling.
(5)
Michelle B.

Dining experience for 6/29/14. You know when you have really, really good food. And you also know when you have just mediocre food. Well, it's sad to say Almaz was just mediocre on this visit and I was so looking forward to good Ethiopian food. Let's start with some positives. Outside seating is always a plus no matter what. Several small bistro tables line the front of the cafe. Friendly staff who were attentive and accomodating. Now for the rest of the story, the injera was cold and tasteless. Can't quite put my finger on it not sure if it was made hours before or a day previously but let's just say I've had much better. The vegetable combination, had a colorful and festive presentation. Exciting the eyes to get ones mouth salivating. However, the dish just lacked flavor. The cabbage and lentils were palatable. I was disappointed that my desire did not meet satisfaction this time. Not sure I will let this one visit taint my perception, may give them a second chance sometime in the future.
(2)
Aria S.

First time trying Ethiopian food! So unfortunately my review might be reviewing the cuisine more than the restaurant? Thursday night, place was empty, the two woman working super nice! We both ordered the veg combo (recommend if you're veg) which promptly came out. It's basically several kinds of lentil curries? Wish they were hot, they were just warm. They came to eat with these thick pancake things also made of lentils (if you've had Indian dosas, they are thick versions of this). Veg platter is $12. Something about food made it not deliciousss in my opinion, but I'm glad I tried it and I was seriously STUFFED after. Great for trying something new and cute little, ideally located spot. Would like to come again for brunch.
(4)
Jessica S.

A true gem for vegetarians -- and their omnivorous companions -- in Rittenhouse Square! Almaz is like a chameleon. They serve up serious Turkish coffee during the morning commute, American style wraps for the working lunch crowd, and deliver an authentic menu of Ethiopian delights for those in-the-know. I'm not an expert on Ethiopian cuisine, but I am always extremely satisfied with Almaz's vegetarian sampler platter. The dish has a beautiful array of colors, and the portion size is enough for two meals. The injera is tangy and chewy with enough holes to sop up all the juices of your meal. The dine-in space is tiny and the second floor dining area presents some accessibility issues, but if you're lucky enough to snag a seat you're in for a treat. Friendly owners and staff will help guide you through the menu if you're unfamiliar with Ethiopian food. Perfect for a solo night out, or a gab fest with your besties. I always appreciate the atmosphere here -- the smaller space feels intimate and is perfect for catching up with friends.
(5)
Joycelin W.

Almaz Cafe is a cozy little spot with really friendly service. The two of us shared the firfir and doro wot. Both were good but I personally didn't love the flavors in the firfir. The injera was spongy and tangy -- I've never had it before so I have nothing to compare it with, but it was good! The star for me was definitely the tikel gomen (this cabbage/carrot side dish) though. Oh my gosh it was so good. I would go back just for that.
(4)
Lisa L.

The veggie combo was a delight of flavorful dishes, especially the beets. It came with a bunch of injera-it was more sour than others I've had but I liked it. I felt like the good here was overall less greasy than typical Ethiopian restaurant food. The lovely lady at the counter neatly wrapped my takeout box in Saran Wrap for me. Also a good price.
(5)
Alexandra K.

Adam and I were craving Ethiopian food and happened upon Almaz. And I'm so glad we did. The food was so thoughtfully prepared, and so rich with flavor. The menu has a mix of standard cafe fare and traditional Ethiopian dishes. I had the veggie combo and Adam had a chicken stew. We both were so pleasantly full. The food came out quickly and was perfectly prepared. The restaurant itself is cozy, making for a great date night.
(5)
Albert M.

This is one of our go-to spots in the city. The service is always great as is the food. You will leave very full, as the portions are pretty big and the injera will fill you up.
(5)
Mel G.

My very first time eating Ethiopian food. And I was not disappointed. Everything the had a good spicy flavor. The chicken was tender and tasted fresh. I'm not crazy about the bread, maybe I'm just not use to the texture is very strange and I'd imagine they be warm and not so cold.
(4)
Cesar S.

Do something about your coffee, PLEASE. It's really bad the espresso you serve. (No offense)
(1)
Anastasiya K.

Amazing food. Just had a veggie combo and it's really good for lunch. Highly recommend this place.
(5)
Kimberly C.

Sought this place out as per recommendation from a friend while visiting Philly. I enjoy Ethiopian food, but have only been to a handful of Ethiopian restaurants. Wanting to share a good Ethiopian food experience with my boyfriend who has never tried, we chose to come here rather than a closer Ethiopian restaurant. 9/19/14 (Friday 6:30pm-7:30pm) The restaurant was very small but accommodating. The waitress/owner (?) was a very sweet lady and we were greeted with a smile. She helped us with the menu and pointed out lamb tibs which was not listed. Vegetarian Platter: Yum! Colorful and succulent. Some tasted better than others, but very good overall. Lamb Tibs: Very appetizing and topped with a delicate sprig of rosemary that gave it a smokey pine-like aroma. Total: approx $40 Overall, I enjoyed the food and service at Almaz, though it was probably not the best Ethiopian food I've had. Boyfriend thought it was okay but was not particularly impressed. Yes, there is a restroom upstairs to wash your hands. And yes, plenty of Injira.
(4)
Oscar W.

Exceptional service and food! Truly spectacular and very accommodating. $5 corkage fee FYI but BYOB!!
(5)
A B.

Don't let the atmosphere, or lack of, deter you. The service of the owner/chef is welcoming and friendly and the food is well done and tasty!
(3)
Roman I.

The worst food I have ever ate in my life, it was so bad that I downloaded the Yelp app to review it and to let everyone know how much of a rip off this place is.. The dam waiter says you can have lamp and chicken on your plate.. We said sure... Didnt tell us it was going to be extra..... The extra was18 dollars extra! Not only that the lamp we got was the worst kind.. I'm taking about pure fat peaces of the lamp and hard lumps of "something" the chicken was like someone threw up in the bathroom This place is sooo expensive for absolutely nothing. MCDONALD'S HAS BETTER FOOD. stay away
(1)
Esme G.

I came here to eat and study a few weeks ago, and then tonight to write and eat. Unlike many coffee shops in the area it was neither loud or crowded. The staff (I believe owners?) are very friendly, nice and accommodating. I did end up trying some of the ethopian dishes when I came back with a friend. We shared one of the beef stews, and the vegetable platter. I loved the variety of items, the slightly sour flat bread, and especially the cooked beets. The food was served in a timely manner, by friendly, talkative staff, and it was delicious. I will be back, oh yes, I will.
(5)
Eric C.

I have enjoyed Ethiopian food in NYC and Boston, and Almaz Cafe seemed like a good bet in Philadelphia. The restaurant itself is quite small, but it wasn't particularly busy late on a Wednesday night. Our waitress was very friendly and service was quick. The food was delicious, and as seems to be common with Ethiopian, was deceivingly filling. One fewer entree than diners should be about right for most groups. Definitely would come back!
(5)
Naa N.

What an amazing authentic restaurant. The restaurant is quite small , may sit no more than 15 people. It is not fancy but the food is great. We were immediately greeted and seated. We sat outside since we had our baby in the stroller . We shared the vegetarian platter, chicken stew and mocha latte along with the house bread, injera. It was delicious. Our favorite by far was the vegetarian platter. It was well seasoned, fresh and flavorful. Portion size was quite large. We will visit again when in the area
(4)
Kimberly Y.

I thought the food was average, though I'm no expert on Ethiopian food. My date and I shared the firfir and doro tibs. The portions were large, but we did not enjoy the injera and found the food underwhelming, although delightfully presented. The service was slightly confusing. No one greeted us at the door, so we shuffled towards the cash register. Then a waitress came down the stairs and led us up to the high table. She seemed to take her time, even after we let her know that we were in somewhat of a rush. At least she was nice enough. This was actually the first date with my current boyfriend, so I definitely remember that the restaurant was quiet enough to have a nice dinner conversation. Obviously, this was very important for me in hindsight, so thanks, Almaz!
(3)
Laura Jill S.

So glad my friend Ed C recommended this place! I went last night with my friend Jess, & we met Almaz herself! She was super nice, the service was great, & the food was fantastic. We were sitting on the 2nd floor at the counter so we were away from the cold air whenever anyone opened the front door, but we could still see out the window. I think because we were seated there, instead of a big platter, Almaz brought us separate plates even though we both ordered the veg combo. I'm fine with that. Even though sharing is caring. ;) Their injera is awesome--I'm obsessed with the texture & flavor. The presentation was beautiful & everything was full of flavor. It's not in my immediate comfort zone, but it's not a far walk either. I'll be here often because it's delicious & totally vegan friendly. Highly recommend.
(5)
Alexandra M.

My review of Almaz is a bit biased since I'm reviewing it as a gluten free person. They were the only Ethiopian restaurant in Philly that I called that understood what gluten was and offered to serve me the veggie combo over rice. Although it is not the best Ethiopian I've ever had, I really like the casual vibe and friendliness of the place. I don't think of Ethiopian as the type of food where you can pop in for a bite and this is that sort of space, hence the "cafe" in the name I guess. It's a good option for lunch for sure.
(4)
Tom M.

I know a lot of people consider moving to the city but hold back because nowhere has a bodega that blasts also happens to have a few tables to sit down at an be served Ethiopian food. If only there was an establishment that blasted Christmas music, had single servings of Special K and Fruit Loops prominently displayed but also was a tiny Ethiopian restaurant! Good news anyone near 20th and Chestnut! Pam S suggested we go to Almaz Cafe because she heard good things about their vegetarian platter. She asked our waiter if it had any dairy. He said it did not so we both tried it. Wow! Five separate vegetarian dishes on the same plate and that awesome Ethiopian spongy bread. Its the same as getting a Beef Tibs except you get more things and you don't feel bad the next day. Its the next day and I'm feeling downright spry! The vegetarian platter joins the list of outstanding vegan plates in Philly.
(5)
Namir S.

It's good, but not my favorite style of ethiopian food. Almaz uses more herbs, especially thyme, in their curries. The injera was a little more flour-y than many others (they mix teff and whole wheat) Very nice lady running the place, great service.
(3)
Yun W.

Delicious food and a great alternative option for Sunday brunch. They have typical American brunch items (French Toast, Pancakes, Omelets), but also Ethiopian dishes (beef, lamb, vegetarian dishes). We tried: Misir - 4 stars - Spicy red lentils cooked in berbere sauce and herbs blended with chopped onions. Definitely recommended. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/almaâ€¦ ) Blueberry Pancakes - 3 stars - Standard pancakes. Would probably not order it again. ( yelp.com/biz_photos/almaâ€¦ ) The place is somewhat small, but the upstairs seating is nice. We showed up at around 11:30am and there wasn't much of a crowd yet. Overall great food, service, and prices. I would definitely come back here again and try more items on the Ethiopian menu.
(4)
Nikki R.

I went here with a friend of mine who is vegan, not knowing what I was in store for. The setting is cute, with nice seating upstairs, lit with small candles. My friend got the vegetable platter and loved it. I tried the Foule (like smashed up chili), which was also very good. I'm glad that I tried a new place and a different cuisine. They also have "more American" options if you are not as adventurous, like wraps and sandwiches. And the woman who ran the place was very sweet and hospitable. I'm sure that I will be back. Also, there were amazing looking chocolate chip cookies in the jar as the counter--but I resisted the temptation. Next time I wont.
(4)
Anna C.

I haven't been to Almaz for about 5 years, probably- I now live on the other side of PA- but when I saw the name in the most recent yelp email, I immediately thought of the smiling proprietor from when I used to stop in every week or so during my Center City days. I loved this place. It was mostly coffee and smoothies at the time, with some Ethiopian (so rare in Philly!) and it was always a pleasure to go there. I'm glad it's still doing well!
(5)
Caitlin M.

If you are going to give this place a whirl or you come up on it by accident go for the vegetarian platter. They do a wonderful job at making foods that you probably would not normally eat and making it taste great. Try each section carefully if spicy is not your thing because some parts had heat! The enjera is definitely something different but don't fear it. If you like sour dough you will have no problem enjoying it with your entree. I was taught to keep the fork down and use the enjera as the utensil. It is great to just dive into you plate with just fingers and the pancake! I probably cannot come back to this place on a regular basis since I don't reside in the city but I would recommend it to both city dwellers and outside suburb travelers. You could share a platter but I wouldn't recommend it. More bang for the buck if you get separate platters.
(4)
Joseph F.

My girlfriend mentioned one night that she was craving some Ethiopian food and me, being a great listener, did a Yelp search and found this gem. We ate there around 6:30pm on a Saturday night. This place is quite cozy, but very small so seating IS limited. The walls are painted bright, inviting colors and there was some light Jazz playing in the background. We were greeted immediately by the owner, Almaz, and seated upstairs. There are many options on the menu (breakfast, lunch, etc.), but we went for the Ethiopian dishes, hence the trip ("When in Rome"). I ordered the Fir Fir and my gal ordered the Doro Tibs. We went with the family style option - our meals came out on one massive plate, laid on a giant piece of Enjera (Teff & wheat sourdough pancake). When I say that is was a flavor-explosion in my mouth I am not exaggerating, not even slightly. Our entrees were so tasty and the spread of different vegetables were just the right companion. We decided to try some of the Ethiopian coffee afterwards and were equally delighted. The Coffee was smooth and nutty and didn't even require sugar or creme. Afterwards, even after eating so much, we didn't feel sluggish or bloated, but energized. During our meal our server was very attentive and the owner was always around and smiling. I'm sure this place has a longer wait time on a busier night, but it is absolutely worth it. We will be back for sure. Thanks Almaz!
(5)
Matt J.

I had the lamb tibs (slices of lamb) served with enjera bread and a side veggie sampler. The bread was fine and the veggies very good. The lamb was earthy and tasty, though at other Ethiopian restaurants the meat and the veggie dishes I've had have been ground, which makes them easier to scoop up with the bread (here just the veggie dishes are). I can't say I know which is more authentic though. Services was friendly, portions were fine, no liquor license (drag) but overall enjoyable. I love meat but I would recommend the veggie dishes here, what I had was very good.
(3)
Jille B.

We visited Almaz Cafe while in Philadelphia for our honeymoon. We totally found in on a whim and nearly walked by it. Seating is a bit particular. The first floor has a few window bar style seats and then there are 2ish tables. That's where we sat. I also believe on the "second floor"/balcony there were a few tables. That's also where the bathroom is located. Overall the space is snug, but cozy. They had a variety of different items on their menu, but their Ethiopian options were small. Which was fine. Our waitress, who I also think was the owner came over and saw us looking at the menu. We explained we are vegan and right away she was stoked and said I'll make you both a veggie sampler. This was by far the best Ethiopian food I've had. The sampler included potatoes, sweet pickled beets, a cabbage dish, a few lentil dishes, a chickpea dish and collard greens. It was almost immediately after we ordered she brought our food out. It was cheaper to eat here in Philly for Ethiopian than it is for us in Pittsburgh!! If you're in philly, definitely give this place a chance.
(5)
Scott S.

My favorite coffee spot in Rittenhouse Square. They always serve fresh brewed Yirgacheffe here, and accept no substitutes. The space upstairs on the second floor is nice and cozy unless on their crowded days, and their assorted sweet pastries were delectable even for notorious sweet haters like me. Support your local businesses, especially if they're awesome and serve amazing Ethiopian coffee and cafe food like Almaz... instead of going to Starbucks down the street in B&N.
(4)
Roger C.

Came here with 3 of my coworkers and we decided to get 4 dishes and share family style. This was my first time trying ethiopian cuisine and i was not let down. The consensus favorite for us was the beef stew. The lamb dish was pretty good as well
(5)
Karen F.

After YEARS of walking by and not stopping in (even after reading great - and not so great reviews on yel) I popped in for a quick take out Iced Ethiopian Yrgecheffe coffee. Soooooo delicious and a roasty-toasty (but not burnt tasting) flavor. Friends truly don;t let friends drink Charbucks. Well worth the $2.40 including tax. Can't wait to come back for a proper Ethiopian meal.
(4)
Ramyaroopini R.

This was my first ever Ethiopian food I have had. I chose this as this place had good reviews about the food. I ordered a vegetarian combo, it was good but I felt the food was overall okay. The side dishes were okay and the injera was so cold. We asked to the lady who served us if it could be hot, she said that's how Ethiopian food was and told us that they make the injera in the morning and serve at night for the dinner! Is that real? Do you guys have warm food or a colder food at this place??
(2)
Prasath S.

Wanted to give Ethiopian Food another shot after trying Queen of Sheeba in Dallas, TX (Food was extremely oily and just bleh) Almaz was def a much better experience, we ordered the Steak Tartare, Chicken Stew and the Daily Lamb Special. Loved the Lamb Dish, it was so yummy and blended well with the onions and peppers..The Chicken I found to be very bland, not sure if that's how the food is meant to be (so i don't want to insult the cuisine). The Tartare was yum, slighly seared in the bottom and when combined with the spice mix on the side, it was delicious. The owner was awesome, he gave me a cookie on the house, just like that. Good Man !
(4)
Charles C.

I love, love, love Almaz Cafe. This is one of my favorite places in Center City, and one of only two (that I know of) where you can get Ethiopian without going to West Philly. It is close to Rittenhouse Square and easily walkable from University City, too. I have eaten here countless times for weekend lunches and weeknight and weekend dinners. I've eaten there on my own or with groups of friends. I have only had items from their Ethiopian menu and their coffee, which is excellent, and on nearly every occasion, we have been able to walk right in. Once, when we were a larger group of 5 people, we did call ahead to reserve a table upstairs and brought in some wine to have with our huge shared platter of food. Usually we have ordered Veggie Combos, and at other times, I have ordered Doro Wat, Zilzil Tibs, or the lamb tibs. I think it compares favorably with other Ethiopian restaurants where I've eaten around the country. Most of the complaints I see here and about Ethiopian restaurants in general have to do with misunderstandings about injera. Injera is not a side of garlic toast, it is not a biscuit, it is not pita pocket, and it is NOT hot naan straight out of the tandoor. It has denser nutrition, is more expensive to produce than a slice of bread, and is routinely served at room temp. When at Almaz, we have never gone away hungry, and the folks who run this place have always provided a reasonable amount of injera. In the past, I have witnessed friends and family members who have unwisely scarfed too much injera at an Ethiopian meal and experienced a feeling like Thanksgiving bloat (x 10). Injera is basically a miracle food, and as such, should not be trifled with. It expands and is intensely filling, and not like a dinner roll. I think this is why it shouldn't really be treated as Americans would treat bread. Injera is not really bread--it is your eating utensil, your plate AND a complete nutrition system in itself! Trust the folks at Almaz, they know how much injera you need and how to serve it. This place wouldn't normally work for groups larger than 5, because there are only a few tables. This keeps the place the low-key, quiet, and relaxing space it is, which is just another thing that makes it great. I've never encountered large, loud tables of complaining, entitled students here (shhhh, don't tell them!). So, I couldn't be happier than when I'm at Almaz. The food is great, the people who run the place are super friendly, and the atmosphere is cafe-like and low-key. This is one of Philly's greatest secrets, if you ask me!
(5)
Elizabeth R.

I should have reviewed Almaz months ago but I go so frequently I always assume I'll do it the next time. It's a cozy spot with great food and service. The vegetarian Ethiopian platter is especially tasty with more variety than is even listed on the menu description. The portions hit the spot--I finish about 3 bites over where I should have stopped. And the family platter has *two portions* of each dish--a lifesaver because I become very selfish and mildly angry if my dinner companion starts to hog the Tikal Gomen.
(5)
Brittany L.

Delicious food, plus non-pretentious and no frat boys in sight (rarity in Rittenhouse Square). Seemed like a lot of regulars in the place, which is always a good sign. The woman who was working was so nice and attentive. She hooked it up with extra injera! Vegetarian option was enough for left-overs. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Stephen P.

Very fine food, very charming low key location, very friendly staff. You should go with a group of four to six. We had four, and requested one large platter for all of the things we ordered. More than six and there won't be room to share, only one or two and you won't have enough selection for a feast. We got the doro tibs (bite-sized chicken pieces in herbed sauce), shiro (legumes in berber sauce), kik alicha (yellow split peas with turmeric), and (I think) zizil tibs (beef). None were very spicy, although there was a small saucer of a very nice hot sauce in the middle of the platter. I wish the food had been spicier, and there were more yogurt to balance! Cooking for Western taste? Anyway, it was all very flavorful, and very nice. The injera was also very good -- soft enough to be tearable, strong enough to hold up to the food. Nicely soured, but a bit more lemon than I'm used to. In all, very nice. I will definitely return, and will ask for (a) more spice, and (b) more yogurt on the side.
(4)
Tatiana C.

Amazing Amazing!!!! The fodd is sooooo good! And the owner is always so nice. We go frequently to Almaz and love all their menu!
(5)
Edison Y.

It is great to have a place for Ethiopian food near where I live. Their food is decent, but not my favorite. The lady works there was very nice and I like sitting next to the window.
(4)
JC J.

I've always walked by this restaurant, but never been tempted to go in because it always looks empty or closed. However, on Saturday I decided to check it out for the first time, and am pleased to report that it's one of the best cafe/restaurants that Rittenhouse, if not Philadelphia, has to offer. The food is delicious. I often find that Ethiopian food is overwhelmingly spicy, to the point that I can't taste any other flavors. At Almaz, the cook does a great job of balancing the spice with other spices and the meat's natural flavors. I ordered the doro wat and beef tibs - both of which were great. The injera was pretty good. It's flatter than the injera I've eaten at other restaurants, which was slightly disappointing but didn't dampen the meal as a whole. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed each bite, and left the restaurant wanting to come back in the future. The owner of this restaurant is welcoming and charming. Her style fits in with the ambiance of the place - relaxed, homey, and warm. Seating is limited, so I wouldn't come here with a big group. It's great for a quiet evening with one or two other people. Final plus is it is BYOB!
(4)
A K.

Best Ethiopian nomz in Phila, maybe ever?! I know that's quite a statement, but dang, it is so good. My favorite is the vegetarian platter: lentils, cabbage, beets, et cetera. So delicious and hearty, as well a great meal to share with someone. :) The lady owner/manager is so kind when you walk in, which makes you feel even happier to be eating there. Oh, and the smoothies are made to order and come in a huge mug. I'd eat there every day if I could...srsly.
(5)
Alissa L.

I've walked by here a lot and finally went in. Coffee is great! Staff is incredibly friendly. They have a cool loft to sit at that overlooks the bar. It's also a great people watching spot. This is definitely the first of many visits.
(5)
Pam S.

This is my first Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia. First of all, it gets points because I didn't have to schlep all the way to West Philly to find a place, and second of all, any place that has a standard vegetarian combo (vegan friendly) is always good with me. The restaurant is listed as "Coffee & Tea, Ethiopian" -- pretty accurate actually. The place is quite small, with a little lofted area that has a few small tables. I'd be unlikely to head here with a group of more than two or three -- there's really only one (maybe two) tables that can accomodate a group of four. The lower part is very to-go-friendly -- coffee, tea, wraps, a breakfast menu ... their Ethiopian menu is the last page of the menu as it is. Side note: We were also served on separate plates (they brought it that way) rather than the traditional large shared platter. Could be good if that method of serving isn't your bag. Overall, I think it's a cute place. I'd only come here for Ethiopian, or if I worked in the neighborhood I might come by for a wrap from time to time. I didn't have the coffee, as I was hoping for the Ethiopian restaurant style with the clay pot. They use all Ethiopian beans though, so I'm interested to hear what coffee-heads think of it.
(4)
Marcel M.

I tried the Firfir for lunch. Almost left because there isn't much for my 6 year old daughter but the very nice lady at the counter offered to make a grilled cheese so we stayed. The Firfir consists of Enjera with simmered cubed pieces of tender beef with garlic, onions, peppers and spices. I think the side dish is Tikil Gomen & Misir. It was very duhlicious. We also shared the Anti-stress smoothie that consisted of blueberries, yogurt, bananas and honey. Very tasty. All in all this is a very quaint and relaxing cafe right in the Rittenhouse House section of Philly.
(4)
Elisa F.

I love their Ethiopian vegetarian platter. I often crave it in my sleep no less. I love the texture of their buckwheat crepes. I can't wait to go back again for more!
(5)
Tara T.

A bit of a weird spot, but apparently they can't get by if they stick to Ethiopian food only. The owner of the place (Almaz) is a really fun lady. Plus, they have a BYOB policy and didn't even charge the $5 cork fee!
(4)
Nicole V.

I couldn't agree more with the idea this place is a little gem. The inside is quiet and offers a great place to study, read, or just people watch out the window. They have tons of options for coffee and tea, which is nice on a colder day or an early morning. The options vary from ethnic cuisine to your average american breakfast and lunch food. Of course I believe in the philosophy that when in Rome do has the Romans do. Also, being a vegetarian when they actually label the menu with an option for me I absolutely must try. I would say the vegetarian combo was a little steep in price. However, it was delicious and well season. I felt full, but I didn't get the greasy feeling that people below have mentioned. I was glad to try to try Ethiopian food because I haven't been able to in the past. It will for sure be a place I plan on retrying. Furthermore, The wait staff pretty much leaves you alone if you come alone to work or something. But, you just pop over to the counter and they are extremely pleasant.
(5)
Jade V.

My first Ethiopian experience in Philadelphia. Stopped here for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised. First of all, it's not just Ethiopian food; they do breakfast (omelettes and the like), hoagies, wraps, salads, etc. Of course, I didn't try any of that and went straight for the enjera and stews. All of the ethiopian dishes were within $9-$12, if I recall correctly. BF had dorowat and me, being indecisive, got the vegetarian combination. The stews came on one huge enjera plate, split down the middle, and they gave us tons of extra enjera on the side (we ended up taking some home). I loved the misir (red lentil stew). Just a bit of a spicy kick. The tikil-gomen and kik-alchia were good, but a bit bland for me (I'm a spice addict). BF highly recommended the dorowat, it came with two pieces of chicken and a hard-boiled egg. Flavorful chicken-y goodness. We were both extremely full and satisfied at the end of the meal. The service is pretty friendly, too. Would definitely return.
(4)
Zhewei S.

Food was pretty delicious. I ordered the vegetarian dish. The lady who took our orders was super nice which is always a plus for a restaurant. Big serving sizes, so you will get money worth of delicious food.
(4)
Lauren S.

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food, and it was a delicious introduction! Also, the service was SO friendly. :)
(4)
Andrew C.

Outstanding in every way. Food is wonderful, great value, service is fine, the building is small but its fit for purpose. This really ought to be an institution in the city; I really can't think of a better place to go for a good meal with a couple of friends.
(5)
Sylvie C.

What every cafe should be. What I wish every cafe would be. Amazing service. My boyfriend and I concluded that these may be the friendliest people we've ever met. In. our. lives. Amazing food. Get a little adventurous and go straight to the Ethiopian section of the menu. The vegetarian combo is such an extreme delight of a huge variety of flavors, techniques - hot, cold, spicy, subtle - this plate has everything you could ever want. Warm, filling, and perfect for a cold day. Love that they have the option of getting straight up breakfast food and a number of great, non-Ethiopian options. Coffee and tea made with love. Wifi. Comfortable seating upstairs and downstairs. The whole place screams to come in, stay awhile.
(5)
Amber P.

Delicious, warm place with friendly owners! The woman greeted us when we entered for lunch on Monday and explained how things worked. We sat upstairs on the loft style area (which was super cute and quaint!) and she came up to take our orders. I'm sad that I had coffee right before we had lunch because I wanted to try their iced coffee. I ordered the Firfir and it was delicious. Large portions and tasty enjera. Compared to my first Ethiopian dining experience I rated this one a four but I loved the environment and can't wait to try it again. thank you so much!
(4)
Schuyler L.

I was craving Ethiopian and the choices in U City were exhausted so we ventured out to Center City looking for a nice BYO and found it. This little place is great! Check the Ambience selections, I found it to be a little of every single one of them. I'm not sure how a place manages to be both touristy and dive-y while still able to squeeze out the romantic aspect, but Almaz did it. Congrats! On the other hand it reminds me of my old stomping ground Queen of Shiba, which was a combination bar/Ethiopian restaurant. Almaz takes this to a different level by combining Ethiopian with a cafe instead of a bar. This is much more calming and I felt more authentic as well. We ordered two dishes, they came out separately. This is always a concern to me because occasionally everything will be served on one big platter. While sharing is fun with some people with others it's the survival of the fittest. In summation, Almaz has a great location, enough tables to find a seat (check upstairs too), very clean, relatively fast waiter service, delicious, and comes complete with very fair prices.
(4)
Anita S.

I came here with someone who had never had Ethiopian food and was impressed by the hospitality of the folks who work here/own the place. We had the doro tibs and the misir, the latter being the star of our platter. All orders come with a good helping of vegetables, all of which were fine, and the standout was the yellow lentil. Not too much seating, so I wouldn't recommend it for a large group. While we were eating, several folks came in to order smoothies, seems like they're worth checking out. Made me nostalgic for the DC Ethiopian food scene.
(3)
David B.

I had an ok experience here. A quick rundown: Food: Meh. I'll start by saying that think I shortchanged Almaz Cafe by not ordering any meat dishes. I was there with my friend Anuj and since he only eats vegetables we ordered only vegetarian options. I'm thinking of not being his friend anymore because his eating habits make me very angry. The injera was a little bland (no sour aftertaste) and dry. We ordered the Tikil Gomen (yellow split pea) and Shiro (mixed legumes). They were ok/good but unmemorable. Ambiance: It has casual cafe atmosphere, real laid back. Service: Waiter/bartender was friendly and the food came out quickly. It's the best/only Ethiopian restaurant in Center City so that's a plus. I'll likely go back to try the Zilzil Tibs (steak) and Kifto (Ethiopian steak tartar).
(3)
Mary H.

Love this place! Great service and great Ethiopian food and coffee. They also have smoothies, breakfast, and sandwiches but I've only ordered the Ethiopian food and coffee so I have no idea what the rest of the menu is like. The portion size for the Ethiopian food is pretty big so I usually end up splitting it with a friend or having yummy leftovers for the next day. I got the zilzil tibs the other day and it was a bit different from what I remember. The beef was more dry than usual, but still good. The order of the zilzil tibs comes with the misir (a lentil mix), the tikil gomen (cabbage, carrots, and potato) and the sourdough pancake-like bread. Everything was full of spices and very flavorful.
(4)
George S.

The food, while over-priced for takeout, is very good. I love the food, but usually get indian food or something similar elsewhere because it's more affordable. Two vegetarian platters will cost you about $28. It's not really a place that you want to sit and eat dinner because it's small and not very atmospheric. I will definitely go here again when I get a craving for Ethiopian food, but it would be nicer if the food was better priced OR the atmosphere was better for a dine-in experience.
(3)
Allison T.

The food was great. The atmosphere might be considered quaint bohemian. This is a coffee shop with a few tables serving Ethiopian food along side bagels and other breakfast and coffee items. The injera was moist. The lentils and chickpeas on the vegetarian combo were spicy; enjoyed all items on the platter. Chicken stew was tasty. Friendly owner and attentive service.
(4)
Avneet S.

Very good food, very friendly owners. And, like I said, REALLY good food. The reason it's getting 4 and not 5 stars is because even though the food is always good, it's fairly inconsistent. While I don't ever dislike my meal, I can order the same thing 3 times, and the 3rd time it's the same dish, but isn't the exact flavor I was expecting. I'll chalk this up to it being made by true homestyle cooks, who do not measure but cook by "feel", and just continue coming here for great Ethiopian food.
(4)
John P.

Decor is not great, but the food was ok.
(3)
Jennie S.

Under the guise of a Rittenhouse coffee/smoothie/sandwich joint is a gem hidden in plain site. Open the tri-fold menu and order off of the third page: Ethiopian specialties. Almaz Cafe is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Philly. Everything has a fresh quality, is flavorful and never cooked to mush. The kitfo is deeelicious - hands-down the best in town.
(5)
Vivian T.

How silly of me to think that I can only get Ethiopian food in University city. How did I miss this little hole in the wall? I had no idea they even served ethiopian food until my friend brought me here. I've probably walked by this place a billion times and thought it was a nonspecific cafe. The ethiopian food was GREAT!! maybe b/c I've been so deprived living in center city but it was absolutely delicious. My friend and I split the vegetarian plate with the doro wat chicken dish (so awesome that it comes with an egg). The veggies were awesome- lentils, beets, greens, potatoes and carrots. it was amazing. we were still scraping for more at the end and totally cleared the plate. now that I found this little jem, I will have to come back everyday to get my ethiopian/injera fix :) i have also so so so happy to found foul on the menu. I cannot wait to come back to get it! :)
(4)
Edward M.

Almaz is the best Ethiopian restaurant I've been to in Center City. Okay, so I haven't been to any others in Center City, but it's nevertheless pretty tasty and can hold its own with most West Philly Ethiopian restaurants. And it's only a block from Rittenhouse Square, so centrally located for my world. Almaz is fairly small so dining in is best for small groups (up to four, I'd say). You can also get their dishes to go. My regular standby is the veggie combo platter, which conveniently combines several classics with good injera. It is also fairly filling and is good for sharing. Service is friendly, prices are fair. The restaurant is actually more of a cafe and though I haven't tried their coffees or smoothies, they look good and probably are good. For solo dining/drinking, there's good people watching from the seats by the front window. For group dining, they have tables downstairs and upstairs. For those unprepared to eat Ethiopian food the traditional way (hands; no utensils), there's probably silverware available.
(4)
Stan K.

slightly different flavors in a few dishes compared to other Ethiopian places but still pretty good.
(4)
Ram S.

Great place, my first introduction to Ethiopian food. Their enjera is the like the Indian pancake/ dosa and very filling. The veggie platter is quite a mix of spicy stuff, lentils, sauces, spinach, etc. Finally, the owner/ host is so sweet and helpful, she cares so much. I went with my family and my daughter fell in love with the place and their hospitality. Fun times.
(5)
Dan K.

This place is an all-around class act. The owners are absolutely pleasant to deal with and they genuinely want you to enjoy your experience, whether it's your first time or tenth time enjoying the food of their native land. I've eaten here with a vegan friend, a meat eater (like myself) and others -- all have been satisfied with the variety of flavors found here.
(5)
Erica B.

The owner is so very warm and accommodating ...which in my opinion is the first thing that draws someone to like a place. I was here during a Thursday mid-morning/afternoon, while waiting to be seen by my customer, and Almas prepared a delicious late breakfast-to-lunch foods. There is wi-fi available, clean restroom upstairs (where there are dining area tables available). Great Ethiopian coffee she adjusted to accommodate the American palette. Great Pandora station for easy-going music. And of course I tried the vegetable platter and specially loves the split pea and savory lentils. The beets were also nice way to offset the chickpea and red lentil(?) which had a bit of heat. A nice vegetarian platter if you come hungry, or appetizer for two. Alma says that there is also a 2nd location in Norristown which I will make a point to visit when I am in that area. Thanks for a pleasant dining experience :)
(4)
Minaz M.

Not a big fan of Ethiopian cuisine.. My bf and I shared the veggie platter.. You get enjera with every entree you order.. The portion/ serving was large enough for us to share.. i only loved the cabbage potato veggie..
(3)
Ed C.

I LOVE this place! At first, I was a little weirded out that their menu was not entirely Ethiopian and included a lot of Western dishes. However, once I tried it, I was hooked! The veggie combo is incredible. Seriously, I order it at least once a week, sometimes more. I don't know what they do to their shiro, but it's amazing. However, if you order the shiro on its own, be sure to ask for no sour cream if you want it vegan. The people who work here are so friendly and nice. I truly love this place!
(5)
Michelle S.

The food is very good and the service was really spot on and friendly. Had the lamb special of the day and it was a nice sized portion and served with vegetarian sides. The veggie sides were so good, next time I'd probably order the vegetarian combo as a meal. The space itself is small with a few tables downstairs and a few upstairs. Learned they opened a much bigger place in Norristown that has a full bar etc. Will be trying that location too.
(4)
Emma T.

I've had Ethiopian food in DC, New York, and South Africa, and I can safely say this was the best injera I've ever had. It's not too sour, while still very sponge-y and textured. It compliments the deliciously flavorful food. My friend and I shared the Firfir (beef cubes) and the vegetable combo and it was all great. My only complaint was that the beef was a bit tougher than I would have liked, but the sauce it was cooked in was excellent. The vegetable combo is great to share. You get a sampling of five different veggie dishes (collard greens, lentils, split peas, mixed legumes, and potato cabbage) which all have unique and wonderful tastes. The servers were very friendly and filled up our water promptly and asked several times about our food. I will definitely be heading back to try more of the food - they had a lamb special that sounded amazing.
(4)
Tait N.

I love this place :-) Delicious food, very friendly, little hole in the wall. Meat is tender, not over cooked or dried out, spices are awesome. I also got a butterscotch shake, very good, not over sweet.
(4)
Katrina C.

This review is for breakfast: Ethiopian iced coffee - delicious. Simple eggs and toast- delicious. Total cost of my meal - delicious. Friendly guy working - delicious. Cute place - delicious. I'll have to come back for dinner!
(4)
Chris M.

This is my first time having Ethiopian food but, it was amazing. I had the Zilzil Tibs, the guy there was very friendly and helpful, the service was quick, all in all it was a great place.
(4)
Mary A.

The service and food are great. The sit down area can be cramped. I would recommend the firfir. Also, their enjera is awesome.
(4)
Amy O.

Great veggie combo! Went here over the weekend in the middle of th afternoon, we were the only customers. Not the greatest service as the manager seemed to be busy cleaning and prepping for the dinner hour. Perfect service size, very filling!
(5)
Katherine L.

Good ambiance, very cozy and great service. All the patrons seemed very pleased and happy, and one of them seemed to be greeted as a regular by the staff. Nice feel to the place! It's a nice mix for the menu - American style breakfast and lunch dishes (i.e. sandwiches and wraps, coffee drinks), as well as Ethiopian food! This review is for the Ethiopian food. Always the follower of injera and Ethiopian food, I had to try this place. Since I am a snob, I can say I was pleased. However, the injera was more rubbery than I'm used to eating. Also, the yellow split peas were a bit undercooked. The greens were tasty, but the flavor wasn't what I was looking for - it tasted more Caribbean than Ethiopian spiced. Still good, but, again, not what I had hoped for. If in Philly, I might give them a try again because of the service. For Philly, I bet it's pretty gosh darn good, though, for Ethiopian!
(3)
Aaron C.

Really Good place for Ethiopia Dish and Coffee. The Bariste is friendly.
(5)
Jillian L.

I absolutely love this little place! The owners are super sweet, this place is named after the owner's wife, Almaz! Get the veggie combo because you get a sample of their very best! The Kitfo (steak tar tar) was amazing too. This is the best Ethiopian in the city, otherwise you have to go out to West Philly and I don't like going way out to those neighborhoods...eeek.
(5)
Barrett L.

For me, Almaz has always flown under the radar in the two and a half years I've been here. It's divey and non-descript, but one of my best friends swears by it. So finally, after months of pressuring from both her and the BF, I finally made the trek over here after an exhausting week at work. It was one of the best dinner decisions I've made in a long long while. The two of us split the Doro Tibs and the Vegetarian Combo. When the food arrived, it looked epic. Huge portions of delicious looking and smelling chicken and vegetables piled high on spongy injera, with even more injera on the side. And the taste? Effing incredible. The vegetables were savory and filling; the chicken was perfectly seasoned and flavored, and the injera was soft and spongy (I could literally eat all my sandwiches on that). Apparently, they import the injera directly from Ethiopia (according to my friend the diehard). In fact, the whole meal was so filling, I couldn't even finish (I let the BF take that responsibility). This is not the place you go to for a nice dinner or a first date, but it's perfect if you just want a damn delicious meal with your besties or even solo. Unpretentious, homey, and a solid focus on delivering great food, I can't wait to come back soon.
(4)
Rachel S.

I l-o-v-e Ethiopian food and am a certified enjeraholic. Based on the rave Yelp reviews, I hustled to beat the dinner rush, but there were only two people in there besides me at 6:00 on a Saturday night, not counting a few people who came in later to get smoothies. The restaurant is tiny with two levels. Sitting at the bar in front of the window is good for people watching. As I was coasting in from the other coast having had nothing but a coffee and a banana all day, every (Ethiopian) item on the menu sounded great. The veggie combo won out over the zilzil tibs, and it did not disappoint. The flavors were tasty, and the enjera was tender and flavorful; I ate every last bite. Terrific service. Sounds like I should have had a coffee, but that gives me a reason to return.
(5)
Kinnari A.

After leaving DC, i have to say that I miss good Ethiopian food a lot. Almaz definitely makes me miss DC less. You don't have as much variety on the menu as you would at an authentic DC restaurant, but this place does do a pretty good job. I highly recommend it if you are craving some injera and red lentils.
(4)
Sandra A.

Almaz Cafe was not as delicious as I expected considering the great reviews on Yelp. I tried the doro wat dish (chicken stew) and two sides (cottage cheese and cabbage). It was filling but the seasonings did not fit to my likings. The injera on the bottom of the chicken stew was a bit hard as if it were a few days old but the two injeras I received on the side were much softer and fresher. I usually like to eat the injera on the bottom of the stew once the seasonings have soaked into the bread but I didn't this time because the texture wasn't what I expected from good injera. However, service was good. The woman serving me was very nice but the food isn't worth a second visit especially for a $15.00 meal. I will stick to my usual Ethiopian restaurant in West Philly - Kaffa Crossing. I appreciate Kaffa Crossing's spices and flavors a lot more than Almaz.
(3)
Jess C.

I love this place! I've been in twice so far. The first time I played it safe with a turkey wrap which was super fresh and huge. I was so impressed with the woman that was working there. She was running everything by herself. Cooking, cashing people out, running platters up the steps, and refilling waters. She even took the time to ask my name and thanked me by name as I left. I went in with a friend today to give Ethiopian food a try for the first time. Loved that she remembered my name when I came back a week later. We ordered the chicken and vegetable platter. It was enormous and yummy. The chicken was flavored perfectly. I work in the restaurant business and I never cook so I dine out pretty much every day and I was very impressed with Almaz's food and service. This is my new Tuesday spot. Next week I'm going to try the chicken stew. Also, a great place to stop for a coffee, cafe mocha, shake, or even just a banana on the fly. I mostly love how much pride they take in their product. I definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Fallon D.

Oh my. What to say? Incredibly friendly and great food. They even brought us extra (at no charge) of one of the sampler items because they saw we liked it so much.
(5)
Mike H.

I dig this place. That's for several reasons: 1) The owners are realllllly nice. I love that they some how are psychic enough to know if I'm getting coffee to go, or getting coffee there and hanging out for a bit. 2) The food is reallllly good. The vegetarian sampler is awesome, but since I love the misir the best, I usually just get that. The veggie wrap is also delicious. And I hear the soup is also really good. Their smoothies also rock. 3) They have cheap and good coffee. And big mugs to drink it out of. 4) Their credit minimum is only $5. Totally reasonable.
(5)
Sarah P.

I have this relentless paranoia, with tiny places like Almaz, that they're on the verge of going out of business at any moment. I'm sure it isn't true (if their rabid yelp fanbase is any indication), but this isn't a rational fear, OK? Please go to Almaz and allay my fears! It is an outstanding Ethiopian restaurant! (Do not be discouraged by the fact that it is wearing an incongruous coffee shop costume!) Should I really re-sing the praises that are all over this page? The food is ridiculously delicious and an amazing bargain, plus vegetarian-friendly. The owners are delightful and deserve your business, so go give them some, please!
(5)
Kai M.

How have I never reviewed this place? I'm through here just about twice a week. Almaz is a tiny two-story cafe/restaurant sandwiched between an insurance storefront and a barber's shop. It's run by a wonderful couple and is the sort of quintessential mom/pop place that makes living in a city less alienating. For the most part, I use Almaz as a place to pop in for coffee when I'm on my way somewhere or coming home after a day's work. Hot or cold, their fresh-brewed Ethiopian coffee is absolutely THE best cup of real coffee in Philly. It punts the vaunted La Colombe way, way out of the water and is better than the equally-lauded Blue Bottle coffee served at Pure Fare. Do not put sugar in it. Do not put cream in it. Just drink it and enjoy. (Well, alright, do to it what you must, but at least give it a sip straight up first.) As for food, they have home-made Ethiopian meals (various meats and veggies served on injera) and an American breakfast menu. Breakfast is alright, but the traditional fare is where this place shines--I wish they'd just do away with the eggs and toast and stick to all Ethio all the time! Oh, and there's free wifi. :)
(4)
Mama G.

I forgot to share the threatening message the owner sent to me about a year ago. The friends who are writing the positive reviews should be ashamed. He said, "I don't understand you getting so personal going after me I don't even know you now I do."
(1)
Jes S.

I don't come here often enough. And it makes me sad... :( Things I love: EVERYTHING. Okay, more specifically... - The food. Whether Ethiopian or their lunch menu, everything is delicious!! We get wraps once a month, and breakfast every other month or so. And we don't get dinner as often as we would like here, but there has been nothing we have not LOVED. - The drinks. Coffees, smoothies, YOOHOOS! (Yes, I realize they don't make YooHoo, but the fact that they have it blows my mind and the inner child in me rejoices upon seeing it.) - The OWNERS/STAFF! Friendliest, nicest, most wonderful people ever. Half the time I think I go there just to hear stories and chat it up with the owner. Then I realize it is best to do so while stuffing my mouth with the delicious food. - The prices. Everything is so reasonably priced. And the quality is above and beyond. - The coziness of the place. They have upstairs settings too, but altogether the place just has an amazing welcoming feeling. I have nothing bad to say. Except about how I don't go often enough. :(
(5)
Tam N.

This is my go to place for a breakfast sandwich. sausage egg and cheese on a croissant for $6.75. The eggs are cooked perfectly, cheese completely melted, mixed in with slices of sausage on a buttery croissant. I haven't had the ethiopian food yet but I'll have to find an occasion. Man this is a satisfying sandwich. The people are pretty nice also and after my second visit he (Solomon?) knows what I want. Also, as I was waiting, I overheard one of the owners trying to get to know one of their regulars. Seems like a friendly, down to earth place.
(4)
Mike A.

This place was great! I think the thing that stood out the most was the service. I felt very welcome in here. I could tell that everyone else was enjoying the warm vibe in here. My girlfriend and I were the only ones in here not studying or reading. We just came for the food. It seemed like a great place to kick back and read or get some school work done. I may have to go here to get some stuff done sometime. The food was so delicious and the price wasn't bad at all. I had a barbecue chicken wrap, but it wasn't a boring old barbecue chicken wrap, they added awesome flavors and ingredients to make it a super barbecue chicken wrap. The Ethiopian food is nice to get out out of my comfort zone and try things that I've never had before. I liked how the menu had both Ethiopian dishes and other things I'm more accustomed to. I also enjoyed sitting in the loft area. I could watch the people come and go through the door which is something I strangely enjoy in a hopefully non-creepy way. I'd say the only thing that could be considered a drawback is the size of this place. Its pretty small, but the loft does wonders. I also kinda like how small it is. I could imagine this place getting crowded fast though, putting you pretty close to others. The decoration//design of this place also made me happy Its just an all around great place that I'd definitely go to again.
(4)
Igal K.

So I've been going to Almaz for a long time now and I have to say that they have awesome selection of Ethiopian food as well as all American breakfasts. I love the fact that the place is small and cozy, Almaz and Salomon run a tight ship and it's always cleanan and inviting, albeit sometimes it gets a bit hot in the summer whether because the AC is not strong enough or it's just not running and the coffee selection could be better I'd still give this place my business every day if I could!
(4)
Andrew D.

What more can be said? Solomon and Almaz (for whom the cafe is named) run an excellent shop, with a mix of excellent Ethiopian fare and solid brunch and lunch standards. The service is warm and friendly, the atmosphere delightful, and the coffee is smooth as silk.
(5)
Alize R.

The food is excellent and they are always so friendly! Very delicious coffee drinks and a great place to hang out/bring a first date. Great location, lovely upper loft seating, cute interior decorating with interesting/funky lamps. Small and intimate casual dining area.
(5)
Carl S.

Really good Ethiopian iced coffee and breakfast sandwiches. Haven't tried the Ethiopian food but from what I've heard, I'd like to give it a try. It's basically a cute little cafe.
(4)
Chris P.

So far I've only had coffee here on numerous occasions for meetings and it is very good! Strong, flavorful, and hot. Every time I'm there I'm tempted to eat since the aroma of deliciousness saturates the air. If there character of coffee and wonderful whiffs of nutriment is any indication of food, it has to be good!
(4)
Jessica C.

Totally my new favorite place... and conveniently it's right around the corner from where I live! I didn't know for the LONGEST time that Almaz serves the best Ethiopian food in town. Coming from New Haven, I always thought I knew what good, delicious Ethiopian food was (Lalibella style, Temple Street) but Almaz totally blew that out of the water. LOVE IT! The restaurant owners are incredibly friendly and explain all sorts of things to you. I highly recommend the Veggie Combo, as well as pretty much any beef dish on the Ethiopian menu. The injera is delicious, and we had more than enough to eat and bring home. I highly recommend Almaz-- I can't say how thrilled I was to discover this restaurant! Totally hole-in-the-wall and a real gem.
(5)
Bob J.

Great cheap brunch option. Coffee is great here.
(4)
Hilary M.

This place is spectacular. I've loved everything I've ever ordered here. The staff is awesome- they're always happy to explain anything on the menu to you and give you suggestions. I love sitting upstairs and looking out over the balcony- great for inconspicuous people-watching. And an added bonus (in my opinion): it's a byo.
(5)
Lauren A.

I love this place! The owners are friendly, the ambiance is relaxed, and the food is simply wonderful. As a vegetarian Californian transplant, finding quick, cheap, and filling meals in Philadelphia has been a challenge (I can't tell you how many shocked "What, no meat?" responses I get when I place orders). Honestly, the misir makes my day.
(5)
Ari P.

Best ethiopian food in Philly. This is a tiny cafe with good service and no ambiance.
(4)
Moe W.

I have been coming to Almaz regularly for a few years. It is consistently fantastic. The spongy Ethiopian bread is beyond heavenly. The service is spectacular - and - it's sure a fine alternative to "Shake Shack" down the street. I hope that the crowds there will detour to a much healthier, finer place only steps away!!!!
(5)
Yelena L.

I most often come here to pick up a coffee which I really like for its rich flavor and mild acidity. The staff here is wonderful, very friendly and kind. I've eaten here a couple of times and they have a regular lunch menu as well as ethiopian options. I really prefer their veggie options and love the chicken tibs! I have tried to study here but can't seem to connect to their internet, although it is offered. The unique food and exceptional service definitely make this a great cafe overall.
(4)
Karen M.

The only reason this place gets 4 stars is because it was my first time tasting Ethiopian food so I'm not an expert yet to give a final opinion. It was definitely a good meal, but I remember most is how nice and friendly the people who work there were to me and my boyfriend. The ice cream we got at the end was okay, nothing great, but I like the space and the atmosphere is pretty pleasant. I'd probably go back again and try something new.
(4)
Erin S.

I shared the vegetarian combo and Doro Sat (I think that was the name of it), which was a stew of grilled chicken breast. It came with ample amount of the traditional bread, injera, which had a sourdough taste to it. All was extremely delicious. I believe a person with a lesser appetite would not be able to finish all of it but I polished it off. After the meal we had a two very fine cups of coffee. Service was really nice if not a touch slow for my liking but I'll call it laid back ;). Also, the vegetarian combo and the chicken stew were served on the same plate touching, which we didn't mind at all but it's worth noting if you actually are a vegetarian.
(4)
Lawrence M.

Had the beef stew. Excellent. I will be back.
(4)
Louis T.

The food is delicious and reasonably priced. Almaz is one of my favorite restaurants in the neighborhood.
(5)
Sophiya S.

N and I went after reading rave reviews on yelp but I was truly disappointed. We went pretty late in the evening and were seated right in front of the toilet. The place was not as clean as I would have liked. They had sink right behind the counter and I could smell the soap and bleach which almost killed my appetite. Food was ok but people were nice so, I guess that's a little something.
(1)
Jonny S.

Wow, glad to see that I am not the only one who really likes this place. The owner, Almaz, is very kind and even remembered the excellent omelet I had there last week when I came back today for brunch. Very good for dinner too!
(4)
ciana h.

This is my husband's absolute favorite restaurant in the city. We live on Baltimore in West Philly surrounded by Ethiopian restaurants and Almaz is way better than any of them. The vegetarian options are numerous and delicious. Everyone that works there is so amazingly genuinely nice. Seriously the nicest staff you will find anywhere. My only complaint is the seating is not that cute - you wouldn't want to come here for anything romantic or private. I guess it was meant to be more of a coffee shop, so that's probably why. But come here casually and the food is wonderful and cheaply priced!
(4)
Emily C.

I have ordered their foule several times for take-out and have yet to be disappointed. Hearty, and consistent in good flavor. Once I tried the fresh berry salad and found it strange. The romaine to berry and pecan ratio was off. The gentleman behind the counter downstairs was friendly (with a genuine smile!) and attentive. Writing this review actually made me crave some of their food:) Maybe I'll try their sit down service in the near future.
(4)
Amanda D.

This is the best Ethiopian food in Philly, hands down. The vegetarian sampler, as everyone else on yelp has attested, is amazing. The Ethiopian coffee is amazing as well. I didn't ever want to leave. The owner, Solomon, is so nice and down to earth. He's running a great business. The only thing that bothered me was that it was kind of cold outside, but the temperature inside was REALLY hot, so we were sweating while eating. It didn't matter because the food was THAT good. I'm obsessed.
(5)
Flora B.

Wow... Had I not been with some natives I would never have discovered this place. Somewhat random, I think, to have great Ethiopian food in what looks like a Philly coffee shop. But it was really delicious. We had this chicken that tasted like it was covered in brown sugar and cinnamon. I am sure it was some exotic spice... but cinnamon/sugar is the only way I can describe it. The owners are very friendly and the food downright good. GO.
(4)
Timothy L.

Good food, fast friendly service, great location. Definitely worth checking out.
(5)
Joyce W.

I definitly enjoyed my first ethiopian experience. I had the chicken stew as recommended and i loved it. The chicken was tender and i loved the sauces. My friend had the vegetarian dish and it was DELICIOUS too. Will definitly go back. I loved this place b/c the coffee is great TOO!!! good food, good coffee .. wat else can you ask for !
(4)
denton s.

Extremely friendly, nice owners/employees! Great Ethiopian food, good breakfast/brunch, great smoothies, great wraps, great center city location, free wifi, great place to study, cozy little cafe. The owners were so nice it really made me want to come back again! I have studied there for many hours at a time (while eating breakfast, snacks, and lunch) and the owners actually wanted to make sure that they were providing me a comfortable place to study, unlike many other cafes/coffee shops that would be giving dirty looks and wanting to kick you out for staying too long. Enjoy!
(5)
Hilary K.

So, I must write an update to my previous 5-star review. After going back a second time with my family, we all enjoyed a big, communal lunch followed by some dessert-like smoothies. Everything was delicious; however, 3 out of the 4 of us had some unpleasant gastrointestinal issues not too long afterward. I don't know the exact cause was, but when 3 out of 4 people (who live in different houses and don't share any other food) have tummy trouble after a meal, I get suspicious. I haven't completely crossing this one off of my list, but I'm not ready to go back for a while.
(3)
Ritu K.

So this was my first time eating Ethiopian food. Needless to say I was super excited to try someting new. The restaurant is tiny and the heat was up to subtropical ( a little uncomfortable but better than the 30 degrees outside). The server was fantastic. Even at the nicest restaurants in the city I can't remember having such attentive service. Now after trying Ethiopian food I can't say I'm a big fan. It was a bit sour for my taste. I liked it, but I'm not sure if I'd want to go back. That being said the portions were huge and according to my husband very good for ethiopian food. We ordered the chicken and lamb dishes. The lamb was a disappointment. Poor quality meat with not alot of flavor. The vegetable sides with the lamb were delicious which made me wish I had ordered the vegetarian plate. The chicken was good but a little sour for my taste. Overall if you like Ethiopian food I would definitely try this place out. Its cheap, the portions are large, and the service is fantastic. If I had ordered something other than the lamb I would have given it a 4.
(3)
J J.

We are experienced diners of Ethiopian restaurants; we've tried them in New York, Baltimore, Chicago, Philly, Houston, and Colorado. My wife, in particular, loves the cuisine. This, despite getting an upset stomach nearly every time she eats it. When we saw the reviews for Almaz on yelp, we decided to go for it. My wife had the shiro; I had a beef dish. The shiro was good. Strangely, it arrived with sour cream, which wasn't a great fit; we just ate around it. The beef was a little flat and not as sizzling-crispy as I would have liked. The injera was good, maybe a tad dry. The other side dishes were good. Overall, the dishes were more low key than in other places that I've tried. That is, the injera and shiro were not as sour, the bourberrie was not as sharp. It was not bland, but just tamer than what we're accustomed to. Overall, we were happy with our meal. The server was very friendly, and she did not charge us for food that we ordered for my 2-yo daughter which was very kind. I found the experience of eating Ethiopian at a western style cafe a little odd. There is a case of soft drinks, including yoohoo and fanta, and a display of muffins and cookies sitting next to you while you chow down injer and doro wat. But really, it's nice to have options. My daughter is very fussy about eating, so it was good that they had bananas for her to eat.
(3)
Tony F.

Friendly. Delicious fresh... I am a big fan of Ethiopian / Eritrean food, and I've sought out places in every city I visit from Oakland, CA to Cleveland to Tampa to Denver. Quite frankly, until now, I've been surprisingly underwhelmed by what I've tried in Phila. so far. While Almaz may not have the most expansive menu, the food here is just about the freshest E/E that I have encountered anywhere. It was delicious, and I received a generous portion for lunch. Further, oftentimes the sides are mostly an afterthought; at Almaz, they deserve equal billing with the main course, again the best word to use is "fresh", along with descriptives like flavorful and very satisfying. Service was also exceptionally speedy (definitely rare for E/E) and friendly. In fact, several people popped in "just to say 'hi' because I was passing by" That tells me that Almaz has fostered a loyal following with his easy-going approach and fine food. I will definitely be back soon and often.
(3)
Caitlin C.

Everything about this place is pleasant. The friendly staff, the delicious coffee (the guy behind the counter even explained how they roast it), and the incredible and inexpensive food. I had walked by it several times before recognizing its greatness. It's one of those places that you adopt as your pet and want to succeed.
(5)
Lisa M.

I completely stumbled upon this ***GEM*** of an Ethiopian restaurant (partially disguised as a chic, urban coffee bar ;). I went in for just a sandwich and saw the menu, which was to my sheer delight. I haven't yet had the coffee, but if you are into Ethiopian food (and it's my #1 favorite in the world), I have to say the shiro is the best by far I've ever had. Usually it's flavorful pea flour, but Almaz's shiro is so, so fresh you can taste every single ingredient in it. I've been to about 10 Ethiopian places, and this is the best! The people are so, so nice and friendly. It's a gorgeously, urban-chic decorated coffee house. Looks great for wi-fi and to chill upstairs (or down). Love it, love it, love it, and cannot say merely enough! :)
(5)
Heather D.

Try the smoothies. I had... the first one the guy said... it starts with mango. When I asked could they make the smoothies with soy milk rather than cow milk, that was easy enough. The smoothie that I had took all the various fruit that was in it and somehow ended up with a taste that was reminiscent of roses. Seriously, and it was delicious. Also had the vegetarian ethiopian combo platter. I live in West Philly, where we're supposed to have the good ethiopian food... as far as the actual food, this was much better than Dahlak and as good as Abyssinia. Got a large house coffee, and it was LARGE and COFFEE, and it was GOOD. :) I don't know if there's a whole vocabulary pallet for describing coffee, like people do with wine, but the taste reminded me of rain and rocks. Did I say it was big cup? It was, and pretty too. Speaking of pretty, the walls and ceiling are that beautiful combination of aqua blue and apple green that makes you think you've died and gone to shabby-chic heaven. I want to have this place for my apartment, it has a loft where you can sit at a bar overlooking the rest of the cafe and the window to the street, or you can choose the bar at the front on the lower level or one of the tiny tables in this tiny space. It wasn't too crowded when we were there - could be trouble if it was packed, but from the reviews I've read, it's usually not. Which is mysterious. Reviews keep describing this place as a hidden gem, and that is apparently true. Try it, but clear out cause I'm gonna need an upstairs table again soon. :)
(4)
Pooja A.

The Ethiopian food was pretty good. We got the vegetarian combo and the Doro Wat, my usual order at Ethiopian places. The yellow lentils were so-so, but overall, really tasty and reasonably priced. I think they are BYOB. And the staff is super nice.
(4)
Kathy L.

Good place to hang out, have some coffee, use your laptop and do some work without being bothered. I'm not sure what coffee they brew, but it is strong and well made and so are their espresso based drinks. 3 stars only because the space is kind of cramped... whenever I walk up or down the stairs, I feel like I'm about to fall off of it.
(3)
Ki W.

One word- gastroenteritis. My dad and I went over the holidays and both of us have had upset stomachs since then. Now, I have to take antibiotics... Great :/
(1)
Tiana G.

This place is so enjoyable. I love going in to grab coffee, or catching lunch here with friends.
(5)
Alana H.

Last night at the Almaz Cafe, I had my first taste of Ethiopian food. I was not disappointed in the least. From the exterior you may not realize that it is more than a cafe or icecream shop, but the food was delicious. They even had specialty Ethiopian tea (which was delightfully aromatic) and coffee.
(3)
Kim D.

Veggie platter was very good. Beef was over cooked/tough and tendons made it difficult to eat. Casual dining space with good service. Overall a welcome addition to center city dining options.
(3)
Sally f.

i have no other Ethiopian food experience to compare this to, but i was very pleased. the setting was cute, and you would never even notice this place when walking down the street. it looks like take out if you do notice, but there's a hidden loft upstairs! it was great! the server was very nice. the BYOB setting made things fun. the bread is odd to Americans. its very sour and and pancake like. but covered in all the exotic flavors its hard to notice. im glad i tried Ethiopian!
(4)
Seth A.

Okay, so this review is going to be a little biased for two reasons. 1) I live a block away from this place, so it's unfairly easy for me to enjoy it's amenities. 2) The owner seems like a cool, right and just guy who deserves to be successful in an industry largely populated by sturdy and cannibalistic corporate high profit institutions. Salomon, the owner, after giving me some history of the place, spent 15 minutes helping me figure out that I typed the password for the wireless internet wrong. Apparently getting a bachelors degree in technology did not ensure that I would be able to correctly differentiate between capital and lowercase letters. Shoulda gone for the masters. The atmosphere here is stunning. There is unique lighting, a second floor that overlooks the first floor, and art that adds to the environment, but not in that unauthentic selected-by-computer-to-increase-bottomline starbuck's way. The coffee is good, and Salomon, is a genuine and open guy. He explained to me how he quit his job to set this place up. I respect anyone who quits their job to follow what they want, because that's what I did. Or would have done had I not been fired first. Whatever. My way was faster. Ite, so that's it. The music of choice seems to be chill jazz, and the place is open till 10 on the weekdays, which is pretty late for a place that just opened 2 weeks ago. I really hope it does well... Come check it. Peace Update: After coming here for over a year, this is my favorite coffee shop ever. No matter where you go you'll eventually get bored of the drink or the food, or the environment, but here, the owners are so friendly and cool, you won't get bored of the company! Furthermore, friendly people attract other friendly people, so you'll find lots of people who don't mind chatting here. 5 stars Yet another update: Just discovered something new: Ask for a Muffin, sliced and toasted. This is the best thing ever. Muffins will never be the same. Try it Update again: How many years has it been? This place is still awesome. I just want to add that the Chicken Curry plate and the Beef Curry plate are my favorite dishes here. Delicious, spicy (but not too spicy), filling. That is all.
(5)
ann c.

Didn't enjoy the food that much. Ordered Vegetarian combo. Only the lentils were OK but left the whole spinach and cabbage in the plate. They were just boiled vegetables with some basic spices . Being an Asian , the dish was a let down. Eaten better things than this.
(2)
Emilia M.

I LOVED this place! I just went for breakfast and the food was incredible. But even better was the couple that owns the place. They were so sweet and caring. I agree the place was very deceptive from the outside, I'm not sure I would have gone in had my friend not suggested it. The coffee was also exceptional, especially the iced mocha! DEFINITELY GIVE THIS PLACE A TRY!!!!
(5)
Ryan C.

You walk in and you're not really sure what you're looking at, but you know you like it. A sort of mix of green walls, metal, dangling things from the ceiling and newsboy counters at the front and in the upper tier. It has a vibe matches more low-key "hipper" areas of Philly. Don't expect a lot of space to sprawl out though.
(4)
Rachel B.

don't be fooled into thinking Ethiopian food only exists in west philly. almaz cafe not only served great brunch, but has the best Ethiopian in the city all day every day. it's on the back of their menu, so read through the whole thing. the meat is incredibly succulent, never overcooked, and all the veggies are colorful and fresh.
(5)
B B.

Friendly atmosphere, Ethiopian style eurotrash with heart. Good zilzil tibs. Nice smoothies and ice coffees. A place to go.
(4)
Ruth Y.

A friend and I met up for a quick dinner. So we decided on Almaz Cafe because it was close, and had gotten great reviews. The place is tiny, but cute. There were only a few tables in the entire place. I ordered something I did not think that Abyssinia had just to try something different. I was in an unusually crazy adventure mood that day, but just to be on the safe side, I ordered the sauce on the side. I tried a bite; the food was good, but not really special. I did really enjoy the addition of rosemary to my meat. Next I tried the sauce. Ehhhh, nothing I cared for. I tried a few more times to be sure, but the verdict remains, ehhhh, nothing I care for. My friend asked to try the sauce, and my opinion of it. I passed it over with a, "Ehhh, nothing I care for." He put it in his mouth, and his face screws up in the most awful manner. It was almost cartoonish in it's contortions. Needless to say, he did not really care for the sauce. We debated after that for a while whether this was better or worse than the Acerola soda we tried a few years back. Split decision with my friend voting on the sauce winning the most disgusting award and I insisting that the Acerola was much worse. Ultimate judgement on Almaz is that the food is good and of good quality, but the selection slim and the prices a bit higher than Abyssinia considering the amount. The proprietor/waiter was extremely friendly and nice.
(4)
D K.

I love Almaz. I've been there twice this month for the vegetarian platter, once to eat there and the second time to take home. Both time the food was great: piping hot and very tasty. I especially love the greens with the tangy Injera. The prices are reasonable and the owners have always been welcoming and happy to answer any questions. When I've been there other times with friends, they've also enjoyed their meals. Having Ethiopian food in the Rittenhouse area is a huge deal and I'm so glad they're here.
(5)
ene e.

I have been to plenty of Ethiopian restaurants around the country and by far this is the worst. I ordered the zil-zil tibs, which the owner recommended and it was just straight terrible, and to make things worse one of the side dishes was spoiled. I am sure this is a good spot to grab bagels, coffee and etc but def. not Ethiopian food. The food tasted like it was fresh out of the microwave. Please stay away from this place for any sort of Ethiopian food.
(1)
jason t.

the crappiest thing about this place was sitting down, looking at the menu, and spending a good twenty minutes not being able to decide whether i wanted to order from the breakfast menu or the ethiopian menu. i eventually settled on some pancakes, which were really good, but i had total plate envy of my friend's vegetarian sampler. the staff is crazy nice, they play awesome ethiopian jazz on the stereo, and the coffee is super good and comes in properly large cups. yay for these guys.
(5)
Rueben C.

Mizzle; a combination of drizzle and mizzle.... My girl was uncomfortable b/c it was mizzling out, a bit cold, and windy - out in the middle of may. I told her her it wasnt so cold out and dinner at this lil ethiopian restaurant would be cool. Now we'd alreadt walked a few blocks around the Almaz and I couldnt find the place. But as it turns out, we had walked right by it, even with our eyes were peeled. So we get into the cafe, see the only dude behind the counter, go upstairs and take a 4-top. Mind you there are only 2 four tops upstairs and a few stools for the mostly quiet internet cafe surfers/loungers - Some rasta kept playing his tunes out loud w/o headphones until the barista/server/host asked him to chill. Downstairs where the entrance is there are 3 four tops and more stools. Once we got the menu we had to decide: chicken, lamb or beef, and what vegetables. Well, me being the taste glutton that, I am coerced my girl to ordering the chicken and beef dishes with vegetable sampler to join. The food arrived and we were stoked. Conversation halted and ethiopian bread stuffed with lentils, cabbage and chicken sent me into my much desired food euphoria. So all in all I suggest dinner for two, at min, get the vegetable sampler (until you've decided on a favorite veg dish), and the chicken (if you're a meatarian). The beef was good just didnt hit my spot like the pollo did. Next time I go which will be soon, I'm getting the lamb and I'll report back. Post meal I also had an espresso......ever had a greek coffee? Well, I think Ethiopian coffee is a term that should be coined- that espresso picked me up from my food coma and sent my right back into study mode. Groups are okay if you call ahead and arent larger than say...6. The barista/host/waiter dude couldnt be nicer.
(4)
Ron D.

Awesome food, I'm vegan so it's not so easy sometimes to eat out and not spend a lot, but they did have a few choices that were amazing. Best of all the dish I ordered Shiro, had ginger as a main ingredient. I'm a ginger junkie so they definitely got my vote, I'll probably make a stop in there every time I'm in the city, even if its just for coffee.
(5)
Emily W.

Almaz is one of my favorite places to go when the weather gets cold because their food is just so comforting. I always get the vegetarian combo and the spices in their have this incredible warming effect. The Injera bread is unique and tasty, especially if you like tangy breads, and I wished they sold rolls of it to go. With it's little holes, it acts like a sponge that soaks up all the wonderful sauces and it's sourness helps cut some of the richness of the dishes there. It's great place to go to if you're slacking on your veggies. Just don't wear any wool sweaters there because as tasty as the spices are, you just don't want to be wearing them after you leave the restaurant. And as most the yelpers have already commented, the staff is wonderful and accomodating. The ambience could be improved, but I think it's juggling three roles as a cafe/ sandwich shop/ and Ethiopian restaurant to appeal to all sorts of people who come by there. I almost wish they would just serve Ethiopian food so that they could offer a larger selection of traditional Ethiopian dishes!
(4)
Hoa T.

This was only my third time eating Ethiopian food and I got to say it was the best. The place is small, very charmingly so. We called ahead and asked if they have room for 5 of us in the next 15 min or so. Load and behold, when we got there, the tables were pulled together, all ready for us. Being that it was around 3pm and that we had class at 5:30pm, we were hankering for some alcohol. Yes it made total sense. They don't have any alcohol but is a BYOB. To the corner Wine & Spirit we went, and a bottle of wine later we were all very happy. The food was flavorful and delicious. We had a variety of Ethiopian dishes on one big platter. I particularly liked the chicken stew, very flavorful and tender. I'm still not used to the slightly sour spongy "bread" so that was my least favorite part of the meal. FYI there's wifi available if you decide to come and sit around a bit.
(4)
Lisa P.

Tiny little spot near the lovely Rittenhouse Square. The staff were all very nice and helpful. The vegetarian combo platter was delicious with a good variety, but not as much as I usually see at Ethiopian restaurants. I will definitely make it a point to stop here anytime I am in the area!
(5)
Kimmy S.

I love Almaz Cafe! I had eaten here a few times and loved it so much, I decided to have my birthday party here. We got the whole upstairs (we had a considerable amount of people) and everything went swimmingly. I recommend the doro wat, which is my favorite dish on the menu. I tried the kitfo and enjoyed it, but found the flavor to be a little too much after a while. The lentils are an amazing addition to any dish you order here, and Almaz will brighten your day with the amazing food she cooks. This is a BYOB you really need to check out. No utensils, it's cheating!
(5)
Jeffrey C.

My favorite! The Ethiopian dishes are super tasty and vary in character from visit to visit, so the flavor palate is always a little different. The vegetable dishes here are particularly noteworthy -- I would venture that even dedicated carnivores would be satisfied by the rich flavors and hearty character of the veggie combo selections. Although I can't necessarily claim that the food dramatically surpasses other Ethiopian dining I've had in the city, it is certainly top notch and it's my personal favorite. And Almaz and Solomon (they own and run the place) are such wonderful people that it's always a joy to stop in and visit them. Apart from the Ethiopian dining the coffee here is quite respectable, and they make a formidable hot chocolate if you ever just want to stop in on a cold day (by the way, it's always warm in here). Almaz also makes a couple daily soups that are always delicious if you're around during lunch and can't really handle a filling Ethiopian platter. I had a cold a couple months back that her chicken soup (with something delicious in it like ginger maybe?) did wonders for. Can't wait for my next visit!
(5)
Olesya P.

It is great place to eat good food, drink coffee, use internet. This place is good for anything. I ordered chicken curry and it was very good. Coffee was great as well. Price is ok for Center City Philly.
(4)
Jason B.

Wow, I'm pretty impressed. I got the vegetarian combination. I could not get over how good it was. Had a hot cup of the Yirgacheffe with it. Not the best Yirgacheffe I've ever had, but it was a nice compliment to the meal. (I think my standards for coffee are higher than my standards for food. This food was way above standard. The coffee could use some room for improvement.) Friendliest service one could ever hope for. So kind and courteous. The only thing more I could ask for would be to have Mulatu providing the soundtrack to my next meal here. After factoring in the cost of flying him and his band in from Ethiopia, that might make for an expensive meal. I think it'd be worth it. Please PM me if you'd like to sponsor this event.
(4)
John H.

Awesome vegetarian combo!
(5)
Bill M.

Almaz has been hitting the mark every time that I've made the effort to set foot in it. And since Rittenhouse Square is my prime summer location it's been happening quite a lot. I honestly do have to say that it's pretty amazing that their service and prime attention to detail never seems to falter. Wow I could give an unnecessary amount of props to it's incredible Ethiopian eats, I feel that it's not needed since it's already been covered plenty of times over. So instead I'll give it up to things like the incredible turkey wrap that I had the last time I was here. it's hard to go with such items when you check out all of their diverse offerings. but in the end I decided to give it a shot as a reverse curiosity, and it delivered. and we're talking a delivery of a plentiful portion of meat, plenty of veggies, delicious cheese, a side of chips, and a side of these cookies that were sort of like chocolate graham crackers. Toss in the great coffee that I had and I might just need to do reverse curiosity more often!
(5)
Laura S.

I couldn't understand why Almaz Cafe kept popping up on my Yelp homepage. "Why do they want me to write another review?" I thought. "Wasn't my original one enthusiastic enough?" I was sure that I'd already sung the praises of this spot, one of my local favorites. Oops. This is a hidden gem for Ethiopian food. Portions are generous and prices are very reasonable. I much prefer the atmosphere here to the Ethiopian spots in West Philadelphia (not to mention this spot is steps from my doorstep, bonus!). The owners are incredibly sweet and nice and if you stop in more than once they will remember you. My absolute favorite thing to order is the tikil gomen, a vegetarian stew of cabbage, carrots, and potato. It's usually served as a side dish with the non-vegetarian entrees, but I always ended up wanting more! Speaking of the options for the more carnivorously-oriented, the firfir and zilzil tibs are my favorites. Don't worry about pronouncing the names right, they won't judge. Most dishes are served with a side of tikil gomen and lentiils, and very generous portions of injera. Mmm. As the name would suggest, this is also a cafe. Downstairs there are some small tables and a window bar where you can people-watch, and there is an upstairs area that overlooks downstairs and is usually pretty empty. The wi-fi is free! And the coffee is delicious.
(5)
Jose A.

Review for dinner and coffee. Absolutely spectactular! I'm not sure exactly what ethiopian food is supposed to taste like, but I love whatever it is they gave me. This a little hole in the wall type place in center city, surviving as an American breakfast joint by day and Ethiopian restaurant by night. The service is some of the best I've had. The prices are not beatable. It's byo. The portions are filling. Definitely want to go back.
(5)
Scott G.

Not the best Ethiopian I've had. Injera obviously diluted with too much wheat flour. Very gummy and sticky. Got the veggie combo. Usually on a plate the size of a truck tire. This one was your average plate size. Lentils were runny and spinach was cold. Service is slow. Still waiting for my check as I write this. Don't give up on Ethiopian food if this is your first experience and don't like it. There are many great ones around the country and perhaps here in Philly too. I'll try another place next time.
(2)
Michelle L.

This place is such a Center City gem! I came here for dinner with an out-of-town friend and although the coffee shop faÃ§ade might be a bit deceiving, it's actually a legit Ethiopian restaurant upstairs. It kind of feels like you're eating in an attic - and in a good way. The service is homey and friendly; I think it might even be family-owned? I usually like getting at least one vegetarian order when I have Ethiopian, but my friend and I decided to forgo the veggies so we could try two types of meat - the firfir (beef mixed with soaked injera pieces) and the dorowat (chicken stew). I'm so glad we went with the meat dishes, because they came with quite the spread of veggies too - I'm not sure if this is standard or they did this just for us :) The dorowat was yummy, pretty much what I'm used to, but the firfir which I've never had anywhere else was pretty phenomenal. I'll definitely be back for more Ethiopian, and I also want to try their coffee :)
(5)
Jon D.

This place is worth a try. I've been there for lunch a couple of times, and coffee. The people are very friendly and the food comes out fast. I've had the vegetarian platter twice, and it's consistent in flavor and quality. The whole veg platter is a lot of food for lunch, if you eat all the enjera (floppy Ethiopian sourdough wheat/teff pancakes). However, that is almost $14. Warning, it's very garlicky (which is a positive) so you'll be fragrant for some time after this platter! I'd recommend visiting especially if you're interested in finding out what Ethiopian food is like or you're looking to expand the veg options near Rittenhouse. It's not the cheapest lunch, but it's a good change of pace. I'd like to try their breakfast and other non-Ethiopian foods too.
(3)
Jon V.

Great vibe, excellent food. Coming back for sure.
(5)
Thomas W.

I love this place. When you turn the corner from Walnut onto 20th you can smell it already; they have great Ethiopian food. It's really not fair to be honest. There are days I don't want to eat Ethiopian. I want sushi or something. But sushi doesn't have the whole side of the street smelling of tasty tasty heaven. Oh and they have great smoothies. I don't drink coffee but they have no shortage of people there to drink it. It smells good. The couple that owns it are two of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and they are completely deserving of continued success.
(5)
Amy T.

This lovely little cafe just off Rittenhouse Square is a wonderful place for either the quick take-out drink or a hearty meal. I have come here several times for the traditional Ethiopian dishes. The food is very good and comes with a heaping portion of injira and vegetables. The staff is friendly and attentive. The atmosphere is friendly, quiet, and highly amenable to studying or reading. They also provide free wifi. My only complaint is that, in the heat of summer, the cafe gets very warm. Otherwise, an overall great place!
(5)
Kaitlin L.

Why. Why did I justset foot in Almaz for the first time ever? What the heck took me so long? I've passed by the location many many times and didn't even know it was there. I will not make that mistake again. The food here is absolutely wonderful. The flavors were exactly what I didn't know I wanted. The dishes are huge and very filling, but I had trouble stopping. Even if the food was sub par (which by no means is true) I'd probably still show up here just to get their fantastic coffee or see the smiling faces of the lovely people who work here. I immediately felt like a regular here, they are just the sweetest people. I cannot wait to return again.
(4)
Barak B.

Excellent real ethiopian food. The food is well value as well. I got the excellent chicken dish and there was plenty of the special bread to wrap up the delicious food. The spices were great. The food was warm and the people were friendly. This place truly is a hidden gem. I promise you, you won't be disappointed.
(5)
Jamie S.

Great food! The firfir is TASTY! Their Enjera is perfection! Very garlicy, don't plan this on a first date! ;-)
(4)
Rose B.

The waitress was willing to make a suggestion after I told he what I could and could not eat. It was chicken something or other, sorry I cannot remember but it was delicious. It had rosemary and some other spices that I am not familiar with it. I could not eat the ingera due to a gluten allergy so she gave me rice instead. I didn't think the portion size was that great for the price unless you count the rice, actually I was still a bit hungry when I left. Otherwise very nice.
(3)
Tasia T.

My favorite Ethiopian joint in Philly! The owners are so nice and genuine. The second time I ate there they welcomed me like I was a regular (which I soon became). They take pride in the food they serve and you can tell. The portions are awesome, prices are awesome, service is awesome, and, well seating, that can be tricky depending on when you go because of the small size. They also having smoothies and coffee which are always a treat.
(5)
Erin F.

When I think about it Almaz and little cartoon birds with rolls of injera in their mouth start flying around my head. I don't come here on a daily basis or anything, more like every other week, but it's my favorite place to pick up dinner on nights when I'm on my own after work. Here's my ritual. I call in my order from my desk at 4:45. At 5pm I leave my office and walk four blocks to Almaz. I pick up and pay and then walk another four blocks to the bus. I exit the bus about 15 to 25 minutes later and then I walk three blocks to my apartment, where I put on my jammies, unpack my veggie combo, grab a sparkling water, put on my glasses, turn on the TV and enter a fugue state in which I eat about two-thirds of the contents of the styrofoam container housing the vegetarian combo. Afterwards, I use the provided moist toilette to clean off my hands and then drift into a food coma while watching COPS. The food here is really good, seriously. So is the iced coffee, so is the sevice, so is the ambiance, so is the everything. Another five stars.
(5)
Alexandra W.

After being dragged to Almaz by Erin F. and Stephen S., I am finally willing to admit that I like Ethiopian food. Almaz is amazing. The staff is always really nice and really accommodating, the food is great and really reasonably priced for the portions. They also have sandwiches and wraps for the less adventurous eater, but why go to Almaz for anything but Ethiopian? While I am not a vegetarian, I haven't tried any of the meat dishes here. The veggie stuff is so good! I definitely recommend sharing dishes.
(5)
Larson E.

To start: Food: 2 stars Coffee: 5 stars. I dropped by here primarily because it was close to my new home, and was pleasantly surprised by the small restaurant "hole-in-the-wall" charm that the place has. They have seating on the ground level, but some stairs that go up to a lofted area with more tables. The place doubles as a coffee shop and Ethiopian restaurant. I ordered a muffin and a cafe latte. The former was a lil dry, but a good portion, and probably would have been better earlier in the day. The latter was... awesome. This place has some of the best coffee I've ever had, and is worth trying for no other reason than that. If you have an hour or so, drop by for some coffee and relax using their free Wi-Fi (just ask for the password when you place your order). I'll surely be returning here several times this summer.
(4)
Alan L.

Finally found good Ethiopian in Philly. I'm spoiled, having lived in DC for almost 14 years. With reputedly the largest Ethiopian population outside Addis Ababa, plenty of good Ethiopian restaurants there with plenty of Ethiopian (or formers) at the table. Almaz approaches that quality.
(5)
V M.

The beef stew was overwhelmingly delicious and the potatoes and cabbage wee just "melt in your mouth"amazing!
(5)
Dave F.

This place is a phenomenal value. Within a 1-mile radius of Rittenhouse square, it's about the only place where you can get a really good meal for $10 a plate. My favorite dishes are the vegetarian sampler (recommended by every other yelper) and the spicy, semi-raw steak tartar. Among the non-Ethiopian dishes, the Greek salad is huge and really good. Every time I've come here, the service has been lightning-fast and very cheerful. The owner/chef is a delight. By all means go!
(4)
Marie D.

Guys, I had a rough day. I had to think long and hard about how to turn it around. So I went searching and landed on Almaz Cafe. From the outside, it don't look like much but the inside triggers a smile. Bright green paint patched with shiny tin panels. Super modern, super huge light fixture. Non-pretentious tables and chairs. Friendly employees. The menu is eclectic: American breakfast and lunch items, ice cream, espresso, Ethiopian platters. Anyone who orders a turkey and cheese sandwich here has no sense of adventure. Rough days call for a break from the mundane. My first bite of Ethiopian foule (spiced beans smashed with tomatoes, onions and peppers accompanied by a side of sour cream, vinegar-tinged pancake-textured bread and turmeric-hued cabbage) was just what I needed and when it was gone I wanted more. If it didn't take so long to prepare (really, it was only 15 minutes but I was stressin'!) I would have ordered another. Next time I'll call ahead, as the pleasant guy behind the counter suggested.
(3)
Tyler K.

I love Almaz Cafe. This place is run by Almaz and her husband Solomon. They are great. Almaz is my favorite, as she's always fun and really nice and makes me smile. If you come enough, she makes it a point to learn your name. She's a trip and always makes me smile. Conversely, you never really have to make her smile, as her smile is omnipresent. She makes a mean coffee (always Ethiopian Yirgacheffe) and great espresso, but I'm always bad and get the Cafe Voltaire, as it is just this wonderful dessert for me. The sandwiches are great. The BBQ Chicken Wrap is really well done, as well as the Tuna sandwich. I'm a huge fan. But really, I'm beating around the bush. The ethiopian fare is delicious. I always get the vegetarian combo, just because I cannot decide what wonderful plate to eat. The food comes with ample injera, which is always a concern of mine when I go to eat Ethiopian fare. Seriously, you need to try this place.
(5)
Marissa A.

I absolutely love Ethiopian food, and I had high hopes for this, but sadly they fell short. It was so bland compared to all the other Ethiopian food I've ever had and it was also luke warm. I ordered the vegetarian platter and only 1 of the 4 options was palatable. Lovely staff, and a good smoothie, but I wouldn't recommend it and sadly I won't be returning.
(2)
May C.

Came here this past weekend to work on a project. The person I was meeting requested a non-Starbucks, Center City coffee place, and since we'd be using laptops Caffienation was out of the picture. Thankfully, there's Almaz Cafe. Almaz has a downstairs area with a coffee bar and a few seats, but we decided to park ourselves upstairs to avoid foot-traffic and spread our work out over a table. The wi-fi was free (you have to get the password from the counter) and fast. My soy latte was good and under $4 (always a plus since so many places are anti-lactose-intolerants and charge a huge surcharge for soy). They had a pleasant Beetles mix-tape playing in the background. And they didn't hassle us for sitting for 3 hours and only ordering coffee. Another bonus: after our coffee-fueled planning session we had some pretty darn good Ethiopian food. Having just had Ethiopian in Harlem last week, I can attest that Almaz's vegetarian combo (red lentil, yellow split peas, and cabbage) is legit. They give you tons of bread and a fork should you be a type-A like me and want to keep typing while eating. I will definitely be becoming a regular here. Good Ethiopian right down the street (and no need to brave West Philly alone when I get a craving) has upped the standard of living in Center City in my mind.
(4)
Calvin H.

I always get the exact same thing here: vegetarian platter and an Ethiopian iced coffee. This restaurant is a little bit above my usual price point, but the vegetarian platter is big enough for two meals. The coffee is outstanding and super, super, super strong. I'd say it's about as strong as Vietnamese drip (but you're getting a lot more of it than at a Vietnamese cafe), which is only a smidge less strong than your average espresso. Be warned. Service here is excellent. The woman who works the dinner shift is super sweet and has great suggestions. She doesn't mind it when you come in a big group and all pay separately, which is AMAZING.
(5)
Steven P.

I always enjoyed coming here for a quiet meal upstairs when I lived in Rittenhouse. The owner and his wife are very friendly and the food is excellent.
(4)
Deborah F.

It's only my second day in Philadelphia and I've discovered that a lot of places are closed on Sundays. I was looking for a coffee shop to work in that wasn't Starbucks and was very glad when I finally found this place. The environment is nice and quirky - bright colored walls (loved the turquoise ceiling) and there is upstairs and downstairs seating. I had a medium latte and a breakfast bagel (they were willing to serve breakfast anytime - hooray!). The coffee was delicious - very smooth and deep flavored with little acidity. I was happily surprised with the bagel - I ordered the bacon cheese and egg on whole wheat bagel expecting something like McDonald's, but instead it was like an omelet on a bagel - all mixed together. Fantastic (at least a 2 egg omelet with tons of bacon and cheddar). Huge. The size and quality justified the $5.75 price tag for the bagel. The service was perfect. I was served extremely promptly. I originally only wanted coffee but after sitting for awhile grabbed a menu. Within a minute (just enough time for me to peruse) someone came up and asked in a friendly manner if I'd like to order. Everything came faster than I expected.
(4)
Zachary D.

Summary: great food, byob, coffee shop ambiance. Review: Almaz Cafe serves authentic and tasty Ethiopian food. Come with clean hands, as you will be sharing with your table and eating with your fingers. The food is great -- perfect level of spiciness and many interesting tastes. Because the place is byob, the total price stays low. Only downside is the ambiance. The room feels much more like a coffee shop than a restaurant. Of course, that might be because it is a coffee shop by day...
(4)
Connie S.

From the outside one can barely tell that this place serves ethnic food, much less delicious and authentic Ethiopian cuisine, but looks can be deceiving. I've heard the coffee is really good, but for the food, don't waste your time on the bagels, wraps, sandwiches, etc. -- just go straight to the Ethiopian dishes portion of the menu. Last I went, someone in our party was half-Ethiopian and he attested that this place was the real deal. Come with a group of hungry friends (although I wouldn't recommend a party larger than 8, it usually doesn't get too crowded, but they don't have big tables and there isn't that much space inside). If this is your first foray into Ethiopian dining, be prepared to eat with your hands and to share everything. The owners are super helpful and attentive, and they will steer you in the right direction if you have questions about the menu. In my experience, all the dishes and spices start blending together anyway in Ethiopian food, so you really can't go wrong with a dish. Moist meat, good flavor, large portions at Almaz. My favorites: - Zilzil Tibs (strips of tender beef sautÃ©ed with onions): super tender beef - Kitfo (steak tartare): if you're cool with eating raw meat, you'll love this - Vegetarian Combination: comes with Misir (split red lentils with onions), Tikil Gomen (cabbage, carrots, potatoes), Kik-Alchia (yellow split peas) and Shiro (mixed legumes) Plenty of enjera (spongy crepe, the starch of the meal), and they keep it coming. Be careful, though - I've heard that the enjera, because it's so porous, expands in your stomach. You might leave dinner feeling very uncomfortable if you don't exercise some self-restraint. I would know from experience. But it's totally worth it.
(4)
Daniel L.

We were hungry but were tired of the same ol' stuff - turkey wraps, burgers, etc. We walked past Almaz and saw it was Ethiopian food so we wanted to check it out. Decor is simple very casual and staff is very friendly. We ordered the Firfir (stewed beef), Misir (lentils), and the Zizil Tibs (steak). Everything was amazing! It was a very nice change from the ordinary American food we usually end up getting for lunch. We topped it off with an Ethiopian iced coffee which is great. 5 stars for everything and a pleasant experience!
(5)
Lisa P.

The vegetarian combo is the best here! Plus the owners are so friendly. This is my favorite Ethopian food in all of Philly.
(5)
Nitin G.

Great food. If you don't care about the ambience, you will have a good time
(5)
Tommy B.

Almaz offers an ethiopian menu, though you wouldn't know it from the outside, and since they are conveniently located in Center City I wanted very much to like it. Unfortunately the food is greasy and underwhelming. And that's just plain odd. I've never left an Ethiopian restaurant thinking "That was greasy and it sits heavy in my stomach" before. Also, prices are not posted and the vegetarian combination turned out to be $13. As Ethiopian meals go it was a reasonable portion but certainly not a large one. $13 is too much for a businessman's lunch portion in a place with little ambiance. They are friendly folks and I'd love to see this place improve, but right now I have to tell you to get on the El and head over to West Philly for significantly better food.
(2)
Caroline S.

Hands down best Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia. Like someone else commented, the injera is just perfect, the veggie combo is solid, and the meat dishes awesome. My favorite is the doro wat. They also serve delicious coffee and breakfast! Five star service and food comes out really quickly.
(5)
Dan C.

4 stars for food, 5 stars for service. I loved my experience! The Injera was ridiculously good...almost fruity and tart but still rich and warm. I was offered additional injera when the owner saw that I was running low. Super plus service! She was extremely nice and we were able to share a few laughs. The food was excellent. All the vegetable dishes were fresh and flavorful and everything was spiced very well. I just wish that my meat had been more tender instead of so chewy and tough, but I'm not complaining. I will definitely be back at this gem! I can't believe I was thinking about going all the way to West Philly for Ethiopian!
(5)
Michael D.

I was SUPER psyched to find ethiopian food near my work! I generally get their vegetarian platter, which is just what you'd expect. Everything is well prepared and it's nice to be able to take a coffe to go after lunch. I like the high ceiling, and general look of the place. Very friendly owners.
(3)
A N.

LOVE IT!!!! The people are super nice and the food is AMAZING. I am vegan and I LOVE this place!! 5 stars!
(5)
Daniel K.

I'm new to Philly but I've been to a few Ethiopian restaurants in DC and Almaz is my favorite so far! I got the Doro Tibs which were flavored to perfection and the Vegetarian Combo and everything was delicious. The service was superb as well. I would definitely recommend it to anyone.
(5)
Joseph K.

Since moving to West Philly, I have been spoiled by the fine array of Ethiopian food in my neighborhood. Almaz is the sole outpost of this delicious cuisine in Center City, and they do it quite well. The service was efficient and attentive while remaining unobtrusive. The tiny space manages to be airy and intimate, as fresh as the delicious veggie platter. Almaz proves that all Ethopian food doesn't have to be simmered to the consistency of Gerber's. Each time I took a bite of a new dish, I thought "This is my favorite," until I got back to the first one and started the loop all over again.
(5)
Lissa M.

I was just here on 3/19/2011 with a large group. We called ahead of time and the owners were very nice and accommodating. They gave us the whole upstairs for a surprise party. And were friendly squeezing past us to bring food and take orders. And he kept checking on us to make sure we had everything we need. I do suggest sharing food since you get a lot. The food is good and they have a lot of variety. I would have probably liked my beef cooked a little longer, but everything is tender. They give you lots of Enjera (bread) to eat it with. It's BYOB so your party can bring their own wine and they will give you glasses. The dessert is great!! I wasn't sure if I wanted a cake (chocolate cake) for the surprise party so I didn't order one, but he made one anyway - and good thing because we decided to get it. It was very tasty. It's a block north on 20th street from 20th and Walnut. Parking is available on the street; and if you go before the club hoppers come out you can probably get a nice spot.
(4)
Scott R.

This was my first experience with ethiopian food. I was advised on what to try by a member of out party and I'm glad I did. The food was great and the environment was very homey. I'd definitely recommend it. Since I was ordered for, I don't recall the names of the dishes, but they were all standard dishes you eat with the pancake like bread. It was great though! Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Candace C.

love love love :) the food is a 4.5, but the service makes it a 5! the food is beautifully plated and delicious! the vegetable platter is really a great way to introduce yourself to ethiopian food if youve never been. i loved the ice coffee here! so yummy! :D and the owners are just wonderful wonderful people! very hospitable! ill definitely be back!!!
(5)
Louise T.

Easily my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Philly, even though it doubles as a coffee and ice cream shop. (I've never sampled those). It is owned and run by a very nice, hospitable couple. Besides the food being delicious and tasting like it has been simmered in love, it is a very comfortable space to be in. The same can't be said about other restaurants (like Absynnia in west Philly. I always feel unwelcome there and stopped going for that reason.) I wish more people knew about this place so I could rest assured that it will always be there.
(5)
Stacie H.

A hidden gem and one of my favorite spots in the city. Whether you go for the traditional Ethiopian fare, a sandwhich wrap, or the garden omelette, it's the best comfort food in the hood. The vegetable combo even has my meat-eating friends coming back for more. Great coffee and fresh sqeezed orange juice too. And the hospitality can't be beat!
(5)
Molly J.

Finally, legit Ethiopian food available outside of West Philly. Portions are generous, the injera is perfectly spongy, and my request for extra-spicy misir wot was perfectly obliged. Can't wait to check out the rest of the menu!
(5)
Zack L.

A wonderful cafe.
(5)
Christopher R.

The foule [fn1] at Almaz Cafe is a good compromise between the idealized version in my head [fn2] and the hassle of making it at home [fn3]. The enjera which accompanies it is unexpectedly sour at first but then it grows on you. The bread plus sour cream plus foule makes for a very good flavor but I am less enthused by the spongy texture of the bread [fn4] against what is basically a pile of bean mush. (I employ that description affectionately.) The cabbage hash [fn5] pairs well, at least. Foule can take some time prepare so I would advise ordering ahead. It comes to just under $10 with tax [fn6]. Service is exceptionally friendly at Almaz Cafe. I've been meaning to come back to try other dishes but, in the meantime, I would recommend the foule. Fn1 A dish made from mashed fava (broad) beans, popular in North Africa and the Middle East. Around breakfast/lunch time you'll find street carts surrounded by locals eating this dish in many of the cities in the region. It is also known as fuul, ful medames, etc. Fn2 Specifically: the foule sold by a haggard old woman, one eye lost in a sea of milky whiteness, in a narrow alley just past the Burmese embassy as you approach the 26 July Bridge in Zamalek, Cairo. This foule is ladled out of a large earthenware jug and costs EÂ£ 1 ($0.15 to $0.20). I failed to find a good stand downtown or near the AUC campus; the koshari that I found in that area, however, I have been unable to find in Philly. Any suggestions on that are welcome. Fn3 Its actually simple enough to make but fresh fava beans are prohibitively expensive for this preparation, Progresso canned fava beans are unsatisfactory and Goya dried fava beans can be difficult to find. Plus you have to stay with it as it cooks, so you spend like an hour, plus overnight soaking if you buy dried beans, to end up with brown mush. Even for the foule enthusiast, that's pretty frustrating. Fn4 The texture remains my issue here, though I cannot discount the memory of the fresh eish masri (Egyptian pita-type bread) which my idealized version was served on. There's decent enough fresh pita to be found nearby, so maybe I could buy some of that, but that seems like going too far. Plus, the impossibility or folly of recreating something like that et cetera. Enjera is fine, though better with the sour cream or even the cabbage than the actual foule. Fn5 My idealized version was served with pickled vegetables, vinegar-y to the point of being confrontational, and my home preparation usually entails sliced radish for spice and hard-boiled egg. If Ethiopian foule comes with cabbage, I am totally cool with that. Fn6 See Footnote 2 for the price of my idealized version but its unfair to compare the price of street food in the global south to cafe food in a pricier section of a major American city. It remains that the ingredients to make it at home will cost about $2 and yield four servings. Almaz provides a large serving, likely enough for two people, but it still feels like paying for the $9 banh mi at Mi Lah. I should note by way of the reference to the price of fresh fava beans in Footnote 3 that the color of the foule here does not suggest fresh fava beans.
(3)
Lisa K.

I am a huge fan of Almaz Cafe. Great Ethiopian food. My favorite is the vegetarian sampler although you cannot go wrong by anything on the menu. Don't be fooled by the exterior - it looks like an ice cream parlor. Once you're inside and observe the diners, you'll understand. Also the owners are some of the best people around.
(4)
Colleen M.

I live down the street from this place and love it. It has a rather unexpected combination of things going for it: On the one hand, they have great coffee, a quirky sense of style (see: weird industrial-looking light fixtures, steel ceilings downstairs) and a good atmosphere for sitting and studying (not a lot of seating, but if you can grab one of the tables or bar stools, it's a nice hide-away during finals week). On the other hand, they have GREAT Ethiopian food. Like, my favorite in the city so far. I don't eat meat so I can only vouch for their vegetarian dishes, but their tikil gomen and misir are so good...and their injera is always so fresh. For two non-meat eating people, order the vegetarian combo and the foule and you'll be happy campers. The thing that really makes me love this place the most are the owners though. They are so incredibly nice, and the service is amazing...I would still go there even if the food wasn't as good as it is.
(4)
Sara L.

FINALLY made it to this place. The Ethiopian food I've had in Philly has all been out in University City so this was a change of pace. Got to admit I don't LOVE ethiopian cuisine...its good but not one of my absolute favorites, so bear that in mind with my review. The place is very small and very cute. There is an upstairs that has table service, as well as some outside tables. The service is really friendly and the menu is mixed, American sandwiches and breakfasts and Ethiopian lunch and dinner food. There are also some super awesome smoothies that I personally very much enjoy. For lunch, I tied the Ethiopian vegetarian sample platter. The servings were for sure robust and very good. I would have liked a little more spice somewhere but that is a preference thing. Definitely would go back when I get a craving for Ethiopian or smoothies--especially since the location is so very nice!
(3)
John B.

3.5 I had somewhat low expectations, given the location near Rittenhouse Square. But Almaz turned out to be a pretty decent find for lunch, especially considering my desire to consume clarified butter at as many meals as possible. The tibs were fine, as was the vegetarian combo. My standards are perhaps unfairly high, though, as a result of having lived about a mile east of the 9th Street row in Washington, DC. Our server (the owner, I believe) was very nice and concerned as to our satisfaction. I certainly wouldn't seek it out, but if I lived or worked near Almaz, I'd probably be in once or twice a month.
(3)
Grace S.

I first discovered Almaz when I was wandering around Center City during admit weekend at my grad school trying to find an apartment. It was 7am and I didn't even realize it was an Ethiopian restaurant. There are plenty of usual American cafe offerings and the smoothies are really good. The coffee is very cheap and good as well. (I usually go to Colombe 1 block away but Almaz usually doesn't have a wait and it feels more like a mom n pop shop which is great) The owner's wife cooks all the Ethiopian food, I believe, and you'll notice that if you come here enough, the daily special is always lamb. Sometimes it's more like a stew, sometimes it's more of a saute. It's always flavorful but I find the saute kind too dry. The veggie platter is a must but too much for one person so it's always great to come here with a friend or two. You can reserve tables and there is an upstairs seating area. It's not fancy at all but the food is always yummy and it's also BYO. There's free wifi and sometimes you can sit outside but 20th Street isn't exactly a view. I've tried other Ethiopian restaurants in Philly and this place is by far the yummiest. Their cabbage, carrot and potato dish used to be really amazing but maybe I didn't like it last time because I got takeout. The Ethiopian bread/pancake supply is neverending and if it looks like you might run out, they ask if you want more before you even think about it! The owner or his wife always serves you and they are super nice and friendly. I would give this place 4.5 stars since I think they lose a little in decor and value since the food is kind of pricey.
(3)
Kathleen K.

It has been way too long since I've had Ethiopian food, mostly since I've been living in areas where no such restaurant exists within a 100+ mile radius. I decided to check out Almaz after reading some reviews on Yelp and opted to go here instead of the West Philly restaurants because we were going to a show at the church right around the corner. I am so glad we didn't waste the trek there...Almaz totally rules. The people working there were so kind; the woman behind the counter informed us that it was BYOB and when I told my husband I'd be right back, the woman (owner?) said "Good for you!" Everything was fantastic, although we sat upstairs which was kind of warm. We had the lamb special which was pretty good, but the chicken stew was phenomenal. The cabbage/carrot vegetarian side and yellow lentils were amazing. If i went again, I'd probably just get the vegetarian combo because they were the most flavorful items on the dish. The coffee was fresh and homemade cookies were fantastic too. For two dinners, two coffees and dessert we spent $35...deal. Love this place.
(5)
Hoang L.

Really good hearty and authentic Ethiopian food. This is the place to go in Center City for an Ethiopian food fix. Minus one star for being a little too oily. Portions are pretty big, so come hungry! (PS: try the vegetarian and lamb dish!)
(4)
Cherie C.

First, I stopped in just for coffee when they opened. I was so excited to find Ethiopian food on the menu in my neighborhood! The owners were friendly and sweet. I went back on a weekend morning and found a chef in the middle of the TINY restaurant cooking omelettes to order over a portable burner. It was a little strange but fun. I got breakfast and it was okay. Finally went back recently for Ethiopian dinner. I got the vegetarian combo, and it was delicious. It was my favorite Ethiopian food in Philly so far, and I'm a BIG fan of the cuisine. Surprisingly, our food came rather quickly despite all the tables being filled and only one person waiting tables and handling the register. It's a small space and not fancy, but it's great for a casual meal with friends or for hanging out alone. I don't have a laptop, but I suppose the wifi is a plus if you do. UPDATE: the owners, Solomon & Almaz, are incredibly friendly. I found out that if you make plans in advance, they'll do traditional Ethiopian coffee. My friends and I had a great time watching Almaz roast coffee beans for us and make amazingly delicious coffee. further update: I think our experience made them realize the space is too small for traditional Ethiopian coffee. But I SO appreciate that they accommodated us. The restaurant is really a labor of love for them. They worked hard to find a way to serve fresh food (not sitting in a steam table all day) without making customers wait an hour, as is the case with most Ethiopian food. Solomon also gave us an education on injera. Turns out many places skimp on the teff, but at Almaz they don't. That's great, because teff is REALLY good for you.
(5)
Mary B.

Good lunch spot, not too crowded. It's a weird set up, with table service. They really should just let people order at the counter. They have standard sandwiches and an Ethiopian page of the menu. We tried all the vegetarian options. The red lentils were good, yellow lentils were meh, green veggies pretty good, and the stew type thing yummy. Overall pretty good, though the wet bread is kinda gross, but not worth the price ($10ish). Insert obvious culturally insensitive joke here.
(3)
Greg S.

The staff are lovely and provide friendly warm service. The Enjera (a sourdough pancake) went great with the vegetarian combo and beef stew. The food is well seasoned and they use fresh herbs in their cooking.
(3)
Jenn H. H.

I'd passed by this place dozens of times before in my life, but I didn't realize it served food until a few months ago. I thought it was just a little coffee shop. It's much more! They have regular coffee shop and cafe fare (coffee, sandwiches, breakfast) but also have a small menu of ethiopian items. We got the Dorowat, which is a stewed chicken dish, and the Veggie Combo. All these items get served on a big plate on top of injera bread. Injera bread is a spongey crepe like bread with a sourdough flavor. You tear of pieces of the bread and scoop up the different dishes with it. You get a basketfull of injera as well. This was plenty of food for the two of us. Our server was super nice. I believe it's the husband who serves and the wife who cooks. The food came out shockingly fast! Now that I know they serve such good food, I'll definitely be back!
(4)
Eran M.

(vegetarian / vegan review) This is the best Ethiopian food I've eaten in a while, and definitely my favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Philadelphia. The food is tasty, fresh, and leaves me ready to dance, rather than sleep. The people are nice. The names of the smoothies are inspiring. :-) Their vegetarian combination platter is great, and the foule (pronounced "fool") is fan-tastic. :-) The portions are generous. My wife and I shared one of each, and ended up tearfully leaving some on the table. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it feels a little pricey (cost us over $20 for these two dishes, including tip, drinking just water - will try those smoothies another time!). Highly, highly recommended.
(4)
Marissa T.

This place is an incredible find thanks to yelp! I'm not a fan of west Philly, but have been really wanting some Ethiopian food to try for the first time. At first, this place looks like a simple cafe until you read the menu. From what I've read it's a husband/wife ownership and I'm assuming the super sweet woman who helped us was the wife. We ordered the vegetarian platter and one other thing, to which I can't recall the name because it was her suggestion. We were brought heaps of food and could have easily shared the platter, everything tasted super fresh and healthy to beat. I didn't try one thing that I hated, which not knowing anything about ethiopian was A+ for me. This is a new staple in my rotation of restaurants to frequent.
(4)
Dayo F.

I went here a week ago and will definitely be going back. I have been to a couple of Ethiopian restaurants in the past and always jump at the opportunity. As have been said in other reviews, it is a coffee shop/ restaurant. I would have to say the latte I got was just alright and not spectacular. But the food was great. I got some spicy beef stew, which was comparable to my past experiences. The chef/owner was also quite a lovely and lively person to chat with. The only thing I would change: since I got my meal to go, the injera (bread) was quite soggy by the time I ate the meal. So next time I'd recommend packing the injera separate from the soup/stew.
(4)
Andrea R.

This is may be my favorite food in philly. The veg sampler is consistently amazing. The woman who runs it is the nicest on the planet. Everyone should eat here everyday! (great coffee too!)
(5)
Alex Z.

This place seems to have been reviewed out the wazoo! I thought this was good, solid Ethiopian food, although it falls short of the best of the best. The bread is on the tangy side, perhaps too much lemon juice on it? Besides that I can't think of any concrete way to improve the food. Location is very convenient...it's a pretty small space but they usually seem to have enough space. Reasonably priced. Very good vegetarian options! I would gladly come back!
(4)
Soojung C.

The owner of this cafe is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Bring a bottle of wine, jam out to voodoo music, and share a combination platter w/ your best bud. Afterwards sit back, enjoy a latte, and be pleased with yourself because you just had pretty decent Ethiopian food in center city!
(4)
Jason S.

I love this place... plain and simple. It appears to be a neighborhood cofffe shop/ice cream parlor but come inside for so much more. The menu is on the smaller side, but they do it well. I usually stick to kitfo or gored gored, but on occasion I'll have the zil zil tibs, doro wot, key wot, fir fir, lamb, etc... and the veggies are always on point. The coffee is great... some of the best espresso around. No acidity, solid crema, flavor, aroma, etc... They also make great smoothies & tasty homemade cookies. My kids love going here for ice cream, etc... they pretty much always ask to go every weekend. Also, they make a pretty solid turkey wrap. And... what tops it all off... if I didn't like the food so much, I'd still come simply because Almaz & Solomon (owners) are two of the nicest people you'll ever meet. Oh yeah... free WiFi! PS... like others have said... just let them know if you want it spicy.
(5)
Kimberly W.

Almaz is a great, cost-effective little gem of a place with friendly service, AMAZING food, very fair prices, and adorably funky decor to top it all off! I should also take the time to praise the free wifi they have here; unlike some places I've been to in Philly that offer wifi, the signal was strong and very consistent! Definitely one of my fave places in Center City!
(5)
Casey K.

Love the din of the fridge permeating the dining area downstairs. The lofted upstairs section seems reserve for actual food dining. I sa downstairs at the counter and enjoyed the most DELICIOUS mango smoothie of my life. I will definitely be back to try the veggie combo platter that everyone is raving about!
(4)
Adam A.

Had my first experience with Ethiopian food here a couple months ago and thought it was okay. The injera was very sour and that kind of made it hard to fully enjoy the meal. However, the injera aside, the vegetables and beef were pretty good. The owner was very nice and they even gave us a coffee on the house (after they forgot to charge us for it). Very sweet gesture. Their coffee, by the way, was absolutely delicious. The cafe itself is also a nice little place. I'd give it another try if I were in the area.
(3)
Michael O.

So interestingly I wasn't that impressed when I first came to Almaz. After eating here probably twenty times-sometimes dinner, sometimes lunch, sometimes coffee-I have to say it's just become one of my favorite places. Almaz & Solomon are always so friendly and accommodating to everyone. The Ethiopian food is delicious, I especially think they do an excellent job on the vegetable combination platter. Almaz makes a homemade soup often times for lunch or you can get a very decent salad or sandwich. Please stop in, tell them Michael sent you.
(5)
Acacia P.

It isn't obvious when you walk in - it looks like just a coffee shop - but this is a really yummy Ethiopian restaurant! The service is a little slow, but the food is delicious (especially the traditional semi-raw red meat dish, I forget what it's called), though the menu isn't very big. Ethiopian enthusiasts might be disappointed for that reason, but they have really good versions of the basics. They also have really, really good Ethiopian coffee (seriously, some of the best coffee I have ever tasted). Please note that the seating area for eating (upstairs) is very small, and there is not really room for more than 4 people. There are 2 tables for 4, one or two tables for two, and a few seats at a bar-type area.
(4)
Holly L.

Just had lunch here with a coworker. I thoroughly enjoyed the DORO TIBS - chicken breast sauteed with Ooions, tomato, jalapeno pepper, rosemary, exotic herbs simmered to "perfection" (as it says on the menu and it's true! it tastes like it's been marinated for days!) in organic Ethiopian butter and pinch of cardamom. The cardamom was just right. My lunchmate had the SHIRO (Mixed legumes prepared with ginger root, rue seed, bishops weed and garlic cooked with berbere sauce) and she really enjoyed the hint of spiciness.
(4)
Erin May D.

I always get the vegetarian combo. It is very good and filling. I like this place because it is quick and cozy. Also, they have some non-ethiopian things, so you can please the picky people in your party. The fruit smoothies are really good, too. It is small, so perhaps you should call ahead if you are more than 4 people.
(5)
M K.

First time having Ethiopian food. The American and coffee selection looks great as well, but we were more adventurous. Beef stew is incredible and filling, and the vegetarian combo is flavorful and a great sampler for first timers. As or more flavorful than traditional Indian food. And the service was excellent to boot. Decent sit-down prices, but I might shy away from here for take-out. Incidentally, they had very nice music selection in the background as well. Will be coming back!
(5)
Joy C.

I can't believe it's taken me three years to discover this gem of a place that is literally two blocks from my apartment! Why is it so great?? 1. Authentic Ethiopian food - the beef stew is AMAZING. And the Injera is perfectly soft and fluffy, with that bit of acidity that makes it so characteristically Injera. When else can you go out for a nice dinner with friends and eat with your hands?? 2. It's BYO. Do I need to say anything else? 3. LOCATION. No more trekking all the way to West Philly for Ethiopian food for me. 4. Super friendly staff. They were really accommodating for parties too! Beware that the place is really small though, so avoid trying to bring in groups of more than 8-10.
(5)
Michelle C.

This is a small loft/cafe/BYO that serves up some mean Ethiopian food. When you walk in, you're greeted by a Starbucks feel: a few already made sandwiches, drinks, yogurt, cookies/muffins etc. Don't be turned off by this! Just walk on up the steep staircase and you've got a relaxing little joint where you can just sit back and break open a bottle of wine. The wait staff is very kind and helpful. The owner (I think) came by and asked if we needed any help with the menu as well as giving us the low down on the day's special (There's one everyday, don't forget to ask for it!). My dining partner and I ended up ordering the vegetarian combo (consists of split red lentils, a carrot and potato stew, yellow split peas, legumes and something that resembled hummus) and the special, which was lamb sautÃ©ed with some onions, butter (lots of it) and some spices I couldn't identify, it was also served with a Dijon spicy sauce on the side. All dishes are served with sourdough "bread" that has a slight tangy flavor and airy texture. Ethiopian food is meant to be eaten with your hands. The bread is used to scoop up the contents on your plate. Everything had such great flavors and the vegetarian platter was so colorful! I was impressed by the food. We also showed up about an hour before closing and stayed half an hour AFTER closing and the staff/owners told us to take our time. My only complaint was the sourdough "bread". It wouldn't be so bad if the bread wasn't so... unusual. The bread feels like moist latex; one side is smooth while the other resembled tripe or a sponge. I really couldn't handle touching and looking at the bread. So I had to grab a fork and stare away from the bread.
(4)
melody m.

I came back just to write a review for Almaz because I've tried Ethopian twice after loving the food that I had from Almaz. My first Ethopian food experience was here and it was awesome. The owner was very sweet and patient with my friends and me, as it was all of our first time with injera (staple bread in Ethiopia). The owner even gave me some extra injera to bring back to my students; they were learning about the UN goals in Ethiopia that summer! When I go back to Philly, I'd definitely eat here again.
(4)
Juliana S.

I've been meaning to check out this small cafe for the last 2.5 years - i always walked by it but never had a reason to go in. I'm glad I finally did check it out! They have fantastic coffee, probably the best I've had in Philly. I did have a veggie wrap which was pretty good. The only problem with it was that it totally fell apart while I was eating it. But, hey, it tasted great.
(4)
Sara C.

Mmmmm, Almaz, I heart you. I wouldn't usually seek out Ethiopian in Center City - maybe because I have so many different options living in West Philly. But this place is competing for my affection against my number 1, Kaffa Crossing. It's a funky little Ethiopian cafe located in Center City - the decor would best be described as "comfy-industrial". The staff are friendly and welcoming. The coffee is always good and strong. I'm not sure what beans they use, but they're damn good. I'd agree with Jake V. that the menu is smaller than other Ethiopian restaurants - but this by no means affects the quality of the food - which is AMAZING. I went for the misir wot (a spicy lentil stew of sorts), with veggies and a plentiful serving of injera. It was lovely - and maybe TOO filling. I'll definitely be back.
(5)
Adena D.

Thank goodness Yelp pointed me to this place. I needed a food-serving coffee shop with free wifi to get my work done and fill up my belly. Almaz doesn't look like much on the outside, as other Yelpers have attested. Even inside, it's nothing too special. They have a nice upstairs balcony where the heat is on full force. With the hot food and hot air I was sweating like a beast. Regardless, this place totally gets 5 stars because I love it. The woman working there (who might have been the owner?) was so nice. She was like the mom of the place. She even carried the food we ordered up the stairs to us. So I got the Yelp-famous Ethiopian Veg Combo. Oooh, yum. Yelpers were right, it was just the right amount of food. And delish. I also ordered a large mocha w/ whipped cream. It was filled to the brim and just so good. My bf got the chicken wrap and said it was tasty. The only complaint I have about this place is the lack of outlets. My computer eventually ran out of juice and I couldn't find a place to plug it in. :( Still... 5 stars. Definitely 5 stars.
(5)
Josh E.

All the raves are right. This place looks like a tiny nondescript mediocre coffee shop--you might walk in and think, "No"--but in fact it's amazingly good Ethiopian. And affordable. Get the foule and vegetarian platter. Get coffee and beef tibs. Get to know the couple who own the place (and consider volunteering for a shift or two, because Solomon and his wife, the eponymous Almaz, are always there, and it'd be nice for them to be able to go home and sleep sometimes).
(5)
Melissa W.

This is a cute little cafe owned by a really sweet African lady. I sat at a table outside and enjoyed a bagel with cream cheese - pretty decent for a bagel in Philly (I've been spoiled by New York bagels). Bonus: they carry bottled Maaza, only the best mango juice on the face of the earth. It came out to about $4.50 for the bagel and juice, but there's a $5 credit card minimum. Short on cash, I picked up an extra bottle of water for another dollar. Overall, not a bad place to grab a light breakfast/brunch/lunch if you happen to be in the area, though I can't comment on the Ethiopian food just yet.
(4)
Deann M.

This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and man oh man, it was amazing. The portions were huge and there were a lot of choices. I couldn't explain it or compare it to any other cuisine except to say that it was well seasoned with exotic spices. The man that helped me was extremely polite, and informed me of my choices. I had a delicious blueberry smoothie and a great cup of coffee. Everything was so good, I tipped way beyond what I normally would, and the guy shook his head and tried to give it back! He was probably the owner, but I refused to take it back... I don't care if he owns the place, the service and food was so good he deserved a tip!
(5)
Anna Marie C.

ohmygoodness. i am so sincerely in love with this place that i don't know what to do. i've walked by this place many-a-time (mostly because capogiro is right there, and i cannot resist the gelato)...but never stopped in. well, turns out it's not just some coffeeshop, it's a tiny ethiopian restaurant! now, i'm not some expert of ethiopian cuisine...but from my limited experience, it's pretty damn awesome! from the fluffy, slightly sour pancakes to the wonderfully spiced vegetarian sampler and meat dishes...nom nom nom. it actually makes me want to eat veggies...more than meat! and all for less than $15 a person! i would go back. again and again and again!
(5)
Anahi B.

I got takeout from here for lunch on the advice of a co-worker and paid $11 for a vegetarian combo platter. The problem with it was that it was about 90% injera (sour bread). The bread was good, but you had to look inside the folds to find the food, and there was barely anything else. Another co-worker told me she liked to eat her Ethiopian food with pita bread and I laughed because there was nothing in my container except bread! Three days later, it occurred to me that I had paid $11 for a huge plate of bread, which is kind of weird.
(2)
jessica e.

Okay so after reading these amazing reviews of this place, I had to try it out. However, after my horrendous experience, I had to come back on here and make sure I had the right place. My dinning mate and I arrived around 6:30pm on a Sat. and there was only one other table seated. We stood around the front of the restaurant for about minute before someone poked his head out of the back and said to sit wherever, We went upstairs to find a table and after about ten minutes of nothing, a standoffish, almost to the extend of being rude, waitress appeared and threw us some dirty menus. The selection was confusing and sparse - lox and pancakes? I ordered the chicken tibs and my dinning mate ordered the veggie combo. His was oily and tasteless and mine was salty, processed chicken pieces floating in red grease. The injera was odd and sticky because I assume it was frozen and reheated or made earlier and covered in plastic wrap while still warm. We barley ate any of our food and after the waitresses returned seeing this, she didn't say anything or ask about our meals, just took the plates and handed us the check. I wonder if some of the people who reviewed this place before us have ever eaten at many Ethiopian places, because this was the just the worst. We left and ate dinner somewhere else.
(1)
Marla M.

I ended up going to Almaz only because it was Restaurant Week and I didn't feel like spending a small fortune for dinner. Though i was annoyed I ended up there by default, in the end it turned out to be serendipitous because I otherwise would have overlooked this gem. The food was absolutely delicious- full of flavor and since everything's stewed in spices it's relatively healthy. The service was also prompt and wonderful. I definitely will definitely be back there again.
(5)
Vinny C.

I have never liked Ethiopian food until I ate at Almaz...now I can't stop eating there! For those who are vegetarian - go to Almaz & get the vegetarian combination today...you will not regret it. Doro tibs (chicken) is also delicious. It's BYOB, so bring a few beers to wash down the spicy food. If you have room, the Ethiopian coffee is a great way to end the meal.
(5)
Laura O.

First time eating Ethiopian, they set the table with a fork (maybe just in case you need it or for the non-Ethiopian dishes on their menu). You'll be eating with your hands, so be prepared. I had the vegetarian combo which was pretty good. I couldn't identify all the foods on my plate but they all tasted good. The injera (spongy crepe like grain eaten with the meal used almost like a tortilla to hold the food) didn't really have much of a taste, which I was surprised about. The plate that I had was delicious, little bit spicy. My friends both got a beef dish which was served with a very spicy sauce as well as lentils. Neither were very fond of the taste of their dish (they mostly ate the meat without sauce or enjea) I don't think either will be returning to try something different. I on the other hand would try another dish there.
(4)
Kathryn M.

I hate to write a bad review of this place, but... I've been here about three times and although the staff/owners are unbelievably sweet, the coffee and ambiance just aren't up to par.
(1)
Paul G.

Our first experience eating Ethiopian food-- it was awesome and highly recommended! Our waiter suggested that we try family style for our family of four, a little of everything. 3 meat dishes (lamb special, beef stew, and a chicken dish) with four vegetarian dishes (collard greens, the red lentil, yellow lentil, and cabbage and potato). Very reasonably priced for everything we got. Great place, super friendly service.
(5)
Diana G.

Fantastic food with friendly, relaxed service in a so-so atmosphere. There's no "Ethiopian" decor, really, but I guess that's fine as long as you're not expecting it. Sit upstairs and enjoy the free wifi. I met a Wharton student from Africa there and we had an interesting talk about race and politics in French. The family who run the cafe are really sweet and there's a broad variety of non-Ethiopian dishes as well. The food is wonderful and compares well to Ethiopian food I've had in San Francisco and Berkeley. It is served with the traditional thin, sour bread. The portion sizes are generous without being overwhelming, and the presentation is nice. If you're traipsing around Center City and pass by Almaz, do stop in.
(4)
Stephanie K.

Re: Drew S. The menu offers meat dishes. I'm going to try their meat dishes next time. My husband and I went in to try their yelp-famous vegetarian sampler and left very happily. To quote my husband, 'It was so good that I ate to full capacity.. an additional few more bites and I would have thrown up." Solomon is very nice, too! Thoroughly impressive.
(5)
N B.

Let me begin by saying that this place is hands down exceptional in the quality of whataver they offer. Besides the amazing coffee and the best ethopian food in town, the owners, Almaz and Solomon are by far the nicest, lovliest people you will ever meet. Their way of treating their costumers (many regulars) makes you realize what chains lack: personal touch, real smiles; the kind of public relations that no PR company can recreate for a non-personal business. Do not miss out.
(5)
Lauren B.

I found this great BYOB on yelp and figured I'd give it a try. I've eaten at another Ethiopian restaurant in Univ. City- loved the food and hated the service. Almaz Cafe is the perfect combination of amazing food and incredible service. Almaz, herself, makes the food and lovingly brings it over. She also provides recommendations and adds her own little touch to the food. Overall, it was an awesome experience and really well priced.
(5)
Aaron K.

There isn't a thing wrong with this place. Excellent food, great service. Bring your friends and get your props.
(5)
Catherine K.

I love this place! The food has never disappointed me (I particularly love the Doro Tibs); the injera is the best I've ever had; and the owner (? The woman who works there) is super sweet and friendly. I've never gone when the place is packed, but it's never taken too long to get our food either.
(5)
Linus G.

Almaz is a small family-owned coffee house/cafe and Ethiopian restaurant. First off, everything is delicious, the place always smells of some amazing omelet or coffee or beef dish. The man and woman who own and work the cafe are two of the most gracious people I've ever met, and they truly work hard to make their customers feel welcome and taken care of. They have only a handful of Ethopian dishes, but they are all amazing and I prefer them hands down to any of the West Philly Ethopian places. The fir fir is my favorite.
(5)
Scott F.

We got the vegetarian plate and foule and it was plenty of food for two. This is not the best Ethiopian I've ever had by a long shot, but it was still tasty. The atmosphere was nice and service was good. I'd definitely go back to get an inexpensive meal; it's probably the best food at this price in this neighborhood.
(3)
Drew S.

To add to the barrage of 5-star reviews, both staff we met were extremely solicitous, friendly, and helpful. We were only in there for about 1/2 hour for lunch and were offered two refills of water-- and we were in the less-accessible upstairs part of the restaurant. The food was excellent, and we each had different favorites from the vegetarian sampler. I'm not in the neighborhood that often, but I definitely will suggest it in the future. Does anyone know if the Ethiopian menu is entirely vegetarian?
(5)
Alex A.

This is nothing fancy and place is small, but I took my wife and two children (ages 6 and 7) specifically for an Ethiopian food experience, including eating the "spongy pancake" with their hands. Called ahead and had a table reserved for four. (Not necessary to do this, but creates some certainty and they do place a "reserved" sign on your table, creating some extra hype for the family . . . ). Results: very friendly staff, clean presentation, food was tasty, and relatively inexpensive. For a family of 4 I'd recommend ordering 2 vegetarian combos and one meat dish. They'll bring out one large platter and 4 plates. Kids love being allowed to use their hands!
(5)
Nadine J.

ditto what the other five-star-givers said. I just had dinner here with a friend and we were greeted warmly, and they didn't hestiate to let us sit outside! I feel like my friend and I served as an advertisement for the restaurant by sitting outside too because people passing by kept looking over at our food--which was amazing! We both got the vegetarian sampler and cleaned our plates; I was very satisfied without feeling heavy, which I think is a good sign of quality cooking. Almaz is definitely disguised as a mere coffeehouse, but don't let that fool you. Having been to Abyssinia in west philly and getting quality Ethiopian food only after enduring the snotty, rude, and sloooowww service there, I can honestly say that for any center-city denizens, there is no excuse to pass up Almaz if you're craving ethiopian. no compromises at this gem of a place--It's quality Ethiopian food AND very personable, genuine, and timely service! (as an addendum--I've come here several more times for dinner and the service/food are still just as great as the first. I also came in once for sunday breakfast--I had a mad pancake craving but no energy to make them at home--and their pancakes were delicious and HUGE....I only barely got through half the plate! is there ANYTHING they don't do well here???)
(5)
A L.

This place is a fab little find! I've walked by so many times before finding out it was an ethiopian restaurant! They sell run of the mill breakfast and brunch foods, along with some sandwiches and wraps, but their ethiopian food is what makes them amazing. They have a vegetarian combo that is a hefty amount of food and injera (bread) for only $12! It's delicious and filling and doesn't leave me feeling sick after eating out. The best part of this place is the owner! He is SO SO nice and truly treats people like regulars, even when you aren't. He loves talking to his customers and is always smiling. He even flagged us down to offer us a bag for our stuff that we were toting around (unrelated to the restaurant). I mean, who is kind enough these days to think to do that??!!! Truly a wonderful guy! Delicious iced coffee too! One star off because some of the food gets a little salty at times and I don't love the meat dishes since I kept burping from grease after it, but I am very sensitive to heavy food.
(4)
Danna K.

I'm a bit of an Ethiopian food snob after living in DC for three years. This place isn't as good as my favorite DC joints but its pretty solid. It's a pretty inexpensive place to meet friends for dinner or a weekend meal. I like to get take out here (love the yellow lentil dish) which makes 2-3 packable lunches.
(3)
M J.

The owners are very nice and accommodating. I had a craving for Ethiopian food after dining at Abol in Silver Spring MD. I got the dorro tibs. It was delicious, nicely seasoned. The lentils, cabbage and ground meat sides were all tasty. I was slightly disappointed that they had more American dishes like chicken wrap than Ethiopian dishes on the menu. It's worth a trip to CC.
(4)
Tracie P.

tasty, different, cheap. the last minute take out dinner trifecta.
(4)
Justin B.

Good strong ethiopian coffee
(4)
Jake V.

This is a nice downtown version of Ethiopian. Not the same amount of character in the surroundings as Dahlak and you can't have brew like you can at Abyssinia but if I ever have the hankering for some Ethiopian but don't want to hop on a trolley, I know where to go. The food was really quite good with the vegetable platter being of higher quality than the aforementioned places. We also had lamb which was super greasy but very good as well. My only qualm comes with the lack of choices in the menu. I understand that this place is small as is their staff but I think it could benefit from a meat platter just like a veggie platter as in this case, you can have too much of a good thing.
(5)
Aruna A.

Almaz Cafe has some good qualities - but I've definitely experienced better. Almaz has REALLY nice management and servers - and their smoothies are actually pretty good (though a tad bit over priced). The menu is pretty limited in terms of actual Ethiopian dishes. The injera is pretty good - not the best I've ever had, or even really any sort of injera I'd rave about. But it's good. The veggies are usually well flavored and tasteful - however they also can be really oily. Also the red spicy lentils are at times, not spicy at all, and are in fact some times a little bland. The coffee is good, but with La Colombe near by, it seems silly to come here just for coffee. Almaz is good when I want an Ethiopian fix - but I don't feel like traveling to West Philly's Kaffa's Crossing or Dhalak. However, if I was hungry and around Center City / Rittenhouse - I'd certainly spend my money else where.
(2)
G T L.

Wow! Went here for lunch yesterday and never wanted to leave. Great food and friendly, helpful service. Plus, the prices are really reasonable! Why did it take me so long to come here? Why am I asking you?
(4)
Anna M.

Delicious! very under the radar cool spot that you never would have realized was there (until you looked for ethiopian food on yelp). Nice staff, great food, and comfy atmosphere. You could walk by it a thousand times and never realize it held delicious ethiopian delights....
(5)
Tyler C.

Very charming little cafe, fantastic custom roasted Ethiopian coffee. I have yet to try the actual Ethiopian food, but the ice cream and American breakfast food isn't bad (also, makes it very versatile). Regardless, the coffee is reason enough.
(4)
Dan R.

Finally! After having had very good Ethiopian food elsewhere, it has been disappointing to be stuck with passable/mediocre options in Philadelphia - until we went to Almaz Cafe. Not merely good but excellent food and friendly service. This will definitely be our go-to place for Ethiopian in the future. This would have easily been 5 stars, except that the prices we were charged were higher than the prices on the menu (albeit moderately), and there was an additional error when the bill came (although it was cheerfully corrected). Even with those problems, the food was so good and the people so friendly, I wish there was a 4.5 star option!
(4)
John K.

I've often stopped in here for coffee or a quick bite and been happy with the quality of both and the friendly folks behind the counter. After having dinner there recently, however, I'm kicking myslef for not sampling the Ethiopian fare sooner. It was outstanding. I've since order to-go and eaten in - either way, it's top-notch.
(4)
Shenans ..

I was pleasantly surprised when, pressed for time one day, I poked my head into Almaz Cafe to check out the menu. Enticed by the vegetarian options on their Ethiopian menu I stayed for a quick lunch. The owner was incredibly friendly when I explained that I didn't have a lot of time. He assured me that my food would not take long to prepare. I had a seat and surveyed the interior while waiting for my food. The bright green walls and modern metal accents and bi-level construction give the space a warehouse like feel, yet it is small and intimate. My food arrived shortly and I was impressed with the size of the dish. The flavors were simple and fresh and just plain good. The Injera was thin, spongy, and just the right amount of sour. When I asked for my food to be wrapped up, I was offered more bread to take with me. Getting offered more food to go is unheard of, but much appreciated. Everyone there was incredibly friendly, with good solid food in a very casual atmosphere. I will be coming here again.
(5)
Kim L.

Everything is delicious. And the folks that run the joint are very friendly and helpful.
(5)
Jessica H.

Almaz Cafe is my favorite neighborhood standby. My partner and I eat here frequently, particularly in the winter (we crave this food more when its cold out). The flavors are wonderful, and the food is cheap, since one dish is more than enough for two of us. We usually get the Dorowat, although we also love the lamb tibs. It's not on the menu, but they offered it once as a special and we tried it and loved it. We haven't seen it listed since, but we've asked for it, and they usually have it. Sometimes I order the vegetarian combo to go and eat it over the course of 2-3 meals. It's truly excellent. The owners are the nicest people you will meet in Philadelphia.
(4)
Kate S.

Almaz is a great place to pick up a delicious cup of coffee en route to work or an even better place to pick up a smoothie on a hot summer day to drink in Rittenhouse Park. And I had wanted it to be a great place to get some Ethiopian eats without having to make the trek to West Philly whenever I get a craving. But I've been there a few times now, and while the food is always delicious, it makes me a bit sick in the afterglow.
(3)
Stevie S.

Uh oh, I'm hooked! I wrote my original review after one visit but I've been back about five times since! Now that it's warmer there are a few small tables out front which is a big plus. The food is always great and the owner/waiter/cashier is such a nice guy! The other day I had a bangin' iced coffe and on a prior visit got an ice cream cone. Tip: Although I mentioned previously that the food isn't very spicey, you CAN get some spice on the side which really gives it some punch.
(5)

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Address : 140 S 20th St
Philadelphia, PA, 19103
Phone (215) 557-0108
Website https://almazcafe.com
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :8:00 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
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 : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Almaz Cafe

140 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA, 19103

Almaz Cafe Menu

Salads And Soup

Sandwiches And Wraps

Ethiopian Dishes

Ethiopian Vegetarian Dishes

Desserts

Coffee Drinks

Espresso Drinks

Espresso

Chocolate Drinks

Healthy Meal suggestions for Almaz Cafe

Salads And Soup

Sandwiches And Wraps

Ethiopian Dishes

Ethiopian Vegetarian Dishes

Desserts

Coffee Drinks

Espresso Drinks

Espresso

Chocolate Drinks

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