Harambe Ethiopian Restaurant
2006 Senate St, Columbia, SC, 29205
Harambe Ethiopian Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Columbia for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
2006 Senate St
Columbia, SC, 29205 - Phone (803) 764-5510
- Website https://www.iloveharambe.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Coat Check : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Christina G.
I've lived in Washington, DC and New York where Ethiopian restaurants are more plentiful than they are here in South Carolina. Now that I live just outside of Columbia, SC where this restaurant is located, I am always on the search for good Ethiopian food. The food and service at Harambe equals that of some of the best Ehiopian restaurants I've visited. We dined with our 10 year old daughters who are both fans of ethnic food but can't tolerate anything too spicy. The seasoning here was perfect for their young palates but complex enough for adults who appreciate authentic Ethiopian food. We ordered the veggie and the meat platters combined. It was more than enough for our family of four and gave us a sampling of all our favorites. The injera was fresh, warm and moist. This is a great place for anyone to go who has not yet tried Ethiopian food as the prices are extremely reasonable. The service was exceptional. We'll be back.
(5)Tom O.
Ok, so I've eaten Ethiopian food in Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, and at another place in Columbia, and so far Harambe is the best I've had. It's located in 5-points behind Cookout. If you have issues with eating with your hands or foreign food in general, go to Cookout. However, if you want to have an AMAZING meal, check out Harambe. The food is made to order, so it takes a while, but it is well worth it. This place will not stay in business if people like YOU don't go eat there, so do a brother a favor and keep this place alive! The vegetarian and meat combo plates are a great way to get a taste of everything. My daughter had the Zilzil Tibs, and I have to give that 5 stars as well. The brown injera was great! Our entire meal was simply wonderful.
(5)Rebecca A.
This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and I hope all my future experiences are as good as this one. I ordered the chicken samosas and the chicken tibs. The samosas were perfectly crispy without crumbling everywhere. The chicken inside was deliciously spiced and very tender. The sauce that came with the samosas was also really delicious and definitely had a kick to it which I enjoyed. The chicken tibs was very fragrant and tender and eating it with the injera bread was addictive and I kept mopping up the leftover sauce with it. The service was great and the server was very friendly and polite. The atmosphere is very casual and there are TVs to watch sports games. Instrumental lively Ethiopian music plays over the speakers. It was a very good dining experience and I will be sure to return.
(5)Sien R.
My partner and I were so thrilled to find an Ethiopian restaurant opening up in Columbia right next to our neighborhood. It's one of our favorite types of cuisine, and coming from New York and California respectively we were missing a lot of culinary diversity! Harambe doesn't disappoint. The servings are large and the service is incredibly helpful, and the quality of the food is excellent--especially the vegetarian fare (the Veggie Combo is a huge win, even if you are a meat-eater)!
(5)Emily E.
I'm still floored by the fact that there are now 2 Ethiopian restaurants in Columbia, after pining for them the past few years. This place is a welcome oasis behind Cookout, with a nicely decorated wooden deck with some outdoor seating and fairly spacious interior as well. I enjoyed the comfortable chairs inside, they were cushy! Enough about the decor though, on to the food. We ordered the vegetarian platter with lentils, collards, corn and cabbage with some salad in the middle. Also got the beef tips which were deliciously spicy and had fresh jalapenos included. Portion size was generous, as you typically experience with this cuisine. Flavors were great and varied and definitely could not finish everything. The staff was friendly and helpful, but don't come here for a quick lunch because this type of food does take a while to prepare. The injera was not as moist as what I have had before, but it was still good and they will bring you more if you run out. Give it a shot!
(4)Linda O.
I agree with the others that the vegetarian combo is a must try: Gomen (collard greens), Kek Alecha (split peas without spices), Miser Key Wot (Lentils with spices), Cabbage, potato and carrots with spices, and Timatim Fitfit (Berebere, injera, garlic, lemons & olive oil). It is all served on injera which was extremely unique yet tasty and yielded a creative presentation. If you are concerned by the descriptions that the food is going to be spicy as in hot, don't worry because the spices just mean Ethiopian spices (it isn't spicy/hot at all). I actually thought the atmosphere was awesome and my order was prepared quickly. I will definitely be going again.
(4)Anthony D.
This place is both unique and exciting. If you order any of the main dishes you will be stuffed to the brim. The meat sampler is my favorite and allows you to try multiple kinds of their food on one plate. The interior is... ok but absolutely worth the trip.
(5)William B.
This place is a jewel. I love Ethiopian food and so was delighted when Harambe opened up here in Columbia. The food is spiced to perfection and the portions always leave plenty to take home.
(5)Angela S.
Alright. After reading other people's reviews, I think we maybe had a bad experience with a place that might usually be better. But regardless, our experience was horrible. Maybe the worst restaurant outing I've ever had. It was packed when we came in around 7:45pm on Friday night. I understand from someone in my group (6 people) that it's not usually that busy. We expected it might take a while for out food, but did not anticipate the meal taking 1.5 hours to arrive. It took 30 minutes just for us to be served water. Not joking! And we probably should have just left right then, but surely the food couldn't be much longer, right? WRONG. Our appetizer (samosas) came out after another 1/2 an hour. We gobbled them down because by this time we'd been waiting an hour and were starving. I joked to the server (who was MIA almost all night) that "this means our food should be out soon, right?" and his response was "I know; I'm hungry too." Say what?! That is NOT what we wanted to hear. Our food came out after 1.5 hours and was a third of what we had ordered. Our server told us that they ran out of the injera bread that the meal is both served on and eaten with. So instead of 3 combo platters, we were given one, without any additional injera, and given forks to eat with instead. Needless to say, we were NOT happy, nor did we leave full after all that waiting. And the two vegetarians in our group did not eat at all because the combo they brought us was mixed vegetarian and meat and they didn't want to eat the vegetarian options that the meat dishes were touching. Not sure where the communication breakdown occurred, whether in the kitchen or with our young, shy, server, but it was not acceptable You don't just serve a table 1/3 of what they ordered and expect them to be understanding after 1.5 hours. Either tell them up front, or don't charge for the meal, or SOMETHING. Where was the manager/ owner? I will never be back.
(1)Jeff M.
My wife and I recently moved from Atlanta to Aiken, SC. I miss the culture!!! So we had a "cultured" date in Columbia: Andy Warhol exhibit at the museum, a movie at the Nickelodeon, and Ethiopian food! The restaurant is not too much to look at from the outside. Like Dr. Who's T.A.R.D.I.S., it's bigger on the inside! What sounded like authentic music was playing. Beautiful tapestries were hung which almost looked like church icons. My wife and I decided to try the meat combination. It only cost $15 and it was more than enough for two. It came with injera bread, beef tibbs, another dish that our waitress compared to beef stew, chicken curry, and two other chicken dishes. All delicious (though after eating Ethiopian twice, I'm still not crazy about injera . . . spongy and weird). I also had a glass of Tej. If you've never had this before, you must. It is mead (honey wine) made with a bittering agent . . . and it will KNOCK YOU ON YOUR ASS! It's sweetness masks the high abv. My wife had the baklava for dessert. Typical baklava. Tasty. We would definitely go here again. Don't let the outside fool you! Try the Tej!
(4)Lilla T.
Came for dinner. We ordered the veggie combo and harambe for 4 adults and two kids and it was way more than enough food. How can you not have fun when you're eating tasty food with your hands off of a giant communal plate? Our favorites were the red lentil(?) stew, the greens, the roasted chicken leg and the spongy injera you wrap it all up in. Laid back, casual atmosphere and service.
(4)DrGina B.
I stumbled across this place while heading to Cookout (don't judge me) for lunch. Boy, am I glad that I took a chance! I haven't eaten Ethiopian in years and I didn't even know this place existed. It's in the cut off of the main Harden strip (the side road to Cookout). The service was wonderful; the waitperson brought me a sample of a dish I was pondering so that I could consider it for my next visit...and she did this without my asking! My meal was extremely well seasoned with spices and the ingredients were top knotch (there's nothing like enjoying a prime cut of meat that's well seasoned and cooked to perfection). The cabbage, even though I'm a carnivore, was my favorite (I ordered an additional portion for dinner). Now to the environment--brightly colored, warm, comfortable, and clean! I usually don't include this part in my review, but I'm a stickler when it comes to restrooms. The ladies room was spotless, smelled fantastic (without some plug in, automatic spray or other chemical aesthetic) AND the waste basket and paper towel dispensary were near the door (I don't do door handles...) This is going to be my latest and greatest Columbia bookmark!
(5)M A W.
I had the beef tibs and the chicken samosas...no for required to eat the main meal. I forgot to asked the lady that served me, but she was extremely courteous. The chicken samosas were EXCELLENT! I could have had two orders of those. Talk about #yummy! This was my first time eating Ethiopian food but it won't be my last. I found them by accident... was going to the cookout
(5)Woody C.
Let me start with a warning: Don't DUNK your food in awaze [sp?]...It will burn your soul. The food is berbere delicious - chock full of bold, exotic flavors. Sop it up with injera bread - I love the feel of this stuff. Injera Fetish. Is that a thing? I would like to see lamb tibs on the menu. We were told that is on the horizon. The people make this 5-star. Everyone is so warm and welcoming; I want to be friends. Best wishes for their grand opening tomorrow.
(5)Jamie B.
I LOVE this place. Eating here was my first experience with Ethiopian food and I can't get enough. Everything we tried was excellent and the staff is friendly and helpful! Delicious chicken samosas to start, with the alicha wot and the keye wot being the favorite entree portions. I also recommend getting the timatim kurt--it is a zesty, lemony, and a little spicy combination of fresh onions, tomatoes, and jalapeños that is a great palate cleanser! Also, don't skip the coffee at the end. They pan roast it in house and it is AMAZING. Smooth and strong, served black with optional sugar in a tiny cup. The best coffee I've ever had!
(5)Tanay N.
Love it! Great chicken samosa, veggie combo, and doro wot. We come here at least every other time I'm in town. Pretty much get the same thing every time. The Ethiopian spicy tea is good too.
(5)Naomi R.
I've been here before and the food was great but this last time was pretty disappointing. The shiro was runny and tasted more like a tomato sauce that should have been served with pasta instead of injera. The service was excellent, though, and the server was very friendly and helpful.
(3)Gavin W.
I've never had Ethiopian food before last night. I went with some folks to check this place out and was delighted upon arrival on the smells. It smelled divine! The server was very friendly and gave fantastic service. The food was quite tasty and good. I didn't much care for the bread it was served on, but it's likely an acquired taste I have yet to acquire. Think spongy sourdough. I'm a vegetarian so shirt wot, a vegetarian stew. Not what I expected but it was so good! Know that silverware is not used. You spoon the stew onto the bread and eat it that way. A new delicious and fun experience! We also started with samosas which were quite tasty. Finished with traditional Ethiopian coffee which was strong and good. They roasted the beans right in front of you, so you got to smell them as they were roasting. So cool and so good! Definitely try this newer Columbia gem!
(4)Rachel H.
Came here for the first time. Brother in law has come here before and had positive reviews, so we gave it a try. Boy are we glad we did! Came here for lunch on a Friday. Ordered the veggie samosas, alcha wot (beef curry), and the veggie combo. My husband and brother in law split a baklava at the end of the meal. What's hot - Great quality food! As someone who has had authentic and good Ethiopian food before, I was not disappointed. This place is authentic in flavor and has good portions. The curries were well seasoned, flavorful, and warm. The three of us were full at the end. It was the first time my husband had Ethiopian food and he was definitely made a fan. - Ethnic clientele. I saw some Indians and what I believe to be other Ethiopian customers. Always a good sign if a restaurant attracts native clientele. - FYI- Their samosas have paneer, which is an Indian cheese, and not potatoes. They were still delicious, but not what we expected. - Eat with your hands. I appreciate that this place is not overly westernized. We did ask for plates and forks so we didn't drop food on ourselves and make a mess. In other words, go ethnic, but they will accommodate your needs. - Good service. Our waitress was nice and accommodating. No complaints. I can't say what their service is like on really busy days, but I imagine it to be good service based on what we experienced. Eating takes time here, so there's no rush. The location and outside appearance aren't great, but remember not to judge a book by its cover. Final answer Highly recommend and would definitely come back.
(4)Elyn B.
I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food. I cook it at home frequently and when I travel to Washington, DC I always make a point to eat it and I've tried some of the best spots in that city. If this restaurant was in DC, it would a solid 4 stars. But, I'm engaging in some grade inflation for Columbia because it is one of the only games in town and it is DELICOUS. The menu isn't huge and unless you have allergies or find some particular ingredient problematic, I suggest getting the vegetarian sampler and 1 meat dish to share for 2 people. This is how my very hungry husband and I order and we were happily stuffed. The injera was legit as was the shiro. The doro wot was tasty as well. The misr wot wasn't my favorite I'd ever tried but I'm sort of a narcissist and like my own recipe best. Everything was fresh and delicious. I'd love to have a a few things be a little spicier but know that doesn't always play well for the crowd. The service was lovely and attentive. We went in for an early dinner and were the only customers so were taken care of beautifully. Please eat here, Columbia, it would be a small tragedy to lose this place.
(5)Shawn E.
Good stuff! Definitely the best option in Columbia for Ethiopian food. We got a meat sample platter and a veggie sample platter, and couldn't finish it because there was so much food. The server was very kind and attentive, and didn't mind at all when we kept asking her to help us keep the names of the dishes straight. Definitely worth a try if you've never had Ethiopian food.
(4)Christopher K.
If you are a vegetarian, you need to check this place out. As far as Ethiopian food goes, this places is pretty good. Nice flavors, good portions, quick service. The Ethiopian coffee is done traditionally with the roasting of the beans with incense tableside as long as they aren't too busy. The coffee itself was a little week for Ethiopian coffee but would still be very strong for an American pallet. If you have not tried this it's worth it. The Injera was thankfully made with traditional brown teff flour. It was prepared well and they don't skimp. The batter could have used another day of fermenting because the traditional sour taste was not present. This was probably adjusted for the American pallet. Still delicious. Prices are fair but I would love to see some lunch size portions. The dinner sizes are too expensive for a casual lunch and too large.
(4)Laura S.
Ever since I tried Ethiopian in New York many years ago, I've been craving it again. Harambe did not disappoint. Atmosphere isn't much, but the food is wonderful!
(5)Alexander S.
This is the second time I've visited Harambe. This is the second time I've been blown away by the taste, quality, and flavor of the food. The staff is incredibly friendly, and the decor is kitshy but very reminiscent of downtown Addis Ababa cafe's. We've ordered the Harambe Special, the Vegetarian special, the baklawa, and coffee. You really can't beat a meal that feeds four people for 30 bucks with such healthy options, and incredible flavors. I highly recommend this place, and hope that they have much success in the future. Columbia needs more places like this to replace some of the fast food junk of the area.
(5)Dee A.
What a great space! I went with Erica J one early evening a few days after opening and really enjoyed this place. I've had the opportunity to try both Ethiopian restaurants in Columbia and while Salina has a lot of good things going for it, the ambiance here makes it a little bit better in my opinion. We tried the chicken samosas, the vegetarian platter and the beef tibs (I'm horrible with any sort of names and can't remember what anything is called). They were kind enough to let us try a little bit of all of the vegetables. The standouts were the cabbage and carrots and the collards. I actually liked the lentils at Salina's a little better but they were tasty here, it's just a personal opinion so I won't hold it against them! The samosas were crispy and the filling was full of chicken and spices with a little kick to them. They did take a while to come out. Actually everything took a while to come out, but I like hanging out with my friends so it wasn't a problem. The beef tibs were my least favorite. They were seasoned very well and the onions and jalapenos were delicious but the beef was pretty tough and chewy. The injera here was smooth and light and perfect. Plus they give you a ton of it. Portions were huge. We had a ton left over so yep I rolled it up like a freaking huge ethiopian burrito and shoved it into a to-go container and if you think I didn't eat it like that cold you'd be lying to yourself. It was delicious cold too and tasted great mixed together. I'm so glad this place is in the neighborhood and am definitely going back
(4)Aimee T.
This restaurant TOTALLY rocks!! Hubby and I were starving and shared a veggie sampler and a meat sampler. We were really full afterwards. You must go and support this awesome business!!
(5)Erica G.
So happy to have another choice for Ethiopian food! We started with veggie samosas. There were six on the small side so it's probably good to split between 2-3 people. They were served with a spicy sauce. Five of us shared a veggie platter with all of the choices. The collards were particularly good. We added an order of Doro Wat and beef tibs. The Doro wat was pretty standard. Next time I'd get the spicier version of the tibs. Overall it was pretty good!
(4)Stewart J.
Tried Harambe tonight and was not disappointed. What a great addition to Columbia's dining options. My wife and I tried the Vegetarian Sampler and the Tibs Wot. The Sampler was really outstanding and included portions of the following: collards; cabbage, potato & carrots; chickpeas; lentils; and split peas. Each nicely seasoned. I don't like traditional Southern collards but Gomen or Ethiopian seasoned collards are all together a different dish. Delicious. The Tibs was good as well. Very nicely seasoned. However, the meat could have been a bit more tender. If there is an area where improvement could be made, that is it. We also tried the Chicken Samosas as an appetizer. Excellent as well. The spicy dipping sauce needs to be bottled and sold as a hot sauce! Overall, very impressed with Harambe. Oh and this is an important note. They DO take credit cards despite what the Yelp profile says. You owe it to yourself to try this place. You will not be disappointed.
(5)Liz D.
Very, very solid and fantastic to have in Columbia! So glad we finally have some Ethiopian options! The restaurant is a little hidden next to the Food Lion shopping center on Harden St. I went for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and it was fairly empty on a weekday evening (I really hope that trend changes; they are a great little gem!). The restaurant itself is fairly simple: nice surroundings, but nothing terribly fancy. There's a nice deck, and while it was too cold to hang out outside when I went, I bet it would be fantastic in the summer. The service was super nice, helpful, and friendly; a little slow, but in the nice kind of way that guides you toward slowing down a meal to enjoy it more. The menu is fairly limited, but what they do is done well. We had a large group and between us tried almost everything on the menu. Everything I tasted was delicious, but I'd love to see a few additional items on the menu that I've had at other Ethiopian places in the past. Still, very tasty and portions are substantial (I was eating my doro wot for days!). Make sure to have the coffee. The roasting beans made the whole area smell incredible!
(4)Janae B.
Great food and incredibly accommodating for gluten allergies! Two of us shared the vegetarian plate and doro wat, (both were 4/5, but this place is in Columbia so it deserves a 5/5) and we brought some home. Waitress was incredibly helpful and had the kitchen make my injera out of 100% teff flour. Will be back soon.
(5)Sue H.
Our first time trying Ethiopian food. Very friendly and helpful server. Ethiopian coffee was amazing. Food was excellent and it was really fun eating with our hands. So much food we couldn't finish and the DH and I are big eaters. The bill was less than $30 for two people. Beef Tibs was delicious and spiced differently enough that it was a new taste sensation, but not too strange. Veggie sampler platter was a huge amount of food. Really loved the lentils and the collards. We definitely will be going back, even though we live 2-1/2 hours away.
(5)Bruno D.
After seeing the positive reviews on yelp, I decided to try this place. Obviously this was a converted sports bar but they have done a pretty good job of having an Ethiopian feel to the place. Was very impressed with the quality and the food in general. Columbia, we are lucky to have such a place now go out there and support these guys.
(5)Charlie A.
This is the best restaurant in Columbia! Ethiopian cuisine is unique and delicious! We share 2 or 3 entrees and a veggie combo for 4 people. Fantastic! The Tibs is the best entree we have had. (But if you only want a steak or a burger, go somewhere else. This is very different from American food.)
(5)