Gojo Ethiopian
415 W Thompson Ln, Nashville, TN, 37211
Gojo Ethiopian Menu
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Address :
415 W Thompson Ln
Nashville, TN, 37211 - Phone (615) 332-0710
- Website https://www.gojoethio.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :Closed
- Mon : Closed
Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Cher Y.
Friendly family run business that cares about serving tasty Ethiopian cuisine! I always enjoy my meals here - so thumbs up for consistency! Pros: -Tasty food for both meat lovers and vegetarians alike. You can taste the subtle spices in all their foods - does not overwhelm - its just right! Nice variety on menu. -Coffee service - love it! -Nice ambiance -Friendly service -Fair prices for the food served -Private parking lot - easy breezy! Cons: - limited drinks selections
(5)Hattie J.
I've been here 3 times now, so I figure its about time I leave a review! Both of their appetizers...Ayib Begomen and Sambusa...are great choices. I'm big on cheese, so I fancy the Ayib Begomen in particular! My only complaint about the appetizers is the portions are pretty darn small if you plan on sharing them with someone. The food is tasty. I've had the Beef Tibs, and QeyW'et..which were delicious. The Chicken Curry & Peas was so-so...but I don't think that's a true Ethiopian dish. I was never a big fan of the bread..Injera, but after my last visit, it seems to be growing on me! I also love that they have plenty of vegetarian options. Great place for a date night! :)
(4)Jenny P.
Our friends took us here for dinner so we had no idea what we were in for. No silverware for one. Haha The bread the food comes out on wasn't my favorite which is the only reason I'm not giving them 5 stars but everything else was great! The stuff on the bread was delicious, lentil stuff, all kind of mushy. I'm not making it sound very appetizing but it was. Our table did the coffee ceremony which was so interesting. It was a 20 minute process. Very nice. I had a great time. Probably wouldn't go back though. The spongy bread wasn't for me.
(4)Beth G.
We had 2 of the Meat and Veg combinations to try everything. I think it was number 12 or 23. Sorry can't remember. To start had the Ayib Begomen Farmer's cheese mixed w/ collard greens, spiced butter, & a touch of mia-mita (chili powder). Served over toasted Italian bread. There were 4 pieces. Tasted like farmers cheese with spices. -OK to try, but may not have again. Would have liked to try the Sambusa's- I think similar to Samosa's. Next time.. So we had the Qey-W'et - Fresh, tender beef stew w/ onion, garlic, fresh ginger, berbere, hot pepper & spiced butter. MY FAVORITE OF ALL DISHES. Yebeg Alicha -Tender pieces of lamb simmered in mild sauce & seasoned w/ fresh ginger, garlic & tumeric.Doro w'et. Not a lamb person, but if you like lamb, this would be considered very good. Doro W'et Two chicken legs marinated in lemon juice, then sauteed in spiced butter & seasoned w/ pepper garlic, onions, fresh ginger & spices. Served w/ a hard-boiled egg. I only remember one chicken leg. Spice was good, but did not simmer into the chicken, but still very good. Spices went into the egg. Minchet Abish (Deqa) Finely chopped prime beef, sauteed in butter & simmered in hot sauce seasoned w/ spices & fresh herbs. This to me was not memorable or my taste buds were done after I went around to this one. ` Miser W'et-Split lentils cooked w/ onion, garlic, & ginger in house special sauces & hot pepper. -Also not memorable, spiced lentils is what I remember. Kik Aletcha Yellow split peas cooked w/ fresh ginger, garlic, & onion & finished w/ turmeric sauce. These were tasty, but I def could not just eat veg's alone here, bc the meats are very good. Shiro W'et Ground & highly seasoned chickpeas cooked w/ onion & garlic. Also spicy, but very fine ground, but not like hummas. Ye'atkilt W'et Fresh string beans, carrots, & onions sauteed in flavorful mild sauce. - Very good, but just had some amazing green beens in Cali so was still thinking of those. Presentation was nice with the Injera under the whole plate and basket of it. My partner used a lot the Injera at first and I tried to tell him to ease off because it expands in your stomach. Really spongy How do they make it? Service was very good. We had water, wish I knew about the coffee. NEXT TIME. Parking was easy in the back and there were 2 taxi cabs parked. Hmmm 1 looked like the car that took me from the airport. Will go back for the buffet as it is very affordable, Dinner was also for such a lovely meal. Really really wish I had the coffee. Oh it is BYOB too. Forgot about that.
(4)Ela R.
Food was delicious as good as Ethiopian food should be. Place was shabby rundown looking and service was ok. But who cares, food was great. I suggest getting the combination meat and vegetables so you can have a little bit of everything
(5)Stu R.
As soon as you walk in you're surrounded with the unique smell of Ethiopian food... If you're unfortunate enough to have a wait, the smell is going to drive you nuts. The menu is probably all food you've never heard of before unless you're very familiar with Ethiopian food, but the descriptions give you a pretty good idea of what everything is. Everything we tried was good, especially the beef stew and the lentils. The 4-way combo lets you choose 2 meat dishes and 2 veggie dishes and is served on injera... Injera is an Ethiopian flatbread that is kind of like a giant brown pancake, but you use the injera to pick up the food and eat it instead of using utensils. You also get an extra basket of rolled up injera on the side. It's not really that great by itself, but when combined with the Ethiopian food it's stellar. They don't serve alcohol, feel free to BYOB. They didn't give us glasses or anything, so if you are bringing wine you may want to bring your own... otherwise you'll be eating with your hands and drinking straight from the bottle, which actually sounds like a lot of fun in retrospect.
(4)Susan W.
I had the lunch buffet on my way through town from Indy to Birmingham. I'm very glad I stopped. The red lentils and the beef stew were killer, the root veggies were also great. Great to sample things from the buffet so I didn't have to commit to a strange new dish. Injera (flat bread) was tasty but served cold, my only complaint about the food. It's pretty greasy food but I hear that's authentic so I won't dock any points for it. Also check the math on your receipt. I had a $8.99 buffet and a $2 iced tea but ended up with a bill for $12. Didn't notice until later and it was just a dollar but fyi. I recommend it, enjoy!
(4)Taylor H.
Gojo is a great place to go for an unusual and interesting evening. The food is delicious. I don't claim to be an expert on Ethiopian food but was very pleased with dinner. No outside seating, not dog friendly but not expected.
(5)Gregory R.
Gojo rivals some of the best Ethiopian I've eaten on the West Coast and in DC. I usually split the Awaze Tibs and the Veggie Combo with my lady and it's the perfect amount of food. The veggie plate varies from day to day but usually includes some combination of: red lentils, yellow lentils, yellow split peas, cabbage, greens, green beans, or potatoes. They may rotate in some other things I haven't tried yet. You don't choose. You just get what they have that day (but trust me, it's all tasty). The staff are super friendly. I actually ran into one of them across town at Sitar and he recognized us and chatted for a bit. Another one of those things I love about Nashville - you actually start to feel like a part of the community after being here for a while (unlike when I lived in San Francisco). The sweet spiced tea is fantastic. Very sweet, so if you're not into sugary drinks this isn't for you. I usually come for dinner, but have also come with a big group (~15) that they accommodated very well (we called ahead, of course). I've also tried the lunch buffet and the day we went, it was Ethiopia's new year and another guy who worked there told us all about the traditions and everything which was really fun. Gojo is definitely in my regular rotation!
(4)Vivek S.
Best Ethiopian restaurant in Nashville. Great injera, I got one meat combo and one veg combo with my dining companions. If you've never had Ethiopian before, try the combos! My favorites were the doro wett (chicken stew), awaz tibs (sautéed beef/lamb), and the cooked lentils. It's an amazing experience! Go try it!
(5)Craig W.
I visited Asmara, Africa three summers ago and fell into a deep fascination and appreciation for the Ethiopian cusine and culture. During my two month visit to Africa, I learned how to prepare many of the Ethiopian dishes. I have been dining at Gojo Ethiopian Restaurant for three years now and overtime have tried everything on menu. The food is seasoned perfectly, the proportions are great and the service is awesome each time I visit. I highly recommend ordering the sweet tea. I always enjoy taking friends to this restaraunt for a fun, traditional Ethiopian dinner.
(4)Nicci S.
This place is FANTASTIC! Hubby and I had been craving Ethiopian for several days and found this place through yelp (as always!). We were leaving town so we got there early; we ordered the vegetarian combo for two and, as we were mulling over which dishes to get (it's a choose 4 deal), our hostess/owner/waitress said not to worry, that she would just bring out everything. Awesome!! We must have looked a bit like wild animals eating because it was so good that I'm not sure we took much time to breathe between bites. Lest you think me totally uncivilized, there was a little bit of chatting (mostly about how good the food was). Next month when I'm in Nashville again, I'll be going back to Gojo.
(5)Jess R.
I'm always looking for international restaurants in Nashville and Gojo is a great one! The waitstaff is really nice and it's BYOB. I've gone here a couple times with a group of girls and we'll bring a box of wine and order dinner. I usually get the 5 veggies plate. It's delicious!
(4)Christopher M.
We had the meat and veg combo. It was very tasty. However, it wasn't enough for two people - and we don't eat that much. We then ordered the Kitfo (raw) and it was outstanding. The spiced butter on the meat and cheese was awesome and very filling. Had we ordered that first it probably would have been enough for two. We ordered the traditional coffee after we ate. It takes 15 mins to make, so you may want to order it while you are eating or before. The 15 mins gave me enough time to write this review. Overall, it was a very good experience.
(4)Michelle P.
Pretty good overall. I've had excellent Ethiopian food in the past and this definitely rates 4/5 stars. Food takes a while to come out. Service is great. Recommended dishes: Appetizer: Ayib Begomen; Main dish: Shiro W'et.
(4)Curtis H.
I convinced a small group from the office to visit Gojo on a Friday at about 11:30. There was only 1 other patron when we arrived, but quickly started to fill up. We opted for the buffet to have access to a broad selection. Everything was fresh and hot. 2 types of lentils, wonderful potatoes, rice, greens, enjera bread, garden salad, and tender/moist sauteed chicken legs. All well spiced, but not overly. Staff was attentive. Great choice for lunch buffet with both vege and meat options. Will look to try during dinner for more menu options, but this was a pleasant surprise just a few minutes north of the office.
(4)Lovette B.
I am always trying to find something different and fun to do in Nashville so I ventured out to try Ethiopian due to a meetup group. This was my first time at Gojo and having Ethiopian. It helped that I was with a group of people who knew what they were doing. The staff was very nice and friendly, waiting on our group and bringing everything very quickly. Food is served family style (use the bread as your utensil) so I got to sample pretty much the entire menu. My favorites was the salad that is basically tomatoes and a light dressing, the number 2 appetizer its a beef wrap thing, and the lamb dish, pulled beef dish, and the ground beef and rice dish. The cabbage was a great vegetarian dish. The food was delish and I will be going there again! On to my next international food adventure...
(4)Naomi D.
This BEST Ethiopian restaurant yet!! Love the lamb & kitfo had so much flava!! The bones in the lamb were unfortunate even though the menu warned.
(4)Caleb S.
Incredible food and service! The staff was really concerned that you were having a good experience and delicious food. They would go out of their way to make you happy! The Awaze Tibs is incredible! At the end of the meal, they made sure to tell us to come back and it felt like they really meant it, not like it was a hollow saying. I'll be going back!
(5)Muna M.
I'm an Ethiopian food newbie and i absolutely loved the food!! Strangely though, the food here reminded me of my Mom's food... Strange because I'm Indian!! :) We ordered two kinds of beef platter.. I don't remember what they were called...but they were both "finger licking" good! Oh and the iced tea is really good too.... I highly recommend this place if you enjoy experiencing something new and authentic... Don't be fooled by its appearance outside... Its neat and clean inside.. I'm definitely going back here....
(5)Laura L.
I traveled through Ethiopia for three weeks. I have tried many of the Ethiopian restaurants in Nashville, and this is by far my favorite. The Kitfo is amazing. And the Shiro Wat is my other favorite.
(5)Melanie B.
This place is very good and a great place for vegetarians. The lunch buffet is a great deal for only 8.99. The prices otherwise are more than reasonable. The service is very attentive since it doesn't get that busy. Also, their version of sweet tea is a chai tea which is great!
(4)J R.
Hands down one of my favorite restaurants in Nashville... this place is really a gem. It looks pretty sketchy on the outside, but the inside is clean and nice, and the food is amazing. (And for an extra vote of confidence on the cleanliness side -- I was actually picking up takeout once while the state health inspector was there on a routine check, and she told me they have one of the cleanest kitchens in Nashville.) Honestly, I'm a big fan of Ethiopian food and have tried restaurants all over the country, and this is one of the best. Plus, the owner is an incredibly nice guy who will remember you if you come back more than once. The whole place has a great vibe and friendly atmosphere. The service can be a little slow sometimes, but it's worth it. Oh and if you like wine or beer with your meal, do note that it's BYOB.
(5)Sunny Y.
Disclaimer: this is the only Ethiopian place I have been to. That said, I love this place to bits. I'm going again today!! The food is a-MA-zing. (Love the lamb, chicken, and all of their veggie dishes). The injera is fantastic. The tea is yum. I like their ice cubes (I know that must sound funny but I do). I love the atmosphere and Ethiopian decorations. One minor thing (reluctant to call it a "problem") about this place is that the service is slow.... That's the only reason this place gets 4 stars.
(4)Ashwin M.
Neat, clean, spaciously empty and decent food. As a vegetarian, I was confident I would get something. We ordered two of the vegetarian platter and we got one ginormous plate with two of everything. Some were so-so, some were good. Overall, a decent place for trying Ethiopian food.
(4)Jamie W.
So good! Friendly service, amazing food and coffee. In fact it was the best coffee I've had in awhile!
(5)Mary C.
Yes. If you are wondering whether or not you should try this restaurant, the answer is YES. One Sunday evening, my husband and I thought we would go to Baja Burrito on Thompson Lane for dinner before we went to the movies. Little did we know that it's not open on Sundays. BUT, that is ok because we drove past this place and decided to turn around and go here instead. I love Ethiopian food and this was among the best I've had. We order two entrees to share and we were so full by the end of the meal that I think we really could've gotten by with one. They bring a really generous amount of injera - I'm not actually sure we finished it all. We ordered the Minchet Abish and the Shiro Wet. Both were great! The Shiro Wet, however, was amazing. Every time I took a bite, I involuntarily said: "This is so good." It was probably annoying my hubs. But, it was just so good. I can't wait to go back here.
(4)Zach G.
EAT WITH YOUR HANDS!!!! It's like being a kid again. Fun and messy and yummy.
(5)Yonnie B.
It's cheap. Portion sizes adequate. We had the meat/veg combo platter. Green vegetables cooked until yellow. Chicken a little dry; lamb a bit bony/gristly. Service is well meaning - the guy is nice - but it was just him serving the whole place so it was pretty slow and a bit haphazard. Normally I wouldn't care about service but it really is pretty slow (although the food itself came quickly once we were finally able to order). With 2 iced teas and that platter the two of us ate for 20 bucks.
(2)Janet S.
Having spent a month in Ethiopia I can tell you all Ethiopian food tastes the same day in day out no matter where you are! Gojo is set apart by its lovely decor, particularly nice at night. Bring a bottle of something and enjoy meat and lentil smabussas, 4 small ones in a portion, teemateem salad and a combo veggie or meat, 1 portion is enough for two people. Small heaps of food on top of injera, does not look like much but it will fill you up. No utensils - its all about feeling your food, and this food is cooked with love and served up by nice people. Lamb dishes are very good.
(3)Heather H.
The restaurant is trying, but still comes off as a hole in the wall. I was totally ready to drive on by, but was vetoed. After I played "spot the health code violation," (roaches, anyone?) I ordered a green bean dish and iced tea, and my husband ordered a meat dish. Our server was very sweet, and the food was grubbin'. The injera was tasty, and complimented the food nicely. I can't say I'll be back, but you might dig it more than me.
(2)Priya P.
I went here for date night with my boyfriend a few weeks ago. This place is the definition of "hole-in-the-wall" but aren't those places the best? Sure it looks a little sketchy, but the inside is like a cool little hookah bar. The food was awesome! It is resonably priced and especially nice that there are combo meals available. I would recommend ordering one combo platter for two, because it's huge and you get bottomless anjera! The owner was the sweetest man, we chatted with him a bit and promised we would come back. Glad I found an ethiopian place in Nashville finally!
(5)Nona C.
I am a huge connoisseur of Ethiopian food. I eat Ethiopian in every town I visit or drive through and have even driven 3 hours to get Ethiopian food. Louisville, three places in Philly, numerous places in DC and NYC, San Fran, San Jose, LA, 3 restaurants in Nashville, Gainesville, Victoria CA, Toronto, Buffalo and Atlanta are just a few of the places where I've enjoyed the fine cuisine of Ethiopia. To say I love Ethiopian food is both an understatement and misleading since I've actually never ordered the vegetarian combo. But I am an EXPERT of the vegetarian combo! For those of you who have not discovered this dish, I highly recommend it, especially at Gojo! They serve one of the best Ive had at a reasonable price. You don't have to be a vegetarian to love it either. I know numerous meat eaters who won't order anything else, yet it is a completely vegan meal. Strongly recommend this restaurant and the Ethiopian veggie combo in general!!!!
(5)Simon K.
The test of good service lies in how well they deal with a large group. Do they treat you like an inconvenience or do they appreciate your patronage? Gojo definitely served us with a homely hospitality. I'm a fan of food, and now I'm a fan of this restaurant. I've had Ethiopian before and this place seems to be more Nashville friendly. Meaning they give you the Ethiopian experience of eating with your fingers but they don't make it intimidating to scare off Southerners. The menu is easy to understand and the food is tasty. It's a good place to try the cuisine for a first time, and the interior is nice if you're sketchy about the outside. They keep the place tidy and clean. I recommend everyone should give this place a try at least once.
(4)Tina P.
Good food and a nice atmosphere .. BYOB is a plus too !
(4)Queenie B.
After trying Ethiopian food twice in D.C., I had decided that I didn't like it much. I'm so glad I decided to give it another try because the experience at Gojo changed my mind. I brought people whose idea of ethnic food is Mexican, and they loved it as well. Don't be thrown off by the exterior and location of this hidden gem. I highly recommend the appetizer that is a fresh cheese on bread. The prices were very reasonable, the portions were large. Our waiter was very nice and was happy to explain the dishes to us. I will definitely go back.
(4)Priya A.
The place looks like a hole in a wall but the food is very delicious.. A decent place to try out ethiopian.. not too expensive and a good experience. I had 2-3 of their vegetarian dishes and they were delicious.. It needed sme more spice, but then again I am not sure how ethiopian food should taste like. Their Injera bread was interesting and is supposed to be super healthy. The food comes served on injera bread and then some bread comes rolled in a basket. I liked their spiced tea. Overall it was an interesting experience..
(4)eric p.
i've eaten ethiopian food all over the country. it's my favorite type of food. i eat at either gojo or abay every time i am in nashvegas. gojo's lunch buffet sucks, but the menu service is very good. awesome tea. cute little building. my sister who lives in nashville prefers abay. get the awaze tibs. yum yum yum.
(4)Devin P.
have been here a couple of times and still have no idea what I'm ordering. that being said I guess you can't go wrong then because it is all so tasty! the little spongy bread stuff is awesome! yeah, so I'm a little ignorant not know what to call the dishes or bread, oh well, I know what I like and I LOVE this place!
(4)Jessica M.
Check out their lunch buffet!! May look like a hole in the wall, but the food is delicious! Try their spiced iced tea. Yummy.
(5)Chris N.
Great place! At first glance, it may seem a bit run down like certain parts of the neighborhood, and yes it is modest, but it's clean and comfortable inside. And the food is amazing. It may not be fancy, but it's the kind of place I love going...great food, great feel, and the owner (who was our server) seems awesome. The kind of place you appreciate and are happy to give them your business. Particularly if you want something different than the "usual," or if you are a traveling spirit that enjoys the cultural and hospitable nature of food.
(5)Whitney M.
This place is amazing. Best Ethiopian food I've had, and I've had a lot. The wait staff is friendly, attentive, and welcoming. Will definitely spread the word and come back again and again.
(5)Shafi K.
I reserved Gojo for a party of 25 folks and we had a blast here! We had a welcome dinner that I was planning and wanted things to be particularly arranged. Gojo did a fantastic job of accommodating us. The first time I went by Gojo, I had a hard time locating them. They have a small sign in the front which can be easy to miss if you're just driving by on Thompson Lane. I had to turn around and come back! They had small private parking area in the back so don't get worked up about the busy street parking. The inside of Gojo has lots of traditional Ethiopian decorations. It looks quite lovely! It smells even better. Although they are a small family owned restaurant, they can cater for 200+ people and so if you want to use them for an event, make sure to reserve early. I did not but thank goodness they were able to add me on to their handwritten calendar. :) On the day of the event, I went in with a couple of welcome signs that I wanted to leave someone visible. They literally took the signs from me and stapled them on to their own walls. The owner then asked me if that was visible enough. I have never been to a restaurant where they let you hang outside, handmade posters for your event so this was an amazing gesture on their part! During the event, they went to each table and explained the food options to our friends. They also came by frequently to fill waters for all 25 people. They had arranged the seats to ensure we had a whole room which gave us some privacy as well. Their food, perhaps obvious from my five stars, was REALLY good. We ordered a couple of the two meat and two vegetable platters. Each of these served three people and came with lots of breads. While we ate with our hands, we liked the option of being given some utensils. If you go individually or simply want your own dish versus family style, there are smaller dishes as well. After the meal, the owner and his wife (the chef) sat me down and made me some tea while we sorted the bill. How wonderful of them! They told me about the history of the business and about themselves. I suddenly realized that I had forgotten our tax exempt paper at home. The owners just gave me their card and asked me to call them the next day with the account number. I was completely taken aback by how trusting their were of someone they just met a couple of hours ago. Given my schedule, I completely forgot to call these folks back the next day and give them the number. No worries, they give me a call themselves! Overall, amazing service. We all felt so warmly welcomed and I was so happy we decided to go with the locally owned Gojo!
(5)Anna G.
When my husband and I first moved to town and saw an ad for Gojo in the Nashville Scene we couldn't wait to try it out. We love Ethiopian food and had been wondering if we would be able to find a good source for it here. Gojo has more than exceeded our expectations every time we've been. A small staff means the service can be a bit slow on busy nights but the food is well worth the wait. And while they don't serve alcohol, they do allow you to bring in your own bottle(s) of wine to enjoy with your meal. It's worth noting that Gojo is not a big place so bear that in mind when you're deciding when/what night to go. Everything we've sampled has also been reasonably priced.
(5)Megan A.
My husband and I have been here twice now. We love it. Both times we went to Gojo it was our date night, on a Thursday evening. There were quite a few people in there both times we have gone. I am sure it's hopping on a Friday or weekend. The food is fantastic. We have ordered a number of things of the menu and have never been disappointed. I will warn you traditional Ethiopian food is eaten with your fingers. Utensils will not be brought to the table when your food is brought out. They will be brought to the table upon request but it's way more fun to eat with your fingers. Not having utensils adds to the experience. My husband and I had hot tea at the end of our meal. It was delicious and complimented the food very well I highly recommend it. The building is interesting it's definitely a hole in the wall. It's got mismatched tables and chairs but it's great. Their prices are very reasonable and we always leave happy tummys and wallets. They are child friendly we haven't brought our one year old. But they do have high chairs and we have seen a little 9 month old boy there with his family. They waitress was very interactive with him. They do no serve alcohol but it is BYOB and we have seen other people bring wine and beer. So feel free to bring some of your own. We love this place and would recommend it to anybody. Great food fun place to eat.
(5)DJuan L.
I'm a big fan of Ethiopian cuisine, so I had to check out this place while in Nashville. The restaurant has a small, intimate, family owned feel to it. The server was nice and willing to explain the menu items for me. I got the vegetable platter and the food was pretty good and authentic! I got 2 appetizers (vegetable sambusas & Ayib Begomen) which I could have done without. The veggie sambusa was the best out of the 2, but they weren't as good as what I normally have. For authentic Ethiopian cuisine, this is a good spot to try.
(4)Bennie C.
Last night was my 2nd time here. My friend and I walked in at 9:45pm and they closed at 10:00pm. We asked if it was okay and they seated us without hesitation. We ordered a Curried Lamb dish to share. It was amazing. They were pleasant, thry never rushed us, and the food was amazing. Being from Nashville, I am never sure of ethnic fare. I recommend this pkace highly.
(5)Lee G.
This was excellent. Fast and kind service. The food is very very good. I will return to this place and try other dishes. I had lamb, chicken, cabbage and lentils. I would have to get used to eating with my hands. The bread that you use to eat with is different in a good way. Highly recommended. Worth the drive.
(5)Maggie W.
This place could very easily get bumped up to 5 stars next time I go, but we waited for 30 minutes before getting greeted by our server and when we did get service, the guy was argumentative about the menu. I am not one who needs a song and dance (especially when eating ethnic food) so the service wasn't that big of a deal. It definitely has room for improvement, hence my writing this much about it. Onto the food, I should preface this by saying that I love Ethiopian food, and the food here is legit! The bread was really tasty, as was the lamb and the cabbage. I look forward to returning very soon! It's BYOB, BTW.
(4)Lee J.
I've been eating Ethiopian food for 30 years now so I've sampled my share of injera. We're new in Nashville and were delighted to find Gojo just a mile from my wife's office (thanks Yelp!). Like most Ethiopian places, Gojo's decor is understated and it's not fancy - it's all about the food. Which is delicious. We split the ground beef sambussa appetizer, which was fine, but did nothing in particular for me. The vegetarian combo (my "go-to, first test" at any Ethiopian place) was spot-on. Lentils, split-peas, green-bean carrot medley, greens (collards, perhaps) were all cooked and spiced perfectly. The vibe inside was friendly, laid-back - you felt like you could sit over tea or coffee for two hours and they wouldn't care (or would overtly approve). Speaking of which, the party next to us had the "coffee service", which includes incense and coffee which will cause you to "see through time" ((c) Lisa Simpson). It looked and smelled delicious. For those who have never been to an Ethiopian restaurant, I think it's the perfect place to take kids if they're a little adventurous (or need to be a little more adventurous). It's rare that kids get to grab food with their fingers and this tastes better and is more nutritious than pizza or fried chicken. We'll definitely have to check out some of Nashville's other Ethiopian spots but this is right at the top of our list either for an easy going "I don't feel like cooking" evening or a place to take out of town guests who have had their fill of barbecue.
(5)Karri B.
Best Ethiopian food around! Don't let this little blue shack deceive you. Go in for a fantastic, diverse, well priced lunch buffet or for a wonderful and filling evening meal. Make sure to bring your own wine and always (even in the evening) do the coffee ceremony! You won't be disappointed!
(5)Anna J.
3.5 stars but decided to round up since there are not a lot of ethiopian restaurants in nashville. Honestly, I've had better. The injera was good, but it's pretty basic and hard to get wrong. My goat had some small bones in it which made it not as appetizing. The sides were bland. I've definitely had better ethiopian food elsewhere, so I had something to compare to. Otherwise, it's a decent little place, not too bad, worth a visit.
(4)Andy B.
This place was quite solid if you're in the mood for Ethiopian food. I had the spicy lamb, and it wasn't spicy. Oh well. The cheese appetizer was quite good. The sponge bread is odd, but that's Ethiopian for you. They actually do have spoons if you don't want to eat with just the bread and your fingers. The restroom was really fun with their trampoline floor.
(4)Lauren H.
I was skeptical at first because i had never experience Ethiopian food before. But hello vegetarian heaven!! I had the shiro' wet and tried the fava bowl! So amazing I crave it every week now, if not every other day! There was a bit of a wait but worth it! It's also BYOB which is the cherry on top 5 stars! Loyal customer now - thank you!
(5)Jonathan W.
This "hole in the wall" is more like a "jewel in the wall." The smells alone deserve a five star rating. The enjara is plentiful, the flavors rich and earthy, and the service warm. We will be returning often.
(5)Kina L.
I was on my way back from Trader Joes when my roommate mentioned that he had never tried Ethiopian food before. It took me about 2 seconds before I pulled up Yelp to find out where we needed to book to STAT. Per yelp, Gojo was recommended. We went at 11:30 and were definitely the first ones there. Gojo is located in an area of town that I would love to venture back to given the high density of ethnic restaurants. Or.. if you are interested, pawn shops. When we first approached the restaurant, I was unsure if it was open.. or if we were even at the right place. I took that as a good sign as I would like for a restaurant to invest more in their food rather then the store front. Well thats if Im going for true style home cookin'. Coming from Atlanta and having eaten in DC, I knew that my standards were already set exceptionally high for Ethiopian food. Since it was 11:30, we went ahead and got the buffet. For someone who has never had Ethiopian before, this is a great way to sample different dishes to figure out what you like. For $9 there were 2 meat options (chicken and beef) and a variety of vegetarian options (cabbage, green beans) and of course your lentils. The really enjoyed the Injeera and inquired as to whether they make it regularly in house. The owner told me that given the complexity, they make it often and store it but it is not made every day. It was still delicious. I also learned from our server/owner that ownership has recently changed but the menu has stayed the same. I believe she mentioned that the chef has changed too. Overall, the food was okay. I will have to come back another time to try their dishes off the menu rather then the buffet. I have no complaints whatsoever about the service. Our server was very nice and good about answering any questions we had. The restaurant was also very clean.
(3)Julie S.
Veggie combo platter is a must. Very flavorful lentil, split pea, chickpea, cabbage and green bean spread. Kitfo is a meat eaters delight! Get their hot spiced black tea to go with the meal. Very friendly waitress, fun decor, Ethiopian music.
(5)B-sian Zidong Z.
Lamb, Chicken thigh, and all the veggies are all so amazing, injera was truly delicious. The coffee and the incense was an amazing cultural experience
(5)Jessica M.
We went here for my sister-in-laws birthday dinner. Service was lacking due to the server smaking her chewing gum while taking our order, neglecting to refill our drinks, clear any dishes from our table of 11 people, and taking 20 minutes to bring us to-go boxes. My 10yr old daughter won't eat anything spicy so the server said that Deqa Minchet Ages would be perfect. When my daughter tried it, she couldn't eat it because of its spiciness. I told the server this and asked if she could have something else and she obliged. We ordered the chicken curry and handed the original food back which the server refused to take. When it was time to pay, they charged us for the meal she couldn't eat and said she couldn't take it off the bill. We will not be returning.
(1)Mali C.
If it says you can add cheese add the cheese. Omfg. Delicious. I ate the mixed plate which was super freaking fantastic for an indecisive person. The only thing I did not like was the teemateem salad. I have had this at other Ethiopian places it is a simple salad comprised of teemateem (tomatoes), red onion, jalapeños, lemon juice and some ethiopian spices like berbere or mitmita. Here it means generic Italian salad dressing with tomatoes, onion and a sprinkle of something on top that I'm not familiar with. Otherwise the meal was great, the servers were super friendly and the tea which was perfectly spiced completed the meal. Did I say add the cheese? Add the cheese!!
(5)Tracy F.
I popped into Gojo with two of my coworkers after running an errand off of Nolensville Road. I'd never tried Ethiopian food before, and I was so excited for my first bite! Since I'd never eaten Ethiopian food before, I was actually very happy to see that Gojo offered a lunchtime buffet. The buffet was on the small side, but offered lots of delicious dishes to please any palate. I loaded up my plate with the vegetarian options (they had goat on the menu for the day, but it's not my thing, so I passed). Everything was DELICIOUS! I especially enjoyed the beet and potato dish, which was bright pink and incredibly tasty. The injera was very good, though surprised me with its tanginess - my coworker, who's eaten Ethiopian food many times, mentioned that Gojo's injera is especially tangy compared to other restaurants. Regardless, it was a very tasty compliment to the other very tasty dishes on the menu. The service was also wonderful. We were served by the owner, who engaged us in conversation as he served us our tea (the tea, by the way, is also incredibly delicious). He also answered our questions about the buffet items and invited us to come back again soon - and we will!
(4)Chris A.
Awesome Thats the only thing you need to know. The only thing where I can see where people would have an issue is the wait time from between placing the order to when you receive the food. If you are in good company though the time goes by quick. I totally recommend the Miser Wet (#16 on the menu) DO IT
(5)Blair S.
Great food! Friendly service, and great prices too. My group had some veteran Ethiopian food eaters and some rookies. The waitress treated us well and helped the rookies navigate the best way to taste the foods and answered the detailed questions from the veterans. For appetizers we enjoyed Ayib Begomen, cheese mixed with greens, spiced butter, and dash of chili powder, and Yemiser Sambussa, a pastry filled with lentils, onion, peppers, and spices. For the main meal we had the vegetarian and meat and vegetarian combinations and one of every dish available in those combos. The lamb was awesome and the peas and lentil dishes were all very tasty. The enjera (flat bread that's a staple of Ethiopian) was great - warm, but not soggy or dried out like many places. Finally, we finished off with the coffee. Try it if you go with a group of three or more. It's delightful coffee roasted in-house and brewed in front of you in a large clay pot with a little incense burner. You'll probably need it after eating all the food.
(5)Stuart W.
Before I begin, I must say that I never give a lunch buffet a score higher than 3 stars. SInce that is the only meal I ate at Gojo, that actually means this restaurant gets the highest score possible. I went to Gojo for lunch because of a Jewish tradition (Toldot - the story in the Torah where Esau sells his birthright for a bowl of lentils.) That said,m the lentil dish here was not bad. Not great, but not bad. THe collard dish was tasty and the beans were lao not bad. The heart of any Ethiopian restaurant is Injera. Good Injera goes a long way, and Gojo has really good Injera. Draping the dishes with Injera served to bring out the flavor in a yummy way. As I said, 3 is as high as lunch buffets get. I am looking forward to going to Gojo and ordering off the menu and giving the rest of their food a go.
(3)Laura B.
The website advertises their Ethiopian coffees, teas, as well as espresso. Don't be fooled, if you would like to stop in here to sample some of those and some appetizers, you are not welcome here. Came here with 2 other friends who are very involved in the community for a brief meeting. My friends and I tend to prefer to patronize local locations for things like this, rather than leaving the neighborhood to hand my money over to a corporate chain. I often talk up places like this around the community to support local business. Since we all work with internationals full time and enjoy Ethiopian coffee and tea (one of the main draws for an Ethiopian restaurant in my opinion) we came here at 7 on a Friday night, ordered teas, coffee and two plates of sambusa. There was no wait, and plenty of empty tables, meaning if we hadn't been there, the table would have been empty. After spending quite awhile discussing matters, one of my friends got up to pay and was informed by the waitress that "We don't usually serve for just coffee and tea" (Nevermind the two plates of appetizer we bought and paid for). She said it was "Okay this time, but so we would know in the future." Rest assured, in the future, I won't be coming here, and will encourage my contacts in the community to avoid rather than patronize this establishment. I have eaten here a couple of times before, the food is really not bad, but not as good as some of the other restaurants in town, and there are definitely better, friendlier options for Ethiopian in town.
(1)Brent E.
Had dinner there with a number of friends last night. I used to live in DC and frequent Ethiopian places in Adams Morgan, and Gojo compares well. We shared a couple of meat and veggie platters so got to try most everything on the menu. For the meats, the two lamb dishes were the best by far, followed by the chicken and hard boiled egg. I thought the beef dish was bland and dry by comparison. Several of the veggie dishes were also excellent, especially the chickpeas. I'll also echo the previous reviews on the cheese appetizer, it's amazing and not be missed. Service was friendly, but the food did take a long time to arrive.
(4)TJ F.
This is the best Ethiopian food in Nashville. We've eaten at several others and they all have their pluses and minuses, but this one has the best food. Try the spicy beef and the lamb for meats. The lamb is mild but flavorful - they have a couple of types of beef - one spicy, the other not as much. Order a sampler and you can combine beef choices together with vegetarian choices with injera (spongy Ethiopian bread used as a utensil). The building sits alone, right on the street and is nicer inside than outside, with plenty of parking. Service was pleasant and not fast, but paced for an enjoyable dinner. Try their coffee - they roast the beans on order, come and show you the smoking beans, then grind and serve in a traditional vessel with a side of incense - a great way to end your meal with one of Ethiopia's greatest crops. Definitely worth a visit. They also have a large separate dining room, which could probably be reserved for a fun private party.
(5)Sandy T.
Very tasty food! Love it! My fav is the vegetarian platter...very healthy and not greasy! They serve it w a huge crepe-like tortilla called "enjera" which is made from fermented teff grains (high protein, low carb)....large portions so great for sharing...delicious!
(4)Elizabeth J.
Love Gojo! Their lunch buffet is the best. Also they're very friendly and happy to explain everything if you've never had Ethiopian food. This is a great place to go if you're a vegetarian also.
(5)Daniel B.
I jumped in the car with my friend who is also my boss, colleague, and mentor for the last 20 years. He declares, "Trust me! I am picking the lunch location today." Uh oh. We pulled into Gojo and I was bummed. I had my own declaration, "I am not eating goat." We walk in the door and my friend loads up a place from the buffet with rolled up something or another and tells me to help myself to the buffet. Ok. Whatever. I don't eat goat. The buffet of mixed greens, onions, tomatoes, and cucumbers with a rocking vinaigrette was very good. The next few dishes were vegetarian dishes with a prominent curry flavor: yellow lentils, red lentils, and potatoes in curry gravy. The meat dish was beef stew served next to a rice dish. The rolled up something or another was apparently our "silverware" and it appeared to me to be a flat sponge...what is it? The look on my face caused my friend to start laughing. I had no idea what the rolled up stuff was...it looked like skin. Really? It was cold, rolled up, and a very strange texture. Well, it turns out that it was spongey, buckwheat bread shaped like a tortilla. Shew! It wasn't goat. All the items were good and certainly nothing like Cracker Barrel. We finished the meal with a Coffee ceremony. Please, stop reading this review right now and head to Gojo just to have coffee. It was incredible. Once we ordered the table was cleaned up and they started roasting the beans in the kitchen. Once the beans were properly roasted they brought the beans out smoking hot in a wooden bowl allowing us to smell the freshly roasted beans. Soon, they are returning to the table with coffee cups, cream, and frankincense. The coffee is served in a ceramic Jebena which is easy to pour into small cups. The coffee was incredible. Bottom line...please experience the coffee! I may skip the dining in favor of Indian or Thai Curry...but the coffee ceremony is worth the experience!
(3)Andrea R.
My husband and I were looking for some place different to try and decided on Gojo Ethiopian. The service was good and so was the food. We would definitely return. I'd love to tell you what I ate but I could never remember the name and I would botch it beyond comprehension. Go with an open mind and a hungry stomach.
(4)Dagan B.
WOW this is different than most places i have ever ayte. u use sponge bread to grab your food. no knives or forks. the taste is pretty darn good. i would definitely go back. i heard the cabbage is awesome.
(4)Holly H.
I'll start by saying the food is great, which is what keeps us coming back over and over, despite consistently getting bad or just plain weird service nearly every time we visit, which has easily been 10 times for dining-in, and even more than that for take-out. I really recommend getting take-out from this place, because you still get to enjoy the awesome food (and it seems like they give you a lot more in your to-go box), but the dining-in service is just not worth it.
(3)Steve C.
I have to say- I really REALLY love the food here. It's absolutely fantastic. But forget about getting your food in a reasonable amount of time if they're the slightest bit busy. We've been twice when it was a little busy, and it took forever for a server just to come say hi. Then it took forever to get water. JUST WATER. And then of course it took forever to get our food. Also, I've been trying ALL DAY LONG to get ahold of someone there to book a reservation for my birthday party and still haven't gotten an answer. I checked and they are definitely open today. Hello?!?!? I'm trying to give you people a lot of business and you can't even answer your phone?!? FAIL. So, they get 5 stars for food quality, and 0 stars for service.
(2)Shelley P.
Best Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to. Friendly staff, huge portions, tasty tasty food.
(5)Carey James B.
Yummy!
(5)Julie L.
My first experience with Ethiopian food. Wasn't sure what to expect and figured we would start with the lunch buffet and go from there. Buffet was mainly vegetarian dishes- lots of greens and beans. One chicken dish was on buffet and while it was very tasty- I'd like to go back and try something else off the menu. The enjera was pretty enjoyable and unique. I am glad we tried it. Service was attentive and staff extremely friendly and pleasant. Easy going atmosphere made for an enjoyable lunch!
(4)Wilmarie G.
I love international foods...specially ethiopian food. Gojo is definitely the best Ethiopian restaurant in Nashville area. I enjoyed both vegetarian and meat samplers. The sweet tea is delicious. I strongly recommend this restaurant. Service is great, I even met the owner. A message for Mrs Laura below...Gojo is a restaurant, not a cafe or a lounge. Therefore, you're expected to order FOOD! W. Garcia MD
(5)Matt D.
Wonderful food, good service. Great spiced ice tea.
(5)Eliza R.
I'm big on ethnic cuisine and trying new foods, but eating Ethiopian food is a fairly new adventure for me. I don't have much to compare Gojo to, since I've only eaten Ethiopian once before long ago and barely remember it, but I'll wager to say Gojo is good. Different, definitely. But good! I ordered some sort of chicken leg dish that was cooked in lemon, spiced butter, and onions. The flavor was complex and interesting, and the chicken was tender, but also very gristly, which was a turn-off. However, I loved the sides it came with - I have no idea what they were, but they were incredible! The sour, spongy bread was complimented by the wonderfully spicy food, but when eaten alone, it's a little unappetizing. I will most likely go again and order a vegetarian dish.
(3)Lacey J.
Oh my. My oh my. This place is where it's at. It's in my neighborhood (Berry Hill-ish), and it's perfect for a night you just want to chill. It's definitely not a place to see or be seen, and not a place to go when you want your food within a 5 or 10 minute timeframe. I have a fascination with almost all things international. I'm a traveler at heart, so just a little outing for international cuisine perks me up and pacifies my insatiable desire to see and taste the world. Ahhhh, I love this place. The food is amazing. I recommend the sampler platter. Try the tea. I can't get enough of it.
(5)Tara S.
The food was amazingly good. I was a bit skeptical at first but finally decided to give it a try with a friend of mine. I've never eaten Ethiopian before so I had no idea what to expect. Now I have had their coffee before so I started with that. BEWARE - their coffee is $8.00 a pot! I mean, it's good but not $8.00 a pot good. They don't have it listed on the menu and that's a pet peeve of mine. If I'm going out to eat then I can afford it regardless but I don't want to ask and sound like a cheap skate. Moving on, I ordered the awaze tibs and my friend ordered lamb. We were asked if we wanted to eat family style on one serving tray so we could share and try both. Sure, why not! They do not give you silverware because you eat with your hands. I'm glad that I read a few reviews before going there because I wouldn't have known that (thanks yelpers)! They give you a spongey, pancakey bread to rip up and scoop the food in. I can definitely dig it :) Our server was very sweet and was nice about making suggestions. Oh and if you do order the coffee, know that it's about a 20 minute wait. I'm not complaining! I'm just sayin'. It was all very showy which was nice. They brought out the beans for us to smell and left it to burn at the table like incense. Good food and fun atmosphere!
(4)David O.
Gojo is a difficult place to quantify. The place itself is unquestionably a "hole in the wall". Soft drinks come in can form and the "Air Conditioning" is a wall unit and a dozen overhead fans (one that sounded like someone using a woman using an emery board). Service is two overworked guys, one of which was apparently on break when we arrived. And yet, I really enjoyed the food. Not being Ethiopian, I can't speak to how authentic it was, but it certainly is a unique meal. All in all, if you are not overly concerned with the ambiance I think its a worthwhile place to try.
(3)Nikhil D.
Good food but extremely slow service.. Go there if you want to eat real good Ethiopian food and have a plenty of time to spare :)
(4)Richard G.
This was my first experience with Ethiopian food and dining practices. The food was great, and was served on top of, and with, injera bread. The bread is a spongy, moist sourdough that resembles a cross between a thick crepe and a crumpet. I ordered unsweetened tea, and discovered that their tea is flavored with cloves. The waitress was nice and helpful, but we ordered from the menu, and the prep time for our food, or service of any kind, was glacial. This might explain why all the other customers ate from the buffet. Our appetizer was four small, triangular pastries filled with seasoned ground beef and jalapeños. These were quite tasty, but small enough to fulfill the definition of appetizer. In most restaurants, after I have finished the appetizer, I am no longer really hungry. The lunch was followed by an espresso that was excellent. The decor and dining accouterments were low key and minimalist (you essentially eat with your hands.) A couple of postprandial hot, moist towels would have been a nice, and much needed, touch. I will probably return and try the buffet, in order to get a wider selection of foods.
(4)Ali B.
My first Ethiopian experience and I CANNOT wait to go back :) Gojo is BYOB and any place that encourages eating with your hands is my kind of place. We shared the meat and vegetable combination dishes and chose the Doro w'et (chicken), Qey-W'et (beef) Ye'atkilt w'et (green beans), Miser W'et (lentils). The food is served on top of the injera bread and you tear pieces of the bread off to scoop up the yum yums. Everything was absolutely delicious and it was fun to eat it too! The spices and seasonings are so rich and unique. I bet everything they offer tastes good. The owners are so welcoming and friendly. I get the impression that a lot of their customers are regulars and practically family.
(5)Paul K.
Of all the Ethiopian restaurants that have existed at this location, Gojo is my favorite. Gojo is, I believe, the third one in 10 years. Actually went there a few times without realizing it had changed from Adis ABai (I believe the name was) to Gojo. I've been there with roughly 16 people since it's been Gojo, of them one hated the place with a fury passion based on the meat. It was a non-stop complain-fest from someone who normally does not complain that much. That aside, it's always been roughly the same positive comments. For those who have never been, go in and order a wat (or hit the buffet). I always get the vegetarian wat, but there are plenty of options for meat eaters. You'll use the spongy bread (and additional bread they give you) to scoop your food up. If you need silverware, you're doing it wrong. Service is generally pretty friendly, wait times vary, the parking for the place people seem to think they're going to get stabbed or robbed in at night, so if you're worried hit it at lunch but I will warn you, I've never escaped this place without a carbo-coma. You will want a nap afterward. The decor is... um... not a place to bring a date or try to impress someone at. It's a hole in the wall, and the holes it has in the wall are filled by window unit air conditioners. No idea the authenticness of this place, it could be completely unauthentic, but it's tasty
(4)Ceile G.
Enjoy the cultural experience by eating with the enjera! Buffet at lunch. Menus for dinner. Nice explanation of each food item naming ingredients. Love this place! Fantastic food! Ahmad/owner was so nice.
(5)Rebecca F.
I will admit this is not the place to go on a busy night if you are impatient to eat. The staff is super friendly, but it can be a little slow. That being said, the wait is totally worth it! I have to say the food really hits the spot. DELICIOUS. I have been in Nashville for a year and Gojo is my most frequented restaurant. This is where I go to reward myself or cheer myself up after a long work week. I fell in love with Ethiopian food while I was living in New York and never thought I would find a good place in Nashville, but this one is a gem :)
(5)Becky P.
The food here is GREAT. Service can be slow, so not a great place to be when you're in a hurry. No liquor license, but they allow you to bring your own and there is no cork fee.
(5)Dean M.
I went there for lunch. Just me and a few cab drivers. The buffet was amazing - the beef was great, the cabbage was great, I loved everything. I wasn't even that hungry and I overate... HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!! GO ! GO! GOJO!!!
(5)Jake B.
Decent food, but I've had better Ethiopian for sure. The service was laughably terrible. We walked it, and it was like we were invisible. After 5 minutes of awkwardly standing waiting for someone to seat us, we just sat down at a table. 15 minutes later our existence was acknowledged. Another 15 minuntes later we got our drinks. An hour after that, our food came and we were late for our obligation post dinner. I'm not sure if this is the Ethiopian way of handling patrons, but it was a rather unpleasant experience.
(2)Teresa B.
I met a couple of friends for dinner last night at Gojo. I've been there before but it was a first for my two friends. We ordered lamb, spicy beef tips and an order of vegetable samples. The food is simply amazing. The beef tips had the perfect amount of heat and the chick peas and lentils are addictive. The flavor and spices are perfectly balanced. As usual the service was friendly and attentive. My friends enjoyed dinner and want to go back.
(4)Jimmy M.
Not that this place needs my review but holy cow Ethiopian food from Gojo's is awesome!!!! I am a huge fan of Arabic shiy(tea), as far as I'm concerned it is the best. Alas though it met its match at Gojo. I was floored after having the hot tea here. In addition to the tea being great the waitress was very very nice and accomidating. And if that wasn't enough I had the vegetable sampler meal and it was mindblowing delicious. I had heard prior to going to an Ethiopian restaurant that there are no untensils and the bread is your utensil. I have become a fan now though. You have to try this place out if you're in Nashville for sure.
(5)Randall G.
I've been looking forward to eating at Gojo for months. Finally made it tonight. Good meal, great service and real dive-y feel (mostly in a good way). We started with all three appetizers and the lentil salad. The first app was goat (I think) cheese with collard greens on a piece of baguette. Delicious. The next two were fried pocket things - one with beef the other with lentils. Both were great. We ordered three entrees; beef tips, lamb and the chicken drum sticks one (sorry I don't recall the names of the dish). The beef and lamb dishes had stewed cubes of meat that were tough. The chicken fell off the bone and was the one I'll order next time. Flavors were great all around, but how does stewed meat get tough? I will say our waitress was just delightful and we had a pleasant evening. We'll go back and I'd recommend it, but it didn't blow my socks off.
(3)Micheal P.
The value of the lunch buffet here just can't be beat! All of the dishes are delicious! Come for a great experience!
(4)Jasmine K.
My husband took me here to try Ethiopian food for the first time. I loved it! It is so worth the long wait. The food is amazing and the fact that you eat with your hands is pretty awesome. Come here!
(4)Ken W.
I have had the opportunity to eat at a good number of Ethiopian restaurants all over the world. I particularly enjoy Gojo restaurant in Nashville!!! My lunch experiences at Gojo have been great each time! The food is carefully prepared and richly authentic. The modest staff of family members are quite polite and friendly. I would recommend Gojo to anyone!!!
(5)W A.
The food is great. The service is beyond terrible. Expect to not be seated with menus, asked for your drink order for 15 minutes, and then maybe even have to give up your table if they need it midway through your meal. No joke. All this happened in one night. Absolutely love the food, but unless you are a glutton for punishment don't put up with their service.
(1)B L.
Delicious food and cozy atmosphere. Gojo is located on Thompson lane almost across the street from Krispy Kreme. I visited one rainy, cold night and found the restaurant pleasantly busy and warm. As a point of disclosure, I am not well versed in Ethiopian cuisine, but I found the food here delicious. Dishes are served in a typical Ethiopain style - family style on injera which is used to scoop the food in leiu of silverware. They have various meat and vegetarian dishes from which to choose. The food was not overly spicy, but well seasoned. They do not have a liquor license, but you can bring your own alcohol or go next door to the bar and purchase drinks 'to go'. It is a great place for a couple or medium sized group to enjoy dinner. It has inspired me to learn more about Ethiopian cuisine!
(4)Wayne H.
4.5 stars rounding up. I admit that I am not an expert by any means of Ethiopian (I have tried exactly two Ethiopian restaurants ), but I enjoy this restaurant immensely. Nashville has a large Ethiopian and Somali community, and I think it shows in some great cuisine here. First a few notes; bring some friends along-this is a great communal meal and adds an extra family-style bonding to dinner. Also, as the only utensils are your hands, be sure to wash before and after the meal-I don't want this place to close due to some fool going down with Salmonella. The basic structure of the meal revolves around the Enjera/Injera, a sourdough-like slightly leavened flatbread, The unrolled bread is about 24 inches in diameter (but around 1/4 in thick) and is consumed by tearing off hunks and consuming by hand. Various salads, stews and vegetable pastes are placed on top of the injera, and may be picked up with the torn flatbread pieces. All orders are brought together and placed on a single injera slab, and extra rolls of injera are placed besides us to starting the picking process. This initiates a free-for-all as everyone begins picking and eating. Gojo makes great vegetable dishes, including the delicious mildly spicy lentil paste Miser W'et, slightly sour split pea paste Kik Aletcha, a chickpea dish Shiro W'et, and Tikle Gomen, an absolutely delicious garlicky curry cabbage. These legume-heavy, mild pastes contrast well with the slight sourness of the injera, and induced some child-like obsession with dipping among yours truly. Gojo also makes great lamb dishes. The Yebeg T'ibs, sauteed lamb chunks with onions and spices including rosemary, differed completely from Yebeg Alicha, a mushy curried lamb, contributing a thick meat-and-potatoes taste and the more subtle pulled pork-like spiced shredded meat taste to the meal; both were quickly consumed. Some Ethiopian tea was ordered as well. It is quite strong stuff, and has some additional hint of sweetness. The only menu item that did not particularly thrill me was the Doro w'et; at the other Ethiopian restaurant I have tried, the chicken was shredded and immersed in an immensely spicy sauce; here, it was two chicken legs sorely lacking piquancy, which made for some difficulty in both kick and ease in consuming the meal communally. All meat dishes were around $10 each, while vegetable dishes were around $8 each, though two meat and two vegetable dishes may be purchased for $12.50 while four (or five depending on the mood of the chef) vegetable dishes may be purchased for $10.50. Pooled together, it created an almost hors d'Å“uvre-like sample plate, allowing us to try some seven different meals, for about $30 total. Though thin, the bread is quite filling, and you will be satisfied by the end. The restaurant staff were quite prompt, as well as patient and friendly, pointing out and explaining interesting dishes. Furthermore, as the rolled injeras were consumed, a nice old lady that I assume to be the proprietor or cook walked around with a skillet, replacing the baskets with freshly made bread. Finally, as the food items above disappeared, we tore the bottom injera-now soaked with sauces- to pieces and consumed it with relish. Gojo is located on a strange corner of Thompson Lane and was fairly difficult to find. The parking lot was also somewhat small with no marked parking dividers. I have no other complaints otherwise. I have taken some five different people in three different trips, and all liked the place and agreed that it was absolutely delicious and would return. If you've ever been interested in Ethiopian Cuisine, this is the place to be.
(5)Owen W B.
My sister, who is a regular, took me here a few years ago when I was home visiting. I have had Ethiopian in Los Angeles but this is better. While this is great food all around, my advice is to skip the buffet. While it is an excellent value, order off the menu. The buffet is not bad. Far from it in fact. However, the items on the menu are just that much better, and worth the time, and few extra dollars. Best Etheopian food I have eaten.
(4)Kate K.
When I crave Ethiopian food, it is without warning but with the utmost urgency. After 9 hours of babysitting yesterday, I found myself (once again) calling in a takeout order to Gojo. A mostly vegetarian, I stuck to my standard: the vegetarian sampler with numbers 16-19. Do I remember the names of the foods those numbers correspond to? Hell no. Just trust me, those are the best ones. The all time winner is Shiro Wet. I remembered that name, at least. That's my favorite. I love Gojo. It's full of great memories, like that time I showed up with a new boyfriend and was seated directly next my previous boyfriend. (Did I mention it's BYOB? This is very convenient for those life moments that almost demand you drink an entire bottle of Cabernet...) I also chose to have my birthday dinner here. Another time, I inadvertently ate my injera into a map of the northern hemisphere. Really. It was incredible. I love the food, and the cute down-to-earth feel of the place. Here's the the thing, though: during the aforementioned birthday dinner and boyfriend/ex-boyfriend nights, the service was sooooo slow. One time it was more than 30 minutes before our order was taken. And the next time we waited forever for our bill, ultimately having to hunt someone down and ask. I want this place to succeed, so I'm hoping this improves. For now, eating their lunch buffet, getting takeout (which is ready lightening fast! Ten to fifteen minutes, tops) or just approaching your sit-down dinner with a little patience seem like good workarounds.
(4)Kristen F.
I really love this place! It is so so so good! Initially when I first heard about it (and the location) and I wasn't sure what to expect having never had Ethiopian. However, the restaurant is REALLY clean and the food is amazing. If you ever need a cheap delicious lunch go here. It is like $6 all you can eat. The dinner is awesome too. I always get the vegetarian plate and you get like 5 veggies with all the injera you can eat--which is a really yummy bread. If you don't like to eat with your hands, you can get a fork, but I say go for it and really experience the food, it's a lot more fun! I also LOVE that you can bring your own wine without any cork fee!! That's probably my other favorite part. Go here with friends and family, it makes for a really fun night!
(5)Joshua M.
I've been to Ethiopia, this is the closest thing to being there. Buffett style is perfect for trying lots of different things. Joshua
(5)Megan C.
My visit to Gojo was my very first Ethiopian experience and I have to say that I'm a new fan! We ended up ordering a combination of two meat and two vegetables (which vary from day to day). We ended up with a pork dish, a chicken dish, yellow lentils, and cabbage (which was sweet, delicious, and my very favorite one!). The dish arrives on a tray atop some spongy-flat-bread wraps. (With an additional basket of wraps). I really enjoyed the very communal and interactive nature of dining here, though it reminded me how messy I can be (definitely not a place for a first date!). Some of the dishes I think could have packed a little more punch, but in general the flavors were delicious. The waiter was very friendly and great at answering any questions we had and keeping our water glasses full. Dining room was clean and had some safari animal decor, which I also enjoyed.
(4)M R G.
Great food! Super service
(4)Krystal L.
Spiced iced tea was very good. this place is what I call a diamond in the rough but yet its actually very tasty. The staff is also vary warm and friendly. Ooh and the food is cheap also a plu
(4)Adrienne M.
This is one of my husband's and my favorite restaurants in Nashville. The food at Gojo is SOOOO good. I always get the vegetarian combination, which comes with several lentil and/or chickpea dishes, usually some potato and cabbage dishes, and green beans. My husband loves the lamb dish. I think the food here is much more mild than typical Ethiopian food, so don't expect it to be spicy. We have been to Gojo about 4 times now, and always have the same very sweet waitress. The service is sometimes a bit slow, so just know that and don't go when you're completely starving.... and if you are, just get an order of the samosas before your main meal. Another great thing about this place is they don't sell alcohol, but allow you to bring in your own beer or wine and even supply a bottle opener, glasses and do NOT charge a fee!
(5)Ray Ray K.
I was in the mood to try something new so I yelped and google searched for Ethiopian food in Nashville. The one place that kept showing up was Gojo's on Thompson Lane. So my girlfriend and I decided to try it out. When you first pull up it looks like a rickety hole-in-the-wall. Never judge a book by it's cover. The inside was very nice and cozy. The (one) server running the whole place was very nice and helpful. The menus were easy to read, all items were translated to english. There were no drinks on the menu which I found odd, so we just got sodas. I found the food to be reminiscent of Indian food. We ordered a sort of spinach and hummus appetizer on toasted italian bread which was very tasty, and only $5. For entrees we ordered a lamb curry mix and chickpeas in a red oil sauce. If you've never had Ethiopian, you don't use utensils. all the food is served with mashed beans and corn on a large platter on top of a spongy, pancakey Ethiopian bread called injera that you use to sop up all the food. There is also some served on the side, but use as much of the center bread you can to get all the flavors of the food. We left very happy and full, and only spent about $30. If you're looking for something ethnic and different, give Gojo a shot. I think they're open till 9pm and I'm also pretty sure they have a lunch buffet.
(4)D.T. B.
Went to Gojo with a group of 6 and had a great time. Not the prettiest place to eat, but the friendliness of the staff made up for it. The huge TV blasting football kept the guys occupied! Authentic food, although I think they tamed their spices a bit for the local palate. Had veggie and meat plates and everything was delicious. Literally, finger-lickin. I'll be going back again.
(4)Tart L.
This small restaurant is named after the traditional family hut in rural Ethiopia. It is brighter and cleaner than the other two failed Ethiopian restaurants previously in this location. You can sit at the meshob table and share food with friends, scooping with soft bread. Or just enjoy your meal at a regular table with regular utensils. Try the Ye AtkiltWet sauteed mixed vegs.
(4)Scott D.
This place is amazing. We ate there with another couple and shared everything. Perfect for people who love to try something off the beaten path, authentic food, and good times with friends experiencing something new. I'm not sure that you can really go wrong with anything off the menu. Be aware that you can order a raw beef dish, kitfo. They prepare it deliciously and the injera was the best I've had.
(5)Christine T.
Great fresh food. Good for both meat eaters and not. They have a buffet at lunch.
(5)John H.
This place is great -- far from a hole in the wall, it's actually pretty cozy. Walls and decorations are cheerful and everyone is very friendly. We met one of the owners, Shemsia Maregn, and she was incredibly helpful in picking out what to eat. Everything we had was absolutely delicious. Very reasonably priced as well. As far as cleanliness, I thought it was quite clean -- they also scored a 100% health code rating. Only complaint: service was pretty slow. A caveat for that one, though. There were two parties of 6 or more there when we came in and only one server (Shemsia was cooking and serving). At any rate, hopefully that was an anomaly. Even so, we'll certainly be back, and soon.
(4)Lakisha J.
I tried this restaurant for the first time today having never had Ethiopian . I wasn't exactly sure what to expect but I'm always game for good food. The appearance of the place didn't bother me. Some of the best tasting food comes from places that don't have professional decorators in their back pockets. The buffet was 8.99. The food had a subtle spiciness to it which I found to be a nice accent for me(as I'm a spicy food junkie). I'm not really sure how fresh the green beans were but they looked to have been cooked on the previous day but still tasty. Before I give it a higher rating, I need to go back a few times. I have two issues with Gojo. One issue was with the service. I wasn't offered a refill on my beverage because my waitress was pretty much non-existent. And I really wanted to try the coffee after the family behind me were raving about it so much but hopefully next time, I'll be asked if I'll would like anything else before my check is brought to the table. My second issue is with the time that it's open. I understand that it makes sense for business purposes to only open for what will be your busiest times but lunch M-F only. The only time that people like myself are able to visit is when I choose to have a staycation instead of a vacation.
(3)Meah C.
This place should be the talk of the town! As such, I am shocked that I just now discovered this place. Take it from a person who has tried some of the best Ethiopian food from all over the U.S. (especially NY) - this place is a must try! Delicious, succulent beef and a brilliant blend of spices similar to South Indian cuisine - if you like Woodland's restaurant (on West End), you will like this place. Don't be fooled by the outside - it could use a better paint job and better location. But you will quickly see once you get inside that the inside decor matches the quality of the food -- homey, clean, and delightful. Moreover, the staff there are wonderful, patient, and passionate about their food. The only reason it does not get 5 stars is because they can be slow during rush hour (small staff) and some may prefer a more upscale environment. Please do not pass this up - finding such healthy and exotic foods in Nashville is rare. This is one of those rare places. Luckily I work only 5 miles away - I will definitely be back here pretty often! Meal suggestion: Awaze Tibs (ask for it mild if you do not like it really spicy).
(4)newton d.
until i walked in to gojo the only thing i knew about it is that it shared a parking lot with the international famous twin kegs. from the street you're not going to be impressed...but who cares? it's cozy & homey inside (like you're eating at a friend's house if the friend was ethiopian & listened to bad music), the food is delicious & vegan-friendly, and the staff is always pleasant & friendly. i don't know if there are other ethiopian restaurants in nashville, and don't care. this is the one i would patronize regardless.
(4)sait m.
If you know Ethiopian food (I've been to Ethiopia), you know that this stuff is finger-lickin (literally) good. Save yourself the embarrassment of asking for cutlery, and only go there if you are adventurous. Do not take a date there unless you know that they are willing to try new things and are not prude. Love it.
(4)