Gojo
13510 Aurora Ave, Seattle, WA, 98133
Gojo Menu
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Address :
13510 Aurora Ave
Seattle, WA, 98133 - Phone (206) 365-3100
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Angela G.
Absolutely the best Ethiopian I've had in Seattle -- that's saying a lot, too! -- and a hugely welcome addition to the North Seattle scene. We stumbled in about a week after the place opened (spring 2009) and ordered the yesega (key yesega wat, yebeg tibs, kitfo, menchit abish, firfir) and veggie (lentil, shiro, split pea, cabbage, collard greens, kik alicha, salad) combos. Everything was beautifully prepared and very fresh; standouts included the yebeg tibs, the kitfo (which the kitchen tactfully checked to be sure I meant 'raw' when I ordered it -- yes I did), and the various lentil dishes, but every dish was well-prepared and tasty. Service was friendly and very solicitous; I'm familiar with the dishes I was getting but I think a newcomer would be very comfortable here asking questions about the food. We were checked on multiple times during the meal. Ambiance... well, it's about 25 yards off Aurora, but they're doing what they can. The space is spare so far but clean, colorful, and nicely put together; there was soccer on the TV, but it wasn't at all distracting for those who weren't interested. We'll be back! (Update: We were and we are and we will be, and I'm just gonna fix that missing star. Love these guys!)
(5)Eytan H.
Currently our favorite Ethiopian place in the area, however beware: They have a tendency to run out of lamb and beef, so it's advised to call ahead to see how sparse their menu is for the evening.
(4)Linda J.
Although I wasn't sure if we were supposed to seat ourselves, the service was good, the food was pretty good, and the portions were great (although deceiving at first). I love how they have authentic decor (and food). The three of us ordered the meat and veggie combos and I thought we'd be able to finish it off, but we have about 1/3 left over. I'm probably not going to go back, but only because I want to try the other Ethiopian places intown.
(4)Dahlia C.
This is the 4th Ethiopean restaurant we tried in our neighborhood. We are so lucky, as all of them offer delicious meal with reasonable price. I think Gojo has a bigger portion for their combo... The only small problem for us (me, my husband & a toddler), we like the veggie & meat combos - the 2 combos together are just too much - but we found so many things we love in each combo... So, we may have to invite our friends next time to come along with us. Overall, yummy food, friendly service & great atmosphere.
(4)Jin M.
Food is excellent to taste. Cost is amongst the lowest in Ethiopian restaurants. Only qualms are that the food can take very long to arrive even when you are the only one there and sometimes the Injeras can be very cold. Inspite of this, it's well worth a visit every now and then.
(4)Marie B.
AMAZING Veggie Combo (that's what I eat there) and Kitfo or Meat Combo (that's what my boyfriend gets).... very friendly owner... he's come to our table and told us all about the different dishes and injera (the bread)... very tasty, fresh, and good portions. Service doesn't speak the best of English but they're friendly.
(5)Sarah S.
This place exceeded my expectations! The food was excellent, we had the veggie combo plate and an order of Doro Wat, which easily fed three people. Great spices in the doro wat. Prices are very reasonable and the decor is nice, there are a lot of authentic artisan pieces. There was only one waitress and she was good - but don't try to come here if you're in a hurry and trying to catch a movie. I've noticed that service is a bit more laid-back in Ethiopian restaurants, not the rushed "get in and get out" type of service we are used to in American culture. That said, we were out in 50 minutes and made it to our movie just in time. I highly recommend this place, I would like to see them get more business, they've been open for 4 months.
(4)Lindsay W.
Really good. My husband and I split the vegetable combo and Doro Wat (chicken stew). It was waaay more than enough for two people, and we came home with lots of leftovers. Like previous reviewers have said, the staff is not very knowledgeable about the beer or wine list. I would recommend the African Tusker beer with your meal, if you like beer. We'll definitely go back. The service was impeccable.
(4)Michelle W.
It has only been two weeks since we discovered Gojo but after 3 visits, it has become a new fave. Great food, consistent quality and nice service. There are two combination platters worth having--one is meat and one is vegetarian. We have made a habit of ordering both which is way too much food for two people, but it makes for awesome leftovers the next day. As the owner said to us, the flavors are even better after having a day to really soak in. We couldn't agree more. We are certainly looking forward to our next visit... As soon as we run out of leftovers!
(5)Sonia L.
The food is amazing. Friday night, not crowded, no wait, and the food was amazing. The injera was perfect, sour, tasty. From the reviews I expected really good food, and I was still surprised. Wow. I'll go back.
(5)Kathy D.
We're no experts, but dinner last night was the best Ethiopian we've had in Seattle. Well worth seeking out, despite their easy to pass by location. We got one meat combo plate and one veggie combo plate for three hungry adults, and had more than enough. The flavors ranged from savory to mildly spicey, and all of them were wonderful. The friendly and helpful staff made us entirely comfortable and kept up with our needs without ever bothering us.
(5)Alex B.
SO DELICIOUS! This is my first experience with Ethiopian food and it was fantastic! The Injera bread was like a spongey-sourdough and went well with all pieces of the vegetable combo! HUGE servings as well! More than enough for 2 people. For only $14 between two people you can't get a better deal for a fantastic meal. Not to mention, Ethiopian food is quite healthy. I will definitely be returning. The outside is nothing like the inside of this restaurant. Inside is very well kept and cozy. The server was extremely kind and helpful as well and my water glass was always full. The spices and layering of flavors in the food was perfect I was very impressed. You will not be disappointed!
(5)Paul F.
I love this place. Simply the best Ethiopian Restaurant in Seattle.
(5)Judy K.
I really wished I had enjoyed this place, but unfortunately I didn't. We ordered the meat combo and it came with 5 different selections. I think we only thoroughly enjoyed one of them :\ The rest of them tasted a little funky; one of them tasted like soap. The veggie side we ordered was pretty good though. I found the injera a little too sour too. I give this place a 2-star though because the atmosphere was awesome and I can totally tell this place has authentic Ethiopian dishes.
(2)anita f.
Love that veggie combo! The restaurant is clean, the people are very nice.
(4)Angela S.
Basically: decent food (loved the lentils; wasn't so fond of the collard greens), terrible service. Needs a wine list/drink menu, and also some appetizers. This place serves only entrees and drinks. That's it. Nothing to snack on while you're waiting the 45ish minutes for your entree. (Note: this was the least slow Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to, but that very seriously isn't saying much.) My boyfriend and I split the vegetarian combination, and each had a glass of wine (which I think was Yellowtail, but I can't be sure due to the lack of a wine list). The food was a mixed bag--the lentils and split peas were fantastic, and everything else was kind of meh. The bread was pretty standard, but maybe a little dry around the edges. Our waitress was basically awful. This is not entirely her own fault; she also seemed to be serving as the bartender and the hostess and the cashier, as well. (I think the restaurant could definitely use a few more staff members.) Nevertheless, she was extremely soft spoken and had a heavy accent; it was difficult if not impossible to understand her in the increasingly noisy restaurant. We asked for a wine list, and she just mumbled something and pointed at the rack of wine behind the bar, halfway across the restaurant. I think I heard her say, "Can't you see it?", but I'm not sure. In any case, I couldn't see the wine bottles well enough to tell what they were (and certainly couldn't guess at any prices), so we decided to just order a cabernet rather than be the annoying white people peering over the bar to read the wine labels. At this point, however, our waitress had flitted off again, and it took us another five or ten minutes to finally catch her eye and call her over once more. Once we ordered, she disappeared again for another five or ten minutes. We'd been there for about a half an hour already by the time we even got her to pay attention to us for long enough to even order the entree. At which point I said "We'd like to split the vegetarian combination," and she started explaining that it couldn't be split; it just comes on one plate. "No, I know that. We'd like to SHARE it." Approximately 45 minutes later our food came. Our water glasses were never refilled--not once. It took us 15 minutes after we'd finished eating to flag her down for the check, and after 5 minutes of trying in vain to catch her eye to try to get her to take our credit card, we just paid cash so we could leave. It was a little ridiculous. The food just wasn't *that* good.
(3)Fred A.
I wish I could give 1 1/2 stars, because 2 seems too good. The service was awful and we had to walk up to the bar to ask someone for everything we needed, including napkins, water and dishes we ordered that hadn't come. I ordered some lamb/collard dish off the menu and they told me no, that was an old menu and they didn't have that dish any more. We ordered one of the other lamb dishes, and a big plate of gristly lamb bones came in an insipid sauce with torn up pieces of injeri in it. Three of the dishes on the veggie platter were very good (lentils, collards and spinach;) the others were either mediocre or pretty much tasteless. At the end of the dinner, we couldn't seem to get anyone to bring something to clean off our hands so we had to go to the restroom and wash up. The bar was full of dirty dishes and platters. Ugh. On previous visits we have found this to be an OK, not great restaurant. This time, we all agreed we would never come back here. My take - I don't know where these glowing reviews were from, but it didn't even approach the place we ate in tonight. Caveat Emptor.
(2)Amanda M.
I don't know if I went on an off-day or what, but my friend and I made our way to Gojo around 12PM on a Tuesday. I ordered the Gomen, she had the Key Sega Wat. What we didn't realize that what we ordered for $9 per plate was an ice cream sized scoop of puree kale for me, and a scoop of oily puree beef for her....this on 2 enormous pieces of injera....and more folded pieces of injera off to the side. I love ethiopian food, but this? Mine was great, just needed more food! maybe some puree veggies, or puree corn that usually comes with the dish? Sheesh! On a side note, my friend did not finish her meat dish because it was coming back up on her as she was eating. Lame!
(1)Shannon L.
Very good, the vegetarian platter is well done.
(4)Jennifer G.
Absolutely phenomenal food, service, and atmosphere. Totally not where we live, but we drive out of our way for this great place.
(5)Rachel G.
I thought this place was excellent. We ordered the veggie combo plus the meat combo. There was an abundant amount of food and everything was delicious. It wasn't pricey at all- I thought it was great. The only downfall is that it's closed on Wednesdays, but that's not that big of an issue really.
(4)Alexis C.
I liked this place. I would consider myself an Ethiopian cuisine enthusiast. I normally order the veggie platter and have been looking through out Seattle for a favorite one. So far I have not found one that fits all of my criteria but Gojo came close. I find the atmosphere to be nice compared to other Ethiopian restaurants. I ordered to go since I was in a hurry, the staff was friendly and accommodating. I enjoyed my food, the collard greens are by far my fav. in Seattle. I liked the green bean dish, I had not tried it before. I loved my salad, I feel like I never even get salad at most of the places I visit. Only thing I was discouraged about was the cabbage and carrot dish. I was no impressed. I almost avoided it the whole time I was grubbing. I would return for sure. I live in Ballard but its on my way home and worth hitting up instead of driving to the CD. If I wanted to make an evening out of getting Ethopian food with friends I would come here as a first option due to the atmosphere. Thanks Gojo!
(4)James B.
Best north end Ethiopian food. I am so happy to have found them again. They used to have a place down where the Target is now in Northgate. Found them the first time by asking cabbies where the best foods was. They have an excellent berbere. I usually have the veggi combo and lamb wat. Very good food and friendly staff.
(5)Kelly M.
I've only had Ethiopian food one time before at Queen Sheba, so I'm far from being a veteran of this style of cuisine. However, I really loved the food at Gojo. We were going to order both a veggie combo and a meat combo thinking that each dish is actually sized to an individual. The waitress told us that this was going to be too much food! We weren't sure, but we took her advice and just got the meat combo. Just getting one platter was a good call, it was more than enough food for two people. The meat combination was delicious, I especially liked the lamb dishes. As I had mentioned, it was a great value too, the meat combo platter and drinks were under $20 before tip. We left completely stuffed!
(5)Eric T.
My fiance and I moved from New York to Seattle a couple of weeks ago, and Gojo is by far the best food we've had here. The first time we went, we ordered a meat combo platter ($14) and a vegetarian combo platter ($12). Both were excellent, and the portions were so big that we shared a veggie platter the next time we went--a full, delicious, carefully prepared and perfectly spiced meal for just $6 each! We met the owner during our first visit and showed him the reviews on Yelp. He hadn't known about them and was excited to see such an excellent response. On our second visit a week later, he recognized us and took the time to come to our table for a chat. He told us how he enlists his friends to bring back spices from Ethiopia every time they go, that the bread takes three days to make, and that his wife does all the cooking from scratch. He ended our conversation by inviting us to try the Ethiopian honey wine, a whole bottle of which he left at our table, saying "help yourselves." Truly a welcoming experience. We're about to move from Shoreline into our new apartment in Ballard, but it will certainly be worth the trip to return to Gojo.
(5)Ken K.
The food was outstanding! We had the meat and veggie combo. LOVED IT! Large meals. Stuffed the two of us. Had half the meal left over to take home.
(5)CT B.
Awesome. Delicious. Excellent Injera. Worth the trip up north.
(5)Stan F.
I highly recommend the vegetarian combo plate. The prices are ridiculously inexpensive, the food quality is high, and the portion size is large. The food is healthy. Watch out because you can easily get filled up on all of the injera bread. Service is friendly, but can be slow.
(5)Logan B.
Meh. Decent, but not as tasty some of the places in the central district.
(2)karen c.
My husband and I just ordered a vegetarian combo and a meat combo, and I have to say, THIS IS THE BEST ETHIOPIAN MEAL I HAVE EVER HAD, and I've had a lot. I'm in heaven knowing that I have access to such a great restaurant that's so close to my home. The spices were spot-on, the variety of both meat dishes and vegetables impressive, and the quality was super high. Thank you Gojo for one of the best dinners I've had all year! Keep it up!
(5)Megan M.
Gojo was OK. I guess I was expecting a lot since it was so highly rated. Like Angela said, the food was good, but not THAT good. Our waitress was nice enough but her English was pretty bad and placing the order was difficult. It probably took about 45 min to get our food. The meat combo was pretty good but whatever else we ordered was put onto a platter with it and we had no idea what was what or how to eat it since we didn't have utensils. I guess that's our fault since it was our first time having Ethiopian food. We asked for utensils twice before receiving them. The cost for a beer, wine and 2 entrees was $37, which seemed a bit steep.
(2)Sather F.
Awesome.....totally loved it. Great food, great service. Very nice people.
(5)Tiffany S.
Meh. I'm kinda over Ethiopian food even though I've only been twice. We got the vegetarian plate and waited 40 minutes. The crowd in the bar was loud and the wait pretty inexcusable. Some dishes were hot enough - others not. I just don't think it's my cuisine, and Gojo didn't help any.
(2)Tara G.
WOW! What a great deal. $15 to try a combo 18" pizza plate of food (granted, the food is mostly mounds of flavored meats/veggies on the edges) and all you can eat injera. However, since this is my first Ethiopian outing, I won't dock down on the sourness of the injera flatbread (it's really sour!!) until I can compare this place to another restaurant. Overall, I paid $35 for two combo plates (one meat, one veggie) and tons of injera. The food was spicy and really flavorful. But like another reviewer stated, avoid their lamb dishes because they really had a smelly "lamb" taste to them. Also, the tables were small and my friend and I ended up moving to a 4-person table to feel more comfortable eating with such a huge plate. The service was pretty good as well.
(4)Shawn M.
I've only been here once, just last week, and as Ethiopian food fanatics we try to get out and try as many of the Seattle restaurants as possible.. this place was a pleasant surprise! We ordered the veggie combo and the food was absolutely delicious, every single dish, and they had one of my favorites that I rarely find elsewhere, it's the sautéed string beans, I think it's called 'yatakilt wot' - the inside is very nicely decorated, the staff very nice (as usual). My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that the portions were definitely smaller than our favorite place Awash (formerly Fasica) in Columbia City, but the flavors were so delicious that we'll be back soon.
(5)Cammi C.
The food was great. The smell (slight smell of incense) and decor really helped with the overall experience. I felt like I was back in Ethiopia sitting in someones living room....... Don't forget the grocery store and they make their own injera. YUM!
(4)Leslie C.
I have loved Ethiopian food for years and I am so happy that Gojo is located in the north end of town close to where I live. This is a family business and the people are warm and friendly and the food is fabulous. They make the best Doro Wat that I have ever had even though my favorite dish is the vegetable combo. I need to ask Marta how she makes her green bean dish because it is the best I have ever eaten! I have brought many friends to Gojo and they have all loved the food and the experience.
(5)Dennis H.
3 months after our 1st visit, this is still a wonderful cultural and epicurean experience. We have always eaten in the evening and have never been disappointed. The daily-made sauces with spices sent from Ethiopia give a bright and varied character to all the creations. The injera bread is created from naturally fermented Teff-rich flour and takes 3 days to create. It may be too sour for some, but we find it a perfect complement for the various dishes, spicy or mild. A homey, family-run restaurant with a cultural authenticity that attracts many local Ethiopian patrons and families. One of my favorite dining experiences, and extremely economical.
(5)Connie W.
Tried out this place this place this week, and it was super yummy and cheap. I've had Ethiopian in several cities and this compares with some of the best I've had. The veggie combo cost $12 and easily fed me and my husband. The injera is very tasty. Haven't tried the meats yet, but will be sure to do so during our next visit (which will be quite soon!).
(5)Ann V.
Fantastic Ethiopian food! We ordered a veggie combo, a meat combo and two side dishes. More than enough for six very hungry people. We'll be back!
(5)Michael H.
I've seen the sign while driving on Aurora and had been meaning to give this place a try. My girlfriend and I finally decided to take the plunge this evening, and whoa, were we floored! The decor was simple but inviting. While we had a chance to glance over the menu, my girlfriend suggested we give the meat combo a try. IT WAS SPECTACULAR!!! Five different types of meat, a cheese, and a salad in the middle. Each meat dish had a distinctive flavor, very bold to taste. The cheese and salad makes for a good pairing. We both have tried Ethiopian restaurants on Capital Hill, as well as in NY and LA, and the flavor of this place is by far the best that we've had. Maybe we got lucky or the fact that we were really hungry, but nonetheless, it was REALLY good! I'm gonna tell my friends about it and we will be sure to come back. Would definitely recommend this restaurant, a welcome place to eat in North Seattle.
(5)Jesus F.
Family friendly, good service, and delicious food. Will go again and again!
(5)Bunny B.
The food is fine. But they don't pick up the phone when trying to place a to go order. The wait time for food is REALLY long. We have been sitting here for...45 minutes for food. They don't offer us water. :( There is no AC or fresh air here. It's super stuffy. No water. Visit #3: Called in and they answered! Yay! They're quick and impersonal but who cares lol! They don't do kitfo raw I guess? I ask for raw and they gave me medium cooked. Kitfo raw is more authentic of course. There is also no gomen (spinach) or Ethiopian cheese that all other restaurants give as mandatory sides. We got a veggie combo that was switched up with someone else's who orderd the same + extra injera. We got extra injera though! The other guy was probably like...this isn't my order when he got home lol. I love Ethiopian food like it's my mommas cooking. And this is the only place for milessss around so I'll keep coming here if I have to...
(3)Arjun R.
This review is not about the quality of the food. I would like to try this place but since I get off work later in the evening I never seem to make it on time. The problem is their hours indicate they close at 10pm and when I rush to place a pick up order at 9:15pm the lady says they are closed. Once is OK but this has happened a few times and it's frustrating when you are craving for a specific food. Please change your hours on the web or stay open during business hours so customers can plan accordingly.
(2)Lee A.
Cute little place that is definitely easy to miss. The food here is great. I got the veg combo to split with a friend. It's definitely enough food for three people. This place is so close to work/home so I'm definitely coming back. They are about to change their schedule and will only be open for dinner soon. The staff was friendly but not really attentive. We needed napkins and had to get up and ask for them. Nobody checked on us either. Still the service we did receive was nice and friendly.
(4)kay k.
Great food sketchy service, we have been there three or four times and it takes forever to be served and there is only served not service. The food is great the service is less than adequate. Makes me sad to go elsewhere when we are hungry.
(3)Karen Ann C.
i hadn't eaten all day and was hungry. it was 3:00 pm on a sunday, not busy. it took 15 minutes to place my order. my water glass once emptied, stayed empty. after an hour, when i asked when my food would be ready, i was told "soon, soon! sorry, we are just really busy!" when i got my vegetarian platter, 2 of 3 lentil dishes were refrigerator cold, the other, lukewarm. two other tables, a party of 3, and a party of 2, who came in a full 45 minutes after me, got served at the same time, and i was a party of 1! i will not go back, even though the food was good, if cold. it was an exercise in frustration.
(1)Zarina K.
If you are looking for a cozy romantic eclectic place to eat this is your spot. Gaja is an authentic adorable family owned and operated business located right in front of Sam's club. Do not be fooled by the strip mall appearance, just open the door and immediately smell the aromatic wonderful aromas! We ordered the meat combo plate for just 15.00. This was more than enough food for my husband and myself. We had lamb, two kinds of beef, lentils, pea pureed, string beans and a huge fresh salad! And I think I'm missing something. Oh yes!!! The homemade cottage cheese prepared daily! Oh, what creamy mouth watering addition to the plate, and of course the injira bread which there was plenty of. We were stuffed and had leftovers to take home!! Gojo does not disappoint.
(4)Tracy M.
Really lovely meal. It's a bit intimidating from the parking lot as floor to ceiling curtains were drawn on all the windows, but the "open" sign was illuminated so we went inside. They have lots of tables and chairs in the front, and some more fun seating options towards the back. Veggie combo was wonderful and only $13. Great service. Women working were super friendly and took great care of us, and also allowed us space to linger (the restaurant was only halfway full, so we didn't feel too badly about continuing to chat for a bit after our meal).
(5)Licorice O.
This was my third time at Gojo, and it was the best yet. Service was excellent, and the beautiful African lady exuded class. We used to go to the many Ethiopian places near Seattle University, but now prefer Gojo, AND parking is much easier. The veggie combination plate was plenty for two people and with the lamb dish put in the middle of the plate, it was more than enough for the three of us. The flavors of the dishes was outstanding. The Ethiopian beer tasted good, and was fresher than others we had at the other restaurants. Service time was fine for the quality we got. I wish they played more Ethiopian music. That would further enhance the experience.
(4)Allan R.
Fantastic place. The staff are courteous and since we had no idea what to do, or what to order, the staff guided us through their menu and never made us feel uncomfortable. The portions are deceivingly filling. I would recommend you not to order anything else until you have finished your first order...or be ready to take some stuff home. Awesome place, period.
(4)Migizi H.
It was amazing sounds cheesy but after a long day of traveling to sit down & be served like a king was great. I loved my waiter! She was great!!! She was genuinely interested in the fact I never had Ethiopian food before. Little things like that add up at a restaurant to me. & the food seems to be just as detailed.
(5)Maija M.
Food was interesting with lots of different flavors. Service was incredibly slow however and the place was not full. Probably not an experience I will repeat.
(3)Janie M.
This was an awesome experience all around. The staff was friendly and the food was delicious! There is a bit of a language barrier but they were good about having to repeat things several times. There were a lot of what appeared to be Ethiopian patrons in the restaurant. I think that's always a good sign when an ethnic restaurant attracts customers of it's particular ethnicity. I was so curious about all of the food! We ordered a meat combo and a vegetarian combo so we could try many different foods. I suggest doing that if you don't know what you're doing (we had no clue.) One person in our party was surprised that the food was so spicy, so be aware that much of it is. We were a table of white and Asian people and we got great service, so I can't say I'd call them racist like some of the other reviews have. I think perhaps they are a little reserved with those who don't speak their language because of the language barrier but if you are polite and patient with them they seemed to be very willing to serve us. My only criticism is that they had music playing at a moderate volume, but the bass was turned up way too high so the beat was palpable throughout our visit. The music itself wasn't loud, it was more like the same effect you get when a car with a loud stereo is nearby. I found it irritating but it may not bother anybody else. Overall it was a fun adventure and I can't wait to get at the leftovers! (Finding it was a little difficult. It's hidden behind the Super Supplements store next to Sam's Club.)
(5)Guy S.
5 years later, still delicious, consistent, and reasonably priced. Last week I ordered the key sega wat (lamb/beef curry) and a veggie combo to go and split it with a coworker. Man, I want some key sega wat now!
(5)Megan K.
Love this place! A charming hole in the wall with friendly staff, this is my favorite Ethiopian place in North Seattle. Get the veggie or meat combo, a beer for $3.50 or a delicious honey wine, and be happy :)
(5)Wongel B.
Being a relatively new resident to the Seattle area I was on the hunt for good Ethiopian food. Many recommended spots in the CD, which has a plethora of Habesha (Ethiopian + Eritrean) restaurants but my experiences were all substandard. Then on one glorious Sunday afternoon driving south on aurora I came across Gojo, hesitant of its strip malley location I walked-in to be greeted by a nice woman and was seated right away, as it was still early afternoon and the lunch hour rush had not started. I ordered my go to dishes that I normally order at Ethiopian restaurants, Quanta firfir(dried strips of beef mixed in cut up pieces of injera and wott) and Beg Tibs ( lamb pieces sauteed in a blend of spices). Both were mind blowingly delicious and just the right amount of flavor and spice. I have since returned to Gojo on numerous occasions and have had an excellent experience each time. Do yourself a favor and try Gojo, by far the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Seattle area. Guarantee you wont be disappointed, in fact, you will be so pleased that you will return again and again and again and again.......and even when you're not there you'll be thinking about it as you salivate on your work computer :o
(5)Elizabeth T.
I love this place. The food is so authentic and served hot and fresh. The portions are huge. Be forewarned. If you order the veggie combo (and I recommend that you do), it is more than enough to serve four people. Little thing about the Ethiopian flat bread injera... it expands in your stomach. Their BBQ beef and lamb here is absolutely delicious. Crispy seared edges and tender centers. Full of flavor from the berbere spices. All their meats were tender and flavorful. Can't really go wrong with any of the vegetable or meat dishes really. The staff is attentive and willing to serve more injera upon request. I have definitely found my new favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle.
(5)Tom B.
Had a really good meal here, tucked back in a well-hidden spot off 99. Gojo is in a rather dingy strip mall, but it's nice enough inside, with warm colors and casual decorations that suggest a generically African theme. Plenty of tables and chairs scattered around a little zig-zag of dining rooms with low dividered walls. There's a bar in back. The menu allows for meat and veg combination platters, as well as plenty of different dishes you can order individually. Everything comes with tons of injera. The service is friendly, and the girl helping us was quite beautiful--she looked almost exactly like one of the queens on the cover of Bitches Brew by Miles Davis. Not that that has anything to do with anything. She struggled a little bit with the vocabulary on a cocktail order, but she was quick to make sure we had everything we needed and we were happy. The food is really solid, lots of tender and explosively flavorful dishes as with all good Ethiopian spots. The sauteed green beans were particularly exceptional, cooked down almost til they caramelized, like a fried rice dish or something. You get a big basket of rolled injera off to the side. Bottom line, the prices, service, and food are all really good here, and I'll happily come back any time.
(4)Aaron G.
Wow. Found this place on a whim (and with effort--very unassuming!) and didn't expect much. But you open the door and it's like a TARDIS: festive and colorful inside. I love Ethiopian food and expect to enjoy the vegetarian combo (I'm a damn hippie) at any Ethiopian restaurant. But I think I can say that I really enjoyed the combo here more than any other in the past. What a gem!
(5)Diana N.
It was my first time to ever have Ethiopian food, and I wasn't afraid to try! My co-worker whom is Ethiopian, said this was her favorite place to dine so she took me here! It's hidden in a strip mall off of Aurora Avenue, right next to Sam's Club. Once you walk in, you feel the warmth & chill ambiance. The decor has it's unique African theme of orange & reds with decorative art work displaying the different tribes. It was cool to see and learn. I felt the staff was nice but communication was minimal. Now the food was great! At first, the food did initially look like piles of poo on a piece of large spongy bread., but the flavors spoke for themselves. We shared and tried the meat combo as well as the veggie combo. Each combo is actually MORE than enough for 2 to share with plenty of leftovers. The different meats in the combo had it's own unique flavor, cuts of meat, and the way it was prepared. It was a unique experience for me to dine without utensils, and scooping up the piles of food was fun. The Injera bread that comes with all meals was interesting. It reminded me of sour dough in crepe form. I would definitely come here again, the spices reminded me of Indian food, but a bit more mild and less pungent.
(4)Jeanny M.
Called in a take-out order, was quoted 15mins, but we didn't show for almost 30. In and out. Yes! We didn't check their menu before ordering, but figured that stating a 'meat combo' would be ideal. They weren't kidding about the meat. It's allllllllllllll meat. A small side salad was included in a separate container (2 pieces of injera, plus 1 under everything) but that was it. We're more used to a meat combo having SOME veggie (lentils and the cabbage/carrots)..so it was off-putting and borderline disappointing. But once more, we ate it and LOVED it. We pulled together another a salad at home, some hardboiled eggs and killed it. As yummy as all the meats were, next time we will be more specific to ask if the 'meat' combo can include some veg, otherwise we'll go w/ the veg combo and a side of a meat dish. Note: they no longer offer plastic bags for the food (though food establishments can still use plastic bags) so we had to be extra careful coming home.
(4)Christine N.
Right up there with Chef Cafe in Seattle. No tummy aches in the morning. shared a vege and meat combo with 3 other people and still had left overs. The meats and veges had very full but clean taste not too saturated with nitr kibe or berbere. Sat in the back with the traditional Mesob. Definitely will be back...Soon! the only thing missing are fish stew dishes!
(4)Elle P.
North Seattle is sooooo lucky to have such a fine example of good Ethiopian food! Love to get a veggie combo and meat combo (will serve four people easily... and very inexpensively). Everything is fresh and oh-so-full-of-flavor! I'm an Ethiopian food snob, so trust me- this is good stuff. Enjoy! (Gets four stars rather than five for two reasons: 1- some of the meat entrees are a bit tough, but c'mon- they are stews! You can't expect super tender meats in stews, right? 2- the service does seem to take just a few minutes longer than it should, but it's so worth the wait... )
(4)Amanda B.
I work nearby here and I am so glad about that. Their beef tibs are so bomb, order them with a little extra spice/sauce and it's delicious. The only reason I am giving four stars instead of five is because I ordered a lamb dish there once and only got like two pieces of lamb that were tiny in the dish. But; everything else I've ordered there has been so good and the service has been so stellar that I don't care that much. If you are craving Ethiopian this place is worth it. Yum! All my coworkers love their vegetarian dish, which seems to be enough for three meals. Oh! And if you order a glass of wine, you get a HUGE glass of wine for fairly inexpensive. After a stressful day at work something's ill just walk to gojo and get a huge glass of wine to chill my nerves. Thanks gojo!
(4)Elle D.
We always get the veggie AND the meat combo for two people. We can't resist. This stuff is so good! Everything is cooked to perfection. I always dream about Gojo's food 24/7. Seriously, they are doing something right. I would have to say that their injera is the least sour of the Ethiopian restaurants I have tried. I know it's wrong but it's a deal breaker if the injera is too sour. The restaurant has their authentic ways of eating towards the back, like a round table for the platter with straw seats, it's pretty refreshing atmosphere! The only downside I would have to admit is that they don't have a veggie and a meat combo platter, so we always end up ordering each separately. My taste buds are not complaining tho, just my overstuffed stomach. ;)
(5)Jon D.
This was my first Ethiopian food experience and it was great! My girlfriend and I shared the meat combo. It was the perfect amount of food and we loved it. Very authentic setting and nice people.
(4)Jim H.
Yuck!
(1)Shannon R.
Oh ya! Wow. This is my new spot for Ethiopian food. Tucked into the little strip mall next to Sam's Club off Aurora, its unassuming exterior prepares one for a pleasant surprise upon entering through the large wooden door. Intimate and cozy, with what looks like an Ethiopian living room across from the bar, it feels as if being ushered into someone's home. And the family there to greet you is so nice! We had the vegetarian combo, which had 7 different foods on it. Mysterious at first. Delicious to the end. The green bean dish was one of the best things I've ever tasted. My 4 year old agreed enthusiastically. It must have been fried, but it was so tender, lightly sweet and salty. I'm still craving it. We also had one of the lamb stews. It had a great flavor, but the lamb was a little tough and chewy. And the injeera (the spongy bread that comes with it) was a little on the sour side compared to other Ethiopian restaurants. Still, the vegetarian dishes were all a hit. If I didn't have so much left over in my fridge, I'd be going back today for more!
(4)K M.
Without a doubt, the best Ethiopian food in Seattle. Wonderful people, good location, with the only drawback being that the wait time can sometimes be a little long. All in all though, love Gojo!
(4)Tom Y.
I've never had Ethiopian before, so this is written from a brand new experience perspective. Which was bomb. The girlfriend and I came here (we should have brought reinforcements) on a day off to grab some lunch, and after reading the previous reviews, we ordered the meat combo and the veggie combo both. I wish I'd read the reviews a little closer, because the dish that came out was wider than my chair. It's funny, because it came out in something that looks like an old metal washbin, the kind we used to use in mainland China. I didn't mind at all, but I'm sure it would be off-putting to some. The entire bottom of the pan was covered with injera, which is their sour-ish springy bread. Each 'dish' was in a pile about the size of a small bowl, and arranged around the tub with a side of salad in the middle. No utensils are provided, which is fine by me, but some may want to ask for a fork. You rip off the injera, and mop up the 'dishes' with it, similar to eating Indian with naan. Between the veggie combo and the meat combo, there were quite a few different things to try, and not a single one was bad. I definitely enjoyed the meat combo more, and I think next time for two people we'll just get the meat combo. After we were done with that meal, the leftovers were enough to feed us for another meal and a half after that. In summary: -1 combo is enough for 2 people, 2 combos would be for 3-4 people. -If you haven't tried injera before, you may or may not like it, but it's definitely worth trying at least. -If you arrive during quiet hours, service is great and unobtrusive. I don't know about busy times. -You also should not mind incense, as there is a lot of it floating around the restaurant.
(5)Kristine H.
A mark of true friendship is helping someone move or picking them up from the airport. And it was after a recent flight that we wanted to treat ourselves and our "driver" to something hearty but not heavy. Sundays can be tough to find a place but we decided to try Gojo. Hungry and parched, we stepped inside and were pleased to see the beautifully warm colours and décor. We grabbed a table by the window, quickly placed an order for their two combination platters to share and kicked back with some chilled glasses of tej (Ethiopian honey wine). The food took its time but we weren't in a rush. The iced water flowed freely like our conversation and the tej was tasty if not overly sweet toward the end of the glass. When the food DID arrive, it was a huge platter of treats. I enjoyed the salad with jalapeño slices, the lentils, the cabbage and the beef tibs. Our friend, uninitiated to this cuisine, enjoyed himself readily and the table's consensus was that all items were good. Two combination platters can easily feed three hungry adults so do not over-order unless you specifically want lunch the next day. There are no utensils except one's hands and torn pieces of injera (traditional Ethiopian flatbread). If you've never experienced it, imagine a slightly tart pancake of spongy goodness. And it's easy to use if you follow these simple instructions: - Tear off a small palm-sized piece. - Use the smaller piece of injera to scoop the meat or vegetables. - Since this is communal dining, take care not to let your fingers directly touch the meat or vegetables. - Don't forget the bottom injera can be eaten too once the items have been consumed, it will be flavoured with all of the different sauces! Our server was pleasant enough despite not engaging in any superfluous conversation. I don't mind that in wait staff as long as I don't have to wave my arms crazily for their attention. The bathrooms were clean and the food was excellent. I nearly gave them an additional star but I was impatient for everything. That might skew my memories of how long everything took but we'll return and see if they earn the final star.
(4)K K.
Always great taste, good services, lots of parking in the lot. Only wish they have a combo with both meat and veggie.
(5)Lia D.
Been craving for some good injera for months, so yesterday I decided to order a meal to go at this place. I ordered the meat combination and it was really good! Almost tasted like the homemade kind. Very flavorful with lots of spices...just the way i like it. The only thing i didnt like about it is that it came with raw meat..! I threw away that portion... Great place to eat Injera!
(4)christopher r.
*Vegie Combo & Kikil - Very tasty. Large portions. Only ate about half of the variety of goodness served on the pizza pie pan. *Ethiopian lager - interesting twist with a little sweetness *Service - right there when we needed her; very attentive with a smile *Ambiance - African music was jovial; soccer on the tube; mafia-style gents hanging at the bar; spacious and high ceilings with native banners in the light fixtures and on the walls; Tucked in the corner of a mall Visiting town for one night. This was a welcome find. Thank you fellow Yelpers!
(4)Roxy S.
Super slow service even though the restaurant wasn't busy. We ordered coffee and tea and the waitress waited until we almost finished our meal to start making the drink. Both coffee and tea were not good. Vegetable combo was ok, the meat dish was bad. The couple across from us left since no one took their order after waiting for a long time. We came to this place about 9 months ago and did have to wait for a real long time for service and food. We figured they would figure how to serve the customers by now so we decided to give it another try. We were wrong. We noticed a couple of tables did get their food at a reasonable time in 15 minutes, if they ordered as soon as the waitress seated them though. So I'm sure there are a few people like to eat here. This is our last time. Rating for service is 1, atmosphere is 2 and food is 2. There are many awesome Ethiopian restaurants around town that we loved to go to since we really like Ethiopian food, but this place won't stay on our list.
(2)Jingwen Y.
This is a great mom and pop place and a completely hole in the wall. The food is absolutely delicious. I love the decor and the lighting makes it very homey on the inside. I am surprised that the place was not packed. The service was super nice, friendly, and attentive even after we finished our dinner. My friend actually forgot her scarf and they chased us down just to give it back. This is now my favorite place for Ethiopian food and I would definitely come back again.
(5)Anand P.
Ridiculous racist place. They are nice if your white skinned. And they take forever to even bring water. Took them 30 mins to bring water and take the order. I think the owner just waits for white skin folks. Inferiority complex specimen. Why does it take so long to just serve food as everything except the injera is pre cooked. Head elsewhere.
(1)Ijeoma O.
VERY good Ethiopian food. I'd probably give 4 stars if this were down on Cherry, but it gets 5 stars for definitely being the best option on the north end. Good quality and good variety in the combo plates. Just typing this review makes me hungry.
(5)Cole D.
So... the waitress took our order, then ignored us for almost an hour. An Ethiopian family who came in after us literally finished their meal and left before she came back with our food. When she did, the order was wrong. We ordered raw kitfo, and it came fully cooked. At that point we were hungry enough to eat it anyway, and get out of there as fast as possible. I have never had service this bad in any restaurant. I will definitely not go back.
(1)Kelli V.
First time trying Ethiopian food. Really good! I was definitely steered in the right direction. THANK YOU!
(5)Doug R.
Great food. Authentic atmosphere with lots of Ethiopian art and decorations. Our Ethiopian friends recommended this restaurant and we were not disappointed. We made a reservation which gave us a curtained off table with reclining chairs. We had the veggie combo and meat combo to sample all of the tastes of Ethiopia. We wish the server had informed us what each of the foods we tasted but they were gone before we had a chance to ask. We'll definitely go back again and bring our kids next time.
(5)Lucy L.
This place is great! I'd only been to Queen Sheba once before, but I think you get more food for your money here. My friend and I ordered a meat combo to share, which was a great idea for a first visit. There were some things we liked more than others, but overall we had yummy, satisfying dinner. Despite being two short Asian girls, we can eat a lot, and after stuffing ourselves, we were close, but not finished with our shared dish. The wait for food was pretty short compared to the other reviews, a little bit under 15 minutes, and our water glasses were kept full. Granted, they weren't too busy, but even checked with us to make sure we were okay with the open curtains by the window we were sitting by (it was very sunny outside) Took a star off for not providing a towelette before the meal (they provide one after), and for our waitress hovering while waiting for us to tip. I'll admit, I get nervous when I have to calculate something based on an evaluation of a person with them watching. But other than that, the savory, succulent, and flavorful good was more than enough to keep us happy and full for the rest of the night. Some reviewers were right about the injera (the bread you eat everything with) being more sour than other places. However, my friend and I noticed that it doesn't detract from the taste of the food, so don't let that stop you from giving this place a try. Less than $10 a person with tax and tip. We can't wait to be back and try some vegetarian fare.
(4)Lorie B.
I'm so sad. I had been going here for years. Last night I decided to take four members of my family here to eat since they had never tried Ethiopian food before and three of us became violently ill a few hours after we got home, including my 6-year old nephew. We ordered the meat and veggie combination platter, which has about a dozen different items on it, so it's almost impossible to tell which one(s) caused us to get sick. I wasn't terribly happy with the experience there last night anyways since the food was delivered to us lukewarm and we had to ask our waitress twice for our drinks because she couldn't understand me, but the vomiting, cramping and diarrhea pretty much sealed the deal. I'm never coming back here again. At this point, I'm feeling like I never want to eat Ethiopian food again (which I loved) but hopefully that changes when the nausea subsides.
(1)Jeff S.
I lived near the Ethiopian district on Cap Hill and feel I definitely have enough dinning experience to compare Gojo to. The food quality and service are right up there with my favorite places. What's different is the price. You truly get enough food for two hungry guys by ordering one $13 dollar vegetarian combo. My favorite thing is bringing three friends and ordering a veg combo and a meat combo (slightly more expensive at $15). By ordering both combos you get pretty much every dish they offer. They also have tasty Ethiopian beers but those will run you a pretty penny. If your budget conscious I'd recommend swinging by Big Star Beer Market off Aurora and grabbing some better priced Ethiopian beers to eat with your leftovers.
(5)Jeff K.
Continuing the long-delayed review catchup.. Definitely our favorite Ethiopian in Seattle, and as good as our local faves in San Francisco and New York. Food - classic, delicious, simple, nice variety, generous with the njera, across the board yummy for both meat and veg dishes. Service - friendly and basic. Only drawback is that if you're not familiar with Ethiopian food, I don't think you'll get an educational overview from the staff here, it's more like a (lovely) place for the local East African community.... so if you're a first-timer, come with friends who already love the food. Atmosphere - again, super simple tavern kind of feel with a mix of bric-a-brac and travel posters of beautiful children, it reminds me of (believe it or not) an Ethiopian restaurant in Arusha, Tanzania called "Ethiopian Spice House" -- which is spot on in my book. :) enjoy!
(4)shiloh k.
Food is excellent. Waitstaff, and owners very nice. Order the veggie and meat combo best deal in town. This is a great place to take your date with comfortable seating in the back.
(5)Kelsey T.
The food and the atmosphere were wonderful. The service was great. You can really tell it's a family affair. Something quite funny took place while we were there. 3 of the people in our party ordered liquor drinks. 2 Vodka tonics and 1 gin & tonic. The lady that took our order spoke such broken English (quite precious actually). When she brought out the drinks, she set down a pitcher of ice, a bottle of tonic water, and 3 rocks glasses full of liquor. It was obviously our turn to mix the drinks ourselves! It was actually quite awesome. Kind of like getting a bottle of wine delivered to the table, except it was liquor. The food was amazing. 1 large order filled up 4 people. Only turn off was the incense they lit half way through our meal. It smelled more like a cleaning solution than anything nice. Took us a few minutes to get past that and eat again, lol. 5 Stars for sure. This place is definitely worth your time and money! Plus, our server looked like that chick from Avatar.
(5)S W.
I came all the way from Palo Alto to try this place. Well, not really, but it is seriously good. Ethiopian is pretty new to me, but the veggie combo platter was delicious. The injara was good too. Plenty of food to share with a companion, or pack the rest for lunch. The place has a very comfy hole-in-the-wall vibe. I shall be back.
(5)Shu Z.
I really enjoyed this place. I came Saturday afternoon, which is when they do their ethiopian coffee ceremonies. They roast raw coffee beans on the spot for the coffee and it's free! Me and a friend ordered the meat combination plate. The food was very yummy and unique and was a bargain at $15. There was more than enough food to feed 3 people. The place is extremely well decorated and the staff is super friendly. A total gem of a restaurant.
(4)Matthew B.
I was in search of the best Ethiopian this city had to offer, and according to my follow yelpers... this was it! We headed here with high hopes and were not disappointed. The food was great. The service was exceptional. The owner even came by to ask if everything tasted alright. They lost the 5th star for two reasons. 1) the first three things we tried to order - they didn't have 2) The ambience - hardly anyone was there - it's in a strip mall... it just made the whole experience not as special. Regardless - they have great food - so check em out!
(4)Kim M.
I've been here about 5 times, all with very slow service, but my last 2 experiences at this restaurant have totally turned me off to this place. Both times, it was not exceptionally busy, but it was like pulling teeth to get served. On one occasion, she came over with and insufficient number of empty glasses, left them on the table, and did not return to fill them. When we finally got her to come over, she topped off one of the glasses, then walk away without filling the other ones. It was the weirdest experience. We essentially had empty water glasses the entire meal and had to flag the waitress down every time we needed something. I thought they might be having an off-day, or a new waitress, so decided I would give them another chance. Typically, I would probably rate Gojo a 4/5 because I like their food, but this last time we went, we were served a plate of food that had been sitting at the side of the bar since we had walked in. It was obviously sent back or mis-ordered, and waiting to be served to someone else. They brought it out to us about 20 minutes earlier than the table next to us, who were seated when we arrived. It was cold and disgusting. Maybe we should have said something, but we had so many other difficulties communicating from the get-go (if certain dishes came with combos, ect), and problems ordering our tea and beer, so we just ate it and left. I've tried to find new places, and Enat is good, and Cafe Jebena is excellent. They are extremely friendly at both of these places, and the experience is so much better. I won't be going to Gojo anymore. There are plenty of other good Ethiopian restaurants with MUCH better service.
(1)Matt S.
OMG this place rocks! It was my first time going out for Ethiopian food and we found Gojo on Yelp and decided to give it a shot because of all the good reviews. It was the absolute perfect place to try Ethiopian food, the staff and customers were all super nice and friendly - it had a really casual, intimate vibe and we felt right at home. We ordered 2 combination plates - one vegetarian and one meat, which each included about 4 or so servings of different dishes. We enjoyed all of them and had tons of leftovers to take home. We received really excellent service from the waitress as well. I can't recommend this place enough, definitely give it a shot!
(5)Carolyn S.
You gotta love an ethnic restaurant that is full of natives. That says it all. The atmosphere is clean and simple, yet intriguing. The waitresses are helpful, and the food is well worth the price and a bit of a wait. We try to order sparingly, though, because we find that leftovers are not easy to reheat to our satisfaction.
(4)Kathy P.
I am a big fan of Ethiopian food and have been to many Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle. This has to be the worst place I have ever been to!! The place looked cute walking in then it all started.......1)glass of water w/ debris floating in it,2) the thing I thought was an ant on the table was indeed (as my friend educated me) a baby cockroach, 3)server couldn't understand hardly any English and had difficulty w/ a Vodka and soda order,4) very small portions on veggie combo and last but not least injera served in dirty wicker baskets. We pointed out to the server that the injera probably shouldn't be served in dirty wicker baskets as they are not reusable and she just looked at us and smiled thus having no clue what we were talking about. I recommend to stay away from this place because there are so many other wonderful Ethiopian restaurants in the city.
(1)Jed S.
We second the opinion on the Veggie Combo, wonderful spices & flavors. The 'Teff' is used to eat with, it's a fantastic grain, like nan or a tortilla. The food is natural, organic, and the plates are huge. We'll be going back and sharing this place! Wonderful, friendly service, comfortable, a unique and fun experience.
(5)Katharina R.
This is some of the best Ethopian food in town. We always order the Vegetarian and Meat combo and have been very happy with all the dishes. The owner and staff are exceedingly friendly. The atmosphere is very inviting even though it is stuck in the back of a minimall. Even our skeptical 13 year old is a fan. We will be back!
(5)Eri K.
What can I say, I eat here at least once a week! I'll be honest, I am addicted to the veg combo. It is the best Ethiopian veg combo I have found in the Seattle area (and I have tried quite a few). I love the owner & the staff. The restaurant is clean and always frequented by Ethiopians, which I take to be a sign that the food is authentic and yummy. I love that we stuff 2 bellies full for $18 (including tip). One other hot tip: their injera is 100% gluten-free (all teff!), which most Ethiopian places in this area don't seem to do. Thanks so much to Gojo for making this our favorite go-to place for dinner!
(5)Alex T.
First time I've ever eaten Ethiopian food and I was pleasantly surprised! Enat in Northgate was closed on Monday, and my friend really wanted to have some Ethiopian food, and what do you know.. there's an place up on Aurora! Walking inside, the place is quite clean and has a relatively modern decor, so I was pretty happy about that. There's also a nice bar, but we didn't touch that. Onto the food. I ordered the Kikil, which is lamb seasoned with garlic, ginger, etc. The lamb itself was well cooked, and maybe it was seasoned with a little bit of lime juice or something, because there was a slight acidic aftertaste, which was actually quite nice. Actually, that might have been the injera, or the Ethiopian version of bread I suppose. It was definitely delicious to eat them together, though I myself could not finish it, and I found that it was a bit too sour for me to have to eat it all. Definitely something I should have shared. This however, makes sense as entrees run 12+ dollars, and have large proportions: one entree is plenty to fill up my friend and I... however.. SHE'S A VEGETARIAN, AND I LOVE MEAT. Complications. Thus she ordered the veggie combo, and it was absolutely delicious! A variety of vegetables and flavors which balanced out the sourness of the injera (perhaps some I'll just get used to.. usually I love anything fermented). I quite frankly liked it more than my lamb. Overall, great place to dine. Remember, one entree is good for at least 2 people!
(4)Ruby G.
This was my second time trying Ethiopian and has confirmed my like of the cuisine. Among four people, we shared a lentil dish, doro wat, and the meat combination and had leftovers. The only thing we didn't like was the quanta firfir beef jerky dish that came in the meat combination. My favorite was the lentils, but everything was very flavorful and a warm type of spiciness. It was delicious. Some people might not like injera since it has a mild sour taste, but I liked it fine. Their staff was not very attentive, but that was not unexpected. If you want to know what dishes you are eating, you need to ask, and we also had to ask for our water to be refilled. As a side note, Ethiopian food does not make very good leftovers the next day, so don't order too much!
(4)Robert H.
I've been called an adventure diner before, so I'm always game to try something, or someplace, new. I'd been introduced to Ethiopian previously at Queen of Sheba, and had not done Ethiopian since as I could never figure out what everybody saw in that place. I can say now, if Queen of Sheba put you off Ethiopian food, you have got to give Gojo a try. I'd been to the European Grocery in the same strip mall to get some Russian chocolates, and noticed that an Ethiopian restaurant was having a grand opening. I came back a week later with a friend for dinner, and became an instant fan of their food. I was back with the same friend tonight, and they're even better now. The flavors are always a delight on the palate, and staff is always very friendly and helpful. One thing with Gojo, like any other honest Ethiopian restaurant, it's sharing a part of their culture, not just eating. The first thing to know is injera. Injera is pancake-like sourdough flat-bread made from teff flour. Your serving platter will be lined in it, and you'll get a basket of rolled up, warm injera to eat your meal with. Don't worry that it's not enough, it isn't, and they'll refill it as needed. There won't be any flatware on the table, and you shouldn't ask for it. You eat by tearing off a piece of injera big enough to hold a bit of food, and use the injera to pick up said bite from the platter. As it is communal dinning, take care not to tough the food with your fingers. Yes, you can eat the injera from the platter. It is a treat, as it has soaked up all the sauces. For a party of six or less, expect all your food to be served family style on the same platter. Depending on appetite, you can feed four adults with a veggie combo and a meat combo. For two people, get a meat or a veggie combo, it will probably be enough. If you want a beverage other than water, you'll need to ask for something, as the menu only lists entrees. Also, ask about the price. They have several Ethiopian beers, Hakim Stout, which is more like an English brown ale, is my favorite. They also have tej, which is Ethiopian honey wine; very tasty. While they have a full bar, they don't really have a competent bar tender, so avoid anything more complicated than a high-ball. They have good tea, and great coffee, but save the coffee for after dinner if you have it. I want to give it more than 4 stars, but they do have a couple of minor issues that keep me from giving them 5. The lack of a beer, wine, and drinks list is one of them. While the staff is all very friendly, one or two are still working on their English, which can get in the way. Like the first time I was there, and asked about beer, only to learn how they only had Bud and Corona. Well, that wasn't the case, it's just the waitress didn't know "beer" included stouts and ales. The other issue is that full bar. Yes, I know it's not part of the culture, but it would be nice if they had a bartender with the skill to shake up some tasty cocktails to enjoy while one is waiting. Still, damn tasty food, and great service will keep me coming back.
(4)Jackelin T.
Don't let the outside appearance of this restaurant fool you. Step inside and you will be transported to an exotic atmosphere. I went here last Saturday night for dinner and sat towards the back where actual Ethiopian customers were leisurely enjoying their dinner, relaxing with friends, all the while watching a muted soccer game on the flat screen. The service was wonderful. I felt taken care of. The food was comparable to other Ethiopian places on capital hill, very flavorful and aromatic. I highly recommend this place for an interesting date night or when you feel like eating with your fingers and want something out of the ordinary.
(4)H N.
I enjoyed everything we had here, and they had all of my favorite things - the cabbage/carrots, the mild lentils, and of course injera. They also served delicious spicy tea. I recommend ordering that with your meal, whatever you get. Between our 2 combo plates (1 meat, 1 veggie), we were very happy with the selection and we were unable to finish our food thanks to the generous portions. I think most of the "grease" was coming from the meat combo. The strip mall location is nondescript, but of course parking was easy, which i appreciate. The atmosphere in the restaurant has interesting photos/information about Ethiopia.
(4)Tara H.
Very, very good food. My husband and I ordered the veggie combo platter and the ZillZill beef tibs and it was absolutely delicious! At $12 ea. we had more than enough to take home a full to go box after eating until we were stuffed. Make sure to order the spicy tea as well, goes great with the food! We walked in on a week night, no need for a reservation. Service was excellent. Ambience was OK, I wish there was more music.
(4)S C.
Decent Ethiopian food and service.
(3)Jesika M.
After my virgin Queen Sheba experience as a new Capitol Hill resident 5 years ago, I found myself craving bigger fixes of Ethiopian. First, I ventured into the CD, sampling the slightly more authentic fare offered in the numerous establishments around 12th and Jackson. Then, I expanded my search to other regions, sampling the Ethiopian restaurants of Washington DC, Chicago, and even one surprisingly authentic hole in the wall place in Dallas, TX. Yesterday, the cravings overcame me and I decided to drag my boyfriend out for his first Ethiopian fare experience and see how this local spot compared. Walking in around 5 pm on a Saturday, I noticed that the room was about half filled. Everyone there was Ethiopian and they all looked like they'd been enjoying food and company for several hours. So far, so good. The menu was a bit difficult to parse, as they called things slightly differently than other places I'd visited, but I plodded on. Since my boyfriend wasn't familiar with any of it, I ordered for both of us. I chose the vegetarian combo (because it contains small portions of all my favourites instead of making me choose one) as well as their Special Tibs in sauce, knowing full well that it was too much food for the two of us, but desiring the variety to tempt my extremely picky boyfriend. I also ordered myself a spiced tea and, while the blend of spices in the pot was just right, the Lipton tea bag sitting on my saucer was not quite the Addis tea I was hoping for. That aside, the food was everything I could have hoped for and more. The tibs were succulent but not overly seasoned (and not greasy at all, especially compared to other places in town). All of my veggie favourites were in the combo, including the best gomen I've had to date. Even my picky boyfriend, whose idea of a gourmet meal is a hand-pressed burger, couldn't stop eating it. We actually managed to eat about 75% of what we ordered, not because the portions were small, but rather because we hadn't eaten all day and stuffed ourselves well past the point of comfort, unable to stop shoving these succulent morsels into our mouths. At some point, one of the employees carried a plate of coffee to the tables, offering it around, but we opted to pass. Perhaps this is why a previous reviewer was unable to find it on the menu? The best part? Total bill for more food than two people should reasonably eat - $28 This place has definitely moved to tops in my book!!!
(5)Cori-Ann W.
Excellent food! This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and it was a great experience and very good food. The waitress was very friendly and attentive, she answered all of our questions and even told us about each thing we ordered. We had the Veggie and Meat Combo plates, which was enough for all five of us to be comfortably full. We did order drinks as well, we had bottle of Chateau St. Michelle that was not marked up at all ($18.00) and also had one of the Ethiopian beers, which was interesting. All and all a great experience, nice music, great friendly service, and good food!
(4)Peter T.
Great service, great food. We split the veggie combination and that was more than enough for two of us. The lentils and the collard greens really stood out on the dish. The service was also great; the gal gave us good recommendations for both beer and food. We'll be back.
(5)Kristina L.
I'm still loving Gojo, and thought it's important to note: They are CLOSED Wednesdays.
(5)Olisa E.
They do NOT add Wheat to their INJERA- I havent eaten there yet but They get four stars from me just for that
(4)Jon E.
I wandered in during the first week of operation and was completely floored. This is the best Ethiopian food in Seattle, and gives a serious run for tops food compared to places I grew up with in DC and NY. The cooks tend towards slightly more butter without being sodden, and a slightly drier berbere without being really dry or grainy. The result is truly decadent. That said, there have been a few misfires, and I recently went there with friends and a couple of dishes were pretty middling. Nothing bad, though, and realistically, a family restaurant is still in 5-star category when I have to go almost a dozen visits before something is blah. Having a decent Tej is a nice touch, and the strip-mall drab exterior belies the warm atmosphere inside. I'm grateful to have them up here in the north end, and hope they can keep it up.
(5)Melissa H.
Located in a small strip mall, this place is very clean, sometimes empty, and very good. Our waitress was very quiet, but very attentive. Although there wasn't a drink menu, she was able to tell us all she had available. The decor was very cute, although not overdone. The whole place seemed very clean to me. Our food came quickly, after maybe 15 minutes or so, which is very quick for Ethiopian. My short ribs were very good, the meat tender, falling off the bone, although I thought I didn't get many ribs for all the sauce. My husband thought his beef tenderloin was a little dry, but good. We need another visit to make our final decision, but this is one of our Seattle favorites.
(4)Nick B.
This place is "ok". It's definitely nothing spectacular. The food was quite flavorful and not as greasy as Queen Sheba's. However, my stomach did not agree with my choice in dinner and had a long talk with me afterwards. The service is good. She was kind enough to disway us from each getting an entree (thank god, because the two entrees were MORE than enough for 4 people). In summary: decent ethiopian food and decent service. I also thought it was a bit dark in the restaurant which kind of blows when you already don't really know what you're eating.
(3)Trang M.
Hubby finally convince me to try Gojo. We decided to have a different kind of Christmas Eve dinner. I've had enough Ethiopian food to know what to expect from restaurants. My co-workers and friends have taught me a lot. The place is located in a strip mall off Aurora where you get your Social Security, vet care, and get smokes all in one! The resturant is nicely done, the ambiance is quiet with a game of futbol (soccer) to you is playing on TV, and Ethiopian music playing in the background. We ordered take-out since we planned on sharing our meal. Didn't mind the wait since, it is pretty standard with this cuisine. Hubby ordered ALOT of food, and even the waitress warned us that it was a lot, but we assured her that it was for more than just 2 of us. :-P Here's a run down of what we ordered: Veggie Combo- Delicious, loved the perfectly cooked lentils and collard greens. I didn't care for the green beans at all though. Doro wat (chicken stew)- Not enough chicken, there was barely anything, but just sauce and an egg, a chicken bone. Disappointing. (my friend later revealed that one should never order doro wat at a restaurant...so I guess I better have her make it for me) Beef Tibs- Delicious and well flavored, not as spicy with all the jalapenos, but it was good. Lamb Tibs- Gamey, and delicious. Salad (comes with meals, but combined to make one large salad)- standard rommaine lettuce with onion, tomato, jalapeno and lemon and olive oil dressing. Overall we thought the food was good, but not as good as our old favorites. I felt things were missing with the food. I did feel a bit bad that the owner brought out our order and proclaimed that Gojo was the only 5 star Ethiopian restaurant in the city. That is pretty big claim if you ask me. But I didn't feel that once we ate the food. Well to be fair I I will give them another chance soon. Prices are reasonable, and the staff are friendly, waitress did offer us a drink while we waited for takeout. May not be the best I've had, but very good for being in North Seattle!!! They have a DJ and music on certain nights and open till 2AM!
(4)Linda L.
Overall: Fantastic! I was informed of this place by Marissa S. and I'm very thankful! It's been a while since we've been in this neighborhood, so we've not had a chance to try this wonderful place until today. Yes, this place is in a strip-mall, but how many restaurants/eateries aren't? There's ample-free parking, the service is good and the food is great! We ordered a meat combo and a veggie combo (totaling $30, inclusive of tax). A huge (18-20 inch) plate arrived with three overlapping injera breads topped with the meat and veg combo, together with a basket of rolled-up injera bread. You will be given no additional plates or tableware, unless you ask for it. You simply tear some injera bread and use it to grab the fillings on the platter. It's a wonderful way to share food! We loved everything. Although it was our first time trying Ethiopian food - it was just how I expected it - wholesome, well-spiced (not hot), full of flavour and truly delicious. Their portions are substantial and the injera bread just keeps coming. Although there were two of us, we did manage to finish everything, along with 7 rolls of injera bread. This place easily gets 4.5 stars, but I'm reserving 0.5 star because I want to revisit to see if they're consistent! They're open everyday except Wednesday. They serve dinner up to 10pm and the bar is open until 2am.
(4)