It's cool to eat with your fingers at Cafe Ethiopia
San Fransisco Chronicle
Adventurous Bay Area diners know that Ethiopia has a colorful, vibrantly spiced cuisine focusing on comforting, stew-like dishes. The Mission District's Cafe Ethiopia offers a convenient place to sample them, serving good fare at reasonable prices without a lot of fuss.
The dining room is spare almost to the point of utilitarian. A collection of Ethiopian paintings and banners softens the space somewhat. I wish the one mosb (an hourglass- shaped basket-table) was more than decoration. Part of the fun of eating Ethiopian is to gather around the mosb while seated on low stools and to dig into the communal platter...
Pair the meal with Ethiopian beer or tejj, a slightly effervescent wine made from honey. There's also a selection of conventional wines, beers, soft drinks and juices.
Service is efficient, fitting with the neighborhood feel and low prices.
Cafe Ethiopia successfully eases diners into the experience of Ethiopian food. Indeed, the most challenging thing about dining here may be a local phenomenon -- trying to find a parking space on bustling Valencia Street.
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For a spicier take on Ethiopian cuisine, head over to this small but tidy storefront. The least spicy thing on the menu is the Kito , an African version of Steak Tartare that has still got a fair amount of bite to it. There is an excellent selection of vegetarian dishes made of lentils, eggplant, and so forth that are hearty and satisfying, but have plenty of cold water handy or, better, some refreshing honey wine. The clientele is the usual mix of Mission District types, some students, some professionals and some hippies left over from the Summer of Love. The low-key staff keeps them all happy with great service and plenty of smiles. >>more
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