Dining Suggestions

First time

Second visit

Vegetarians

Group Dinners

4-5 people

6 or more people

All dishes suggested, almost all restaurants will have the following dishes; pricing, quantity, side dishes and taste will differ slightly from one establishment to another.

First time
- for one
If this your first time at an Ethiopian restaurant, a good dish to start with is the "Lamb Tibs", ask if it comes with vegetable sides. It usually comes with either one or two vegetable sides.

Lamb Tibs usually have one to three choices, if given a choice get the one that's done with tomatoes, jalapeno and onions.

- for two
Go with the "Lamb Tibs" and "Vegetarian Combination" most Ethiopian restaurants will have a vegetarian combination that will have 4-7 dishes and this will give you both a way to taste a wide spectrum of dishes.

Second Visit
- for one
A good second dish is either "Doro(chicken) Wot" for a spicy fare or "Lamb Fitfit" for a mild dish. Again ask if these come with side dishes (usually vegetable dishes).

- for two
A good second dinner that will almost completely give you a full spectrum is "Meat Dishes Combination" and a vegetarian dish (have the waiter recommend one). Most meat dish combinations have 3-4 items.

If they don't have Meat Dishes Combination, then order "Kitfo" (medium-rare or 'leb-leb') and either"Doro(chicken) Wot" for a spicy fare or "Lamb Fitfit" for a mild dish. There should be enough vegetable side dishes.

Vegetarians
Welcome to vegetarian heaven, for most Ethiopian restaurants a nice variation to the daily routine or Indian cuisine.

Either for one or two the first dish should definitely be a "Vegetarian Combination", since this will give you a chance to try most of the dishes.

- second visit
On your second visit ask for the Vegetarian dishes that are not part of the "Vegetarian Combination" and order them. Order two of them so you can be close to the full spectrum of dishes. Now that you've tried most, get other vegetarians with you and enjoy ...

Group Dinners
- 4 to 5 people
In this case you should order three dishes. "Vegetarian Combination", "Meat Dishes Combination" and "Lamb Tibs" as Tibs is not usually part of a combination dish.

- more than 6 people
In this case you most probably will end up having 4-5 people eating on one table, pushing it at 6. If you have 7 or 8... then you should have two groups with 4-3 people per group.

Go with the above selection for a group of 4-5 people and ask your waiter to suggest the other dishes.