Addis Ababa - Dining

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Dining

Addis Ababa

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Africa Ethiopia Addis Ababa Dining

Overview

Dining The guide was updated: 2022-10-03

At the heart of Ethiopian dining sprawls the injera — a large savoury pancake with a porous surface made from teff, a grain native to Ethiopia and Eritrea. Teff flour is often replaced in the West for rice flour, often at the cost of authentic flavour and consistency. The injera is then topped with a variety of "wot", which are essentially different varieties of curries and stews with an amazing depth of flavour.

Go for the vegetarian options on Wednesdays and Fridays, which are fasting days. Many locals abstain from consuming animal foods on these days, so you are likely to get reheated meat from the day before.

Yod Abyssinia

Yod Abyssinia

A stone's throw away from the airport is Yod Abyssinia, an experience restaurant known equally for its culinary offerings and traditional performances. The performances start at 7:30 pm and gather a sizeable audience. The menu is illustrated to help guide you to the desired dish.

La Mandoline

La Mandoline

French dining doesn't get any better than this in Addis Ababa. The high standards are carefully maintained by the restaurant's skilled French chef and owner. The menu lists everything from beef carpaccio to crepe suzette to specialities like beef fondue. If you are lucky, you'll get live entertainment from an accordion player.

Kategna

Kategna

Excellent Ethiopian cuisine is the prime reason of Kategna's success with both locals and tourists. The menu lists a plethora of local specialities, including the ubiquitous injera and kitfo — a local take on tartar. They also do full traditional coffee ceremonies.

2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant

2000 Habesha Cultural Restaurant

The treat of Habesha is doubled if you pay a visit for dinner (from 8pm onward), for it is then that the incredibly entertaining Ethiopian culture show starts, complete with music and performers clad in traditional local clothing dancing on stage. It is enjoyed by both locals and guests alike, and is an absolute must for first-time visitors.

Lucy Lounge & Restaurant

Lucy Lounge & Restaurant

This lush garden restaurant is a favourite for visitors concluding their tour of the National Museum, located only steps away. The breezy, refreshing setting is one of the restaurant's main draws, along with a wide selection of local and international dishes.

Sichuan Chinese Restaurant

Sichuan Chinese Restaurant

The restaurant continuously receives rave reviews from patrons, and for good reason. Dishes served here might not exactly replicate ones from their country of origin, but are an exciting break from the ubiquitous injera, and service is commendable.

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