- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
Categories: Restaurants Ethiopian Restaurants African Ethiopian, African [Edit]
2600 Poplar AveSte 115
Memphis, TN 38112
(901) 321-0082
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Has TV:
- Yes
25 reviews for Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant
Review Highlights
-
"I thought I hated cottage cheese until I tried the homemade..." In 6 reviews -
"The Injera bread was definitely different." In 5 reviews -
"...the lamb stew and beef stew (which are incredibly flavorful." In 3 reviews
Loading...
25 reviews in English
-
Review from Tracy H.
College Station, TX
1/17/2012
I have been to over 50 different Ethiopian restaurants all over the world, and this one can compete with the best. Most towns with only one or two Ethiopian restaurants have dodgy injera at best, but this restaurant did a really nice job with their food. It is not the best I have ever had, but they would do well in DC or NYC. I strongly recommend it.
-
Review from Jacqueline J.
Grove City, PA
3/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I tried to cut this place some slack, even after seeing a roach on my water glass when I arrived. However, when another one crawled up my leg right after we ordered, we decided to leave. Ew.....
-
Review from Gary D.
Germantown, TN
4/5/2012
I went there with a coworker who spent a lot of years in Ethiopia with his missionary parents. He said it was pretty good and authentic. I liked some pretty well, but I did not like the bread - texture and taste both. We ate the lunch buffet, and he said we should come back and order off the menu, as it would be better. I will give it another try.
-
Review from Art L.
Culver City, CA
1/14/2012
Pleasantly surprised at the quality of food here. Delicious and made fresh daily. Had the kitfo which is raw meat with mitmita blend of spices. Decor is very basic; parking is next to non-existent. Service is good and friendly. I would recommend this place.
-
Review from T. C.
Sherwood, AR
6/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I just wanted something different so I Yelped and found Abyssinia. It was cold and rainy, the day I went. I had to park in the back of the building, but when I walked through the door the smell overwhelmed me. It was heavenly...after walking the maze to the front I found that they didn't open for another hour. Because it was a Saturday I knew that would be the only day I could get some vittles. I did some sight seeing and came back found a spot right in the front and waited for them to open.
I had no idea what was in store for me; I ordered the buffet and was not dissapointed. I so L.O.V.E. spicy food so this was right down my path. The veggies were seasoned just right, the chicken stew was good also. I'm not a big fan of lentils but, I ate those :) The injerna is an aqcuired taste that I wasn't too big on simply because I don't really do breads.
I purchased a plate to take back home to Arkansas with me so my family could try it...they are some busters, no one would eat with me. The portions were large it took me two sittings to finish the plate. I will go back again. -
Review from Rachel W.
Arlington, VA
2/13/2011
I've gone to a lot of Ethiopian restaurants at various cities over the years. Boston, NYC, Washington DC, etc. While this place is a bit of a hole in the wall, the food is excellent. I usually get the Kitfo (Ethiopian version of steak tartar ground up with spices) and it's always good. The people are friendly and always ask me if I liked the food (probably because they rarely see a white girl eat raw meat ;-).
The reason it only gets 4 stars instead of 5 is because the parking leaves something to be desired (I'm not wild about the parking in the back and there isn't enough parking in the front) and one of the times I went there on a weekend, there were two little children (who I think were related to the owners of the restaurant) running around like little banshees. Cute but very annoying. :-) -
Review from Kerry C.
8/25/2010
It's a general Memphis rule that some of the best food in town is found in the most unlikely places. We like our tacos from shopping centers, our burgers from dive bars and our sushi from gas stations.
Abyssinia is no exception. It's by far my favorite African restaurant in town, and it's located on the first floor of an older, nondescript office building on Poplar. And the food is amazing.
Abyssinia primarily serves Ethiopian food, a genre that the menu happily declares "the other good food!" Most of the dishes are big gumbo-like piles of meat and vegetables and spices with sides of turnip greens, potatoes or lentils. I thought I hated cottage cheese until I tried the homemade kind that's served at Abyssinia.
The food also comes with a plate of spongy, flat bread that's used as an eating utensil. It's simple: tear a piece of bread, use it to scoop up some food, put it in your mouth. Forks are available on request, but they don't taste nearly as good as the bread.
If you're new to Ethiopian cuisine, start with the chicken or beef stew. It's moderately spicy, fairly easy to eat and simple. There are more exotic things on the menu for the adventurous (like the Gored Gored and the Salmon Kitfo).
During the week, they have a good, moderately priced lunch buffet. It's all-you-can-eat, but know that this food is ridiculously filling (especially when you add glasses of water to i -
Review from Anthony C.
Memphis, TN
I was in the mood for something different than American, Chinese or Mexican so I decided to try Ethiopian.
Abyssinia is located on Poplar at Union Extended in a (as Kerry C. first described) nondescript office building The place looks and is adorned like something out of the 70's/ early 80's. Parking is very tight on the Poplar side, but a posted sign says they have more parking in the rear. Luckily today was not very busy so I secured a space in the front.
I ordered the Yebeg Tibes (Stir fried lamb) w/ awaze sauce. Also included in the meal was turnip greens and cabbage (with a yellow hue - what's that all about?) and a side of Injera ("spongy") bread.
The lamb was tender and delicious. I can't take 'too' spicy food and was glad the awaze sauce was flavorful without being incredibly hot. The lamb, along with all of the other food, was served on top of spongy bread which I thought was overkill since they gave you a side of bread as well (not a fan of soppy bread). Vegetables were crisp and tasteful. The Injera bread was definitely different. I did not know such a delicacy existed. It indeed has the consistency and texture of a sponge. I wouldn't say the bread was bad but to me it didn't have a whole lot of flavor.
Overall I enjoyed the cuisine and will return, probably at lunch time the next time to check out the buffet. -
Review from Holly O.
Austin, TX
10/2/2007
Oh man....yummy.
This place rocked. Yes, you have to be comfortable with eating with your hands. I recommend the tuna, which comes out shredded like a dry stew. Basically, it is a delight. All of the veggies have their own unique flavor. This is the type of food that you eat and eat and continue to eat even when you know you are so full that you might be sick. And then, right when you are not so full again, eat the leftovers. mmmmm. -
Review from Jeremy B.
Memphis, TN
8/19/2009
I really enjoy this place. We usually get 2 vegetables, one chicken and one lamb for 4-6 people. We chase it with Negro Modelo, for some reason Modelo goes really well. They don't use silverware, they just give you flatbread (injera) and you pick up the food with the flatbread, then eat it! This is genius, you get to use the injera like your picking up something gross with a napkin, and then shove it in your mouth. I think the best part is when you get a piece of the flatbread from the very bottom of the platter. The guy who runs it is incredible and always seems really happy to have you come in, that always feels nice.
So, I recommend this place, give it a try. It's local please try and support it. -
Review from Randolph D.
Millington, TN
11/16/2011
Love the cuisine. Little disappointed they didn't participate in Veteran' s Day discounts. They benefit from the protections afforded by the armed forces; they should show their appreciation by participating in Veterans' Day discounts.
-
Review from Tia P.
Memphis, TN
9/27/2011
We love Abyssinia but more importantly our Ethiopian son LOVES it! I actually loved the food at Abyssinia more than I did when in Ethiopia. The famiy that owns the resturant is so sweet. They loved seeing our son eat the injera and wok properly! Our son ate 3 plates and his American sisters even loved it. We will certainly be going back when all of us need some good comfort food:)
-
Review from john H.
Cordova, TN
8/23/2008
This is a really good place, especially to be trying something out of your ordinary dining experience. Not a bad place to take a date as well for the same reason.
No silverware mind you, so wash your hands, because all the food is eaten with your paws.... Well that and this incredibly tasty flatbread. No but seriously the bread is practically never ending so be mindful of how much you eat.
If your new to Ethiopian food, come with a hungry stomach and an open mind. It's pretty affordable and if your unsure what to order, just ask. The staff is incredibly friendly and it has a really nice small atmosphere.
I would make a recommendation if I could only remember what I usually order.
A little hard to find though when your not familiar, because although there is a sign, its just not a huge one. So mapquest yourself there and keep your eyes peeled. -
Review from Kelly K.
Little Rock, AR
8/26/2009
The food here is amazing. I ordered the vegetable dish, which had pickled beets, two kinds of lentils, beans and potatoes, and a lot more. I paid less than $10 and had WAY more than I could possibly eat. The restaurant setting is very casual and comfortable. My only complaint is that I do not feel that the service was adequate. I understand that they appeared to be understaffed, but I don't believe my water was ever refilled once. I also needed napkins and a friend ordered a tea. We never got either of those.
Having said that, I do believe the food is worth it. I would go back in a heartbeat. -
Review from Peter V.
Ypsilanti, MI
7/16/2011
Great ethnic food. I love the atmosphere too...
-
Review from Jill Y.
Memphis, TN
3/2/2011
Hello my first experience at Ethiopian cuisine! I guess my palate just isn't a fan? Nothing too terribly wrong with it, except that everything is doused in oil. I can see how others like it, but it's not for me!
-
Review from Ken R.
Memphis, TN
8/23/2010 1 photo
Last Saturday, I had a hankering for something African, so I decided to try Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant. Actually, Abyssinia wasn't my first choice, but after a bad experience at Gereny where I couldn't get a menu (while seeing another table get first-class treatment), I wanted to get my African fix somewhere else. Fortunately, Abyssinia was nearby, and I was treated more respectfully there, in addition to feasting on a great meal.
After looking over the menu of Ethiopian dishes, couldn't decide on what to order. I asked my server for a suggestion, to which she replied by asking what did I prefer. When I told her I wanted something with lamb, she insisted that I try the Yebeg Tibes, a stir fried lamb dish that was a little more expensive than most of the other entrées on the menu (by the way, Marks Menus needs to update Abyssinia's menu, for most of the menu items were a dollar higher than what's listed on its website). Despite the price, the entrée is huge, consisting of a half a pound of diced lamb sautéed with onions and awaze (a spicy Ethiopian sauce) and two side items, cabbage and a mix of greens and carrots, and all of it is placed on top of a sheet of the restaurant's homemade Injera bread. The spiciness of the lamb was medium, not overwhelming which for me was perfect (I hate it when restaurants cook food that is too spicy; it's hard to enjoy when it's like that). Although it was a huge meal, I managed to put it all down with the help of a bottle of Red Stripe beer, a great complement for this dish.
In all, I really enjoyed dining at Abyssinia, for the food was great and the service was both hospitable and helpful, two keys for a successful business. If Gereny aspires to be successful, it should follow this example. -
Review from Lisa O.
Chicago, IL
11/15/2010
Having never had Ethiopian food, I'm not sure how to compare; I will say it was delicious. Although everyone else seems to fancy the spongy bread, I wasn't a fan. I loved the food though and opted to just pick up with my hands. I loved the presentation of the portions. Serving everything on one platter gave me the option to pick off my date's choices as well. I do however agree with the cottage cheese recommendations. It's a cool mild cheese that helps to cut the spice and give it another tasty element. The staff was sweet and helpful. The only reason it didn't get 5 stars is that the seating (we did sit on the left in the wicker furniture) of the entire restaurant seemed cold and not very welcoming.
-
Review from justin c.
Paragould, AR
2/1/2009
This is not fancy dining. Its a hole in the way, in the bottom of an old office building, and if you weren't looking for it you wouldn't even notice it. The decor is not new or fancy, but it has a very ethnic feel. The food is very good, but its not for everybody. The flavors are different from what most people are used to, but that in itself is not a knock on the cuisine, which is always excellently prepared. Its also extremely affordable. When you go its best to realize that the meal is not served with utensils. Also, the smell inside is very pungent, so don't bring any sort of jacket or anything like that in which doesn't need to pick up the smell or that can't be washed easily.
-
Review from A L.
Memphis, TN
11/14/2010
Yes I gave it a whirl with the buffet, Ethiopian food is an acquired taste, the bread that was part of the Buffet was like eating a most towel, the food was interesting but would have tasted better without having to remove shards of bone on every bite, since having this experience I am wiping out Ethiopian food from my restaurant choices.
-
Review from kate c.
Little Rock, AR
2/4/2007
What a nice surprise! Ethiopian cuisine in memphis. This place was so good that the day after we ate there, we tried to go back, only to find they are closed on Sundays, boo. : \
I have only tried their buffet, but it exceeded my expectations by far. My only complaint is that the homemade cottage cheese was not available on the buffet. What was there, though, was delicious and fresh. Looked like there were numerous filling vegetarian options: 3 lentil dishes, roasted green beans, beets, potatoes, etc. Only one kind of meat on the buffet, but it was an excellent selection, doro wat. -
Review from Bella T.
Santa Cruz, CA
5/3/2010
Absolutely amazing food. So nice to find Ethiopian food in Memphis where true, delicious ethnic food can be scarce. The owners can be slow to warm up to you but when they do, they are very kind. Portions are huge and the price is very nice. Excellent Memphis restaurant.
-
Review from Lindsey S.
San Francisco, CA
1/27/2007 1 photo
If eating with the injera is going to bother you- just ask for silverware. However, eating with the injera is a large part of the Ethiopian dining experience. When you walk in the door they usually try to seat you at one of the tables off to the right. Don't sit at a table! Ask to sit in the area over to the left- it's soooo much better. To the left there are wicker benches and a woven table that the communal platter is placed on- it's really fun. The amberjack and the veggie platter are the best entrees. Make sure you ask for cottage cheese even if you don't like it- they make it themselves and it really compliments the food. It's not like the liquidy cottage cheese that comes in a plastic tub- it's amazing. I never found the food to be spicy but if you don't like spice just ask your server (who is dressed in traditional Ethiopian garb) to prepare it without spicy seasonings. The restaurant is a bit of a hole in the wall but the food, traditions, and friendly service make it one of the best restaurants in Memphis.
-
Review from cin f.
Memphis, TN
10/29/2005
okay. you don't normally think of ethiopia as country known for its food. if you are like me, you think sally struthers and save the kids. also, i had heard also there is no silverware used in eating at the ethiopian restaurant. that part is true. you are given a bread-called injera. my friends and i call it sponge bread but it's really like a spongy pancake. you use the injera as your eating utensil. it's a little weird at first but you get used to it. i would recommend washing your hands before your meal also. i went abyssinia with some friends who really love eating there. we selected 4 main entrees--a spicy roasted lamb dish, firfir (an abyssinia stuffing of injera and beef stew), a chicken stew (really chicken drumettes in a flavorful sauce), and a vegetable dish (beets, mashed yams, mashed squash, green beans, spicy peas, cottage cheese, lettuce, potatoes). they bring it out on a huge tray and you all share and use your spongy bread to consume it. most of the dishes were good but a tad spicy for me. you are supposed to use the cottage cheese to cut the hot. the food itself is pretty similar to indian food. it's not quite as spicy as that but it is similar to me. whereas, in indian food, you get naan and utensils; in ethopian, you get the injera (spongy bread) and no utensils. you get your fill and it is not really expensive. the entree dishes are anywhere from 7-13 dollars. so basically, 4 ppl ate for 50 bucks. we were quite full when we left. the dessert that offered was baklava but we didn't have room. after being kind of apprehensive to try it, i really liked the different flavors. i would try it again but i wouldn't eat it every day.
-
Review from Camille W.
Collierville, TN
8/8/2007
Abyssinia is incredible - get the lamb stew and beef stew (which are incredibly flavorful). You can adjust the level of heat if you can't handle spicy. The lamb is the best thing on the menu. Also ask for vegetables (lentils, cabbage, etc.) and cottage cheese on the platter to cool down the spiciness. The way I describe the style of eating is "like an Ethiopian fajita" - you tear of parts of your sourdough-ish spongy pancake bread and stuff it with the meat and veggies on your platter. I've taken a lot of picky eaters there and have heard nothing but praises for the place. The owners are really nice, but we're often one of very few occupied tables. Entrees are about 10, but they can definitely be split. Good for large groups and family-style ordering- my entire (large) family ate for about 6 dollars a piece and it is a TON of food. Since eating here, I've tried several Ethiopian/Eritrean restaurants all over and none of them have been better than Abyssinia!
