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Almaz Cafe
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Ethiopian Coffee & Tea, Ethiopian [Edit]
140 S 20th StPhiladelphia, PA 19103
Neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square, Penn Center
(215) 557-0108
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 8 am - 10 pm
Sat 9 am - 10 pm
Sun 10 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
168 reviews for Almaz Cafe
Review Highlights
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"I got the vegetarian combo, and it was delicious." In 17 reviews -
"I especially love the greens with the tangy Injera." In 22 reviews -
"I will definitely be back soon and often." In 7 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
168 reviews in English
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Review from Ryan V.
Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA
5/19/2012
Perfect. In every way. Delicious food--better (and more authentic and home
cooked) ethiopian food than DC and new york. Great place to study. Delicious breakfast, Ideal for lunch. Fun for a funky, unpretentious byo dinner. Otherworldly Ethiopian-bean coffee. Solomon and Almaz are present always, and if you've been there more than twice, they will become friends with you.
And yes, the vegetarian combo was amazing, but the lamb, chicken, and beef dishes are also excellent.
Easy to see why this place has a cult following. -
Review from Tam N.
Philadelphia, PA
4/23/2012
This is my go to place for a breakfast sandwich. sausage egg and cheese on a croissant for $6.75. The eggs are cooked perfectly, cheese completely melted, mixed in with slices of sausage on a buttery croissant. I haven't had the ethiopian food yet but I'll have to find an occasion. Man this is a satisfying sandwich.
The people are pretty nice also and after my second visit he (Solomon?) knows what I want. Also, as I was waiting, I overheard one of the owners trying to get to know one of their regulars. Seems like a friendly, down to earth place. -
Review from Avneet S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/20/2012
Very good food, very friendly owners. And, like I said, REALLY good food.
The reason it's getting 4 and not 5 stars is because even though the food is always good, it's fairly inconsistent. While I don't ever dislike my meal, I can order the same thing 3 times, and the 3rd time it's the same dish, but isn't the exact flavor I was expecting.
I'll chalk this up to it being made by true homestyle cooks, who do not measure but cook by "feel", and just continue coming here for great Ethiopian food. -
Review from David G.
Philadelphia, PA
5/26/2012
You wouldn't necessarily know it by walking by the restaurant, but this place has unbelievable Ethiopian food. I have been to some of the top Ethiopian restaurants in New York, and this place is just as good, if not better. The Doro Tibs is amazing. I get it every time, and sometimes will share multiple orders of it. They also have great non-Ethiopian food as well, and can satisfy your cravings for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The grilled cheese sandwich for lunch may be the best one I have ever had in my life. The staff is friendly and inviting. The Ethiopian coffee is great, and the perfect pick-me-up any time of day.
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Review from Zack L.
Philadelphia, PA
5/17/2012 2 Check-ins Here
A wonderful cafe.
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Review from Winnie T.
South Street District, Philadelphia, PA
5/15/2012
Love the din of the fridge permeating the dining area downstairs. The lofted upstairs section seems reserve for actual food dining. I sa downstairs at the counter and enjoyed the most DELICIOUS mango smoothie of my life. I will definitely be back to try the veggie combo platter that everyone is raving about!
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Review from Schuyler L.
Philadelphia, PA
3/14/2012
I was craving Ethiopian and the choices in U City were exhausted so we ventured out to Center City looking for a nice BYO and found it. This little place is great! Check the Ambience selections, I found it to be a little of every single one of them. I'm not sure how a place manages to be both touristy and dive-y while still able to squeeze out the romantic aspect, but Almaz did it. Congrats!
On the other hand it reminds me of my old stomping ground Queen of Shiba, which was a combination bar/Ethiopian restaurant. Almaz takes this to a different level by combining Ethiopian with a cafe instead of a bar. This is much more calming and I felt more authentic as well.
We ordered two dishes, they came out separately. This is always a concern to me because occasionally everything will be served on one big platter. While sharing is fun with some people with others it's the survival of the fittest.
In summation, Almaz has a great location, enough tables to find a seat (check upstairs too), very clean, relatively fast waiter service, delicious, and comes complete with very fair prices. -
Review from Zachary G.
Philadelphia, PA
5/9/2012
If you are looking for the best coffee you have ever had then all you need to do in order to end your search is walk into this restaurant and order a cup. Solomon and Almez provide a personal touch that makes each visit just that much nicer. And did I mention that the cookies are made in house and are almost as good as my grandma's cookies.
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Review from Edward M.
1/4/2012
Almaz is the best Ethiopian restaurant I've been to in Center City. Okay, so I haven't been to any others in Center City, but it's nevertheless pretty tasty and can hold its own with most West Philly Ethiopian restaurants. And it's only a block from Rittenhouse Square, so centrally located for my world.
Almaz is fairly small so dining in is best for small groups (up to four, I'd say). You can also get their dishes to go. My regular standby is the veggie combo platter, which conveniently combines several classics with good injera. It is also fairly filling and is good for sharing. Service is friendly, prices are fair.
The restaurant is actually more of a cafe and though I haven't tried their coffees or smoothies, they look good and probably are good. For solo dining/drinking, there's good people watching from the seats by the front window. For group dining, they have tables downstairs and upstairs.
For those unprepared to eat Ethiopian food the traditional way (hands; no utensils), there's probably silverware available. -
Review from Jeffrey C.
Philadelphia, PA
12/15/2011 5 Check-ins Here
My favorite! The Ethiopian dishes are super tasty and vary in character from visit to visit, so the flavor palate is always a little different. The vegetable dishes here are particularly noteworthy -- I would venture that even dedicated carnivores would be satisfied by the rich flavors and hearty character of the veggie combo selections. Although I can't necessarily claim that the food dramatically surpasses other Ethiopian dining I've had in the city, it is certainly top notch and it's my personal favorite. And Almaz and Solomon (they own and run the place) are such wonderful people that it's always a joy to stop in and visit them.
Apart from the Ethiopian dining the coffee here is quite respectable, and they make a formidable hot chocolate if you ever just want to stop in on a cold day (by the way, it's always warm in here). Almaz also makes a couple daily soups that are always delicious if you're around during lunch and can't really handle a filling Ethiopian platter. I had a cold a couple months back that her chicken soup (with something delicious in it like ginger maybe?) did wonders for.
Can't wait for my next visit! -
Review from Colleen M.
Philadelphia, PA
2/22/2012
I live down the street from this place and love it.
It has a rather unexpected combination of things going for it: On the one hand, they have great coffee, a quirky sense of style (see: weird industrial-looking light fixtures, steel ceilings downstairs) and a good atmosphere for sitting and studying (not a lot of seating, but if you can grab one of the tables or bar stools, it's a nice hide-away during finals week).
On the other hand, they have GREAT Ethiopian food. Like, my favorite in the city so far. I don't eat meat so I can only vouch for their vegetarian dishes, but their tikil gomen and misir are so good...and their injera is always so fresh. For two non-meat eating people, order the vegetarian combo and the foule and you'll be happy campers.
The thing that really makes me love this place the most are the owners though. They are so incredibly nice, and the service is amazing...I would still go there even if the food wasn't as good as it is. -
Review from Jose A.
11/20/2011
Review for dinner and coffee.
Absolutely spectactular! I'm not sure exactly what ethiopian food is supposed to taste like, but I love whatever it is they gave me. This a little hole in the wall type place in center city, surviving as an American breakfast joint by day and Ethiopian restaurant by night. The service is some of the best I've had. The prices are not beatable. It's byo. The portions are filling. Definitely want to go back. -
Review from Jason B.
Philadelphia, PA
9/3/2011
Wow, I'm pretty impressed.
I got the vegetarian combination. I could not get over how good it was. Had a hot cup of the Yirgacheffe with it. Not the best Yirgacheffe I've ever had, but it was a nice compliment to the meal. (I think my standards for coffee are higher than my standards for food. This food was way above standard. The coffee could use some room for improvement.)
Friendliest service one could ever hope for. So kind and courteous.
The only thing more I could ask for would be to have Mulatu providing the soundtrack to my next meal here. After factoring in the cost of flying him and his band in from Ethiopia, that might make for an expensive meal. I think it'd be worth it. Please PM me if you'd like to sponsor this event.Listed in: It beats the meat...
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Review from Michelle L.
Philadelphia, PA
10/16/2011
This place is such a Center City gem! I came here for dinner with an out-of-town friend and although the coffee shop façade might be a bit deceiving, it's actually a legit Ethiopian restaurant upstairs. It kind of feels like you're eating in an attic - and in a good way. The service is homey and friendly; I think it might even be family-owned?
I usually like getting at least one vegetarian order when I have Ethiopian, but my friend and I decided to forgo the veggies so we could try two types of meat - the firfir (beef mixed with soaked injera pieces) and the dorowat (chicken stew). I'm so glad we went with the meat dishes, because they came with quite the spread of veggies too - I'm not sure if this is standard or they did this just for us :) The dorowat was yummy, pretty much what I'm used to, but the firfir which I've never had anywhere else was pretty phenomenal.
I'll definitely be back for more Ethiopian, and I also want to try their coffee :) -
Review from Mary B.
Philadelphia, PA
2/29/2012
Good lunch spot, not too crowded. It's a weird set up, with table service. They really should just let people order at the counter. They have standard sandwiches and an Ethiopian page of the menu. We tried all the vegetarian options. The red lentils were good, yellow lentils were meh, green veggies pretty good, and the stew type thing yummy. Overall pretty good, though the wet bread is kinda gross, but not worth the price ($10ish). Insert obvious culturally insensitive joke here.
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Review from Nicole V.
Sugar Land, TX
I couldn't agree more with the idea this place is a little gem. The inside is quiet and offers a great place to study, read, or just people watch out the window. They have tons of options for coffee and tea, which is nice on a colder day or an early morning. The options vary from ethnic cuisine to your average american breakfast and lunch food.
Of course I believe in the philosophy that when in Rome do has the Romans do. Also, being a vegetarian when they actually label the menu with an option for me I absolutely must try. I would say the vegetarian combo was a little steep in price. However, it was delicious and well season. I felt full, but I didn't get the greasy feeling that people below have mentioned. I was glad to try to try Ethiopian food because I haven't been able to in the past. It will for sure be a place I plan on retrying.
Furthermore, The wait staff pretty much leaves you alone if you come alone to work or something. But, you just pop over to the counter and they are extremely pleasant. -
Review from Barak B.
Philadelphia, PA
12/4/2011
Excellent real ethiopian food. The food is well value as well. I got the excellent chicken dish and there was plenty of the special bread to wrap up the delicious food. The spices were great. The food was warm and the people were friendly. This place truly is a hidden gem.
I promise you, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from Andrea R.
Philadelphia, PA
2/22/2012
This is may be my favorite food in philly. The veg sampler is consistently amazing. The woman who runs it is the nicest on the planet. Everyone should eat here everyday! (great coffee too!)
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Review from Laura S.
7/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I couldn't understand why Almaz Cafe kept popping up on my Yelp homepage. "Why do they want me to write another review?" I thought. "Wasn't my original one enthusiastic enough?" I was sure that I'd already sung the praises of this spot, one of my local favorites.
Oops.
This is a hidden gem for Ethiopian food. Portions are generous and prices are very reasonable. I much prefer the atmosphere here to the Ethiopian spots in West Philadelphia (not to mention this spot is steps from my doorstep, bonus!). The owners are incredibly sweet and nice and if you stop in more than once they will remember you. My absolute favorite thing to order is the tikil gomen, a vegetarian stew of cabbage, carrots, and potato. It's usually served as a side dish with the non-vegetarian entrees, but I always ended up wanting more! Speaking of the options for the more carnivorously-oriented, the firfir and zilzil tibs are my favorites. Don't worry about pronouncing the names right, they won't judge. Most dishes are served with a side of tikil gomen and lentiils, and very generous portions of injera. Mmm.
As the name would suggest, this is also a cafe. Downstairs there are some small tables and a window bar where you can people-watch, and there is an upstairs area that overlooks downstairs and is usually pretty empty. The wi-fi is free! And the coffee is delicious.Listed in: Culinary Colonialism, Nobody Likes You
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Review from Joy C.
Philadelphia, PA
3/4/2012
I can't believe it's taken me three years to discover this gem of a place that is literally two blocks from my apartment! Why is it so great??
1. Authentic Ethiopian food - the beef stew is AMAZING. And the Injera is perfectly soft and fluffy, with that bit of acidity that makes it so characteristically Injera. When else can you go out for a nice dinner with friends and eat with your hands??
2. It's BYO. Do I need to say anything else?
3. LOCATION. No more trekking all the way to West Philly for Ethiopian food for me.
4. Super friendly staff. They were really accommodating for parties too! Beware that the place is really small though, so avoid trying to bring in groups of more than 8-10. -
Review from Greg S.
ASTORIA, NY
4/15/2012
The staff are lovely and provide friendly warm service. The Enjera (a sourdough pancake) went great with the vegetarian combo and beef stew. The food is well seasoned and they use fresh herbs in their cooking.
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Review from Katrina C.
Philadelphia, PA
7/5/2011
This review is for breakfast:
Ethiopian iced coffee - delicious.
Simple eggs and toast- delicious.
Total cost of my meal - delicious.
Friendly guy working - delicious.
Cute place - delicious.
I'll have to come back for dinner!Listed in: Coffee and a chat, Brunch!
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Review from Jade V.
8/13/2011 1 photo
My first Ethiopian experience in Philadelphia. Stopped here for lunch one day and was pleasantly surprised. First of all, it's not just Ethiopian food; they do breakfast (omelettes and the like), hoagies, wraps, salads, etc. Of course, I didn't try any of that and went straight for the enjera and stews.
All of the ethiopian dishes were within $9-$12, if I recall correctly. BF had dorowat and me, being indecisive, got the vegetarian combination. The stews came on one huge enjera plate, split down the middle, and they gave us tons of extra enjera on the side (we ended up taking some home).
I loved the misir (red lentil stew). Just a bit of a spicy kick. The tikil-gomen and kik-alchia were good, but a bit bland for me (I'm a spice addict). BF highly recommended the dorowat, it came with two pieces of chicken and a hard-boiled egg. Flavorful chicken-y goodness.
We were both extremely full and satisfied at the end of the meal. The service is pretty friendly, too.
Would definitely return. -
Review from Larson E.
Chittenden, VT
8/21/2011
To start: Food: 2 stars Coffee: 5 stars.
I dropped by here primarily because it was close to my new home, and was pleasantly surprised by the small restaurant "hole-in-the-wall" charm that the place has. They have seating on the ground level, but some stairs that go up to a lofted area with more tables. The place doubles as a coffee shop and Ethiopian restaurant.
I ordered a muffin and a cafe latte. The former was a lil dry, but a good portion, and probably would have been better earlier in the day. The latter was... awesome. This place has some of the best coffee I've ever had, and is worth trying for no other reason than that. If you have an hour or so, drop by for some coffee and relax using their free Wi-Fi (just ask for the password when you place your order). I'll surely be returning here several times this summer. -
Review from Kimberly W.
Philadelphia, PA
1/9/2012
Almaz is a great, cost-effective little gem of a place with friendly service, AMAZING food, very fair prices, and adorably funky decor to top it all off! I should also take the time to praise the free wifi they have here; unlike some places I've been to in Philly that offer wifi, the signal was strong and very consistent! Definitely one of my fave places in Center City!
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Review from Tommy B.
Philadelphia, PA
10/1/2011
Almaz offers an ethiopian menu, though you wouldn't know it from the outside, and since they are conveniently located in Center City I wanted very much to like it. Unfortunately the food is greasy and underwhelming. And that's just plain odd. I've never left an Ethiopian restaurant thinking "That was greasy and it sits heavy in my stomach" before.
Also, prices are not posted and the vegetarian combination turned out to be $13. As Ethiopian meals go it was a reasonable portion but certainly not a large one. $13 is too much for a businessman's lunch portion in a place with little ambiance.
They are friendly folks and I'd love to see this place improve, but right now I have to tell you to get on the El and head over to West Philly for significantly better food. -
Review from Zachary D.
Philadelphia, PA
8/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
Summary: great food, byob, coffee shop ambiance.
Review: Almaz Cafe serves authentic and tasty Ethiopian food. Come with clean hands, as you will be sharing with your table and eating with your fingers. The food is great -- perfect level of spiciness and many interesting tastes. Because the place is byob, the total price stays low.
Only downside is the ambiance. The room feels much more like a coffee shop than a restaurant. Of course, that might be because it is a coffee shop by day... -
Review from Kai M.
Philadelphia, PA
8/11/2011
How have I never reviewed this place? I'm through here just about twice a week.
Almaz is a tiny two-story cafe/restaurant sandwiched between an insurance storefront and a barber's shop. It's run by a wonderful couple and is the sort of quintessential mom/pop place that makes living in a city less alienating.
For the most part, I use Almaz as a place to pop in for coffee when I'm on my way somewhere or coming home after a day's work. Hot or cold, their fresh-brewed Ethiopian coffee is absolutely THE best cup of real coffee in Philly. It punts the vaunted La Colombe way, way out of the water and is better than the equally-lauded Blue Bottle coffee served at Pure Fare. Do not put sugar in it. Do not put cream in it. Just drink it and enjoy. (Well, alright, do to it what you must, but at least give it a sip straight up first.)
As for food, they have home-made Ethiopian meals (various meats and veggies served on injera) and an American breakfast menu. Breakfast is alright, but the traditional fare is where this place shines--I wish they'd just do away with the eggs and toast and stick to all Ethio all the time!
Oh, and there's free wifi. :) -
Review from Calvin H.
7/13/2011
I always get the exact same thing here: vegetarian platter and an Ethiopian iced coffee. This restaurant is a little bit above my usual price point, but the vegetarian platter is big enough for two meals. The coffee is outstanding and super, super, super strong. I'd say it's about as strong as Vietnamese drip (but you're getting a lot more of it than at a Vietnamese cafe), which is only a smidge less strong than your average espresso. Be warned.
Service here is excellent. The woman who works the dinner shift is super sweet and has great suggestions. She doesn't mind it when you come in a big group and all pay separately, which is AMAZING. -
Review from Thomas W.
Philadelphia, PA
4/16/2011
I love this place. When you turn the corner from Walnut onto 20th you can smell it already; they have great Ethiopian food. It's really not fair to be honest. There are days I don't want to eat Ethiopian. I want sushi or something. But sushi doesn't have the whole side of the street smelling of tasty tasty heaven.
Oh and they have great smoothies. I don't drink coffee but they have no shortage of people there to drink it. It smells good.
The couple that owns it are two of the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and they are completely deserving of continued success. -
Review from Daniel L.
Wilmington, DE
7/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
We were hungry but were tired of the same ol' stuff - turkey wraps, burgers, etc. We walked past Almaz and saw it was Ethiopian food so we wanted to check it out. Decor is simple very casual and staff is very friendly. We ordered the Firfir (stewed beef), Misir (lentils), and the Zizil Tibs (steak). Everything was amazing! It was a very nice change from the ordinary American food we usually end up getting for lunch. We topped it off with an Ethiopian iced coffee which is great.
5 stars for everything and a pleasant experience! -
Review from Michael O.
Philadelphia, PA
Updated - 12/15/2011 2 Check-ins Here
So interestingly I wasn't that impressed when I first came to Almaz. After eating here probably twenty times-sometimes dinner, sometimes lunch, sometimes coffee-I have to say it's just become one of my favorite places. Almaz & Solomon are always so friendly and accommodating to everyone. The Ethiopian food is delicious, I especially think they do an excellent job on the vegetable combination platter. Almaz makes a homemade soup often times for lunch or you can get a very decent salad or sandwich. Please stop in, tell them Michael sent you.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/20/2010
Friendly staff, and good food. Not amazing, but good and at a fair price. I came here for the… Read more »
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Review from Kaitlin L.
Philadelphia, PA
3/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Why. Why did I justset foot in Almaz for the first time ever? What the heck took me so long? I've passed by the location many many times and didn't even know it was there. I will not make that mistake again.
The food here is absolutely wonderful. The flavors were exactly what I didn't know I wanted. The dishes are huge and very filling, but I had trouble stopping.
Even if the food was sub par (which by no means is true) I'd probably still show up here just to get their fantastic coffee or see the smiling faces of the lovely people who work here. I immediately felt like a regular here, they are just the sweetest people. I cannot wait to return again.Listed in: Proving New Yorkers Wrong
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Review from Connie S.
5/12/2011
From the outside one can barely tell that this place serves ethnic food, much less delicious and authentic Ethiopian cuisine, but looks can be deceiving.
I've heard the coffee is really good, but for the food, don't waste your time on the bagels, wraps, sandwiches, etc. -- just go straight to the Ethiopian dishes portion of the menu. Last I went, someone in our party was half-Ethiopian and he attested that this place was the real deal.
Come with a group of hungry friends (although I wouldn't recommend a party larger than 8, it usually doesn't get too crowded, but they don't have big tables and there isn't that much space inside).
If this is your first foray into Ethiopian dining, be prepared to eat with your hands and to share everything. The owners are super helpful and attentive, and they will steer you in the right direction if you have questions about the menu.
In my experience, all the dishes and spices start blending together anyway in Ethiopian food, so you really can't go wrong with a dish. Moist meat, good flavor, large portions at Almaz.
My favorites:
- Zilzil Tibs (strips of tender beef sautéed with onions): super tender beef
- Kitfo (steak tartare): if you're cool with eating raw meat, you'll love this
- Vegetarian Combination: comes with Misir (split red lentils with onions), Tikil Gomen (cabbage, carrots, potatoes), Kik-Alchia (yellow split peas) and Shiro (mixed legumes)
Plenty of enjera (spongy crepe, the starch of the meal), and they keep it coming. Be careful, though - I've heard that the enjera, because it's so porous, expands in your stomach. You might leave dinner feeling very uncomfortable if you don't exercise some self-restraint. I would know from experience. But it's totally worth it. -
Review from Sarah P.
Philadelphia, PA
3/12/2011
I have this relentless paranoia, with tiny places like Almaz, that they're on the verge of going out of business at any moment. I'm sure it isn't true (if their rabid yelp fanbase is any indication), but this isn't a rational fear, OK?
Please go to Almaz and allay my fears! It is an outstanding Ethiopian restaurant! (Do not be discouraged by the fact that it is wearing an incongruous coffee shop costume!) Should I really re-sing the praises that are all over this page? The food is ridiculously delicious and an amazing bargain, plus vegetarian-friendly. The owners are delightful and deserve your business, so go give them some, please! -
Review from Josh E.
Philadelphia, PA
12/20/2011
All the raves are right. This place looks like a tiny nondescript mediocre coffee shop--you might walk in and think, "No"--but in fact it's amazingly good Ethiopian. And affordable. Get the foule and vegetarian platter. Get coffee and beef tibs. Get to know the couple who own the place (and consider volunteering for a shift or two, because Solomon and his wife, the eponymous Almaz, are always there, and it'd be nice for them to be able to go home and sleep sometimes).
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Review from Mike H.
Philadelphia, PA
I dig this place. That's for several reasons:
1) The owners are realllllly nice. I love that they some how are psychic enough to know if I'm getting coffee to go, or getting coffee there and hanging out for a bit.
2) The food is reallllly good. The vegetarian sampler is awesome, but since I love the misir the best, I usually just get that. The veggie wrap is also delicious. And I hear the soup is also really good. Their smoothies also rock.
3) They have cheap and good coffee. And big mugs to drink it out of.
4) Their credit minimum is only $5. Totally reasonable. -
Review from Dan C.
4/19/2011
4 stars for food, 5 stars for service.
I loved going here on a date! The Injera was ridiculously good...almost fruity and tart but still rich and warm. We were offered additional injera when the owner saw that we were running low. Super plus service! She was extremely nice and we were able to share a few laughs.
The food was delicious. All the vegetable dishes were great and everything was spiced very well. I just wish that my meat had been more tender instead of so chewy and tough, but I'm not complaining. I will definitely be back at this gem! I can't believe I was thinking about going all the way to West Philly for Ethiopian! -
Review from Alexandra W.
Philadelphia, PA
11/1/2010
After being dragged to Almaz by Erin F. and Stephen S., I am finally willing to admit that I like Ethiopian food.
Almaz is amazing. The staff is always really nice and really accommodating, the food is great and really reasonably priced for the portions. They also have sandwiches and wraps for the less adventurous eater, but why go to Almaz for anything but Ethiopian?
While I am not a vegetarian, I haven't tried any of the meat dishes here. The veggie stuff is so good!
I definitely recommend sharing dishes. -
Review from Laura O.
Haddonfield, NJ
12/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
First time eating Ethiopian, they set the table with a fork (maybe just in case you need it or for the non-Ethiopian dishes on their menu). You'll be eating with your hands, so be prepared. I had the vegetarian combo which was pretty good. I couldn't identify all the foods on my plate but they all tasted good. The injera (spongy crepe like grain eaten with the meal used almost like a tortilla to hold the food) didn't really have much of a taste, which I was surprised about. The plate that I had was delicious, little bit spicy. My friends both got a beef dish which was served with a very spicy sauce as well as lentils. Neither were very fond of the taste of their dish (they mostly ate the meat without sauce or enjea) I don't think either will be returning to try something different. I on the other hand would try another dish there.
