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Kokeb Ethiopian Restaurant
Category: Restaurants Ethiopian Ethiopian [Edit]
816 12th Ave(between Columbia St & Marion St)
Seattle, WA 98122
(206) 328-4050
Announcement
Free Parking - Entrance on Columbia and follow the sign. Slots 26 to 34 are reserved to our customers.
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 4 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
40 reviews for Kokeb Ethiopian Restaurant
Review Highlights
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"And of course who doesnt love honey wine." In 5 reviews -
"...Kokeb, especially if you want ***wheat free*** injera." In 3 reviews -
"...to go back for the coffee ceremony--what a lovely way to..." In 2 reviews
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40 reviews in English
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Review from Charlene I.
Seattle, WA
4/10/2012
I tried Ethiopian food for the first time at this location and I was pleasantly surprised. I really didn't know what to expect venturing off into this culture's cuisine, but everything I've tasted so far has been delicious!!
The restaurant is decorated with a lot of ethnic items and is set up very nice and clean. They have native programs showing on the flat screen which are really interesting to watch while you wait for your food.
I usually come here for lunch; they have good specials and you get tons of food! The "Atkilt Beyayenetu" is what I usually order which is a combination of all their vegetarian dishes served on top of a sour spongy pancake like thing(reallly good) which fills you up! Now I won't lie, I've ordered this every single visit, so I can't really comment on the other dishes but that alone is reason enough for me to come back.
Only complaint is that parking can be somewhat of an issue, but aside from that this restaurant is definitely worth the visit! -
Review from Shanti M.
Seattle, WA
3/22/2012
The tables were gorgeous, as was the grain and legume art display underneath the glass tops. Pretty cool. Only trouble was, the height of the standard American chairs were no match for the low tables.
Food was pretty good, but I've definitely had better. A few of the dishes seemed a little bland. Price seemed more than the food warranted.
My daughter's beer was fantastic, though. Sadly, I can't remember what it was called. Super smooth and mellow - an unusual flavor. Could have drunk it all myself, and generally I can take it or leave it! -
Review from Clayton H.
Seattle, WA
5/17/2012
Food was decent, but portions were small. We asked for more and it arrived cold and in tiny quantity. Service was hilariously bad. We won't be back. There is great Ethiopian food in Seattle, and this isn't it.
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Review from clint w.
4/8/2011
This review is a combo of Darth's and Hannah's.
It was completely empty except us. They were out of most beers that we asked for. We experienced the washing of our hands at the table, which I fumbled and I splashed water on myself. It sort of looked like I had weeage, but not really.
We ordered the Deathstar sized combo platter and although the food was tasty and there was a big variety to try, it was overwhelming. Way too much for two people.
Last surprise was the cost. It was more expensive than I thought it would be and I'm not sure i would do this again. I should have cut back.
Staff was very friendly and we also had a man come out and inquire how we liked the food (which we did, although my Indian friend said she preferred her native food to this). -
Review from Timm M.
Seattle, WA
5/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
This was the first time I've experienced Ethiopian food. I had worked with some Ethiopian fellows before and the smell of their lunches always put me off. It was a very strong smell.
I enjoyed the food more than I thought I was going to. And the meal filled me up nice and well.
I give this place 2 stars for a couple reasons.
First, I went to wash my hands and neither the mens or the womans restrooms had soap to wash my hands. I knew that I was going to be eating with my hands, so I wanted to make sure they were clean. Real let down here.
Second, the food took almost 45 minutes to come out and there was only 1 other table of people in the place and we had ordered before them.
Third, on Yelp they have an offer for a check in and receive 25% off if you order 3 or more Entres. I checked in, the offer said to show the offer to an employee to receive the discount. Simple enough. But.... When I showed the lady she said "oh, you have to print that out and bring it in". The offer doesn't state that and....there's no way to print something out from a mobile phone. At least not that I know of. So...how the hell do you redeem this offer? I didn't really care about getting the 25% off, but I thought it was pretty lame to offer it and then tell me that I had to print it out and bring it in with me when it clearly stated otherwise.
That's why I give this place 3 stars. Food was good, service not so great and the cleanliness dept...lame. -
Review from Darth V.
Bellevue, WA
1/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Warm Fuzzies.
Ask me to describe all but 1 Ethiopian restaurant I've ever been to in two words or less, and warm fuzzies is how I will describe it. Doesn't matter which Ethiopian place in which area I've gone to - be it Seattle, Boston, New York, London, Milan - hell, even when I was in Ethiopia - the one constant has been that the owners (or locals, in the case of the African excursion) have been the kindest, friendliest, most sincere, gentle, generous, warm and fuzzy people you'll find anywhere. I don't know what it is about them, but they're cuddly like Ewoks, only not at all annoying. Hell, half the time they start bringing you food you didn't even ask for (and frankly, might be terrified of if you knew what it was, but you know it's best you don't ask because it's delicious and ignorance is bliss). Why? Because they just love to share food and culture.
All but one. And that one would be Kokeb Ethiopian up on 12th. The Lady Vader and I found our way to this place after being rebuffed from a Foodie 100 checkoff at La Spiga due to lack of reservations (and the Lady Vader spotted something at the bar stating they were an organic and vegan bar....I don't need command of The Force to tell me that I'm not going to like that place when I get in there, but that's going to be another review for another day down the road). Place seemed promising. Big sticker on the window stating they were one of Seattle's 3 best ethnic restaurants. The fact the place was empty at 7 o clock on a Saturday was a bit of a red flag, but hey, we were in a rush. Conquering the galaxy is a time-demanding task that waits for no man.
Seated immediately by a lady wearing some fairly authentic garb. Low production value Ethiopian music videos playing on the 2 TV's. Good start. Neither of us were particularly famished, so we elected to split the giant sampler plate and just try out a little bit of everything this place had to offer. Yeah no. The lady refused to submit the order, stating that the chef doesn't like to make it for 1 person, and that we'd have to order 2 of them - which was twice as much food as we wanted/needed . Especially given my recent weight gain. Just last week, I dropped my iLightsaber and when I bent over to pick it up, I ripped a seam in my codpiece. Do you have any idea how embarassing it is to do that in front of your army? I ended up having to Force Choke 9 of them just to get the snickering to stop.
She got kind of curt from then on for some reason. I ended up playing it safe and ordering the doro wat (the staple dish for any Ethiopian restaurant), and Lady Vader grabbed the prawn nibs. We also showed the lady our Yelp Check-in bonus of 25% off 2 entrees, which stated show the screen to the employee and it would be taken care of. She asked if we had the "printout" and didn't seem to like just being shown a phone screen...even though that's what it said to do. I get that there's a lot of room for accessories under this cape, but a printer? Really?
So she wanders off without affirming this check-in thing or a word of any sort. Eventually she comes out and says "side dishes", and puts some bread and sides in front of us, and storms off. Shortly thereafter, entrees out, also with a level of apathy that would make any Vulcan proud (whoops, wrong iconic reference). The doro wat was....decent. I've had better, I've had worse. It was a bit oily compared to what I'm used to, which was a turnoff. Lady Vader's prawns were delicious, so there is that The various side dishes we ordered varied between decent and highly questionable.
Given the shockingly (see paragraph 1) unfriendly service and hit-or-miss nature of the dishes, I was strongly debating whether to give this place a 2 or a 3. Then the bill came out and, sure enough, no 25% Yelp discount. 2 it is, then. I show her the screen - again - and "miraculously", this time she knows exactly what it is and that it's not a printout (and "remembers" it after seemingly "forgetting" it the first time I showed her, in spite of being one of only 2 tables in the place at this point), and goes and rectifies the bill. I dunno, felt a little like a negotiation with Greedo Bugeye with all those miracles.
Now, to this place's credit, as we were leaving the gentleman who was behind the counter came out and asked us how the food was, if we liked it, if we'd ever had Ethiopian food before, etc. You know, the types of things I've come to expect AS we're eating from this kind of restaurant. I'm 90% certain he only inquired to us about it because we had that Yelp screen, which implied a review was forthcoming, but what can I say? I'm a sucker for food talk, so it worked, and I'm giving them a point back.
EDIT: Dropping it down to a 2. It turns out something that Lady Vader ate did baaaaaaaad things to her. Unacceptable.
2 Deathstars -
Review from Hannah L.
11/6/2010
Stop #3 in my Seattle Ethiopian food journey....
This feels more upscale inside than some of the others: nice glass-topped tables and low chairs make for a comfortable and welcoming seating arrangement, and the women serving us were very friendly. Two nice pluses!
More pluses: some of the dishes were really wonderful. The lentil soup was fantastic and I highly recommend it, along with the fosolia (the string beans) and the doro wat. Some of the lentil dishes were also excellent. Additionally, Kokeb has a wine list with more familiar options (Hogue, Erath, Covey Run) in case you're not a fan of honey wine. Plus, they can prepare wheat-free injera if you ask ahead.
But....This is not cheap Ethiopian! Our friend was paying, and I was surprised to figure out that the combination plate prices were per person, not per combination: somehow I missed that on the paper menu (though it appears clearly online). For what would be a $15 or at most $20 combination plate at other places, he paid about $45 for the three of us: very overpriced, considering the amount of food you could get elsewhere for that (although I was certainly full). And while a few dishes were really lovely (as mentioned), some of the others were relatively mild in flavor, and some of the meats were very tough and chewy. The injera wasn't hot, nor was it thick and sour, but very light and mild, and actually a bit dry on the edges.
If you go to Kokeb, make sure it's a special occasion (and get the lentil soup!). -
Review from Misty C.
This place was pretty good. It was nothing spectacular, but it was an easy lunch pick and not too pricey (for lunch). They had some wedding reception on the TV so our background music was basically the dancing drum beat. I can still hear it in my head.
It was my friend's first Ethiopian experience. She wasn't disappointed. I'd go elsewhere. -
Review from Larena H.
2/21/2011
This place was my 2nd experience with Ethiopian food. Now, I don't know if the first place just spoiled me, but I wasn't impressed with this establishment.
The decor was very Ethiopian, and the low production cost music videos certainly helped make it authentic!
The food was... alright, until the next day. From everything I have ever learned about Ethiopian food, you need to do 2 things: use lots of the bread for scooping your food, and you need to get some eyeb to counterbalance the "foreign" spice you just introduced to your unsuspecting stomach. I didn't spice up my dish, and I had some eyeb at the end of my meal. It was not enough. My stomach was not happy with me the next day. Not happeh at all. Oh god, the horror!
Our waitress also seemed to be in a bad mood. She also didn't seem to understand the concept behind the Yelp deal. We showed it to her on our phone, and she asked if we had a printout. We showed it again on our phone where it said to just show the app page, and she still seemed confused. When the bill came, the discount was not on there. We brought it up to her again. To her credit, she did get the discount taken off our bill ... eventually.
The owner was friendly though. He greeted us on our way out.
All in all, I wouldn't go back. I'm not completely turned off by Ethiopian food (oddly enough, I'm craving it today), but I won't be returning here. -
Review from Kanchana S.
Manhattan, NY
11/23/2010
Best Ethiopian I've had. Not that I've had a lot but their meat was tender and flavorful. I made the mistake of ordering lentils but found out soon enough the that they send an assortment of vegetables with all orders of meat (don't make this mistake).
It was a bit expensive but the service was nice and the atmosphere was a bit nicer than other Ethiopian restaurants I've been. Check out the coupon for this restaurant at http://restaurants.com
I look forward to coming back here again! -
Review from Crystal B.
Seattle, WA
11/28/2011
Kind of like a ma and pop's Ethiopian restuarant. The food is good, and they treat you like family! I really appreciated the service, and it made the experience that much better. The meat dishes are much better than the vegetable dishes.
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Review from Chloe H.
Seattle, WA
4/6/2007
I was taken to lunch here a few weeks ago. It was my first foray into the world of Ethiopian cuisine, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The food is delicious, and I loved sitting in those comfy chairs with the sawed off legs and dipping the injera into the tasty platter of assorted meat and veggie dishes that was laid before us. At Kokeb, the injera (traditional Ethiopian spongy bread that looks like some kind of porous sea creature) comes in both the traditional brown/fermented/sourdough tasting variety, and a milder white version. I preferred the white stuff. On my walk back to the office, I picked up that week's Stranger, where the improbably named THADIUS VAN LANDINGHAM III had written a review of the very restaurant I had just visited, calling it a white rube's paradise, and decrying the food as un-spicy and the white injera as an Americanized travesty.
I smacked my forehead with my open palm in shame. What a fool I had been to enjoy my meal!
So I guess that I don't know what to say about Kokeb. The interior was clean and cozy, the service excellent and the food yummy. I guess it was lacking a certain authenticity that connoisseurs (read: uptight Seattle honkies) crave, but it is an excellent place to start your journey into the wonderful realm of Ethiopian food. -
Review from Liz T.
4/18/2008
Yes, there is food in Ethiopia and it's quite good.
I'm a big fan of the cuisine--it's so different from what I grew up with, but very comforting at the same time. Although Kokeb doesn't look like much outside or inside, the food is incredibly interesting and flavorful.
I had the Gored Gored (seasoned cubed beef) and my friend had the Bueg Wat (spiced lamb stew); both were delicious, but mine was sweet and savory while her's was exotic tasting. Each entree came with 2 vegetable sides, which were nice.
At other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to, you get white Injera (spongy sour flatbread) with your meal, which serves as your starch and your eating utensil. At Kokeb you also get a brown version, which tastes milder and I think complements the food better.
Kokeb is a very authentic, cozy restaurant that I would highly recommend to anyone who wants to try something new. -
Review from Gwen C.
10/9/2009
It's not the most culturally accurate Ethiopian food.
It is, however, tasty. It's across from school, so EASY ACCESS, BABY. The staff is really nice and it's quiet at lunch but not so quiet you feel like a jerk for going in.
I prefer their veggie dishes. They don't serve the kitfo tire tire (in fact it seems way more leb leb to me than it should be), and i don't know what the heck is going on with the white injera, but if you like it traditional just ask for all traditional injera...that's what i do.
The lunch deal is eight bucks for a veggie platter with a non-alcoholic drink. Even with tax and tip, it's not much more expensive than Subway, and they like you unlike at that awful crappy Subway.Listed in: Stuff Near Seattle U
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Review from Nicole Y.
Seattle, WA
7/31/2007
Last night I went out for my friend's 28th birthday dinner with a group of 5. None of us had been to this restaurant before and happened to come across their website and decided to check it out. It was dimly lit, the dcor included a hut like bar area and wood carved statues, and then two flat screen TVs were playing what looked to be like some Ethiopian music videos. This really was my only complaint: the TVs were a little distracting since there were brightly colored people dancing around in my peripheral vision while trying to have a conversation.
First of all, the service was amazing. The people were so friendly and attentive - I felt like I was at my aunt's house being taken care of. Since they knew it was my friend's birthday, they brought her a festive beaded cape and matching headpiece to wear for the evening as "Queen of the restaurant" and her dinner and desert were on the house! They even took a few pictures of us with their camera and emailed them to my friend! Now tell me, what restaurant does that?
Second, their tables and chairs actually fit me! My feet were not dangling like normal and the table came to just the right height. The arm rests on the chair were perfectly placed to fit my proportions - it was the most comfortable dining experience I've ever had - you'd better check it out fellow short people! Unfortunately, the rest of my friends seemed a little awkward, but not uncomfortable.
Finally, and most importantly, the food was delicious! We ordered a couple of vegetarian combo platters that came with a spongy-like flat bread called Injera. My favorites were the lentils and Sambosas. The honey wine was a nice touch as well. We got a ton of food (and two bottles of wine) for our money and I am definitely going back. This was my first Ethiopian dining experience and it was spectacular! I recommend that everyone tries this place before it becomes the next big trend. -
Review from David C.
Seattle, WA
2/1/2011
my favorite part about this restaurant is that you can order a meat combo plate. My girlfriend ordered the vegetarian combo. Most of the dishes were great, unfortunately some of the others were rather bland.
I thought the service was good. It was not super fast but that is to be expected with the wait staff of one. I really like the poster on the back wall that says "13 months of sunshine". It reminded me of the good times I had when I traveled through Ethiopia.
Overall, I think that the Habesha is a much better restaurant. I would go back to Kokeb simply because of its proximity and also because there is a http://restaurant.com coupon. -
Review from June N.
Seattle, WA
11/21/2007
Yesterday night, I had my first Ethiopian experience and I am now a big fan of their cuisine.
First off the gripes:
No heat - It was freezing in there.
Low tables - Kind of felt like I was in Hobbiton
Ethiopian music video's - They were amusing and annoying at the same time...
The Pro's!
The Ingera or spongy staple bread is delicious! I preferred the white ingera to the grey sourdough type ingera. I ordered the #34 combo that gave you a taste of everything except for the seafood items. By far the chicken was the best for me. The thing that struck me most about the food were the great flavors in all the items, but no smell. I mean I was thinking that there would be a more pungent odor to the food, but found that it didn't have it.
I left so full and satisfied from the restaurant and have promised myself to keep checking out other Ethiopian restaurants. Even my picky girlfriend who hates trying out strange foods found it to be good. I'm just sad I never tried it sooner. -
Review from Sheila Y.
San Francisco, CA
3/24/2008
This is a 3.5 star review, especially since my experiences in the past were pretty bad. But yesterday I went and had the full on Kokeb Ethiopian Experience for a mere $21.
This included a wonderfully light and spicy lentil soup, followed by a plate full of unique delights. I usually order vegetarian combos at Ethiopian restaurants b/c some of the meat dishes turn me off, but this combination was pure delight.
Spicy shredded beef, a prawn dish, tibs, doro wat, all of it! They tried to give me half and half with the injera (half as in authentic, the other half some "white" version) and I just straight up said I wanted the good stuff and they kept it coming. The meal ended with a ceramic carafe of Ethiopian coffee....very strong, just for me!
Overall....great experience this time around...and they have honey wine and Ethiopian beers to boot! -
Review from Kathryn B.
Portland, OR
12/1/2008
We spent three hours at the Lucy's Legacy: Hidden Treasures of Ethiopia exhibit at the Pacific Science Center, and felt the need of Ethiopian food to round out our experience. Our visit to Kokeb was just what we needed.
Before the meal, which you will eat with your hands, there will be wonderfully hot steamed cloths to wash with. This is both relaxing and practical. For the quality of the food, I don't think the prices are high. Don't expect big hunks of protein. The main part of your meal will be the lovely flatbread (Injera) which you will use to pick up the fully-flavored stews. The flatbread is safe for the gluten-intolerant too. The brown version is made from rice according to the menu.
Yes, the food took forever--but I would definitely go again. Maybe try ordering in advance? The menu is on the website. But the food was *delicious* and the proprietors welcoming and patient with questions. I particularly liked the lamb wat, which was deeply and subtly flavored, but I would actually have a hard time picking one single favorite from the array of main dishes and sides our group ordered. If I lived in the neighborhood, I think this would be in my regular rotation.
I really want to go back for the coffee ceremony--what a lovely way to spend time with a group of friends. -
Review from Paul T. K.
Washington, DC
5/28/2009 1 photo
I'd never had Ethiopian cuisine before visiting Kokeb, so before I begin my review, I'd like to explicitly state that I have nothing to judge the food on. I have rated this restaurant at three stars because I enjoyed my experience here, had a lovely meal, and would definitely return again.
That said, for the first Ethiopian meal I'd ever had I certainly enjoyed it. A group I was with ordered the vegetarian platter for three. We were served samples of every meal offered on the vegetarian menu, along with an Ethiopian bread and a lentil soup before the meal. The food was fantastic. Most of the vegetarian dishes were comprised of beans or lentils in a curry-like sauce, though some were made up of corn, and another was large pieces of potatoes and carrots in a tangy sauce. This is definitely a great thing to try with friends, as everyone can have fun eating with their hands and experiencing the new and unusual (to the Western tongue) flavors together. This will really bring smiles and good memories to a group of friends.
The service here was average, though when it picked up, there was a definite delay in wait time. I believe that this restaurant is family-run, with the kids helping out when business starts running. The people we interacted with here with very friendly, making the experience that much more enjoyable.
Again, as I know pretty much nothing about legitimate Ethiopian cuisine, I can't really rate the food against anything. I enjoyed what I ate, and would definitely return here again with friends. I will be exploring other Ethiopian restaurants in the area as well to see how this holds up. A good meal, a fun time, I would recommend this restaurant. -
Review from Jeanny M.
9/5/2009
I think this place would be a solid 3-star but they get an extra star for being so accommodating and nice to us.
We called them about 2hrs before we had hoped to hold a last minute birthday dinner, with 13 guests. Um, right. I had called a handful of other places asking the same question and they were all very nice but we both laughed at the impossible feat. Not here though.
They are in a convenient location across from Seattle U. We found street parking quite easily, I guess it's slightly out of the primo CapHill stuff, but hey, it's better for us!
We saw a couple leaving as we entered. They set up a row of tables down the center of the restaurant. We told them beforehand that we would bring cake (no cake fee) and wine ($15 corkage per bottle) and they were totally cool! The cake was put in their fridge and we received both red and white wine glasses.
We were there about 3hrs? And only two other couples came in for dinner. I felt good then, yes we put them out for the late notice..but they didn't have much business otherwise. We thanked the other couples for putting up with our loud group and they were totally cool.
Anyway, the food was yummy, we all ordered their combos, the full one with the seafood plus one veggie combo. The one thing I did not like about it, was that the combos are priced PER PERSON, rather than by one combo...like the 4 other places I've been. You can buy one combo and have 3-4 people eat from them. But here, the combo (the seafood one) was priced at $20pp, and that's pricey when you're thinking about Ethiopian food and stuff. I didn't actually place an order, nor did one of our friends, but I think they might have multiplied it by the number of people who came anyway.
They had a birthday treatment which came in the form of a free dinner for the bday boy and spouse if enough people showed up. I never looked at the check to know if this was in fact the case. When it was time to bring out the cake, they brought out a robe and crown for my hub. Soooo funny. They took a pic of him which will end up on their website under their birthday celebrations.
Nice folks all around, very accommodating and gracious.
I don't know if I'd come back here due to location/distance, plus their combo pricing, but the flavors of the food were quite different and enjoyable. This was also the first place that provided a white injera which was more sweet and light than the usual heavier and sour injera you get. So that was really cool. :) -
Review from heather j.
Mountlake Terrace, WA
3/9/2011
I'm a big fan of ethopian, there is something super fun about eating your food with your inerja bread. I love how there is no silveware to be found. What I love about Kokeb though is the warm wet towels to clean your hands before your meal. Plus the plethora of parking outside on the street makes this a better choice than some of the other area ethopian places. I love the lentil soup here, it makes me want to recreate it. And the tef inerja is a good feature as well. I much prefer this type to the normal white one. The veggie combo had tons of choices. I hope to try the tofu soup next time. And of course who doesnt love honey wine.
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Review from Jenn B.
Oakland, CA
2/2/2010
Went to Kokeb tonight for the first time. I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant (it wasn't dark and cave-like) and they had the low tables with dried lentils, etc underneath the table glass.
My friends and I (two men) ordered three entrees after we found out that the combos were priced per person. This is the only issue I had with Kokeb. We ordered a lamb dish (number 1), potatoes, carrots, onions and cabbage in spicy sauce and the collard greens. With all entrees you get two sides which meant we were able to get even more veggies! The food was good and comparable to most other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to.
The reason I'm giving this place four stars (as I really think it deserves a 3.5) is that they have a WHEAT FREE injera! Most people think that injera is wheat free but it isn't. A lot of Ethiopian restaurants in Seattle mix wheat flour with the tef flour to make more bread. When I asked the woman (who was the owner) if they had wheat free injera she said yes but that it's better to call in advance because it takes longer. Anyway, mid meal she brought me a plate of the wheat free injera! Her friendly gesture totally made my meal better. The owner was very nice in general and was friendly.
I definitely recommend Kokeb, especially if you want ***wheat free*** injera. -
Review from Olga K.
Seattle, WA
4/13/2010
I have been to Kokeb twice, both for dinner.
The first time I went, both of us ordered the ultimate combination dish. The mistake was not realizing that it is 26 dollars EACH versus for both (as I am well aware of the large portions in the combination dishes). As a result, walked away very happy and full, but with a bill that was not worth the service. I must say I was confused when we got the coffee - she shook the coffee beans at us and let us smell it and then walked away with them, coming back with the coffee in over 15 minutes. I am not so up in the culture of Ethiopian food so some warning that she is not just teasing us with the coffee would have been nice.
I love the atmosphere for the place - it feels like you are in somebody's home and they are treating you to the food of their country. The service is slow, but I love to sit and chat with a good friend somewhere that I am not rushed, have comfortable chairs, etc.
The second visit (yesterday), was more prepared. We ordered a combo vegetarian meal, and a lamb dish. It was a perfect amount of food for two people, and a great variety. 30 dollars for two people for dinner was also reasonable.
I'd also state that the honey wine is delicious as always.... though I believe the 7 (forgive me if I am wrong) dollars is a little excessive.
Also I'd state that my review is more a 3.5 than a 4. Great atmosphere, and reasonable food. I think it is a little higher just because the only other place I've gone for Ethiopian in Seattle so far has been Blue Nile, which I thought was abysmal. Looking forward to trying some new eats. -
Review from Caitlin B.
Seattle, WA
9/28/2008
We went here after trying to go to our favorite Ethiopian place, Mesob. It was closed, so we decided to try Kokeb. We were the only people in there, but still waited 45 minutes for our food. the lighting was bad (flourescent), and it was very cold inside. When the food finally did arrive, it was BAD. the Only thing that had flavor on the veggie platter was the misir wat. Everything else was completely bland. NO FLAVOR. We barely ate any of it, and paid an absurd $27 for the plate.
Needless to say, we'll stick with Mesob.Comment from Yeshi S. of Kokeb Ethiopian Restaurant 1/12/2011
Dear Caitin, While we respect your preference of any… More » -
Review from Ema N.
4/24/2008
Next to Dahlak, this is my favorite Ethiopian restaurant. I know Dahlak is Eritrean but I can't really tell the difference since all I get are the combo plates with injera.
The atmosphere here is awesome, it's not like Dahlak or Mesob where it can get kind of cold sometimes, and this place has candles and really nice table cloths and low tables that are made from that palm frond thing. You don't get the plastic table top here.
The -1 star is because it costs ~$14-15 (I know, not much money but I'm poor ok?!) a person for a combo plate whereas at other places I've been to, the same cost will feed 2 people. However, the food is totally worth it because they also give you soup and being the pig that I am, I actually had left overs. You also do not get injera with crust on the outside edges.
The hours here are 7 days a week from 4-11, which I think kind of sucks because I'd love to come in for lunch and also try that ceremonial coffee thing (they do that here but I don't drink coffee past 2 pm).
If you're going southbound on 12th, Seattle U will be on your right and Kokeb will be to your left. -
Review from John S.
Seattle, WA
3/29/2008
Very friendly service, without being over the top. The food was delicious as we sampled the #34 combination. I liked the even portions between meat and vegetable dishes. The brown injera was slightly more sour (vinegary) than the white, but enjoyed having both. The Ethiopian beer (lager) and wine are worth trying as well.
It was good family meal and the place reminded us of the times we enjoyed outstanding Ethiopian food while living in DC (Red Sea). Spicy, but not too heavy, Ethiopian is a good change of pace food for us. In Seattle, Kokeb is one of the better Ethiopian restaurants. -
Review from David C.
Seattle, WA
11/16/2008
Very good Ethiopian food. Yes, it does take awhile to get your food - especially if there are several other tables full of people. Everything tastes very fresh and skillfully prepared.
Loses points for uncomfortable chairs, bad music videos, prices higher than they should be, and slow service. -
Review from Anna J.
Vashon, WA
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Review from K Z.
Seattle, WA
6/12/2010
Two words: false advertising
Two of my friends and I decided to get dinner here and try their "Kokeb Birthday Special", which according to their website states:
"Come in during the week of your birthday and you'll receive the royal treatment. If you're accompanied by TWO or more individuals, your meal will be on us. If you're accompanied by your spouse and FOUR or more other individuals, both the meal of you and your spouse will be on us, as well!"
Well, I was utterly speechless and totally disappointed when our hostess/server told us that the policy recently changed and that to get "your meal on us", you need to be accompanied by FOUR or more individuals. We were told that the policy just changed, and was shown on their website (a lie - I pulled up their website then and just now, and it still says "two"). When we pointed to the menu, which has the same statement as above, we were reminded that the policy changed on the website, and that the menu hasn't been updated yet.
Needless to say, my birthday was ruined. Thanks for nothing, Kokeb! Their food might be decent, and the decor might be nice, but with such rude service and deceitfulness, I will not return to dine here, and will discourage my friends from doing so. -
Review from Sunni C.
Kent, WA
1/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
So yummy and great service!!
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Review from Robert L.
Renton, WA
10/11/2009
i've been wanting to try ethiopian food for the longest time, and i finally did! the same friend who got me to try traditional vietnamese food obviously knew where a traditional ethiopian restaurant would be. i was with four friends and we all got an assortment of stuff, some charcoal chicken, beef stew, lamb, and a veggie dish, in addition to a bunch of side dishes. all the entrees were really good, but sadly, i was not a fan of their bread, and its kind of important to like that bread since that's what you eat all of the food with, it was way too spongy for my liking, the white bread was tasteless, and the brown one was sour and the texture was a little gross...but that's just me i guess, since my other friends liked it
i would go back since the menu said i could get my entrees with rice, since i would never want to subject my tastebuds to their bread ever again. the servers were a little slow, and we were the only ones in the restaurant, but they were really nice and helpful. i was a little upset when i wasn't allowed to use my amex card even though there was a sign on their door that said they accepted it...deceived....dinner was a little pricy, and it didn't feel like we got a lot.... -
Review from cheri t.
Seattle, WA
6/23/2007
the food, the service . . .
this restaurant is fantastic. a friendly and and welcoming family runs it and they serve delicious food - the vegetarian platters were just as varied as the meat, incredibly filling and healthy. i recommend the ethiopian beers that go perfectly with the food, and the coffee ceremony at the end of the meal is an absolute must. -
Review from Vanessa A.
Seattle, WA
1/6/2009
I've been here a couple times and both times the food was okay (not as good as Queen Sheba for sure) but boy are they ever sloooooooooow. There were no more than four tables of people there both times and it took at least 40 minutes for the food to come. If you have a lot of time to chit chat and you're not starving and you don't want to trek over to Queen Sheba (where you'll probably have to wait for a table anyways) then this is a good option.
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Review from Sarah D.
6/2/2009
This is some seriously craveable food, especially the lentil soup. It is spicy, smooth and delicious. The ingera bread, particularly the sour variety is exceptionally flavorful. There are lots of vegetarian options, ones good enough to share with the meatie people at the table and not have them complain. For me, the best part is the coffee ceremony where they come to your table and roast the beans, grind them, and serve the coffee, all right in front of you. Very cool and very tasty coffee. I also recommend some good honey wine.
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Review from Paul F.
Seattle, WA
6/19/2008
The service was pretty bad, the food was great but it was really frustrating to be ignored, I mean they weren't even busy. We had to ask for water and was never offered any more beer, we asked for more injera but it never came.
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Review from Lindsey D.
Seattle, WA
1/21/2011
My friends and I were actually in search of a different Ethiopian restaurant but somehow ended up at this one. We all really enjoyed the food. The veggie combo + a lamb dish was almost too much for three people. I appreciated how the waitress brought the lamb out separately from the veggies and then asked if she could add it to the veggie platter, just in case one of us was vegetarian. I was only going to give 3 stars because they were out of a lot of things. Out of 1 of 2 soups, out of 2 of 3 lamb dishes, out of 2 or 4 variations of an appetizer. They earned the 4th star back because, towards the end of the meal, the owner (?) came over and asked if we would like second servings of anything or more bread. Despite the fact that we were stuffed we took him up on the offer because it was so good (extra lentil dishes, please).
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Review from J C.
Seattle, WA
10/25/2010
According to the website, customers parking is free. DO NOT believe in this. I parked according to the directions they had on the website. And guess what, I got a ticket. We went back and talked to the owner and they did nothing about it. The food wasn't all that great. I am never coming back again.
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Review from Alison S.
Seattle, WA
10/9/2010
Kokeb is located across from Seattle University. The atmosphere is a bit cave-like, but the food is great. The servings are a little on the small side and the pricing is a bit higher than similar Ethiopian restaurants around Seattle - while the service is quite slow. What keeps me coming back? Gluten Free Injera! As far as I know, this is the only Ethiopian restaurant in Seattle that will make you Gluten Free injera - just call first because it takes them a little while to make it.
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Review from Sarah W.
Washington, DC
9/8/2009
I went in the other day to have dinner with a few friends of mine and boy were we surprised!! One of my coworkers had recommended this restaurant to me, but I didn't know the food was going to be that good! We had the meat and vegi combination (I don't remember the exact name) but it was amazing! It came with this excellently seasoned lentil soup as an appetizer and the traditional soft bread with the entree. We also tried two different types of Ethiopian beer (yeah, I didn't know they had any) and we liked the lighter of the two. The service was good and we also met the owner/head chef. She was a very nice and friendly lady. Overall, we had a great time and I will return in the near future!
