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Rahel Ethiopian Veggie Cuisine
Categories: Restaurants Ethiopian Restaurants Vegan Ethiopian, Vegan [Edit]
1047 S Fairfax AveLos Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 937-8401
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 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:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
226 reviews for Rahel Ethiopian Veggie Cuisine
Review Highlights
"Their injera is always fluffy and flavorful."
(in 64 reviews)
"I've ordered the Veggie Paradise Combo both times."
(in 14 reviews)
"Really enjoy the lunch buffet deal ($12."
(in 24 reviews)
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226 reviews in English
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Review from monica a.
Culver City, CA
1/14/2012
For starters, I really like Ethiopian food and have enjoyed it for years. Honestly, most Ethiopian restaurants around the country - you'll find pretty much the same food at the same quality - few surprises. The main difference is in service and decor. That's what I thought until I came here for my birthday. We brought about 10 people including picky teenagers. The service was excellent - which is pretty rare for the Ethiopian restaurants on Fairfax. The servers were incredibly attentive.
I'm vegan and there were a couple items on the menu I hadn't had before - which was a wonderful surprise. Examples: the zucchini stew, the zucchini stew, tofu wot and the punkin stew
And then there was this drink. The "3D" a combination of Suff, Telba and Besso.The description on the menu does it no justice. The description does not sound good, it was amazingly addictively delicious. My daughter - who is adopted from Ethiopia - declared "my people!" when we entered (she thinks that most of the Ethiopian restaurants are run by Eritreans, and there is a difference) and said she had not had this drink since she left Ethiopia (as a child). Hard to make a teenager happy, and this place did.
I highly recommend. Unless you just have to have tibs, even meat eaters will be happy here. -
Review from Julie H.
Long Beach, CA
1/28/2012
This was my first attempt at Ethiopian food. I love all food from all corners of the world, so I was very excited to try something different and healthy. This place was recommended by a friend of mine who has been a vegan for about 10 years and loves their food.
We ordered a ginger beer and a besso (barley drink that tastes like a healthy protein shake) first. Then, for our meal, we ordered the vegan feast for 2. This huge platter of food comes with small helpings of 11 different types of lentils and vegetable stews served on top of a mysterious yeasty bread (think sourdough with a twist). The various lentil dished were delicious and the vegetables were cooked nicely. The flavors were very nice and balanced and if you like to add spice, they have a tamarind sauce that is kind of like a tangy, spicy barbecue sauce.
Overall, I was very impressed with this place. The people running the restaurant were as nice as could be. The prices were really great considering the amount of food and even though I ate a lot, I didn't have any stomach pain whatsoever! :-) It's a great place to pig out and not feel guilty because what you just ate is really good for you! -
Review from Lexie V.
Los Angeles, CA
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came here with my boyfriend for the lunch buffet.
The food was satisfying but probably overpriced. I just wanted a buffet so I could try a little bit of everything, but I only ended up eating 1 plate and paid I think around $12? That is a little above average considering the lunch specials of the surrounding Ethiopian restaurants.
My biggest issue was with service. It wasn't that busy when we went but my water glass was empty most of the time and we literally had to ask twice for the check and we waited 30 mins after we finished eating to pay. I considered just leaving but I didn't want to risk the bad karma.
Overall it isn't bad, but there are some better places in the area. -
Review from Tanya D.
1/17/2012
As soon as you're a recovering vegan .... you pretty much never want to eat vegan food ever again. So, when the beau said Ethiopian food my brain went "beef tibs! yay!" and when we walked up to Rahel I saw that it was vegan. Whatta bust.
Saturday night dinner service - there were a handful of tables open at around 7:30 pm. The seater was attentive, there was much cleaning going on. We got the ginger beer and Ethopian 3D drank (all delicious juices mixed together) to wet our whistles as a starting off point. Everything was going groovy. He did the ordering for me and I was surprised when it came time to rinse hands of ... it was so fast! The Veggie Paradise Combo Special for two - just the right amount of food if you need to be stuffed, but we couldn't even finish it. The highlights among the 9-item sampler included the lentils, zucchini and greens. They really keep the injera coming too. There is no going hungry here!
The decor and ambiance at Rahel is pretty traditional, but spacious and relaxed. I wouldn't seek out veggie-centric cuisine on my own, but this spot in Little Ethiopia hits the spot! -
Review from J R.
Beverly Hills, CA
2/3/2012
Wonderful food and great service. Highly recommend.
Fun to share the food and try different things. Healthy, tasty and yummy. The staff are excellent, you really feel like a guest. -
Review from Michie K.
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA
1/9/2012
Looking for some ethiopian with my best friend we decided it was a veggie day so we stopped by here and just wow, I do admit to being a little hesitant at first, being my first time eating ethiopian and the graphics on the menu not looking so good but I will try anything once. After some discussion we decided on the Millenium plater with injera bread and it was just fantastic! :0 The owners ad waitresses are all so kind and the environment, the design and the music make for an amazing chill and relaxing experience. When the food arrived It certainly looked much better than on the graphics and upon the first taste it was like an orgasm in my mouth! everything tasted so delicious! I love when I eat veggie food and come out of the place feeling 10x's better than I did when going in, you should really go to this place, your stomach will thank you for the treat!.
Will def be coming again!! :D -
Review from Reema H.
Irvine, CA
12/31/2011 1 photo
First of all, this was my first exposure to ethiopian food, and was completely unprepared. I'm not an expert, but as amateur first timer.
We came for lunch on the weekend, and got the buffet special. We sampled most everything. The eggplant was really good, curry, buckwheat, and potatoes & cabbage. I wasn't actually a fan of the sour rolled up bread :( Really disappointed as I know that's a highlight usually. Also tried the 3 D drink, also...tasted like chopped up cereal drenched in milk. It tasted healthy! But...takes some getting used to.
Overall I liked most things, it was healthy and light. Service was really polite and helpful in helping us decide what to eat. -
Review from Heather H.
Glendale, CA
1/4/2012
For what it was, it was yummy. I had never had Ethiopian food before and desperately wanted to try it. let's face it, who doesn't love eating with their hands? My friends and I went for Rahel's off a recommendation from an avid Ethiopian food eater. Thus for what it was, it was tasty. The chickpea ones was good (off of a veggie delight sampler meal-for-two thing). We had 3 people and had food left over, it was quite a bit. The bread was also tasty.
Now, the reason it has 4 stars even though it was good, is that the whole time I was eating it, I was wishing it was Indian food. The taste, to me, was so similar, just missing something. So, a little bit of a reminder of eating bland Indian food.
Still glad I tried it, though. I now know Ethiopian food isn't a type of food I would make a habit of eating. -
Review from Alice H.
Los Angeles, CA
1/1/2012
Five stars, all the way.
My fiance and I have been dining here for about four years now, and anytime a friend visits, we make sure there's a stop at Rahel's on the itinerary.
The decor is plain, obviously, but the service is extraordinarily friendly and the food is DELICIOUS! Please visit Rahel's, whether you are an Ethiopian-food-fan or a newcomer, you will leave happy. -
Review from Christina C.
Los Angeles, CA
12/3/2011
Tried several Ethiopian restaurants around the Fairfax area, but this is my first time at a vegan Ethiopian restaurant. My bf got a Groupon for it, and when we went there, it was pretty packed. We waited several minutes for our seats. They'll also pour you water from a huge jug so that you can wash your hands, awesome! (oh and if this is your first time eating at an Ethiopian restaurant, you're going to be using your fingers to eat!)
We got the second combo, Hudade special, everything was so good! It's a huge plate covered with lentil stew, steamed greens, salad, split-pea stew, string beans, etc on top of the injera (it's like a pancake but made out of sour-dough or something). It was a LOT of food, and I felt really full afterwards but it's not like a bad, bloated, can't-walk full. it was a GOOD full :) Next time I think i'm going to get the Millenium combo just bc it comes with a dessert, and I'm def getting the baklava (or maybe the vegan cheesecake!) We also tried their special drink (combination of sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and barley)... REALLY yummy!! The food is very ethnic (lots of curry, herbs and spices), people might not like it... but don't complain about it! People in Ethiopia eat these stuff, gotta appreciate! It could be pricey but I think for the amount of food that you get, it's worth it.
*btw if you have any leftovers, scramble some eggs & mix all the leftovers together. you got yourself an amazing breakfast there :) -
Review from Anthony F.
Los Angeles, CA
12/24/2011
Amazing food!!! One of my favorite restaurants. Their injera is fantastic and definitely try their kale dish. Their food is healthy and I always leave there feeling great!!!
There service is wonderful. Everyone there is really nice and every time I'm there Rahel herself comes out from the kitchen to say hi to all of her guests!!!
Also, no corkage fee!!! -
Review from Danielle B.
Long Beach, CA
12/8/2011
Do yourself a favor and get the 3D drink. It's a hearty, sweet beverage made from barley, flax seeds, sunflower seeds and agave. It's sweet and delicious, but healthy (barley's packed with B vitamins, flaxseeds w/ omega 3 fatty acids, sunflower seeds with vitamin E, and agave has a relatively low GI index rating).
The vegan feast was fresh and amazing. Some of the stews were spicy, some savory, some sweet, and some, various combinations of the above. Though it looks like a bunch of blended and chopped food, there is a great deal of variety for your palate, each item tasted carefully seasoned.
I'm glad that this place offers the traditional hand wash (the server comes to each table and brings a jug of warm water and a bowl to catch the used water in, and pours the warm, clean water over your hands). This not only makes the experience more customary, but it's practical since you'll be eating with your hands.
I debated between giving this restaurant a 4 and a 5... My first experience there was totally a 5 star experience, but my most recent was more of a 4.5 or so. The injera could've stood to be warmed up (I'm not sure if it's traditionally served warm or not, but at other places I've had it served warm and I definitely prefer it this way), and the service could've stood to be a little faster. Sooo, I averaged my two visits out and rounded up. Okay, why am I explaining all of this? Review over. Go here, it's good. -
Review from Weixin D.
North Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA
12/3/2011
I got the opportunity to come here when my boyfriend's brother invited my boyfriend and I out to dinner with him one night. I had tried Ethiopian food once at Merkato's and while I had enjoyed Ethiopian food, I wasn't into Merkato's as I'd hoped I would be.
We arrived at Rahel's around 7:30pm and it was packed. We waited about 20 minutes for a table to leave, and probably another 20 minutes before we could order. There's an inside joke between my boyfriend and I that Ethiopian food always takes its sweet time.
For a party of four, we decided to order the Yedinch Wot, the Zucchini Wot, and the Yefasolia Wot. We also ordered four soups, two Lentils and two Vegetable.
While we were waiting for our food, a server came with a large pitcher and pan so we could wash our hands. We were first served our soups. The lentil soup was light and came with a slice of jalopeno to give it a bit of spice. The vegetable soup was hearty and full of flavor. It was a good start to the meal.
Afterwards, we got our main meal. As customary of these restaurants, they come served in bowls with a platter sourdough bread. The yedinch wot is a delicious potato stew, hearty like a meat dish and full of flavor. The zucchini wot is also cooked in a dark sauce and thickly cut. The yefasolia wot is is a mixed vegetable stew made mostly of carrots and green beans. It was lighter and creamier than the other two dishes, but just as delicious. I noticed that the sour flat bread was lighter in flavor and didn't over power the food like Merkato's did.
It was really busy that night, so service wasn't up to par, but they were well aware of it and apologized, which I thought was very nice of them to do. Overall, the food was tasty, the restaurant nice, and the staff was friendly, so I'd be willing to come to Rahel's to eat again. -
Review from Amy L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/2/2011
The hype about Ethiopian food is the biggest dupe I've come across yet. Here's how you could recreate it at home for under $10: make a platter-sized crepe and leave it out for a couple days until it it goes sour. Grab a few of those little jars of baby food in different flavors, then dump the mush on top of the crepe. Voila! That's basically what we ate. Yeah. And it's not even cheap.
The one saving grace was that Rahel has decent atmosphere and nice service. The honey beer is quite good (alas, non-alcoholic). It's certainly a...different, ethnic experience. Just know what you're getting into beforehand. -
Review from S L.
Los Angeles, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
First up, the food was good. Drinks were good. Service was ok (food took a bit of time to come out but we weren't in a hurry). We had the millennium platter, sambusas, and the popular 3D drink. It was our first time here so we thought the millennium platter will give us a chance to sample a big selection from the menu. i liked the platter (i like vegetarian food in general) and loved the injera bread. The injera itself will bring me back to the restaurant. Sambusas were yummy too, came out piping hot (just fried). My fave things on the platter were the chickpeas and lentils. it was a nice change in flavor to having indian vegetarian.
i took 1 star off for the prices. Holy! i think it was expensive for just vegetables! and 2 non alcoholic drinks. I recommend the 3D drink as i really enjoyed it but its almost $6 bucks for a "health" drink (i think it had flax seeds, sunflower seed etc. blended with milk). i'm glad i tried it but will not order again. The platter looked huge but again for a bunch of vegetables, way too overpriced for $30.
i took another star off for the misleading advertising or maybe the server was trying to squeeze more out of us. We had a http://restaurant.com voucher and it specified we had to order over a certain amount for us to claim the discount. We ordered enough food and drinks to total the minimum amount but the server said that the total had to be only food so the drinks do not count. So we had to order more food just to bring the food amount up. i did not want to argue the point but the voucher clearly stated the "amount of the bill" and not "amount of food excluding drinks". That was not cool and reflects badly on the service. Its not a problem if they want to make that a policy but they should make it clear on the voucher. i don't think i'll be back for a long time - unless i'm craving for some injera! -
Review from Ariane R.
West Hollywood, CA
9/28/2011
Five stars for the food: scrumptiously good vegan Ethiopian fare with dozens of tasty choices.
One star for the service: p-a-i-n-f-u-l-l-y slooooooooooow. Like, oh my god, can we PLEASE leave we have been done eating for half an hour ssssssllllllllloooooooooowwwwwwwww.
The dinner combo that says it comes with dessert sometimes does and sometimes doesn't. When they've run out, they act like they can't understand English, and eventually just offer you tea. Way lame.
I like their food more than any other Ethiopian restaurant in L.A., but we refuse to eat here anymore because it always ends up being a multi-hour affair and 99/100ths of that time is spent waiting, whether to get your order taken, for food, or for the check. And heaven forbid you drink all your water and want a refill... -
Review from Ratika N.
9/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I love the concept of vegan and organic Ethiopian food...but each time I've been here, it left me wanting more.
The food is ok, nothing great...but no matter how little I eat, I feel sick to my stomach. I think maybe they are using too much oil or something else that makes me feel soooo full.
The thing I liked here was the 3D drink..it's a meal in itself..so make sure you share it with someone. the dish with Kale was nice but everything else was pretty unappetizing. The food was just edible for me.....nothing special and definitely not that makes my heart swoon. I love Ethiopian food in general but this is not my idea of good meal.
Parking can be tricky on the main street, so try to get a spot in the back of the restaurant where they have reserved spots for patrons. -
Review from Nick B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/6/2011
I've quickly become a major fan of Ethiopian cusine. I checked out a few restaurants in Chicago and Milwaukee when I was living back there and got hooked on the food. Since I've moved here, I've made more trips to Little Ethiopia than I would have ever expected. My #1 restaurant for my Ethiopian addiction is Rahel Ethiopian Veggie Cuisine.
I've visited the restaurant three times now. The two biggest attractions for me is that it's BYOB (stock up on that Charles Shaw before you visit!) and it's completely vegetarian. There's no meat anywhere (woo hoo!). I also enjoy the restaurant because there's outdoor seating and it's wonderful for people watching and to check out the neighborhood.
Everytime I've gone I've gottent the vegetable platter. It's a mix of peas, green beans, stew, carrots, and cabbage. It's a MASSIVE platter that fills 3-4 people. It's seriously just incredible. You receive two sauces (one is really spicy which I love) and plenty of injera (Ethiopian bread). There's no utensils, you only use your hands! I'm cool with that!
In my experience, people love or hate Ethiopian food. Some can't get past the injera while others can't get past actually eating something that's healthy for you. The service is also fantastic. I'm not sure if it's family owned but the employees who work their are extremely polite, friendly, and helpful. Check it out! Big fan here. -
Review from Nicolas T.
El Monte, CA
12/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Ordered the Some Vegan Dinner special, and the 3D drink. The 3D drink was amazing, I have tried mimicking it at home ever since. Overall it was O.K. My first Ethiopian food experience, so I learned that the food is properly eating with your hands, no utensils which was cool. The service was O.K. I could have used some water, but the food was delicious though. Would I go there again? Probably not.
-
Review from Sarah B.
12/1/2011
We were literally the only people in the restaurant for most of our meal but they never refilled our water (we were dying with the spicy food and nothing to wash it down), and my friend actually had to get up and ask for the check after the server ignored us trying to get her attention for like 15 minutes. The food was ok but not as good or fresh-tasting as other Ethiopian places I've tried, i.e. Nyala across the street. Disappointing.
-
Review from Cricha J.
Los Angeles, CA
6/21/2011
First of all, to reviewers too lazy to actively learn something about Ethiopian cuisine, get this: NO, it's not a "spongy pancake" or a "tortilla thingy" you're eating at Rahel's - it's injera, made from 100% high quality teff which is a very nutritious grass (no, not the kind you smoke). The teff flour is fermented, hence the delicately sour taste of the injera. It's spongy so that one can scoop up the various stews (wot) with torn-off pieces and omit the cutlery (although there are certainly forks at Rahel's, just ask). Now, can we please call it by its proper Ethiopian name and stop with the Mexican or Euro-centric analogies?
Rahel's serves great vegan versions of lightly spiced stews - zucchini, cabbage, lentils, kale (so delicious), in addition to amazing drinks like fresh mango juice and of course suff, telba and besso (or a combo of all three) - dairy free drinks made from sunflower seed, flax seed and barley - perfect for someone lactose intolerant or with difficult digestive issues. Desserts are vegan - we had the tofu-based cheese cake. Service is polite and gentle, the atmosphere simple and clean. Two people, royally stuffed $50. Can't go wrong. Parking at meters 8am-8pm, free thereafter. -
Review from Stacy H.
Boston, MA
7/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
What's left to say that hasn't been said before?
We came on a random weeknight and there was only my friend and I and one other table. Only one waitress was working, but she was attentive to both of us. She came around and poured a silver urn with lemon water to wash our hands.
My friend and I got the Millennium Special for $30 total, and there was so much food. There was definitely enough to feed 3 people! The food was in duplicate on either sides, so we didn't have to reach over each other to eat. Even though we didn't really know what we were eating (we were cultured like that), all of it was really really delicious. The meal was topped off with the vegan cheesecake, which was a little too grainy for my liking but was good regardless.
I would definitely come here again! -
Review from Suzi O.
Los Angeles, CA
1/5/2012
I've been here twice and was really impressed by the food both times. I'm a combo plate person so this was the ultimate with many different flavors and dishes to try. I love eating with yummy injera. When we ordered coffee at the end of our meal service was rather slow but everything else was great. Ethiopian food may take getting used to for some since it is very different from American food but it is a treat. My friend is a vegan and could eat all the food with no questions asked.
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Review from William S.
Santa Monica, CA
11/19/2011
Wasn't too optimistic about Ethiopian food, but my wife loves it and is a vegetarian so I tried it out. The food was great. We had shared the Millennium Platter and it was really good and a lot of food. Will definitely go back.
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Review from Crystal J.
Garden Grove, CA
11/20/2011 4 photos
My boyfriend took me to this place last night for my birthday. It was the first time either of us had Ethiopian food and was absolutely delicious! And the service was excellent! We ordered the Millennium Special and two drinks (Ethiopian Special Tea and some sort of barley milk with agave). Out came this huge plate the server put between us, with a side of what looked to be a type of yeasted African flat bread. On the plate was a bunch of different samplers atop one of those bread things. I was a bit confused when she didn't bring silverware, but realized you just scoop up the food with the breads. The server brought us forks anyway and didn't seem to mind our American ways. It was so good we will definitely be back!
-
Review from Ari A.
Los Angeles, CA
7/22/2011
There are just some cuisines which have better vegetarian dishes than meat ones. If I were Ethiopian, Thai, or Indian, I could easily go vegetarian, but I'm not so I'll keep on eating our furry and not so furry and little and not so little friends.
But I will take a break once in a while!
I was hesitant about trying a vegan restaurant. Mostly due to the fact that I just haven't ever really had good vegan food. I have had vegetarian Ethiopian dishes before though and figured how bad could this really be?!
At $9.99 the lunch buffet is probably your best option at Rahel. It consists of 10 dishes with the bulk centered on chickpeas in various istew like incarnations and on root vegetables. The food is actually really good considering that its vegan!
I personally found the buffet a little boring and my omnivore taste buds were craving something a bit more, well, meaty. I can handle vegetarian dishes a lot better, but vegan ones just seem to have something missing to them if you're not vegan I suppose.
However, if you're a vegan or a vegetarian then Rahel is definitely a place you might want to check out. Considering what it is, the food is the best vegan fare that I've had, and this is coming from an omnivore! -
Review from Harmonie T.
Los Angeles, CA
3/28/2011 6 photos
I've always been curious about this place. I've never had Ethiopian food. Then BAM! Groupon offer!
Many times I have driven down that section of Fairfax known as Little Ethiopia but I have never made a stop. Finally, I had a reason! With $30 to burn, Jin Y. and I meet up at Rahel for dinner. Jin has been here once before so I basically followed her lead starting with two glasses of Agave Wine. Then to our surprise found out that Agave Wine is non-alcoholic because this place doesn't serve alcohol.
I don't know anything about Ethiopian culture. So the minute Jin told me we were eating with our hands I dashed off to the ladies room to wash my hands like a person with OCD. (Rub the back of left hand ten times, repeat with right hand, interlock the fingers and push in and out ten times, clean under the finger nails, clean top of finger nails, etc.)
When I sat back down our server came by our table with a silver pot of hot water and a silver container to catch the water. She told me that it's tradition to wash the hands this way. http://su.pr/1LgDr6
For the variety, Jin and I ordered the Millennium Special dinner for two at $29.95. It came out on this giant platter filled with a split lentil stew, split pea stew, string beans and carrots, greens, sunflower with injera, a bean paste, potatoes and carrots, cabbage stew, pumpkin stew, tomates with injera, and a salad. Basically, it looked like tiny piles of colorful mush on a plate. http://su.pr/6huUAh
How do you eat mush with your hands? You scoop it up with a piece of injera -- a flatbread that is thin like a tortilla but has a spongey texture. Here's another cultural thing I learned: While eating, if you let your fingers touch your lips/mouth, it's considered rude. I was having a challenging time carefully placing pieces of food in my mouth without touching fingers to lips.
How did it taste? Some things nearly made me gag. Other things I thought were okay. The things that were less mushy like the greens, cabbage, and potatoes were the stuff I was cool with. Maybe Ethiopian food is not my thing. I will tell you though...I took home the leftovers and the next day it was pretty tasty.
Millenium Special also comes with a thin slice of raw vegan cheesecake which was really tasty but nothing outstanding compared to the raw vegan cheesecakes found at Whole Foods.
I'm gonna have to go with the A-OK 3 stars on this one. Even though I didn't particularly enjoy the food and I don't foresee myself craving Ethiopian food in the near or distant future, I think the service was good, the place is clean, and the staff is nice about answering questions about the food and the culture.
It's definitely an experience. Not for me but I wouldn't stop anyone from checking this place out. -
Review from Desiree S.
Los Angeles, CA
10/6/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I have been here twice this week. In this area it is definitely the best Ethiopian food and the entire restaurant is Vegan. Definitely the business! If you have a hankerin' for something unique and FULL of flavor. Go to Rahels!
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Review from Victoria H.
San Gabriel, CA
11/15/2011
First experience with Ethiopian food!
Very interesting. I think it's definitely a place I'm glad I tried out, but I'm not sure if I would return. My dad got the lunch buffet, and my mom and I shared a Millenium platter. Uh, I didn't realize this, but the Millenium platter basically is made up of stuff that is already available in the lunch buffet. It kind of irritated me that the waitress didn't mention this, considering how the lunch buffet was 10.90 and the millenium platter is 15 bucks a person. That doesn't really make sense. She told us there would be dessert, but she never brought us any.. how sad.
The injera was pretty good, but I definitely think that most people wouldn't really like it. Its got kind of an unusual texture; very porous and kind of sour. The stews were mostly pretty good. Kind of just mushy stuff.
Also got the 3D and Flaxseed drinks. The 3D was better than the Flaxseed, but they both still tasted like health drinks. Not bad, but not the tastiest. Pretty expensive too (5ish dollars for small cup).
All in all, pretty decent food. Give it a try, you may like it! -
Review from Andi C.
Los Angeles, CA
7/2/2011
Best Ethiopian that I've had! and it's all vegan!! YAY! The portions are pretty large and it's all good for you. The staff was very polite. win-win-win.
We got one of the platters and everything on it was delicious. There was a huge variety and it was way too much for the three of us - we left with what felt like a pound or two of leftovers! -
Review from Stephen C.
Redondo Beach, CA
6/17/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Normally I go for meat options, but today I tried a great new vegan option. The platters are full of interesting options -- go for one of the combos for the full experience. I've never seen a better stocked injera before.
We go the Ethiopian coffee, presented in the clay pitcher. It was nice to smell the full flavor of the roasted beans. -
Review from jin y.
3/27/2011
when I want Ethiopian nowadays, I am starting to stick to Rahel's because I think their veggies dishes are better and cleaner tasting than at their competitors (like, less oily or as heavy and more fresh tasting) or to Merkato's because I like their trout dish. Perhaps because all they serve are vegan things so all the dishes get equal turnover or something but I always get their 2 people feasts and leave satiated and less farty than the other choices around there. They also have kombucha and some of their 2 people feasts come with raw vegan dessert (just the perfect small slice since you won't be able to eat any more after the feast). So worth it and quite affordable and you'll still have enough leftovers to take home.
They do not serve alcohol so if you want to get your honey wine on, you must go elsewhere. However, they have a lot of cool drinks and detoxifying drinks there, like young coconut in its raw form, non alcoholic agave wine, etc. -
Review from Nare O.
Glendale, CA
4/2/2011
I've had Ethiopian food before, but this place went beyond my expectations. First off... VEGAN. All of it. Fuck. Yes.
Second, the food was awesome. We got the Vegan Feast and no, the name doesn't lie: feast. There was so much good stuff on the plate I didn't know which to have next. Totally yummy and well worth the price.
Eat here. It is good. -
Review from Jessica N.
Los Angeles, CA
5/5/2011
Delicious, fresh, vegan, with fast service and a super nice staff.
This is my go-to spot for Ethiopian food- we come here once a week and split a 1-person combo, because they give you so much food that it is out of control.
Their injera is always fluffy and flavorful. I've had every combo and I love them ALL. I seriously love every dish here, and they have some great kombucha and ginger beer brands here, too.
You can't go wrong going to Rahel's. It's never too crowded, always a warm atmosphere, and the food is consistently great. Love iiiit. -
Review from Alexandra h.
Los Angeles, CA
12/28/2011
This place is a few blocks from where I live, but I'd never been until I bought a Groupon. Since then, I've been several times and have never been disappointed. There are two servers that I've come to recognize and they both rock. The one thing I can't figure out is why it is always so empty inside. I can't think of anything wrong with it. The food is delicious, fresh and served hot. The price is right. I'm currently stuck on the Vegan feast for 2, which I share with whoever I'm accompanying, which goes for $25.95. The fact that it is always empty makes it great for dates and conversation, but it makes me wonder why??? The decor is low-key, the upside down hanging umbrellas are "cute", and the place is more darkly lit than bright. It is a great spot for casual dining any day of the week. Oh, and don't let me forget to mention the VEGAN BUFFET served 7 days a week!!! Too bad I'm at work form 11-3pm on weekdays...but on the weekends, its time to puff puff and go to Rahel.
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Review from Stefany S.
Redondo Beach, CA
5/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
I haven't had Ethiopian food in a restaurant in a very long time. Not since I moved here from the east coast, where I would regularly go to Ethiopian restaurants in DC/Baltimore.
As a new vegan, I was happy to see that Rahel's was an all vegan option, since I see that as a much easier way to order. As I review the menu, I don't have to sift through the things that I am definitely not going to order.
My boyfriend & I ordered the Millennium Combo for two, which comes with an assortment of dishes, served on & with injera... as well as desert. My favorite dishes were the chick pea stew, spicy lentils & greens... but everything was good. The crown jewel of this meal though, was the dessert. I have never gotten dessert at an Ethiopian restaurant and wasn't planning to when I walked through the doors. However, I am sooo glad that I ordered the meal that came with desert because they delivered the most delicious little piece of heaven that seemed like blueberry cheesecake. We asked what it was and were told: blueberries, almonds, cashews & one other ingredient that escapes me right now. It was delicious!! -
Review from Anthony N.
Los Angeles, CA
2/3/2011
*Takes a swig of Haterade*
*Wipes mouth with Ignorant napkin*
*Looks around in Confusion as people are chowing down on what looks to be piles of mushy gunk that came out of a baby's rear*
*Pushes food piles onto other peoples plates when they're distracted because they're deep in conversation about how good the food is*
*Clears throat of whatever Nastay thing i managed to put in my mouth...*
"WTF?"
I feel like the little boy telling the King he has no clothes...
Was that mean? I'm sorry, I'm just real. -
Review from Jonathan G.
Santa Monica, CA
9/29/2011
Great vegan Ethiopian food at reasonable prices (~$15 per good-sized dish)--and the restaurant will adjust items on menu to eliminate gluten. You can find gluten-free injera, made completely from teff (the restaurant also sells the gf injera in bags--just order it a day in advance). Since other Ethiopian restaurants that I've visited put wheat flour in their injera, Rahel stands out by offering a gluten-free version of this spongy bread. The restaurant's fresh mango juice and flax-seed juice (sweetened with agave) are both delicious. The combination dishes, like the Millennium Special, are a good way of sampling multiple dishes.
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Review from Rinky N.
East Bay
Updated - 1/10/2011 3 photos
We HAD to take our son here for the lunch buffet after telling him about it many times. On our whirlwind trip to LA we decided to eat here after very fond memories from our previous meal in 2007.
The buffet is now served in warming trays--there are literally ten dishes to choose from--all VEGAN-- and all fresh and delicious.
There is salad, a couple of lentil dishes, garbanzo bean dish, potatoes,
cabbage dish, brown rice, cracked white and a couple of other dishes.
There is also injera. I wanted to try everything so I got dabs the first time and ample tastes the second time. My husb and son got three helpings.
We were happily stuffed.
Rahel definitely rates up there with Cafe Colucci in Oakland.
As soon as you step out into this stretch of Fairfax Avenue you will be overwhelmed by the enticing smells of no less than seven Ethiopian restaurants.
The staff was very friendly.
Clean bathrooms in the back.Listed in: My Favorite Vegetarian (and…, Best Buffets.....so far, Ethiopian Food-Yummmmmm
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11/24/2007
We were actually headed for another Ethiopian restaurant that had received high praise from Yelpers… Read more »
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Review from Patrick C.
Los Angeles, CA
10/25/2011
As a Vegan it is hard to find some really good restaurant food. The selection and quality of the food is incredible. The staff is great too. We take freinds and family there any time we are going out to dinner. Everyone loves it, even the non vegans. I have started doing searches for Ethiopian recipies on the internet and have purchased many of the spices on line from Sage Spice.
