I absolutely loved eating here! I had the awaze tibs entre with the side of salad that comes with it. The awaze tibs tasted buttery, savory, and full of rich detail with a combination of noteworthy spice and sweetness that comes from beef tips being cooked in awaze hot sauce. The service was great while the dining atmosphere was also extremely authentic with great Ethiopian posters of artistry and other wall decor. I am so glad I came here to eat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Combination, Spicy Beef
ThreeMallards
Ethiopian food is different and delicious. Great food, nice people, reasonable price and good desserts. Ask for gluten free injera which tastes better, and they offer a gluten free dessert. Check out the soup as well.Ethiopian food is usually served on a platter and people serve themselves. If using the injera bread, you tear off a small piece, use it to grab some food and eat the bread and food together. Sanitary and filling. They offer forks and separate plates if you are hesitant to eat like an Ethiopian.Dietary restrictions: They take care of you when you are gluten free, the injera can be ordered without added wheat flour, just Teff flour which is gluten free. Pure Teff flour bread tastes better with Ethiopian food. Teff grows in Ethiopia
The atmosphere was great and the waitress was attentive, I do feel like because I came in by me self I was treated as a little bit of an after thought. The food came out quickly but it wasn't very hot, it seems like the food had been pre made, just sitting on a warmer for hours. That's also why I think the meat (lamb) wasn't as tender as it should have been. They did have a good peach wine though. Very interesting cuisine to try
David Willis
All around fantastic experience. Highlight for me was the misr wat, fosolia and to drink was the black chai. Will definitely return in the near future!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Deluxe, Lentils
Isma El
Easily the most affordable food one can get in today’s economy. Food is top notch
The food, service, and atmosphere were great! Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lesley H.
Celebrated Galentines with my bestie and omg how cool is this place! We went in for their Valentines 3 course meal special. The menu is vegan friendly which is primarily why she chose this spot. Although I am not vegan I enjoyed the food and it was all packed with flavor! This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I was very impressed! I Will definitely be back again to try the rest of their regular menu.
Genki Shibusugi
I visited on my last night in Arizona.The inside of the store was spacious, and there were hardly any other customers at this time, so it was quiet.I was impressed by the atmosphere inside the store and the service of the staff, which made me feel like I had wandered into Ethiopia.I am deeply impressed by the history of this restaurant, which has been operating a restaurant in Tempe, Arizona for many years and is deeply rooted in the area.Of course, the meal is a special vegan plate! I was able to taste various flavors deliciously with Ethiopian injera, and my stomach and heart were so full that they were bursting with laughter (lol)On the way home, I bought two Lalibela original coffees as souvenirs. For a month and a half since I returned to Japan, I have been brewing and drinking this coffee, soaking up the afterglow of this wonderful restaurant.If I travel to Arizona again, I will definitely come back! This is a highly recommended Ethiopian restaurant! Thank you for the meal
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Autumn
I’ve lived in the valley for over a decade andthis is one of my favorite restaurants here. Amazing food in relaxed, casual setting. Clean restaurant, Ethiopian art on the walls. Very friendly staff.
Absolute delicious all around. Food was well seasoned, properly cooked, and had a nice casual atmosphere. Staff was on top of everything and very nice to boot. Will come again!Vegetarian options: Half of the entrées are vegan.
First time eating Ethiopian food and boy am I glad I got my first experience at Cafe Lalibela!! I got the chicken stew and the table got the veggie platter! Absolutely delicious! Staff was AMAZING! Would highly recommend!!
Liz F.
Yumm! What a delightful spot! I popped in on a Monday night for dinner with a friend. We shared the vegan Platter for two and tea. It was more than enough for us both, and we took lots home! The food was good! It's not the most flavor-packed Ethiopian food I've had, but it's good nonetheless. The restaurant is on a inconspicuous strip mall. Plenty of seating, casual. The gal working was sweet and friendly. We didn't feel rushed and enjoyed our dinner and visit for a couple of hours... They weren't busy but did have a steady stream of people.
Dana Y.
This is where we go every time we visit Phoenix. I called all the local Ethiopian restaurants this time just in case, and Cafe Lalibela is still the only one who carries Gluten Free Injera. So back we went for a lovely dinner, and were pleased with everything once again. Great place!
Gen B.
4.5 stars and an unexpected, great find! I shared the Lalibela Deluxe and it was one of the better combo platters I've had at an Ethiopian restaurant -- a great mix of tasty veg and non-veg options! The lamb dish was a highlight that I hadn't tried before. I loved the well-balanced, not-too-spicy sauces on the chicken and beef dishes too, and the yellow and red lentils are always good in my book. The injera was fine, less flavorful than I've found in other spots and we could have used a refill, but the dishes themselves were so good that I'm not counting it against them. There were just two women working the front of the house, so there was a bit of a wait to be seated (~10 minutes), but once seated, service was pretty efficient all things considered!
I absolutely loved eating here! I had the awaze tibs entre with the side of salad that comes with it. The awaze tibs tasted buttery, savory, and full of rich detail with a combination of noteworthy spice and sweetness that comes from beef tips being cooked in awaze hot sauce. The service was great while the dining atmosphere was also extremely authentic with great Ethiopian posters of artistry and other wall decor. I am so glad I came here to eat!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spicy Combination, Spicy Beef
Ethiopian food is different and delicious. Great food, nice people, reasonable price and good desserts. Ask for gluten free injera which tastes better, and they offer a gluten free dessert. Check out the soup as well.Ethiopian food is usually served on a platter and people serve themselves. If using the injera bread, you tear off a small piece, use it to grab some food and eat the bread and food together. Sanitary and filling. They offer forks and separate plates if you are hesitant to eat like an Ethiopian.Dietary restrictions: They take care of you when you are gluten free, the injera can be ordered without added wheat flour, just Teff flour which is gluten free. Pure Teff flour bread tastes better with Ethiopian food. Teff grows in Ethiopia
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Doro Wat Spicy Chicken Stew, Vegan Combo Beef Stew, Chicken Stew, Soup, Alicha Sega Wat, Spicy Combination, Beef Stew, Spicy Beef, Mild Beef
The atmosphere was great and the waitress was attentive, I do feel like because I came in by me self I was treated as a little bit of an after thought. The food came out quickly but it wasn't very hot, it seems like the food had been pre made, just sitting on a warmer for hours. That's also why I think the meat (lamb) wasn't as tender as it should have been. They did have a good peach wine though. Very interesting cuisine to try
All around fantastic experience. Highlight for me was the misr wat, fosolia and to drink was the black chai. Will definitely return in the near future!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Deluxe, Lentils
Easily the most affordable food one can get in today’s economy. Food is top notch
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Combo Beef Stew, Lamb Stew
The food, service, and atmosphere were great! Thank you!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Celebrated Galentines with my bestie and omg how cool is this place! We went in for their Valentines 3 course meal special. The menu is vegan friendly which is primarily why she chose this spot. Although I am not vegan I enjoyed the food and it was all packed with flavor! This was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I was very impressed! I Will definitely be back again to try the rest of their regular menu.
I visited on my last night in Arizona.The inside of the store was spacious, and there were hardly any other customers at this time, so it was quiet.I was impressed by the atmosphere inside the store and the service of the staff, which made me feel like I had wandered into Ethiopia.I am deeply impressed by the history of this restaurant, which has been operating a restaurant in Tempe, Arizona for many years and is deeply rooted in the area.Of course, the meal is a special vegan plate! I was able to taste various flavors deliciously with Ethiopian injera, and my stomach and heart were so full that they were bursting with laughter (lol)On the way home, I bought two Lalibela original coffees as souvenirs. For a month and a half since I returned to Japan, I have been brewing and drinking this coffee, soaking up the afterglow of this wonderful restaurant.If I travel to Arizona again, I will definitely come back! This is a highly recommended Ethiopian restaurant! Thank you for the meal
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
I’ve lived in the valley for over a decade andthis is one of my favorite restaurants here. Amazing food in relaxed, casual setting. Clean restaurant, Ethiopian art on the walls. Very friendly staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Combo Beef Stew, Spicy Combination
There is not a bad dish in the place. Nice atmosphere and the service is
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Combo Beef Stew, Vegan, Sampler, Lentils
Restaurantji Recommends
Absolute delicious all around. Food was well seasoned, properly cooked, and had a nice casual atmosphere. Staff was on top of everything and very nice to boot. Will come again!Vegetarian options: Half of the entrées are vegan.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Vegan Combo Beef Stew, Misir Wat, Spicy Combination, Beef Stew, Lentils
First time eating Ethiopian food and boy am I glad I got my first experience at Cafe Lalibela!! I got the chicken stew and the table got the veggie platter! Absolutely delicious! Staff was AMAZING! Would highly recommend!!
Yumm! What a delightful spot! I popped in on a Monday night for dinner with a friend. We shared the vegan Platter for two and tea. It was more than enough for us both, and we took lots home! The food was good! It's not the most flavor-packed Ethiopian food I've had, but it's good nonetheless. The restaurant is on a inconspicuous strip mall. Plenty of seating, casual. The gal working was sweet and friendly. We didn't feel rushed and enjoyed our dinner and visit for a couple of hours... They weren't busy but did have a steady stream of people.
This is where we go every time we visit Phoenix. I called all the local Ethiopian restaurants this time just in case, and Cafe Lalibela is still the only one who carries Gluten Free Injera. So back we went for a lovely dinner, and were pleased with everything once again. Great place!
4.5 stars and an unexpected, great find! I shared the Lalibela Deluxe and it was one of the better combo platters I've had at an Ethiopian restaurant -- a great mix of tasty veg and non-veg options! The lamb dish was a highlight that I hadn't tried before. I loved the well-balanced, not-too-spicy sauces on the chicken and beef dishes too, and the yellow and red lentils are always good in my book. The injera was fine, less flavorful than I've found in other spots and we could have used a refill, but the dishes themselves were so good that I'm not counting it against them. There were just two women working the front of the house, so there was a bit of a wait to be seated (~10 minutes), but once seated, service was pretty efficient all things considered!