Review Cafe Abyssinia - Auckland Central

Incredibly tasty food. We got there early in January and there was nobody around. Still, the food was great. We had driven from the North Shore because we wanted to experience this restaurant and their food. And we would most certainly go back. We went back in April and tried bothering the food we'd eaten + some other delicacies. And yes, Ethiopian coffee. A second trip and as wonderful as the first.

What a lovely little place located at the end of an arcade with parking at the back. Lovely staff serving up beautiful clean yummy food. My wife and daughter had dorowat (chicken), prawns in mild sauce and I had yetsom beyaynetu, a really lovely vegan dish, both were served with the lovely teff enjera. The enjera was so light and even better once the currys had seeped into them. I have wanted to visit Cafe Abyssinia for the last year and finally we did and feel all the better for it. Next time we will visit with friends and family.

Enjoyable particularly if you're looking for something a bit different to a heavy Indian or European dish. All main dishes are served on an injera (essentially a flatbread which has the texture of a spongy pancake), main dishes are $18-20 each. Limited menu options but both the chicken and beef were delicious with some dry chilli sprinkled on top. Some heating in the venue perhaps would have helped with the ambiance. Pictured are two main courses side by side.

Awesome experience! It looks like curry but tastes different. The "bread" was also awesome. Not expansive at all and everybody was full and happy!

Cafe abyssinia is simply home of delicious spicy Ethiopian foods! The food and organic ethiopian coffee , are yummy! If you want to try spicy ,delicious and healthy foods, I guarantee to you to try cafe abyssinia !!

Good food, reasonably priced, and given its the only one of its kind in Auckland (as far as I know), it's an experience for those who are not used to eating communally with their hands!

If you haven't tried the only Ethiopian restaurant in Auckland, get yourself here, now. It's so different to anything else I've had before, it's more than a meal, it's a cultural experience in itself. The staple food is injera/enjera, which is a sourdough flatbread with the texture of crumpets (holes on the top, smooth on the bottom). It's paired with wat, which is a stew. You pour the whole bowl of wat on top of the injera, tear off a piece of the injera with your hands, and scoop some of the wat into your mouth. It's such a fun experience and good bonding times with your friends. Injera is very sour when eaten by itself, but it matches perfectly with the rich wat. It's a normal shop at the back of a mall, decorated with some Ethiopian art on the walls. They have a traditional low table with stools you can sit around if you want the full experience but you can still use standard western tables and chairs. Definitely recommended.

Delicious! We ordered the vegetarian platter for 2 and it was amazing 💗

Ridiculously good Ethiopian food. The injera is divine and I can not over recommend the meat and vegetarian specials.

Loved it. Food was awesome and the atmosphere was good too. Will definitely be back again.

Absolutely horrible customer service by the lady, presumably owner, of the place. We had booked for a table for 7 adults and 3 children and were shouted at by the lady for shifting an adjoining table to join our cramped setting - there was no one else in the restaurant. We were told we were not welcome so we left. Very rude, arrogant and angry woman... horrible way to deal with customers.

A totally sad experience... the owner was sour and not welcoming... the food was sufficient for a baby as the size was ridiculously small and lacked character. $35 for two substandard dishes and tap water is robbery.

Stated couple price seems high, I'd place it more like $35ish but then I/ we don't eat as much as some. Had spent some daytimes here while working locally- great coffee and european nibbles (muffins etc.) for a lunch/ break.<br/><br/>Had a couple of light evening meals there and later took a lady back (of muslim interest)  once for another. Both loved the Ethiopian food and flavours.  Yes portions are generous. I'd spend more time there but on a limited budget, what can you do? <br/><br/>Hostess is true and kind, a migrant working hard to make her life in New Zealand.!! Recommended 5*

Lovely service, what an wonderful experience! Best to share unless you are able to manage one plate on your own. We tried Doro Wat, Prawns in mild sauce and Yetsom Beyaynetu and it was delicious.

Authentic, delicious. We spent a couple of weeks in Ethiopia in 2016 and always hunt it out now wherever we go. We came here a year ago and it was was good, but not great, but we went last night and it was amazing. The food was all distinctly different in flavour but equally delicious, we couldn't decide which was the best. They allowed my wife to order Shiro as a full serve this time which made her day. The traditional coffee was delicious. The owners were super accommodating even though they were due to close. Highly recommend trying it out. Come with an open mind if you've never had Ethiopian before, the injera (fermented flatbread) is not something you will quickly forget. We will be back.

I don’t get the hype at all about this place.<br/><br/>Like don’t get me wrong I love the idea of trying different cuisine and to expand ones palate. But to be brutally honest the food just tasted rather bland. I liked the novelty of the breads and curries being all served at once. There was plenty of color and eating with your hands was fun but rather messy. I appreciate the opportunity to dine in an more authentic way but I wouldn’t say that my culinary mind was blown.<br/><br/> The doro and tibs were okay but after awhile the curry’s all started to kind of taste the same. I personally wasn’t a big fan of the sour bread, but that’s just me. I did find it kind of rude that I came in on a Friday and was asked if I made a booking I said no and the lady responded rudely to me that I needed to in order to dine in the future. But you know what maybes she’s had a bad day so I won’t hold it against her. Aside from that little incident the lady was quite helpful when we were going through the menu. <br/><br/>I appreciate that there are places like Café Abyssinia around that stay true to its roots. I would 100% at least try this place once.<br/><br/>Showstopper: An authentic experience.

There are not many Ethiopian food places in Auckland so this was definitely something I wanted to try out! Went for the first item on the menu- a chicken based dish. The quantities were large and had something like a huge dosa (enough for 2 people) with an egg and chicken curry (called Doro Wat i think). Reminded me of dishes I used to have in India and taste was amazing- not too spicy, but just enough kick in it and packed with flavour. The restaurant itself is very simple and located on the first floor with parking behind building. Good food; decently priced. Will go back again!

It was my first time trying ethiopean food so maybe I should go back to try other dishes but the meat was rather lukewarm when it was served (was it supposed to be?!). The staff was very friendly and the food didnt take too long (but then we were the only customers...!). A decent meal if you want to try something different.

This place is amazing on so many levels. Firstly, Ethiopian cuisine is delicious. I have spent a month travelling from bottom to top of the country and feasted every day. Cafe Abyssinia have absolutely nailed the authentic taste of the stews and their injera is simply superb. Bring some wet wipes - you'll need them! Injera is eaten with hands and is a really cool experience. <br/><br/>I went there for the 3rd time this week (I am from Tauranga and was on a business trip) and the most bizzare thing happened. There were 3 men sitting at another table having coffee and I suspect they were watching me devour the food with huge enthusiasm. I realised I'd left my wallet in the car and by the time I returned with it to pay about 2 mins later, one of the dudes had paid my bill! Best lunch ever.

Friendly service and nice clean premises. The stews were really flavoursome but I found the fermented bread quite sour compared to previous Ethiopian restaurants I've visited.

Honestly one of my favourite places to eat in Auckland not just because of its uniqueness but also of how delicious their food is. Cafe Abyssinia I believe is one of the only if not the only place where you can get authentic Ethiopian food in Auckland. The restaurant is decorated with various African/Ethiopian memorabilia which gives a real authentic and homey feel to the place.<br/><br/>I've been a couple of times and they have a small but focused selection of Ethiopian dishes. I usually get the Doro Wot which is a chicken dish stewed with onions and various spices and aromatics. This is probably my favourite dish to get since all the spices and aromatics give such a depth of flavour and the chicken is cooked to perfection. The other dish we get is the Tibs which you can get either with Lamb or Beef but we decided to stick with beef. The Tibs is less rich and spice heavy than the Doro Wot rather it is much herbier and the sauce thinner but still packed full of flavour. Either way I don't think you could go wrong with what you order in this place and the prices are quite reasonable considering the dishes come with the injera.<br/><br/>The food may take some time to arrive even if there isn't much people but the wait is definitely worth it. The food is served on a platter of the Ethiopian staple "injera" which is a sourdough risen flatbread that is spongy in texture made with teff flour. If you aren't familiar the closest I can compare it to is a slightly sour crepe. The dishes come on top of the injera and the traditional way to eat is to rip off a piece of injera with your hands and use it like your spoon to scoop up and soak up the meat and sauce. Eating with your hands is a really fun experience but maybe bring some hand sanitizer for the cleanup afterwards...or just lick your fingers really thoroughly :^)<br/><br/>Cafe Abyssinia also serves coffee, tea and desserts if you're still feeling for some more afterwards but they're nothing special and just ordinary sweets and pastries that you could find at any bakery. I really do hope more places that serve authentic African/Ethiopian cuisine pop up in the near future in Auckland because I'll definitely be waiting to try them all out. This restaurant is a must for anyone feeling adventurous and wanting to try a completely different cuisine because you definitely won't regret it. I mean even if you're not an adventurous foodie go and try it anyway, it's just great food. I'll definitely be back to try the rest of their menu items.

Had a great family meal today, we ordered Doro wot, Kai sega wot and Menchit abish, they are served on top of the traditional fermented bread Injera, all three dishes were delicious, generously served and filling, enough for the four of us, great sharing platter, fun to eat, place is very clean and nicely decorated and the staff are welcoming and kind, I highly recommend!

Kicking myself for not getting enough photos, but it looked too good not to devour immediately!<br/>My boyfriend took me to this lovely little Ethiopian spot in Mt Roskill, and it was so damn good I can't believe I've never tried it before. Since it was my first time trying it, my boyfriend ordered Doro Wat and Kai Sega Wat and it came with enjera which is like a flat wheat like pancake that tastes like sourdough bread. You eat with your hands (kind of like roti and curry) and use it to scoop up the delicious meats and sauces. Not only is it fun, it's so tasty and filling!<br/>The woman that owns this place is super friendly too, so be sure to check this place if you're looking for something new and interesting to try!

Loved the whole experience . Food was fantastic, atmosphere was lovely, waiter was very nice. Overall everything was lovely. I would definitely come back again.

Well I got banned for staying facts and truthful facts that the price changed often you dont get much food for the price she would not serve me after writing my review on face book she said I'm not aloud there just because I was honest I said I love the food in my review but the price changes everytime we go there and then when I went to have lunch she said to everything I wanted to order we dont have that then she said oh your the one who write the review your not aloud here I think that's unfear

This place is absolute bliss if you like flavor in your food! Pretty sure this is the only Ethiopian place with authentic food around in Auckland. Limited menu but omg all the dishes are amazing, the enjera has a very pungent, strong flavor but it goes perfectly with all the dishes! So so good, can't go wrong here.

First time trying Ethiopian food and I loved it! Lady at the counter was very friendly and attentive. Restaurant is covered in beautiful Ethiopian artwork and has a very nice atmosphere. I had the doro wot which was delicious! It was a chicken dish that was sort of like a thick stew. The chicken was in a nice rich tomato based sauce. It went really well with the injera. Will surely be back.

We were in the area and trying to explore something new. Found this Ethiopian gem, and thought we'd give it a try. Food is good and the service is great. It's a good introduction for me into Ethiopian cuisine

I absolutely love Cafe Abyssinia! The food is delicious and staff are really lovely. I have probably been five times already and have not had anything but amazing experiences there.

Great experience!! It was a definitely new experience for us and it was enjoyable, we loved meat dishes it rich sauces full of flavor, we enjoyed the teff "pancakes", world highly recommend!!!

I was very excited to get a chance to visit Cafe Abyssinia last night - Ethiopian food is one I haven't tried in Auckland except at the Auckland Cultural Festival also in Mt Roskill. The setting is nice, a small Cafe beside rotti hut in a little walk in mall. The space was clean and neat with cultural items / souvenirs from Ethiopia on all the walls. There is also a display of bowls made by fistula sufferers for sale which is an amazing initiative. It seemed many of the tables had been booked on a Friday night and I felt that we should have too by the general reaction to us not having a booking. There were in fact multiple free tables so we squished three on a tiny square table. We ordered the doro wot (a little bowl of chicken curry, a tiny bit spicy with two small drumsticks and boiled egg), tibs (little bowl of stir fried beef with onions and capsicum) and the yebeg alicha wot (thickened lamb mince with an egg). Between 3 people we were given 4 enjera pancakes ( seems they give about 1 and a half per person ) the pancakes are large, bubbly and nice texture but very sour which had a mixed reaction at our table. I thought they were the perfect foil for the sweet and spiced curry bowls ! The only problem was when your tiny bowl ran out ( these are deceptively shallow so there actually wasn't much of any of them). The method used was to dip small pieces of the enjera into the bowls - no one told us if this was correct but we had no cutlery so I assume it was. Despite the small size of the dishes I enjoyed the flavours - especially of the yebeg alicha - delcious thick sauce around fall off the bone soft chicken. Lamb doro wot was nice but not spectacular - like mince pie filling. The tibs was a big disappointment and not recommended - tasted like a dry stir fry with slightly different spices and not much sauce to dip. Overall very expensive for the size, and enjera may not be to everyone's taste but worth going for the yebeg alicha wot alone which was amazing. Service was not really there as only one person doing everything it seems.

I had suffered a dilemma when I came here. I had to choices on which Hot Chocolate to buy, do I get the Ordinary Hot Chocolate or do I get the Hot Chocolate WITH ICE CREAM. It was a very hard choice to make, but I gave in and ordered the ordinary recipe. But I know for a fact that the next time I come back here, I will definitely order the one with ice cream.<br/><br/>The service here was outstanding, top notch friendly and kind. The waiting time wasn't even that long for my order.<br/><br/>Going inside, it looks relatively new. What's even more attractive is are pictures on the wall, it pretty much creates the originality of the café. Not only that, but it also represents that Abyssinian/Ethiopian culture. It's a job well done.

A lovely and quint cafe in Mt Roskill. A great way to take a date or have a quiet family coffee served with authentic Ethiopian Food! Had their Chicken (Two drum sticks) which came with enjera (their roti styled bread) which was truly unique and very filing! Will be back to try the other dishes!

This place is fantastic. The food is very different than what you usually eat and the way you will eat. One should try it when in the area.

Awesome authentic Ethiopian food, I would have happily paid so much more for our meal, can't wait to go back! Would have loved a beer or two and maybe a few more vego options but honestly it was 5-star worthy even without these.

Absolutely adore this place. <br/>The food is authentic and true to flavours from Ethiopia. The atmosphere is calm and the service is excellent. <br/>Consistent and delicious.

This cafe is found in a small shopping centre and there is free 2-hr parking just across the street. <br/><br/>Husband and I went for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and the place was empty, so booking isn't very necessary. We ordered the doro wot (the chicken dish on the right hand side in the photo) and the beef cubes (left). <br/><br/>We absolutely love the doro wot (chicken, shown on the right hand side in the photo) - the flavour was well-balanced and the meat was so tender it falls off the bones very easily! There are two drumsticks in this dish and there is enough of the sauce and meat for us to feel full by the end of it all. We love how the flavour of the sauce balances and complement the sourness of the thin pancake. <br/>The beef dish was good but not as great as the chicken. I guess we just have a palate for the chicken dish although the beef dish was by no means bad. The flavour was there and the meat was tender. Its just that this sauce and the pancake combination is not as perfect as that of the chicken. <br/><br/>Overall, we absolutely enjoy our lunch today although the dishes are a bit oily and rich. Guess the flavour outweighs everything! Its a small cafe run by a husband-and-wife duo who prepare the food. If you are someone who enjoys home-cooked food and are looking for something different in Auckland, i would highly recommend this cafe.

At first I wasn't a huge fan of Cafe Abyssinia but after visiting three times I can now say that I love it. I think it just took me a couple of tries to get used to the slightly sour taste of the enjera. If you are looking for a unique dining experience in Auckland than Cafe Abyssinia is well worth a visit. All the dishes are served on top of enjera, a yeast-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture. You with your hands using the enjera to scoop up the meat and sauces. All the dishes I have tried have been delcious. Tender meat stew/curries cooked with over 30 spices. They are not hot spicy and have amazing flavour. My favourite dishes are doro wat and tibbs.

Always wanted to try an Ethiopian restaurant after reading Cutting for Stone. Ordered Doro Wot (asked for it to be made spicy). It comes with one and a half servings of Enjera. Extremely delicious tangy chicken curry which the enjera soaks up nicely. Yum. Go!

Brought my son here for lunch, our last Ethiopian meal was a few years back in London. We ordered the doro wot (chicken marinated in lime juice and simmered in spices) and the menchit abish (beef cooked with spices), both came with a hard boiled egg, the enjera (sourdough flatbread) and some chilli spice mix (mitmita). The meal was spicy and my soda water went down a treat. <br/><br/>The cafe is attractively decorated with Ethiopian arts and crafts, the walls are brightly painted. The woman who served us was friendly and helpful, explaining about the Ethiopian chilli, I was even able to buy a small packet.

Cafe Abyssinia is a really enjoyable place - it's healthy, quiet and very reasonably priced. We tried a range of different stews recommended by the waitress and each one was delicious. The giant pancakes are lovely, they had a pleasant sourdough taste to them.

An A for atmosphere, the ethnically original decor and furniture, its quite a signature item. On our first visit to this unique dining experience Cafe, we were taken in by the simple to modest settings, the different & Ethiopian artwork & furniture. The staff were warm & welcoming, got us comfortably seated & guided us towards a good choice of the food so we could sample the varied cuisine. There was a distinctly unusual aroma of divine coffee which made us desire a coffee after dinner. So when a pot of Coffee arrived at a neighbouring table with a smoking incense burning in the tray it was the most divine aroma I ever smelt alongside a pot of coffee. Was a warn summers eve so we really welcomed the drafts of coffee incense perfumed breeze each time the fans oscillated towards us & other diners. Then our dinner arrived in a huge plate or serving tray in which they have placed many well spread pancakes of a speciality spongy bread, with little mounds of moderately aromatic but varied items of food, like veges, lentils, beans, different meats like lamb, beef & chicken. We relished each visual delight which was methodically casseroled for some length of time thus infusing its juices in its uniquely combined flavors. It was not a tagine style but had a very unique casserole pot style of cooking. The unique thing about being served in this one big platter with all the orders placed in & upon the spongy bread was the unity of eating together sharing the same large plate. It taught us how to scoop up a morsel using a bit of the spongy bread from the base of the plate, I enjoyed the bread especially as it soaked up the juices from each of the portions. Initially we thought the tiny mounds of servings may not be enough, but the bread adds to the filling of the belly & soon we felt quite satisfied & full. We eagerly awaited our next course which was a coffee, it takes time to brew a good pot so we had to be really patient, but when it arrived it was a real delight with their most unique incense burner smoking away exuding a lovely aroma of divinity & black Coffee. To this day, it is an unforgettable most aromatic memory. For their coffee I would not hesitate to offer them a 10/10. The food pales in comparision. All in all a very unique food experience & do try it, it will be something to write about & remember for a while!

Came here with my girlfriend. The waitress was super friendly. We were a little out of our depth not knowing what anything on the menu was. The large pancake type thing was delicious. The meat was pretty plain. Would love to come here and try something different.

The food was really good here. Tried Ethiopian food for the first time it was tasty. Ordered lamb beef and chicken dishes. The fermented pancake went nicely along the dishes.

We went here for lunch and the place was fairly quiet.  We ordered the doro wot (chicken) and kai sega wot (beef cubes) which were both served on a huge platter with enjera.  The idea is to eat with your hands from a shared plate.  This was the first time we were trying Ethiopian cuisine.  Service was polite and friendly and the food arrived quite quickly.  The enjera is a sort of flat bread which is quite light with a slightly sour taste.  The chicken and beef dishes were both spiced perfectly, not too hot and cooked just right.  Portion sizes are quite reasonable for the price.  Both of us thoroughly enjoyed the food and the unique flavour of the enjera.  Would definitely try more Ethiopian food in the future!

Very authentic taste.  Even though the Enjera isn't made with 100% teff and is a little heavier, it has the delicious slightly unleavened taste.<br/>The Beef Kitfo and the Doro Wot were delicious, and I also loved the lentil curry.<br/>I've been to this restaurant 3 times now, and always impressed with the friendly service, delicious food and beautiful atmosphere.

I had never tried Ethiopian food before so I was excited to try this place. Unfortunately I did not enjoy the traditional Injera pancakes they serve curries and food with - these were definitely more of an acquired taste and I personally found them quite sour/bland. I would have much preferred the curries with a bowl of rice, however it was nice to try something different and common in Ethiopian culture. <br/><br/>We ordered the beef and chicken curry which were both divine and full of flavor! Overall a pleasant experience and would recommend for anyone that loves trying new things and experiencing different cultured foods.

Kitfo (Beef tartare - Ethiopian style) and Doro Wot (chicken dish) eaten with enjira is absolutely sensational. As authentic as you can get and delish. Seek this place out and try it - you'll be pleasantly surprised.

We  were at Cafe Abyssinia in January, but I did not get around to writing a review. <br/>However, the food was so good like it used to be in Ethiopia that I must add my vote. After having lived six years in Addis Ababa, I can verify that this is authentic Ethiopian cuisine. A place to try if you like hot and spicy food. Service is friendly. Go for the dorowot (chicken wot). Be prepared to be open-minded as you'll be eating from a common platter with your fingers. Fabulous for family bonding.

Don't be fooled by the fact this is hidden away at the back of a shopping complex in Mt Roskill. Be happy that it is there! So first let me say this $3.50 for a can of coke is a rip off no matter how you try and sell it to me! If I was sitting the Langham or some place in the Viaduct that is the going rate but not when next door a can is $1. <br/>We had the Tibs lamb and the kifto well done. Now to be honest having never had Ethiopian food before I had no idea what to expect from the flavours but its kind of like Indian food mixed with Arabian food well that is the only way I can describe it. I would recommend but not somewhere that would be on our regular places.

Really authentic food, the owners are always friendly and warm. It's a little slow getting food out but always worth the wait. Really like this place especially with several friends.

i always wanted to try the food and the ambient of this place. <br/>Food was really different and i enjoyed the food,<br/>the service could be better but not bad. reason, i was not even once asked how was the food, nor was i asked to come again or thank you for coming by the lady.<br/>the reason could be, there was almost 12 people having a birthday celebration and the checkout lady was multitasking (cashier,waiter,kitchen hand).<br/><br/>will visit once again, though the menu price listing in Zomato needs an unpgrade, the price has changed on few items.

Love the food here. Clean authentic and great flavours! Ethiopian food is delicious. I would go here at least once a month and enjoy the food every time! Thank you.

We love this place! Had a birthday party here...the owner / staff were very accommodating. Great food. Not easy to find anything like this in NZ, so for those who like a true unique experience, give this a go!

Nice little stop in Mt roskill, thought we'd try something new! If your up for something really different give it a go. Service was good and they explained each dish well. My partner ordered vegetarian curry and I got the chicken curry. Unusual crepe/pancake, was quiet bland and a very acquired. The curry itself wasn't bad but would have like a bit more of it for what it was worth. Good sense of cultural in the decor. <br/>

I have been meaning to visit Cafe Abyssinia for quite some time now, and finally made it there on Friday. Three of us went together, which mean that we were able to get three different options meaning there was a nice variety of food for us to share. The waitress was lovely and explained what the different menu options were.<br/><br/>This was my first time experiencing Ethiopian food, and I love that it's not just about the amazing flavours, but the whole experience. I've also come to the conclusion that food really does taste better when eaten with your hands...

A good place to start trying something new. Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine in the heart of central auckland! And the plates are for sharing.<br/>Go with an open mind, and a bit of time on your hands. A pretty relaxed environment.

Curries were nice enough but my husband found the bread,  Injera, a sourdough-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture   and eating with your fingers not what he liked. Wont rush back.  We had the lamb and a beef curry.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration if I said that dining in Cafe Abyssinia was the most unique dining experience I had ever encountered. <br/><br/>Please don't get uncomfortable about eating with your hands. It is quite the technique to master!<br/><br/>Beautiful flavours, flavours I haven't experienced anywhere else before. The Doro Wot (the chicken dish) was definitely the standout. The lime and ginger flavours really gave the dish a lot of depth!<br/><br/>An unusual location to find, but well worth the effort to go and give it a try!

Been here a couple of times. Good food, definitely something new and different.<br/>Paid about 40$ for two people, two mains and a juice.<br/><br/>To enjoy this place you have to be comfortable with sharing your food and eating  with your hands. Food is also spicy but a different kind of spice from what im used to; <br/><br/>Room for Improvement. A few more options of mains would be good, and more side dishes will compliment the food really well.<br/><br/>Otherwise amazing place

Omg we always get the vegetarian meal between two people which is 4 different types of vegetarian curry/stew on enjira bread, and that special coffee that comes out in a beautiful jug and they serve it to you on a tray with lit incense which is a really nice ritual that enhances the coffee drinking experience. Ps I don't really drink coffee but I love this one

I went there for lunch yesterday with my son.  We enjoyed the food,  specially the sour dough flat bread. I have never eaten it before. It had a spongy texture and was great to have with the beef and lamb dishes we ordered. I had a coffee recommended  by the waitress and  which came from the Harar region in Ethiopia and was a nice way to end the meal.<br/><br/>The waitress was very friendly and helpful and I would certainly go there again.

LOVE this place. I will be back again with friends for sure.<br/><br/>The service was really polite and the food was explained well to us, along with how it was going to be served and how best to eat.<br/><br/>We tried about 5 different dishes in our large group and it all tasted fantastic. Really liked the vegetarian dish. Teamed with the bread, it does end up being a fairly sizable amount of food.<br/><br/>The service was a tad on the slow side but that's to be expected for a busy place with not many staff it would seem.<br/><br/>I recommend you give this place a go. Book in advance if you can - just in case. They were full when we were there!

We dine here quite regularly and every time it has been a pleasant experience. The food is delicious and the dining experience is unique. The staff are very welcoming and friendly which I really value in a restaurant. I would highly recommend Cafe Abyssinia to anyone. It's become one of my favourite restaurants in Auckland :)

Delicious food and enjera (bread) and courteous staff. Have been here a few times and tried different dishes. Can't work out why the food takes a while to come out when there aren't many customers, but I overlook this as soon as I get the food into my mouth. The flavours are amazing, a totally different cuisine if you have never had this before.<br/>If you are a dainty type of person, take some finger wipes in your bag so you can clean yourself up afterwards. This is traditional ethopian style, so the food is eaten using your fingers and enjera/bread instead of cutlery.

Went with high hopes - but as the other reviewer Robert N said<br/>$15 for two chicken legs doesn't say Value for Money. And the vegetarian dish was small. Would have been OK if taste and flavour were outstanding but no - failed on that front too. <br/><br/>As we were the only people in the restaurant at the time - they weren't rushed off their feet - so hard to explain why other reviewers found the place so wonderful. You might have better luck when you go.

Great place and great service.<br/><br/>Really lovely atmosphere and enjoyed eating something completely new to me!<br/><br/>The service was great and there was a good vibe.<br/><br/>All the food was so delicious and they do a killer hot chocolate to finish things off.

If you are after a different food experience then Ethiopian cuisine is one to try. We shared 5 dishes between 5 of us with plenty of enjera. I usually can't handle spicy food and I found everything I ate to be mild to medium but some of the group clearly picked up spicier parts of the dishes. The dinner menu only has 8 items with not a lot of variety but eating with the breads and your hands makes you think less about what you are eating.

Most dissapointed, $15 for two small chicken legs and an egg with loads of their home land bread that did not fast nice.<br/>When paying it was time to pay the pill I was over charged I felt ripped off.

I honestly had to make an account on here just to give Café Abysinnia an amazing review.<br/><br/>Everything was amazing right down to the hot chocolates we ordered, strangely they were better than most cafe's I've ever been too. <br/><br/>I don't know quite what else to say apart from I recommend checking them out for an amazing experience!

We stumbled across this place today when we were out exploring Mt Roskill. The food certainly looks interesting. And they know how to make excellent coffee. Do check them out.

Such an interesting place to dine at. Food was delicious and staff were very helpful. They took their time explaining each dish to us and recommending particular dishes. We ended up ordering a mixed variety of everything between my partner and I. Very reasonably priced. Would recommend people to get out of their comfort zone and try something new!

Authentic &amp; very delicious. Staff were friendly and very helpful in explaining and recommending each dish to us (as first timers). We ordered Tibs (Juicy beef or lamb fillet stir fried), Kitfo (raw beef), and Kai Sega Wot shared between 4 people. <br/><br/>Happy with our first time trying Ethiopian food will likely return for more.

This is a cuisine with which I am quite familiar, and I was extremely impressed. The beef with berbere sauce was excellent, the vegetarian combo was spectacular, the injera (flatbread that serves as both substrate and utensil) was perfect and the service was fantastic.<br/><br/>If you are unfamiliar with Ethiopian food, do try it. It's not as spicy as Thai or Indian, but every bit as flavourful. The hottest spice in the cuisine is generally paprika, giving what is essentially a 'curry' more of a sweet smokiness than a burn, per se. <br/><br/>Yes, the traditional way to eat Ethiopian food is with your hands and injera (much like eating hummus with pitas). But get this: the owner will actually come to your table to wash your hands for you both before and after the meal. That, children, is what is called "service" in the far Northern land of my birth.<br/><br/>If you absolutely insist on eating with knives and forks, you have but to ask, I'm sure.<br/><br/>This is a wonderful treat! There hasn't been an Ethiopian place in Auckland in years. You must go there!<br/><br/>HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!

We tried two dishes off the small but interesting menu. A spicy chicken (on the bone) stew and a slow cooked cabbage and carrot mixture. These came with lentils and a tomato kasundi type sauce. All the meals are accompanied by enjera - a traditional Ethiopian flat bread. Lovely flavours and after tastes but the downside was you eat with your hands - the idea is to take some bread (more like a thick aerated crepe) and use the bread to pick up the pieces of the meal. Unfortunately we had to ask for serviettes. There is plenty of parking behind the building and an elevator or stairs to take to the cafe level where you will find several other ethnic eateries. Worth a try if you don't mind getting messy.

Dare to be different, get out of your comfort zone and try Cafe Abyssinia, New Zealand's first and only Ethiopian restaurant.<br/><br/>Located in the culturally diverse suburb of Mt Roskill, Cafe Abyssinia offers a culinary experience like no other. All food is consumed with your hands and is all authentically Ethiopian. I can highly recommend the Yebeg Alicha Wot, lamb sautéed and then slow cooked with chopped garlic, ginger, onions and turmeric, it has an exquisite buttery taste and is offset perfectly when eaten with Injera, a sourdough-risen flatbread with a unique, slightly spongy texture<br/><br/>The waitress was lovely and happy to answer any questions we had or give recommendations on things to try. The decor is simple and more in-line with a cafe setting, but never-the-less Cafe Abyssinia is perfect for when you want an adventurous treat.

I'd read about Cafe Abyssinia and was very curious about trying the place out. I've only ever been to one other Ethiopian place before, in London, and it was always a special evening. Unfortunately the location isn't great here, it's in a small shopping mall, tucked away at the end and is very much a cafe rather than a restaurant which also means of course, no wine. Having said that, the food was very good - the injera (savoury, doughy pancake) and the beef tartare were my faves. And the ceremonial coffee at the end (on request only- it's not on the menu) was fantastic.

If you're looking for something different to your usual Thai, Japanese, Indian Chinese rotation of eating out, check out Auckland's first Ethiopian restaurant. It has a range of spiced stews (spiced, rather than spicy) all served with enjera, a tradtional Ethiopian spongey-style unleavened bread with a great slightly sour taste. For more detail and dish recommendations go to http://cheapeats.co.nz/cafe-abyssinia/

Yes, you read that right. Ethiopian food has arrived in Auckland. Café Abyssinia opened its doors several months ago and you could hear the collective rumble of delight from local foodies. I shouldn’t have been surprised when Dumpling Club members requested this for our next outing; several of our well-travelled members have eaten at Ethiopian restaurants in the US and Australia and raved about the cuisine.<br/><br/>Café Abyssinia is located in the new Tulja Centre at 190 Stoddard Road in Mt Roskill, a suburb known for its ethnic diversity. Tulja Centre has a stark, almost clinical look, punctuated by kitsch plastic trees festooned with fairy lights for flowers. It's just so random; I can’t wait to come here in the evening to see them in their glory. The décor at Café Abyssinia is just as cheerful, luckily in a more elegant manner, and evokes the colours of the Ethiopian flag,. <br/><br/>The menu focuses on traditional fare, with 9 different (and variations of) mainly stews (wot) or sautéed (tibs) dishes, all served on enjera, a spongey sourdough flatbread. There is also a raw beef dish (reminiscent of tartare) called kifto.<br/><br/>I especially love the whole ritual of it, the washing of hands, the serving of the food, and the coffee ceremony. A large ewer and basin is brought out and poured over the hands of the diners, and a hand towel offered. Note that if you come in a large group or if they are busy, this is skipped, which is a real shame.<br/><br/>The food is shared between diners. Pieces of enjera come in a large metal platter, and then the small dishes of meat or vegetables are poured onto the pancakes. To eat, you tear off segments of enjera, scoop or roll small amounts of side dishes and somehow try and pop this into your mouth without making a mess of things.<br/><br/>The vegetarian combo (yetsom beyaynetu) is my pick; you get stewed cabbage and carrot, and two spicy lentil dishes. Yehbeg alicha wot, stewed lamb with aromatics is tender and delicious. The lamb tibs were unfortunately chewy and rather bland compared to the doro wot, the spicy and tender, melt-off-the-bone chicken. I couldn't get the hang of trying to tear off bits of hard boiled egg with the soft enjera.<br/><br/>To finish off your meal, you must try the Ethiopian coffee. The owners roast the beans themselves, to maintain the authenticity. The coffee comes in a earthenware pot (jebena) and poured into small cups. The slightly citrusy coffee is wonderful to sip as wafts of incense envelopes the table. <br/><br/>http://easyfoodhacks.blogspot.in/2013/03/cafe-abyssinia-mt-roskill-auckland.html

I have loved ethiopian food for a long time. One of my earliest memories of eating out was going to an ethiopian restaurant with a huge platter of injera, covered in a variety of different fragrant dishes. Since then I have always had something of a soft spot for it, but in Auckland, until recently I Ethiopian food was hard to come by.<br/><br/><br/>So with some excitement we trundled off to Cafe Abyssinia, located at the back of a mall. For those unfamiliar with Ethiopian food the mainstay of it is basically assorted dishes of meat, pulses or vegetables cooked in a spiced curry of sorts. Ethiopia as a trading nation has a rich heritage of different influences and frankly has very tasty cuisine. The cornerstone of the food is injera which is a flat bread made with teff flour. Teff is a super grain of sorts and is highly nutritious. It has a number of interesting properties, not least of which is the elastic dough that it produces. There is nothing quite like injera made with teff, it is chewy, elastic and delicious.<br/><br/>Cafe Abyssinia is not expensive. It costs around $15 for some injera and a dish and this can easily be shared between two. Six of us went to dinner and it costs around $10 or so each, so it was really affordable, we ended up with too much food. Thankfully however I got to try a large majority of the dishes on the menu.<br/><br/><br/>My favourite dish on the menu was the equivalent of steak tartare. Raw steak minced with spices and served with the ubiquitous injera. It was a lovely texture and fragrant and I think the pick of the items on the menu. There were also a lot of cooked dishes as well, including lamb, beef, chicken and others. None of which were bad at all, but perhaps less memorable.<br/><br/>There were however a couple notable problems for me with the food. Firstly the dishes on a whole were under seasoned and perhaps toned down for a western palate (not sure, but it felt like this too me). The sauces tended to be on the weak side and one dimensional. The real disappointment however was the injera. I suspect it was not made with teff at all, but even if it was it must have been cut with a lot of other flour, probably wheat. The result was not anything like the injera I have had before. It lacked the characteristic flavour and more importantly texture. This was disappointing for me, as it is one of the greatest appeals of Ethiopian food. I might mention as well tha the food was not served on the injera, which is how it normally would. This allows the dishes to seep into the bread and makes the injera delicious to eat. You obviously can pour them on the bread, but it was a shame.<br/><br/><br/>The did however serve some nice Ethiopian style coffee. It was served with incense and I really enjoyed the mingling of flavours and smell with this. It was a nice finish to the meal.<br/><br/><br/>Ultimately for me Cafe Abyssinia, is not terrible, but is not as good as it could be. Like I said, I enjoyed their equivalent of steak tartare and some of the other dishes. The chicken was over cooked, but the lamb and beef were fine. I appreciate that teff flour may be impossible to get here and they are doing the best they can. It cannot be easy making traditional Ethiopian food in New Zealand given the relatively small community. I am thankful to have Ethiopian food here, as it is one of the great food traditions of the world. However the technical difficulties and poor injera, was disappointing. I would however recommend it based on its price as a nice diversion from the ordinary food available. The serving staff were also very nice on the day we went.