Abyssinia in Philadelphia - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

Great food with exceptional service. Every dish is flavor packed with goodness!!!

I regularly fantasize about their breakfast ful beans…vegetarian platter is also delicious.

Really enjoyed the fare. Nice cozy place with a living room feel.

Really good spot Abel is the best bartender and server there!!

I still haven't found better Ethiopian food in Philly! Even some places in NYC can't compare. I will say this - if aesthetics/Instagramability, incredibly attentive wait staff, and super speedy service are what you're looking for... Leave this place off your list. If you're looking for amazingly flavorful food, and aren't worried about waiting... This place is for you. It's amazing. HIGHLY recommend.

Abyssinia in Philadelphia is a delightful escape into the world of Ethiopian cuisine. This family-run restaurant is all about authenticity and warmth, serving up spicy stews and perfectly spongy injera bread that will transport your senses straight to East Africa. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making every visit a joyous culinary adventure. It’s a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the flavors of Ethiopia in a friendly and enthusiastic setting.

bro the bar upstairs is so cool ?!? and such a nice chill vibe. it can get crowded at times but is an awesome place to get a beer with a friend

Phenomenal cocktails and beer/cider/(makgeolli even!) selection, amazing staff

We ordered downstairs and they let us know we could eat upstairs at the bar. There were unoccupied tables with used cups from the last customers. No problem, we just brought them to the bar. We had ordered downstairs and they brought the food to us upstairs. After finishing most of our meal, the bartender approached us and told us that the restaurant and the bar are separate businesses, saying “if you eat here you’re expected to buy drinks”. She seemed annoyed, and the way she said that was a little rude. We felt guilty and unwelcome - it was the first time we went here so we didn’t know. Apologies if this was common sense. We left shortly after. I guess we were taking up table space where she could’ve gotten more tips? I don’t know. Our tables weren’t even bussed. The staff downstairs were great though. Food was good. No complaints here. Never had anything like this before. The lamb was great. Sad that this experience was ruined by the service.

Update: I forgot to mention this is open until 2AM, so this is a perfect restaurant to remember for all situations!! Especially to cap off a late night, with some yummy food. As a vegan diner, this is probably my favorite sit-down restaurant in the area. The food is scrumptious, I have never left any on my plate. Sharing the veggie platter with friends is a moment of great beauty. The injera with their various stews is absolutely delectable, finger-licking-good! Slightly bothersome, smell-wise if anybody nearby orders one of the fish dish (it would help if they had an air purifier)... but otherwise, this is an amazing atmosphere as well.

My favorite dine in Ethiopian spot for ~20 years. Food quality is consistent, and the veggi combo always leaves me feeling satisfied, whether I get it solo or to share. Today I got delivery for the first time. Since I'm recovering from an illness, I called ahead to let them know about dietary needs. The server took note of my needs and my name. Then I placed my order on door dash. On DoorDash you can't leave special instructions for Abyssinia, but my order accounted for my dietary needs!!! They matched my phone call request about dietary needs with my door dash order. The delivered food was hot and delicious. The injera was fresh. And while they made my food more mild (as requested), it was flavorful, and easier than some home-cooked dishes on my recovering stomach. And the variety was fantastic. I'm glad to keep coming back to this steady staple.

Great food and ambiance. Absolutely a part of the scene in Philly

Absolutely delicious every time. I’ve ordered from here countless times and they’ve never been anything under 5/5 stars.

Tried it on a whim; was not disappointed. Tried the azifah fitfit and the tere siga. The azifah was well spiced and delicious, very nice lentil flavor balanced with the spices. As a frequent raw beef eater I had high expectations for the tere siga, which was very clearly fresh meat. The price point is also very reasonable; multiple courses and drinks for 2 for roughly ~80 dollars. The staff works hard too! Will definitely be going again.

So delicious. A West Philly treasure.

Food was good considering it was my first time trying Ethiopian food, my only complaint would be the slow service, we were instructed to seat ourselves and proceeded to wait for over 10 minutes for someone to even get our drink order.

I ordered from here a few times and had no problems but today was absurd. I ordered the Abyssinia 1 combo and a samosa and all I got was this plate of mush and no samosa. It looks like they mashed up some injera with a bit of meat. Honestly, I have no idea. I’m shocked at how bad this is. I would’ve preferred them cancel the order over handing over this slop. 0/10

Chill, perfect to hang out with friends. Usually young people there. Had that West Philly open minded vibe 😎

A place with so much character and delicious food! A meat combo platter was the perfect size to share among three ravenous people.

Abyssinia Ethiopian Restaurant in Philadelphia is a culinary delight that offers an authentic taste of Ethiopia. From the moment you step in, you're greeted with warmth and an inviting atmosphere. The injera and dishes like Doro Wat stand out with their rich flavors and spices, promising a unique dining experience. Eating with your hands enhances the communal vibe, making every meal here more than just food—it's a cultural journey. If you're seeking a genuine Ethiopian meal that delights the senses and warms the heart, Abyssinia is the place to go. Absolutely recommended!

abyssynia is a west philly treasure and i've been a patron here for over a decade. the food is consistently fresh and delicious. the injera here is to die for.

I ordered from this place a few nights ago, and it was so good I had to go back again today… However to my surprise my order was not correct and the food. Let’s just say notebook paper would probably have had more flavor… I called to convey my concern and instead of offering a simple apology or some kind of understanding the girl is literally arguing with me telling me I got what I asked for. After explaining several times that I just got the exact order days earlier and what was wrong. She made me so frustrated ontop of already being annoyed to now not have lunch for work…. I understand mistakes happen but to argue with a customer when you made an error is not right. I asked for mild seasoning NOT no seasoning! I asked to substitute the bread for rice… How I ended up with getting all rice instead of the cabbage and lentils I asked for I don’t understand.. My phone number wasn’t even taken down correctly as this was a phone order The same in which I made the other night. So there was some lack of understanding… I didn’t even receive a fork or napkins… Luckily I had extras in my work bag… Disappointing cause I love this place

Nice place to go with a group for dinner, and a great bar upstairs

I eat here all the time and the food is always incredible.

Came in for chess night, and stopped for dinner beforehand! Phenomenal food, delicious drinks (Academic Writing is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️) and nice staff!

Been coming here for years and years. It's always great food, and friendly service. Can't imagine West Philly without it.

I love this place!! The food is just as delicious as I remember it from 10 years ago and the atmosphere is so cozy, it's like being in someone's living room 😊

The food is delicious but the service can be a bit slow. Depends on the waiter or waitress. I enjoy the food. Check them out for yourself.

Tasty Ethiopian food. It was a new and delicious experience for me.

I had an amazing dinner here! Planning on going back soon.

The food is really good! Sometimes you have to wait a while for the service though.

I ordered a meat combo and there was hair in it. I nicely asked for a refund because.. that's disgusting and no one should have to experience this from a restaurant. The woman who I talked to told me it's never happened before.. as if that was proof it didn't happen!!! I responded pointing out my hair.. which is blonde and curly. The hair in my food was long straight and black. She told me neither her or the manager cared about my opinion and would not be giving me a refund. It's very disturbing the lack of respect this establishment has for their customers. I used to be a faithful customer.. safe to say I will never be coming here or ordering from them again. Here's a picture of my platter. Just so people know when they make mistakes they will not correct them. Disgusting behavior for business owners!!

This old neighborhood gem always feels like home. All the food is delicious and tastes like your mom made it for you (full of love)

They have a lot of events. I go for their monthly craft class. I've learned how to make resin pins and bind books. The food is incredible too.

Great place food is good 5 dollar city wides, upstairs is kind of expensive etc

A lovely spot with quality food. Always consistent. I love the doro and misir wot.

Abyssinia had been my go-to Ethiopian place for 15 years. Great food every time.

We went to this restaurant from the DMV, and it was the most disappointing food experience ever. The injera was fake, made from rice instead of Teff. The food was unpleasant. Claiming to be the first Ethiopian restaurant in America to serve Tibis with a short is shameful. Spending $80 on such subpar food is regrettable. I strongly advise against trying this restaurant if you value your health and money."

Great authentic Ethiopian food and service. Good price

The meat combination with Azifa, the cabbage, (green beans/potatoes/carrots) and collards, was better than sex today. I'm so glad I ate it as takeout in the car, I moaned the entire time, Omgsogood. 😊☺️🤤💞💞💞💞💞💞💞. I love Abyssinia. For a very long time. I am so grateful for the first time I had ful beans, with new friends, so long ago, here.

Comfortable place with delicious Ethiopian food. Love the family-style eating with injera.

The food here is absolutely delicious one of my favorite places to get away for some good Indian food ❤️🙏🏾

Good food, good drink selection ;)

everyone is doing for a very long time, cooking serving

Love that this cultural institution is still in Philly. As always the food is great. be prepared for the slowish service and budget your time accordingly.

Always good and sometimes exceptionally good. We get the veggie combo and it is the best Ethiopian cuisine we've had in Philadelphia.

Great place to grab a bite that you don't typically get to enjoy! Super friendly staff and food is phenomenal.

The food is amazing and the staff is very kind but the wait is a little long

If you are the only one there, expect bad service. Staff would wish for no one to be there to skip work. Food is good.

The restaurant is great! We also love the upstairs bar, Brian is a great bar tender and the new space for live music is a great addition.

The food is pretty bland and overpriced and service is slow.

Historically Ive always enhoyed my food experiences. Lately have picked up vs dined in due to covid. As I work nearby, food was still was. And didn't require me to reheat. However, my last three delivered orders in the past 3 months have had continually decreased flavor. Unsure if there is a new recipe or chef. With sustained cost increases experienced since COVID has appeared, no longer worth the cost.

I always get the combination platter and scoop up every last bite. Delicious! Be prepared to wait for your food. 2023 edit: food is still delicious! And the cocktail bar upstairs is really something special :)

Great food, but awful service. We told them specifically that it was our first time there. The first girl who seated us was really nice and talked about the menu and the chef, but left immediately after we confirmed the food we want and didn’t ask about drinks. Nobody talked to us for 20 minutes, until another server plopped down the food on our table, loud enough for it to make a thumping sound, without any words, and left until I called her back to ask for napkins and for my friend to ask what beers they had. She pointed to the fridge and told him to look himself. Then she didn’t say a thing to us or checked in on our waters until it was towards the end of the meal: “are you done?” I said, “No, but can we have more water?” She refilled our water then came back ten minutes later and took our plates away without saying anything, even though there was still food on it. I had just given up at that point. She brought us our checks, once again silent, didn’t say thank you or goodbye. I wish the food was spicier but it was very tasty. Compliments to the chef, but I sadly don’t feel like I’d go back.

I ordered the raw Kitfo wow 🤩. I drove an hour for this and totally worth it When I came into the building h it was nice and clean . Will be back !

Definitely a favorite neighborhood spot. Great food, relaxed atmosphere, and the perfect dive bar upstairs.

Ethiopian food so delicious very good atmosphere. Loved eating traditional way. Would def. Fly to Philly agn f or the eats.

Nice place, good food and set up

Abyssinia is casual and no frills with incredible food and huge portions! The samosas were especially delicious. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to try Ethiopian food.

We went here with a party of five. Three vegetarians in our party and we ordered the veg combo. It was good but not exceptional. Still a nice veggie platter that came out on large plate for all of us. Other two dishes yawaze beef tibs kind of chewy. And yawaze chicken tibs which were good. Nice place to go for Ethiopian food. Expect a long wait for your food. So make sure you have time to spare.

Good service and delicious food. Also, when I left my credit card behind, they took good care of it. Highly recommended.

Service was perfect from the young Man that grew up in Ethiopia til he was 10. Family run business for years & years. Fresh & Delicious food. I myself get the veg platter & my husband got the meat. Super Delicious & we feel very comfortable coming to West Philly to dine-in. We ate @ the bar didn't drink but wanted to watch some of the football games. Good fun!

Beautiful chicken tibs and beef tibs with spicy sauce, salad and chickpeas

Three of us ordered two of the combos over Ethiopian bread with two sides of samosas. The samosas were ok, we guessed that they might have been bought from a grocery store. The combos were very delicious and authentic. We enjoyed the meal very much. The waitress explained the meals well and was very elegant, but seemed tired and was slow at times. Probably the fact that it was Dec 25 at night has something to do with slow service.

I lived a block and a half away for over 2 years, and loved Abyssinia!

Still delicious after 20 plus years since I last visited.

The food is average and I expected much more, but without a doubt the service is the worst I have seen in a long time, a wait of 1h 30+ both to take away and inside the restaurant when there are only about 12 tables and one person does everything waiter and bar service. I do not recommend it especially if you are not willing to spend hours to eat something that is not worth such a long wait at all.

Delicious Ethiopian full of charm with a great dive bar on the second floor (bar is cash only but ATM on site). Everyone was so friendly. Ingera was light and fluffy. Cool neighborhood too! Samosas slam!

Excellent affordable food, i miss the adjacent bar with beer and live music

Food was good but it was a busy night so they forgot about me a couple times.

Best Ethiopian in West Philly in my opinion.

This is most consistent out of all the Ethiopian restaurants in West Philly. Really good food. The service is fine. They always give you extra injera if you need it. The upstairs bar is excellent.

You go here for the food and nothing else. Is it a picturesque place?? Is the ambiance amazing?? No and no. But you will have caring servers and food that makes you feel like your grandmother thinks you're getting too skinny.

Absolutely amazing food. One of my favorite dinners in the city!

The food was delicious Took samosa for starters and a vegie plater.

Great authentic feel Ethiopian with large plates and reasonable prices, alcohol service, upstairs bar, etc. Recent renovations make the space even better. Meats like traditional kitfo can be asked for rare or raw. A few Ethiopian beers available if you are interested.

Amazing vegan options. So much flavor!

I love the fresh food I mean they shop everyday to make sure IT'S FRESH & I'm not just saying that because it's my grandsons other side of the 👪 families resturant..

Great experience, food takes a minute but they actually cook. good family restaurant..

My favorite Ethiopian place in Philly. Shiro wot is SO good. I see a lot of reviews complaining about the dine in experience but I couldn’t care less because the food is so excellent. I ordered from this place literally once a week pre-pandemic

The veggie combo was disgusting and not worth $20. Would not recommend

A worldly and neighborly staple of Philadelphia. Thank you for being you.

Lovely neighborhood spot. Not always the fastest at getting you in and out, but always incredibly kind and friendly—and excellent food! Highly recommend the veggie combo plate

Went in for the music upstairs, had a very enjoyable time. Bartender was great...!

I used to come here all the time before the pandemic. The service has always been slow but the food was good and the prices were low enough that I didn’t care that getting someone to bring a check often took effort. The last time I got takeout from here we showed up an hour after calling and then had to wait another 40 min after we got there. Then when we got home the beef was super tough and one of the lentil dishes was ice cold. There are pics of their pre pandemic menu on here and all the individual veggie dishes went from $10 to 15 and the veggie combo jumped from $12 to $19. I get that there’s inflation and food prices are up everywhere but lentils are still cheap as hell so it just rubs me the wrong way. I used to love this place but I’ll probably go elsewhere the next time I want Ethiopian food.

I found the place really unattractive. It was uncomfortable cold inside and the decor was somehow hostile. The food was too greasy and my order was mistaken. The restaurant is way to pricey for what it offers

Upper echelon of Ethiopian cuisine…easy.

This place has good food, but do not go in to get food at the restaurant. It will ruin your experience. The food is pretty pricey considering the portions. There is only one server/cashier and the service is very rude. I was like they were doing me a favor just by taking my order. Not to mention I was given and charged a whole different plate than what I had asked for and of course it was twice as much than what I had ordered $$$. The server was not nice about it and insisted it was my fault… like seriously? … that never a pleasant surprise when you get your bill. The server was American so it was not because we didn’t know what the other meant… especially since I pointed to the items we wanted to order. It sucks to be excited for what you wanted and get something you didn’t expect AND to have it be more than TWICE AS MUCH as what you asked for. I’ve ordered from here at least every other week and after this experience I’m probably going to find a new Ethiopian spot.

Great food will eat there again.

I've eaten Ethiopian in 3 states and this takes the cake as my worst restaurant experiences ever. The lamb felt like chewing leather until I couldn't eat half of it. Gravy was chunky. Service was nonexistent. I was the only person to dine in while I was there for over 45 minutes. I wonder why?

The worst restaurant waiting time 1hr+

Food is great just wished they would bring back the old staff it’s been under staffed since Covid

Always delicious, fresh and flavorful. One of my favorite spots!!

Ben is a great bartender, very attentive and accommodating... Good authentic Ethiopian 🇪🇹 cuisine...

Food was really nice and service was good. Place could use some TLC (walls, decor etc)

Abyssinia is a restaurant that has unreached potential. I love the mixed veggie platter there, but it seems less seasoned than I recall from my favorite Ethiopian restaurants. The pea, eggplant and cabbage dishes on the platter are some of the best vegetarian fare I've tasted in the area. The reason I can only give them three stars is the gomen wat tastes like frozen, unspiced collard greens. Additionally, their service is somewhat slow. If just those two things improved I would rate them a star or two higher.

Would've given 5 *'s but it's usually a wait to order.🧐 Cool atmosphere 👍🏾

Great neighborhood spot! You should know there seems to be only one server, but she’s lovely and does the job well! The food is always on point. Love the blend of spices and highly recommend the doro wot (spicy simmer chicken legs). Truly a great experience every time and always well priced. Get a full meal and then some for less than you’ll expect!

We ordered take out and it came fast and was packaged well! We got the meat combo and lamb tibs. The spices were poppin’ and the chicken was tender. I loved the greens and could probably devour a pint of them alone! The lamb was fresh tasting but a lil chewy.

Really good Ethiopian food! Worst service imaginable! One waiter for a restaurant of probably about 14 tables. Took us 2 hours to get food, took us an hour to get beer, we never got water refills, and took another 20 minutes to get the check. Would not recommend in person, maybe get takeout, or literally anything else.