Habesha Ethiopian restaurant and bar in Austin - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

I was VERY disappointed with my food here, especially considering the strong reviews. The food was very greasy. The azifa veggie sandwich was not a constructed sandwich. It was pita bread with some loose azifa inbetween. Yuck. Last, they forgot the salad that it comes with. Very disappointing. I did give them two starts because the flavors were strong. I still had to throw it out though because of the grease

So much delicious food! I could eat this stuff every day. I always get the vegetarian combo platter, it’s a huge amount of food, I like variety so I don’t have to choose

The food is incredibly delicious. Very friendly and polite staff. It is really hard for me to give a 1 star to this authentic Ethiopian restaurant. However I saw a roach crawling in the establishment walls behind the bar area. Please get that checked out!!

The food was good but service, waitress need more training

Absolutely delicious! The ice tea was a pleasant surprise and the food was amazing!

I don’t know what happened but the food is much better than the food I got like a year ago. This time, I can say the best in Austin. It was not only delicious but clean and good food. Thank you so much for blessing my tummy. Alhamdulillah

Best Ethiopian restaurant we have tried in Austin. Had the vegan combo and awaze lamb. Loved their ice tea with Cinnamon. Peaceful setting. Will have to return on a Sunday to try their specials.

My favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Austin! Great vegan food. Don't let the location deter you, once you go inside the atmosphere is great, often with new artwork on display.

This place is Soul food for vegeterian combo.

Tasty food and prompt, friendly service! I tried Ethiopian food for the first time here, and it was a great experience!

Food: Doro Wot was incredible so full of flavor simply amazing in taste and spices. ● The chicken in this dish some of the pieces were not so good -some of the chicken but not all felt like I was chewing on flavorless rubber or plastic. ●Flavor was great just the meat in this dish not so great could be poor quality? ● The beets and carrots I've had much better at other Ethiopian restaurants. The beets didn't have that fresh crunch to it but that is my preference. I don't like over cooked or soft beets (lacks flavor). ● Injera was perfect and balanced the whole meal perfectly. Overall would be back!

Very new to Ethiopian cuisine and was not disappointed. Lamb was seasoned to perfection.

Food was delicious & different. I've never had authentic Ethiopian food before. I would wager this is it. The Honey Wine was delicious!!!

We came in for lunch. We must've been the first people of the day, no wait. Food was delicious. I have never had this cuisine before so we went with the meat and vegetables platter and the waitress chose our sides for us. It was good amount of food for 2 people. The place is very clean as well, lots of natural lighting. Loved it!

Service is attentive, and food is delicious! The beef combo platter was super good and filling.

Tasty food, nice vibe. Enjoyed the experience. Mike was an excellent server! I had the vegetarian combo, which was way more than enough food for one. I’m going to enjoy the leftovers.

This is an experience that is worth the trip! This restaurant has an amazing atmosphere along with a wide variety of food options for vegans and non-vegans alike. The service was very friendly and the restaurant is good for all ages. If you have never tried Ethiopian food this is an amazing place to start. TRY THIS PLACE OUT!

Honestly, I've ordered the same thing every time I've been to this place - the vegan sampler. It's been consistently delicious and has always hit the table quickly enough with all the items on it at correct temperatures and in consistent portions that are very decent for the price when you consider that Habesha is one of just a couple Ethiopian joints in the entire Austin area. I definitely recommend one sampler platter per 2-3 diners, whether you get the vegan or regular version. One adult man & one child is usually our party size and we leave both utterly stuffed off one sampler, if not having to carry leftovers! Service staff may not appear as "excited" as on a trip to Red Robin or something, but trust me they are good folks. Just a little less used to speaking English or perhaps American culture. They do a good job. If you have a ton of questions about what's on the menu, they may not be as prepared for the conversation as English-as-a-first-language speakers, but I wouldn't fault them for it. I don't know when this restaurant is ever busy, by the way🤷‍♂️ They must do enough business sometime, but on weekday dinner hours at least you can usually go in and be one of maybe two tables in the house. I like that about Habesha, I just hope they are making plenty of $ because what they do is extremely worthy of being noticed and appreciated.

One of my favorite place for dining. The food here is yummy. Definitely recommend. Recently I observed the portion size has gone down compared to the pricing. Hope they are gonna make a note of it.

Love the food fresh and yummy. Best Ethiopian restaurant in Austin

Habesha is our favorite Ethiopian restaurant in Austin. I love their Doro Tibs; the chicken is always juicy and flavorful. We always order the same things: Doro Tibs, Lega Tibs, and a side of Misir Wot. The food is consistently delicious. It’s so good that we overeat, but surprisingly still have leftovers to take home. The service is laidback and friendly. Give this place a try; you won’t regret it.

Being from out of town, we decided to have lunch here on our last day in Austin. My family had never tried Ethiopian cuisine, and our server Hermon helped answer our questions and make suggestions on what to order. We ordered the Veggie/Meat Platter (3 meat and 3 vegetarian sides) and a separate entree of lamb (Awazay Tibs). We were 5 people and were left very satisfied with the amount of food we received. The spices are aromatic and flavorful with the very filling injera make an amazing combination. Hermon was very attentive and even recommended 2 Ethiopian stores in the city to purchase some ingredients of our own. Very clean restrooms as well. Decor was interesting to look at as we waited. The inside is definitely more than we expected. The smell of incense from a coffee ceremony when we walked in was pleasant. We will try to visit again in the future!!

Finally dropped in for lunch here and it was absolutely delightful! My friend and I enjoyed the Veg/Meat combo for two. It was a hearty portion of so many tasty options. Our server, Michael, was helpful and attentive. Very pleasant atmosphere!

Absolutely incredible first experience of Ethiopian cuisine. Atmosphere and service and food were better than I could have asked for. Simply splendid. Immaculate. Bombastic. Chefs kiss. 10/10 recommend. Thank you Michael for being such a great server!!

Great food. You can smell the aroma when you come in. I recommend any tibbs plus the Injera.

Delicious food with a relaxed atmosphere. Highly recommend. Come hungry!

This place is in a rather tired looking shopping center and looks abandoned from the outside, but once you go in, it’s clean and nicely decorated. The food is delicious. The veggie combo is a great way to try a variety of options. When I ate here most recently at 6pm on a weekday, I was the only customer, which concerned me a bit, but everything was great!

Friendly, quick service. Easy parking. Okay food. $20 for combo. They need bigger portions of the lentils and Shiro. Ran out too quickly. I'd go again...

Amazing food! Amazing service! Amazing atmosphere!

Fantastic five star meal. THANK YOU. Will be back!!

great flavors and variety of dishes, great brunch spot.

Overpriced and poor quality food

Good food but extremely slow in service. We had to wait almost an eternity for our food

Best ethiopian food in Austin. Love if the buffet came back.

My first time trying Ethiopian food. The servings were huge! The food was delicious.

Habesha Ethiopian Restaurant and Bar provides an authentic culinary experience with flavorful Ethiopian dishes and a welcoming atmosphere. With traditional injera bread and aromatic spices, it's a must-visit for those seeking a taste of Ethiopia in a cozy setting. 👌

Amazing food and very friendly staff. Will be back again and can’t wait!

My experience here was disappointing a few evenings ago. We were barely checked in with by our waitress throughout the night, who stood at the back of the restaurant on her phone (She only checked in once during the dinner after asking for her). The food came out well on both platters but the injera we were given was cold, and we were given very little as well for such a large group

I have eaten ethiopian food in at least 5 cities around the US.....never been disappointed but this spot is something special!!!! Great atmosphere and the service is amazing

Casual place with great food and friendly service. I had the vegan combo and it was very good.

Very delicious and the display was absolutely perfect. Just perfect

Absolutely delicious food and very friendly service.

Love coming to eat here, service can be a bit longer but it’s definitely worth the wait. Pleasant staff and delicious food, and tea.

Absolutely delicious and fresh food/coffee. Always love coming here!

My husband said this place was great (he’s a lot more familiar than I am about Ethiopian food since he comes from LA). He said the taste of the food and honey wine were fantastic. He thought it was his birthday! We were passing through Austin to San Antonio where you can’t find food like this.

Great food, service, and coffee! Highly recommended!

Really great service, very clean and great food.

Great place for the exes, us, (and everyone else) for a shared meal and dinner time to talk about our kids. Our new fave! A full bar as well fyi.

Had fun overall with my group. Very disappointed with the food portions being smaller.

Great place to enjoy authentic Ethiopian cuisine.

Best Ethiopian in Austin! Really good Siga Wat! If you want lentils or something vegetarian too you can order side dishes for a great price. 10/10

Hands down the best Etheopian food in Austin! Don't worry about the outside of the building just go inside it is surprising. I had the Derek Tibs, Collard Greens, Cold Lentils, and Tea. Everything was exceptional. Definitely check this place out. I will be back soon!

What a horrible experience…I was passing through and stopped in to get a to-go-order.. I ordered the all meat platter $20…order #51975 and paid the man-Mike $40.75…but on my sales receipt it didn’t show $40.75…it showed $23.75…I had to wait over 15 minutes for my change and I had a feeling by the looks of the receipt I wasn’t going to get my $17 but I persisted and also told the lady twice I needed my change …I finally got it…I received my food and when I got to my destination there was so much injero-the bread that there was little meat..the bread was dry and fell apart…all in all I would never go back and I mean never 👎 it was a total rip off for $23.75

Best Ethiopian restaurant in Austin! Exceptionally flavorful food, good variety on the menu and courteous service. Reasonable prices. OK atmosphere, but a little noisy.

I came in town on business and someone recommended Habesha to me because they knew how much I love Ethiopian food. This place did not disappoint and was probably the best I've had. The food was flavorful and spices were amazing. The Tej was wonderful and even served in an authentic Birile. The service was super friendly and kind as well. I wish they had a location in Cincinnati!

The service was good but the food was not nearly as flavorful as some other Ethiopian restaurants. The coffee ceremony was very nice though.

Great Ethiopian food. Very friendly staff.

Habeesha Ethiopian is a hidden gem with flavorful and delicious food. I opted for the veg platter, and while the taste was excellent, the injeras were served cold, which I found unusual. The quantities seemed a bit limited considering the pricing, comparable to other Ethiopian restaurants. Despite the lack of a Sunday afternoon crowd, the atmosphere was pleasant. The tea ceremony added a visually appealing touch to the overall experience.

This place crushes expectations every time. Have not been to Asters in years because of the consostency of the vegetarian cuisine they offer.

This is a combination of a Veggie platter & a Beef platter. Wish the injeria wasn't so cold. The baklava & spiced iced tea was delicious.

Go in the door marked "exit. Flavors were wonderful. Portion size okay - little small on veggies. Waiter not very attentive - never offered extra injera or asked if we needed anything. Worth another visit.

My wife and I are visiting Austin for a conference. Oklahoma is our home. We decided to try something we can't get in the Norman, OK area. Habesha looks little rough on the outside, but the inside is clean, comfortable, and nicely decorated. Our server was great, he had a great attitude and demeanor. He really made our visit fun. This was our first time to eat Ethiopian cuisine and we are now both fans. I had the meat combo plate and my wife had the vegan combo plate. It was a large portion of food and we both enjoyed our meal. I also indulged in an Ethiopian beer which was also very tasty. Overall we are very happy we chose to branch out and we are happy we chose Habesha for our dinner destination. Boomer Sooner!!!

What a hidden gem!! Totally different atmosphere once you enter the restaurant. Everything we ordered was SO flavorful and fresh.

Food and atmosphere were amazing. I come here for the vegetarian combo every time. Can’t say enough good things about this place, highly recommend.

Food was amazing and Michael was a fantastic server. I'll agree from outside it doesn't look impressive, but inside is really nice and clean. First time eating Ethiopian food, i went with the meat combo. It was all really good! Definitely be back.

What a great hidden gem ! Our honest opinion would be that this is the best Ethiopian restaurant in the Austin area ! We ve tried tons of other places and usually go to the famous ones but recently those were not upto the mark and we decided we would try Habesha and see if we like it, and bam! It hit the spot :) curries were amazing and sides were great, ambiance was bright and welcoming and so many spots to park . We tried the vegetarian combo and each dish was perfection! From the spinach, cheese, cabbage to the lentils and a special coconut paste - everything was amazing ! And we ordered the doro wot and the lamb tibs - and we were blown away! Probably the best dishes we've tasted in Ethiopian cuisine . The service was quick and immeccableThis will be our only go to place for Ethiopian from now on!

Great food and service. The waiter was helpful explaining options and suggested the 2 of us share the beef and veggie options. Good flavors with a level of heat that isn't overwhelming.

I got sambusa and lamb with injera. Everything was delicious!

Ordered a veggie meat combo platter. Siga wot was really good. Fish tib was bland. Seems fish was not marinated in spices. Didn’t allow to substitute the second meat with chicken. Portion size was good for 2 people.

Really great food but the service was really lacking, possibly due to a big event there, although our table seemed to be the only one with any delays. I'd go back.

Bad food quality. The waiter did not come to check on us. We had to chase her. She was too busy doing other things. Disappointed

I had not eaten here in years and wanted to go back and take some friends. I saw some bad reviews and thought I had better check it before we went. The interior is clean with plenty of room. The food was served hot and was delicious. I had the Awaza Tibs. It was fantastic. Going back, taking my friends.

Great food! Felt like I was dining in Addis 😊

I love Habesha so much. The food and service are always great. Unfortunately, I tried to dine in recently and was unable to stay because of the incense burning. To an asthmatic, this is on par with cigarette smoking inside. Even without having lung issues, burning incense can be harmful to people with allergies. Being smoke free (of all kind) is more inclusive to customers and allows people to enjoy the restaurant without worry. Such a bummer to have had to leave because I couldn't breathe. :(

Wry flavorful food and friendly service.

Came back after our first post - covid visit was such a success and Habesha does it again. Fantastic service. Great food.

Great food and reasonably priced.

Super small portions, the service is subpar, and not flavorful at all. Go to Aster's instead. A total waste of my hard earned money, unfortunately.

beautiful decor and amazing vegan options!

In contrast to the unimpressive exterior, the interior atmosphere was attractive and the food and service were good!

Thought there would be more meat in my dish (collard greens) but oh well. Still tastes great.

Friendly service. Nice atmosphere and great food

Food is very good but service is pretty slow. We went on a late saturday afternoon with barely anyone there and waited an hour for our food. The veggie combo is good but ordering the doro key wot on its on was not worth it. For $16 you get 1 hard boiled egg and the smallest, very over cooked chicken drumstick. Food came out mostly cold even thought we waited 1 hour for it.

They’re too slow to make the experience enjoyable

Really good lamb dishes. The preparation is consistently top notch. The decor is a bit cold, but it’s clean and you’ll have a good meal. The service is sometimes inattentive and a bit slow as a result

Great foods, the lamb dishes are to die for!

One of the best Ethiopian restaurants in central Texas. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to try authentic Ethiopian cuisine. They have vegan, and gluten options too. The Tiramisu dessert at the end was the best Tiramisu I have in a while.

I would recommend this restaurant over all the others I've reviewed. Best food I've ever had. I eat in and take several to-go meals when I leave. Definitely a must. Add it to the top of your bucket list because you'll definitely want to go back! Update: 1 July 2022 I do not like the new take out containers. Because of this you get less injera which served as a underlining for the portions of food. Now you have less and if you don't ask for more, you will most likely run out before you finish your dish. I still very much enjoy this restaurant and it's still worth a visit! Update: 21 January 2023 Still not a fan of the take-out containers, but would still recommend this place! Food is always great!

This used to be my go-to place for Ethiopian food. Now, im a disappointed fan. Will be updating on my recommendation for Ethiopian food in Austin. Unfortunately they have repeatedly served me food that is spoiled and clearly several days old. Lately, In some cases the dish doesn't seem to have any Ethiopian spices or is really water down - the Shiro tastes like flat chickpeas, the Misir tastes like it was cooked in paprika instead of berbere, although their veggie platters were always good they too smell and taste like they've been sitting out a while. Their tea is so watered down it doesn't even have any tea in it. All around it seemed that they have dropped the ball and recent weeks and months and a might have forgotten that they're serving Ethiopian food. I really hope they can turn it around. Service and atmosphere is always good but the food has lost it's quality.

Great flavors and a new experience. Restaurant is well decorated with African / Ethiopian art and decor and the food was delish; tender meats and flavorful vegetables dishes and a unique way to eat while experiencing something new.

Been to many Ethiopian restaurants and this is just as delicious as some of my other favorites.

Great food! Wish they’re staffed better. Had to wait 15mins to get the cheque.

Delicious and filling Ethiopian food! I grabbed all the veggie dishes I could by ordering the veggie platter and some recommendations my waitress made. My favorite is their vegan crumbled beef dish, eggplant (bedergan tibs) and red lentils (misir wot).

Best Ethiopian food I’ve had in atx area. Coming from Chicago, I was starting to miss really good Ethiopian food. This place did not disappoint!! My date and I lingered a bit after we were done with our meal not realizing they were possibly closed and not once did we feel super rushed. Will be back!!

This is an amazing Ethiopian place tucked away in a quiet strip mall. The interior decor was nice, and when we went it was not crowded at all. The service was great. The food was absolutely delicious - we ordered a combination of things both veggie and meat - and everything was spon on great. The sambosas where very good too. We really cleaned up a huge plate full of stuff.

I ordered the Doro Nibs and they were amazing! I used to get Ethiopian/Eritrean food when I lived in London and have been craving it since I moved back to the states. I love Doro and Misir, so this really made me so happy to be eating delicious Ethiopian food again! 🥰 Next time I'm in Austin, I will order again for sure!

The best restaurant in Austin Texas !

Honestly one of the worst places I’ve ever been to with my partner. We ordered appetizers and two main course meal, doro key wot and beef combo but they suggested it to be family style so they combined the two main courses and basically we were scammed. The portions were made so small. The doro key wot which was the order I made had only 1 piece of chicken!!!! and it was 15 dollars or something and the beef combo portion was just disappointing as you can see the portion in the picture. No sides were offered as well which was supposed to come in it. We had to ask for rice and fork!!! The service was very slow. The server brought two beers when asked for only one for the second round but we just ignored it since she opened it asap. The charge for overall was just too much for the portion and basically felt disappointed and the food wasn’t worth it. Will never come again!!! so do not come if you wanna get cheated like this.

Amazing food, it tastes fresh, the service was great. It was our first time trying Ethiopian and the chef was so great at explaining the items to us and recommending what to try. Definitely worth a visit and a repeat visit! I had the Lega Tibs with a side of Key Sega Wot and injera.

If you share an appreciation for cuisines that explode with rich flavor that you find yourself slowing your day to savor, I highly recommend this Ethiopian restaurant set in a very unassuming corner of a strip mall. When you open the door, the interior beauty and aromas let you know you found a secret dining treasure I feasted on Kik Alicha (a traditional Ethiopian vegetarian dish made with yellow split peas, turmeric, and niter kibbeh - a seasoned clarified butter), Doro Tibs (cubed chicken breast or thigh, stir-fried with onions, peppers and spicy berbere - a mix of dry, vibrant spices used to flavor stews), injera - the moist, porous flat bread in the photo, and a salad that looks common and basic but is also dressed with popping flavor. They also serve Tej (honey wine), which is a perfect compliment to the flavor celebration on the plate! I could easily eat away hours here. The food is so delicious and the service is so warm and welcoming!