Muzita Abyssinian Bistro in San Diego - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

The food here is amazing. If you are looking for authentic Ethiopian food and a unique dining experience, this is the place. Offering an intimate dim lit atmosphere you can sit indoors or outside. I came here with my mom, who is vegan, and there were plenty of items on the menu for her and they were all delicious! I look forward to dining there again!

Food is really tasty. We tried their veg dishes, and I loved the starters. Service is fast.

Service was ok, they forgot about us. However, if I could bathe in the berbere sauce I would. The dishes are large and generous, and have a good variety for vegan options.

Disappointing! I went to this restaurant a while ago and liked it so I took my family from Germany there. I shouldn’t have, it ws emberassing. The waiter was the rudest person I ve met.. we went there to eat vegan and he tried to convince 2 people to take a meat version. After I said we re eating all vegan, instead of minding his business he replied very arrogant and sassy not even being asked that ‘people like their meat’ ok bro its not your dinner table who asked you?! If you have a complex with vegan food dont sort this out at your work place. He also wanted everybody to take 1 plate as he recommended from 1 plate/dish two people cant get full.. as we ate there before I know for a fact thats not true and ordered 3 dishes for 7 people. He was clearly upset and when our food came he brought us one small ridiculous plate to share for everyone(?!) and 3 small side plates. We obv complaint and he become sassy and impolite telling us this is the only thing we ordered (for 65$ haha) and he can bring us napkins because they dont have plates. Wow this was a joke, when I pointed out after a while all dishes that were missing he emberassingly was like ‘hmm I dont know where they are I am gonna ask’ and never came back. I bet he was ashamed after this attitude as then the chef came and apologized on behalf of him as they messed something up with the order. They forgot a whole plate and send us something we have not ordered. The food was cold afterwards but we still ate it. Btw we also got all the side poates then and we had leftover food. It was an unpleasant experience and def the last time we come here to eat. What a pitty as the vegan food tastes good but there is plenty other restaurant around. Train your waiter properly or get a new one, this experience was unbelievable.

The food is so flavorful, and they have gluten free injera. This place never disappoints.

THANKS TO ANETTE who served us at the restaurant, and delivered fantastic customer service, well done for such efficient and quick service, very polite and friendly 👏👏👏 The food was genuinely delicious, fresh and warm food was served, we very much enjoyed our experience there, the food was beyond our expectations, will definitely visit this place again. Highly recommend it 💯💯💯

I recommend any person who visits San Diego to come try this restaurant. The staff is always kind, the food is delicious and it is a rare cultural experience that you can get close to home or vacation home.

Love this place. Food is great, service is great, and who doesn't love university heights?

The food is a bit expensive but they more than make up for it in flavor 🤤

Delicious and unique food, excellent service, and a charming atmosphere

Updating my review. The chef must have changed because all the dishes we got were a major improvement from our last visit. Worth giving a try again if you were disappointed like us before.

This was an amazing experience, and Jesus made our first time at this spot so enjoyable. We ordered the Sambusas & Siga Kilwa and everything was so good. I can’t wait to come back

Always a solid restaurant for amazing South African food .....

Absolutely delicious and amazing food. We love this type of food, but we were pleasantly surprised at the unique flavors. They also have fantastic appetizers.

Great food! Ismael had great recommendations and amazing service!

Beyond delicious. A style of Ethiopian cuisine I hadn't tried before. Highly recommend.

Food was really good but service was horrible. If you are black then this isn't the place to go. You will get ignored by staff in favor of white patrons and then an hour later you might get the brinks you ordered and your appetizers.

We came here a week ago and the food was good. This time, server was very rude and impolite. I think ego has got into their heada. The food was cold and bland. It was much better the last time when we were here. We ordered one vegetarian and one non-vegetarian item. They put everything on one plate and brought it out. When we asked the server to make the orders separate because one of us doesn’t eat non-vegetarian item and that is why we placed teo separate orders, she replied, can’t you guys just cut this up and eat? Excuse me, ofcourse we would have done it if we could, but one of us does not eat non veg. She was very rude and intimidating. She said I’m just gonna take it inside and cut it up and bring it out. That’s what she did. This is simply unacceptable. 20% gratuity for rude and improper behaviour. We had kids with us and when we asked for spoons, she brought out 2 spoons and said that’s all we have. What is going on? This is unacceptable. If there were ZERO stars, I would have given it. Try some other Ethiopian place and skip this madness.

Had an INCREDIBLE experience at Muzita. Came for a girls night dinner and none of us had tried Eritrean/Ethiopian food before, so we asked our server to surprise us and I’m not kidding that every single thing we ate was phenomenal! We sat outside and the ambiance was so homey and cozy, with fresh air as the sun was setting and a super warm heat lamp when it got chilly. Can’t wait to go back! Follow me on IG @Maddieeeats for more SD food stuff :)

Such a fantastic meal. I’ve been to a lot of Ethiopian restaurants, SF, NYC, LA… Easily one of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants I’ve been to.

A flavorful taste of African cuisine. Started off with the mushroom appetizer which was deep fried crispy and served on their house bread. Ordered the begge kilwa which (warning) is piping hot and the vessel it is served in keep it hot for the entire stay. Highly recommend as the size of the dishes along with the quality of the food is stellar.

Great Ethiopian food. Service is great and helpful in ordering the entrees.

Very much disappointed. We waited too long to be seated despite of two to three empty but uncleaned tables. We came all the way from Washington DC n want to dine in for it was recommended by a relative. We had to leave unattended. We saw no sign of the Abyssinian hospitality. Thanks

The roasted spaghetti squash + fish and the chickpea stew were delicious! I wish the injera was more tart, but overall a great meal.

Do yourself a favor and indulge in this authentic Abysinian dining experience in Sandiego. Very impressed by the creativity and presentation of the food, this is probably the richest and most diverse menu I have seen in Eritrean/ Ethiopian restaurants. Abel (the owner) and the rest of the stuff are Sandiego’s very local and yet knowledgeable enough to deliver genuine Abysinian dining experience.

Great little spot. The sambusas and the Shiro were great.

Amazing food! The ethnic Abyssinian food tastes amazing... Both vegetarian and meats. The staff is extremely helpful in finding the best dish for you. Be prepared to eat with you hand! Parking is a bit difficult in the area. So come prepared.

First Ethiopian food experience. We tried their most popular dish, which consisted of a cubed lamb shank with vegetables and lentils on the side along with Sambosas to start. We loved the sambosas and thought they were the best part of the meal. The lamb was a little chewy and dry and could have used more heat. The lentils had great flavor, and we really enjoyed those. Service was pretty slow, considering there was only a few tables occupied. There is a vegetarian section of the menu we might try more of those options if we go back.

My first time eating Ethiopian food, and the servers were super welcoming and attentive! I ordered the mushroom appetizer and Shiro + Hamli, both were delicious. Fun experience trying new cuisine and I love injera now!

Great opportunity to try Ethiopian food. Make sure to ask if you don't know what items in the menu are. I understand the tradition to eat with hands, but injera was not strong enough it was a bit doey not sour tasting at all. Beef was way too spicy. The sambusas and lentils were great. Great first experience.

This place never fails to satisfy. The vegetarian menu items are better than the meat, but everything's delicious. It's best to bring a party of four - six because the plates are best shared.

Brilliant place, delicious food, excellent service from Ismael!

Wow, absolutely blown away by our dinner at Muzita Abyssinian. A friend referred my girlfriend and I to this place and we were not prepared to have one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in San Diego. The food and flavors were mouthwatering, and the service was top notch without an ounce of pretension. Highly recommend and we can’t wait to come back. Abel is the man!

My first time trying Ethiopian food--which I highly recommend! Traditionally, you eat with your hands, but this place will supply utensils if requested.

Great service , professional and attentive. The food was ok. A little bland. The sambusas were the only good ones. I had the goat curry one and it was very bland and not a lot of meat. I also had beef which was ok. The veggie and lentils were super bland.

I'm shocked I haven't reviewed this place before!! This is, in my opinion, the best Abyssinian food in San Diego (and I have tried a few places!) they have a ton of delicious vegetarian options, and I have yet to have anything that wasn't delicious. They are also very generous with the free injera! One thing to note is that some items can run a little spicier, so if you're not particularly spice tolerant that is something to ask about before ordering!

Muzita was ok... there are better Ethiopian options in town like Awash, which is far better, much more flavorful and authentic. Maztita is also way too expensive. Not recommended.

The place is a small restaurant on Park Blvd, near University Heights in San Diego, serving Ethiopian and African cuisine. The food is fresh and hot with quick service. We ordered the Tsebhi Dorho and the Shiro Siga with a double side of red lentils and a chicken dish. The food was flavourful and really nice. I would definitely recommend the place. It was only later that I found out that it was an award winning eatery. Great !!

The food is delicious and cozy atmosphere.

Food is amazing, place is pretty nice. Vegan, Vegetarian and gluten free options. Wash your hands and get ready!

Special lovely restaurant in town. Delicious

I absolutely love the food here, the service was amazing, and the vibe was perfect right next to the University Heights sign. If you don't know the area, parking may be a little tough so either Uber over ,walk, or plan to park in the surrounding neighborhood

Great Ethiopian food. A little on the pricier side. Good cocktails too!

Great food in a traditional style.

Parking is challenging, there is no dedicated parking, you need to park at neighborhood street. Food is good, we cannot stop eating.

Great Ethiopian restaurant. Very popular so make a reservation. Staff is friendly and helpful. The only down side was it was very cold inside as it was raining

The food is amazing - savory, spicy, delicious. Injera is just so tasty - this is a unique and wonderful cuisine

I get it, eat without knife and utensils. Honestly the platter of food, terrible. Ordered the Lamb - I had to put every 3rd piece in a napkin as it was not editable. Sorry Score of Zero !

We have been going to this place every other week for 5 years since we started dating. The food is outstanding. The ingredients are fresh, quality is consistent. We love the vegetarian dishes especially Tim Timo, cabbage. The staff is very friendly, ambiance is relaxing and attended mostly by worldly folks.

Great food! The owner always comes to check in on the food is! The service is fast and people are nice. Try sambusa, the eggplant and definitely get extra bread.

Amazing taste in huge portions. I’m definitely coming back again.

The food is so delicious! Highly recommend

I've never had Ethiopian food before so this was all new to me. The waiter was super patient with us and explained the different dishes and how you should eat them. He brought out a sampling of the side dishes for us to try. I absolutely loved the mushroom over spaghetti squash starter, the mushrooms were well seasoned. We also tried the cubed chicken dish (really tasty) and the beef which was not quite as good but ok. The lentils were also very good. I appreciate that the waiter brought us forks and side plates though I know that's not the norm. I just can't eat that much bread without being overly full. I'd definitely come back!

One of the best meals I've had. Amazing food, and the waitress was very good as well

My family loves Muzita's! The flavorful food, warm hospitality, and home cooked family style feel. Big thank you to Abel and family for sharing your food with us.

Best Authentic Ethiopian food hands down in San Diego! Elegant, romantic ambiance, and lovely customer service!

Best places to have Ethiopian food!

There should be a warning that the food will take over an hour. Food was just alright, but can recommend the mushroom app. Not worth the wait IMO.

Had to wait a bit over an hour for food -- even for an appetizer. Food was okay.

The food was 200% awesome... But the server's attitude was not good ! We were new here - we did order separate vegetarian and non-veg entrees .. and they just got it all in one . Which was a completely turn-off experience!

Delicious, authentic food. Great service, I went home so tired I fell asleep in the passenger seat! The food was that Delicious 😋. I adore the vegan and vegetarian options even though I do not have any dietary restrictions, I just know many people who do and it seems like a great restaurant for them.

The tables were heated, the food was delicious, and the server was friendly. Amazing experience as always

I went here with some friends for a my birthday dinner and got a chicken, veggie, and lamb dish. Soooo bomb! And our server Elizabeth was so great, she brought out some of the last honey wine(delish) with a crème brûlée for my birthday with a candle. So sweet and she explained every dish very well. Will be coming back!

Really nice place, the owner came out and chatted with us multiple times. New way to have dinner for sure. The Injera was so outside of the box for my standard fare. The food is served platter style so everyone shares. We went here the night before a wedding and it was a nice way to get to know the families of the bride and groom. Would love to go again if i visit the West coast again.

The place is a bit dark but they have nice ambient. The food was really good. And the service was friendly

Food is good. But service is slow. I have been here twice and I had to wait for one hour both time. Took us more than half an hour to get a table when we already had a reservation and after ordering the service was slow. After ordering we had to remind servers again for all our orders and even for spoons and breads. When asked about the wait time server said “ you are not the only one here, we are trying “. I didn’t like it.

Be prepared for a long wait(30 mins min.) to be seated even after a reservation. The service is even slower. After ordering, took another 45 mins to receive the starters. No drinks were served until asked. Food was only good thing. But then, we had to continuously ask for things and wait for it.

Lookn for quality Ethiopian cuisine? Look no further. I highly recommend it.

One of the items we had, actually multiple days, was shiro sika, it was truly the best shiro I have had! I am super sad that I live in Missouri and can make this my regular hangout. If I could, I would!

Nice Ethiopian restaurant Visited several times

Great vegan options and super friendly service!! Loved it

Très bon et copieux. Belle découverte.

Eating with family and their various food allergies and dietary restrictions is challenging. However we found this place a good compromise. The meal is served family style where we all picked from a large platter. The vegan gluten free bread looked like bandages. A green salad was the centerpiece surrounded by vegetables and other dishes . The flavors blended together. Tasty and fulfilling. Great neighborhood!

Sembusa with potato filling is very good and the vegetarian curry with zucchini and mushrooms were also very good. I was hoping that they had a platter which includes all the curries in smaller quantities but they have only an entree that comes with a side, you will have to add additional sides.

Love this restaurant!! Food is so delicious!! Can’t have enough of it! I tried mostly everything vegetarian/vegan & it was sooo good!

First timer and I loved it. Delicious food, so flavorful.

Friendly staff, great selections, interesting story behind the food, and overall great experience! Came here for a shared celebration with my family and we were more than satisfied. Their portions were plentiful and the food was well seasoned. Definitely recommend. The only issue I had was parking was hard to find.

Ambiance was nice and the food tasted okay. I had really high hopes that I would love the Ethiopian restaurant near my house but unfortunately I was mistaken. We ordered one okra appetizer and a lamb dish. The waiter brought us two appetizers and a chicken dish. We did not complain because we both hate to waste food but the flavors were very muted. Nothing like the Ethiopian restaurants I have visited in the past. The beers we ordered they no longer had in house so they just brought us a substitute without even checking. I definitely will not be returning. Such a bummer and now I am out $85.

A great experience with ethiopian cuisine. Delicious food served in a traditional manner with bread as utensils! Not to mention some of the best mead I have ever had (ethiopian Tej). Definitely worth a try, and a recurring place to take adventurous eaters.

Love to go here whenever we are in the area, so tasty!

This was my first time experiencing Abyssinian cuisine and the food was delicious. We ordered the sambusas, Shiro + Halmi and the flavours were amazing! And oh yes the salad! Top Notch!!👌🏻

The price for what they offer is too much. Some dishes also lacked salt and taste

This place was amazing, the food was so fresh and delicious. Perfect amount of spice. What made this place my new favorite spot is that it's not just the food was amazing but the service was impressive. Our waiter Martha took the time to explain everything that we needed to know about this restaurant. She explained how to balance the flavors in the meal, she went beyond what was needed. And that honey wine is literally adult juice. I am going back again to this restaurant. Really really impressive in all facets. Thank you Martha if you're reading this.

Amazing food, but I felt they might have been understaffed.

I frequently visit Ethiopian / Eritrean Restaurants in different cities through out U.S. It was our first time at Muzita. We had a wonderful experience. Great atmosphere. Family owned. The staff is warm, kind and welcoming despite the fact they were quite busy. The food is colorful and delicious. They have excellent vegetarian options. The spicy tea and the St. Georg beer were great. I recommend to make a reservation.

I was a resident of San Diego about 8yrs ago and used to visit this place so often with friends and husband . Never once felt Unwelcome or had a bad experience . Came back here after almost 7yrs. Can’t believe I had the worst experience . The main difference between then and now was I came with my parents , kids(2) and husband . The server was not friendly , refused to give extra plates for kid when we asked. Said that it will get crowded and won’t be able to provide plates. Like not even one . There was a clear difference in attitude - it was more like hey we are a happening place and welcome the young crowd. I don’t want to see elderly and kids sitting around and eating. This is not that kind of place . I don’t even think the server wanted to be subtle about it. It was more like have your food fast and leave so I can cater to the young SD crowd. It was very shocking to see this. Food was the just ok. Probably I have gotten used to much better Ethiopian experience in bay area(walia and ensarro). When you have such a terrible experience the taste or food does not matter anymore. Customers need to be treated with respect - we pay for the food . By the way the food is so bloody expensive .

Slow service but good restaurant and tasty food

Too chaotic to eat there. Took an outdoor reservation, a day in advance, we were there 5 min early, no table and told to come back in 1/2 hour which we did and table had been given away. Give up. Disappointed.

2/8/22: a cozy Ethiopian (Abyssinian) bistro on Park Ave in University Heights. This was our first time eating this type of food and the waiter was outstanding in breaking down the menu. For starters we had the pan seared mushrooms. It comes with a flat, floppy bread that you tear up and used to scoop up the food with your fingers. For the entrée we had Shiro and Prawn. It is chickpea-based with zesty herbs white wine peppers Serano and other things mixed in to the sauce. Pretty much this was excellent. Again you use the flat bread to scoop up the food. Definitely recommend for an outside the box dining experience. By the way, one entrée with two or three sides is enough for two people

Delicious food with outstanding service, and great mix drinks, definetly reccomend!

The owner is very sweet! His food are home/ his mom-made recipes. The food is great and the ambiance is wonderful.

Amazing food and ambiance with outdoor seating options on the patio plus kind staff

The mushroom and spaghetti squash appetizer was good and unlike other Ethiopian food I've had. The fried bits of injera were a nice textural touch. I liked the beet and potato salad for its tartness, though it's a bit small (about a cup of beets and potatoes) for the $10 price. We had the beef + shiro (chickpeas) entree which was good, though a little hard to eat because there's not a lot of firmness to the stew which makes it hard to grasp with the injera. (TBH, I'm not sure if this is the nature of the shiro, the beef, or the combination of the two.) Possibly the best thing on the plate was the timtimo (red lentil) side dish. Definitely not to be missed. The lowlight of the evening was the dessert of creme brulee. It wasn't very cold which just felt wrong for creme brulee, the texture was a little less smooth than ideal, and the flavor was muted. At $9 (we didn't know the price when we ordered) that was a disappointment. Still, overall we really enjoyed our meal and are looking forward to returning and trying some new things. Update after next visit: I love the mushroom and spaghetti squash app even more than before; it was the highlight of our visit. The timtimo was good but not as amazing as I'd remembered and we ultimately regretted choosing it for both of our sides. The chicken with garlic and white wine was pretty good; it was oddly reminiscent of chicken Cacciatore (which was fine, just unexpected for Ethiopian food). The other lesson of the night is that I'm really not that into Shiro. We tried the Shiro by itself (i.e., no other items mixed with it) and it's fine, but the texture is too thin and overall I'd rather skip it next time and try something new instead. Update 2021. Had an awesome meal here. Mushroom and spaghetti squash appetizer, sambusa trio (replaced collard greens and spinach with a second chicken, though TBH the veggie one was even better), and siga kiwa beef entree with red lentils. Everything was awesome. 10/10 would order the same thing again!

Amazing fusion Ethiopian food, the mushroom appetizer and veg dishes were fantastic. Lamb was slightly over cooked.

Amazing customer service! Chui was super nice and spent a lot of time going through the menu with us and giving us his opinion on all the dishes!

Fantastic food, decent service, and perfect portions. Highly recommend a reservation on the weekends.

I went here for my birthday with a dashing Frenchman. I Can't believe that, for 33 years, I have somehow not tasted this exquisite cuisine. You can get adequate food in lots of places but the incredible tastes from this place will make you question the idea of ever going to another restaurant again. *Ask about the fermented bread that you will receive on your plate! It's the world's smallest grain and the taste is incredible. They will show you the grain. *Try the mushroom appetizer! These were some of the most delicious and well prepared mushrooms I have ever tasted. I make mushrooms at home, quite well if I may boast, but I could not do this at home without some specific coaching. *The vegetable dishes were out of this world. I like meat and all, but you can only do so much with it. These vegetables were absolutely to die for. Don't go get a pizza, forget about the Chinese buffet, definitely steer clear of the sports bar. Come here and get a cornucopia of wonderful flavors That absolutely fills the senses with something that speaks to the origins of delicious southern food with a huge nod to the curry world. Seriously, if you are on the fence don't think twice. Just go! #LauriannaCircle #BriannaB3d #Solana

Fantastic vegan meal. Coming back for sure.

I’ve been coming here for years and I’m here now. So delicious and I can’t wait to dig in. The tsebi dohro (?)and mama’s choice are my go to. The sour bread is my favorite thing. Outside dining patio has been available BC (before covid).

LOVED THE FOOD! Oh my god, so delicious! Ordered three vegetarian dishes - Mama’s fool, Kantisha Kilwa and Shiro with sides - Timtimo and Alitcha Atakilto. All the dishes came in one large plate and the entire experience was so unique. The waiting is a bit long but totally worth it! Should definitely give it a try.