LA's Ethiopian Restaurants

In addition to the same old Ethiopian fare, Rosalind's offers a few menu items inspired by the cuisines of Ghana, Nigeria, and parts of West and South Africa. You won't … find pilli pilli sauce or yam balls on the menus at the other Fairfax restaurants, though those aren't necessarily the strengths here. The atmosphere at Rosalind's is unlike any of the other restaurants -- there's an edgy intensity to the place and the service isn't as warm as at most of its neighboring restaurants. They do, however, have a full bar and turn into a nightclub on the weekends, which makes the place worth checking out. [link]

A poem for Rahel: "How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I love thee to the depth and breadth and height my soul can reach." Hey, that's catchy, and it perfectly … sums up my boundless love for this relatively new and long overdue addition to Fairfax Boulevard's Ethiopian offerings. Rahel is the only vegan Ethiopian restaurant in town, and while there's no meat or dairy on the menu, your options are definitely not limited. In addition to the half dozen or so stews offered by the other restaurants on the block, Rahel offers a number of dishes you won't find elsewhere. Everything is cooked with olive and grapeseed oil, their injera is all grain, and their recipes are exquisite, plus you won't leave feeling stuffed and incapacitated the way you might after eating stews made with ghee at nearby establishments. [link]

At the southern end of the Fairfax strip lies Nyala, a sprawling, well-lit restaurant that arguably attracts the most "newbies" to Ethiopian cuisine. Recipes seem watered … down, a complimentary hummus-like appetizer is served alongside what appears to be thinly sliced pita bread, and you're more likely to see confused out-of-towners and hipster birthday parties happening here than anywhere else. I tend to like it dirty -- or at least, rustic -- and Nyala is my least favorite of the Fairfax offerings. [link]

This is a favorite along the strip. The menu offers the usual suspects like chicken, beef, and lamb stews, but also brags that their vegetarian dishes are 100% vegan. The … food is very good, the atmosphere strives for exoticness, and they offer a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony with home-toasted beans. [link]

For a long time, the rustic, cramped Merkato was my favorite Ethiopian restaurant on Fairfax. In addition to having the best recipes and great prices, I loved the … umbrellas hanging upside down from the ceiling, the handcrafted, vibrantly colored woven tables down the center of the restaurant, the connected market, and the fact that it was always full of Ethiopians, which I took as a good sign in terms of culinary authenticity. While my love for Merkato has been stolen by Rahel across the street, it's still a great spot for wot. [link]

People freak out about this place. Even Jonathan Gold called Genet Agonafer's doro wot "jaw-droppingly good." The restaurant is more bistro-like than its Little Ethiopia … counterparts, with white walls, tablecloths, and cloth napkins. Understated, quiet, and romantic, prices are quite a bit higher here, and the menu includes non-Ethiopian dishes such as linguine with orange sauce and Italian chicken. [link]

This Culver City Ethiopian restaurant mixes it up with a section of the menu devoted to southern-style soul food, so you can get macaroni & cheese with your doro wot. … Also part of the experience here: live music and comedy acts. [link]

Another restaurant that's "off the strip," Ibex is a haven for the city's Ethiopian cabbies. Located in an Inglewood strip mall, what you see is what you get -- authentic … dishes at inexpensive prices. Like a number of other Ethiopian restaurants, they offer a few Italian-inspired (Mussolini's Italy briefly occupied the country) options such as spaghetti alongside their traditional stews. [link]

Randomly located in Culver City, a stone's throw from Sony, this Ethiopian hole-in-the-wall on Washington Boulevard offers an extensive, traditional menu. The studio … crowd can take advantage of their weekday lunch buffet, and locals can enjoy live, African-influenced jazz on Friday and Saturday nights. They even serve Ethiopian breakfast dishes such as Kinche: cracked wheat grits cooked with spiced butter. [link]

Ethiopian food is known for being "reasonably" priced, but this place is just plain cheap. It's sort of like fast food: really inexpensive (I'm talking about combo plates … for around $4), really fast, and served on disposable plates. If the craving strikes and you're in a rush, E&M is the place to go. [link]

Located south of Little Ethiopia on Pico, Awash is a well-kept secret. There are even bars on the windows, and the oft-closed door gives the impression that no one is … home, but oh yes, they are home and cooking. If you poke your head in, you'll notice that it's usually packed with happy regulars, and if you venture to a table, you're in for a treat. Their recipes are spoken of in hushed tones, with dishes like awaze tibbs inducing absolute speechlessness. For what it's worth, the restaurant is just next door to the India Sweet House, also a must-try. [link]