Guide to the best Ethiopian restaurants in London

Wolkite is a destination for Ethiopian food London diners are willing to travel to. The venue is right next to Emirates Stadium and has a simple contemporary look. The menu at this friendly restaurant concentrates on generous portions of classic Ethiopian dishes served on injera bread. Ethiopian alcohol is available to complete the experience.

Ethiopian food is served at Addis, a spacious and bustling restaurant in King's Cross. The interior features traditional decor along with earthy textures and colours. The unique menu blends Ethiopian traditions with Western style to make this cuisine accessible. Expect classic recipes as well as unexpected options like falafel.

Camberwell's Zeret Kitchen is a popular choice for Ethiopian food. This local eatery is fuss-free and has outdoor tables too. A curated menu of classic dishes is served here including beef, chicken, lamb, and vegan options. Try a beyaynetu combination platter to really get a feel for the food here.

Female-owned Mesi's Kitchen serves Ethiopian cuisine in Holloway Road. This local restaurant is cosy and compact, dishing up heaped portions of flavoursome meat and vegan stews, known as wat, for you to eat by hand. Options include simmered split peas and marinated cubes of chicken. This is comforting food served in a welcoming environment.

Ethiopian cuisine is often popular with plant-based diners and at Beza the menu is 100% vegan-friendly. This welcoming family-run restaurant specialises in traditional injera bread topped with various classic recipes. Lots of veggies and pulses are on the curated menu here. Beer and wine are available to pair with a meal.

At Blue Nile you get a dining experience that feels genuine and authentic. The space is decorated in a traditional style and there's outdoor seating too. Classic Ethiopian and Eritrean recipes are the focus here, with meat and veggie options available. The bar serves a varied range of drinks including draft beer.

North London restaurant The Queen of Sheba sources ingredients directly from Ethiopia for truly authentic flavours. The dining space is simple and classic whilst the menu includes a wide variety of typical recipes. Meat, fish, and vegetarian choices are served with injera bread; gluten-free bread is available too. Ethiopian beers, tej, and global wines are served.

Andu Ethiopian Vegan Café is a popular place to eat in Kingsland Road. The food is entirely plant-based and is ideal if you're new to Ethiopian cuisine, as well as for long-term fans. Six traditional dishes are available served with rice or injera bread. You can also try a sampler of them all. This modest eatery lets you BYOB.

Authentic Ethiopian meals are available at Agelgil. Ordering here means you're signing up for injera flatbread piled high with your choice of meat, veg, and pulses dishes. Diners are encourage to share in the traditional way. The dining space is modest with a decorative bar. Takeaways and catering are also available.

South London restaurant Addis Vegan Kitchen is a down-to-earth restaurant that serves vegan Ethiopian cuisine and lets you BYOB. The style here is rustic with traditional touches all over the place. Choose an individual wat with injera or get a beyaynetu combination of dishes to fully explore these flavours.

Marathon Restaurant is popular with diners in North London. This place is vibrant and evocative, serving a traditional menu full of rich spices and flavours. Classic recipes like shiro, kitfo, tibs, and dulet are on the menu, ideally paired with an Ethiopian beer. Live music is on here every Saturday.

Merkato takes its name from a famous market in Addis Ababa. It specialises in Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine, served in a vibrant space with colourful lights and pavement tables. You can try classic dishes such as kitfo or shiro, as well as traditional honey wine, Ethiopian beers, and an Ethiopian coffee ceremony to round off your meal.

Enat Guada serves home-cooked Ethiopian food in a setting that's down-to-earth and low-key. A concise selection of traditional dishes are on the menu, including a number of plant-based options. Food like shiro, sautéed spinach, and tibs are served with either rice or traditional injera bread.

West London's Flamingo has a vibrant interior with Ethiopian art on the walls. The menu is exciting too - expect colourful traditional dishes that are great for sharing in a group. A variety of wat made with meat, pulses, or vegetables are served here, to be eaten by hand with spongy injera.

Jojo's Kitchen serves Ethiopian and Eritrean food in a venue near Finsbury Park. It's a welcoming family-run restaurant with evocative and earthy decor. Authentic and traditional dishes are on the menu, with plenty to choose from for omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans. Ethiopian beer is also served here.

Based in Islington, Yeshi is a friendly place for trying classic Ethiopian cooking. This spacious and straightforward restaurant serves up big portions of traditional dishes. Choose something like fosolia, kitfo, or mesir wat, or try a beyaynetu platter for a small taste of everything. This place has a relaxed atmosphere.

Buna serves fresh and vibrant Ethiopian dishes in Holloway. It's an understated spot with red carpeting and traditional art in the dining room. A broad variety of plant-based and meat-centric dishes are served here. Some of the classic dishes on offer are gomen, dulet, and shiro.

Get some of Brixton's most in-demand Ethiopian cooking at Adam's Ethiopian Restaurant. This low-key spot began as a bakery and is now a casual restaurant with a humble look. Typical dishes are served at this family-run establishment like wat packed with spices. Choose a single wat or get a combination for the full experience.

Harar shares its name with a city in Ethiopia and it specialises in fresh dishes from the country. The varied menu of classic recipes includes vegan, spicy, and mild dishes, as well as gluten-free injera. Order a beyaynetu if you can't pick just one dish. The restaurant has a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. 

No-frills local restaurant Orit is family-run and feels unpretentious. The menu is all about classic Ethiopian recipes served in the traditional way with injera. Dishes include kitfo, doro wat, and a vegetarian yetsom beyaynetu platter for when you can't decide what to order.

Kokeb brings classic flavours from Ethiopia to North London. This award-winning eatery is well-established in Islington and has a traditional but understated interior. Generous portions of home cooking are served here, with favourites like doro tibs and atakilt on the menu. There are plenty of vegetarian options and a choice of drinks too. 

Located in Cricklewood, Abyssinia is considered to be London's oldest Ethiopian restaurant. It's been established for decades and has a lively party atmosphere with regular live music performances. A varied range of traditional dishes are served here, including choices for vegetarians and vegans.

Established in 2013, Gebeta serves Ethiopian cuisine in a colourful setting. It's also well-known for its catering services. At this bustling and friendly restaurant you can try traditional recipes prepared with fresh ingredients. The affordable menu is all about classic wat served with injera bread.

Engocha serves an inclusive menu of Ethiopian food in North London. This casual family-run restaurant is completely vegan, even dishing up traditionally meaty dishes prepared with tofu instead. Gluten-free injera is available as well. The restaurant is understated and cosy but takeaways are also available.