Review The Abyssinian - Melbourne

So, so good! Staff were friendly, food feels like a warm hug, atmosphere felt like we were all old friends! Can't wait to be back! Highly recommend the fish, cabbage, all the lentil curries!

Super lovely decorated venue. Amazing food quality and friendly staff. Very authentic. Will definitely go back to try more dishes. RECOMMEND!

We dined in on a sat night, our seating was outside but it is warm enough for a winter night! Ordered the meat platter, it's definitely enough to feed 2 and well priced, great presentation and the staff delivered excellent service.

Come with an empty belly! Even so we would still be waddling out of there with food coma after indulging in the generous Chef's Platter. It's the best way to sample a little of everything but the fish! Oh that fish! It was so good I left no morsel behind. The sour taste of the airy Injera (bread) complements the veg and meat dishes satisfyingly. The Platter for 1 though is enough for two people and they do cater for allergies and food preferences. Love the vibe of this casual spot, decked out with memorabilia and styles reminiscent of Southern Africa. Friendly service throughout the night despite how packed the place was. Melbourne's blessed with a few African restaurants and The Abyssinian is a definite gem.

Went as a group of 5 people and everyone left very happy and very full! We ordered 2 chef's platters, the vegan and the meat, vegetarian, poultry and fish platters, as well as extra Injera bread. You can adjust the serving size to suit (e.g. meat platter was for 3, veg platter for 2). Every dish was delicious, but I think the Asa Kulwha was the highlight. The fish was cooked perfectly and the sauce was just so tasty. The service is excellent and the crew got everyone in the restaurant to sing "Happy Birthday" for our friend! Great work Team Abyssinian. We will be back! Highly recommended!

This, just now, was sensational. The Abyssinian, On Racecourse Rd, Flemington, near the corner of Rankin Street, where we’re staying. We shared a Platter for One, $24 with a little extra dish of Zucchini $9 and it was so generous we just couldn’t finish. It was a flood of flavours, subtle and bold, and great textures. The abundant bread, made from a grain called Tef, the little stainless bowls with small servings of two lamb dishes, chicken, fish, the fava beans, lentils and Daal (or Daal-like dish). Sitting outside on a balmy night on one of Melbourne’s glorious long Summer days. The service was great too. Five stars.

Super impressed 😄 will be back when we come anywhere near Melbourne again. Servers were lovely, the lamb dishes were the most succulent and amazing 🤤

Having been to their sister restaurant, Little Africa, years ago, was thrilled to find this gem with even better ambience and the equally fine and delicious fare. Tried the mixed platter and loved every dish, with the fish and lamb dishes being the stand out!

Always love a meal here! Delicious food, great atmosphere and friendly staff. I recommend the vegetarian platter! My go to dish when I bring friends and family.

I love me some habesha food, and this place topped it. The atmosphere was nothing short of incredible. My partner is South African and had never tried Ethiopian/Eritrean food before; let me just say, he absolutely devoured it and constantly reminds me that we must return. No more Footscray, the Abyssinian is the place to be. Only downside was that I'm used to ordering (or one of my best friends who is Eritrean) cooks it for me, is doro wet and legs tibs. But it's called something different at the Abyssinian:/ also, my waiter wasn't very helpful, and somewhat lacked experience in how to serve guests and what was on the menu. I asked if they had doro wet and he didn't know what I was talking about... So if you hire those who are not habesha, then they should learn the menu better :) anyway, fantastic place, we loved it a lot. But for the amounts you pay at the end of the night, you wish they'd put more food on the plate! Also you guys should definitely sell the traditional bread cake thing you drink with the cinnamon tea!

Amazing food, wonderful hosts, great decor. This is our go-to whenever we want to show off Ethiopian food to our friends! Definitely recommend the mixed platter �

Delicious...and friendly! We have driven past this place countless times with the kids. We couldn't figure out where we wanted to eat night out just the two of us. I looked this place up - best decision.

Had a great time tonight, the food was super quick with very generous portions...staff were fun, kind and helpful. Beautiful spicey dishes, and a fun experience eating with your hands. Will definitely recommend, thankyou!

Awesome experience, warm welcome, food was fantastic and would even cater well to vegetarians. Would definitely recommend!

The food was amazing. Spicy, Tangy, hot... It's such an amazing array of vegetables, meat, poultry dishes served on traditional fermented Ethiopian bread. Courteous ever smiling staff that are so helpful make the experience even better. Must visit. #localguide

The food was devine, the beer amazing, and the staff wonderful!

From service to food to cultural experience Thank you � Best food yummy

Amazing food. Great people. Friendly atmosphere. Was there 2 years ago - but won't be waiting that long again.

Great welcoming feeling and wonderful service. Food, as always was delicious. Inexpensive fulfilling meal in totally relaxing surrounds. 👍👍

Best fish ever....beer to match...staff friendly... atmosphere +++

The waiters are wonderful and hilarious, the food is abundant and delicious and they gave me a bottle of wine for my birthday.

Top friendly service great food , highly recommend and will definitely return

Very delicious south african food! Love it! Totally recommend it!

I don't often give somewhere 5 stars. The man (owner i think) was extremely friendly and shared with us books to look at and had a great conversation. We also loved the food and having huge vegan variety. Will defiantly be back and telling lots of people. Thanks

So much food really great went home very full at very good price

The food, the people and the ambiance is amazing, best Ethiopian food around

Dined at Saba’s Ethiopian on a Tuesday evening. Having only tried Ethiopian cuisine a few times I was excited to immerse myself in the full experience and try some new and interesting dishes once again. <br/>🍴 love injera and the amount of vegetarian options on the menu. Filling food and lots to choose from. <br/>💁🏼‍♀️ service was very good. Greeted immediately upon entering and our drinks/ food were ordered quickly.

Delicious food and humble service making you feel like you’re at home!<br/>We ordered the plate for 2 on injera and loved it!<br/>The beers are also great and really cheap.

The best Ethiopian food I’ve ever had and very welcoming staff. We got the meat injera platter and my god the chicken and pumpkin were amazing. I have no idea how they cooked the chicken so juicy and full of flavour. I live in the south east but it’s always worth the trip.

My friend recommended this place. Finally I decided to try it. The service was good. Busy cozy restaurant. But maybe African food does not suit me. I personally prefer Indian food. But it is fun to try out.

Great African Ethiopian restaurant - worthwhile checking out if you haven’t tried. Get the platter to share as you get to try a little bit of everything from the ribs to the fish, all accompanied with the spongy Injera flatbread 😋

The epitome of an excellent experience. Joseph the owner was super polite and really friendly. Food was 10/10. Would recommend this place to anyone

Anyone that follows Melbourne Culture Eats knows full well Ethiopian is our absolute favorite cuisine in the world. We have explored many many Ethiopian eats across Melbourne and we will be honest this wasn't one we would return too.<br/><br/>The serving portions were very small as to what we have had in the past at other Ethiopian Restaurants across Melbourne for the money we paid. <br/><br/>May I add - the fitout and the atmosphere of the Restaurant was beautiful - but what we felt disappointing is no Ethiopians were eating at this Restaurant. <br/>The service was also super quick! But that also for us questions how fresh the food is and how long it had been sitting there. <br/><br/>What did we order you ask...<br/>🍴: Chefs Choice with mix of Goat, Beef, Fish and Vegetarian⁣ <br/>⁣<br/>💰: $$ ⁣<br/><br/>To end - this is not a restaurant we would return to. <br/><br/>Follow Melbourne Culture Eats on Instagram & Facebook for the best world eats in Melbourne.

<br/>I’ve not eaten at an Ethiopian restaurants and this was a brilliant first experience. The food was amazing. Firstly the decor is so amazing. Gives the place a real comfortable and inviting ambience. I had the Zighini and it was delicious. Finished off with creme caramel. Staff were lovely. Helpful and quick to serve. Plus patient as I didn’t know what to order. Highly recommend you visit this restaurant to explore different food and different culture. Wheelchair friendly. Kid friendly.Pram and stroller accessible. Parking isn’t too bad.

Best Ethiopian food you can find in Australia, outstanding customer service and the ambience reflects the lifestyle of the Ethiopia. FYI Abyssinia is the old name of Ethiopia.

Okay so we were looking high and low for Ethiopian food in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne but it was so difficult to find any, the closest on Google was the Abyssinian. I called the shop up and asked if KITFO and Tibs were served as it wasn’t printed on the menu. Fortunately, they said they have it as a dish you order if you know what you were looking for!! Yay!!!! My ears were so delighted, soon my tastebuds would be next. Off we went to Flemington during peak hour traffic, through the tollway, across bolte bridge, into Flemington’s exit.. yippee.. we arrived at a quaint row of shops. As we entered the Abyssinian, we were welcomed with a soft breeze of ber ber spices. This tantalised the hairs on the neck and tickled my nose! So, Kitfo , what is that? Think fresh, very fresh steak tartare. With a bit of butter/traditional cheese/fat, mixed with Ethiopian ber ber spice mix. You tear a piece of room temperature Injera (think thick blanket of pancake/or dosai apam/ apam Balik)... amazing.. delicious, fresh, pure beefy flavours.. ask for this next time you’re in a Ethiopian restaurant, ask for RAW.. You’ll get the best!

I love this place! Such awesome food to share with friends and family. I came here with a group of friends and we had a great time. The food was really delicious, reasonably priced and the service was great.<br/>Definitely a winner in my books.

A very cosy dining experience! As a group of five, we had a mixed platter for two, with another lamb main and eggplant entree. More than enough to fill us up. Very delightful flavours. Warm and amicable service, and to top it off it, came to less than $20 per person! Places like this remind me of how lucky we are to be in Melbourne where we can experience top quality food from an array of cultures in a congenial atmosphere.

First time trying Ethiopian food, thankfully I tried it at Abyssinian. Each dish was delicious, portion size was just right for me, but could become huge if you add one additional injera. Injera wasn’t sour, but was just right. Finish it off with sticky date pudding, yum!

Magnificent! My favourite Etheopian restaurant so far. Love the chef's platter and they were happy accommodate for any dietary requirements. Nice people, great service and great atmosphere.

Had a wonderful dining experience. The waiters were so friendly and easy to talk to. Great authentic food packed full of flavour. Definitely will come back

Love this place! Huge authentic dishes, great to share and friendly staff. The injera bread has a brilliant acidity to it, perfect with the savoury meat and curries atop it. Will be back

My family and I celebrated a birthday today and we had a wonderful time at The Abyssinian. The staff were very friendly and helpful, the food was amazing and the ambiance was great. Highly recommended!

Food, vibe, customer service—ALL ON POINT! This is one of my favourite restaurants, you must dine here. Caters to meat-lovers AND vegetarians, you cannot go past their renowned platters served on injera, their hole-y fermented flat bread. Be prepared to eat with your hands :D

We love going here. Great tasty food at a reasonably price and friendly welcome from the owner. Highly recommend as a fantastic midweek option.

The Abyssinian epitomises so many of the reasons why I love Melbourne. There are few other cities in the world where “Eritean” or “Ethiopian” is a perfectly legitimate response to the age old question of “What shall we have for dinner?”. I had no idea that Eritea was even a country until I dined here, and I can’t think of a better circumstance to learn about another country than through food.

First time experience a dining experience like the Abyssinian and it did not disappoint. Based on recommendations we ordered “the combination “ to share. All the dishes where delicious. Highly recommend dining with someone you’re comfortable sharing food with and ok sharing a meal you eat with your hands.

Delicious! Would absolutely come back! Food was so good and not too spicy. Service was brilliant and lovely wait staff. Drinks reasonable. Not many dessert options.

This was a great experience! Go with friends (not an ideal first date place I wouldn't have thought!) and get your hands into some of the most interesting and flavour packed food you'll find. Personal favourites on the chefs platter (best way to try a large variety of dishes) were the goat and fish dishes. Loved the staff and feel there and will definitely take some more friends there. Wines and beers available for $6 (no byo).

We have been dining here for five years and celebrate our anniversary here every year.<br/><br/>We order the same dish every year and cannot fault it.<br/>The mixed platter is absolutely amazing with a great variety of vegetarian and meat dishes, refreshing salad, and beautiful crepe like pieces to pick it all up! Eating with your hands, every bite is full of flavour.<br/>Fantastic value at $60 for two adults - the large share platter plus a glass of wine each.<br/><br/>Highly recommend and can’t wait to continue our tradition :)

This is one of my favorite Ethiopian restaurants in Melbourne. It’s a cosy, clean & busy restaurant in Flemington. I always choose the vegetarian chef platter & I love it how they serve the platter with a side salad in the centre to add freshness. Yum yum.

Very good food, nice and friendly staff, and good price. What else do you need? :) We ate there vegetarian combination for 2 people which includes I think 6 different curries, a salad and special bread. The portion was very big and we couldn't finish it although we tried hard :)

My goodness, what perfect food! What perfect ambiance! What perfect customer service! Cannot fault it! YUMMMMMM.<br/><br/>Thanks so much for a wonderful experience. We will be back!

This is my first African experience for me. As you walk in, you are already like in Africa. We had the set platter for 2 which is pretty amazing. Food was good, and very filling. Price definitely worth your money. Give it a try if you are looking for an African experience.

Absolutely delicious, if you haven't tried African food before then do yourself a favour - get the tasting plates, excellent variety and very good value. Some great Ethiopian beers to try as well. Its a bit more expensive than similar places in Footscray, but it is cleaner looking with a much nicer ambience.

Fantastic food....very tasty, cooked well, serviced nicely in very generous portions.  The vegetarian food was especially good and illustrates how to cook vegetarian food without resorting to spinach and cheese ravioli or some other lazy chef option.   The waiter was lovely and made great beer and wine suggestions.  Was busy on a cold Monday night and I can see why. Will definitely go back. Thanks for a great meal.

Delicious food, great portion sizes and lovely service! We had the vegan platter options which was delicious and really filling. Good range of important Ethiopian beers!

Amazing Ethiopian cuisine. Multiple dishes served on top of injera. Eat with your hands. Great vegetarian options!<br/>A great place to bring family and friends

I love this place! The menu option where they load you up with meat/ vegetarian / fish curries and just allow you to dig in. It's a bit of fun in a large group too. Everything is reasonably priced and customer service is always pleasant. Wine list was good, could be slightly improved with quality wines. Definitely returning again!

We got takeaway from here the other night- the vegan platter. It was AWESOME. So much food and just delicious! Everyone was happy and it's very good value for money. The staff were so lovely when I came to pick it up- they even helped me carry the food to my car (they were big platters). I'm definitely coming back. Thanks guys, great food and service :)

I had great expectations regarding this place and it didn't disappoint! It's one of these places you actually feel you are having dinner in another country. Starting with the super cool african decor, music, the actual food and even the way you are supposed to eat ( with your hands). We had one of the chef's platter that consisted of 9 different dishes (lamb, goat, chicken, fish plus 5 vegetarian ones) seated on a bed of bread. It's a lot of food but we managed to smash it since everything on that plate was delicious! Simple food, tasty and with just the perfect amount of spices. I almost felt sick to be honest because I couldn't stop eating even though I was already completely full. Service was prompt, quick and super friendly! Music was lovely but they could put a little bit up so we don't hear the whole conversation from patrons next to us.

I went here for a Meetup last night. I've had Ethiopian food twice before, the first time was at an Ethiopian restaurant in Fitzroy which was pretty average and the second time was home cooked food given to me by a friend which was amazing. The Abyssinian was somewhere in between. The restaurant was dimly light with cool Ethiopian artifacts. It was a bit squishy at first when I sat down but I got used to it. <br/><br/>Our whole table ordered the meat, fish and vegetables share platter. There was 10 of us and 3 share platters which was enough. I was a bit skeptical about eating with my hands especially with people I didn't know that well but we could pick up most of the food with injera bread. I had to wipe my hands on the serviette a few times but other than that it wasn't too messy. The vegetation dishes were 2 lentil dishes which were both yummy, especially the red one and an enjoyable pumpkin dish, my only complaint was that the pumpkin should've been cut into smaller pieces to make it easier to eat with the hands. The meat dishes were a goat 🐐 dish, chicken and some red meat, The lamb dish was yummy but it could've done with more spice and it had an unusual stock cube like flavour. The chicken and goat were my favourites. I forgot what fish they had but it was one of my favorite dishes of the night, it had a nice tomatoey type of sauce. I found the food in this platter not to be spicy, I haven't eaten Ethiopian food a lot but from the home cooking I've had I was expecting it to be spicer. <br/><br/>Even though we were full after the platters we were seduced by the $5 desserts. I wasn't expecting quality from the $5 price tag though and I was right with my crème caramel 🍮, it was the one you buy from the supermarket hahaha. The tiramisu looked yummy and the people eating it enjoyed it. The sticky date pudding wasn't on the menu but that was a special that they had, they were huge, there's no way I'd order a sticky after a very filling meal. I did try some and it was delicious, the sticky date pudding looked homemade. When we got the bill we saw that the prices of the desserts had increased, the crème caramel is not worth a cent over $5, if they want to charge more they need to start making it in the restaurant. We said something about the price increase because it wasn't on the menu and they charged us $5 for the desserts. <br/><br/>The drinks here were priced well, $6 for a nice glass of South African rosé was great value. Some of the people at the table ordered some Ethiopian beer and they all liked it, they said it was very light tasting. They do have Australian beers for people who don't like Ethiopian beer (cascade light for my dad hahaha). Some of the people working here were friendly enough but I also found some of them to be aloof. When we went to wash our hands at the end of the night we found no soap in the bathroom. I would like to come back here with friends, I'd struggle to bring my family because they wouldn't want to eat with their hands. With Nikki

One of my new favourite restaurants! My partner and I went here for dinner last week and it was delicious! <br/><br/>Service was absolutely perfect with the main guy friendly and attentive. <br/><br/>Ordered the mix platter for two and it was more than enough and we couldn't even finish the plate! Ordered some beers around Africa/Ethiopia recommended by the waiter and they were incredible. <br/><br/>Would love to come back with some family/friends to show it off and impress everyone.

Came here with my husband - it was our second time eating Ethiopian food and it was even better than the first. We had the meat fish and vegetables platter and everything was cooked to perfection and full of flavour, served on the delicious airy, spongy, Ethiopian flat bread (injera). Ambiance and décor was nice and quite cosy and service was friendly and fast. Great value for money - we had a huge "platter for 2" which we couldn't finish (even though we are big eaters), an Ethiopian beer (fresh and flavoursome), a glass of Pinot noir, and a dessert we shared - all for $68. The only disappointment was the dessert (tiramisu) but hey this isn't an Italian restaurant! Would definitely recommend!

Fantastic service, great ambiance! Enjoyed the flavoursome Ethiopian cuisine. We ordered a big platter consisting of a different mix of different dishes and was not disappointed! Everything was packed with flavour and spices!

This place is the bomb diggity. The size of the plates themselves (a mini satellite dish) is already promising. The atmosphere is great - warm, friendly and cosy. It's been a while since I had injera and this place made me fall in love with them again! It was so spongey and aerated and pleasantly sour. All the dips and sauces were delicious - my favourite was the pumpkin and the fish. Eat with your hands and don't be afraid to get dirty.

I met a group of friends here for dinner last night. The service was excellent and the food exceptional. My friend and I ordered a meat banquet consisting of lamb, goat, chicken and fish. It also had salad and a flat spongy sour bread as a base on the large tray that the food was served on. <br/><br/>We ate with our fingers (first time for me) which was fine, although some wet hand wipes would have been great. <br/><br/>The tray of food didn't look that big but whoa, when you started eating it was a lot of food. I reckon that you could easily feed 3-4 ppl with one tray. In fact my friend and I were the only ppl at our table who finished their banquet. Something that we were quiet proud of but OMGosh I was stuffed haha <br/><br/>All good. The only unfortunate part of the night was the Ethiopian beer that I ordered. Eek!! I appreciate that this country is not known for its beer but I'm always keen to try different beers. <br/><br/>My beer tasted and I don't mean to be rude but it tasted like their was sand in it, as it was gritty and it tasted dirty. It was sour and to be honest this was the first beer in my life that I couldn't drink. And that is saying a lot as I like my beers lol<br/><br/>I asked some friends to try my beer and the consensus was the same. Oh well. <br/><br/>Otherwise this was a great night. Maybe I'll order a glass of wine next time haha <br/><br/>This place is worth a visit and for $60 including drinks for 2 people, really good value 😊

- Atmosphere 4/5<br/>- Service/Staff: 3/5 <br/>- Food: 5/5<br/>• Value for money: 5/5 <br/><br/>• Revisit? YES!<br/>• Must order: Don't miss on the Foul Moudames and Lamb if you're either getting entrees or a banquet. <br/><br/>What can I say? A few of my friends wanted to have Ethiopian in ages. Finally we came across this tiny rich flavored African food spot. In regards to food, no complaints AT ALL! Every single dish was superb (some better than other ofcourse). But nothing was just average or meh. However, the only reason I didn't give this review a 5 is the service. These guys are TOO busy, it wasn't a bad experience, but it gets a little annoying when no one can actually take a request from you. Or if they take ages to bring something you've asked for. For me, reviews are always predominantly about food. But I had to mention the service issue here in peak times. Maybe that night they were under-staffed? They should consider one more person at least! 😅. A lovely bunch of workers tho! Thanks for the amazing food ✌🏽

This place has received good reviews for many reasons. Very delicious food, generous portion, friendly services. It looks small from the outside but spacious inside that can accommodate large groups. If you don't feel comfortable sharing and using hands, it's not a place for you. It has warm and unpretentious atmosphere. We were so full, could not finish our food. Next time would order less.

The food was absolutely amazing! Very large servings, very cheap. The service was fantastic and the restaurant had a great atmosphere. Awesome range with delicious options for a vegan and a meat eater!

This is my favourite restaurant in Melbourne!Whenever a friend comes from out of town I take them here to show off the food.The staff are super friendly and remembered who I was from the second time I came in.We always order the meat share plate and it is absolutely amazeballs!great bang for your buck too considering the quality and amount of food you get!

There is just something liberating about eating with your hands, well in this case using the injera bread as a scoop. We selected the chefs mixed platter comprising of lamb, goat, fish, chicken (reads like Noah's ark) and some veggies being a kind of spiced pumpkin and lentils along with a salad. All very tasty all though not a fan of the goat. Plenty of food for $45 for 2 people and could not finish it. Next time will also try the Italian desserts in reference to Ethiopia being occupied and Eritrea being colonised by the Italians.

What: A reminder of why, however tasty, I only eat food from the Horn of Africa once every few years. Bloat score: 5 – So full of gas I floated home like a hot air balloon. There’s something about the experience of eating with your hands that is nostalgic, memorable and intoxicating all at once. Although I am accustomed to eating with my hands at home, using my expertly trained fingers to scoop up perfectly spherical mounds of rice mixed in with curries and pickles, a sense of inhibition overcomes me when dining in Indian restaurants. I surrender to the cold, mechanical surfaces of a fork and spoon, wincing whenever it clanks clumsily against my plate and never fully giving into the experience as I do when I’m able to lick my fingers after a meal.

Friendly atmosphere & service. Amazing collection of meats, beans, veges & spices on the platter. Ethopian beers aren't bad either. Had a selection of them. Enjoy

Love this place for it's delicious food and great atmosphere, have been with kids as well as adults only, and everytime is a treat! Have nit had a bad meal here, so much excellent food it is hard to pinpoint any particular faves

Best food and atmosphere in Kensington . I come here almost weekly and it feels like home. No wonder they're always busy. The staff are laid back, funny yet attentive.

The saying; Good things come to those who wait, has never been more apt than when describing the slow cooked, quickly served food at The Abyssinian.<br/><br/>The vibrant flavors that are expressed in the restaurants signature share platters are a must have for anyone trying African for the first or fiftieth time. The delicious food combined with its modest prices and  strangely homely vibe will make this an enjoyable night for you and your friends. <br/><br/>This is a restaurant for those of you who want to have your food take you on an adventure. Moreover for those of you with more hygienic sensibilities prepare yourself as there isn't a utensil in sight. But eating with your hands is half the fun! <br/><br/>If you are ever in Kensington looking for somewhere to have a great meal in a different setting to the usual drawl be sure to check out The Abyssinian

Went for a friends birthday. Wow! Wonderful service! Super friendly! Very genuine and full of heart. Even when they were understaffed they made sure we had a great night! And the food, phenomenal! Actually had the best night! Can't wait to be back.

If you haven't been here. You MUST come here. If you want an authentic, friendly, incredibly well priced, tasty meal this is your place. <br/>It caters from vegetarians, vegans, meat eaters, whoever you are. <br/><br/>I say in the utmost of confidence that I have never had a bad meal. Further, what is pictured is the vegetarian/vegan plate and it is my favourite dish (it is for two). <br/><br/>I have been here a few times and will keep coming back. This place is my favourite and most consistent dining place in all of Victoria. <br/>

On Entering the Abyssinian you escape the busy traffic of Racecourse Rd and enter a cozy, tent like interior where you feel welcomed immediately. This place radiates a very communal and friendly feel which is a quintessential element of the collectivist Ethiopian culture. <br/><br/>My pilgrimage to this lovely eatery was in search of the the staple of Ethiopian cuisine, that is the Injera bread. This is a large, flat and spongy bread with a subtle tangy flavor induced by fermentation of the grain. Another reason for my search was to experience the ritual of eating without any cutlery- the injera bread is used to plate the dishes and as cutlery! <br/><br/>The best way to sample as many Ethiopian flavors as possible, we chose the chef's degustation to share. The massive plate arrives covered with a large conical shaped lid made of straw. The dish is presented, the lid is lifted and the stews are poured onto the base of injera bread. The colors are appealing and the aromas are enticing. In a circular composition we were served eight dishes including: goat, lamb stew, fish stew, chicken stew, pumpkin, beans/lentils and a salad in the center. These dishes were warmly spiced and caressed by slow fire creating melt in the mouth textures! The ritual of devouring this dish involved tearing the soft injera bread and using this to scoop the stews into your mouth- this is not only a flavorful experience but one that allows a sensual intimacy between yourself and the food as it allows you to touch and feel the textures and temperatures! <br/><br/>What a cultural and spiritual culinary experience! <br/><br/>

This Abyssinian is a regular eating place for my group of friends, as it is for many locals in Flemington and Kensington. I love the atmosphere here, very friendly service with Jonno and Gabe getting around to everyone in the restaurant making them feel at home. Always packed when we go there - great food, eating with your fingers, and sharing the food.

Fun. Tasty. Different. If eating with your hands and getting properly involved with your food if your thing than this place is for you! The tasting place for 2 is enough for three. Might want an extra injera but all the cooked "curries" for lack of a better word, are properly delicious. The staff are lovely and attentive.

Highly recommend this lovely little restaurant. My partner and I ordered the vegan share plate for two. Absolutely amazing flavours and there is something relaxing about eating with your fingers. Cutlery was available however we chose the authentic way. Our friend also had his own platter, he also loved his food saying that his meats were so tender and he also commented on the range of flavours. Really warm ambiance with really well thought decor on the walls. We loved the Orange walls. The whole evening was well enjoyed by us <br/>and that seemed the same way by other people who looked as though everyone was having a really nice evening.

Came here on a saturday night and whilst I couldn't quite fault most of the food, the flavours weren't the same as the other time we came here. The injera wasn't as sour as it usually is (which isn't too bad). Now the only issue was that when we got the receipt they had charged us for 2 combos when we asked for 4 people with the combo which adds up to be $2 less which isn't too much but I'm regretting placing in the $2 tip now....otherwise the food was decent.

We were wanting something different and with some recommendations decided on African.The share platter for two was a great way to try out a variety on the menu. The lentils and broad beans were delicious and so too was the Goat! As the Injera bread was the only way to scoop up the food it did get abit too overpowering. Overall however a fun experience! A definate must try! #thosemelbournianfoodies

Really really good food, very different and you walk away feeling so full. Great value for money. Small little venue but cute, staff are lovely.

always flavourful and filling. great value servings. make sure you book to be seated inside. great meal out on a winters night! the house wine was not nice and that was the only downside.

Me and my gf decided to take my brother out for dinner and we opted for something new: African food. Luckily we made a reservation as the place was packed (Thursday night). We ordered the Chef's Poultry, lamb, fish and veggies combination platter for 2 and a fish dish for my gf. The food was super tasty and I personally really enjoyed the whole experience as well as the service. I don't know this cuisine but I loved every bite of it. Really generous serves, really good value for money and who knew that African beer is delicious? Great stuff!

I LOVE this place! The food is so flavourful and unique that even though I have eaten here several times, each time is like a new experience. It's a great place to go with friends and you're guaranteed to be full and satisfied when you leave. The owner and staff are friendly and they make the environment really homey and comfortable.

Come for the homemade delicious food but you'll stay forever as the atmosphere and friendly service is top notch. <br/>I eat the vegetarian platter and it's amazing.

Try the chefs special! It was an adventure and quite an experience. Lover that it came out on a special sharing platter with a taste of everything. Was such good food and value! So much food was shared and it was tasty, but not expensive at all for what we got:) we couldn't even finish all the food cos we were so full!

Love this place! Great to share a platter with a friend (they're huge!) and the Ethiopian beers are delish. We go here often and are never disappointed.

We have already been to this restaurant couple of times and we are in love with this cosy place. Their veg platter is simple and tasty and we all devour it.<br/>My husband and co brother are crazy about the fish curry.The Injera bread is similar to the South Indian Kallu dosa and is really soft and fluffy and best suited for the kids,of course the adults too.<br/>The service is decent and the staff are always pleasant. Their kitchen is crispy clean and the place is always busy.<br/>Looking forward to our next visit.

So so flavoursome. We ordered the share plate, that being what seems to be the most popular dish as it gives you a taste of various popular dishes and just about the whole restaurant had it on their tables. It is various dishes served on a massive piece of airy, spongy bread which soaks in all the flavour, including lamb, chicken, goat, toast vergetables and 2 lentel dishes.<br/>Each dish was really delicious and tender and just amazing.<br/>Bring some wet wipes...it is a no cutlery dtlye dish! I think it makes it so much better though. We really enjoyed the food and the restaurant had a nice warm ambience.

My review is a little late, I came here for my birthday last year, with my parents and friends both from out of town. We ordered a mixed platter, everybody loved it, including my (somewhat unadventurous, food wise) parents. the food was great. But the staff even nicer. We asked what beer they would recommend, and the guy gave us his recommendation and then told us if we didn't like it he wouldn't charge us for the drinks. Of course we did not take him up on that. When we had all finished our meal, we went to pay and the guy stopped us, saying "No! you're ruining my surprise! go sit down!", and he bought out dessert for us all to share with a birthday candle, on the house. It was so lovely. Then when we finished the dessert, he gave me a handmade necklace as a birthday present. Have never met nicer people or had a better dining experience. The food was good enough, exceptional. I've tried several Ethiopian restaurants in melbourne and haven't liked most of them. This one is great. Food alone obviously is a reason I will be a repeat customer, but the staff make it an even nicer place to visit.

Every time I eat here the food is perfect. Fave meal - the Chefs vegetarian special. Mixture of the best the vegetarian menu has to offer. <br/>Service is impeccable, ambience is lovely. One of my top 5 restaurants in Melb.

Absolutely delightful decor, atmosphere, service and most importantly, the food! A tasting platter for 2 capitulated so many signature Ethiopian dishes, different flavors and textures, on top of soft sour-dough pancakes. The entire experience was satisfying, wholesome yet not too rich. The finishing warm spices of the Ethiopian coffee (which I presume had cinnamon, ginger and cardamom in it) was perfect for a chilly Melbourne night. What an adventure.

I had been to this wonderful establishment a couple of times but recently took a friend there to show him just how good Ethiopian/African cuisine is. We ordered the share platter of course and were extremely satisfied with the variety at hand. The spongy injera bread which soaks up the juices from the curry with ease is simply amazing. Each slow cooked dish was different in its own way using spices and rich flavours to set each one apart from the others. My personal favourites were the spicy lamb, fish, pumpkin and red lentil dishes. We also tried one of the Ethiopian beers (amber ale) and were impressed. The service was outstanding. The setting albeit a bit cramped is genuine, warm and authentic. Already looking forward to my next visit.

If you enjoy spices and dramatic flavours, this is your place. Authentic African/Ethiopian food will not disappoint. If you have not been before I recommend the shared platter. Be prepared to eat with your hands. True African style.

My partner and I used to love this place but our last visit left a bad impression. The food was good, as usual, however the service was absolutely awful. We were asked to move tables as the first table we sat at was supposed to be reserved but within 10 minutes of being allocated to our new table we were asked to move back to the original spot. We asked for a bottle of water to enjoy with our food but 40 minutes later we had finished eating and still had no water. We got up to pay and my partner casually mentioned that the waiter had forgotten to bring out our water to which the waiter sarcastically replied 'oh let me get that' and pulled out a bottle while we were paying. Once again, I used to love this place but I don't think I'll go back after that experience. There are other restaurants in Melbourne that actually care about their service so I'll just spend my money there

My friend really wanted to try Ethiopian food, so I pitched this place based on what I've heard.<br/>The platters seemed like an easy choice, as you get to try a bit of everything on the menu.<br/>We ordered the Vegetarian & Meat platters, which were served on top of tangy Injera Bread, which you break apart and use to grapple the various food items into your mouth with.<br/>The Fish, Lamb and Lentil dishes were my favourite, just bursting of unknown spices.<br/>I ate most of my side, but did not finish the platter, as the bread is very filling.<br/>The Abyssinian was a nice, friendly tour into Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine, which I'd happily recommend to other bands of adventurers.

The meat platter $24 per person or $48 for two to share. The two to share could be for 3 or 4 small eaters. Goat, chicken, Nile Perch and lentils. View web version

Awesome food, I am sure you won't have tried something like this before <br/>Food with smooth home made wine <br/>Appealing Ambiance and friendly staff<br/>Can't ask for more

This was an enlightening experience. The Eritrean/Ethiopian food served up on round platters atop the tantalising injera bread is so flavourful it explodes in your mouth with the first bite. The bread is soft and tangy, and used to scoop up the various delightful curries. Everything is slow-cooked, and melts in your mouth, but each curry remains distinct in flavour, keeping your tongue mesmerised. There is an entire dedicated vegan menu, and the service is very friendly.

great food, generous portions, good ambiance, cannot go wrong with chef's platter - vegetarian or otherwise. and dont forget to try the Ethiopian coffee! the outstanding feature of this place apart from good food is the service.

Although there is a full two-page à la carte menu, there doesn’t seem to be anyone who ventures beyond the chef’s platters. We went for the Meat, Vegetarian, Poultry and Fish Platter ($48/2pp), but the vegetarians are catered for with the vegetarian-only platter for a few dollars less. Now this is the ultimate embodiment of a feast. Tipped out onto a platter the size of a small table was a selection of saucy treats, soaking into the swaths of injera bread. Cutlery isn’t even offered – dig in with your fingers!

Had always been intrigued by African food and was excited to try this place based on its rating and popularity (it's always packed). We decided to order individual dishes despite not knowing anything about African food other than what an Injera is. So we chose the pumpkin (dubba), chicken (dorho wott) and lamb (zighini). We loved everything! All the sauces were evenly seasoned and you could taste the different spices shining through each dish. The rich sauces when paired with the tangy Injera was delightful. Not only was the food great, the service was excellent too - servers were really friendly and happy to explain the menu and even offer suggestions. A great introduction to African food and hospitality.

My friend had been trying to come here for years but it was always booked out or had a long wait. We finally made it here and were very impressed. I've tried African cuisine before but this is the best I've had so far. <br/><br/>My friends had a vegetarian platter but I had the meat platter which had the following:<br/>1) red lentils (I think they're lentils anyway): soft and melted in your mouth. 5/5<br/>2) green lentils: not as nice as the red lentils as it was unevenly cooked. Some lentils were nice and soft and others were quite hard. 3/5<br/>3) chicken curry: nice and tender. Good spice mixture. 4/5<br/>4) bean mix: not sure what beans were in this but I think it had chickpeas and broad beans. Yummy. 4/5<br/>5) fish curry: so tender, cooked perfectly and great spices too. 5/5<br/>6) pumpkin: really soft and yummy. 4/5<br/>7) goat curry: 90% was a lump of fat and had an overpowering animal smell. We couldn't eat it. 1/5<br/>8) beef curry: very nice. 4/5<br/><br/>We also tried, at the waiter's recommendation, the St George Lager. We ordered two Amber beers but there was a mix up and we ended up getting one Amber and one lager but it was ok. Didn't get to try the Amber beer but my friend said it was very malty. <br/><br/>Service was excellent otherwise. We will be coming back.

Absolutely amazing food! Some of the best African/Ethiopian food I've had. Staff are amazing too. Everything about the place is great. You must go!

Love this place! You walk in and feel like you're in Africa. The food was amazing and service was fantastic, I even got my own African necklace to keep. Thanks, we'll be back!!

My first encounter with the African cuisine in Australia was at this place. The place is quite small and is open only in the evenings. The ambience is truly African in nature. They have many hangings all around. <br/><br/>We chose the vegetarian buffet for share. We were two people. My friend from Pune was very angry that I got him to an African restaurant. They served us their bread injera with 5 different vegetable dishes and salad. The dishes were delicious and cooked in a ghee garlic and spices mixture. <br/><br/>I could not finish the portion they served us. We accompanied our dinner with a glass of pino noir red wine.

Ermagawd! I can't get enough of this place! The bread is unbelievably light and has a lovely tangy flavour. The sharing plate is the best. It's a pity the actual restaurant is so small, as it's always full - book ahead!<br/>Fantastic service. Don't miss out on this fabulous food!

Thursday dinner, walk ins; delicious food served quickly by a friendly waiter. Ate way more than we should have. <br/>Plus BYO. <br/>Definitely coming back.

Great place to go with friends. African food and eating with your hands is not exactly common in Melbourne, so it was a fun experience.<br/><br/>The four of us shared two of the share plates. Heaps of food left over. Some of the options were better than others. Only downside was lack of descriptions of what we were eating, and the service was sometimes forgetful.<br/><br/>All up a delicious, well-priced and fun night out.

What a wonderful introduction to African food. A fantastic social meal (if you don't mind sharing) the platters are a good idea if you're not sure what to order!

We booked for a table of 12 and they were able to fit us all in. Had 4 mixed platters and 1 vegetarian platter. The food was good, the servings of the individual dishes were a bit on the small side. Would have prefered more in the dish and then ordered more injera. Staff were nice and accommodating.

I went here for a special occasion and we had a wonderful experience. The staff were friendly and gave us great recommendations and the food we ended up with was delicioussssss! We didn't have a reservation and went very early to get seats. By the time we left there was a line, which speaks to how great this place is.

A very interesting experience!!! A meal that involves a lot of sharing of meals. I've never had black lentils but I'm sold. If you go in with a open mind you will enjoy your meal.

This place is awesome, the only catch is that you should go with people you are comfortable sharing a plate with! All the plates are communal, and they cater for both vegetarians and meat eaters.<br/>The plates are lined with injera bread, which is basically a fermented soft flat bread (similar to a dosai for the Indians), and then topped with various stews. You rip some bread, scoop up some stew and pop it in your mouth! Delicious!

If your after a social meal of want to get introduced to African cuisine then the Abysissinian may be what you are after. Personally I find some of the items on the menu can be a bit hit and miss in flavor intensity so just stick with the Chefs special (shared option) which provides a selection for you and your party to fight over! Interesting selection of African beers as well.

Terrible Service. This place always over books themselves. Lied to on the phone about having tables then makes you wait an hour for a table. To add insult to injury, they then assign tables to walk-ins based on the look'

Great Food, great service. Went back to the Abyssinian last night after a gap of about 4 years. Last time I really enjoyed the food and service. Is still great, enjoyed the vegetarian platter for 2, couldn't finish it! Loved the spices and flavours. Looking forward to going back, much much sooner than 4 years next time.

Good food, big sizes. Not the best Ethiopian I have had, but still delicious and good injera. Go the food platter for two and share with three. Selection of Ethiopian beers also good...