Addis

Having never had Ethiopian food before, I don’t really have much to compare this to. However, having really enjoyed the food here and seeing that it has mostly average reviews, I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that, in general, Ethiopian food must be pretty spectacular.
Two friends and I came here spontaneously, after spotting it while having cocktails at the Be At One across the road. After downing our whisky sours, we headed in and were seated with ease — it was pretty empty — I would normally take this as a warning sign, but after chatting with the few people that were there (who were all of Ethiopian heritage), I relaxed a bit and perused the menu with an open mind.
For the authentic feel, we ordered the only bottle of Ethiopian wine on the menu — there was no description for it, simply «Ethiopian wine». What was brought to our table was a bottle of heavy going red wine with an extremely sour aftertaste. It went down easier with food accompanying it, but I’m in no rush to drink it again.
We went for a sharing starter of hummus and breads — the breads were delicious and the hummus was wonderful too. Real homely, warm, earthy flavours.
For mains, we ordered a chicken wat (thick, extremely spicy stew), served atop injera (a large, sourdough flatbread). This was my favourite of the three dishes we ordered, loaded with spice and extremely flavoursome. My only concern was the the fact I’m left handed, and Ethiopians eat exclusively with their right hand, no one seemed to mind or think I was rude though. After enjoying the hummus of the starter so much, we ordered another hummus dish, this time served with portions of lentils, falafel, pickles, chillies and salad. The falafel didn’t taste like the traditional stuff you get in Turkish and Greek restaurants, which was a pleasant surprise. The selection of pickles and chillies was also very interesting. We then had the foul musalah — crushed fave beans, lightly spiced and topped with feta, falafel and sauteed in sesame oil. This was served with bread which was still warm. Lovely! The beans themselves had a very rich texture and were very filling. A side of cabbage wot went down very nicely alongside this.
The food was incredibly filling and tasty. Nothing that will blow you away in terms of culinary prowess or presentation, just good, no frills cooking. I would have liked to have seen some traditional Ethiopian desserts on the menu, however, it comprises savoury dishes only. Definitely worth a visit if you find yourself in the Kings Cross area.

Not terrible, but not good either. The injera had a strong lemon flavor. The cheese was mushy and mixed with herbs. The portions were not very big. The veggies were not very flavorsome.

Addis was my first Ethiopian restaurant and I come back to it each time I’m in London. The food which comes in 5 varieties of mild to hot spices is alway a mixture of savoury with a twist of sour or bitterness which is surprisingly complementary. These are combined with either chicken, beef or lamb, cubed, minced or on the bone and served on a plate of porous ‘injera’ bread which you tear to eat the food with your hands. Vegetarian options are plentiful focusing mainly on pulses, aubergine and spinach. Addis has an air of authenticity and it’s interior is very evocative of ‘home’. Very affordable and well worth a visit.

Good Ethiopian place. Not the best I’ve had, but v. good. Would recommend the lamb tibs and doro wot. Spinach, lentils and tradtional salad are a must.
Great value for money. Busy in the evenings.

You really can’t go wrong with anything on this menu. Although the menu can be confusing to first-​timers, it’s usually satisfying to just pick a few random dishes and mic them up. They all come on injera, the sourdough flatbread, which is a mixture of teff and wheat (sadly not gluten-​free: wheat needs to be added due to the English climate). Some things are spicy and some are deliciously savory; if you order well, you’ll have a wonderful mixture of the two. Everything is great for groups as long as everyone’s ok with sharing.
Everything goes well with the honey wine, which they unfortunately ran out of the last time I went!
Slow service is the only downside.

I really wanted to like this place, but I have absolutely experienced better.
Ever since moving from DC to the midwest, I have been on a quest to find decent Ethiopian. On my trip to London, I thought I my extend my search. Having experienced quite a few Ethiopian restaurants in the past few years, I must express my disappointment. The service was adequate, but not particularly helpful (I felt rushed in ordering, nothing was explained, etc). Another reviewer pointed this out (and initially I did not get why it was so weird) but have the blank injera brought out, and then tupperware with the lentils etc DUMPED on top was just so tasteless. The thing I didn’t like also was that the tupperware each had three dishes each in them, and then the woman who dumped them onto the injera dumped them right next to each other, so they all kind of blended. One of the elements I enjoy about Ethiopian food is having the six or so dishes spread out, so that you can select how you want to mix them. Also, one of the dumped dishes was scaldingly hot, while the others (from the same container) were lukewarm at most, which gave the impression that these dishes were stored in the fridge and then microwaved. While I do not expect each dish to be constructed from scratch, I like to envision they at least are in their own pot or something on the stove, and then served to order. Additionally, it did not come with a side salad (that was extra) and I missed a salad’s refreshing flavor.
Overall, some of the dishes were tasty, I won’t deny that. But the overall experiences really tainted my enjoyment of the meal. Proceed with caution.

My first Ethiopian food experience and it was GOOD. so GOOD.
MUST TRY.
It’s quaint and I really love this place. it’s not fancy at all but the food is great~ the staff is friendly~ (my friend asked if she could buy some Ethiopian bread and they said no, instead they just packed her some~)
We had a group of 5 and we shared 2 ADDIS specials (but they brought it out on one big platter~ and only paid 8 pounds each! and we were stuffed.
only drawback… you scoop it up with your hands… you use the bread to pick up the stuff… SOOO… if you’re headed out to a bar or something. you will be having smelly fingers ALL night. and maybe for the next day~ but SOO worth it.
What i liked:
1. FOOD FOOD FOOD.
2. ambiance: very chill, laid back and quaint

When you’re wandering lonely around Kings Cross, and want something to sate you before a long journey, Addis is a great indie option to call on. I was pretty uninspired by the various hotel restaurants and buffet near by, so got on the trusty Unilocal app to find this place.
The space itself is grand, although perhaps a bit dated, with textured sandy coloured walls. I loved the look of the wicker seating, but we were place on a standard table. The glass windows are completely covered with menus, posters, and things so it feels kind of hidden and secretive inside.
The menu seems authentic, although this was my first Ethiopian experience, so I’m no expert! There’s tons of exciting dishes, meaning an indecisive soul like myself too a while to choose. I eventually plucked for the lamb kebab, and couldn’t wait to get a try of the special pancake things.
The service was mixed, with one girl being absolutely lovely, and the chap a little more short. I prefer a bit more patience and warmth, but it wasn’t poor service by any stretch, so one can’t complain. We did get recommendations and the advice that the special coffee takes 25 minutes though — so I’ll have to come back for that as it sounds delightful.
The food, which came in good time, was lovely. The lamb was mostly cooked well, with delicious marinade, and the rice was lovely. I’m not often one to pluck for rice, so this was a welcome surprise to see how nice it can be. The salad was standard and I couldn’t quite taste the dressing, so nothing too exciting there. My dining companion’s veggie dish, with special pancake, was a treat though — the pancake has a lemon-​y flavour, which contrasts really well with the dishes!
All in all, it’s definitely worth a visit for something new and a bit different. And mega cheap to boot — three beers and two mains was just about £30.

I love Ethiopian food. My friend lived near here so I took two Ethiopian virgins to go check it out.
The waitress was very nice and let us know the plentiful vegan options.
We ordered, and like everyone else says here, waited and waited and waited.
The injera was brought out without any stew on it. I thought that was odd, but maybe it was extra bread, or the wats/​stews were arriving in bowls on the side. Then another lady turns up with the stews in plastic bowls and just dumps it on the bread. Are you serious? Even if you are microwaving the food, plate it in the back! Shocking and unprofessional. The food was nothing special.
What a let down.

Food was great! We had a lamb dish, spinach, and mixed veggies, all of which were fantastic. We also tried the Ethiopian wine which was pretty good, although a bit sweet for my taste.
Atmosphere was nice… a hugely diverse clientele, with a fun décor.
The stars come off on account of the waiter who, whilst reasonably attentive, was incredibly unfriendly. Had his service been better, this would definitely be a four-​star experience.

I read the reviews and knew going in that service was not exactly expedient but I intended to enjoy the atmosphere there while I waited. We arrived without a reservation and were quickly given a table. We placed our order and the waiting game began…
The restaurant was mostly empty; I think only two or three other tables had arrived. It was early in the evening. We gave ourselves plenty of time to have dinner and then catch a show later. But after about a half an hour without any food or refills on our drinks we began to worry about making the show at all. At this rate it seemed unlikely.
I glanced around the restaurant and saw that no one else had any food, either. Even the parties that arrived before us were going hungry. When the staff would go in and out of the kitchen (I’m not sure what for) I could see a couple of guys sitting down… apparently they were the chefs? I’ve watched enough Gordon Ramsey shows to know that this is not how a kitchen works…
After an hour with no food we paid for our drinks and left. We had to catch the show. Maybe the food was going to be good. Who knows? But waiting an hour for food is unreasonable especially when the restaurant isn’t busy.

Amazing food, reasonably priced, but slow service! London has very few restaurants like this serving Ethiopian food, and none which I have found in such a convenient location! This is a great place to come if you fancy a bit of an adventure and to try something new. Being near Kings Cross, is also very convenient. I have been here a few times and every time I’ve enjoyed every moment! The last time I visited we ordered the mixed sharer which came with lamb, chicken, vegetables dishes and a side salad. Unlike other types of food, Ethiopian food comes on a plate of Injera, a type of pancake bread, which you rip strips from and use to scoop the food up! The food itself was very good, spicy and extremely tasty and the portion size was just too big for my friend and I to finish. However don’t let this put you off as you can always take your leftovers home (this place also does take away). Whilst the service was slow, I think this is because the waitresses were very just very relaxed. They were friendly and responsive enough and to be honest, unless your hot on having quick service, I really don’t see a problem as the food is good enough to warrant the wait. The restaurant itself is nothing special, in fact has been the same décor for years, so could do with a bit of a refurb. However this isn’t why you’d eat here. I would suggest avoiding the wine (although this is cheap at £2.50), but do get yourself a Ethiopian beer!

This was my first time experiencing Ethiopian food, and I generally enjoyed myself. Service was sub par, but friendly environment, due to other friendly dining guests sitting around us, made up for it.
First off, no utensils, you are supposed to eat with your hands. While this is a unique experience, not entirely my cup of tea.
The food was flavourful. We tried several different lamb and vegetable dishes, although the «fried lamb» left something to be desired. Try not to eat too much, as we could barely move for the next hour after finishing.
Go with friends and try something new!

Would definitely recommend Addis if you’re looking for something a bit different to eat. I’m a big fan of Ethiopian food because of the original flavour/​spices of the dishes and the novelty of eating the food off your plate using injera bread instead of a fork! Came here for lunch, when it was a bit quieter. Prices and service are average, but the food and décor are unique, in a good way!
We shared the Tibs Firfir (cubes of lean lamb, well fried with onion 7 special spices mixed eith piece of injera) and chicken kebab with salad. The chicken, although not served with injera, was amazing! The meat was tender and spicy. The lamb was full of flavour and sauce that was absorbed perfectly by the doughy injera. The food portions were definitely enough for the two of us. Great place to try if you’re in the area!

I feel bad awarding just 2 stars to a restaurant whose food i actually liked. But sadly, food constitutes only a part of the overall restaurant experience … and they failed miserably on all other counts.
We went there recently to treat a friend on his birthday. I had had Ethiopian food only once before and so was looking forward to it. For reasons unknown to me, the website specifically asks you to make a reservation 3 days in advance. But we could get ours for a saturday night on the day itself.
The menu had a number of different wine options, but only one, nameless, Ethiopian wine. But it wasn’t available that day. The Ethiopian beer was nice … not too bitter.
As a starter, we tried Ater Wot (chana dal). It wasn’t too bad, just that it was rather bland. For the main course, my friend and i shared quanta firfir (beef) and awaze tibs (lamb fried with onions). The beef was good … and the lamb was great … and they went well with the soft injera. The lamb dish was quite spicy. The beef preparation was mild, with the meat being somewhat hard. The quantity was also more than sufficient for us.
While eating i saw a sign on the wall. This place apparently charges extra for take-​away.
However the service was quite poor. The guy taking our orders was obviously not interested in doing his job. He once walked away in the middle of taking our order and came back again several minutes later to allow us to finish.
After dinner, we wanted to try the Ethiopian coffee. But we were told it would require one hour for it to be prepared. We had been there for longer. If only this were mentioned in the menu, we would have ordered earlier.
Now it was our turn to pay. We tried to pay by card … but their machine wasn’t working and we were directed to a tesco nearby to withdraw cash. We didn’t need to go as we had cash with us. But a minute after we had paid, they returned, not with the change but with a note saying that they wouldn’t accept it. It was one of the old Elgar £20 notes. I know that businesses are under no obligation to accept those, but i haven’t come across any that returns it. This left quite a bad taste in our mouth.
I liked the food, but i don’t think that i would be returning in a hurry. I would rather go to Queen of Sheba if i crave Ethiopian sometime.

Addis is my go-​to Ethiopian Restaurant whenever I’m in London.
The food is very good (not globally spectacular, but very very good) — but the main reason I go there is for the atmosphere.
London is so full of restaurants that fall into one of three categories: expensive nouveau pompous gastro pufta, blokey pub-​grub, or kebab shop. Amongst this sea of mediocrity, it’s wonderful to spend a relaxing casual night in a warm and friendly place like Addis, enjoy a great meal and a bottle of St. George or Tusker Beer.

Mid Christmas drink, someone suggested we go and eat something. Does anyone know anywhere around Kings Cross?
Happily, someone did — Addis which satisfied pretty much everyone. For those who’d fancied a curry, the spicing in Ethiopian cuisine tends to be a little more, ahem, robust than your average Indian restaurant. For those on a budget, the prices here aren’t going to terrify: eight of us overordered terribly and quaffed some Ethiopian beer for around £15 a head. And for those of us who like new experiences, well, how often do you get Ethiopian food eh?
The actual dishes are pretty damn good, particularly the «wot» — a feisty curry and not the subject of assorted stupid jokes by a group of merry blokes, oh no — and the kitfo, a bowl of raw, beautifully spiced, minced beef and herbs. The problem, for this western palate, was the injera, the big flat, bland bread that you eat with. Six mouthfuls in, you’re pretty full, and have barely made a dent in the fantastically meaty things that have been upended over this giant communal pancake. There comes a point when, actually, you just want a fork. Sorry to get so philistine-​y over a fascinating and fabulous cuisine, but that’s the way it is.
Would I go back? Absolutely. Just I’ll have cutlery and a little screen to protect me from fillthy looks…

So you know how you walk into a Chinese restaurant and you’re immediately satisfied seeing a sea of Asian people, speaking Chinese and eating things you probably could never pronounce? Addis is the Ethiopian version. The place was surprisingly filled for a 5:00 dinner, and we seemed to be the only non Ethiopian people there.
All the dishes average out to be about £8.50−9, meat and vegetarian. I tried several of the vegetarian dishes and a lamb dish — they pour everything onto the inerja and you just get them hands dirty and happy. If you need help ordering, the waitress is awesome and will tell you what’s good and what’s better.
I was actually not hungry at all entering the restaurant and was only intending on having a snack and a drink, but once I sat down … yeah. Didn’t happen.

MMMMM delicious. The only time I’ve done Ethiopian before was in Brussells for some reason. To drink Ethiopian beer, which I’ve had before, but in a café. Anyway, this was fab!
Everything’s cooked in such tasty sauces. Plenty of vegetarian dishes for peeps like me. Flatbread comes with each dish, and that’s beautiful. I’m afraid I had a little dip of everyone’s food and it was all lush. It’s quite a treat to just break bread and dip, it doesn’t feel like a normal restaurant but that’s part of it.
Really worth checking out, especially if you haven’t eaten Ethiopian before.

I love Ethiopian food with its subtle flavors, textures, spices and marinated meats. The sour bread is a specialty that I come to this place for. The woman who took our order was very friendly, and helped us pick out a few dishes.
The food was served on a large rice pancake, with lots of vegetable and meat dishes on four sides. The juices soaked through, as the four of us ate with our hands from four sides. This was such a fun meal to share between close friends.
And after a hearty meal, the bill came to under ten pounds each. This was really startling for such great food. This place is only a short walk from Kings Cross, and I would highly recommend the food, service and ambiance.