Yod Abyssinia Restaurant - Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Eating out in Ethiopia's Capital
I’ve tried Ethiopian food once in my home area of Washington, DC, where around the U Street area, there are many Ethiopian restaurants. Tonight, we left our hotel in Addis Ababa and went with a group to Yod Abyssinia Restaurant, which the locals told us is one of the best destinations for coffee, traditional Ethiopian food and entertainment in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. It’s located in the Bole Medhaniyalem area of Addis.
Dancers take the stage at Yod Abbysinia.
As a fan of live dance and live music, I really enjoyed the show. Here’s a clip of some dancing from the restaurant. Notice the upbeat, feel good music.
Our group was served a large dish of a variety of Ethiopian specialties including injera, a spongy-like pancake that is a staple bread in Ethiopia, kocho, fermented bread made from false banana plant, dorowot, spicy chicken, and more. We sat around a mesob, a round straw table with a hard top. There was a straw top to keep the food warm when it was served as well.
The crowd at the restaurant was a mix of locals and tourists. There were quite a few locals on our visit.
It was quite the spread. I asked if this was normal and my host said that many people usually have just a few of their favorites at home. Eating in Ethiopia is a social occasion. Families and friends get together and enjoy eating. It’s part of the culture.
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Me with Samrawit Moges, Managing Director of Travel Ethiopia, an expert on travel in Addis Ababa and beyond. Samrawit has picked out the best spots for us to visit in and around Addis and has been arranging travel tours for over 14 years.
A man came around to our table with a pitcher of hot water and soap so that we could wash our hands before the meal. Since there are no utensils, you tear off pieces of the injera to pinch off bits food with your right hand. It’s similar to the way we ate in the Wadi Rum Desert in Jordan.
Whoever thought I'd be eating pancakes in Ethiopia! The sponge-like injera is rolled up on the sides and lines the base of the round serving platter.
I liked the stew of chick peas, but much of it, like many Ethiopian dishes, was really spicy. The injera was good and a good tool for eating. I didn’t try the local beer, but as I saw others quenching their thirst with it during the meal, I realized why. It’s a good balance to the spice.
I wasn’t entirely full by the end, but did appreciate being introduced to so many types of Ethiopian cuisine and music.
How to Go: Yod Abyssinia is located in the Bole Medhaniyalem Area of Addis Ababa, next to the Brass Hospital. Tel: +251 (0) 116 612 985
