When we get visitors to the city who want to try something different, the Ethiopian House is usually on my list.

For the eclectic atmosphere, convenient location, and friendly staff, the Ethiopian House stands out. Highly recommended when you're bringing visitors to experience Ethiopian food for the first time, since the food isn't too spicy or too strange for most.

A good place for... more

We tried both the veg and meat sampler and really enjoyed it. Nice atmosphere and small patio. It was interesting eating with our hands rather than with cutlery. Only some items are spicy, so there are flavours for everyone.

My friends and I came here and shared a meat and veggie bayanatu platter. It was neat to eat without utensils and rely on the bread to hold your food. I liked how everything was presented and I didn't feel sleepy from food coma after having this meal. It was a nice day to sit on the patio and the service was good. It is close to work so will probably come back for lunch!

I liked this place! it was my first time trying Ethiopian food and I was impressed.

it's a cosy little place that's got seating up top and down on the main level.

the staff are very friendly and explain whatever it is you don't know.

as an Indo-Canadian, the food here reminded me of traditional Indian dishes - which is probably what made me enjoy the place more. We ordered a very platter... more

Food was grey, flavourless and there was hardly more than 5 small cubes of meat in my meal.

I ordered a dish which came served on their sponge bread, the sauce had a few pieces of flavourless, tough meat mixed in with the same bread in a sauce. It was served with a side of bread.

So essentially I was served bread on bread with a side of bread. All grey. All disgusting.

I will NEVER be back.... more

I am sad to say I did not enjoy my experience here. I was excited to try something new but it was not what I had hoped for. Keep in mind this is my first Ethiopian food experience.

We order a meat and veggie platter. It took a long time to arrive and when it did I was disappointed by the portions. Very little of everything. The first time I had injera bread and it was weird. I did not like the... more

I'm always conflicted about Ethiopian food. I love the flavours of the cuisine, but I never really enjoyed injera. This was the first place where I thought the injera was pretty good. However the dishes we got were somewhat hit or miss. One of the dishes we got was way over seasoned and we couldn't finish it. The rest were pretty good. The host was also really nice and attentive. It was a good... more

Great place with nice decor!

It's my first time having Ethiopian food and I'd definitely have some more!! HOW MUCH I LOVE USING MY HANDS : )

The portion is a bit small though a bit more meat would be good.

the shop is cute, and well decorated. I like that its different than your typical restaurant.

but oh the food... I can't say that I like it.

in many ways, the cuisine reminds me of indian food. the colorful blend of beans and veggie but.. unlike indian cuisine, this really lacks flavor. Everything was a few levels too bland and I was not impressed about that.

and about the injera... it was... more

My husband and I were meeting a friend for dinner and decided to try this Ethiopian place. Both my husband and I are not huge fans of Ethiopian cuisine - I certainly enjoy it more than he does. We both love Indian cuisine and often find the Ethiopian food too close to the Indian flavors to be able to enjoy it without comparing it to similar Indian dishes.

For appetizers, we ordered the Senig... more

The lunch special here is a fantastic deal. I admit I am not an expert on Ethiopian food, but for first- or second-timers this place does not seem to disappoint. Service was great, and the injera is wonderfully spongy. Glad to have this establishment so close to Yonge-Wellesley.

Love this place; veggie combo is the best, bathrooms are clean, it is so cozy and decorated so lovely and it has such an awesome smell in the restaurant- like erotic in scents. I dunno what else to say I love it.

Good prices and very good portion sizes, but overall I've had better Ethiopian food. The flavours just didn't meet my standards, and the cuts of beef used seemed to be a little too tough for me compared to the same dishes at other similar restaurants. I almost found the vegetarian platter to be overly greasy, more so than other Ethiopian or Eritrean restaurants I've been to and the level of oil... more

Just ate here not long ago.

First time eating Ethiopian food. I figured I give it a try given the great reviews.

Extremely nice and gracious host. Place seemed friendly and warm.

Ordered the vegetarian platter with 8 dishes and a side of beef stew. Beef stew good and hearty. Vegetarian platter was barely warm. The injera bread is basically a grey pancake. So you take it and you use it to... more

Really authentic and delicious East African food at a great price. Nice to go when sharing with friends.

The space is a little dated but you don't go here for a swanky lounge or happening bar. It's about the food. And the food speaks for itself.

If East African food isn't your thing then it's no big deal, but this place does it well.

Perfect place for a lunch with your co-workers. They have the veggie platter for those that are vegetarians or if you want something less protein-heavy for lunch. Great portion-size. I had to take my veggie platter to go. Their injera bread is to die for and it's unlimited! :D

Their traditional coffee is pretty bitter but quite authentic. It's served with in unbuttered popcorn, not sure about... more

3.4/5
Food was quiet westernized but it worked better for me. Its shame but I'm not good with sour injura. Me and my company had timatin fit-fit; sautéed injura pieces with tomatoes and other veggies with refreshing lemonie dressing. It taste like fresh salsa mixed with brushetta. Our main dish were gored-gored and bayaaynatu. I can't recall which was what since they put all our orders together... more

First time I went to Ethiopian House a few years ago it was Great! Visited for dinner 2 days ago and it was terrible. Service was awful, table was dirty, food was cold and not good. Worst service I've had in Toronto.

Ok food, disappointing service and kind of dirty space. Server couldn't be bothered to give me a word or accommodate my request for a bill in a timely way. I was reminded of a sullen teenager.

Food was exactly what I find at any other Ethiopian place - ok lunch option, but that's it.

YUM!

Saturday night, 4 of us went to Ethiopian House for the first time. We sat outside and enjoyed the people watching of the World Pride Festival. Our adorable waitress took good care of us, although we did have to track her down to get the check.

The food was awesome. I usually like my Ethiopian a bit spicier but the flavors were spot-on. We shared a 4-person Vegetarian Bayaaynatu; a... more

the food is amazingggg.... i crave for the injera and doro wat every week or biweekly thats how addicted i am.. the ambience is nothing to boast about yet i would make all my friends go here whenever they come new to Toronto. I have removed the one star due to the waitress. I have seen her quite commonly there and she is really rude. The owner or manager is very friendly and I did mention to... more

I've been here several times and each time I'm satisfied, but not blown away. The service is very slow, so I recommend eating at Ethiopian House with folks you like talking with. Otherwise, much awkward silence will ensue. Although service is slow, they waitstaff are very nice, the portions are generous and the prices are appropriate. I never leave hungry.

We have been to Ethiopian restaurants before, but always wanted to check out this place in down-town. Since our friend came visiting it was perfect to introduce her the Ethiopian food.

We arrived around 2 PM and the place was empty in a May afternoon. We knew what we wanted, so ordering was easy for us. Server was this original yah-man wearing reggae apparel. It took some time for our food to... more

I love the food here. The decor is very standard and can be a bit dingy in certain spots, but it's the better of the Ethiopian restaurants.

I'm not a fan of raw beef at all; can't stand steak tartare, but they have a raw beef kitfo dish. Coupled with injera.... yum

Try their stuffed pepper to start.

Stay away from the popcorn and coffee combo.

Ask for a spoon if you're looking for a good laugh

The food is pretty good and the owner is extremely friendly. We usually get one meat and one veggie bayanatu with a side of the mit mit powder. For the relevant dishes they cook your meat to your liking.
My only cons for this place is that I find it kind of dirty and cramped and some of the women staff are not as friendly as the owner sometimes. However, the service is fast and the food is... more

First time trying Ethiopian food and it was incredible!! The service here was meh as far as friendliness goes but the food came out quickly and I was stuffed by the end of my meal! Will definitely go back :)

This is a pretty standard Ethiopian place, no better or worse, in terms of food, service or decor than you'll find at any of the Ethiopian places in Toronto. It is a step up from Nazareth I'd say in terms of food, but just as good as Lalibela (which is my usual go to). If you find yourself near Bloor and Yonge, this place is pretty good, but I'm not making a special trip for this place.

The... more

At normal menu prices ($14 for one serving or $25.25 for two of the Vegetarian Bayaaynatu platter, which is pretty much all I ever get), Ethiopian House isn't particularly enticing. The service has NEVER earned any points from me, and the food doesn't warrant being double the cost of, say, Nazareth.

But during lunch hours ($8 for the veggie platter for one), it gets about 3 stars. It's... more

Ok so for those of you not used to Ethiopian restaurants, let's set the bar right - service is NOT as attentive or fast as many other places. If I was comparing against other restaurants, this place would have gotten a 3 for service. However, it's very much in-line with other Ethiopian restaurants I've been to..

The decor is not 5-star, as with most Ethiopian places, but it's clean and... more

I have visited this place so many times. I am very, very disappointed at this restaurant.

I went to the restaurant for lunch menu at around 1pm. We ordered 5 dishes for 5 adults.

The service was horrible.
The server was unwilling to change the order after 2-3 minutes. She ended up making a mistake in taking order and charged us an extra dish.

"I am sorry but you have to pay" while she was... more

I have been here about 5 times and every time I am more than happy with the food. I love the whole concept of eating with your hands if only our server last night actually brought napkins and wet naps to the table it would have been a more enjoyable eating experience. The restaurant was busy so we had a hard time getting her attention until after we finished eating and by that time our hands... more

A place to take your time, especially if you want the coffee service (which is fun and worth doing but you either need to call ahead or settle in for the long haul).

I really enjoy Ethiopian food and haven't been disappointed here. The veggie platter is varied and flavorful. They also make fantastic injera (the bread) which is essential to the experience.

The atmosphere is relaxed with a... more

This place is just all over "meh". The food is edible but leaves a lot to be desired. I would have given it three stars had it not been as expensive as it was. My majour complaint is that it is definitely NOT worth the price.

Service is friendly but inattentive. We waited for a very long time to even receive menus or water despite being seated by our server. Don't wait for your bill to come to... more

The food is alright, but these guys have pests and got a yellow card a few days ago I believe. I checked out the rest of the restaurant, and no wonder they had pests. Their kitchen door is wide open right next to their messy garbage disposal- yuck!

I like this place, they have some good vege. dishes.
I would only go here once a month.

Lots of my friends didnt find it apetizing.... I think it was because it was very soggy....
besides that, its price worthy.

Go there, check it out and decide for yourself.

Beef Tibs was ok but the bread was doughy and under baked. The price was good. I liked the decoration and the staff were friendly.
All in all it's a good place to try but I won't be going back there anytime soon.

First time trying Ethiopian food (so i don't have much to compare it to), but i enjoyed it. The place has interesting decor that's fun to look at (including some erotic-ish artwork in the washroom). It's got 2 floors and if you're upstairs it kind of feels like they've forgotten about you at times, but otherwise good service.

We ordered the mixed vegetarian dish for two and it was good, nice... more

The space was too tight and i was not a big fan of the food
There was a very weird spice somewhere in my meat

I've been going here for the last 10 years and it has become comfort food to me. It has never changed and I don't want it to. It feels like you're dining at someone's eclectic home complete with National Geographic-like photos of Ethiopia on the walls.

I regularly order the vegetarian byanatuu for two. It's perfect for sharing and well priced. It's not world class Ethiopian but its solid and... more

How have I never reviewed this place?!

I've been coming here for years and I love it.

One thing you need to know, it takes a long time to get your food, but when you do get it, it's fantastic. It's much nicer and a bit pricier than the places on Bloor and Ossington, which might make it easier to introduce friends to Ethiopian food. I always get a mixed veggie platter and a meat, so I don't... more

I didn't like the food. Didn't like the ambiance. I didn't like it at all. Couldn't wait to leave.

Reeeally, really good food :) I've been to a couple of Ethiopian restaurants around Toronto and this one is by far my favourite. The atmosphere (especially at night) can be really intimate, making it a great place for a date or to chill a friend or too. And it's a whole new eating experience since you're essentially eating with bread rather than with a knife and fork. Looks like it might be... more

This is a really good find! It's a small, little restaurant with sort of demented decor, but the food is excellent.

I went with my sister and husband and we were sat down in the small space. Ethiopian is eaten with your hands, so I went to the bathroom to wash my hands. The bathroom is upstairs where there is another upper part of the restaurant and a small bar.

The bathroom was clean,... more

Good food but not the best ethiopian I've had. Try the special where you get the bread and a few meats/veggies. The owner is pretty cool though, totally laid back :-) talk to him for a fun time.

Also to people who say the bread is sour.... have you ever had injera bread before??? It's supposed to be lightly sour... this bread wasn't that sour either I had to ask for lemon to make mine more... more

Last night was my second visit here. I remember enjoying the food the first time I was there over a year ago. This time was very disappointing. My husband ordered the meat platter, a combo of items 9 to 11 and I had the veggie platter, a combo of 8 items. First off, the portions were too small for the price. The only meat dish that we enjoyed was the tibs. In the vegetarian options, most of the... more

Thoroughly average Ethiopian food. 100% acceptable but not special.

So, I'm a bit of an Ethiopian connoisseur...I've had it in areas with large Ethiopean/Eritrean populations like DC, Oakland, NYC, Seattle, and quite a few more places. This means I'm a little picky.

This restaurant produces a competent version of many of your Ethiopian standards. We had a veggie sampler and a small meat... more

Loved it!
Food was tasty, but a bit pricey. Favourite Ethiopian yet.
The coffee service truly was the crowning glory, its sublime. I am not a coffee drinker (almost ever, I've drank one cup of coffee my whole life) but this was the supreme coffee experience. That alone draws me back.
Service was alright.

What a great night!

Friendly service and great prices.

I've been for Ethiopian many times but Friday night was my first time here. I will go back for sure! Cute decor, not too noisy, adorable little patio out front- what a neighbourhood gem! And, the food was delicious!

I have had Ethiopian food at many different restaurants around Canada, and although they had a great selection and the service was great, the food could've been better.

There is a lot of seating available if the bottom floor gets busy they have a whole other floor upstairs.

I love Ethiopian bread and their bread had the perfect consistency, the thing that threw all of us off was the fact that... more

You haven't eaten an oxymoron until you've eaten ethiopian food...

I used to go here on a regular basis with my ex-girlfriend. We enjoyed it because of the good atmosphere, fair prices, and huge helpings of food that actually had flavour. The service was usually above average. What can I say, I have no real complaints about this place. It's also a great place for a date. Come to think of it, my ex-girlfriend got so fat eating at this place, it was totally... more

Trying something new for a change...

So my boyfriend and I decided to take my friend's advice and try to culture ourselves up a bit more by going to the Ethiopian House. Since we were new to the cuisine, she told us to order #13 (kind of a meat sampler with collard greens, cottage cheese and injera bread). To make a long story short, this dish was more than enough to feed 2 (my boyfriend's a heavy eater but I was surprised he was... more

Delicious vegetarian food - I love that bread / flour mix...

Delicious vegetarian food – I love that bread / flour mixture that sops up all the food and juices.

I absolutely adore the Ethiopian coffee at the end of the meal – with popcorn, of course! It’s probably one of the best coffees I’ve ever had – and I’m a coffee connoisseur.