Hannah Young

truly can not say one bad word about this place. from the crisp spicy marg w/ ethiopian spices to the veggie/meat sampler, the chefs didn’t miss a beat. the restaurant space itself is inviting and gives off “enjoy the intimacy of this space” energy. not only that, but the wonderful daughter of the owner took the time to explain how the injera (bread) is made. it’s not everyday that you get great service, an explanation behind the success of a family-owned business, and a beautiful experience with a night out. 10/10 no crumbs left behind

phillips frank

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I had such a wonderful experience at Enssaro! The staff greeted me with warm smiles and provided excellent service throughout my visit. The food was absolutely delicious — every Ethiopian dish was full of authentic flavor and made with so much care. I truly loved everything I tried. I came all the way from Atlanta, Georgia, the meal was well worth the trip. Highly recommend Enssaro to anyone who wants to enjoy amazing Ethiopian cuisine!

Danielle Jackson

We got the meal for two... meats with veggies. Enough food and so filling. We enjoyed every bite!

Hazem Eriqat

Felt like I was back in Ethiopia. The Derek Tibs is a must crispy, rich, unforgettable. Great atmosphere, and big thanks to Netsanet and Solomon for the warm hospitality. I’ll definitely be back

Y Guintu

I love Enssaro so much! This is my go-to for a solo meal, big group, and dates. Everything is delicious and spiced perfectly if you like heat!! The appetizers are a must - especially the hummus and nachos (photo).The drinks are great too. Raphael & Solomon are great hosts and neighborly. Portions are generous and they have many combinations for meat lovers and vegetarians. I keep coming back!

Bay Walker

Third time having Ethiopian food and it was a tasty experience. Our large platter for 4 people included beef, chicken, lamb, salad, vegetables and an other items. We enjoyed glutton free injera—which was completely satisfying. Service was prompt and personable even with a full restaurant.

Joshua Hamsa

I had never tried Ethiopian food before, so this is not a comparison. After explaining this to the gentleman and that I would have no idea what to order, he thoughtfully considered the matter, asked a couple of questions (when I last ate; what I had) and put together a custom plate based on the meat sampler for me to try. The Highlight: Doro Wat (“if you haven’t had it, you haven’t really had Ethiopian food”): Absolutely phenomenal flavor! The sauce has a touch of kick that brings the senses to life, and the cheese adds in a dynamic texture. It was so good I went back the next day for lunch to try the Special Kitfo (steak tartare) and I was blown away. While the Doro Wot was bursting with flavor, the Kitfo was an exploration of texture. Can’t recommend this spot highly enough!

LeRhonda Greats

Stopped here for lunch with a friend. The food is delicious and the customer service was top notch. As I sat I noticed that some of the images on the wall are the same ones that I have on my wall at home. I knew that I was in the right place.

+4

Jackie

Amazing Ethiopian food! The honey wine was so much smoother than we anticipated and the sweetness was just the right amount. The bread was really well done and the spices were super well balanced. We got the veggie and meat for 2 and the beef sambusas. Highly recommend for first timers (which we were). The service was amazing and the team was so kind to introduce the cuisine and how to eat it to us. We had a really great time - we’ll definitely be introducing it to others! If you have leftovers - don’t forget the bread at the bottom! We almost did, but it’s the best and sauciest. Flavor town. Parking available at the front of the restaurant on the street.

Denise W

Let's talk about customer service. The food is absolutely delicious but the one thing that really makes me happy about this restaurant is the customer service. They are so attentive, friendly, and helpful even when they are packed. I have yet to have an item off the menu that I didn't like. Would recommend until I'm blue in the face.

James Li

Food is delicious, filling, has good portion sizes, and a wonderful and unique spice flavoring. There is a really good variety of dishes in the veggie platters and the injera has a good texture, good flavor, and good amount given so there is enough to finish everything! The coffee is also smooth and high quality, and I will definitely be coming back here for more!

+4

Nandini Sankaran

Really good Ethiopian food in Oakland downtown! Very neat and their veggie sampler was top notch. Good quantity for the money and nice ambience. Like other Ethiopian places, it’s also on the expensive side, but I would give it for the taste and service. Must try their Sambusa! P.S: Parking needs to be done near Lake Merritt and walk your way up here.

Ying Zhang

Filling and satisfying dinner for a group of four. We all enjoyed a bottle of honey wine and felt warmly buzzed by the end of the meal. One person in our group is vegetarian so she got the veggie platter for one and the rest of us split the meat and veggie combo for three. Great portions and we were even unable to finish it all. The meat dishes were some of my favorites as well as the gomen! I am not the biggest fan of injera but the injera here was soft and pillowy, and I ate many pieces with my meal. Our waitress was friendly and conversational. They had the basketball game on so it was fun to watch every once in a while. Great dinner!

Marcela Ma

I’m giving this a 4star because I don’t know Ethiopian food that much so not much to compare. But the food was delicious. Injera was just the perfect sour, red lentils were on fire like spicy! Cabbage and potatoes so so good, the chicken was yummy and the lamb tibs was so good a little lamb-y but good 😊 The service was awesome.. so nice and kind

Enssaro is a solid Ethiopian lunch option in Oakland, not far from Lake Merritt. The dining room feels cheerful albeit a bit dark and slightly worn, with hardwood floors that make the space pretty loud even when only a handful of people are inside. I ordered the meat sampler for one, which comes with several Ethiopian stews served on injera. Everything was tasty with rich spices and good variety across the different dishes. That said, the dishes here don’t really stand out compared to better Ethiopian food in the Bay Area. The meal is eaten traditionally with injera instead of utensils, which is fun but can be a little challenging to manage gracefully. Lunch cost about $30. Overall, seems like a dependable if not standout spot for Ethiopian food. Also, they’re moving to Rockridge soon.

Dalia Obeid

Used to like this place but not anymore! Portions compared to prices is ridiculous! The vegetarian plate includes about 2 table spoons of each of misir and kik alicha (lentils) Doro wot was okay although lacked intensity and needed some more spice and sauce base! Most annoying part was waiters asked twice while I was eating if I was done. If you see me chewing why are you coming to my table and asking if I was done???? The second time the waitress asked if she can take one of the plates! And I just nodded WHILE CHEWING! There are too many good ethiopian restaurants in the area for this behaviour Won’t be back for sure!