Cafe Massawa

Great service and food, an exceptionally filling meal that’s perfect for sharing. As far as Ethiopian goes, you don’t get a ton of toppings, but you certainly won’t leave hungry. The guys that work here are great, and the neighborhood is lucky to have this spot.

I ordered the vegan sampler and it was delicious! Every single one was very flavorful and loved the injera. The server recommend the ginger tea (forgot to take a photo), and I have to say it's the best tasting one I've had in a while! The ginger taste is prominent without being bitter and went well with the honey provided. I'm totally satisfied!

First experience of Eritrean/Ethiopian dishes. Visited at Sunday lunch, and was not crowded. I was able to see fresh baked injera being carried by the owners, and their injera is savory and very tasteful. Ordered tsebhi beghe, timtimo, and alitcha with qemem tea.

Great service. Cute small place. The food is really good. The run soaked cake is strong! Beware about ordering it for a work lunch.

There are not enough adjectives to describe the wonder of this food! I had an out of body experience...yep it was that amazing! Definitely a returning destination for me!! Service was steller. Stopped in for a quick snack before a walk and returned for dinner! 5 stars are not enough!

Had a great lunch here today. It’s a casual spot but it has nice big windows with lots of light. I had the lamb dish that came with two sides. I chose the lentils and potatoes and carrots. The lamb was nice and tender with just a hint of heat. The lentils were kind of a puree and nicely offset the heat. And I have to shout out that, while I love Ethiopian food, I usually feel kind of bloated after. I don’t know if it’s the ghee or the injera bread or what. But not this time! This is one of the only times I have had Ethiopian food, finished everything, and feel great and ready to move after. I’m wishing great success to the new kid on the block - Cafe Massawa! Update - I have eaten here many more times and it is always on point, both food and service. One of the best stops around.

Sandeep Malhotra

Simply outstanding food and service. The coffee and teas were excellent. The food was amazing. The deserts were outstanding too. The service was just heartwarming. Great value for your money to! The bean appetizer, chicken drumsticks and beef dishes were to die for. The carrot cake and rum soaked cake were divine!

Pastel Rain

Polite service, delicious food this was my first time having this dish and it was amazing! I would definitely come again. Just a bit pricey but worth it for a fresh meal that has flavor. Also the honey wine is the best wine I have had!!

Esraa E

Best experience having traditional Ethiopian food here everything was delicious. The service was great and I can’t wait to come back again. We got the injera and beef tibs + berber wings, they were to die for!

Henry Holm

Great food - really nicely spiced. Friendly staff. Quiet and darkly lit; good spot for a date night.

J T

The owner is a very welcoming, polite, and hard working guy. He made sure our experience there was nothing short of exceptional. The injera was amazing! They have vegan options, as well. In photo: Beef Tibs, Shiro, and Alitcha

Newone Samuels

Literally the best place ever to try ethiopian food !!! Me ans my friends went to try together for the first time and we were soooooo happy that we did. It left a wonderful taste in our mouths and almost cleared all the plate (I would've but we were so full LOL). No wait, very hardworking and friendly man. We really enjoyed the night and vibes overall 🥰 1000/10 !!! We cant wait to come back !!!

Molly Darragh

Came for lunch and got the zigni with timtimo and green salad. Outstanding. Service was faster than I am accustomed to in an Eritrean restaurant and I really appreciated that! Reasonably priced for how much food you get. I will definitely come back when in NYC. My only complaint is that they had a vegan sampler, but not an omnivore sampler. I like to get one for myself and eat on it for days 🙂 No liquor license yet.

Anwen Paul

Got the quesadilla and a meat + 2 vegan entree combination. You can’t go wrong with any of the dishes, honestly. Hearty, savory stews served with light, tangy injera!! And we got a rum raisin cake with coconut ice cream for dessert, naturally.

Anya K

My first time trying this cuisine ! So good! Food is amazing, same as place.

Amplitude XeNonE

First experience of Eritrean/Ethiopian dishes. Visited at Sunday lunch, and was not crowded. I was able to see fresh baked injera being carried by the owners, and their injera is savory and very tasteful. Ordered tsebhi beghe, timtimo, and alitcha with qemem tea.

Jessica Sadler

The food was delicious, the service was great, and the atmosphere is so welcoming and cool. We ordered the vegan sampler, sambusas (the chicken was great, the lentil one was ok), and the star of the show the Doro Wat (which was called by the Eritrean name on their menu but it's the chicken drumsticks with the tomato onion sauce and it's insane). To top it off, for dessert they have carrot cake from Lloyds which was a treat! Everything was delicious and I can't wait to come back.

Cain

Great service and food, an exceptionally filling meal that’s perfect for sharing. As far as Ethiopian goes, you don’t get a ton of toppings, but you certainly won’t leave hungry. The guys that work here are great, and the neighborhood is lucky to have this spot.

Lina V.

I ordered the vegan sampler and it was delicious! Every single one was very flavorful and loved the injera. The server recommend the ginger tea (forgot to take a photo), and I have to say it's the best tasting one I've had in a while! The ginger taste is prominent without being bitter and went well with the honey provided. I'm totally satisfied!

Sagar Kane

Great service. Cute small place. The food is really good. The run soaked cake is strong! Beware about ordering it for a work lunch.

Naz

Blew me away. Fantastic food and great service. We stopped by for brunch. You could taste the love in the food. We started with the chicken sambusas & ful toast (not pictured here - we devoured it before remembering to take pics lol), Berbere wings, & Dereq Tibs. This is a great addition to the neighborhood. Grateful for business owners who love sharing their food and culture with others! Thank you - will be back soon!

Shelly Reinschmidt

There are not enough adjectives to describe the wonder of this food! I had an out of body experience...yep it was that amazing! Definitely a returning destination for me!! Service was steller. Stopped in for a quick snack before a walk and returned for dinner! 5 stars are not enough!

A neighborhood gem! The food is excellent every time and the staff are such sweethearts. The restaurant itself is so cute and cozy. One of my favorite spots in the area!

Fantastic place. The ful is beautiful and the sharing vegan plate has all the Eritrean curries you want and lovely injera. Cool vibe and nice tea. Will be back!

The standards at Cafe Massawa are remarkably high! They serve new ingredients arranged beautifully. The personnel are both helpful and pleasant. Eating well doesn't cost too much here. This spot will be seeing more of me.

I am writing this review from a place of immense gratitude. When our car caught on fire, Abraham welcomed us out of the cold and into his warm, cozy restaurant, treating us as if we were family. It is truly heartwarming to know that there are still New Yorkers who create a sense of community and display such kindness. My son referred to him as an angel, and upon reflection, it certainly felt that way. He puts the same kind of love and care into his food service. The food was delectable. Despite being a very picky eater, my 3-year-old daughter thoroughly enjoyed her meal. Who would have thought her little taste buds would savor East African cuisine? The space was warm and cozy, creating a beautiful vibe that quickly soothed our anxiety from this frightening experience. We will certainly visit again.

A Y

I am writing this review from a place of immense gratitude. When our car caught on fire, Abraham welcomed us out of the cold and into his warm, cozy restaurant, treating us as if we were family. It is truly heartwarming to know that there are still New Yorkers who create a sense of community and display such kindness. My son referred to him as an angel, and upon reflection, it certainly felt that way. He puts the same kind of love and care into his food service. The food was delectable. Despite being a very picky eater, my 3-year-old daughter thoroughly enjoyed her meal. Who would have thought her little taste buds would savor East African cuisine? The space was warm and cozy, creating a beautiful vibe that quickly soothed our anxiety from this frightening experience. We will certainly visit again.

Dianne Simmons

The standards at Cafe Massawa are remarkably high! They serve new ingredients arranged beautifully. The personnel are both helpful and pleasant. Eating well doesn't cost too much here. This spot will be seeing more of me.

J Impact

Amazing spot in Harlem! The food here is absolutely incredible—so fresh, flavorful, and made with care. Every dish tastes authentic, and you can really tell the ingredients are high quality. The prices are also very reasonable for the amount of food you get, which makes it one of the best deals in the city. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and it truly feels like a hidden gem in Harlem. If you’re looking for authentic Ethiopian/Eritrean cuisine, this is hands down the best spot. Highly recommend to anyone who loves great food and an amazing dining experience!

Wes

Food was below average. All the flavors were bland and everything we ordered tasted the same. Injera was particularly soft and they had some nice red wines which is about as good as it got. Service was fine but not overly attentive.