Barcote

We got the Doro Wot and Beg Wot. Both were amazing with the Injera and salad! Our food and Ethiopian coffee came out quickly. Our server even provided extra Injera without having to ask! Great food and service!

Wow for starters! I absolutely love this place. Such amazing people that work here and even better food. The Teff Injera is the best way to go, it's very authentic. We got the veggie platter, Kitfo, and the mushroom Dulet. I was very impressed with everything I tasted. This was my first time having the Mushroom Dulet, and it blew my expectations out of the water! I loved everything about the food and the environment. I felt at home and we were treated with so much love and respect. This is my all time favorite Ethiopian Restaurant so far! We will be back to enjoy more of the menu. Much love ❤

Love Barcote! It’s a delightful place to dine and the food is wonderful. I went with friends and ate out on the back patio - lovely. The veggie combo is a winner and the injera bread comes with the meal.

Dalia Obeid

The best Ethiopian food in the Bay Area! Fresh, flavorful, and generously portioned — no skimpy servings here. The doro wot has the perfect amount of spice and a rich, well-balanced base sauce. (No filters used on these photos — just look at those vibrant colors! They truly reflect how fresh the food is.) Look no further — this place is a gem! P.S. A little tip from an Ethiopian food lover: bring some gloves, or if you struggle to get the smell off afterward, wash with soap and toothpaste when you get home!

prem

Great indoor and outdoor dining spaces. Delicious food - advice was to order both the vege combo and meat combo instead of the ultimate combo - gets you one of the lamb curries + all the veggies. The spiced tea pairs well with the lentil dishes. Service was kind and friendly. A very well run establishment.

AnitaBonita Renzetti

Delicious and satisfying lunch, with the spiced tea, beef samosas and meat sampler. These flavors and spices are beyond words!

Zepyoor Khechadoorian

My boyfriend and I love trying out new Ethiopian restaurants and this one is fantastic. They have a huge vegetarian/vegan menu including a tofu option and the portions are generous.

Mikky Mitiku

Excellent! Ordered the meat combo server was very attentive of my 4 yr old brought him something that he can enjoy as well.

Nyri Rhodes (Unnerved Traveler)

The experience from start to finish was simply wonderful in every way. We were greeted by a group of beautiful women in the front courtyard that were enjoying coffee and an afternoon chat, they immediately welcomed us and also asked if we wanted to join them for coffee. I will assume one of these ladies was the owner, and how kind a gesture, to invite patrons to have an intimate cup with you and your friends. Though we declined because we had our own celebration to enjoy, the generosity did not go unnoticed and warmed our hearts. This restaurant is a lot larger than it appears from the outside, and there is lots of room inside, as well as a very large back patio that is perfect for the mild sunny summer months in the Bay Area. After you study the menu and decide what to eat, you need to wash your hands thoroughly, no hand sanitizer, soap and water, because unless you simply aren’t any fun and will ask for utensils, you will be eating with your hands! Start with the Ethiopian Spiced Tea, it comes with an extra tea bag that is caffeinated, but you don’t need it, this tea is full of the flavors of clove and other spices and opens your appetite. Wine lovers, order a glass of the Honey Wine, but don’t expect Pinot, it is very sweet and has a fermented taste that has you expecting carbonation, though it was very different to any wine I have ever tasted, I enjoyed it and it paired well with the meal. Now let’s get into this food! Appetizers are a must and I couldn’t get enough of the Meat Samosa, phyllo-dough filled with sauteed beef, garlic, jalapeno and onion. The phyllo is delicate and fried to crispy perfection, the meat is ground fine and has the perfect blend of seasoning and spice, the flavors marry happily. The dipping sauce is not needed, but has a mild spicy kick and a unique taste that reminded me of a peppered roucou (annatto seeds). These samosas made me feel as if I was walking down the streets of a bustling city in Ethiopia buying street food and laughing with locals! If you see them on a menu, try them! Now bring on the Injera, a staple flatbread of the dining experience in Ethiopia! I was surprised at the springy light texture, and the slightly sour taste. Expecting a more dense bread, but now I understand why, it’s the spoon needed to grab your portion of food. What I noticed at the end of the meal was how light I felt even with a full stomach, no bloating, and that has sold me on Injera! We ordered the Meat & Veggie Ultimate Combo, I would suggest this as a main if you would like to experience a bit of everything without ordering everything on the menu. Filled with samples of Misir Wot (split lentils in berbere sauce), Ater Kik Alicha (split peas in a tumeric sauce) , Gomen (fried collard greens with onions and garlic) Buticha (pureed chickpeas seasoned with onions, garlic, oil and jalapenos) , Atalkilt (cabbage, potatoes, carrots, sautéed with garlic, onions and turmeric). The meats included Doro Wot (spicy chicken cooked delicately with spiced berbere sauce served with hard boiled egg) , Siga Alicha (beef cooked in onions, garlic, ginger and tumeric), and Siga Wot (cubes of beef simmered in a blend of berbere and herbed butter). While this meal is filling, you will not feel stuffed, and I highly encourage you to have a cup of Ethiopian Coffee and a piece of Baklava! A word of advice though, this coffee is very strong, and I was only able to drink a few sips, it had me spinning, so remember your tolerance for caffeine before you drown that full cup! The flavor is deep, and it’s really delicious, it’s just much too strong for me, but I couldn’t say I had a proper visit without trying at least one cup! The service was superb, and every accommodation was made to assist and ensure the comfort of a family member who requires the use of a wheelchair and oxygen. The staff was attentive and also concerned about her wellness and shared loving words and prayers for her recovery. What else can be said, this was a 5 star experience! Enjoy Unnerved Traveler

Jingyi Wang

Delicious food (and homemade honey wine), but what I best recall a few weeks later is the service, which was incredibly warm and friendly. We never had to ask for anything. A complimentary baklava for the birthday boy too!

Joe Toombs

We had the Doro Tibs, Beg Alicha, Azifa, and Vegetarian sampler. The injera fermented bread was amazing!! The food was excellent, service was great, and the servers were very friendly and fast. Multiple spice levels are available (the normal options are not very spicy for those with lower tolerance). Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Highly recommend to anyone!

David Stamper

Amazing place to eat. We had the meat combination platter, honey wine, and flax seed drink. The server was also very kind and let us take extra Enjera back. Will definitely return!

Iris Khaund

i come here with my family and we love it, we always get the ultimate combo platter. last time i visited i mentioned i liked one of the dishes (sig alicha) and the lady brought me a bowl with some more which was really nice. great food and comfortable atmosphere

Leo Cheung

A black owned business, tasty food and great service. I really love it here. Be prepared to eat with your hand, and remember this is the way it is, just like you are not supposed to eat a burger with chopsticks or eat sushi with fork and knife. One thing though, if I may make a suggestion, it could be better if waster is not served with disposable plastic cups. That’s not only environmental unfriendly, but also difficult to grab when you have oily hand. Overall, I love this place, love their food, and love the people here run this wonderful restaurant.

Pauline

We got the Doro Wot and Beg Wot. Both were amazing with the Injera and salad! Our food and Ethiopian coffee came out quickly. Our server even provided extra Injera without having to ask! Great food and service!

Britany “Brit”

Wow for starters! I absolutely love this place. Such amazing people that work here and even better food. The Teff Injera is the best way to go, it's very authentic. We got the veggie platter, Kitfo, and the mushroom Dulet. I was very impressed with everything I tasted. This was my first time having the Mushroom Dulet, and it blew my expectations out of the water! I loved everything about the food and the environment. I felt at home and we were treated with so much love and respect. This is my all time favorite Ethiopian Restaurant so far! We will be back to enjoy more of the menu. Much love ❤

Fantastic and highly recommended! First time trying Ethiopian cuisine and we went for the sample platter. Every dish was amazing and uniquely flavorful. Injera is a revelation - a filler and utensil AND delicious. A must stop if you are in the Bay Area!

Best Ethiopian restaurant I have tried!!! Amazing vegetarian options, really flavorful and well spiced. Not too oily, feels super hearty and homemade. The staff are so nice, you can tell the place is full of love and heart. I can always count on this place for a flavorful, healthy, and balanced meal <3

Mridini Vijay

Best Ethiopian restaurant I have tried!!! Amazing vegetarian options, really flavorful and well spiced. Not too oily, feels super hearty and homemade. The staff are so nice, you can tell the place is full of love and heart. I can always count on this place for a flavorful, healthy, and balanced meal <3

Adam Birr

Fantastic and highly recommended! First time trying Ethiopian cuisine and we went for the sample platter. Every dish was amazing and uniquely flavorful. Injera is a revelation - a filler and utensil AND delicious. A must stop if you are in the Bay Area!

Tried Ethiopian food for the first time and it was delicious. Lentil samosa was little bit oily and would taste great with tamarind sauce or mint chutney but it was served with chilly sauce, which was not a great combination. Highlight of the lunch was Shiro combo. It’s a must order dish on the menu. Overall service was a little slow. Ambience was nice.

Barcote offers a truly authentic Ethiopian dining experience that shines through in its flavors. The portions are generous, easily enough to satisfy a family, which is perfect for the family-style dining integral to Ethiopian culture. While the atmosphere is a bit outdated and could benefit from some remodeling, it still complements the communal dining experience. However, there are areas that could use improvement. Service was slow, as it took a long time both to place orders and to receive our food, despite the visible busyness of the staff. Additionally, the menu feels somewhat limited, though the dishes available are still worth trying. Would I return? I might, but I'd like to compare it with other Ethiopian restaurants to see how it stacks up. In summary, Barcote is worth a visit for those seeking to explore or enjoy Ethiopian cuisine in a family-friendly setting.

Nikita

Tried Ethiopian food for the first time and it was delicious. Lentil samosa was little bit oily and would taste great with tamarind sauce or mint chutney but it was served with chilly sauce, which was not a great combination. Highlight of the lunch was Shiro combo. It’s a must order dish on the menu. Overall service was a little slow. Ambience was nice.

Wanda Reynolds

Barcote offers a truly authentic Ethiopian dining experience that shines through in its flavors. The portions are generous, easily enough to satisfy a family, which is perfect for the family-style dining integral to Ethiopian culture. While the atmosphere is a bit outdated and could benefit from some remodeling, it still complements the communal dining experience. However, there are areas that could use improvement. Service was slow, as it took a long time both to place orders and to receive our food, despite the visible busyness of the staff. Additionally, the menu feels somewhat limited, though the dishes available are still worth trying. Would I return? I might, but I'd like to compare it with other Ethiopian restaurants to see how it stacks up. In summary, Barcote is worth a visit for those seeking to explore or enjoy Ethiopian cuisine in a family-friendly setting.

You can taste multiple layers of spices like cumin, coriander, tumeric, chilly pepper, fenugreek, etc,. Smell lingering on my finger lasts long even after i washed my hands. :) Their berbere spice is a real deal! Doro means chicken and wat means stew so it’s an Ethiopian chicken stew. it takes so much time to cook and prepare properly. Injera has a distinct, slightly sour taste due to its fermentation process. It is so fluffy, spongy, light. It goes well with spice sauces. The only downside is that sauce tastes salty excessively. Samosa is the winner, so flaky, very thin with a savory filling. Give it a try!

JEONGBUM SEO

You can taste multiple layers of spices like cumin, coriander, tumeric, chilly pepper, fenugreek, etc,. Smell lingering on my finger lasts long even after i washed my hands. :) Their berbere spice is a real deal! Doro means chicken and wat means stew so it’s an Ethiopian chicken stew. it takes so much time to cook and prepare properly. Injera has a distinct, slightly sour taste due to its fermentation process. It is so fluffy, spongy, light. It goes well with spice sauces. The only downside is that sauce tastes salty excessively. Samosa is the winner, so flaky, very thin with a savory filling. Give it a try!

Food was incredibly substantial. Very filling and satisfying. Entrees are very wholesome and healthy. However, not as spicy as I would prefer. I really missed not having some chilis on the side, or hot sauce etc available for adding as desired. Salad is incredibly greasy and oily, not palatable at all.

My order of gomen was nothing better than just making your own collard greens at home. In fact, gomen was very ordinary and substandard. Their ambience is good. Service is good but food wise nothing wow.

Pranit Ravuri

Food was incredibly substantial. Very filling and satisfying. Entrees are very wholesome and healthy. However, not as spicy as I would prefer. I really missed not having some chilis on the side, or hot sauce etc available for adding as desired. Salad is incredibly greasy and oily, not palatable at all.

Meena Saiprasad

My order of gomen was nothing better than just making your own collard greens at home. In fact, gomen was very ordinary and substandard. Their ambience is good. Service is good but food wise nothing wow.