Ethiopian food in Orange County

[chau]

Hi folks,

I just developed a craving for Ethiopian food - honey wine, injera, stews, etc. Are there any good Ethiopian places in Orange County that someone can recommend, especially if they are in the Tustin/Irvine area!!! Thank you!

[Phurstluv]

When you come up to LA, visit Little Ethiopia on La Brea heading north toward Fairfax.

[Das Ubergeek]

Nothing in Tustin or Irvine that I know of...

Tana Ethiopian Cuisine in Anaheim, on La Palma is very tasty; the alternative is the not-always-open-when-they-say-they-will-be Merhaba Eritrean Restaurant on Ball and Dale.

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Tana Ethiopian Restaurant and Market
2622 W La Palma Ave, Anaheim, CA 92801

E A Merhaba Shop & Coffee
2801 W Ball Rd # 5, Anaheim, CA

[JamesF]

Went to Tana for the first time on Sunday. Really quite good. We had the smaller vegetarian combination (the typical veg combo that every Ethiopian place has). I think that the vegetarian food at Tana is better than any of the places on Fairfax that I've been (Rahel, Messob, Rosalind's). (While no expert in Ethiopian, I did live in DC for three years and have a bit of experience with good Ethiopian.) I was concerned with the location -- how is this place going to make it HERE? -- but there is apparently some kind of East African community in the area as a number of Africans came in while we were there to pick up take out orders. Plus there's a Kenyan restaurant in the same strip mall and what looks like an African clothing store in between.

Das Ubergeek (or others): Any knowledge about the Kenyan place? Is it open yet?

[Das Ubergeek]

I have not seen the Kenyan place... sounds like I need to go investigate. :)

[cesar76]

Yes! the Kenyan restaurant is open. I tried it and i would say it is good. I enjoyed the Obama meal which is fried fish on a bed of sauces and collard green or cabbage on the side. I also liked their bread called chapati.

[missalex]

We went to Merhaba about 4 years ago and it was pretty bad. Hopefully they've gotten it together a little more in that time but I look forward to trying Tana and would say, try that first! We were the only people eating at Merhaba. A lot of the food was obviously just defrosted--your standard american mixed veggie mix--and out of cans. I've been to 10 different Ethiopian places since I lived in the Bay Area for a long time and while cute the food was not even in the same league as food at the suspiciously dirty ones up there. With Eritrean TV on & folks wandering in for just a beer later it definitely struck me as more of a hangout for Ethiopians/Eritreans rather than a fully functional restaurant for other people.

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E A Merhaba Shop & Coffee
2801 W Ball Rd # 5, Anaheim, CA