Ethiopian on the Danforth- Dukem, Wazema, Rendezvous Cafe, Hirut, the Danforth location of Lalibela? which dishes does each of them do best?

[phoenikia]

I'd like to start trying out some of the Ethiopian restaurants on the Danforth. I get the impression Dukem, Rendezvous Cafe and Lalibela tend to get the most traffic from CHs, but I was wondering if any CHs had specific dishes they'd recommend at each restaurant.

Which dishes does each restaurant do best?

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Dukem
950 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1L9, CA

Rendez Vous
1408 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1M9, CA

[pinstripeprincess]

has anyone gotten take out from any of these spots? just curious how well it carries...

[foodyDudey]

I've had takeout from Dukem and it travels home quite well. I'd rather eat it at here because I like to use cutlery.

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Dukem
950 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1L9, CA

[Paulustrious]

They will (all?) give you cutlery if you ask. At Lalibela they decided without asking on the basis of my ethnicity / accent that I would need them .

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Lalibela
869 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G, CA

[munchieHK]

I like Ethiopian food the next day. I think, much like good Indian food, that the flavours develop if the food is left to sit.
Rendez-Vous does takeout and it is very good.
I've never been offered cutlery at any of the Danforth places, thank god. I would be offended, like when they bring me a fork and jasmine tea at a Chinese restaurant without asking. Always credit your customers with some intelligence. If I need a fork I will surely ask.

[foodyDudey]

I bet they probably would, but they told us that it is not normally eaten that way when we went to Dukem. (I know that) So I'd rather just eat it at home.

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Dukem
950 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1L9, CA

[pinstripeprincess]

thanks! though i suppose it should go in another thread, if you have any late (9pm or so) take-out suggestions in short walking distance from greenwood station it would be greatly appreciated.

[munchieHK]

That's pretty close to Makkah. If I lived down that way, I would be in there all the time! I'm not sure how late they open, but I have never been disappointed with their food.

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Makkah Restaurant
1020 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1M2, CA

[Full tummy]

What about Makkah at 1020 Danforth Avenue? It's on the north side, west of Greenwood. I have enjoyed many dishes there. It's a bit grungy, but the food is good.

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Makkah Restaurant
1020 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1M2, CA

[pinstripeprincess]

makkah is definitely on the list, it seems to be universally enjoyed. i was compiling something but until i have the time to call around it's a bit hard to know hours and was hoping locals could help me out with that. so far i've got:

Rendezvous - 1408 Danforth, 416 469 2513 (no hours)
Lalibela - 1405 Danforth, 10-2am, 416 645 0486
Dukem - 950 Danforth, 4-12am, 416 406 6342
Wazema - 1360 Danforth, 416 466 5713 (no hours)
Walima - 1450 Danforth, 5-10pm, 647 268 3327
Jean's Vegetarian Kitchen - 1262 Danforth, 5-10pm, 416 778 1388
Djerba la Douce - 1475 Danforth, 4-10pm
Makkah - 1020 Danforth, 11-12am, 416 349 2056

anything to remove or add would be fantastic. i'll be spending a lot of time around there in the next couple of months.

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Dukem
950 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1L9, CA

Lalibela
869 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G, CA

Djerba la Douce
1475 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1N5, CA

Walima Cafe
1450 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J, CA

Makkah Restaurant
1020 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J1M2, CA

[neighborguy]

I got take-out from Rendezvous for a small dinner party. Everything carried home well.
I might suggest asking for the injera separated from the savouries.

[Olivia]

I can't really comment on your original question as I always end up at Rendezvous, but I will say that I enjoy their food, the veggie platter and zil-zil tibs in particular. Their doro wat is tasty, but for ~$12 I would like more than 2 tiny pieces of chicken. One thing I wish would change though, is that several of the elements of the veggie platter are served cold (is that typical?).

[atomeyes]

Anyone know if Lalibella on Danforth is any different tastewise/qualitywise than Lalibella on Bloor&Ossington?

Dukem: their special tibs is excellent. my complaint is that their veggie dishes are inconsistent from one dinner to the next. flavours always seem to be changing. its not a problem - its almost always great - but you kind of don't know what you are getting for some of the lentil dishes.

Lalibella - their kitfo is outstanding. Dukem has better tibs and veggies, but if its kitfo you want (and a better selection of dishes) I'd suggest Lalibella.

[Atahualpa]

I have only tried Wazema, Dukem and Rendezvous (and Addis Ababa and Ethiopian House, not on the Danforth).

I liked Wazema and Dukem better than Rendezvous. However, that was based mostly on the meat preparations. My veggie friend really liked Rendezvous' veggie platter best.

Anyways, I haven't been to these places often enough to really give a firm opinion of anything. There has been more variation between visits to each place than there has been between them.

Lunch time service at Dukem had the least lingering frankincense odour (which gives me a splitting headache unless I take claritin and advil before going), so I return to it most.

I hope someone else can offer a bit more.

[1sweetpea]

I ate mostly veggie at Dukem, Rendezvous and Lalibela and must say that I really enjoyed Dukem's veggie platter. I recall liking the veggie platter at Rendezvous very much as well. We also had the raw kitfo there and it was tasty. Lalibela's veg platter was my least favourite, as I found every dish salty and too mild in spice for my liking, despite asking for the spicy version of the platter (which they clearly forgot to write down!). I should add that my friends' meaty orders were also very salty at Lalibela. Was it an off night at Lalibela? Maybe. I'd like to try Wazema and Ibex, but it will be tough for me to get past my inclination to return to Dukem for another enjoyable veggie platter.