muzita abyssinian bistro

so so so good. i had seen this restaurant and heard good things about the place, but i just finished an amazing meal there.
the flavours of the dishes were all different and left a beautiful after taste, the size portions were just enough to keep you satisfied and not feel like you had over ordered.
the staff were friendly and really helpful when it came what was on the menu and what to order.
the restaurant atmosphere was laid back and comfortable, you could happily lose track of time there.
so it's safe to say if you love great food, service and atmosphere, please try this place out you don't be disappointed.

delightful staff. magnificent ambience. a meal to remember with fondness. highly recommend to everyone!

if you are at all interested in a unique,one-of-a-kind dining experience in san diego you won't want to miss muzita bistro. the atmosphere is inviting and the food is really outstanding. we have dined here many times and always request that the wait staff assemble a melange of tastes for us- we have never been disappointed .if you are well-versed in ethiopian food or not, this is a fun way to be pleasantly surprised when your food arrives! if you are a native san diegan or a visitor make sure to give muzita's a try.

if you’re new to ethiopian cuisine, don’t waste time looking for a fork. this is finger food.well first time i read this, i was bit intrigued about the place! looking at high ratings and tons of great reviews online i thought let’s give it a try. yes this award winning place “muzita abyssinian bistro” in san diego is famous for serving traditional ethiopian cuisine. they follow philosophy of eating by hands rather than using forks and knifes and this makes me nostalgic thinking of my home land india! talking about food it sounds and looks quite similar to indian cuisine. we had an appetizer called "sambusas"(resonates and looks like samosas). it is assorted plate of 6 crispy pastries each stuffed with 3 different fillings like chicken, lamb, & spinach. i personally like the chicken one a lot! for the main course we ordered the authentic "shiro kantisha". it appeared on one big piece of soft injera bread spread on a big plate. ethiopians cook this fermented flat bread from a grain called teff. it is topped with button mushrooms, freshly chopped greens in the middle and zucchini & tomato serrano and lentil sauce on the side. truly exciting flavors all over the plate. this was chef chosen dish and we loved it to bits. lentil sauce is not much spicy but good amalgamation of flavors. while san diego is far from the kingdom of ethiopian, this whole dining experience with certainly different flavors than usual gives us feeling of being in some other territory. even though the ingredients quite resemble to indian cuisine the flavors are certainly unique.

we had a very nice dinner here. great appetizers for sharing and a very vibrant atmosphere with an attentive server. there were 12 of us in the group, so we had pretty much one of everything on the menu. i enjoyed the okra appies as well as the calamari.

the entree portions are quite large and served on a single platter for 2-3 people to eat. we ordered one entree per person (all adults) but that ended up being too much to eat. all of the entrees are served with injera bread (more like a pancake than pita or naan), so i would avoid that in the appetizers.

i enjoyed the zigini siga (beef) and prawn kilwa. both had a good spice without being overpowering.

i absolutely love this place. the food was so delicious, but even better the service is amazing. the owner personally brought us samples of some of the dishes & explained to us more about the ethiopian culture. it was a wonderful experience. it's small & very intimate.

went here on valentine's. the place was filled but still managed to get a table. i tried ethiopian for the first time and fell in love with it! equal number of options for vegetarians and non vegetarians. very cozy ambience. great customer service. will definitely visit the place again.
just a heads up, they don't provide cutlery. just a small tradition. and try the ethiopian beer! fantastic

whether you’re in the mood for casual dining or a special occasion, this popular eatery is an unforgettable neighborhood hideaway.

very flavorful menu items that are pretty unique. if you like indian food then you will appreciate the flavors of ethiopian food. the sabusas are huge and packed with flavor (think samosas with packed flavorful fillings). the entrees are huge and you can choose to have family style or individual servings. the place is cozy and very busy. reservations are recommended since walk-ins may not get a seat depending on days. separate vegetarian menu makes this place ideal for vegetarians.

excellent food and service, some of the best ethiopian i've had!

very bad service, food is good but service is uppity and rude. apparently if you are the friend of the people working that day then you get great service.


-----14 sep, 2013-----

just walked out after we were told to sit at a table for two without being asked how many in our party?

great first time experience very flavorful tasty food: must like to eat with your hands tho! staff not as good as the food and the ambiance unfortunately. kind of rushed thru the explanations and not very warm attitude wise. my date ordered a traditional cocktail which was as expected, mediocre; after all this is an ethiopian resto! building is romantic and cool, interesting tho that the kitchen staff seen thru the doors weren't ethiopian haha unless there is a burgeoning white population there! :-)
3 out of 5 stars

a great place for family time. we had a wonderful chat with the owner of this adorable, family-run restaurant in a cozy university heights bungalow. he told us that the menu, prepared by his mother, reflects only the food that his family eats at home. the traditional east african fare is healthy and fresh and bursting with a variety of robust flavors. the family-style presentation, meant to be eaten with your hands (after using the provided hot towels), is wonderfully intimate and inspires vibrant conversation. the wine and beer list is impressive and international.

first time trying ethiopian cuisine...it was wonderful! this restaurant served me one of the best tasting and probably healthiest meals i have ever had! yum yum!!!

great food, awesome service. this was the first time i have ever had ethiopian food and i loved it. the food had some unfamiliar flavors but none of them were offensive. a couple of the dishes (you get a main and a side), reminded me of indian food. which i love.

the bread like stuff, i can't remember what it's called, was really neat. spongy and wheat free totally entertaining to eat.

the server was amazingly helpful and patient.

i would heartily recommend this place.