sengatera ethiopian restaurant

one of the more disappointing ethiopian restaurants i have visited in a long time. while the establishment is well decorated and the staff is attentive, conversant and hospitable, the food is quite bland and far from authentic. this establishment appeals to and is geared towards the non-ethiopians. most disappointing was the injera that seems to have missed the advent of teff, especially given the proximity to seattle and other large cities that boast amazing ethiopian restaurants, shops and know how. the kitfo lacked authenticity, while the tibs was also a miss. veggie combo was passable, and usually is what appeals to the non-ethiopian crowd. i clearly don't make up the target market for this restaurant as evidenced by the clientele that was present (restaurant was packed full by non-ethiopians.) i wish the owners continued success.

yum yum!!!! lamb tibs is money!!!!staff is super friendly

meesha. not that great, pretty disappointed. good flavor, but the portion sizes are so tiny. enjoni cafe is way better.

amazing. my sister and i made a 2 hr trip to portland just to eat lunch in sengatera ethiopian restaurant. omg it is the best ethiopian food i ever tested since i came to usa. i can't wait to go back again. thank you sengatera for your amazing food and service. god bless you

wonderful!!. we live in eugene and will make a trip just to get the fabulous food at sengatera! the atmosphere is lovely and the people are welcoming! the food is amazing! the only drawback is that it isn't in eugene!!!

fast service, extremely authentic (trust me) and plenty of injera, unlike other places. only ethiopian place i will ever visit.

updated look, same great food. just stopped in to my favorite portland restaurant again. the food has always been superb and the brothers unfailingly warm and welcoming. but now the decor, previously the weakest element of this place, has been reworked. some traditional ethiopian touches along with fabric additions and a tasteful new color scheme really sets this place apart. great experience every time.


-----10 apr, 2010-----

could be the best!. sengatera has become my favorite spot in portland for the most delicious ethiopian food. in addition to the flavorful vegetarian dishes they offer, yonas and his brother have a chopped beef choice on the menu called kitfo. superb! and not easy to find among the other restaurants serving ethiopian food in portland.

i always leave feeling as if i opted for the best when i leave, and the brothers are unfailingly warm and attentive.

mlk neighborhood gem. good food and good people. we are lucky to live within walking distance!

sunday lunch - 2 thumbs up. my son and daughter in law just returned from ethiopia, so we were anxious to try the local flavors. we loved it, although they said the injera was more sour in ethiopia. i and hubby are going for the hot and spicy lentil stew today. i am hooked!! i want to learn to cook it, but i also like to support this sweet little restaurant. the staff is wonderful, and on sundays they have a coffee ceremony. we all had a veg combo, on our first visit and ate with our hands, sharing all the dishes. the amounts look small, compared to local american cafe's, but trust me...the food is very filling and delicious. we tried the lamb stew as a side, but found it grisily.

my granddaughter tried the mild dishes, but ready for some chick nuggets afterwards, hahaha.....

hope you give it a try!!