As I’ve mentioned a few times previously, Ethiopian food has been one of my favorite cuisines since childhood.
I actually remember my first taste, it was when I was about 12 years old in Kenya (I think, there have been a lot of meals since), and it was love at first bite.
From that moment I had wanted to visit Ethiopia, so finally 16 years later, I made it.
First meals in a country are always exciting – not only because of the food, but also because you are required to find a suitable restaurant, order (even if you have no idea what your’e doing), and then eat!
So there we were, wandering around southern Addis Ababa, looking for my first meal.
Get exclusive updates
Enter your email and I’ll send you the best travel food content.
Most restaurants are surrounded by a wall and gate, but peeking inside I could see those yellow plastic tables, beer posters, and hear the tv’s (I think all Ethiopian restaurants have tv’s).
After a few moments of contemplation, I chose a restaurant that looked pretty friendly and in we went.
Outdoors there were the plastic tables, and inside, a dark cavern of men chowing down on plates of injera topped with a variety of meat curries.
Not knowing how or what to order, a man sitting next to the cash register graciously helped me and ordered, what was pretty much the thing everyone was eating: mahaberawi, a combination platter of various meat dishes.
I took my plate outside, and began to dig in ferociously.
The mix came with a number of different meat curries, to be honest I’m not even sure if they were beef or goat, potatoes, and even a small scoop of plain rice, all atop a blanket of injera.
I didn’t stop until I had polished off all the dishes and the injera foundation as well.
From my very first meal in Ethiopia, I knew it was going to be an amazing country!
A stuffed stomach and satisfied taste buds came to just 22 ETB ($1.15).
Many more Ethiopian food stores to come!
10 Best Meals in 2018 + Top Travel Destinations and Video Gear I Use
Pakistani Street Food Guide – A Must-Eat Tour of Karachi, Pakistan
Get exclusive updates
Enter your email and I'll send you the best travel food content.
High Rated Gabru
2 years ago
Historical blogs. Thanks for share!!
sankar singh
3 years ago
amazing content writing nice food blog along with picrues,Blogging is hard because of the grind required to stay interesting and relevant.
Online cab service jodhpur
Aleena
9 years ago
Hi Mark!
I can’t believe that I have not found your videos/blog sooner! I stumbled upon your video when I was searching for a good Kuala Lumpur travel video to show my American friend who is now on her way to tour Asia. Reading your posts and watching your videos make me think that you are the twin I’ve never known to have! Haha! I love to eat and travel. I am very curious to know how do you keep your weight down after eating all that delicious foods?
Anyways, I am based in New York. So, if you ever find your way here, I’d be more than happy to bring you around for a culinary joyride!
Aleena
Mark Wiens
9 years ago
Hi Aleena, so sorry about the late reply, but thank you for writing, and for reading my blogs and watching my videos. It’s great that you love to eat as well. As for weight, I’m not totally sure, but I tend to avoid processed packaged foods and I usually don’t ever eat sweets. Would be great to meet you in NYC in the future. Thanks again, hope you’re having a wonderful day.
Zara @ Backpack ME
10 years ago
Food in Ethiopia rocks!
I particularly like the vegetarian platters – I found it funny that they call those the “fasting platters” as if you weren’t actually eating them at all. On the contrary, so yummy! And less greasy than the meaty ones too!..
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Zara, haha yes I thought the same thing, I ate many a fasting platter, but I stuffed myself!
Gabriel
10 years ago
Yessss, I love eating with my hands! I went to an Ethiopian restaurant in the United States and got to do that and not be looked at weirdly for it.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Glad you do too Gabriel!
Turkey’s For Life
10 years ago
Wow, the food looks fab – whatever type of meat it was 😉 – would have loved to try all that! And the price is great, too! 🙂
Julia
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Thanks Julia!
Bama
10 years ago
Take the injera out, that dish looks very similar with what we have here in Indonesia. I guess this is another example of how we are all more historically connected to each other than we might think.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Bamam, yes good observation, I think it could be compared to a plate of nasi padang!
tim h
10 years ago
Nice. Love Ethiopian food. Cheap an excellent.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Tim, glad you like Ethiopian food too!
Sorin
10 years ago
To be honest I was a bit disappointed by the Ethiopian food. Injera did not like it a all; tibs were OK but not to be eaten daily and eggs for 30 days in a row. For a country with so many cows, the cousin in disappointing..
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Sorin, sorry you didn’t like the food that much. I loved it!
Anwesha
10 years ago
What is the injera made of? It looks like a browner version of the south Indian Appam.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Anwesha, it actually does remind me of appam or idli, it’s made from teff flour which is a grain similar to wheat.
John
10 years ago
That was really cheap. With all those stuffs in a serving, I think I will never go hungry in Ethiopia even if I don’t have enormous budget. It seemed that you’ve enjoyed your meal so much by the way you used your bare hands while eating. Looking forward to hear more of your Ethiopian food adventures!
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey John, there is plenty of delicious food to eat in Ethiopia, yup you’ll never go hungry!
Nash
10 years ago
The food looks quit a bit like Indian food, except for the Meat.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Nash, yes it does have some similar flavors and spices to it!
Mike | Earthdrifter
10 years ago
My first, and one of my few meals in Addis: Injera etc., was quite exciting as I enjoyed it immensely. After reading this I’m now craving Ethiopian cuisine. Ideally I’ll get there again.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Mike, glad to hear you’ve been to Addis. Hope you can return again!
Marta
10 years ago
Mark,
You better explain about using hands in Ethiopia when eating Ethiopian food to people who are not familiar with this style of eating:-). We tried once Sushi style and not bad at all.
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Marta, thanks, I will in some upcoming posts soon!
Juan
10 years ago
wow, only $1.15? Good. It seem the menu a little but same like Malaysia. And U eat your meal with your bare hand.. awesome.. 🙂
Mark Wiens
10 years ago
Hey Juan, it’s a good deal in Ethiopia. Yes eating with your hands similar to Malaysia!