Hawassa Lake, Ethiopia: Don’t Miss the Sashimi

1. If you’re heading to Hawassa Lake in Ethiopia, add one thing to your must-do list: trying the local sashimi. It’s not the kind of dish you’d expect to find in East Africa, but trust me—this hidden gem is worth seeking out. The process is informal, the setting is simple, and the flavor? Unexpectedly fantastic. It’s the sort of food adventure that makes travel feel thrilling, even in a quiet lakeside town. 🍣🌍✨ 2. Here’s how to find it: walk north along Hawassa Lake—opposite the direction of the park—for less than two kilometers. You’ll spot a cluster of small spots where locals gather to drink coffee and eat, shaded by acacia trees. (Use the location marked in photo 1 for navigation.) These aren’t fancy restaurants; just plastic tables, charcoal stoves, and the kind of casual vibe where strangers nod and smile as you pass. It’s here that the sashimi magic happens. 🚶♂️☕🌳 3. You have two options: buy fish directly from the fishermen loitering near the water, or ask the drink stall owners to handle it for you. I went with the latter—easier, and they know the best fish. The owner I asked disappeared for 10 minutes, returning with a string of plump, silvery fish—maybe 1.5 to 2 kilograms total. He quoted 400 Birr, and I agreed without haggling. Then came the wait: 30 to 40 minutes of watching him gut, clean, and slice the fish, while I sipped a cold soda and watched kids chase geese by the lake. 🐟⏳🥤 4. When the plate arrived, it was simple but striking: thin, translucent slices of raw fish, arranged haphazardly, with a small bowl of bright red dipping sauce on the side. The sauce, the “soul” of the dish, was fiery—loaded with chili, lime, and maybe a hint of local herbs. I hesitated for a second—this wasn’t a sterile sushi bar, after all—but one bite won me over. The fish was buttery, fresh, and sweet, a perfect contrast to the spicy sauce. My husband and I dug in, and by the end, the plate was clean. 🥢🌶️😋 5. Now, the elephant in the room: hygiene. Let’s be honest—processing fish in an open-air, no-frills setup isn’t exactly FDA-approved. The knives looked well-used, the cutting board had seen better days, and flies buzzed nearby. But here’s the thing: the fish was so fresh it practically still tasted of the lake, and neither of us felt so much as a stomach twinge afterward. Sometimes, travel food requires a little leap of faith—and this time, it paid off. 🦟🤞🍴 6. Hands down, it was better than the grilled fish we’d tried elsewhere in town. The sashimi let the fish’s natural flavor shine, unmasked by smoke or spices. It’s a reminder that some of the best meals aren’t in guidebooks—they’re the ones you stumble into, recommended by locals or found by wandering. So next time you’re at Hawassa Lake, take that northward walk. Your taste buds (and sense of adventure) will thank you. 🌟 #HawassaFood #EthiopiaEats #SashimiAdventure #LakeHawassa #TravelFoodie