Wazema Ethiopian Restaurant — Restaurant in Toronto

Doro Wot? More Like Doro What in the World Happened Here? I just ordered the classic Doro Wot on UberEats. Or at least, that’s what they claimed it was. What arrived at my house, however, was so confused about its identity that I had to double-check whether I’d ordered from an Ethiopian restaurant or some experimental kitchen playing dice with recipes.

Let’s start with the Kulet. More like Chopped Onion Chronicles. It was a chunky, chaotic mess of half-cooked onions that seemed to be in open rebellion against caramelization. And the chicken? Oh, the chicken. Someone clearly thought, “Bones? Authenticity? Nah, who needs those?” The result was a scattering of boneless chicken fragments that felt more like a sad garnish than the centerpiece of the dish. For a brief, confusing moment, I wondered if I’d accidentally ordered Tibs. But honestly, even Tibs would’ve staged a walkout over being compared to this.

This dish felt like it started as a beef stew, had a midlife crisis, and then decided, “Eh, let’s throw in some chicken and really confuse everyone!” If chickens could talk, they would’ve unionized, boycotted this restaurant, and sued for emotional damages by now.

So here’s my advice: DO NOT try the Doro Wot from this place unless you’re actively seeking disappointment. This isn’t just bad Ethiopian food, it’s an insult to chickens everywhere and a betrayal of cultural pride.

Rating: 1/5 – Only because I wasn’t...

I come here regularly with my mom and we share the mixed platter and there is more than enough food and a nice variety of meat and veg dishes. They make everything fresh so you will wait a while after you order. The food here is great and nicely spiced - both the vegetables and the meat dishes are very tasty - and they can also offer, on request, gluten-free injera. Made of teff; so good. Call ahead if you need to know they have it as they occasionally run out. It’s our favorite restaurant in Toronto. We ate here yesterday. You must like to eat spicy food with your hands.... I’ve been here with my sister in law, family friends... we order spiced tea while waiting for the dish. The food is wholesome and fresh, aromatically spiced, generous portions. A giant injera platter arrives with a fresh salad in the centre and different spicy stews around it. They offer great vegetarian or meat combos, or mixed, which you can order by the number of people. Mixed platter for 2 is about $26, and we still had leftovers to take home. The restaurant is cosy, painted black inside with feature lightbulbs, the bathrooms spotlessly clean. The lady who serves the food is so nice, and helpful if you need to switch anything out. I always...

For me, Habesha (Ethiopian, Eritrean) food is comfort food (par excellence). It never fails to bring joy in happiness or consolation in sadness. Such was the case with Wazema Ethiopian Restaurant. From the first moment, I was greeted with joy by the waitress Kal. She took the time to review the menu together and took the initiative to make a few adjustments to the Wazema Platter to accommodate my tastes in meat and vegetables. Seeing my interest in Ethiopian art & music, Kal explained the meaning behind the various works of art on the walls (especially the stunning stained glass-like works of Afewerk Tekle - አፈወርቅ ተክሌ). The food itself was prepared to perfection. The meat was well-seasoned, tender, wonderful texture; the vegetables were subtle and delicate. The injera, itself, struck a wonderful balance - neither too sour, nor bland - just right. At the end of the meal, Kal further spoke about the beauty of Ethiopia: Axum, Lalibela, Gondar, Ras Dashen.

My 2 hours at Wazema Ethiopian Restaurant were a taste of paradise. May God grant that I return, and that everyone may go to discover this treasure. Thank you Kal, thank you wait staff, thank you...