Tian Tian Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Addis Ababa

Restaurant Review: Disappointing Experience at Tian Tian

As someone who has dined at numerous Chinese restaurants both locally and internationally, I had certain expectations when visiting Tian Tian in Addis Ababa. Unfortunately, the experience fell short on multiple fronts, leaving much to be desired.

Beef Hotpot Disappointment

We ordered a beef hotpot, expecting a rich, flavorful dish with a generous portion of beef. Instead, what arrived was a soupy mixture dominated by vegetables, with barely any beef to be found. When we inquired, the waitress informed us that this was the “Ethiopian version” of the dish. While I appreciate local adaptations, this explanation did not justify the lack of key ingredients that are fundamental to a hotpot. The dish was more akin to a vegetable stew than the hearty, beef-laden hotpot we were expecting.

Noodle Dish with Sparse Meat

The noodles we ordered also came with a promise of meat, but once again, the dish was lacking. The few pieces of meat that were present were overwhelmed by an overly soy-sauced broth, which detracted from the overall flavor. Given my extensive experience with Chinese cuisine, this dish did not live up to the standard I would expect from a reputable Chinese restaurant.

Service and Ambiance

Adding to the disappointing food was the unprofessional service. Our waitress seemed disengaged, at one point resting her leg on a chair while taking our order. This casual attitude, combined with the subpar food, left a negative impression. Dining out is not just about the food but the overall experience, and the service here did not meet even basic expectations of professionalism.

Sizzling Beef - Small Portions, High Price

To round off the meal, we ordered a sizzling beef dish, hoping for a final redeeming plate. Unfortunately, the portion was surprisingly small, especially considering the price. The dish did little to improve our experience, reinforcing the feeling that the meal was overpriced and not worth the money.

Conclusion

Tian Tian does not deliver the authentic Chinese dining experience one might hope for. The food lacks key ingredients, is over-reliant on soy sauce, and is not prepared to the standard expected from a Chinese restaurant. Coupled with unprofessional service and small portions for high prices, this restaurant fails to offer value for money. I would recommend considering other options in Addis Ababa, such as Little China, where the experience is more in line with what one expects from...

Tian Tian's food is delicious and as near to authentic Chinese as you're going to get in Addis Ababa, but tonight they let me down. A friend and I ordered two dishes from Tian Tian via DeliverAddis: sizzling tofu and 20-piece beef dumplings. Dinner took some time to arrive because we ordered during peak dinner / delivery hour, but when it did arrive, we were disappointed. My friend, who was raised vegetarian and gets sick if they eat meat, received not sizzling tofu but fried chicken noodles. Very disappointing. I received about 14-15 dumplings which, though delicious, fell short of the 20 I ordered. One star off for the mistaken order, one more off for undercounting the dumplings. Tian Tian has great food but needs to do better...

@ Marina, I don't really agree with your opinion about this restaurant, I have been a regular customer of this restaurant since the opening ,and I think it's the best Chinese restaurant in the city. I am saying this cause I have tried almost all in Addis, even the noodles you just posted doesn't even exist in that restaurant. that means you didn't try it in the first place, please don't be rude, the owner tried so hard to make the restaurant perfect for everybody and everyone enjoyed it and became a regular customer once...