Ada's Gojjo — Restaurant in Asbury Park

OMG! Such a lovely place! Was there last evening for dinner. Spoke to Aida (sp?) the owner- she is such a sweetheart! I had started by asking her why it is so difficult to make injera bread here in the US and we got chatting n next thing you know we were like best friends sharing a lot of cultural cooking information n tips!! She even introduced me to her friend on the phone to give me some culinary tips!! I wish Aida nothing but continued success in her business n personal life- such a sweetheart n such a joy to get know! May God bless her abundantly!!! Also the food was really good! Typically - well back in the days I lived in Philly at least, like 15 years ago at least, restaurants would send me away saying they could not serve me one person's food on their menu that had injera bread n that it was a 2 person share, or I had to purchase a 2 person meal!!!But here it's different - one person portions are there on the menu!! I LOVE it! Pity I'm here only once in a while for doc visits, but maybe I should try to get here more often...it's well worth it!!! They also have a vegetarian buffet during the day time; hoping I'm in the area during that timeframe... regardless will be back there for more - food is excellent! I had gotten the vegetarian option...lentil n collard greens - simply AWESOME! I looked up what Gojjo means, it means a nest...this place is really a great nest to eat at!! Give it a try, u will NEVER regret it! Prices are also pretty reasonable!! Update - 14 Jun25. Was there yesterday- got the pastelon, first time trying it - ohhh. so, so good! Met Ada again n was able to chat...she even told me how she made this appetizer - she is such a sweetheart...she even remembered me from my first visit there! Took the beef empanada home n shared with a friend - both of us felt the quality was really, really good. The oil in which it is made plus the flour and the beef - all very fresh and tasty. Will be back in 6...

Five Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ If you’re anywhere near the Jersey Shore and craving authentic Ethiopian and Dominican comfort food, make your way to this hidden gem in downtown Asbury Park. From the moment you step through the door, the owners greet you like old friends, ushering you into a warm, incense-kissed dining room that feels equal parts modern bistro and cozy Addis Ababa home. Food The menu is a celebration of bold, earthy flavors—and vegetarians, rejoice! The yetsom beyaynetu (fasting sampler) arrives on a cloud-soft injera platter dotted with kaleidoscopic stews: silky misir wot (lentils simmered in berbere), garlicky gomen (collards), and a revelatory tikil gomen (cabbage and carrots meltingly tender). Even die-hard carnivores at our table kept sneaking extra bites. Meat dishes don’t play second fiddle: the doro wat’s slow-braised chicken practically falls off the bone beneath its smoky pepper sauce, and the tibs come out sizzling, perfumed with rosemary. Ambiance & Location Housed a quick stroll from the boardwalk, the restaurant’s airy brick-and-wood interior is lit by Edison bulbs and pops of woven basket art. It’s intimate enough for date night yet spacious for a group feast after a beach day. Weekends often bring mellow Ethiopian jazz playlists in an outside attractively decorared large patio. Service Hospitality here feels genuinely Ethiopian—gracious, unhurried, and attentive without hovering. The owners circulate between tables, explaining dishes, sharing cultural tidbits, and insisting you take more injera (trust me, you’ll want it). Verdict With its outstanding vegetarian lineup, polished atmosphere, and hosts who treat guests like family, this spot elevates Asbury Park’s dining scene. Whether you’re a seasoned fan of Ethiopian cuisine or a curious first-timer, prepare for a memorably...

ridiculous experience. stopped in after work on my own. ordered a vegan messob for 1, the waitress asks me which veggies i wanted and i responded "whatever the kitchen recommends". (clearly she understood that i didn't want every item on the menu.) "we don't have the pumpkin." "ok, whatever they recommend out of the others" (again, clarification that i didn't want every item.) minutes later i was served an insane amount of food. first time here so i chalked it up to generous portions. proceeded to eat, literally the only guest in the restaurant on a saturday. not checked in on once during the meal while listening to the waitress and a young guy mess around on their phones, him super condescending to her about a litany of things (her spanish and what i've come to understand was my meal) within earshot of my table. i asked for a to-go box for the leftovers and then the bill came. $44. for the 2-person sampler. for one person. for one meal. (the waitress knew that's not what i wanted - she either ordered it from the kitchen wrong or the kitchen screwed up; not my problem.) older woman, maybe their mother, came to the table when i asked for clarification. the waitress sat with her back to me, didn't look in my direction or respond once during the conversation - she knew messed up. the rude young man did too. they were literally talking about it while i ate. i'm a reasonabled person and would've been happy to chalk it up to a miscommunication if the only 3 people i interacted with in this tiny restaurant weren't so rude. i'm pissed and have an ugly box of leftovers that i paid way too much for. for $44 i would have expected real service and a better experience / some level of professionalism. hard pass on Ada's Gojjo. it's a shame that the front of house sucks because the...