Zoma Ethiopian Restaurant — Restaurant in Cleveland Heights

I had the pleasure of going on a double date here a little while back. We were looking for something authentic that we hadn't had before, and a place with shareable dishes. I came across this little gem, and we gave it a try. Totally worth it!

The interior is clean and cozy. You are close together with all the other patrons, but you can still enjoy your company. Themed art decorates the walls, an the TV even plays Ethiopian music videos.

We started off with some coffee and Sambusa. The coffee was rich and herbacious. I added a little bit of sugar, but it's not necessary. It had a wonderful spiciness to it, like cumin or coriander. The Sambusa was crispy and had a delicious Lentil filling.

For dinner we chose the Zoma Special Combo, a collaboration of meat and vegetable dishes with plenty of Injera bread. There was no silverware, so you use the bread as your utensils. We had so much fun picking at the massive plate and trying all the different selections. The flavors were rich, and the vegetable dishes were as tasty (if not more) than the meat dishes. If you need more Injera bread, just ask and they will gladly bring you more.

Everyone there was pleasant, and the owner thanked us personally as we left. Whether you are out in a group or looking to try something new with your significant other, Zoma is an excellent establishment that provides a unique dining experience and authentic cuisine. Places like this need our support in order to maintain a growing culture in the city of Cleveland. Be adventurous and...

So this is the first time I’ve ever eaten Ethiopian food. Therefore this review is to anyone who would like to try it, but too nervous too.

PSA: this is a different cultures food, so if you don’t like different flavors and textures. Do try it you won’t like it, and nobody wants to read your terrible review because you’ve only ever eaten America food and Americanized cultural food!

Ok so I had lunch special. Chicken and beef stew, and cabbage. ( I heard later that the greens were really good and next time I’ll probably get an all vegetable meal). The chicken and beef stew were great and highly recommended them. Great taste nice thick sauce unlike Indian food where the stew is really a soup.

The cabbage was my favorite nice gingery taste yum!

The sombusa was different. I think the lentils threw me off. I was assuming it would be more of a paste but it was the whole lentil. It wasn’t bad (seeing I ate both of them happily) just different. The sauce was greatness and made it perfect!!!!!!!

Now for the bread it wasn’t bad I just didn’t like the taste at first. It’s different has a yeast taste. When I looked it up it’s a sourdough so that makes sense. The more I ate it the more I liked it. I think it was just getting over the initial taste as it was nothing I had tasted before BUT I liked the texture which it why I kept trying to give it a chance. It’s definitely an acquired taste.

Overall I think it’s good place for someone to try Ethiopian. Everything was made very well. I...

January 2024: My husband and I had been yearning for good Ethiopian food for a while. It had been years, since our favorite restaurant in Washington, DC closed. So when we were in Cleveland and looking for a place to eat we found Zoma via a Google search.

Ethiopian in Cleveland? Why not. And boy are we glad we visited Zoma! We shared a vegetarian pick 4 and the food was outstanding - fresh and perfectly spiced. We savored every bite. The service was lovely too. We had wine with dinner which increased our bill significantly. If you choose just the food, you can have a super-filling meal for 2 for under $20.

If you're unfamiliar with Ethiopian cuisine, it is made up of small portions of your choosing (veg or meat or a combo) served atop a large pancake called injera which is made from fermented tef and barley flours. You eat with your hands by tearing pieces of injera to pick up the food. It is a romantic and communal experience that's a ton of fun. The food isn't spicy as in hot, but it is well-seasoned and so flavorful. And Zoma does this very well. The only thing I wish they did was offer bowls and towels to clean your hands before eating (as they did in our DC spot).

Cleveleand, you have a treasure in Zoma. We hope you embrace this family run business and visit...