Gursha Ethiopian Grill — Restaurant in Des Moines

It's wonderful to see an Ethiopian restaurant in Iowa again. If you're unfamiliar with Ethiopian food, it's comprised of stews that are reminiscent of Indian curries. A bread called injera is used to pick the stews up. It's spongey and reminds me of sourdough bread in terms of flavor. Generally, Ethiopian food has beef, lamb, chicken, and vegetarian options. I did see all options present.

There's not great parking (or at least not obvious parking), which looks pretty expected of the area. Be prepared to walk a block or two. Make sure to get there early if you want to get food - they close at 7 pm.

The atmosphere is plain, what you'd expect of an intermediate fast food place like Subway or Pancheros, but exceptionally clean and not a chain. I was thoroughly impressed by how clean it was. Otherwise, the décor seemed to be leaning towards a modern, sleek look. I would note that, while the door appears to adhere to code, it may be difficult for some wheelchair users to access. High and low tops are both available. Bathrooms are single serve and appear to have enough space for a wheelchair to access. Overall, I feel neutral on the atmosphere. It appears to cater towards takeaway and swift dining.

Because the place is set up similarly to restaurants like Subway or Pancheros, I don't feel like there's much to comment on in terms of service. The staff seemed nice.

Meals come with injera or rice. I did notice patrons who'd selected rice got large portions of rice, and I got a large helping of injera. The portions of the stews were also large. I got doro wat and beef anchila. I was very pleased by the portion sizes. I was happy to see that each patron got their own boiled egg with their order of doro wat. The taste was phenomenal. The food was good and balanced seasonings with spice. It wasn't too greasy or fatty. The meat was tender enough to be cut with a spoon. The ingredients tasted very fresh. I suspect all the food is prepped and cooked day-of for best flavors.

Additionally, they have fresh fruit smoothies made on demand! It took them about five minutes to make and get out to me, but it was worth it. It wasn't overly sweet and the perfect thing to pair with the spice of the meal.

I can't talk the food up enough. I wish I'd gotten a box or two of it to take home with me. It's very clear that there's a lot of care and effort put into the food, starting at the cleanliness of the restaurant. The star of the show is the food. It's clear that the energies of the business are put into creating a high quality product at an affordable price. And I am very satisfied with the result.

My "complaints" about the place boil down to logistical issues. For example, I think 7pm is early to close. However, post 2020 combined with the location, and I see why they close their doors so early. There's not a lot of organic foot traffic, and if orders are drying up so early in the night, then it's just not profitable to stay open later. I would've also liked to see a hot drink like coffee or tea. However, I see the logistical issues. It's another thing to be kept clean, and the kitchen looks packed to the gills with little room for additional equipment. With a focus on takeaways, if you're looking for a hot drink, lean into the business model and have some tea at home.

Overall, the food was amazing. I can't...

As soon as we stepped into Gursha’s, an electric thrill of anticipation coursed through us; we were finally about to embark on our Ethiopian culinary adventure. The moment the seamless, warm greeting from a gracious staff member enveloped us, any hesitation we might have had dissipated in an instant. The atmosphere thrummed with friendliness, and the restaurant itself shone with immaculate cleanliness—an inviting prelude to the delights that awaited us.

The employee, with a sparkle of enthusiasm in her eyes, guided us through the menu, enthusiastically helping us craft the perfect combo platters designed to cater to our group of six. The moment she offered her suggestions, we knew we were in for a treat. The tables brimmed with vibrant stews and injera, the traditional flatbread, inviting us to dive headfirst into a feast of flavors.

With laughter and camaraderie swirling about the table, we eagerly tucked into the array of entrees—each bite blossoming with spice and richness. It was a symphony of textures and tastes, balancing the heat of the berbere with the earthiness of lentils and the freshness of seasonal vegetables. The portion sizes were generous, ensuring that no one was left wanting. With contented sighs, we savored each morsel, celebrating a meal thoroughly enjoyed.

Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, our wonderful hostess surprised us with a coffee service after dinner, filling the air with an aromatic richness, blending cultural tradition with an unforgettable touch of hospitality. As our friendship deepened over our shared love of food, we made a collective promise: this would be a rendezvous for the books.

Though the eventual photograph we took of the leftovers couldn’t fully encapsulate our vibrant evening, it stood as a testament to our packed feast. Gursha’s, with its perfect blend of ambiance, delicious food, and accommodating service, captured our hearts in a delightful way. Without question, we left with fuller bellies and bigger smiles, planning our return trip before even stepping outside. We can hardly wait to experience it...

One of the things that we have bemoaned about Des Moines is the lack of an Ethiopian restaurant. When my wife and I started dating, she lived in Chicago, and there was an Ethiopian restaurant just a couple blocks away from her apartment. Then she moved here, and they refused to move with her. The nerve.

There will be no more complaining. Gursha Ethiopian Grill has slipped easily into my 2nd favorite restaurant in town.

Let's start with the food, we got two entrees, with two items in each.

The veggie entrees were Missir Wot, which is a nice, spicey lentil dish, and Gomen, which made me actually like Collard Greens, which doesn't tend to be a favorite of mine. But wow, both of these are magnificent. Rich, with layers of flavor.

For the meat dishes we got Ziggini, which is a marvelous, spicy beef dish. And Chicken Tibs, which was my favorite. I can't begin to explain the flavors, the complexity of this dish. It's just amazing.

I remember the first time I had Ethiopian food, I was baffled by the injera (the bread) at first. It looks a bit odd. Then you tear off a piece, grab some food with it, and it all makes sense. So tasty.

We also got a couple of Sambusa, which were really good, and a lovely side salad.

We had problems getting it, their delivery service was less than efficient, and gave our food to someone else. I hope that it is someone for whom cheeseburgers are Haute Cuisine, and they suffer mightily.

The end result, I called the restaurant, and the owner brought us our food. And then called us back later to make sure everything was ok. Customer service above and beyond.

This place needs to go huge. The food is amazing, the owner is amazing. One of the best restaurants in town.

Can I give...