Shewhat Cafe & Restaurant — Restaurant in Oakland

LOVE this place. Absolute best Eritrean food we've tried anywhere - including LA and Seattle where they say has some of the biggest populations outside of Eritrea.

THE PEOPLE It's owned and run by the family. The mother is the chef and daughter is pretty much always there waiting customers. It looks like the restaurant itself is an extension of their home (or at least A home).

THE FOOD The best part is that they have an extensive vegetarian menu beyond just the standard "veggie platter" you can get at any Ethiopian or Eritrean place. MUST TRY THE MUSHROOM TIBS. Every carnivore we've taken here has loved it. Also get the veggie sambusas (similar in concept to an Indian samosa or a fried dumpling). Always super fresh. Crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. Like any good fried...

This place was an amazing surprise! I was at Bushrod park getting hungry and googled for something nearby, and this came up. Ordered through Postmates & brought back to the park! The vegetarian combo was outstanding… the staff was super nice as well. They thought I wanted to eat there (a sweet and funny miscommunication) and brought everything out to me on a plate… I explained I wanted to take it go and they promptly boxed it up! I’ve been dreaming about eating here again ever since, but next time I will actually dine in! They have a super nice covered patio area. Highly recommend!!! Also Ethiopian/Eritrean food, as much as I love it, is often difficult for me to digest, but not the case here. Super clean, healthy & tasty, not too heavy but still delicious....

The newly renovated cafe was welcoming, filled with the scent of Eritrean spices and the friendly staff cooking and serving the food. My friend Tim chose the lamb tibsy, and I opted for the chicken and spinach tibsy. The entrees came on big pieces of fresh injera, with a lightly dressed side salad and some perfectly cooked lentils. Tibsy is an Eritrean dish cooked with garlic, onions, and African spices in butter. They were mildly spicy, and the seasoning was tasty and intriguing. There's a whole list of coffee, tea, espresso drinks, juices, and milkshakes, but I was happy with chai. The prices are moderate, and the menu includes Eritrean, Ethiopian, American, and gluten-free choices. We're planning on a return trip! Shewhat serves breakfast,...