Erta Ale Ethiopian — Restaurant in Saint Paul

Erta Ale Ethiopian in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is an absolute gem of a restaurant that deserves every bit of praise. Their diverse and vibrant platters are nothing short of culinary masterpieces. The harmonious blend of tender meats and fresh, flavorful veggies created an unforgettable palate experience that's hard to find elsewhere.

The homemade hot sauces deserve a special shout-out. The green one is simply sublime, packing a punch while not overpowering the food. And for those who enjoy a walk on the culinary wild side, do try the red sauce - it is an adventure in itself!

Our host, Eden, truly elevated our dining experience. Ordering was as smooth as silk, thanks to his attentive and friendly service. It's rare to find such a wonderful mix of excellent food and warm hospitality.

To cap off our delightful meal, we indulged in their Ethiopian coffee - a true essence of the country's rich tradition right there in our cup. As for the ambiance, it was inviting and comfortable, enhanced by the engaging table trivia that added a fun twist to the dining experience.

Erta Ale Ethiopian is truly a must-visit spot for lovers of authentic Ethiopian cuisine or anyone seeking an excellent dining experience in Saint Paul. A word of advice: come with an appetite, and leave with a heart full of satisfaction and a...

Visiting from Pittsburgh, saw the restaurant on Yelp and wanted to give it a try. The night we landed we unfortunately didn't have enough time, but was able to grab lunch on our way out of Saint Paul

I'm not much for ambience, but the restaurant was clean, stylish, and had several selections of art depicting volcanoes, which I believe is the namesake of the restaurant, Erta Ale being a volcano in Ethiopia

This was our first time having Ethiopian food, and our server Emmanuelle (sp?) was very gracious and went above and beyond to help us understand the menu and how to eat the delicious food we ordered

We ordered the coffee with our drinks, which was dark and rich and fruity

We split our two entrees. The first was the quanta firfir -- a melange of sauteed peppers and onions with beef, spices, and injera pancakes, served within injera pancakes laid over top. The second was the bozena shiro, a chickpea puree with spices, ginger, garlic, and onions, which was flavorful and delicious when used as a dip for more injera. Both were amazing, and came as huge portions which we were sad we couldn't take the leftovers since we were heading to the airport after

We are hoping to get back to the twin cities again, and if we do, we will definitely return to Erta Ale, which is a gem of...

Started off my night with a drink. Definitely try their honeycrisp margarita! It's delicious. And packs an alcoholic punch, woof. They also have a variety of beers and ales on tap, including a Summit Lemonade which I thought was pretty good! They have a wonderful atmosphere which is warm and inviting. Plenty of seating, too. So cozy and a great place to bring a family or another large gathering. I am a first timer to Ethiopian food so while some of the dishes, including the tartare, spoke to my soul, I opted to play it safe and try the tibs firfir, which came on a bed of injera. The beef was tender and juicy, the vegetables and peppers within fresh and crunchy. The spice was saucy but did not overpower the other wonderful flavors of the dish. Honestly for a first introduction to Ethiopian food, I couldn't have had a better experience. If you're not an adventurous eater, don't worry--they do have a casual section of their menu which includes burgers and fries. Just don't shy away from the dessert, which includes a GIANT PIECE OF BAKLAVA (seriously look and tell me you've had a piece bigger than that!) that's served warm. I'd definitely add a scoop of ice cream to it next time. Good vibes, and generous portion sizes...