Zeni — Restaurant in San Jose

Being an Ethiopian and knowing well how authentic Ethiopian food and drinks taste, this place got it all - a black woman led restaurant that have never failed to deliver on my multiple trips there.

Some people talk about how soggy their flat bread/pancake like injera gets when they try to wrap their food like a burrito (that is because it’s not intended to be eaten that way 😂), and some rave about the Turkish coffee (I actually find it to be ignorant to go to an Ethiopian restaurant, order a traditional Ethiopian coffee and call it a Turkish coffee on your review 😂), some think the food is too spicy ( I know some of our traditional Ethiopian dishes could be really spicy but there are less spicy options as well) and some just don’t think Ethiopian food is good. I feel all the peoples opinion. As a review savant, I don’t just provide my review but I read other people’s review seeking advise and guidance. Here is what I think about Zeni’s:

The food overall is really amazing food. Maybe the injera could be the one that’s less heavy - available at many of the Ethiopian markets like Tana Market. Since I love the stews and combos here, I usually do take outs and use my own injera. We even took out a doro wat firfir (mind you, I don’t usually eat food like doro wat which is not homemade because of the value we give to the craft) I believe there are other spots that will top the Kitfo and Tibs but Zeni’s also got some good ones. The veggie combo is to die for. It’s just absolutely amazing. Must grab that. The owner and staff are all so friendly and knowledgeable, I appreciate the service here so much. I will add that this is a nice place to go on a date as well. They have good drinks and good food with good service - what could...

Zeni has by far been our favorite Ethiopian restaurant in the Bay Area. The restaurant is always packed with people during week-ends and unfortunately they don't take reservation. Expect a wait time of at least one hour during peak hours.

As soon as you enter the restaurant, write your name and number of people in your party in a piece of paper that is placed somewhere near the entrance. This list will give you an idea of the wait time.

The seating area at the restaurant entrance has typical chairs and tables; however the seating area on another side is in Ethiopian style. We usually like to go to Ethiopian style seating area, even if that requires a few extra minutes of wait time. Sometimes during the week-end evenings, there is live music as well. Pretty nice!

My husband and I usually order one dish and split it. We have tried their Meat Combination (Chicken, Lamb and Beef), Alitcha Fitfit (lamb), Doro Wot (Chicken), Doro Tibs (Chicken). We love the Meat Combo of all! All the dishes come with unlimited Injera.

The food is served in a large plate and everyone in your group eats from the same plate and with hands. I enjoy this style. I can happily eat with my hands without having to be conscious about anyone looking at me in a bizarre manner.

I have tried the Ethiopian tea, Sambosa and Baklava once and decided not to order them hereafter. Ethiopian tea was different, just don't know how to describe the taste. The Sambosa tasted like Indian samosa and I have eaten better Baklava in other places.

We usually stick with their entrees because they never disappoint us. Overall, I totally love the food here and we come here over...

Much better than average Ethiopian restaurant. My favorite dish is the fava bean one, although I'm usually more of a meat eater. It reminds me of Mexican food, tastes similar to pinto beans with fresh jalapenos, but better.

If you're eating with a group, I recommend both the mixed vegetables combo (you choose your dishes) or the meat combo (you also choose your options from all of the entrees). Several of the vegetarian dishes are lentil based, red or yellow lentils. Meat dishes include chicken and lamb, no pork.

Food is served family-style, on large platters of injera bread. You eat with your hands, using pieces of bread to scoop up the thick curry-like sauces. I don't eat bread due to my diet, so I asked for a fork. Injera is not made from wheat, it is a different grain. The bread is thin and moist, with a slightly sour, fermented taste.

They have a bar. many people order tea, Ethiopian beer or the extremely sweet honey wine, all of which are inexpensive.

I would recommend against the stuffed jalapenos. These are whole raw jalapenos, with a greasy tomato-based filling. They are inexpensive, about $2 for 2 or 3 jalapenos, but a fair amount of the seeds are still inside them. My two dining companions with very high spice tolerances could not handle the spiciness without feeling ill.

The bathroom has an external sink, as many people choose to wash their hands after eating, even if they don't use the facilities.

This is a popular place, there is a good chance there will be a wait on...