Abay Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar — Restaurant in Tukwila

My experience at Abay Ethiopian Restaurant & Bar in Tukwila was frustrating from start to finish. My friend ordered the dorowot plate over the phone, and we were told it would be ready in 30 minutes. When I arrived about 40 minutes later, they informed me they were out of dorowot and claimed they had tried to call us back – though we never received any call. I ended up ordering the meat and veggie combo instead, which was advertised at $28.

When it came time to pay, I only found out after the transaction that they had actually overcharged me $40 for this plate, which was a shock. The portion itself was disappointing – it was packed with injera, making up most of the plate's weight, and had hardly any meat or veggies. To make it worse, the food tasted stale, And you can tell the food was not fresh, like they gave us the end of the night, bottom of the barrel scraps!

I also sat at the bar, where I ordered a whiskey and a beer, but after receiving my drinks, the bartender never returned, leaving me waiting another 25 minutes in a very loud environment. On top of that, I felt uncomfortable due to the cold mean stares from other patrons at the bar, something I’m not used to experiencing with other African brothers. Even the white family seated near the window by the entrance looked uneasy, likely having wandered in as travelers given the restaurant's proximity to the airport.

Being an African American man, i was very disappointed because Ethiopian food is some of the best cuisine in the world, and it's a shame this place misses the mark with poor service and a lack of desire to include outsiders. To my Ethiopian brothers and sisters: let’s do better, and create a space where everyone...

I was excited to try this place. Met a friend here, and honestly, it took a while to get noticed by the waitress. The music was very loud, so it was hard to hear at times. We were given 1 menu and 1 napkin to use between us. Even though there was almost no one in here, maybe 1 or 2 other tables, It took roughly 30 35mins for her to take our orders. Nothing was marked the price. we ordered the veggie combo and the meat combo with extra injara. The lady seemed confused if we wanted them separate or the meat and veggie combo. We explained we wanted them separate. She asked us what size. Us being us, we asked for a large of both. 20 minutes or so later, the platter that came was HUGE. But it only had 6 veggie dishes. A salad and 1 meat dish on it. No extra injara. The food was soooo salty and some of it was very bland. We asked the waitress where the meat platter was, and she started to argue with us about what we ordered. We explained we had wanted the meat platter AND the veggies platter, not them together. But she still argued with us. We explained that it was a miscommunication, and that's fine, but can we please get a meat platter as well. She CONTINUED to argue with us!!! Finally, she said she'd check and came back to inform us that they didn't have it. What?? How's that even possible? We were chatting, so they lady let us until one of us got up. Then she brought the check. But we weren't checked on and had to refill our own waters. We appreciate not being rushed out the door, but the customer service is completely sucked. Im sorry to say it, but I was NOT impressed with this place at all. I'd rather drive an extra 30 mins for better food and service up north. We will not...

I’ve had a very disappointing experience with this restaurant. Every time I order, the price changes, even when I get the same items. Last time, I was charged a lot for a very small portion, and the menu prices don’t seem to match what I’m actually billed. It’s frustrating and feels inconsistent.

On top of that, the food wasn’t very fresh, which was really disappointing given the high price. The customer service also leaves much to be desired. When I call to place an order, staff are always in a rush, hardly listening, and don’t take the time to confirm my order correctly. This lack of patience and attention is frustrating.

I would recommend anyone ordering from here to double-check their total before paying, as the pricing seems unpredictable. Overall, it’s been an unsatisfying experience, and I hope they make improvements in both their food quality, pricing,...