Vegetarianinkorea

Ethiopian Restaurant update

Thanks to a reader, I just found out that the Ethiopian Food and Coffee I reviewed earlier in the month is no longer in service.

Let's hope this is just a temporary glitch and the owner will find a new space soon!

Ethiopian food comes to Seoul!

I received a email in my in-box from the proprietor of a new Ethiopian restaurant in Itaewon. He asked if I would be willing to come in and test out their food.

Um. Yes.

I am always up for taste testings!

Just around the corner from the Itaewon fire station and located next to a 7/11 is Ethiopian Food & Coffee. It shares a space with Club Zion. Far as I can tell, the restaurant serves Ethiopian food from about 1pm-9pm every day, and the club takes over with regular bar clients and dancing after that. 

Fekadu Tulu has been operating his Ethiopian restaurant for two months now. He operates, and his Ethiopian girlfriend runs the kitchen.

Tulu has been living in Korea for 8 years. He told me the Ethiopian popular in Seoul is small, with many of the Ethiopians living outside of the city. His regular clients are made up of Americans and Canadians mostly. 

I was new to Ethiopian food, but was assured by my dining partner that the food would likely be very vegetarian friendly.

 

I got to try out the Vegetarian Combo which includes cabbage, lentils, split peas,  lettuce and tomato and Ethiopian bread which is called Injera.

In appearance and weight it has similarities to French crepes, but it is porous and a bit spongy. You use the bread to scoop up your food, rather than using utensils.

 

The red lentils in the middle were spicy (although not excessively so) and paired with the cabbage, it made a fanatic flavor combination.

We finished our meal with a dark rich Ethiopian coffee.

Tulu offers a coffee ceremony for 5-6 people on his menu where he will brew the coffee the traditional Ethiopian way- not in a coffee machine. What a fantastic idea for an afternoon out with your friends! 

I truly hope this restaurant succeeds. It's located just off the main strip in Itaewon, so it isn't hard to find. With a little ambiance customization (to help with the club setting) I think Ethiopian Food and Coffee could be very successful.